youknowit

Happy Birthday, TommyO.

I can SOOOO totally relate to everyone one here... I have 2.5 in my 4 cc band, and NO restriction, none whatsoever. Ugh! It's been about a month, so I've been waiting for that mysterious "kick-in" but nothing. I need to make an appointment to go back and try for a bit more to see what happens. It sucks that we all are having this problem, but at least we're not alone. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that we will all get to that "sweet spot"...

Isn't this the stuff Anna Nicole Smith is selling on those TV commercials? I say if it works for you, go for it, but I'm not feeling very certain that she lost 150 with TrimSpa (Hoodia is the main ingredient)...

Well, I can't tell you why you're having trouble with warm liquids, never had that experience. BUT, in my opinions, GasX (the chewable, or liquid gels) was a LIFE saver for me. Never needed it since the first week, just trying to get that icky stuff out of my body. Not sure why they'd say that... Best of luck, and congrats on your band.

I would run in the other direction... It's nice that he was "candid" with you about the puncturing, but if he can't do it successfully without mitigating possible damage, he should be doing it under fluro. I know many will disagree with me, but I figure, if I only have one fill, or 10, I want it done under fluro. I figure, the more information we have, the better. I'll pay that extra money for fluro every time, for the reason you mentioned (and many others) every time I get a fill. Just my $.02...

FuelMan -- Thanks!

Right on Diva ... We do have choices, which in my mind includes choices about the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we act towards ourselves and others. Having choices introduces the possibility for change in our lives, and that's why I'm so glad this choice of getting the band has helped to give me an opportunity to change myself in a positive way. (Loved that conformity quote, by the way.) :confused: angie

TommyO -- THANK YOU FOR SAYING WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID. I'm sorry, but this thread really bothers me too, not because I don't believe in "honesty" or sharing "opinions", but because I don't get where it's ok to think/feel/act the way people have said they think/feel/act here, and that there's little to no internal dialogue about "why do i feel this way?" "how would i feel if someone said these things to (or about) me?" etc... Someone on here earlier said something about us putting our own fears or things we don't like about ourselves on others. There's a lot of truth to that (and a lot of research to back it up). With that in mind, do most of the posters to this thread just absolutely hate themselves? This is very troubling, and I hope we can help one another to change this perspective. This statement hits the nail on the head... Self-esteem has a LOT to do with many of the comments here... If we can't stand the slobby/sloppy/fatty/lazy/etc people "we're" referring to here, aren't we saying that about ourselves? Do we have to be thin to have self-esteem? If I knew I was never going to lose another pound, does that mean I can/should hate myself? That other should feel that way about me too? Important thoughts to ponder... I have read this thread since it began with apt attention. It not only interests me as a "fat" person... but also, perception and physical attractiveness was what I did my thesis on in grad school. A huge part of the reason we "feel" the way we do about fat/ugly/sloppy/etc people is steeped in our very deep social constructs; socialization has such a massive influence on us; even as fat people we are showing our hatred for other fat people. It's just like internalized racism, it hurts us as individuals and society as a whole. I won't give a recap of my study, but I can tell you, a lot of the way we feel about people is based on appearance, and not necessarily in the way we might think is logical. A great example of how peoples minds are changing about this is an article I saw on MSN the other day (you can check it out here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10807526/ ) Anyways, my final point is this... If we are the "fat" people, and we can't accept ourselves, what can we expect of others? If other people are starting to accept fatness (for good or bad), and whether we are fat, were fat, chose to be fat, don't chose to be fat, whatever, can't we still love ourselves and others? I really think if we did, the world would be a much better place. (And before I get flamed, I'm not saying being fat/staying fat is healthy, or good for you...just asking, can't we love ourselves, fat, thin, or whatever?)

i'm glad you asked this question, because i'm feeling that my first fill was too small and hasn't "kicked in" (after more than 3 weeks), so i was considering another fill, but am scared that even a little might push me to the "overfilled" side... am i overly concerned? just hoping to get to where i can't eat whatever/whenever... but not be miserable either. long drive for me too... any advice? angie PS - NANA YOU LOOK GREAT GIRL! How'd you get around the scarring? Looks like you didn't even have surgery... YOU GO! :thankyou:

girlfriend... you kick butt! yahhoooooo!

Cheers To Nessa!

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I think we're forgetting that the issue here wasn't just over someone "posting" their opinions about Mexico, but rather the personal, one-on-one, unsolicited advice sent via email to someone. I'm sorry, but trying to scare the crap out of someone through targeting them personally is still totally different than posting on the boards. I agree that EVERYONE's posts are important and valuable in their own way, but I still vehemently disagree that it's in the sender or receivers best interest to send unsolicited, scare-tactic laced emails. (And yes, I know we "signed up to receive private messages, but that's not where I'm going with this... ok).

Ok all... Wondering what we're all paying for our fills in Mexico? Also, what doctor are you going to? angie

Guile, I just noticed you had your first fill less than a week ago, could this be part of the problem? Did you transition to a lighter load of food, or habits since then? I know my doc (who I do think is a little strict, but I digress) had me do liquids for a whole week after my first fill, which was a few weeks ago. That, though tough, really helped me to transition back into "trying" things, like I did after the liquid and mush phase post-surgery. I think, in my limited knowledge, it sounds like you're adjusting to your fill and that (from my research and a bit of personal experience) can take a little bit to figure out. I hope you are feeling better!

a useful trick for me is to put the fork/spoon/knife/whatever DOWN between bites, and i actually count in my head how many "chews" i'm doing. i make sure to chew at least 20, but preferrable 30 or more times before swallowing... i also make sure i'm not doing anything else while eating (watching tv, emails, whatever) as that distracts from my attention and that's the only time i haven't chewed enough and yacked... i felt the same way you describe, and i really hope to never experience that again. at any rate, i wish you well and hope you feel better soon. hang in there!

Thanks, Matt. As for Anca, your argument, as Kira M notes, is a tad off-base. Sorry, but just because I signed up for LBT or whatever website, doesn't mean it's the same thing to write me directly, as it is to start an actual thread as to the merits of going (or not) to Mexico for surgery. I think if a person who has a beef with something and doesn't have the nerve to put it out there and take the criticism they may or may not get (deserved or not), then they are being weak and maybe aren't convinced of their own argument (or they feel, they can get away with saying something in a private, unsolicited message, that they most likely couldn't in a public forum). Undoubtedly, melati MAY have had "good intentions" for the message s/he sent, however, it's still over the line to push an unsolicited, private message onto an unsuspecting person who again, is making a personal decision about their health and life. Here's my point: we are here to discuss, for better or worse, anything we feel we need to about the band and life with the band. I don't personally believe we are here to bash one another, nor to give whole-hearted support to things we might not agree with, but that's the beauty of this board, we can agree, disagree, chat, stay silent, whatever. I just think, like I said before, a little compassion and respect go a long, LONG way with most people... Here's hoping we can all give compassion and respect a try. PS -- before it comes up, yes, the person receiving the message from melati could have just deleted it, but let's remember how many of us would read it, knowing it's from the support group we belong to, and how many of us WOULD have taken it personal... just a thought.

what could we offer your to get you to type it in? not a cookie?... hmm. how about this...:faint: :clap2: :help: :confused: or, oftentimes if you buy the magazine, they give you a code on the masthead page where you are able to access the online version during that month... any chance with that? :decision: :sleep :lalala: :roll:

Hi all. I have a small problem. I'm in a relatively new "dating" relationship (with someone I've known for about a year), and I'm starting to freak out. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the idea of telling (or not) about my band. This is a person who I really care about, and who I have known for a while, but I haven't told anyone about my band (except one friend who is a long, long ways away in miles; not even my family knows). My "boyfriend" for lack of a better term, saw my scars the other day, and he made mention of it... I said, I'd tell him about it another time. He knows that I was really sick about two months ago, so he said something like "that must be from your illness" and I just let it go. So, ladies and gents, what would you do/have done in this situation? What should I do? I'm scared, and I'm starting to feel really weird about this... I'm starting to think I'm nuts or something. Thanks for your help in advance! -- angie

Karen, Thanks for the advice... I've decided not to tell him for now. It hasn't come up again, and I hope it stays that way for now. I, like you, haven't told many people (in fact, only one), so I'd like to keep it that way. I'm a very private person about many things, and my health/body is one of them. Always have been, so I don't see how this would change me in that regard. Anyways, thanks for your advice and thoughts.

I now revise my previous post, and I do think what you said is not only rude, but it seems that you intended it that way. Just by the way you are positioning yourself in this discussion, it seems you are completely offended yourself by others who think what you did might have been a little out of line. Funny, because you say above how you would have "at least considered" what they had to say. Are you doing that now? A little compassion and understanding goes a long way with people, especially when they are making (for many) a life or death decision. Yes, we all need to do our research. Yes, we need all the information we can get. Yes, sometimes we need tough love. BUT, people don't need personal contact and attacks on their decision from anyone... Mexico, or not.

I agree, the wording isn't "rude" however, I do think there's a major difference between addressing a question or making a public post here on the boards, and sending an unsolicited email to someone. I can see why this person was upset, as they might have felt singled out or something. I don't want to project my thoughts or feelings on them, so I can't say if there were uncertain about their decision, or something else. We never know how people might take something we say or do, and of course that doesn't mean we should change or adjust everything we say or do for others, but, it's still not the same thing to write a private message to someone, versus posting on the boards...

i agree with you sleepjean... and for anyone contemplating this or any other kinds of "plan" -- like Delarla said, it's the low amount of calories consumed that's doing it. i seriously think you could eat anything in those low amount of calories per day and lose. in fact, i remember from my Human Nutrition course in college how the instructor said: "Yes, you can lose weight eating two snickers bars a day, but who can do that? And is that good for you? Sure, you might get your days worth of Calcium, but you get a weeks worth of sugar... Think it through." That was funny, but so true. She also said the same thing regarding carbs and beer... I'm sure you get the point. At any rate, I still wish you all luck, but want to ask a question... seriously. Did we get banded to be on fad diets for the rest of our lives, or did we get banded to learn to eat right, eat less, and live a longer happier life for it? my 2 cents... :rofl:

Theresa, Can you send me a private message with their website information? I'll check it out.

water aerobics kicks butt (in more ways than one) and is easy on the joints, etc. i LOVE it, and if you're afraid of the bathing suit, just let me tell you, i'm never the largest one in the class, and that's saying something. the group that is in my class is very diverse... older folks, men, women, "skinnies", "chubbies" (like me), and all kinds of people. it's fun, and you can go at your own pace. i wish you luck and hope it's something you'll enjoy if you try it.

i don't mean to sound like a downer or a cynic, but if i could have "worked" this type of "diet" or "program" before the band, i wouldn't be where i am now, in my opinion. like atkins, the grapefruit diet, whatever, it's virtually impossible to stick to one or two foods all day and expect to stay sane. i really hope you do well and wish you a ton of luck, but like i said, if this was doable for me before, i sure wouldn't be fat and banded now.