piercedqt78

Let me know if this one works, I reshaped it a bit

This one is even a bit smaller, the system is funny about it being a certain size.

You have beautiful eyes. I will make it small enough to be an avatar for you. ~Mandy

Here's mine: underbust: 36 Waist: 39.25 Hips: 39.5 Weight 189

Lynn, what is your user name on ebay? I am looking for some decorative bands for my ID, not sure what I want though. ~Mandy

I bought my actual tag off af a seller on Ebay his user name is clicktags.com and he was really great to deal with. I bought 2 tags that have the following on them: Adjust. Gastric Band w/ abdominal port No Blind NG Emergency number allergy info I went to the mall and bought a silver necklace and had it cut to make a bracelet and I had enough leftover to make a matching anklet. The whole thing cost me less than $50. If I had gone with gold it would have been around $150. I was able to select my emblem and exactly what was laser printed on my tag. It is nice and has held up very well. I bought an extra for a backup in case I break this one. Also avon has a nice set for around $20 that needs to be engraved, that can be expensice though so check out engraving prices before you go that route. The avon set has a blue beaded bracelet and a charm looking bracelet that connect to the medical charm. My paramedice friend said not to get one that is too fancy as they over look most true jewlery and only look for medical symbols. ~Mandy

Under Bust 36.5 Waist 39.25 Hips 41 Weight 190 ~Mandy

Walmart carries Aloe Juice in the pharmacy. It comes in 1/2 gallon bottles, I have never seen it any smaller. ~Mandy

I wish torrid had more casual stuff. The one near me (just south of Chicago) has loads of dresses and more dressy stuff. I am a tomboy at heart and wish they had more funky casual stuff, more like Hot Topic (they are the same company) I will be thin enough for Hot Topic soon enough, my hubby said that when I hit my goal he will send me on a shopping spree in Hot Topic with $3,000 to spend, woohoo!!! ~Mandy

Call Inamed and ask for Don Mills, he has a wonderful file that he will email you. It has loads of information on band vs bypass. That helped me win my appeal. ~Mandy

I hope all is better for you very soon. Will they remove the band and do the DS in the same proceedure? Please let us know the outcome of the test and when your surgery is, so we can send prayers and good thoughts your way. ~Mandy

http://www.fsisolutions.com/hanes/default.aspx They are marketing a new line of undies and they are giving away a sample pair. I ordered several, one to me, one to my mom and one to my MIL. They only go up to a large but I will fit that soon enough. There are 3 or 4 styles to choose from and they just ask for a name address and email. Takes 10-12 weeks for delivery but hey they are free who can complain about that? ~Mandy

I didn't want to sound like I was saying bite sized candy bars were a sin. I am sorry if it came off that way. I was saying that he can't eat pasta and starch but he can pop a bite sized sinckers every few hours with no problems. I agree that a sweet treat every now and then is a good thing. I try to treat myself at least once a week to something I really enjoy. But everyday is going to stop weight loss and make most people gain weight. He is no exception. Just seems weird that rice and pasta give him problems but candy throughout the day does not. I think he bacame complacent and that was his downfall. Again I am not perfect and I am not saying that I am better than anyone else, if anyone eats the way my friend does they are going to gain weight. ~Mandy

As I fall into more comfortable eating patterns I notice I am posting less and less. I also stopped attending my local group, as it is the same discussion each and every meeting. I would like to get a group together on my own but there are so few bandsters in my area that I think it would be hard to do. I have learned how to eat and what I need to do to lose weight. I love being here and the people are great but like Tricia said I am simply out of questions. I am happy to help newbies and enjoy non band related posts here but I don't think I need true "support" in the technical sense of it all. I am thankful for the emotional support that I get here and the food ideas are really great too. This is, in my opinion the best site around for the band as it is just for the band. I also think that once people get close to their goals they are out living life as a thin, healthy, happy person. Just my .02 ~Mandy

I have never had blood in a PB but I have PB'd and that has caused a nose bleed. I agree with the iritated esophagus for now. I know that when I suffered from frequent migrains I vomited blood (small amounts) on a regular basis, the doctor said it was due to the esophagus being inflamed and the contractions that came with throwing up or PB'ing can cause some bleeding in the tiny blood vessels in the throat and esophagus. Hope you are feeling better. Maybe try drinking some aloe juice to sooth the throat? ~Mandy

From what I gather GBP people gain the weight back because their bodies get used to the reduced amount of food being absorbed. My friend is gaining his weight back because he eats crap food all day long. His pouch is not stretched out and the weightloss surgeon says that if he ate the right foods he would continue to lose. He wishes he had the band instead. He still has problems with certain foods causing him to "dump" rice and pasta are his biggest trigger foods but he can eat bite sized candy bars with no problems. Go figure. ~Mandy

If you ever go back the turkey legs at MGM are MUCH better. they are moist and very tender. I got really really sick on turkey legs at Magic Kingdom last year, I will never eat them from there again. Next time you go check out Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square, it is a fish and chips place that is really good. We love Disney and go alot can you tell? ~Mandy

What they are refering to as an 18 month grace period should be called an 18 month effectiveness period. My bestfriend had the bypass in 2001 and he is gaining back the weight. His mother also had the surgery and never met her goal, the effectiveness of the surgery wore off before she was at goal. But they will have dumping syndrome for the rest of their lives. I have been banded since July of this year and have lost 40 pounds, almost 1/2 of my goal. I am losing slower then they did, but I also don't have hanging skin on my arms or face. If I decide to have another child I can have my band emptied and when I am ready have it refilled and start my weight loss journey again. For some the bypass is the best option but for me and I am sure most on this board will tell you that the band is just simply newer and seems to be better. It is safer, has a long term effectivness, and is reversable. Jusy my 2 cents. ~Mandy

Weight 190 Bust 36.5 (had to buy new bras this week) Waist 40.5 Hips 42 (this is where I had the most to lose) I am not losing pounds like I want but the inches are coming off nicely. I am walking and drinking lots of water.

Since I am only in most things for a short time before it is too big I am doing loads of thrift store and resale shopping. I also love garage sales. My whole closet was LB and the new stuff in the stores is 1) ugly and 2) expensive for the short time I am going to be wearing it. They USED to make the best jeans and then when the low-rise craze hit, their jeans started to suck. I just read in a fashion magazine that low rise is on it's way out and most clothing manufactures are going to make regular and even high rise jeans for the winter and spring seasons. I just bought regular rise levis at walmart for $17 and love them. Since losing weight my tummy is very soft and has extra skin so low rise is like a shelf for my tummy. I am glad that regular rise is back, as I am high waisted and low rise jeans are like plumbers crack jeans on me too. So on me they look bad in the front and even worse in the back, hooray for regular rise jeans.

Pb is productive burp, when something is too large to go down it comes back up, think of a baby spitting up, it is not vomiting as there is no stomach acid involved.. There is an entire thread here: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7959 about what all of the acronymns stand for. As for the band holding it's shape while diving. The band is made of a ring of plastic with a tube on the inner ring, the actual plasitc band will hold everything in place. Does that make sense? There are pictures at http://www.inamed.com/products/obesity/us/patient/lapband/prodinfo.html Hope this helps~Mandy

Happy Birthday!!! I allow myself any kind of dessert that I want but onle one or two bites. After a meal that is usually all I can handle anyway. If I deny myself all the time I am more likely to cave and have a monstrosly bad day. So indulge in cake today and maybe a bite or 2 tomorrow. However you decide to Celebrate make sure you enjoy yourself as your 52nd birthday is a once in a lifetime event. ~Mandy P.S. have some cake for me too as I can't tolerate cake anymore.

My husband and I both want to be cremated. I want 1/2 of my ashes spread on a white rose bush, hubby wants 1/2 of his ashes spread over bristol motor speedway (it's a NASCAR thing) The other 1/2 of each of our remains will be put together along with our wedding rings. We joined the cremation society of Illinois and nobody can change our arrangements for cremation. It also allows our family to have us cremated for around $500. Most states have this type of organization. For my memorial I want my friends to have really good food, a great wine and some really good jazz music. (a live band is best) I also want my friends and family to take pictures, maybe have a photographer there like at a wedding. Everyone can have portraits taken. I want everyone to wear earth tones or jewel tones. I love rich warm colors. And a huge cake, 3 or 4 tier like a wedding cake, decorated in blue and purple like my weding cake, topped with silk flowers. I have also thought about a costume memorial. Like halloween but in honor of me. ~Mandy

Jladybird, my tattoos have not changed at all. I have them on my back, arms, legs and feet and they all look fine. Even the one on my chest is still looking good, my boobs are shrinking but so it the tattoo. Yours will be fine also. Just make sure that if you decide to have plastic surgery later on you find a tattoo friendly surgeon. ~Mandy

Very Hugh Heffner looking guy, love the bathrobe. ~Mandy