123crod

Come on if you have never had -in-person support you should try it. We are all different ages. Cher

Anyone in Galveston County or around Friendswood area want to join in our little support group? We try to meet once or twice a month. We have people in all different stages of Lapband and all different Doctors. Let me know if you are interested and we will let you know when meeting is. Cheri

I have been coming here since before my surgery 17 months ago, but in-person support is so important to be around people who are dealing with what you are going through, It helps you feel more normal. Don't beat yourself up for what you can not change. Move forward. When I get off track I go back to liquids for 2 or 3 days to get myself focused, Then when you return to food you are happy to have the stuff you are suppose to eat. Trust me if I can do this you can too, believe in yourself and find some in person support along with this site. I posted a thread looking for people living in my area and we started our own support group and met at Starbuck and now at someones home. Makes such a difference or make a friend off of the boards and exchanges phone number and call each other everyday or everyother day. Cheri

I think you are going to have to force yourself to follow the rules or why waste you money? The way I look at it we have been eating what we wanted up until surgery so why not find some self disipline and let the band help you. Get some counseling if you need it. You have to make food unimportant to you and stop feeling deprived. Cheating in the beginning is not okay that is when you are learning . . . also people seem to lose the most in the first 6 months so take advantage of it. Yes it is hard but you have to believe in yourself. Find another way to find comfort not in food. Don't mean to sound harsh but it takes self disipline to do this. Just because others cheat do not let yourself fall into that habit. You can do it!! Find a support group to go to everyone needs that. Cheri

I drink coffee all through out the day. I drink decaf as I have bad anixiety so no caffine needed for me. My Doctor never said no coffee once I was through the first month. I have to have coffee in the morning to be able to take all my pills. I have not had a diet coke in 17 months. My doctor said no more. Cheri

Don't try to keep your emotions in. When you need to cry . . .cry! If you think you could benefit from some counseling don't hestitate to get it. I am a big believer of therapy. I have been through several years and have learned a lot of coping skills that help me. I suffer from clinical depression and food was also my comforter and now it can not be any more. Holding your emotions in to be strong will only hurt you. Your not weak your human and we have emotions. Don't let your emotions rule your life, but deal with them as they come. Banded is life is good and I hope your journey goes smooth for you. Cheri

I do not live in the Katy area but am a patient of Dr. Spivak and would love to talk to you anytime. I am 17 months out and down 82 lbs got another 15 to go and then we will see if I need to lose more. Feel free to private message me or email me at crodriguez17@comcast.net. My experience with Dr Spivak has been great. Cheri

My heart goes out to you. I only have one son too and that must be so hard on you. I am thankful he is protecting our Country what a sacrifice your whole family is making for all of us. It will be my prayer that your son and you no matter how far apart will have a good Christmas and that God will watch over both of you until you are together again!! Cheri

Congratulations to you!!! Cheri

I am being very strict on myself so no treats for me even though they are everywhere! I am trying to get my last 15 lbs off and did liquids for a few days and then went on very strict food plan. I have to do it right now as I am in the right frame of mind to do it. So I will not let myself feel deprived as I am choosing this. It is not always easy to get in the right mind frame so I have to take it when I get it. But over the last 17 months I have had my little treats too! So enjoy!! Cheri

I love Christmas trees! The past 4 years we have had a pink one. The first Christmas my Granddaughter was born I got a pink tree and decorated it with pink baby ornaments and now the second Granddaughter has come we added stuff for her year born too and her name too and they will not let me get a new one . . . . so pink it is. Next year I might put it in their playroom and get a new one. We also make Applesauce Cake it was my Grandmother's favorite. Cheri

Just because you can eat a lot you have to stop yourself. Measure out your portion and when it is gone that is it. Don't give up go see your Doctor soon!! Cheri

They do not work for me. I tried a couple of times cheri

What is your family's favorite Christmas tradition? Will you have to change something up because of Band? Cheri

This is boring tonight so what are you buying your kids or grandkids for Christmas this year? What was the hardest to find? I have 2 granddaughters age 4 and 19 months so we have lots of Dora for 19 month old and Taylor Swift Hannah Montana, and anything Barbie for 4 year old. Cheri

I usually can not eat until about 3:00 pm or later. In the morning I just drink decaf coffee and my Water. Band is different all the tims. Took my Grandbabies to mcdonalds yesterday for lunch just had to have a bite of chicken nugget and was stuck from noon until about 8:00 pm. It did not hurt much just irritating. ut i do not slime much at all. I did all the chicken flaps and touching your ankles you name it I tried it but when I get stuck it is usually a long ordeal. Went to sleep and I guess I relaxed enough for it to go through. When I woke up later was fine. I can eat nuggets just not till afternoon. 4 chicken nuggets only 11 carbs. Cheri

Welcome and hang in there you can make it through the holidays. I have been really strict on myself since Thanksgiving and will be until after New Years. I do not want to gain anything so far I am losing this Holiday season slow but I am at the last 15 lbs. All the treats are not worth it even though it seems like it at that moment . . . it will pass. Good look on your journey. Cheri

My band changes everyday. I am a year and a half out. They have a mind of their own. Just try to go with what I have that day. Tomorrow will be different. Cheri

Adkins makes one that is chocolate and coconut tastes just like a mounds if you are doing low carb. i think it is like 2 net carbs but does have fat. Get it at walmart! Cheri

Yes you need to come back it's loney here. Not too many July 2009 staying in touch Cheri

Trust methese people know they are fat or overweight and do not need any of us telling them unless they ask. They are dealing with all the things we were, just trying to fit in to the world without drawing attention to theirselves. Even when talking to a friend you have to come off not judgmental. Not I know better that you. Some people when they lose a lot of weight just go crazy and think the are much thinner than they really are. Wearing things nobaby should be wearing. Look in the mirrow, before you go out! Cheri

I was on lexapro when I had my surgery 17 months ago, last 6 months switched back to Zoloft Neither made me gain weight, might slow it not sure but . . . have lost 83 lbs. Paxil made me gain weight 40 lbs in 3 months when I was on it, so you might want to switch if you take that. Wellbutrim helped lose small amount of weight but raised my blood pressure. Zoloft works best for me took it for about 5 years and then weaned off to see if I could make it with out it but 6 months later I was a mess could not even get out of bed. My husband had to take me to hospital I have a chemical inbalance and have to have my meds if I want to live. I did have to lower my dose after losing the weight it made me feel too drugged and now I do not even know I have a med in my body. Cheri

After much searching and a phone call what I have instead of Saline is Omnipaque. Cheri

I love tacos! 1 taco shell 11 carbs!! Cheri

That was me for the first 14 months sometimes it came up so fast it come through my nose too, so gross. I have been banded for 17 months today and in just the last 2 months I have gotten to where it will go down instead of up. pineapple just made it worse for me. I have vomited so many, many times but thank God my band has always been okay. My Dr does floro every visit and you can see band and port and all. If you seem to be like this always know where the bathroom is when you go somewhere for sure at resturants. And do not wait too long as to avoid throwing up in front of people. I always went to bathroom and waited for people to leave as to not spoil their dinner and then vomited. Sometimes I would be in there 2 times to get whatever was stuck up. Now it just gets stuck and will go down after a while and what is so weird is I can feel it move through the band. So weird! Also . . . I know this sound stupid but . . . if you are not in public or if you are go into bathroom stall and put you hands in your armpits and flap like a chicken about 10 or 20 times it really does works for me and other people but not all people no chicken noises needed. I have also read bending over and touching your ankles helps you get unstuck. Another thing you can look into is what is in you band, Most people have saline in theirs I do not. For the life of me I can not think of the name of what I have but it is thicker and they use it for people who tend to leak. It is a lot thicker and does not "give any" or "bend" and that may be why when I got stuck it just sat there stuck between something that would not move any or bend some so it could pass. My Doctors said it makes no difference but I think it does. He offered to unfill me and refill me back with saline if I wanted to be . . . I was too scare to mess with my band. He offers that to all his patients. None of my band friends have this they have saline and they do not vomit theirs goes down. Who knows! But you can ask your Dr what you have in your band? I will try to remember what it is and post it. I have never had any leaks it is just his experience that it works better??? Cheri