TUESDAY GRATEFUL POST

Good Morning Everyone,

Hope your having a great week so far.    The weekend will be here before we know it.     i am going to change things up a little bit today.    Let's all list only a couple of things we are so grateful for today.    Today I am grateful that my scale is moving downward again.    That is very thrilling when you are a WLS vet so to speak.   I am grateful that my family loves me and doesn't judge me when I mess up with my eating.    Now.....it's YOUR turn.   PLEASE share a couple of things that you are really grateful for today.   Remember to not take things for granted in your life...things could be going great now....but it you take things for granted...they could go away.   Have a blessed day.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

Had the AGB done Aug 2, 2010 and have lost about 60 lbs; 40 more to go!  Just got Jean McMillan's Bandwagon and Cookbook and am loving the book,(haven't gotten to the cookbook yet)!  I have 3 maybe silly questions to be clarified:

1.  Should I get the flu and am vomiting, should I run to my LB doctor and get a complete unfill?  Should I just sip liquids as can be tolerated or go see the surgeon?

2.  If I am forced to go back to a liquid diet for any reason, can I add protein powder to chicken or beef broth in order to get my protein as well as the No Sugar Added Carnation drinks?

3.  The BW book states that if I suffer from the First Bite Syndrome, I can drink a hot herbal tea before I eat my meal.  Is hot black coffee acceptable?  How many ounces of hot tea should I drink and how much time before a meal can I do this?  

4.  According to the calculations in the BW book, I should be drinking around 74 ounces of water throughout the day.  My question at one of the support meetings was, why is unsweetened iced tea not okay but bottled water with added flavorings such as MIA, Crystal Light and the other generic brands of water additives okay?  I sweeten my iced tea with powdered Stevia and freshly squeezed lemons.  This doesn't seem fair to me...Can you explain the reasoning behind this?  Although I AM drinking a lot more water but still prefer iced tea.   Thanks!

I'm sure I will have many more questions for you but I am only up to page 274 in my BW book!  I've learned so much and wish I had known about the book BEFORE I had the procedure done.    It would've helped me understand the reasonings behind not drinking with my meals which I'm still working on.  I weighed 245 before Opti-Fasting; 227 before surgery; and now weigh 183.  I am so very happy with the results so far but am not exercising ; I HATE walking (so very boring to me).  I tried Zumba,(I used to love dancing), but it was too difficult to follow and I thought I was going to fall flat on my face as I am a little unstable on my feet as this time in my life due to some health issues.  I do have both short and long stretch bands which I don't have any excuse not to be using them, as well as the inflatable ball which scares me to death because of my being unstable).  I think I can stretch about 1-2 inches beyond the beginning of the short band,(yes, I am very weak)!  I guess I will get to the exercise part of the BW book eventually.  I am purposely not going back and forth in the book so I will read the whole book.  Thank you for hearing me out.  God bless!

Hi.....Some of those questions are questions that you should ask your surgeon's office.    As for the exercising or lack of.....that is something that for long term success goes hand in hand with eating healthy/ small portions.    You don't have to walk miles in order to be successful.    Walk several times a day or once a hour for about 15-30 minutes even if it is just around your house.    Exercise is exercise.     Some of your questions you should post on this message board.    I am a OH Support Group Leader who posts here but I am NOT a lapband patient.    Good luck to you and oh about adding protein to soup or broth,.....you can do that.   Also If you happen to get something "stuck" try chewing 3 papaya enzymes ( I buy them at Walmart with the Spring Valley  Vitamins ).    They are very good and work.    Good luck to you and congrats on your success !!!!
 

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

Since I don't have a bottle in front of me; are these chewable?  Say I'm in a restaurant and get stuck: Do I chew on these  right away?  How long does it take to work before I feel progress being made?  Thanks again! 

Yes they are chewable and taste like papaya.    Since I'm not a lap band person I'm not sure but I have a niece who is and she chews them all the time.    Hope that helps you with your question.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian