Kime-lou

I got a microwave chip maker from pampered chef and it's nice to make veggie and fruit chips. I can make apple, zucchinni, sweet potato and they taste good, but aren't loaded with the fat, grease and salt like store bought are. However, if any one gets one, you do have to play around with the time in the microwave to get it right.

I think most of us were scared if not nervous going into this- all the what if's sworrling around our head. I am sure we thought about possible complications, what if it doesn't work, fear of the pain, ect. However, sometimes fear is healthy. Like during my post op I was scared to do anything the doctor didn't okay, I know I bugged him and the NUT calling and asking what can I have - is this okay, is that okay. Then every little ache and pain I was scared I'd hurt my band. Now I am a little less worried about the things from the begining. I do still have a little fear of will I be able to lose all the weight I want to. I've lost half of it so I guess it was successful, but I still have about 45 lbs I want to get rid of. My fear now is foods!! In some cases it's a good thing. I am an NC Girl and I swear Krispy Creme runs in my veins (heck where else is there a Krispy Creme Marathon). Due to the texture of a donut I am scared to taint my beloved friend. I fear that if I take a bite and swollow the pain will begin, then the foaming at the mouth, flowed by the delightful reverse of the donut up my eshogus. Some foods though now have more power because I know they will go down. I can not tell you how often I pass the McDonalds right by my office and want to get a ice cream cone. But, I have been able to pass it up. Also, cookies- they slllliiiiiddddeeee on down. Last weekend when I make 3 batches of cookies for my hubs office party, I managed to keep my intake to just one (my fav- Carmel Pecan Crunch)- the other were shipped off to my hubby's office and I told him not to bring the box back until the cookies were gone!! Then there is the fear of eating to much/eating to little. Having been a big girl most of my life I had never had anyone tell me I wasn't eating enough. A couple of months ago when I went to a doctors appointment and complained that I wasn't losing weight hardly at all anymore. My doc looked over my food chart and exercise tracker and told me I wasn't eating enough. I took a double take for sure. So I have a hard time balancing that line of too few calories to to many calories. Fears bounce around all the time, some times it's good to give in to it (like not eating the donut out of fear) and sometime it's better to say a little prayer and plow through it (like having the surgery to begin with).

You can't cut out everything you love. As long as you counted those calories and you don't down the entire bag you will be fine. Honestly, I love donuts, but I now honestly can't eat them. I feel pretty sure their texture would gum up and I would end up PB'ing it back up. I have learned some things just aren't worth the consequences.

Good luck on your journey. Just stick to your plan and don't stray and you will be fine!

I don't even remember how many it took for me, I've had 7. Each time after the 3rd it felt a little different. I haven't gotten one now for 2 months. Honestly, if you have lost 7 lbs in a month- that is good.

I am the opposite, I fine I am dying of thirst all the time now. I can't get enough water, which means I spent A LOT of time going potty!

Mine does the same thing. I have no answers only to say keep riding the roller coaster. Once I got below that 200 mark- I bounced all around in the 190's from the end of Dec until last week. The end of last week finally saw 189, now it back up to 190- who knows why.

I am like Missy, left over protein doesn't work for me. I only eat left over veggies.

What an inspiring story- thanks for sharing that! Gives me a little kick to do the same.

Okay, this might be TMI, but I am going to ask the question. Yesterday I had a difficult time having a BM. After I finally had success, I had some discomfort in my band area. I thought it would disapate with time, but it hasn't. I am still have some discomfort there. I can eat with out getting stuck or having pain. Drinking is fine. I have stayed full for 3.5 hours on Breakfast so far. I do have a call in to the doc, but just wondering has any one else had this experience? I feel like it is most likely muscle strain from the straining, but not sure.

Is what you did good- No. Is it unforgiviable- Nope. Yes, you boobed up, but you can get back on track. I boobed up this weekend, ate out twice and at a cookie when I baked for my hubs office - apparantly this wasn't good, my weight is up a pound. We can never truly appreciate success unless we have to fight for it. So now put on your big girl panties realize you messed up and start a fresh doing what you are suppose to. Since those ice creams are a trigger, try not to buy them any more, or if you have to take them out of the box, place them in a brown paper bad in the freezer- that way you won't be tempted every time you open the freezer.

Even though we all know we should, many of us fail to listen to what our docs and NUTs have to say; some in major ways, some in small. Now in the major ways I always listen to my doctor, I am to afraid not to. I do not want complications. But, in small ways, I fail at times. For instance, in March I went to see my doc for my 9 month check up. We discussed how I was doing- good, felt good, not getting hungry, eating 3 meals a day. I track calories in and I track by my fitbit how many calories I use- I showed the doc. During all this I was complaining that my weight loss seems to have slowed almost to a stop. After reviewing my intake and calorie burn (1200-1300 calories - 2100 to 2200 calories out), the PA said I wasn't eating enough. Now I have been over weight since I was 5 years old. Never have I been told I wasn't eating enough. I was terrified that this would cause me to regain some of what I'd lost, but I tried for a few days, a couple more pounds came off. Then I was headed out on vacation. The hubs and I went to Florida for a week and took in Disney and Sea World. During this time I was also on my monthly cycle. My band was really tight and I had a really hard time eating, even yogurt was a struggle in the morning. I was burning close to 3000 calories a day due to all the walking. When I return my weight was up 4 lbs - WTH, I hardly ate? I figured some was salt intake and apparently that was true. In a week of being back on schedule I was back down to pretrip weight. This week since being really back to normal I have increase my protein intake and started eating snacks as my doctor recommended. All week I have stayed at the 190 weight. Each day I have eaten a snack of 1 weight watchers cheese stick and about 12 grapes (if I didn't want grapes I ate half of an apple). I found this was a tasty snack and I never got hungry, always kept a satisfied feeling. This morning my weight dropped to 189.8!! Ok, this is big to me. Okay TMI I know, but I haven't gone number 2 in 3 days. So being that I haven't really pottied well and my weight went down make me feel really good. Maybe I should listen and heed instead of just hearing every little tid bit the doc says!!

Don't give them the power to control you. This isn't easy I have always wanted approval from those around me, but as I get older I find that as long as I am happy with myself I could care less what they thing. You know since I have taken on this thought process I seem to have more friends and enjoy life more.

I stated stuck at 50-54 lbs lost for 4 months!!!! My doc kept telling me I wasn't eating enough after I showed them my food chart and my calories burned chart. I also upped my protein. I have only dropped 1 lb further, but that was one week after increasing my protein intake and fruit intake. I went months with only eating 3 meals a day- now I am eating 3 meal (smaller) and eating 2 snacks. My snacks are a cheese stick and a fruit (apples/banana/grape). I hope the downward slope continues, but the doc and NUT recommended it.

First off, see your doc again. If you never had restriction you may not have damaged your band, but your doc needs to check it. Then restart your journey. Do a week of liquids, like you did before, and move forward, then actually stay on track. It is so easy to slip back to old way, just remind yourself each time you have that desire why you don't want to go back. It is easier said than done. The journey isn't easy, but like your college journey- it may not be easy, but it's worth it.

I think most of us have had a love hate relationship with something- our cell phone, our job, heck even our spouse. It is also easy to have a love hate relationship with the band. I do love mine, don't get me wrong, but some times that little plastic makes my life hell. For instand on my vacay, I ended up being stuck most of the trip, I couldn't eat much of anything. Sometimes eating slow is a problem especially when you are busy or in meeting- a quick bite gets you stuck quick. However, because of my band I have learned so much. I am eating better foods. Yesterday when I hit WallyWorld for grocery day I noticed as I was placing my groceries on the checkout how my buying has changed. I buy very little from the interior of the store- the highly processed, sodium rich, high cal foods. Most of what is in my cart is water, water packs, yogurt, milk fresh meats, frozen and fresh veggies. I like this change. Due to the change of what I am eating I feel better, I breath better, I move better, basically I am better. So my relationship with my band is way more love than hate. It is so easy to get frustrated on this journey and blame our band and say we hate it, or it's not working, but before we say that we need to ask ourself are we working it. You car can't get you any where unless you drive it, you band won't get you to goal unless you work it. Yes, you can have bump ups and your car might even break down - but you must fix it and keep on truckin. Everything including our band journey is a process. The band plays it's role, we must play ours, our doctor has theirs, and our nutrtionist has theirs. All the players must do their part or the journey gets off course. Are you doing your part?

I now what you mean CG- I couldn't do it with the hubs either.

I wish you continue luck on your journey. Like grammy says above fill out your profile.

Totally normal- you are in lapband hell. Protein up that helps and drink lots. This will pass.