Betsyjane

I've hit a plateau. I don't think it's about needing a fill. I think some of my old behaviors and thoughts have snuck back in and I need to fine tune things. I think my next weight loss will be when I have tweeked things...more gym time (scheduled), fewer artificial sweeteners that cause me to binge, going back to basics and making sure to eat slowly, etc., and not snacking..... I've been food seeking, and I truly don't want a fill until I shape up! I know it is said that age has something to do with it, but I don't want to use that as an excuse, so I'm blowing that off... Any other November babies hitting a wall at the moment?

I guess I feel like the time is right for me and OA. I'm at pretty much of a plateau and behaving badly. I think my next weight loss will be from fine tuning and getting really serious about everything....food, exercise, behavior, thoughts..... and if I struggle and get nowhere with that, I guess I need a fill, but I really don't think I do.

I just needed to behave and think differently, and the meeting brought me back to earth. I slowed down and did the right things "just for today". My fill doesn't work as well as it used to, but I'm falling into old patterns that I need to change before I'll know if I need a fill. I really don't think I do. I think I need to address my thinking and behavior. I didn't tell the OA people about the band, and I won't. I don't want to be seen as different. I still don't know if I'll commit to working the steps. I'm committing to 6 meetings. But I do know that step one should be easy... I certainly admit I am powerless over food and need a power greater than just little old me to help out with it! I think I'm trying to get that blend...exercise, friends, support, work on issues...the whole thing. OA is going to be the somber part of it all, I think. Yes, I did feel full, but I also had to consciously tell myself it was true and push away. I also ate slumped down so I'd feel full faster....Don't know if that's an admirable strategy..... and this afternoon when I even think a single thought about food, I grab Water. I really want to fine tune a lot of this stuff....... I think I've also come to terms about the diet versus portion control stuff too. I think at home, I'm on a food plan/diet/fairly strict thing. Eating out, it's whatever I'd like to have, but portion control.

So...the after effects of OA are exactly what we've talked about in the past. I feel accountable. I woke up and wrote out my food plan. Didn't feel too restricted so I had some Eggbeaters, slowly. Set aside all concerns about food until noon. Had 5 bites of roasted chicken and 2 bites of vegetables, slowly. Set it aside. Have had 3 large glasses of Water today. And am saying to myself "one day at a time". The timing is good becasue some of my old stupid eating patterns were re-emerging and I needed to nip them in the bud. On a weird note, I had no idea I look like I looked in the photos. I think I'll need to take photos at various times so I'll know......

I paid $15000 last November. I would guess he's dropping his rate bacause there's more competition around, and the price will stay down...but what I'd do if I were you, is the call his office and tell them you're afraid about the price, just like you said it here. Se eif they can assure you that your price is set. If they won't then ask them if they can set the price if you give them a small deposit now. My guess is that they will work with you.

I'm especially tickled about the stevia. I like it and use it. Something in me says I need to get away from everything sweet, but this will be my interim stage.....

Thanks to you both! That;'s exactly the info I needed. some lap band Drs say no powdered drinks, but mine doesn't, luckily....

I didn't have restriction until my third fill, but there are some odd things going on here. first, having that big a fill to begin with is very unusual. so is eating dry toast. so is eating pizza or any hard food one day after a fill. You might ask him to compare your fluoroscope pics from each fill and see if your pouch is dilated. Seems like getting so much fill so quickly could cause food and drink to sit too long in the pouch before going through and stretching it a bit. I would think toast and pizza after a fill could do the same. The result of dilation is that you'll feel like you can eat anything. The answer for me was 3 days of liquids only so the pouch could rest...and for some people, a slight unfill is done too to rest the pouch. Might be worth asking him to look at pouch size on the fuoro.

I'm too restricted to eat food in the morning. I also can't do protein shakes because sugar and artificial sweeteners make me binge on sweets. Any suggestions for a morning drink with protein?

I didn't. Call the center. I'll bet that's a mistake.

Tai Chi: http://www.wangsmartialarts.com/Html/taichi.htm

OK. I went to OA at Atascocita Methodist on Pinehurst at 7PM. I just going to report it without sugar coating...You decide.... There were 6 of us. 2 of us were new. Everybody else had been going for decades and they were all fat. I know for sure I am a compulsive overeater and that it is very similar to alcoholism for me. I also know I reacted to this meeting like a lot of alcoholics do to AA. It was sooo slow. It was sooo methodical in its structure. The rules allow for testimonies but virtually no dialog between people. The readings were repetitive. I vascillated between antsy and sleepy. I also found that the structure was soothing. It didn't allow me to gloss over anything for myself... or talk too fast....or get wound up...or be entertaining... or glib. There's no place to hide. And it feels safe. You are to read the literature, work the steps on your own, use the tools (phone calls, getting a sponsor, writing, developing a food plan, etc), do it in your own time frame, and then the function of the meeting itself is to put some overall structure to the process, I think... I know I need it, probably as a philosophy for my life too. I just wonder if I want to devote the time to it now. They say to NOT make a commitment and just go to 6 meetings and then decide. I think I'll do that. Everything that anyone said rang true to me. And it's a big commitment.

Unless I talk myself out of it in the next 10 minutes, I'm going to OA tonight. I'll report back. I'll sign up for Tai Chi M/W sometime this week. Do we HAVE to wear the outfit???????? I did it in shorts in Hong Kong... I hope you join us, Lana. Barbara-Sorry to hear about Dick. Please tell him he'll be in my thoughts.

Let me know if we're starting Tai Chi tomorrow night!

Ok. Lots to think about. I'd vote for 2 meals a month since we're adding in Tai Chi. And I'd vote for 2 Tai Chis a week, but I'm open to whatever you guys are doing. My ideal would be Mon and Wed 5-6 PM Tai Chi, and dinner after Tai Chi 1st and 3rd Monday. But I'm open...... Aand Sat AM OA for whoever wants to go...... Now about that dietitian.... I understand Northeast Hospital has one who does community stuff....but I've also eaten the hospital food, so I'm leary....

<p>Can't go. I sure thought it was 1st and 3rd. durn. We gotta get our act together!</p> <p> </p> <p>OK. I'm still trying to do before and current pics in that thread. Since I'm among friends, I'm gonna try it here, but I think they'll still be too big... Here goes. Before Nutrition tracker.doc Current July 2007 Bandsters.doc

Hi Kathy. My before shot And my current....5 months of a work in progress.

I'm pretty sure it's first and third Monday of the month, and wherever else we get around to it..... I found a possible Tai Chi place. if someone wants to follow up on it. http://www.dahnyoga.com/center/center_profile.asp?id=104

Yeah. The first Monday is next week. There's an OA meeting Tues at 7PM at Atascocita Methodist 19375 Pinehurts. (Tomorrow) I think I'll go. Anybody want to join me?

but it's next week, right?

It was a pleasure to meet you today, Kathy.

How do you put pictures in your posts? I want to put pics in the Before and After thread, but don't have a clue how to do it.....

I'll be in a navy long sleeved t shirt and red shoes. Betsy

Regarding nausea, I had some right after surgery befor I left for home, and they had the antinausea patch on my. It didn't last long... I'd be surprised if Texas used a different anaesthetic than the rest of the country.....

I didn't ahve to do anything...no pre op diet, no testing. Self pay. Certainly speaks to the individuality of this journey.