Lori_K

Hello HelpingHubby :thumbup: (so sweet of you to help your hubby out by researching for him! :rolleyes2:) I had my surgery through Beaumont Hospital, my surgeon was Dr. Krause, and I've been VERY happy with both. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't want any other surgeon or hospital. Dr. Krause is highly skilled and also a very nice doctor to talk to - he always takes time for your questions. Experience and skill are first considerations when researching a doctor, but it sure is nice having someone who is pleasant as well. Dr. Krause is the best of both. Beaumont treated me with stellar care while I was there - from the moment I was admitted to the moment I was discharged, it was like they rolled out the red carpet for me. Everyone was so helpful and nice. I was really nervous, but the staff helped me relax and kept me smiling. A very positive surgical experience. Being an RN myself, I was really impressed with Beaumont. I give Beaumont Hospital five out of five stars for it's great care. Something else I would suggest to you while you are researching, is to look at the aftercare your husband will receive. Aftercare is so important for success! Beaumont has a weight loss center that offers all kinds of help - doctors that monitor your health as you lose weight (I like it that they monitor my nutritional levels), dietitians to help you make good food choices (and to help you through those plateaus!) plus support groups, exercise physiologist, and even cooking classes. Good luck with your research! If you have any other questions, I'm always happy to help :tongue2: No question is redundant! Ask away :rolleyes2: Best of luck to you and your hubby!

Think of an hourglass. Carefully chewed food passes slowly through the stoma (like fine grains of sand pass slowly through the neck of the hourglass). The food doesn't pass through quickly, so you stay full longer, and eat less. This is the purpose of the band. When something is "stuck" it's not passing through - think of a big grain of sand that blocks the neck of the hourglass. Usually when something gets stuck, a person didn't chew the food carefully enough (or perhaps the band is filled "too tightly", and it needs an adjustment, or unfill of saline from the band). Certain foods (like breads) can also swell and "get stuck". From experience, it is painful! :thumbup: A person can also "eat around the band" - like ice cream and milkshakes - these are things that will pass more quickly through the stoma, and people with the lap-band are usually advised to avoid foods like this. The beauty of the band is that it's adjustable! :rolleyes2:

Agree !!:cursing::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I'm so sorry to hear about your surgery Ezma I hope everything goes smoothly for you, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, sending lots of positive healing thoughts your way! Please keep us updated on how you are doing. Warm hugs!

Karen, big cheers and CONGRATULATIONS for hitting onederland! You are amazing woman, you've done so awesome with your weight loss! Pretty soon you'll be at goal, and telling us about your plastic surgery (if you have it!). You've done a super job of swimming, you hot lady! Like Amy, I'm close to onederland myself, but my weight loss has stalled for the past week . . . we had a terrible storm that knocked out our electrical power for over 5 days. (no internet and no LapBandTalk, I was going through withdrawal big time! :sad:) Our family stayed in a hotel to escape the heat and get showers, I'm a clean freak, I can't stand not showering! Especially when you're all hot and sticky from the heat and humidity. So eating out every meal did nothing for my weight loss. I gained two pounds (BLEH:thumbdown:) but I'm glad it was just 2. The storm hit our neighborhood pretty hard - we lost FIVE trees. :smile2: Our front yard was re-landscaped in one quick blow! The weatherman says no tornado was spotted, but I'm not so sure. I've never seen so much destruction so fast. The good thing is, our family and home are safe! Anyway, I don't mean to hi-jack your thread! I'm still swimming hard here, despite a few set-backs. It's good to be back on plan, and I hope to lose those extra pounds soon. With all the yard work facing our family, I'm sure I will! Please save my spot in onderland! I'm not gonna get there as fast, but I WILL get there! Big warm hugs, and keep up the great work sweetie! You are amazing, congratz again! :crying:

Excellent art Ready, I just love seeing creative things people make! I used to do quite a bit of drawing myself, but over the years I've let it slide. Thanks for sharing your art, post more if you get the chance!

Thank-you so much for offering to do this Kjeter, very sweet of you! *warm hugs* But I was so intrigued by the web site and recipes you mentioned, that I had to buy the book! I could use some healthy new ideas in my diet. I was out shopping all day yesterday (and exhausted from the heat & humidity we're having here in Michigan) and I was able to stop in a book store and pick up a copy. Great book! Thanks so much for the recommendation.

Excellent! Thanks again, this is going on my favorites list . . . I usually drink a lot of the Crystal Lite lemonade anyway, it's my favorite flavor. :confused:

No Whataburgers here in Michigan, but it sounds so yummy! I love anything slathered in mustard! But you are right kjeter - it's SO much better being "f-ing hot" and down several sizes, than eating a Whataburger or any other food! I do miss pizza (anyone with a healthy, low-cal pizza recipe out there?) I haven't had the nerve to try it post-band surgery either. I'd had some Pasta get stuck (OUCH!) and I know any kind of bread probably would too. Something I noticed recently that I can't finish anymore - a big Greek combination platter at one of my favorite restaurants. It has a slice of spinach pie, stuffed grape leaves with a yummy sauce over them, Mousska, a large serving of rice with that yummy red sauce, and a grilled chicken breast. A huge plate of food, I use to eat ALL of it. PLUS, a greek salad before it, and usually that OPA! flaming cheese as an appetizer! :thumbup: Good grief, I'm glad I can't eat that way anymore. I got daring and ordered this greek combo the other night (way off my plan, my bad) . . . and I was only able to eat a few bites of the Mousska and two of the grape leaves, then I was full. I stayed away from the rice! It seems any type of pasta is not my friend anymore! I gave the spinach pie and chicken to my hubby. It was nice to eat a few bites of a favorite meal, without over-doing it and gaining any weight. Gotta love the band! :confused:

OUCH! :confused: Good grief, I'm learning so much about the calories in so many foods/drinks I used to eat, no wonder I gained so much. 700 calories in one margarita, and that's before dinner even (I usually had a margarita when I'd eat in a Mexican restaurant). oy. Thanks for this great info kjeter, the book sounds like a good one for sure, I'm gonna look for it next time I'm near the book store. Does the diet sprite bother you at all, or did you try and stir out some of the carbonation? I hear so much about carbonated drinks and the band (my dietitian did say to avoid it). Otherwise, that drink sounds fabulous, both with and without the tequila. It sounds like a perfect summer drink - it's nice to have something special like this, and still stay on plan!

Ready, what gorgeous pictures! Thank-you so much for sharing. I really love the black and white one too . . . you look stunning and so happy! There's a great picture to be framed, a real keepsake! :confused:

Hey Karen! It's so good to hear from you, great update! Your ride over the southeast sounds fabulous! You've really done some amazing weight loss . . . I remember (no too long ago!) chatting about our upcoming surgeries, and how you were teasing me about being the "guinea pig" because yours was scheduled first! lol :confused: And now look at us today . . . I'm *almost* at my half way point, and here you are talking about plastic surgery! You are amazing and inspiring! Don't ya just LOVE the band? :wub: {{Big Warm Hugs}} for all your hard work sweetie! I do hope you are feeling better from your illness though, a sore throat is usually the first thing I get when I get sick, it is awful. Get lots of rest and I hope you are feeling better soon. Keep in touch! :thumbup:

Ooooook . . . I was chatting a bit about clothes with Marathinner (you gorgeous thing I'm jealous! :biggrin:) and Queen of Hearts in another thread, so I decided to make a new thread about clothes suggestions, and what wonderful ideas my fellow double V's have come up with! It will be quite awhile before my caboose sees a size 16 (Amy I don't think we were separated at birth anymore, LOL ), and honestly I'm not sure what size I am right now. I think I've hit the dreaded "in between sizes". I'm still in those dang plus size women's stores (and starting to hate them!) My highest was a size 2X, now I'm in a 1X . . . but even now my 1X clothes are getting a little sloppy. I can't "shop in my closet" anymore . . . I haven't been below a 1X in years. Ok, Ok . . . I know smaller sizes are supposed to be a good feeling! :smile: I've already been given the "awwwwwwww, what a dilemma" tease from my girlfriend (she wasn't being mean, we had a good laugh together) . . . but I think my fellow double V's understand about changing sizes! If I'm not a 1X, that means I'm moving into Xtra-large sizes, and are very hard to find! Most plus-size stores that I see start at 1X sizes . . . if I go into "regular" clothes stores, I'm really just too big still. An extra-large in "regular" clothes stores (If you can FIND that size!) is still too small . . . they are not made "roomy" like the plus sizes. Sooooo . . . the clothes hunt is always a pain-in-the-rump for me, especially when I'm supposed to be a "petite" (i.e. too short, lol ). I'm really not trying to sound like I'm complaining here, I just wanna vent and commiserate with my girlfriends! I would like to hear any store suggestions (or any ideas!) from my fellow Victorious Valentines . . . or please just share your own wardrobe adventures (not the Narnia kind, ok? :thumbup: )! Let's start some clothes chatter!

Congratz on losing the big 5-0! I agree with Coolcrystal, treat yourself to something pretty! Share with us if you do! 5 more pounds to the big 5-0 for me, 8 pounds to onederland! I'm working tough this month!

Cheers and congratz for reaching this milestone Melanie! Isn't nice to get rid of that "morbidly" word? Yahoooo! :smile2: Coolcrystal, here's some info I obtained from the 'net: BMI over 40 .................. morbidly obese BMI 30 to 39.9 .............. obese BMI 25 to 29.9 .............. overweight BMI 18.5 to 24.9 ........... healthy weight BMI below 18.5 ............. underweight If I get to my goal, I'll still be overweight, and I'm with you, I'll be happy if I get to that!

Apples, what an awesome slideshow (and a great idea)! You look fabulous! Congratz on your success sweetie:smile: I just love seeing all the great pictures of us Victorious Valentines (yes I'll get one of me eventually, lol). {{{warm hugs}}}

Okies . . . I'm a year younger today (yeah, yeah, that's a shameless plug for birthday wishes, I'm very bad :rolleyes2:) . . . but I wanted to share my celebration . . . I'm going shopping for some NEW CLOTHES this weekend, yahoo! I need something that fits, LOL :bananapowerslide: Time to treat myself to some new outfits! Plus, I got me a personal exercise trainer! He's very handsome, young, golden blond hair, beautiful soft brown eyes, trim, fit, he's just gorgeous! He's gonna help me get into shape for sure! And best of all, my hubby's not jealous! Ok . . . here's a picture of him: Finally, I'm a dog owner! YEAH! I've been wanting one for a while. This is Jasper, my new Golden Retriever puppy. We're gonna be doing some serious exercising together! :target: Jasper is still with his mother, but I'll be picking him up this coming Sunday. I can't wait! More pictures to come . . . I might even get brave, and put me in one of them!

Thanks so much for the birthday wishes, everyone here is so wonderful! :redface: I feel like this is my second home and family, I just lurves you all! I'm off in a moment here to go on my "shopping spree" . . . hoping to find some nice summer outfits! ReadySteadyGo - Jasper the friendly dog, LOL! Cute! Not to be confused with Casper the friendly ghost, yes? hehe :biggrin: Amy - Thanks for your kind words sweetie! Well, I always was crazy, but yes, now I can add dog to it! I pick Jasper up tomorrow, I can't wait! :thumbup: Michelle - hubby bought me a watch, and the shopping spree is part of the birthday celebration. My personal trainer/puppy just happened to come about at this time - I've been looking for that "special friend" for awhile now. Thanks again everyone - you all mean so much!:rolleyes2:

ROFL Jaime! The picture is too funny, and the idea of a kitty lap-band is hilarious! :rolleyes2: Can you imagine going to the vet for fills? How would you determine the difference between a pb and a hairball? I have my own chubby kitty . . . she a lot like me, she's "petite", but boy, she's got a tummy! She's seeing the vet next month, and I just know she'll be put on a diet . . . I tried to talk her into getting on the treadmill, but she just runs away . . . I think she just might be smarter than me!

Crystal, I just have to say those are some awesome pictures, you can really see your progress! You have done terrific work, you are doing great! Warm hugs to you, "just keep swimming"! I wish I had taken more "before" pictures of myself . . . but I'm really super camera shy. If I get under 200, I might be brave enough to post a new picture. Cheers to you for being so brave and sharing with us! You go girl! :rolleyes2:

Cheers Melanie! That's a great NSV, congratz! I think it might be time to clean my closets again . . . but I think I'm like babedoe4 . . . I'm used to those big sizes, they are a security blanket. BUT . . . there's NO going back this time! :rolleyes2:

Bariatric Veterinary surgery . . . you never know, it could be the next big thing! :rolleyes2:

Congratz to your hubby Valvinnek! It would be great to have a "band-buddy" in the house . . . but I'm in the same boat as Mom2_4, my husband is about 145 pounds - in his clothes, soaking wet, lol I'd love to weigh less than my husband someday . . . wishful thinking, I'm gonna be happy if I get near my goal weight! :rolleyes2: Good luck to your hubby and you Valvinnek (Marathinner too!) . . . it's just not fair how men lose weight faster, is it?! Or age better . . . I go to the beauty salon, have my hair highlighted to hide the grays/whites . . . my husband likes the gray in his hair, it makes him look "distinguished" (and it does too dammit! :target:). I'm struggling with this weight loss to hopefully make me look younger (and healthier of course) . . . hubby currently shaved off his mustache, now he looks 10 years younger. (grumbles). Don't get me wrong, I love my hubby, he's my best friend after all these years, and he's very loving and supportive of me . . . I just wanna know why MEN HAVE IT SO MUCH EASIER!!!! (*koff* recomposes self) ok sorry, small rant there . . . I'm ok now, really! :bananapowerslide: