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OMG! Teeny Tina - you look FANTASTIC!!!!! Your surgeon did a masterful job - I can't even tell where you had the surgery...you are doing a great job with your post-op care, and you look AWESOME!!! I hope I can get results as good when I get to that point! You Go GIRL!

Come on down, Beth...it's a great place to be! Thanks everyone for all the good wishes and congrats - I :thumbup: you guys!

My heart aches for you Kat, that you had to live through that, but you have obviously come out of it much better and stronger...:ohmy: For Beth and G4E - I am glad you have also come through it stronger and better. :w00t: I don't know how I would handle it...I think I'd probably be in jail right now (I'd go psycho on him and boil his butt in some Red Devil lye and hot grits), but you just never know... I remember witnessing a domestic abuse incident as a kid...we were sitting on my porch one hot summer night with my family, and a man and woman walking down the street were having an argument. The man started hitting the woman, and wouldn't stop even after she laid down on the ground in the fetal position trying to protect herself. She was also pregnant...my father and brother charged off the porch and across the street and hauled the man off of her while my mother rendered first aid to her (she was a nurse for more than 30 years). My mother helped her back across the street and we called the police. My father pounded the guy and my brother watched. From that point on, we never saw the guy again (though we knew he lived in the neighborhood) and after my father passed away, the lady attended his funeral. My brother never could stand to see a man hit a woman and after that, would always confront these situations when he saw them - sometimes without regard for his own safety. It left an impression on me - I would NEVER want to be in that situation, and I'm blessed to have never experienced it. Tina - how are you doing? :thumbup:

Mornin' Warriors! Been walking regularly - a mile in the morning with DDog and DD (DH is on midnight shift), 1.6 miles at work during lunch, and more at night if I can get it in. Since it's been so nice out, I've started walking to the train station in the evening - I leave my office at 4:45, walk to the train station (a little over a mile) and make it there to catch the 5:30 train. It comes in at 5:15 or so, and I'm usually there before it comes in or just after. Considering the traffic dodging, people dodging and having to stop for traffic lights, I think it's a pretty good walk. I just posted in PJTP that I'm below 230 for the first time in at least 10 years, and I'm so happy I could scream! :ohmy: Who's gonna start the May Exercise thread?:thumbup:

PJTP... I'm so glad it's Friday! :ohmy::w00t::w00t: Was blessed to hear Tony Brown speak last night (remember him from Tony Brown's Journal on PBS, or am I dating myself?) and bought his new book "What Mama Taught Me". Wonderful speaker, brilliant mind. Much shorter in person than I thought...:thumbup: Got on the scale this morning, and I'm below 230 for the first time in at LEAST 10 years! :w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t: Can ya tell I'm happy 'bout that? Looking forward to seeing X-Men Chronicles this weekend with DH and DD, working in my garden and doing some housecleaning and closet cleaning...gotta get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit any more! :w00t:

***TMI Alert*** Last night I went to hear a wonderful speaker, of course there was food at the end. I got over-enthusiastic about a couple of bacon-wrapped scallops (I would have eaten a dozen or more pre-band) and ate them too fast. Well you know what that means... I had to leave early (had a hour drive home) and spent the entire hour on the freeway sliming and PB'ing...at 65 mph! :thumbup::ohmy::ohmy:

...you start looking at the websites that offer designer clothes at cut-rate prices because NOW you can see yourself fitting into them someday, or for those veteran bandsters, you actually CAN fit into them! :thumbup:

Hi all! I'm only down about 35 pounds and I can see the "apron" forming already. I'll be working out and eating right, but at 46 I'm under very few illusions about the elasticity of my skin. I do have a tendency to develop keloids, though (raised, puffy scars) so I will do whatever I can to exercise and tighten up the tummy. Vitamins daily, lots of lotion, etc. Hopefully it will have a beneficial effect...if not, I'll be looking for a specialist to do the surgery - I don't want a big, thick ropy scar across my abdomen! :thumbup:

I can ABSOLUTELY see your weight loss - and I agree with the others - purchasing a few new clothes at your new (temporary) size will make a world of difference! You are really making good progress - don't stop now!:thumbup:

The drama continues... Heard on the radio this morning that police and child welfare were called because one of Octomom's older children (I think they said the child was autistic) arrived at school with bruises and bite marks. What on earth is going on in that house?

Me too - what a horrible experience...I am sending good vibes your way... Ditto here as well! :thumbup:

Hi Dr. Schulman, I have read through this entire thread and am very impressed with your level of knowledge and willingness to help so many of us make informed and good decisions regarding PS. I live in CT, so you are certainly on my list to see when I'm ready for PS - which won't be for a while yet, because I'm fairly new to the band (only since Nov 08). My first question is regarding keloids - I am African-American, and have had previous abdominal surgery (straight up the middle, around my belly button) which has a pretty well-defined keloid. I am using scar gel on it, and it's improved somewhat, but it made me think what might happen after PS. I saw a couple of pictures of AA clients on your website and am wondering if your practice has had any challenges with patients developing keloids. Second - I am planning to lose nearly 100 pounds, and feel certain I will need a TT or at least a panni to remove excess skin. I don't have a big abdomen right now, nor do I have a lot of hanging skin, but I understand that may change. Right now "pulling in" my abs makes most of the 'hang' go away - is there any way to minimize the need for surgery by working the abs specially hard or increasing Protein content to help the skin and muscles build optimally? I should mention that I'm 46, and have been overweight for over 30 years. The band is the best thing I've ever done for myself! I am fairly active - walking 5 - 7 days per week, and about to add weight training back into my routine. I am thinking that I'm at least a year away from surgery, but now is the time, I think, to do as much prep work as possible. I would be considering a TT and breast lift / possible reduction at the same time. I am currently a 40H, and am not sure what size I would go "down" to, only that I want the girls to be MUCH perkier than they currently are. Thanks in advance - I know this is a LOT to include in a single posting!

Hi! I'm tight in the mornings, too - sometimes even oatmeal won't go down... I've resorted to cream of wheat and grits (luckily I LOVE those) and occasionally a Protein shake. Sometimes mid-morning I'll have something more solid with some protein in it, but not too often. Yogurt (I love Greek yogurt) goes down pretty easily, but I'm wary of having too many potential "sliders"... Other ideas? I'm hoping to hear more, too...

Window licking moron...ROFLMBO! :w00t::lol: I love your wit, Beth!

KeepingFaith, You've gotten some great advice here, and I just want to add my point of view... What he said was rude and uncalled for - and you should definately bring it to his attention. Now that you've calmed down a bit, ask him if he really intended to hurt your feelings. Sometimes people think they are "helping" when all they are doing is hurting us. If he understands that his off-hand comment hurt you and doesn't apologize for it, then he may be one of those people you can't share every aspect of this journey with. You should also take pride in what you've accomplished so far - you are doing well and don't let ANYONE take that away from you. We all were banded because we knew we needed to make a change - and you are DOING IT! Because it doesn't happen at his speed, or overnight, should make absolutely NO difference. You are doing this for YOU and you've done well so far. Hold your head up high, and next time - let him get his OWN Snacks / drinks / stuff from the kitchen! And he can get yours while he's up!:w00t:

Hi Kimmy, Have you talked to your doctor? Does he know of your panic attacks? It would be good to notify him of your concerns and of the attacks. You are under stress, and it is pretty normal to be concerned / upset before surgery. I know you are trying to be calm - maybe other activities can help you get your mind off of the surgery for a while and help you to calm down. You also MUST eat something - going into surgery with nothing for sustenance is NOT good - you will be on liquids for a while after surgery, and you don't want to be too weak. Try to eat small amounts of a good-for-you food that you also love. Maybe something you haven't treated yourself to in a while. Try fresh fruit, yogurt, or something light. You do have to follow doc's orders for the day before surgery - they differ, so review those to be sure you are doing what you need to before surgery. Good luck, and let me know how you're doing! You are on the threshold of a wonderful journey - I wish you all the best!

Just had to chime in on this one... I was riding the shuttle to my train station yesterday and heard a young man and woman conversing. Every other word out of his mouth was "like..." OMG! "So like, you know, like, I was like, going down the street, like really fast, and like nearly had an accident..." I could have just strangled him! Gosh, is it really necessary to put "like" in the sentence, like, so many times? (sarcasm) And this young man said he was a medical school graduate from Johns Hopkins! If I like, had him for a doctor, I'd like, want to like strangle him and ask him, like, what was his dysfunction? (sarcasm again) :w00t: And may I add, "youse" is not a word! Those of you who use that term, I'm sorry, but it's just NOT a proper word! Okay, I feel better now!

Mornin' Ready! I'm on my third fill, so I think I may be able to help you...you should be on liquids for the first 24 hours after a fill - sometimes there's a bit of swelling, which can make the band feel tighter. After the first 24, test a mushie food - something soft. If it goes down okay, you may be able to go to mushies for another 24 hours. Sometimes you'll need an extra day depending on how sensitive your body is to fills. Once mushies stay down okay, then you can ease back into solid food. Realize, though, that after a fill, you have MORE restriction, so a solid food that went down easily pre-fill may NOT go down at all after a fill. Take it easy, refresh yourself on the bandster rules (no drinking with meals, chew everything very, very, very thoroughly, and stop when you feel full), and you should be fine. If, however, you are having trouble with liquids after 24 - 48 hours, call your doctor - it's NOT normal to be having trouble with liquids and it could mean you are TOO full. Since this is your first fill, it's better to call your doctor TOO much than too little until you get used to the feeling. Good luck - come back and let me know how you're doing!

Mornin' folks! Short walk with family and DDog this morning - got up late, but rather than skip it (like I would have done not too long ago) I took a shorter walk. It's supposed to be gorgeous today, so I'm eagerly anticipating my walk at lunch. The weekend promises more good weather, so a couple of long walks with DDog, plus some gardening. I can't wait - I <heart> Spring!

PJTP...I didn't get any email notifications this morning! I missed all the good posts so far! Luckily I'm a LBT junkie, so I had to log in and get my fix... Everyone in the office is over on the main campus handing Welcome Weekend for the newly admitted students...that means peace and quiet here for me in the office. :w00t: I'm being such a good girl, I even did some work this morning! Ooops - don't tell anyone! Looking forward to a wonderful weekend - relaxing and sunny - means I'll get out for a lot of walks, do some gardening, etc. I LOVE Spring! Have a terrific day, everyone!

It's finally happening! Had my monthly appt with my band doctor yesterday (the awesome Dr. Duffy at Yale New Haven Hospital's Bariatric Surgery office), and I was down 11 pounds! :thumbup: I update my ticker in my email signature more often than every month, so it reflects my total loss, but I was so excited that I'd lost 11 pounds in one month I was ready to scream with joy! :thumbup: And guess how I did it? By following the bandster rules! Being careful to choose nutrient-dense food instead of calorie-dense food, chewing thoroughly and eating slowly, not drinking my calories, and avoiding "slider" foods that don't stay with you long enough to indicate a feeling of fullness. Amazing how well the rules work when you follow them LOL Combine that with a few well-placed NSV's regarding clothing, and it's been a really good period. My latest weigh-in this morning has me at 230 lbs, a number I haven't seen for at least 10 years...I'm really excited about that! Next mid-range goal - making it to 200 lbs by the time of my family reunion in Florida in July. Next short-range goal - dropping another 15 pounds before May 30th to put me at 215 before Memorial Day. Swimsuit season is looking like it's going to hold a lot less terror for me this year than in previous years - that's a definate plus! What made the difference? Regular exercise and eating correctly. Mostly the eating correctly, since I already walk 30 minutes 5 days a week, with longer walks on the weekends (weather permitting). Now I'm going to add some weight work back into my schedule - nearly done with this semester's classes, which will give me more time. I need to keep 'tightening up' my physique, which I know weight training will do. Check in again in a few weeks - until then, if you are already banded, follow the rules and move more - that's the "secret" to success! If you are not yet banded, get the info you need to make a quality decision, and then GO FOR IT! Your life, your health and your happiness can all be enhanced by losing the excess weight. I know it's happening for me...:thumbdown:

Welcome to da crew! :smile: I'm a walker, too - I use a Bodybugg fitness tracker, and the calorie burn I get from walking exceeds anything else I've done so far (rowing, elliptical). I think it's because I'm moving these pounds around versus using a machine to hold part of my weight LOL Your goal is definately do-able - congrats for setting a reasonable goal! My next mini-goal is to be at 200 lbs (I'm currently 230) by July, when I will be going to a family reunion in Florida! I think I can do 15 lbs per month in May and June, since I just lost 11 at my last doc's appt (1 month timeframe). Let's all keep helping each other stay accountable! :thumbup:

Afternoon, People! :thumbup: Will be going for my lunchtime walk shortly - 30 minutes, including a killer hill, with great music and it's beautiful out today, so I'm raring to go! Short walk with DDog and DD this morning - raining on us! I don't like walking in a steady rain - I will go, because DDog doesn't have a choice, but it's not my favorite thing. New milestone today - currently at 230 lbs, a weight I haven't seen in over 10 years. :thumbup: :smile: :thumbup: Can't wait to hit sub-220! Saw the band doc yesterday - lost 11 lbs since I saw him last, so he's happy with my fill level and progress. Keep on keepin' on, folks! :drool:

Go Tina! Go Tina! So good to hear you're progressing so well...keep up the good work, obviously you are doing all the right things!:thumbup:

PJTP... Oh yeah! :tt2: :tt1: :drool: Blessing, good thoughts and speedy surgery to you, Susan. I hope it all works out for the best and that you're feeling much, much better soon! :wub: You go girl! NSV report - I got into (and am comfortably wearing) a size 18, non-stretch skirt that I bought many years ago and just kept in the closet "just in case". Not only did it fit when I put it on this morning, I'm small enough that I'm not threatening to bend the hook and eye at the waist or pop the zipper! :w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t: Doc visit went well - I've got clearance to continue on my own and check in when my rate of loss slows down or I feel extra hungry. I'm feeling pretty darn good this morning because I lost 11 pounds since I saw the doc! That's not exactly in my ticker - I update it more often than I go to the doc - but it's a victory just the same! Swimsuit season will hold much less terror for me this year if this keeps up!!! :cool2: