Lioness81970

Margo - I didn't know about it. Let me know the details and I would love to ocme!

I just found out this weekend that I am going to have another baby. Imagine my shock when the pregnancy test said positive. I want another little boy but for some reason the name Natalie keeps popping in my head. Kinda wondering if it's telling me I'm having a girl............:preggers:

lol - it is really funny seeing everyone saying I can change the name to Nathan..................I have a 6 year old named Nathan already! Yes this is going to be my first band baby. I'm excited, nervous, anxious and most of all scared.

I found this article online and thought that you all my like to read it: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-01-02-obesity_x.htm

I would love to have a pen pal!! I am a 35 y/o divorcing mom of 4. I live in Milwaukee, WI. I LOVE to read - prefer that to the television. I also like to listen to music. Like a lot of different styles of music. I also love to swim, play board games with the kids, cards and internet gaming!

My 2 year anniversary was the day after Thanksgiving and I really comtemplated about writing this post. I wasn't going to but then I thought about it......if others hadn't posted I wouldn't have known what to expect. So here I post not really knowing what to write but I am going to try my best to express what I feel now as opposed to 2 years ago. When I first started researching the band I was actualy considering having the bypass done. A few co-workers had it done and I was thinking to myself "yea I'm gonna do that too!" Then I thought about my kids and about all the complications that went or could come along with it and I thought against it. Some how - by the grace of God - I found this website. Quite honestly prior to coming to this site I had never even heard of the band. It was when I got here that I realized this could be the alternative to the bypass and I couldn't do enough reading or get enough info on the procedure. One I realized what it oculd do I made the appointment and had the surgery done. 2 years ago it was the day before Thanksgiving and I had them schedule that day for a very specific reason. This surgery was going to give me a new lease on life and I was very thankful to be having it done. The day of surgery I was 309.5 pounds and 33 years old. I could barely get out of bed because my knees hurt so bad. I hated shopping for clothes being a size 28 because nothing ever looked right on me and my favorite thing in the world to do was eat and eat some more. I would go to work and the first thing that came to mind was "what's for lunch?" I thought about food as much as I thought about my kids. I'm a slow loser but I don't care anymore. In the beginning I doubted my own decision to have the band done thinking to myself why didn't I have the bypass done? Look at all the other people that did and they look great. I want this weight to come off NOW! That was when I had to really sit back and think to myself why I really had this surgery done. Did I want a quick fix or was I in this for the long run. I am now 192 pounds and I can't remember the last time I weighed this. I am smaller now than I was when I gave birth to my first born who is 16. It has been hard and for all of those people that knock the band and say it doesn't work......well they don't know what they are talking about. During the course of the last 2 years I have discovered so much about myself that has probably always been there but I was just too scared to face. I left my husband after 13 years because - for as much as I loved him - I had to realize I loved myself more. I wasn't a door mat and I refused to be walked over any more. I was a human being and a beautiful person inside and out and damn it I deserved better than what he was giving me. Did the band make me realize all the problems that were there? Nope but it helped me come to grips with what was right in front of my face. It hurt to walk away but I would have been hurting even more if I would have stayed. Another thing I realized were who my true friends were. It's weird but it was funny how many people were my friend but then when I started loosing weight they just stopped hanging around me or stopped asking me to go out. It seems as if they were jealous of me instead of being happy. I figured that the outside may have changed but ultimately the inside was still the same. All I can say it their loss!! I also had to come to grips with my love of food. I loved food - especially pizza. Didn't matter what kind as long as it was edible. When I first got the band and was starting to try to get to the right level of restriction there were times when I would try to eat something and the band wouldn't allow it to happen. I would cry because damn it I WANTED it and I couldn't have it. That's when I knew that I really needed - once again - to reevaluate why I had this surgery. One thing that I am proudest of is the fact that I have become more confident with myself. I have finally come to the realization that I am a beautiful woman. It's not the look of my face, the shape of my body or even the clothes that I wear - it's my heart. It's my personality - and well ok - the outside doesn't look bad either!! Every morning that I wake up and get dressed I look in the mirror and say hello to the sexy woman that stares back at me - thanks DeLarla for reminding!! I realized people perceive you for what you perceive yourself. If you think you aren't worthy then people will TREAT you as if you aren't worthy and let me tell you I AM worth it and so is each and every one of you on this board!! Every day has been a struggle although each and every day it seems to be getting easier. I am lucky. I have had a picture perfect band. No major complications and the side effects that I have had were self inflicted. I know what I need to do but sometime I don't because, well to be honest, I'm not perfect. Would I change anything about the experiences that I've had or will have going into my 3rd year? Not in a million!!! I know I've rambled on and jumped from here to there but I hope everyone is able to understand what I'm saying. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my boring post!! Lots of love to you all!!

I started at 51.3 and am currently down to 31.9.

I am sympathizing with you all. I am in Wisconsin and I am freezing my butt off!! I know what you mean about being cold now that I have lost weight. I would never get cold but now I keep my heat on and sleep in long underware! Talk about sexy!!

The last couple of times that I have had a PB I have noticed little specks of blood in it. 1st time it happened I kind of blew it off because I wasn't sure if that was actually what it was or if maybe it was food. Well last night I am positive that it was blood. I didn't have anything red and hadn't had anything with red IN it. I called my doctor's office this morning and exlained everything to the nurse. 1st question she had for me was is the PB a common occurrance - for which it's not. She told me to take it light maybe stick to liquids and mushies for today. Said that maybe I just had an irritated eshophogas and that could be where the blood is from. She told me to just watch if it should happen again and if it does that I need to be seen right away. So my question to all of you is - have any of you ever experienced this? I mean I'm not too concerned at this point because I don't PB alot nor have I had any complications whatsoever - picture perfect banding!! Just wanted to throw it out there and see if anything like that has happened to anyone.

Well I am going to let all of you in on a little secret.....I have 1 pepsi or mountain dew every day - not diet or anything but a regular soda. I had been having major headaches and I don't believe in taking all types of medicines unless absolutely necessary. I went to my doctor and she had prescribed a medicine for migraines for me but it made me sicker. Since she has been my doctor for ages and knows how I feel about medicine we compromised. I'm sure many of you know that caffiene combats headaches so - with my band doctor's permission of course - I have a soda with caffeine and 2 ibuprofens a day and my headaches are a rare thing. When I spoke to my band doctor and told him the situation he said soda doesn't cause slippage nor stretching of your pouch unless you are drinking a gallon of it. He said that although it is not GOOD for your body or your teeth it is not going to interfere with the band. I have been on this soda/IB therapy for about 6 months now and my restriction level has not changed at all. I don't have any discomfort with it either. As a matter of fact I have more problems drinking orange juice, out of a straw or a Corona than I do a Pepsi or Mountain Dew. So with that said - I am backing DeLarla on this one (as I sip my ice cold Mountain Dew)

I think anyone of us can help you out or just lend a ear or shoulder or anything you want. I don't think any of us woul dmind you PM'ing or emailing. Take care!

UHC - approved in 10 days!

well said DeLarla!! I feel the exact same way you do!! One of my friends said to me - don't know if it was jealousy or if she was being funny - You think you're all that. My response to her? I AM!!!! And I do think I am all that. I am a beautiful person inside and out. Loosing weight didn't make me that way but it helped to give me the confidence to look deep inside myself and see it. Hell if I don't think I am who else will??

Megan - I am SOOO proud of you!! I am so glad that you finally realized what a beautiful person you are both inside and out!! I wish you nothing but good times ahead and all the happiness you deserve!! Congratulations again!!

Jennifer - luckily UHC is probably the most friendly when it comes to wls. The chances of you getting approved are great. Get the letter - and as much other info you can from your primary doc - and have that all submitted. Chances are you will be approved - providing there are no exclusions in your policy about weight loss.

1. What is your name? Carmen 2. What color shirt are you wearing? brown/b;ack 3. What are you listening to right now? naggin customers 4. What was the last thing you ate? popcorn 5. Do you wish on stars? all the time 6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue 7. How is the weather right now? cold 8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my daughter 9. Favorite Sport? none 10. Favorite drink? water with lemon 11. Hair color? brownish red 12. Eye color? brown 13. Siblings? none 14. Favorite month? August 15. Favorite food? Chicken 16. What was the last movie you saw? Roll Bounce 17. Favorite day of the year! Every day I wake up healthy 18. What do you do to vent anger? read a book 19. What was your favorite toy as a child? jump rope 20. Summer or winter? Summer 21. Hugs or Kisses? Hugs 22. Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla 23. Restaurants or home cooking? Restaurant - let them clean up the mess! 24. Will everyone care enough to respond? Sure 25. When was the last time you cried? 2 days ago 26. What is under your bed? lots and lots of dust and dog hair 27. How long have you been a member of Lapband Talk? 2 years 28. What did you do last night? watched my soa[ operas on the DVR 29. What are you afraid of? drowning to death or being burned alive - not death itself but dying in one of those ways 30. Favorite car? Ford Taurus 31. Favorite flower? Lilac 32. How many keys on your ring? 5 33. How long have you been at your current job? 5 years 34. Favorite day of the week? Saturday 35. What did you do on your birthday? Went out with some co-workers 36. How many states have you lived in? 1 37.How many cities/towns have you lived in? 1 38. What is your favorite form of exercise? swimming 39.Your favorite store for bargains? Wal-Mart 40. Wasn't this fun? Yes

I have this on my computer and read it every day: What you really know is possible in your heart is possible. We make it possible by our will. What we imagine in our minds becomes our world.

Well I named mine Christine - after the car in Stephen King's movie :angry

Loosing 100 lbs in a year is awesome. I don't consider that slow by any means!! It took me about 19 months to loose 100 pounds. I was a slow looser but when I thought about how healthy I look and that the weight hasn't come back, it could have been 5 years and I would have been happy. Someone on here with all their infinate wisdom said "the weight didn't happen over night and you're not going to loose it over night." I remind myself of that every day. So now if the scale doesn't move for a month I don't care and it doesn't seem to bother me. Why? Because even if it's not going down it sure isn't going up!!! Congrats on your weight loss cause you are doing GREAT!!!

I can't eat any bread, cakes, donuts, bagels - exception to the rules are hard shell tortillas or saltine crackers. Anything else is a PB in the making. I thought it would be hard to give up bread but my band made it real simple. After the first time I ever had bread and felt that pain - I haven't looked back and I really don't miss it. Of course there are those days that I would LOVE to have a piece of Panera's french baguet with some soup but I pretty much steer clear.

Jill Scott - Beautifully Human......I just love that cd. I don't think it's really getting the recognition it deserves cause it is a BEAUTIFUL cd.

Mark Walburg, Richard Gere, Ice Cube, and I would consider becoming a switch hitter if Angelina Jolie or Milla Jovovich(sp) walked past.

Why don't u talk to your doctor about doing it for you at a reduced rate? I mean I'm sure that he has to know money is very limited and with what just happened he has to know it cost you more than it would have had the oriiginal fill been done under floro. Maybe you can get so many for so much money? Doesn't hurt to ask. Just a suggestion

I have on a teal green set: lace bra and boy short style!

Things I've been able to do: 1) Paint my toenails and wear heals 2) Do the splits 3) Ride on a rollercoaster 4) get a bra and panty set that matched from Victoria's Secret 5) wear Tommy and Guess jeans in a size 36 and the biggest thing that I have been able to do is: WEAR MY 13 YR OLD'S CLOTHES!!! Things I still haven't done but working on right now: 1) getting a tattoo 2) going back to school 3) joining the military