Paula Bee

OMG... this site says that I need even MORE calories per day. It also says that I should be eating hearly 1900 calories per day for extreme weight loss! Dang!

It depends on who your surgeon is. Most of us went to OCC. Dr. Miranda, the dietician there, decides what kind of pre-op diet that she wants each of us on, depending on how much weight we need to lose before surgery. One of the choices is 3 liquid meals a day.

I had my third fill on Monday in St. Petersburg, with Cathy Gonzales, and I FINALLY have restriction. First of all, Cathy was absolutely fantastic. I cannot speak highly enough of this lovely, informative health care provider. I learned twice as much about fills as I already knew. Many of you know that I had a little "muffin top" problem with my pouch over the band, and my fills were kept low until this had healed. Well, it was completely healed and looked perfectly normal. She increased my fill until I had an even 2.0 in a 4.0 band. She tried 1cc more, but I couldn't swallow the water easily enough, so she reduced it 1 cc. After the liquids for two days, and my first food after the fill yesterday, I can tell I am going to have to readjust my chewing and bite size again. I thought I was doing it well until food got stuck at all three meals yesterday, sometime during the meal. Not chewing is killer.. killer. The first night, I had trouble swallowing my pills. I broke most of them up and slurped them down with yogurt, but one whole little pill got stuck. I was in miserable pain for about an hour and a half, and when I finally was able to "burp" around it, I went to bed. It felt like it was stuck all night long, and finally, after morning coffee, the feeling went away. I took my morning pills spread out all over the morning. Last night I ground my pills up, stirred the powder into yogurt, and gagged it down. Tried again this morning, breaking them all, (and there is a lot of them,) into little pieces, once again tucking them into yogurt. I haven't figured out the pill thing.. it is still a problem. Food is finally what I had hoped it would be. I think I am eating about 1/2 cup of food each meal, with protein shakes twice a day. The Fill Center said to drink protein shakes, regardless of what we were told, if we are not getting 60 grams of protein a day. Between everything, plus v8 once or twice a day, plus yogurt or soy milk twice aday, I am plenty full.. in fact, I am full without all that, but I want my health to improve, and malnutrition won't do it. I am very tired lately.. very.. and it is worse on water aerobics days. I am worried that I am sliding into a bi-polar slump... and.. I am rambling.. sorry.. Anyway, the fill was great!

I wonder how many of us are 50+? There are some aging challenges that we begin to face that our younger members don't have. I am 54. challenge - medications that impact weight loss

I am so sorry you have felt invisible! You are definately not alone, though. Frankly, there is nothing in any of the band literature that says you cannot use a weight loss program with the band, as long as you follow the band basics, too. Since you can easily meet these basics with the low carb diet, go for it. Weight Watchers, any of them... whatever keeps you on-track. Basically, Dr. Miranda's plan is low carb. After each fill, I find I can eat less and less, (of course... that is the point...) and I have had trouble getting past the protein portion several times. I basically never get to the carb portion, and usually don't get the fruit, either. That just leaves protein and veggies. You are definitely not alone!

Yay, Kim! That is so great!!

Oh, Michelle... you are so lovely, honey! How inspiring.. you are keeping the pace for all of us. (No pressure, huh!) Now, if I could only find a way to grow my boobs as nice as yours are, I will be good to go.

Talk about hot! I had to turn the screen on my computer off; I thought you would burn your image into it! Congratulations, sweetheart!

Congratulations, hun. lapband=priceless. It is nice to have control of your food when all else is going to hell. You are a strong person... hang in there... I am sorry about your crappy job. I hope you can find a productive way out of that situation soon. Hugs..

Every time the "stuck" feeling has happened to me, I have to stop eating IMMEDIATELY. It is your "stop" sign. Sometimes, I have that feeling and then swallow the bite I was chewing. I got that horrible pb pain... Try to stop before you get to that point. Also, even the first bite can stick. They aren't kidding when they say chew, chew, chew. My other problem, which I think I have control of now, is not waiting long enough between bites. You have to put your fork down between tiny bites, and give the last bite time to go down before you take the next. Good luck!

I hope so, too! Good luck, Jim.

I am with you, Cathy.. surprised by the 46! I wish someone would tell me I don't look my age... lol

Well said, Lisa.

Yay!!! Hot dog and diggity doo! (not poo, just doo ) I am so happy for you! Big Hugs!

Good for you! Hooray for less medication!

I am so thrilled for your news. Hooray for standing up for yourself and hooray for him for finally supporting you.

And we are SOOOOOOOO glad you stayed! I wish you would post more, but I know school is starting back, and it is so exhausting to be a teacher for the first few weeks of school. (Make that the first month of ... er.. the first semester of sch... mm.. the months of prep for state testing and the test.. mm.. gee.. the last month of school.. ) Well, you and I know.. I would laugh, but it isn't funny. Those of you that would leave, please don't. Many of us wouldn't have survived the same drama, same person, last month if we hadn't used ignore. I do sincerely apologize to anyone that I offended or hurt by my responses to said person. I didn't mean to add to the drama, and it won't happen again. I should remember that when you pat a skunk you get sprayed! :wacko2: Paula

Thank you all... for the suggestions and especially the encouragement. You are all dear to me. Paula

AMEN and AMEN, Bill. That works like a charm for me, too.

Bless your heart... I cannot remember the scripture, but it says something along the lines of "there is nothing lost that shall not be found." I am praying that way for you and for your peace. Hugs, Paula

I want oneeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Well, low and behold! I finally started an exercise plan. I go to water aerobics on MWF and flexibility classes on TU Th. I am so tired afterward that I take a nap in the afternoon and go to bed early each night. I am really enjoying the water aerobics and have met several new friends my age. I have also talked to a number of them about lap band surgery, and one day didn't get away until 1.5 hours after the class ended. I am not so sure about flexibility class. It is an AOA class, (Active Older Adults, although I am neither active, or older,) and there is no impact activity at all. I ended up hurting in just about every muscle for the few days afterward, even though the class is gentle. I knew I was out of shape, but honestly, I had no idea it was so bad. I am anxious to see if these classes improve the strength in my knees and lower back. In the meantime, I will go when I am too sleepy, sleep when it makes me too tired, and be happy because I have done something positive for myself just by leaving the house and exercising. I wonder how many steps 1 hour of water aerobics has in it?

Are you military?

According to Dr. Miranda, yogurt is considered a liquid and can be eaten any time of day. It is perfect for taking pills with. I just drop mine in one at a time, then spoon them up and swallow. It is so much easier than water.

I was banded on March 19th and have lost 52 pounds.