Twilight

I don't know if you'll follow my instructions very well but I will try to help you with posting pics. First thing you have to make sure of is that they aren't giant pictures like my first attempts were. To check and see open the picture in a picture viewer. Your puter usually automatically does this when you double click on it. The size it opens is the size it will post. If it is too large you need to resize it. Now, my computer opens pictures in Windows photo gallery. Most of mine are giagantic so I must resize them. To do this, on the right of the tool bar it says open and I open with office picture manager. Once there I choose edit and resize it. I then save it to my desktop so it is easy to find. Name it something easy for you to find. Now, to attach, you have to do it from the "new reply" not "quick reply". Once you're in the message section you should see the paper clip to attach with. You then browse to the picture you want to attach and do so. As long as you have changed the sizes they will attach quickly. If they are too big, it will not attach it. I think that should give you all the steps you need. If you are still having trouble, tell me where the instructions broke down and I'll try to lead you from there. It really is a great idea to show the pictures. I'll try to help you through it as well as I can. I'm not an expert, but I'm learning too. As far as your two year old, imagine carrying her around all day every day and never putting her down. That's how much progress you've made. Awesome job!

Do you want to post them so we can see it for you? sometimes we just can't see the thin person emerging. I know I only see the fat Steph when I look in the mirror. I must put on a fat suit before I look. I don't know. With 30 pounds there is bound to be a difference! When you think of it, that's just a little smaller than my 3 year old. How can it not be noticeable. Don't fret. The difference must be felt inside as well as seen outside. And even if you don't want to post a picture, try picking up something about 30 pounds and carry it around for 5 minutes. THAT'S a difference you will notice. Keep up the GREAT WORK! 30+ lbs is a great accomplishment! I'm impressed.

Jaymie, Don't let this temporary situation spiral too far out of control. I know it is crazy the first month. Still is and I'm 6 weeks out. But I'm starting to eat more normally and that helps. When I couldn't eat what my family was, I didn't eat WHEN they did either. I would fix them something and while they sat and ate everything I would find something I just HAD to do. It was something that couldn't be put off (if my kids asked). I just tried to stay away so I didn't feel quite so deprived. I also gave into my frustrations sometimes and went outside and vented all the angry stuff I was feeling. Saying outloud to no one certainly made it seem more "taken care of". Then I would pull on my big girl panties and tell myself to buck it up. I can give myself a pretty good butt kickin when it's needed. You will soon be eating with the family again. You will be enjoying it even more because now you know what its like not to have it. And because you'll be eating less while enjoying your family you can get more quality talking in. Maybe it will open up new roads of communication that way. I know my DH and I talk a lot more now that I'm not shoveling away. I ask him more questions and answer his more completely. You're doing great and it will get easier. PMS makes it tough. I know I have been pmsing for a good week now. Flo could make her appearance and get the hell gone any day now. Good luck. Keep posting about your feelings. It helps and you'll find, you're not alone. That's always helpful.

Sheila, One ounce meals seems really restrictive! That's 1/2 of a quarter cup. Is that forever or just during this healing phase? I know they made our stomachs small, but holy moly! But then again, my guidelines of about a cup seem excessive. There must be a happy medium that I can find for myself. Maybe somewhere around the half cup range. Let us know how you feel on one ounce. I'm curious how your hunger will be. Thanks for sharing though. I'm really interested in what everyone's teams say.

Hi all, At my first support meeting last week I was recommended a book and possibly the workbook that goes with it. It is called "The Succes Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients." I'm wondering if anyone has read it, looked at it, heard about it, used it...and any information before I shell out $20 for the book and $30 for the workbook. If anyone has any other reading suggestions, I'm open. TIA

Alison, Come to think of it, I have been eating a lot faster than is probably healthy. I'll try slowing down and see if the hiccups resolve. Thanks

So I have heard a little about a "soft" stop that some people have experienced. I'm wondering if any of you have had a similar experience. I seem to be getting the hiccups a lot and wondering if that is mine. It seems like it is coming AFTER I've hit full and I should have stopped a couple of bites before hand. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks, Steph

Okay, Chris said she was short on guidelines from the nutritional standpoint. I'm curious what other your teams have told you. When I asked if I should be counting calories my NUT said that she preferred I follow a balanced diet and that if I followed her guides I would be staying between 1000 and 1200 calories a day. She showed me approximate sizes of plastic food so that I could picture how full my plate would be with her guides. She then set priorities when I told her she was crazy if she thought I could eat all that food. For Breakfast, since I am not a breakfast eater, I asked if it was alright for me to continue with my shake I had been drinking. I found it at walmart in the produce section. It is made by Bolthouse farms and called Perfectly Protein. It has 178 cals, 29g carbs, 10 g protein in each 8 oz serving. She looked at it and the ingredients and said it was a fine substitution for breakfast. I told her I also try to drink a glass of v8 fusion light before I leave the house each day because it gives me 1/2 serving veggies and 1/2 serving fruit and only 50 cals. She approved. I don't know what she would have said if I hadn't been doing shake for b'fast. I'm curious what others have been told. For lunch she said she wants me to have 1 starch exchange, 1/2 fruit exchange, and 1 veggie exchange. I am also allowed a fat if I want to add p'butter to my apple or put dressing on my salad. She added that I need 2 - 3 oz. of protein. She showed that the 1/2 fruit was about 1/2 banana or apple or about 8 large grapes. The veggie ended up being about 1/2 - 1 cup of veggies. 2-3 oz of protein is about 1/2 of a thin pork chop size. I like cottage cheese for lunch so that is about 1/4 cup of that. dinner needs to be similar but I am allowed 1 fruit ex. and 1 - 1 1/2 veggie ex. as well as more protein. and 1 fat. The starch would be something like noodles or potatoes. She didn't add in Snacks for me but said that if I need them to make them "good" choices. She suggested yogurt, string cheese, another Protein Drink. I asked her about soy nuts and she said great as long as I stay with the 1/4 cup suggested serving size. She said to make sure to portion it out before I eat any so that I don't just keep digging in the bag. Those sure do curb my crunchy cravings. She said to continue to work to get 64 oz of Water daily. I have been fighting to get that in. Very rarely do I succeed. She did say I could count my coffee for 1/2. If I drink 16 oz. I get to count 8 oz for Fluid. I thought I had to say none. So that does help some. So here is my plan. after my shower I pour a glass of v8 fusion (8 oz) and drink that until I leave for work. In the car I bring a shake for b'fast (8 oz) and 16 oz of coffee (8 oz) During the first two classes I drink a bottle of water (16 oz) and during my next two I work on another bottle (shooting for 8 oz). For lunch I plan on having 1/4 cup of cottage cheese, some fruit, and if I have room, some yogurt. I will change it up with the school lunch as it allows but it is really carb heavy. In the afternoon I try to get another bottle of water in (16 oz) and possibly another protein drink or soy nuts if I'm hungry. dinner will be whatever I am feeding my family. I will be sure to add more fruits and veggies to our table and work on eating them first. In the evenings I will work on another glass of v8 to add another veggie and fruit. Since I have set this up, my fill was on Wed. I have managed to get all my liquids in and it looks like my scale is moving again. I hope to go in and weigh at my PCP's office on Fridays but didn't go today since I was just in for appt. Wed. The fill has helped and sometimes it's hard to get the liquid in....but it's not "stuck". Just slow going. Please add your food plan. I'm interested in hearing what everyone has been told. TIA, Steph

I scheduled my surgery as soon as they would let me in. I was banded on Dec. 8th and that gave me 2 weeks before christmas break. I took off the Wed. before surgery, though only because of the weather in the area and the drive. I had surgery on Thursday and was back to school on the next Monday. I told my administration I needed two days off for medical appointments. When I got back someone had told him what I had done but I didn't think I needed to explain anything to him. Once I had my pre-op appointment and knew the exact date of surgery, I gave him the notice that I had....13 days. I try to give them as much notice as I get. But if I put in for sick leave I just state it is a dr.s appointment. Good luck, Steph

Chris, When I have a chance I will write something about my NUT suggestions. The biggest thing is to be balanced. And the amount of food she said I could have vs the amount of food I KNOW will fit in my stomach is amazing. It's like saying you can eat ALLLLLL of this. How in the world can you be hungry then? For now, I'm just loving my adjustments.....attitude and all. I hope things are going good for you. I can't imagine how frustrating without a fill right now. I forget when you said you will be getting your fill. For me it was really strange. She asked, are you nauseaus? no...Are you hungry when you wake up? uhhhhYEAH!!! Who isn't? Are you hungry before your next meal? a little. She said my loss may be going really good but it's more important to get me "not hungry" so I don't sabatoge my band. So...in for a fill. It looks like those will be the key questions each time because they were on a form the NUT asked and then gave to the PA. BTW, the PA was great. I was a little perturbed that I would be having a PA and not my dr. but she was awesome and I never should have worried. Okay...so hopefully tomorrow I will have a chance to sit down with guidelines and can share those....look for them. Steph

Okay...here comes the cold calous Steph....I don't think I was "sold" anything. I didn't get "roped" into a seminar. I went looking for one after I had done a pile of research. I have been hypothyroid for 8 years. My weight didn't come on because of it but it certainly was helped there. I knew going in that because of my thyroid I may have a little slower loss, but slow loss vs. no loss was acceptable. If your friend feels she was coerced into surgery and this wasn't a medically sound team of professionals, she should be looking into legal repercussions. No doctor should try to talk you into something this extreme....and I have to say, someone who allows herself to be talked into it needs to look at her other issues. Regardless, if she was "sold"....then I would be looking for someone to help me tell THAT story. I would broadcast it from every roof top and on television. I would say that all surgery centers are not guilty of this. Mine certainly wasn't. And honestly, if she couldn't have afforded it, your friend needs to put that on herself too. She had to sign those papers if she financed it. They didn't forge her signature did they? I'm a self-pay. I know it's expensive, but I looked long and hard at what I had to do and what changes would have to be made in order to afford it. I made sacrifices I could accept. I'm sorry if your DF's family is suffering from her lack of doing the same. On the other hand, I was informed of how this works. We were told how the metabolic syndrome works, how our bodies react to our years of overfeeding and underworking. I was told over and over again how you have to be SURE this is what you want, that this wasn't a decision to be made lightly, and that no one could made it but myself. I am hypothyroid and I LOVE my band. I bought it, no one sold it. Every day I feel more and more like I look like the "million bucks" this thing cost me. It has been worth every penny...and the looks and comments and "other" my husband has been showing me, it was definitely worth it. Not a waste of money for me! Steph

<p>I Ran Today!!!!</p> I didn't run far but I ran. It was so very awesome. I walk in the gym every day at lunch and today because I wasn't puffing nearly hard enough I ran the short ends. I made 5 laps running the short ends, walked 5 more, then ran 5 more. Before long I want to be jogging a lap and then walking a lap. That's my goal for the month exercise wise. I love my band!!!! Steph

Very nice progress Missy. I need to figure out some more of this picture stuff...but for now I'll just add my monthlys. I really can see a big difference in your face. Beautiful. Congrats and keep it up! Steph

It's hard when the scale doesn't move. Mine has been sitting i the same place for almost two weeks. I'm waiting for it to go up as TOM gets closer to arrival. I really don't know why while they are in there they can't suck some of that fat out. I was so disappointed after surgery when I was bigger than I went in. I know it was swelling but dangit, I should have been thin by then, right?? It does start to come off, but it is slow. I look at the scale and see NOTHING happening. However, I do look in the mirror and see some changes. It really helped to take some pics and compare them. It does show that even though I'm not "losing" I'm changing. Oh...and I think most of my "loss" has been in my feet. My shoes don't fit very well anymore! I didn't do this to have skinny FEET!!!! Keep positive! This will happen! Steph

I just wanted to show off the changes in my face. Until dh took these pics I didn't see any difference. This is pretty wow for me. The first is from about 2 months pre-op until yesterday which was 1 month post-op

Hi Foofy, I grew up in Helena. It's been a hard adjustment for me to get used to the prairie. My family still lives in the area so I get to the mountains a few times a year. Glad everything is going well for you. For anyone else who is reading, that protein drink is made by Bolthouse farms. There are three different types but I really like the mocha cappachino. I found it a Walmart out here and in North Dakota. My nutritionist said it was okay to replace breakfast. Steph

Thought I would start. I want to see how everyone compares. I know bert has started a similar thread. Anyone who would like to join me, please post. I hope I get this attaching thing right. Steph

We started with a diet adjustment. The nutritionist went over everything I should be eating and what I shouldn't be eating. How much I should be eating. What my priorities should be. She answered all my questions about what I'm doing now and where I'm going. It was AWESOME! I was sure she was going to tell me I was doing a TON of bad things. The only thing she kept stressing as my downfall was not getting enough liquid. Which I knew....but she said I get to count my coffee as 1/2 liquid instead of none, so that helps a little. I'm renewing my commitment to getting in all my liquid! Next was my band adjustment. I was so scared. I was so sure I was going to be poked and jump and they were going to puncture my tube or something horrible....Well, the PA did struggle getting the needle in but I guess it was because my port is directly under a mole and she didn't want to poke my mole because they bleed so badly. It took a little but it finally happened. I had 4cc's in from surgery and she added 1 cc. I guess I have room for 10, but hopefully will have some restriction now. I do today but know that most of it is from swelling. I'll be wishing for next week to be the same. Then I went to Lane Bryant for a little window shopping, but couldn't resist. I had to pick up a couple of things. I bought a top that was a 14/16!!! I was looking at going into the 22's pre-op because my 20's were getting too tight. And I fit into a size 3 jean!!! okay, that was just good for my ego even though they have started a jean line that they number 1=14, 2=16, etc. So I really fit into an 18! But 3 sounds so much better doesn't it? It was very empowering to go shopping yesterday. My final adjustment was an attitude adjustment at my support group meeting. WOW were some of those people inspiring. They were great about talking about struggles and how they are trying to get back onto the program. I was feeling pretty good about my weight loss after that because they were all so proud of me! That felt pretty good too. So all in all I am adjusted...I don't know what else could have been tampered with. And as for my weight loss.....drum roll please.....I am down to 197! That's 23 pounds since pre-op. and i"m counting since pre-op because all loss counts! I never would have lost it had it not been for this journey, so it counts. I hope everyone has something so wonderful happen to you this week, Steph

update!!! Just got back from my first adjustment! My goal may be a little ambitious, but I'm going to stick it out! name ........ starting# .... current#......goal#.....togo# Rainer..........264............264..........248.......16 wombat712.......154.8..........154.8........140.......14.8 LessnLess.......172............172..........164.......8 metawnny........252............252..........240.......12 Skinny_Jill.....195............195..........180.......15 Candle .........218............218..........207.......11 KarenG..........207............207..........199.......8 Hoppingto.......350............314..........294.......20 SWEETY..........180............180..........170.......10 juliegeraci.....220............220..........210.......8 Trystelle.......219............219..........205.......14 Susan4794.......240............240..........225.......15 rharriet........367............256..........248.......8 nip50...........250............250..........238.......12 keekahari.......220............220..........205.......15 Hollyberries....298............298..........285.......13 Stacy73.........230............230..........222.......8 Irishmae11......233............233..........219.......14 jfran...........187............181..........177.......4 liz_hager.......202............202..........190.......12 SueMagoo........230............229..........220.......9 MJRouse84.......274............233..........218.......15 Cagstorm........360............360..........345.......15 Jsrico..........255............178..........165.......13 kjl315..........237.5..........237.5........220.......17.5 chickatee.......188............188..........175.......13 want2lose.......236............236..........225.......11 Cerrin..........350............350..........325.......25 Twilight........206............197..........185.......21 RenewedHope.....228............228..........210.......18 georgia girl....275............275..........260.......15 Anitak33........245............218..........199.......19 Redtulips3......248............248..........235.......13 cQQlgirl........220............220..........210.......10 Manatee.........188............188..........175.......13 Jennie1976.......290..........251...........235.......16 Cookielover.......202..........202...........192.......10 uxbus5.............240..........240...........230.......10 Jillrn.................176..........176..........166........10 Sunny112..........145..........145..........140........5

I'm off! I complain a lot too. Like right now I'm really irked that I have to drive 5 hours to get anything done! That irritates the peanuts out of me! I'm hoping that I learn something positive at the support group tonight. There are two lapbanders (including myself) and two RNY's here in my itty bitty town and I guess there has been talk of forming a little group here, just to get together and share. Bert, you can ALWAYS join me in my rants. The more the merrier I say! I think it's easier to bitch here. It's easier to let it all out because no one is standing there "but-ing" you. You can have your say and feel better about it once it's done. Sometimes all we need is to spew forth....and as long as the spew isn't something about sabatoging your sucess, I think it's okay to spew. And once you've spewed like Mt. Vesuvius, you are ready to take some constructive criticism or listen to differing opinions. It's just nice to have somewhere to say it all! I hope that makes sense. I'll go into today with a better attitude. My coordinator is the sweetest thing. I love her! She's like a big sister and so supportive. When I told her I was really nervous about today she said to relax and remember to only take about 20 percent of anything on line to heart until you have experienced it yourself! Oh...and I love that she calls today my first "adjustment"....now I'm going to go adjust my stomach AND my diet....and then I'm getting my attitude adjustment too!!! I don't know why but it just sounds better than my "fill". I know that's what they are doing, but I like the sound of it better. Well, I'd better get a move on or I'll be running late and then my attitude will REALLY need adjusted. Thanks for sharing Chris! Steph

Oh Chris!!! I'm so excited. Tell me what you learned and how the support thing goes. I go to my first one tomorrow night. I'm a little nervous. I don't want anyone looking at me with that.....you know....look that says "Why haven't you lost since surgery, look at how wonderful I've done!" look. I know, just in my head I'm sure, but I'm still nervous. After reading my little temper tantrum above I realize just how hungry I must have been when I wrote it. I was sitting at 2 on the hunger scale obviously! Now that I'm finished preparing for my sub tomorrow and writing my semester tests I finally got to come home. 7:30 am to 8:30 pm was just TOO long of a day I guess. I had some yogurt down in the kitchen I should have gone and eaten, but I didn't want to take the time. Shame on me!! I'll have to be better about that! I came home and had a bowl of cream of wheat and a couple handfuls of soy nuts. Did you know they have a TON of Protein in them? I chewed really well and after about 1/4 cup things were looking up. Enough so that I don't think I need to midnight graze tonight. I'll be on the road tomorrow to go to get my first fill, my first dietician appointment and my first support group. WOW it sounds like a lot to take in tomorrow. I'll be popping in and out in the evening. Let me know how tonight went and how the exercise one goes too. Steph

Maybe it's just schools in general. I know that my weight loss is now all anyone wants to talk to me about. I'm glad they're interested and everything, but there is a lot more interesting stuff to talk about! I did try to keep it quiet until AFTER the surgery. I knew that as soon as I was gone something would come out. When I came back, everyone was all nose! Now they scrutinize everything I put in my mouth. I loved the comment today that I was going to just disappear in front of their very eyes! Um...I'm still at 200 lbs. I don't think I'm going to just "poof" I just felt like telling them to be a little more "real". I spend a lot more down time in my classroom and a lot less in the copy room or kitchen. It's just easier that way. I guess the only advice I have is that I agree that soon it will be some other bit of gossip. We'll be old news as soon as something juicier comes along. As for the stomach stares, try the same thing I do with the Jr. high boys who talk to my chest, "there is no secret formula written down there....if you are interested the secret to ALL is up here in my HEAD!!" Some self complimenting remark might work. Try turning as soon as you see them check you out, do your best Marilyn, and say, "I know, right! Sveldt if I do say so myself." and walk away. They will get the picture. Good luck. Steph

Julie, Yes, I'm having foot issues. Why is it the only place I can see any difference is in my shoes and my rings???? I sort of did this banding for a WHOLE different weight loss! j/k It is great that we are seeing results in one month! I know that with any other "solution" I would already have been gaining it all back by now. Way to go everyone! Keep up the great work Steph

Okay....I just need to vent a little bit. I don't need anyone to agree with me or flame me. You can if you want, but I don't promise to be swayed Feel free to click off if you don't want to hear it. It won't bother me. I have a diet. I always have a diet. Whatever I eat is my diet. What a lion eats is his diet. What a bacteria eats is it's diet. If we're going to survive we need a diet. No one can subsist on nothing. Now, common usage of the word makes it a 4-letter word. I get told to "take the word diet out of your vocabulary." Just because it is a 4-letter word for some folks doesn't mean that when I say it, it is. I need to control my diet. Which means control what I eat. I'm not ON a diet. I HAVE a diet that must be controlled. When I need to "change my diet" I'm not talking about WW vs. Atkins, I mean I need to change what goes in my mouth. Regardless of what everyone says about "this is a lifestyle change," to change my lifestyle I have to change my DIET! If I don't I won't succeed. This just seems to drive me nuts when someone says something about their diet and they get blasted for using "that word!" To me it's the connotation that needs adjustment, not the word. It's not that saying the word is going to make us fail. It's the thought of this being temporary that is going to cause failure. This is forever. We need to change our diets permanently. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I'm totally shocked. I hope everyone is doing well today. I'm starving today. There's no way around it. Just STARVING. I have stayed strong since I am at work and have no other choice. Maybe I'll stay here all night and only go home to sleep, because once I start feeding tonight I think I'll be grazing until bedtime. Here's hoping you're doing better than that. Steph

Way to go Stef!! I love hearing successes. I'm just a month our and some days I wonder if this was really a good choice. Most times I'm optimistic but there are days. I can't wait to shop in the misses department again! I want out of Lane Bryant and CJ Banks. I want the cute stuff the skinny girls wear!!! Keep up the great work. Another Steph