plain

Maybe I'm naive. I think the the thing to stop racism is to quit focusing on society and history and start focusing on the people you see and interact with everyday. Be nice. If you have children, set a good example. Let's start changing things now and not get mired so much in the past. I know, pretty corny. But the most powerful role models I've had in my life never shoved their opinions down my throat....they just quietly did the right thing consistently.

Sorry, you ladies scare me! :blushing: J/K....

Ghost, that sucks. I'm sorry to hear it. I'll pray for you.

For my money, nothing beats the grin Matt Dillon had in There's Something About Mary. Those dentures were freakin' huge!!

Only slightly off topic: Has anybody seen Carie Otis since she became a "plus size model" (which probably translates as weighing more than 80 lbs)? She looks fantastic, much better at a real size than at artificially-thin model size. Brandy II - working nights, I see lots of late night TV and not too long ago I remember "Em" did have cancer. I think she's ok now, though.

LTD, as another dude, we both know that you can have the strongest abs in the world, but if you're much above 5% bodyfat, they just ain't gonna show. Your numbers sound good, but I'm exactly in the same boat as you as far as goal (I want to hit a 36 waist size to be more heart healthy). I would think your wife would be the one best qualified to make the call as to whether you need to lose more or not.

Like TerriDoodle and Bunny said...the band won't stop your desire to eat, per se. What it will do is help you to feel "full" with less food than you would normally take in. If you have a desire to eat even when you feel full (what some people on here call "head hunger", vs. "belly hunger"), the band won't help with that. The band is all about portion control. You'd still have to do your part and eat healthier food to maximize your weight loss. Personally, that's precisely what I like about my band...it tames my normally huge appetite to where I can eat like a normal person, and I feel better about myself for making good choices. I think a seminar will give you a lot more info!

It's been my experience that when anybody says they're not trying to advertise a product......they're usually trying to advertise a product. Everybody can believe whatever they want, but saying that the tongue is the main obstruction is just plain anatomically wrong. Does anybody else think it's a coincidence that a dentist is pushing the dental method? I'm a registered sleep therapist and misinformation regarding sleep is a huge pet peeve, so I thought I'd throw my $.02 in. Ask your doctors for information. To all bandsters that hope that their CPAP pressure may be decreased with a big weight loss.......maybe it will be turned down, maybe not. Weight certainly can affect OSA, but the main cause is how the airway is built. Some of the worst OSA patients I've had in my lab were very thin. It's all in the airway :coolgleamA:

I tried stuffing a sock, but it looked weird. Later, my wife explained that the sock was supposed to go in the front (ok, it's the punchline to a very old joke...). :coolgleamA:

I'm only saying what every dude (yes, even the 89 year old one) is thinking, heehee.

KayleighsMommy, I'm a registered sleep therapist. If the tech put oxygen on you, then something is going on with your sleep (It may not be apnea...there is a disorder called "Upper airway resistance syndrome" that is kinda like obstructive sleep apnea's lesser-known brother). Second, If the tech says she needed 3 hrs of REM, she is either 1) lying to your face because she figures you won't know, or 2) an raving idiot. Because normal REM time is approx. 20-25% of total sleep time (the only way you could get 3 hours of REM is if your study lasted around 12 hours, which is a near-impossibility in sleep labs). Probably, your tech was unregistered and didn't really know what she was doing. PM me if you have any specific questions.

Fantastico! Way to go, Lise.

Dia, be careful with that lidocaine. Too much can make your heart do funny things (arrhythmias)

What a cool basket! If he's about to break 90, then he's earned a shot and a stogie. If you had arranged for a stripper to deliver the basket, then you would have single-handedly created the best gift basket known to man. LOL

Do they make "miracle suits" for guys? I'm thinking of a pouch in the crotch area that can be filled with a silicone-like implant...:biggrin: Uh, I'm only asking for a "friend"....yeah, that's it....that's the ticket.

Hmmmmmm, some very interesting comments and views. Tommy O, I guess your distinction between the 3 words makes sense to me. I still do not really see how the balance of power thing comes into play, OH Juli. I understand what you're saying, but isn't that view essentially an apologetic excuse for certain groups to keep hating?

Excellent, Mickers!

Laurend - socially-ingrained privilege? Jachut - Justifiable hatred because you're white? This is starting to sound like a case of "white guilt". We kind of covered this in The Watcher's cool thread in this section. Thinking of racism in this context is building a straw man. Racism needs to be thought of as a very personal indignation. Person-to-person. Jachut - You certainly could make the arguement that muslims (and I assume you mean Arabic peoples....not white, black, or Asian muslims...because then we're edging out of race and into religious intolerence) have been treated unfairly. But have you treated one unfairly? Because if you haven't, then their distrust and fear of you based on color alone is racist. Laurend - I think you're splitting hairs between bigotry / racism / hatred. By your reasoning, I can't be racist because I have quite a bit of Native American blood in me (not 100% pureblood, but I have a card), right? So if I discriminate or hate white people because of some "tribal memory", then that doesn't count as racism? I believe thinking of racism in broad social mores is a mistake. What our ancestors may have done or believed is not always how we behave or what we believe. There is no way to change how past peoples were mistrated (Jachut, the aboriginal people....Laurend, slavery), so all we can do really is to change behavior right now. This is shaping up to be a lively and thought-provoking debate, which is what I think the OP wanted!

Hi Yolanda. I may get flamed for this, but I would advise you not to get the band if you don't think you can commit to the band rules. The band doesn't take away your desire for food, it only helps shrink your appetite. There is still a lot of responsibility on your shoulders to eat right, exercise, etc. If you seriously doubt your willingness to change your lifestyle, then hold off on getting the band. You don't need to waste your time and money. There may be other reasons why you are uncertain about getting banded...keep reading and get educated, then make a decision. It might be helpful to attend a seminar, where you'd have a chance to express your concerns to a doctor.

Hi Mom. As unhelpful as it sounds, here's my take: Only you can say if the lapband is right for you. At the seminars you'll attend, you should be told that the band is not a magic device that takes away your desire to eat. The band is a tool that can help you to feel more full with less food. Others may diasgree with me, but I say you know yourself best of all. If you don't have the committment to eat right and follow the band rules, the truth is your weight loss will be minimal. And who wants to go through surgery for minimal results? However, if you can committ to following the rules, the band is a powerful weight loss tool. You should go to the seminars to get more info to help you make up your mind. Good luck!

Jaimee, I'm down close to 50 lbs. Katieann, WW helps you make better choices, and teaches you portion control. But for me, after I'd get done lifting weights at the gym, portion control went out the window. I knew in my head how much I should eat, but my stomach was telling me "more, more....just a little more". That's where the band has really helped me. It squashed my monster appetite down to where I can control it.

Sounds like you are right on track, Pnw_Red.

Nukechick, that's cool.

I like ladybug3's response. I hate, hate, hate to be the center of attention. I've always been rather introverted...I would be uncomfortable even with compliments.

Manatee, there's flat and there's flat. From your pics, it looks like your belly is pretty flat. For abs to show, a guy has to get down to something like 5% bodyfat, which is out of reach for most average joes...especially the joes that have genetics working against them.