PhotoNut

Thanks Heather *sniffles* I think I just need a good cry. God I'm a mess this week. Thank you all for holding me up. You're great pals to have around. :grouphug:

Hey Kellie... isnt it funny that we can work with our bands for so long and then suddenly feel at a lost about a fill decision? I'm kind of going through the same dilema. I'm noticing my desire to eat more after I've finished a meal and yesterday I even ate an extra meal. I still only hit 1,100 calories but for me that's a lot. You said you have had reflux for the past three months? That doesn't sound right. I thought the band took away the reflux problems. My doctor told me that I wouldn't have to take the meds for that anymore. Have they eyeballed your band to be sure everything's sitting well in there?

Pink Mary - Yup, you update your points in your original scorecard. PosterChild - Your day is rapidly approaching! Keep us posted ok? Great weightloss this week! Heather? Good grief, look at you go!! You are rockin' the house!! *hugs* Kimmers - I've really slowed down the last couple of weeks too. Maybe it's just the natural flow of things? Since we were banded so close together, maybe we are just not hitting the first plateau? Um.. push me off will ya? :grouphug: Iziksmom - Happy early birthday girl! 36 pounds is awesome! That's a small child! :clap2: Kristin - Time to move you up on the Honors page! 61 pounds! Grats hun! Funny - Girlfriend, I am SO stinking proud of you! SIX pounds! *boogies down* LaSasha - Aww. I can only imagine how frustrated you must be. Maybe it's time to really examine what youre eating. Are you journaling your food? Try tracking calories and proteins just to see where you are, ok? Mychevygirl - DeAnn, you simply amaze me. 64 pounds preband! Through all kinds of stress with your dad in and out of the hospital too. You are my new hero! I will be thinking of you tomorrow, my friend. I can only imagine how well you are going to do once you are banded. Good lord. I'm thinking record breaker here! *hugs* Telly - *laughs* You crack me up. Going to put on that sweatsuit and sweat out a coupla more pounds? Yup, late tonight is fine. I love weigh-in days. It's so awesome to see everyone's successes. Keep up the great work everyone! I'll be checking on the thread throughout the day. Oh, and I've been watching everyone's scorecards too. Everyone's doing SO well! w00t! :clap2:

:welcomeB: to the Gone For Good Club! NJGirl - Better late than never! Welcome to the GFG Club! Marie485 - I saw you sneak in! Welcome to the Club! If you two would post a short introduction that would be awesome. We like to hear a little about each new member so we can get to know you. If you'd like to look over the other member's introductions, you'll find them on the first two months' threads. (we start a new thread each month so the thread doesnt get too long) Have a look on page one of this thread. Under the list of members names, you'll see links for the March and April GFG Club threads. Also, if you want your stats on the Members page, include them in your posts. Thanks!

Happy Weigh-In Day Everyone! Here is the format for reporting. Please feel free to copy it and then edit to put in your numbers: C 244 (-63 lbs total, -.5 this week) And please remember not to include your signatures on all posts. It really saves time for folks who have dialup. There is a "show signature" option you can uncheck before clicking on "Submit reply" or "Save changes". Thanks! PS Thats my sad little amount in the example above. I guess all the walking last week with LindaV put on muscles? Lets hope so!

OMG they are too big for me! Ok, I smiled for the first time today! Grats on the score Mini-me!! :clap2: Pretty soon, you'll be sending them on to someone else!

Oh Jess! This is a marvelous NSV! Congratulations my friend, you have taken control of your life! *hugs*

It's a sign!! I don't know what for, but it's gotta be a sign! *grins*

Everyone has said that the band helps control volume, which it does. However, it does not control the volume of liquid calories or sweets that melt easily. These will slip right through the restriction. Are you a sweet eater? If so, if that is your addiction, chances are you will have a harder time succeeding with the band because it will come down to willpower (or, as Jack says, won't power) and if you don't have the willpower to avoid those types of foods now, don't expect the band to kick that willpower into action. All it can do is limit quantities. My addiction was breads, potatoes, gravies, noodles, etc. And as each year passed, I lost more and more of my ability to limit the quantities of these foods with each meal. The band has been perfect for me. I would not advise bypass surgery for many personal reasons. But, as Big Paul said, there are many avenues of help that can be explored. I know it's not an easy decision and I know there is no easy answer. I wish you the best in searching for your answer and I wish you wisdom in making your decision.

Funny, you crack me up! Tell that man of yours that it's very obvious that he's falling down on his job! And trust me, if I could swing it I'd come and hang out with you. I'd LOVE it! :confused: :eek: :pray2:

Brat!! *laughs* I am feeling a little better - on the surface. Underneath, I'm still a raging bitch, so watch out! :confused: I just talked to LindaV who got her band yesterday. She is home, sounds very chipper and she's feeling great! Be sure to welcome her home to bandland! :clap2: Shackdog - Call me! I lost your number. *blush* Funny - Your wine glass.. Awww. *hugs* Hey, Southwest Airlines has a special going on through May 11th. Anywhere for $49 (each way). I wonder if Dawg would let me spend a coupla hundred? Hmm.. a weekend in Florida sounds nice. *grins*

With the information I have today, and being self pay, I probably would have had a hard time deciding between the Monterey doctors (Rumbaut and Sanchez? Funny, I always forget your doctor's name! hehe) and having the band done locally. My struggle to decide would have been based on several things. The Monterey doctors have much more experience, an impecible record, state of the art facilities, and cost a LOT less. (I paid $26,000). However, locally I have one year after care and fills covered. My doctor is right here near me in case anything goes wrong. And the biggest thing - it seems that no one wants to touch a patient who was banded in Mexico. Which of course would be my deciding factor. I wouldn't have the luxury of returning to Mexico for help, so staying local was the smartest decision for me, even if it cost more. Best of luck to you in your decision making. :confused:

Exactly :confused:

I don't think that continuing this thread is beating a dead horse at all. Nor do I think it is re-opening a can of worms so-to-speak. I think that the thread was started with a very important question, "Why not cheat?" and I think that the responses that have been given have been very important to many people who might have the same question. I do, however, think it's a shame that people take things so personally and feel the need to strike out at others in an attempt to defend themselves. If you look closely at every post, they all recommend calling your doctor for his or her recommendation. It seems we all agree on that point. But the deeper issue here is why do we find ourselves wanting to rebel against the very thing which we wanted so badly - control over our eating. Isn't that what the band represents? Control? Once that control is in place, why does it then become something to challenge and resent? Keep in mind that there are some who don't feel that need to rebel against the "rules". This doesn't mean they feel superior or better able to succeed when they try to enourage others to follow the rules. Obviously, those who do follow the rules have a desire to succeed, and by encouraging or suggesting that others do the same it does not mean they are attacking anyone. Perhaps they just care a lot and want the best for everyone. Perhaps they are reacting in much the same way as you would when you see a small child reaching up to touch a hot stove - you would jump up and grab the child in an almost scoling tone and tell them no! Would you do this because you want to tell the child how stupid he is, or would you do it because you care and want to protect the child? Now, before anyone takes offense at that and tells me they aren't a child and don't need a mother, please understand that I am only comparing the reaction of the onlooker, not the ability of the child to preceive danger and the maturity to avoid it. When you walk into a group of bandsters that ALL fear erosion and slipping and you say, "Why not cheat? I eat crackers, french fries and chicken and I was only banded a week ago." you should expect some of these reactions. Does that make us lecturers or nerds or Nazis? Um, no. It makes us caring people who are responding to what appeared to be a genuine call for help - help me understand why I should not cheat. And in my humble opinion, I think a lot of people on this thread have provided very good reasons not to cheat. Will some still cheat? Most definitely. Will some learn from the thread and avoid cheating? I certainly hope so. Should we consider further discussion about this topic beating a dead horse. I would hope not. This is why we are here. And someone out there is getting a lot of good out of these posts.

Hi Muttap, Welcome to LBT. I think your question got overlooked in the midst of all of the other topics being discussed. Why don't you go into the Introduction forum and start a new thread by posting exactly what you did here? I know there are many people who have been banded in Mexico that can provide you with some answers once they see your question. Best of luck to you!

JJ - I dont have insurance either. I figure if something goes wrong I'll just go to the emergency room and they'll bill me. Sometimes you just have to step out on faith. If you have a Dr that you trust, who has a good record and is willing to work with you if something does go wrong, then that's half the battle, right? Talk to your Dr about these concerns and see if he can offer some comfort in the form of a plan to handle unforseen problems.

My experience was a bit different. I didn't get broth, Jello, or ice in the hospital. My throat wasn't sore at all, but I was very thirsty and wasn't allowed any liquids until I had done the barium swallow the next morning. I was given a sponge on a stick that I could use to dip in Water and swab my mouth. After the barium swallow, they had me drink an ounce of water over an hour's time. Once I proved I could keep the water down, I was able to go home. There shouldn't be any problem with swallowing. I have only heard of a few people who were very swollen after the surgery and had trouble drinking fluids. If you have any problems like that, let your Dr know right away and they will take care of you. :confused: Best of luck with your surgery and recovery. Let us know how you do! :eek:

I've really been struggling these past few days. I think maybe it's the TOM. I've been craving things I don't normally eat (even pre-band). I'm bloated. I'm bitchy. My port hurts. I'm bitchy. And I only lost .5 pounds this last week. I'm depressed that I've lost 63 pounds but still have over 100 to go. Oh, and did I mention that I'm bitchy? *sighs*

One small "No" at a time girl. With each temptation comes the opportunity to make a choice. We are often fooled into believing that we have no choice, that we are out of control, that we are weak and will fail. This is NOT true and, as Christian, I have my beliefs on where this kind of thinking comes from. Yesterday, I was craving a certain thing so badly that it haunted me all day. It called to me, it taunted me and it almost had me until I realized something very important. I -could- have it if I really wanted it. All I had to do was walk into the store and buy it. But the truth was, I didn't want the guilt, the defeat, and the failure that the short-lived "pleasure" would bring. Then I realized that I had the choice to make. I drove past the store and came home. The haunting stopped later on in the evening and I actually felt tired from the all day "battle". But the important thing is - I won. It was only one victory in what I'm sure will be a long list of battles over the upcoming months and years. Thinking of them all at once can be overwhelming. But one at a time is very do-able. Keep up the good fight! :confused:

Leener.. first of all *big hugs* Now, you need to remember that positive thinking, while not a magical cure for anything, is a very strong force within our bodies. Negative thinking brings on a mindset of defeat before the battle even starts. It also brings on the stress, worry, and fear. Try not to embrace every fleeting fearful thought about this. Instead, try thinking logically and calmly. So many times I have seen medical professionals be wrong about "suspicious spots" and scare people half to death over nothing. Tell yourself it is nothing. This is just a precaution. The surgery will be so much easier than what you've gone through with the band, so don't let that intimidate you. You'll do just fine and you'll BE just fine. I know it. I believe it and I'm claiming it on your behalf. *more hugs* For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I was going to talk about the spirit of fear but thought it might be better to let you go to this site and read it for yourself. I pray that it helps and I'll certainly be praying for a spirit of power, love and a sound mind for you. http://www.revival.com/www/r.aspx?p=18&aid=455 Love ya Leener! *more hugs*

Now -thats- the kind of post from a medical provider that is unbiased and HELPFUL. I applaud you, Murphles. "Weight is a flash point for most of us here-if it weren't a point of passion and pain, we wouldn't be here. I think we can be passionate in our views-but it is difficult to be gentle in our words when we think that someone is harming themselves. And then the darn internet does not convey our compassion." Yes! I hope everyone reads this and really takes it to heart!

Aww stop beating yourself up. It's just going to take some time to adjust to this new lifestyle. I remember being afraid to eat. I remember being so scared that I was going to screw up and fail at yet another "diet" attempt. Just take a step back, slow down, and breathe. This is really very simple. Eat 60 grams of Protein per day. Do this by eating good solid protein such as fish, chicken, very moist red meat (if you can), and perhaps cottage cheese. Then add in your veggies, and some fruit. You need a well balanced menu to be healthy. Do not rely on fruit juices that are full of sugar, and do not rely on cheese that is full of fat. Lean meats and veggies are the key. Also, be sure you're taking your daily Vitamin and mineral supplements. (chewables) and drinking a minimum of 64oz of Water per day. And finally, do some form of physical activity for 30 minutes per day. Its all a balance. Good food, Vitamins, water and exercise. Your band is going to control the amount of food you can eat. So all you have to do is be sure that you put in good stuff and you'll do great. You are NOT a bad bandster for trying too hard to do the right thing! I am a scale addict as well and have to have the batteries taken out until weigh-in days. It drives me nuts! Remember that after surgery, when you are progressing on to more solid foods, you will see some gain but that is temporary. Don't let it freak you out. You are swollen from surgery, that takes time to subside. Relax. This is not an overnight miracle cure. Get your mind focused on a long term goal. Figure an average of 2 pounds per week. Sometimes it will be more, sometimes it will be less. But that's the average. So far, you are above average and ahead of the game. *hugs*

OOooo! Home improvements. We are getting ready to do some of that as well. We are going to extend our patio along the back, get the house painted and get new fencing. I'm really looking forward to that! I'd really love to screen in the section of our patio that's covered. Are you going through a special company to do that, or having someone local do it? I've seen ads on tv about screening in a porch for a lot less but am unsure if that's just a gimic or not.

Exactly right, Paul. You see, the thing is... I don't come here to tell people how great I have done on my program, or to preach at them, or to lecture. But if someone posts a question such as this, and is asking for input, I'm going to offer them the what I know works. I -am- following the rules. I do -not- cheat. So what? That doesn't mean I'm hear to preach at anyone about it. I don't need to convert anyone. What I do need to do is answer questions honestly so I don't mislead anyone. I know that by following the rules I have seen very good results. So, I will pass on what I am doing as my advice. In addition to that, I will always direct people to their doctor for guidance in their program. This is what we should be doing. Not coddling each other and telling each other that it's ok to cheat. I hate seeing people saying that it's ok to screw yourself over after you've invested money, time, pain, and hopes into something you obviously wanted a great deal. I am going to offer only encouragement to do what is proven to help others succeed. I think that those who see this as preachy or lecturing are most likely struggling with it themselves and don't like having that pointed out. Noone is here to tell you that you're a failure. We are here to tell you the truth. And when the truth hurts, dont shoot the messenger.

Welcome home and to bandland, Shontel. So glad to hear you're doing well.