paula

Anyone have a delish Sweet and Sour Chicken receipe???

Ha! Dody - you know IM gonna try em. Gone to Walmart later, and definately going to find them. Thanks for the tip!

What fun ~ You ALL look GREAT!!! Sure wish I was there. BTW - Who's gonna do the new avators for all of you? LBT NEEDS avators - especially updated ones! yoohooo, JanetC?????

Yep! I have BC/BS Fed. When I was banded, we had First Health. They paid for banding surgery - and fills were only my co-pay fee. Nice, huh? Then we switched to BC/BS 6 months later. And yep, thats right, AGB is NOT covered. Ive called and asked (pleaded) many times - hopeing that since I already had the band - that they would pay for fills/unfills. But nope! NOW! Here's the bullseye... IF you are already banded and you develop problems - they will pay for testing. And just like others have said, if you need your band removed, then there is a way you can be admitted through ER and BCBS should cover removal. Alot of it has to do with proper coding too.

Im coming back to add more (God help us)... Lastnight Mike and I were talking about this tread over a dinner date. This is what we've realized... Because of this site, I NEVER talk on the phone any more. My need for phone visits with friends are over. I like this LBT side-effect - because my kids are loud, and I dont have to leave the room now, just to have a phone conversation. I may spend alot of time logged into this place, but when someone needs - I can get away quick! No "call me back later" commitment. No "hang on a minute" thing. Just a simple click on the X - and Im done. And you know how some days you just arent in the mood to visit? Well, thats something that LBT understands. So, you see? Guys have hunting, fishing, music gigs, monster truck, cars, video games, raceing, computer stuff, wrestling, the list goes onand on. And WE have LBT. *big smile* Everybody NEEDS something that allows them to unwind. Let him think about that Morsaille!!!

WOW - LBT is gonna be celebrating all day. 2 Birthday Day's in the house! Hope you are grandkiddie free today and spend it seeing beautiful flowers. Youre the best!!! Lots of love and hugs! H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y !!!

Jess, OMG - when I looked at your puppy's pic, my mouth dropped. I had one just like that - ShihTzu/Maltese mix. I loved that doggie. She even had her own cloth babydoll collection. Bringing up too many memories.... your new baby is adorable! Pat, LMBO - Id like to have your dog as a watch dog. Bet he'd be better then any security system!!! ...beautiful eyes he has (yikes).

You are super special around here. Hope you have an awesome day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!

Karen, (((huge hugs))) I am so heartsick to hear this news. So so sorry. When are you thinking your band removal may be? You will be in my prayers.

Hi Kim, and WELCOME to LapBandTalk.com Yep ~ quite a few have Ortiz as their surgeon. Hopefully one of em will holler at ya! As far as the drink, Ive never heard of it - but others may have. GOOD LUCK and God bless~

What about LaMadam? She is around 10 pounds away. And coffeewrench has lost -150 and weighs in around 159 pounds. Thats impressive. And what about MuffinBirdie - (I copied this from her profile) Banded July 4th, 2001 - Started 250 lbs / Ended 125 lbs. She is like a size 2. Can you imagine being a size 2? This is a great thread Susan. Ive thought about the same thing many times. Its refeshing to see one's stat's be right around their goal weight. "I think I can... I think I can... I think I can..."

OK Kathy, youre starting to make me nervous, Miss "Im 183"!!! Its time for me to pull out the BIG guns. MY scale said 184 this morning. Thank you, Tenuate! So! Im gonna start walking my flabby butt off, and keep a closer eye on my special "Penni food guide". And when I see you come Memorial day - I will be safely below 180!!! HA! HA! HA! **sorry for the hijack Susan**

Oh and Flower, about this... Im not sure whats his deal. Maybe when he goes looking for you in Walmart and cant find you - cause you've lost so much weight. Maybe THEN he will see the weight loss... OR when he sees other guys doing a double take to look at his gal, maybe THEN he will perk up??? Men are so weird. :rolleyes On the other hand, I know alot of people whove lost 50ish pounds and not see a big difference. And since YOU cant see it much, Im thinking that your body may need to catch up with the weight loss. Its really very commen to lose alot of pounds, but not inches at this point. Speaking of inches, how many have you lost?? And maybe your clothes are too baggy that HE cant see it? All of this matters in what WE (on a personal level) see as success. ((hugs)) Hang in there ~ your time draweth near! *winks*

Girl, I have just laughed out loud. How funny!!!!!

His and her computers???? OMG! How neat is that? Do you guys ever visit each other on-line? Well, Im here to join the "My Husband Hates LBT" club. Basically, its competition for my attention. Although I must admit, Ive been a member long enough that now this place is part of our lives. And because LBT has been my "thing" for so long, Ive brought him into many of the: converstions/problems/situations/pictures... and through this, he somewhat feels a part of this madness. He has even asked me about different things or people. Amazing? Or crazy. I dont know yet! He'll still give me the one liners like, "Youre STILL on that damn thing?" (and he's a music minister!) or "If you'd get off that computer, you could....." or walks into the room and says, "Yep, I figured THATS what you were doing." My favorite story was when the family was loaded in the truck for an outting, and I was "involved" in a LBT story. Mike had been saying "Lets go!" for an unGodly amout of time, but I couldnt break away - so he came in the room and UNPLUGGED the computer. (How dare he!!!) He has even hiden the mouse from me. But you see, hes now been LBT'd. He knows that this place offers his wife sanity, conversation, fellowship - and mostly - laughter. He still hates it, but now he accepts it. So, without LBT, tell your hubby you would be one lonely gal. Dont worry, he'll get LBT'd too if you still around long enough.

ABSOLUTELY NO OFFENSE TAKEN!!!!!! This is great info you gave. Its the stuff that keeps LBT going! Thanks for sharing it. It wasnt until Donna posted that I realized how erosion could happen from overeating. (thanks Donna!) If erosion is a side effect of over eating... well, Im doomed.

((I was just wondering where youve been lately - good to see you!)) You are so right TommyO! The realism that I do not have BIG weight gains, (generally keep the same weight) is a positive result from the band. Very good post! And its good to hear some great feedback from the opposite sex.

I am in a horrible hell-hole of consuming high carb foods, and staying HUNGRY all of the time. I need serious help. LBT, shrink, band doc... I dont know who can talk me out of this pitt! I can not stop. For Breakfast I ate a bowl of choc. Fruity Pebbles. For lunch I had chips and dip AND an order of fried shrimp. Then went to Walmart and bought a hershey w/ almond (this was my dessert, I guess), I inhaled it on the way home. Once home, I ate (Im imbarrased to say this) !5! F I V E !5! slices of burnt toast (why 5?? - why not 1) loaded with butter to help it go down better. I havent had a 1/2 of a piece of toast since Ive been banded. But today I have 5... ?? People, I am sick. I need help. i can not stop eating.

Youre killin' me.

Well, since the options have changed a little, I say #3 - GO FOR IT! I can have the surgery done here in Portugal with the same doctor who will do it for free on the states tab (he works for the state and he also has a private practice) He will do it in his private clinic for about 8,000€ and I can have it done next month. I haven't asked about payment plans or any thing like that yet, but I intend to. I have a consultation appointment with him on the 29th. I know you want his "permission" to do this. I hate doing things against my hubbys will. I learned my lesson about this years ago. Think your FIL could "talk" to him? And this isnt just for YOU. Wonder if he realizes that he's gonna benefit from it as well?

You know what Crys., there's a reason that all of this is happening. The band/no weightloss, possible heath concerns, cant get any answers, moving back home.... ...in 2 years I bet youre gonna look back and say, "Ah-ha! NOW I know why all of that happened!" I bet hubby and son are thrilled in having mom home for a while! Youre pretty special. You know this right? ((hugs))

What does an average day of eating look like for you? Is this a trick question? LOL Considering that "I cant STOP eating" - Im not answering this!

Anne, so glad you are doing well. But goodness, I sure hate that you had to go through this. I like what Susan said - that maybe this will be a type of new beginning. here's to health and happiness! God bless!

Keri, thats an idea! Never thought of that. And speaking of Kelli and Simon, I cant imagine him comparing HER to Carrie Underwood. Carrie was so sweet (genuine) and innocent. Kelli is NOT. But have you noticed that Paula Abdul doesnt go on and on about her like she does to the others?

Cheri, LOL - nope! Now Im fighting that bad boy with diet pills. All I wanna do it eat. I wake up and think of WHEN Im gonna eat. When I finally eat, I think of when its gonna happen again. Almost like a newlywed with sex, thats me with food. I love food. oh, and speaking of Ace... Lets see, he dances well (phew, too well), sings, good lookin, kind natured, soft spoken, seems intelligent.... think he's interested in being a sperm donor?