StephC

I was on full liquids 2 weeks, mushie/soft foods 2 weeks and now I'm on regular and get my fill at 6 weeks. BUT whether you like it or not follow you dr's orders. I know those who have longer liquid time lose more weight, although its tough try to stick it out. If all else fails call the dr after a week and tell him you're tolerating the clear liquids can you move on to full liquids. He might just say go ahead.

I was at BMI of 40 when I began the 6 month study, and I immediately said to the doctor - wait a minute - what if I lose 10 pounds and it puts me below the required 40? He said they go by your highest weight. The most important thing about those 6 months is to make EVERY appointment, if you miss one you have to start from the beginning. The ins.co wants to see that you are dedicated to the process - along with all the other studies, sleep,pysch, heart...the whole bit. I never missed an appointment and actually went UP 7 lbs during those 6 months! (actually I was up and down several times during the 6 months - no different then the past 6 years!)

Patty so good to hear all went well with the fill! I also loved the feeling of restriction when I was just banded. I'm really excited to get that feeling again. I saw Dream Girls and EVERYONE should go and see it! I loved it and I cried! It was so good - I just don't know why Jennifer Hudson was a "supporting" actress rather then the lead. In my opinion she carried the entire movie. Oprah's on and its good today - about those 2 boys that were kidnapped so I gotta run. Talk to yen's later. (Yen's is the PA way to say you all) :rose:

Good morning my lovelies! Yes I do believe I am in bandster hell. I'm having such a hard time keeping my calories down - even when I'm really careful like yesterday - planning ahead and tracking everything - I was still at 1300. But its not going to last for long. I know I can't be gaining at this rate and I'm exercising and my mom said I should be losing more then a pound a week at that amount. LOL Gotta love the mom. But when I go in on Wed. if the scale hasn't gone up I will be happy. Nat - you can easily lose 8 lbs in a few days due to water. I think its a good idea finding someone to watch the man at home. He'll be in his eliment and in a routine of naps and stuff - it'll be easier on you I'm sure. As far as dad coming into the picture.... don't get mad at me but thats a good thing. Hopefully you can work something out on your terms and all will be well. I think I'm going to watch Dream Girls today. I called to see if it was playing yet and its finally here! AI was too funny! I love that show. Nat - I just thought of something about the babysitting issue - I don't know how flexible your hours are but my daughter thats at college babysits. She loves it. She does 2 mornings a week from 7-10 for a little girl then takes her to daycare, she also makes the beds and does some laundry, then she does m-f for another family for 2 kids after school. The mom there pays her $2 more then she would a day care because she starts supper and helps with homework and stuff like that. All that to say that if you have a college nearby you may be able to find someone through them.

yes - can back it up with scripture but not now - now its supper time and my daughter needs her letter sewn back on her lettermans jacket. I'll return for more another time.

My answer to that is unfortunately we live on earth, not heaven. There is sickness, diasease, pain, suffering and all the other crap that comes with earth. Why did God allow all of that? because he gave man free will. We could go back and forth whether you believe in God or not but I do believe with my whole being that not only is there a God but I am a child of God. You can say that it may be foolish but hey I'll take the chance. I'd much rather live this life believing in a God that isn't then not believing in one that is! I had a sweet little grand neice that died from a childhood cancer. It was horrible to watch her suffer. She was 2 when she was diagnosed and 4 when she passed and believing there is a heaven is the only hope left for her parents that someday they will be reunited with her. Was it fair that a 20 y/o girl should have to deal with this type of anguish? Was it fair that a baby that was loved and wanted and cared for should die while around the world others who are neglected, abused and unwanted should live. No its not fair but it is life. 2Timothy 1:10-12 But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am concinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted him for that day. I'm sorry this is so long but just one more thing. Sin - I think so many people are confused with sin. God didn't say don't do this because I said so and its sin. He said my child if you do these things I call sin it will bring you pain, anguish, grief. If you obey my laws and don't sin you will save yourself from so much heartache and pain. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

I believe God would "waste" a soul on a fetus and it wasn't actually a question I needed answered. I feel assured of the answer. I believe we have a soul at the moment of conception. Again citing the fact that Adam was the only being that needed the breath of God breathed in him. The fetus is getting oxygen through the umbilical cord from the moment it attaches itself to the wall of the uterus, not only oxygen but food, nutrients, life, from that umbilical cord. Thus the reason why when we pull the child from the mother it dies. Only a living being can die. I respect your opinion but stand firm on mine.

I have a question - why can't they use miscarried fetus' instead of aborted? I am totally against abortion - and yes I have several close to me who have gone through it so I know the effects of abortion. Someone said what about all those unwanted babies who could have been aborted - good Lord woman! Have you ever talked to someone who is trying to adopt a newborn? There are so many who want babies that I truely don't believe there could ever be lack of homes for a newborn. I don't know the stats but even those in foster homes surely aren't newborns with no where to go! So then you say well what about the mental turmoil of giving a child up - what about the mental turmoil of an abortion? One of my friends 20 years later is still mourning the death of her aborted baby, is that any different then wondering where or how the adopted child is? And tell me truely - someone please look it up - how many children are really conceived during a rape? Come on now - it has got to 1 out of billions! Going all the way back to the first page when T.O.M quoted scripture - very interesting but you are talking about first man - God's first creation. Do you not think that God knows you until you take that first breath of air? Adam didn't have the luxury of an umbilical cord since he was created from dust instead of flesh and blood. But if you read on about Eve - God didn't have to breath life into her since she came from a living being. Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" Funny how God who doesn't consider it a life with a soul, as you would have it, could have a plan on a life while yet in the mothers womb. BTW that is the NIV version but if you go to www.biblegateway.com you can pick any version you'd like. Thats my opinion. Respect it or not.

Ok - I know I just posted my misery but I decided today was a new day and I'm gonna make the most of it. First of all - I drank my first glass of water - not counting my coffee - then I got on the treadmill, did 18 minutes fast walk, 2 minutes of running (saw Kays running ticker so thought I'd try it) omgoodness - I'm not ready to run yet. Did my own version of pilates + 140 crunches - and then drank another half of my water and made bk - today I opted for cinnamon shedded wheat, its whole grain and has the sensible solution tag on it, 1/2 c skim milk and 1/4 of an apple - only 170 cals total - but 35 carbs! How are you guys keeping your carbs so low - thats insane. I'm getting a shower and going into work for a while. Let me know how you maniacs do it! All I want is to lose a pound a week - please Lord just a pound a week.

Thanks for the post - it lifted my spirits today because I am one of those who is constantly comparing myself to others. Then I get down on myself because I think I'm not as good.

Sorry about that long post - I'm long winded. Kay good luck today - you'll do great.

Hey this is the first time I noticed this thread! I am a dog lover. I used to breed labs - we had 3 of them. The old male died last year, he was hubbys buddy. Then we had 2 females, mother and daughter. The mom was mine and the daughter my sons - when he got married last summer and bought a new house he took both of them since they had never been apart. But then I also have 2 ShiTzu's - Gigi, the mama, and Sandee the baby - I bred Gigi 2x and kept Sandee from the last litter. I won't breed Gigi again but may breed Sandee in a year or two. The pic is of Sandee but Gigi looks just like her only a little fatter (hey she's had 9 babies). We say we are going to buy 2 horses when the last child gone - she's 16 so it may be a few years yet. My husband has always loved horses and as a teen he worked at a riding stable. We live in the country so we have plenty of room. Oh I almost forgot about Ginger - she is a Chesapeake Bay Retreiver. My husbands pride and joy. After Ben, his lab, died last year he said he wanted a chessie, so I started looking on the internet - I ended up finding one locally - which was unbelievable! And for half the price too. Ginger is 7 months and bigger then any of the labs - and goofier too! But we love her. Gigi used to dance (stand on hind legs and twirl 2-3 times) but now that she's older and fatter when I say dancy dancy she walks in a circle. LOL

Can you believe I fell asleep before AI came on?!!! Dang I hate my sleeping habits! I wake up at 4 am - sometimes earlier - today it was 4:15 and I'm wide eyed fricken awake! So of course by 8 pm I'm dragging my butt - if I lay on the couch to watch tv - I'm out. My husband woke me up at 9 last night to say he's going to bed and I was flipping out thinking it was time to get up already! Maybe I'll try to take a nap this afternoon to mess my system up more then it already is. Kay - I can't believe you've already lost almost 40 lbs! You go girl! I'm barely hanging on to the 16 that I lost. I definitely need to get this fill and hope for the best. I was reading someones stats and she had all her monthly weigh ins and the most she lost in a month was 13 lbs, but averaged about 10 a month and she had lost a total of 91 lbs and it hasn't been a year yet. Her first visit was 23 lbs - maybe pre-op/post op? and then each month after it ranged from 4 lbs to 13 lbs. I did read that she doesn't eat anything after dinner, around 6 pm, so that she doesn't start bad habits. I pm'd her and she said she just has alot of restriction and can only eat small portions. I can't wait to get to that point. I love getting info into what is working for others. I know Oprah says she has nothing after 7:30 - this is definitely something that I need to work on. I don't know how you guys are keeping it below 700 cal. at this point? I have no restriction and feel like I'm dieting and I'm sure I'm at 1000 - 1200, actually just did my fit day and I had 1440 cal. yesterday!! I'm eating twice as much as you guys! Geesh no wonder I'm at a stand still. I did get up to 20 minutes on the tread mill yesterday - woohoo. So take 100 cal off and I'm still at 1340! Am I the only one eating like this? Tell me what you guys are eating to keep it so low! Seriously - I ate an egg, mushoom, onion, 97% FF turkey, and a slice of 2% cheese for bk (aka omlete) - then at lunch I had a salad, again with turkey, chick peas, cheese, ff dressing, for a snack I had an apple, grapes, supper I had chili with 2% cheese, then an orange and ff pudding. I'm not taking any protein supplements so I'm trying to get what I need in the way of beans, cheese, eggs, ect. - trying to get my fruits and vegies in - I don't know what else to do. I'm drinking plenty of water - I have a glass that holds 16 oz and drink that at least 4 times. Besides my bottled water that I keep in the car and drink when I go somewhere. Maybe I'm washing all my food down - or I'm not trying hard enough? HELP!!! I'm so jealous of all of you! Ok I'm totally discouraged - and the crazy thing is when I weighed myself this morning it looked like I was down a pound - I don't go by my scale cuz the sucker lies to me but it keeps me aware of where I'm at. I go next Wed for my fill so I should get weighed then - oh Lord it can't come fast enough!!! BTW - Brandi we are looking forward to hearing all about your fill tomorrow. Nat - we (me and my girls) so wanted to see Dream Girls but it hasn't come to town yet - if I can't find someone to go to it with me I'll go alone in the afternoon. I got hubby tickets for Christmas so he would go to see Rocky - which everyone says is the best yet of all 6 of them - (haha!) and he still hasn't gone. All he can think of on the weekend is football. He's a terd. As for the video on the fill - I ain't watching that! No way! I saw the link and didn't even hesitate to pass it up. I will keep my eyes closed the entire time. Have a good day ladies - keep up the good work - I'm proud and jealous of you all!

B-man - I just read on another thread that she stays between 30-40 carbs.

I have a question - what are some "hard" proteins. I just had surgery 12/11 so I'm just out of the mushie/soft food stage and its hard to make good choices, I get my first fill next wed.

I think if he does it under fluro it should show that the band is in place - right?

NN32 - We've all had those days - you just have to dust yourself off and get back on track. Even if you don't feel like it do it. I just did 20 minutes on the treadmill - which is up 5 more then last week. I didn't feel like it but pushed myself and then when I was done and had burned 100 calories I felt great! I had been wanting something sweet - even looking for a recipe to make - and then after my walking I did some stretches and crunches and I looked down and saw this big gob of fat and it totally made me not want to eat again!

B-man & Kay - you're doing great exercising. I really need to step it up. I need to start the pilate toning stuff again. I'm having a hard time making myself walk for 20 minutes a day. I had great news yesterday - the insurance co. wants to settle with me over my accident. I'm so excited.

B-man - you got me there! Dr.Dreamy can stick it any where his heart desires! But I really do hope he gets it right the first time! Kay - how was Ellen? I went in to work today - fool that I am. I was going in to do payroll and pay bills and ended up the board member who signs checks came before I had the bills ready so all I got done was the payroll. Then I had people in and out and for 2 hours I got nothing accomplished! Before I had a chance to go the pres. calls with a letter he wants me to send to the members - dang them anyway! I don't know why they expect me to work! Do you know that a pickle only has 5 calories? I'm talking the big pickles. I came home hungry - I had eaten bk and took a cheese stick for snack just incase I wasn't home by lunch time - and I wasn't it was 2 by the time I got home. So I made myself a turkey, swiss, lettuce, pickle, ff italian dressing sandwich on 1 peice of bread - so in other words a half a sandwich. All that for about 170 cals. I was proud of myself - and it filled me full. The turkey, swiss and bread provided close to 30 Protein. I'm still trying to change my eating habits and so far the only one I have a problem with is the night Snacks. I'll eventually get there. How's everyone doing on the protein? Still counting or guessing? B-man I love fitday - I think Kay told us about it on the other thread. Its too cool!

okie - tough having those kind of expectations on you. I think you should have said in an excited voice - I lost 2.5 lbs - the dr was so proud of me because I'm right on target! You know dad that this is different then gastric bypass, its healthier and I won't lose as fast because with bypass you have the malabsorption issues. I'm so happy this is working for me! Thank you so much for helping me with it. :) :confused:

Morning all! BK - glad to hear your dad is doing better - I had my church pray for him. My daughter said whos that? I said a girl from lbt and she rolled her eyes at me (dang 16 y/o's) I said hey they believe so every bit of prayer helps, right? Anyway - I'm praying for a speedy recovery. VA -good luck with the new job, bk you too and anyone else. I always liked getting a new job, I love a challange. Now I know I probably won't work anywhere else again. I'm finally happy with where I'm at. Although money is always tight while I'm on unemployment - that part sucks, especially after Christmas - every year in January my dh (and thats not dear this time) starts up with "if you're going to be spending money like this you're going to have to get another job and forget about the unemployment" yeah yeah yeah - whatever. Needless to say I continue to collect unemployment. Transformer and all of you - good luck with school, I admire all of you raising kids, school work, you are steel magnolias. smith, kay, nat - me - and everyone else who thinks they have eaten "bad" - just know this we are doing soooo sooo sooo much better then we would have done pre-band! I'm still struggling with after supper snacking, thats when I do - did - my most eating. I had a salad for supper, with turkey and Beans, cheese all the Protein I needed on it, then at about 9 I started feeling the hunger - not sure if it was head or belly so I ate a ff pudding - then I ate an apple with a tbls of p.butter - which was good but then I ate a little thing of pringles (the lunch size) so I think I had over 300 cal. my total for the day was around 1200 calories - which isn't really horrible. I know I'm doing alot better in my food choices then I did before. Nat - hey girl we get our fill the same day - the 25th - thats a Wednesday right? cool - we'll have to share horror stories. Jk! I'm not too worried about it - I'm counting on dr dreamy to stick it in the port the FIRST time! Gotta go braid dd hair - have a good day!

Hi all! I haven't had any skin problems but I'm in menopause and you get dry from that so I use oil of olay on my face at least once a day sometimes twice - but I've done that since I was 20 and then my sweet hubster got me 6 bottles of lotions and creams from Victorias Secret for Christmas so thats what I use on the rest of me. Since I tend to get dry and itchy in the winter I take a soaky bath with oil about 2x a week. I remember from WW that they said you need 1-2 tsp of oil every day for healthy skin and hair. So whether you cook your scrambled eggs in it or eat it on toast try to eat some type of oil. I think I was born blessed with good skin - I dont have any stretch marks and I've had 3 kids besides gaining 100 lbs over the past 20 years. But I also try to take care of it, like while I was pregnant I used cocoa butter on my belly every day. I'm still rubbing cocoa butter and vit. E on my scars too. I try very hard to only eat the 1/2 cup of food but there are times I go over. I know 1 cup will last me from meal to meal but the 1/2 cup doesnt, I usually just have a little bit of something - I'm stocked up on ff pudding and coolwhip free - and cheeses - fruit - a half of a banana will usually tide me over. I still get the sweet snack cravings in the evening - I drink a cup of tea with splenda and flavored creamers. The creamora brand is powdered and has 60 cal. for a TBs I only use a tsp so its less then 20 calories. FF fudgcicles are good and when all else fails I get a spoonful of Peanut Butter and 2 hershy kisses and mix them together - yeah I know you're all thinking why not just eat a reeses cup? Answer - I had the kisses left over from christmas baking. Last night we went to Red Lobster - so while we waited an HOUR I had a raspberry margita - so good. I'm sure it went right through because I hadn't eaten for a long time so I know my pouch was empty. Then we ordered appitizers - I ate a few calamari, about 3 stuffed mushrooms and 1 oyster - I think that was alittle over a 1/4 cup. Then the salad came and I dipped my cucumbers and ate them and about 2 bites of the salad - for the meal I ate 1/2 lb of crab legs - which isn't really very much, like 4 of the legs and the claw - a couple of the shrimp scampi and I stopped, took the rice home, hubby ate the rest of the shrimp. I nibbled on a biscuit while we were waiting for food. I don't think I over did it - I felt full and I burped a couple times the next hour so I think it was all working its way through the band. Even tho I don't have a fill yet and I know that food is going right through the band and I know after I have a fill I may not have been able to eat like that I left thinking you know I could eat this way the rest of my life. I didn't eat near as much as I would have pre-band and I didn't eat near as much at the other 5 that were with us but I felt good and sated. The only time I was really aware that I wasn't eating like them is at the salad - everyone ate the whole salad and I love salad so for me to put my fork down and push it away was alittle hard, but I knew I wanted crab legs so I made a choice and I'm pretty proud of myself for it. As for Water - I drink all day, I do wait 1/2 to an hour after a meal but drink right up until I get my food - I think I'll change that when I get my fill, and see how long water takes to go through. I don't follow it so much after a snack but I try to just take sips if I need to. I drink half a glass in the morning then I have decaf tea (I think that would count as a fluid) then I fill a glass and sit it on the table and take drinks all day, refilling as needed. If I'm out for the day I fill a small gatorade bottle that fits in my purse, and a large bottle of water and I drink on that while I'm out. I'm not 100% sure on how much we need is it 64 oz? or more? guess I better pull out my sheet and find out. I think I'm doing ok because I haven't been constipated yet. I try to eat a bowl of some type of Fiber Cereal during the day for that area. I have always been a water drinker so I don't really give it alot of thought. I anxious to get my first fill. I still have 10 days, working on making the right choices until then and not gain any weight.

protein snack - a little lunch meat 97% fat free bunch of protien and its good - tuna, or canned chicken - 1/4 of a cup goes a long way - I am a meat eater - I've always put it first on my list so thats easy way for me to get protein. Beans are also very high in protein.

We're here for you! Good luck sweetie!

Bk - sorry to hear your dad isn't better - we'll keep him in our prayers. Va - dang girl! That needle sticking out kinda got me! My doc does it under fluro so I expect him to hit the port the first time! He said he fills the band until no liquid goes down and then take some out. Then he times it to see how fast it goes through and thats how he knows its the right amount. He said you'll hear us counting, one onethousand, two onethousand. LOL Kay - what a conversation that must have been. She probably thinks you have lost all this weight on sheer will power and that if you can do it why can't the other friend do it too. My pastor said his sister was getting banded - soon I think. I could tell he'd really like to do it too. Hubby gets lonesome watching cops with out me sitting in there with him. LOL Guess I'll go read for a while.