Sue Magoo

Jillbeme: I chose the band because it's far less risky, and it's also reversible if necessary. Good luck making the right decision for you. Sue

Alice: Your question came in on the exercise forum. You may want to repost it under a different heading to get more responses. If you're pb'ing all the time with nutritious food you probably need to take smaller bites, chew like crazy, and take more time between bites. I bought a few one-minute timers - like an hourglass, only one minute. I wait after each bite until all of the sand goes through because I find that if I eat too fast I pb and slime too. Does the surgeon that you go to have a nutritionist as part of the lapband process? You might want to make an appointment with them. I just had my second fill and noticed that I'm really alot tighter in the morning now. So, I have to drink my coffee slowly too now. I usually have oatmeal about an hour after I finish with morning coffee. As far as lunch goes, I buy whatever Protein bar I can find on sale at the supermarket. I cut it with a sharp knife into very small pieces and use my timer to make sure I don't eat too fast. I try to eat a little bit of fruit with the Protein Bar, but sometimes I can't eat even the entire protein bar, sometimes I can. At supper I usually eat alone - daughter at college. I eat alot of Smart One's frozen dinners. I really like them, and it's hardly worth cooking for one person. For a tv-time snack I usually have popcorn or a sf popsicle or something like that. If you are pb'ing all the time your esophogus may be irritated. You might want to do liquids only for a day or two then try introducing solids slowly. Good luck, and keep reading on this website for alot of good ideas. I'm not as experienced as most of the bandsters, so please take a look at what they suggest. Take care. Sue

Jacqui: Sorry to hear about your Mom. I hope everything turns out alright with her. When I say I'm walking at work that doesn't mean walking around at a leisurely pace at work during my work routines. I sit my fat butt in a chair while I'm doing a desk job. However, three times a day I stop and go outside and walk laps around the building at a fairly quick pace (for me it's taxing at 15 minute miles walking) twice a day for one mile each and at lunch a longer walk for two miles. Often I walk at night for one or two more miles too. When I'm thinner I'll surely have to walk more to get more out of it, but I think if I'm shooting for 12,000 per day for now that should be good. My scale tells me it's good, and frankly I don't have enough time in the day to do more than 12,000. Thanks for your advice. I admire your work ethic too. Sue

Mona patti and tinywishes 123: I live in Norwood. I was banded in July. I've been doing good with the band so far. If you ladies want to meet somewhere for coffee I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have, or just sit and chat about being banded. My support group is great, but you have to be one of their patients to attend the support group. Let me know if you're interested. You could send me a pm and we could arrange a get together. Take care. Sue

Thanks Jacqui: I'll shoot for 12,000 for now and go up from there. I might be getting a bigger bang for those 12,000 steps because I'm carrying 80+ excess pounds along for the trip. My job is a sedentary office job, but I can walk like crazy during my one hour lunch and two breaks and after work too. I'm in Massachusetts, so it's getting colder out. It's much easier to walk in the cooler weather than the hot weather for me. Your picture is amazing. Wouldn't know you were ever overweight. Congratulations to you on all of your success. Sue

Whosyadaddy: I have the 40gb Zune. I love, love, love it! Unfortunately I don't like the car thingy that you're supposed to be able to listin to your zune through the car radio - too much static. However, as far as the zune goes, I walk with it every day. I put every CD that I had on it and still have loads and loads of room for more. I bought the piece of equipment that you keep at your house to play music for everyone and that sounds great too. Give yourself a gift of one. You deserve it, or ask Santa for one. Take care. Sue

Tracy: Did you give up caffeine too? I know that I get a wicked headache if I don't have caffeine every morning. Good luck with your pre-op diet and surgery. Sue

Hi: I don't know too much about these things, but it seems that you should discuss this with your surgeon, and a psychologist. Give up the junk food and start having Soup instead - less calories and it has nutrition. I hope things improve for you. Sue

Trish: Of course, the best part is that I've lost half of my excess weight and there's many positives that go along with that. I'd have to say that the worst thing is that I occasionally have pain and discomfort in my left shoulder if I've eaten too much or too fast. I think it's my warning signal, but by the time it comes it is too late. Good luck on your weight loss journey, and any weight you can lose before surgery the better. Also, about being on your feet constantly a week after surgery might be a bit tough. I had issues with afternoon exhaustion for the first couple of months, but that was me. Everyone's different. Take care. Sue

I love coffee too. I still drink two cups in the morning and one in the afternoon. I like it sweet too, so I use the ff flavored creamer - International Delite French vanilla - Fat Free. It has some calories, but I'm still losing, so I'm not going to worry about it. I tried to give it up but I found that I was so dog-tired in the afternoon that I couldn't do it. Good luck. Sue

Dr. Adam Glasgow Norwood, MA

Julie: I live in Massachusetts. I'm very fortunate to having the band, and with insurance covering everything but copays, which was $500 for the overnight stay at hospital, $175 for the psych visit, and $20 per doctors visit. I started out at 324 - yuck! My surgeon doesn't band anyone over 50 bmi so I had to lose before the surgery and I was succesful with the motivation of surgery, or not. I go to a great surgeon - Dr. Adam Glasgow. He's the son of the other surgeon in the practice - Dr. Arthur Glasgow. They are both very kind doctors that seem to be genuinely caring with us bandsters. They have a monthly support group in their office too. I don't think I'm at my sweet spot yet, but possibly. I got a fill last Wednesday and hope to be able to tell over the next couple of weeks if it did the trick or not. I really enjoy reading from those that are more experienced than I am. Thank you to you, and the rest of the experienced bandsters for all of your help. Sue

Juliegeraci: Thanks, you too. I'm looking forward to getting down to your weight. Sue

katcap13: It works for me because if I don't do it right I get sick, and also because I want it to work, and 99% of the time I do what I'm supposed to do, and I only get hungry at night. So, I make myself go to bed early when I do get hungry. I've just had my 2nd fill and I don't think I've found my sweet spot yet, but I'm gonna give it a couple of weeks to find out. I think my doctor helps make it work for me too. Not only is he supportive, but his staff is, and the support group at his office helps make it work too. This website makes it work for me too. I find out alot of info on this site that helps me every day. It also works for me because I walk 4 to 5 miles per day, 6 days per week. It was painful at first because my feet were killing me at 324 pounds, but it's not painful at all now. I think that the success makes it work for me too. When I can see that I've lost 83 pounds in 7 months it is very motivating to keep going. I figure that I'll be very close to goal, if not at goal, by next Thanksgiving. Good luck. Sue

Hi: I followed the doctors orders to the T and didn't have any issues. I'm 4 months out from surgery and am so happy I got it done. Sue

Wannarunfree: If I were you I would get banded, but stop coming to this website if the bs that some people post is bothering you. I can tell you, from experience, that lapband works. It is working for me now, and I hope, and expect that it will be working for me for another 81 pounds and forever after. I cannot list how many good things have happened to me since I was banded. It's your choice, but I recommend that you get informed, and then get the band, and never mind the bs. It's very easy to ignore the bs. Good luck. Sue

Busy296: I agree with blooeyz. I get that some pain when I eat too fast. I had to go and buy a 1 minute timer to slow me down while I'm eating. Otherwise, I don't take enough time between bites and I'm in alot of pain. Good luck. Sue

Anne: Others here on LBT suggest keeping pineapple juice on hand because it can help with stuck food because it is so acidy. Sorry to hear that you were suffering all day. I know it's awful when it happens. Sue

Crazycat: You're too funny. I divorced one of my asses, and I'm shrinking the other one! Lol! Sue

Mona: My heart goes out to you. You'll be so happy once some of those damn pounds come off. I can remember wondering if a chair would hold me, because one time a chair didn't. It is horrible when an overweight person falls, or breaks a chair. Thanks for sharing your horrible day, and know that is probably the last bad weight day you will have. Take care, and best wishes for a very successful banding. Sue

Hi: I agree with the other two, it's totally normal to be nervous and anxious. I think that most of the bandsters will tell you that it's one of the best things they've done for themselves. You are about 9 years younger than me. I can tell you that since I've lost 83 pounds I feel twenty years younger. Carrying around all of my extra weight was becoming such a burden I was happy to be getting it done. So, if you lose alot and feel twenty years younger you'll be a teenager again, ha ha! Good luck, and you'll be fine! Sue

Hi All: I just realized that I'm halfway too. I haven't updated my ticker, but I've lost 83 of 164 that I want to lose. I think I've just finished the easier half as it's been getting harder now that I weigh less. Keep up all of the good work everyone! Sue

Frangipani: I did it too. I was good until dessert came out. Oh well, it was one day. My scale stayed the same as yesterday, and hopefully it will stay the same, or go down tomorrow. It is just one day and I'm right back on track today. I'm going out walking soon, after having gone shopping for three hours this morning. Christmas is around the corner, and I have to teach my Daughter how to make my lasagna! Hopefully I'll be very restricted and only be able to eat a two inch piece of lasagna. You're doing great with 44 down since August. Keep up the good work. Sue

Sandy: Where did you get banded? Do they do banding at Sturdy? I went to Glasgow & Glasgow LLP in Norwood, banded at Caritas Norwood Hospital. Sue

Stevie: I do remember you. I got a fill on Wednesday with Adam. He said he doesn't like it when the group is so large either, but he said he has a problem saying no to people. I can understand that. Good luck, and send me a private message if you have questions that you want to ask. Take care. Sue