IndioGirl55

Hannah I eat 1/2 cup rice every nite with my dinner - If I want a baked potato I take a small/medium size red potatoe and nuke it and eat it. I do watch my carbs - do protein first - but I still allow myself some statches.. I follow Weight Watcher eating plan - I don't count points but do count calories and protein grams.. A typical dinner for me is 4 oz fish baked 1/2 c rice and some squash do you exercise - for me that has been a big help in my weight loss I try and keep my calories between 1000 - 1200 and I exercise 4-5 times a week.. My doc's instructions were low fat sugar free protein 1st veggies & carbs. His suggestion - try and get all your protein in for like Breakfast & lunch and then you will have room for veggie & carbs at night.. I could not live without some carbs - I am lucky I have restrictin and can eat bread (i don't very often) potatoe - rice - Pasta even have had pizza - small bites chew well and only 1 piece. You gotta eat what you want with in reason - this is a lifetime lifestyle change and not a diet per se...

I know you a token athiest so instead of saying prayers - I will keep good thougts that something will come your way in a hurry.. :confused:

Laurend Sorry to read this - the school that you teach at didn't rehire you for this semester?? When does the semester start Monday??? You aren't hired for a whole school year... As my Dad told me when I was let go due to cuts - something better will come along - and it did - I have been at the same job for 29 yrs this year... My best too you - I know that this has to be very hard ... :confused:

quote=Frustrated;673235]Hi I haven't been on since before Christmas and thought I'd come back because I; need; this group. You all help keep me in check and I've been lacking lately. Some of it is self pity, some of it not, but I'm tired of finding excuses so I'm here to get back on track again But I got the all clear to exercise again yesterday and I've been able to get my gym fix (albeit a little more slowly) the past two days. I never ever thought I'd miss exercise I guess that's a very unexpected NSV that I'm proud of Anyway ladies, it's good to be back again and be able to get all my frustrations out. Thank you all. You're the best. Ruby - Glad to hear that you are on the mend and it wasn't worse. 4 lbs fluctuation during the holidays and this medical problem that's not that bad - just think in the past you would have just fallen off the wagon all together and would have gained 10 lbs by now. Plus your body may be retaining water while it's healing What a great NSV Exercise - Now that you can exercise again - those pounds will come off, plus your body is healing so don't over do it too much. Do you know when they will be able replace the implant?? I have a niece who's leaked and she had to get replaced - woke up one morning and one boob was smaller than the other - she replaced both with silicone - she had saline... Which are yours?? What are you doing in the meantime?? Does the doc give you a falsie to put in your bra? Glad to have you back - We are always here for you no matter what the issue is

Sounds good - well i am on my way to the gym - i will be on later.

Jennifer Please define "Normal Eating".. As a fat person we don't eat normal that's why we are fat. This is no diff than any other program out there this is a LIFETIME LIFESTYLE change in our eating if we are to be succeessful in the long run. The band isn't the cure to our issues with food.. What happens when you quit dieting and go back to eating "normal" You gain all your weight back and then some.. Yes I eat normal - just like a skinny person does... I eat 1000-1200 calories a day - I can eat mostly everything - I have 1/2 cup rice with dinner nightly - but I really do try and stay away from too many high carb foods. I truely follow a Weight Watcher eating plan I don't count points or exchanges (i do keep a food diary and count calories & Protein grams) I just eat the correct portion of meat or fish which is 4 ozs - i eat veggie - and 1/2cup rice for dinner - I will still have a fried taco occaissionally or an enchillda - but I have gotten away from high fat high sugar foods. I exercise 4 to 5 days a week - walking on the treadmill 3 to 4 miles each day. I did not gain one pound during the holidays - I did have some xmas Cookies & tamales - but because I allowed myself a treat - I increased my exercise and decrease my calories the next day after the treat - this is what skinny people do - they don't eat eat eat and never exercise. I only pb'd when I have eaten too fast or not chewed well enought The band is only a tool to help you control your portions - 75%of the work is up to you by making healthy food choices & exercising and the band will do the other 25% once you received proper restriction Do I miss eating like I use to? - Yes every now and then - but not much - I am almost 60 lbs pounds lighter than I was 5 months ago and I feel 100% better have tons more energy.. Even with the band I could continue to eat a batch of brownies (the bad stuff goes right thru the band - cookies candy cakes ice cream are easy to eat with the band) but if I continued to eat that way I would still weight 250 lbs having the band or not. Having the band is not guarantee that you are going to lose weight and keep it off - the only person who can guarantee that is you by making healthy food choices and exercising. Good Luck on your journey..

Ali My doc required 10 days full liquids it included cream soups - then 10 days mushies then 10 soft the on 30th regular - so you should be on soft foods if I go by my doc's advice. this equates to anything you can cut with a fork - my doc you are to get 60 grms of Protein in daily (1oz of meat = 7 grms protein) and 64 oz of Water - low fat & sugar free. Protein 1st - then veggies then carbs if you have any room.. If you know nothing about proper nutrition - then I would suggest joining weight watchers on line (don't know if they have meeting in the middle east??) - In my humble opinion WW is the best well rounded food plan out there. Or you can ck with your family doctor maybe he could refer you - your surgeon sound like a butthead - doesn't he care if you succeed or not...

Linda I just put some evoo for those racheal ray fans (olive oil) in my baking dish - rinse my fish - toss in the olive oil - put garlic powder salt & pepper on both sides and bake 350 for about 10 - 15 mins depending on the thickness - did you buy the blue bag?? thats what i use - but be aware that 1 of the packages is 7 oz 340 calories - so I cut mine in about half eat the bigger of the 2 piece for dinner (4oz which is a serving) and take the other half for lunch (3oz) Prior to banding I ate when I was hungry no diff than now really - I eat about the same schedule (B/L/D and on weekend it just depended what i was doing - if nothing i would pig out and sleep and if I was busy doing something i wouldn't think about food)- but the big diff is in the quanity of food I eat and the choices of food along with the exercise. I have never lost this much weight before - I had lost about 35 to 40 lbs before - but it was with the help of drugs ... For me I don't think that the band helps my hunger per se - it just helps with the amount and it is my interior motivation to change my unhealthy way..

Moviejunkie - you have lost an average of 2.5 lbs per week - what's not working you are doing great !!!!! Regaining 10 lbs - that wasn't the bands fault - that was the result of the food choices you made. New Year new goal - good food choices and exercise - those 10 + more will come off if you are committed to these changes - you can do you...

Kagoscuba My doc blind fills - I drink Water as he inserts the Fluid - my 1st fill 9/5 had restriction for about 3 week - 2nd fill 10/24 - same procedure had doc appt 12/19 had lost 17.5 lbs and he said I didn't need a fill - as i could eat and am losing weight - he wants you to eat - I go back on 1/23 and truely i think i only need a tad of a fill - imho i think fills are just as phyicological (sp) as head hunger - Don't get me wrong they do help control portion control - but it doesn't matter if i eat a 1/2 c or 2 cups food - my mind says that I am still hungry - right now i can eat about 1 cup food per meal - and will be phyically full - but still want to eat and i think that just the thought of having a tad added will help me - oh the mind games we play

Abbisgood No water doesn't cut the hunger - i think thats b.s. jmho - but making healthy food choices does - It's great that you and your dh are together on this new exciting life to get healthy.. Good Luck to you & him.

Thanks Nicnaknut.. I try - I am a fat person too.... I am at the same place as everyone else - but have come to the conclusion that there is no easy way out - that if we want to lose weight we are going to have to work at it - period end of story - it doens't matter if we have the band - bypass - or any kind of weight loss programs - it isn't going to succeed if we don't do the work - we can NEVER NEVER go back to our old eating styles or we will gain all the weight back like we have always done it the past. That's what i am trying to get across in my post.. I appreciate the props..... Janet

Longhorn - I see your post while I am crusing the other threads - I thought i was done with Aunt Flo - she hasn't visited since the 1st of 2007 - but this last week i have been spoting... I am lucky though i don't have any hot flashes or other problems from menopause.. I too refuse to be hungry - but sometimes i know that i am phyically full but mentally i am not - that is still the biggest battle for me ... I am a WW girl - so even when head hunger strikes - i just eat extra veggies - I budget my calories to allow for those extras - I think it's all about what works for you... Denise - I really mean it when I say that you, green, bjean (omg where has she been) hrlady, sheri & Michelle (sorry if I missed some others) but these are the 1st that come to mind when I first started my journey here. All of you were so helpful in explaining PBing - slime - how to get a ticker - that this was only a tool not the magic cure to my food issues... This was my main thread when I first joined. You all helped me so very much through my banding - biopsy etc - this thread doesn't get as much action as it use to and I miss it.. I was trying to bump it so that some of the newbies in our age group would read it... I was prepared due to my age - not to lose it as fast as I have - so this has been a blessing - but I work very hard as I know that you do to. Those 10 lbs will come off in 2008

Distant - NO MORE EXCUSES... Get your butt to the gym.. Congrats on the size 6 pants - we want a pic Ok 1/7 is my nieces bday - I will remember now I think i could use just a small one - my last fill was 10/24 - when I went to the doc on 12/19 he said I didn't need one cuz i had lost 17.5 lbs since my last visit -I sorta agreed with him at the time he said I was losing better than most his banders that I was losing like a bypass person. He does want you to be able to eat and I do agree with that - cuz if i could only eat 1/2 cup of food - then my brain say omg a person can't live off that - I still have that mentallity when I am full on 1 cup - I think - you need more food I think my biggest problem still is the head hunger - I was full from fish & rice last nite - but before bed wanted to eat - had 2 bites of prime rib and got that golf ball - knew I wasn't really hunger - just want to taste the food cuz it's good - but the pain of that golf ball makes you just say it's not worth it... My midnite run was jucie (lite crangrape 40 c for 1 cup). So do i need a fill - i really don't know - it is so hard to distinguish between real hunger and head hunger at times - just cuz i'm full phyically - mentally i'm not. I go back to the doc in 3 weeks and as long as I stay busy and get my exercise in I will be ok. This weekend is suppose to be rainy - so that's Soup weather (good for the waist line) and I have an Earth Wind & Fire concert to go to on the 12th - so need to get something cute for that - so might hit the mall on Saturday.. Talk to ya later...

Bert99 - I am not going to kick you butt - but tell you that you need to start seaching for better food choices - they are there you just gotta look and plan Are you on just Clear Liquids or can you have thin creamed Soups - they helped me the most - I made pot of pinto Beans - took the beans out - put them in my magic bullett puree them then add them back to the bean broth - cream of pinto bean Soup.. I found home made so much better than canned stuff. Also, instant mashed potatoe soup made with skim milk and no Water (to boost protein) Throw the Nutella away - I was guilt of sucking on Peanut Butter before i was suppose to - so I just threw it away - if it's not there you can't eat it and your family doesn't need the junk either. "Better in thee (the trash) than in me " On the liquid stage I was allowed sf puddings, yogurts, fudgecicles, creamed soups, v8 juice, and the awful Protein shakes - mushie 10 days out - mashed potatoes, refried beans, eggbeaters (great omlette w/a little cheese) oatmeal, creamed spinach - zuchinne cooked to death and dover sole baked and mushed up real good - pollenta with a marnia sauce with ricotta cheese - check out the food thread there are a lot of good ideas on what to eat.. It is work to find things that are low calories and within your band guidelines - but it can be done - it's not like driving thru the drive thru to get a quick bite - but once you get the rythem of cooking healthy and planing your meals - it will become your new way of thinking - dinner takes me 30 minutes tops - and i eat very healthy... You can do this...

Newimage - I agree the energy is so great - I was sleeping away my weekends before - I don't like exercise - but I know it's key in my weight loss and I do like the challenge - I want to quit at about 1.5 miles but push myself to do 3 and sometimes on Saturdays I will do 4.. It's so great to be able to buy new clothes - I am able to shop in the regular womens section - no more bbw stores. You can & Will do it - Congrats.

BlooEyes Yes I have 1/2 cup of rice almost every night with dinner. but that's about it for my carbs (usually) Today I had dannon lite & fit yogurt with1/2 banana 3 oz salmon and 1 cup spinach & 4 corn tortilla chips the othe half of banana after lunch - I was hungry... 1 clear protein drink 4 oz salmon 1/2 cup rice 2 reduce fat trisket (sp) w/mustard 3/4 oz cheeze 850 c so far and about 75 grms of pt budget for midnight kitchen raid 80 fudgeclice & 1 sf pudding 60 c So That will give me about 990 c for the day & 80 grm of pt and I haven't eaten my yellow crooked neck squash yet cuz I am full from dinner but if i get hungry (mostly head hunger for me at night) i will have some of my veggies.. and I walked 3 mile at the gym tonite I am a WW girl - so that's pretty much the food plan I follow - I have been having snack bag of smart pop popcorn at night lately for that gotta crunch mode I guess I am lucky - as long as I weigh & measure my food (well I don't measure veggies - but i have a small bowl that holds one cup) 1 cup is alot of food in reality but i still disagree that 1/4 of a pint of ice cream is a serving - back with my fat brain 1 pt was one serving now with my band brain I still think at least 1/2 pint s/b a serving) - i don't eat it but heck come 1/4 of a pint - My suggestion - is throw the truffles out.... if they aren't there you won't eat them - i did not have one piece of see's candy over the holidays - in fact the only treats i had were when I made xmas cookies w/grandaughters - i didn't have any of the sweets that were in my office not one... Jello makes a sf double choc pudding which is excellent i eat these when i need my choc fix...

Hey my 50+ gang how is everyone doing?? I see in my cruise the boards that we have alot of new 50+ people out there getting banded and this thread is getting lost. It was such a big help for me - in my reseach of the band - I found this to be the most informative thread and the "Experienced Banders" really were a big help to me. Well - I am almost 6 months out 1/2 lb away from 60 lbs gone and so now I can be an experienced bander too... For all you newbies - start at page one and read forward you will learn so much and us oldies will answer your questions.... This is a Great Thread - it hasn't been as active lately - but if you post someone will answer......

Peaches I am glad that I got you moving... For me it's all about the exercise... I did have a few cookies & tamales during the holidays - I contribute the no weight gain to the exercise. I could eat more food right now but I am really trying not to - I have been losing .5 lbs each week for the last 2 weeks and I would love to see 1 or 2 pounds gone by next Thursday... I am 1/2 lb from 60 total and I would love to lose 5 lbs by my Bday at the end of the month - it would be great to be 185 on my 53rd bday.... I don't know about the cold - since I live in the Desert - but I guess if you have enought stuff to keep you warm I would do it - last night i was watching my tivo of the clash of choirs and when they were singing Celebrate i was up dancing - and I got some weights to work my arms while i warch t.v. You go tomorrow to see if you have a leak or is it next week? I don't find that my band takes away my hunger - cuz i always have head hunger but it does help with the portion control to a degree - i don't know - i really think i could eat more food if i really wanted to - especially bad unhealthy foods. I am just totally in the zone (well 98% of the time) so i don't... I think before I put stuff in my mouth... And if you are able to exercise you should - there are so many our age and older who can't - due to all the problems from being overweight and it will help you live longer and be more youthful... (i know that word got to you :bounce:- that's the real motivator :bounce:

I was quite set on doing it until I read of all the complications everyone has had!! DARLING NOT EVERYONE HAS COMPLICATIONS - I HAVEN'T HAD A ONE (THANK GOD) IT IS VERY INDIVIDUAL - YOU AND I CAN BUY THE SAME CAR - YOURS IS A LEMON MINE IS GREAT - STUFF HAPPENDS YOU CAN WALK OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR AND GET HIT BY A TRUCK TOO.. I wondered if you could help me answer a few questions about Lap Banding to help me make up my mind? 1) Would you do it again if you could reverse time? YES IN A HEART BEAT 2) Does everyone have such bad pain after the op? NO IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL - I HAVE READ THAT SOME HAVE GONE BACK TO WORK THE NEXT DAY - I WAS BACK AT WORK ON DAY 6 (DESK) 3) How long would I need to take off work after the op? THAT'S UP TO YOU - YOUR AGE TYPE OF WORK YOU DO - I TOOK OFF 4 DAY I'M 52 i HAD SURGERY ON A TUES AND WAS BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY 4) Does everyone have problems with bad breath, dry wretching, nausea, vomitting, leaking ports etc? NOPE NOT EVERYONE HAS THESE PROBLEMS - I HAVE PB BUT THAT'S MY FAULT FOR EATING TOO FAST OR NOT CHEWING meat REAL WELL. 5) Why would you have an 'emergency unfill'? CUZ YOU ARE TOO TIGHT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS FOR A FILL TO TRUELY SET IT'S SELF 6) Has anyone had one in Belgium or Prague I DON'T KNOW - WE HAVE A GIRL FROM IRELAND IN MY GROUP 7) Can anyone recommend a good surgeon / clinic in the UK? THERE IS A UK THREAD I SUGGUES YOU LOOK THERE 8) Does it really help much more than trying to restrict portions yourself? IMHO IT IS BOTH 75% OF THE WORK IS UP TO YOU BY MAKING HEALTHY food CHOICES AND ADDING EXERCISE IN YOUR LIFE AND 25% IS THE BAND THAT CONTROLS YOUR PORTION SIZE - THIS IS NOT THE MAGIC CURE TO YOUR FOOD ISSUES... THE BAND DOES REQUIRE WORK ON YOUR PART GOOD LUCK..

Our IT person is my very good gf of 20 yrs - so I don't have to worry about getting caught - heck my producer is always sending me stupid hilary put downs or joke... It's a good thing to make friend with your IT person Hope you knee is better - even as much as I dislike exercising - i think i would miss it if I couldn't... Mango 7th fill - that's a lot - heck - i have only had 2 and he wouldn't give me one on 12/21 cuz I had lost 17.5 in the 2 prior months... I think I could use just a tad - I am eating a little more than I would like... but I go back on 1/23 - so I can hold out until then

Liz You need more protein - my doc says 60 grms daily. you are on mushie stage - do you have Protein powder (unflavored) you can add this to instant mash potatoes made with skim milk only to boost the protien - or refried Beans - get the fat free and add a tad of cheese to it... LEAVE THE HAM ALONE !!!! IT'S NOT A MUSHIE.... Follow your doc's eating plan - at mushie stage I had mashed tatoes - refried beans - dover sole baked and mushed up real good - zuchinne cooked to death - creamed spinance - yogurt with protein powder, shakes with protein powder - eggbeaters (just as good as eggs & half the calories) make an omlette add cheese. creamed Soups - oatmeal (weight control it has less sugar) Drink your Water too - 64 oz.. - go to the food section and look up mushie stage for more ideas.. Good Luck

Peaches - you Canadian's are soo funny - your sense of humor - Green has the same sense of humor you guys make me laugh - brick in the head :bounce: So do you take your shoes off when visiting others

Thanks Becky - I was a little worried about getting flamed for sticking my nose in another threads business - but feel that if someone needs help it doesnt matter what month they were banded in that I should give a little insight that they might not have thought of. I think we all need a kick in the butt at one time or another - it's just to easy to slip back into those old eating habits...

I am so proud of my little girl