steph_co

Gees. I didn't realize it would turn into such a big deal. Like I said, it's not going to alter the course of the universe whether or not they bring me Water. I just wondered if there was something I could say so that they would believe me and not bring me the drink. Sheesh. I have worked in a restaurant. I worked all sides of it except cook or manager. I was kitchen help, table busser, waitress and hostess. I KNOW what it's like to work in a restaurant. If somebody had asked me for NO WATER or any drink whatsoever and was polite about it, I would have obliged them! I've never been rude to a server. No, I don't reach for other people's glasses to drink them. Same way that I didn't reach for them BEFORE the surgery, why would it hit my subconscious brain to reach for them after? If there's not a glass designated as MINE, I don't even think about it. If you think I had a "tone" in my post and it had to do with a drink, it didn't. I had just had a terrible experience at a restaurant where the server was downright awful. Yes - they do exist just as they do in every profession known to mankind. When a server is good, generally they get 20% or MORE as a tip. If they were stellar, easily 30% and up. Even the mediocre ones get no less than the standard 15% and even at that, I feel guilty. If you think I don't understand the profession, you're wrong. I would never consider yelling at the waitress because she brought me a drink. I wasn't even rude when the waitress asked me incredulously if I truly wanted NOTHING, even water and then she brought me water, anyway. Good heavens. I wasn't looking for the fine art of insulting the waitress for not understanding that drinking with meals isn't very good for you anyway. I just wanted something I could say so that she'd truly believe me. For those that offered HELPFUL suggestions rather than hissy fits, THANK YOU. I like the glass of ice suggestion. I think I'll do that.

No restriction whatsoever. I can eat whatever I want. I'll give an example...back a couple weeks ago when we went out to visit Rich's son and I said I had had a "bad" day? I ate freaking 4 slices of pizza. Now, in my defense, this is the most delicious pizza I have ever had in my entire life and I haven't had it in a couple YEARS. But that was still more than I should have eaten. I got back on track after that, thank goodness. I watch my calories, but I'm STARVING between meals. I stay full for usually an hour, up to 2 hours at the most. I look forward to my fill on the 23rd (same day as Sades). It'll be nice to be able to STOP at less than a cup of food.

Good thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/new-band-update-realize-47058/?highlight=Realize His last response in the thread also compares the bands.

No problem with salads. I even had a wrap from Subway last night with baby spinach, tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, and pickles. I have heard of people with good restriction having a hard time getting it to go down. But there's no restriction as far as dietary.

I took a weight that I was in HS and a size 8. I LOVED being that size, so that's around the weight I was when I was that size. I *think* I was 138 when I got into that size, but I can't remember for sure. Honestly, if I get into 8's at a higher weight and I'm comfortably in them (I have to compensate a bit for a bubble butt), then I may end there. My end WEIGHT is flexible. My end SIZE is not.

I have a hard time with exercise, too. But as I get smaller, I find that I LIKE moving around more. I like how my body feels while I'm moving compared to before, but I also like how I feel knowing that I actually exercised. Just slowly add things in. In the past, I went for overkill right away and it made it impossible for me to stick with it. I started with adding walking. I'm adding fitness classes next week. Eventually I'll get back into running.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/scar-stages-share-yours-6117/

Looks like you found it http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/mushies-stage-recipes-17637/index9.html#post683035

I couldn't answer the poll. I went back at 4 days post-op. I was still pretty weak. At 5 days, I did a bit better. I was operating at about 75% until 10 days post-op when I was feeling 100% better. I have a medium-level physical job. I work night security patrol. Getting in and out of a patrol vehicle a couple dozen times all night long, walking through properties, etc.

You don't necessarily have to be DIAGNOSED for it to be an issue. My social worker explained to me why they ask that question... Once you get the band, it is INCREDIBLY easy to make yourself vomit. As she put it, even insanely easy. If you still have the urge to make yourself throw up your food before the band, getting the band is a BAD idea because you could very easily cause yourself slippage or erosion. So if it's a compulsion that you basically have to keep yourself from doing, the band is a very bad idea. I did "casual" bulimia about 10 years ago. Where I would binge and occasionally make myself throw up. I didn't have the self-control to do it after every thing I ate. I hated doing it. I was uncomfortable and really grossed out. This casual thing lasted about a month. I don't care if it's easier, now, I still wouldn't do it. I hated how it felt. Explained that way to the social worker, she figured I shouldn't have a problem with the band. I don't have any compulsion to throw up. I'd rather learn healthy eating habits so that once I get down to a healthy weight, I can STAY there.

Insurance companies will do what they can to put people off so they don't have to end up paying for anything. They HOPE you'll get frustrated with the waiting and just decide to forget it. Don't let them get away with it - follow what they tell you to and just bide your time. You'll eventually get there. I know 6 months seems like a long time...it definitely is when you've made a decision that'll affect the rest of your life. I'm a self-pay, so don't have any idea what happens if you lose/don't lose.

I'm glad I didn't read this thread before going to my psych eval. I would have been freaked. LOL I got off really easy. She sat down with me and my husband and asked questions about my mental state, family background, support system, attitude towards dieting, tendencies towards bullimia, etc. I do tend to have a bit of depression, but it didn't disqualify me. She just strongly suggested that I find somebody to talk to, especially after getting the surgery.

I woke up moaning. :wink: I'm sure that's what you want to hear. It wasn't necessarily a "Mack truck" feeling. The top of my stomach just hurt immensely. Felt like somebody had stabbed me there. Haha...guess they had! Anyway...no tubes anywhere. My IV was already out, even (I actually don't mean the needle, I mean the bag was disconnected). I was just lying in the hospital bed moaning. They gave me some pain meds through the IV needle and I think they took it out a short time later once I showed I was able to down pain pills orally. I knew exactly where I was, no confusion. It didn't feel like waking up from normal sleep, at all. No surprises, really. I honestly believe when you're under anesthesia that you still have more awareness than you do when you sleep regularly.

I exercise. Picked it up at about 6 weeks post-op, as well. It's mostly just walking to burn calories. I walk as much as I can when I'm at work rather than driving around. It seems to help. On my days off, I make it a point to walk at least a mile. But this next week I plan to pick up a few fitness classes at my local rec center. But a couple of them are more for relaxation (yoga, tai chi, etc). I think it'll be good for me to get out there with people to exercise. I like the way it feels now to move since I am 34.5 lbs lighter! I'd also like to get into the Couch to 5k. I LOVE running, but I've been too big these past couple years to do it comfortably. My joints always got to hurting so much and it wasn't enjoyable like I remembered when I was at 170 and smaller.

You are SOOOOO close!!! You'll be here before you know it!! Thanks! I look forward to seeing you here!

And I heard the heavenly chorus this morning when I stepped on the scale. I finally reached Onederland today! Yay! I didn't take the camera because I was afraid it would add ounces, or something. LOL I was 199 even.

From what I've read, the symptoms can get pretty rough. To include severe reflux that wakes you up in the middle of the night. If you go into the complications forum, you can find several threads about it. As for how to fix it, I've heard that sometimes it works to just completely unfill it and let it rest for a bit to slide back into place on its own.

Aubrie, I had surgery 4 days before you. I've had one fill. If you don't have good restriction (the sweet spot), then I don't see why bread is a problem...at least it hasn't been for me. I don't make a habit of eating it regularly, though. One time I had half of a cinnamon roll (doughy bread) and another time I had one half of an english muffin. Just chew really well and start with little tiny swallows until you know how your body can tolerate it.

Huh. I've had shrimp and lobster since getting banded. :eek:

Thank you! :bananapowerslide:I was sooo excited to see it on the scale this morning. I LOVE being here because I know I'm here to STAY! I casually mentioned once last month to my mom that I was losing weight, but I never mentioned numbers. I sent her a couple pics of me standing with some of the crazy snow we're getting around here and they weren't even close-up shots of me and she said I was looking SKINNY!! LOL That was awesome. My mini-mini goal before my Valentine's Day goal will be to hit "overweight" for my BMI and that's 8 more lbs. Yay! Overweight! LOL Never thought I'd say that.

I thought I had heard that medically, if you haven't had a seizure within the past 5 years, that it was a non-issue. I'm not positive, but I could swear that's what I've heard.

I won't let him watch me step on the scale, but I end up telling him what I weigh, anyway. It makes me feel more accountable. Plus, this way he can celebrate the small victories with me.

Yes, that would be really hard. I'm glad that the only two people I really talk to about it (my DH and my mom) are already skinnier than I am, so it's not a problem. My mom was once a size zero, but she had people telling her she looked anorexic so she got back up to a 2-4. I'll never be that size - it just won't happen on my frame. So even if I brag about getting to an 8, I'll still be bigger than her, but happy as can be. I kind of worry about seeing this one friend that I haven't seen in over a year. Once I ever do see her again, I'll be skinny. I can hope in the meantime that she has lost weight. We have had strain in our relationship before, I'd hate for this to destroy it. I would NOT bring it up with her how much I've lost and I will always love her dearly. It's just that we were fat together and I don't want to lose a connection because we don't share that in common anymore. I think it's sad when people's personalities change after losing a bunch of weight. That's really unfortunate. IMO, you are the same person at 110 that you were at 310, just smaller physically. You should treat people and be treated the same as before. The only difference I see in myself is the confidence thing. Not a single person aside from my DH or mom has said anything about my weight loss, but I just FEEL better, so I carry myself differently. But no matter how small I get, I'll remember where I was. I'm no better than anyone else.

1. Hollyberries...........298.............295..............285.........10 2. TxArcher..............360.............357..............345.........12 3. Longhorn..............211.............209..............199.........10 4. Momto1(Wendy)....241.............242...............229........13 5. Steph..................203.5..........199...............188.5......10.5 6. Hungryforchange...227.5..........225...............215.5.......10 7. shortgal Goal for challenge lose 6 ........ 5.5 to go. 8. Trixie..................264.............257.5............244.........1 3.5 9.plump_princess.......237...........236...............227.........9 I had to update mine. Down another lb this morning. Since today (Thursday) is technically the weigh-in day, I wanted it to be accurate.

1. Hollyberries...........298.............296..............285.........11 2. TxArcher..............360.............357..............345.........12 3. Longhorn..............211.............209..............199.........10 4. Momto1(Wendy)....241.............242...............229........13 5. Steph..................203.5..........200...............188.5......11.5