robbynnoel

(((((((((((((((((Adrianna)))))))))))))))) Amen. I agree with you, it's really not about "will power", it's about "skill power". xo

(((((((((((((((((Sabrina)))))))))))))))) OMG I didn't catch that you were in Onderland. Where have I been? I'm so excited for you. I am new to this whole thing, but I have an idea or two to share (I used to be a weight loss consultant...so I'll put that hat on). Okay, that hat is on. What do you enjoy doing? Is there a hobby you love or something you've always wanted to try doing? To be honest, I think you're bored. Not just with hobbies, but maybe with food too. Is there a food that you really crave, or a food that would satisfy you if you allowed yourself to have it? If you aren't getting satisfaction from food, then amp up the volume. Use flavored extracts and reinvent some of your favorite recipes and try new things. If you are satisfied from eating, but then find yourself wanting more, you may need a small distraction right now. Maybe joining or forming a walking group...5 or 6 women who meet once a week and do an easy walk just to get out and meet new people. I imagine that since you're in radio (I hope it's okay I posted that) the station is receiving food and treats for you all of the time. Think of what you want a vendor to bring you...if it's food so be it, and tell them exactly how you want it. For the plug, they'd do it in a heart beat. Another thought (going back to hobbies) is there something you loved to do a a child and you have stopped doing it. Like for instance playing with Barbies. (I promise I'm not crazy). If you sit down with your girls and play Barbies with them, not only will you be mom of the year, you can have your Barbie eat whatever she wants whenever she wants it. I know this sounds silly, but if you allow the Barbie to eat and be social, you might feel more satisfied. The other kids project that brings adults peace is coloring. I swear. Pick up crayons in a restaurant and you won't want to eat a thing when your meal comes. It's because it's given your brain a distraction. Maybe something as simple as a chalk board in your kitchen you can draw pictures on if you feel like getting food before you grab something. And most importantly, don't forget to reward yourself for how far you've come. That is critical. Give yourself praise and credit each time you look in the mirror. Don't be afraid to say, "Wow..I'm really lovely." "Gosh, my hair looks amazing!" "I can't believe these jeans look so awesome on me." What you tell yourself in your head, no one can hear so even in a public restroom...when you look in the mirror, praise praise praise. xo You know where to find me if you want to talk. I strongly recommend physically speaking on the phone to at least 3 bandsters a day.

(((((((((((((((Finally))))))))))))))))) I hope this helps. xo http://www.lapband.com/

(((((((((((((((((((SDGirl)))))))))))))))) Thank you for your post. It's good to know that weight tracking is up to me so and me alone. That way I can put away the scale and just be oblivious to the number provided I log every bite, lick and taste.

(((((((((((((((((Sabrina))))))))))))))))) I owe you big time! You were right. Thank you thank you thank you. It does say 10cm.

((((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))))) I can be addicted to the scale so I'm going to put it away and stop weighing at home. There was a benchmark I wanted to hit which was 237 (my lowest weight in about 6 months) so now that I saw that number today I can just stop thinking about it. I had a very successful weight loss effort that ended almost a year ago when I hit 212, then it went up up up. If I don't put away my scale now I'll weight myself every hour on the hour until I get back to 212 and I don't want to spend my time doing that right now. In fact I'm seriously thinking about only weighing when I get the fills (do they weigh us then) or even telling the staff to "not" tell me my weight until it's under 200 lbs. We'll see how it goes.

(((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))))))))) I was going to post this same topic...lol I think my first meal will contain an egg. My first day on solids will be 6/11 (Joe Montana's Birthday). We'll be going away that following weekend so I will probably be very conservative.

((((((((((((((((Crystal))))))))))))))))) Hello Crystal! Welcome to the world of the banded. I have not had any issues "yet" but I do recall Dr. Miranda stating that unless juice was a mix of 50% juice/50% water there would be that kind of problem. I had never heard that before. Or packets were marked that we were going to received data "different" than our original paper work. I wonder if they've made some changes to the post op diet. I read the paper work several times and there seem to be numerous things they've recently changed. xo

((((((((((((((((((Shiney))))))))))))))))) Hugs! I'm so pleased you are having such a fab loss. I feel pressure too...in the area on my left side around my rib cage. It felt like an elephant stepped on me just after the surgery, this isn't nearly as bad. I try to remember to take princess sips by using expresso mugs. It's wonderful you don't feel hungry. I've had some mental hunger issues, but all in all, I'm pretty satisfied. It's good to know the OCC got back to you so quickly. xo

(((((((((((((((((Kristi)))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. It's good your getting up and about. I was able to sleep on my side last night. Whooopppie! That helps. For me, the liquid phase is all about flavor. I am concerned about my calorie intake. It will be much easier to hit over 400 once I add in liquid yogurts. I'm telling myself to drink 3 capri suns a day. (300 calories...I read 400 is the absolute minimum but that didn't come from the OCC). So far the most I've been able to drink is one. The other things I've had don't have a big calorie count. I have a cup of chicken broth each day and a sugar free popsicle. I also try to drink at least 8 oz of water...a vitamin water, like gatoraid's propell. To up the flavor a few notches I have done a few things. For instance, after days and days of chicken broth I turned up the volume by adding bacon bits, parm cheese, crushed red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. I brought the mixture to a boil and then strained it in a strainer like the kind you'd use to sift flour. It gave me the little punch I needed. To feed my family, I can throw the strained pieces back into the pot with the remaining water and add some chicken breast and noodles...that way they won't order a pizza (again). lol To amp the volume on the sweet side, I sliced apples, in a pot of water with a tea bag, nutmeg and cinnamon (sp). Again with my strainer... I like to cook so the other purpose it served was to keep me up entertained.

Princess sips...princess sips...princess sips.... lol

(((((((((((((Lindsay))))))))))))))) There is a golf course behind the Marriott? Shhhhhh....don't tell my husband. He'll be upset he spent his down time on Facebook. lol I remember you had a rough time with your flight home too. I did meet several people with the same surgery day, in fact, we've all planned to have our fills on the same day as well. Which reminds me...I'm still thinking about the purse I didn't buy on Revolution Avenue so I'm anxious to go back. I will mention that my first surgery attempt with a US surgeon did knock me out for days. I don't know if it was the reaction to the meds, or just state of being very mentally tired since I had planned to have a band and it didn't happen. I know I was given a completely different cocktail this time, medication wise so to speak, to prevent the kind of reaction I had before...maybe that is what helped.

((((((((((((((((((Sabrina)))))))))))))))))))) Good point! I was surprised it was a 10cc band because my original doctor told me I would absolutely have the smaller band. I'll have to go check.

(((((((((((((((Finally)))))))))))))) Hugs. Welcome to the banded. I believe the "10cc" (which is what mine says too) refers to the size of the band. I'll pm you about posting a ticker and I'll also send you what my card says. I haven't physically received my meal card either. They were delivered to the hotel, but I forgot to pick mine up. I've asked that a new one be sent to my home. I know each lapband has a unique number, like a phone number or an ip address. Something to distinguish your band from anyone elses...that's what the number is I believe. How are you doing now that you can have solid food?

(((((((((((((((((Smiley))))))))))))))) Thank you for posting the pictures. How exciting. How much weight did you lose when they removed the skin? xo

(((((((((((((((((((Kristi)))))))))))))))))) Welcome to the banded. I hear you about the head hunger. Totally. I keep telling myself princess sips, princess sips. My daughter popped some popcorn and sat next to me while she ate it. It was tempting. In fact every commercial has been tempting. About an hour ago, I had some wonderful smell in the bedroom, it was some kind of chocolate almond combo...but there is no chocolate or almonds in the house. lol I asked my daughter for a popsicle. Today is day 4 for me. I feel good that I conquered the head hunger. I just need to remind myself that I was able to do this so that when I can eat again, I can still conquer it. xo How are you feeling?

(((((((((((((((((Lori)))))))))))))))))))) I love to cook. We'll definately get together and shrink together.

(((((((((((((((Smiley)))))))))))))) Yep...I was trying to pitch a cook book to Dr. Ortiz before the surgery. lol How are you feeling after your surgery?

(((((((((((((((((Rachie)))))))))))))))))))) Congrats on becoming one of the banded! I was banded there on Friday. I can absolutely relate to how wonderful it was to meet everyone else. If you're up to it tomorrow, be sure to go shopping on Revolution Avenue. Enjoy those Otter Pops. Tomorrow's breakfast will be chicken broth. You'll love it. xo

((((((((((((((((((((((Lindsay)))))))))))))))))))) I am unable to answer any of your questions but I wanted to let you know I love your new profile photo.

Ignore the first link...it only has two photos of a purple tree I fell in love with. Here is the link. share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CcMmrRsxbsWLH (I removed the photos of my cats...put kept the ones of my husband shopping.)

(((((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Click the following link to access your shared photo prints. share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0CcMmrRsxbsWKw The pictures didn't load in order and because I love my husband and cats...they are in a lot of the photos. Also in the photos are a few lapband board members (after their surgery), photos of me immediately following the surgery, Dr. Soo and Carmela (our nurse...she's so cute). There are also some photos of the Marriott lobby and hotel room as well as Revolution Avenue.

((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))))))) What a whirlwind. Yesterday we packed and checked out of the Marriott. We met in the lobby around 7 am for the OCC van to pick us up and take across the boarder. Now, I have a virgin passport so I thought it would be a lengthy process to get across the boarder, but it's easier than checking in for a flight and walking through security. Trust me. As you enter Mexico, the lanes to exit to California are long long long. So long, you'll see street vendors peddling food to the cars waiting to cross. The OCC van uses a special lane, so all of that traffic is by passed. As the van pulls into the lane we are cautioned not to take photographs. This is a security thing...neither side want photos of people crossing the boarder. So, the OCC van is delayed only a moment or two to cross the boarder. Then the van is emptied (including all luggage) and you walk your luggage through customs. The line was very short, you show your passport (or birth certificate - but after 6/1...a passport is a must) and then your bag is xrayed. We had two bottles of tequilla, silver jewelry, food, spices...etc in our bags but nothing was an issue. You can leave your shoes, jackets etc on...easy peasy. You walk out of the building to a parking lot where you meet the van. The entire process took less than 5 minutes. I was shocked. Now airport security, that's a whole other story. lol They made me take off my sweater, revealing I was wearing a thin t-shirt and no bra. Oh and since I lifted my sweater over my head the guard got to see my scars. So fun. It took such a short amount of time to cross the boarder, we were able to catch an earlier flight home! I decided to take it easy yesterday but I could have done more if I wanted to. The pain has subsided considerably but I'm still not able to sleep on my side or stomach. I didn't take my pain meds today, but I might decide to later. I'm doing pretty good with the liquid diet but I don't recommend getting on the scale. I thought for sure the scale would be down, down, down...but nope. Today I'm the same weight I was before I left for the pre ops. I don't want to speculate as to why (but if I indulge myself...I am choosing to tell myself that the meds used for surgery bloated me up a little and the plane ride had affects too....lol) so I'm just going to follow the pre op and not worry about seeing a loss on the scale. Yea right. My new mantra is "princess sips". I had an ounce of coffee with powdered non dairy creamer and a splenda for breakfast with a capri sun. I'm still sipping on the capri sun. Lunch will be another capri sun and dinner will be as well. That is the magority of my calories. Broths, teas, flavored waters, sugar free popsicles, I'm having but they don't put a big calorie foot print on. Believe it or now I'm satisfied and happy. Have a wonderful holiday everyone. xo

((((((((((((((Banditos from May 22nd)))))))))))))))) Has anyone booked their fill for the 18th yet? I might go on the 17th and spend the night so I can see Dr. Ortiz but have the fill on the 18th. xo

(((((((((((((Stormy)))))))))))))))) Poll dancing? That sounds so fun! I thought about taking up belly dancing when I'm ready to get a little more physical with exercise. xo