WASaBubbleButt

Chimboree... Thank you for the support. I'm SOOO glad Jacqui was on line at the time I was going through my "I'm a crazy loon" moment or I would have called my husband. That is not what I would have wanted after the fact so thankfully, people like you and Jacqui and everyone else are here. We all have needs at odd hours. People here are great.

I think you'll find that if you are banded your grocery bill will be cut drastically. I really do mean a drastic cut, too. So you might be able to bump up that figure a bit. You'll probably want to go to Mexico as it is much cheaper there, by about $2K. What state are you in? You know, this is workable. I'll bet you can do this.

A hiatal hernia repair results in the same exact scars. And a hiatal hernia can come back in the future.

You got an unfill so you could eat white carbs? I'm not sure I understand why. Carbs are what causes blood sugar spikes and when your blood sugar goes up from eating carbs your pancreas kicks out insulin. When that happens your blood sugar goes too low and that signals your body that you are hungry. Besides, white carbs are not going to help you lose weight. I think 1500-1800 is wayyyy too high, but not everyone agrees with me. My doc limits us to 800 calories daily. Most docs from what I have seen suggest around 1000 daily during the weight loss phase. If you wait until you are starving you will eat more. Don't wait that long. If you had enough fill removed so you could eat "weight-loss unfriendly" foods then you really won't lose a lot. If I was in your position I would get the fill back so I couldn't eat those kinds of foods. My band works because I can't eat those kinds of foods. Then I would cut out ALL white carbs, flour, sugar, rice, potatoes and that will cut your hunger. Keep your protein around 60gms daily, drink your S/F fluids, and make sure you are getting your 30 minutes of exercise daily.

BTDT. I used to teach nursing. First day of class I quickly realized we had a problem. So I had everyone draw an outline of a human body and put an "X" where they believe the heart is. You have no clue how many hearts exist where a stomach or bellybutton is.

I've wondered the same thing. I wonder if the TT will fix these final head issues. What if it doesn't? Holy crap, makes ya wonder if your head ever catches up.

Life is a constant adjustment. But I still had no idea there would be so many head issues FROM losing weight. I have worked so hard to deal with the head stuff, I read every study on obesity I can find, I have been able to undo a lot of old myths that let me justify more calories. I have thought through issues, dealt with stress issues, I have done everything I know how to deal with head stuff and this one just really hit me hard. I knew there were body image issues but when I didn't recognize my own reflection and was happy with that size until I realized it was me then the reflection instantly turned to a fatter person I was floored.

Actually, you are contributing here because just knowing I'm not going crazy and this is part of the process is exceedingly helpful. This was still bothering me at 2AM and honestly, I almost called my husband to ask him if I am crazy. I didn't because I was afraid he'd tell me I am.

You really bring up an amusing point. Before surgery *I* didn't even know what I weighed. I rarely go to a doctor and the rare time I did I refused to be weighed. As I told my doc, God doesn't know what I weigh, you won't either. Yet here, to other fatties... I have no problem with it. I've had a ticker most of the time I've been here and that was shortly after surgery. I'd never dream of telling others that are not in the same boat as I am. It's odd, I tell people here and my real time fellow fatties things I wouldn't dream of telling my husband. It's hard the first time you announce your weight on this website but after the first time you kinda realize that nobody pays much attention to (or cares) where you started, they are looking for progress. When I see anyone's starting weight I don't think "WOW! That person is/was fat!" Instead I think, "WOW! That person lost 10lbs, 50lbs, 100lbs (etc)!"

Oh, I was going by the following: If it is before your pre op stuff I wouldn't be drinking a Protein Shake at dinner with my boyfriend's parents. During the week of post op if you feel like going out to dinner just order Soup and eat the broth.

As many will recall NanaRenan is the person that is having surgery for the 3rd time today for banding. The first time the anesthesiologist noticed a paper wasn't signed off by the cardiologist. She got that taken care of and then the 2nd time she went for surgery the anesthesiologist couldn't intubate her because he's an idiot. She's giving it another shot today. I am supposed to call her husband tonight to see if she was FINALLY able to get the surgery but I called early. I believe it is around 3PM their time. I just called and there is no answer. Many of us have been following her saga through this journey so I wanted to post updates as I get them. I'll call her hubby again in an hour or so and bug him. :girl_hug:

You need to have it checked under fluoro.

You say others believe you are crazy for doing this with a low BMI. Actually, at 36 your BMI isn't all that low. 33 isn't all that low either. At 33 you are considered obese (vs. overweight) and at 36 you are severely obese. That doesn't sound low to me. Your option is to continue dieting knowing it isn't going to do anything or get banded and not wait until you are morbidly obese (40+BMI) with joint deterioration, heart disease, and diabetes. The risks associated with banding are potential, not absolute and they are minimal. The risks for being fat are already there, you already have sleep apnea and I double dawg dare you to try to get through law school never sleeping well. It isn't going to happen. The rests of the risks WILL happen with severe obesity, they aren't potential, something will give. Joints, heart, pancreas, something. Your body simply isn't designed to carry an extra 100lbs. You are 2nd guessing yourself right now and that is perfectly normal. If you weren't 2nd guessing yourself you WOULD be nuts. You are supposed to feel this way. But I would urge you to look at this as objectively as you can. When we have the issues we do, they don't get better with age, they get worse. College is supposed to be the most fun part of your life, so go get banded and enjoy yourself!

I lost 23 pounds the first 21 days. I kept it off. Some keep it off, some don't. That's up to you.

Some can eat those foods, actually most can eat those foods. I don't eat pizza or white carbs anymore, I just don't want them. You are thinking like an unbanded person. food isn't a big deal, I couldn't care less if I ever eat pizza again. I cared very much before I was banded but your thinking changes and you come to a point that you have to decide what do you want more? Lots of pizza or lots of skinny? Pasta and rice are nothing but white carbs and do little for your body. You know, I never thought I could ever get to this point but I am here and I'm telling you, your thinking changes. Food is no longer the #1 priority in your life, you don't think about it all the time. You don't eat lunch while wondering what you'll have for dinner. You don't look at a menu in a restaurant trying to figure out what has the biggest portions. When you plan to go to a restaurant you don't sit and think about everything you are going to order, the thought doesn't typically cross your mind until you are reading the menu. This is how normal size people think, that is what we are striving for and honestly, the day will come when you don't worry if you can have hamburger, rice, pasta, etc. It just doesn't matter. But to answer your question, I can eat steak but in verrry small quantities. I can eat rice but I don't. I can't eat hamburger, pizza, or pasta. As far as being strong enough to do the changes, with a band you really don't have a choice. If your band says no pizza, I assure you... pizza won't be something you'll eat on a regular basis. It's no longer your choice. Most people have a few foods they just can't do, bread is typically one of them. But there are some that can eat anything, just in smaller quantities.

I prefer pineapple juice. I buy the unsweetened 6oz cans and that always does the trick for me. Might be all in my head, not sure. But as long as it works I'm happy.

Thanks MsDad. I've been working really hard and it is paying off. Or, I should write I WAS working really hard. When my friend brought the Bowflex over for me he left it outside as I asked so I could wash it really well. (It was an ebay find) I could get it in the door but I can't budge it on the carpet and yes, it's on wheels and I still can't move it. It's in the way of my treadmill so I can't run on the treadmill. However, I've lost four pounds from trying to move it daily. HA! The kids next door are going to come over and set it up for me. I think that is a better bet than trying to move that thing myself since that clearly isn't working. Anyway, thanks again!

Yikes, that sounds AWFUL! Did I mention that I absolutely HATE weight resistance training? I know it is necessary but I swear whoever invented the very concept must be sadistic and evil. That stuff is sooo heavy! (end of whine) Thanks for the info, I do believe I will take a little longer to put this thing together.

It *has* to be the 150mg SR twice daily. This is going to sound weird and I don't know why it is true but it is. There are three types of Wellbutrin, short acting, the 12 hour timed release (SR), and the extended release (XR). It MUST be the 150mg SR type. The dose for smoking is to take one tablet daily for 4 days then increase to one tablet twice daily and quit smoking within 7-10 days or something like that. If you take 1-300mg ER tablet it will not work. If you take 100mg of the short acting three times daily it won't work. It has to be the 150mg SR. I have NO clue why that is. I was taking 100mg of the short acting three times daily and losing ALL effect and I couldn't figure out why. Talked to the hospital RPh and he explained that it has to be the 150mg SR for smoking. He started to explain why but I didn't have time and had to run so I never got the explanation. Regardless, I went back to the 150SR twice daily and it worked like a charm. However, the side effects were so bad I just couldn't stand it, quit the drug, and started smoking again. It's not a good idea to go higher than you are of 300mg SR daily. The higher the dose the more risk for seizures.

I don't see a lot of differences in the two ports but Dr. Currie swears the low profile port makes a big difference. I have it and I think it is going to stick out soon, hopefully I am wrong about that.

It's good to have you back and banded! Did you husband remember to give you a hug from me?

Another point here is that every single pound you lose before surgery only makes it easier on your surgeon. Ten pounds makes a big difference as well. If it is easier on your surgeon it is easier and safer for you.

I recently bought a Bowflex Ultimate. Cool, right? What in the world do I DO with it? I haven't the slightest idea how to put it together let alone what I am supposed to do with it. Help?

Wooo Hooooo!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on that, btw!!!!!!!!! No more Osteo! That is BEYOND fantastic! No diabetes meds....... OMG, I'm in shock! As a nurse this is a BIG BIG deal in my world! As a female, no longer shopping in fat depts is also a really big big deal! Congrats to you!

Jachut... Okay, I have read your response *at least* 5 times. It's not sinking in. How did your brain catch up? I'm really feeling very nutty right now. I'm feeling like I need hubby (the psychiatrist) to come home and fix me. We decided to split for a bit. Suddenly I want him home to tell me I'm not as crazy as I feel right now. I realize that if I don't know it is me in the window reflection, I'm happy with that size. Once I realize it is me I'm back to being MO. I thought everything in life would be magically fixed once I lost weight. I knew intellectually that was not the case, but deep down, I thought life would be perfect once I was fixed. I'm almost fixed and nothing has changed. I still want hubby gone as much as I want him home. I feel fat, I look fat, I am fat. Yet I see someone's reflection in the window and don't realize it is me. I feel nutso.