Just more of my rants, I turn 52 later this month and by the way I don't look a day over 42 (you will just have to trust me, no pictures). Anyway the other half and I always go to dinner (usually Doe's Eat Place) and a movie for my birthday and I buy myself something nice. The dilemma is if I go to Doe's it won't be the same since I can't order a 5lb Porterhouse and the movie, I have already done that no coke and popcorn just a nice bottle of water. So how do I celebrate my new life, which trust me is better than the old one and I might actually live to the next birthday. My favorite thing to do now is work in the yard and walk... I am open to suggestions.

Go somewhere different and chose a new birthday meal (so what if you have to bring half of it home). Or buy yourself something that celebrates your new hobbies..some new walking shoes (you'll need a new pair each year if you walk a lot), or something fun for the yard, or something that makes yard work easier for you...some new gardening tools, a hammock, or some new interesting plants (it's a good month to plant). Happy early birthday! -BG

Thanks Band_Groupie, you are the best support. Greg

that's a bummer you can't eat popcorn. i love popcorn. some people can eat it and some can't. i might be one of those people that won't be able to eat it. i have a friend that has the band and he eats popcorn like it's going out of style. guess it just depends on the person.

Can you drink soda with the lapband. I am not a huge soda drinker but occassionally, I get an overwhelming urge to have a swallow of Pepsi. What does it do to you?

You should not drink carbonated drinks with the LB. I know some people who do, I drank 12 diet cokes a day prior to LB, I reduced one every 15 days till I was off of them prior to surgery. I don't miss them at all. I would not even attempt popcorn for two reasons, one it might get stuck, and the only place I ate popcorn was at the movies. So there would be nothing worst than missing a movie while I am in the public restroom hacking it back up. Not appealing to me at least.

the second reason I would not do popcorn, is because that is not protein and it would be empty calories. You either work the band for results,meaning you eat good food and are successful at your weight loss. Or you work around the band, seeing what you can eat even though it is not a good food choice. My cheating is having an extra protein shake as opposed to some who drink milkshakes.