Cleo's Mom

Actually, I don't think you know where I'm coming from. Did you not read my posts #62, #65? What don't you understand? You don't strike me as someone who can't figure things out. The OP had the band removed and a gastric bypass revision. What possible contribution did that self-congratulatory post make? I asked that anyone show how a post like that provides anything to the OP. It doesn't. It was insulting. And when I see a struggling poster insulted, I come to the defense. If you have followed my posts you will see that I don't insult struggling posters. I do offer support and some suggestions even though the band has never worked for me as promoted. And I don't feel the need to defend the band. But I can still offer some advice about things I have tried or things that might work. You don't want to know my story. Well, my story has been out there so I guess you missed it. Everything in my life has been a struggle. I battled breast cancer at the same time my husband was losing his battle to cancer. I became a widow at 54. I got this band so that I wouldn't have to struggle with this battle with hunger that I've had all my adult life. But the band has failed me in that regard. Any success I have had has been mine. Not the band's. And so I continue to struggle with hunger. And I couldnt' care less if you don't like me. I am not on here to win some popularity contest. Those who have been on here long enough to know my posts know that I am not a rude person but I will condemn a post that I think is inappropriate, harsh, insulting or blaming to a struggling poster. It's one thing if the OP asks for it (a kick in the pants). This OP did not. And as I've said before - there are plenty of forums on here for success, rah, rah, rah, I love the band stories. They don't need to be put "in your face" with strugglers.

Typical neocon thinking - the kind walker subscribes to - lay people off - cause them to lose their jobs, taking food from their children - to make a political point. And the people would be blaming him for laying people off - if he has the power to do it then he would be the one they would blame. What the people of WI are figuring out is that they regret voting for this guy who thought he was going to be some f**king modern day hero and the masses would be worshiping his cajones. Didn't quite work out that way. They just see some guy who wants it all his way. The unions have agreed to the economic concessions - now it just looks like union busting (which it is). They didn't vote for him to strip the unions of collective bargaining and now even some republicans say he has gone too far. The WI polls and the national polls do not support him and what he is doing. So, go ahead and lay people off walker - see how well that plays out for you.

Walker said on his duped tape phone call with "koch" that he considered putting troublemakers into the protest crowds (which by the way is being investigated) so even if we did see some troublemakers there would be no way of knowing they weren't planted by walker since he considered it and "koch" suggested it, too. Secondly, the part of the protests showing police on horses and palm trees is not identified as to location. It says union protest. And you can't answer what purpose it has in a video about wisconsin protestors and the possibility that some may have come from outside. If they had proof of this they would have shown it. They didn't so they threw in some unrelated protest video to try to lend credibility. It is you who is grasping at straws. fox deliberatly tried to mislead and their stupid viewers probably fell for it which was their intent.

I'm glad to see things are working out, too, and they won't be in Walker's favor: Posted at 2:34 PM ET, 03/ 2/2011 Breaking: Wisconsin Dems throw their weight behind drive to recall GOP Senators By Greg Sargent The Wisconsin Democratic Party has decided to throw its weight behind a nascent grassroots drive to recall a number of GOP state senators, a move that will considerably increase the pressure on them to break with Governor Scott Walker, the Dem party chair confirms to me. "The proposals and the policies that Republicans are pushing right now are not what they campaigned on, and they're extreme," the party chair, Mike Tate, said in an interview. "Something needs to be done about it now. We're happy to stand with citizens who are filling papers to recall these senators." Previously, Wisconsin Dems had not publicly supported talk about recalling GOP Senators, in hopes of privately reaching a negotiated solution to the crisis. The Wisconsin Democratic Party's decision to support the recall drives represents a significant ratcheting up of hostilities and in essence signals that all bets are off. Eight Republican Senators are eligible to be recalled right now, and various groups around Wisconsin are beginning to file papers to make it happen. Tate told me that the party would throw its organization behind such efforts "We're an aggressive, on-the-ground group and we're going to be looking to aid these citizens in any way we can," he said. Tate said he couldn't say whether such a recall drive would result in GOP Senators breaking with Walker, given their solidarity so far, but he vowed that a number of them would pay the price by losing their own jobs. "There are Republican senators today that will lose their seats in a recall election in the next few months," he said "We're happy to assist." Asked if Wisconsin Dems would drop their push to recall senators if they abandoned the drive to roll back public employee bargaining rights. Tate said he couldn't guarantee that, arguing that Walker's proposed budget cuts yesterday took this fight to a whole new level. "In the past 24 hours, this has gotten so much larger than the rights of our public employees," he said. "This is much larger now than it was a week ago." UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.: Ian Millhiser has some detail on the slim vote margin some of these Republicans won office with, and on how a recall would work. And Sam Stein notes that Wisconsin Dems are already raising money to support the recall effort. UPDATE, 3:43 p.m.: The SEIU is now soliciting support for the recall drives, suggesting labor may join the push to collect the required signatures necessary to make them happen. UPDATE, 4:19 p.m.: We now have a total of four national polls all showing solid support for public employees

Well, of course someone like me can discern the difference, but the stupid, uninformed fox watcher wouldn't be able to. And that video showing cops on horses and things getting somewhat out of control was shown as soon as Tobin started talking about outsiders being brought in as if the video was making the case for out of state trouble makers. Let's just say for a minute that the video of the cops on horses, etc. was actually of Wisconsin, I would be pretty sure they were the trouble makers that were brought in by Walker who considered it or the Koch brothers who did bring outsiders in. You (well, not you specifically since you are in denial - but you in general) have to ask yourself why fox found it necessary to post some unrelated video about protestors in a palm tree state when they were talking about wisconsin and the protestors and the possibility that some were brought in. I guess they read the study about how stupid their viewers are. And BTW, fox pulled this stunt before showing a DC on the mall tea party rally with more people to represent one with actually fewer people. Jon Stewart caught them and they retracted it. So, your defense of this sham by fox just shows your desperation.

If it's such a big story then why didn't fox report it. Maybe because it's a deflection on your part. Let's look over here, there's two stories about what a democrat did to a republican. They pale in comparison to the SOTU - the most important speech the most powerful person in the world makes and we have some nobody shouting out you lie in the most disrespectful display at a SOTU and the republicans defended him. So, if the conservative media, aka fox, isn't reporting on it then it's because they don't find it newsworthy. But keep on trying to deflect with this non-story.

Did you post it here on post-operative because this thread gets the most traffic? Is your port on your left side - that could be the cause of the pain. If not, it's probably just post operative pain and normal but you should always check with your doctor about any pain that you don't think is normal. I know I was in pain for two weeks - especially the port area. But to listen to some you'd think you should be pain free the next day and back at work the day after that. This is major surgery. There will be pain.

It's no wonder that fox news viewers are the most misinformed and the most likely to believe false information about American political news than any other news channel Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 09:36 AM EST Fox News busted in a brand new lie The left is on fire again about this latest Fox news blatant "editing" lie. Special thanks are in order for Keitho who posted this latest ruse. O'Reilly was interviewing Mike Tobin about how violent the Wisconsin protest have become. Remember this is the same guy who lied about getting hit at a Wisconsin protest--only to have that myth debunked by video evidence on Mediate. He lied. While Bill and Mike exchanged their lies about the Wisconsin protesters, there was a tape rolling with angry people yelling --cops on horses separating the crowd--it was wild and out of control. Wow, it's amazing that not a single newspaper, radio station, cable, local or network news service picked up this huge battle on the streets of Wisconsin. But somehow, Fox got the story. Oh wait, where are the heavy coats, the ear-muffs and the snow that we've seen in every shot? Oh my goodness, look at that street lined with beautiful green palm trees at the 15-second mark. Wait, a street lined with green palm trees on the streets of Wisconsin? Where? Certainly no one in Wisconsin has ever seen that street. So why is Bill O'Reilly showing a violent protest from some other state by some other group at some other time to imply that they were the Wisconsin protesters? Because fox news lies, fox news lies, fox news lies, fox news lies... video:

Yes, I've seen some threads called - what did you name your band - or something like that - so apparantely some do. It takes all kinds, I guess.

My advice: Go back to your surgeon and be tested to see exactly what is going on with the band If everything is okay, then ask to see a counselor who deals with food eating issues (in the head) - a lot of patients had to go through a psych evaluation prior to surgery. If they don't have a counselor, seek out Overeaters Anonymous - they deal with the emotional aspects of eating. Meet with the nutritionist at the hosptial. They all have one. Start with seeing if you can figure out a way to eat the most amount of healthy food with the fewest calories. Pick a total daily calorie consumption - like 1500 and pick those healthy foods where you get the most bang for your buck. Choose healthy Snacks and eat every couple of hours - don't allow yourself to get too hungry. Keep a food journal. Figure out when your difficult time periods are during the day or what events might precipitate your eating. You are not a failure. You are human. And you asked for help. I hope I have provided you with some. Good luck.

Very cute. And since some name their band what should I name mine: Larry, Curly or Moe?

The Wall Street Journal is hardly a bastion of liberalism: NBC/WSJ poll: 62% against stripping public employees' bargaining rights Mark Murray writes:Strong majorities of Americans say they are comfortable with states requiring their employees to pay more for their retirement and health care to balance state budget deficits, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. But the public is adamantly against eliminating public employees' collective-bargaining rights -- as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ® is pursuing. In the poll, a whopping 68 percent find it acceptable requiring public employees to contribute more of their pay for retirement benefits; 63 percent are fine with requiring these employees to pay more for their health-care benefits; and 58 percent are OK with freezing public employees' salaries for one year. But just 33 percent say it's acceptable -- and 62 percent say it's unacceptable -- to eliminate these employees' collective-bargaining rights as way to deal with state budget deficits. In addition, 77 percent believe that public employees have the same collective-bargaining rights (when it comes to health care, pensions, and other benefits) that union employees who work for private companies have. The entire poll -- which was conducted Feb. 24-28, and which has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points -- will be released at 6:30 pm ET.

48% of likely voters back GOP Governor Walker 38% back unions, 11 point difference. I'll trust my poll over the right wing rasmussen one. How did I know, before I opened it, that would be who conducted the one poll you posted?

I couldn't find the story on Fox News either. Maybe because it didn't happen. After the Arizon shooting I didn't hear anyone from the right denouncing the violent, hateful, gun methaphor rhetoric that the political right tries to pass as legitimate political discourse. Not one. In fact, they became defensive of it or in some cases tried to backpedal. palin even went so far as to post a video defending her extreme rhetoric. Neither you, nor anyone else on the right, denounced this and those right wingers in the media bashed those who did. So don't bring up this one example (that no major news station, including fox, is reporting) and try to hold it to a different standard than you held the right wing hateful rhetoric. How do you spell hypocrisy - R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N

If you saw the outrageous way they took the vote in less than a second, literally less than a second, I would say that having a cup of water thrown was getting off easy for anyone nearby. Check out the video of the vote.

So, this right wing crack pot didn't like the wording of the poll that undercuts his views. Wow, I'm shocked.

ABOVE is the original post. BELOW is the post I questioned: My top weight was 319 lbs. I weighed 292 lbs when I had my lap-band surgery on 5/19/09. This morning I weighed 166 lbs and I continue to lose...as long as I follow the rules. I don't always follow the rules, I have bad days and bad weeks. I believe that lap-band will work if YOU WORK IT. I eat right, move more, stay motivated. My goals is 150 lbs. I never thought I would be 16 lbs from goal. I wear a size 12 in some things...a 14 in others. I go roller skating with my daughter. I can eat all of the Doritios and ice-cream I want...but I CHOOSE not to. If I chose to eat the crap, I would not lose weight. Would that be the fault of the band? I don't think so. I wish there was some sort of brain surgery that would make me have a healthy relationship with food, but there isn't, so I suppose I must continue to fight the battle. I am determined to win the war. I feel better now than I have in YEARS...I wish everyone luck in their journey. I am so glad that I didn't listen to the people that were negative about lap-band before I had my surgery. If my surgery was a failure, it would have been my failure, not the bands. I challenge anyone to tell me how this post in any way shows an understanding, let alone any concern or sympathy to the OP's experience or offers anything constructive to the OP. All the poster does is pat herself on the back. The bottom line says it all: if the surgery was a failure it would have been my failure, not the bands. This is saying that the OP's "failure" with the band was theirs. I stand my criticism of this post and people can read all they want about band successes all over LBT especially in the Lapband success stories thread. It doesn't belong in this thread and these kind of replies do more harm than good.

I love it. I am going to have to go to that list for new words to use when I read, yet again, from someone that "the band is just a tool" Thanks for this post.

<br /><br /><br /> There are several kinds of struggling posts: 1) I need a kick in the pants - tell me what to do. The tough love crowd can post here. 2) This band isn't working, I am not losing weight - why? The replies should ask the right questions and offer good advice. 3) And finally - the band isn't working - I am doing all the right things, following the rules and I hate it. I have had this test, this many fiills, done everything right, etc.. This is NOT the place for replies about how successful you have been, how much you love your band, how much weight you've lost and if you're struggling it must be your fault. And it is definitely not the place for - the band is just a tool. I don't think this is very hard to follow, IMO. And would probably result in far fewer posters leaving and being insulted, etc..

CM your posts really do come across quite harsh at times. I'm sure you don't mean it, but that's how they read I am NEVER harsh to those who are struggling. I just get so irritated with people who are so quick to post their success with the band and how they followed all the rules and they lost so much weight, eat most foods and just love their band as a reply to a struggler. It's okay to love your band but a person struggling doesn't want to hear that. It's like a person who is depressed hearing from a person - "I wake up everyday happy because I make up my mind to be happy and you can be happy too, if you just put your mind to it."And then they go on to judge those who are struggling blaming them for the failure because it could NEVER be the band. It can't be the band, it has to be you.Even if the person's struggles are their fault and they have fallen off the wagon - what they need are suggestions. Things to try that work. Small things like using small plate, shrimp fork and baby spoon, to big things like checking with your doctor and nutritionist or keeping a food journal.It's just the whole - I did it so you should be able to do it and if you can't then you're a failure post - that I can do without.Just look at how many people say they are afraid to say anything negative about the band because they will be blasted and are leaving, etc..Obviously there are just too many judgmental posters.

And what about you? Nothing to say about the lastest polls that show the support is for unions both across America and in WI and against Walker.

And after the Arizona shooting you agreed with all of those who blamed the hateful, violent, gun-rhetoric that passes for political debate on the right? Palin, limbaugh, sharon angle, etc? As I recall, you tried unsuccessfully to tie the shooter the left and I don't recall you denouncing the violent, hate filled rhetoric on the right. As for hypocrisy - well it is the oxygen of the republicans and neocons. You need to go back and read the thread (now closed) that I started about republican hypocrisy. Not a single post I made was refuted.

Then you better hurry and tell those Democratic governors who are saying - hey, if they don't want the money - send it our way. Guess they didn't get the neocon memo. Good thing the states under Eisenhower didn't predict failure for the highway system he built and reject the money. But those elected reps back then were reasonable and didn't have as their main goal to: have the democratic president fail, bust the unions (and the democrat's base) and restrict women's rights to reproductive services. They actually wanted to promote investment in America and cause America to succeed and progress.

When the thread is about a problem with the band the OP doesn't need to hear your success story or that the OP failed the band because the band NEVER fails them - they need some sympathy, some good advice and suggestions. That's why I called that post smug - because that's exactly what it suggested and I stand by what I said.

So would I. When someone posts that they hate their band, it isn't working or they have failed, even if they didn't follow the rules what they need is some sympathy, some good suggestions for getting back on track, some things we have tried that have worked, and just some good advice. What they don't need are posts that start with: THE BAND IS JUST A TOOL. Or...I don't have any problems eating any food and I have lost 50 pounds the first month and 100 in the next three months and I just follow all the rules and am the best banster ever and everything is rainbows and butterflies ad infinitum, ad nauseum. The OP doesn't need to know how great you are. If they ask for it they need some good advice and suggestions, not your success story. There is a separate thread for that.