MeganA

I just had a really good idea to help me with this week's goal for myself. I've been eating a lot of stuff that isn't going to get me to where I want to be. I think all the sugar I ate at Christmas time has triggered a huge sugar binge. I've gotten to the point where I no longer feel guilty or "bad" because I've eaten stuff like candy, Cookies, etc. But, I know it's not going to help me get to where I want to be. So- I'm going to get one of those little white wipeoff boards and put it on my fridge with my daily and weekly goals on it. I'll also put my reward on it as well. That way anytime I go into the kitchen I'll be reminded. I think I might put little stars on the days when I reached the goal for that day. Watch out cookies and candy- your days in my life are numbered! Megan

Why does chromium act like a diet pill for you? What happens? I NEED CHROMIUM! Why do you have a hat and scarf on in your avatar? You live in Las Vegas...isn't it always 90 degrees there? Megan

Exactly Lisa...I'm done thinking food is good or bad...but it's the out of control obsessiveness that I HATE. My goal this week is to break the cycle. I'm taking a week off of sweets. I decided this after I had a snickerdoodle cookie for Breakfast. Megan

Kelly- I hope you're feeling better soon. My doctor always recommends cream based Soups for when I'm too tight (usually right after a fill). Apparently they are heavier than a Water based soup and kind of push themselves through the band without needing a lot of help. I've never had reflux so I can't tell you if it will work with that, but is sounds like the Cream of Broccoli went well. Good luck, and keep us posted! Megan

Shredded Wheat is fantastic. Although I decided to change it up a bit and I threw some Raisin Bran into the diet. Works as well as the Shredded Wheat, if you know what I mean. :-) How's the mushy stage treating you? Megan

Thinnest People Eat a Lot of This food A four-nation study of more than 4,000 men and women ages 40 to 59 has produced a stunning conclusion in our Atkins diet-fueled society: The thinnest people on Earth eat the most carbohydrates. Even more alarming, the people who eat the most Protein are actually the heaviest. "Without exception, a high-complex-carbohydrate, high-vegetable-protein diet is associated with low body mass," study leader Linda Van Horn of Northwestern University said in a news conference reported by Reuters. "High-protein diets were associated with higher body weight." Before you reach for the nearest doughnut, realize that the carbs that do a body good aren't from french fries and white bread that contain lots of sugar. They are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. In the Northwestern study, more than 4,000 people from the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and China wrote in a food diary everything they had eaten during two 24-hour periods. "Lo and behold, what we did find is that without exception, a high complex-carbohydrate, high-Fiber, high vegetable-protein diet was associated with low body mass index Van Horn explained. A low body mass index or BMI is a standard measure of healthy weight. But also notable is this finding: The more animal protein that was consumed, the higher the person's weight. And the greater risk to his or her health. "I think any diet that recommends increasing the amount of saturated fat poses a risk," said Randal J. Thomas of the Mayo Clinic. "There may be good things about the diet...but any diet that recommends increases in saturated fat could be increasing the risk in the population."

Mark- Welcome to the forum. Let me begin my post by saying that I might tick you off..and I hope I don't...but I'm going to give you my honest opinion here, and you can take it or leave it. I mean everything I say with a compassionate heart and spirit. That being said... I understand your feelings about your son's weight issues. Please do not judge the success or failure of your parenting skills on what your son weighs. Please do not make your son move out because of his weight or because you think he doesn't take his health issues as seriously as you do. THIS WILL NOT HELP. He has enough shame and self esteem issues to deal with that the moment he moves out, he'll eat all of those feeling away even more. This I can promise you. You are viewing your son's weight as something that he has control over. He has a disease. A very serious, chronic disease. I understand that you and your wife are slightly overweight but you really don't understand the physical, emotional, biological, and chemical things in the body of someone who is morbidly obese. It's a whole different ball game. This is not anyone's fault. Not yours, your wife, or your sons. This is the hand your son was dealt. Treat his obesity like it is a disease. If he had lukemia would you make him move out? Let me tell you what my parents did... They loved me to peices. They supported me in EVERYTHING I did. They never made me feel ashamed or odd or lazy or stupid because I was fat. I was told I could do the same things other kids could do. I was encouraged to be in sports even if that meant they had to take me to the twin cities to buy me special uniforms to fit me. As I grew up, I was taught that education was the most important thing in the world- over material things and looks and money. I was taught that I was a wonderful person - fat and all. My family NEVER picked on me. I was never called any names or made to feel odd. And I weighed 250 pounds in 7th grade. My mom shopped with me and paid extra money for plus size clothes and never complained. When I did go on diets or try various things to lose weight, they were ultra supportive of my effort- not the results of the effort. I assume you love your son if you are here asking for help. As he is 18 (and I assume in ok mental health), he is an adult who is capable of making this kind of a life changing decision on his own. Give him all the tools- the information on the surgery, the websites you've found helpful, and any other information you think is important. And then let him be. It took me over 6 months to get up the courage to look into having surgery and I'm not 18. It's a very frightening place to be in. He will need time to think the idea through and find out if HE is willing to do what needs to be done. This surgery is not a miracle cure- there is a LOT of work that goes into making it a success. And at this point, it needs to be his effort and his success. I'm sorry to tell you this, but it may be a long time before the pain of being overweight is too much to bear for him. If the pain of him being overweight is too much for you and your wife to bear- then get the two of you to some counseling that can help you with some of the feelings you are having. All I can really say is this- love your son the way he is. I know it's scary that his health is very compromised...but he's young and if he's working out once and awhile he's got to be in pretty good shape. The world will not be easy for him...make sure that home IS easy. That's my two cents and I hope that you know I wish you well. Megan

I'm sooo there!!! Megan

For some reason I was thinking about her yesterday, myself. I sure miss her wisdom and common sense advice, as well as her wonderful sense of humor. Merry Christmas Donali!!! Megan

I take Colace (stool softner but what a gross name!) whenever I've had this problem. If I don't, I can get horrific gas pains and think I am dying (ore delivering a child). I never leave home without gas-ex anymore. Wow...I can't believe I'm still single. Megan

Happy Holidays everyone! I was wondering what the veteran bandsters out there (1 year plus) feel about how tight a fill is. I've noticed that there are quite a few folks who find themselves filled too tight- but don't have an unfill because they are loosing weight faster. Why do people do this? I mean, I understand emotionally why but with all the talk about erosion and slippage lately- why compromise your band just to lose faster? I guess to me it doesn't make a lot of sense- if you get the band to get healthy and you leave your band too tight and can't eat normal, healthy foods- aren't you doing something just as unhealthy? I'm not refering to anyone or any particular post here...just my thoughts on this frigid Sunday. What are other people's thoughts and experiences? Megan

I so appreciate everyone's perspectives on this. It seems like being overfilled to lose weight just doesn't make any sense. Patty- have you tried going on liquids for a couple of days? After I get a fill I am always all over the place with my restriction if I don't do liquids and mushies for a day or two to get my stomach to settle down. You're more of a veteran than I am, so you've probably already done this- just thought I'd mention it just in case. Megan

Pat- Just wait until jsut one egg carries you through breakfast and lunch :-) Megan

Gosh, it is a scary thought to have such a complication. When I think about it, it isn't the physical stuff that scares me- it's the emotional stuff...like- how would I live without my band now that I know what it feels like to have food just be food and not a coping mechanism. I know my body is strong and would heal itself...but my emotions would be a wreck. But we all have to remember that we have to trust ourselves and know that strength got us to the point where we could make a choice to get banded in the first place. Strength carried us through the awful liquid phases and through the soreness and the terrors that we had when we couldn't use food as an emotional crutch. It is strength that has gotten us to where ever it is we are now... And, God forbid, any of us encounter complications along our way...our strength and friendship will help heal the wounds. This is what I tell myself when I get scared. Megan

Babs- what a great story. It must have felt fantastic to have everyone notice. I'm at the stage where people think I've gotten a new haircut. Since I've told just about everyone in my life about my surgery- they KNOW I've lost weight, and then they say "I really like how you're wearing your hair now". It's the same as it's been for three years. I just tell them, "thanks...my hair is actually the same...I just got a new neck". Megan

Alex- Like everyone else, I'm totally there too! The only thing that helps me at night is to have a glass of milk. I don't know if it's the fat or the Protein or the carbs in it, but it is my first step in the "stop the maddness" nightly routine. Usually it works, sometimes it doesn't. The other night I left a meeting and had such a craving for a cheeseburger I stopped and got one. And ate the whole thing. It's like my band opens WIDE after 9 p.m. NOT GOOD!!! If you come up with a miracle cure, please let me know ASAP! Megan

I have been having weird muscle pain too- I'm sure some potassium wouldn't hurt... I've also been told that when you lose weight everything gets redistributed...and your muscles have to adjust. I never used to get back pain from my stomach but now that I've lost my butt, my back has to do more work to keep me from tipping over :-). Megan

Therese- Best of luck on Wednesday!!! Let us know how it goes! Megan

Hi there...having to have the surgery in a tight time frame is not an easy thing to do. You can try letting the surgeon's office know and they can possibly get you in if there is a cancelation. You might try some of the doctors in Crosby up North- they are relatively new and this summer their time frame was really fast. I don't know if your insurance covers it up there, but that's about the only thing I can think of. There are people who are waiting for a year just to get into the seminar to start the ball rolling. Good luck! Megan

Dawn- I love it when another Minnesotan finds this board. Congrats on your banding. I'm so happy you've had such success!!! Megan

Melissa- It sounds to me like you figured out two very important success factors: patience and a positive attitude. These are two very critical pieces that are left out of all the literature we get from our surgeons. Without these two things, the whole banding process could be a lot harder than it has to be. Good for you for taking a step back and looking at the positives! Megan

Great suggestion New Hope. I had my surgery done with Dr. Ikramuddin at the University Fairview. I think he's a fantastic surgeon. I attended a seminar at Abbot Northwestern but they were pretty much into the RNY. They do do lapbands. I know Dr. Lederer (sp?) at HCMC is a big fan of the band. He trained under Dr. Ikramuddin. Good luck! Megan

Penni- I know I can't make it to the party, but I'd love to send an ornament for the tree. I'd love to know that there is a bandster tree out in the world sending good, joyful Karma to all of those still struggling. I'm getting sentimental...Christmas always does it to me. Just send me your address and I'll find a perfect ornament. Great idea, by the way! Megan

Penni- This is exactly the kind of post that makes this forum the kind of place it is. Everyone is entitled to get angry...and to stick up for themselves and ask each other hard questions. That's what makes a good friend...and if you ask me...the whole of the people on this forum make one giant (although slim!) friend. Megan

I was looking for this thread earlier today and got really mad when it wasn't here. I find this all very interesting...and I'm sure a bit frightening to any newbie out there. If you are new to the band, the process, the pros, the cons, the good, the bad, and the ugly...PLEASE KNOW THAT WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE IS NOT THE BAND ITSELF BUT A PARTICULAR SURGEON!!! We are asking the manufacturer of the band to be accountable for allowing a surgeon who has a sketchy record to continue placing bands- but not the band itself or other surgeons. So, keep this thread in perspective, new people. To Margretr- I've met every one of the people you are harrassing on this board in person- and you have no idea who you are dealing with. These are strong women who, despite all of the troubles and stress and sadness they have faced with the band ,are the biggest supporters of it and the people who want it/have it. It breaks my heart to think that they can't have it as "easy" as the rest of us...that a doctor has the power to give them a gift and then take it away. Please be compassionate and understand that their anger is extremely justified, and that they are leaders- either formally or informally- of this forum. I for one could not have gotten through some real rough patches without their support. Leave them alone. Now that I think about it- I think it's been a good thing that Margretr brought up the topic...I think that a bunch of women pissed off can do great things. I'd like to sign up to contact whomever I should at INAMED, the government, Dr. Lopez. I want to do my part to support you all. Megan