faithmd

Hello Amy, here's a link to a thread about the AP band, I posted near the end of the thread about my conversation with Allergan about the band. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=24564

I'll be staying overnight with a swallow study in the morning, too.

Okay, I'm a dee dee dee, I did find the new posts, but it is awkward having it off the tool bar and as part of a sentence. The color for the "new posts" link doesn't stand out so it is not easy to find. Also, the other thing about the ads being in the left is that we read from left to right (in English anyway), while ad placement on the left would then direct you to the ad first, it is aggravating. Especially when on the net we are used to menus being on the left of pages and ads usually being on the right.

While the skin is nice, I don't like the orientation of the ads to the left because now it causes me to shift my page to read the right side. On the teal skin when the ads were on the right, I could still read all of the board without problems and the ads were still there, yet I did not have to shift anything. Also where is the Today's Posts or New Posts??? That is the feature I use 99% of the time!

Thanks twinmommy! Macysgranny, I wuld give your PCP a jingle and ask what to do about the meds, and I second the advice (and third it, even) to walk even a few minutes a couple times a day (it made a huge difference for me in about ten days), to cut out as much sodium as possible, and add grapefruit juice (it's a natural diurectic) if you can. Drink lots of water and as a lst point, are they using the correct BP cuff? If you use too small of a cuff, it will read a high BP. The cuff should comfortably go around your arm and the velcro should overlap by a large portion. If it is straining to stay on while they are pumping it up, it's too small.

I just got my date, May 31st! I'm barely a May girl and this thread will be slowing down by the time I'm banded...Will I be a May or a June girl?

I have a date!!! May 31st at 10:30am! Woohoo! I'm going for pre-admission testing the 9th and to my nutrition class the 10th, then I start my icky two week pre-op diet the 17th. Yeah! The only thing is the scheduler told me my insurance said something about being concerned with mood swings, though I am approved. I am completely confused. I have never had any problems with mood, I've not been on any meds, I have never been in any counseling nor in any therapy, I have never mentioned depression or elation or had any issues at all. My psych eval was fine (I have a copy) and reccommended me for the procedure. So I called my ins co and spoke with my case manager who has been with me through all of this and she knows nothing about it. She said my approval letter is in the mail to me and it gives no indication about that. I'm really cornfuzzled. And I do not want it on my chart if it is there. Hmmmm....

And we're both in Michigan! (I'm near A2) Thanks for the welcome, I can't wait to see the scale move the right direction.

OMG!!! The new Dairy Queen commercial where the ice cream goes and borrows the chocolate sauce from the waffle bowl, I just about die every time I see that one... This is my first post on this thread and I just want to say that I think this will be one of my favorite places to stop in each day when I log on. As so many have said, I cannot remember when I was last under 300 for any length of time. I do remember I made it to about 294 about 2 1/2 years ago while doing low-carb, but I but that 47 lbs back on and more. I also vividly recall saying if I ever saw the scale say 300 I'd get on the bandwagon and lose weight and not stop...well I didn't stop, eating that is...and I made it as high as 371. I'm glad to be back solidly in the lower end of the 300's and hope to see the 200's by July 4th. I don't have a band date yet but the scheduler said they are scheduling into late May/early June and she'll call me today... I think I'd better call her.

I think it would have to go back to how it was spoken about. If a religion believes it is a sin, then that is what they believe and if that is what they wish to preach to their parishoners, then let them preach it... With a caveat: It should be spoken about as merely something they do not believe in, homosexuality/transgenered persons should never be called awful names, nor should the ministers spew hatred or make disparaging comments like it is an abomination or things such as that. We all have different belief systems, that is what makes the world go around, but just because you believe differently from me, doesn't mean I should be taught to HATE you. That's crossing the line and should never be tolerated, no matter what the law. For the record, I have marched in many a gay pride parade and have loaned many of my former clubbing outfits to friends who do drag. I do not believe it is a sin, nor an abomination. I just believe that if you do and are a minister speaking to your congregation, you should have the right to teach what your church's beliefs are. As long as you are not preaching HATRED.

From what I have read around here and on other boards, about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food at a meal is a good amount. 10cm can be how long your band is, and it holds 4cc's or 4 mL's (depending on which you prefer to use), unless you have the VG or Vanguard band, that is a 10cc band. Do you have access to a nutritionist with your surgeon's practice? I would suggest that if you can, make an appointment and go over where you should be at this stage post banding. Nutritionsists are very helpful (most of the time, if they are properly trained, that is).

Woohoo!!!!! Happy Bandiversary!!!!! I think your goals are fantastic!!!! I am absolutely living vicariously through you, I love roller derby and have never been thin enough and in shape enough to do it, I'd love to try someday when I get a bit smaller ) if I'm not too old by then. I used to love to watch it on TV on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and late night (I'd sneak and watch it while my parents were sleeping). :kiss I wish you luck on your upcoming knee surgery and hope you have a fast and fairly painless recovery. Can't wait to see pics from the ball!!

Just click on go advanced once in the edit screen.

One suggestion, stop weighing so often! Weigh once a week or even less, the ups and downs do nothing but make us insane. The biggest thing to remember is are we losing weight over a period of time? If the answer is yes, then you are doing fine. Remember, the weight loss is only supposed to be 2 lbs a week, if you think about it, that's only 8 lbs a month. I know some lose faster than that, I have lost (and I am not even banded yet) about 3-4lbs per week but I know that will be slowing down soon. As WasaBB said, we didn't put it on overnight...

I would suggest you consider buying Protein shakes sweetened with Stevia if you want the convenience of just pouring a scoop of protein in your mixer with Water or milk. You can do a google or yahoo search for Protein Drink stevia Stevia is a plant leaf extract with no known side effects and it is not processed by the body like sucralose (Splenda). Amazon.com has quite a few flavors and sizes available in their protein drink with stevia. I hope these help. I'm sure someone here who had experienced this can suggest a more natural recipe perhaps with the unflavored protein powders. http://www.naturalhealthmarket.com/whey.htm [ame=http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hpc/104-6241934-3436758?url=node%3D3760931&field-keywords=vitalabs+ultra+whey+24&Go.x=9&Go.y=9]http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hpc/104-6241934-3436758?url=node%3D3760931&field-keywords=vitalabs+ultra+whey+24&Go.x=9&Go.y=9[/ame] This was an Amazon.com search for "Vitalabs Ultra whey 24" which are protein powders sweetened with Stevia http://www.energyfirst.com/ Their Pro Energy is sweetened with Stevia

I just visited rapestop.net and it looks like they are gearing up to distribute the product, it's been patented. They have a place where you can subscribe to their newsletter to find out more info. They also have photos of the product, it looks like fish hooks in there. Fascinating! This product should probably become as frequently used as shampoo.

I think this dress is just beautiful, and you will be gorgeous in it! I LOVE the heels, and I agree with those who say no necklace and good-sized earrings with a good sized bracelet or a couple of thinner ones stacked. I love the idea of sunta's about accessories in the hair, even if it's just a beautiful ivory rose or lily. I also think Jachut is absolutely on the right track with her suggestion about the skin, if you're not much of a tanning person and wouldn't even feel comfy having one sprayed on, I would at the very least suggest going to your local Target or Wallyworld or Walgreens and getting a container of Shower-to-Shower's Shimmer effects powder. It is very cooling, smells wonderful and light, does not overpower perfume, and the gold shimmer is stunning and would be a must-have accessory for me if I were wearing that dress. A little gold shimmer on the skin does wonders for everyone.

Why can't people just say "thank you for the nice gift" and then STFU. And tell their family to STFU, too!

Oooo, thanks! That's the other one I couldn't remember. I'm off to join it and give it a try. I like fitday, and I like it a lot better for my lifestyle than sparkpeople, but I'm happy to try something else.

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow, I hope it all goes well for you. Here's a link to the forum where you'll find lots of good info, including some questions to ask your doctor, I hope it helps: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73

I hope this helps somewhat, ask anything you need to and welcome to posting and most importantly, CONGRATS on being a BANDSTER!!! Hopefully I'll get a date soon!

The band is intended to be filled to provide restriction. Your doctor banded you and never told you how it worked? You got banded and never learned how the band works? Now *I'm* confused! Some people never get a "fill" and find that the restriction that just having the band placed provides is enough for thier weightloss needs, but they are a rare person. Most need fills (more than one) and some unfills to find the "sweet spot." The first fill doesn't come until at least four weeks and most usually six weeks after banding. Most people say it takes two or three or more fills to get to their "sweet spot" where their restriction is such that they feel satisfied after eating 1/2-3/4 cup of food and can eat most solid foods with the appropriate chewing and small bites.

Thanks everyone!! Wow WasaBB, I didn't even realize that! If only I could keep this up, but I know it will only last so long. I need this tool to help me keep up the loss. I'm looking forward to working with it and making the most of it.

Keep us updated, I'll be interested to follow this thread. Good luck at your appointment!

Good luck, Ray! I wish you the best in your surgery, and remember, walk, walk, walk after surgery to get rid of the gas pains. I was just approved today, so I'm waiting for a date, I'm hoping to be a May bandster as well. You'll have to look for the May bandster thread and for the just for guys thread. I love to hunt, we have girl's deer camp each year and last year I felt too bad and too fat to be able to carry my gear in and be comfortable (I was about 360# and 5'7"). I did it the year before at about 330#, but those last 40 lbs did it for me. I hunt with a 30-.06 and love nothing more than the crisp mornings watching the sun come up over the frosty and snow covered brush in my blind just waiting. I agree I'd love to elk hunt, but in my state, you get one chance. And to get a permit is a near impossibility. But maybe one day I'll go on a big game hunt for one. Take care!