finallyncontrol

So happy you have committed 2011 as your year!! Congrats on the 7 lbs!! Keep up the awesome jobs!! April will be here before you know it!!

Great job on the 4 lbs!! As for the drinking...try getting a glass of ice..let it sit there and when it melts then you can have it..it will take about 45 minutes to an hour...that gives you enough time to eat and a 1/2 hour afterwords. If you really feel you need to have a drink, take a sip of the ice..all you will get is a sip or whatever has melted.

I actually get stuck if I drink when I eat and I have been banded for 14 months now..so it does effect everyone different but if you get used to doing it then you will allow your band to tolerate it. Drinking flushes all of your protein you just ate. So all the energy you are trying to store up is actually wasted when you drink with your meal. Habits are hard to break! We all have them. I wish you the very best!!

Well I will not be on of those viewers and not respond!!! I am also one of those that you can text all day and I will respond!! There are several books out that explains things but nothing really says eat this today and eat that tomorrow--over time it all comes together. Your doctor is going to give you a basic plan that says you can have liquids for this many days, protein shakes for this many days, purees for this many, soft foods for this many and then you are off running. Do you cook? That is a huge question! Then will you be cooking for a family or just for yourself? (what I mean there is are you single or with a family...I whole heatedly believe that you should have your family eat the same foods you do--so there is only one meal made..you might have to puree yours but your are still cooking the same meal. I know a lot of single people still eat frozen pre-made meals or eat out quite often so that is different.

Here are a couple books I have downloaded...I have a kindle but you can get them in hard back or soft..

The Truth About Lapband Surgery S.A. Morse

The Expert's Guide to Weightloss Surgery Garth Davis

Website I love besides this one is www.sparkpeople.com and www.sparkrecipe.com

I hope this helps you and I am sorry that now one has responded to you!!! I wish you the very best on your journey!! When is your surgery date??

Fantastic!!! I do remember when you first started your journey!! I think how you stated it here is fantastic!! We really don't realize what we are getting ourselves into until we are literally going thru this!! Great blog!! Keep up the awesome job!!! Take care!!

Hello!! Well maybe something that might help you out is to take the word "never" out of your vocabulary...maybe you wont eat it today or tomorrow but you will eat it one day..you wont eat the whole loaf, but maybe a slice, a 1/2 a slice or even a bite and feel completely satisfied! That is what I have learned and practice..moderation! I personally do not eat ice cream and bread but other than that I eat everything else but in very, very small quantities!! I have lose 130 lbs in 11 months in have been in maintenance for the last 2 months!! You can do it too!! Stay positive and focus on the bigger picture!! I wish you the very best!! Take care!

After you get your fill does your dr require you to do a liquid diet or anything? Mine takes 7 days until you are back on regular foods...2 days liquids, 2 days protein shakes, 2 days puree and then 1 day soft foods..this is after each fill because you can be swollen after each fill. I believe 7 days is extreme be he would rather be safe than sorry. I had only one problem and I was too full and had to have a little taken out..I new that right away..other than than that I haven't had any problems. I hope you get better soon!

Well you are starting off on the right foot!! If you can remember that we are no longer living to eat but we need food to live (and only small amounts of it) you are doing very well. I hope you are doing well and healing ok! I wish you the very best on your journey!

Thank you for your post and I hope over time your relationship mends!! I honestly can say that I have only given up two things. I concentrate on portion control. Everything is moderation. What you need to watch now is how your band handles it and you are in the healing stage so no it cannot tolerate bacon but nothing says you couldn't put all of that in a blender and puree it. Try to make it as healthy as you can...turkey bacon, the leanest hamburger and so forth..as you said you know all the right ways...but let your band heal properly so that you can pave that road to success the best way possible. I don't eat bread and ice cream but that is all i don't eat. I just make the foods in a different (more creative way). A cheeseburger to me..is a patty with ketchup, mustard, mayo (Ranch dressing can easily replace mayo), and pickles and I bake my potatoe wedges..so I have 2 of them..so Yes, I still have a cheeseburger and fries. I am in the maintenance stage now..that is why I said for you to puree your stuff. I craved Pizza..so I searched and found an awesome Pizza Soup...or worse case I eat the toppings off of the pizza and not the crust.

Bottom line to me I never wanted to feel deprived with this lifestyle change so I had to figure this out and how I was going to achieve my goals...portion controls, be happy/positive attitude and stay active.

Baby Steps...I kind of had a rough evening putting my little one to sleep tonight so when I read your message I took it wrong...you have a "drink"..I was thinking like a shot of vodka maybe?? I don't drink at all and haven't for about 4 yrs (not due to the band..due to other medical reasons)! Hmmm maybe I do need a drink!!

Protein is energy!

Another thing that I have used is "B12 Shots". It is a caffeine free liquid drink. Natures Vitamins has one and the other one is just called B12 Shot...I have only seen it at Walgreens and Publix. Since it is caffeine free..it does not give you the jitters nor do you fall flat on your face after a couple of hours.

You know you might just be doing your sister a favor as well by doing this!! I now I have a stack of pictures of myself that I will keep handy for if I ever gain more than 5 lbs..I will just pull them out and it will be motivation enough. I was on such an excitement high the minute I started the pre-op diet I couldn't sit still..then once I could eat regular foods (well really it started in the puree stage) I dropped the "diet" word out of my vocabulary and said look this is not a diet this is a lifestyle change and this is how I am going to eat and behave the rest of my life. I need to find recipes/meals to prepare that not only I will like but my family will like because we are ALL in this together. Over the next 11 months I dropped 130 lbs really without any problems. Then I had to have some saline taken out of the band so that I would actually stop losing weight. To me this has been the most amazing thing (besides giving birth) that I have ever done in my entire life.

Maybe your sister will team up with you and get back on track. You understand support is important...this site is so powerful!! Get as much support as you can...either on here, group support, family or wherever you can get it!! Take care and I wish you the very best!

Luvmyband..you can "hear" your enthusiasm!! That is so awesome!! Keep up the awesome job!! Yea, you may have more to go but take it in small increments..lay out your plan and you will reach your goal before you know it. I think sometimes when you say I have 100 or 150 lbs to lose it sounds like such a huge number but if you break it down into..well for your since you are going to fast I am not sure..but I did 25 lb increments and the next thing I new 130 lbs were gone (11 months).

I want to keep hearing you..so stay focused and remain positive!! Take care!

Well you probably know all of this but you got me curious and this is what I just read on the internet..maybe it is all old news if not I hope it helps even a tiny bit!!

So what can we do about getting rid of sciatica pain? There are three processes that you can to do help give you some wonderful relief from this awful condition.

First – there are five nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve and they exit the lower back region. When the lower back muscles or the joints are irritated, you may have a sciatic attack. So the key here is to balancing lower back. This can be done by performing some simple stretches and joint techniques for that particular area.

Second - Your pelvis needs to be level. If your pelvis is not level then sciatica can reoccur. The best way to check for this is to lay on your back. Place each hand under your back on each side. Put your hands about belt height. If there is more pressure on one side than the other, your pelvis is not level. This is also referred to as pelvic distortion. No matter what it is called, it can cause you a lot of pain.

So, the second step is to correct your pelvic alignment and release that pressure it is placing on your sciatic nerve.

Third – this is the easiest of the three, but probably the biggest irritant to your sciatic nerve. If you can take care of this, then you may very well be on your way to getting rid of sciatica pain forever!

This is regarding the main muscle that surrounds the sciatica nerve. This is the Piriformis muscle. When this muscle tightens, it will immediately irritate the sciatic nerve.

This is doing with some simple stretching exercises and they need to be done at least 3 times a day. One session just before you go to bed. If you stretch a muscle, then use it, it really kind of defeats the purpose of stretching it. You want to stretch it when you are done using it. At bedtime, you are giving your back a nice rest with a nice stretched and relax muscle.

As Alikitty said..you r a strong woman..you have a lot going on right now! I wouldn't have thought working out would have helped the sciatic nerve..you know best..I have back issues..thank god not the sciatic. I know you don't want to post pone this but the worse thing to do is go into this unhealthy. Do what u think is best!! Great job on the protein count and how you are feeling!!

As for the protein shake..you go girl! I am not a breakfast person and here I am 14 months later and that is what I still have each and every morning!! It is just so satisfying to me and it fills me up until lunch time. So I say if you find the right mixture/flavors then go for it and if you can get your family to do it as well..more power to you! I have my husband doing it also!!

Your sciatic...that is terrible pain I know! All I can do for you there is send you some hugs and do some praying for you..and I will pray for you!!

I wish you the very best!!

Very good!! You have done so well and posted some awesome recipes!! I am also maintaining my 130 lb loss..so I know your feeling...isn't it fabulous!!! Take care!

the best part of your post...Tomorrow IS a NEW day and it is CLEAN slate and fresh start! Don't beat yourself up any longer..it is in the past and you can't change it..just learn from it!! Good luck and stay positive!!

I love the way you are approaching it! You are so right...I believe that heavy people are overlooked or at least not given the second look. Now it is amazing what a rush it is to do any task...going to the grocery store or whatever and how many glances I get...this morning I was taking my 3 yr old son to school and my son said..Mom the guy in that truck is looking at you....mind you I am staring at the light waiting for it to turn green..thinking i have forty million things to do today and here someone else is paying attention to me where as before...it more than likely wouldn't have happened. I am going through all of our pictures and trying to reorganize/sort our photo albums...I can barely look at those pictures compared to how I am now. What it is doing is giving me so many reasons to stay on track and keep the 130 lbs off forever and ever!! Whatever it takes to motivate you..use it to its fullest!! I wish you the very best!!!

Keep watching that scale or anything that is positive! I loved the name of the class..."weapons class" never heard of it called it..that is cool! Keep on smiling and remember why you are doing this and soon you will be wheeling out of recovery and on the road to success!! take care!

Awesome job!! Keep up the terrific attitude!! I ditto the heparin! I take blood thinners and will for life but for any type of surgeries I have to take the shots in my stomach..lucky me I have to give myself the shots! After a while they leave little lumps on your stomach!! Really nice!!

Anyway so happy to hear about how well you did!! Keep walking it will do you so much good!!! You have just started your road to success!!

I think that if you reflect back to the early days of being banded...you had the same thoughts and same issues...a lot of us do. My advice would be the same to a newbee as to someone 3 yrs out...when you are bored you need to fill that time with anything that will preoccupy that time and I mean anything...get online, read a book, take a walk, clean out a closet, write a poem, draw/paint a picture, take up sewing, volunteer (I am looking into meals on wheels..ironic huh), write a letter to someone, write out a weekly or monthly food chart....I think you are getting the message.

As for making good choices..plan ahead (see above task). If you plan out meals it will be less likely for you to make poor choices. Plan out as much as you need...if it is for the next day, for the week, for the month. Cook as much as often as can..this go along with the planning..you need to have the food on hand in order to cook it so it takes planning.

I personally am not a journal-er but I fortunately did not have any issues dropping my weight (thank god) BUT I do believe that journal-ling DOES work. It allows you to see what you are actually eating...right there in black in white..sometimes you can't "see" until you see it either on a graph or on paper. I have seen too many people that all it took was to start the journal and bam there went that 10 lbs they couldn't lose.

I hope this helps and I wish you well!

Amy...I didn't see Dr Rehnke but my Dr is Dr Gordon who also practices out of Palms of Pasadena. Another one of my friends saw Dr. Jessee however she doesn't get on Lapbandtalk very often. I would be very happy to help you out in any way that I can. I was banded on 11/23/09 and I have lost 130 lbs..I did this in 11 months..so I have been in maintenance mode for 2 months now and absolutely loving life!!!

As I said I would love to help you in any way...just let me know! I just posted on "Another good day" and then saw this posting!

Take care!

Stay in control! Maintain a positive attitude..I really believe that is one of the main keys to success! Take it one day at a time and the next thing you know you will be getting the fill...keep in mind that the fill may not take away all of those demons and the hunger..you normally hit your sweet spot or green zone on your 3rd or 4th fill. It just depends on how your body responds and how aggressive your doctor is. Just remember the big picture and we didn't get here over night BUT count each and every little loss as a success..this includes weight, inches, compliments and foods you passed on that you normally wouldn't. Give yourself the credit you deserve..little things really help.

the key word was "he"...that said enough!!

Yeah I watched Heavy..I thought it was awesome. I think we struggle just like they do/did. I find shows like that are very motivational. I just wish I had a trainer like they do.

I think you are an awesome person who really knows themselves inside and out. You know exactly where you need to go and how to get there...you set your goals..and not unrealistic goals. I don't believe you are too hard on yourself either. I think sometimes you barter with yourself which I think is comical. I think it would be awesome if you could print out your blog and read it in 5 yrs, and then in 10 and 20...I know I would love to see it again.

You are going to make your goal and I think it will be way sooner than a year..but I will be here waiting and watching!!

It will get better I promise!! Hang in there!! I know it is easier said than done...but I did do it so I can say it. Take it one day at a time...one hour at time if you need to. Remember the better you heal...the easier and smoother it is for your success!! Soon you will be on a regular routine eating regular foods. I never went on a diet..I made a lifestyle change and now 130 lbs thinner...I am absolutely loving life!! Spruce up your meals..no matter what that meal is..liquids, purees, or whatever it is..make sure it isn't boring you. This is how we are going to eat the rest of our lives so it needs to be satisfying. I wish you the very best and stay focused.