TracyNYC

I told my male principal I "needed surgery" and had my hand over my abdomen. I am sure he thought it was "woman issues" and he left it at that. I told way too many people after the fact and am sorry I did, especially since I have seeming failed at this. I have lost a bit over 40 pounds and someone at school asked me when I could expect to see weight loss as I looked bigger than ever. My advice: tell only your spouse and friends. No one at work.

WOW! I am embarrassed by my lack of progress, but honesty... 10/06/09 surgery date I have had 4 fills and ok restriction Eat high Protein meals, but have bad snack attacks (still a lot less than before) not exercising at all 43 lbs. I started using resistance bands as my arms are hideous and someday I hope to have batwing surgery. I need cardio to help move the pounds off.

The backside.... Burping becomes difficult with the band, especially after a few fills.

It gets better, but I am still prone to a spontaneous "toot" now and then when laughing really hard or if I bend over at the waist. My 8 year old niece finds this hilarious.

Awesome......You are about half my weight..LOL though I am 5 feet 6 inches. Years ago on WW chart my low end weight was 125. Can you imagine? Now it is like 150 or so. Great work.

Hormel 98 percent FF turkey chili. i also melt a bit of FF cheese on top. My Ricotta Mush 1/2 cup FF ricotta minced garlic tomato sauce a little FF or LF mozzarella warm in oven or microwave. Reduced fat Parm on top. Like the filling to stuffed shells sort of. My fave of all mushy Protein.

*appetizer

I think it was just too heavy for the first "real food" experience. Mexican is my safety food when I go out to eat at Applebbees and places like that. I can get them down and usually order an appertizer size and immediately pawn off half to whoever I am with. I am very tight now too and had no trouble the other night as we celebrated the end of the school year. Yipee.

I was banded In October 09. My fills have averaged out to every other month. Have really great restriction since my last fill in May. My ins. won't cover fills so at $250 a pop this is fine!

I am waiting for that day. I shop at The Avenue though. I hate their sale/return policies and the local one has some very nasty clerks. I am waiting....... and Congrats on a great NSV!

OK, so I braved it and bought Thomas' Bagel Thins- whole wheat. I just toasted half (55 calories) and put a smidge of Land O Lakes lite butter. I felt normal. Like I had a bagel for my Sunday Brunch. I had some fresh fruit on the side and am very satisfied....They seem a bit less doughy than the sandwich thins, but I have not tried toasting one of those yet. Will def add these to my stash of OK foods for once in a while.

He knows I have been eating wraps and quesadilla type concoctions, so I did not think a half a bagel thin would be bad. I have frozen most of them so I can't eat too many in succession. I eat the smallest diameter mission wraps and make "grilled cheese" with them or put egg or even refried beans or my FF turkey chili and have myself a "taco"...Trying to be creative and not get bored.

WOW, thanks for the replies and recipes. I will be brave and try one! I have been eating soup b/c it fills me and is easy and quick for the "duty-free" lunch I never seem to get at school. I also have not had "stuck" issues with even the meatier ones. I am deathly afraid of getting stuck at school and not being able to handle it properly. I think I am getting bored too b/c I stick to my safe foods at school and am in a rut and sometimes don't eat at all and them 'binge' once home. Need an adjustment in my head this visit and not the band.

Soup has become my savior since my last fill. I am not much of a cook, so have been buying Progresso "0 point" or the Healthy choice lower cal ones, They have so much sodium and aome even are high in sugars. I can't have any noodle or rice as I do not want start that road. I eat a lot of the vegetable and pot roast type. Any suggestions or secret finds for Soups that are better nutritionally?

I think I am too tight, but am not losing. I have been feasting on slider foods b/c it is all I can get down. Went last week foe check in, and hoped for unfill, but they canceled all office hours and did not tell me.

It gets better, but when I really up my Protein intake I can't laugh too hard or bend at the waist. I was banded in October. This has created some interesting moments as I teach High School! LOL Good Luck!

Me3, I am sorry to hear you are having problems. I am single so can not speak to the marriage part, but I think all relationships change when one party makes a change. My 2 good friends have been really distant since the weight started to come off. An acquaintance has lost almost the same as I have the "real" way. I have changed. While I was never a shrinking violet, I am certainly much more clear about what I accept from people in general. I think those we love fear those changes and a spouse, being the closest one, would feel it the most. Good Luck. Maybe some couple counseling? I don't know, just a suggestion.

Hi All, I am doing pretty well, down about 45 lbs. since October 6th. I am wondering if it ever becomes "easier". I am trying to learn new ways of thinking about food. All I seem to do is eat about 10 different things "that work" as far as not getting stuck. When I am thrown a curve, like going out to eat, I really panic and have not yet canceled plans, but I become very anxious. I do not enjoy meals or socializing around food anymore and most socialization centers around food. Today, at work, we had a chance to order lunch out. I ordered meat ball parm hero. I immediately dumped the bread, put away half the meat balls and mashed my food to oblivion. I took 4 bites and had to throw it up. I was mortified. I told my colleagues, not to ask me when they order anymore. They know about my surgery. I still get angry that I can't have a normal relationship with food. I work on that in counseling. I am more obsessed with food now than before: When can I eat next? What can I eat? Will it get stuck, etc. I have awesome restriction and am losing well right now. (I actually might be a smidge too full) I don't really have hunger, but I fell like the band and food rule my life. Any words of wisdom or thoughts will be appreciated! LOL Tracy

Yessssss!!!!

Today a group of my female HS students asked me if I lost weight. I was like "Thank God". Hardly anyone has noticed and I am down about 43 lbs. These kids notice EVERYTHING and are not shy about telling you about yourself. Though I am doing this for myself and my health, I am vein enough to enjoy a compliment now and then. LOL A few people I had not seen before my surgery have asked me "when it starts working". UGH! I packed on quite a bit prior to the surgery, so am still bigger than the last time they saw me. All in due time I guess.

I am down 45 lb and finally have purchased I pair of capris a size smaller. They have stretch otherwise I'd still be in the 18s. Very Very annoying. Thanks for this post. I thought I was crazy. I imagined being in those 18s forever, LOL

I think the best part is the big lesson here: BE PREPARED! We have all been caught short with the right foods. Once in the early stages I did with nothing as i had no "right" options to choose from. Instead I was sooooo hungry that when I was in reach of a "good choice" I ate too quickly and became stuck and horribly sick. I realized a bit of a poor choice would have been better. I carry protein bars and dry cereal.

Deviled eggs, Beans....Bring a dish to share that you CAN eat. Make chicken salad or the like. meat is till tough for me and I am 7 months out. It is hit or miss. Don't push it. Bring your own stuff and tell people (if you are not sharing your surgery) that you have developed allergies lately and the doc is putting you on a regulated plan. I wish I had not been so open. Now people ask me all the time why I am cheating if I have a cracker with cheese at a party. My friend's 90 year old Grandma asked me what my doctor would say if he saw me eating veggies with dip (FF btw). I responded with "Same thing yours would".LOL

I guess I finally have restriction. On Thursday I had my fourth fill. I have not been hungry since then. Anything I do eat it "sitting". Not in a bad way, but, WOW if this is what it is supposed to feel like that's great. Is this normal?

Over the Moon Chocolate Milk is FF and delicious. A little high in sugar, but can do the trick...I bet if I added the chocolate protein mix it would be fine too...