PrtyAntOvrYt

hey! Good Job! Congrats! What did you change? You're weight is moving!! That's wonderful!

How about a Red Robin Get Together on August 16th, Sunday @ 6pm? Anyone interested? If the 16th won't work for the majority, how about the 9th? We're open - post your preference! I hope we can get a good turn out! It's fun to see one another and give those sweet hugs of support!

Well, I'm pulling out all the stops! I have 121 days til my plastic surgery! I'm okay with having my procedure at this weight, however, IF I can lose more, I'll be sooo much happier! As of this Wed, I'll have 18 weeks - 18 weeks to work out and eat right! I just read Jillian Michaels book, "Mastering Your Metabolism" -- I'm going to follow her suggestions and see what happens! It's a whole food plan and it follows my belief of eating what is healthy and balanced. She states that feeding your body is important - starvation will just ruin your metabolism for the future and make keeping your weight off more difficult! Well, we shall see how it works! Wish me luck!

Deb - 10lbs-2.2-1.0-2.4:wink: Lapdancer - 25lbs-3.3-2.0:wink: Laptastic - 10lbs-1.0+0.0+0.0:wink: Lotza - 5lbs-1.0+1.0+0.0:wink: KayleighsMommy - 10lbs-3.2-2.6-2.6:wink: Mini - 10lbs+0.0+0.0-1.2:wink: Party - 20lbs-6.6-1.2+0.0:wink: Well, no gain and no loss for me! I am a huge puff-ball! Lots of water weight! So I am hoping when I pee this excess out - I'll be lighter and leaner! Congrats on the Losses and the NO gains! As long as we didn't gain, we're good! Right folks?

I know exactly what you mean! I am very sad about my loose skin. The odd thing is that when I weighed over 450lbs, I would go swimming in public and I felt okay about it. People stared, but they were looking at fat. I wasn't a freak, just a big fat woman. Now the skin on my thighs hang, my calves, knees, AND don't even talk about my arms. I look like a freak! Something that people just stare at! NOW I can't swim in public anymore. I just can't! So I am left swimming very late at night at the pool. Which is okay and I am fortunate to have that option, but I know exactly what you mean! I hope you are getting better with your reflux. How horrible! Maybe you're not so tight anymore. You've had such a stressful year Marie. You can be proud of yourself for getting through this tough time and not gaining weight. We all know that even with our Bands, we can gain. Hang in there!

Patty, I am so sad to hear of your diagnosis. I agree with you and Deb, get in and get a second and possibly a third opinion. There are several different strains of Hep C and they can get a lot of information from running tests. I will be thinking of you and praying that you will find the right medical professionals to do what they need to do to help you be healthy. You've worked so hard, it's your time for good health and happiness. Hugs for you! dee~

Deb - 10lbs-2.2-1.0:wub: Lapdancer - 25lbs-3.3:lol: Laptastic - 10lbs-1.0+0.0:wub: Lotza - 5lbs-1.0+1.0:wub: KayleighsMommy - 10lbs-3.2-2.6:wub: Mini - 10lbs+0.0:lol: Party - 20lbs-6.6-1.2:wub:

Deb - 10lbs-2.2:lol: Lapdancer - 25lbs-3.3:lol: Laptastic - 10lbs-1.0:lol: Lotza - 5lbs-1.0:lol: KayleighsMommy - 10lbs Mini - 10lbs Party - 20lbs-6.6:lol: Okay Mini and K's Mom-- we're waiting for your total! I hope everything is going well!:bored:

Marie, I'll add you to the challenge! OH NO! I am so sorry about your DH's job! That's just horrible! I cannot imagine what you guys must be dealing with. These economic times are so hard on us. I will remember him and you in my prayers. I hope something good will come around for both of you. Don't give up! Good for you! Are you back to the Water Aerobics? Did you have fun in Vegas? Congrats Patty! Sleeping and missing an entire day sounds like me! I do that all of the time, but mostly because I work nights! Your weight loss is good and steady!

OH no! just be careful you don't get cellulitis from the sting. if it doesn't start improving or it gets worse, see the doctor. Great job on your weight loss! Wow!

As some of you know, I've been eating a lot of recipes from "Cook Yourself Thin" - it's a cookbook from the Lifetime show of the same name. They take recipes from everyday life and tweak them to make them low fat and low calorie. Some are pretty high in carbs, but I just avoid those ones. They use a lot of whole wheat - whole unprocessed foods, which I appreciate. Anyway, they say take the weight you should be weighing (normal BMI is 18-25) And eat the calories to get you to that weight. It's easy math. My normal weight should be 129-174. So I can safely eat 1290 to 1740 calories. Take the weight and multiply it by 10. I want to get there faster than not, so I'm doing 1290 calories. But I'm not counting calories that come from raw fruit or veggies. I'm still working out and I lost 6.6lbs this week. Maybe there is something to it. I'm just really fearful of slowing my metabolism down too low - and not being able to eat normally once I get to goal (new norm, not my old norm) I remember when I consulted with Dr. K the first time for my Lap Band. He told me, "You're going to have a new norm." -- he's right, I do! I love it!

Deb - 10lbs-2.2:lol: Lapdancer - 25lbs Laptastic - 10lbs KayleighsMommy - 10lbs Mini - 10lbs Party - 20lbs-6.6:lol: I'm going out of town today, I'll have internet access, but I won't have use of a scale. So I weighed this morning and this is my weight loss for the last week! 6.6 Pounds! I hope I can keep up that pace! Tomorrow just weigh and post your loss! I'm looking forward to this challenge!

Try eating higher protein foods first and foremost. They will keep you satiated longer and you'll lose faster! I haven't had a fill since December and I still have good restriction. Who knows why? We are all so different. My first fill wasn't until about 9 weeks post op (I think) -- because I just didn't need it. Head hunger is the worst for me at times -- I know I'm not hungry physically, but it's boredom or just a craving for something to chew on! I've purchased a lot of fruit and I just will eat a handful of strawberries, blackberries or a half of a pear if I get that head hunger. I know that is probably a bad habit for me to have, but I figure fruit is good and it's better than junk! Good luck with your healing. Have you tried the Premier Nutrition Protein Drinks from costco? 30 grams of protein and they really taste good. I am one that hates almost all protein drinks. Truly, this is one that I can tolerate.

I don't agree with your doctor. I know that you can lose on ultra low calories, but over the long term it just damages your metabolism. Your body forces itself to become used to living on very low cals. I believe this to be true and then when you're at goal and you would like to eat 1200 calories or a little more, you cannot without gaining weight. Can a person eat a balanced diet on 600-800 cals? Are they able to eat fruit, veggies, whole grains and Proteins? I don't think so. WE all want to lose weight, but do we want to damage our bodies in the process? Our bodies need all the nutrients that other's need. We can't obtain all of our Vitamins and minerals from a pill. For many years through high school and college, I lived on restricted diets. I'd go 4 or more days with eating only 300- 400 cals. Then I'd do liquid fasts. I'd lose and keep it off as long as I kept my cals extremely restricted. As soon as I ate anything - anything at all, I'd gain. The same is true for people who lose a lot of weight with things like Optifast. Oprah lost all of that weight. She said, that the day after her coming out show - when she had that wagon filled with all of fat equalling all the weight she lost - she ate a real Breakfast and a real lunch and no dinner - she gained 5 lbs. People told her that was impossible, but her doctor told her exactly what I had said, that her body had to slow it's metabolism way down to maintain life and energy - it became used to sustaining life on 400-600 cals a day. Oprah learned at that time, she would never do another one of those diets. Luther Vandross lived on those diets. He'd lose weight fast on the Optifasts and other restrictive diets and then gain it back. It was a vicious cycle for him. He died a young man of a stroke. Just some food for thought. I agree I think it was pretty rude to compare obese people to the poor jews in the comcentration camps. Lastly, popcorn is a slider food for me. Does the Water griggle up after you've eaten or on an empty stomach? When I have perfect restriction the water griggles up when I drink after that 1 hour post meals.

Are you having your surgery in the hospital or in a surgicenter? Can you please PM me his name when you have time? thanks!!!

I'm sorry you had a bad experience! That sucks! I honestly have never had more than one poke to get a fill. I have a friend at work who has a band and she always gets poked 6 or 7 times. Her port area is always very bruised after her fills. (she has a different doc, NOT Dr K) It also sounds like the PA has no idea what GERD is or what needs to be done to manage it with the Band.

Hi vjsmiles, Welcome! No, Dr. K doesn't use fluoroscope for his fills. He charges $15.00 for each fill after the initial 3 months which are free. About the financing, I'm not sure if anyone here used financing to get their Band. I didn't. I used my divorce settlement money for mine. I know Capitalone has medical financing and some other companies do too. Do you live here in the Denver area? Maybe you could meet with Dr. K and then sit down with Natalie or Marilyn (in his office) and see what financing they suggest. Sorry no one answered your financing question previously, but it might be that the few that did finance aren't regular posters here. Good Luck!

I think that is very good! I was quoted just over $13K for a pannus removal and an arm lift. I bet you're so excited!

I love your Progression Movie Patty! It's great! Was it difficult to make? But then again, you're so talented!

It's Mexico. Monterery Mexico. (I think that is how you spell it.) I'm pushing for a December date so that I can get closer to goal and have a better outcome. Go to www.mymexicopsjourney.com to see one of his former patients. Does he do the full on tummy tuck with muscle reattachment or just the pannus removal? I know he had talked to Michelle about that a while back. I should talk to him. Interesting. The problem, however, is that an overnight hospital stay will run me about $40K. My lapband was over $40K because of my Malignant Hyperthermia and anesthesia refusing to do the surgery in an outpatient setting. There is no way I could afford $40K. Dr. Sauceda doesn't use General and I really like that! I also eat lean the night before a fill and then nothing before the fill. It sucks however, since I usually schedule my fills for late in the day! Hungry girl! For a regular Boom Boom (funny you!) I eat fruit everyday. A handful of grapes, apple (peeled of course because of the band) or a ripe pear. M.O.M. and everything else known to man sold over the counter didn't work for me! Gotcha for the 10lbs! I think I found someone to go with me for my surgery. They are also interested in having surgery done and they are fearful of the Mexican location so this will give them a chance to see things upclose. I'll let you know further information! You're so sweet agreeing to go with me! You're the best! Good for you Miss Mini! I'm so happy for you! You're the first of our little group here to have Plastics! You'll be the pioneer, the one to go ahead and report back! I can't wait to hear about it all! My daughter used to call it being "neuterized" -- I remember her asking her dad, "Pops when are you going to be neuterized?" The look on his face was priceless!

Our seven week Labor Day challenge "DLOWAL" - (odd name, I'm open for other ideas) Anyway, here are the challengers! Deb - 10lbs Lapdancer - 25lbs Laptastic - 10lbs KayleighsMommy - 10lbs Mini - 10lbs Party - 20lbs Any other challengers out there? Come one, Come all! Okay, NEW NAME! Labor and Delivery from Obesity Challenge! Yippy! Thanks Patty!!

I love that! Tucker the Million Dollar Dog and Buster his sidekick! Do they wear caps and goggles? :sad: Congrats on your 22 year anniversary! You and Hubby are blessed with a love that has lasted - You're lucky he's your bestfriend! Hugs!!!:ohmy: I want Lapdancer's young and fresh looking face! That woman looks like she's in her 20's! She's a gorgeous woman! I always thought, kids were the meanest to overweight people, but I truly believe it's something they learn from their parents. I was the school nurse for my daughter's elementary school. She went to a very small school. We took out of town trips to Mesa Verde, Space Camp, Arkansas, Skycity, Chaco Canyon and so on, and not once did one child say anything mean or hateful to me. But that summer when she decided she wanted to attend this elite academy to study french - that is when the kids were so mean. I remember once at Target a Mom stood there and watched while her two sons mocked me. When we got to the parking lot, I couldn't stand it anymore and I said something to the Mom. Julie, we can put those things behind us and look forward to a long and healthy life.

Let's start the Labor Day Challenge on Monday. Weigh yourself and then let me know what your goal will be for 7 weeks. Then July 20th will be the first weigh in. I'll keep track, unless someone else is interested. Anyone? I love Challenges! Yippy!

Thanks Mal! You know it's so hard to get past those feelings of old. For so many years, I was looked down upon for my weight. I remember taking my daughter to summer school and having the kids spit at me. They threw pebbles at my feet and laughed. I held in the tears until I got my 7 year old to her classroom and back to my car. I remember the next morning, she said, "Moma, I can walk myself to the class today and don't forget I love you." Such a sweet girl. I guess, I'll feel ugly for a long time, until my mind catches up with my body - my body has been transformed and the world sees me as someone other than a fat lady. Mary! That was such a sweet thing to say. You are too kind. Thank you. I'm hoping to schedule my surgery so that when I return from Mexico my daughter will be here for her Christmas break. Then I'll have someone there for two more weeks. It is a very long trip, but if I hadn't started it, I wouldn't be here today. AND I wouldn't have ever met YOU! The surgeon's name is Dr. Francisco Sauceda, Monterrey Mexico. I know of several other banders and RNY patients who have gone to him and they are all very pleased. He doesn't use general anesthesia, he does regional and sedation. To me, this is a plus, because of my family history of malignant hyperthermia. My fear with surgery has always been intubation. As far as the rashes and backaches - it doesn't matter if your health insurance has an exclusion for plastic surgery, which mine does. It's not even something you can appeal. Thanks Sweety! I do believe in karma. One day, they may have to deal with something very similar and I hope they remember how they made others feel. Hey Munchi-girl! Good to see you here! I'd love for you to join me in Mexico, but I totally understand the work issue! I'm hoping I don't have problems with asking for the time off. You know how it is! I know that many Americans have a Vit D deficiency. Have you had your blood work done? Do you have an I-stat at work? I do love Dr. Atkins! It's more like a Love Hate relationship with the man! Are we on to start the next challenge on Monday? Deb, Tucker is lucky to have a Mom like you!