sharona

well those are a lot perkier than mine!!! (sorry Fenton) I have an appt with plastics guy in two weeks to discuss reduction.... gotta love it....

Fenton, thought this would be good to repeat: Don't Quit When you've eaten too much and you can't write it down, And you feel like the biggest failure in town. When you want to give up just because you gave in and forget all about being healthy and thin. So What! You went over your points a bit, It's your next move that counts...So don't you quit! It's a moment of truth, it's an attitude change. It's learning the skills to get back in your range. It's telling yourself, "You've done great up till now. You can take on this challenge and beat it somehow." It's part of your journey toward reaching your goal. You're still gonna make it, just stay in control. To stumble and fall is not a disgrace, if you summon the will to get back in the race. But, often the struggler's, when loosing their grip, just throw in the towel and continue to slip. They learn too late when the damage is done, that the race wasn't over...they still could have won. Lifestyle change can be awkward and slow, but facing each challenge will help you grow. Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint in a cloud of doubt. When you're pushing to the brink, just refuse to submit, If you bite it, you write it....Just don't you quit!

welcome back "charlie"....we missed you hey don't beat yourself up over 4000 calories a day...heck my guess is you could do that in one meal prior to the band. I do think it is time to consider getting restriction though...it would probably help some. We all are human, which is more important. Hey tell us about the trip? All you talked about it the food!!!! Come on you must tell....we were all so sad without you....

they don't make the decision....go to the surgeon and get a consult...it is my understanding that you need a BMI of 40 without comorbidities and 35 with them...unless your 16 years old it would seem that you would qualify...good luck

Listen, this is all about you...not anyone else. I didn't tell my mother and won't. I told my sister and brother and some people at work. Of course the skinny ones said "have you tried weight watchers?" duh.....of course I didn't and thank you for telling me about it. This isn't an easy fix, it takes willpower to manager and a huge decision to get it done. It is a tool to assist with making the right choices because your not famished all the time. I've had mine for 4 months and lost 32 lbs....not magic....Don't mention it again to them....they'll get over it....you are making the right choice.... sharon;)

that is such a funny story....when I had a beeper at the hospital I constantly had it fall into the toilet....good luck with the new one!! I'm at a standstill with my weight, but keep doing the right things knowing it will come off eventually.....much cooler in Connecticut today will be taking a walk for sure. Have a great weekend.

FYI How much Protein do you need for good health? As a general rule, between 10 percent and 15 percent of your total calories should come from protein. So, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, at least 200 should come from protein, or about 50 grams. You should try to eat around one gram of protein per one kilogram of body weight, or around 0.4 grams per pound. An easier way to figure this out in your head is to take your weight, divide it in half, and subtract 10. The total will be the number of grams of protein you should consume each day. So, if you weigh 120 pounds, you should eat about 50 grams of protein.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! But please (hahahahaha) no more visuals.... here's to the rest of us getting into onederland!!! :svengo:

Yes I love my band too!! Finally....Listen I wouldn't let the check you received deter you from filing a complaint with the medical board. It is not ok that he treated you this way!!! He will just continue with others and probably hurt someone some day. I'm glad your doing better. You didn't deserve this and I'm glad you PCP was equally upset. sharon

i cant believe fenton has been gone this whole time.....we don't have any men to talk with.....

congratulations....its a nice feeling when we start knowing how to manage our band..:crying:

Hi Niki I think it depends on the physician's experience that he has had. You know if he had difficulty getting into one port he'll then continue to do the floura for all the others. I also think (although I hate to think this) that if you are paying independently for your fills the physician may purposely delaying the fills to increase the amount of times you come in and pay for the fills. I still find it hard to believe that they charge what they do for the fills. Just another way to screw the consumer for a two minute procedure. I think if you don't have good restriction within the first two weeks of getting a fill you should go back. I did and I have reached my good spot in a short period of time. Although there is still some control needed with this procedure I had the surgery to assist with my hunger and the choice of whether I feel restriction or not should be mine not theirs. My physician's office has staff (aprn' and other physicians) get trained and certified in accessing your port before they touch you. I have had no difficulty in getting my port accessed by them each time I've gone in. good luck...and as I've said before IT IS NOW ALL ABOUT ME...

I'm 12 lbs away!!! my short term goal is to be under 200 by end of August..

I agree about the Protein. I think 60 grams is probably the minimum. Since I've been tracking my food intake I am getting in anywhere from 80 to 110 grams of protein a day. I have an appt with the nutritionist soon so I'll have this discussion with her. I don't think higher protein intake will be harmful unless someone has kidney issues. And remember everyone....I've never said this in my lifetime of caring for everyone else but now....ITS ALL ABOUT ME!!!! Good weekend... sharon

Hi Guys I found a great liquid Protein which makes sure I get more than enough each day. I'm probably averaging 80 plus grams a day. It is a protein liquid from GNC that comes in all flavors. I like fruit punch. I mix it with my bottle of Water and it tastes great. GNC - IDS Sports New-Whey 42 Liquid Protein - Blue Raspberry

I got my band on 3/12 and have had 5 fills already in my 10cc band and am now at good restriction. If your office allows it you need to keep going back until you feel good restriction. I was returning every two weeks until I got good restriction. I can eat 1/2 cup of food at a time and do not feel hungry at all in between meals. I take in one liquid Protein drink which totals 42 grams so I am sure to get my total of 60 grams of protein a day ( I usually get much more than that). So I would see if your surgeon allows you to control your fills rather than they controlling your fills until you get good restriction. Remember it is all about you now...good luck this is the site for the Liquid Protein which is a great way to assure that you get enough. GNC - IDS Sports New-whey 42 Liquid Protein - Blue Raspberry

I think Charlie is an excellent choice for our Fenton. He will enjoy it I'm sure. Thanks for the reminder of his vacation time....but I'm still concerned with his not feeling well. I think we're all depending on the band to do our work for us....and in doing so we need to be careful to not accept being too tight. That has its own consequences...losing weight is great but not at our health's expense. Have a good weekend everyone and stay cool. It was 100 degrees in Connecticut today and my clinical site with my students was stifling....was glad to get out at 3pm.... still have good days and bad but my worst day is 1400 calories when that used to be my worse meal!!!! sharon;)

congratulations....you will be so much better with a good physician. This journey is difficult enough without having the medical support you need to get through it. You're on your way so hang on...think of where you'll be next year!!! I can't wait....I love my band...I have 6 cc in a 10 cc band. I track my intake on www.mydailyplate.com and even my worse days aren't really bad. This is a big load off of your shoulders as I know how upset you were. Now don't let this deter from filing a complaint about that other physician. This is the only way that things will change.... sharon:waytogo:

I also hope Fenton is ok...he wasn't feeling well there for a while. Miss his postings...hahahahah

3cc's is very aggressive I agree. Being too tight can bring us backwards and don't risk the want to lose weight when you don't have the ability to take in enough nutrition. Remember your body will reverse itself in order to save yourself.....then you won't lose weight...I'm sorry your going through this....remember slow and easy is better....you'll bounce back before you know it...I have 6 cc in a 10 cc band...first fill was 2.5 then increased to 4 then to 5 then 5.5 then the last one was to 6cc and I'm perfect where I am for now..... have a good weekend everyone...I'll be busy putting together my daughters baby shower that is next weekend....she's due in 9 weeks, we're so excited.....

Fenton, feel better!! I also had some kind of bug this week and had to end my clinical class early. Just had nausea, tired and felt like the flu. It took a few days to go away.....Maybe we just put you over the edge with all our talk about the "girls".....

Welcome Nurseniki....u will love this blog..we are from all walks of life and all stages of life. We have a great sense of humor and have shared many ups and downs of this transition in life we are experiencing. Fenton is our "mascot" and our only male who delivers us from evil and helps keep us on track. We talk about everything in spite of him (hahaha).....so welcome and join in the laughter and the journey..... sharon

congratulations on your quitting smoking. The issue with smoking and this surgery has to do with the liability/risk a physician is taking with someone who is getting "elecftive" surgery. Most surgeons prefer not to add an additionalrisk of a smoker to the already risk of being obese. It is the patient who needs to decide that this is one more step towards being healthy. If someone is deciding to address obesity with something as radical as bariatric surgery it doesn't make sense that they would continue to smoke which is an even higher risk for other health problems. (vascular issues, respiratory issues and cancer). This is a big committment and it should be a healthy committment for a healthier lifestyle across the board. Which includes smoking cessation. I was a smoker 35 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made to quit. Congratulations on an excellent choice towards a healthier you.

I don't have it in me to be a runner. I have always played sports, but "the girls" make it hard to run. I always feel like I have to wear a few extra undergarments to avoid hurting myself or others. (Sorry Fenton.) Oh my God I can relate, I can't wait until I get a breast reduction!!! I'm actually thinking of going to the plastics guy soon to talk to him about it. I could NEVER run.....these damn things are just an annoyance....they've done what they were supposed to now be done with them!!! I would love to be small enough to not wear a bra...ever......