aubrie

First, I have to agree with Jachut. It's going to be REAL difficult to lose weight effectively eating frozen dinners and prepackaged foods. Part of your committment will have to be cooking and eating healthy. to help with your dilemma.... Our fish market has fresh fish that is already seasoned. they have habanero/peach, lemon pepper, cajun style, etc. I buy these, and either pan fry them in some PAM or olive oil, or throw them on a pan and bake for about 15 minutes. Add a salad or a steamed veggie (5 minutes) and you have a healthy meal. It takes all of 20 seconds to cut up a zuccinni, cover with Water, sprinkle with salt and bring to a boil for 3 minutes. Drain and sprinkle with garlic powder. Cooking doesn't have to take hours of time. something that takes time to bake, I shove in the oven and go about my business doing other things for an hour. Washing dishes, paying bills, getting my clothes ready for work the next day, feeding the dog, watering my plants, etc. Baked chicken takes about 5 minutes to season and bread it, and about an hour to bake. Simple. Easy, low in calorie, healthy. Sometimes I throw a bunch of things in a crockpot in the morning, and voila, when I get home, it's done. Pot roast with carrots, potato and peas....red Beans for red beans and rice, pulled pork. the list is endless.

My four week fell around Christmas so I didn't go until 5 weeks. At 5 weeks I had lost 21 pounds.

Keep trying on the water, and avoid carbonated soda, for many reasons. The air in the soda may be blowing up your pouch and making the water more difficult. If you can't get water down, you are entirely to tight. Talk to your doctor right away. Dehydration is dangerous.

I am hypo and have lost nearly 75 pounds. I'm 16 months out. At my one year mark I had lost enought that my thyroid levels were a high, so my doctor reduced my dosage of synthroid. He checks it now every 4 months and said as I continue to lose I will continue to have it adjusted. So far I reduced my synthroid medication, I've cut my blood pressure meds in half and completely got off my bladder control medication. The band is wonderful and I feel great! Before surgery, I was convinced I would never lose with the band. I thought with hypothyroidism I was sentenced to a life of obesity. I was wrong. I've been pleasantly surprised.

This is NOT my port. My port is much lower. This pain is up under my ribs on my left side. It started about 5 months ago and was initially intermittent. I told my doc about it and he didn't seem concerned. Said that the band will cause a lot of sporadic twinges. Everything was going well. It's never gone away. Now I have it 24/7. It's not bad painful, just an annoying ache. It hurts when I lay on my left side, take a deep breath, and now the pain is going around to my back, up under my ribs. Just above the kidney area. If I had to describe it, I would swear that since my loss of weight my rib cage is smaller and my band is banging against my ribs. Is that possible? what the heck is going on????????

Well, I'd have to say I fall in the "girlie" category, but I have a potty mouth, and have NO qualms of standing up on my soapbox to bitch. I'll stand up to any man in an argument, and I usually win. I have very stong opinions on things like social injustice, politics run amok, and mean people. I think this came with age. I color my hair out of necessity, but don't use hair "products". I just wash and dry with a round brush dryer. Brush it out of my face and go. I have never worn foundation or powder (it feels so icky) and just touch up with blush, mascara and lip stick. A touch of eyeliner if I'm going out. I HATE lace and frills, but LOVE simple elegance. Satin, natural fabrics and clean lines. I don't polish my nails, and keep them trimmed, shaped and natural. Long nails get in my way. I love heels and used to wear spiked Candies back in the day. (Disco era) Now that I've had my foot crushed and have pins, I stick to the cute, strappy low heels now. This does not stop me from having my toes done. I NEVER go without a pedicure. go figure. I wear toe rings and an ankle bracelet. I'm a sucker for jewelry, and and though I don't wear a lot, or anything heavy or overwhelming, it MUST be real. No costume jewelry for me..... Pearls are my favorite, but don't wear them every day. I'm just as comfortable in a dress as I am in jeans and a sweater, and flip flop between the two. I like to fish from a kayak, but won't sleep in a tent without an air mattress or cot. I'll drive an ATV in the wilderness of Alaska, and stay in a cabin without electricity or heat, but will carry my toiletries with me in a backpack if I have to. I can sail a boat and change a tire if need be. My hubby says I don't have a masculine bone in my body and that I'm ALL WOMAN.... vinegar and all....... thanks baby. that's just the way I like it!!!

I was scared to at first, as I was told not to. I tried a few little bits of hubbies at the movies with no problem on a few occasions. Then one day ate a small bowl of it watching a movie. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. It swelled up in my pouch and was so painful. It was hours before I felt better. So "IF" I ever try it again.... it will only be 3 or 4 pieces.

I am 16 months out and tried my first piece of pizza two weeks ago. It took me half an hour to eat a tiny, narrow slice. It didn't set as well as I had hoped, but maybe that's a good thing. I didn't toss it back up, but was uncomfortable for the rest of the afternoon. I've done okay with a pancake, but only had a few bites.

My hubby is Cajun too!!! Born in New Orleans. We would die if we didn't eat fish. I have no problem with raw oysters at all. GREAT source of pure protein, fat free and delicious..... I live in Corpus Christi, so we have a lot of reefs around to supply them. We are careful about where they are harvested though. We eat a lot of shellfish. Crabs (very easy to eat with band), shrimp, crawfish. My husband fishes on the weekends so we eat a lot of trout and redfish as well. I have the most trouble with this if it's over cooked and dry. Of course we eat a lot of red beans and rice too. I'm of French decent, so my husband was delighted I knew how to cook all this stuff. YUMMMMM

Don't worry. We all notice eachothers losses. You did GREAT!!!! Jealousy can be a nasty state of affairs. Just tell yourself, it's THEIR problem now. Not yours, and SMILE!!!

I was thin once.... About 20+ years ago. so I know what it feels like. I wanted that back. My health was deteriorating, my husband was losing interest, I felt like crap all the time, and I wanted to be normal. Did I want to be hot? Who wouldn't, but at almost age 50 I knew that wasn't likely. Although my husband says I am. Bless him. I just wanted to buy regular ladies clothes. I HATE what they have to offer in PLUS size...... Plus = matronly. Nothing fun. I was sick of it.

No rhyme or reason to it. My band is very fickle. It does what ever it damn well pleases, whenever it gets a notion to do so......

I found a good snack for afternoons. V8 juice comes in little single serve cans. They have a low sodium flavor. It only has 30 calories, is loaded with nutrition, and is thick enough to hold me off until dinner. I'm big on veggies. this worked out to be a perfect solution. I don't get stuck either!!!

No, not during exercise..... and not anymore....... But back in the day...... Oooooo yeah..... When I was in college (the stone age) I wore very tight jeans. If I danced disco on the dance floor in those jeans???? Needless to say I was the "Dancing Queen". I went dancing twice a week, religiously. sometimes more if the occasion came up. I LOVED to dance.

Salt will get me every time. I gained 3 pounds this morning too, but I ate some salty fish at lunch and put a little to much McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning on my lamb chop last night. I puffed up during the night, and hand swollen hands when I got up. I KNEW I would weigh more. Sure enough. 3 extra pounds. I've been drinking water all morning, and now it's going away. It happens. Constipation is also a culprit. If I don't go, I know it won't look good on the scale. You have to consider these things. Drink a lot of water. You'll be better tomorrow.

I was told a FULL liquid is anything you can suck up through a straw. If you cook them runny I don't see why not. Cream of wheat was considered a full liquid for me.

Legally, you are entitled to two breaks. You may have to eat several small meals, instead of one large one. Egg at one break. Veggie at the next break. and some nuts or fruit at the regular 15 minute lunch hour. You may want to contact your local workforce office. they will be up on the disabilities act, and if your band and eating requirements qualify.

Sounds like a narrow or spasming esophogus. Did they check for those?

Bumble Bee makes flavored tuna now that is quite good. I like the lemon pepper flavor. It comes in a small 3 - 4 oz. can with a half dozen small crackers. It fits perfectly in a small lunchbox. I like little sugar free jello cups with fruit. Fresh fruit. The tiny bags of baby carrots. I did good with cold chicken until I hit my sweet spot on restriction. Now not so much. Special K protein bars in a pinch. Boiled, peeled shrimp. thermos of soup. applesauce in the little individual cups. Bon Belle cheese in the little red wheels. crab salad. pickles. Ham cubes. marinated veggies.

Regarding porn, I've told my husband, "I don't really care where you get your appetite, as long as you ALWAYS come home to eat!!!!!!!" And to be honest, sometimes his healthy appetite is of GREAT benefit to me. Sometimes we watch together and we end up having a wonderful encounter. I'm not threatened by it. I'm confident in myself and confident in my relationship with him. He's a man. He's going to look. I'd worry if he didn't find women attractive anymore, because I'm a woman and that means he wouldn't find me appealing either. Then I would worry he had a physical problem or worse. He doesn't lie to me about it, and we don't keep secrets. We are adults and in my opinion are healthy adults and act like it. Granted, if he was chatting with other women, and calling them, then we have a totally different issue. that's cheating and betrayal. If I know he's looking, and join him occasionally, there's no secret, and no issue. Personally, I feel kind of sorry for the women that feel intimidated by a piece of printed paper, or a computer screen. When the interest becomes warm, flesh and blood, then you have reason to worry and even panic. At THAT point, you have been replaced.

I'm 3 months shy of turning 50, so the boob department is a source of depression for me. I had small boobs when I was younger and thinner (34B) and was happy with them. They were perky. Well, at my age, and after a 75 pound loss, they look pretty sad. But I have discovered that a well fitted push up bra from Victoria's Secret does wonders. It puts it all back in the right place. Yes, thank God for foam. BUT..... must add here, I went for a mammogram on the 9th. I went down two tray sizes on the machine. I told the girl I had lost a lot of weight and she made note of it. Apparently, now that they are less dense, they can see more. They found and "abnomality" and I'm terrified. I go for an ultrasound and a "spot compression", whatever the hell that is, tomorrow and I'm chewing my fingernails. Wouldn't that be a real pisser to finally look normal after 20 years of being gross, and then end up disfigured? I'm beside myself. Scared to death. Thanks for listening and letting me vent. I've been trying to think positive. My poor hubby. I showed him the letter from the hospital with the results (Can you beleive the sent me a freaking letter??!!!??) and all the color drained out of his face.

What goes around comes around.....Law of Karma. At some point in his life, this healthy person will eventually know what it's like to be knocked down a few pegs. The wind will empty out of his sails and he will finally realize what you've been through. I just hope it's not to late. This is not the sign of a healthy relationship. I too think there are other problems. When you're older, what happens when you're REALLY sick, and need his assistance and actual care? If he's not willing to tow the rope, that would then be neglect. I recommend calling a marriage counselor and get to the root of the problem. I'm sorry you're not getting the care and compassion you deserve. Hang in there and become pro-active with this.

My first veggies were soft butternut squash, mashed avocados, creamed spinach, whipped sweet potatoes, mashed zuccinni and summer squash, tomato sauce, mashed carrots.

I hope you like curry!!! LOL The little place we go to eat at around the corner makes their curry with chunks of sweet potato. It's delicious, and easy to eat. I've always been able to eat rice, so a little curry sauce over rice and you should be okay. They have a spinach and bean curd dish that would be mushy enough for you to eat as well, not to mention high in protein and iron. Banana and fried plantains should be okay. I think your first week will be a lot of observation on what is available, then writing it down so you can ask for what works elsewhere. Will you be in a big city that may have an American market? Ask around.

they are addictive!! I ate them a lot for a while, until I had to buy them every time I walked past them. Then I knew I had to cut back. Now they are an occasional treat, but yes, they are fabulous, and I do still eat them.