Sue Magoo

Candi: Welcome to bandland. I'm from Norwood, MA. I'd be glad to try to answer any questions you have. I consider myself to be an experienced bandster at this point, but I'm sure I still have alot to learn too. Happy New Year! Sue

Ilene: I went through food withdrawal too. I got very depressed, then went through the bitchy stage. Exercise helps because it gets you focused on something that is positive instead of thinking about the "what I can't have's". I'm 5 months out and glad that I did it, and look forward to a much healthier 2008. Time will help these sad feelings pass. Take care. Sue

Great start Heavy! Congratulations. Sue

Gweniper: Congrats for making your goal. Update - I didn't reach my short term goal of 230, but I'm at 231.6, close enough for me. Next challenge - losing 100 by 1/26/08 my 6 month bandiversary. Congratulations to all of you that met and exceeded your goals. And to those of us who didn't, keep on plugging away. Think of it positively. I'm positive that I gained ten pounds during the Holiday season of 2006, this year I actually lost. Here's to seeing less of all of you in 2008! Sue

010308: I thought that the two weeks after surgery were a great time for some housekeeping, though not hard scrubbing. It was a great time to go through closets and put things in boxes for somebody else to carry out of the house. I think my Dr. said no lifting anything more than ten pounds until after stitches were removed (approx. 10 - 14 days out). Good luck. Sue

Dandy1: I am certainly not an expert, but here's my thoughts on this. The lap band is all done at the upper part of the stomach, so I'm thinking that a prior tummy tuck wouldn't interfere at all with the lap band. Take care. Sue

Kyteachjules: I belch like a champion! It probably has to do with the fact that I still chew gum. I think that belching is one of my "soft signals" that I've had enough food too. Your weight loss is great so far - 48 pounds! Keep up the good work. Sue

Catie: I second what Josiebies said. The exercise really kicks up the weight loss. Not only that, but it helps relieve stress too. I walk 4 to 5 miles 6 days per week. I usually do a mile in the morning, two miles during lunch hour, and another mile in the afternoon. Then at night I try to get on my eliptical for at least ten minutes. I got a great MP3 player and put some great walking music on it and off I go. Hope all goes well for you. Sue

Monica: Don't get too discouraged. I lost 38 pounds before surgery and gained 9 pounds the first three days postop. It was all Fluid retention. It's been coming off nicely since then. Everyone will be seeing less of us in 2008. Sue

Grace: Congratulations! You should be very proud of your accomplishments. Sue

AudricIan: I noticed that you posted that you have lateral epicondylitis. I have medial and lateral epicondylitis in both arms. I think I injured both arms using an exercise machine. My left arm was really bad so I had surgery in December 2006. What a huge difference. I'm so glad I had it taken care of. Took 6 weeks to recover and then about 4 months of physical therapy, but the pain is gone in my left arm unless I'm very cold and then it aches a little bit. So much better than the constant pain I had before. My right arm isn't as bad as the left was so I'm living through that occasional pain. The surgeon that I had said that 50% of the time the surgery isn't successful, so I'm glad mine was. Good luck with your sore arm and also with your band. Sue

Crackedpepper: You've got about ten days until surgery. Please follow all liquids until then. My surgeon said my surgery would be safer if I was on all liquids pre-op because it shrinks your liver and helps them to be able to get behind it for the surgery. You'll need to be having all liquids post-op too. Keep in mind that three to four weeks of all liquids isn't really that long in the grand scheme of things. Think of the pre-op liquids as something you're doing for yourself and for those that love you to lower the risks during surgery. Take care and best wishes for sticking to all liquids. Sue

Tracey: Glad to hear it's going well. Welcome to bandland. Take care and remember, you're healing, need to baby yourself for a few days. Take care. Sue

Thank you KarenG and Sherrirbgr: I continued to look at the lapband site, took a hot shower to relax all of the muscles. Bent and reached for my toes and dislodged something. Lousy night, finally went to sleep around 2 a.m. Feel lots better this morning and am able to keep coffee down. I'll stick to all liquids today. I'm a scale maniac. I weighed myself this morning and I was down 3 pounds from yesterday, I know it's going to come right back when I'm not dehydrated though. I feel like I'm starving today. Yesterday I had cream of wheat for Breakfast, Protein bar for lunch, and two bites of pork chop before I got sick at supper. Thanks again for responding to my distress posting. Sue

Andrea: Get the stuff you don't want to eat out of the house. I'm guessing that you probably won't drive to get it. If your other family members want to eat junk tell them to please cut you some slack and refrain from eating it at home for now. Good luck. Sue

Thanks Luluc: You go girl one pound under with three days to go! Sue

JC: I've been banded five months now. Before banding I would eat massive amounts and #2 was every day. Now that I've been banded #2 is only once or twice per week. Another savings, grocery bills down, toilet paper usage down! LOL! Sue

I don't know how to fix the tables, but please update me. S...............Goal....................Current..................ToGo 243 230 230.6 .6 Thanks everyone for the encouragement and for playing the game. Sue

Becky: I think it's a game and we have to play it. I eat too fast too. So, I bought these one minute timers from unclesgames.com. I take a bite and tip it over. I can't take another bite until all of the sand has gone to the other side of the timer. Another trick I play is to keep my food in the other room. Take a bite, turn the timer over, and walk in the other room and read e-mails, etc. Then I go back and as long as the timer's done I can have another bite. I don't get to eat alot of hot food this way because it always turns cold, but I keep from getting that pain this way. Good luck. Sue

Annie: That's great! I was banded 7/26 and I'm down 92.5 pounds (includes pre-surgery weight loss of 38 pounds). I feel so much better - no sore feet, don't get numb in left leg anymore. Keep up the good work everyone. Sue

Wow! Congratulations Dave. I was banded end of July and hope to hit 100 pounds by end of January. I can appreciate how good it must feel to have 100 pounds off because 90 pounds off feels pretty good too. Congratulations. Sue

Have you actually gone to see your doctor? I recommend that you do. Sometimes we don't describe the problem well enough for the doctor to be able to help us. Please go to the doctor if you haven't already. Best wishes for a quick recovery. Sue

Natalie's Mom: Please call an infectious disease specialist right away. You cannot mess with pseudomonas! You said you've read about pseudomonas and you're right it is very scarey. Hope he/she can kick that infection out of your body. Keep us posted. Sue

Crystal: I like the South Beach Diet Protein bars. Best wishes for your upcoming surgery. Sue

Mimin: Sorry that things aren't going so well for you. Please take care of yourself and give us an update when you're feeling better. Take care. Sue