IndioGirl55

Green - Thank you !!! I am working very hard at this - and right now harder than the band is (i need my 2nd fill)... I understand the concept of addictions (have alot of it in my family drugs/alcohal) but a part of me feels that it is a weakness and an excuse - we are powerless yes - but we are powerfull too. Just say no - and if you fall - pick yourself up and keep on trucking.. I am tried of being fat - it's only my fault that i am - no one elses. I accept responsiblity as I don't have any medical or phyical reasons for being fat - just a mental one - bored - time filler - looking for love in all the wrong places etc... I needed the help of the band both phyically and mentally to get me to this place of self awareness. This board and all of you who where here before me, helped me get to where I am now and I THANK YOU.... We might not know each other in person, but we know each other from here and we have become friends and friends help each other, friends don't let each other down. I am the kind of friend who will tell you - What the heck - get off your pitty party and do something cuz only you can do it and you can do it if you put your mind to it.. You guys have been my support - pre-band - biopsy - post band - exercising etc. This is my fav thread... I think that's cuz we are all older and have our life experiences to reflect upon - we are grown ups (well for the most part :0) We understand so much more about life than when we were 30... For some of us we don't have DH's etc to give us our pat on the back - and even if you do - they aren't always aware of our feelings and need for reinforcement of our accomplishments and little pick me ups when we fall. (and if you do i am jealouse i want one of those ) We have all been FAT we understand how that feel. Yes, I care!!! I want all of us to have a good & healthy lives for the years ahead of us.... I want us all to succeed at this and we can - with a little help from our freinds - Love Joe Cocker ;o) Phyl - My doc has me on chewable Flinstone w/Iron twice a day a.m. & p.m. & chewable calcium too not the viactive ones - caltra (sp) ones cuz your body absorbs them better. I have sublingual vit b complex (got it at target) they said that you had to have the sublingual kind. As far as your calories - heck liquids just don't stick with you no matter if it is zero or 1000 imho - I have to be on full liq for a week ... Also you might want to break up your med and get them down with pudding or yogurt - What are cranberry pills for??? I hate taking pills - so i only take the ones i MUST take... Well, just called in for my jury duty - gotta report at 12:30 p.m. - so talk to ya'll later..

I guess i didn't read down far enought or hadn't refreshed.. Glad everything is ok. If it were me - I would be at the immediate care if my doc was on vacation. I wouldn't be posting here asking questions - Don't get me wrong I love everyone here but when it comes to stuff like that I want a real doc's opinion - My GD has MRSA and they look harmless - parents thought it was diaper rash and my dil is a nurse. I told dil i thought it was mrsa - but it took her a long time to take gd to doc and get it tested - guess what - she had mrsa.. My son got it - on his face ended up in the ER in major pain and half his face swollen... It is so prevelent now adays and very dangerous - I disenfected my house prior to surgery and didn't see GD while i was healing.. Love her dearly but I don't want mrsa... I error on the side of caution. jmho

Want2beme - IMHO you are doing the right thing - When I am extra hungry - I just eat extra veggies.... My diet is Low fat - sugar free and minimum carbs - I refuse to eat an Adtkin type diet - I allow my self 1/2 cup of rice or a small baked potato for dinner - I will have a tortilla (corn 60 cal) with a mex meal - I take my fish which i eat almost daily and make a fish taco (without the white mayo sauce) - I truely follow WW eating plan as i think that is the most well rounded - I count calories and prt grms only.

Go to the Doctor TODAY if you haven't done so already. You don't want to screw around with an infection... GO TO THE DOCTOR TODAY......

HR Lady - Yes unfill - aren't the docs from Big Medicine in Houston, you could go to them to get unfilled... My best to you:girl_hug: - I hate not being 100% at home but to be out on the road :omg: Phyl - Men are big babies... Even 16 yr GS when sick - It must be a gene that they have JKR - Welcome - Congrats on your weight loss - it's GREAT :clap2::clap2:

Ruby Hence the greatness of the band when you do hit your sweet spot :rant: 6 chips aren't going to make you gain 10 lbs - but the bag full would have :omg: Go Cowboys - My son's last name is PEARSON - He use to tell the staff at the Boys Club that Drew Pearson was his Dad - I said ya i wish he was cuz i would get a great child support check :fish::biggrin1: Also my GS was going to be a 4th - but I said we have enought of Joe Pearsons - we don't need a 4th - so one night i came home and was advised that Andrew Pearson was going to be the baby's name - reason nickname for Andrew - Drew - Last name Pearson - are we Cowboy fans or what Exercise - 34 minutes treadmill 2 miles 289 calories - 30 mintues weights

My Doc had/has a LARGE program fee - I will never receive a bill from him for 5 yrs - this coveres all my fills, appointment, pre op diet, I have his cell # access to his nurtionist... I think he got $1500 from insurance period. I know that this is his way around the insurance companies - but I wanted a local doctor with experience - If i need emergency care i am going to get it - i don't have to worry if another doctor is going to accept me as a patient and most of all - I am blessed to be able to have the funds to pay. I figures it was money well spent for my health and peace of mind. There are general MD's in my area who are doing this - you pay them $7000 annually and you have free access to them 24/7 all your appointments etc - the medical system is such that they don't want to hassell with insurance - My hospital bill was $64,000 for 2 days - insurance paid $3500 - tells you how screwed up our system is..

Welcome Stephaniem21 This thread really isn't that active. But the rest of the board is... I am sorry that your Psych evaluation was emonitional - mine was a piece of cake (pun intended) Read all you can and please know that the band will do 25% of the work but that the other 75% is up to you - to make healthy food choices exercise etc.. I gotta run right now - so can't give you all the advise i ususally give newbies - will ck with you later - just wanted you to feel welcomed...

CONTRATULATION :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: ;)FEEL PROUD !!!!!:biggrin1: THAT IS GREAT :whoo::biggrin1:

Fran you are not alone - after the swelling goes down from surgery you will be able to eat more - I could eat 1 - 2 cups food per meal. My suggestion to you is that you make healthy food choices from now until you get your fill - even if you over eat veggies - it's alot better that eating Cookies and you will get tons more for the calories - When I am extra hungry I eat extra veggies (squash, green Beans, broccoli etc) I limit myself to 1/2 cup - rice - Pasta - potates - I eat 4 oz of fish and 1 to 2 cups veggies when starving - if you want sweets - try healthy choice sf fudgecicles - 80 c 4 grms Protein - sf choc pudding 60 c 2 grms protein.. Good luck...

Hi Jessie - We are 1955 girls Alot of people have gone to mexico and love their doctors & the clinic's some say they are better than what we have. I was lucky my insurance covered the surgery so I was able to get it done at home. Ck with NMSunshine she went to mexico so did Wasabubblebutt - who had it done in 12/06 and is at goal - she lost 102 lbs... Check with her too. I have been overweight most of my life - did have a few yrs thin - I am doing the work (exercise & healthy food choices) and am very happy with my band. Read all you can - ask questions - there is a thread "how is weight loss for people over 50" Good luck on your journey...

Welcome to the world of lapband - Read Read Read - good and bad - don't let the bad scare you - but know that you can have complication but the arent the norm. Know that the band will do 25% of the work and the other 75% is up to you. It is a great tool, please read all you can - ask questions - you will still have head hunger issues that have to be dealt with - You are going to be making a life sytle change - this is not a diet that you will be on for a few months - but a whole new way of life. Healthy food choices - exercise - eat slowly - chew - you gotta follow your doc's advice - you gotta follow his rules - you will find every doc that you read about on this site seems to have diff instruction. I love my band... Would do it again - read all the at goal post - ask these people what they did to get to goal - Good Luck on your journey...

Hi gang !!!! Just catching up before i start my day. I have the new band I think it's 10cc - doc put in about 1.75 on my 1st fill I go 10/24 for my 2nd one. I have no pre-fill diet - but after a fill 1 week full liquids - 1 week mushies - 1 week soft - then 4th week regular.. Truely my diet is pretty much soft/mushies as i eat fish 5 nites a week and since my bbq is out of gas - i haven't had any steak - I did make some lamb on Sat nite it was good... Well, Happy Monday everyone - Hope everyone is doing well...

Thanks Gang !!!! My knees aren't the greatest - but they only seem to bother me on stairs and in bed sometimes. But not always.. So I am fortune there. Phyl - When you get here you will have your water exercise which will be fun & good for you.. I have a girlfriend who teachs this at some of the clubs around the Desert - AnnMarie - I don't know if she teaches at your place or not... Elaine & Forcast Welcome... Forcast - congrats on you date:clap2: Elaine - My doc says 60 grm pt minimum - and it's really not that hard to get - well for me cuz i am able to eat 1-2 cups per meal and once you read lables - there is protein in every thing - 1 oz meat has 7 grms - but when i'm on liquids - then i utilize my protein powder. Also my doc sells these clear protein powder drinks that have 15 grms of pt - and i ususaly have one of these a day - they are like crystal light - or Koolaide.... Denise :clap2::clap2: 50lbs :clap2::clap2: Michelle - I am sorry the audit didn't go well and about your mom too. I know how hard it is not to eat when you are stressed ... :car: Hugs for you... Hope everyone has a good day... Talk to ya'll later..

Ok my over 50 friends - you will all understand what a great acomplishiment this was... Cuz ya'll know that we aint spring chickens anymore and that our weight has taken a toll on our bodies. I walked on the treadmill for 1 hr 5 minutes - 4 MILES - yes gang that's a 16.25 minute mile This is a great for me cuz I HATE exercise and 3 months ago I could only do a 25 minute mile. But each week - i increase my speed ∨ incline. I set the treadmill for 1 hr and was so happy that that 1 hr was up and i had done 3.71 miles - then i said to myself - you only need .30 to make it an even 4 miles - so i ramped the speed up and continued on until i got to the 4 mile mark... :whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo:

Thanks Docsdeb - I am known for calming people down - I have a gf at work who gets all worked up about family issue - she is a worrier - and i am always bringing her back down to earth I have another gf who gets all worked up too - I guess i am just blessed not to be one to get all worked up - Like my Dad told me years ago - things always work out for the best - and its true - we get things so worked up in our heads and it ususally never turns out as bad as we thought it would be.. I have had a couple golf balls and pbing but it has ALWAY been when i forgot about the band and ate too fast and didn't chew and tried that one more bite cuz it tasted so good. Stop when you are full - eat slowly and chew - you shouldn't have any problems - but know that if you forget about your band and you will eventually - and that old monster/devil will pop into your head - telling you - it's ok eat one more bite - things are going good you are loosing - no need to keep this up - the band will do the work - don't listen... He (monster devil) is lying to you... and your band will remind you.. Friday I was HUNGRY went to lunch w/my gf and let my old ways come back - (i have always been one that my eyes are bigger than my tummy) i order taco, enchallida, Beans - ate chips before food came - figured i had all week to work off the calories - food came and i could only eat the taco - the band does work - i was tempted to keep eating cuz of that taste good feeling - but didn't - took the doggie box home for dinner - Still wasn't the best choice for lunch should have had chevice (sp) but let that little devil on the left shoulder over power the one on the right... So now I have set up a challenge for myself to search the menus for healthly choices and not to let that devil win... Yesterday while out shopping I did just that at the food court - I had shrimp chevice (sp) tostada. Also yesterday morning i walked 4 miles on the treadmill - that is a BIG thing for me cuz i hate exercise - i have been doing any where from 2 - 3 miles but yesterday did 4 miles is 1 hr & 5 min - that 16.25 min mile - 3 months ago i was doing a 25 min mile - my goal is to get to a 15 minute mile... I incease my speed my .1 - 2 every week My motivation is to set up little challenges for myself and i make them small ones, cuz i am not about to set myself up for failure and then when i succeed - i increase the next goal.. That how i do things - little goals and just like the little train that could - i will make it up that hill..

Thanks - I just try to tell it like it is We just all have to stay motivated and not let too many things interfer with our goal - It's hard to stay on track all the time - but that's what this site is for. imho

Have you tried splenda - use it instead of sugar... I like water so i guess i am lucky - i get sick of all that sweet stuff - i usually add more water than what they call for - plus my doc has a flavored clear Protein drinks - I can't find them on the web - Proti 15 - but here is a site that sell something very similar - i like the grape & peach mango - punch is ok too... http://www.bariatricchoice.com/ The grape taste like grape Koolaid... and you get 15 grms protein - not cheap but you get your protein - I ususally drink one a day - but the way i look at it - what i am saving on junk I am spending on stuff that's good for me - Also I think Albertson's sells their own brand of crystal lite and it's cheaper.... Gook Luck....

Sounds like you had your first stuck - golf ball in the chest feeling - I would change calicum - might be too sticky for you - I have Caltrate chewables 1 morning & 1 night and they are pretty good and i have Flintstone with Iron chewables for vitamins 2 in the morning & 2 at night - this is what my doc suggested I am so glad you didn't panic :clap2: - Take it slow and it will be all good.

Good Morning All I am really jazzed this morning - guess what i did I walked 4 miles in 1 hr. 5 minutes - that's a 16..25 minute mile !!!!:whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo::whoo: I dislike exercise as i have stated a million time before - but i know it's something i have to do - if i want to be healthly - so at 1 hr i had done 3.71 miles - i was about to quit as that 3.71 was record breaking in it's self - but i said to myself what's .29 ya gotta keep going to make it and even 4 - so i did... Just had to share this victory ... :biggrin1::biggrin1::biggrin1: Hope ya'll have a great day - make great choices and get in your exercise..

Well they (pilgrams & Indians) must have been celebrating for a while - you know travel was hard back then - so I guess they started in Canada and just came down the coast and partied with all the Indians and it took them til Nov to get to the State:heh:.. How's that for a theory:confused: OMG i do not shopping on Thanksgiving weekend - I can not stand the crowds - I ususally take the week of and after thanksgiving off and I do my xmas shopping then - during the weekdays - but am always surprised at how many people dont work (young ones),.. But this yr everyone but the baby gd whos 3 1/2 will be getting gift cards - and maybe one little thing wrapped - it's just to hard to figure out what they like... Ham isn't red meat - here they advertise it as the other white meat Well my left overs are calling - its 8 pm here .. Have a great weekend.. Janet

Congrats Brenda :clap2::clap2::clap2: Well I can tell you the band works... I am down 36.5 - I feel so much better - in fact a girl friend remarked that i was walking faster.. I am getting tons of compliment - 90% of my clothes are too big - I have a few items i can were - but not much - infact tomorrow hope to go buy some new bras - was wearing 42 C and think now I'm a 38.. Great NSV. Even at lunch today when I was starving looking at the menu with old eye and old tummy - i ordered a taco, enchallda and beans - had a few chips while waiting for food - it came and I was only able to eat the taco :phanvan- I will have the echallda (sp) and beans for dinner - still not healthy choice - should have had chievac (sp) tosadas - but for the last 3 months I have been eating great 98% of the time so - dont think it will kill me - I also walked 3.5 mph for 50 mins - 3 miles...

Ok Girlfriends - I gotta tell you that the band works even when you make bad decisions... I went to lunch w/my gf and I was HUNGRY :hungry:- so i let my old eye & old ways order - Taco, Enchallida, Beans (didn't order anything to drink - so i was still half ass following the rules) - ate chips while waiting for food (omg they were warm thin and good)- well food came and all I could eat was the taco - I have the beans & enchallida in a doggie bag... :clap2: So even though I didn't make the wisest choice for lunch (should have ordered a chevices tostada that would have been the best choice but didn't see it until after i ordered) the band would not let me eat it all - I could have forced a few more bites and really wanted to due to that stupid "OH IT TASTE SOO GOOD" but I stopped. I don't know if it was here or another thread - but someone said they missed pigging out... I miss it... I miss the unhealthy food choices some times mostly when i am tired which i am today as i was in the ER with DIL til 9 last night - (shes ok fell at work and hurt her knee & wrist) - there is a thread you gotta go see - saying good by to my lover - http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/i-have-break-up-my-lover-42225/ this chick who wrote it did a GREAT job... Well, it's good to know that i do have more restriction than I thought - I moved my next fill up from 11/8 to 10/24 - as I do find myself able to eat at least 2 cups of food per meal - So I want another fill - I do have control - but I would like a little more help from my freind... Ruby -While it's probably not the best to be this restricted, I also know that I'm a dirty filthy cheat and will do so if given half the chance. I can't be trusted. This isn't giving me the chance to cheat so I'm going to ride that gravy train (pun intended) while I can so long as it's not detrimental to my health. I'm with you I would rather be a tad tight to help with the dirty cheating... I am pretty lucky in that I don't have too much outside exposure to food and since my GS is anoreix (sp) i don't have a lot of tempations in my face - if he want's pizza tonight and it's in the house i will eat it... So I just can't buy it or have it in the house and I will get fills prior to holidays - vacations etc - cuz I don't want to gain weight and have to loose it again I have done enought of that - I want to only eat to live - not live to eat I want restriction and to change my brain --- Where is that band for our heads.. Lindaa - yes this time of year (Oct - April) is when everyone flocks to the Desert due to our mild winter. We need some rain though... I love the weather - but hate all the snowbirds that come (THIS DOESN'T INCLUDED PHLY CUZ BUT I LOVE HER:kiss2:) as they forget not everyone is retired :car: ssankofa - What is a fuze Peaches - my calendar say's monday is your turkey day - is that cuz we observe Columbus Day then ??? Happy Turkey day to you.... Well gotta get a couple things done before i go - will try and get on tonite but who knows what will pop up or who i will have to taxi...

DON'T DO IT ..... Especially if you are a big coke drinker... I am/was not a big soda drinker - I might have 1 soda a month if that. But I was wanting a Diet Dr Pepper - so I poured it into a glass and let it get a little flat and took small sip - it didn't hurt but was a tad uncomfortable - I would normally take big drinks.. Maybe had 2 sips and that was it.. and then tried a week later and since i can't take big swallows it's just not as appealing as it was. Now ya wanta talk about beer - as i reported last week i had 2 bud lites while i bowled - didn't hurt at all - one sip i would feel full - liked that feeling it was almost like i had eaten.. They went down just fine... I think it is normal for us to test our bands - My doc said not to drink soda cuz it depletes your Calcium - and that was the only reason

Hi Jessica My grandkids call me LALA instead of gm .. Your sexual oreintation really isn't in question here as the lapband bands your tummy and not your sex - but if you are looking to communicate with like minded people - there is a bi - gay - transgender theard on here some where - I have a friend who is gay and she post there.. imho - I don't go around saying Hi i am straight - i just don't know where that mindset comes in at - don't mean to be rude or offensive here just trying to understand - why people have to put that out there first... To me we all are one - the human race - don't think we have to put labels on everyone.. Maybe if we didn't - it would be a better place - I know i am over spimlfiying - but - Welcome - this is a great place for info and support regardless of your sexual oreintation