"Just" Paul

Sorry, DeLarla, I couldn't read that... what did you say?

Women only... sheesh. You just know the title of the thread would make me want to post in here. I didn't read anything, or maybe I did. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

I lost 17 in the 7 days pre-op. My doc stated that it just wasn;t about the liver thing, he wanted you to get your appetite down, and more manageable b4 the surgery. He insists on keeping sugar and carbs low on the post-op too, as a method to help control hunger after the surgery. I think it helped.

Hey Doll, You'll be fine. You've got support, and just jump back on the saddle again now. I jumped off on Superbowl Sunday too! Get back on your program, you can make it work. Now, watch out or I'll get the whip back out. Crrack!

Use cracker crumbs, regular flour, finely ground nuts (almond meal), ground up pork rinds, ground up cereal (all bran, corn flakes, chex)... any of those will do for a tast breading. Use your imagination, and see what you have on hand, you can come up with something great!

Yeah, just got a fill Tuesday after work. I'm back on mushies today and tomorrow, and carefully move back to real food starting Sunday. Fish would be great, as it is pretty soft, but not a mushie. Yum. I pulling fillets out of the freezer tomorrow evening.

I have no trouble with cheese. IN these cases, I would use shredded, and chew it all up well. I make 2 small fillets. 1 for the wife, and the 4 year old and I split the other. I usually can't finish my half. Unfortunately, I am still on liquids until tomorrow, then on to mushies. Hopefully I'l start back on solids on Sunday, then maybe I'll make fish again!

Towel rack, hell, I can hang a new wooden ladder on that hook!

Whole fish, both sides, yes. If you put it in the pan, spray the pan, if you put it on a wire rack in a pan, spray the rack too. It will almost "fry" in the oven. You should be able to find soy flour in your supermarket, in the baking section near things like buckwheat flour etc. BTW... this same method works well for chicken. For Catfish, also a great fish to eat, you have 2 options. 1. Do what I describe above, but use 1/2 cormeal and 1/2 soy flour 2. Dip the catfish in buttermilk, then dip in the flour mix, then dip back in buttermilk, and then back in the flour. Pan fry this in a little olive oil. mmmmmmmm good. Serve with red hot sauce (Red Devil) and provolone cheese melted on top. Here's another fish idea... Prepare the fish as I mentioned in my first post here. Serve it over spaghetti noodles (Dreamfields is great low-carb pasta). Top with some provolone and mozzarella cheese, and then a helping of marinara suace... fish parmesan!

Wet the fish, shake off the excess Water and dredge it in a combination of soy flour (lower in carbs than regular flour), seasoned with season salt, garlic powder and cyanne pepper (just a little goes a long way) Then, spray it with olive oil PAM (Better than frying) and bake it at 350 for about 20 minutes, or until done. I like to put it on a baking rack in the baking dish, so that it is not sitting in it's juice, and gets crispy on the outside. Yummy, and really simple. I just made it last night. I couldn't eat it (I just got a fill) by my wife said it was great, and ate 2 servings.

Nykee, I wasn't writing about you here, but you are backing up the point I made. It is not just about the surgery. If it is OK to get a book to help, then why did what I say seem to offend? I think you can do it. Getting the surgery took a lot of guts, Tons of courage and commitment, I'm just saying that that commitment shouldn't end with the surgery. I know folks say that they have done diets before, etc., but this is not the same as any other diet. Unless you have done the Lapband before, then you need to look at this differently. If you don't think I understand what you are going through, I think you need to go back and look at my start weight... I was pushing 400 lbs, I am in the same boat. I DO understand. If you think it is easy for me, it is not. I fight everyday, and like you, it is constantly on my mind, and I choose to fight. So do you, that is why you have done soooooo well! I'm proud of you, and you should be too. I am sorry you took my remarks as a negative, I meant it to be encouraging. I think too many of us have spent our "dieting" lives addressing only one aspect of our weight problems, instead of addressing the fact that there are multiple factors that have gotten us to this level. That is the point I am trying to make. If a book (potatoes to prozak) helps, great, but it seems to me that that is no different than what I was saying before about getting help beyond the surgery. You ARE doing that, and should be proud of your accomplshments. I am shutting up now. I will make no further comments on this topic, as it seems I am being misconstrued, and it is being taken by many as a criticism of their weight loss journeys. I simply meant to support. Shhhhhh from me. P

I never questioned the surgical skills of the Mexican doctors, or the quality and cleanliness of their facilities. I just questioned the ability and quality of aftercare of a doctor thousands of miles away vs. a local doc... I just questioned those who look at this as just a surgical procedure, and not a long term plan involving participation from a team of professionals easily accessible to the weight loss patient. Don't confuse the two. A great surgeon in a clean hospital is only a small fraction of the Lap Band weight loss process. If you do not understand that going in, and are just looking at the surgery and not pre and aftercare, then you will fail.

But, the band is designed to work with someone on a diet of solid food... That is where restriction comes from. If you eat only liquids and mushies, then there is no restriction, and the band does nothing. The pouch holds SOLID foods in, maintaining a sense of satiety. Liquids only, and that would be gone. But, calories are calories is not true. No bandster doc would go by that method, it may be well known, but it not the proper way to lose weight, especially on the band. You should talk to a dietician that specializes in the band. Protein is the key. If all your calories come from carbs, like pizza and rice, then you are not getting proper nutrition, and when you are on a diet that limits your intake of food... NUTRITION IS PARAMOUNT. I don't know you personally, but I highly recommend you rethink your way of eating on the band. It is not healthy, and will hurt you in the long run. Just my 2 cents.

My wife is an executive, works long hours. On top of that, she is a freelance writer, so her work takes up a lot of time, so, I compensate.

shake in the AM is cool, but shakes for all meals is not. liquids pass through the band quickly. Having nothing but shakes and mushies all the time defeats the purpose of the band... they pass right through. The point is to eat normal, nutritious food, in a smaller quantity. I am disturbed that she has gone on like this for so long with doctor not making any changes... has she discussed this with him? Has she had any post op appointments where he thinks this problem is OK. I am worried about her, and her aftercare situation. P

I suddenly quit snoring after I lost my first 30 lbs... Then I was let back into the bedroom to sleep again. Hadn't been sleeping there for over a year. P

Whack Whack Whack!! Let's go girls, up an at'em! Work that body... go go Work that body... Go GO! Come on... two more reps... that's it... keep going... ALRIGHT! Breathe, breathe, now GET BACK ON THERE! How's that for an ass kicking!

Bad husbands, eh... I do all the laundry, including delicates that I hand wash, and home dry cleaning. I cook all the meals except for the occasional Sunday Breakfast. I do the dishes. I do the grocery shopping (only fitting, since I do the cooking). I do all the finances (she hates handling numbers). I do all the home repair and improvement (I have been remodeling the house 1 room at a time... master bedroom is next). I run the vacuum every other day. I do the yard work, planting etc. (I have a service cut the grass, but I do everything else). I pick up my daugher from daycare everyday, and do her homework with her What does she do... we have a lady who cleans the house for her... she drops my daughter off every morning at daycare... she takes out the trash on Sunday nights... and sometimes I do that. Don't talk about us guys...wait a minute, I sound like a wife...:phanvan Bwaaaaaaaaaa:cry I feel so emasculated. I need chocolate... is Oprah on now?:nervous

My fill went great. According to the doc's scale, I am actually down a few more than I thought...yea! He pulled out 3cc (had put in 3.6). He says that is to be expected, as the VG band gets air in it, and that you can lose up to 1cc after the first fill. He was happy mine was only .6. He filled it up to 4.5, and that was too much, and pulled it back to 4. Ahhh, restriction. Now I'm on 2 days of liquids, then 2 days of mushies (that is how he handles fills). I can slowly start back on regular food on Sunday AM. P

Just a thought, but Gatorade is full of sugar. in many people, sugar stimulates the production of Insulin, stimulating the appetite. Try sugar free drinks like crystal light. Slim fast, is also sugar loaded, try Atkins shakes or an other sugar-free Protein Shake. Personally, I found that limiting my sugar intake (and adding Protein to my diet) helped to surpress my appetite, a lot. Just a thought.

Everyone is indeed different, and has different needs. That is why I keep emphasizing addressing more than one aspect of your weight loss. Surgery is not enough, alone it is only PART of what will get you healthy. I never said it would happen overnight, I never said you should deprive yourself of all pleasure in food forever, I said you need to look at your whole picture. Think about it, why did you get the band? To look better... maybe, to feel better...sure, to live better...yes. Don't stop at one thing, address all aspects of your weight problem, nutritional, educational, psychological, physical etc. Only then can you achieve good health. Not every aspect is for every bandster, but I can almost guarantee that the surgery alone will work for no one. I guess I just can't keep my mouth shut. P

I like this thread. More pics More pics More pics Not of me in a man-thong, not enough frontal coverage.

Don't forget the daddies out there too. I thought you meant the opening song, not the victory song. I like the opening lyrics.. d... d... d... d... Dora d... d... d... d... Dora Dora Dora Dora the Explorer

But Kim, this is what I am talking about... Go see a dietician, they might be able to show you how to make delicious (for your taste buds) foods, or a professional chef. If you are struggling with your food, then maybe a Psychiatrist might help you to get to some of the issues you have with eating. I'm not talking about stopping anything overnight, I'm talking about getting the help you need. You got the band, right? Then why is everyone so afraid to look at the rest of the picture, that there may be more help you need AFTER the band? Is that so bad? To admit you need help? Rather than just accepting it, FIGHT IT... If it makes you depressed then a professional just might be the way to get past it... If you went through everything to get the band, why would you give up on yourself now? You can beat it, but it requires help. Get the help! Get with a PROGRAM, not a diet, not a surgery... a PROGRAM! I know you can do it!

Most importantly... FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR's INSTRUCTIONS. If he wants you to do it for 3 weeks... DO IT FOR 3 WEEKS. Don't override his instructions based on what someone here told you that they did. He has his reasons for this, follow them and you will do well.