Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Kimaly, you sexy thing!

where does one find this???

Orea, come out, come out, wherever you are! Haven't seen you post in a while.

where does one find this???

I got a big jar of it at Costco in the snack aisle.

I had .42 removed from my band cause the .8 was too tight. I am still not able to eat cause it gets stuck. Then I think how slow are you really suppose to eat?

I lost 2 lbs. the Monday before Christmas and then another 2 lbs. on Christmas Eve. So I lost 4 lbs. right around the Holiday. I did it from working out at least 30 minutes 5 days a week about. I have only lost another pound since then. Then I read that as long as we lose it is good. I keep thinking that to myself. This has been a long process. I was banded July 4th and have lost 33 lbs. My eating habits have really changed. I know I am not getting enough calories now. How can you other banders get enough calories on a cup of food for a couple times a day? I need help on this one.

I had .42 removed from my band cause the .8 was too tight. I am still not able to eat cause it gets stuck. Then I think how slow are you really suppose to eat?

I lost 2 lbs. the Monday before Christmas and then another 2 lbs. on Christmas Eve. So I lost 4 lbs. right around the Holiday. I did it from working out at least 30 minutes 5 days a week about. I have only lost another pound since then. Then I read that as long as we lose it is good. I keep thinking that to myself. This has been a long process. I was banded July 4th and have lost 33 lbs. My eating habits have really changed. I know I am not getting enough calories now. How can you other banders get enough calories on a cup of food for a couple times a day? I need help on this one.

My last fill, coupled with swelling from my hysterectomy, has me unable to eat as much food as before, so I supplement my food with drinks. I don't like protein drinks, but I do like skim milk. I either drink skim milk or get a Starbucks non-fat venti caramel mocha. I only have them put 2 pumps of mocha and 4 pumps of sugar free caramel. It has 220 calories and 17g of protein. Adding these, I can get up to around 1100 calories for now. It is not where I want to be, but it is close.

Kimaly, you sexy thing!

Thank you, your to kind.

Hi, I'm not getting my notifications so I forget to pop in.

I had my fourth fill yesterday. I got another .5 cc. 1 cc. would have been too much. I can definitely feel the difference. I'm hoping the fun starts now.

Hi, I'm not getting my notifications so I forget to pop in.

I had my fourth fill yesterday. I got another .5 cc. 1 cc. would have been too much. I can definitely feel the difference. I'm hoping the fun starts now.

Good luck with the fill. I probably should have only gotten .5 when I got my last fill.:grouphug:

Yeah, the e-mail notifications haven't been sent from LBT since yesterday.

I'm glad to hear you got another fill and are feeling more restriction. I've found when at the proper restriction level, you rarely feel funger and when you do, just a little bit goes a long way.

hey does anyone else have mid back pain.. like between the shoulder blades and when its massaged huge belches come up?? I have since surgery had gas issues.. like huge amounts of gas get trapped and only by massaging my back and shoulders will it come out. does this happen to anyone else??? I mean its amazing the amount that comes out!

it has to do with the surgery somehow because this never happened before.. :tongue2:

where does one find this???

Seapoint Farms

I found this online for anyone who was wanting the snack that Donna suggested. the Edamame... it looks yummy. :tongue2:

Butterflies, I want to share the following with you:

Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame (lightly salted) is delicious AND relatively healthy.

1/4 cup serving size contains:

calories: 130

fat: 4 grams; only .5 sat. fat and no trans fats

cholestrol: 0

sodium: 150 mg (not sure if this is high but it says 6% of

daily value)

carb: 10 g; fiber 8g; sugar 1g

PROTEIN: 14 grams

A relatively low cal/high protein/high fiber snack with healthy fats. It only contains Soybeans and Sea Salt.

It also satisfies that craving for chips or popcorn.

Where would I find it at Kroger or Walmart? What does it tastes like? Nuts? Looks like a good source of protein.

Butterflies, I want to share the following with you:

Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame (lightly salted) is delicious AND relatively healthy.

.

Thank you for sharing this. I live in a fairly rural area and products like this are hard to come by; so I really don't know what's out there. Looks like there are a few sources online to buy and they even have wasabi flavor which I love! They will come in handy on my upcoming vacation.

Any other suggestion for plane snacks? I have a long flight and a layover. I wish I could take an Atkins shake with me, but because of the liquid restrictions its impossible. I like the Atkins shakes because they have a good amount of protein, taste good and are very handy. I don't want to slime or PB a mile in the air sitting next to a stranger!

Charlene, I found mine at Costco but it looks like there are several sources online. Also, you might want to check HEB, if they don't have it, I'm sure they'll be happy to start stocking it. With the health craze and all the touted benefits of soybeans, I'm sure it will be available in most grocery stores soon.