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Free Speech covering pedophile literature telling other pedophiles how to operate?!? I think that crosses the line. Would they protect my free speech if I published a pamplet on how to rape the mentally retarded? That was the core issue with NAMBLA, as I recall it....the publication of literature dealing with how to "seduce" young boys (ie, specific places to visit to locate boys, specific strategies to win trust, etc). This case, specifically, was what disillusioned me to the ACLU. Think about it...They're defending child molesters!!! WTF?!? Not even molesters that admit wrongdoing and want to be reformed, but molesters that publicly plan on committing more of the vilest of crimes.

I strongly suspect the band caused my uni-brow.

Uh, I'm not going to thank God for the ACLU until the ACLU quits representing NAMBLA....

What does it say? FF's link isn't pulling up on my 'puter!

Yeah, I'm not much of an Obama guy (yet....so far his track record is that he's pretty liberal), but I do have to say that he's not a muslim. Julie, the reason you don't know what Obama's stance towards taxes is, is because he hasn't defined what any of his positions are! That's why I'm not voting Obama (yet). I'm not super jazzed about McCain, but at least he's giving very specific examples of what his plans are if elected. I suppose that it's possible that when Obama does get around to stating his positions that I could be won over. I tend to think less republican vs. democrat than conservative vs. liberal.

"Sliming" refers to the excess saliva produced by your body as a natural defense mechanism when you get something "stuck" in your band. Sliming usually means that one had eaten too fast, not chewed well enough, or eaten a band- unfriendly food (although this differs from person to person....some people can tolerate foods that others cannot. Usually the worst offenders are the "doughy" foods or some super fiberous foods like celery, pineapple, asparagus, etc). Having a lapband doesn't mean that you'll be doomed to a life of always sliming. You just have to be careful and eat the right types of foods.

Well.....what's your height and weight, Bre? What's your BMI? People and your mirror can sometimes lie to you.

Kiz, welcome, and good for you for asking questions before you jump right in. Your doctor seems to be a little biased (that's not always a bad thing). I love my band, but I'm biased in my own way. Here are some things for you to consider: The constant hunger - This is a bit tricky. There are really two types of hunger.....body hunger (when our bellies are empty and need re-stocking) and head hunger (when we are not really physically hungry, but eat out of boredom, habit, anxiety, compulsion, etc.). The band does a really good job of controlling body hunger. You'll feel more full with less food. However, it doesn't really do much for head hunger. There is no magic switch that shuts off your head. Bandsters lose weight because we learn to listen to our bodies and stop eating when we feel "not hungry" (which is different from "full", but that's another story). If you continue to graze and nibble and eat when you're not feeling hungry......the band does very little to stop that. European trends - I could care less what they do in Europe. I want what's gonna work for me where I live. Drinking with meals - Yes, you have to learn to not drink a little while before meals and a little while after meals. It's kind of a pain...but it helps the band work and helps me to lose weight, so I can live with that. Reversable - The band is the most easily reversable weight loss surgery there is. Period. It's a matter of removing some hardware from your body, as opposed to re-working some of your "plumbing", which is what the other types of weight loss surgeries are. The band does require that you put some effort into it. So, do your research, look into all types of weight loss surgeries, and decide which fits you the best. Don't take the advice of just one person (even me!) as to what the "best" surgery is. Good luck on your journey!

Hey Lisa. Really that's a loaded question. It depends on how you define "success". Success for most surgeries means that the pt makes it out alive, lol! For weight loss surgeries, success is measured in percentage of excess weight lost, so that number should be relatively the same for most people. Example: I have 100 lbs to lose and I lost 50 lbs. That puts me at 50% excess weight lost. Say somebody else had 200 lbs to lose and they lost 100 lbs. That puts them at the same 50% excess weight lost, even though they lost more total lbs. That's why the numbers are easy to compare. Like Julie said, the lapbanders lose slower than bypass people (in general), but it tends to even out after some years. So the question shouldn't really be "which surgery is more successful", but "which surgery will work best for me as an individual". As you probably know if you've been lurking around here, the band is only a tool.....you'll have to do some work as well if you want it to work for you. Bottom line, do the research carefully and ask questions from people who have had the different types of surgery (uh, like you just did, lol). I think the band is the best option, but there are people that think the RNY is the best, and there are people who swear by the DS. The more information you get means the better chance you'll have at making the right decision. Good luck!

"twoterville!!" I love it! That's exactly what I'm aiming for. I have 21 lbs to go before I get there.

But the majority of people get their fills fine....so why do fluoro if it isn't indicated? That would just make getting fills that much more expensive. Now for people that are having problems, or are symptomatic of suspected band malfunction...sure, do the fluoro. But for people that aren't having any probs whatsoever...why screw with it?

When you see the tool in somebody's post, click on it and it will take you to the site where you fill in your info. Then copy the "BB" code (not the "HTML" code). Click on "edit profile" on this site, go to "edit signature" and then paste the "BB" code into your signature.

Yikes, Ghost! But you aren't really sure he was cheating! Basically, you risked your job to prove that he was talking to a mutual friend of he and his wife's.

Personally, they are usually fodder for my amusement...

The Sonic blackberry tea is awesome. It has enough sugar that it might put ya in a diabetic coma, but still.......

Good luck, wasa. I'll say a prayer for you. Hey, that might make you mad enough to hurry back onto the forum and bawl me out!! lol..... Come back soon.

It's all good, brotha! It'll be done before you know it and you'll be starting your journey towards better health. I'm excited for you, BB'er!

Don't know if you like it, but I lived off of Quaker instant grits for a week (specifically the cheese flavored....yum!!) when I was in mushies. You can tinker with the amount of Water added until you get something comfortable. Also, some of the thicker Soups will give you some variety. Campbells has a broccilli (sp?) and cheese Soup that's mushie - ok. You can even get a low fat version that still tastes good. Just hang in there, it'll be better soon.

Hey PR, I second Fenton. The Greenfield is not really that big of a deal, and it has the potential to save your life. You've already lost 95 lbs, now do what you need to do to set yourself up for even more!!

Finally, the scales start moving in my favor. Memorial weekend was a killer for me! I'm going on vacation July 23rd, and I'm going to try and lose 21 lbs before then so I'll be under 300 lbs (don't remember when the last time THAT happened). I do have another fill scheduled for June 19th, so that'll help. Stay focused, everybody!

Yup, sounds racist to me. What is more disturbing to me, though, is the physical inappropriateness that bob displays towards you. Your company has policies in place that should discourage that kind of thing.

Just my $.02 here. When I was young and got spankings, my dad always cited the specific reason, and underscored how disappointed he was with me for choosing to engage in the punishable behavior (I never got spanked for a "first time offense"). Knowing that I had disappointed my dad was, by far, the worst part of the ordeal. I almost looked forward to the spanking part, because that meant that all was forgiven. I still don't think anybody should interfere with how anybody else parents (except where there is clearly abuse....these cases should be examined on an individual basis, and not lumped together with all parents who spank).

ATD, I assumed BBK was talking about the "avatar" pic on the post. That would have been on, like page 118 or something.

Any luck on finding powdered jelly to go with the powdered peanut butter?

That is great that you're giving the doc the benefit of the doubt, but those holes in saffron's stomach had to be caused either by the band, or by the surgeons instruments. This doesn't mean he's a bad surgeon.....sometimes freak things happen to even the best of docs (which is what I think you were trying to say). Speedy recovery, Red Saffron.