Dragonwillow

My daughter is one of these teenagers. She still dresses pretty much the way she wants, but she is about 40lbs overweight. The peditritian first said, she needs to watch what she eats about 4 years ago. She actually went to weight watchers with me for awhile but this tore her up (she cried if she gained, even if she expeted she would). I've tried getting her to exercise with me, and she moans and groans about it. I don't buy as much "junk" food to help discourage her from eating it. Since I had a mom that MADE me diet, I think I have failed because I won't MAKE her diet. I can try to encourage her...I can buy the right foods at home, but I can't make her diet. She has to take that step. If I mention anything about diet...she gets very upset and doesn't want to talk about it right now. I'm so afraid she is going to have an adult weight promblem soon. She weighs more at 13 than I did at 16 and I thought I was so huge then. Anyone else going through this with their teenagers? What do you do? Did they get better at eating habits too after you had your band surgery? I worry my daughter thinks that she can't loose and that she will just wait to have the surgery herself later. There are so many things that she might miss out on between now and then, that would be so much more enjoyable thinner. (I have tons of regrets like this over the last 22 years.) For me it was stuff like wedding pictures, wishing I was thinner and not so concious about my weight. Or being pregnant...and not looking pregnant just fatter, because I was already heavy. (i love cute pregant bellies...jealous that I never had that). Sleeveless tops....I almost NEVER show my upper arms, and that has been going on for YEARS. These are all things that I'm afraid she will regret later. Melissa

I'm right there with you Jack. I gave up soda awhile back in prep for the surgery and I don't like it at all now. I got the kids icees the other day, and I don't even like them anymore. My tastes are changing, If I could just get to NOT like sugar I'd be set. I used to be a 4 or more diet soda drinker a day. Now that the hubby is the only one still drinking it regularly (making the kids give it up too because the dentist said the acid is bad on the teeth) I don't need that fancy smacy can crusher we bought. LOL. Melissa

I have night sweats and hate them. I also get really hot during the day sometimes...which is weird because the rest of the time I'm sitting on the couch with a blanket cause I'm cold. Go figure....wonder if something like this would help? or if it would interfer with any other "hormone" type of medicines you are on? Melissa

I thought Lindsy was BEAUTIFUL before she lost weight, and would LOVE to look like that. And Kirstie...I think she weighed more than 200, but I think also on the "fat actress" show they dressed her to intintially make her look bigger than she was. I think when she was younger she was TOO thin. I think she looked best around the time she was in Look who's talking. A couple of other actresses that are less drastic but have "slimmed"...I think a bit too far are Sandra bulluck (she was beautiful with a little more curve to her) and Drew Barrymore (she has NEVER looked fat in my opinion.) and maybe a little too thin now. I'm of the opinion if you can see the bones, protruding you are too thin. Melissa

I've told people that I wish I had not told. People I'm sure will think I took the "easy" way...and will probally talk about me behind my back. These people will be watching to see how well I do, and if I'm a slow looser it will be even worse...or if I gain back any I'll have to move to another state. I know this is a bit dramatic, but thats how I feel. I don't think they are happy for me...when I lost weight on diets, they would say how great I looked but then wait for me to gain it back. On the other hand I have other friends that I think are seceretly curious about the surgery...and don't mind when I talk about it. They ask me how my various tests went and so on and so on. My husband jokes occassionally..."see I told you she has researched this, she could almost do the surgery herself" This makes me think that they may have voiced some concerns to him privatly. He seems pretty proud of me for having researched this surgery so well. Some one I will never tell, even when I reach goal......my mother in law! I've been married to her son 17 years and she still inimadates the crap out of me. My husband claims she likes me, but I'm not convienced....she seems to really like his brothers wife though. (to be honest I think I loose points in her eyes for being overweight as it is). My opinion on this still remains ....if I tell someone and they turn on me because of it...then they weren't my true friend in the first place. Melissa

I too had a great time, and I think all the kids were great! Your son just wanted to play the video games, not some lame slide thats all. At least he wasn't escaping to the picture booth the whole time while eating or bumming others foods like MY little one! LOL I too want to meet without my kids in tow.....simply because I never escape them! Remember me saying my friend was sending chocolates? Well they arrived today, and sat on my front porch for hours in the heat....so the good news, the chocolate is ruined and won't be as tempting! LOL But the coconut things are good. Raffaellos? ....don't need them either. I've made her promise not to send anymore food items. Now she wants to make me a hostpital gown for the hostpital stay. Do I even need this? I mean I'm not planning on staying there long, just seems like a waste of fabric. I don't want her to go to all that trouble either. Melissa

I too am on a thyroid pill, I thought it would be a pain to be on something forever, but was willing to do anything....I had alot of the symptoms...fatigue, hair loss, cold feet, premature grey hair (what wasn't falling out), failure to loose weight with a crap load of cardio) I"ve been on it for about two months, and I still get the sypmtoms, but they are alot less severe. I don't want to go back to the way I was before the medicine...I was starting to get really depressed at how old and tired I felt all the time. I should also point out on blood tests I was in the "normal" range but VERY low in the range...it obviously wasnt' the right spot for me to be in. My doctor said that some people feel okay in the lower range, but others (like me) can't go that low without the symptoms. Melissa

Eating in the food court will be perfect for me since my 5 year can get her rice fix. There is a burger king too, usually pretty popular with the kids. Melissa

I'm thinking they just have snack types of food there. The only place I can think of that sells smothies in the mall is the orange julies down arcross from burlington. (I think its like pretzels, hotdogs, nachos, and pizza type of thing at the food bar inside of jeepers) Melissa

I too need to know what time we are meeting. I will probally be out there earlier, because my oldest is making "plans" I can't wait to meet everyone. Melissa

bondgirl, don't forget to update your little slide rule thing! Congrats too all you newly banded losers! WTG. Melissa

Not to hijack the post or anything...but one of the reasons I like going to the gym is the "eyecandy" The local firefighters come in and work out in the mornings. and they make GREAT eyecandy. There is one we keep trying to drag into Zumba class with us, he is such a hoot. He finally said he would do Zumba if I went on a run with him. Going to have to get in shape for that alone! LOL Melissa

Wow they have 51 sugar free flavors. I usually use it in my coffee (though I'm pretty much off that now) Ya know I really don't understand why I'm not loosing some weight. I'm eating less, have given up all drinks but Water and flavored water. I'm still preband but was trying to loose a little while waiting. Melissa

I've been watching stripsearch, the guy that put together thunder from down under is putting together a group from america. But thunder from down under was acutally on the show last week and...omg...I want to go to vegas now JUST to see them. I too am a sucker for the accents. Melissa

I use oil o lay face cleansing cloths right now. Lucked up and found some at clearance at target. I'm cheap I cut them in half and only use a half everytime. I use stretch and separte hydrofuge max faxtor eye mascara when I use it. I have some clear liquid type of mascara remover, but don't much like to use it...but when I can't let it wear off i use it. I use mostly brown eye shadows or redish tones. ( i know boring LOL) But have a 12 hour eye makeup kit from revelon. (the kit color is coffee bean ...so browns) I like it alot and actually use the dark brown for liner..I think it looks softer than a pencil. I have Sorme believable bronzer. And this I use in place of blush most of the time (its terracotta color so has a bit of pink to it) . I do a C patten...basically my cheeks up around the side of my eyes and a little on my forehead. It gives more of a just out of the sun look. And as I already stated I use the cashmere by loreal for base. For lips I use the long lasting stuff (varies brands) or just clear lip gloss. (I like color mainly because I have some discoloration right at my lip line and this helps camaflouge it. I usely wear mauvey colors when I wear lipstick..more earthy colors. That is pretty much my standard makeup. I have tons more because I go through fits every so often where I experiment...I also have a 13 year old daughter who is likes to "glitter" lol. Anyone know of any cream style golds that don't come off so easy for the eyes? Because of this thread, I actually wore makeup for the first time in like 2 weeks yesterday. LOL Melissa

I too like the cashmere perfect foundation by Loreal. It doesn't feel like you are wearing anything...and it feels baby powder soft after its applied. Loreal also has a cheek rouge, in the same line, but I don't like it as much. Melissa

I don't think I'm very good at the whole makup thing...and I sold marykay breifly (hehe I'm not real good at sales thing though so I might not count) You can also go to the makeup places at the mall (usually dept stores) and they will show you techniques and such. I'm planning to take my 13 yo to one or have a marykay party for her and her friends when she gets more into makeup (if that happens). Being raised by me it might not...I only wear makeup when I'm "dressing up" which is about 5 times a year LOL. Melissa

Everyone has slips I think, or we wouldn't have needed the band in the first place! Just pick yourself up and dust yourself off you will be faboulous! As for the soda thing, how long since you have had soda? I thought I wanted some too...but ya know what...tasting one of my kids...it doesn't even taste good. Kinda gross actually. I just wish I could manage to dislike sweets. I'm still preband..and trying to lose weight. Yesterday at the grocery I picked up a huge tray of cheese cake (there must have been 5 flavors) got all the way to the line with it and talked myself out of getting it! I was so happy, I came home and told hubby and he didn't seem nearly as excited about this victory over cheesecake as I did, of course he doesn't have a weight promblem either. Hang in there, remember how great you felt eating the right things and think how faboulous you are looking. Melissa

We can all help chase them, don't worry about that. Jeepers is there...and on their website they have coupons for wristbands. The go cart place also has the climbing play area too, dont' know if there is an admission for there or not. If we end up at the mall after church today I'll check it out. Melissa

It looks similiar. Too me they all look very similiar just a differnt place they cut the stomach and maybe a different way they rehook up the intestines.....but still rearranging the insides and causing all the same complications and risks I'm so scared of. Melissa

Glad to see you are feeling a bit better today. Keep up the walking and you will be through this stage in no time. Can't wait till my turn, getting excited. Melissa (most pre op tests done, no date yet)

I just found a 112 page patiant manual for the mini bypass. Looks like sugar isn't so much an issue for them as it is with rny...but fats still are. Still looks alot more risky than lapband to me. Melissa Okay I take it back, it sounds like the mini bypass has the same dumping syndrome as the rny sugery. Oh and I don't know why i'm still reading it...but...i jsut found on the pdf file where the dr is no longer accepting insurance patients. (the yells to me ...insurance companies won't pay for it)

I have hypothyroid, and while it can't take much of the blame for me getting to this weight, it apparently can take part of the blame for not being able to lose weight. Any bandsters out there that have hypothyroidism...and how have you done with the band? I am on a small dose of armor thyroid hormone, (t3 and t4) and think it will probally be increased a bit at my next appointment for this in a couple of months. I'm hoping between the band and my exercise routine the weight will finally start dropping! Melissa

mini bypass I searched on the web and found the above. From looking at it, it is the same concept as the rny, but instead of a pouch you have kinda of a tunnel or slitther of a stomach. It still has the malabsorption and so on. From reading the advantage over this surgery over the rny is that it can be performed faster...so less surgery complications likely..as they increase with the amount of time under. I would still think the possible after surgery risks would be the same as or close to that of rny. They are still reagranging your guts....still causing you to malabsorb your food and vitiamins. Melissa

I've heard others say gas x works, and have read to keep moving as much as possible. Congrats on being banded! Hope you are feeling better soon with the gas pain. Melissa