Come join us. We are bandsters without a local support group, and we're going to meet, say hi, and chat about possibly starting our own group.

We are meeting this Wednesday December 13 at 6:30 PM at Humble City Cafe near the SE corner of the intersection of 1960 and 59, on Main Street.

Let me know if you're coming and I'll make a reservation in the name of Bandsters.

Betsy, don't fade away:) I plan on being there. I need support--of those 4.5 pounds I lost...I found 2:(

Good to see everyone. No one reminded me it is Monday and American Idol is on Tuesday! DUH!

That was fun! From now on we'll be meeting at La Villa the first and third Monday of each month, and not at Humble City Cafe. Er, I'm confused on times. 5:30? 6:00? What do we need to do? I can do anything as long as it's not so late I'm sleepy!

5:30 OR 6 OK either way for me. Enjoyed tonight! --I gotta ask...it's about 8:30pm anybody else a little hungry?

Ha! I ate 2 bites of leftover fish, and that settled me for the evening....except for 2 popsicles later. How about you?

I had a few animal crackers. Always does the trick. I wasn't hungry, just thought I was. :bolt:

5:30 works for me. That gives Dick enough time to go to his meeting in Kingwood. I will always be a few minutes late as I like to get my routine done at Curves.

Enjoyed seeing everyone. Its good to share the journey with others like me. (don't you just wonder what the waiter thinks?)

Ha! He can't be too thrilled to see me with my bill for $2.95.

OK. It's 5:30 unless we hear from someone that that doesn't work.

Why did we meet the 4th Monday this month? I don't recall.

So it's semi-official. First and third Mondays at 5:30PM at La Villa in Atascocita.

Dates:

4/2, 4/16

5/7, 5/21

6/4, 6/18

7/2, 7/16

8/6, 8/20

I had so much fun last night! I can't wait to see everyone again.

I also had a good time last night.

I had some cereal with milk before going to bed and had a great night which is a switch for me.

Suzanne.

What a good group we've got going now! I felt real hunger and had about 4 bites of chicken salad (HEB made in container type) and that was it. I'm still thinking I might need a fill. 5:30 is fine for me.

I was reading this article about how bandsters can get over plateaus. This guy says basically either cut carbs or do alot of exercise. (I remember Spivak telling me that I should only eat carbs if I'm training for a marathon.)

Anyway, he says any sugars, fruit, pastas will slow down weight loss. And he says any snacking on anything will slow weight loss.

And after the first year of banding, you are SOL without exercise.

He also says anything except meat and veges will raise your blood sugar to some extent, leaving you hungry 2-3 hours later. Oy.

Well, exercise is out for 2 weeks. I just got back from the doc and I have pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinusitis. Just a little sickly bandster:) I thought maybe I was getting better today, but felt feverish again and decided to give up and see a doc. I haven't had injections in so long I forgot how fun:( that was. My goal now is to be completely well by next meeting. We are supposed to go to a wedding Saturday in Fort Worth--I don't know now.

I do know low carbs works faster--it's just boring and seems more like harsh dieting. But for breaking a plateau, I say anything that works. Is everyone doing protein drinks for breakfast? I thought that's what was said last night at the meeting.

Oh Boo! You poor thing. Well, at least you can blame phlegm and assorted bodily fluids for your 2 pound gain! Take care of yourself. You were sure a trooper yesterday at dinner!

Remember that old point system where you rate the good and bad things that have happened to you recently...I think it was called the Life Change Index, and if you had very many points, you were at risk for getting sick? I'll bet a band, starting Jazzercise and seeing your son would give you enough points to have been at risk....We probably all are in that category.

I think I also remember a thread about increased risk of pneumonia with the band, but I don't remember why....

Here is the timer method I was telling you about. Remember - this is for bypass patients but I don't think it would be bad for us either. Definately a way to jump back on track and get all of our protein and fluids. I bet this is a good way to shrink the pouch back without having to go totally liquid too. My doctor is really big on protein and protein drinks. You can get lots of good protein powders and drinks and sugar free syrups for flavoring at www.vitalady.com

She has her story on there also with her before and after pictures. She sells samples which is particularly good because I have containers full of powders that I don't like. For those of you whose dr.'s have said you shouldn't do the powders - I really like Advant Edge protein drink. It is already mixed, very low sugar and calorie, high protein, and available at WalMart. All that said - I ate way too much for lunch today... I think my problem is waiting too long in the mornings for that first meal. I am going to try this timer method for a few days and see if that gets me going. I don't think this is something I could live with for long but it should be good for a short run.

KAREN B'S "TIMER" PLAN FOR GETTING BACK ON TRACK

The idea of this is to stimulate your metabolism to start burning fat and stop the grazing!!!

Of course, adjust the times to your schedule, however, do NOT go past 1 ½ hours between some kind of "feedings".

6 am coffee, tea, or some other kind of warm beverage to "get things going"

7 am 8 or more oz of PURE water

8 am protein shake

9 am 1-3 oz of protein type food*

10 am 8 or more oz of pure water

11 am protein shake

noon 1-3 oz of protein type food

1 pm 8 or more oz of pure water

2 pm protein shake

3 pm 1-3 oz of protein type food

4 pm 8 or more oz of pure water

5 pm protein shake (like while cooking dinner - prevents 'tasting" and "grazing")

6 pm dinner 1-3 oz of food total, i.e., 2 oz of protein food, a bite or two of veggie and perhaps a 'taste" of a complex carb

7 pm 8 or more oz of pure water

8 pm protein shake

9 pm light snack like string cheese, deli meat or cheese, about 1 or 2 oz total

10 pm 8 or more oz pure water

a.. Pure water is very important to optimum health and to flush the fat cells through your body. You may drink crystal light, diet Snapple, flavored waters, etc., however, you still MUST get in the 64 oz of PURE water every day and do not count the water in shakes or the flavored waters UNLESS you are flavoring them yourself with lemon, etc. Propel is good, but still do not count towards your water.

b.. You may make your protein shakes with just 1 scoop for 20 g of protein or less, but your total protein shake consumption must be at least 90 g. I use the full 30 g portion for each of my shakes, but my body requires more protein supplement. Please adjust accordingly, however the importance is actually drinking them. You can make up a half a portion in 2-3 oz of water to equal 15-20 g of protein then your daily total of drinking 5 shakes would be around 100 g which is perfect for a proximal RNY.

c.. You will find that by setting the timer, you will never be hungry, and in fact, by the latter part of the day, you will be surprised when the timer goes off to have water, protein, or food again!

d.. All meals must have a beginning and an end. No more than 15-20 minutes per "mini-meal". If you are full in five minutes, STOP and discard food or put away for the next meal. It doesn't mean that you can still eat during that hour. This constitutes grazing.

e.. Track your food in Fitday. This helps. You will find that even tho you are eating every three hours your pouchie can't handle as much as it could have before.

f.. If you aren't "carbophobic" add some whole grains to your meals, but eat them LAST.

g.. Mix all protein shakes with water and ice only. No milk or fruit. This adds calories and causes cravings for more carbs. You may add SF syrups, or mix your shakes with SF beverages, i.e., Propel, crystal light, Fruit 2-0, etc.

Interesting. 5 protein shakes a day....with Slimfast Low Carb, that would be 950 calories, 100 grams of protein, 30g carbs, 45g fat, 1300g sodium. Plus whatever food you eat.

So basically, you eat every hour in the order of water-shake-food. Have you tried it yet?