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when you realize that your meals may start out hot, but by time you've finished, they're gonna be ice cold.

That's what I was thinking. I've never really chewed an oyster or clam. It's sort of a "slurp" and down. Even mussels, which you do chew a little. Kind of rubbery. I don't know about clams, but my BIL, who was banded, told me the only food he absolutely can't eat is calamari. Rubber.

When you take a second 60 calorie Jello diet pudding, and call it binging.

I like the concept of a "green zone". Makes me feel like I'm losing weight and saving the planet. Maybe we are. We're using less of the earth's food supply, reusing our resources (leftovers), and for the most part, we're off the junk food, which has got to be saving something for the world. I'm sitting here at almost 11:30PM Saturady having a little treat. Not Haagan Daz or Fritos.....I'm having a slice of a country whole wheat bread - small but thick- toasted, with a small slice of cheddar cheese melted on it. A nice little slice of heaven.

Hi- I was also thrilled to go back to work after losing a lot of weight. I was off for 5 weeks, which is the best thing I could have done for many reasons. I went back over 30 pounds lighter. I loved that everyone could see it.

My BIL has lost about 120 since banding and his fridge is an aluminum mine. We haven't been out for dinner yet, but I think he'll order and I'll take a bit off his plate. Restaurant portions are too big anyway!

I wish! Now there are vitamins, fresh fish, better veggies- as long as I'm getting healthy I'm buying organic. And clothes and shoes!

phyllser- wow- you are a role model. I love seeing us broads over 50 losing lots of weight. It defies all rules about it being so terribly hard to lose once we enter the 5-0 zone. Congratulations and keep up the good work. I'm still fairly new, banded April 30, and I'm working on how much food to eat when while leaving time for water. Most of the time I feel like a juggler. And I seem to get a lot of gas. Painful gas. So, working on that too. I'm trying to spread my food across the day rather than 3 meals. Trying to not let the belly empty all together. But happily building a fridge of new foods and lots of leftovers. See yu!

Hi All. I find we're sometimes better than the nurses when it comes to solving symptoms (and a much quicker response time!). The last couple of days, I find that I'm having a lot of pressure in the stomach. Not pain....just a lot of discomfort- like I'm full to bursting. No vomiting, no nausea, no pb'ing. Had a fill last week and doctor couldn't put much in because it backed up. I totally feel restricted. I think I'm eating too much at a sitting. I'm getting in about 5-6 oz of fish or chicken (always soft or mushy) and some potato as well. I eat slowly , but I suddenly get this uncomfortable, pressure feeling which lasts for hours. Like I'm eating 4 bites too much. So there's a wall. And funny thing is, my calorie count is still only about 800 or so. Getting my Protein. If I DON'T eat, I fill up with gas and that is pressure as well. I feel pressure a lot of the time - and if it's after eating...I dont' eat again- don't even drink, which is no good. My thought is that I'm filling with gas when there's no food inside. And that I'm creating a vicious cycle of too much food- no food- too much gas. Today, I'm going to try to eat 4 oz at a time- measuring. Soft foods. I don't know if I should eat 4 times a day of the small amount to keep my stomach from being too empty or what. I do take anti-gas stuff as well. Last question.....once I did overeat once or twice - can I stay sore for a couple of days from that? Is that why I feel sore? Any thoughts? Anyone else having this? Thanks

thanks, julie. I am actually doing what I said I'd do---eating very small amounts more often. I'm still early on and have to get high protein in. I did it yesterday. ALSO, I had some advice from my therapist. She said that with all the stress of surgery, losing my "crutch" of food, and unfortunately the illness of my MIL (she actually passed yesterday), I should take the Ativan that I never use. I did and presto, the pain that was sitting as a lump between my breasts is gone. So, looks like that was a part of it if not most of it. Today, no problems at all. I'm going to see what the weekend does, and then if it comes back, etc, I'll post on complications. Thanks again, Gwenn

thanks. I'll take a look. I do like free better than not free!

mine does that as well. I am amazed at what it tells me about my current weight. It says how many calories I can have if I want to maintain my current weight- when you look at it, you can clearly see how much food one had to consume to be that weight. An eye opener. Then it tells me how many calories I still have that day if I want to lose 2 pounds a week. I love it. I know it can't take plateaus into account, but it's a great guide.

Sorry, I was unclear. He didn't tell my BIL to do it....the surgeon was lapbanded himself and he told my BIL that's what he (the surgeon) does. He's not hungry all day. Guess what- he's still a jerk. Who tells that to a patient. The surgeon is supposed to represent good health. If he's going to do his own thing....he should keep it to himself.

I've been told that I'll be able to eat more as time goes on- about a cup up to 12 oz. I'm still a newbie- only 7 weeks since banding. I totally agree about the amount of food we need to live- that's why I think I'll add a couple more smalll meals in order to get in the protein and calories. My BIL had LB surgery. I couldn't believe it when he told me his surgeon has coffee for breakfast and lunch and eats only at dinner! I have to say I was shocked by that. Not just that this is all he feels like eating, but that he'd tell this to patients.

You are going so so well! Good for you! I know just how you feel....I have 199 as my goal even though sure, I'd like to get down much further. I set my first goal at 199 so I don't make a goal impossible, and so I can SEE MYSELF BREAK THAT NUMBER!

Wow, that 7 pound loss is fantastic! And the inches. WEIGHT TO GO!!! I'm down 38 as of today. And if my knee would heal, I could start to move again! So frustrating.

Hi Jack, I use myfooddiary.com. It's not free. $9 per month. I hate paying but I have found it a lot easier then daily plate. That site overwhelmed me. I don't know if I'll want this long-term, but I love having all my intake tabulated and I can track all day long and get a full report end of day. This is cheaper than all the Hagan Daz I was eating! And Jack, a favor, please. I just posted a thread in this food/nutrition section as I'm having a bit of stomach trouble. I find that everyone here has either heard of or experienced most things LB, so I'm wondering what your thoughts will be on my post. I would appreciate your ideas. I actually do have a call into the nurse at the surgeon's office, but by time she calls me, it may be solved by the good folk here. Thanks, Gwenn

I take one pill in the am but am not having trouble. I have trouble with food in the AM. I have found that some days the pill seems to just sit for a while before going down fully. My BIL takes a number of pills that can't be crushed and he told me this is common. You're sitting there with this mild discomfit and then suddenly it's like a "whoosh" inside and the pill have moved on. Like flushing an internal toilet-LOL.

Of course you can. Decaf is on the liquid stage, as are popcicles. So, why wouldn't iced decaf be good? More important is how it feels to you. I prefered hot drinks after surgery- but that's a personal preference. Just sip very very slowly.

I eat a lot of fish. Some dark meat chicken or light meat if I'm using mayo with it. I use a protein drink if I'm under on protein and need liquids as well. I've also found that if you use a protein counter (book or on-line) you'll find you're getting in more protein than you think. The milk you add to coffee, even some of the wheat crackers, have protein. And it all adds up.

I'm struggling with 3-4 bites more. I'm losing well. But partly because I think I'm eating too much at a sitting, getting very uncomfortable pressure and gas, so then I can't face eating anymore all day. I like the weight loss, but this is not the way. So I know I'm restricted....if not 6-8 oz at a time wouldn't bother me this much. I'm being very very careful today. If I'm hungry I'll eat more often or use a protein drink in between, but I'm on 4 oz at a time until I get a handle on this.

I agree totally. It's a partnership....a marriage of sorts. There was incredible looking huge chocolate chip cookies at work today. I know in the past I would have taken one, and being embarrassed, I would have secreted another 2-3 back to my office. If I was DIETING in the past, I would have felt miserable....the old diet as punishment. Today, I took a piece off one of the cookies and ate it slowly. I didn't take any more, but I didn't deny myself from having ANY. If I had tried to eat a whole cookie, I think I'd have been sick. And for me, with my addiction, this is good.

From what I'm seeing on the boards, everyone's story is different. I thought I was eating too much after my doctor was only able to put in 2ccs....I couldn't take anymore. Then I actually counted the calories and found I was only about 800- so thinking I was eating a lot was a reaction (for me) to eating a broader range of foods. My problem is "hearing" the signal that the hunger is leaving. I start to hear it, but continue for a few more bites trying to get my protein in, etc. And because stopping is still new for me. I'm just getting an appetite back. So my work is to stop eating 3-4 bites sooner. That's my goal. I find I am too full- no vomiting, nausea, or pb'ing....just a very full feeling. Not at all comfortable. The good news is that it's the "wall" I'm hitting, but at least I'm stopping. And the food I'm eating is heart healthy etc. But I'd like to hear the signal just a little sooner so that I don't have to feel uncomfortable. Also, I end up having to wait 2 or more hours before drinking because I'm too full and until this started a couple of days ago, I was getting in at least 8 glasses of fluid a day. What I don't know is if I'm eating more (didn't think so) or if my fill is doing what I hear some do.....getting a little tighter a few days after the fill. Before the fill, I was eating the same food- same calories. But now I can't. This morning, I just didn't feel like eating and so had a 5 oz yogurt over the entire morning. Nothing else. Then when I got home at 5PM I was hungry so had dinner and ate that bit too much. Not in a hurry....nothing like that. Ate slowly. Just a bit too much. So much work to do on this. But that's the journey. And at least there's a wall!