New Hope

Darcy, when will you find out if your tummy is healing? This is just a small bump in the road. You've done so fantastic! Your band is there waiting for you when you are able to use it again.

Tricia, try not to eat anything at least 2 hours prior to lying down. Also, have the head of your bed elevated. Those both should help w/ acids flowing back up your esophagus. Hope this stops very soon for you!

Leatha, Oh, I thought that was the real reason for your "Lethal Woman" title!" LOL You little exhibitionist, you! LOL

Lisa G., I guess your doggie pics disprove the "Everything's Bigger in Texas" theory, doesn't it? They're precious! Now, back to the thread... when is the Bash going to be at your house? And can we bring pets, too? I only have 4 cats and 3 dogs. They're all neutered, housebroken, and don't shed TOO Much.

I'm not a coffee drinker, but wanted to welcome you to the board. How long have you been banded and where did you get your band?

Highjack here, Loveme, please contact your dr. and find out exactly what his postop directions are. Please follow those directions as much as you possibly can. This is very important! It concerns me that you've been eating too soon following your surgery and not eating "Bandfriendly" foods. You need to give your stomach time to heal from your surgery and let that Band anchor before you're running foods through it. I've eaten pizza toppings a few times, but haven't tried the crust. I'm too afraid that it will get stuck and cause problems. I know I'm old enough to be your mom, so just consider this from your "mom bandster". We all want you to be successful and not have any problems that could risk you losing your band or possibly endanger your health. Take care!

Lauri, this forum is about patients w/ Lapbands, not gastric bypass. Is that what you're hoping to get? There's a world of difference between the two. Please be sure that you and your dr. fully understand what you want BEFORE your surgery. The presurgery and post surgery rules are different for both procedures. I went the insurance route also. First denied, appealed, then 8 months later got my band. I love your post about "posting w/ kids climbing all over you! LOL I often have demonic symbols flying off my keyboard from a starving cat. LOL We look forward to getting to know you better. Best of luck to you!

Well, Betty Boop, you probably won't get much sleep tonight. But that's normal! I know you're nervous about your surgery, but excited about your new journey as a Bandster. May God hold you safely in the palm of his hand! Please give your husband a big hug for us. I know the next few days will be long and tiring for him. But remind him that he will reap the benefits of a healthier, more energetic YOU - very, very soon! Love you lots girl!

Best of luck to you, Kelly Ann, for a noneventful surgery and quick, minimum pain recovery! We're so excited for you!

Slight hijack of a hijack. LOL Correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't our Tricia, Laserjock's "Better Half"?

Sultana, this is a very informative website about women's weight training. Hope it's encouraging to you....stumptuous.com/weights.html It's for women by a woman.

Sultana, please don't be discouraged! You're doing great! Hagatheresa and La Madam (Michelle) both do water exercises. I bet they can give you some good ideas. That is easier on your joints too. Hang in there and come talk w/ people "all in the same boat" when you can. Best of luck to you!

Mylailie, there are several Texas Bandsters here. Leatha and Betty (Iluvharleys) are in your area. I'm in Houston, with several others. Please do take it easy. You're still recouping from surgery. We don't want you to "undo" what you fought so hard to get. Please listen to your body, if it hurts, "don't do it".

Mylailie, I think that is an excellent idea for a Lapband dr. to do! I'm a "show-me" kind of girl.

Hi, Sherry, and welcome! What part of Texas is Burleson located in? Congratulations on your band and on a new grandbaby! You'll be getting healthier and be able to keep up w/that child now! Please take it easy on abdominal exercises until you've gotten your dr. to release you. Please come back and visit with us!

Hi, Jill, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where were you banded? You've done great on your weight loss. Please check the old posts for several mushie food suggestions. Did your dr. give you a foods list? Have you tried refried beans, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs? They taste wonderful after getting off of liquids, don't they? Welcome and please come back and visit w/ us!

Gosh, Betty, when you get done there, you can come here and REALLY go to work! LOL Girl, what are you going to do once you REALLY do get some energy? I can't keep up with you now!

To be able to completely cross my legs and be comfortable about it. To be able to tie my shoes w/o turning red in the face. To even think about trying on a swim suit. (Haven't in years.) Actually wear it and get in a pool? Still out on that one. LOL To be able to wear real jeans and still be able to breathe. To be able to rollerskate again (and not fear crushing someone if I fell on top of them!)

Hey, guys and gals, please don't despair! Remember you're not gaining! You know you would have w/o your band by now. Please drink that water, do some form of regular exercise, and make health food choices (most of the time). Come here and "talk" to others who know just how you feel. Best of luck to all of you!

Megan, you have done amazing, not only physically, but maybe even more importantly, emotionally! You now sound like a very secure, stable, happy, healthy, on-top-of-the-world kind of gal. The kind of woman who can't help catching other people's eye, because you sparkle! And people are drawn to that type of person. They want to be like that. You have taken charge of a life that you felt you had no control over and turned it completely around. You're like a beautiful phoenix rising from the ashes! I think your slow and steady weight loss is one reason you look so beautiful. You lost slow enough that everything is in sync. Your face and chin are perfectly proportioned, not sagging as from rapid weight loss. You're honest enough to have faced the emotional demons when they came knocking on your heart. And now, you've faced all the different and difficult facets that make up our lives - physically and emotionally. Learning to stick up for yourself, that's a tough one I'm still working on - every day. But listening to your story, I can see it is definitely worth it! Respect, isn't that all any of us truly want? Respect, not ridicule! And you stopped trying to fix everyone else and started to fix yourself! Now that's a full lesson all in itself! Your list of NSVs is amazing. But throughout your wonderful transformation, you've maintained your compassion for others, and a zest for life (that had been submerged so deeply, it probably scared you half to death when it started emerging! You may have lost some so-called friends, but it sounds like you found your very best one - YOURSELF! Congratulations for a fantastic job and thank you so much for sharing your story with others who can truly understand where you are coming from and anxiously await going where you are now!

Jodie, you can do anything that you're comfortable with. I find it best to do something that I really enjoy, I'll tend to stick with it. Ex., I like bicycling. It makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere. In the summer, it's much cooler than walking here in the southern United States (where we have a lot of humidity). Some people do walking, dancing, treadmill, hiking, canoeing, motor cycle riding, swimming, aerobics, discus throwing, house cleaning, mowing the yard, painting the house, playing with their kids, walking the dog, horseback riding, remodeling their house, etc. Anything you can think of that get's you moving. Sounds like you have a very considerate husband! How many children do you have and what are their ages? How about getting the whole family involved in this exercise thing? It makes for some great family time. We've spotted herds of deer and flocks of ducks while biking as a family.

Lauri, how close are you to being through w/ the "rig-a-ma-roll" that your insurance requires? Please follow through on this. You owe it to yourself to get some answers. Hopefully, you will get good news from your insurance company. But you'll never know if you don't first complete their tests. Please try to be patient. It may take a while to get a response from them. Remember, you didn't gain all your excess weight overnight. But you are doing something about it now. In the meantime, please be kind to yourself, try to think positive thoughts, find some type of exercise that you enjoy and can stick with, drink lots of water, and make healthier food choices. Please keep us posted. Best of luck to you!

Wow, what a fascinating life! Would love to see some pics! Michelle (La Madam) started a thread (Weekly Scale Challenge) under "Support". You might want to join it. It has really helped me be accountable and weigh once a week. I had about 3 weeks, where I juggled 2 pounds back and forth. I understand and expect to plateau (reach a point where the weight gets harder to lose). Please keep in touch! I love hearing your stories! :cool:

Kelly and Ellen, best of luck to both of you! Kelly, I'll be the one waving like mad at you as you go through Houston! LOL :laugh :laugh