A New New Dawn

I highly doubt it. A lot of what you are losing is Water weight too initially so it could just be water retention/gain to be that big of a difference in that short timespan. Just make sure you are following the preop diet your doctor prescribed. Good luck on your surgery.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss for you and your family. She sounds like a very special woman. You, too, were very brave to go it alone and that same strength will help you in your success with the band. I hope your husband returns soon. Peace and love to you and your family.

If you feel you have no restriction, perhaps you just need a fill. I would talk to your doctor. As we lose weight and over time as it loses some of the saline it can become looser again.

Oh, please don't be so hard on yourself. You are still human and don't need to be "perfect" with the band. Right now, your body needs rest and nourishment to get over the bronchitis and stress issues. Please focus on getting that part healthy. I wouldn't go out and order Big Macs and chocolate shakes but continue to make good food choices and focus more on getting healthy rather than beating yourself up. You cannot exercise now since you cannot breathe easily. Perhaps, as able, go for walks to help get rid of the funk and to get moving without over exherting yourself. Hang in there... it sounds like you are doing just fine given the circumstances.

I don't know if you have a costco by you but they have (in the refrigerated section) a tub of the tzatski (spelling, sorry) sauce that is lowfat/low cal (theirs is made with Greek yogurt) and very yummy. I use it in moderation and my kids like it for veggie dip.

I signed up on Pinterest!!!

You will get there. Look at all the weight you have lost already. These were definitely tasty and worth making. They were very easy to make too. If you go on that site, there are similar recipes for cheeseburger cupcakes, and several others. Your mushy stage should be here soon and it will be great to get some semblance of food in you. Hang in there. The liquid stage seems to drag on as your appetite comes back but it will be gone before you know it.

We all have these moments and thankfully they pass. Are you counting calories and not just carbs? If so, are you staying under 1200 calories per day and getting in 60+ grams of Protein? If not, those could stall you as well. Good luck, this will pass.

Awesome!!! Congrats!

Pb'ing usually involves a lot of salivating too (to the point of foaming at the mouth) ~ gross and tmi, but "it is what it is".

They were very easy to make. Browning the meat before assembling them is the only thing that takes effort. Note, the wonton wraps are typically in the produce refrigerated area.

Yum, the zucchini tots look yummy. I will have to try that. Have you ever reheated them? Do they reheat well?

I should sign up for pinterest... I have been on it and there are a lot of cool ideas. Maybe I will do that. Which other ones have you made? I was going to make the cheeseburger one but i didn't have cheddar cheese so maybe tomorrow. I love making these cupcakes as they are so nicely portioned and a quick reheat for other meals. I put a bunch of meatloaf ones in the freezer that I can easily take out a couple pieces. I love it!

Mmm... I made this tonight for dinner (I had 2) and it was tasty and filling. Low calories and lowfat. http://www.emilybites.com/2011/07/lasagna-cupcakes.html

Chapstick is my staple item for the hospital. You'd be surprised how dry your lips get. Also, if you are staying the night don't bother trying to bring a magazine or anything to read.. you won't use it. For home, make sure you have tried out some Protein drinks beforehand so you find one(s) you like, have other liquids and Soups, sugar free Jello, yogurt, at home and a heating pad. Also, after a couple weeks my stitches and incisions itched like crazy. I got hydrocortisone spray from Walgreens that helped a lot. Good luck!

I would strongly suggest you set some boundaries with your mother. My mother is a lot like that and it was toxic for me. I still care about her and make sure she is ok but she is rarely invited into my personal life as it is unhealthy for me to deal with her comments and judgements. I would tell her that your surgery, eating habits, etc. are off limits and thank you but no thank you. As an adult woman, you do not need to justify having tomato soup or anything else for that matter. It sounds like you are really trying to get her to change or hoping she will. I tried that for years and it doesn't work. My mom couldn't see the err of her way even when I explained very clearly she would still do/say the same things. Finally, I "let go" and realized I was putting far too much energy into the sitatuation and it wouldn't change anything. It has been very liberating to let go of that negative energy. My sister doesn't speak to my mother at all for this reason. Sometimes we have to accept that we cannot change the sitatuation and learn to accept in ourselves how it is by setting boundaries. I have to wonder if some of her controlling is her way of trying to make up for the years she wasn't there and wanting to feel like she is playing that mother role now. It sounds very unhealthy for you though. Good luck and please don't feel you have to justify what you do to anyone but yourself.

I work in the healthcare industry myself and HIPAA is a huge topic for us. I agree with the 2 earlier posts that your HIPAA rights were strongly violated. I know that won't undo what happened with your sister; however, I would urge you to report it. That is unacceptable and they need to be put on notice. As for your sister and other relatives you can simply tell them your medical history is not open for discussion as it is your personal business. It sounds really caddy how it was handled at the party. You did this for YOU and it is YOUR business. Be proud of yourself and your success. One of the things we have to do as banders is be strong, strong to make smart food choices, strong to follow the guidelines, strong to stay committed and make this a success. Use this as your opportunity to be strong with those around you as well and set your boundaries. You don't owe anyone an explanation. You can simply smile and say "thank you" if they ask about your weight loss or mention you have lost weight. Good luck to you! Be strong!!

You are still in the healing stages. I don't think you would have slipped your band this quickly. I am glad you are following up with your doctor but I think you are ok. The body does a lot of funky things while you are healing. Have you been throwing up repeatedly? That typically would be what would cause it to slip.

Once the swelling goes down more, that should get better too. You may want to try some hot tea to help southe your tummy a bit. It will get better before you know it.

I think planning ahead is the best idea. Also, I noticed some of my problem with eating out is sometimes I am caught up in conversation and eat faster than I should (not even realizing it) or because I am trailing behind others that are eating or being distracted I haven't chewed as well as I would normally. You have to be very conscious of what you are chosing as well as how you are eating. The distractions can cause me to derail. I went out the other night though and told my daughter ahead of time that I need to eat slow so bare with me. Thankfully this time it was uneventful and all went well. I loved being able to order from Applebees under 550 calorie menu and finishing about half my meal.

Good to have goals!! First, typically you know if you need a fill if you are hungry between meals. So I would ask the following a) are you following the eating regimine for being banded (approximately 1000-1200 calories per day, no more than 1 cup of food per meal, and eating 3-4 ounces of Protein to start each meal)? If you are following that and you are finding you cannot go 3-5 hours between meals (based on real hunger, not head hunger) you may need a fill. However, if you are eating more than above and not focusing on getting your protein (approximately 60+ grams per day) that could be why you are not losing. After a couple of years, pregnancy, etc. it would be easy to stray from the guidelines that will help you be successful. If you are following the guidelines and still finding yourself hungry perhaps you could benefit from a fill. Did you get an "unfill" while you were pregnant? Good luck to you!

Glad it is going well for you!! Best wishes on your journey.

Better swelling than pain think of the bright side.

Yes, there is swelling post surgery. First from the gas they blow you up with and also the trauma (hence why you are on liquids, etc... from all the swelling). It will take a while until that subsides. I was having discomfort in my side when I would sit at my desk for the first month after surgery and the doctor said that was normal as everything was still swollen and healing. As long as you don't have any gross drainage or stabbing pain it should be normal. Congrats on your surgery!!!

Oh, I have been there and it BLOWS!!!! First, how big were the bites? Even if I chew, chew, chew... if I take too big of a bite (even an inch size) I have that issue. Also, I really have to wait in between bites. Sometimes I wait too long to eat and am hungry so I chew and chew and grab the next bite without waiting and wham! Also, I know a lot of people seem to have allergies in full swing this time of year and I have heard some mention that the drainage, extra fluids, etc. make their band tighter. Not sure if that may be part of why you are having more issues now. Good luck and have a fun-filled liquid day!