Jann

Yup, started TOM about SIX days ago and still going strong. SHEESH! Should have been last week of the month for about three or four days. I expect it's gonna be erratic for a bit now.

Absolutely inspiring Pammie! I was thinking about a TT when I get close to goal weight but I have to tell you that drain thing just completely freaked me out. You look freaking amazing! WTG! =D>

I'll be working but it's supposed to be extremely hot here (FINALLY!) tomorrow. I have to catch up from losing those surgery days but it's all good! I've started walking the dog again and I find complete irony in the fact that he's lazier than I am. I think I'll take him to the river behind my house tomorrow and let him have some fun! Hubby bought himself a new motorcycle on Wednesday so he'll be out cruising. He's determined to get from a 5X to a 3X now! I'm SO BEYOND happy with that! He's got his eye on some special bike jacket that they don't make in his size. Whatever floats your boat as long as you do it, right? BTW, even the dog is on low fat treats now! She who does the grocery shopping controls the pantry. Too funny!

Cathy, I have made a procrastination TO DO list. You know all the stuff that builds up that you just never get to. When head hunger kicks in I pick the next one in line and go do it when there's nothing left to clean. Head hunger is fleeting if you don't give into it. I suppose for everyone it's different, mine clocks about ten minutes or just a tick over. Ask yourself, will this one minute cheat add any value to your future? Has snacking served you well in the past? (Rhetorical questions I know but it does give you pause) Go into the fridge and look at a pound of butter and ask yourself "Hmm, where will this extra pound end up? Hips, thighs, belly?" I also imagine my actual stomach with the band and how trim it is now with my new pouch then I imagine that pouch stretched badly out of shape and useless. Do I want another surgery? Not on your life! Go to the pantry and pick up a five pound bag of sugar. Maybe the visuals will help? When I find myself daydreaming of serial snacking I get up and do something and this sense of quiet calm kinda kicks in. I'm trying to retrain my brain by reinforcing good habits over bad ones but it's a process. I've been eating poorly for years! I'm down to 198.5 (hoping a couple pounds lower after TOM) -- finally made it to onderland, I haven't been here in years! I know I haven't lost a ton of weight but where before I couldn't bear to look in the mirror when I'd have my shower in the morning now I find myself looking at my body and noticing the changes and I LIKE IT! That's good incentive!

I also read that even if you aren't swollen the band rests on the vagra (sic) nerve which controls discussion between the brain and your hunger so it's sending a message that you're not hungry in the early stages.

I'm not at solids stage yet but I also have both of those books. Can't wait to try out the recipes!

Either Dr. O's book or one of the other's I've read said the gas pains can manifest either in the shoulder or the back.

I bought those on Monday, Paula and they are more than doable. I just couldn't drink another mouthful of the liquid stuff. Blech!

That is amazing news, DiamondJim! Congratulations to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Amy, that's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice work!

Non-scale victory, Julie --

Janet! I was looking for you, you fell off the radar girl! How are you???? Thanks for the kind words everybody. I'm really trying. Hubby asked me if I regretted my decision tonight to get banded. I can honestly say NO WAY! I feel strangely empowered but I know it's so very hard to keep on track. Hubby is even trying to eat healthy and has reduced his consumption by about half. Here's to hoping all of this continues in the future! I try to be aware every day but not militant. Evidently, it's rubbing off because he's doing it on his own.

Good for you Paula! Even better that you took concerted steps to remind yourself. YOU ROCK!

I know it's difficult, Cathy but it does take 21 days or 500 repeat behaviours apparently to change a habit. Today I had a small piece of sugar free gum and it made me feel better. Of course, having learned from the shoulder pains last time I had to be very conscious of my chewing so I didn't take in air. I'm a serial snacker by nature so when I get the urge now I clean something 'til it passes. I know for sure snacking is head hunger not real hunger. You have to find your replacement. In my world, snacking seems to be tied to not moving, couch, TV, that kind of thing. So, I'll get up and toss in a load of laundry or find something I was too busy to do or that I procrastinated on. I also jump into the jet tub with candles, tunes and a good book when I start obsessing about practically anything. I can't do that this early out so I clean! You can do it, you are DRIVEN!

I believe it increases the potential for gas?

Thanks ladies! I'm just thrilled with this NSV! Thanks for your support! Hugs!

Congratulations!! WTG! :-h Frogger would be totally appropriate. Thanks for that imagery! hehe

Nice going and major congrats!!!!

I feel compelled to share this. This week has been hell professionally with one of my clients but I won't go into the details. Suffice it to say it's reconciled now and with a lot of communication and frustration it went my way in the end. In the past that level of stress and frustration would have driven me to ordering an XL double cheese pepperoni and pineapple pizza with chicken fingers and garlic toast that I would promptly finish on my own over the course of the night or a Wendy's supersized double burger, double cheese combo or -- you get the idea, massive amounts of comfort food with no bottom in sight! I'm only ten days post surgery and I absolutely stayed true to the bandster way. I never cheated once! I drank my soup and my protein shakes and water and I avoided breaking down. I must admit, I cannot even believe it. My head hunger has been pretty busy these past two days (that damned elusive boiled egg)! Before the more insecure me would have been concerned about losing the contract (it's a MAJOR contract) and affecting my staff so I would have just kind of quietly acquiesed but this time I put my foot down, stated my terms and made it clear I was prepared to walk away. I just got a call and they get it and we're going forward! WOOT! All I can say is, please Lord, wherever I got this new strength from, let it continue!

YAY for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice going and welcome! WTG! =D>

That is so wrong on so many levels it just defies all logic. Jeez!

I had shoulder pain for about a week and it returns every now and again still. I was banded on June 9th. I had no issues sleeping at all on my left side and did from the very first night and still to this day. In fact, strangely I sleep way better now than I have in years. My port site is only tender to the touch. If I leave it alone it leaves me alone. I sit at a computer all day/all night so by the end of the day my port does kick up a bit of a fuss.

It takes 20 minutes for the stomach to send the brain the signal that you are in fact full!

Exactly the same for me. I can drink an entire bottle of water in one gulp if I choose to from the second day. I do not think that you can harm your pouch with liquids as they go right through the stoma and are not held in the upper pouch. Last night I had a large (relatively speaking from 1/4 cup) mug of Tortilla soup -- yup, made it again, it's that good!