faybie

Hi Nella, I was instructed to be on liquids not clear liquids. One thing you will notice on this site is that every single Dr. has a completely different food recommendation schedule. I only had to be on liquids for 2 days after surgery and was approved for mushies. I stayed on liquids for 5 because I felt I wasn't ready for mushies just yet. A lot of it should come from your Dr., however I took the common sense and knowing my own body approach to a lot of my decisions. My hardest feat after surgery was coming to terms with my head hunger. Even though my body knew I wasn't ready for mushies my head was telling me to go get a double cheeseburger and french fries. That is when I realized for the first time in my life that I had a "mental addiction" to food. I knew this in the back of my head, but this was the first time I had isolated the voice encouraging me to eat. My band has been a great tool to help me overcome those desires and replace them with more healthy choices. Good luck! Getting the band was the best decision of my life.

Being a yo-yo dieter, I have collected many articles over a lifetime. One article has stuck with me throughout the years and that is the importance of drinking at a minimum of 64 ounces of Water a day. The article was a two page list of all of the things that water is needed for in your body. I wish I still had the source, I would link it here. Your skin's elasticity amoung many other things has a lot to do with how much water you drink. Some of it may be hereditary, however water is very very vital. Oh and wrinkly skin can get better. I had horrendous wrinkly skin when I was undergoing Chemotherapy. My skin looked like it was 80 years old. I had also lost 50 pounds in a matter of 2 or 3 treatments. Everything looks normal now, no wrinkly or anything. Worst diet of my life, LOL.

Nice post Carlene. DrewsLou, Being from Houston, I have the exact opposite reaction in about August, praying for rain or something to cool the heat. I am sorry it has been rough this year for you guys up there. Strangely enough, we have broken several "cold records" this year in Houston, while other people around the country have broken "warm records". I agree, this has been very strange weather this year.

Great news Jamie! that is awesome. I hope you are not going to need a whole new dress in the end! I am 20 pounds from the weight I was when I got married. I can't wait to put on my dress and wear it around for a day or two. =)

The only way I know I am full is the minor pressure in the middle of my chest. I sure hope that doesn't mean I eat too much. I am so scared to death of stretching my pouch. Thanks for the kudos! I am having a good day for sure. The pants I bought 2 weeks ago are already falling off. I can't wait to get to a size that I actually have clothes so I don't have to go buy any. I am not sure how I managed to completely skip 2 sizes on my way up, unless I just squeezed myself into clothes that didn't fit.

I lost 3 more pounds! I love my band. Oh, and the clothes I bought in December are too big! What an awesome dilemma! I also didn't pack on 10 pounds over the holidays like I usually do. What a nice way to start off the new year. At work, I am perpetually smiling, it is making everyone nervous. LOL. I would sing from roof tops if I could!!!!

If I am not at the right restriction level, 3 meals only is hard to do because I get hungry. However, with the right amount of restriction, 3 meals is very easy. If you can't do just 3 meals, maybe you need a slight fill. If you haven't had a fill yet, then your nutritionist is not correct because you should be wide open. If you are wide open, there is no way anyone could possibly stick to 3 meals the size of ones palm. P.S. cherg, I just saw your weight loss so far, how phenomenal! Your stomach shrinks as you lose weight too, so you may be loose because you have lost so much.

LOL. Not a bad thing I would think...

I don't know, this is a confusing issue. Have you ever tried to explain that smoking is bad to a smoker and it causes lung cancer? Both my mother and late father could care less. I would not have sat and listened to someone who told me "overweight" causes high blood pressure and diabetes to name a few if my GP hadn't have read me the miranda rights. Warning labels seem harsh, however it is just as big as an issue as smoking imo now that I am more aware of the risks that I was causing myself. Obesity is as big of an issue as lung cancer, both self inflicted, like I said very confusing issue.

Ha. Ha. I was thinking the same thing and to think when I was growing up, I was so frightened of Nostradamus' predictions.

Hilarious, so funny. I am a wine drinker (not zinfindel, LOL). And in college, I drank beer, didn't even know wine existed. very funny descriptions, not too far off base.

Everyone's goals sound fantastic and motivating! Thanks for sharing, everyone. Robin, I haven't had any problems with my ticker once I added a pin. You could go into your web browser and delete the tickerfactory cookie and start over from scratch that might help. If you need help doing that let me know. I will be at the surgery center on the 11th for a fill if any of you ABC bandsters will be there from spivak or spiegel.

Interesting... however only in a noteworthy sense. Keith Ellison seems nice enough, ran a clean campaign and was "elected" to office not appointed, so obviously the majority doesn't agree with Virgil. Virgil's comments seem biggoted that was dissapointing to read, so I didn't read on to see where he stood on any issues. I am a Republican, however bipartisan politics are annoying. I do not think people have the right to be biggots nor is it acceptable/tolorable behavior.

Ha. Ha. Josette please don't make me live '06 over again! I haven't set any real goals just thoughts I guess, so time to formulate them: 1. I want to lose 5 to 8 pounds a month this year. 2. I'd like to commit to getting to the gym 2xs a week during lunch. 3. and work out at home 3xs a week. 4. I want to clean up all of the clutter that accumulated in my home while I was on chemotherapy. 5. I want to redo my 12 year old sons room and give him a room a pre-teen would be proud of, instead of stuffed animals, lego's and childrens books.

Very good point Jo Ann, thanks for starting the new thread Josette! Here is the link if anyone needs it... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abc-06-january-t27614.html?t=27614&highlight=abc+january

Robin, I feel exactly the same way you do. I think I have lost 39 lbs and I am also in a 16 pant. My Disney trip last June 2005 would have been so much different today. I am so glad to hear that you had such a wonderful vacation and New years. I go in for my 3rd fill too on January 11th. I can't wait. Are we going to start another thread or keep this one going? This month didn't get too long so it seems kind of a waste to start another one.

Cathy, I had my surgery on Wednesday and went back to work on Tuesday. I couldn't have went back any earlier, the day I chose was perfect.

Happy New Year too!!

My second fill, I felt wide open until 2 weeks after. My first bite of dinner came back up in a PB because I was not expecting the restriction.

That is a good question Cathy. I do miss "pigging out" every now and then, however my band doesn't allow it at all. I will say that I have sat and ate for 2 hours just so I could eat more. In that 2 hours I ate about a half of a saucer full of food, but it seemed like so much more. I have a great example that happened just this weekend. We traveled east to see family where there are Krystal burgers. I grew up with Krystal burgers and I love them very very much however there aren't any close by me. We stopped at Krystal burger and bought a 12 pack of cheese burgers. I took the bottom piece of bread off and still could not finish it. Krystal burgers are very small 2 to 2.5 inch squared burgers. I was so ready to eat 6 more and I just couldn't. I ate one for Breakfast the next morning then lunch the day after that without the bottom bread and only about half each time. By the third time, I was getting sick of Krystal burgers and felt very satisfied. So, yes I missed pigging out, but eating what I wanted several times worked just as well.

I ate a lot of Soups, grits, oatmeal. I didn't necessarily make anything new or come up with recipe ideas. I was allowed to eat fish as well, so I would go to the local cajun store and get a baked fish meal. The fish would last several meals and I would give the extras to my family. also some good staples, mac n cheese, soft fruits, Jello, pudding. You should look in the food section, I bet there are some very ingenius people that came up with some good recipes. Anything you can mash with a fork or put in a blender is acceptable too. I read one time where a lady was having a hamburger craving so she put it in the blender. Good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions.

LOL no jeans in my clothes... sorry that I couldn't help, I would so much like to help one of my fellow ABC'ers. Funny, your mom broadcasts from her living room too? LMAO. My mom needs her own talk show. I can't remember the last time I told her something private because I have distrusted her for so long.

I don't mean to assume you are female, however your time of the month can cause bloating, that is why I don't use the scale necessarily to judge my success. I am going through menopause due to cancer treatments so my hormones go haywire daily. I use measurements and the way my clothes fit to judge my successs. I am 4 to 6 sizes smaller than when I started but not a LOT of pounds down necessarily. Don't rely JUST on the scale...

9.75 cm but 4cc and I was also told that was the average. P.S. your husband is a cutie!!!

I went to a family reunion and was prancing around in a strappy sundress that I thought looked stunning in... I later looked at the pictures and looked absolutely horrendous. I had no idea!!!!!!! I looked vulgar in my strappy dress and I thought I looked all cute and sexy (in my mind). I will send you the picture if you wish, but it was the straw that broke the camels back.