newjulie

I AM IN NEED OF A CLEAN SLATE. WANT TO START OVER WITH THE PRE-OP DIET, IN WHICH I LOST 40 LBS, AND VERY LITTLE SINCE. AND, I AM 4 YEARS OUT! STILL NEED TO LOSE 90LBS. I HAVE GREAT RESTRICTION, BUT AM NOT MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES. TODAY, I STARTED ON SLIM FAST AGAIN, ASIDE FROM A CUP OF COFFEE THIS MORN. SLIM FAST IS ALL I'VE HAD TODAY, HAD PLANNED ON ONE FOR DINNER, BUT I AM WANTING TO EAT SOMETHING! OH, I FINALLY DID GIVE IN TO FAT FREE YOGURT AROUND 3:30 AND DINNER IS STILL A GOOD 3 HOURS AWAY......HELP!

all of you are absolutely right! I kept telling myself i needed to go back to the pre-op diet to jumpstart, but all previous attempts failed. I've been doing some research and I need to drop the slimfast and eat some real food with protein. I always add ANYWHEY protein powder to just about everything i eat and drink. Since i am so tired all of the time, I'm probably not getting enough. i seldom eat meat, Today I am watching the carbs and cutting out the sweets, . I steamed some brocolli and cauliflower for dinner last night. That's all I ate. Today, I'm starting with coffee to open me up, and later will have oatmeal sprinkled with protein pwd. Tuna is on the menu for lunch. I'm going to start up the water again, cause I never drink enough water. Thanks for helping me yesterday !

sorry bout that, i've forgotten how to move around in this site, lost my ticker and signature block! I have never had a fill that kept me from swallowing food. never done all the upchucks & stuff. I have always been able to eat anything I wanted to as long as i take tiny bites. I realize you have to teach yourself how to slow down and chew & swallow before you shove in another bite. Habits are hard to break. They told us to eat only palm sized portions, but i have never felt satisfied doing that. Always wake up hungry in the mornings. Also, I have had several jaw teeth pulled since, and don't have anything left to properly chew foods , so a lot of my diet is soft foods. the only good thing i've experienced out of this is that after i lost the 45 lbs or so, i have not gained my usual of 10 lbs a year which was killing me! Since I have not been to see Dr.K in a long time, 2 yrs or so, i just made an appt. to get the band checked, probably get a fill.

Where have all our Texarkana Bandsters gone?! This site is where I used to get all my information from and it's where my research on lapband began when i was just in the "thinking about it " stage. Now I am 3 1/2 years out. Haven't lost as much as I thought I would, but probably my own fault. Still make poor food choices. I do exercise, I don't eat much at all, maybe it's my age and metabolism. I sure do need to get motivated! Really, I'm just tired of it all! I'm going to take a look at your site Lo2us, myfitnesspal.com....looking for motivation!

Hello Ladies! don't ever hear from any "gents" on here! Sorry to hear about some of the bad luck some of you are having. We've had a virus running thru our family, everyone has gotten it this past week but myself! I must be doing something right. I have made a personal new goal of losing 20 lbs by Christmas. I've been staying in the box and have been exercising. I've gotten slack on the water drinking, but I'm working on it. Going to try and make the Nashville meeting next Monday. The meetings always motivate me as I nearly always come away with a new revelation!

Wow Sugarbear! You have lost over half of your goal wt.! GREAT JOB!! Doesn't matter how long it has taken, like me, what little you do gain, you take it right back off! I could never have lost what I have and kept if off without the band. No "diets" ever kept their promises! I do the slimfast for breakfast just about every morning, since I leave the house at 5 a.m. Since I have been eating 3 times a day and not skipping a meal I believe that is what helped me lose that 10 lbs, and I am making a conscious effort to "move" a little more.

Hello Everyone, Things have been pretty hectic lately, so I haven't been on in a while. Sorry I missed the event in Houston Sugarbear! I'm sure it was very inspiring. I have been reading back over some of the blogs, there sure are some unhappy campers this summer. :unsure:But, I understand, been there a few times myself. I think for most of us, when we got banded, we thought, "wow, in a year I'll be a size so & so". Then the year came and went and we're only down a few pounds. It truly is a mind game. The band has to stay on your mind at all times. Old habits can creep in without a moments notice. I got a fill about 10 weeks ago, when I went back, I thought I had only lost 4 or 5 lbs and was so happy to learn that I had lost 10lbs.! It's been 2 long years, and only 50 lbs lost. But it sure beats the hell out of gaining that much!! I have no regrets at all about the band. The old rule of staying in the box, works. I have taken up walking at least 15 minutes on my lunchtime. I was really really tired all the time, but got back on my vitamins, Juice-Plus, and am beginning to feel much better. It is so hard to make ourselves a "priority" when for most of our lives we have put ourselves last. I sometimes feel guilty for doing something that is for my sole benefit. But after 56 years, I've finally seen the light....If I don't take care of me, no one else can or will. So I better make the most of it while I still can:smile2: When you decided on this band, you had a goal in mind........Don't lose sight of the end result:thumbup:

Found a new site called Proteinpower.com worth your time!:thumbup:

Good Morning everyone! Had a great weekend! Hope ya'll did too, the weather was certainly beautiful. I worked outside all day both days. The yard looks great, the pool is ready for the grandkids next weekend. Since my last Dr. visit about 3 weeks ago, I've lost 14 lbs. I bought some little dessert paper plates, and those are "my" plates at home. It has really helped me with portion control plus I drink slim fast usually every morning and sometimes for lunch. Those tiny little plates have been a Godsend for me because so many times I would fill up a dinner plate and washing everything down with tea. I don't let my husband set me a glass of tea anymore at meal time, I have been waiting for an hour after my meal to drink.....it's working:) Enjoy yourselves and your families this summer:thumbup:

Hey Blondylocks! Beautiful Boy you have there!!:smile: I have never asked what size band or how much fill I have. I don't regret the band at all, but the aftercare could be better. They have so many patients now, you're lucky if you see the Dr. and not the LPN, and appts are 6wks. out. It's hard to get in. I keep wondering where the cutoff point is and what kind of care am I gong to get, say in 20 years?

Well Hello Sugarbear! :eek: So glad to see you back on here. For a while, everbody just disappeared on here?! My hubby is still not well, still home, not working. He's going to try to go out this week, but freight is very slow and not paying much. Don't know what's going to happen there. I stuck with my slimfast all last week, then over this weekend, I did eat a little for dinner, but started the mornings with slim fast. I've been stretching and doing a few floor exercises. I'm trying! Everyones comments over the weekend have got me motivated to keep trying. I am in the process of weaning myself off of hormone therapy. I've been on it for 28 years. Don't really see the need to get off of it, but the Dr.'s all say I should. When I get off of it totally, I won't be taking anything but a happy pill everyday! Since being on the slim fast for the past week, I feel more energetic and light. Everyone keep up the good work!!:smile:

WHERE IS EVERYONE? I'M STILL CHECKING IN EVERY DAY EXCEPT FOR WEEKENDS. IT'S PART OF MY COMMITTMENT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY SUCCESSFULLY. I'VE BEEN DOING THE SLIM FAST THING FOR 5 DAYS NOW, TRYING TO GET A RESTART. HASN'T BEEN EASY. LAST NIGHT, I PUT A 1/2 C. OF ICECREAM IN THE SLIM FAST AND BLENDED IT IN WITH A SCOOP OF WHEY. I'M GOING TO TRY TO CONTINUE ON THRU NEXT WEEK AS WELL. MY THINKING IS THAT I TOLD MYSELF IF I COULDN'T DO THE SLIM FAST THING FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE I HAD THE PROCEDURE DONE, THEN I WOULDNT BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE BAND BECAUSE I HAD NO CONTROL. INSTEAD FOOD CONTROLLED ME. BUT NOW I AM RECLAIMING MY GOAL. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU OVER THIS MEMORIAL WEEKEND, STAY SAFE & GOD BLESS:thumbup:

Good Morning Friends, I agree tpagern,,,this is definitely more of a head game than anything else. Breaking old habits is really a challenge. I know it can be overcome, we just have to old on to that image we want so badly. When I was younger, 20's & 30's, wt fell off rather easy, but now I can just think about food and gain wt. I have lately finally realized that the band being referred to as a tool is more than just words. I've been eating healthy foods, but because I enjoyed them so much, I'd drink with my meals so I could eat more. Which is self defeating. To put things more into perspective, Betty said each meal, 3 times a day, was to be no larger in serving size than the palm of my hand. Last night I discovered that a wide mouth fruit jar lid is the same size. That is not very big at all, but for the first time I finally realized just how much I have been taking in. I hate counting calories, so I'd just eat a little of this or that, but condiments really add up and I was snacking on 5 to 8 marshmallows because they were fat free, turns out just 4 have 100 calories. Mindless eating for me has ended as of this past Monday, and no more tea with meals.

thanks for the comeback Lo2us. Your words were encouraging. It's been tough today to stay with the liquid diet. I'm doing as Ms.Betty suggested, "when you want to eat, drink instead." Everyone around me eats at every break and they graze on junk all day....sure makes it hard! But I'm keeping a mental picture of myself that was taken about 15 years ago at my target wt. I'm GOING to get there!!

Good morning friends... As I stated yesterday, today is a NEW start for me. I've been pretty laid back for the past year. Summer is here and I look the same as I did last summer:sad: I put off going to the DR. because I am so ashamed of myself. Yesterday I just had to face the music and hold myself accountable for my own failures, so I braced myself for the visit. I was so humiliated when I left. :Banane01: The LPN just left me feeling like a child that was accused of lying to her mother! No respect there. :purplebananna: Then Ms. Betty came in and after our little talk, I was pushing down a tremedous lump in my throat. Finally Dr. K came in and gave me a fill. After all that I went home feeling quite down, I also had gained 4 lbs. But....I drank about 3/4 of my slim fast, showered, did a few exercises and went to bed. I am motivated to get with the program more than ever now. Not only am I failing myself, I am failing the people that are watching me to see if I succeed or not before they make their decision for LB. Jump in here friends,,,,we need to talk!! :Banane33:

Good Monday Morning Everyone! I've been thinking if we all started talking again here on this site, it would probably help us as far as the "mind" games go. It does help me, and I've decided that everyday I come to work, the first order of business is going to be for me...and I'm checking in. One thing I have done as far as portion control goes, is I have started eating from a smaller plate. I know I can get more if I "want" it, but for the most part, I am full. The control part comes in when I have to decide if I really want one more bite, just because I want to savor that flavor or texture a little longer. I can be thru before everyone else because I ate so little, I can't drink so what am I supposed to do while everyone else is still enjoying the meal?! To answer that, I've realized I have to be diligent and conscientious of every single bite, chew it slowly and keep it in my mouth until there is practically nothing left to swallow. I can't let myself get so wrapped up in dinner conversation that I eat mindlessly. Everyone Remember! It's never too late to "try again"!! We CAN do this:thumbup: ALIGMAMMA!!~CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TWINS!!:laugh:

I hear ya Tpagern!! i know all the things I am doing wrong, but 45 years of bad habits is "really" hard to break!! I do lot's of things without even thinking about it until it is too late. I am a stress eater, grazer, etc. My spouse is thin as a rail, he's been lying on the couch "sick" for almost a year and a half now. I work and stay busy constantly. Even when I do everything right for weeks at a time, the scale won't budge. I don't even get on it anymore. I am going in Monday, maybe for a fill or a "chewing". If I get a chewing, it will be the last time I go, done received one of those. I know a fill is not the magic answer. The answer is inside my head. I can "finally" visualize myself thin again, and I know that is a step in the right direction. Family reunion is in July, the pressure is really on now to lose some more.....my family expects to see a thinner me because others in the family are doing so great with it.....I don't know what to do anymore...I just know I am "sick" of ME!!

hello everyone! :thumbup:Congratulations Alligmamma on the +!! SUGARBEAR Where ARE you?! Haven't heard from you in a long time...hope all is well. Monel, is the Nashville meeting this coming Mon.? Where is Bells Gym? Across the street from Diamond Bank? I'm going to make an effort to attend. I have to get back in the mindset!

gOOD mORNING eVERYONE!! sPRING iS jUST aROUND tHE cORNER!! LeT'S aLL mAKE A pLEDGE TO gET oUT aND wALK aT LuNCH tODAY:) If yOU tAKE nOTICE oF tHE sMOKER'S aT yOUR wORK, yOU'LL sEE tHEY nEVER mISS a sMOKE bREAK. i'VE dECIDED tODAY, eVERYTIME tHEY jUMP UP aND gO oUT fOR a SmOKE bREAK, i'M gOING TO jUMP oUT FOR a WAlK bREAK, bREATHE iN sOME fRESH aIR AND vISUALIZE tHAT sUMMER bODY i WaNT!! LeT mE kNOW hOW yOUR dAY gOES!! MAKE IT GOOD!!!!

Thanks Lo2us! Good to hear from you. I've been thinking I would try the pre-op to get back on track.

Good morning everyone~ I haven't been on in a while. Looks like we have some new people coming into the site. Glad to see them. I have been meaning to go to the meetings in Nashville, but seems like I always forget about it. I haven't been getting on much because I'm really not doing that great as far as losing. I've only lost about 45 lbs and I was banded over a year ago. I've had people ask me why my band failed me, but it didn't fail me, I failed it. I don't remember to drink enough during the day, I don't eat like I should and I have washed food down. I don't get the exercise I need. I know all the things I am doing wrong, I just can't seem to get my mind where it needs to be. I know that I am disappointing a lot of people, none more than myself. I am going to work on a support system and make more of an effort to engage the brain before the elbow & mouth! I have lost inches and 4 sizes. I only had 115 lbs I needed to lose, but it sure doesn't want to go!!

The only anywhey I've bought came from the Dr.'s office. I have not used it in cooking. I just put it in some of my drinks and shake it up or sprinkle it on my cream of wheat. Sometimes it's kind of lumpy. I need to go for a fill myself. I can surely relate to getting too much of a fill. It's no fun.