phyllser

Hi See if this posts from my Blackberry. Forgot to post this yesterday-- I bought a pair of pants on sale at Target yesterday, 75% off- size 2022!! Have not seen that size in about 25 years!

Important to know...... assuming she's on Medicare.... if the doctor/staff determine that she needs nursing home care, Medicare will pay ONLY IF she goes from the hospital to the nursing home.... not from HOME to the nursing home. At least, that is MY understanding. Can't remember.... you're not in Canada, right?? So sorry that hunger is plaguing you!! Hope the 5 Day Pouch Test will help. When do you go in for a fill?? FYI for all of you: Kashi/Go Lean on sale this week at Target 2/$5 Pharmasure Papaya chewables on sale this week at RiteAid 2 for the price of 1. I want to stock up for winter so I got two yesterday. Today I went back for two more and they only had one. So they gave it to me half price and gave me a rain check for four more. They help a lot when I feel "stuck".

I know us more "mature" folks have a more difficult time losing weight. Exercise is harder. We're not as active as when we were younger. Metabolism may have slowed down. BUT.... we CAN do this! Tomorrow I'm going to start the "Five Day Pouch Test" to see if I can get a new jump start. I know it's really designed for bypass people, but it's been suggested that it can be helpful for LapBand patients who want to make a new start. You can google "Five Day Pouch Test" if you want to learn more. It's basically five days of nothing but protein and progresses from two days of liquid protein drinks, then soft protein, then ground meat, more firm protein, and the last day firm protein like steak, etc. Don, you're a trooper! Plugging along waiting for the government wheels to turn!! Hang in there! it's going to happen SOON!!

Oh, that's STRANGE!! :biggrin::biggrin::thumbup: Are you doing it for a jump start?? Speaking for myself, at least, I think maybe as we approach the 1 yr mark, those of us not yet at goal are feeling a little impatient and frustrated that things aren't going faster... like POUNDS coming off! I'm pretty much committed to starting tomorrow... I told DH, protein drinks only for the next two days. I was going to wait until next week because tomorrow is our Primetimers... free, hot cooked lunch, next day DIL & two GDs coming for lunch, Sunday is a family get-together!! BUT.... you know what... it's always something! So I'm just going to bite the bullet, probably literally, and do this five days starting tomorrow. A week from tomorrow is my 1 yr follow-up, and I want to get a fill.... just a small one probably. Sorry to hear about your Mom.

I printed it up last night. Day 1 & 2: All liquids... protein drinks, etc, but LOW CARB. As many protein drinks as you want. Drink at least 8 oz of water. And try to reduce caffeine. Next three days, eat as much as you want, as often as you want, but must be solid protein and must sit down for 15 minutes only to eat. Nothing to drink 30 minutes before or after. Day 3: Soft Protein... cottage cheese, canned fish, soft fish - grilled. Day 4: Firm Protein.... ground meat, shellfish, scallops, salmon,halibut..grilled, lightly seasoned. Day 5: Solid Protein: White meat, poultry, steak I think I am going to start tomorrow. TOMORROW???

Refresh my memory: when was your surgery? And how long ago was your fill? Is it too soon or another? My surgery was late July. I had my first fill in early September....well, maybe about the 10th. Then I had a 2nd the beginning of October and a 3rd the end of October. Then I had fairly good restriction. We went south for the winter so I didn't have another for six months. That was April. Good restriction now, but I want another "tweak", so I'm going in next week. Sounds like you need to be a little tighter. This is so much easier when restriction is right. So sorry to hear about your son's home. That's so sad. Did they have flood insurance?? We are making our RV site permanent when we get back in the fall... well, we're taking it on a yearly rental rather than monthly. I guess that's not exactly "permanent", but we want to stay longer next winter and anything more than four months, you may as well go yearly. WA state folks from our RV park in CA had a reunion/picnic yesterday, so I faced a few temptations myself! I had a tiny sliver of cheese cake, a small spoonful of potato salad, among other things I shouldn't have eaten! Good to hear from you. One pound a week is okay! I strive for 5# a month. If I can do that consistently, I'm on track. If not, time for a fill!! That's GREAT NEWS!! Isn't that a wonderful accomplishment! Terrific NSV!! Since surgery almost a year ago, I am down to one cholesterol Rx instead of two and my doctor just cut strength on one of my two BP meds in half. I'm pretty pleased with that, too. Keep in touch, everyone!! We need the support and encouragement we get from one another! Us OLD CHICKS & GUYS have to stick together!

Forgot to report.. TOPS weigh in today... we went to the new scale, which is 1 1/2 lb heavier than the old one, so I stayed the same.... which I guess means I lost 1 1/2 lb. But can't change my ticker as this is the new official weight. I feel like I need a jump start. That's why I was looking at the 5 day "pouch test" today. May try that just because.

Several of us are meeting at the Mall of America July 25-28, staying at the M of A Homewood Suites. Interested in joining us???

I printed it up tonight. Day 1 & 2: All liquids... protein drinks, etc, but LOW CARB Day 3: Soft Protein... cottage cheese, canned fish, soft fish - grilled. Day 4: Firm Protein.... ground meat, shellfish, scallops, salmon,halibut.. grilled, lightly seasoned. Day 5: Solid Protein: White meat, poultry, steak

So sorry to hear that your Mom cancelled! Maybe someone else hanging out here will step up and decide to come and share a room with you. We haven't heard from Chim in a while... she was going to come by herself.

You keep bragging about her & we'll ALL be coming to visit!! I want my thighs remodeled!! Hey, GANG.... Maybe we can get a GROUP RATE!!!?? :eek: :tt1: :cool2: :tt1: :tt2: :tt1: :eek:

Welcome, Orea! You've already made remarkable progress. You've obviously already made significant lifestyle changes, especially regarding food! KUDOS!! You're going to do GREAT!! Wow!! I've never heard of such a thing! You've done a great job in not gaining in that situation! Hope everything goes well for you. Be sure and keep us posted! No kidding.... you definitely ought to invest in some lottery tickets!! I would wonder about the doctor's procedures if he's had that happen twice. My DH had a lifetime career in aviation... AF/Boeing, and then got his private pilot's license. As a result, he is a BIG advocate of the CHECK LIST!! Sounds like maybe your doctor needs a CHECK LIST!! Insert BAND.... Engage LOCK...... :eek::biggrin::biggrin::cool2::biggrin::tt2::biggrin::eek: No offense, please!! Just funning you a little! Have to also consider the band itself. Wonder what brand he uses. Do you know? Think that could be the problem??

HEY??!! Where is everyone??? No posts in over a week!! Come out, COME OUT, wherever you are!!!

We're arriving on Friday the 25th & leave on Monday the 28th. YES, you definitely need a reservation for the train. A lot of the trains are already sold out for the summer. Hope you don't have a problem getting a seat! We have a "roomette" reserved from Everett - St. Paul and coming back, from Chicago to Everett.

Talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist about this. Could be the medication you are taking.... some anti-inflammatories will do that.... things like Celebrex, Rx that are taken for arthritis, typically. Some pills are not supposed to be cut in half. Pharmacist could probably have a lot of suggestions as to what is doing it and what med you might be able to substitute. I have a flavorless Whey protein that you can put in anything... no taste, mixes nicely. Susie, I don't understand why your doctor doesn't want to give you a fill?? What kinds of foods are you having trouble with?? All of us have some degree of trouble getting certain things down. Sometime I have a problem with chicken, other times I don't. Band is tighter at times than others. Are you taking very small bites and chewing your food to death. As Denise said, if you tell us what you are eating, what kind of exercising you are doing, we may be able to help. Please don't give up. Are you in a support group of any kind? This is something you have to work at... the weight will not just fall off by itself. I call that "bypass mentality". I think it's probably a lot easier with bypass, but this is a lot healthier. But it does take a total renewing of the mind where food is concerned, and, really, a complete lifestyle change.

GREAT NSV, and I LOVED the "God Smack" story!! I retold it on one of the Christian threads... a lady was lamenting the fact that she was craving chocolate and using it to self-medicate. Hope you don't mind.

Hi, No problem. Don't worry about it. Happily, I'm pretty much out of 3X and wearing 2X, 1X, 20/22. Only 3X I'm still wearing are a few that I can't seem to part with, but they're too big. Hooray!

There is a renewing of the mind that has to take place and it is a process. You have had major surgery.... to give yourself a TOOL to help you lose your excess pounds. BUT, YES, a lot of the work is up to you. YOU have to determine that you are NOT going to give in to the head thing that makes you want to self-medicate with chocolate, etc. YOU have to determine that you are going to get your butt in gear and get to aerobics. You can ask the Lord to give you the strength to do what you need to do, but HE is not going to drag you there against your will. Was it here that one lady talked about the "God Smack" she got the other day. Now that doesn't happen very often, but she said she was at a 4th of July parade and dived for some tootsie rolls being thrown in to the crowd and fell flat on her face! I suggest you DO NOT keep things in the house that will tempt you. I CANNOT have chocolate in the house. If it's there, it will talk to me and I WILL eat it. So.... we have NO Cookies, no chocolate, nothing that will tempt me. Now, while you're beating yourself up, 12 1/2 lb in 2 1/2 mos is pretty okay. The initial post-op period your body is recovering from surgery and weight loss may not be very significant. I started losing better after my first fill. I had three fills in the first three months, then another six months later, and I'm hoping for a little tweak this month at my one year follow up. How many fills have you had? Do you feel like you have pretty good restriction? You're on your way, Kiddo. And you CAN do this! Phil. 4:13

The one I bought is Honey something or other. I didn't want anything that listed "TWIGS" as one of the ingredients! We go to late church, so I have time to read the paper before I go get ready.

You keep talking about that kashi so I bought some today. Might have it for Breakfast tomorrow. I was pretty tight today... popped too much Papaya trying to settle my stomach down, and one little can of pineapple juice. Every time I ate a little of anything, I'd get stuck. Had a small omelet for breakfast, tuna melt for lunch... on one slice of Sara Lee bread, about 4 oz salmon for dinner with 1/2 cup corn. Had 7 crackers & a little tuna for snack tonight. Did 50 minutes Wii exercise. Broke my skiing record, finished tilt table, advanced level, a couple of rounds of soccer didn't go that well.

How about some fat free refried beans with a little salsa on top, maybe even a little cheese??

Yeah, I'm not willing to give up my morning coffee.. drink it black, 1 - 1 1/2 cups. I DID give up my Diet Coke. That was a biggie!!

Congrats! You are welcome here anytime, but we are the July 2007's and the 2008's have some other threads. I read there every now & then & seems to be a very active group. Get your name on their list... they have over 100 July 2008's now.

I don't get the whole caffeine thing. My nutritionist told me no caffeine also. Then when I went for my first post-op, nurse practitioner said, "who told you NO caffeine?? That's not Dr. _______'s policy"! So now I'm back to 1-2 cups in the morning, maybe a fat free, sugar free latte later in the day. Not to dispute what you are being told, by any means... I know each doctor has different "rules", and we must abide by them if we want to be successful. Good to hear from you again. Sounds like you're doing GREAT!!