Poodles

Well that Hippo is a movie star! Kids are often cruel without meaning to be, we just have to teach them how to have a censor sometimes. Do you know how most kids draw stick figures to represent their family? My sons pictures are a circle for the head, a larger circle for the body, and then legs and arms coming off of that one. He says he has to draw our "fat bellies". Best thing is, he doesn't say it in a mean way. That is just the way we are... for now. See you later Movie Star!

Ok, so I have gone to the ends of the internet looking for up to date information on the lap band. All quote the previous research c/p'd above. On another WLS site they say that this information was quite negative because the surgeons were learning, and the devices were of poor quality. Now, I have no research to support that. But the research above was with 200+ patients studied for three years. They have been doing the surgery for a long time now, but can not find a long term study. One site said that the percentages have dropped drastically with the high numbers of patients now. But don't know what to believe. Found some classes for doctors to take. Any doctors in the house? Would really like some up to date information.

Yep. Once you start eating carbs again the weight will come back. Trick is not to start again. I know from experience. Lost from 320 to 263, then plateaued out for about 9 months, got off of it and then gained back to 300 in 3 months. Got back on it again on 12/26 and have lost back down to 285. It works, just don't ever stop. It is a lifestyle change...forever... Now understand you are allowed some carbs. You can get up around 40 with no problems, but that first bite of real sugar will go straight to your hips. Eat whole grains, fruits, and veggies. Those are fine. But Little Debbie will turn you in to a Big Bertha! Low carb has other advantages too. It helps my joint pain, acid reflux, PCOS, rosecea, and I have more energy. Good Luck!

First of all, I am not banded, so my advice is based on what I have read/learned about the band and dieting in general, with that said: I am so sorry you are having issues. Remember the reason you got the band in the first place. You know that it will force you to do what you need to do to lose weight. From what I have read, there are no "large meals" allowed at any time with the band, so you need to find out what works for you. If small meals are fine, you need to stick with that. What about adding a mid afternoon snack around 2:30-3? That will give your body something to work on while you wait to get home, and then maybe you won't attack things. Small meals/snacks evenly spaced about 4 hours apart should stop the "attack mode". Research shows that if you go 6 hours without food it will send you into "attack mode" because your sugar drops so low. Try to avoid that, or your band will remind you. Don't take the band out. Modify and adjust to your new friend. It is there to help you reach your goal. Keep that goal in sight! You can do it!

I am currently doing the supervised diet game too. Four months officially gone now. I have literally tried. I would recommend that you do what you can, show some progress if you can, but try to stay above 40 bmi just in case. A little head start on the band would help anyone. Good luck.

While reading another thread about a mother in law that was ungrateful for getting a NICE gift, I thought about one year that my mother in law gave me and my husband a USED ice cream maker as our gift (torn box and all). Now that was the gift for the both of us. That same night... in the same room...my husbands dear brother received season tickets to the Stars games (hockey) for his family of 4. Kind of unfair, you think???? So anyone else out there terribly ungrateful for a bad gift? If so, please tell what it was, who it was from, and why it was so bad. This ought to be fun...

I did not mean to pick on MIL's. Just happens that my worst gifts have been from her. She always gives my husband shirts that don't fit too. This year was very good. I told her exactly what I wanted, and she gave it to me. She says that is the way to go... just ask first. So now she wants to know what I want for my birthday. I am always thankful for the people in my life. I have lost both parents, so it is really hard around Christmas, but we have my hubbys family to see. Did not get a bad gift this year. But there is always next year!

They have not heard the last from me. Although, everyone seems to be off today... Guess I will have to take the weekend off and start again next week. Maybe the new year will bring better news. Just hope I am not banned from the board without a band. Merry Christmas everybody and thanks for all of the support and advice.

Well honey, we are in the same boat. Found out yesterday that I was denied, but this was my first try. I will just keep trying, but until then I am officially on Low carb again today. I have put a new sign on my fridge. "Face it, your Screwed." No one is out there to help us, so we might as well start helping ourselves. My previous sign may prove to be a bit more helpful. "Adapt and adjust with all the willpower you possess. Precious." Now I am a #1 LOTR geek. I have a gold ring that I had engraved with a message that is very personal to me (my hubby doesn't even know what it says... 'cause it is in elvish), and everytime I have a problem, I spin that ring until I find a solution. Work, play, food, hubby, kid, whatever it seems to help. (Kind of my own "spin ring"). I have put that on again to help me now too. That may be a wonderful Christmas present to yourself (www.e-weddingbands.com has great prices for a plain band with engraving). It may seem weird, but it works for me. Low carb seems to cure most everything for me. Acid Reflux, joint pain, PCOS, and roseacea, to name a few. The only thing it does not do is take the weight off. You might think about it. Better than just giving up totally. Misery loves company, so if you want to be pretend bandsters and go high Protein low carb with me put down those Christmas Cookies and join me. Protein first, veggies second, and carbs last. Don't look to anyone else to pick you up honey. You can do it yourself. My mantra is "Be bold true stouthearted and brave." No one can do that for you, you have to find it within your heart. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Take some time to look into your heart and find the strength you possess. You can do it. Baby steps. Pick yourself up. Get another test. And if it was meant to be get the band.

I have been officially DENIED. Talk about a lousy Christmas present. Will call LBS tomorrow and see what we need to do. Have three months documentation now, so that should help. At this point I think I need to get my fat buttocks back on low carb and just keep trying. So depressing. The only thing that might help me get back on my Low Carb Lifestyle is that insurance appointment. Thursday is coming quickly...

My hubby is used to his older brother being the star. We have just come to understand that we love each other and think the other is the best and everyone else can bite our hinneys. (Present company excluded of course.) He did not say anything, but it did go in the dumpster as soon as we made it home. I have thought about buying them one for a Christmas present, but have not mustered up the guts yet. We have been married for 11 years. Maybe at year 13 I will do it. Ok, to add another one to my list. One year my MIL gave me a 2 gallon fish tank with two goldfish in it. Now be aware the whole thing was set up and we live an hour away from her. I wanted to pitch that stupid thing out the window. Poor things died a few days after we got them home, think from shock. Wonder if those were a regift or if she really thought we would like it? Wheetsin: Think I would take half of the $5000.00, since you are married. Take the old GF pic and decopage (sp?) it onto a dart board and give it back to them. Just be glad they are so far away. Have you thought of starting a cheesie collection for them. How about shipping them a unicorn or two?

1. What does your handle mean? Received the name from a member of another forum. She said I was hyper and annoying like a poodle. Don't know if that is a compliment or not, (think not), but the name stuck. Tricksy Poodles is my full "handle" but I go by Poodles for short. Tricksy is a LOTR thing. 2. What book are you currently reading, or did you last read? "Everything you ever wanted to know about Art Materials" by Sidaway 3. What do you do for a living? Teacher 4. For what in your life are you most grateful? My husband and son. 5. What's one thing about you that you think would surprise other people? I like heavy metal music. Hair bands rule! I love Slash! 6. One word to describe yourself? Unique 7. One word others use to describe you? Goofy 8. Would you rather play a game with someone better or worse at it than you? Better, more of a challenge, more of a reward when I beat them. 9. Favorite movie? Favorite show? The Birdcage (love Nathan Lane too!) Favorite TV show is LOST, although I hate all the repeats lately. 10. Something unusual about yourself? Love scrabble and scrabble type games. Actually think everything about me is unusual. Something I am kinda proud of.

18's!!!!???? Oh the horror... I hate typo's, although I seem to have a few of my own here and there. You should still be very proud! I have not seen anything in the teens since I was in my teens! Maybe if I find two 14's I could sew it together to fit my fat hinney... but anyway... You go girl!!!!!

So you do you hear a song as you are walking down the street? I think I hear it for you..."I'm to sexy for my pants, to sexy for my pants, what do you think about that?"

My biggest concern is the nausea after surgery. I always get sick. They even give me the medicine for chemotherapy patients and I throw that up. Don't want my band to slip right after surgery. If you want a good bowel cleansing I would recommend Super Colon Cleanse. It REALLY works. It is recommended to take 4 ever 4-6 hours, but I take two a day and it keeps me regular. The recommended dose is for the "evac-u-quick" response so beware... and be near a bathroom if you take that many! Happy holidays to all!

BC/BS has the predetermination letter "scanned in". As of today no results yet (but I knew that). From my understanding they have 30-45 days. Tick Tock Tick Tock... I have to get back on my diet really quickly and work it well because I am trying to get life insurance and told them I am 10 lbs lighter than I really am. Don't think the fudge I made tonight helped any, but I did get lots of low carb things for next week. Will do better tomorrow, and a little better still on Saturday, then on Sunday will be back on full force. Found that it takes a good three days for all of the "carb junk" to get out of my system and then I will have strength again. My husband pointed out that I have gone off the deep end several times since I have decided to get banded. This is after 3 years of no cheating. Think it is a mental thing? I just think I am a carb junkie and want a few "hits" before the final forced rehab of the band. Yeah, I am insane. Please pray for my predetermination letter to be approved. I will need all the help I can get.

Called lapbandsolutions again today and the girl did send it thru the mail. Also called BC/BS and spoke with a very helpful woman that told me to fax a copy to her attention and she would make sure it was "scanned in". Don't know what is going to happen now, but we will see. I am trying to get back on my diet. I am such a carb adict. "Can't stop at one" takes on new meaning with my carb cravings. Did eat grapes tonight instead of Cookies, so small steps. Just don't want to see the 300 number again and I am getting close. Still not holding my breath, but March looks good to me now...

Called lapbandsolutions again today. They said they faxed it again. I requested that they send it certified mail, but the girl did not seem to think that was necessary. I guess I will call again this week. I have been following up once a week, and that does not seem to get things done. The insurance has been faxed once a week for two weeks now and does not have me in the system. I did go back to work two and a half weeks after a c-section, so I think I could do this with just a week off, but would be afraid to try it. If I get approved I will do it then. But with the way things are going, don't know if they will get it done by March. If anyone has worked with TRS activecare would love to know who did the most for you. Maybe I could find that person and start working with them. Thanks for all of the support. I appreciate it!

Losing hope this week. Have totally gone off of my low carb lifestyle and ate a million Christmas Cookies today. Called lapbandsolutions to follow up on things, they called BC/BS and guess what? They say that they did not get my information. LBS will have to re-fax the stuff. I will not be able to get this done this Christmas. Looks like Summer will be the next option for me, because I do not think a week for Spring Break will be long enough to recover. Guess I will stop holding my breath...

Big Warning on the Mexico thing. My sister went to Mexico City and got a tummy tuck for $2500.00. She nearly died on the table, they gave her the wrong antibiotics, they did a really bad job, and when she got back to the states she ended up with HUGE hospital bills, not a bargain at all. Just do tons of research before you let someone cut you open!

OH.. and in regards to the PCOS food addiction thing... People with PCOS crave carbs more than others. It is a hormonal thing. Kill or die for a twinkie type of feeling. I have it and know that when I am "on carbs" I am an obsessive compulsive eater. Living from "carb fix" to "carb fix". Like a druggie. When I am "off carbs" and on Atkins I do not attack things, but I still can not lose weight at a fast rate. One study I read said that a woman with PCOS would have to limit calories to under 1000 and exercise 85 minutes a day to lose and average of two pounds a week. Totally messed up when you figure if we eat ANY amount of carbs it goes straight into storage (our fat bottoms/bellies). So guess you can look at it like a food issue, just more hormonal/metabolic than mental.

I did not see the 20/20 show, but did read the article linked by banded for life (Thanks!). It sounds interesting. Since it works by increasing hormone levels, do you ever think they will come up with a pill? They do it for people with menopause and such... Many people focus on the fast weight loss approaches. DS is the new one I hear about the most recently. But everyone I know that has had those surgeries end up with colon proplems, hair issues, and the like. I know the band has it's own set of issues (PBing, erosion, slipping, etc) But at least you can take it out and go back to "normal". Once you cut your stomach you can not be reversed. Those people are "Screwed for Life" if you will...

I have three turtles (TX Maps) Dash, Violet, and JJ. Two dogs, Angel (shepard mix) and Parker (Schnauzer). Two guinea pigs, Rocky and Kipper. About 2 dozen fish, unnamed. One husband. One son. Everyone says I have a zoo! I love my pets!

Fridge box, or colored paper, and overhead is all you need. Trace a picture of yourself, put the image on the overhead (to your height level) and then paint it up. No need to be detailed, I don't imagine, just have the measurements right. A silhouette would be fine for me! Really, for me, I plan to never look back. I try not to look at the size 10 pictures of myself at 17, so why would I look at the size 26 pics of me at 32? I am just looking ahead to the size 14 (goal) me in the future...

Never before in my life have I had cholesterol below 200. Then I read about Milk Thistle and its effects on the liver. Seems to show healing effects on the liver. I decided to try it since I have some high "liver levels" due to tylenol usage. Well, my liver levels are in the normal range and my cholesterol is 188. That is after two weeks on milk thistle (250mg 3 times a day). I am not a doctor, just wanted to share my experience. Anyone else tried this?