Terry Poperszky

1. No constant ache. 2. Irrational fear yes.

All the veteran banders should read her thread! The more I read the other WLS forums, the more I realize that the problems that I see here have nothing to do with the band, but everything to do with what people expect from any WLS. Turns out the sleeve veterans get the same complaints about being "Mean" as the Banders who tell people to follow their Dr's orders.

Kohl's although I have never had to shop in a "Fat Lady" stores

I buy my own present, and the wife and daughters get me something small and personal. This year they gave me a toy giraffe for my desk (private joke). I do all the cooking in the family and when we first got married I told my wife that the first time I got kitchen appliances for my birthday or Christmas, that was the last meal I would ever cook.

Food logging helped me, for some reason the prospect of writing down that I was eating garbage was a deterrent.

Impressive article Alex.

Got to agree with you on this B-52, two things that make it this way for me: 1. People seem to want to be offended: On some of the posts that I have made that drew negative responses, I wonder if the person even actually read or thought about what I said, because their response is so out of tune with what I said. It is almost like people are looking for reasons to be offended. 2. When there is a disagreement, everyone wants to have the last word: I watch some of these threads that go on for multiple pages, and I swear that people aren't even reading each others responses, simply posting so that they have the last word on a subject. Personally I have started to speak my piece, and then ignore what happens in a thread after that. Personally, I don't post near as much as I used to. Why? It isn't fun anymore, all I hear is: you're bragging, you're being judgmental, you're too harsh. I'm tired of it. There are many Veterans on this forum that have helped me through the last year, I don't agree with everything they say, but I have enough respect for their success to at least listen too them. And I am far enough down the lap band road myself to start understanding some to things they are saying that I didn't (couldn't) understand when I had just started my journey.

Sandy, I think what B52 is trying to say is not that the people who are struggling are bad people, but that all he is seeing is posts from people who are struggling, and not from the large groups of Veteran lurkers here who are working the band through the Holidays. Those Veteran posts were significant to my success as I struggled in the early days of my band. Yes there are struggles, but once you start to learn to live with your band, those struggles aren't as hard. For instance, I just got back from a work assignment in Hawaii, I'm on an expense account, I am away from my normal routine, and I am surrounded by fantastic restaurants. Pre-band I would have gained 5 - 10 pounds during that week. This time? I was down 2 pounds. How did I do it? I listened to my band and when it said I was done, I left the food on my plate and was done. No diet, no counting, just the band. That doesn't mean that I never count calories, or log food. But that this time I didn't and the band worked for me. This is how many veterans live, and I believe these are the people that B-52 wants to stop lurking, and share their successes. Some will label it as bragging, but who the hell cares what they think? People need to know that the band works.

There has been some discussion lately about being able to afford fills, if your insurance doesn't have bariatric coverage, so I thought I would post my costs. I was self pay, and the procedure came with 12 months of fills. After 12 months, my Dr. charges 75.00 a visit, or 300.00 for unlimited fills/unfills throughout the year. These are non fluoroscope fils. Personally I find this a very reasonable rate.

Spent 4 days in Hawaii on a work assignment, and maintained my weight. The office was about a mile away, so I didn't get a car and walked to work each day. While my food choices could have been healthier, I listened to my band and life was good.

pop rivets. Leaves a nice little polka dot pattern

Usual time is 20 minutes, but that can vary. I stopped worrying about the time limit, I measure my food up front, then I eat it as slowly as I need to, so that I don't get stuck. 30 minutes for a meal is not unusual. The time limit is really there to make sure you don't over eat, since you can by pass the restriction of the band by constantly eating. If you take 30 minutes to get your cup of food down, that isn't a problem. If you get it down in the first 10 minutes and then keep on eating, that is the problem.

Way to go!

Nope, doesn't sound a bit steep at all, sounds really steep. I wouldn't hesitate to spend 250 on a fill with fluoroscope, but anything else than that is a real hit and miss scenario and should be considerably cheaper IMHO. Shop the other Dr.s in the area, and then talk to yours. I have found them willing to deal.

If they are doing it under the fluoroscope, 250.00 sounds good and you shouldn't need too many of those.

Congratulations, one more step toward the green zone. You did your pre-op diet, 4 days is going to be a snap compared to that.

The company that I work for provides insurance through one of the top 5 insurance companies in the nation, our employee count is under a thousand and we are provided with an online registration portal. So far registration has been pushed back twice for web site issues, and when it finally come online today, it crashed after a couple of hours.Maybe the Obamacare website isn't so bad after all.

Continues to lure me to my doom. Despite the warning of Mistress Band I continue to fail, when I should be finished, there is that one last bite or two that looks so lonely sitting on my plate. Too small to save, but such a waste to throw it in the trash, I give in and it pushes me past my limit and into the promised realm of discipline from my mistress. All to no avail, since I end up offering it to the watery grave of the cold white throne.

Well, you are in Rants and Raves now, so you are fair game I have noticed that very little attention is paid to which forum you are in on this board. You will get used to it. Suggestion, if you only want a specific audience to respond, politely ask that in your thread. And yes, some of us are assholes.

I am not mocking or belittling the concerns and issues that some are facing as the ACA takes effect, but I want people to understand that there are two sides to the story. Healthcare has long been broken in our country, and while the ACA is by no means perfect, it is a start. Let's move forward and make it even better. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/us/amid-the-uproar-over-the-health-law-voices-of-quiet-optimism-and-relief.html?pagewanted=2&ref=politics&pagewanted=all&_r=0

Details, details, details. Every time you put something in your mouth, put it down on paper, or in the computer. Measure everything, KNOW what you are doing, don't guess.

@changirl Start a new thread with this question, rather than putting on an unrelated thread. I am sure the forum will have some suggestions for you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/guilt-weight-loss_n_4380080.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Sleeve is a good option, but so is the band. Your Surgeon is lying though, most banders do not have theirs removed after 3-5 years. Most banders don't ever have theirs removed and average weight loss is closer to 60% of the excess weight. Weight loss will be slower with the band, and it will require more after care from the Dr. Complication risks are higher with the sleeve Both are going to require substantial changes in your life style and you can screw either of them up. I was self pay, I chose the band. Do your research, get numbers not stories. Choose the one that is right for you and get a different surgeon if you go with the band. One that has a good aftercare program.

I just recently picked up some GNC whey, chocolate supreme and it tastes good and makes a really think shake which keeps me satisfied longer. Today's Breakfast gala apple Spinach Orange Carrots banana Scoop of whey powder 2 cups of ice