piercedqt78

Now that I have downloaded it I can see it!! Whooo Hoooo!!! ~Mandy

I don't know that it is about deserving it, but it is nice to be charged for what I am eating. I don't refuse to go to places that charge me full price, like I said I eat at Golden Corral on occasion. I perfer places that have a healthy selection and Golden Corral offers rotissery chicken and a couple of really good sugar free desserts. I will never eat at Bakers Square again because they added a fee to my kids meal without warning and then treated me like crap when I questioned what the fee was for. They charged me $5 for 3 chicken tenders and a scoop of mashed potatos and tried to tell me that they were losing money on kids meals. I ordered a coffee and paid for it even though a drink is included in the kids meal price and they still charged me $2 as a service fee. We usually eat at home but the rare times we eat out I try to still eat a healthy meal, not crap. Like I said it's not a deal breaker but it's nice to have the option of a discount. Our local family owned place lets me order off the senior menu, that includes coffee and soup, a small entree and ice cream or pie for dessert. I order off that menu, the portion is smaller and it is a little cheaper then a regular entree. That is a good option for most places, like Denny's. I will start a poll later this afternoon, I am on my way out. ~Mandy

I have large tattoos and look "odd" I guess at the airport so I always get a double check. I did set off the wand and I'm glad I had my card to show. The woman at security had never heard of the band and she said she was going to suggest it to her sister that was MO. I play it safe and always carry my card. ~Mandy

Some doctors give a card to band patients explaining the band. It is from Inamed and has a picture of the band and what it looks like in the body. I always have mine ready at the airport, just in case. It says something like this patient has had weightloss surgery and can only consume 4-8 oz. You can also print them at obesityhelp.com ~Mandy

We don't eat at the buffets that charge me $12 for dinner and I eat a cup of soup and maybe a small portion of meat. I will also not eat at a place that charges me a service charge for ordering off the kids menu without warning me first. I usually order an adult meal and take a portion of it home with me or I share with my 5 year old daughter. I have no problem paying full price when I am on vacation or if the quality of food is worth it. I do pay full price at golden corral, we have one near us and we go for shrimp night, I can eat a bowl of soup and 8 or 10 shrimp. To me it is worth the $10 for dinner if I am eating good food. I won't pay $10 for crap anywhere. I haven't ask for a discount for a buffet except for when we go to Disney, I know they are WLS friendly and they charge me the $18 childs price for the buffet instead of the $25 for adults. They have never refused me the discount and have it on record when I make reservations now. I don't even have to ask at the places that we eat at on every trip as they know me and my family. I have no problem ordering an adult meal if I can take leftovers home and have them later. When we are going to be out and not have access to a fridge I usually order off the kids menu. ~Mandy

Jen, the average is 1 to 2 pounds per week with the band. The first 6 weeks are for healing not loseing weight. You are right on track, banded around 25 weeks, minus 6 for healing, 19 weeks, 25 pound loss. You are doing fine. ~Mandy

I have highmark BCBS and they had the policy of not paying for the band. I am the first to have a lapband paid for ever with that company. You will have to fight it, unless your employer has it in their policy not to cover it. If that is the case then appeal to your employer. See who is not covering it, the company or the employer and then fight from there. I am willing to help if I can, just let me know. ~Mandy

They do pay for the band, they paid for mine and I know of at least 2 others. Do you by any chance have rail road insurance? ~Mandy

I will be in Orlando from Sept 28th until Oct 3rd. I have the day of Oct 2nd sorta open. I will be staying on Disney Property and could meet at Downtown Disney. Also the evening of the 28th could be possible. ~Mandy

If you have an Old Country Buffet near you the company policy is the same. If that is all you can eat, oh well. We don't eat there anymore. Also if you order off the kids menu at Bakers Square there is a service fee. I wasn't told about the fee and I ordered chicken when the bill came I was charged a $2 service fee and I was charged for my drink. I could have ordered the adult meal and had lunch for the next day. We don't eat there either. I am however in love with Olive Garden they let me order off the kids menu and they offer grilled chicken, it is about 4 oz and comes with steamed broccoli and pasta, I skip the pasta and get either extra broccoli or mashed potatos. It also comes with salad or a soup for around $5. That is a regular place for us. Healthy and reasonable. ~Mandy

I don't live in Florida but I am there at least twice a year, in Orlando. We spend at least 2 weeks in Disney each year. 10 days in the spring and 4 or 5 days in the fall (just me and hubby). I love florida, I grew up in Jacksonville Beach and would love to retun there someday. We will have to wait until Dave retires because the railroad he works for doesn't go that far east. We are as far east as we can get. ~Mandy

Here is the latest. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060817/ap_on_re_us/jonbenet_ramsey

There is a spell check for the quick reply, but not on go advanced. Am I missing something? ~Mandy

Can anyone else picture Ryan and Blossom dancing in their skinny bodies smiling down on us from heaven? I know that they have both been on my mind all day. Ryan will be missed but at least he had the warm smile and open arms of Blossom welcoming him to the great beyond....~Mandy

I have my band date tattooed on my back under a flaming lotus. ~Mandy

When Ryan was at a very hard time in his life he had this to say about the great people at LBT and I think this is 150% true of Ryan too, he was a wonderful person. : But most of my tears were tears of wonder, tears of joy. My heart swelled at the flood of support here. The well wishes you all have written have such a healing power. My cheeks are wet as I write this, my head aches, and my nose is plugged, from weeping. Thank you. Thank God for all of you. I think about giving up a thousand times a day. But I always find a reason to go on. I love my wife, is the most important reason, but your support is a close second. I can find no words, no eloquence to properly tell you how I feel, how grateful I am for you all. But let me say just this: If my lapband were a total failure, if the surgery and all the testing beforehand turned out for nothing, still this would have been the best experience of my life. Because I found this cyber place, and I found all of you. People who know the fear and shame of obesity. People who know how to empathize, people who understand how to care. I feel I am the recipient of a miracle. And the miracle is you. I will carry your words with me on the road, and I will be comforted.

here is a list of the Chicagoland area doctors that I got from Inamed...I see D. Joyce and Dr Lahmann Dr. Gerald Cahill , 2850 W 95th St, Suite 206, ,Evergreen Park, IL 60805. Tel: (708)422 5658. (Distance: 4.0) [/url] Dr. John Alverdy , 5841 S. Maryland, , ,CHICAGO, IL 60637. Tel: (773)834-2710. (Distance: 10.0) Dr. Vivek N. Prachand , 5841 S Maryland Ave, MC 5036, ,Chicago, IL 60637. Tel: (773)834-8360. (Distance: 10.0) Dr. Jonathan Myers , 2160 South 1st Ave, , ,MAYWOOD, IL 60153. Tel: (708)327-2447. (Distance: 12.0) Dr. Sharifi Sarker , 2160 South First Ave, , ,MAYWOOD, IL 60153. Tel: (708)327-2447. (Distance: 12.0) Dr. Vafa Shayani , 2160 South First Ave, , ,MAYWOOD, IL 60153. Tel: (708)327-2447. (Distance: 12.0) Dr. Kathyrn Bass , 1901 Harrison St #3350, , ,CHICAGO, IL 60612. Tel: (312)864-3247. (Distance: 13.0) Dr. Michael Baptista , 840 South Wood St MC 958, , ,CHICAGO, IL 60612. Tel: (312)355-1493. (Distance: 13.0) Dr. Burnetta Herron , 2801 Finley Rd #220, , ,DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515. Tel: (630)627-7800. (Distance: 14.0) Dr. Chris Salvino , 2801 Finley Rd #220, , ,DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515. Tel: (630)627-7800. (Distance: 14.0) Dr. Michael Iwanicki , 2801 Finley Rd #220, , ,DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515. Tel: (630)627-7800. (Distance: 14.0) Dr. Alex Nagle , 251 E. Huron St., Galter 3-150, ,Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: (312)695-7070. (Distance: 15.0) Dr. Eric S Hungness , 10-105 Galter, 201 E Huron St, ,CHICAGO, IL 60611. Tel: (312)695-0209. (Distance: 15.0) Dr. Jay B Prystowsky , 201 E. Huron St / Galter 10-105, , ,CHICAGO, IL 60611. Tel: (312)695-7070. (Distance: 15.0) Dr. Santiago Horgan , 840 S Wood, 4th floor, Room 435E, ,Chicago, IL 60610. Tel: (312)355-1493. (Distance: 15.0) Dr. Woddy Denham , Department of Surgery, FeinBerg School of Medicine, 201 E. Huron,Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: (847)570-1003. (Distance: 15.0) Dr. Brian Lahmann , 1300 Copperfield Ave, , ,JOLIET, IL 60432. Tel: (815)723-8571. (Distance: 19.0) Dr. Christopher Joyce , 1300 Copperfield Ave, , ,Joliet, IL 60432. Tel: (815)723-8571. (Distance: 19.0) Dr. Andrew Agos , 800 Austin Ave, Suite 363 east, ,EVANSTON, IL 60202. Tel: (847)864-8887. (Distance: 23.0) Dr. Anthony Raspanti , 800 Austin Ave, Suite 363 east, ,EVANSTON, IL 60202. Tel: (847)864-8887. (Distance: 23.0) Dr. David Woodard , 511 Thornhill, , ,Carol Stream, IL 60188. Tel: (630)665-2101. (Distance: 24.0) Dr. Arsenio Favor , 1479 East 84th Place, , ,MERRILLVILLE, IN 46410. Tel: (219)738-2828. (Distance: 26.0) Dr. Daniel Bacal , 9239 Broadway, , ,Merrillvale, IN 46410. Tel: (219)756-4900. (Distance: 26.0) Dr. Paul Stanish , 9239 Broadway, , ,Merrillville, IN 46410. Tel: (219)756-4900. (Distance: 26.0) Dr. James Kane , 1614 W Central Rd #105, , ,ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005. Tel: (847)255-9697. (Distance: 27.0) Dr. Jonathan Wallace , 1614 W Central Rd #105, , ,ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005. Tel: (847)255-9697. (Distance: 27.0) Dr. Paul Guske , 1614 W Central Rd #105, , ,ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005. Tel: (847)255-9697. (Distance: 27.0) Dr. Peter Rantis , 1614 W Central Rd, # 105, ,ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005. Tel: (847)255-9697. (Distance: 27.0) Dr. Stuart Verseman , 1614 W Central Rd, #105, , ,Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Tel: (847)255-9697. (Distance: 27.0) Dr. Mark Kadowaki , 890 Garfield Ave. Suite 203, , ,Libertyville, IL 60048. Tel: (847)367-1800. (Distance: 41.0) Dr. Scott Otto , 890 Garfield Ave #203, , ,LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048. Tel: (847)367-1800. (Distance: 41.0) Dr. Amir Heydari , 690 E Terra Cotta #A, , ,CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014. Tel: (815)455-2752. (Distance: 46.0) Dr. Danny Sardon , 1501 Walbash St, , ,MICHIGAN CITY, IN 46360. Tel: (219)872-7555. (Distance: 47.0) Dr. Laurence Gibson , 1425 N Hunt Club Rd #103, , ,GURNEE, IL 60031. Tel: (847)856-2525. (Distance: 47.0) Dr. Roger H Mailefer , 217 Franklin St, , ,DEKALB, IL 60115. Tel: (815)758-8671. (Distance: 52.0) Dr. Brian Boe , 1625 S State St, , ,BELVIDERE, IL 61008. Tel: (818)544-1360. (Distance: 68.0) Dr. Charles Stone , 303 S Main St, , ,MISHAWAKA, IN 46544. Tel: (574)855-3888. (Distance: 84.0) Dr. Denise Murphy , 2012, S. Main St #B, ,MISHAWAKA, IN 46544. Tel: (574)535-9100. (Distance: 84.0) Dr. Winston C. Gerig , 303 S Main St, , ,MISHAWAKA, IN 46544. Tel: (574)255-3888. (Distance: 84.0) Dr. Winston Greig , 303 Main St., , ,MISHAWAKA, IN 46544. Tel: (574)255-3888. (Distance: 84.0) Dr. Carlos C Tan , 2745 W Layton Ave #806, , ,MILWAUKEE, WI 53221. Tel: (414)281-9665. (Distance: 86.0) Dr. Eric Valladares , 2745 W Layton, , ,MILWAUKEE, WI 53221. Tel: (414)281-9665. (Distance: 86.0) Dr. Thomas Chua , 2745 W Layton, , ,Milwaukee, WI 53221. Tel: (414)281-9665. (Distance: 86.0) Dr. David Engstrand , 22370 Bluemound Rd #102, , ,Waukesha, WI 53186. Tel: (262)522-8300. (Distance: 93.0) Dr. James Burhop , 22370 Bluemound Rd #102, , ,Waukesha, WI 53186. Tel: (262)522-8300. (Distance: 93.0) Dr. Manfred Chiang , 22370 Bluemound Rd #102, , ,Waukesha, WI 53186. Tel: (262)522-8300. (Distance: 93.0) Dr. Steven Hoekstra , 303 Nappanee, , ,Elkhart, IN 46514. Tel: (574)296-3308. (Distance: 93.0)

I would wait. I have worked in tattoo shops for the last 10 years and I have seen some tattoos get really screwed up from plastic surgery. I know that if you decied to do a lower body lift they cut around the entire stomach and back. I have several large tattoos and they have weathered well with my 75 pound weight loss, but I have held off getting my back tattooed. I have the plans all drawn up and it is very hard looking at my drawings and not be able to start work on it. I also know that if I do it and then have the lower baody lift and my tattoo ends up lopsided or crooked I would be very upset. ~Mandy

My doctor requires 24 hours of liquids, 24 hours of soft food and then back to regular diet. ~Mandy

What I don't get is that Dr. Ian claims that you can lose 12 pounds in 10 days right? Then why are the goals only 4 to 8 pounds for 2 week weigh-ins? Seems if his diet works so great why do they set lower goals for the players? ~Mandy

Would it be possible to get spell check? I know that I post when everyone is sleeping at my house and that can be 3 in the morning and my spelling is terrible to begin with and lack of sleep makes it much worse. ~Mandy

Oh and here is a weird one for you, I PB'd iced tea today. I drank a biggish drink of iced tea at 6am and it violently came back up through my nose. I can't eat solids in the am and I am well aware of this, but liquids have never been a problem. I guess the ice coldness of it locked up my band and it had to come back up. ~Mandy

I was told that the stomach gets thinner as we lose weight, so the band is not as tight. Think of your belt, as you lose weight the belt needs to be tightned, so does the band. ~Mandy

I do the canned bean thing too, but I love pintos made in the crock like a soup. I always have so many left over as my hubby won't touch them and my daughter will only do 1 bowl and she is done for several months. I was just thinking that they would make great healtyh refrieds. ~Mandy

That is what I thought but was unsure. I love to cook but have never really played with the beans. I cook just about everything under the sun and have been cooking since I was like 10 or something so cooking comes natural to me. I love pinto beans cooked in the crock like a soup (think printos from cracker barrel) with mashed potatos or mashed cauliflower. I also love to have the beans with some fresh white onion and collard greens. Yum! ~Mandy