Debra

A Pony-tail Holder??!! Ha! Such things I have to look forward to! Thanks for the laugh!

Hey Michelle, do you know if the support group is just for Dr. H's patients? I missed my Doc's group, and St Clair Shores is not far away! Do you have his #? Thanks!

Hi I'm surprised you did not stop the BCPs for your surgery, as they increase the risk of blood clots. My surgeon had me off them for about 2 weeks, I've heard of lots more time than that. I have heard no explanation for the change we women go thru after surgery, but it does exist. I am on the pill continously, no periods (due to fibroids and endometriosus) and I have been spotting on & off since surgery. I did hear the same thought about the estrogen. If it continues or gets heavy, be sure and call your surgeon just to confirm. Best of luck!

Kari I LOVE Dr. Deol! There are quite a few of us her and we all just adore her! She is very professional, very strict, but also very warm and caring. Her office manager is Rebecca. Call M,T,W to talk to her and she is a doll too. She will answer any questions you have. Honestly, not to continue gushing here (!) but from the first minute I called and talked to Rebecca I have known I was with the right surgeon. Feel free to email or PM me if I can answer any questions! Best wishes to you!

Finally shook the 1/2# up, 1/2# down! 4 pounds this week. I received my first fill on Friday, the 17th. 1cc Darcy, you're doing awesome!

Penni: 4/6/04 -- 47 lbs Lisa: 5/5/04 -- 51 lbs Becky 6/03/04 - 53 lbs Denice: 8/12/04 -- 20 lbs Leatha 05/29/03 - 67 lbs Michelle 4/6/04 -- 49.75 lbs Marie 5/26/04 -- 39 lbs Donali 1/23/03 -- 102 lbs Kathy 5/21/04 -- 41 lbs Cindy 7/22/04 -- 40 lbs Teresa 5/8/04 -- 63 lbs Kelly 8/20/03 -- 65 lbs Kyleigh 9/23/03 -- 60 lbs Bright 10/28/03 -- 70 lbs Michelle 6/14/04 - 20 lbs Babs 6/23/03 -- 136 lbs Nancy 8/27/03 -- 55 lbs michelle - shellyj 8-18-03 - 130 pounds Vera 8/14/03 -- 64 lbs Jacky 4/5/04 - 40 lbs Chris S. 9/02/03 - 54 lbs Debra 7/19/04 -- 17 lbs. Total ----- 1283.75

Michelle, Sorry you are sick! I was going to write to you tonight to see if you are going to the support meeting tomorrow. I was planning on it, then just realized (or reread the letter) and I was supposed to RSVP 2 days prior. Oh well, next time! So, on to your cold! How about childrens' yummy liquid? Or, seeing Dr. D wanted us to take liquid Tylenol for pain, is there a liquid cold Tylenol for adults? There must be one for kids for some relief! Heating pad for ribs, nice cup of tea, good movie and you should feel much better! I hope so any way! I'll e-mail ya soon and we'll catch up!

Hi Nancy! I spent many 'a Fall at the Armada Fair! It's been years, thou! I'm a patient of Dr. Deol's, too. There are a few of us here! Isn't she awesome! Are you going to the support group meeting on Sept 9th? I was banded on the 19th of July. How are you feeling? If you have any problems or questions, don't hesitate to call Dr. D or Rebecca. They really are there for you! Welcome to the board! There is a lot of great info here! Just remember to always double check w/ Dr. D. Have you gone to her website/discussion board? Best luck to you!

Best wishes to you, Kimberly! Post as soon as you feel up to it!

I lost one pound this week, bringing my weight loss to a total of 16.5 pounds. I went back to Curves this morning (yeah!) and I've lost a total of 9.25 inches! This includes 1.25 from my bust, 3.25 from my waist, 2.5 from my abdomen, and 3.75 from my hips! Some how I gained in my thighs, thou! The assistant did say that perhaps the measurement was off on my first visit, as it seemed unlikely that I would have put on inches in my thighs and lose everywhere else! It's not like I've been working out enuf to have new muscles! Clothes all fit the same; that's gotta give soon!

I agree with Geezer Sue that someone with a BMI of 30 doesn't really understand BMIs of 40+. But then as Pam said, she was miserable w/ a BMI of 30, then rollercoastered up to 43.6. So, if it were that easy to stop at 30 and make changes, why would we all be here at 40+? Is it neccessary to have rashes and glucose problems and be in constant pain before we make surgical changes? If this had been available to me at 180 lbs. I would have saved a lot of grief and pain, that's for sure! Yes, there are risks to surgery; but is it better to put yourself in physical danger first by being morbidly obese? Then have surgery? Or, nip it in the bud before morbid obesity kicks in? What a healthier, safer scenerio, I believe.

Ahhh Betty! I love that story! My parents are both deceased and I often feel their presence. My Mom had white hair and over the years it started falling out. She had a lot of it and I was always finding hair all over my house! At the time, it drove me nuts! Now that she's gone (since 4/01) I love it when I find one! It's usually at the time I need it the most! But gee, I'd sure like a flower on my pillow! Ha! Paula, it's always great to have that reassurance that our kids have guardian angels! Red nightgown and black wings huh? Do you live near DeLarla?!? Just kidding! I'm glad Marcus is fine! Does he remember his angels?

Amy My Dad smoked a cherry pipe tobacco, too! Amazing what just one whiff of that does to me!

Shireen Yep! It's a combo of anethetic and gas! I could barely roll over in bed w/out help! But the good news is that in a few days you won't believe the difference! Hang in there and keep posting, let us know how you are doing. Are you using a heating pad? Helps a lot!

ok, here goes! Many many years ago, when I was just out of high school, I worked the midnight shift in an all night diner. There was an older gentleman who would come in a few times a month. He would sit in a booth by himself and order 2 breakfasts, one for himself, and one for the saint. When he left, 1 Breakfast was always untouched. One time he came in late at night and ordered 2 steak dinners. The second dinner was for someone new. This time it was for satan. Again, when he left, the second meal was untouched. The busboy, Johnny,an older guy who'd been working there for years, came up to me and asked if there was something wrong with the steak. Not wanting to get into a big explanation, I just said the guy had to leave before his friend got there. Johnny looked at me with huge eyes. He said it was the strangest thing he had ever seen. They were no where else in the restaurant, but that 2nd steak had been covered with flies! We never saw the old gentleman again.

Teresa My nutritionist has been awesome! (DeLarla, she's very itty, bitty! I'd worry about a fat nutritionist, too!) Actually, she's a registered dietitian. Anyway, I saw her twice pre-op, then this was my 2nd post-op visit. My surgeon requires me to be under a nutritionist's care and to be in a regular exericise program ... or no fills! She believes in the "it takes a village" to make Debra skinny approach! Lord knows I haven't been able to do it alone! Anyway, no calorie count. The goal is to eat balanced, normal meals, not to diet. I asked for help structuring 'cos I'm going thru that no-restriction, eating like a pig thing! That's why one of my snacks includes a "fun food", so I can plan on having 3 oreos, instead of sitting down and devouring a whole sleeve! She gave me a list of serving sizes and for breakfast I have 2 proteins, 1 fruit, 1 grain, 1 other (like butter or salad dressing). Next is lunch, 1-2 protein, 1 veg, 1-2 grains, 1 other. Then my snack, w/ 1 fruit and 1 fun food. Next comes dinner, 2 protein, 1 vegetable, 2 grains, 1-2 other. Late night snack (not too late!) 1 protein, 1 grain. I have a nice "score sheet" and even I can follow this! It just works better for me if I have an idea what I'll be eating in 2 hours! Bring on the fill!!

Leatha! Sending warm wishes and prayers your way! Think of your surgery as "just another step along the lapband of life!" Please post as soon as you are able!

Joining late, back from vacation! I saw my nutritionist today; she is helping me to have structured pre-fill meal plans! I need all the structure I can get!! Breakfast: 1 cup half/caf w/ lowfat milk Carb-select protein bar Lunch: 1c. mixed greens 2 servings protein (ham & cheese in salad) 1 serving "other" (1 tbls salad dressing) 1 serving grain (4 crackers) Water: umm, just getting started! I really have to work on this! Exercise: I'll be going to Costco later, does that count?? Plus lots of housework, laundry, up and down stairs! Good deed: Not yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open for one! Snack: tba (I get 1 fruit, 1 "fun food") Dinner: tba ( I get 2 protein, 1 veg, 2 grains, 1-2 others) Snack: tba (I get 1 protein, 1 grain) Take care!

I have the body of a god .... unfortunately, it's Buddha!

OK, back from vaca and ready to join these challenges! I had already chosen Monday's to weigh in so this is great! This morning I weighed 257.5, which is a 15.5# loss.

I get that "golfball" soon after I begin eating. I was wondering if that was my "signal" to stop eating. I was feeling "guilty" 'cos I never listened to the "signal"! I'd wait a second, then just keep going. From being on this board quite a while pre-op, I knew that I would be hungry at this point ( I was banded July 19), but I am still dismayed. For the last week I have been eating just as much as I did pre-op. I start the day with one cup of half/caf with lowfat milk. 1/2 hour after drinking I will have an egg beater omellet or some oatmeal (Quaker's Women's nutrition). Today I had 2 pieces of toast w/ butter and peanutbutter. For lunch i've been having a lean cuisine or a lean pocket. dinner...whatever the family's having. Last night I went to Red Robin for dinner. My son and I split a Macho Nacho app and a just-in-quesadilla app. I had no problem eating this at all. In fact, I then ate about 1/3 of my daughter's hot fudge sundae. Then last night I had a Healthy choice ice cream! I keep telling myself that if willpower and good choices were "do-able" for me, then I wouldn't have needed the band! I am trying not to be too hard on myself. But everytime I am filling my face I'm thinking, OMG, I went thru surgery, liquids, mush, FOR THIS? To eat as much as before? I know I haven't had a fill. Mentally I know that the band will work when it is filled, but right now I am really being tough on myself and I am disgusted w/ myself. I wanted the band vs. RNY 'cos I knew it was healthier, I knew it was a slower weight loss, I knew it was a life-long process. Yet here I am, whining away 'cos I'm still eating too much! Sorry this is so long, but I really need to get this out, and I really need to have some good solid "been there, done that" advise! I keep thinking, "Am I stretching my pouch, am I compromising my band"? Geesh! Just like my dieting days, I know all the answers, tricks and tips. Implementing them is a whole other story!

Oh Alex, what a beautiful family! All that and weight loss, too! Wow! It always amazes me in these before and after pics how the faces emerge! You have a beautiful face! You are doing terrific and continue to be a sourse of info and support for me. Thank you for all you do!

wow! Cindy, that is awesome! 6lbs a week? You go girl! Such an inspiration! WoooooHooooo!

Awesome Donali! I am so thrilled for you and Casper! Onderland, here you come! Here's to continued success!!

Oh Cindy! Homegrown toasted tomato sandwiches? With butter? and salt and pepper? and a little swipe of mayo? I'm drooling! Nothing better! And how 'bout number 2? Corn-on-the-cob? Michigan girl here! Ready to harvest! Can we have that? Eventually, I mean! Then, take those tomatoes and slide them all over the plate you just finished the corn on! All full of butter and salt & pepper! OMG! I'm salivating! I'm so hungry! I'm sorry if I broke anyone's willpower tonite! It's all Princess Cindy's fault! And that Darcy with her damn toast! Whaaaaaaa! Whaaaaaaaaa!