kll724

No, don't and never have craved bread and butter since surgery 3 1/2 years ago. I used to eat it with meals of stew and the like tho'. Karen

i drink regular coffee all the time. I hate decafe and tea doesn't do it for me. I don't seem to have a problem with it, and some studies say it is beneficial. ( I need it for the bathroom activities int eh AM)!!Congrats to you valedictorian son. Obviously a "chip of the old block"!! Karen

Yes, did you have a recent fill? You need to call ASAP, you can't go on without drinking!!!

I was told not to pick up anything heavier than a gallon jug of milk. Can not remember my bending restriction. Other surgeries it was 6 weeks for pushing a vacuum cleaner. Accept all the help offered. karen

I can only say that if you are still on liquids, liquid in, liquid out. But other than that, sounds like your system is being cleaned out. Best wishes. Karen

Congrats on your moving into the "green" zone!

If you eat chips and dip, limit yourself to a few, use a calorie counter before you go, so that you know how many to how many calories. If this is your special treat, then go for it, just limit your eating, and don't bring them into the house! Best wishes,Karen

I believe there are quite a few clear protein drinks now. Check them out. Special K has a powder. I really like the Crystal Lite drinks, too. Make a 1/2 gal or gal jug of it, and you can drink for a few days. I am like the readsetgo611 lady, I like my shakes or smoothies to have a thicker consistacny, so I use ice in my machine. And love the orange cream. Best wishes. Karen

You have a long time between appointments. I would suggest a phone call to your surgeon's office. I am not familiar with that machine. I was restricted to tread mill or walking for 6 weeks. Seeing ab in it tells me probably not! My surgeon made me stay away from that type of machine for awhile. Best of luck, Karen

You will do fine! Best wishes for your surgery and recovery. Remember, after surgery, keep hydrated, with small sips, and walk as much as possible to relieve the gas pressure they will pump into you. Karen

Many people on here have lost 100 or more lbs. I lost 100, and so have lots of other folks. Age is not a difference, young and old if they follow the plan and use the tool properly can and have lost the successful weight. best wishes. Karen

i still use a salad fork and plate for my dinner plate. My son has, also, been banded, and he use a small plate too. i tried using the toddler spoon and fork for awhile, but didn't really like thenm. After awhile, you just know what your size of dinner should be. I use the small play\te to make myself feel better about what I eat.

I agree with searching for a doctor to fill you, Elaine. 1 time a month seems outrageous to me. Mine has apts on Tues and Wed every week. He schedules us 1x a month, as needed. I was too tight and gained, he removed .1 and I am in control, but still not losing what I had gaiend abck after being too tight. Good luck.

Good for you! thanks for the update. Some surgeons put fluid during the operation, some don't. i am not sure that i could have tolerated it either!

There are a few restaurants that now have 1/2 portion meals. But, I am, never, ashamed to ask for a "to go" box. I have come to the point that i divide and ask as soon as i get the meal! by the way, Jean McMillan just wrote a blog on The Clean Plate Club"!!

You look great, maybe you were in the "red" zone and did not need that extra 1 cc. More or tighter is not always better. take it from me, I thought I was good and then told my surgeon that I was eating sliders a nd wanted a tweak so he checked and he removed a .1 cc from my band! I am better now, too!

All bodies are different. I have only 5. cc in a 10 cc band, and I am at "green". So, only your body will know. But, once you hit it, you are necessarily going to stay there. You can go "red" easily if you are not careful with your fills! Best wishes!!!!

Hurrah!

I just stay away from the membrain or the outside of the grapes. I also find it a problem to eat them.

Jean, great article. I, too, was raised to make sure that I didn't leave food on our plates because of the staving children in China,Russia or wherever. I am not quite sure how they were supposed to be helped with OUR empty plates, but whatever! This was a favorite way to get kids to eat back then, and maybe still today. I don't think that my own daughter uses this method, thank God. We are a family of "fatties", so she is cautious of forcing empty plates. Thank you for a great article, Jean. We all need to relearn our way of thinking. Karen

Awesome, NSV! I am down to 36 dd. They measure me at 34 c, but I find they squash my flabby boobs, 36 dd makes the most of the flab without me falling out!(from 2 kids, 100 lbs, and 64 years of age).

Some pre-ops are different than others. Mine was shakes for 2 weeks prior. Other people have Lean cuisine an shakes. So, it is not that bad to cheat ONCE!!! You can do it, we all have and most of us are happier. hang in there. Karen

I hope that you feel better. I never had a scope before my surgery. I like what nina874 sid tho'. Best wishes!

Probably, but 9 lbs in 8 weeks is good. If you aare hungry and eating what you should not, you might need an additional fill. See your surgeon for advice, tho'.

I eat fish almost every night. I bake mine, too. I loved breaded tilapia, but am staying away from breaded. So, I have found that ground flax seed makes a great breading, and then add a little Zaterans to the fish. Yummy! di the same to flounder lastnight, was great too!