BetsyB

No need to confess; eating isn't a moral issue. Exercise isn't punishment, either--it's a lovely insurance policy :laugh: Did you have fun?

Your surgeon's insurance person will know exactly what your insurer requires. Will they handle it for you?

I am going to be what seems like unpleasantly blunt with you. Please understand that this bluntness comes from a woman who also has physiological obstacles that make weight loss more difficult than it is for many; I really am saying this with kindness. You state that you don't overeat. You do. You weigh 300 pounds--and that simply is NOT achievable without overeating. Now, your version of overeating may be very, very different from that of someone else---someone whose metabolism is not challenged. However, you are consistently eating more than YOUR body requires, and this has resulted in morbid obesity. Now, if you're like me, the gain came from eating apparently reasonable portions (again, reasonable to someone ELSE'S body!) at reasonable times, such as mealtimes. This really is frustrating, and perplexing. Believe me, I understand how confusing it is to eat what you're told is the right combo of foods in the right amounts---and exercise each day---only to see the scale go up. I truly do empathize. The very good news is that, for me, the band has been perfect. PERFECT. Why? Because in order to cut down my intake to a level where weight loss is possible, I have to go waaaaaaaaaaay down, calorie-wise (and tune out everyone who tells me, "You really need 1200 calories a day!) Without the band, I could do this only for a finite time. Now that I'm approaching good restriction with the band, I can see that I will be able to comfortably (comfortably!!) stick with this intake level until---and after--I reach my goal. It is amazingly freeing---awesome! You will likely find many who suggest, at your weight, that bypass is the route to take. It might be---you will have to assess that for yourself. For me, the band has done exactly what I needed to have done. But I first had to admit that I did, indeed, overeat. I ate less than anyone I know--but I was overeating for my body's needs, and I had to assume responsibility for changing myself. As for the PCOS--that's a tricky one. It can be a chicken-egg situation; while it is a bona fide syndrome that does affect weight, it is not destiny. Furthermore, obesity itself can mimic it---many times, it vanishes along with the excess weight. If it does not in your case, you will be able to find someone to help you manage its symptoms and improve your odds of a healthy, happy pregnancy. Good luck!

No one wants to wait. It seems like an interminable period of time when you're at the beginning. It's JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE WAITING. After you jump through insurance hoops (that, incidentally, help ensure your operative safety and postop sucess), you then wait, wait, wait for appropriate restriction. This is NOT a quick fix. It simply isn't. Try to use the wait to become very, very well-educated about the procedure and the lifestyle changes it will require of you. Adopt some of those lifestyle changes so that you'll really be in a good place after surgery. Use time time to your advantage. Really, the wait isn't there to antagonize you. It's there because three-six months is a reasonable period of time to spend REALLY digging into the reality of what will be done to your body, and how that will change your life. Every second is worth it. ETA: Do you have reason to believe you won't be approved by your insurance? I ask, because lots of times people seem to think that their insurance companies can kind of arbitrarily say, "no," when, in fact, if you meet the criteria spelled out in your insurance policy, you will be approved. If you haven't already, grab a copy of your policy and read its requirements for bariatric surgery; when I did this, it really, really eased my mind.

I empathize completely--when we lived in Houston, allergy season (and by "season," I mean much of the year!) was agonizing. Ask your doctor about guaifenesin--plain Mucinex or Robitussin. (Banded, Robitussin's easier; it's liquid or gelcap instead of pressed tablet). For me, it really loosens secretions so that they don't gag/choke me.

From my first doctor visit to the OR, it was just a bit more than 5 months; it likely would have been less, but the holidays interfered. Still, the time went quickly, and it was WELL worth the wait!

Why didn't you do it sooner? I'm not asking this to be snarky--I'm asking it so that you pause to think for a moment. We all struggled with weight long enough to determine that this was the change we wanted to make. But few of us arrived at the decision without struggle over a period of time. Just because it was time for us--and the right choice for us--doesn't mean others have reached that stage in their journeys. And it doesn't mean it's the right answer for them. Some are simply not aware that they are viable candidates for weight loss surgery. Others don't have the resources--either insurance or money or credit. Others don't believe in surgically altering their bodies. Others view obesity as a moral issue, and believe they are unworthy of this positive change because they lack the will to make the change themselves, some fear the stigma against bariatric surgery....the list of whys goes on and on and on. Thank goodness we're not appointed to be ambassadors for banding! While we can all share our positive experiences, each and every obese individual has the right to make his or her own decisions---just as we did. I am happy to share, with others, what works for me---and am glad that someone already banded did that for me when I was already considering the procedure. But I would never presume to be "ebandgelical" (ETA: LOVE this word!) unless directly asked.

When you say your calories "should" be at 1000-1200, where did the number come from? I'm not asking snarkily--I'm asking because I'm about a month further out than you, eat around 800 calories/day (1000 on a BIG day), and have gotten nothing resembling concern from my doctor. My nutrient intake is good, I'm losing well, and there just doesn't seem to be the need to shake things up at this point. Does your doctor/ nutritionist want you to aim for that? If so, I wonder if you're pushing now to achieve something that will be much more comfortable for you a little farther down the road. My stomach capacity has gradually increased, even as restriction has increased---I can "hold" a bit more, but stay fuller longer. The former was really a function of time. If you really want to bump up your calorie intake--the best way to get more calories is to increase serving sizes of Protein and grain and add a little heart-healthy fat. You may find, though, that you have to work up to this--don't be discouraged! Please don't switch your lean choices for full-fat choices, though--you don't want to pay for it with blood vessel damage down the road.

There's a trick to using it in hot foods. You have to add the Protein to the already-hot food in a very specific way, or "temper" it--or it will clump. This goes for flavored protein powders, too---say, if you want to make a warm chocolate Protein Drink. First, you add a bit of tepid Water to the powder--just enough to make a paste. Stir into that paste---and let it sit while you prepare your hot stuff. When the food you're adding is warm, but not yet very hot, slowly add an ounce or two to the protein stirring vigorously as you do this. Adding the warm to the protein starts getting it "used" to heat. Then, you can add the hot liquid or food--again stirring as you add. I use it in soups and broths, chili, Greek yogurt (with a little good-quality vanilla and Splenda)---on a day when I haven't gotten quite enough protein, I pretty much dump it in whatever I'm having to bolster my protein for the day.

It is, indeed, very, very wrong. But it was just a sprinkling here (Chicago burbs)---enough to make the yard wet for the dog to track in 400 times before company arrived, but not enough to stick to sidewalks (or walking paths!) and roads. Typical Chicago March :laugh: Off to read back a few pages....hope everyone's having a lovely weekend so far. (did I hear massage? I have a GC for an hour-long massage; today would be a great day to put it to use...)

I'm so sorry for your loss. Your long-term depression has been well-controlled---but adding grief can really impact you. That may be what's going on. I'm not brushing this off as being "all in your head." You've had a really tumultuous time--it would throw anyone for a loop. But, too--it could be something else. And if you genuinely feel as though it is, push your doctor for answers. Listening to your gut is so important. You say that you've had blood tests--what have they checked, other than your thyroid levels?

I'm tighter just before my period, too--and when I'm ovulating. I guess my stomach's estrogen-sensitive

There's a difference between mushy and pureed. I would think that cooking either rice or Pasta less al dente than usual would have the desired effect. I had a puree stage, and did blend Proteins. But pureed pasta just wouldn't be pasta, IMO.

Hi, Guys! Leigha, we have snow today, too---of course, it is Chicago, but still....it has been so warm and nice, I kind of convinced myself it was going to stay that way. I have to post and run---will catch up tomorrow. We're having 20 people for dinner tonight, so I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. (Mark is, I might point out, asleep. In his defense, (a) he's got congestive heart failure, and ( he did get up at the crack of dawn to throw two briskets in the smoker, and has been tending them lovingly since. But still...asleep!) The house is clean (I had help), the food is almost all made, and I think I might be so sick of seeing it I won't even want to eat it. (Well, maybe....) On the menu are several things that fit in my plan---and several that do not. We're having smoked brisket (Texas style--Mark is a pro), Galveston chicken, beans, chile lime cole slaw (my specialty, and something I could eat until it came out of my ears), and a bunch of evil desserts I won't touch. (I didn't even lick a spoon or finger yesterday when making them....and it dawned on me, as I was putting a pan of brownies in the oven, that I didn't even have a child home to lick the spoon *sniff*). And of course the usual Texas barbecue libations... It seems odd to be doing a barbecue in March, but it's part of our church's annual fundraiser. We do an auction annually, and the highlight are parties. People offer, at auction, parties---this year, we put up the Texas barbecue and a San Francisco dinner, and others put up many other really interesting dinners. Then, people bid on the seats at the table....it's fun, and it raises a bajillion dollars for the church. Okay, time's up---I hope you're all having a marvelous weekend. Time for me to go pick up an extra table and chairs...We can comfortably seat 16-17, but the number got bumped up, so we're rearranging! I'm hoping to squeeze a walk wit Truman in before everyone arrives...snow flurries or not, the poor beast (ha! and Truman, too) needs a walk! Have a great day!

It really is a great group---I feel very lucky to have them behind me, too.

Sashimi! My favorite is tuna tartare, because it's already cut into tiny cubes. It's great, because it takes forever to eat with chopsticks!

Early on, I had no trouble swallowing pills. Now that I'm nearing restriction, I can't tolerate big tablets, but my little blood pressure pill is just fine. I'd ask the doctor if s/he thinks it's safe--you may be pleasantly surprised. As for the gummies--eek! Those scare me because they're hard to thoroughly chew----I'd be afraid of having them stick. But again, without restriction, it's probably not a concern. I was told to resume Vitamins immediately postop--but again,this is one for your doctor to field; they all have different "rules."

Just a different manufacturer and slightly different design--the info here is still applicable (I have a Realize band and love it.)

Spartan, are you a physician?

IMO, he's wrong. At least until you achieve restriction, you really do need to watch closely. Once you've got restriction, the band will help with portion control---but making good choices is still up to you. It's important to give your body what it needs, and that does not always coincide with our preop conceptions of "eating normal." (If it were normal, we would not have required bariatric surgery.) I second the advice to seek out the counsel of a dietitian/nutritionist VERY experienced with bariatric patients.

My husband was initially not in favor of it, but because he wanted to be supportive, attended the initial surgeon seminar and first appointment with me. After the seminar, he VERY strongly felt that the band was the right choice for me; the others involved too much change for his comfort zone. Fortunately, I agreed. I wanted the band from the outset. He's been very supportive. He has educated himself well about why I do what I do, foodwise, etc. I do suspect that as my loss becomes more apparent to others (the attention is beginning), he will have some difficulty and need some reassurance. That kind of change is sometimes difficult.

It's part of the process. As you recover, you take on more of your everyday responsibilities--and they really do tucker you out. It gets better---fast. Truly. It won't be long before you feel like "yourself" again.

I've been using fitday off and on for years. It's user friendly and I like that it's easily customizable.

It sounds like you have just the right mind set for this to work for you, Caffeine. I'm not a professional bubble-burster, but it's realistic for you to expect that, once your postop swelling recedes, you will experience hunger for a period of time until you achieve good restriction. That doesn't mean you won't continue to enjoy great weight loss success; it sounds to me as though you have the mindset to lose no matter what. Just don't be discouraged, okay? Right now you've got a sort of postop euphoria going for you----and while I don't think you're headed for buyer's remorse (I've never felt even a split-second of that), you might be headed for times when it seems less effortless. (Even then, your body will be busy changing, even if the scale does not cooperate always.) Good luck!

Congratulations, KartMan! Bob, you say, Please don't wait--start now.