BigDennis

I read a report that said our bands are naturally tighter in the morning, which had some banders questioning whether to have Breakfast or not. When you are experiencing nausea, is it before or after eating in the morning? Like CG said, when in doubt, definitely check back with your doctor just to be safe! Dennis

Good morning my sweet North Carolina Princess and charming and delightful b***h! LOL Based on this morning's posts, you guys woke up feeling great today! Me too! Not sure what the boss has planned for me today, but Stud Muffin is feeling pretty lazy today!!

Oh no Mad! Just when you had us both on the run! Take care and we will talk to you soon. Dennis (Stud Muffin)

You know I am! Big Sexy is a name any guy would be proud of! LOL

Yep, Stud-Muffin just happens to be my middle name ladies! LMAO!! Actually, I think both you ladies are very charming and delightful!!

Good point CG! There is def a place and a time for EVERYTHING!

Bite or gently nibble? BIG DIFFERENCE!! LOL ......hey, what was we talking bout????

Carolina Girl is tough on this poor old country boy, BUT not nearly as tough as she is gonna be on her hubs very soon! LOL

Yep! Charming personality = B***h on wheels! LOL Poor hubs!!!!!

Lay the truth out there CG!! Have you been digging into the Viagra? Elcee may have hit the nail right on the head! LOL

One battering ram will not be enough! Been there done that, lived through it, and actually got the T-shirt too! It's hard to say exactly when your TOM will stop, but it sounds like you are definitely in the transition. While you are going through the change, keep the hubs away from all tactical rifles and shotguns! LOL

CG, have you experienced any other symptoms of menopause? It is kind of interesting you are only experiencing these episodes at night, but they definitely fit the description of hot flashes. According to the experts, menopause actually has a wide starting range, but can usually be expected in the age range of 42–58.An early menopause can be related to cigarette smoking, higher body mass index, racial and ethnic factors, illnesses, chemotherapy, radiation and the surgical removal of the ovaries, with or without the removal of the uterus. Can you say TMI?!

I've only been banded for approximately four months and had one fill. I used to never eat breakfast and every "formal" diet I've ever been on actually stressed the importance of eating breakfast within 20 - 30 minutes of waking. "According to research, skipping meals, especially breakfast, can actually make weight control more difficult" (WebMD). The research says that skipping breakfast has the tendency to make one eat more food at the next meal or possibly nibble on high calorie snacks to stave off hunger. I think the reality is skipping meals is a key factor in obesity and should be avoided at all costs. Many times we tend to go strictly on how our band "feels" and not so much on what our body actually needs.

Ah, I couldn't live with my frozen margaritas! Alcoholic drinks offer no nutritional value and are simply empty calories, so you must track them closely. SageTracey hit the nail right on the head! My thought is, a few drinks will not hurt you, but definitely won't help your weight loss goals either.

That is definitely no way to live and not healthy for you. It is great to lose weight, but we have to look after our overall health as well. Get a slight unfill and hopefully you will do much better! Dennis

I have to agree with Holly, hang in there and those soft foods will be the best thing you've ever tasted very soon! I never knew clam chowder could taste so awesome, until I did a week of clear liquids! LOL Like Missy said, Proteins are definitely great at killing huger pains too! I am not sure if you can do shakes yet, but maybe you can mix whey powder into Water or something. In either case, hang in there and I guarantee you it will get better! Dennis

Hi Yoly! It is always awesome to meet other Florida banders! Actually, you and I were banded exact same day! That is such a great feeling to meet and exceed one of your goals! I am still over 300 lbs and can't wait for the day I can say I weigh two hundred anything! I don't know about your surgeon, BUT mine is definitely not good at the diet and nutrition game! However, my support group has an excellent dietitian and he told the group, just this last week, that we should all be shooting for 1000 - 1200 calories per day, with Proteins being our first priority. I personally aim for 90-100 grams of Protein, less than 100 grams of carbs, 15-20 grams of Fiber, less than 100 grams of fat, and drink a minimum of 64 ounces of Water per day. While your doctor is correct, a sugar is definitely a sugar, you would want to select "better" sugars, such as fruits and veggies. He is worried about the starches and high carb foods turning into sugar in your system, so apparently he wants to control all sugar intake. Do you have diabetes or some other reason he is so sensitive about the sugar intake? There are too many great aspects of eating fruits, berries, and nuts to completely avoid them in a healthy diet! Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I was on the LA Weight Loss diet. I was instructed to eat every two hours throughout the day. My diet plan included 18 ounces of protein, 5 fruits, 5 vegetables, 2 fats, and 2 starches per day, along with my 64 ounces of water. This caused my body's metabolism to increase, burn more calories, and I was healthier than I had been in years! The weight loss was slow, steady, and I lost a total of 135 pounds in slightly over one year! Case in point, natural sugars will not negatively affect your diet or your health in moderation. When you think about it, everything we do has to be in moderation or it will cause issues. Well, it was nice meeting you this morning! Although it looks like Tropical Storm Isaac is heading more towards Louisiana and Texas, we still have to prepare for high water and winds here. I work at the Port of Panama City and they tend to take storm surges a little more seriously! LOL Take care and I will talk to you soon! Dennis

Congratulations! Everyone on this forum knows exactly how stressful and important the decision is to have weight loss surgery is! You will do absolutely fine, but it is highly important you follow your doctor's orders to the letter and pay close attention to the little signals your body will give you post-op. It is definitely great news about your insurance approval and I hope to hear about your successes very soon! Dennis

I don't do well with eggs period. I switched over to Egg Beaters and seem to do well now. Definitely much healthier for you, with less cholesterol. A minute in the microwave, sprinkle an ounce of fat free cheese across the top, add a little pepper, and I am good to go! I have to agree with everyone else, I believe you were still swollen from your fill. Most doctors recommend the clear liquids the first day and full liquids on the second.

A safe and natural way to reduce bad breath is by adding a minimum of 6 ounces of yogurt to your diet each and every day. Studies have shown it not only reduces the levels of odor-causing compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, but also helps to reduce the levels of plaque and the gum disease gingivitis! Recent study results suggest that the active bacteria in yogurt, specificallyStreptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, may have a beneficial effect on odor-causing bacteria in the mouth, so adding this delicious and healthy food to your diet may be a great benefit to you!

Good morning Humming Bird! Having spent a majority of my career as a contractor, trust me, if a house is not maintained with the proper tools and a lot of hard work, it will most certainly fall into a state of disrepair. Our bodies are essentially the same in many ways! As long as we are committed to ourselves and using the right tools, we enjoy much healthier and happier lifestyles. Very much like the house analogy, if we become less committed to ourselves, and don't use the proper tools, we also fall into a state of disrepair (obese, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sugar diabetes, and other issues). I've been asked many times how I am losing my weight and I usually tell them exactly what I am doing and the amount of hard work that goes into it. I also take the opportunity to teach people about obesity, genetics, and the other realities related to our conditions. For the majority of us, losing weight and keeping it off, is a daily battle against life-long habits and genetics, which unfortunately many people simply do not understand!

WOW, Everyone take a moment to check out this young lady's weight loss success! I just got a new inspiration and hero! Congratulations on losing 170 pounds! With that kind of success, you tell 'em what ever you want them to hear, because you are doing awesome! Dennis

SO, if I ask a contractor HOW he built a house and he replied, "With a lot of hard work and effort on my part", this would be a lie? I tend to think not! The contractor used many tools and resources to reach his goals and I would not expect him to explain to me the importance of using a hammer, versus using a nail gun, to accomplish those goals. At the end of the day, you are totally responsible for your weight loss and the band was simply a tool. Tell 'em what you want them to know and simply be proud of your accompishments, because I know we are! Dennis

I have to agree with the majority of the posters, I usually eat most of my proteins and supplement with shakes only when a boost is needed. Keeping track of all your nutrients, and not just protein, through myfitnesspal, mynetdiary, or any other software package will help you tremendously to see where you can make cuts and where to improve. I also agree that the EAS shakes are the best tasting! I picked up two cases of Premium Protein shakes from Sam's Wholesale this past weekend and they are not bad either and contain 30 grams of protein.

Count me in too! No one understands what you have been through more than yourself! I knew the minute my last diet failed that I wanted to be banded. Yes, most of my family tried to fight my decision, but in the end, they all realized I was doing it for ME. The band is only a tool to help us lose weight, but it is a powerful tool and I feel sure you will be super successful! Look how many folks you have supporting you now and that is just the beginning!! Dennis