AngelaT

Hi, It seems like I was really stuck....well in part becasue I was really sick for a while and barely moving much....so I would barely lose 1lb a week if lucky it seems. Finally I am better and worked yesterday 12 hrs. moved around alot! Finally also my TOM ended so no more water retention....anyway I weighed myself and lost several pounds all at once!!!!! I am down to 203!!!:faint: Haven't seen that number in a while! I do not have a fill yet and think I will wait until January for that...too much else I have to do and I am losing weight so I think I can wait.

WOW! I have survived another shift at the hospital. Chocolates, Cookies, cakes, etc everywhere! In between rounds I sit in the lounge with collegues and the table in front of me is FULL, I mean FULL of all kinds of goodies I would have gone for last year. :faint: :clap2: This time...hmmmm I guess it is an NSV I sat there several times a day and did NOT have anything!! I went to the fridge and had only the food I brought to eat that day, plus a light yogurt! I am sure I am not the only one with this experience... how have you handled it? Tiny tastes? big bites? nothing at all? Xmas with my family I will try little tastes of everything.

Jess, You obviously do not need a fill yet. THE PAIN YOU HAVE MIGHT BE DUE TO EATING TOO MUCH and also from not chewing enough. try not to eat close to bedtime also. Make your more solid food earlier in the day, or when you feel less tight while you eat. remember about 1/4 cup- max 1 cup of food and chew, chew, chew even if you do not have a fill, because you still do have restriction. My surgery was Nov. 7 and it is just the past two days I find I do not have much restriction, but I still keep my portions small and chew, chew. I will not have a fill until January. This morning I woke up with a bit more restriction again. So do not hurry, enjoy your restriction and prevent the pain by having little portionas and chewing and on the way you will be losing weight! Good luck!

Here are a few possible reasons: *not eating enough? * not drinking enough water/liquid possible dehydration * low blood pressure- were you taking meds for high blood pressure and need to have the doc check you and maybe lower dose? * Have you had a cold or sinus infection...can affect balance and ears *ear infection- can affect balance and cause dizziness * vertigo-sometimes people develop vertigo out of the blue...is the room spinning sometimes? does it change when you move your head? Sit? Stand? this is another doctor visit... for now you can use dramamine/meclazine to help you out until you can see a doctor

Have a great cruise!! Enjoy! tiny tastes on occassion while on the cruise should not hurt... take pics!

I do not measure exactly, but eyeball it very closely. I bought the Gladware, the smallest round ones...they are exactly 8oz. So I know very closely if I am eating 1 cup or 1.2 cup. They are great because they are portable and reheatable...so I take them to work. I make for example chicken, stewed so I can add different flavorings each time if I want... No skin, no bone.... sea salt, a few spices, chicken broth....boil until chicken is very tender. Then I cut into small pieces and divide servings into the little containers...put them in fridge or freezer... ready anytime! and I know how much I am eating....same goes for anyother food I eat. I also sometimes buy Gerber baby food fruit in the little plastic containers and recycle those for my little portions of carbs, or fruit or veggies...I think they are between 3-4oz...

Welcome!!!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

vegge, Sorry to hear you are not well...I understand...I have been sick and just getting back to normal. Winter is hard on people...colds, depression, etc. Hope you look at all the positive in your life ... try to get as much daylight as possible it helps.

Hmmmm....the freezer and good containers work wonders!!! No guilt, no mess!:biggrin1:

Tom, blend a little chicken into a soup with veggies...still liquid and youa re getting protein which you really need.... as long as you can drink it with a straw it considered a liquid...besides you are already doing mushies, it's just thta they are mostly carbs! Carbs make you hungry. good luck. I blended soups since week 2.

Yes they do have to stop in that way. You can change for example the fish oil which is not that great to use veryday...use flaxseed oil instead in your smoothies or blend it in with any cold things like a cold veggie Soup or mushie when you are at that stage. You can also make a hole in the Vit. e an put it in your smoothie. Get a pill crusher and crush your D same as the biotin. ALL of these are great to take while banded, but you do have to etiher crush or take out the liquid from the capsule. Get a good chewable adult Vitamin at Whole Foods or Trader Joes...I have found they have the better ones.

Ask her kindly to not have any sweets around you at all. Not to offer you any...be firm. Good luck!

In an emergency it does! chew, chew, chew, chew, chew......

Hi I have Ms and it might not be MS. Have you tried going to a chiropractor to do GENTLE adjustments? Ask that they use an activator and not manipulation....it really has helped me with my MS but you might just have a really bad spinal alignment. Much better than the other two diagnoses! Try that and massage to relieve your symptoms and NO SUGAR, NO caffeine, except for green tea and only occassional coffee, ALL Natural food if possible organic and No SIMPLE starches or really processed food. Believe me it makes a HUGE difference. I did not use insurance for my band, but they might have a problem with an MS diagnosis, so make sure you do not actually get diagnosed. I have had no real problems except that post op as with any other surgery I have had...I think it is the anesthesia my muscle spasms came back really bad...but with some massage and chiropractic and a bit of medication for 4 days I went back to normal relatively soon. Use natural antiinflammatories like ginger and tumeric. Good luck!

Oh you are right I do have you confused!!!!!!!!!:embarassed: Oh dear, my brain while I was sick was not working very well.

Karen I am soooooo glad you are back! Sedona...I envy you! www.sparkpeople.com has worked wonders for me keeping track of things. I have even indulged on Godiva truffles...2 of them 100 cals each, and little bites of desserts etc. at parties. As long as I can stay within 800-1000 cals per day I seem to be fine! It also tracks water, exercise, etc. try it I think it will help you get back on track! I'll call you soon!

Do you have fish available? chicken? lamb, other meats? Potatoes and rice need to be LAST on your list of foods to eat. eat green vegetables mostly, nuts one serving per day, lentils can be an alternative, beans, a few olives about 4-5 a day you can eat for good fats. Hummus in moderation.

For Brooksie asnd everyone.... www.sparkpeople.com is a great place to help you keep track of food, calories, water and exercise...I have been doing it and it has really helped! :clap2:

Brooksie...i do not want to scare you but coke is really bad for your band and pouch. Please swith to water and other low cal non-carbonated drinks. Also just so you know artificial sweetners besides being bad for health are not good to help lose weight, they actually slow weight loss. Walking is good for depression and if you live in a place were winter is bad get one of those full spectrum lights that help with winter depression. Girl you just got engaged, you should be beaming!!! Make sure to take the sublingual B6, B!2 and Folic acid.... since you are not getting enough of these... a low level ofthese can depress you and/or make you nervous and anxious.

Hi, Wjole foods or Trader Joe's has excellent adult chewable vitamins. Please do use those....flinstones really does not do it. I am a Dr. of Naturopathy and I use those since I can no longer use what I was taking. Also use extra Vit. C to keep up your immune system.

Brooksie... Yes I take chewable vitamins every day!!!! VERY IMPORTANT! Protein is what builds your body and keeps you healthy...so make sure you get at least 75g of protein a day. Take also extra chewable vit C it helps build your immune system. Eat your protein firsdt and then veggies and last anything else if it fits! Your body is probably in starvation mode and using up muscle more than fat and you can get very sick! Please make sure you follow what you need to do!

Happy Holidays and good luck! Did you delete on your signature the old ticker? delete it before you put in the new one and see what happens. also remember not to highlight the URL part when you copy to paste.

Hi all November Bandsters!!! Hope the Holiday season is treating you well. Since we are new to the band and it is the holidays, our first challenge will be very easy. Drink as close as possible 64 oz of Water a day at least 4 times a week for the rest of December Do at least 15 minutes of any cardio exercise including walking, dancing, etc. at least 4 times a week. Find ways at a party to avoid the food table and then be as healthy as possible when you do go there :eek: There, that is it...easy!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Hi Jackye! Slowly but surely we will get there! I know how hard it is to squeeze in the Water at work in the ER, but it does help! I am averaging around 800-1000 cals a day. You know, before banding I would have eaten that in a meal and a snack. After the fill have you been able to eat anything or have you had trouble with some foods? Happy Holidays!

I agree...I thought i had gained weight the last week or so and panicked a bit...then I realized it must be Water retention due to TOM and so today after TOM and of course being back at work and moving more recently I got on and it was 5lbs lower than what the scale had told me just a few days ago!! So I am happy!