annecolorgreen

Those sound really good...thanks! ~~anne

Hi! I just had my surgery at St. Mary's with Dr. Lusco. If you have trouble getting through by phone to the office, definitely email them. MUCH quicker response! You really should try to make the support group meetings (1st Monday of the month if it's not a holiday). You can go even if you aren't banded yet and family members can come if they want. I went this month and really enjoyed it. Yes, you will LOVE the dietician! Her name is Jessica and she seems quite devoted to helping us. Let us know how things go or if you have any questions! ~~anne

That's a great idea! Good luck! ~~anne

I'll bet they would be good roasted too!

I had some vegetables (mushrooms/onions) this morning mixed in with my scrambled egg plus a cut up tomato. For dinner, I had chili (thick with beans/onions). Yesterday, I had a veggie fajita (no tortilla) for lunch with a little refried Beans and the leftover veggies for dinner. I personally think vegetables are as important as the Protein. I'm not doing as well with the fruit but I may have to try the fruit smoothie idea! ~~anne

Sounds great! Has anyone tried yoga? I'm considering it for relaxation and flexibility. Do you think I'd be the only plus-size person in the room? ~~anne

Oh...that's good to know! ~~anne

I hate the "game" part of it...but I like seeing people successfully lose weight. I TiVo the show and fast forward through the drama. Yes, Vicky is definitely a conniving b----. ~~anne

OK--we've all been banded and recovered now--who is exercising? I am fortunate that the hospital where I was banded includes an 8-week exercise program with a trainer as part of the package. I started last week (1 1/2 weeks post-op) and am up to 40 min. on the treadmill and 30 min. on the bike. I am going to start with some light weights this week. Here is the FUN thing that I am hoping to do--locally, we have several walk/runs throughout the fall/winter. The first is Thanksgiving morning (2 miles) and I am planning to walk it with my husband. There is one each month in December, January, and February. The longest is 4 miles. For each, you get a t-shirt (I am a sucker for those!). Another thing I found through the YMCA is a fall hiking challenge that has you do 6/10 different trails in the area and you get a t-shirt for completing it (yes, another t-shirt!). I just wanted to encourage you to start exercising if you haven't and maybe join a group or train for a walk or run. A friend of mine who is newly single joined a contra dancing group and is meeting new people and having a great time (she is quite overweight). I am so proud of myself for actually GOING to the gym (a big thing for me). The good feelings last all day after I work out! ~~anne

Oh SeaSide--that is so sweet. I would LOVE for you to pray for her (and him) and the baby! Her name is Ellen and his is Phillip and she MAY end up delivering early as she has a bicornate uterus. We are praying for a healthy term baby! Congrats on your twins--how fun--but so much work! My boys were 15 months apart and my girls were 17 months apart...not quite the same but still two babies at once--twice! I have twin nephews and they are still a handful at seven. That is so wonderful that they were so small but doing so well! If anyone would want to PM me any names of deployed military who need support, I would be happy to send a card or care package. I routinely do from a military support yahoo group that I am part of. God bless our military and our country! ~~anne

Question: I'm scheduled the Monday before Thanksgiving. What do you think I will be able to eat? Anything but in small quantities? Or will I be on mushies? Thanks, Anne

Hi! One of my Army sons has struggled with his weight FOREVER. He is three years into his service and is only a PV2 as they refuse to promote him while he is overweight (although they had no problem sending him to the Middle East OR allowing him in to begin with!). Anyway. He mentioned the other day that he is seeing a bariatric doctor and is on phentermine now. Does anyone know if he will get in trouble with the Army for doing this? Are drugs like that restricted in any way? Thanks. I'm glad he is trying to lose weight but I don't want him to get in any trouble. ~~anne

Hi! I am SO excited because I will soon have my first fill. My question is--it is three days before Thanksgiving and I'm wondering what I'll be able to eat on Turkey Day? Any ideas? Only a few close family members know about my surgery and I really want to keep that info private for now. Thanks! ~~anne

You might want to let the doctor know how you feel. Someone at a support group meeting was talking about he had a similar situation--he could still eat anything he wanted!--and the nurse running the meeting suggested he go see the doctor. He did--and his band wasn't around his stomach...it was around the fat pad that is in FRONT of the stomach (on x-ray it looked the same). When he got a fill, he could feel it so he thought it was okay. He had to have another surgery and two years later is doing great now! ~~anne

You need to send a detailed letter to the hospital administrator. Any one of those things would have meant the termination of employees at the hospital I worked at for 14 years. Ridiculous. Glad you came out of it okay! ~~anne

We should lose 1-2 pounds a week. As long as I do that, I will be happy. I hope that with a regular, slow weight loss that I won't have skin issues (just hoping!). Penny--that was SO nice of the doctor to buy that for you! How sweet! I had an experience at bible study this week that was interesting. I've been out three weeks for various reasons (including my surgery). The unintended rumor was that I was having knee surgery. When I went back, someone from the group said, "so, you had knee surgery?"...pause...then me, "uh no, actually"...pause...then I said, "------- got mixed up"...long pause...then other conversation resumed! My friend who had started the rumor unintentionally about died! She was like "I just kept thinking--please, someone, change the subject!". I just don't want everyone "watching" me eat. Enjoy your weekend! ~~anne

Congratulations!

When I first heard Obama speak, I thought "WOW, I think I may vote Democratic for president this time". Then I saw his voting record. That is solely the reason that I could not vote for him. My hope is that he will govern as he ran in the election--toward the middle instead of the left. I AM proud that our country was able to get past the good ol' boy mentality and elect someone of another race (hopefully one day we will elect a woman too!!!). I have high hopes for Obama because I feel he is highly intelligent and, I hope, smart enough to see that leaning too much to the left will divide the country instead of unite us. We will see... :mad2:

I'm doing pretty well so far. I've lost 18 lbs (including pre-op) and have advanced to soft foods. I've worked with a trainer at the gym this week and feel pretty good about that. I found out yesterday that I get to have a fill at FOUR weeks! Yay! The other MD's in the office wait for SIX weeks...mine doesn't! So far, dh doesn't seem to be changing his eating habits as he said he would...we'll see.

I'm doing pretty well so far. I've lost 18 lbs (including pre-op) and have advanced to soft foods. I've worked with a trainer at the gym this week and feel pretty good about that. I found out yesterday that I get to have a fill at FOUR weeks! Yay! The other MD's in the office wait for SIX weeks...mine doesn't! So far, dh doesn't seem to be changing his eating habits as he said he would...we'll see.

I felt much better today. Last night, I ate some Quaker weight control oatmeal made with skim milk instead of Water. VERY filling! ~~anne

Good morning! I have a "Wii" question for those who have some of the fitness games. Can you set up a progam on it or is there a way to get a report on how much and how long you use it? The reason that I'm asking is that I homeschool my dd and she is trying to graduate high school a year early which means we are cramming LOTS of stuff in this year. She needs a PE course. My original thought was for her to do 12 weeks with a trainer at the YMCA but she is working 28 hours a week in addition to some college and online classes. Obviously, she is VERY busy but I would love for her to get some time in working out. Does anyone know? Thanks. ~~anne P.S. I own Wii Fit and was saving it for Christmas but don't have to.

Do you use something online to track your nutrition/calories? If so, what? I started out using fitday.com and was pretty happy with it until I kept having to ADD new foods in that weren't in their database (lots). Then I found one at caloriecount.about.com and LOVED It because it had lots of things in the database already including EAS Protein drinks. Well, then I had a Vivanno from Starbucks and it wasn't in the database (other Starbucks drinks were) and you couldn't add it in like you could on the other site. What I would LOVE to find is one that has an extensive database, one that you can add or modify to it, and that would allow you to put in your recipe and it would give a breakdown. Am I asking too much? Thanks in advance! ~~anne

Maybe something warm would help that pain? Drink some hot tea or something. I like chai tea with a little sweetener. Sadly, I'm having NO trouble burping...I can't stop it from happening and it's embarrassing! I AM starting to deal with some constipation issues since I've been on mushies for a week. Nothing x 3 days! I took some Senna S tonight so I hope that helps. I've lost 17 lbs total including one week of pre-op diet. I haven't lost anything in a few days...probably because of no BM! I hope you feel better! ~~anne

Hi everyone! Sorry I didn't get to wish those at the end of the month well...after my surgery, I developed a very bad chest cold and have been just trying to get things done that I have to and that's it. No time to hang on the computer! I'm feeling better now...just coughing a little bit. My dh and girls have had it too. I had my first "outing" to a restaurant last night...and ended up with a bowl of butternut squash soup. YUM! I even brought some home...I couldn't eat it all! Tonight was a relative's surprise #50 birthday party and we brought appetizer kind of stuff. I brought dirt pudding (Old As Dirt--get it ) and it turned out really good! I also brought hummus and just used my chip to "eat" it as I'm still in the "blenderized" stage. Here's the recipe for the dirt pudding if anyone wants it: Worm it Up! You don't have to be a kid to enjoy a creepy, chocolatey dessert on Halloween. And what's creepier than gooey mud (chocolate pudding), dirt (crushed Oreos) and worms (doy, gummy worms!)? NOTHING! The only thing NOT creepy about this particular yummy Halloween creation is the nutritional info -- it ROCKS! Check out this spooktacular recipe from Hungry Ghoul... er, Girl -- Guilt-Free Dirt & Worms Surprise! Ingredients: 2 small (4-serving) packages sugar-free fat-free instant pudding mix, chocolate 4 cups fat-free milk 12 gummy worms; chopped into thirds 3 packs 100 Calorie Packs Oreo Thin Crisps; crushed Directions: To make the pudding, add both packages of pudding mix to the milk, and beat with a whisk for 2 – 4 minutes (until pudding is thoroughly mixed and thickened). Pour pudding into a wide serving bowl. Place in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to set. Once ready to serve, sprinkle worms over the pudding. Then, evenly distribute crushed Oreo Thin Crisps on top. MAKES 8 SERVINGS HG Alternative! You can also whip up a single-serving version of this recipe using a Jell-O Sugar Free Pudding Snack, a few gummy pieces, and a small handful of crushed Oreo Thin Crisps. Serving Size: 1 serving (about 2/3 cup) Calories: 163 Fat: 1g Sodium: 430mg Carbs: 32g Fiber: 1.5g Sugars: 16g Protein: 6g POINTS® value 3* It's from the Hungry Girl website. (my nieces and nephews loved the worms!) Hope everyone is doing well! ~~anne