michellelei

I hear ya Chi girl,thank you for the advice. I am going to try to lower the carb intake. But...I did buy the noodles that claim only 5 carbs per serving,the popsicle from breyers, also was low carb. Where I messed up(as far as carbs are concerned) is THE DRINKING and the shrimp feed, I would have been much better off omitting the bisque,potato salad and shrimp salad and replacing it with 2 doz more steam shrimp which i loooove. The carb thing is why I ate 2 hot dogs w/o the rolls,lol. One more thing though, I am not transferring addictions....I was always a big drinker when me, hubby and our friends go out to our clubs(clubs~not the usual young crowd definition but places where most people are married; all ages; cheap drinks; you know most of the people;dancing to dj music and playing pool). I usually drink 2x the amount I had Saturday. These clubs are VFW's, American Legion's, etc., unfortunately, I have many demons to overcome. Not to pat myself on the back (after I revealed all these demons in black and white) but I am still very proud of myself for quitting smoking. I quit February 25 this year and have actually stuck to it! I was a smoker of over 25 years. It shows me that I CAN control those things around me that I thought I could not. And I do so love sweets. That is why many of my protein drinks are chocolate, and why I so heavily depend on Splenda, I love it! Just hoping they don't find out in a couple of years that it too does something bad to ya,lol. Anyway, the scale still hasn't been kind but again, I will be fine, I am strong.

I appreciate the kind words Barbie and Jen. It is just so amazing to me that I "think" I am being good about my eating until I reflect back. It was also very good for me to write it all down and look up the calories. I AM glad I got the band, just am excited for that adjustment,lol. I do feel better than this am., was just annoyed umm..at the scale~not getting on again for a couple days....ok,not true...I know myself better than that too. I will be fine, I am strong.

Hi everyone, or should I say anyone:frown:? (Doesn't seem that anyone reads my blogs.) Oh well, they are still good for me to reflect. I am having some difficulty with having NO RESTRICTION! I didn't feel that I was overeating, although I haven't been writing every mouthful down, and when I got on the scale this morning, well, it says I gained 7 lbs.over the weekend!:cool: I KNOW EVERYONE'S FIRST THOUGHT. It is water retention. The problem with that theory is I have had VERY SWELLED ANKLES ALL THE TIME, in the past. I have not had this problem ever since surgery which has been an unexpected, wonderful surprise. One would think that if water retention is back, so would the swelled ankles. They are not. Soooo, let's do some self examination. On the positive, I joined the gym and I am committed to it(worked out on Friday& this morning):thumbs_up:My diet...uhhm, ok.... I enjoy social drinking on weekends. Haven't had any since surgery, until... Stayed home Friday night, had 2 white russians(with 1% milk), just looked up the cal count~each were 350 cal:sneaky:. I made spaghetti for supper~homemade sauce using splenda to sweeten a little/60, low carb noodles/190cal, and venison hamburg(its low in fat/180cal). I have no restriction, so I ate probably much more than should of but still less than my old self. Saturday>I made eggs and bacon/240cal(I had my granddaughter overnight & she doesnt eat much but LOVES eggs&bacon), then had spaghetti leftovers for lunch/430 cal. I ate a baked chicken breast for supper/200cal, then we went out to our club with friends and I drank. Trying to keep cal/carbs low, I first had a diet coke&rum(1st time since surgery that I drank soda, no excuses, just forgot)70cal. My hubby reminded me then and I was glad because I HATED the drink. Next I drank a Bay Breeze(coconut rum, pineapple jc, cranb jc), I love sweet drinks and thought this 1 would be kinda good for me. Because it's sweet, I also thought it would be extremely high in calories, looked it up, only 160 cal. Then my g/f bought me 2 "applesauce" shots:crying:, 150cal ea. By this time, I was really in the drinking mood so I had my hubby go to Rutter's(a mini mart)to get diet iced tea. I asked and was allowed to bring in our own drink to mix with the clubs alcohol. So I had "diet" ice picks rest of night(about 6 shots of vodka)=around a whopping 500 more calories. So, now that I do the math, I added 1030cal just from drinks!:sad:Before we left, I ate 2 hot dogs they had on the grill(because they looked sooo good and were a buck/300cal)2200cal all together. On Sunday, we went BACK to the club for a "shrimp feed". I got a doz steamed shrimp/60cal, shrimp salad/220cal, potato salad/160cal, 1c shrimp bisque/240cal and a red beet egg/80cal. Then I got 1 drink because someone had it and it "looked good", a dirty girl scout(coffee liquer,cream de menth, baileys& vodka with milk)/340cal.(It was delicious) It makes the fact that I drank 2 full glasses of lemon water not mean much:sad_smile:. Later that night, I had more of my leftover spaghetti/430cal. And for snack, I had another pop/100cal. WOW! Not to mention the things I may have eaten & just don't remember. Ok. I get why I didn't LOSE. But really. Is all the above 7 POUNDS worth??! Actually, I am soo embarrassed when I write down my calorie intake. I did not realize what I do to myself. I go back to my job after 3 wks off on Wednesday. I go for my first fill on 11/25, 2 days before Thanksgiving. I NEED the RESTRICTION. That is soo obvious. Drinking may be out of the question. Maybe I will "reward" myself with a drinking night out after every 50lbs lost. I am not sure yet. But I MUST GET MYSELF back on track...even before the fill...I cannot afford to go backwards. Do I intentionally sabotage myself? I am sooo good at analyzing everyone else(they always come to me for advice) but am HORRIBLE at it for me:embaressed_smile: Any advice?

Hi everyone, or should I say anyone:frown:? (Doesn't seem that anyone reads my blogs.) Oh well, they are still good for me to reflect. I am having some difficulty with having NO RESTRICTION! I didn't feel that I was overeating, although I haven't been writing every mouthful down, and when I got on the scale this morning, well, it says I gained 7 lbs.over the weekend!:willy_nilly: I KNOW EVERYONE'S FIRST THOUGHT. It is water retention. The problem with that theory is I have had VERY SWELLED ANKLES ALL THE TIME, in the past. I have not had this problem ever since surgery which has been an unexpected, wonderful surprise. One would think that if water retention is back, so would the swelled ankles. They are not. Soooo, let's do some self examination. On the positive, I joined the gym and I am committed to it(worked out on Friday& this morning):thumbs_up:My diet...uhhm, ok.... I enjoy social drinking on weekends. Haven't had any since surgery, until... Stayed home Friday night, had 2 white russians(with 1% milk), just looked up the cal count~each were 350 cal:sneaky:. I made spaghetti for supper~homemade sauce using splenda to sweeten a little/60, low carb noodles/190cal, and venison hamburg(its low in fat/180cal). I have no restriction, so I ate probably much more than should of but still less than my old self. Saturday>I made eggs and bacon/240cal(I had my granddaughter overnight & she doesnt eat much but LOVES eggs&bacon), then had spaghetti leftovers for lunch/430 cal. I ate a baked chicken breast for supper/200cal, then we went out to our club with friends and I drank. Trying to keep cal/carbs low, I first had a diet coke&rum(1st time since surgery that I drank soda, no excuses, just forgot)70cal. My hubby reminded me then and I was glad because I HATED the drink. Next I drank a Bay Breeze(coconut rum, pineapple jc, cranb jc), I love sweet drinks and thought this 1 would be kinda good for me. Because it's sweet, I also thought it would be extremely high in calories, looked it up, only 160 cal. Then my g/f bought me 2 "applesauce" shots:crying:, 150cal ea. By this time, I was really in the drinking mood so I had my hubby go to Rutter's(a mini mart)to get diet iced tea. I asked and was allowed to bring in our own drink to mix with the clubs alcohol. So I had "diet" ice picks rest of night(about 6 shots of vodka)=around a whopping 500 more calories. So, now that I do the math, I added 1030cal just from drinks!:sad:Before we left, I ate 2 hot dogs they had on the grill(because they looked sooo good and were a buck/300cal)2200cal all together. On Sunday, we went BACK to the club for a "shrimp feed". I got a doz steamed shrimp/60cal, shrimp salad/220cal, potato salad/160cal, 1c shrimp bisque/240cal and a red beet egg/80cal. Then I got 1 drink because someone had it and it "looked good", a dirty girl scout(coffee liquer,cream de menth, baileys& vodka with milk)/340cal.(It was delicious) It makes the fact that I drank 2 full glasses of lemon water not mean much:sad_smile:. Later that night, I had more of my leftover spaghetti/430cal. And for snack, I had another pop/100cal. WOW! Not to mention the things I may have eaten & just don't remember. Ok. I get why I didn't LOSE. But really. Is all the above 7 POUNDS worth??! Actually, I am soo embarrassed when I write down my calorie intake. I did not realize what I do to myself. I go back to my job after 3 wks off on Wednesday. I go for my first fill on 11/25, 2 days before Thanksgiving. I NEED the RESTRICTION. That is soo obvious. Drinking may be out of the question. Maybe I will "reward" myself with a drinking night out after every 50lbs lost. I am not sure yet. But I MUST GET MYSELF back on track...even before the fill...I cannot afford to go backwards. Do I intentionally sabotage myself? I am sooo good at analyzing everyone else(they always come to me for advice) but am HORRIBLE at it for me:embaressed_smile: Any advice?

How do I feel? 26 lbs lighter! With more than 200 unwanted pounds, 26 might seem soooo minuscule, but to me, it is a fantastic jump start for my beginning. I am feeling really positive about everything! I got my surgery 10/27. I have been off work now for 2 weeks and 2 days. I go back NEXT Wednesday. Then off for Thanksgiving, which I don't have to cook, for the first time in like 20 yrs! We are going to my father-in-laws and his new wife's. I am very happy about this because Thanksgiving is a meal I use to LOOVE to cook! Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, filling(in & out of the turkey), sweet corn, and homemade gravy. And don't forget dessert, homemade pumpkin pie with whip cream! This is something that worried me about how I would handle it and now I don't have to!:rolleyes2:I will probably still make 2 pies to take along but I can handle that w/o taste testing everything. This way, I don't have to live the following week with tons of delicious carb leftovers just sitting in the fridge asking to be eaten!:cool: I had seen my surgeon yesterday for a 2 wk checkup. Everything was good, that is when I was told that the band is empty. I go in 2 weeks for my first fill. I asked how long I needed to be on the mushies yet(I knew how long: clear til 10/29, full liquid til 11/8, then mush til 11/22). He said everything is good, I can eat regular starting now. Yeahhhh! I don't have much restriction so that is NOT good but I'm thinking I can handle it. My jeans, all of them, are way loose. Wow. Was hoping to get away with only buying clothes after each 60-70 lb. loss. Who wants to spend money on transitional clothes? Remember, I have over 200 lbs to lose. Got to keep the costs down to a minimum but not so much that I am holding clothes together with clothes pins:bored: I guess we shall see soon enough, as least I am hopin'. I am also looking forward to see exactly what "special" clothes I have kept over the years because I just looved them so much I couldn't bear to give away when I grew out of them, so I stored them in plastic boxes and put them in the attic. It's been soo long that I truly do not remember what is up there.:tongue2: It's been nice not working for so long and just reflecting. Never did that before. So many people who have been off say they are going stir crazy and can't wait to get back to work. I am completely opposite of that. I am a Recreation Supervisor. I find interesting things to do for several social clubs for those with mental retardation. Then I get to do these things with them. It is a wonderful job but it seems after 18 years(with the same company), you need a break. I not only feel healed, I feel revived. I joined a gym today. Planet Fitness. I didn't get to work out because I had jeans on, it's all I wear. They don't allow it. My jeans are Lane Bryant~soft, thin and spandexed. I loved them because with my weight fluctuation, they grew with me and they are for tall people, I am 6'. I do have a pair of sweat pants I bought long time ago at a men's big and tall shop. They will probably be tight but will work for now, I just have to hunt them out, hmm. I have an appt. tomorrow with the the gyms trainer. I am excited. Odd. What am I eating? Today I drank a boost chocolate shake/160cal around 10am. Around 1:30pm, I ate some oatmeal and had a large coffee with splenda and low carb creamer/145cal. For supper I made roast pork/300cal with sauerkraut/45cal in the crockpot(added an apple,splenda, salt&pepper) and Hungry Jack mashed potatoes/250cal, mmmmmm. It was sooo good and I stayed light on the potatoes. Later I made a protein shake with frozen blackberries and a banana/250cal in the blender. Yumm but it had ALOT of seeds.>1150calories for day I feel good:thumbs_up:

How do I feel? 26 lbs lighter! With more than 200 unwanted pounds, 26 might seem soooo minuscule, but to me, it is a fantastic jump start for my beginning. I am feeling really positive about everything! I got my surgery 10/27. I have been off work now for 2 weeks and 2 days. I go back NEXT Wednesday. Then off for Thanksgiving, which I don't have to cook, for the first time in like 20 yrs! We are going to my father-in-laws and his new wife's. I am very happy about this because Thanksgiving is a meal I use to LOOVE to cook! Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, filling(in & out of the turkey), sweet corn, and homemade gravy. And don't forget dessert, homemade pumpkin pie with whip cream! This is something that worried me about how I would handle it and now I don't have to!:rolleyes2:I will probably still make 2 pies to take along but I can handle that w/o taste testing everything. This way, I don't have to live the following week with tons of delicious carb leftovers just sitting in the fridge asking to be eaten! I had seen my surgeon yesterday for a 2 wk checkup. Everything was good, that is when I was told that the band is empty. I go in 2 weeks for my first fill. I asked how long I needed to be on the mushies yet(I knew how long: clear til 10/29, full liquid til 11/8, then mush til 11/22). He said everything is good, I can eat regular starting now. Yeahhhh! I don't have much restriction so that is NOT good but I'm thinking I can handle it. My jeans, all of them, are way loose. Wow. Was hoping to get away with only buying clothes after each 60-70 lb. loss. Who wants to spend money on transitional clothes? Remember, I have over 200 lbs to lose. Got to keep the costs down to a minimum but not so much that I am holding clothes together with clothes pins:bored: I guess we shall see soon enough, as least I am hopin'. I am also looking forward to see exactly what "special" clothes I have kept over the years because I just looved them so much I couldn't bear to give away when I grew out of them, so I stored them in plastic boxes and put them in the attic. It's been soo long that I truly do not remember what is up there.:wub: It's been nice not working for so long and just reflecting. Never did that before. So many people who have been off say they are going stir crazy and can't wait to get back to work. I am completely opposite of that. I am a Recreation Supervisor. I find interesting things to do for several social clubs for those with mental retardation. Then I get to do these things with them. It is a wonderful job but it seems after 18 years(with the same company), you need a break. I not only feel healed, I feel revived. I joined a gym today. Planet Fitness. I didn't get to work out because I had jeans on, it's all I wear. They don't allow it. My jeans are Lane Bryant~soft, thin and spandexed. I loved them because with my weight fluctuation, they grew with me and they are for tall people, I am 6'. I do have a pair of sweat pants I bought long time ago at a men's big and tall shop. They will probably be tight but will work for now, I just have to hunt them out, hmm. I have an appt. tomorrow with the the gyms trainer. I am excited. Odd. What am I eating? Today I drank a boost chocolate shake/160cal around 10am. Around 1:30pm, I ate some oatmeal and had a large coffee with splenda and low carb creamer/145cal. For supper I made roast pork/300cal with sauerkraut/45cal in the crockpot(added an apple,splenda, salt&pepper) and Hungry Jack mashed potatoes/250cal, mmmmmm. It was sooo good and I stayed light on the potatoes. Later I made a protein shake with frozen blackberries and a banana/250cal in the blender. Yumm but it had ALOT of seeds.>1150calories for day I feel good:thumbs_up:

Hi Deb. Do you feel ANY different? I have been banded for 2 weeks now. I feel a tightness in my chest if I eat too much and I feel as though I don't obsess with the idea of food quite as much as I did before. I DO however, feel as though I can eat more than I should and I have already but my body lets me know(it is more unconfortable) if I overdo it. That is how it is for me anyway. Good luck with your fill, I hope that will help you

Hi Julie or do you prefer Julie ann? I don't worry about what the scale says from day to day, although I looove to use it 2x a day or more,lol. Yesterday I weighed a pound lighter in the morning than later that night and this morning I lost that pound again, umm...after I peed?I do however, try to weigh once a week and use that as my real tool for what has happened in the last week. But I know the real test is what I have eaten and how much exercise I put in. If these 2 things are in check, the scale will eventually be also. Pat yourself on the back for the weight you "got rid of"! Best of luck to you.

(I can understand the hunger. I have it. I can also understand that I am an adult who chose to do this. If you eat solid foods before time, then you aren't really doing your part in this. Yesterday 02:13 PM)Ummm....:sad:ok, thank you for the scolding? I think I'll use another quote for a response........ (I'm already aware that I need to let my body heal, which is why I feel awful about what I did today. I also know that I'm going to be hungry. Mostly, I know that I'm human and this won't be the last time I "F" up. If all of us were set in "self control department", none of us would have to have this surgery in the first place. Nor would we need a website that offers support and encouragement.) As I stated, I am back on track. My mind went retro for a bit, but the adult side of me took over and all is well.....for now:thumbup:(or is he too childish?)

Thank you, Julie. I have been reading alot from this site since having off from work these 2 weeks. Everyone is so very helpful in keeping the spirit up and filling in the dots when not sure of something.

Hi! Lookin for other bandsters out there to help keep me sane,:smile2:

I was banded 10/27

As bad as it is that you cheated, it made me feel somewhat better!!lol I was doing really good, listening completely and thinking wow! this isnt hard at all, so glad i got banded(on oct 27 btw) then 2 days ago(8 days banded)i still didnt have a bm and was getting bad pain in my lower abdomen R side and got worried, called doc, told to take miralax. I did that night, next morning and AGAIN that night. I went 3 times,very little each time,the pain subsided some. (oh, and I found out not by my doc but by this site that codeine can make you constipated so I stopped that 2 days ago) I got VERY hungry! My diet is full liquids until Saturday then to soft for 2 weeks. I knewww I could handle more than liquids NOW and I was extremely tired of liquids! So I made myself 2 servings of instant mashed potatoes thinking I would never be able to eat that much. I even added a piece of swiss cheese into potatoes for a little extra texture and taste. I ate it all and pretty fast too. Ok. Why didnt I get sick and throw it up like i hear so often people do if they overeat just a "LITTLE"? I'm not done yet. My husband made turnips and mashed potatoes, pork chops, and green beans. The bbq sauce on the chops smelled soooo good..... Yes. I cut up half a pork chop into little pieces, had some turnip/potato mash and green beans and looved it. Wow. I still wasnt umm overstuffed. Later I had a FULL glass 16oz of choclate milk with malt added to it. Ok, there, i spilled the beans. I called my doc this am and told about the pain in abdomen and about going off liquid with some "mashed potatoes". I was told "go back to your diet and stick with that". ok. Later that morn, i had 3 LARGE bowel movement, my stomach feels much better, not perfect but better and I am back to, heavy sigh, liquids. Maybe there is no advice here, but maybe you feel a little better now?lol I do.

Hi, I was banded on the 27th. It has been 8 days now and I havent had a bowel movement. Noone really seems to talk about that. Is this normal?? I have pain in my lower abdomen on RIGHT side and have taken miralax 2 x so far yesterday. AND I read often about people who can't even swallow an ounce but I can gulp if I want to. I dont just in case but can drink at least 4 oz right down.:thumbup:

Hi! My name is Michelle E. I started this thing weighing in at 423 lbs. I quit smoking February 25, 2008. I did the 6 month diet. At my preop appointment, I weighed 424. I know I gained a pound in my 6 months but I am ok with that, Hey, I am tickled that I am smoke free! Operation day was October 27, 2008, I weighed 417. I am now almost 1 week postop. Ok. Not exactly sure of the correct steps to set up my account here, but I am glad that I came across this site. I enjoy reading everyone's blogs and have felt much more grounded with the choices I have made with this operation and all that is yet to come. So thank you to all that share! I have a few questions for anyone who can and would shed some light upon my dark, dense head! 1)How do you add pictures? I would love to be able to add pictures as I lose weight and label them but do not understand where to find this info. I can only figure out how to post 1 pic on my profile because THERE it lets you "browse" through pics on your pc. I can't find that anywhere else?! 2)Once I set up a diet ticker, how do I bring it to this site where it actually shows up and not just the (wording)? This just seems really important to me. I "love" charts and such to look at often! 3)I would like to have friends,lol. How does 1 go about that also for this site? I have a myspace....mickilei.....but if you look me up, you might think that I have LOTS OF FRIENDS, but they are mostly just for a game that I am temporarily into, Mobsters. So please write on request this site if you do in fact also want some friends from here. Seems that I am always really into something, maybe after a few pounds roll off, I will be into something involving a form of exercise, who knows. Anyway, so I would love some responses to all that I've wrote. I will be starting a journal on my next blog. Not sure if I am starting that tonight(I am tired right now) or tomorrow. Night:wink2:

Hi! My name is Michelle E. I started this thing weighing in at 423 lbs. I quit smoking February 25, 2008. I did the 6 month diet. At my preop appointment, I weighed 424. I know I gained a pound in my 6 months but I am ok with that, Hey, I am tickled that I am smoke free! Operation day was October 27, 2008, I weighed 417. I am now almost 1 week postop. Ok. Not exactly sure of the correct steps to set up my account here, but I am glad that I came across this site. I enjoy reading everyone's blogs and have felt much more grounded with the choices I have made with this operation and all that is yet to come. So thank you to all that share! I have a few questions for anyone who can and would shed some light upon my dark, dense head! 1)How do you add pictures? I would love to be able to add pictures as I lose weight and label them but do not understand where to find this info. I can only figure out how to post 1 pic on my profile because THERE it lets you "browse" through pics on your pc. I can't find that anywhere else?! 2)Once I set up a diet ticker, how do I bring it to this site where it actually shows up and not just the (wording)? This just seems really important to me. I "love" charts and such to look at often! 3)I would like to have friends,lol. How does 1 go about that also for this site? I have a myspace....mickilei.....but if you look me up, you might think that I have LOTS OF FRIENDS, but they are mostly just for a game that I am temporarily into, Mobsters. So please write on request this site if you do in fact also want some friends from here. Seems that I am always really into something, maybe after a few pounds roll off, I will be into something involving a form of exercise, who knows. Anyway, so I would love some responses to all that I've wrote. I will be starting a journal on my next blog. Not sure if I am starting that tonight(I am tired right now) or tomorrow. Night:wink2:

Hello. My surgery date is October 27, 2008. I am baffled about the "diet" before surgery. All I was told was to eat like the Atkins diet of high protein and low carbs now till surgery. I didnt even really start that because figured I would eat normal a few more days before the rest of my life of change. Now I am worried since reading your question that the op could be canceled if I dont eat correctly BEFORE the op. I have NO IDEA what you both are talking about in the liquid diet prior to op, please explain! thank you Michelle:blink: