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I'm not quite 3 months post-op and I'm finding that I'm starting to crave more of a variety of foods. Unfortunately this includes sweets and that freaks me out bc that's my drug of choice. I need to keep "safe" foods in the house for my sweets cravings, which usually hit at night. I have light yogurt and sf pudding, which are doing the trick for now. What are some of your go-to foods when you're craving sweets? Nothing that I'd have to cook, but something quick that I can snack on before bed? Thanks!!

Very informative article. By Maureen Callahan Science is finding that these foods and drinks can help you shed pounds more easily and quickly Staying at a healthy weight during your fiftysomething years is a balancing act between calories consumed and burned. Chances are you already know that you need fewer calories as you age. So it’s trickier to prevent weight gain without making some efforts. Exercise is one good strategy, especially aerobic activities, like brisk walking, swimming, dancing and biking. But it also pays to take advantage of any and all foods that can burn fat, curb appetite and tweak your metabolism into overdrive. Here’s a look at five foods that do just that. 1. Dried Beans Foods rich in water-soluble Fiber, like kidney beans, chickpeas and black beans, not only help you feel full at meals but they may even target your stubborn spare tire. In a 2011 study, researchers noticed that for every 10 grams of soluble fiber eaten over the course of a day there was a corresponding 3.7 percent decrease in abdominal fat over a five-year period. “There is mounting evidence that eating more soluble fiber and increasing exercise reduces visceral or belly fat, although we still don’t know how it works,” said Dr. Kristen Hairston, assistant professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina and lead author of the study. “Although the fiber-obesity relationship has been extensively studied, the relationship between fiber and specific fat deposits has not. Our study is valuable because it provides specific information on how dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber, may affect weight accumulation through abdominal fat deposits.” For more details on various types of fiber and weight loss, check out this article from WebMD. (MORE: The Fiftysomething Diet: Should You Be Juicing?) 2. Salmon One of the biggest food helpers on the path to weight loss is Protein -- preferably lean protein, which is better for the heart and overall health. The simple explanation is that a good dose takes longer to digest than carbohydrates, keeping you satisfied and therefore making you less likely to overeat between meals. It doesn’t hurt that the body burns more calories digesting Proteins than it does carbs. But the intriguing thing about fish as your protein source -- salmon, in particular -- is that preliminary reports suggest salmon plays a role in modulating insulin levels or insulin sensitivity. The key word here is preliminary. Still, two reports bear mentioning. In one 2009 study, scientists fed three groups of volunteers low-calorie diets: no seafood (the control group), lean white fish or salmon. Everyone lost weight, but the salmon eaters had lower fasting insulin levels, which is far better for overall health. Weight loss is one partial explanation, researchers say, but the compounds in salmon (perhaps Omega 3 fats like EPA and DHA) might also contribute to modulating insulin. In an unrelated 2011 study with animals, Canadian researchers found that a group fed salmon protein had significantly lower weight gains than groups eating other varieties of fish. What’s happening here is still part mystery, yet it could be a win-win. Choosing salmon as your lean protein source might not only help you lose weight, but also help prevent the insulin resistance that can lead to type 2 diabetes in later years. Wild salmon is leaner than farmed. It contains plenty of protein minus unhealthy fats. Three ounces of cooked wild salmon contains 155 calories, 22 grams of protein and just 7 grams of fat, most of it the heart-healthy omega 3 variety. (MORE: Boomer Bellies: Can Middle-Age Spread Be Avoided?) 3. Nuts Most dieters shy away from nuts due to their high fat content, but research suggests almonds, peanuts and other nuts offer special weight loss benefits. It all started with a 2001 landmark study from Harvard that found that participants following a Mediterranean-style diet that included nuts and peanuts lost greater amounts of weight and stuck with the diet longer than those on a different low-fat diet. (Harvard researchers now call the Mediterranean plan the best diet for losing weight.) Then a 2003 study in the International Journal of Obesity discovered that an almond-eating group of overweight volunteers (eating 85 grams per day or about 3 ounces) lost 62 percent more weight and 56 percent more body fat than a nut-free diet group eating the exact same number of calories but no nuts. Research also confirms that women who eat nuts have lower body mass indexes, or BMI, than women who eat little or no nuts. Speculation is that the fat and protein in nuts helps keep dieters full longer. Whatever the reason, all researchers say the key watchword is moderation -- say, a couple of small handfuls of nuts a day. Count on a handful being about one ounce of nuts: 157 pine nuts, 49 pistachios, 24 almonds, 20 walnut halves, 20 pecans, 20 hazelnuts, 18 cashews or 12 macadamia nuts. Keep in mind, you can nullify all health benefits if nuts are covered with chocolate, sugar or salt. 4. Green Tea We’ve mentioned before that green tea contains antioxidants (called polyphenols) that may fight cancer and lower cholesterol levels. But studies suggest it might be time to add fat burner -- or maybe we should say belly buster -- to the list of health benefits. Scientists seem to be zeroing in on a specific group of polyphenol compounds called catechins as the surprising force behind weight loss. A 2009 study from the Journal of Nutrition showed that a group of 132 overweight and obese adults doing moderate exercise for 180 minutes per week and drinking either a caffeinated beverage with green tea catechins or a control beverage with no catechins, had remarkably different weight-loss scenarios. At the end of 12 weeks, the exercisers drinking green tea with 625 milligrams of catechins lost more weight and more belly fat and had lower triglyceride levels than dieters drinking the catechin-free beverage. It’s unclear how green tea promotes weight loss, but researchers suspect it may have something to do with revving up fat burning in the hours after a meal. A small 2013 Brazilian study confirms these findings. Researchers there found that overweight and obese women drinking green tea and following a program of resistance training lost more body fat, lowered their waist circumference and showed more significant increases in their resting metabolic rate than women who drank a placebo or green tea but didn't exercise. Bottom line: To net the fat-burning efforts of green tea it appears you need to pair your tea sipping with exercise. (MORE: One Man's Diet: How I Lost Nearly 50 Pounds) 5. Water Call it the forgotten weight loss aid, but studies continue to confirm that good old zero-calorie H2O is one of the cheapest and most effective weight-loss aids on the planet. Will it work on a fiftysomething body? Definitely. A 12-week 2010 Virginia Tech Study divided a group of overweight adults age 55-75 into two groups. All participants ate the same amount of calories, but half the group was asked to drink two cups of water before each meal; the other half drank no water. "We found that over the course of 12 weeks, dieters who drank water before meals, three times per day, lost about 5 pounds more than dieters who did not increase their water intake,” said Brenda Davy, an associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, senior author on the study. Davy says the exact mechanism responsible for weight loss is uncertain. She speculates it could be as simple as the fact that water fills up the stomach and makes you feel like eating less. In an earlier study, she and colleagues noticed that middle-aged and older adults who drank two cups of water before a meal ended up eating about 75-90 fewer calories. Another plus of choosing water as your beverage of choice before meals: There’s less room for calorie-rich options like soda, sugary cocktails or fruit juice. Link to story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/28/how-to-lose-weight_n_2965765.html?view=print&comm_ref=false

I would adapt it for a new way of eating by eliminating the rice and corn (simple carbs--and corn is one of the last things to add to your diet bc it can get caught in your staple line) and adding some Protein and veggies. You could do a sweet veggie like red or yellow bell peppers for the same flavor profile as the corn. You can eat this whenever your surgeon puts you back on regular foods, including veggies. Probably somewhere around 6 to 8 weeks. I would skip the chips while actively trying to lose weight (maybe add a few back in at maintenance), but that is just my personal preference and my doctor's recommendation. Your mileage may vary. I thought I would miss a lot of foods that I really don't miss! The feeling you get from getting healthier every day is something that can't rival previously favorite foods. I have all kinds of new favorite foods or adaptations of previous favorite foods, too.

I found this article and thought I would share, Not sure if I believe it entirely. The little-known weight-loss secret Eating a diet packed with the right kind of carbs is the little-known secret to getting and staying slim for life. When we talk about the right kind of carbs, we mean Resistant Starch. Hundreds of studies conducted at respected universities and research centers have shown Resistant Starch helps you eat less, burn more calories, feel more energized and less stressed, and lower cholesterol. Sound too good to be true? Here are eight evidence-based reasons you must get carbs back in your life if you are ever to achieve that coveted sleek, slim look. Eating carbs makes you thin for life A recent multicenter study found that the slimmest people also ate the most carbs, and the chubbiest ate the least. The researchers concluded that your odds of getting and staying slim are best when carbs make up to 64% of your total daily caloric intake, or 361 grams. That's the equivalent of several stuffed baked potatoes (a food we bet you've been afraid to eat for decades). Most low-carb diets limit you to fewer than 30% of total calories from carbs and sometimes contain as few as 30 grams of carbohydrates a day. Carbs fill you up Many carb-filled foods act as powerful appetite suppressants. They're even more filling than Protein or fat. These special carbs fill you up because they are digested more slowly than other types of foods, triggering a sensation of fullness in both your brain and your belly. Research done at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom found that consuming Resistant Starch in one meal caused study participants to consume 10% fewer calories (roughly 150 to 200 calories for the average woman) during the next day, because they felt less hungry. Carbs curb your hunger According to researchers, when dieters are taken off a low-carb diet and shifted them to an approach that includes generous amounts of Fiber and Resistant Starch foods, something wonderful happens: Within two days, the dieters' cravings go away. The fiber and Resistant Starch fills them up and satisfies them while allowing them to eat the foods they crave. These good-news carbs also raise levels of satiety hormones that tell the brain to flip a switch that stifles hunger and turns up metabolism. Carbs control blood sugar and diabetes The right mix of carbs is the best way to control blood sugar and keep diabetes at bay. In one study at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Center at the USDA, participants who consumed a diet rich in high Resistant Starch foods were able to lower their post-meal blood sugar and insulin response by up to 38%. Eat the carbs you want, but you need to combine them so that they don't cause a spike in your blood sugar. Instead of eating white rice, switch to brown and combine it with Beans, corn, or other high Resistant Starch foods that keep your blood sugar more balanced than low-carb diets. Carbs speed up metabolism Carbs high in Resistant Starch speed up your metabolism and your body's other natural fat burners. As Resistant Starch moves though your digestive system, it releases fatty acids that encourage fat burning, especially in your belly. These fatty acids help preserve muscle mass—and that stokes your metabolism, helping you lose weight faster. Researchers set out to fatten up two groups of rats, feeding one group food that was low in Resistant Starch. A second group was fed Resistant Starch-packed food. The rats fed the low Resistant Starch chow gained fat while losing muscle mass. Rats that ate the high Resistant Starch meals preserved their muscle mass, keeping their metabolism moving Carbs blast belly fat Carbs help you lose your belly fat faster than other foods, even when the same number of calories are consumed. When scientists fed rats a diet rich in Resistant Starch, it increased the activity of fat-burning enzymes and decreased the activity of fat-storing enzymes. This means that the belly-fat cells were less likely to soak up and store calories as fat. Carbs keep you satisfied Carbs keep you satisfied longer than other foods. Here's why: Your brain acts like a computerized fuel gauge that directs you to fill up whenever it notices that its gas tank (stomach) is empty. Foods high in Resistant Starch flip on every single fullness trigger in the body. They release fullness hormones in the intestine and make your cells more sensitive to insulin. By increasing your consumption of filling foods and releasing satiety hormones, you'll minimize your hunger and cravings. Carbs make you feel good about you! "Dieters feel so empowered once they lose weight on carbs. For the first time, they are able to lose weight by eating in a balanced manner, without cutting out entire food groups," says Sari GLet foods fight fat Health magazine's upcoming CarbLovers Diet is going to sneak Resistant Starch into your diet. But where do you get it? And what does it taste like? Lots of familiar foods are loaded with Resistant Starch, but most people don't consume enough. Aim to get 10 to 15 grams a day of this important fat-burning nutrient by eating these 10 foods. reaves, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. 10 Fat-Burning Carbs Previous (slide 2 of 11) Next View all slides » Bananas Serving size: Medium, about 7 to 8 inches Resistant Starch: 4.7 grams oatmeal Serving size: 1/2 cup, uncooked Resistant Starch: 4.6 grams White beans Serving size: 1/2 cup, cooked/canned Resistant Starch: 3.8 grams Lentils Serving size: 1/2 cup, cooked Resistant Starch: 3.4 grams Potatoes Serving size: 1 potato, cooked and cooled; 2.5-inch diameter Resistant Starch: 3.2 grams Plantains Serving size: 1/2 cup, cooked Resistant Starch: 2.7 grams Garbanzo beans Serving size: 1/2 cup, cooked/canned Resistant Starch: 2.1 grams Pearl barley Serving size: 1/2 cup, cooked Resistant Starch: 1.9 grams Whole-wheat Pasta Serving size: 1 cup, cooked Resistant Starch: 2 grams Brown rice Serving size: 1/2 cup, cooked Resistant Starch: 1.7 grams Nuts and oils Stock up on: Almond/peanut butter, walnuts, olive oil Why they help with weight loss: Most types of nuts and other good fats, like olive oil, are a rich source of the fat fighter called monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). One Danish study of 27 men and women found that a diet that included 20% of its calories from MUFAs measurably sped up 24-hour calorie and fat burning after six months. Other research shows that MUFAs are especially good at melting tummy fat.

I was always a big meat eater, and I'm about four months out from surgery. My tastes are changing quite significantly. Not only am I highly concerned about where my meat products come from, but more and more I feel disgusted by them. It is not a moral decision: I'm not going to eat meat because blah blah blah, bought an intuitive body response telling me that I don't need to eat very much of it anymore, and what little I do we absolutely must be organic and grass fed, preferably total free range. I eat so much fruit now. None of us on this forum came to needing the surgery from binging on grapes and oranges LOL. That is what my body asks me for now, one before surgery it was always a big fatty meats. Lately, even if I'm just having some chicken soup or something, I find myself thinking… "How long has this animal been dead? How old is this dead animal flesh I'm about to put in my body? "

Yeah I can see why they want you to Waite bc the cells-muscles are still growing back. Lol I need to not rush Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

But be careful it can stick to your stomach, I was admitted yesterday bc it didn't sit well with me and my doctor says just be careful , everyone's different so def be cautious when eating it, I just kept throwing everything up , I had surgery 1-21-13 here is what my nut gives us now and before the 1 month , still on strict liquid diet living4myself_gb1-21-13:

read what I wrote on the botton..my doc said I can drink after a month..realistically were young n are gonna drink so everyone jumping down ur throat is bs.. ur not a monster for asking it's a valid question

I have not seen any family other than my mom, dad & brother since my surgery. Luckily my neighbors are absolute angels & said such nice things to me But I am TERRIFIED of seeing the rest of my family. They are kind but are very blunt. I told my parents to not tell them about my surgery & I worry they'll slip up bc my family is the type to want to know all most intrusive things. But even without them knowing about the surgery I know they'll want every detail. "high protein calorie deficit" is all I'll say, since that is in fact also true!

The last time I went for a fill was back in April of last year. I was doing great with my weight loss then I started gaining weight all of a sudden and I couldnt figure out why. Then a month later I found out that I was pregnant!! My husband and I have been trying for over 5 years to get pregnant and it just never worked out. After 3 miscarriages we decided to not have any more kids. Then I got pregnant. A blessing in disguise so to speak. I did great during the whole pregnancy, only gained 12 lbs. The band really helped but the pregnancy was a rough one. I had alot of issues during the pregnancy but we were blessed with a healthy beautiful baby girl. We named her Fiona Aveleen. Fiona means Fiery bc with me as a mother she is bound to have my attitude and Aveleen bc it means "Wished for Child." I am so happy to have her but I also feel like im starting back at square one. I didnt think that I would need a fill bc I had one before I got pregnant. I was kidding myself. I do need a fill bc if i can eat all the things that im not suppose to then i definately need a fill. So I called my dr to make an appointment and its for 3/16 at 10 am. Im not looking forward to it bc i know that he is going to get on to me about this being a life commitment and that i need to come in ona more consistent basis but my insurance has changed the copay amount for a fill and its just soo much more than i can trully afford. We will see how it goes.

Hey Brandi: What a trip, I will be getting a Congo African Grey in June or July also. I already have a Blue & Gold McCaw named Tootie, she is five years old and I hand fed her, first time, didn't know what I was doing, but the breeder coached me along, and everything turned out just fine. She is spoiled rotten, and I just love it, a little work, but what pet is not a little work, kinda goes with the territory. I have a little dog also, they are jealous of each other. I do know I had to get the polyamous virus shot for Tootie when I got her because I had a parrakeet and a cockateil and they tend to carry that virus. But I found homes for them and I have not had any problems. I know Tootie is a girl, and I will test my Congo African Grey also. I plan to name it Scooter if it is a boy, but if it is a girl, which I hope not, because too many females in one house will be pretty rough, just think about it. Although I will name it Tinker or Nellie, something along that line. I know it will give Tootie company and she will learn from it because they are really good talkers and can mimick exactly like its owners. You all will really enjoy this, but I will say it takes time, patience and alot of effort and dedication. They live a very long time. Good luck and enjoy. Later Kaye

Ll bc I have a stuffy nose. Ugh, has anyone ever heard if this? It's not definite but my surgeon wants me at 100% I'm hoping it goes off without any issues

Live today. You do you. There is NO cookie cutter solution to weight loss even post surgery. You must find a style/type of eating that you can do long term the rest of your life. It needs to be extensible, meaning that you have to be able to do the short term weight loss mode and then convert it down the road to maintenance level macros. Take care of your food and exercise every day and the future will take care of itself. If what you're doing today isn't working? Reprogram and move forward. The end. Tomorrow ALWAYS takes care of itself one way or another. I'm almost 5 months out and I average between 600-750 per day. I get 65-75g of protein daily (90% of that is from food); eat around 25g net carbs; and healthy fat like avocados, seeds, olive oil fills the balance of the calories. I eat ALMOST a pound a day of leafy and low glycemic veggies and have 1 serving of berries daily. I eat extremely healthy and nutrient dense mostly whole foods without being fanatical about it. I'm a mid-hedonist meaning that I do employ the help of some small amounts of super low/no cal, super low carb/no sugar, super low/no fat prepared dressings, sauces, marinades, and gravies (no it's not ice cubes). I tried raising my calories to 800-850/day in order to "be like everyone else" on here who spout about 1000-1200 cals per day. And I personally can't do it. My monthly weight loss was cut in half from about 14lbs/mnth to 7lbs/mnth. I don't know about you, but I did NOT just rearrange my innards only to be satisfied with losing 6-7lbs per month! Plus, why do I need to artificially "supplement" my diet with extra calories or fat I don't need -- I have plenty of fat stores on my ass -- or "empty junk calories" from treats that I don't crave anymore? If I'm hungry I eat. But I'm rarely if ever hungry. If I don't eat by the clock, I would accidentally skip meals. I eat schedule "meals" - rarely is a meal over 200cals--RARELY: B-protein coffee (about 3oz of Premier Protein mixed with 3oz of Silk Cashew Milk which has calcium, vit D for 25 cals/cup) spread across 3 cups of decaff brewed coffee Second Brekky-protein forward meal with some kind of leafy greens Lunch-protein forward meal with some kind of leafy greens and raw veggie or cooked "green soup" Dinner-protein forward meal with some kind of cooked veg + avo/tomato salad BS-If necessary, anything I need to complete my food plan for the day. Or just a sf popsicle. Good luck finding your way! You will do it!!!

msapp77, I'm feeling exactly the same! Banded Friday & any time since Saturday that I try to take in fluids I feel as if I'm painfully full after just a couple of sips. It's been the most uncomfortable part of recovery for me bc I can barely get any fluids in. I'm sure swelling plays a big role. Hoping it subsides quick. VERY uncomfortable. Hope u feel better.

I have anxiety because of my weight I'm controlling it with meds can I still get phyciatric test pass I don't smoke use drugs or drink alcohol or been hospitalized BC of a mental disorder

well, I have fallen off the ww wagon...actually I fell off about 2 weeks ago when I went in and the scale said I had gained back 3 of my hard lost 7.5 pounds in just 1 week! Even though I had my period that week I was crushed. I was also getting bored with the counting and journalizing even though thats the only way i can ever loose weight. I did not go for my weigh in last Tuesday and I missed today also so if I do go back next Tuesday it will have been three weeks. I only lasted for 6 weeks. That seems to be my limit with ww. I don't know why. I am going to go back to it as of today though and hopefully the scale wont be completely horrifying next week. The fat dietician (me) meets with the skinny dietician this week to get my dose of why I am fat and how to get skinny from a sweet innocent size 5, 23 year old. She really is rather nice though so I won't be catty just because I am jealous!! The irony of the entire situation really gets to me though. I am just going through the motions because of hte whole insurance BS. Getting real old too. I have decided on how I am gonna do all of my surgeries though and that has eased my mind some what. Hopefully I will get the go ahead from my insurance company in January and I can have the band procedure done in February. Then in July I will have bilateral skin sparing mastectomy with implant reconstruction and an oopherectomy or possibly a full hysterectomy at the same time if they will do it all at once. I am waiting for my BRCA 1 results to officially come back...just a technicality since I know I have the mutation...well theres a 1 in 10000000000000000 chance that I don't but...I'm not holding my breath. My sister lucked out and she tested negative Thank You God. Now my greatest prayer will be that both of my children are spared. If my daughter has the mutation she says she wants to have the bilateral mastectomy soon. I hate for her to have to face such a decision so young. She is only 22. Chances are that she won't have to worry about it for another 10 or 15 years, but the chances of me getting breast cancer at 37 were less than 3% of all breast cancers. So I don't trust odds. I won't try to influence her decision because I could never live with myself if she waited because I advised her to wait and then ended up with breast cancer. Please God..please spare my children from this disease. I ask this in your Son Jesus name. Amen.

that's unfortunate - when i first signed up - i meandered around and found the threads that i needed to read to be my "support group". along the way, your posting on the same threads with the same people daily & some friendships develop - even some in real life. along the way you'll find what i call the "police". they don't offer advice, rather they like to tell you what you should do....cause their dr & their rules are what makes someone successful. the food police are actually quite comical, and i'm entertained daily by their BS. you'll find your way - keep reading; take the nastiness and know you wouldn't be friendly w/that person in real life & move on.....btw- welcome!

I've got a few things I wanted to share with you guys. First, I found out yesterday that my port is detached. I was able to get my fill, but he said he'd need to repair it if we can't access it. I think I'd rather just get it fixed then always worry about it, KWIM? Plus, if I want to get pregnant, and I do, just not sure when, I definitely want that port where it can be accessed. Secondly, I got my period back. I'm so happy about this. It's been since my early 20s, 12 years ago, that I had a regular period. I've had periods, but usually induced by hormones, etc. and had to be on fertility to get pregnant with my youngest. I just wasn't' ovulating any more from being so heavy. I stopped taking bc pills last month and was curious to see what would happen this month. Well, I got a period! Yay! Thirdly, I ran for 20 minutes today. I'm at the end of week 5 of the Couch to 5K program. It was so amazing to complete such a huge milestone for me. I cried tears of joy when I was through. :tongue_smilie: I'm so happy to be where I am right now. Thanks for listening.

The only thing I've had since my surgery is water,caffiene free tea,chicken broth,sf jello & sf popsicles. Are there any other things I can have on the CLEAR liquid stage? Just have to add btw,I LOVE my sleeve!!! I felt fantastic up until tonight when the weakness started to kick in!!! =( I am barely managing 150 calories a day bc I am constantly feeling restricted after an ounce or two. How in the world are we supposed to get 64 ozs of water in a day???? I am struggling to get 20 ozs in....Does the broth and tea and stuff count towards the 64 ozs of water intake? I BETTER see some weight loss at my 1 week post op! I gave my scale to my mom so I wouldn't weigh obsessively..LOL ((HUGS)) to all,and thank you for your responses in advance!

Has anyone had any experience with St Francis Hospital Federal Way Weight Management program? Drs Haroon Anwar or Troy Houseworthy?? I have BCBS Fed and need to use a "Center of Excellence". There's not a lot of chat about sleeve in this area. I'm a little worried, and would be so grateful for ANY feedback! Thanks!

Don't forget, a LARGE part of the MALE population goes through the SAME feelings as YOU do. They are scared too and don't want to extend their feelings let they get rejected. If I hadn't bypassed my (now) wife's "back off" signal both of us would probably still be single today as we were both pretty fed up with the dating scene. Keep at it, there IS someone out there for you.

I hear you...I am in the same boat....I have lost 30 lbs since begining of July. Everyone that knows i had the surgery has commented but no one at work who doesn't know hasn't said a word - and it is very obvious ...I was bummed at first but a few people i know socially have commented and i am actually embarrased and not sure how to answer their questions - how i did it - what am i eating - some days i tell people it was Lap Band and others i have said doctor supervised diet along with excercise!!! I think some of the people from work have seen me do every diet in the world and are probably afraid to comment bc i haven't talked about anything recently - they know i have been to the doctors frequently and i wonder if they think i might be sick!!

Sunday I finally saw something I had been waiting years to see....199.2 on the scale. I was so excited to finally be below the 200 mark, which I am sure most of you can understand. Flash forward to this morning 201.8 - the wonderful water weight gain. When I woke up this morning I knew instantly I was retaining. My eyes and face were puffy, my hands felt tight. According to by BC pill pack next week is my TOM. Even though I haven't had a period since surgery (no, not pregnant) I still have the water weight gain and the wonderful moods. Right now I ache, my back hurts, my face hurts - how in the world did I manage to pack on that much water over night? By band is NOT happy about this- I barely got my special K down this morning. Frankly, I am getting reflux from my water this morning. So it's all liquids today until this water gets out of me. Anyone got any ideas how to flush the water out aside from fluid pills? I don't like being Puff the not so magic dragon.

Not seeing the endocrinologist until December is BS! Have your PCP call and say it is an emergency. When my doctor does it, the appointment is usually the next day. You can't fool around with sugar. You're doing great with your band diet. Not too many people are perfect, 100% of the time.

Nancy B. I am still waiting to hear back from the doctors office for an approval. I have BC/BS of IL. I hear they are horrible to deal with. I hope things are still going well for you. Have you adjusted ok? Any problems with certain foods? I love to hear how this is going, especially with the locals and these doctors. I have been very pleased with them so far. Seem to really be willing to help in any way. Take Care-