pugmum

Interesting. Thanks for the replies! Kelli

Please tell how bad this is!!! I have this awful habit of eating pretzels and cheese and something sweet (like a little meal) before bed!! I just started this behavior a few months ago and took a break after surgery, but now I'm beginning to do it again! I know this will mess with my weight loss and so I want to know that I'm not the only one and that I really need to stop! LOL. Thanks, Kelli

Nice to meet y'all! My name is Kelli and I am 37 years old. I am married to Ron going on 7 years and we live in central California with our 4 pugs, 2 rottweilers, and 3 cats. No human children because the pugs would be crushed. LOL I am originally from Chicago. I worked for the railroad in Chicago and then in Omaha, NE and met my husband through work, he is a locomotive engineer for the railroad out here. I moved to California when we were married and resigned from the RR. I finished college and then furthered my education and am now a medical transcriptionist and work for a large company from home. Ron is 24 years older than myself and in July he will retire. At this point, we are moving to Pennsylvania (where he is from) where we have bought a small farm. We're very excited about this! I was a bit chubby through my teenage years, but did not really gain lots of weight until I quit smoking/drinking 5 years ago and found ice cream. :hungry: I didn't think I would ever have the courage to undergo GE (general anesthesia) for WLS, but my sister was banded last year and I felt like it would be for the best. I have been fully supported by my husband and family emotionally. I'm very blessed in this regard. Through my chubbiness, though, I have tried most diets and know the desperation of weight loss. My final turning point was being on Weight Watchers (diligently) for a month and losing 2 pounds. I knew then that I needed some help. I am 3-1/2 weeks postop and feel better each day. I just want to mention that y'all are great; I don't know if I could have maintained my sanity the first week postop without this board! I feel like I know some of you and really I don't. I just appreciate all of the help and encouragement and lack of judgement! This club will hopefully allow me to get to know others on a more personal basis. Thanks to those who took the time to get it together! :clap2: Kelli Highest/Present 250/240

One bar is 175 calories (108 from fat). No trans fat. Dietary Fiber is 14 g. Kelli :hungry:

Dr. Hekier, Oh, sweet mercy, that is so funny! Thanks for the comments. You made me feel better! Kelli

My surgeon also repaired my hernia, but he did not mention an increased risk of slippage. Kelli

Normally, I'm not into artificial sweetners, but I spotted this new product at the store today that is called: Eat Well, Be Well, sugar-free, no sugar alcohols, diabetic friendly chocolate bar. So I bought it thinking it will probably be like eating cardboard, but it's good! It's definitely a dark chocolate taste and I like it. Just thought I would share for any trying to curb that sweet tooth. Kelli

I was recently banded and have a sibling who has been banded for over a year. I do not think overdoing it too much is a constant concern because I think you could overly hurt yourself! I know it's possible to eat junk, but I would be afraid to just go full out and eat everything (like I would normally). Just my .02 cents! Kelli

Wow, that is a long time to lurk! You're right, though, it is addictive. Congrats on your awesome weight loss! Kelli

Susan, That sounds like a good buy! We have an older treadmill, but have been looking for a new one and there are so many to choose from (I think that is what you were saying). When we get ready to purchase, I'm going to try and remember how you like yours! Happy walking! Kelli

Anthony, Wow! That will be exciting/interesting. My surgeon tried to talk me into the VG so I will be curious to your followup. Best wishes, Kelli

Sunta, In my first 2 weeks I couldn't even think about eating noodles. I drank broth and had clear liquids. Sugar free jello was particularly soothing to me...I did have a protein shake daily, sometimes I had to force it down. Water definitely. I hope you feel better soon!!! :eek: Kelli

Congratulations! I hope it works well for you!! Kelli

Hello from Athens, Greece, I think you will be very delighted you are choosing this procedure. There is tons of information available here at the website. Congratulations on making the decision! Kelli

I would like to be in this challenge, please!! Kelli

Jessie, Could you sprinkle some of that "I don't need chocolate" fairy dust over my way? I fear it is coming to an all or nothing thing with me. Tonight, I threw away some Reeses cups because I knew I would eat them. I literally soaked them in some Water and took them outside to the garbage. I feel out of control around them. They taste so good and go down so easily! Kelli

Good point! I have to continue to remind my newly banded self that this is a way of life. I'll sit back and learn from this thread! Kelli

Vines, That must be so frustrating! You are an inspiration; I would have given up, I'm so weak-willed when it comes to dieting. That is why I was so curious when I read your original post. I guess I'm somewhat spoiled/naive in believing that if I work hard I will get good results. Sometimes there may be factors beyond my our control. I guess that is part of aging...learning to accept these factors with grace. I have lots to learn that is for sure! Thanks, Kelli

Wow, I was starting to freak out before you fessed up to what you actually ate before your traumatic event. LOL I become so frightened when I have to vomit that I will go to any length to avoid it. Hope you never have to go through that again! Kelli

I'm asking this with the utmost sincerity because I'm curious... not being judgmental at all. Y'all work out (excercise to a target heart rate), eat properly, are banded, and still do not lose weight? I'm not talking about if you have a disorder, but even those with normal metabolic systems? That's strange to me, but I'm no doctor! I know, for a fact, that in overweight people the metabolism needs to be jump started and that means exercise. I've also never known anyone to lose much weight on 1500 calories a day; that seems a lot to me. The only reason I'm asking these things is to know in case it happens to me. In all of my dieting experience, though, the calorie in and calorie out with exercise has always worked. Are you really doing the deal or not doing the deal? Kelli

Dena, Good for you! Here's to a quick and uneventful recovery!! :clap2: Kelli

One of my "clothes goals" is to be able to shop at thrift stores!! I have a friend who finds great cute clothes at thrift stores, but it seems more difficult for plus size. Kelli

I think, most times, that it is nearly impossible to quit something when the discomfort of doing it does not outweigh the pleasure of doing it. It's those neurotransmitters we have. Oftentimes, it takes fear or something so strongly negative associated with the action to motivate change. Hope you keep trying! Kelli

Geez, it's as if you were reading my mind! I was just going to post the question if anyone craves chocolate after surgery. I didn't crave chocolate before surgery, I wonder why now? Maybe I'm focusing (obsessing) too much on it. I have been sugar free in the past and I know that after the first few days, it becomes easier and more natural. I'm contemplating this because if I have chocolate every day, I tend to NEED chocolate every day. To go through this whole surgery and then not lose weight because of chocolate is too strange for me. I doubt a little will inhibit weight loss, but the way I tend to eat it it will. Kelli

Stacey, I was banded on 2/2 and can so relate to what you're going through! I have fallen a couple times and chewed pretzels till they were almost nothing, but I try to refrain from doing that. However, I was on my way to do that then I read your post and, instead, I went and made myself a cold Protein drink and I'm grateful I come here because I get encouragement from this site. Hang in there, it's a temporary deal! Kelli