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 This is not really a blog.  I had two wonderful posters comment on my last blog and one of you asked me for a recipe and I don't know what the heck I did - but I can't find your comment now.  So sorry - please PM me and I will send you that recipe. 

I guess I'm not as computer savvy as I thought I was.

Sharon

 I'm going on my 6th week and have been cruising along nicely with my weight loss.  I've been slowly losing small amounts each week - last week I only lost .6 of a pound but as long as the scales were still going in the right direction I was happy.  Today I got on the scale for my weekly weigh in and I am up 1.6 lbs.  Bummer............  I did check my measurements and nothing has changed up or down so that makes me feel better - at least I'm not getting bigger - just heavier.......lol.  My intellect tells me that 1.6 lbs is nothing to worry about - but I cannot stop flashing that number in my head like a neon sign...........lol

I live 4 hours from my surgeon's clinic and they have a local doctor here where I live who they have an agreement with to look after their patient's fills.   On Monday I was interviewed by my fill nurse and she faxed my fill requisition for my first fill into the fill doctor.  I know he does his fills on Thursday's - every day this week passed and each day I did not get a call and now it's Friday and I still don't have an appt. for a future fill.  The lap band clinic has been awesome and has been in touch with me almost daily.

Even though I can handle not getting my appt. for this week - what bothers me is that they couldn't even bother to call me and at least book me for a future date.  I am such an "A" type personality and I just need to be constantly moving forward and "have a plan".  I hate not having all the control...........lol.

So although there's not really anything my OH peers can do for me - it's just nice to have a place to complain.  I am going to be really careful about my menu and hope for the phone to ring today - I feel like someone who's been on a first date and is waiting for that "phone call"........lol.

 I feel I have done well on the pureed foods although I've stuck to a pretty repetitive menu.  For breakfast I've had 1 egg scrambled with skim milk and a low fat cheese slice.  The last couple of mornings I've felt hungrier than normal so around 10 I have an Atkins protein shake or a packet of weight control oatmeal with some baby food fruit puree.  For lunch I have totally fallen head over heels for 1/2 cup refried beans heated and topped with melted cheddar (just a bit), spicy salsa and low fat sour cream (yum).  Afternoon snack is always a bit different - sometimes a small piece of cheese, or a couple of tablespoons of hummus and yesterday I had some sliced cucumbers with dip and chewed them especially well - it was so good.  For dinner I lived 4 nights on baked ricotta - whoever came up with that recipe is a genius!.  Tonight I have to come up with something different for dinner and I'm just surfing the web for some ideas.

This weekend was spent at the cottage and both my son and daughter plus my son-in-law to be were there for dinner on Saturday.  I made them awesome bbq steaks, roasted potatoes, roasted garlic bread and greek salad and for dessert I heated up a store bought apple pie.  I then proceeded to sit and eat my warmed over ricotta bake which I added some spinach and extra sauce to - and later in the evening when they had their pie I had some sf chocolate pudding.  It was so good I did not even miss the dinner I could not have.  And this morning when I stepped on the scale I was down a pound from Friday - YAY!..........lol.

 It is sweltering hot here in the great white north.  We are in the midst of a heat wave.  Yesterday it was 36 degrees Celcius here (96.8 F) and 40 Celcius (104 F) with the humidity.  We have had no rain and have a total fire ban.

I'm trying to follow the rules about drinking before and after eating.  I understand that we are not to drink too close before and after (and never during) eating so we get the full satiety.   And we are supposed to have our 2-3 snacks also so we are not hungry in between our meals.  (I'm loving all this by the way.............lol).  My problem is remembering to drink in between eating (at the right times of course)...lol.

I am working it out now - I have to remember to carry water with me everywhere now.  And I love the little Crystal LIght individual serving packets.  Great invention!  

I'll get the timing right eventually - please send us some rain if you can...............lol

I was so excited when I woke up this morning and remembered that - Yes Sharon - you get to eat today.........lol.  Now to remember the rules about drinking before and after and not during.  So I had to plan when I'm going to drink my sacred morning decaf coffee.............hmmmm.  So I had my coffee and then my shower - because I had to kill some time so I would have waited 30 minutes before eating.  I made the best 1 egg egg with 1 low fat cheese slice EVER............  I took my time eating it - 25 minutes and remembered the rule about waiting an hour before drinking anything so I could maintain that full feeling.

I packed all my food and off I went to work - arriving 30 minutes late......lol  Thank goodness I work for me.  For morning snack I had a package of low sugar oatmeal and some pureed blueberries and for lunch I had 1/2 cup refried beans topped with a little melted grated cheese and some low fat sour cream.  Again it took about 25-30 minutes to eat - it was so good!  For my pm snack I had an Atkins meal replacement shake and for dinner I made the ricotta bake.  That ricotta bake was so freaking good!  I also made some broccoli and I cooked it to mush and mashed it up good. I've got 3 more servings of it in the fridge so I guess I can have some tomorrow also.   I have an evening snack planned but right now I'm so full I cannot imagine having it.......but I'm sure I will...........lol.  I figure I'll have had about 1050 calories for the day - and lots of good protein.  I feel really great and cannot wait to plan my food for tomorrow.

 Well it's day 9 and I'm kicking back and relaxing at our cottage.  Hubby's out fishing - his favorite thing to do.  I am just about to pop the dvd "It's Complicated" into the player.  I just wanted to share a very small NSV.  I had bought some yoga pants to wear back from my surgery - not anticipating how bloated I'd be afterward.  Needless to say I did not get to use them.  I just put a pair on after my shower and they feel  kind of loose............lol - I'm loving it!  Of course I am going to wear them all day!  It feels great to not have my pants digging into my belly.

On a lower note - I cannot believe that I went and hunted down some ready to drink Atkins meal replacements for my breakfasts and then went and left them at home...........duh!  So I had some SF Jello instant chocolate pudding with protein powder mixed into it for breakfast.  I cannot wait till next Wednesday when I start pureed foods.  I am going to have some soft scrambled eggs for breakfast that day................lol.

So I feel a hundred miles away from 8 days ago.  On day 6 I started on my full liquids.  I got to have my decaf coffee with skim milk - the best coffe I ever had..........lol  For Breakfast I had an Atkins Chocolate meal replacement - delicious and filling.  For lunch I strained the bits out of cream of tomato with red pepper - so good!  And for dinner strained cream of chicken - it was okay.  Fill the hole and that's about all I can say about that.  Still sipping all day long.

Day 7 I removed my steri strips as directed by the clinic.  Cleaned all the adhesive off with rubbing alchol - worked like a charm.  Made some SF Jello White Chocolate pudding with a scoop of protein powder in it.  Had some at 3 pm and wasn't hungry for my soup till about 7..........lol.  Started having regular morning BM's - not lots - but then I'm not eating a lot either.

Today is day 8 and my official weekly weigh-in day (although I have been jumping on the scale every morning...lol).  I am down 7.5lbs.  I know a lot of it is most likely water weight and that won't  be typical but it sure gave me a boost.  Hey - maybe this is really going to work............lol.

I have also been in touch with a fellow on another board (Slim Band - where I got banded) who also is newly banded.  He is from my home town and is looking to start a coffe club of members to sit and support each other in a casual way.  I believe that when you are on the right path, things fall into place easily for you.  This fellow told me that the Dr. who will be doing my fills here is his also and the Dr. actually has a twice weekly clinic in my town..........unbelievable!  That's not all - then he tells me that he is going ahead with our support group and it will be held at the church where he is studying to be a minister.  The church is also in my town and literally around the corner from my home.

I am feeling like I'm right where I'm supposed to be and that is the greatest feeling in the world and I wish that for each and every one else.  Peace.

 I know this may be TMI - but I feel I need to document everything.  It is Sunday and I have not had a BM since last Thursday morning.  Which means that the last food I ate the day before my surgery has been sitting around for 3 days.  Today my gas was especially bad so I was happy to feel the BM urge.  And shortly afterward the "liquids in - liquids out" syndrome began.......lol.  I guess I will not be able to trust a fart from here on till I get on some more solid foods...............lol.  The ironic part is that I had sent hubby to the pharmacy to get some milk of magnisia - and before he got back I was empty.

Waking up in my own bed was wonderful this morning.  I slept through the entire night for the first time since the surgery.  I did not need any pain killer before bed last night which totally amazes me.  I mean, I am a bit sore, but not to the point where I could not rest or sleep.  I was going to go to the cottage with my hubby today - but since he's just going there to work I decided I'd be more comfortable here at home and maybe get to watch the movie "It's Complicated" that I've been dying to see.

My husband and I run our own company so I'm just planning to go to the office tomorrow once the work day is done to pay bills and do the payroll.  That way I don't have to have the pressure of "being on" for the day to day stuff or discuss how I'm feeling.  I am telling people initially that I had a hiatal hernia repair - which turns out to be true as they repaired a small hernia when my band was implanted.  I am not against sharing my journey - just not up to the numerous explanations of my wls.

Just going to enjoy my Sunday - but don't have to plan and cook Sunday dinner..........yay!

 So I am home now.  Traveled well - we stopped a couple of times and walked a bit and I sipped all the way home.  I'm taking Tylenol Meltaways (children's) for the pain and it is enough.  I keep moving as much as I can.  I'm using my Gas-X when I feel the rumbling and it subsides quite quickly.   I was able to sleep in a bed last night propped up a bit on pillows.  It's a bit difficult getting up but I just support my belly (wounds) with some pressure and roll slowly out.

I am alternating between drinking water, G2, Vitamin water, low acid apple juice, tea and iced tea, crystal light and chicken broth.  So far I am doing well on it and not hungry.

I am so grateful for this board and the Lap Band 'Forum.  I have learned so much from so many people.  I hope to be able to share my experiences to maybe give someone else an edge.  I believe this is going to be a terrific tool for me and I plan to be successful.