DeLarla

That's the only thing I can't find in my book. It's not under Milk or Desserts or even Dressings. But STEP AWAY FROM THE COOLWHIP because it's addicting!

I've been going to the gym every other day and 45 minute walks + weights on my day off. I spend 35 minutes doing cardio on the treadmill, then I do the arm circuit, then 100 sit ups. The only way I benefit is if I actually feel the burn, but it took a couple months of exercising to get through the layers of fat to even feel the burn. Today I have a little baby burn, so I know I did good

"This second technique of trying to avoid erosion places more emphasis than ever on having good follow-up ------ being able to go as often as every week to be inched slowly to the sweet spot. This would mean a greater need than ever before to be close to a surgeon, in terms of travel-time, and a greater need than ever for surgeons who include unlimited fills for the first year at least. I am able to see, more and more, that going to Mexico can be a false economy in some circumstances if it means you don't have money left over to get regular fills, never mind contact with a nutritionist and psychologist." SouthTX, you actually just shut ME up for a change. Excellent post worth reading several times. Thank you.

Sorry, Jonathan. I know what it's like to be in and out of band surgeons' offices, and it ain't no picnic (hmm, I should come up with a better saying that's not food related.) I wish you the best and hope your next procedure is your last one.

Today's thongs aren't floss, they have a nice "T" back and are super comfy if you can find them. I'll try Layne Bryant this weekend. I have NO idea why The Avenue stopped carrying them since they sell out so fast. I'm wearing regular old lady jeans today, and I really miss how sexy I felt yesterday in the lowrise ones, even though they were pretty uncomfortable. Paul, you show yours and I'll show mine!

OMG, I was just traumatized! I went to fill up my water and walked passed an attorney's office who is on his phone with his HAND STUCK DOWN HIS PANTS. Like nothing's wrong, just chatting away. This is an office for Pete's sake! Geeeeeeez, why are men so weird?

So leave her and marry me Oops, I already got a man. Darn.

Happy Birthday, now bend over for your spanking. And I gotta give you an extra one since I'm a day late. I hope it was a happy one My hubby's is today

I called La_Madam way too early this morning because I'm suddenly having cravings for gooey sticky goodies at 7:00 in the morning. I'm only 1.5 pounds away from losing 80 lbs, but now I'm freaking out. I mentally decided not to go to the gym today, which would have started the whole "lazy routine." I must have gotten a poke from an invisible guardian angel because somehow I ended up at the gym. But I'm sitting here thinking of cinnamon and butter, ignoring my cottage cheese and walnuts. This is really, really hard. Nobody said it would be easy, but can't we just have a break? Girl, I'm with you. Pick up the phone and call a bandster. Sometimes it helps just to vent.

"And why is it that *every* time I bend over, he's right there playfully dry humping me?" OMG, that was way too funny! My girlfriend's hubby twirls his willy in circles thinking it will turn her on. She just walks away in disgust while he scratches his head wondering what he did wrong. Paul, our men aren't "bad" they're weird! I asked my husband where I could find one of his nickels on a stick, and he got really huffy and said, "they are NOT nickels on a stick, they are nickels professionally welded to a finishing nail!" Uh, isn't that what I said? I asked him to leave one out so I could take a pic. Today is his birthday. Every year he says the same thing, "Lisa, it's just another day and I don't want anything, and I don't want to go to dinner, and I don't even want a card." So every year I wake up and give him his birthday kiss, his gifts, etc. Then I plan dinner out with friends, get him a cake, etc. Then the following week he sulks and says we didn't do anything for his birthday.

DeLARLA LOVES BIG PAUL

Even when my band was new, I'd wake up every morning feeling it squeezing me. Restriction is an odd sensation that constantly had me questioning whether what I had done was a smart idea. I figured there's no way something can squish my belly and stay healthy for too long. However, I'm one of those really queasy people that can't look at blood or wounds. I fainted once getting a few stitches in my hand and almost passed out when Dr. Billy made me look at my port wound. I've TRIED being mature about it, but it's an automatic response. When I had my band, I'd occasionally freak out and look for the closest place to have it ripped out, but those feelings always passed (till I eroded, then I almost took it out myself!) The difference between a band that squeezes an organ can't compare to metal rods or pins used in orthopedic surgery. I can appreciate defending the band (it saved my life, afterall) but I'm glad my band was just a temporary device.

One of my Slumber sisters (Melissa Kraut) is on Wife Swap tonight. She's swapping with a religious family, and they are supposed to exchange rolls. Do you think the religious woman is going to agree to have a Slumber Party? I can't wait to see it - I've been waiting for weeks!:kiss2:

So what did I do? I came home and overate. Now my pouch hurts (yes, I still have a pouch, go figure.) I'm going to bed before 6:00 p.m. just to lock myself in my bandroom I mean bedroom - away from all food.

I never had any pain from band surgery like most people (I guess the mild pain meds were enough.) But I felt absolutely awful. I felt like I had the stomach flu minus the fever. Maybe my high BMI kept me down longer? I could hurl just thinking of those days. I saw my primary doc a week later because I was so ill, and she listened to my belly and figured I had Montezuma's Revenge (some Mexican illness.) She did tons of blood work, but I came back clean. Let's just hope you're more like Chuck Norris than I am! Mabye I'm just a big baby!

Far out, proof that I'm not at the beginning, center or end of these heated debates that get people's panties all bunched up. I've avoided this thread till now, but I can't hold back any more. Our brand new baby bandster started a thread that NEEDED to be addressed, yet look at all the defensive responses! Whoa, people. She's right because I've seen the same countless threads of people PBing on fast food a couple times a day while swearing they can't lose weight. We've all seen these same threads, so what's with all the defense? And for those of you who "kid" with me about having no couth, scaring new people and offending a great number of people on this board, maybe it's time you take a spoon of your own medicine. As much as I hate to say it (wink) because I want to be half as smart as her, Alexandra summed it all up in one sentence: "There are people for whom banding was a wrong choice from the start." I was one of those people who ate past being full. I'd PB, wait 10 minutes then continue with my tacos, extra cheese. I'd wake up in horrible pain from over indulging. I drank booze, Coke, shakes. I abused my band/body before I was banded, while I was banded, and after my band came out. Call me insane, or call me morbidly obese.

Hey girl, I haven't actually heard of a band leaking, but I've held one and inspected it up close. The little "pillow" inside isn't much thicker than a balloon so it doesn't seem so shocking that one would spring a leak. It's such a delicate looking thing that it surprises me how long they normally hold up. Good luck with your re-banding.

Why is it so easy for some of you who've never been through port infections, slippage, severe reflux, complications, leaks, etc., to judge those of us who have? Maybe you aren't directing comments at one person, but some of these responses are filled with unnecessary sarcasm. If you don't even have a band, how do you know how you'll feel living with a foreign device strangling your belly? It's not always an easy feeling to live with. So until you walk in our shoes, you might consider that it's not stupid or crazy or weird to consider proactively removing the band. Try my shoes on. I'd have had my band removed before my erosion was detected if I could have afforded it. You can't rely only on one itty bitty poll from here at LBT since we're just a tiny fraction of the banded community. I know three people other than myself that wanted "the damn thing out of them." Take a look from the other side of the fence, and never say never. The are so many surgeons placing the band that it's very likely erosions and complications will become more prevalent as time goes by. It's just a hypothetical, but how would you feel if 10 people banded from the same surgeon were all detected with erosion about the same time? I'll tell you how it feels ~ it feels like you have a time bomb ticking inside you.

"To me this operation was an absolute cinch." YIKES! This is MAJOR surgery!

I took a huge chance and made a big investment in my own little company! It keeps me busy. It keeps me on the phone yapping with other people. It keeps me motivated. It keeps life interesting!

Vera, sorry I didn't get the phone but I was trapped in bed between a 200 pound man and 150 pounds worth of goat-smelling furbabies! We were all tucked in so tight watching Wife Swap that I couldn't get to the phone. I LOVE YOU THOUGH!

I'll be seeing Melissa next month, and I'll ask her to donate her unwanted clothes to our next clothing bash. Heather, there's a Christian store that sells "marital devices" because they want to keep sex in the marriage. One of our biggest Jesus freaks from this very board couldn't find anything in the bible against my toys! Plus, it's a multi-billion dollar business, so no matter how many people are offended, way more are totally into it. The "toy" part of Slumber is just a small part of what I do. Imagine a girls' night out with no men, no kids, no dishes, bills? We all deserve more of them, so it gives me enormous pleasure show women such a great time.

Old Navy Below The Waist? Next time I go potty I gotta see what the label says. So, I'll get used to them? I do tend to tug on them every time I stand up. I have darling support thongs. They aren't floss, they have a nice T-back. But I can't find them any more. Avenue used to carry them but I can't find them. Michelle is wearing size 10? WHAT? And that's MY masculine man ass. I'll take it!

Hey girlie, I just got back from a lung CAT scan myself. Has anyone mentioned possible Sarcoidosis? I'm not a doctor, but I had such bad bouts of Sarcoid I thought I was dying. They've been doing annual x-rays to compare the nodules on my lungs (that's what showed up on films, suspicious spots) to see if it gets worse. But the last 2 surgeries I woke up practically strangling the person standing over me because I couldn't breathe. It was awful. After band removal, they did another chest x-ray. But this time they freaked me out by mentioning "possible cancer" and wanting me to do a lung CT scan ASAP. I had the scan this morning. Same fears you have but I can't dwell on them, so I rode my Harley to work and wore jeans with lots of pink even though it's not Friday. Live life now is what I say. Neither one of us have cancer. Nope. Please keep your hopes high and stress low. Go get a pedicure, spoil yourself. Hell, do like me and get a new Harley while the gettin's good!

Damn, the religious woman refused to do Melissa's job. She got in the car and drove all the way to the Slumber Party, but she refused to go inside, which is such a shame. There's so much more than just sex talk at a Slumber Party. Actually, the "toy" segment is the shortest part. But getting together with no men, no dishes, no children ~ and letting loose for a change with just all women is an experience I'm thrilled to be part of. I think she's a little over the edge, but those of you who saw Melissa's home saw what Slumber Parties can do for a woman's income. I LOVE IT!