Wheetsin

DH loves salmon. I hate it - can't even stand the smell. But when I make him salmon I do as follows: Slice the meat along the grain about every 3" (this is when I made him a full fillet). Cut cold butter into small bars and press into slits. If I have homemade herb butter I will use it, but I normally don't so I use regular salted sweet cream butter. Season with the good old "Salmon Magic" seasoning. Cover with fresh baby dill branches. Top with lemon slices. Wrap in foil. Bake at 450 for 5 minutes. Remove from foil, bake for another 10 minutes. Usually while the salmon bakes I prepare his favorite salmon side sidh - butter fill russet potatoes. Just steam the potatoes over salted Water until they are semi firm. Then melt half a stick of butter, add a pinch of garlic powder, about half a tsp black pepper, and the remaining baby dill (I buy the fresh packs and usually save 2 branches for the potatoes). Once melted and mixed, add the potatoes and cover at low heat until everything else is ready to go. When you serve, remove the dill branches and spoon just a little bit of the butter mixture over the potatoes.

I think it's easier for people to support war when they don't understand what really happens or what war really looks like. I too believe that if more people understood this, the cries of outrage would be deafening. But many people don't know what it's like to have to gun down a little child because the opposition strapped a bomb to it and sent it walking in your direction. A friend of mine serving in the war on terror knows exactly what this is like because he has had to do it three times. Oddly enough, I also had an uncle in VietNam who had to do the same thing. Some things truly do never change. I do not see how people think we can ever win a war on terror. Terror will never go away. A war on terror is like a war on gossip, or a war on jealousy, or a war on hate. ToomyO - you're spot on. I have family that is not American and does not live in America, and they don't understand why we do what we do anymore than WE do. But, fortunately, they do understand that Bush does not equal America, and are comforted somewhat in the knowledge that even the country's own citizens hate having to sit here and watch what is happening.

I eat tilapia all the time. Very, very high in Protein. These aren't exact recipes because I just kind of make them, but here's an idea of what I do: Spray metal pan with Pam, season bottom of pan (I often use "Salmon Magic" - it's a combination of sugar, salt, garlic, mustard seed, etc., or "Cavender's Greek Seasoning). Place fish, spray top of fish with Pam, season top, bake at 450 for 10 - 15 mins. Always comes out moist and perfect. Mix mayo, parmesan, asiago and sour cream. You can use Lite versions if you prefer. Put fish in a baking dish, top with mixture. Bake 450 for 10 - 15 minutes. Marinate in a Thai sauce (I make it as I go, generally it's a bit of brown sugar, orange juice, peanut sauce, soy sauce, chili oil and just a pinch of masala), grill. I do veggie and fruit kabobs with it - onions, mushrooms, pineapple, tomatoes, corn sections, etc. Pan fry in Pam lemon, optionally add lemon pepper, or satuee in butter with garlic and lemon zest.

Oh, and to address those numbers specifically... I lost about 30 lbs my first week, about half of which would have been water. By month six I had either hit or was close to 100 lbs lost. Since month six, I've really slowed down. I have a friend who was banded 3 weeks after me who has lost 9 lbs total. And I have another friend who lost almost 150 lbs in 8 months. So it just depends. If it's something you're considering, just go into it focused on doing the best you can, and -- my own advice -- really take advantage of your first 6 months.

Well - that's not guaranteed. I've lost 2 lbs in the last month and a half or so. The average loss runs something like 50% - 60% of your excess weight with an average sustained loss of 1 - 2 lbs per week. This means you may lose 20 lbs in your first week, and then nothing for 10 weeks. It does not mean you will lose at the rate of 1 - 2 per week, every week. It also means nothing other than "that's the average". YOU may lose a whole lot more, or you may lose a whole lot less. But it's important to realize that, unlike malabsorptive procedures, the band doesn't "hand over" weightloss, it's still up to you to lose it. And, as any time this is the case, you are going to lose as much or as little as YOU are able to. This means there's no reason you can't lose more than the average if it's what you decide to do and if your psysiology will allow for it. It also means there's no reason you can't lose less than the average, if you don't make the necessary changes in your lifestyle. In other words, you - not your band - will determine how much weight you can expect to lose.

If Hillary doesn't get elected, I don't think it means American is not ready for a woman president - I think it means America is not wanting Hillary. And see - I focus in on "feeling a little bitter". That would make me sad.

When you're talking addicts, there isn't much recognition of $300 over $3000. Either will get them what they need right then. There's a part of the rational brain that shuts down during addiction. Think of children... and you put a piece of a candy bar on a plate in front of them, and then you put three candy bars on a plate behind the first plate. You tell them they can have the piece of a candy bar now, or if they wait 1 hour, they can have the plate with three candy bars on it. Not many wait for the three candy bars. Moral of the story being - the addict doesn't care. If you tell them they can have $300 now or $3000 in a week, they're probably going to take the $300 because, for the most part, it isn't about an amount of money, it's about what gets them their next fix right now. Sure, $3000 will keep them high for a lot longer, but they don't care. And if your goal is to get them sterilized, neither do you -- bring 'em in, move 'em out, and go cheap because then you can do more.

I like some of the Truth* ads. Reminds me of what Benetton was doing in the early 90s. There is one with some "cowboys" at a campfire in the street, one singing with a voice box, the other playing the guitar. The song goes something like: Oh, you don't always die from tobacco Sometimes you just lose a lung Oh, you don't always die from tobacco Sometimes they just snip out your tongue And you won't sing worth a heck With a big hole in your neck Because you dont' always die from tobacco

Thank you, for the elaboration. Dangit, right when I think I have you guys figured out! (Actually I kind of get it - I'm constantly told (by guys) that I'm like "one of the guys, just with boobs" -- grreeeaaatttt...) Case in point - my husband. He wants steak for dinner, so he asks me if I want to go to a steakhouse. I tell him, "Honey, I don't eat red meat." (I gave it up after banding). "Oh crap! I forgot... sorry hon..." Or he asks me if I want to go to an Italian place, and I say "Honey, how often do I eat Pasta?" "Not very often." "Why would I want to go to an Italian restaurant?" "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't even think of that." Last night he came home from the store with ice cream because he wanted ice cream. That was fine with me - there's no reason he can't have ice cream because I'm choosing not to eat it. I know he isn't even thinking about it like that, he's just thinking "I want ice cream." I didn't even factor into the picture of him buying it and eating it. Now if I said something to him like, "I reall ymiss ice cream and it's hard to see you eating it in front of me" I know 100% he'd have no problem packing up and eating in a different room, or eating it later when I wasn't home. Another example - my husband is going to visit his parents for 3 weeks this summer. His original assumption was that I would go with him (they live in Europe). I told him no, because I don't want to be that far from my surgeon. And as a secondary reason, which it really only is secondary and in and of itself is not a deciding factor, I told him I wanted to wait for a major trip until I'm more comfortable with myself. Anyway... I'm very close to my sweet spot, and until I've been at it for a while, I'm a little gun shy to hop on a plane for 12+ hours of flying, knowing how much flying can affect my restriction. I have a fear that the plane will whack me up, and then I'll swell shut again, and be SOL halfway around the world for 3 weeks. I'd feel much better being at a "constant" for a while, where I know what to expect, before taking such a trip. So his parents ask him if I'm coming and he tells them, "No she wants to lose more weight first." Doh! Not exactly what's going on! I gave him feedback and he apologized, and I know he didn't mean it to embarass me or to be malicious, that's probably just the part of what I said that stuck in his head the most, so it's what he repeated. Meaning well.

Read this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abbreviations-and-they-t7959.html

It would depend 100% on the candidate and how their overall positions meshed up against mine. I would not vote - or not vote - for someone just because they did or didn't supported gay rights, or just because they did or didn't support abortion. One single issue, against everything a political candidate has a position on, just can't make or break the deal. If someone supported gay rights and I agreed with most of their other positions, I would definitely vote for them. If they supported gay rights and nothing else that I was for, then I probably would not vote for them. Likewise, if someone supported abortion and I agreed with most of their other positions, I would probably vote for them. If they supported abortion and nothing else I was for, then I probably would note vote for them. I am pro-choice. Generally speaking, I would rather have someone in office who was pro-abortion than anti-abortion, because anti-abortion is going to keep ANYONE from being able to do it, while pro-abortion can't MAKE someone do it, the most they can do is offer up the choice. And supporting gay rights, you bet. Gays are people who happen to be attracted to the same gender. So what? They're not like a second class or subspecies. There is nothing at all about a gay lifestyle that makes them less deserving of the same civil liberties that someone attracted to the same gender receives. It isn't even a matter of gay rights, it's people rights -- jsut making sure that all people have the SAME rights. No one is saying "special rights for gays", just "equal rights".

Just remember that the band itself never (that I know of!) caused a divorce. Weightloss can be a catalyst for problems that already exist. Women who have stayed with men because they felt they were too unattractive to find someone else, or because they had grown use to the security of their spouse, may or may not continue to settle for a less than ideal relationship... but a woman who loses the weight and finds renewed confidence rarely will. A relationship grows, and the people in it grow. Right? You can either grow like this: || or you can grow like this /. And "you've changed" rarely means "you've changed", it usually means "we've both changed and I have not changed in the same direction as you". Have you specifically asked him not to do the things he's doing around the food? If so, what was his response? If not, then you can't expect him to not do it. Guys - by and large - are just "like that". They don't put 2 and 2 together the same way we do. Give him direct and clear feedback on what he's doing, and see how he responds. You may find that he's completely surprised that some of his actions and hehaviors have impacted you in the way they have.

Oh and also, on whether to tell or not tell... If she's already a bit fragile, mentally - depression, anxiety, etc., and already carrying a heavy mental distress load (which caring for a sick parent will do), do not tell her right now. Especially if it isn't "for sure". But to tell her as soon as you're able to while being there for her. So in other words, when she returns. Unless she's gone for a loong time. Any word on when she's scheduled to return home, or does it depend on what happens with her mother?

Well... let's see. When I tell DH I don't want a party, or presents, or any special attention, I mean it and it bothers me when he doesn't listen to me, though I always acknowledge that he means well. I know she's away caring for an ill mother. Would it be possible for you to fly to where she is and surprise her? The cost of a ticket is what it is (unles you've retained flight privledges - even better), but think of it in terms of the emotional support you can give her that just isn't there over the phone (I know, DH and I had a LDR for a few years). Perhaps seeing you and being able to get a hug could do more for her depression and state of mind than anything else, and give her exactly the little "pick me up" she's undoubtedly needing right about now. If you can do that, when you get there, don't make a big fuss over her birthday. Make it be about you being there for her, and it just happens to be her birthday too. Don't get a big fancy cake, go buy her favorite treat and stick a candle in it. Tell her "happy birthday", but tell her "I'm here for you" more. Even if it's just a day or two, having you there is going to be (I would think) what she wants and needs most. Trying to put myself in her shoes, or imagine it were my DH and I in the same spot, this is what I would do. How do you think Tina would respond? On the MS, I am sorry to hear that. There's nothing I can say that will make it any better for you, but keep us posted. I do have a friend with severe (progressed) MS, so I know there are some very effective meds out there. Is this a formal diagnosis, or just conversationally/as a possibility?

Get a copy of the claim - it will itemize the billed procedures and charge for each. My surgery was outpatient. I believe for EVERYTHING (including pre-op work, etc.) my total was around $40k. I can't imagine why an outpatient procedure would be over $90k.

BTW, I've been baded for about a year and have lost... going on 140 lbs. A lot of this was in my first 6 months, and the loss has definitely slowed down and I am currently plateaued. However, I have no dounbt that I will meet my goals. I just understand that *I* need to meet my goals, and not wait for the band to meet them for me.

Hi Dedee, you might want to check out this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/thread-super-sized-t16168.html. I started it a while ago specifically for people with BMIs over 50. Many, many of the people who have tacked onto the thread have 200 lbs or more to lose. When I was looking into the options, most people I saw getting the band were getting banded at my GOAL weight. Or had maybe 60 lbs to lose. I couldn't find many people at all with 200lbs + to lose, so I began to think - maybe it can't be done with the band. I posted on another board, asking specifically for people who had to lose 150+ lbs, and got SO MANY positive responses I couldn't believe it. I would not say you need to consider another surgery. I would say you need to be honest about why you are overweight, and balance that against what the band will, and will not, do for you.

I bought some 14/16 shirts this weekend. They're tight in the hips (they're for late summer - still too cold for them now), but fit above the hips. Still in 22 pants, although I did buy a 20 skirt this weekend that I'll have to take back because it's too big, and tried on some 20 skirts at Target that were too big. Maybe that's some kind of restitution for my scale not moving in 3 months. Then again, maybe it's just inconsistent sizing.

I haven't read through the thread so please forgive any duplicates. These are fast foods I've eaten since banding. Chipotle - usually eat there at least once a week. I get the chicken bol, no rice, extra black Beans with hot salsa and sour cream depending on what else I've eaten during the day, and what time of day it is. The bol is at least 2 meals for me, sometimes 3, and I always throw some away. McDonald's - fruit 'n yogurt parfait (it's made with lowfat yogurt) Taco Bell - pintos 'n cheese, spicy chicken taco (I eat the meat only), side nachos. Subway - I've been there three times. Both times I've gotten the "mini sub". Once I ate the bread, once I just ate the tuna off of it. And once I just had them put the tuna on a plate. Schlotzsky's - Thai Chicken pizza. 4 slices = 4 meals. Pizza Hut - chicken wings in either "Flamethrower" or "Garlic Parmesan". That may actually be all the fast food I've had since surgery. And don't get me wrong, many of the things I've listed are things I've eaten once or twice since surgery, except for the Chipotle.

Chances are it will happen at some point, but you don't have to PB every time something gets stuck. It's pretty frequent that something doesn't go down right, but fixes itself. I've been to the point of KNOWING I was going to PB - getting paper ready, cleared out the sink or shut myself in the bathroom, and I'm just waiting and then *all better* with no PBIng. I don't consider sliming to be PB, either. But since we aren't dealing with real terminology, you'll find a LOT of variations. To me, sliming is when I'm in a state of producing excess saliva. I consider it one of the indications of a PB. And to me, a PB is when something (slime, food, foam...) is forcibly ejected from the esophagus.

BJean, I just saw it last week. It was pretty good.

What's a typical day's menu? What are you doing to lose the weight? Etc...

For me, it's always like "Why am I too busy to eat or drink anything before midnight?" I swear that happens every time. Something comes up and I miss my window to eat or drink by like an hour, so I end up having a 20 or 24 hour fast instead of a 12.

When they dry up are you left with little scars where the blisters were, or is it as though they had never been there? Honestly, to everyone asking questions - we aren't professionals and the most we can do is guess. If you're curious enough to post and ask us, you're probably curious to make an appt with a dermatologist. It's always better to be safe. Rest assured that the chances of reactions to your band are virtually nil.

Oh, and another - I really can't even remember what it's about, something to do with people taking others' jobs. All the boys run around saying "They took 'ur jobs!" in this perfect voice.