Howdy

 Hi!  I've been popping into OH on and off for some time now - I'm scheduled for lap-band surgery next week and so I finally joined.  I'm also repeating myself over here on the Missouri board.  Hi!

 I'm a little agitated with nerves and working hard not to use food to medicate the nervous feelings - especially since I'm on the pre-op liquid diet.  I seem to be getting a lot of those little cleaning projects that I've been putting off finally done - so I guess agitation is not a totally bad thing!

I've been in the approval process since June and I've lost about 50 pounds since August.  I'm really excited about the surgery and having this as a tool to help me not only lose more weight and get healthier - but to keep the weight off. It's scary, too, of course.  There are so many life changes that sometimes it gets overwhelming.  I'm still doing really poorly at small bites and eating slowly - does anyone have any tips?

I look forward to getting to know the people on this board.  It seems like a really good and supportive place!

ZaZa ~

How I learned to take small bites and chew very well is with a baby spoon... one of those rubber coated ones.

It may sound silly and you may feel like a fool but it WILL make you take small bites and if I took small bites I always remember to chew very well.  I still get into trouble when I think I don't need to use it... I'm only 10 weeks out and definitely still in the learning process and still trying to find my groove in some things... but the baby spoon sure would be worth a try.  Another thing it did for me was to make it real to me just how much food I could shove in in a very short amount of time.... eating slow with a baby spoon allows your tummy to tell your head you are satisfied with much less food.

Am so glad you decided to come on and hope you let us get to know you...

Best wishes in your journey!

Bec

 Thank you for the tip! I actually did buy a set of child flatware - I splurged, even.  Decided that if I needed to use mini spoons and forks they should be nice ones.  I have used the little spoon with things like yogurt but I haven't really used the little fork.  Also, I haven't tried soups or things like that with the small soup spoon.

Do you use the little forks, too?  Slowing down is so important - even if I weren't having surgery I'd think it'd help.  

Thanks for the welcome :)

Z

p.s., I'm still figuring out the way this board works so please forgive some clutziness!

one more little secret is to put your spoon or fork down in between each and every bite. It makes you conscience of each bite you take, therefor sometimes causing you to chew a little longer. I still use this although I will be 2 years out in March! Another thing is use a smaller plate to begin with and the amount of food is already cut in half, but looks full. Dont gulp a big drink right after a bite either, because you are just washing down your food instead of chewing it.  Hope these hints help a little. Welcome to our fun friendship page....love you newbies!

 Thank you for the hints.  Putting my fork down sounds like a great hint.  It's so easy to just shovel it in without thinking.  I'm going to work on putting the fork down and thinking between bites.

Love you folks that show that this can actually work!

Hey there great to meet you....hope  you come often so we can getto know you....you can also come to our support meetings that meet on the 4 monday night of each month,. a lot of people on the board come to out meetings too. and it is a proven fact that people that attend support meetings do better at losing weight than the ones that dont. Good luck and hope you become a often poster....

 Thanks - great to meet you, too.  I plan to try to get here as often as I can.  I admit I tend to be a little quiet but I'll work on that!

Tell me more about the support meetings, please.  Are you talking about an online chat or a real life support group?  I've been attending the New Beginnings group in Springfield the past couple months.  I actually live about 1 1/2 hours away so the winter weather may end up preventing me from getting to group and I'd like some additional support groups to try to get to, either online or real life.

Thanks!

Z

Welcome Z

You have come to a great place for support . Jan has a meeting up there in Springfield where you all meet it is a great group you will enjoy being with them .  Jan will fill you in on that I am not from up there but I have been up to a meeting and it was great.  Good luck and God Bless !!!

Karen

Z...Welcome to the Mo Board....Hope to see more of you and looking forward to getting to know you....Keep us updated on things....Luv& Hugs...Tammy~ammy

 Thank you both for the greetings! I look forward to getting to know y'all!  Every one of you 

It is so encouraging and positive to get to meet and talk with people living the program and making progress in their goals.  I did my pre-admission stuff for surgery today so we are at a go for next week.  Went to support group tonight - had a long, long day!