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So I don't' get how some people have 3.8 and some 5.5.......when I asked him he said that he just leaves whatever is in the band there and that is usually 3.0cc's. So does he actually fill the band up at surgery?? I have had some hunger and when I asked Dr. Baggs he said I was probably around 3cc's. Sorta confusing......... I wish I had 5.5cc's but I doubt I do. I think that is why they say not to compare your weight loss to someone else cause there are so many different variables with every person to take into account. No wonder I am only at 10 pounds if I only have 3cc's.

I had Dr. Fischer for orientation too. He was a bit more far with the lap band at mine. Said it had pros and cons.........but it was very clear to me he preferred RNY!! Maybe that is why I debated so much about RNY for so long.......I really got the feeling that kaiser prefers RNY all the way through. Dr. Baggs was more fair but I also felt he leaned towards RNY. Although when I asked him straight out what was best for me he told me it was my choice and depended on what I thought was best.............he did say 42BMI and under tended to do well with the band........and than the vegetarian thing...........he said if I was set on no meat lap band might work better.......but he was very pro choice with me!! He wanted me to decide and didn't really guide me either way to much........

Well I was wondering yesterday if Robin got confused and thought I had RNY..............I know all the way through Liz thought I was doing the RNY I had to keep reminding her it was lap band. No I have to see Robin before the 1st fill. I have 2 more weeks so I hope to be down another 4-5 before than. That would make me close to or over 15........ I would be happy with that. Robin said he is doing all his fills in Pinole now. I don't know for sure if that is true!! Ah my port is a little better today!! Of course I wore elastic pants the last two days and that helps........jeans rub funny on the incisions as I learned on Monday!! Can' t wait to see the fill. I wonder how Dr. Baggs will react to that? Like he said "you can see anything on youtube nowdays!!!"

youtube--- google Dr. Malley. The whole 45 minute surgery is on there..........in 10 minutes videos.........so I think 5 videos in all.......Very interesting. Also try Dr. Ortiz from the Obesity center...........he has a video of surgery and lots of very interesting interviews to watch....... Don't know the exact link but you will find it by asking for lap band surgeries or the doctors names.................Dr. Malley's video is by far the best I have seen!!

Well I will try it her way but I really think I am just on a plataeu plain and simple......... I don't like having to check in with her before a fill though. But I was more like 1/2 most meals so ok I give, I give.........that won't work anymore. I might be hungry but I will deal with it. You do get a full feeling with the band but not like the full you get before the band if that makes sense. It is a satisfied feeling but maybe not full ..............weird but seriously I can only eat 1/4 of what I did before and I get that feeling......it is sorta like a no more room down here feeling..........like if you take another bite it is gonna be in your esophaugus............ I stopped caffiene the night before surgery!!! I just cut way down during fours months pre op.................not that I am a model patient!!! No caffiene in over a month now.......I still want it but don't get headaches or crave it really..... The weirdest thing for me is when the top pouch is full and I feel satified but the bottom pouch is making hungry noises..........that happened at work yesterday. Everyone was like you just ate but you stomach is growling..........I was as shocked as the next person...........my bottom tummy hadn't gotten full and it was crying..........It was a terrible loud sound quite embarrasing and slightly rude!! anyone else have a bottom tummy out of control..........at least I know the food in the top pouch was taking its time moving through..........try explianing that to your co workers!!! LOL. Oh ladies I am so, so tired after work today.............going to be early again. I told Robin and she said totally normal and will last a few more weeks. She said still better to be at work than home...............and she said the port hurting is normal...........everyone complians at this point it hurts. Still don't like that 10 pounds is not enough.............**grumping to myself about this***

Hey All Robin called today and I can move to soft foods. I already did......I did have a small salad today but it was mostly beans, feta cheese and cucumbers with some lettuce but not much......... Robin said 10 pounds is not enough weight loss in a month. I was asking her about plateaus and she said to switch back to proteins and no to very, very low carbs. She said to write everything down and I am ok'd to go back to the gym and use cardio machines only!! She said I need to change thing up to get off the plateau............... I asked her about under 1000 calories and metabolism and she said that should only hold you on a plateau 3-4 days and than your body will start to use the fat................She said the metabolism should not be an issue and that everyone should be under 1000 calories this far out and still losing........ And she said 1/4 of a cup, not 1/2...........not 1/3!! She said only once in awhile to move up. Anyway I asked alot of questions and now............I have to meet with her on May 28th at Pinole. I guess her and Dr. Baggs are working together over there on his days there. (has anyone noticed they both come from the back east and graduated from the same school??) Anyway she said she he will be doing all his fills there now and that she will be with him to do the dietition consults.............. Oh well.......I am gonna start her food log and no carbs at all this week...............back to the gym again!!! I maybe need this kick in the butt.........but having to meet with Robin and give her a food log............arrgh!!! LOL. To many questions might not be a good thing.........

Morning all Fun yesterday. Going out with everyone is getting to be a pleasant habit now!! Maybe BL was talking about his head hunger took over and and he got fat!! LOL. I like that show. Ok well off to work. Still on a crazy plateau here!!!

LOL smllerj.............I needed to go back to work this week. I was starting to get restless and bored the last few days at home!! Wanted to snack........... I didn't watch much TV I would fall asleep everytime I tried!! I slept alot the whole four weeks!! The food commercials were bad the first week than I quit caring..............LOL. Now I don't care as long as I have crystal light to fill up on!! LOL. Other people on here did alot better so let them respond too before you make a decision..........

Robin forgot to call me today..............strange. Maybe tomorrow. I am moving to soft foods anyway.......... Riley salad is a soft food now right!! LOL. I will hold off a few more weeks but NOT 8 more weeks. Darn this port is killing me tonight. Everytime I eat the port pain flares up again worse. ANyone else have this?? Candi you are doing SO, SO WELL!!! Out at a week...........not me for sure. I didn't drive for two!!! LOL. YOur don't even look like you had surgery!! LOL. Your looking great!!

I took a month off and I needed every day of it............I also have a very, very stressful job with lots of running around and driving. It would have been way to much for me to handle. Went back to work on Monday and actually it is the sitting all day that is making my port achy and hurt. Go figure. I guess I do better moving around or laying flat. My port was hurting so band by the time I got home tonight. Elastic pants tomorrow no matter how nerdy I may l look!!! LOL. Everyone is different. Gotta tell you my blood pressure and health was not great before surgery. I had migraines and GERD and (gross) I know but everything I ate made me sick at one end or another................I also had pnemonia really bad last spring and have some scarring on my lungs, I got chest congestion and a yucky cough after surgery. Hurt to much to cough it up(don't tell Liz) so I didn't which didn't help.............add the stess of my job and all the negetive media coverage lately and I was almost ready to go on stress leave forget surgery!!! I needed all that time to heal and get my head back in the right place........... to be honest I am out interviewing for jobs on Friday. Not sure my current job is a good fit for a "healthy" lifestyle. My PCP and Dr. Baggs have talked to me about work stress and how bad it has been affecting me the last year............Dr. Baggs said stress and weight gain go hand in hand...............so honestly I am trying to get into a less stressful/stable position as a long term goal to help with my weight and my mind!!! LOL. That is just my take on things........

Oh I didn't take them.........I am working on finding family instead to take them. They ran. foster care is not my first choice but it took me all day to convince my supervisor to try it my way!!! I think I will be sending them back to New Orleans to be with an aunt for a few months!! Win-win for everyone!! Ah social work at its best!! I am getting so tired back 2 work already in bed......... Can't stay awake!!! I am way to tired all the time!!!

Dr Fischer was at my orientation too!! I wanted to be referred to him but than I meet Dr Baggs and he is great!! Yep once you get going it moves fast!!! I am still in shock I am banded I expected to wait until June at least. I went to orientation in Dec it was freezing cold and rainy ........seems like of was so long ago!! Fun memories of all the trips over to Richmond!!

I went through Richmond Kaiser.....we have a thread going right now called Richmond Kaiser if you do a search. Lots of Kaiser ladies over there. 1. I went to orientation two weeks after the referral. 2. There are about 5-6 appointments and you do have to drive to Richmond for them. 3. You have to lose 10% of your body weight to get surgery. 4. You will be on a diet of 1200 calories for the duration. 5. The faster you lose weight the faster you get a surgery date. average is about 6 months. 6. I had orientation on December 12 and surgery on APril 13. I could have had it in March but wanted to go on vacation first....... 7. No regrets 8. Huge lifestyle change so make sure your ready for this. This is nothing to play around with. 9. Relationships are a challenge after weight loss depends on your situation........Kaiser talks about this. Come over the other site we have lot of people to anger your questions!!

Nice to see everyone today!! Wish I could have visited longer but work was calling.............. Riley so nice to meet you!! Candi that is great!! Your doing well!!

Hey Ladies No kids with me as mine is in Jr. high!! LOL. I have a crazy busy day today. I still plan to be there but may have to leave early........or I might just stop by to say hello depending on what goes down this morning at work. Welcome back to work huh?? They let stuff pile up while I was gone!!! I have court either today or tomorrow and have to get a court report ready to turn in to the judge!! If I am not there by 1pm go ahead without me.............doing my best to make it there!!

Hey Candy People were just really nosy!! LOL. If they know anything about hernias they probably know I did more than that to have a month off........but oh well I don't have to tell!! My port still hurts and since I was in the office most of the day I had to get up and walk around alot. The one thing people did notice is I DON"T HAVE MY DIET COKE!!! I told them it is terrible for your stomach, makes hernias so much worse ya know!! I tried to mind my own business but strangely everyone knows I had surgery so that much has already spread!! I don't want to get back into all the office drama again!! Weird because even though I am back I feel different somehow from when I left...........well of course I am banded!!! LOL. But my mind is in a different place now..... Oh and we are all going out to eat on Thursday!!! So I get to try this all out than..........gotta love the soups!!!

Hey Riley!! Cool I hope you make it. Natomas is close to downtown!! I plan to be there........... Ok so I went to work today. Sorta hard to blend back in everyone asking questions about my surgery. I was vague......had a hernia....nothing else. The only thing everyone said is you don't look like you had surgery!! I hope that is a good thing........they said I looked too good to have just had surgery!! I showed my supervisor my incisions to make sure she knew I really DID have surgery! I feel sorta weird about not being totally up front but I think tomorrow this will all die down. People didn't notice I have lost weight..........well most people didn't...........the people who commented I just told them it was all the stress of surgery. I have been slowly losing since December so it was not a huge shock to be down another 10 pounds!! Ok ladies tomorrow................oh and it is so much easier not to snack at work!!! I was so busy I forgot to eat lunch until almost 2pm..............so that is a good thing about being back to work!!

Nicole I think your onto something there. I have also had uncomfortable moments being thin. Which is weird but some of the male attention I get when I am thinner sorta bugs me. Feels stalker like actually!! Well makes me uncomfortable. I guess I don't know how to say bug off in a way that doesn't get me called a "@#*%&"........and than I feel guilty about that!! I sorta wonder too at times of my weight is a way to sorta "safeguard" myself. Self sabateouge is a huge thing to think about. I worry that I might do that if I don't stay on top of things............. Very interesting about TV..........hmm.......you are right!! And thinking about that gives me a very nervous/anxious feeling. Last time I was thinner.....oh thinner for me (180) it was a weird transistion. I agree it felt weird, out of place. But I think if I would kept at that weight longer I would have gotten use to it!! I did snack a bit. I know I was under 1000 today. But still I think snacking is a bad habit............terrible habit actually!! Glad to be going to work tomorrow...... Nicole your doing so great!! I guess now your mind has to catch up with your body!! So maybe the plateau is a really good thing for you right now!!

I think the band take quite a bit more work on our own than I thought...............but the thing is I haven't had anyfills yet and I know this is considered bandster hell!! Hard to really judge from my position................probably need to give it another couple of months before I decide how easy or hard it really is!! Nicole we do need a nighttime plan. I really am thinking about taking a class, exercise, summer school.........something to keep me busy at night. Or course once I go back to work I do alot of court reports home at night so that takes up my time too................ I am in snacking mode tonight and had to put everything in the cupboards. Gonna go to bed and give up the head hunger fight...............LOL. Ok ladies talk to everyone later!!

Happy mother's day everyone!!!

HEy girls one would be better for me since I have a meeting that won't let out till 11:30 or later on Tuesday. Donna thanks for the encourangement. Yep I am ready to go back to work. I need to be around my coworkers and back in a routine. Now that I am feeling better I get bored and that leads to snacking.........I know it will be hard to keep up in the beginning since I have basically been off work for 2 months with Africa and surgery. Nicole. OMG night time is when I want to snack too. Sometimes I have to just go to bed to fight it!! Seriously.......... Candy I hear ya!! Call me if you need to. This crazy plateau is really annoying me. How can I be on plateau no matter if I eat alot or a little............after all the stress of surgery I hoped for a bit more. I really hoped for a bit more weight loss with the liquids and all.............I am glad I am going back to work I think it will help with my attitude..............I hope!! I thought the band would be a bit more obvious restriction ya know!! Christine I hear ya girl!! Looking forward to you new blog on MOnday!! See you all on Tuesday and I will do soup too!! Honestly that is what feels me up................maybe because it is so hot!!

Oh ok I start soft food on Wednesday morning!! That is why I am so clueless!!

Oh I didn't know we could have crackers. What is the criteria for them? Wheat or certain brand? Hmm that would be good with the egg salad I have left!!

Hey All Well doing all the laundry and grocery shopping today. Gotta get ready to get back to the routine tomorrow. Gonna get the house cleaned up as well today. My port hurts a little less everyday now. I am hoping in a few more days it won't hurt anymore. I look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!! Hopefully I will get out of the meeting on time. At least the meeting is in Natomas so I won't be to far!! Nicole get rid of the cheez its!! LOL. If I had those sitting around I would snack on them!! In fact last night I got so hungry I wanted to snack..............I did look around the kitchen but nothing to snack on. I was having problems being hungry two hours after I ate all day yesterday!!

I will try to make it on Tuesday. I am am back to work again on Monday and have a meeting until 11:30am or so on Tuesday!! But I will try to make it. Candy I went through that depression thing to about my second or third week out. Liz said part of it is the anesthisia working it way out of your body. Makes you weepy and depressed. Well and being that time of the month probably didn't help. The last three days I thought I had all my energy back but today I was gone all day with friends and crashed at 7pm when I got home!! So I guess not totally. I am guessing I will be coming home from work next week and crashing right away.........but hey two weeks ago no way I could be at work for any period of time!! No weight loss here so far this week. I feel like I am losing by my clothes but the scale say........NO.........up and down three pounds again. I did up my food intake a bit. I feel better now...............honestly I feel like I could eat and eat and eat with my restriction somedays!!! I don't but I feel I could..............I can't wait to get back on regular food because I think I know how to lose that way. This diet with the purees...........I think it is part of he reason I am on a plateau. Hard to be creative with food this way and I think they go right through the band alot of the time.