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Brandy, you mentioned Slim Fast shakes for breakfast. Do they keep you full? I'm just wondering since they are liquid and liquids going through the band. What was your starting weight and how old are you if you don't mind answering.

I had a fill yesterday and I happened to look up and saw the size of the needle the doctor was using and I told him I wish I hadn't seen it. He told me "it's nothing you haven't had done before and they don't use super size needles". I told him, "I know but before I was always laying down and hadn't actually seen the needle." It was big. I don't want to scare anyone. He told me that he thought I was getting very close to my sweet spot because he can feel pressure as he is putting in my fills. The last 4 fills have all been 1/2 cc. I can tell a difference with this one, water is going down a lot slower. Take care, keep up the good work and let's hope I can get back on my treadmill on 1/21. I miss it so. Have to go I'm on call and you never know what will come in as urgent.

Peaches, I hope you do not have to go through this again. I don't know if you had insurance or were a self pay. If insurance covered the original surgery, would they cover this or if you are under the requirements would the insurance company deny because you no longer met requirements. Good luck.

It is nice that we all seem to get along so well. I don't really visit other boards I tend to find everything here with the Lucky 7's. I hope we all continue to be lucky 7s in '08. To all of you who visit this forum at work and don't want your employer to know: Just be careful at work because when you log on to the network every thing you do is tracked and every internet site you visit. I don't think this site is one that would cause an employer to fire you, but in my field I have seen it happen many a time. I have been asked by superiors to pull logs on people to track their internet usage so I know first hand that it happens. I don't visit this site at all from work only home. My take at work and on email is if I wouldn't say it to my boss or do it with them watching over my shoulder it just doesn't happen. Ok. I'm off my soapbox now. I rode the exercise bike today and did leg presses. I so want to walk on my treadmill. I miss it. I go in next week for a fill and won't have much progress to show but it will happen. Once I get healed and through February (another crazy month at work new equipment to set up and get delivered) then I will take off. My goal is to lose another 25 by my birthday in Mid April. I think at my age this is a very reasonable goal. If I lose more that would be a total bonus.

Since I am also recovering from knee surgery on 12/21 I can't walk. My doctor told me that I should start doing straight leg lifts 3 sets of 10 hold each for 5 seconds and do leg presses and they said I could ride a stationary bike for 10 minutes with no resistance or an elliptical starting at 10 minutes with no resistance. I'm hoping when I go back on 1/21 I get released and can start walking on the treadmill again. I was really working up some decent mileage and speeds and incline. Hope this helps.

Happy New Year to all. Just think this should be the last year we need to make losing weight our New Year's Resolution and we will be able to achieve the resolution thanks to the band and our hard work. Next year we can shoot for maintaining weight, good health we have achieved and exercising more to build more lean muscle so we burn more when we are at rest.

Walgreens has an awesome chewable Vitamin A to Z and it is very reasonably priced. it tastes like cherry. Ok for those who are cold and want a chocolate fix. This is the best cocoa recipe and it is equivalent to drinking at least one of your dairy products during the day. The whole glass has 150 calories and 7 1/4 grams of protein. Ingredients 1lb. box of Nestle quick box of dry evaporated milk (8 qt box) 8 oz of cremora creamer 2 cups of powdered sugar or if you like splenda (this makes 41 servings so it is spread out) stir all together in large mixing bowl. put one half cup into warm Water, stir and drink. Store in air tight cannister. Makes great gifts for coworkers etc. I hope you all enjoy it. I had a good holiday I didn't gain and ate very well. I had surgery last week so my weight is still up from that. I still have a lot of swelling in my leg. The next day after surgery I was up 6.5 pouds. I am watching what I eat since I can't work the lower part. I am now concentrating on my arms and upper body. Maybe after it is healed I can get back to my step. I miss my daily walks on the treadmill. Yesterday my husband and I saw the sequel to the National Treasure movie. It was good but not as good as the first one. I ate some popcorn (not too much) but this was the first time since my surgery I even tried to eat some. My husband and I and another couple are going out Saturday for our anniversary (23 years). Tonight we are going to the melting pot. I will have a salad, a little bit of the cheese fondue some of the veggies, meat and a little chocolate. I wil be glad when this time is over too expensive on the budget as well as the calories. Next Wednesday my drive to and from work will increase considerably. It will take a while to find a route that will work. I start at 7 a.m and in October and November one of the alternate ways would have 20 to 30 cars lined up to get off the exit ramp at 6:40 a.m. I can't imagine what this will be when this one of the only ways to get around. They are closing down a major highway all lanes both ways for 5 miles. This will displace several hundred thousand cars each day. This is supposed to be for a year. After they get this part done then they close the same highway at the other end of town for a year to complete it. This will be another year. So in 2010 it should be completed. I hope my patience lasts that long. I hate sitting in traffic.

I got my body bugg yesterday but can't use it until I get a log on and I have to get one from customer service. They are only open Monday through Friday. Ruby, that is a job. My plastic surgeon would not do any surgery even that until I lose my weight. He said if I got it done now and lost weight they would not look as good. I just have to lose and then do it. I am not a patient person but am learning it. Sometimes.

I just found the body bugg on sale for $249 at this site until Monday 11/26 bodybugg armband device

I don't know if any of you have received an email with this PowerPoint presentation, but it is cute. I tried to upload it but was not successful. If you would like to view it, send me a private message or email and I will forward to you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all today. Remember to celebrate family and friends and not focus on the food. I am trying to catch up on my exercise as basically the last month I haven't done any due to working so much. I walked for 90 minutes today 4.7 miles over 700 calories burned. I am planning on walking tonight for another hour. I figure this will help strengthen my knee for upcoming surgery too. I am guessing that Lynette will be super busy now with Christmas coming up and working in retail. Hope you all have a good day and enjoy time off from work. I get 4 days off. I don't know how to act. Really I do and plan on enjoying it. Congrats on the Thanksgiving challenge and let's get started on the next one. Any weight loss is better than a gain. And every time you gain and then lose you are learning that even with the band you still have to work and can't eat anything and everything.

Put me down for maintaining since I am having surgery and probably won't be able to exercise.

If you have a teaching university you can get plastic surgery done at a very reasonable rate. I visited mine the other day and still do not have enough weight off to do my tummy tuck. My tummy tuck, anesthesia and overnight stay plus surgeon's fees is going to be $3,850.00 and that is at Washington University in St. Louis one of the most renowned medical schools in the US. I hope I can do this by June because the surgeon I have been seeing is graduating in July. He is the husband of a person with whom I work. He is a MD plus he has a PHD and is a Rhodes scholar. I will see if I want to get more done later. I have to have my weight off and be stable for at least 3 months. He really wants me to wait until I get where I want to be weight wise because then you get the best results as opposed to rushing with the surgery and then losing another 30 pounds. I just got finished exercising. My goal is to walk 30 miles week. I am finally finished with all the overtime until January. Thank goodness now I get to work a normal week for awhile and have several days off in December. I am having arthroscopy on my knee on 12/21 so am not sure how long that will slow my exercise. Hopefully, not for too long. Talk to you soon. Hi to all.

Hi everyone, Ms. Phyll could you put me down for 4.5 loss for the TG challenge. Thanks.

I guess I am lucky because I take it without any problem. It is good stuff but I still have problems with sinuses and stuff even when taking it and Zyrtec. I took one tonight and had a fill so I hope it doesn't come back and bite me. I take the 12 hour tabs so you only take 1 you may want to check them out. I also found some really good vitamins at Walgreens for adults chewable.

Ms. Phyll thank you for keeping track of everyone for the TG challenge. So far I am down two pounds. I go tomorrow for fill 3. Chim and Linda a very belated happy birthday wish. Marcie -- congrats on your weight loss. Jackie - I too managed to stay away from the candy. I was supposed to go to a combination birthday Halloween party last Saturday but unfortunately got stuck at work. I wonder how I would have handled the social situation. Indio, thank you for all your words of wisdom. You have really helped me a lot. I had my first episode of pb'g yesterday. I ate a turkey sausage patty and I don't know if I ate it too fast or didn't chew well but I was driving to work and had to pull over twice to throw up. I am lucky I didn't get hit by a car both times. I could be the poster child for better chew your food or this could happen to you. I go for fill #3 tomorrow. That will keep me away from the candy. Dini -- I don't know which of us puts in more hours lately. Last week I had 32 hours of overtime. Brandy --- if you haven't sailed away yet, have fun.

Count me in. People are talking about weight loss and how slow or fast. Not only how much you weigh is a factor but also age. those who are older tend to lose slower than younger people.

I can still remember those days and my oldest is now 21. I can remember him getting on the school bus for his first day of Kindergarten and I was at home with a 6 week old baby. Now that baby is a freshman in high school and studying for his driving permit. They grow up fast and time flies. Cherish these moments for the times when being a parent isn't easy.

Ms. Phyl, I can see a difference. I know people tell me they can tell. I see some difference but not that much. As we lose more it will be more noticeable. Keep up the good work. You look fabulous. Everyone who has posted pictures looks great.

My goth name is Crimson Moon. I have been stuck for so long. I'm getting aggravated. I'm walking an hour a day on the treadmill at 3.3 - 3.5 and at a grade from 1.5 to 6.0 and nothing. I feel like a lap band failure at this time. I know it will show because I am also watching what I eat but it is frustrating. I told my husband to put the scale away so I wouldn't get so upset. I just want to go to my doctor with a loss the next time. Thanks for listening to me whine.

Hi all. Didn't get a chance to check in this weekend. This was my convert our office to the merged office weekend. We managed to swap out 85 computers, monitors etc and move all the old equipment and have everything operational by Monday morning. I put in 30 hours overtime between Friday and Sunday. Came home last night and passed out. Thank goodness that is behind me. I have been dreading this weekend for four months. Anyway speaking about football I live in St. Louis and we have the Rams and we are now the proud owners of a 0 and 5 record about to be 0 and 6. Take care congrats to everyone on their weight loss.

You'd be surprised how bad soda tastes once you don't drink it. I had to give up colas a long time ago and every once in a while I would get one and it tasted bad. I couldn't even drink more than a quarter of it. My doctor says no carbonated drinks because since the band is in place you can't burp the way you used to and if you get gas build up it can be quite uncomfortable until it goes away. My doctor does not let you drink from a straw for the same reason.

Ruby, you should be able to take regular pills now. You are at two months. That's what my doctor allows. Your doctor may be different. Even though you ate the candy bar, I bet in the past you would have eaten more than one so it is a victory and a change in lifestyle.

Indio Girl, congrats on your good behavior during the meal. eventually eating the correct way will become a way of habit for us and we won't have to think about it. I hope. NewCC good luck. Everyone on this site should be careful about what you post etc. It is out there for life and can be found by many people not just the ones you think are reading it. My take is if I wouldn't say it to my boss, I don't write it out here. Peaches, I think my weight loss has been as varied as yours and I'm sure many others can say the same thing.

Does your doctor allow you to have snacks? My doctor says three meals a day no snacking. Just curious what others doctors have said.