aubrie

I'm having the same thing!!! Except my stomach is making horrendous noises. It sounds like a war in there. I had a few bites of chicken salad on Saturday, and about 45 minutes after eating it, my tummy started to hurt. Then is got progressively worse until I was in excrutiating pain. It was awful. I sent my husband for some gas-x. It took about 20 minutes but I finally felt better. But I've had unusual amounts of gas for the past 4 days. What's up with that? Are we doing something wrong?

Respect is something that is earned. Some people feel that old people deserve "respect". In my opinion, they are no different than anyone else. If they've earned it, by all means give it. If they haven't, don't waste your precious energy on it. You don't have to be mean back. Just avoid them. Explain what you need from them. If they can't give it, then no reason to feel guilty. You've done what you could. We can't "fix" everyone.

My doctor does NOT recommend the high protein low carb, but he DOES recommend that the carbs be a high glycemic index or complex carbs. He recommends brown rice and no white, sweet potatoes and no white, 100% whole wheat bread and no white, whole grains etc. The body processes these differently. they don't turn immediately to sugar. They take longer to digest and therefore you are satisfied longer. It doesn't take much. It seems to make a difference to me. My nutritionist said the same thing.

At the health food store I found some soy chips. they look like a rice cake but have WAY more flavor. they come in BBQ, white Cheddar and cinnamon. they are delicious, low in calorie, low in fat and HIGH in protein. They are by Paul Newman, or Newman's own or something like that. Not a bad deal.

I just recently got into a 14 myself. It feels SO GOOD. You go girl!!

OMG!!!! That is just heart wrenching. I just watched "Marley and Me" this past weekend. I guess a lab can be pretty hyper and curious. Poor thing. Such a sweet movie.....

I'll be 50 in June. No problems here!!! Sex is awesome again, and I'm even trying NEW things. I've been married to my current husband for 19 years and it's like being a newlywed. Amazing the difference 75 pounds can make. I'm more flexible, more energetic, more playful, more innovative and MORE INTERESTED. Hubby is on cloud 9. Age is a non issue. You're as young as you feel. My husband says I'm like a violin.... the older the instrument the sweeter the music. Isn't he a doll????

I'm married, so I don't date around (just my husband, which is great now by the way) but I wasn't TRULY comfortable having sex with him until I got to a size 16. I couldn't feel "sexy" until then. I'm in a 14 now which is a little to big, so we're still making progress, but the effect the size had on my "psyche" was incredible. We now have "dates" all the time, and I'm LOVING IT!!

WOW ....Kudos to you for bravery. I have to give credit to anyone willing to try and kick two addictions at once. I wish you the best and admire you greatly.

Have FUN doing other things. Start some new trends.... Drink lots of water or protein water if you get hugry, and bring your own snacks. Then you won't feel left out.

I got gallstones after I had surgery (about 9 months after) and that hurt like living hell. They took out my gallbladder, but I ended up with stones in my bile ducts as well and had a second surgery two days later. It was miserable and I had to be totally unfilled. Took several months to get back to where I was. Frustrating. I too have pain under my ribs on the left side. To high up for a kidney. The pain goes around to my back. It used to be sporadic, now it's 24/7. Going to doc on Friday.

I was miserably cold for about 5 months after surgery. I'm still not the sweating bag of wilt that I used to be, but it has evened out a little over time. I still have my "bad days" but it's better. I used to keep my house on 68 now I keep it at 73 or 74, or 76 with a fan. BIG difference.

Sweet potatos? couscous? Tabouli? hummus? squash? avocados? Invest in a good solid blender. Keep veggie or chicken stock on hand to "thin things out a bit" and add some flavor. What kind of veggies, fruit and Beans are common to the area. Let us know and we'll supply some ideas.

I opened a thread on this subject just a few weeks ago and didn't get any answers, so I'm glad to have a few people to bounce some ideas off of. I'm almost a year and a half out. This pain started about 3 months ago on and off. It was sporadic. Now I have it 24/7 at varying levels of intensity. It started out up under my ribs, under my left breast. If I didn't know better I would swear it felt like my band was baning into my rib cage. Now the pain has moved around to my back as well, up under my rib cage. At first I thought it was my kidney, but complained to my OB/GYN at my annual exam and he told me it was to high up to be my kidney. He thought it was my lung or stomach. I don't think it's my lung. So it must be my band. I complained about it to my surgeon a couple months ago, and because I wasn't vomiting or have any blood in a PB or stool, he wasn't concerned. It's not an excrutiating pain. It more like a dull to moderate ache. Seems to ache a little more if I drink or eat. I go to the doctor on Friday, so I will let you all know what he says.

My tummy apron seems to be improving somewhat. I've been surprised. But no improvement on my upper arms and upper thighs. They are frankly.....disgusting. I'm turning 50 in about 6 weeks, so I'm not as young and elastic as I once was. It's even showing in my face. It's sagging a bit. I think that hurrts worse than anything because I'm aging at an accelerated rate. I have been told though, NOT to consider surgery until 1 year after I reach my goal weight. Your skin continues to adjust during that time. It's a slow process. Some places that may appear horrible now, may not be so bad then. So I'm going to be patient and wait. IF I did have PS, it would be on my arms and a face lift. I can cover my thighs and tummy.

I remember a point in my weight loss journey, where I watched others eat and thought, "if only". Now I'm actually grossed out by the amount of food other people eat. Your perspective changes over time, and yours will to, "I hope." Not to be ugly, but it sounds to me like you have a very healthy case of DENIAL right now. That's okay. It's early in your journey. You're basically a newbie. In 8 months you may feel differently. I also think it's rather insulting for you to think that Europeans are SO DIFFERENT that they won't understand eating healthy portions, won't understand you have health issues, and won't understand personal preferences. It makes them sound like insensitive beasts. I hate to break it to you, but they DO have bariatric procedures in Europe. LOTS of it. It's about as common as it is here. They don't attach the stigma to it like we do here either. I think you are grossly misjudging them. You also may be imagining and magnifying these "cultural differences" in your own mind. My experience with Europe is that they are not that different from us. In many ways they are more progressive than we are! My suggestion is to tell your hosts well in advance of your trip. You may be pleasantly surprised at how accomodating they may be when you arrive.

DITTO!!! I still have a way to go yet, and I'm constantly bombarded with that question. At age 24 I weighed 115. I DID look sick then, but looked GREAT at 125. At my age, I have no desire to be that weight again. I'll have a lot of excess skin too, so 135 to 140 is just fine with me. that is NOT "to thin". But everyone else in the world seems to think so lately. I was comfortable at 135 after having babies, so I know I will be comfortable being there again. Is my weight really anyone's business but my own???? goodness, people are funny about stuff like this. It IS irritating.

When everyone around you at the movies is eating popcorn and you can smell it, and all you have is bottled water........ Say, "I'm doing this for me!"

Me, my surgeon and my nutritionist are NOT supporters of Atkins, but yes you do need to make sure you get enough protein. I too have trouble with meat as well. I can get down most anything, but 90% of the time, if I get stuck, meat is the culprit. I have found that dry meat is the worst. I buy organic, fat free gravy at the health food store and keep it on hand. It helps. Don't forget, cottage cheese, beans and some nuts are also sources of protein. I also buy high protein milk now. Just for insurance. Cook your meat slowly and at low temperature. (Like a pot roast, pulled pork or oven brisket) It seems to break it down a bit more and makes it easier to chew and digest. I also choose soft fish like tilapia instead of firm dry fish like swordfish. I like my veggies crisp for the nutrients, but if you cant eat them crisp, cook them a bit longer and save the pot liqour or "broth" to make soups and gravies with to moisten your food. Just some suggestions.....

I was on anti-depressants for years. Most of them didn't work well for me. Zoloft being the worst. I couldn't have an orgasm to save my life, and that was even MORE depressing. I went about 8 years like this, and had gained a lot of weight in that time (thus the need for the lap-band). But I finally found an internist who thought I had been misdiagnosed. He started me on thyroid medication even though my tests were perfectly normal. Within two weeks I felt like a new person. My husband had his wife back. I was no longer a zoo animal. The doctor couldn't explain it. My tests results for thyroid were exactly the same on the meds and off. No difference. We just kept going with it. That was 13 years ago. I've on occasion had to take an anti-depressant like Wellbutrin for a couple of VERY brief times to get me through some life crises. As it turned out, my body produces some kind of enzyme that causes unreliable thyroid test results. My sister has the same thing. But I tell you what, when I think of the hell I went through all those years only for it to be a thyroid problem....... It was so easily remedied. Please, have your thyroids checked.

Gosh, that depends on so many things..... I'm at 5.5 CCs in a 10CC band and I feel I'm at my sweet spot for now. I know it will loosen a little as I continue to lose weight, but my band is fickle. Sometimes I can eat two cups of something. (RARELY I assure you) but usually that will be something easy to eat like soup or oatmeal. I normally eat about 1/2 to 1 cup of food. That's where I'm supposed to be. but if I'm upset, nervous, worried, sick or just after a fill, I can only eat 4 or 5 bites. I know some people are restricted in the morning, but I seem to be okay there. I can eat a 4 oz. snack cup of cottage cheese and three strawberries and feel fine. I can eat a little more in the evenings, and sometimes it's hard not to. It also depends on WHAT I eat. Meat is more difficult, and I can't eat a lot of it. I do much better with veggies and fruit.

I recommend making meat and vegetable stock and keep it on hand. Canned is okay, but it's high in salt. Then when you need to thin out your puree mixtures, the stock will help with taste. Spaghetti sauce in the blender with ricotta cheese is pretty good if you like Italian. I was partial to butternut squash. Refried beans with stock, a little salsa and low fat sour cream is good too!!! I LOVE avocados. They were always easy.

I agree. DON"T DOUCHE!!! for UTIs there are a few other things you can try. Drink cranberry juice every day. Doesn't have to be a lot. One glass will do. NOT Ocean Spray juice "Cocktail". It MUST be 100% unsweetened juice. It acts like an astringent to the bladder. The acid in it makes in near impossible for the bacteria to cling to the lining of the bladder. This way it doesn't collect and multiply. Drink lots of water before sex. Makes it a bit uncomfortable, but it also helps you pee and flush the urethra afterwards. Also rinse and wash immediately afterward. Yes....pain in the ass I know, but it helps. (I invested in some of those little peri-bottles like you get at the hospital after you've had a baby) Avoid harsh soaps "down there". You want to avoid irritation of any kind. Again, the bacteria can't collect and multiply. Do this ESPECIALLY if you use things like Astroglide etc. or engage in oral sex. Avoid feminine hygiene "deoderant sprays" and baby powder down there. Drink a lot of water during the day. Wear cotton crotch panties during the day and don't sleep with panties to allow it to "breathe". Avoid pantyhose if you can, espeicially in the heat of the summer. Eat yogurt or pro-biotic or take acidophilus daily. My doctor recommended all these things and I thought he was a kook. But over time, the infections got less and less, and now I haven't had one in years.

I don't look at carbs that way. I'm a beleiver in HEALTHY carbs vs. empty carbs. I tend to look more at the glycemic index. Even my surgeon recommended this. I still eat carbs but have substituted and am FIRM or eating brown rice instead of white, sweet potatoes instead of white, 100% whole wheat bread and Pasta instead of white, whole grain cereals, etc. Your body burns them differently and processes it differently. These are your main sources of B Vitamins, and this group of vitamins is vital to good health and a balanced diet. Got to: www.glycemicindex.com or do some research on it. I think you'll be surprised at what you find......

Centrum makes a good chewable, but they can be expensive. I was shocked when my surgeon recommended Flintstones chewables!! I thought, "He has to be kidding". He wasn't. I compared their nutrition with other Vitamins, and they are right up there with the more popular varieties. They are a lot less expensive, and seem to taste a little better. I tried the Bariatric Advantage Watermelon and they were HORRID!!! I still have half a bottle in my bathroom that I couldn't gag down one more day..... LOL Doc recommended calcium citrate as well, and I found a petite size that is easy to swallow. It hasn't bothered my band yet. I had my blood work done 6 months out, and 12 months out, and it was perfect, so I guess it's all working.