aubrie

DITTO!! I used to be hot and miserable all the time , and I usually sweat like a pig. Now I'm cold and miserable all the time. I wear a coat at work. It's like a meat locker here. My fingers and toes are always numb and now I sleep with TWO blankets.

I am more confident in myself I am more interested in sex with hubby I have tons more energy I look like my old self of years ago My blood pressure has gone down I can wear CUTE clothes again I no longer require injections in my arthritic knees I'm cold all the time instead of sweating like a pig I look nice with short hair I'm more comfortable in my skin I sleep better now that I can breathe I'm happy with two bites of No No foods I actually enjoy exercising again

Sometimes I just don't understand my Dad. I'm doing so good. I can't beleive he sent me this quote. I think it's sad. He's got diabetes, doesn't take care of himself, is grossly overweight, his legs are black from lack of ciruculation and I see him losing his legs before it's all over. What the hell is he thinking? Why would he want the same for me?????? "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a great Holiday Season!

I attempted it many, many years ago, but it wasn't due to obesity at the time. As I grew in size and got more disgusted with the person looking back at me in the mirror, my knees, back and hips ached constantly from the weight and I needed shots to relieve the pain, I ended up with high blood pressure, I couldn't dance, kayak or hike anymore, my husband wasn't interested in sex anymore, I HATED the clothes I had to buy, etc., etc., etc., I entertained the thought and fantasized about it, but having tried it once, I vowed NEVER to attempt it again. I remember laying in the ambulance on the way to the ER realizing what I had done and begged God to give me another chance. We made a deal and I'm keeping my end of the bargain!!

Congratulations!!! That is truly an accomplishment and a new life.

I would think bison would be better than okay. It's leaner and doesn't have all that hormone crap in it like commercial beef. I do fine with red meat like lamb and beef. I have a problem with chicken. It's to dry. As for organic, yes, I buy it as much as possible. FRESH. Sometimes what I want or need is unavailable, and I purchase regular, and sometimes it's so expensive I can't afford it, but it does taste better, especially organic milk and dairy products. Unfortunately we don't have a farmer's market here for locally grown, but I buy it as it's available. I eat a huge variety of every color and texture of vegetable and fruit. As far as making changes for the better, I eat real butter (preferably organic) instead of nasty margaine when necessary, I cook with olive oil now, instead of canola. I try to eat fish (seafood) at least 3 times a week and take fish oil for the Omega-3s. I take Biotin for my hair, and Calcium for my bones since I'm now approaching 50. I eat very little out of a can and have substituted brown rice for white, sweet potatoes for white and whole grain Pasta for white, and 100% whole wheat bread for white. I eat fresh berries of some kind every week. I take 1 oz. shots of Acai berry juice with mangosteen daily. When I eat right and balanced, I don't seem to crave the yucky stuff so much so my will power is easier to manage. the biggest change? I went from ZERO exercise to 3 or 4 times a week. I prefer Water aerobics, but lately I hate getting in the pool when it's cold. So I walk. My blood pressure is back to normal, I've reduced my dose of synthroid and eliminated my risk of diabetes. Life is good. Thanks to my little internal friend.

Of course I'm making cookies!!! That's the point of the band. To be normal. I'm not going to let my family suffer because I can't control myself..... LOL I have a plan. I will make the cookies and I will have a zip loc bag for me with MY name on it. I put two cookies in. That's one serving. No more. I'm going to put a bow on it to make it festive, and that's my gift to myself. I can hang it on the tree or put it in my stocking or eat it right then and there, but that's all I get. I refuse to be left out of family holiday celebrations. That's not living. I will also at least taste each dish on the holiday table. I may have to exercise an extra day or two but so what. That's how I'm managing my new life.

Hate to tell you but everyone is different. What is well tolerated by one isn't for another. You're going to have to do trial and error for a while. You may not want to try that in a party atmosphere. Egg drop soup and soft cooked veggies should be somewhat safe. I'd try eating some Chinese a day or two before you go and see what you're okay with. would hate for you to have your first PB episode in public!!

hummus or peanut butter in celery sticks cheese cubes crustless spinach quiche (Weight Watchers cookbook has a great recipe) fruit with FF yogurt dip tuna salad and trisquits dry roasted nuts lettuce wraps with FF chicken salad

I am very confused and puzzled by the term "glycemic index". Could you please explain (define) and how this can help a bandster?

Many facilities that do LapBand surgery will also offer a support group for their patients. My hospital and surgeon does. I went for several months after having this done. It helped me see I wasn't crazy for feeling this way, and hearing different issues and problems and how others dealt with it. It was beneficial for me. There were a lot of bypass patients in my group so that was a bit intimidating as they were not very accepting of lap band, but the issues were the same regardless of the choice of surgery. See if there is a support group in your area. My city has two of them. For me it was only $10 to attend a two hour session once a month. It was very affordable. They meet on my exercise night now, so I don't go much anymore, but it sure helped early on.

If you're a self pay, you don't need his "permission". If you have other co-morbidities, get other doctors to help you if need be. All of my doctors supported me on it, but I needed their help with my insurance. So I got letters from my Rhuemetologist, my Cardiologist, my OB/GYN and a nutritionist. It worked like a charm. I was denied twice by my insureance. It wasn't until I did this that they were finally convinced. I suggest you get a new primary care physician. It helps when they're supportive. Mine checks my B-12 levels, helps with constipation issues, etc. I'm constantly amazed at the number of doctors that are completely ignorant regarding LapBand. When I went to my rhuemetologist, she was on vacation one visit. Her back up physician saw me. When she noticed in my chart that I had a LapBand, she was curious. She had never had a patient with one so she wanted to see my scars and examine my port etc. She must have asked me 30 questions. After our discussion, she was EXCITED about it. so just chalk up your doctor's reaction to ignorance. Even though my primary care doctor supported me, he has been dumbfounded at my success. He didn't think I would have this level of success. so now he's recommending my surgeon to many of his other patients.

I'm down 69 pounds. Had a gallbladder removed in between and had to start all over...... but we moved past that. I feel great but am stalled at a plateau at the moment. I have about 40 pounds to go. I'm healthy and enjoying life again on mulitiple levels. Improved self esteem, making friends, enjoying sex again, doing new things like kayaking. It's a new world!

I've been banded for 13 months and have had this problem since day one. It's a constant problem and I have to attack it more that I would like. My surgeon wanted me to try and do it naturally if I could so he gave me the following tips. For the most part, they work okay, but on occasion I have to resort to Dulcolax stool softeners or M.O.M. 1. Stewed prunes before bedtime. Put several prunes in a little bit of Water and bring to a boil. Let cool. Eat the prunes and the juice before sleeping. (Sometimes I leave it for Breakfast and pour it over some cottage cheese. 2. Eat several sections of a grapefruit per day. Be sure to peel the pithy skin off the sections or it could get stuck. 3. Up your water intake, and reduce any consumption of alcohol if you drink. 4. If you're doing high Protein without any Fiber, you're going to be constipated. Add some whole grains to your diet. 100% whole grains like brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread or Pasta, etc. if you can tolerate it. I don't have a problem eating whole grain products. Just the slimy, gooey, white flour ones. Doc said in an EMERGENCY to use M.O.M. If I still had troubles he preferred I used the Dulcolax stool softeners. I know in my head that I eat a lot less than I used to, but it's still difficult for me to accept the tiny little bowel movements I have. It just seems strange. I have to keep telling myself that volume is also part of the reason I go less often, but still..... I just feel better when it's regular.

I don't over do the protein either. I eat a balanced diet. I eat my little protein first and then my veggies etc. If I cut back on my veggies and fruit, my bowels bloat up, I'm constipated and MISERABLE. I have to have the 5 servings of produce. I do eat protein three times a day, but I don't obsess over it. I don't weigh it, measure it, count grams or any of that stuff. I was obsessed with food before banding. The point of the band for me was quality of life, and that included not obsessing over that kind of stuff. Half the time I can't finish what I would have measured out anyway, or on occasion it comes back up, so what good is that? It becomes an exercise in pointlessness. I'm happy, my blood work says I'm exceptionally healthy now, so I just go with the flow. If I had to choose a motto, it would be VARIETY

Exercise is what bumps up your metabolism. Your body will adjust to the food you eat if you don't exercise. I didn't read where you started back exercising after your surgery, but you're not going to get very far without it. You'll start losing once you add that back into the mix. Start walking right away. That shouldn't bother your shoulder. That will take some time. Good luck and don't give up.

I don't have the recipe with me, but if you google it I'm sure you could find it. Try a salmon mousse. It's delicious. It's very high in protein and low in calorie. It's wonderful on a whole wheat cracker. It's smoothe and easy to go down, as well as very pretty on a holiday table.

I have had no real problems with ground beef or any beef at all for that matter. I eat meat loaf, spaghetti sauce, hamburger patties, stuffed eggplant, etc. without a problem. I love steak and eat it about once a week. It actually goes down easier than the hamburger. My problem meats tend to be white meat chicken and dry fish. It's more a problem with the dryness. I have to eat it VERY slow. On the times I've PBd, it's usually had something to do with chicken. It doesn't happen all the time, but it does on ocassion. Especially if I'm really hungry and eat to fast.

I'm so PROUD of all of you!!! Kudos to you all. As for me, I was weak, I grazed all day, I ate the left overs, I ate pie, I didn't exercise. I suck. So I'm pretty down on myself and up on the scale. FOUR pounds!!! I just want to cry. It takes 3 weeks for me to lose four pounds, and 5 days to gain it. My pants are tight today. Send me your good vibes. I need them.

I've gained 4 %*$#ing pounds since the 21st!!! I'm so disgusted with myself. I didn't realize how sick to death of tuna I was until I sampled the gravey, pumpkin pie, buttermilk pie, stuffing, etc. And the leftovers!!!! You open the fridge door and they fall out on top of you!! Lord help me.......

I got on the scale this morning and groaned. I have gained 4 pounds in one week. My surgeon wouldn't give me a fill the last time I was there as he felt I was doing good. Now I'm almost to ashamed to go back and tell him I REALLY REALLY need one. It felt so good to eat all the yummy food. I hadn't realized how sick to death of tuna fish I was until I ate turkey, dressing, gravey, pumpkin pie. It was like heaven. I should have given all the left overs away. I snacked on them for days. I'm so disgusted.....

Low fat, low calorie the week before and liquids two days before. That's it.

I do just fine with sushi except the black seaweed they wrap it in. I do better if it has a spicey sauce over it. It keeps the rice from being so sticky. Funny though.... my band surgeon IS Asian and he had a fit that I still ate sushi. He said it's dangerous, loaded with creepy crawlies, and even he won't eat it. He was raised on it, but won't eat it now..... Made me think twice before I ate the next time.... But DAMN it's good!!!

I stay FAR away from artificial sweetners, so my tea has to have a good flavor all it's own. My preference? I love peppermint tea, orange spice tea and I also like to cut a few slices of ginger root and pour hot water over it. I love the aroma! I add just a touch of honey if it needs it and sit by the fire. HEAVEN.

I was told only tylenol. No ibuprofen. and only ocassionally. Didn't say anything about liquid, but I DO like the wonderful idea of freezing the gel caps!!! what a GREAT idea. I'll have to do that.