AngieB

Girl you crack me up! No doubt about that! My mom and I were joking about the screening process the employees' must have to go through to get hired there. Are you hot enough to make the cut!?

Hey Slimbutrfly - you made me laugh when I read your post....I was pretty happy to leave too. Waiting was so hard! Won't be long now! You will be a bandster soon! Woot!

Thanks - it really stinks to see the scale go up, but I am the first to admit I have been enjoying all the goodies. It doesn't help that there is a party to go to every time I turn around. I am giving myself a mini pass of sorts. I told myself when I got this band I was going to enjoy life more. I still love food and so I am enjoying it during the holiday. Thank heaven this type of food is not customary all year long, I would have to redefine my thoughts if it were. Not to mention, in the winter I am much like a bear that hibernates. Which has meant in the past, that I did less and eat more. This has not been the case this year!!!! I’d like to maintain what I have worked on. If I loose this holiday season, then awesome! If I hold the line, very cool! Even if I gain 1-2 lbs, I am in a much better place this year than in the past! Have a wonderful time skiing! Don’t you love being more active and having more energy! Great loss by the way! You are rockin!

Disclaimer – this is what I understand to be true and I am still myself in a learning phase. For me, not drinking with my meals began before my surgery. I wanted to get myself in the mode of not doing it. Liquids flush food through the pouch. Also the more you are putting in the stoma the more the lining expands. It is best not to stretch it more than need be. (Take for instance a rubber band, the more you stretch it the looser it gets.) If you are drinking and eating, that is just more “stuff” you are putting in the stoma. The purpose of the stoma is to have food set there, which stimulates the nerves in the stoma to send signals to the brain that you are full. It is best IMHO to use the rules from the get go. Soups are not going to “set” in the pouch like a hard protein would. Doc O says always to eat your protein. If it where me, and I was eating a soup and salad I would have my soup first, then eat the salad. Again, this is not the “recommended” food for lap banders. As a follow up, you will find with increased restriction it is imperative to eat your protein first. Even at a cup of food, I have struggled to get the suggested amount of protein in. I wait to drink after everything I drink. So I would answer yes. See #3 Hot or cold, it makes no difference. The wait time is still the same. What I’ve learned is that a warm or hot beverage, like coffee or tea, will help to open my band. I have no issues eating breakfast daily, if I drink something warm in the morning to clear the band and get her open for the day. If I don’t, my fill level is such that I will have an “issues” eating breakfast. I’ve found this week, that I have been snacking more. This has cut into my zero calorie liquids intake. Not good! It’s my understanding that the stoma works best when it has breakfast, lunch, and dinner with no snacking in between. This gives the pouch a break and doesn’t keep it expanded all day. In addition it helps you get your suggested amount of water in per day. Hope this helps. Angie It will be interesting to see some of the replies you get!

I was 233.9 last week.....this week I am 237.7 that's right a gain for this week. Boy that doesn't feel good. I have 2 more party's this week too. Gonna enjoy myself but focus on being good a bit more. I knew I didn't feel thinner, but I hadn't expected that much of a jump. Gonna have to tweek some behaviors to ensure I don't have another gain to report. Not to mention, in my head I am saying, ugh! I need to weigh myself more to keep tabs on what I am doing. Gonna have to do my best to stay off the darn scale and do what I need to daily to make this right. My body is enjoying the 230's that is for sure, I 've been in them for a while now....

LOL no pun intended! hee hee hee

Pack light. I took some drink mix with me, like special k protein water ect. Have a comfee pair of jammies, walk walk walk after surgery. Before I had my surgery, I put some beano drops under my tounge and used gas x strips after. I had no gas pain. I walked, walked, walked shortly after surgery. ( told my mom to get me up to walk.) I think she had me up and moving before the anesthesia wore off fully. LOL She kept waking me to walk. I have not had this type of surgery before so I have nothing to base it off of. I was blessed with no gas pain. My momma said if she wouldn't have known I had surgery she would have never believed it.

If you drink any more of the prune juice drink it warmed up. I'd do some wind mill movements with your arms to work out the gas. Sorry you are in discomfort and backed up. Warm water with fresh squeezed limon always gets things moving for me.

2 chocolate covered almonds 1 starburst coffee with ff cream Mac'n cheese cup with 1/2 can of tuna (could only eat 1/2 of it.) Got the hiccups - soft stop! MN burch bark - I'll be glad when I am not surrounded with goodies and chocolate! Yikes! 3 chocolate covered almonds vw - 20 oz

Hmm my weight loss in the begining has not been all that impressive. It wasn't until I was able to have restriction that stayed with me that I began to see the numbers decline. Matter of fact, it was a hard pill to accept that I didn't have a good jump to my weight loss. I am hoping the end part of my year makes more of an impact with me. So far it is.

I completely agree with you on this subject. Well said. I want to clairfy with you that I have no bones about that. I myself use a wide variety of tools to get the information I seek. One often leads to another or in a entirely different direction. I think the banter of this topic is good. Not to mention clearly informs "newbies and veterans" of the value of a search feature. The point I feel I am failing to relay to you is tolerance. We all know you are not the soft squishy type. You get to the point and at times rather harshly, and with out reguard to other feelings. Yes Lindsay - you couldn't have rang that bell any louder if you had tired. MANY obese people are sensitive. Many of us have used food to medicate a hurt or emotion. Which leads us into a cycle that feeds on us. Being more callus than the next person does not by any means make you any better or worse of a person. I for one think you have a good point, but your method of delivery in my opinion is harsh. I don't mind expressing my thoughts or complimenting you on good topics. If that puts me in the "catogory" of being overly sensitive then I claim that title with pride. I like who I am. I've not got the feeling from this board that "people" get there backs up about what I say. Maybe it would be wise to take a look at what so many people are saying.

I can see the point you, and Lindsay are making. I even agree to a certain degree, but what I think is the most important thing to remember is that no matter what the topic, question, or how many times it has been covered, every member here should feel the freedom to ask a question. (Especially if they are new) When I was new, I didn’t even realize there was a search function. (Duh, yes I know, but I was engrossed in the new topics, feeling my way around, and getting to know the people who posted here.) Lindsay pointed out the search feature to me when I was new; I am left to assume I asked “one of those questions.” Frankly, I was stunned by her approach, and lack of sensitivity. It doesn’t take much to teach someone how to do something, and it goes a long way. However if you thump someone, it tends to hurt, and even scare off potential members from posting. Some members do not have a thick skin to deal with a harsh tone. I have learned a lot of information from the links Lindsay posts. Her knowledge on health, clean eating, fitness, have proven very helpful. Her membership here is valuable to her and the people she shares with. After being here a while, you do see the same questions over and over again. That is part of forum life. What information is not pinned is going to be asked, that is a fact. It is easy to be quick to say do a search, but what I have found most rewarding is the relationships I have made on this forum from HELPING them. I do a lot of behind the scenes learning here and am a better person for it. Still there is nothing comparable to relationships built with people. Of coarse, I am a more intimate person, maybe that is why I don’t see an issue with people reaching out. It creates bonds. Besides old posts by members long gone, don’t have the follow up current members have. When I have asked questions I’ve found it most helpful because it is living knowledge. To close this, I would like to say that I have had endless messages in my personal inbox of members expressing there thanks and gratitude for a wee bit of time I have spent helping or answering a question or two. Personal touch is rewarding and goes a long way.

Glad you figured it out!

Coffee FF creamer benefiber 3/4 cup greek yogurt with 3 strawberries Broccoli Cheese soup (panera bread) 4 low fat crackers

I "almost" am suprised at how well I've done with the scale. That is not to say that I don't have a stare down with the scale when I go to the bathroom, but it is much easier than I thought. The hardest day for me is Thurs. cuz I was able to weigh on Wed. It is a strange relief for me to not weigh every day too. Say for instance the day of or after the pot luck....um yeah, I was glad not to step on the scale. So I have 2 more parties this week. It makes me curious how I will fair through the Christmas season. How's everyone else. Are you able to make it a week? Have you made it through the day with out weighing? How the heck are you guys doing!?

Woo hoo! 2 lbs! You are on a roll!

Hey there! It really make me sad to have anyone feel uncomfortable coming here to ask a question. PERSONALLY speaking I say screw the search! LOL This is your bandspace just as much as it is anyone elses. Matter of fact, I would just ignore the posts you don't care for. I recently added someone to my irgnore list. Why, cuz most the "crap" that they have come out there mouth is just that crap. It turns me off. It has turned me off to the point of using a feature I had not used before. Do what is right for you. Darn near everyone on this board is very nice and supportive, heck they have been putting up with me for a while now! LOL Glad you have found some good stuff here and that your family can see people who are thriving with the band. Everyone has something to offer. Besides if you find all your info by searching OLD threads how are we suppose to get to know new people. Leave the haters to hate. Come on and enjoy the majority of the group who are happy and postive! What is that saying one bad apple can spoil the bunch. Don't let one persons comments keep you from enjoying the happy upbeat people here. I am addicted to this forum and have learned so much from reading and asking questions.