HarleyNana

Alex, I thought about that when I was typing the thread, lol. It's hard to pass up a deal like that and all of their things are very nice quality, and if you wear an 18, better order a 16. Their sizes run very generous as a rule.

If it would go through a straw I "drank" it. TG for the mushy stage!

Welcome Trish, like Marie, I consider this my extended family as well. Although, I'm still fairly new, I've enjoyed this site very much. I use to have Diet Coke running through my veins, but one day just switched to bottled Water and only since I've been banded have I had a hankering for one. I have vodka/oj every now and again, I keep adding oj to make 1 last longer. Didn't get intoxicated on just 1, (darn). Good Luck

For those of you planning to pay those bills/charge cards off, you may want to start by making a phone call and asking for a cheaper interest rates, if they don't lower the interest, then use another card that charges lower interest to pay of the other cards. I had to make these request and changes when I got my g-son's mother out of debt, but if you don't ask, don't expect them to offer you the lower rate.

Alex, I think that's what happened to me, I dropped all my weight the first 2 weeks, 15 lbs, then up 1.5, then -17.5, now stuck at -18. I really feel my body is saying, "hold it", she's not feeding us a lot now, we got to store what we got. Also I've lost inches, don't know how many, but I can tell, yipee. The -18 in 3 weeks was through Christmas and mushy stage, so hopefully next week I will see a drop, but then again, I'm starting solids, who knows! When I get a desire for something sweet, I grab a piece of s/f candy, it really helps. I also use the chocolate Calcium pieces, that cures cravings for chocolate. Will be intersting to see how the fill does Jan 10. Happy New Year Everyone!

I was slightly over 35 and under 40, but mine was self pay, $15,750.00, included surgeon, hospital, and all test, except psych test, another $150.00. My only "health" issue was slightly elevated cholesterol. Lets see, lost 18 lbs, that's $883.33 per lb so far.

My one and only is to make good food choices and hopefully loose lots of weight with my new band, but no diet this time!

Wonderful pictures, I luv before and afters. Thanks for sharing.

Heather you look wonderful. I'm so happy for you, you've lost a person.

I have been grabbing pieces of hard s/f candy. Really takes the sugar edge off.

Rachel, what an intersting profession. I can't draw a straight line with a rule. And you're still beautiful. I look forward to being your band buddy.

Leigh, my doctor told me during my week of liquids I could have anything that would go through a straw. Did you know sausage gravy would go through a straw? I used creamy Soups, beef and chicken broths,(yuk), and those "hand" soups by campbells, but read the contents first, they vary a lot. I hope I never have to eat Jello, s/f or not again. My saving grace was s/f popcicles. I also wanted to mention in reading your posts, it almost seems you're trying to talk yourself out of getting banded. Again, the band is a tool, it is up to you to make the right choices for all of your health reasons as well as weight. Good luck! Jack---Week 2 of the liquids really gets boring, you may want to check with your doc about the straw guide mentioned above.

Rachel, you must be using an old photo, because you're gorgeous and don't look like you weigh over 100. Good luck, you won't be far behind me.

You might want to check with a dealership, such as Toyota or Ford and see if they have any cars being returned that were leased. Often at the end of the year the discounts are better in order to reduce inventory.

Greg...you're sooo bad! Northerner..I took my young grandson into a beachy/souvineer store, in Nags Head, you know beach towels, floats, bathing suits, etc. They had all their huge velour beach towels with the barely clad cuties hanging on the walls, my g-son immediately covered his eyes and said Nana I'm not allowed to look at stuff like this, it was too funny.

My doc used the 4cc, he explained he had the 10cc there, but because I wasn't that big, (lol), I would only need the smaller band. Therefore, I would have assumed the preop weight was a factor, but Blossom started at about my weight and her doc used the 10...go figure?

Well gang, I can hardly wait for this "pb" experience. You all have given me so much to look forward too. Yuk! Since I have not experienced the revelations you have mentioned, I assume this happens after my first fill. I have noticed if I eat too fast, my pain is in my back, not my chest. I may never eat again, after the Jan 10th fill. Oh yea, Jack, I do think that would be considered the mushy stage.

My mom has a Camry that use to be my daughter n law's and she loves it. Sits a little low to the ground for me, I'm a suv person, but she gets good gas mileage and has had wonderful service. All she has to do is fill it up and get the oil changed every so often.

For the first time in many a fat year, I'm NOT starting off my new year with a diet. My only resolution is to be a good bandster and make wise choices. A little regular exercise would be in my favor too. I'd like to wish my "extended-band-family" a very Happy and Safe New Year. Thanks to everyone for their support before my band, after the band, and in the future because I know I'll have lots more questions and ups and downs.

I was banded the week before you, and I can eat and drink a lot. The first week I could hardly finish a cup of coffee, (decaf), and now I can drink as much as I use to. Good news, that means I can get the water in easier. Yea, so much for the 1/2 cup theory!

Very nice avatar. I never could get mine to work, I guess I'll just stay an angel, lol.

I'm in VA and have this sorry ins called Mamsi, they don't have any type of obesity surgery in their contract and furthermore...the band is considered experimental because it is reversible. I was the 1st patient in a 100 mile area to have this done, (without a discount I might add), total out of pocket $15,750.00. At this point, I've lost 18 lbs, that equals $875.00 per pound, oh my!

I use the Source of Life liquid Vitamins, its got everything in it. Kind of like taking pep pills in liquid form. I'm 3 weeks post op, and doing way more than I probably should be doing. I took down my Christmas decorations today and probably made 30 trips taking plastic containers upstairs to the attic, but I feel great and figure it's the same as using the treadmill. As for my port, I can feel the hardness of it, I know something's in there, but what kind of placement problems do you mean exactly? Ummmm, crab and lobster wontons sounds really good, I guess they'd be mushy after I chewed and chewed.

I'm 3 weeks post-op, I never did get the hang of that Protein power/liquid stuff, yuk! So, I'm eating lots of eggs, refried Beans and tuna to get my protein. It's amazing the protein in one of those little prepared tuna salad cans that comes with the crackers. Since I don't like milk or milky type drinks, I have used a little frozen yogurt. I need to count my protein grams in the next few days and make sure I'm getting enough. Like Blossom, I didn't have any problems, except shoulder pain, but that passed in a few days. My worst experience about the whole thing was that dang IV needle, I still have knot there. Go for it!

I had mine reduced in 89 and had the puppies put back where they belong, not around my waist, fortunately, they're still up there. Now as for the tummy, I know I'll have to do that over again. I had a mini tuck in 92, what a waste of money, crappy job, so let me know how long I have to loose my weight and when to plan the trip, count me in. Maybe we can get a group discount, no kidding! Cheaper by the dozen?