faithmd

I cannot speak to using meat tenderizer for tenderizing meat, but I've seen folks post about using it if they've got some food stuck, it helps break it down so they are no longer blocked. As does pineapple juice and also papaya enzyme pills (available at health food stores).

Here's a few links to threads on here that discuss this, the first one is the most current and quite informative: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/irs-tax-deduction-t32327.html?t=32327 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/tax-deductible-t19852.html?t=19852 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/tax-deductible-t16947.html?t=16947 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/lapband-and-taxes-t17370.html?t=17370 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/taxes-t8243.html?t=8243 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/income-taxes-t4541.html?t=4541

AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!! The mere mention of the term "Kreb's Cycle" makes me sweat and sends my sympathetic nervous system into overload!! Oh those many nights trying desperately to understand it, or at least memorize it!

Some will argue that a surgeon who has done 4,000 is tons better than a surgeon who has done 100. I would argue that may not be true. I spoke with Don Mills at Allergan (the makers of the LapBand) and he told me that in order to be a proctor (teacher of others to place the band) for the LapBand, a surgeon must have placed...........100 bands! Yep, Allergan considers a surgeon who has placed 100 bands to be an "expert" in their eyes. I would say the surgeon you found sounds perfectly qualified. I would also ask him how many complications he has run into and what he has done about them. How many infections he has had and how many removals he has done (hopefully none to both, unless he is a surgeon who advertises for folks who WANT the band out, to come to him for removal). You also have to feel comfortable with his responses and he should not be hesitant to answer these questions. After all, you are hiring him to do work on your most valuable asset, your body. Check out what other patients think of him by looking over on obesityhelp.com for his profile. Good Luck! The surgeon I will likely end up having has only put in 30-50, but I am perfectly comfortable with his answers to my very pointed questions and the group he is in has among the lowest mortality rates in the country. I realize that 30-50 is a relatively low number, but I don't know that I'd be more comfortable having someone who has put in 4,000. I'd be wondering if I was being treated like a part on an assembly line and I would personally have to wonder if it becomes so repetitious to them after that many that they slack off sometimes (I'm sure that's not true, but *I* would think that).

Ah the age old question that has been asked over and over and over again. I don't know that there is consensus on this topic, so I'll post a few of the threads on here about this subject, perhaps you can check them out and make your own decision: Threads with Coke in the title: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/diet-coke-lovers-t31005.html?t=31005 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/coke-drinking-poll-t22906.html?t=22906 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/member.php?u=15552 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/coke-really-off-t30277.html?t=30277 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/diet-coke-t26965.html?t=26965 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/diet-coke-t21201.html?t=21201 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/want-diet-coke-t19796.html?t=19796 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/confessions-coke-addict-t18666.html?t=18666 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/diet-coke-t3464.html?t=3464 Threads with soda in the title (only a few listed, there are tons more): http://www.lapbandtalk.com/no-diet-soda-t32608.html?t=32608 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/soda-pop-t30051.html?t=30051 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/soda-forbidden-fruit-t22606.html?t=22606 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/any-suggestions-giving-t20516.html?t=20516 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/diet-soda-okay-t20610.html?t=20610 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/soda-drink-not-t16382.html?t=16382 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/diet-soda-t7033.html?t=7033 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/soda-pop-t6067.html?t=6067 Threads with carbonation in the title: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/proof-carbonation-can-t10880.html?t=10880 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/dr-c-question-t26776.html?t=26776 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/dr-c-questions-t20588.html?t=20588 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/carbonation-t8031.html?t=8031 Hope these help, there's lots of good info on here, and welcome to LBT, it is not a dumb question at all, as you can see, many folks ask it.

I've told my parents, DH and two friends that I'm considering it. My DH and parents will know when I finally get it, but I don't know if i'll tell my friends. It's no one's business and we have another woman at work who has had RNY and folks are always asking her about how much has she lost, is she gaining it back, why is she gaining it back, telling her she looks tired all the time, that she's pale, etc... (she is tired and she does look pale, but I'd never say that) I don't want the food police policing me, either. But I understand some people are helped by telling others and have supportive folks around them. I don't think that I do (at least not about WLS, they're all into WW, etc...), so I won't be saying anything.

Alexandra, I will also be thinking of you and hoping things turn out for the best, whatever that may be. We'll be waiting with baited breath to hear how things go.

I am very addicted to this site. There was another site (not band related) that I was addicted to fairly recently, I haven't been there in weeks...

www.bariatriceating.com here's the link straight to the protein page: http://store.bariatriceating.com/retodrprrt.html

Actually many states do not require permits to purchase, though most all require permits to carry handguns. Shall issue still requires registration and a class or a test for CCW. And I never said, nor would I ever say, that we need to make gun laws more liberal. I said we need to enforce what we have now (and many states don't have state regulations because they follow federal guidelines as you noted in your post), as opposed to passing more. If we can't enforce what we currently have, then what makes us think we can enforce even more?

Sounds like your port to me. A word of caution, though. Please make or get a medical alert card to carry with you mentioning not only that you have the LapBand, but that your port is on the right side of your body. If (God forbid) you get into an accident and they have to do a laparotomy to repair internal injuries and stop any bleeding, etc., they do an incision down your midline, which would be right through your port tubing (which is why they usually place the port on the left, to protect it in case of any such incident).

Guns aren't forbidden in Great Britain. You cannot own a handgun, but long guns are perfectly fine and dandy. And anyone can still saw off the barrel of a long-gun.

you have to pass a test and in some states, a review board to obtain a CCW license. In right-to-carry states, you have to take and pass a class in order to obtain a CCW permit. Absolutely! On this we totally agree, regulations (as they exist today) are a very good thing. Here's a copy of the laws regarding firearms that the "dastardly" NRA supports: <B>A Citizen's Guide to Federal Firearms Laws A summary of federal restrictions on the purchase, sale, possession, and transportation of firearms and ammunition. Caution: Firearm laws are subject to frequent changeand court interpretation. This summary is not intended as legal advice or restatement of law. This summary does not includestate or local laws,ordinances orregulations. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted foran accurateinterpretation. </B> Under federal law supported by the National Rifle Association, the use of a firearm in a violent or drug-trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory prison sentence of up to 20 years. A second conviction, if the firearm is a machine gun or is equipped with a silencer, brings life imprisonment without release. Violating firearms laws should lead to very real punishment for violent criminals, but the laws first must be enforced. Ineligible Persons The following classes of people are ineligible to possess, receive, ship, or transport firearms or ammunition: Those convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for over one year, except state misdemeanors punishable by two years or less. Fugitives from justice. Unlawful users of certain depressant, narcotic, or stimulant drugs. Those adjudicated as mental defectives or incompetents or those committed to any mental institution. Illegal aliens. Citizens who have renounced their citizenship. Those persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces. Persons less than 18 years of age for the purchase of a shotgun or rifle. Persons less than 21 years of age for the purchase of a firearm that is other than a shotgun or rifle. Persons subject to a court order that restrains such persons from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner. Persons convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Persons under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are ineligible to receive, transport, or ship any firearm or ammunition. Under limited conditions, relief from disability may be obtained from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, or through a pardon, expungement, restoration of rights, or setting aside of a conviction. Acquiring Firearms The following restrictions apply to firearms acquired through purchase, trade, receipt of gifts, or by other means. From Dealers Provided that federal law and the laws of both the dealer's and purchaser's states and localities are complied with: An individual 21 years of age or older may acquire a handgun from a dealer federally licensed to sell firearms in the individual's state of residence An individual 18 years of age or older may purchase a rifle or shotgun from a federally licensed dealer in any state It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer a firearm unless the federal firearms licensee receives notice of approval from a prescribed source approving the transfer. Sale of a firearm by a federally licensed dealer must be documented by a federal form 4473, which identifies and includes other information about the purchaser, and records the make, model, and serial number of the firearm. Sales to an individual of multiple handguns within a five-day period require dealer notification to the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Violations of dealer record keeping requirements are punishable by a penalty of up to $1000 and one year's imprisonment.

I can't imagine that anyone is saying to ease the current restrictions so that felons can LEGALLY own guns. My belief is that we should enforce the laws and regulations we currently have, why make more when we don't enforce the ones already on the books? I own guns, legally, and they are registered. One of my dream guns is a Kimber, the one I want goes for about $1200USD. I don't have that kind of money right now to tie up in a gun. I saw a news story recently where the exact gun I wanted was sold on the street for about $100. So you see, if you want a gun, and don't care about getting one legally, you can obtain it a whole lot cheaper than us law-abiding citizens can. Imposing more regulations and restrictions are only going to limit what us legal gun owners can own and do, it won't affect the criminals one iota.

15.3 per 100,000 people died from motor vehicle injuries in USA 2001 (NCHS, 2003) What can we do about these dastardly motor vehicles?

I agree, I have never watched Idol, but I see the clips of Sanjaya and I feel sad that this is what we have come to, voting to keep a no-talent ass clown like that on just because. I almost think he's a girl. What's up with people crying over him like they did the Beatles? What's up with anyone crying over any famous person just because they are seeing them in concert?

Google him if you want more info. There's a nice wikipedia about him and his lovely wife, Lois.

Here's a link to the thread about the ticker: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html

I've heard lots, and most of it has been quite positive. You'll find more info on him over obesityhelp.com along with people's opinions of him. Here's a link to his info page over there: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+reviews+Mark+Pleatman+hsj.html Just be forewarned about his office costs. His "program fee" for after care (which includes quite a bit) was reduced last year to $1500 from $3500.

When I used to dive (been a couple of years ), I bought my suits from Land's End (www.landsend.com). Their suits (at least then) offered the most sizes (short, regular, long) and the quality was fantastic!

I hear ya, I hadn't been on the scale in a couple of months earlier this year and when I got on, I couldn't BELIEVE when I saw 371!!!! I was upset enough about the 347 I had been the last time I was on....

HPB, I'm sorry things aren't good right now with the situation, I *am* glad to hear that you are doing much better health-wise, though! I agree with the thought above about putting him on ignore, though you might want him banned because of the situation, his username hasn't had any activity since 3/30 and he hasn't posted since 3/21. Personally, I would just put him on ignore. You can do that by going to the User CP link found on the blue toolbar near the top of the page, then on the left hand side you will find a box with a lot of actions. Near the bottom of that group of boxes is a Buddy/Ignore list link, just click on it and there you go, a way to ignore him so he can't email you, nor can you see any posts he might make. But if he hasn't made any since 3/21, I think the trouble might be over.

ReneBean: I don't know if you have a Big Lots anywhere near you, but they have (or at least all three around me do right now) the Propel Calcium water in at least three flavors (strawberry, Melon and Lemon) for 70 cents a bottle, a HUGE savings! They also have Fuze fitness water for 69 cents a bottle.

Well, it's been a week since my first appointment with the surgeon (March 27th) and I've called a couple of times to see where they are in the submittal process. On Friday (March 30th) they said they didn't have my diet history done (which the nurse I befriended told me she'd do on Wednesday). I had taken every little thing they would need, it was totally organized, cross-referenced and color coded (No, I'm NOT kidding). So I anticipated this would go quickly, and was TOLD this would go quickly. Well this morning the person who answered the phone said they were still waiting on the dictation from the surgeon (the nurse had told me that he dictates the next day). I got a little teensy bit annoyed and asked why on earth does it take a week to dictate? And after a week, what are the chances the dictation will be fully accurate (he wasn't taking notes when he saw me, three hours and fifteen minutes late...). So the first person transferred me to the voice mail for the office manager. The office manager calls me back (Janet) and tells me that it was dictated the next day, but it takes a week for the trascriptionist to type it a inter-office mail it back to them. Pffffft!! Ridiculous. And Janet assured me that I was a rare case who came in with everything done, she said usually they have a few weeks to get their stuff taken care of. I was not pleased. So anyhoos, she said she's thinking it will be submitted today. My case manager, Lynn (I love her), from my insurance company also called and spoke with the insurance lady (Lynne) at the surgeon's office to ask about it and she was also told they will submit this afternoon. Woohoo! Keep your fingers crossed!

That's a GREAT dress! I love those colors.