ReneBean

Hi All! I am here in Fort Lee - and I have read all the posts since last I was here - but I have to get to bed so I am going to skip the personals... I get super duper gold stars cause DH and I went to the gym 6 days this last week!... and I brought my exercise gear so I can use the dreadmill at the Hotel - although getting back here by 11 to use the gym might not be so easy. I have sworn to myself that I am going to do it - so harrass me about it, ok? Saturday was all about laundry for the trip and packing up. And of course, today we flew into LaGuardia. We had dinner at Carmines. For those who are keeping track of my travels, we have gone there before. It is a family style Italian place right off of 44th and Broadway. The food is EXCELLENT, the service is great - and the chairs (unlike another place in Manhattan that I could name) are actually comfortable enough to sit in for more than 10 minutes. Even though we came in pretty late, they didn't give us any attitude. It was great. Manicotti, Veal Parmigiana and a lovely salad was on the menu, and all were excellent. Well enough food porn. I will check in with y'all tomorrow and let you know of any further exciting adventures. Love and Hugs to All!

Hi Trish Good to see you. Hope this band goes a bit more smoothly for you. Patience is hard - but 70 pounds down is better than a kick in the head, right? Hugs and Good Luck!

Congrats, Krissy!! You are on your way!! Keep up the good work!!~

Mary Hope the pain subsides soon. By about day 4, I could go back to sleeping in my bed, and after a week I could lie flat again. Don't be brave. Take your meds. Congrats!

Hey Katie for 90+ percent of the people - IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, IT WORKS. Hopefully, you will be with the majority, and you will follow the rules. Hugs and good luck!

Hey ElvisGirl Dr. Fox at the Surgery Center of Richardson is great, too. I would be concerned if I had that constant heartburn thing, too. Maybe you just need a TINY unfill? Have you had an endoscopy? Maybe they need to get the camera in there and take a look, just to be SURE there is no erosion or anything. Anyway, Dr. Fox is excellent - and the Surgery Center of Richardson is great, too. I can heartily recommend the Center and the Doc. Good Luck!

You will lose SOME restriction when the swelling goes down - but if you lose all of it - then you may have a leak. If you lose all - go back to the fill doc or center and tell them. Hugs!

Destiny, I am one of those people for whom loss has been below the curve. I lost 16 pounds pre-op - and have lost only 35 pounds since the actual date of surgery. I want you to know that I feel, maybe even more than the ones who have lost 90 pounds or more, that this is the best decision that I have ever made. I know that I have only lost 35 pounds because I am still eating most of the foods that I love. Yes, I am eating less - but I still eat pizza, bread, Pasta and rice. I have enjoyed a year of what I call "a normal life". For the first 9 mos I had hardly any restriction. I have never had any side effects, no reflux, only 1 PB (entirely my own fault) - not even much gas or anything. I feel extremely glad that I got to "work up to it" on the restriction. I am the epitome of lazy and spoiled - I do NOT do deprivation - but I have still lost 52 pounds since Feb 2006. That is a Freakin' Miracle. I have eaten pretty much whatever I wanted for the last year - and I have lost 35 pounds since my surgery date. For those who actually have discipline, For those who get restriction sooner, for those that exercise diligently, the loss is usually pretty consistent and fairly fast. Yes, there are a FEW who have perfect restriction, who follow all the rules and exercise that have trouble losing. But the emphasis is FEW. So, your Sweetheart's success is most likely going to be to be ENTIRELY up to him. I second the person who said that your Sweetheart should be the one here asking the questions. It's FABULOUS that you are interested and supportive, but I know from experience that ONLY the person who has to lose the weight can motivate themselves to do it. No matter how lovingly you put it, any attempts to motivate him on your part could be perceived as nagging. All you can really do is SUPPORT the decisions that he makes. You can NOT comment on what he is eating. You can NOT give him pointed looks if he picks up a cookie - but there is little that you can DO to motivate. Again, all you can do is support. If HE is ready for this, I cannot recommend the surgery fervently enough. The band is unique due to the fact that it will wait around until you are ready to use it. Right now, I am exercising more, eating better foods and taking overall better care of myself. These actions are beginning to reflect on my scale. I am so glad that I got THIS surgery - because even though I have pretty much flaked off for the last year, I am able to pick up on the plan right now, today, and continue on. If I had the by-pass, I would have frittered away the window of opportunity to lose, probably stretched our my pouch and had numerous side effects and problems due to my non-compliance with the rules. Since I have the Band, I can just get my act together and lose some more weight. How much is THAT worth? I hope your Sweetheart is ready, and I hope he gets the band. I really believe that it has added years to my life already - and I will get more years with every pound I lose. He is far too young to weigh so much. If he carries that much weight forward thru the years, his body will be a wreck by the time he turns 40. The band will give him the tool to get this under control NOW - before the aging process starts to take it's toll. Good luck to both of you!

The only way I can see the difference is to look at side by side photos. Take lots of pictures. Hugs!

Hello friends and Loved Ones. I hope the wind from my huge sigh of relief hasn't knocked y'all over. I am SO glad that Friday is here and the day is mostly done. With all the stupid meetings and stuff, I am actually not too bored today. Plus, I have been chatting with my Mom and my Sisters this morning thru the e-mail. My day is always better when my DH makes coffee for me in the AM. The scale is teetering on the edge of a new low, so I am getting some validation for all my nights at the gym this week. 5 days for February, to date. 10 miles for the total. Of course it all goes straight to hell next week while I am in NY - but I am thinking about taking my tennis shoes so I can use the Hotel Gym. It would be a first if I actually do - but there is a first time for everything. Everybody think good thoughts! I will let you know how it goes from Fort Lee. Cindy - Proud of you for not wallowing in Cookies. I prolly would have downed a whole box by now. Mary - Only an hour in the make-up aisle? I can spend days in there. I am fascinated by the variety of pretty-up stuff that they make... :] Betty - Hugs. The glorious weekend has arrived, and I have purchased my lottery tickets for this month. That's the best I can expect, until I actually win the thing. Hope you get some R&R. Kat - sorry the concert wasn't all you had hoped. :banana You might not be dancing yet - but I am dancing for you! Go, Kat, Go!! That half a pound better not show it's ugly face 'round here! Eileenie - lunch next week? I am flying in on Sunday night, so I should be at the office by 9ish on Monday - and available on e-mail shortly after that, I hope. TTL! Well, I have a fabulous conference call on something really exciting, like adverse action procedures... Yippee. I may get to check in later. If not - everybody have a fab weekend!! Love you guys!

My cats have always had multiple names. My cat Skip was Skippy, Bunny Cat, Weiner, The Weenst and variations on the theme. Grace is Gracie, Beautiful, Fatty Cat, Grouchy Cat... Yep - I think we all do this.

I don't know anything about Dr. Criggins - but Welcome to LBT! Hopefully, some other Bandsters have used him. You might also try searching under Criggins. Click on Search (in white on the blue bar at the top of the page) and type in Criggins. Also - you might try going to the Doctors & Hospitals forum and posting your question there. Good Luck and Happy Banding!

Also - Take the tiniest possible bite and Chew it till your jaw aches...try chewing even more than you ever thought you could when you do start with solids again. :]

Hi Chatbutter Yeah, based on what you are eating, it sorta does seem right. I know, from experience. I have lost 35 pounds since my surgery - all because I didn't have restriction for the first 9 months - and because I wasn't motivated to make many changes in my eating pattern. I don't know what size slices of pizza you have - but I am thinking MAYBE you are underestimating the calorie count, a bit. I know that your standard restaurant slice is good for 4-500 calories, depending on how much stuff is on it. And I am assuming that large salad had croutons and dressing on it, right? Lots of hidden calories, there. Get another fill - and try to be BRUTALLY honest about the calories. It gets easier with better restriction - but it is still up to you to decide whether you are going to eat empty calories like pop tarts, or whether you are going to eat the same volume of food in raw vegetables or Protein. I am not saying that losing the weight slowly is particularly WRONG - but you should just expect this level and speed of loss if you continue to eat the way you have always eaten. I know from experience. :] Exercise is important, too. You can eat the occassional pop tart, if you are burning off those calories on the treadmill. Even though the band is a great tool, we still have to work it. Sucks, huh? Good Luck!

Technically you Could convert to a band after By pass - but then you have all the complications and side effects from BOTH surgeries to worry about. Stand tough. Ask your doc about repairing the hernia while he is in there. IF he is willing to do that - then go for it. I would definitely try the band first, while you are so young. If it has to come out, there usually aren't any lasting effects - which cannot be said of the by pass. While there are some people who have not had good luck with the band, there are lots more that have. Good Luck!

Congrats!! You have done great work! Hope the fill helps you speed the loss along - but don't be frantic if it doesn't. I think your body just has to stop for a bit and absorb all the changes. It will kick in again, after a little resting period. Hugs and Good Luck!

It is definitely NOT normal and she must see a doctor now. Two things are totally wrong for post Lap Band 1) Fever 2) throwing up Get her to somebody right away - right now.

Ah. Still praying for the magic pill? Someday, maybe. For now, it's back to the elliptical machine. :]

Hi All Thank God it's Thursday. That means only one more day of this, then I get a weekend, and a week in NY. I went to the gym again last night. Gold star for me! That brings my running total for February to 4 days - 8 miles. The scale at my house says I am already down that extra pound. Yippee!! I have been doing what I am supposed to for the last few days... less carbs, more Water, more exercise. Of course, I will probably not do any of those things during my week in NY... but I might. We will see. Betty - Geesh - those stupid porn posts are showing up more and more. I'm glad you are going through and taking those down. I mean, geez - don't we get enough of those in our e-mail? :[ Cindy - I have no doubt that I will be completely recognizable at our next meeting - but thanks for the encouragement. I am focused for the moment. But then, I don't have to drive around all day in a van full of Girl Scout Cookies. :] Mary - I love that the School insists on getting the information directly from the doctor. What, like you are going to LIE?!? Why would anybody lie? Kat - hugs! Good luck with all that fence business - and have fun at the "Up With People" concert. Mandy - Hi! I hope Abi gets a little stress relief soon. I hate to think of her all rashy. Hugs! Well, I have to run. These people actually expect me to work for my pay. I just wish I had a little more consistent amount. Once I get lazy and distracted, it is HARD to get back to what I am really supposed to be doing! :] Love and hugs to All!!

Hi Cascadian! Welcome to LBT. The band is only a tool. The tool only works if it is adjusted correctly. If you can keep these things in mind as you walk the band path, you should be ok. I have to admit that I have managed to lose without having to put forth much effort. Marjon is right - unless you go completely NUTS with eating, you shouldn't have much trouble with losing, once you get proper restriction. Hugs and Good Luck!

Glad to hear you got a fill, Leener. I know that without restriction, it is REALLY hard to lose. If you don't keep restriction - go back. Hopefully, your band just shoved a little fat pouch off to the side or something and this new fill will help. Hugs!

I sleep in a sports bra and a comfortable girdle. That means that 24/7 I am trussed up. It's all I can think of. I know gravity wants to pull everything down - but I fight gravity 24 hours a day. I am hoping that if my skin doesn't have too much gravity to deal with, it can spend all it's time shrinking. I will still need PS - I needed an apronectomy before I ever started - but I am doing what I can to keep everything from flopping around when I walk. I would still much rather have trussed up floppy skin that the 350 lb body I started with. :] So, yes Spanx, Spanx and more Spanx. :]

Aw Gee, Darcy. I didn't mean to guilt you out. Just think about all that wonderful "Y" time and how you will be getting lower and lower. It was a bummer adjusting up - but now you get to adjust down again. That will be fun! I will think of you while I slog on the eliptical tonight! :] **Oh - and at least with a horse and buggy - you could cuddle up to the horse for body heat.... :]

Hi Scott - I didn't have anything close to good restriction until 3 mos ago, and I never had close to perfect until last month. Just slowing down the eating helped me some - so I have lost a little tiny bit every month - but not nearly what it would be if I had the kind of restriction that I have now for the whole time. Good luck from here on in. Don't be shy about getting enough fill. Even at 8.75 cc's you might need to get a tiny bit more. :] Hope - If you get hungry sooner than 4 hours after eating - you might need another fill. Unfortunately, nibbling is NOT stopped by the band. Only you can stop that non-productive behavior. Sometimes a tiny tweak on your fill can make all the difference. Talk to your doc or your fill center to see what they think. Too tight is bad - but not tight enough makes it harder than it needs to be. Good luck!

You might want to change your PCP. If yours is so dead set against the band, and she actually gave you the "do it on your own" line of crap - she probably isn't the best PCP for you. Good luck!