Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Ugh! I broke down today after some co-worker drama and had Mexican food. It was amazing and I just couldn't stop myself. I now know that tacos, enchiladas and tostados all go down with absolutely no problem. As do the chips and salso. I used to go to this restaurant 2-3 times a week and this was my first time there since banding. At least I know that I can't go in there and have any semblance of control. I'm getting a fill on Monday and I NEED it!!!

I think there should be support group field trips to restaurants.

Hi Everybody, I haven't been out here for a week or so and have not felt well the last 4 or 5 days, so I'm just catching up on everyone's posts since my last one, whew!!!

It's time for me to toot my horn again, I went in for my 3rd fill on Monday and was down another 7 lbs from last month. My doctor was impressed and frankly, so am I. (SMILING) I've updated my ticker and with my pre-op diet loss of 20 lbs added to my 31 lb post-surgery weightloss I've hit 51 lbs gone forever mark, woohoo!!

Everybody that's going on vacation shortly, believe me, if you just don't overeat on a daily basis or eat the wrong kind of foods on a daily basis, then you should do just fine while your gone. Since I've been on vacation a couple of times in the last month and was able to lose 7 lbs and know that I didn't eat right everyday, then I know the rest of you can do ok too. Just remember this is a lifestyle change and don't beat yourself up over having something to eat that isn't on your "plan", just don't over indulge.. Remember, we can do this, we're in it for the long haul.

Keep up the good work everyone!!

Hi everyone!

Harley - I love the Moonstruck quote! I have to admit the words I wrote to you would work on me. I am self pay and I remind myself of that a lot. I have to admit that I can't wait to get to one underland.

BrandNewLisa - thank you so much!

Amanda - a support group field trip for restaurants, what a wonderful idea! I love it. I wonder if I can convince my dietician to do that?

Teri - How wonderful! What a terrific goal to have hit at 50 pounds! That is a lot of weight. It looks like you are almost 1/2 way there!

Anyway, I had sort of an epiphany today. I was sitting in my office. I felt weak. I thought, well I must need to eat. Then I thought "well, I am not really hungry". (I am borderline anemic). It then occurs to me that I probably need to eat something with lots of Iron in it. On the way home I got a salad. I realize that this may not be a lightening strike for others, but for me to realize that I wasn't really hungry..... WOW. It helps me understand why I always thought I was craving taco bell. (lots of red meat with iron in their stuff!)

I got another motivating kick at work today. I found out that the little witch I work with has been lying and gossiping about me. It ticked me off and is motivating me to eat right and exercis. WHY? Because even though she is a size 2, it will piss her off to see me loose weight! :confused_smile::biggrin:

It also confirms that I am SO very glad that I didn't tell anyone that I had this surgery! Apparently, their lives are so very boring that they need to talk about mine! I'm glad they didn't have any more information than they already have.

Teri - Congratulations of your first 50 gone!!!!! I was so glad to finally hit that milestone too!!!!

Amanda - I had read somewhere that a surgeon who had the lap band done on himself actually did take his patients out pre-op to a restaurant and coached them through what an actual meal should be to eat. I thought that was really a fantastic idea. There should be field trips!!!!

Well, I went to a birthday party last night... I enjoyed myself, and ate a few things I shouldn't have, but all in all it was just a small portion compared to what I would've eaten before banding!! On the up side, I saw lots of people that hadn't seen me in awhile... and it felt good to get compliments on my weight loss!!

Tess

Terri I think that was Dr Fielding at NYU.

I think there should be support group field trips to restaurants.

When I went to the dietian last month she was actually talking about putting something like that together!

Well, after my huge Mexican food lunch I got home and walked 4 miles in an hour, then I was feeling so good I decided to run a little. I actually jogged an entire lap around the track. Yeah, I thought I would collapse, but I did it! I may have messed up lunch but I rocked the track today!!!

Tex- That's super!! You didn't whine about slipping, you took responsibility for your actions and recovered beautifully. Live and learn.

Annie- Kit-Kats? How did those get in the house? Do you have plans for your winter break? Snowboarding perhaps?

Those got into the house all of my doing, Amanda. I must admit I dug my own grave on that one. Still, I lost 3lbs this week so I must have been doing something right! I only weigh once a week.

No, we don't get anywhere near cold enough for snow here. I wish! Our temperatures in winter are around 2-3 celsius at night, then up to about 14-15 celsius during the day. Sorry, don't know how to translate into fahrenheit!

Just planning on relaxing and de-stressing! Not enough cash to go anywhere!

Howdy!

I don't usually sign on while I am work, but felt the urge to do so today.

I actually emailed my dietician to see if they ever do outings with their bariatric patients. Will see what he says.

Tex - how wonderful to slip and then do something about it. I can't imagine RUNNING!!! I imagine there will be a day when that happens, but I don't see it right now.

Thanks for letting me rant last night. Just ignore my last post if you want. I think this is a great place to get stuff out!

I have been pretty good today in terms of total cals consumed (1400) and burned (3500 or so, according to my bodybugg). I am seriously craving a Mars Bar (one of the great things in NYC is that you can get anything you want whenever you want. A few blocks from my house there's a deli that sells chocolate imported from England, so, if I feel like a Mars Bar at 4AM, I just have to grab my umbrella and head out the door.)

But that'd be about 220 cals, and I don't want to do that. So I'm making a promise here: I'm going to pick up my Mars Bar, and I'm going to have half of it tonight, and the other half tomorrow. And you must interrogate me tomorrow as to whether or not I stuck to that plan!

I had cheesecake for dessert(I split it with my husband). It was fantastic. I will dream of its creamy goodness tonight and for many days to come. Im not sorry.

Hey Fenton,I love Mars bars as well.I have not had one since I started this struggle.:cursing:Have a ? does anyone know at what time of the evening is to late for a snack?Also If you didn't eat breakfast is it ok to have it at night.Have a great weekend everyone.Loving the wii:tt1:

Pat

Well, I have now had and enjoyed my half-Mars bar! And I have no regrets!

Pat, I'm not sure that there IS a specific time frame for everything. The Zone Diet and Atkins usually recommend something just before bed - I think that because our livers, since they're in a chronic fasting state, have less starch stored, so it might be harder for the body to regulate the blood sugar without that late night snack, but I'm just speculating wildly.

I think the issue is how YOU do with or without something before bed.

Someone here - was it Amanda? Chica? Someone here browbeat me into having Breakfast every day, so now I have breakfast every day. And that works for me. My surgeon, who is banded, doesn't have anything but coffee for breakfast. YMMV!

Personally, I have just primed my system with the chocolatey goodness of a half of a Mars Bar...