MamaJava

I've added myself into the mix and I placed myself in alphabetically. I'm in!!! I'm only 2 weeks post-op so my summer goal is gonna be a big one! NAME ... Start Weight ... Goal ... Current Weight ... To Go Allaboutme ...... 238 ...... 165 ....... 211 ......... 46 Allison925 ...... 175 ...... 145 ....... 175 ......... 30 Angie4b1g ....... 237.8 .... 205 ....... 237.8 ....... 32.8 Ariel ........... 199 ...... 169 ....... 199 ......... 30 babs0101 ........ 216 ...... 190 ....... 216 ......... 26 Bigbaby ......... 207 ...... 167 ....... 207 ......... 40.0 CQQlgirl ........ 220 ...... 195 ....... 220 ......... 25 Foofy ........... 244 ...... 199 ....... 244 ......... 45 Georgia Girl .... 275 ...... 237 ....... 272 ......... 35 Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ...... 200 ....... 226.5 ....... 26.5 Hungryforchange . 225 ...... 190 ....... 225 ......... 35 ivyrose325 ...... 242 ...... 215 ....... 261 ......... 46 Jeni 85 ......... 214.4 .... 184 ....... 214.4 ....... 30.4 Jfran ........... 181 ...... 145 ....... 181. ........ 36<o:p></o:p> Legster ......... 216 ...... 174 ....... 216 ......... 42 Luluc ........... 166 ...... 135 ....... 166 ......... 31 MamaJava......... 283 ...... 233 ....... 283 ......... 50 Mamato3 ......... 242 ...... 199 ....... 242 ......... 43 Mary-2b150 ...... 225 ...... 150 ....... 193 ......... 43 Nadean .......... 204.6 .... 160 ....... 204.6 ....... 44.6 Nhanson ......... 226 ...... 196 ....... 226 ......... 30 Rainer .......... 256 ...... 216 ....... 256 ......... 40 Redtulips3 ...... 245 ...... 199 ....... 245 ......... 46 Smithem1 ........ 240.6 .... 190 ....... 240.6 ....... 50.6 Stacy73 ......... 226.4 .... 194 ....... 226.4 ....... 32.4 Starryeyed ...... 280 ...... 199 ....... 237 ......... 38 Suzzzie ......... 297 ...... 243 ....... 294 ......... 51 <u1:p></u1:p>Wombat712 ....... 152.8 .... 120 ....... 152.8 ....... 32.8 <!-- google_ad_section_end --> __________________

Here is a response I posted today in the forum regarding a fellow bandsters question about emotional changes encountered after banding. I think what I wrote makes a lot of sense and I'm really proud of this post. Plus, it just kinda came out. I didn't even know what I was writing as I was typing it. I got done and got a little teary-eyed over it. I think I've finally had my revelation and I put it into words for the world to see. Enjoy... ********************************************************** Of course that makes sense! For many of us, we are overweight because food is an addiction. Much like a heroine addict or someone addicted to cigarettes. It's in the same class of addictions. One is not better than another...they are all the same in that they all engross a person physically AND emotionally. We become addicts for mental reasons, not physical ones. I've been rather emotional since getting my band. I am entering an epiphany of sorts, where I can clearly see now where I went wrong in the past. I immediately turned to food (I always denied that I was an emotionally addicted eater). The reason I can see it so clearly now is that the first thing I do when I'm upset or confused or angry...is walk to the kitchen and begin pacing because there isn't much I can have anymore. Before, I would walk in there and build a huge pile of nachos, toss them in the oven and then soak my sorrows in glory as I ate the whole thing. Now that I'm medically and physically unable to do those things, I find myself almost lost...but please note that I said almost. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and this is by far the greatest and most severe life-changing event I've ever gone through. Even more so than having my children! That's saying a lot. That proves to me and shows me that having this surgery was THE RIGHT decision for me. Otherwise, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Now I must find other things to turn to during moments of my emotional roller coaster. This is a long road for so many reasons. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I have to now learn to love myself more than food. I have to figure out another way to channel my emotional energy when the going gets tough. I can do it. I'd be so proud if I could one day call myself an exercise addict! It's true. Find a counselor or therapist to help you get through it. I don't have one right now, because I really feel like I have a handle on things. I even stopped taking my antidepressants before my surgery. I wanted to feel every emotional moment of this journey and maybe there are days when I really should be taking my Zoloft still...but I'm glad I decided to drop them the way that I did. Not everybody is the same and not everybody is as nuts as I am to be able to say that they are GLAD they are riding this emotional roller coaster. I really am happy about it. It means things are on the move...things are changing...I'm changing inside and outside...even when the scale doesn't say so, it's okay, because I know better. Best of luck...you are not alone. **************************************************************** Of course I also must track my food for today: BREAKFAST: 1 cup Weight Control banana bread oatmeal (made w/ water) = (320 calories, 14 g. protein) SNACK:

Here is a response I posted today in the forum regarding a fellow bandsters question about emotional changes encountered after banding. I think what I wrote makes a lot of sense and I'm really proud of this post. Plus, it just kinda came out. I didn't even know what I was writing as I was typing it. I got done and got a little teary-eyed over it. I think I've finally had my revelation and I put it into words for the world to see. Enjoy... ********************************************************** Of course that makes sense! For many of us, we are overweight because food is an addiction. Much like a heroine addict or someone addicted to cigarettes. It's in the same class of addictions. One is not better than another...they are all the same in that they all engross a person physically AND emotionally. We become addicts for mental reasons, not physical ones. I've been rather emotional since getting my band. I am entering an epiphany of sorts, where I can clearly see now where I went wrong in the past. I immediately turned to food (I always denied that I was an emotionally addicted eater). The reason I can see it so clearly now is that the first thing I do when I'm upset or confused or angry...is walk to the kitchen and begin pacing because there isn't much I can have anymore. Before, I would walk in there and build a huge pile of nachos, toss them in the oven and then soak my sorrows in glory as I ate the whole thing. Now that I'm medically and physically unable to do those things, I find myself almost lost...but please note that I said almost. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and this is by far the greatest and most severe life-changing event I've ever gone through. Even more so than having my children! That's saying a lot. That proves to me and shows me that having this surgery was THE RIGHT decision for me. Otherwise, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Now I must find other things to turn to during moments of my emotional roller coaster. This is a long road for so many reasons. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I have to now learn to love myself more than food. I have to figure out another way to channel my emotional energy when the going gets tough. I can do it. I'd be so proud if I could one day call myself an exercise addict! It's true. Find a counselor or therapist to help you get through it. I don't have one right now, because I really feel like I have a handle on things. I even stopped taking my antidepressants before my surgery. I wanted to feel every emotional moment of this journey and maybe there are days when I really should be taking my Zoloft still...but I'm glad I decided to drop them the way that I did. Not everybody is the same and not everybody is as nuts as I am to be able to say that they are GLAD they are riding this emotional roller coaster. I really am happy about it. It means things are on the move...things are changing...I'm changing inside and outside...even when the scale doesn't say so, it's okay, because I know better. Best of luck...you are not alone. **************************************************************** Of course I also must track my food for today: BREAKFAST: 1 cup Weight Control banana bread oatmeal (made w/ water) = (320 calories, 14 g. protein) SNACK:

Of course that makes sense! For many of us, we are overweight because food is an addiction. Much like a heroine addict or someone addicted to cigarettes. It's in the same class of addictions. One is not better than another...they are all the same in that they all engross a person physically AND emotionally. We become addicts for mental reasons, not physical ones. I've been rather emotional since getting my band. I am entering an epiphany of sorts, where I can clearly see now where I went wrong in the past. I immediately turned to food (I always denied that I was an emotionally addicted eater). The reason I can see it so clearly now is that the first thing I do when I'm upset or confused or angry...is walk to the kitchen and begin pacing because there isn't much I can have anymore. Before, I would walk in there and build a huge pile of nachos, toss them in the oven and then soak my sorrows in glory as I ate the whole thing. Now that I'm medically and physically unable to do those things, I find myself almost lost...but please note that I said almost. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and this is by far the greatest and most severe life-changing event I've ever gone through. Even more so than having my children! That's saying a lot. That proves to me and shows me that having this surgery was THE RIGHT decision for me. Otherwise, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Now I must find other things to turn to during moments of my emotional roller coaster. This is a long road for so many reasons. I have to change my whole way of thinking. I have to now learn to love myself more than food. I have to figure out another way to channel my emotional energy when the going gets tough. I can do it. I'd be so proud if I could one day call myself an exercise addict! It's true. Find a counselor or therapist to help you get through it. I don't have one right now, because I really feel like I have a handle on things. I even stopped taking my antidepressants before my surgery. I wanted to feel every emotional moment of this journey and maybe there are days when I really should be taking my Zoloft still...but I'm glad I decided to drop them the way that I did. Not everybody is the same and not everybody is as nuts as I am to be able to say that they are GLAD they are riding this emotional roller coaster. I really am happy about it. It means things are on the move...things are changing...I'm changing inside and outside...even when the scale doesn't say so, it's okay, because I know better. Best of luck...you are not alone.

Oatmeal has always been one of the greatest weight loss/management foods for me...always. Now that I'm banded I'm SO glad that I can tolerate it thusfar now that I've begun my puree stage. I prefer regular flavor with a few dashes of cinnamon & 1 packet of Splenda. Or, if I'm in a really big hurry, I just add some hot water to the Weight Control kind (Cinnamon & Banana Bread flavors are the best) and that gives me some added protein. I stay full for a couple hours on it. Oatmeal is really a perfect food in so many ways.

I've bid on a couple Bodybuggs on ebay in hopes of getting one that is affordable enough for me to buy. How on earth did you all afford this little thing? Sorry to intrude...it's just so expensive. Is there a great deal on it somewhere that I'm totally missing?

If I were to go as far as to say I was having "excruciating" pain, then something is not right. I would definitely go to the doc ASAP. I was sleeping comfortably on my side with a pillow under my stomach on day #2 post-op. I still have some tenderness at the port site, but otherwise everything is totally back to normal and I'm only 2 weeks post-op. Your pain at this point should not even be close to excruciating...not 4 1/2 weeks post-op.

Grrr...still haven't lost anymore weight. Staying stuck @ -13. I guess I should just pat myself on the back for not gaining anything, eh? Not much happening today. Making homemade bean & ham soup and it smells so good. I hope it's 1/2-way decent after I throw it in the blender. Today's food: BREAKFAST: 1/2 cup Cream of Wheat made w/ 1% milk 1 peach 'n passion fruit Dannon Fusion smoothie (too much sugar & calories, but good) SNACK: 1.5 cups won ton soup broth LUNCH: 1 butterscotch pudding 1 sf/ff chocolate pudding SNACK: nothing - still full from earlier DINNER: 1 cup pureed bean & ham soup Yeah I just don't really get it. I'm drinking only about 1/2 of what I should be, so I'm gonna step that up a notch to try to get more weight off. I'm getting irritated and frustrated about it...also time to hit the treadmill now that I'm feeling back to normal. Doc cleared me for exercise on Wednesday...so why isn't my fat ass gettin' it done??? I did this for a REASON...time to make it happen. Til tomorrow ~Krista

Grrr...still haven't lost anymore weight. Staying stuck @ -13. I guess I should just pat myself on the back for not gaining anything, eh? :redface: Not much happening today. Making homemade bean & ham soup and it smells so good. I hope it's 1/2-way decent after I throw it in the blender. :huh2: Today's food: BREAKFAST: 1/2 cup Cream of Wheat made w/ 1% milk 1 peach 'n passion fruit Dannon Fusion smoothie (too much sugar & calories, but good) SNACK: 1.5 cups won ton soup broth LUNCH: 1 butterscotch pudding 1 sf/ff chocolate pudding SNACK: nothing - still full from earlier DINNER: 1 cup pureed bean & ham soup Yeah I just don't really get it. I'm drinking only about 1/2 of what I should be, so I'm gonna step that up a notch to try to get more weight off. I'm getting irritated and frustrated about it...also time to hit the treadmill now that I'm feeling back to normal. Doc cleared me for exercise on Wednesday...so why isn't my fat ass gettin' it done??? I did this for a REASON...time to make it happen. Til tomorrow ~Krista

Oh there are so many things! 1. Ride roller coasters again (hubby and I are enthusiasts) 2. Be able to shop in any clothing store I want - no more Lane Bryant!!! 3. Be able to spend time out in the sun without getting heat exhaustion 4. Reduce my migraines (I get them from exertion & swelling) 5. Have no problems with legs swelling ever again 6. WEAR SHORTS...I'm sick of capris 7. Wear a tank top in the hottest weather (I've always hated my arms) 8. Weigh less than my husband 9. Be able to run 10.Avoid a breast reduction - hopefully I'll lose a ton of weight in my 'girls'! 11.Swim in public without the shame of getting into a bathing suit 12.Be able to sit in any chair without having to visually evaluate it first to see if it will hold me. ...and there's a ton more...this surgery is saving my life and allowing me the tool to finally succeed. Much thanks to modern technology.

I purchased Pro Complex powder by Optimum Nutrition. I got it at GNC. It's a lot of protein - 60 g. - per serving, which is 2 scoops...but ya gotta be smart about stuff like that. I have 1/2 serving (1 scoop) for breakfast or mid-morning snack in a glass of 1% milk, and then another scoop (1/2 serving) for dinner or after my workout in milk again. It's yummy, and I do that when I haven't eaten enough protein sources in the day. If I have, then I don't worry about the shake. I have only tried the chocolate and I really enjoy it.

I love the stuff! My favorite thing to do is mix it with a tiny bit of light mayo, throw in some chopped onion and stuff it into a whole wheat pita with tons of shredded lettuce. Mmmmm! Enjoy!!!

Just a suggestion: I was banded @ Forest Health Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti by the most amazing Band surgeon out there. Dr. Jon Schram. I highly...HIGHLY recommend him. He's one of the top teaching physicians for the lap band around the country. He's the top dude who teaches all the other dudes how to do it. They are an amazing facility. Check them out if you get the chance.

I'm still in puree stage and have 1 more week of this followed by 1 week of soft foods. However, I'm preparing for normal eating again by gathering band-friendly recipes and figuring out great meals now. I will be joining WW again for the 11th and FINAL time of my life. When I was participating in WW in the past, polenta became a main staple of mine. I made all sorts of things with it. Namely homemade pizza. It makes a phenomenally healthy & delicious crust. Is it easily tolerated by the band? I think it would be a great alternative to crusts and breads in many situations. I found a good sale on it and thought about heading out tomorrow to buy a bunch on the sale and stock up my freezer...but if it has a tendency to stick or to be PB'd, then I won't waste my money. Thanks in advance!

I have the Realize band also. I've been told it is a 9cc band. I cannot believe the OP got banded 2 days after surgery??? That's basically unheard of. What about your stomach healing time? I would be kinda worried about that. Otherwise, the Realize band offers longer-lasting restrictions, has a much lower rate of slippage, and my doc said his patients with the Realize (J&J) band are also losing weight at a much more steady pace. However, with all new products, it will be awhile before they know for sure if this band outweighs (pardon the pun) the older style bands in long-term performance. All studies that my doc has participated in up until now support the above findings...which is why he does Realize and only Realize bands now. I'm comfortable in my doc's decision to use these bands. They sound like an upgrade and that makes me happy.

I definitely had a few binges before my surgery. I got banded on Jan. 4th so my last couple weeks were straight through the holidays. My doc did not require any sort of pre-op diet and since it was the holidays, I gotta say I did overindulge and I ate myself to glory. I enjoyed every last minute of it, too.

Okay...I understand where you all are coming from. Makes a little more sense. I guess I was more concerned about being somewhere where pureeing isn't going to be possible. I know Soups, oatmeal and mashed potatoes are always an option, so I'll just learn to stick with those for the next 12 days if I have to eat away from home. I'm not trying to break rules. I don't want to appear like "one of those" band people who just don't wanna follow doc's rules. I'm following very well...I just thought there wasn't much difference when pureeing in your mouth to the point of disintegration. Like what I had seemed not-so-bad. It's all a learning process! I'm happy to follow the rules as I'm not usually one to break them. I'll stay away from the scrambled eggs until I have a blender handy next time. :tt1:

I'm curious...what is the difference between eating foods that are pureed in a blender before you put them in your mouth - vs. - soft foods that you put in your mouth and puree by chewing before swallowing? I'm wondering because I began purees yesterday and some things I'd like to eat pureed are just difficult or time consuming to take the time to puree. Plus, it's difficult to visually accept how some things look pureed. However, as long as I'm chewing it down to puree before I swallow, what harm would I actually be doing? I can't see the difference here. I ate 2 scrambled eggs and a small single pancake today to try it out at lunchtime. I chewed and chewed and took a very long time eating. I did a great job making sure I didn't swallow until it was pureed in my mouth first and I personally don't understand what is wrong with that. I knew I was full when I began to feel gassy and did some small burping. Any advice from experienced bandsters? :tt1:

Still staying the same in my weight. I can't seem to drop anything more! Getting frustrated, so I'm gonna really do better. I'm doing well...don't get me wrong...but I can't be too careful. I'm really interested in how many calories I'm taking in each day as well so perhaps I'll begin keeping track of that. BREAKFAST: 1 cup .5% milk w/ 1 scoop (30 g.) protein powder 1/2 cup Cream of Wheat made w/ .5% milk LUNCH: 2 scrambled eggs (chewed to puree) 1 pancake w/ 2 pats of Promise margarine (chewed to puree) 1 cup decaf coffee w/ nondairy creamer SNACK: 1 Dannon Light & Fit strawberry smoothie DINNER: 1/2 cup mashed potatoes 1/2 cup cube steak mushroom gravy (made from cream soup, pureed in blender)

Still staying the same in my weight. I can't seem to drop anything more! Getting frustrated, so I'm gonna really do better. I'm doing well...don't get me wrong...but I can't be too careful. I'm really interested in how many calories I'm taking in each day as well so perhaps I'll begin keeping track of that. BREAKFAST: 1 cup .5% milk w/ 1 scoop (30 g.) protein powder 1/2 cup Cream of Wheat made w/ .5% milk LUNCH: 2 scrambled eggs (chewed to puree) 1 pancake w/ 2 pats of Promise margarine (chewed to puree) 1 cup decaf coffee w/ nondairy creamer SNACK: 1 Dannon Light & Fit strawberry smoothie DINNER: 1/2 cup mashed potatoes 1/2 cup cube steak mushroom gravy (made from cream soup, pureed in blender)

Whoa...wait a minute...somebody posted up there about never being able to have coconut ever again? WTH? Nobody has ever told me this. In fact, my doc has never given me one dietary restriction...ever. He's a teaching physician for the band around the world. His motto is "try it. if it doesn't work for you, you'll know it". What the heck is someone saying ya can't have coconut for? That's just bizarre.

I'm beginning to become very, very discouraged. I've heard and read so many stories of people needing 3-6 fills before ever having any restriction. That could take months! I'm really hoping I'll have restriction earlier, but now I'm getting the impression that it's not very common for that to happen. I'm worried it will be 6 months or more before I ever get any restriction and really begin losing weight. Please vote in this poll, and if you've had restriction very quickly after 1-2 fills, please tell your story so some of us have hope that we may be as lucky as you!

So I had my 2-week post-op appt. today. Saw Dr. Schram only briefly...he had more surgeries to get to and since I'm doing well, he didn't linger with me. He did say my incisions look great (still have most of the steri strips attached), my daily food intake sounds spot-on, and since I've lost 13 lbs., I'm considered to be doing excellent. Nutritionist came in and gave me the okay to begin purees. I spoke to her about my enormous hunger right now. She said it sounds like I healed uber-fast and although she would like me to stick to purees for at least 1 week, she said my 2nd week of purees I can begin soft foods...but not too many each day. After that I'm on softs and easing back into normal life. I'm okay with that. I did ask what the difference was between pureeing food before it goes in my mouth versus eating soft foods and pureeing them by chewing them down to nothing before swallowing. She kinda didn't have anything to say about that, which leads me to believe they are just worried that people won't chew well enough. So, I'll puree when I can, but if I'm in a place where I can't, then I'll chew down to puree. I think I've got this all figured out. Today's food: BREAKFAST: 1 peach Light & Fit yogurt smoothie SNACK: 1 large decaf coffee w/ cream LUNCH: 1 cup Cream of Wheat made with 1% milk No snack DINNER: 1 burger patty chewed to puree (no bun) w/ mustard & ketchup 1 TBSP baked beans 3 pretzels chewed to puree 1/2 cup milk SNACK: 1 chocolate-coffee ice cream bar 1 cup milk w/ 1 scoop protein Eh. I gotta do a little better tomorrow I think. For some reason, today's foods don't seem quite healthy enough. Getting used to all this is gonna take some time so I'm not aiming for perfection quite yet. I'm also worried because I have not lost any weight since last Sunday. Weird. On a diet like this I should be dropping like mad. Hopefully (maybe) it's because I'm still on my period?? Could be a bit bloated, although I don't really feel it. I'm going to begin working out 30-40 minutes each day. I'll probably just start with treadmill since I have my baby and getting time away from him to go to a gym is virtually impossible right now. He'll be 6 months old in a couple weeks! My daughter just turned 10 in October, so doing this all over again is wild. It's amazing how much you forget about the baby stage after your kids are older.

So I had my 2-week post-op appt. today. Saw Dr. Schram only briefly...he had more surgeries to get to and since I'm doing well, he didn't linger with me. He did say my incisions look great (still have most of the steri strips attached), my daily food intake sounds spot-on, and since I've lost 13 lbs., I'm considered to be doing excellent. Nutritionist came in and gave me the okay to begin purees. I spoke to her about my enormous hunger right now. She said it sounds like I healed uber-fast and although she would like me to stick to purees for at least 1 week, she said my 2nd week of purees I can begin soft foods...but not too many each day. After that I'm on softs and easing back into normal life. I'm okay with that. I did ask what the difference was between pureeing food before it goes in my mouth versus eating soft foods and pureeing them by chewing them down to nothing before swallowing. She kinda didn't have anything to say about that, which leads me to believe they are just worried that people won't chew well enough. So, I'll puree when I can, but if I'm in a place where I can't, then I'll chew down to puree. I think I've got this all figured out. Today's food: BREAKFAST: 1 peach Light & Fit yogurt smoothie SNACK: 1 large decaf coffee w/ cream LUNCH: 1 cup Cream of Wheat made with 1% milk No snack DINNER: 1 burger patty chewed to puree (no bun) w/ mustard & ketchup 1 TBSP baked beans 3 pretzels chewed to puree 1/2 cup milk SNACK: 1 chocolate-coffee ice cream bar 1 cup milk w/ 1 scoop protein Eh. I gotta do a little better tomorrow I think. For some reason, today's foods don't seem quite healthy enough. Getting used to all this is gonna take some time so I'm not aiming for perfection quite yet. I'm also worried because I have not lost any weight since last Sunday. Weird. On a diet like this I should be dropping like mad. Hopefully (maybe) it's because I'm still on my period?? Could be a bit bloated, although I don't really feel it. I'm going to begin working out 30-40 minutes each day. I'll probably just start with treadmill since I have my baby and getting time away from him to go to a gym is virtually impossible right now. He'll be 6 months old in a couple weeks! My daughter just turned 10 in October, so doing this all over again is wild. It's amazing how much you forget about the baby stage after your kids are older. :eek:

As a new band patient, I'm struggling with the full liquid phase of post-op life. My 2-week follow-up appt. is tomorrow (01/16) and I'm going to hopefully be cleared for purees and/or soft foods. Otherwise, I may lean over and chew Dr. Schram's arm off... I am beginning this journal to track my daily food. If I don't do it, I know I won't be as successful as I could be. Here goes nothin'! TODAY'S FOOD ~ January 15, 2008 (-12 lbs. so far) BREAKFAST: 1 cup 1% milk w/ 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (30 g.) 1/2 cup cream of wheat SNACK: 1 vanilla pudding LUNCH: 1/2 cup beefy mushroom soup (blended down to liquid) 1/2 cup Activia vanilla yogurt SNACK: 1 grande decaf skinny mocha DINNER: 1 sf/ff chocolate pudding + 1 scoop protein powder (30 g.) 1/2 cup beefy mushroom soup (blended down to liquid) 5 Hershey kisses (didn't swallow each until melted) liquids today were 3 bottled waters, 2 cups Orangeade, some apple juice Feelings: I have high energy, but I feel very hungry. Maybe it is more a feeling of wanting to CHEW. I'm sure it's mental. I'm trying my best to stay busy. The busier I am, the less I think about what I'm missing out on. Plugging away! I feel great other than that, so I'm not gonna complain.