IndioGirl55

if my boss knew i was here as much as I am on some days i would be in big trouble - but my work gets' done... It's funny we have never had a fight on this thread - the Dec gang that Karri and I are trying to school - are in a little tiff with each other... I guess we are just one heck of a group..... The others should be jealous

Karri - I understand completely what you just said and you said it so well, so much better that I could (made me tear up) I had just moved to mushies - i was tired (big trigger for me) and hungry - I said - ok i will make cream gravy over mashed potatoes... I put the bacon in the pan and started to fry it.. I looked at it - said yes this is mushie - but this is very bad for you - you didn't go through surgery to continue to eat this crap - so i just threw it away - my aha moment... Yes, this is a hard journey for all of us - I can say that even the people at work here tell me how proud of me for all my hard work - they know it is my choices and my exercise that have helped me loose the 59.5 lbs in 5 months. Also, I am always talking about my friends and they (my friends here at work) look at me going I don't know that person - and then I say oh my friends from Lapband... That how I refer to you all here as my friends cuz I consider you all my friends even though we haven't met (except for Phyl:p) If you get flamed for any of your tought band love - just let me know i got your back - Thanks for sharing !!!!! xoxox Janet

I for one can eat anything I want and I have restriction - I choose to eat healthy - lots of fish (I like it) veggies - brown rice etc. IMHO the band is a great tool - but it's only that - a tool - the band its self isn't going to make you lose weight - only you can do that by choosing healthy foods - you can't keep eating high fat - high sugar foods - the band will let you eat these things and if you choose to continue to eat in this manner you aren't going to be a band success story. IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% is the bands job once you get proper restriction It was stated if you could do this pre-band then you wouldn't need the band - to a point I agree as the band is a portion control device but that’s all it is - you control the calories - if you want to be successful you have to make a commitment to changing your eating habit and add exercise into your life. It's not that one piece of cake that made you fat - it was eating the whole damn thing. You can still have cake, candy, fried foods - but only occasionally - not ever day. You have to allow wiggle room (not room enough for another person) to live a normal life - but you have to retrain your brain too. The band is no diff than any other program out there - Some will succeed on WW - Jenny Craig - LA Weight - Bypass & Lapland surgery - but there are those who didn't continue with their commitment to change their eating habits and they will not succeed. Again this is my personal opinion formed from the data on the band and bypass - there are people out there that were either banded or had bypass and have put all the weight they lost back on - Why - did the surgery fail (they would like you to believe that it did - but it didn't - the tool worked) it was the person who chose to go back to their unhealthy eating habits. Plain and simple Please make a determined effort to comply with your band and the eating plan that your doctor has given you . It's great that you are only eating 1 slice of pizza instead of the whole thing - but IMHO this is a lifetime lifestyle change and you can't just rely on the band - you need to learn a new healthy way of eating in combination with the restriction if you are going to be successful in the long run. As fat people we have BAD eating habits - these eating habits have to change. You have to do the work too by making healthy food choices and adding exercise. I understand how hard this is – I am right there with all of you - I understand how hard to refrain from eating the junk. I am a fat chick too - I know all the excuses why we can't do thing - it's just too hard - that why you were banded to have the tool to help (operative word help not do it for you) I am working this - and I feel so much better - and I want this for all of you - I want you all to have the "aha" moment.. I understand that we aren't perfect - but understand that we have to change our old mindset and do the work You need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for yourself - it's you who chooses what you eat not the band... If you eat that cookie - then you gotta add extra exercise or reduce your food at your next meal. I didn't gain one pound over the holidays - I did have 5 xmas Cookies and a couple of tamales - but I increased my excercise and watched what I ate at my other meals - this is what skinny people do... I lost 3.5 lbs between 12/15 & 1/2.. It's a proven statistic that people who keep food diaries have better success in their endevors. Are any of you tracting your food intake?? Having good restiction - doesn't equate to making good food choices - You do that not the band... Hope all your fills help you get proper restriction - it does help but you still got that whole head hunger issue to deal with... Good Luck !!!!

Michael Post op fear none - Happy - I finally would have a tool to help me control my portions.. I eat anywhere between 1000 to 1200 calories daily you are a guy so you are going to lose fasters than us women and I bet you can consume more calories too. My only advice - is know that this is only a tool - just cuz you are banded doesn't me you are going to lose weight without working (healthy food choices & excercise) IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% will be the band once you have proper restriction Follow YOUR doctors eating plan - you will want food at time - but you will just have to mustard thru it - the benefits of losing weight far out weight the momentary satisfaction of eating. Head hunger - is our biggest problem - they band our tummy not our brains - just find ways to distract yourself. We are use to comforting ourselves with food - now you can't you will have some issues - but you can work thru them with the knowledge that this too shall pass. This board is a termendous (sp) help - you will find so much support here - read read ask questions. I had surgery on Tues and was back to work on the following Monday (desk job) - port site hurt the most and longest (about 2 week for me) but by day 3 I was feeling pretty good - For me surgery hurt - but they give you great pain meds - I never took any pain meds after I got home (spent 1 night in the hospital) - Gas in your shoulder is the most problmatic - gas x strips are great.. Good Luck on your journey...

Shortgal - I am worried about the long run too... That's why it is so important to retrain yourself that this is a lifetime lifestyle change in eating - if we ever go back to what we considered "normal" we will gain our weight back. Eating healthy is Normal - This is not a diet cuz when you go off the diet you gain your weight back - which we all have done 100 million times before..

I was reading your thread this morning - and you guys don't need to start fighting between yourself - this is your support thread and support doesn't meaning saying it's ok when it's not. Here is some advice from an experienced bander I for one can eat anything I want - I have restriction - I choose to eat healthy - lots of fish (I like it) veggies - brown rice etc. IMHO the band is a great tool - but it's only that - a tool - the band its self isn't going to make you lose weight - only you can do that by choosing healthy foods - you can't keep eating high fat - high sugar foods - the band will let you eat these things and if you choose to continue to eat in this manner you aren't going to be a band success story. IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% is the bands job once you get proper restriction It was stated if you could do this pre-band then you wouldn't need the band - to a point I agree as the band is a portion control device but that’s all it is - you control the calories - if you want to be successful you have to make a commitment to changing your eating habit and add exercise into your life. It's not that one piece of cake that made you fat - it was eating the whole damn thing. You can still have cake, candy, fried foods - but only occasionally - not ever day. You have to allow wiggle room (not room enough for another person) to live a normal life - but you have to retrain your brain too. The band is no diff than any other program out there - Some will succeed on WW - Jenny Craig - LA Weight - Bypass & Lapland surgery - but there are those who didn't continue with their commitment to change their eating habits and they will not succeed. Again this is my personal opinion formed from the data on the band and bypass - there are people out there that were either banded or had bypass and have put all the weight they lost back on - Why - did the surgery fail (they would like you to believe that it did - but it didn't - the tool worked) it was the person who chose to go back to their unhealthy eating habits. Plain and simple Please make a determined effort to comply with your band and the eating plan that your doctor has given you Each Doc's instructions are different - and each patient must follow their doctors instructions . It's great that you are only eating 1 slice of pizza instead of the whole thing - but IMHO this is a lifetime lifestyle change and you can't just rely on the band - you need to learn a new healthy way of eating in combination with the restriction if you are going to be successful in the long run. As fat people we have BAD eating habits - these eating habits have to change. You have to do some of the work too by making healthy food choices and adding exercise. We does understand how hard this is – we have been there - we knows it's hard to refrain from eating a hamburger when you have been on liquids for so long. Sometime some of us just don't understand why people who go through all the hassle of surgery - don't take things seriously - that they don't understand that they are going to have to work at this. I am a fat chick too - I know all the excuses why we can't do thing - it's just too hard - that why you were banded to have the tool to help (operative word help not do it for you) You do have to work - and we want you to succeed - we really do. I am working this - and I feel so much better - and We want this for all of you - we want you to have the "aha" moment.. We aren't perfect - but we understand that we have to change our old mindset and do the work - we want you all to understand this too. You will find alot of us banders giving tough love - we aren't going to sugar coat it - You need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for yourself You wanted sympathy, but what you NEEDED was someone to tell you the truth. We have all cheated all our lives - and that's why we are fat - You aren't going to die if you don't have that cookie - but if you choose to keep eating them you will.. Good Luck on your journies - You can do this !!!

Scigal That's why this site is great - it's not skinny people telling you how to do it - It's other fatties - who understand. Know one understands a fat person like another fat person does - so you aren't being chastized by a skinny person who doesn't understand - but by a fatty who does - remember that during this journey - we only mean the best... You are normal - this is a hard new journey and you have a lot to learn - and this is the best site imho to get the support you will need during your journey..

Kathy - I have a little 3x4 sprial notebook (that i got at Target) that I carry with me. I log my food and exercise in. For me it's easy - i throw it in my purse every morning - then throw it on my desk during the day and on my coffee table at night - I don't have to be signed in anywhere to log my food. I just jot down what I ate - calories & protein grams. I jot down my weight each thrusdays and keep a running total of total lost each week.. example of page 1/2 - Wed yogurt/banana 100 c 5 pt meat 150 18 pt veggies 35 2pt fish 200 28 pt rice 120 1 pt veggie 50 2 pt shrimp 100 10 pt popcorm 100 exercise 3 miles

MrsSmartyPants & Scigirl You are right each Doc's instructions are different - and each patient must follow their doctors instructions . It's great that you are only eating 1 slice of pizza instead of the whole thing - but IMHO this is a lifetime lifestyle change and you can't just rely on the band - you need to learn a new healthy way of eating in combination with the restriction if you are going to be successful in the long run. As fat people we have BAD eating habits - these eating habits have to change. You have to do some of the work too by making healthy food choices and adding exercise. Scigirl - Kacee does understand how hard this is - she has been there - she knows it's hard to refrain from eating a hamburger when you have been on liquids for so long. for some of us - we just don't understand why people who go through all the hassle of surgery - don't take things seriously - that they don't understand that they are going to have to work at this. I am a fat chick too - I know all the excuses why we can't do thing - it's just too hard - that why you were banded to have the tool to help (operative word help not do it for you) You do have to work - and we want you to succeed - we really do. I am working this - and I feel so much better - and We want this for all of you - we want you to have the "aha" moment.. We aren't perfect - but we understand that we have to change our old mindset and do the work - we want you all to understand this too. You will find alot of us banders giving tough love - we aren't going to sugar coat it - You need to step up to the plate and take responsiblity for yourself...

Nicole - Motivation - is to have that dress fit ... Aren't you the one who put the challenge out there for us... So I consider you our exercise leader - is that enought pressure aka motivation You are going to have to send us all some that's a lot lower in calories than beef.. Phyl - soup sounds great !!!! I like to mix my refried beans with the lettuce on my plate when I eat mexican I like cole slaw but I am funny about mayo - I don't know how long it's been sitting out in coleslaw - and sometimes it seems really watery.. So I ususally don't eat it - Just the mash potates - and I don't consider mash potatoes or refired beans as fast food - the other stuff yes - fries onion rings zuchinnee hamburgers - but even kfc fried chicken is is real food - Heck I think a big mac has like 800 calories and with soda and fries it's like 1500 calories - omg that more than i eat in one day.. Ok for your chicken wraps - the grilled ones are 270 calories and the fried ones are 320 calories. I am a del taco girl I love red burrittos - 430 calories and I have had one since surgery and ate the whole thing.. Brandy - My doc said the only reason not to drink it was cuz the carbonation depletes your calicum - I have had a diet dr pepper & ginger ale - I have poured them in a glass and let them sit a bit - and sip - I have never been a big soda drinker - about 1 a month - it's not a trigger for me - but sometimes I want a ginger ale or dr pepper - I alway get diet cuz i ain't wasting 200 calories on a soda - I want food for 200 calories... Ok gang - got my exercise in & made the Kathy's Level 2 challenge Tomorrow @ 3:30 getting tooth pulled so I guess I will be doing very soft mushie for a few days... Well I am starving - gotta put my salmon in the oven - will ck back later

Scigal #1 what was your doctors instructions for post-0p diet. Yes there is a pouch without a fill. I did not get soft food until day 21 and day 31 for regular food... #2 you are healing - you can cause your band to slip by eating like this. I for one can eat anything I want - I have restriction - I choose to eat healthy - lots of fish (I like it) veggies - brown rice etc. IMHO the band is a great tool - but it's only that - a tool - the band its self isn't going to make you lose weight - only you can do that by choosing healthy foods - you can't keep eating high fat - high sugar foods - the band will let you eat these things and if you choose to continue to eat in this manner you aren't going to be a band success story. IMHO 75% of the work is up to you and the other 25% is the bands job once you get proper restriction It was stated if you could do this pre-band then you wouldn't need the band - to a point I agree as the band is a portion control device but that’s all it is - you control the calories - if you want to be successful you have to make a commitment to changing your eating habit and add exercise into your life. It's not that one piece of cake that made you fat - it was eating the whole damn thing. You can still have cake, candy, fried foods - but only occasionally - not ever day. You have to allow wiggle room (not room enough for another person) to live a normal life - but you have to retrain your brain too. The band is no diff than any other program out there - Some will succeed on WW - Jenny Craig - LA Weight - Bypass & Lapland surgery - but there are those who didn't continue with their commitment to change their eating habits and they will not succeed. Again this is my personal opinion formed from the data on the band and bypass - there are people out there that were either banded or had bypass and have put all the weight they lost back on - Why - did the surgery fail (they would like you to believe that it did - but it didn't - the tool worked) it was the person who chose to go back to their unhealthy eating habits. Plain and simple Please make a determined effort to comply with your band and the eating plan that your doctor has given you... You will be the winner and not the food - it feel so good to have power over food and not the other way around. You can do this - you really can - nothing tastes as good as thin feels...

Sounds good Karri - I just look at the thread titles and respond... Help i'm not losing - I ask what are you eating - oh never mind - I know i have been making bad choices.. OMG i just can't believe that one or 2 months out you are making bad choices - heck you went through major surgery for Godsake... and you are going to screw this up too.... oh in the back of my mind - I thought it was the easy fix.. Oh i am going to die if i don't get to eat cookies - come on now no you aren't... Us fat people are just big friggin babies.... Spoiled selfish babies... I can say this here without getting flamed... Like I said before - I was the biggest excuse giver - you can't sh*t a b*llsh*ter like me... Ok I will ck out the December thread...

Phyl - I am with you on the exercise - I have already added to my signature yesterday

Great Poem Phyl Ok I was giving some newbie the following advice .... You are not going to die if you don't have cookies, candies, macdonalds in your life - you are going to die with them in your life. I am an old fat lady - I know all the excuses - and they are all b.s. We can do whatever we put our minds to.... I don't know why we talk ourselves into such nonsense - when have you every read where someone died from NOT EATING junk... On the biggest loser last night we are the most obese country.... What a shame.... Lets all super size it - lets have everything at our finger tips let's sit and play video games - you know what it takes just as long to go to the drive thru and it does to prepare a healhty meal... - heck by the time you drive to where ever wait in line drive back home 30 min is gone - you could have cook in that amount of time and eaten a healthy meal... OK I am feeling very impowered today....

mktzfla So many people want to blame the band for not losing weight - it's not the bands fault it's only a piece of plastic - too bad they can't band our brains cuz thats where the problem lies... We think we are going to just die if we can't have Cookies candies mcdonalds etc. You aren't going to die without these things in your life - you are going to live with out them - eating all that junk was just killing you - ya might have given you some emotional comfort for a moment - but then that turns to guilt - and then you just give up and keep on eating.. I didn't have any holiday treats until I baked xmas cookies w/my grandaughters - i allowed myself 5 cookies - but then i added more exercise to my schedule - I would walk an extra day - and increased my mileage - if I allow myself a treat then I add more exercise.. You will live without eating all those high fat high carb meals and once you get to the right mindset to eat healthy - thats what you will crave. I follow a WW food plan - I get my carbs, meats, veggies and yes sweets (sf pudding & fudgecicles & yogurts) I eat a well balanced menu and I love having the power over the food not the other way around. I am an old fat lady - I know all the excuses as to why we can't do this or that - ya i know it's all b.s. - we can do anything that we put our mind too. Healthy New Years....

For those of you who aren't losing - what is your daily menu like - are you getting in all your protien are you drinking your Water are you exercising. In order for the band to work you must make healthy food choices and add exercise to your life - This is a lifetime lifestyle change - imho 75% of the work is up to you (healthy food choices & exercise) and 25% of the work will be done by the band. It's only a tool - it won't make your food choices for you - if you are extra hunger eat extra veggies - something very low calorie and band freindly.. Good Luck

Port pain last the longest - about 2 weeks for me - I was feeling pretty good by day 3 - was back to work on day 6 (desk job) - Take gas x-strips for the gas and walking helps - I don't remember feeling bloated afterwards - I just did a lot of walking around the house.. Good Luck and Welcome to Bandland..

Peaches - do you watch biggest loser - those who thought that they wouldn't get the big number are the ones who did - you may not have gain 5 lbs... My doc wouldn't fill be on the 21st when I went - but it i think i need just a small fill - i can drink water too fast and was hungry too much for the last 2 days.. but I think some of that is from not staying busy... New Year - Holidays Over - NO MORE JUNK - eat extra veggies when you are hungry - find the lowest possible calorie for your extra food - that's what I do... Take a walk - heck if it just in front of the tv - get up and walk in place - kick your legs - I bought some weights to use while I watch t.v. - Keep up posted on your results Happy New Years to you too..

Mary - I understood that neither your nor big-d didn't have these foods - I was just giving example of how you can still enjoy foods that you like with the band while you are on the liquid phase - for me anyway i rather have homemade and not canned foods. Yes I know black eyed peas good luck for the new years - my mom was from Texas... I was just trying to give a little insite to your new band and what you can expect - Sorry if you were offended ' it wasn't my intent.

From what I have read and what my doc has told me - they don't know why some people lose hair and others don't - I have read where who people get all their protein and take botin - still loose hair. Some say it's the antheisia (sp) some say protien. But there is no real answer as to why. I had a friend who didn't have surgery but did medifast and she lost tons of hair - it usually happens 3-4 months out from surgery - but the good new is - that it does grow back.

BigD & Mellis - Welcome to band land - it's a great place - you could have taken the black eyed peas and blended them - add some of the broth back and have creamed of black eyed pea soup - (i do this with pinto Beans too).... As long as you follow your doc's orders your band should not slip... That's why it's important to follow your doc's diet while you are healing. For each person it is diff what they can and can't eat - I made white bean soup & ham after xmas - I made corn bread muffins (150 c for 1 muffin) and had the soup & muffin with no problems - I follow the WW style of eating plan - I want a well balanced menu - I could never last on atkins. I count calories & Protein grams - keep a food & exercise diary - I rarely ever fry foods - I use to fry everything - I bake - use pam or a tad of olive oil. pecan pie has like 700 calories per slice - so i would look for something with less calories for those times when you allow yourself a treat The band is only a tool - 75% of the work is up to you to make healthy food choices and add exercise into your live - the other 25% is the work of the band once you get proper restiction. But remember they banded your tummy not your head and the majority of the problems lie in your brain not tummy... You are going to have to do a lot of head work for this to be successful. Good Luck

Suzi Welcome !!!!!! 90 lbs gone :clap2: It will be great having you join our gang of banders...

Kara You aren't the only one who has felt this way !!!! That's why I stress it so much to the newbies - I am great at giving tough band love (operative word love) I am a fat person too and I KNOW all the excuses we give why we can't do things.. I was the queen of excuses - no longer. You can do anything that you put your mind too.... Good Luck on your journey - I really find that the band is my interior motivation.... Lifetime Lifestyle changes are also needed. Well I gotta get back to work... Janet

Jackie - this is how I was before the band !!!! I am a tad older than you (you could be my daughter - my son is 36) I get up at 5 a.m. and go to bed - anywhere between 9:30 & 10:30 - Usually don't take naps anymore on the weekends (i use to sleep them away) Even now on the weekends i am usually up 6:30 or 7 a.m. ... My 1st question - is are you depressed??? this is one of the signs - do you have heavy periods that would make you iron defienct - are you getting your b-12??? let us know what the blood test say...

it's a decive that you wear on your arm - it measures how many calories you burn - you hook it up to your computer - input your food intake and then the machine down loads your movement for the day - it show you how many calories you burn... There is a thread on the main page for Bodybugg users - also it's what they wear on Biggest Loser... Cost about $250 - from 24 hr fitness...