the best me

Oh My GOSH!!! How precious is THAT?!!!! Just beautiful!

Yep, I did my questioning in college, mostly, but figured out my parents were pretty well right all along. I hate it when that happens. So I'm comfy right here in Presbyterian-ville. It makes sense to me, challenges me, puts me and God in our rightful places and all that good stuff I like. I do understand what you mean by organized religion but have managed to comes to terms with it. I belong to a great church, that helps alot. Anyhoo, so I can do the cleanse, but where?! Just what kind of a shop or salon or ??? do I look for in these parts? I dunno, if I asked around here, someone would say, "that sounds very California to me!" hehe ((hugs))

Lack of protien, lack of calories. I had it too. And yes, I drank a milkshake or two...oh yeah baby!!!! Go for it. If you feel guilty, take it home and put it in the blender with a scoop of protien powder.

Well done, Geeta!! Welcome to Bandland! You did it!!!

"Kathy and Vinesqueen I know I can always count on you for good sound advice, i do appreciate it and it does help." Crystal! Tag Team High Five *clap* *circle snap* shake yer booty dance around! Yeah Baby! Good job, Gaynor! Eat that steak, girl! Just NOT the whole 24 ounces!

"It ain't coffee till it ain't coffee" said Bob Greene as he poured more sugar and flavored creamer into his styrofoam cup of coffee in the Fellowship Hall at church. I almost blew it out my nose. I knew there was something I liked about that fella, other than the fact that his nickname in high school was "Revco" as in the pharmacy, right? Now he's a fine church goin' man who hasn't forgot his roots. No fuss. No games. Real fine fella that likes his coffee like I do: sugared and flavored creamed to death!

Can I get all that without the chakra stuff?! That's meant to be a joke since the Eastern medicine/spiritual whatever it's called is so foreign to my Western/American/Christian whatever beliefs. huh? But the Pancha Karma and the Therapies, oh yeah! I'd love a deep cleanse, inner and outer! Glad you liked it!

Thanks for the reminder. Let us know how he does!!

Hey Butch! Welcome to LBT!!! Wow, what great success you have had so far! And it IS neat to see someone banded a good while. Vinesqueen's DH started our at 600 too. She'll post soon, I'm sure. The surgery you are talking about I think is called a Paniculectomy-oh please check the spelling-I just know it's wrong. I'll see if I can post some links to other threads. Insurance will generally pay for this since it's "medically necessary" and NOT cosmetic. That apron is par for the course with weight loss, and you will feel SOOO much better to have it off! Your back pain will improve, no doubt! Leeme see...check these links... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5195 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1933&highlight=panniculectomy That should get you started. Happy researching!!! So glad you are here!

Oh Melissa I can't wait to see your new 'do! Yucky stuff about the h-pylori. ewww. But, you will get through and get that band date soon!! I get some of Rachel's uniforms at Goodwill. $2.50 for navy and kahki pants, and turtlenecks for winter. I just go alone and search every rack. Kind of a pain but get them home and wash them...good to go! That has really helped the budget. Then as she grows out of them, if I don't have someone to pass them along to, back to Goodwill they go! It helps if you have a school with uniforms near the Goodwill you go to...they usually stay pretty stocked up on the basics. Rachel starts August 25th. When does Karah start?

Yippppeeee!! Keep us posted just as soon as you get that magical date! It's all going fast from here, lady!!! Here you go!!!!!!

I wasn't a big soda drinker pre-band so no biggie for me. I have heard enough from others that I still avoid it. I don't know how good it is for your band/stoma, it's all a bunch of chemical crap anyway. Banded or not, there's nothing about sodas that's good for you. Banded or not, Water is still the best for your body in so many ways. That said, I still take a small sip occasionally if it's handy and I'm thirsty. My stomach hasn't popped yet. And I still drink more Crystal Light than I do water most days. Oh well.

Dr Kuri in TJ Mx. Almost 4 months and down 24 pounds. See stats below. Good luck!!

Try www.Inamed.com for the Inamed bands. They are the only FDA approved bands. If you are having surgery in the US, this is the band you WILL get. There are several sizes. You doc picks which one is best for you based on your anatomy once inside. I'm not sure about the other bands...the French Midband, and the Swedish Band...??? Just when I think I know all about the different bands, time goes by and I forget, then I can't find the links to the info. You can do a search on the Midband and Swedish band or any combination. Someone who knows better may post some info. Or some links? Anyhow, will your surgery be in the US?

Nana, I want your tummy! My husband wants me to have your tummy! hehe! You look awesome!

Uh Oh! Meal skipping!! I do that, too. I'll do coffe in the AM, have a Boost around noon, a very small lunch, more like a snack, drink lots of water all afternoon and have a small regular foods dinner. I usually don't eat anything after dinner (did I just say that?!!! OMGosh!!!!) so I'm thinking...up the exercise, which I have this week. I have been getting up and cranking the 70's funk and dancing around the kitchen. DS(2) thinks I'm nuts but he's shaking his little fanny right along with me!

I agree! Too tight! This could also be a symptom of slippage, but not necessarily...so get it checked out. Call your doc! Have a flouro unfill and take a look! Here's what I think...if it's slippage, I have heard of folks getting a complete unfill and the stomach area straightening itself out, then after some healing time, back in for a small fill. Kind of like starting over. If it's bad slippage, only surgery will repair it. If it's only reflux related, an unfill will allow healing. You can really cause damage by letting this go on. You should NOT be vomiting in the middle of the night and having these coughing bouts. If you unfill, let things heal, and then start over, problem solved. Or you could do a slight/partial unfill, let things heal, be extra careful and maybe take a Prilosec or Nexium, or that type of med for acid, do a liquid then soft diet for a while...then see how things progress. Do a search here on reflux and see what you find. By what I've been reading, your symptoms don't sound odd at all. Maybe uncommon, but something that you should call your doc about. Hey! Welcome to LBT!! How's your weight loss after a year?

Another thing: I had my fill weeks ago and things are settling down a little. I find I'm able to eat things I wouldn't have been able to eat a week after my fill, like the pizza. What IS different since before my fill, is not so much what I'm NOT able to eat now, it's that I'm haveing to be very careful with the chewing and the smaller bites. When that happens, may quantity goes down too. I just can't let myself get too hungry, and I can't let myself snack on junk. Cuz the junk goes down WAAAYY too easy!

Huh? Okay, some folks are so tight that steak is a no-no and bread just ain't happenin'. But...for most folks, that should loosen over time with weight loss! It's a temporary thing! How else do you think this band will work long term? It won't be by feeling like you will Never Ever be able to feed yourself again. This food addiction is a big thing! The band just helps make it smaller. I ate thin crust pizza for lunch. I didn't look back. Maybe I could have had something "better" for me. Perhaps I should have. But, know what? It was yummy, I'm full, I didn't eat the entire thing like I would have pre-band, and now I'll have a sensible dinner with veggies. So there. Maybe this is what's got me stuck at 199, whateva! I think you got it right about not starving yourself and not getting a fill unless you really need one. You'll know when that is. See, I knew you were smart!!!

Congrats Aunt Kim! Pics please!!! Hey Dianne...I wanna hear your story!! Be sure to tell us when we get together in August, okay? By then I KNOW you will have a date and approval!! It's happening!!

Oh Lawsy! Anne...I don't think you are being unrealistic, just a tad impatient! Give it a minute, okay? I'm so glad you are having a smooth recovery. I envy you! Don't worry, you'll drop the weight, I promise!! Stick to your liquids, let your band heal in well, relax and go with the flow. It's true that some folks just don't lose alot on the post-op liquid diet. Dunno why. You might not lose as much as you want, but I want you to post here at 1 week post-op and tell us what your weight is. My bet is it will be less. Perhaps alot less! Hey, welcome to Bandland!!! wahooo! You did it!

hehe!! Good one! And like you said, Leatha, "Next!" He did you a favor. Next time you see him, thank him for showing you he's not a secure enough man to handle such a lethal woman. Now you can keep looking...buh bye!!!

Pesky plateaus. I had hit one at banding weight around 220, Hit another one at 208, now another at 199. I was hoping my fill would give me more of a boost than the 9 pounds I have lost since then...but Vinesqueen is right. It takes a sec for your body to adjust. I don't particularly like plateaus either...but I know they are good. They give your metabolism a chance to adjust to your slimmer figure! That's what I keep reminding myself of...but it's still frustrating to see 199 on the scale EVERY DAY!!!! Augghhh!! We'll get there...sigh.

Congratulations and Welcome to Bandland!! Wahooo! You did it! Rest, sip and walk. Then do it again.

Welcome to LBT!!! It's the best, huh? I remember when I first found it, I couldn't stop getting back on, and finally I started posting...something? a question I'll bet but here was an entire group of people dealing with the same physical and emotional issues I am regarding my weight! And what a diverse group, too! I have been floored, then hooked on LBT. Everyone here is just as nice as you think. I love the hope. I was so down when I started searching the computer about WLS. Now I'm banded and all these nice folks walked me through it. I'm headed in the right direction and couldn't do it without LBT. So, welcome Carrie! All of your apprehensions about the surgery are normal. Keep reading and learning. Happy band day on the 5th!!!!!