jennibee

I am right there with you TracyNYC! I have had a few guys all of a sudden show interest now that my body is changing (again but that's a long story..lol) I told them each to get lost! You didn't look at me once in all the years you've known me and now I am so fascinating? I don't think so...lol! Go waste somebody else's time!

You could use the ole "bellyache" story. Or you could just tell them that you are trying to be healthier and watching what you eat. You could do what I do when I am out with folks who don't know I've been banded for every one bite I eat, I push 2 bites around on my plate...lol! I bet once you start talking and enjoying each others company that he won't even notice that you haven't cleaned your plate. Good luck

I have found a sugar-free variety of those. They are 7-up,rootbeer, and orange soda flavored. It think there may even be a Dr. Pepper flavor. I haven't actually tried them but saw them in the freezer section and picked some up for my dad who is diabetic, and he is hooked! Like an addict hooked! lol...

I am so happy for you! I used to ask for help doing both of these things! I tie my own shoes now but still have my daughter paint my toes simply because it feels like a little bit of pampering for me and she likes doing it (not to mention that I am sloppy..lol) My lastest NSV was being able to join the parents cheerleading team at my daughters' all-star cheer gym. We are working on a routine and practicing several times a week. We will be going up against the coaches team at our national competition at Disney in March. I have always wanted to be part of the team but sat on the sidelines and watched. This year it was finally my time and I am so excited about it! Great job to both of you ladies! Enjoy the small things!

I have had several people that I don't see on a regular basis mention that it looks like I've lost some weight. One actually said "wow Jenn how much weight have you lost?" My daughter who sees me every single day said that she can see a difference in my also. She said "your belly looks smaller" lol. When I look in the mirror I still see the same face, the same belly and butt. I think it's more in my mind's eye and how I interpret it though. I was way off track for way too long and two weeks ago decided it was time to get my head right and go back to doing what I know how to do. I have lost 11 pounds and I am more committed than ever. Hearing that I actually look like I've lost weight was an even bigger motivator! Just give yourself time, do what your dr. tells you to do and you'll do amazing! Good luck on your journey!

I lost 13 pounds in the 6 days between my surgery and my 1st checkup. I guess lost is lost no matter what you lost or how you lost it! lol

I am in no means a qualified medical professional but I'll be glad to share with you my limited knowledge. After my first stuck episode (it was chicken that was just a little too dry) I was so scared to actually eat again. I spoke to the nurse at my dr's office and she suggested taking it easy for a few days. I stuck to liquids and mostly soft foods for a few days (3-4) to give my stomach a chance to heal. She mentioned that when you get stuck based on the severity there may be a bit of swelling or irritation inside the band. By the end of the week I was good to go and much more particular about what I ate and how long I chewed it. Lesson learned for sure! Have only been stuck once more in the 3 years I've been banded. This was just my experience and as we all know everybody is different. If you're not sure a call to your dr. might not be a bad idea. Good luck!

I got a fill on Monday and have had horrible shoulder pain since. It's nothing new to me as I suffered thru it after being banded and also after each fill. I didn't buy the "gas pain" theory myself.

I tried it just last week. It was easy to follow and I lost about 7 pounds. I wouldn't recommend doing it for more than the 5 days but it gave me a jumpstart. I haven't been a very dedicated bandster for some time and recently decided it was time to get back on track. I have since seen my Dr. and had a fill for the first time in a year and I am so glad that I did!

16 degrees tonite but with windchill its feeling like 1 degree, about a foot of snow give or take an inch with a 2-4 more inches forecast for the overnite. We have had 2 snowdays in a row and I am keeping my fingers crossed for school tomorrow! Gotta get my 14 year old outta this house! lol...That's life in Johnstown Pa for ya!

AHHH...Cheddar Bay Bisquits! I haven't had any in 3 years, or Krispy Kreme donuts either. I would probably give my left arm (or at least a toe or two) to be able to enjoy either of those sinfully tasty treats. I have had 3-4 stuck episodes in the past 3 years and 1 of them was a bisquit and 2 of them where one stinking half-bite size of a donut. I learned my lesson...I'll just watch my daughter eat them and ask her how they tasted! lol...

Yes I did liquids after both port revisions but just on the day of surgery after I came home. I was able to go back to my normal diet afterwards.

My doctor truly has no idea what caused either of my cases. Two days after surgery I had a very violent coughing attack and I felt a horrible burning pain in the area of my port. I called the dr's office right away but the nurse told me that while it was possible to rip out my stitches by coughing it was highly improbable. I am thinking that is what happened on my first go around since we discovered my port had flipped at the 6 wk appointment for my first adjustment. Not quite sure about how it happened the second time. Currently my port flops around at will, but since it is still accessable and I can get adjustments the dr and I are not going to worry about it just yet.

I am sipping on a diet pepsi right now! My dr. said a soda every now and again isn't going to kill me and I like it way too much to live without it forever. I don't drink the whole thing just a little bit now and then. I have heard from others that carbonation is forbidden forever by their doctors. It's funny how things differ so much from one dr to another. If I took a sip and realized my "boo boo" I'd probably just swallow it, one sip isn't going to hurt you too much in the long run. I'd just try to remember not to do it again.

I have been through 2 port revisions and neither was that bad. I didn't even need a tylenol afterwards and went back to work the next day. I didn't have to go back to a liquid diet or anything just the normal "nothing to eat or drink after midnight" routine that you get with all surgeries. The worst part was trying to get an I.V. inserted because I was a little dehydrated but after that it was a piece of cake! I hope things go smoothly for you, best of luck!

You could attend the party but refrain from eating. I am not keen on fibbing but perhaps you could use a stomach bug or not feeling well as a "cover" All of my family events revolve around food and I had to make a few excuses at first. One that isn't that far from the truth such as "I had a pretty big lunch/dinner and am feeling full" (which you probably are) might be an alternative.

Just this week I have started using a small tupperware type bowl that holds just a little over 1/2 cup. It's handy to take my breakfast or lunch along in and only allows me to eat what I measured into the bowl. I have also started putting my fork down in between each bite and taking my time to chew and actually savor the food. I have lost 4.3 pound since Monday..which is the first weight loss I have had in a very long time (that pitiful story is for another thread I am sure...the "fallen of the bandwagon" one..lol) I figured that now is a good a time as any to get back to basics and live right...it didn't put so much effort into being banded to fail at it. I just had to falter along the way a little to figure that out for myself. I don't think I will ever truly conquer the wanting to eat more, I will just be more steadfast in my efforts not to.

I am feeling this currently...it's a very tight feeling in my upper back between my shoulder blades. When I was first banded I used to feel it in my left upper chest it was not super uncomfortable but I didn't wanna eat anymore to find out if it could be..lol! Right now I am full, I feel full and gosh darn it that is good enough for me!

This is a daily issue with me! Today I was feeling full a few bites into my lunch and I thought to myself. "Am I really full or do I just think I'm full?" But it was so good and I wanted more so I put another bite in my mouth and struggled with whether to chew it or not...that seems so silly to me (I ended up spitting it into my napkin) and I am SO GLAD I did! It would have been that "one last bite" the would have made me sick. 5 hours later and I'm not hungry but my brain is saying "it's supper time, your daughter is eating you should be eating too" 3 years out and I am still battling with myself!

I just stepped off of my daughters' Wii fit board and I am loving it! :tt1: I got her the Golds Gym dance workout for Christmas and she really likes it (she's almost 14) I find it a bit to complicated for someone as uncoordinated as myself but moving in any way even if it's clumsily is better than not moving at all. I play the free rhythm step on the Wii Sports game it allows you to do "step aerobics" for as little at 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes, you control the tempo and the remote keeps the rhythm. I started out at 10 mins/800 steps everyday and am working my way up. You can even watch what you want on tv and aren't stuck looking at your Mii character the whole time...gotta say the Wii is for me! Can't wait to get Just Dance 2 this Friday!

I have had 2 port revision surgeries due to it flipping over. I am scheduled for an appointment under flueroscopy this coming Monday to see if it's happened again. It's very discouraging and I've only had a few fills in the 3 years since my surgery (most of them done while I was in the O.R.) I have continued to gain weight because I haven't had satiety for nearly a year and I am always hungry. The fear of finding out that I will have to endure yet another revision has kept me away from the doctors and from asking for a fill. I hope the your experience is better. I think that calling your doctor or making an appointment to be seen is in your best interests. Please don't put it off for fear of not liking what you might hear like I've been doing. 2011 is a new year and a new beginning, I hope things work out for you! Good Luck!

When I told my best friend (former now) that I was approved for WLS her response what "great now instead of being fat and miserable you'll be skinny and miserable" I decided right then and there that she wasn't the kind of person I needed in my life. As far as I know she is the only miserable one now. Sometimes when you make major changes in your life it makes the people around you examine their own lives. Maybe your friends just took a good look at themselves and didn't like what they saw. Congrats on doing what is right for you and taking the steps to live a healthier life!

I have fallen off of the "bandwagon" and fallen HARD! I missed my three year check-up (banded 09/07) and possibly my two year appt. now that I think about it. I don't know how much I weight as I have refused to get on a scale for at least 6 or more months. I have had several port revision surgeries due to it flipping over. I've only had 4 fills in 3 years (two of them during the revision surgeries) and I am certain that my port has flipped again.I can feel it flopping around like a fish out of water especially when I bend over too far. Neither the doctor nor I have any idea why it keeps happening but it's getting very discouraging! I have needed a fill for so so long and I am always hungry and have NO restriction whatsoever. My fear of going back to the drs' and having him confirm my work nightmare is keeping me from getting the help I need. I am going to go back on the post-op diet for a little while and see if I can start to "hear" my body telling me it's full before I bust up into the dr's office probably weighing more than I did on the day of my surgery. Am I alone in this sad situation? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have become so disgusted with the whole process that I've given up and that makes me sad. I didn't work so hard to be banded to just quit. I am praying that 2011 is my year!

At one point I was so "not hungry" that the thought of eating made me feel sick. I was forcing myself to eat one meal a day. My dr. kept stressing to me that I needed to eat in order to sustain myself. He even threatened to force feed my himself. My hair started to fall out because I wasn't eating enough protein. I kinda like my hair so I finally gave in and we compromised on two meals a day usually like 6-8 hours apart. Oh how I wish that was the case now, I actually long for satiety...lol! I think this will probably lessen over time but am no expert on the subject just speaking from my own personal experience. Good luck

I am two plus years post banding and had a fill for the first time in 11 months on 12/21/09. I won't bore you with all of the details of why it has been so long. Anyway, I have been doing great since then, made it thru the "battlefield" that is the holidays without making any really huge mistakes with my food choices. I am measuring my food, sticking to the game plan and getting exercise. Way better than I had been doing for a year! Everything was okay all day yesterday I ate without any problems until lastnight at supper time. I prepared my food like always (oven baked chicken, and a little bit of broccoli) chewed like always maybe even a little bit more than usual and got horribly stuck. I was in SO much pain it was unbearable! :wub: My 12 year old daughter was really concerned since she has never seen me that miserable. To be honest it's been so long since I have had a "stuck episode" that I don't remember if there is anything to help get unstuck or not. Anyway since lastnight everything I have attempted to eat has gotten stuck or hurt. Is it possible that getting plugged up after so long irritated my stomach so badly that I need liquids for a few days? Or maybe it could be that my fill finally kicked in???? Which would be awesome btw! I am kinda lost any advice would be greatly appreciated.