PhotoNut

Hey Funny! Good to see you back again. Tell your DH that I guess he wasted his money with the colon cleansing thing. If he'd have just waited... *laughs* Hope you all feel better soon. You deserve a break! *hugs* Love ya Sis!

I agree that after care is vital in your long term success. It sounds to me like you have confidence in the Dr you chose. If your friend can't give you more specific reasons for dropping all of your plans, then I would respectfully thank him for the suggestion but assure him that you've made your choice and will be fine. On the other hand, if he can give you a good reason and your husband is offering to fly you to one of the best surgeons. Take the advice and go.

Willybe - I know what you mean about not having room for food. My appetite has changed drastically today. I'm on my 5th bottle of Water today - aiming for 6. Now we know that part of the article was right, don't we? *chuckles* Everytime I have had to use the little girl's room today, I sing, "I'm gonna wash that fat right outta my bod! I'm gonna wash that fat right outta my bod!" hehe

You know, this is something that puzzles the heck out of me as well. I had my first (and only) fill a month ago. I did my two days on liquids with no problem. Wasn't hungry at all. Then about day 3 or 4, the gates opened wide and in charged the hunger! I ate two meals within an hour of one another. They were good meals and I didn't go over may daily calorie limit, but geeze! I couldn't believe I was able to eat that much chicken AND veggies AND fruit.. TWICE! I expected the total opposite. This lasted for two days, I think?, and then I went back to getting hungry every three hours, and by week three I was down to every four hours eating no more than 1 C at a time. So, I was thinking.. ok, things are settling in now.. doing good.. no more fill needed yet. Then I had the second one-month appt with the surgeon two days ago. I assured him that I was having no problems, felt perfect. I walked out of there and damn if the hunger didn't hit me hard. I've been ravenous since then. Could be a head thing. Not sure. I feel restricted as far as how much I can eat at one time, but I'm back to getting hungry every 3 (if not 2 hours). I'm not drinking with meals, I'm getting plenty of Protein. I just can't figure this out. I guess it's like I saw Alexandra say on another thread. The band is a fickle bitch. *grins*

Heyas again, IdahoGherl. Dr. Cahn's office number is 208-706-5285. Talk to Sherry or Debra (Debra was banded in Dec). Either of them can tell you where and when the next seminar is, and they can answer your questions about the insurance and costs. We also have a couple of good support groups going here in Boise. I've only been to one so far. It meets on the second Tuesdays of every month, in the white tent looking building behind St. Al's hospital. (You can see it from the connector). They meet from 7-8:30 and everyone is welcome - prebandsters to long time bandsters. A few of us from here go to these meetings. The other group is meeting again on April 14th. It's a more relaxed group that usually meets at a resturaunt once a month. I can let you know more about that next meeting when I find out. As Dody said, there are only two surgeons in Boise that perform the lapband surgery, and if you go out of town to have the procedure done neither of them will accept you as an after care patient - unless there was an emergency. There are surgeons in Seattle and Portland that some have gone to. I know that the Dr who trained Dr Cahn is in Portland. And there is a fill center in Eagle for those banded elsewhere. So, you do have some options available. As for the band and how it works, here are a couple of websites you can look at that give some great explainations: This is a recording of a live web broadcast of the surgery being done. A lot of great information is given in this one-hour video. It's worth watching and isn't gorey or anything. http://www.brighamandwomens.org/surgerywebcast/default.asp This is a thread here on LBT that everyone has listed good links for more research on the band. I think it will keep you busy for some time. http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=11424 This is from Inamed's site, the makers of the band you will probably have: http://www.allerganandinamed.com/products/obesity/us/clinician/lapband/prodinfo.html

Here is a clip of my food journal for the past six days. I don't go out to eat very often, in fact only twice since being banded. Both times I had a cup of chili and a glass of iced tea which was plenty. (no crackers) These are typical days for me. I cooked a roast on Sunday and it lasted a lot longer than it used to! hehe As you can see, the days I had roast, my calories were a lot higher. Typically, I eat around 800 calories a day. In place of the roast, I probably would have had chicken, or just had a Healthy Choice, meat -n- mashed potatoes meal and my fish for dinner.

Hey Anne.. Sorry to hear about the slip. I can't figure out how these happen when the stomach is sewn around the band. Did your stitches come loose? I'm glad youre home and doing well. Rest and take care of yourself. All things happen for a reason. Maybe you needed this 'fresh start'.

Kathy - Nah.. its easier for me to find the names in alphabetical order. The spots were from trying to do this at 2am! LOL Molly - I think what we'll do it have Penni clean out any posts that are over two weeks old. Unless there is one that everyone things we should save for future reference. Anyone have thoughts on this? Darcy - I am SO glad to see that number dropping, my friend! Txblue_eyedqt - It's very possible to eat too few calories for optimum weight loss. Not that you won't eventually lose, but it might slow things down a lot. How much you should eat depends on your current height, weight, and level of activity. As your trainer about having your metabolic rate tested. They can tell you roughly how many calories your burn at a resting heartrate, and from that they can determine how much you should be eating in order to lose fat and not muscle. I'm not trained in this field, so I'm just passing on what I've heard. In fact, here is a link says it better. PuddinPie had hers done not long ago, check it out. http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16289

I'm thinking about ya Kabeerah, praying that everything works out fine for you and your poor toe. *hugs*

Okies.. I just finished updating the members' page and I'm so tired I'm seeing spots in front of my eyes. So everyone check their data and make sure I got you updated correctly. If there are any mistakes, please PM me and I'll make the correction. Gosh, everyone's doing so great! There are many of you who don't check in to update your progress. Are you hiding in the closet with GS Cookies? We will find you! *cackles* Seriously, there are a lot more folks who could be adding to our weekly loss total, I just know it. Let us hear your numbers folks! TwinkleLil_star - How exciting! You got your surgery date! Yay!! legallyKristin - You hit the 50 pound mark! Congratulations!! And no, you probably didn't hurt your band with those cheese things. I can really relate with "None is easier to achieve than a little." That's exactly how I am. You haven't done any damage to your long term goals. Look how much you've lost so far girl! You're doing great. skbishop - Hang in there girl. You expected this week to be a bit slow. Next week will rock! For all who had no loss/ no gain - I'm so happy to see the great attitudes about this. You guys are awesome! Next week will be great! Kim_8 - You've lost right about the same as me and you were banded a week later! Brat *laughs* Tricia K. - 9 pounds from Onederland.. I know how badly you've wanted this. Can't wait to Celebrate this with you! Gloria37 - You got your first fill! Awesome! and down 4 pounds too! Great week for you! Lianna - Don't get too frustrated. I'm sure you know that you're building muscle and that's going to make things look funky on the scales. Give your new routine a couple of weeks and I guarantee you'll be happy with your results. It's just not possible to be doing so much right with no results! Hey Coyotegirl! It's about time you made an appearance! And showing up with a 4 pounds loss too.. nice! I have spring fever too!!!! Drj - Welcome to the club! I saw you sneak in quietly and try to hide from me. Not going to happen! Post a short intro and tell us a bit about yourself. All you other losers - I'm so excited for everyone. It's going to be so much fun when we start seeing people in our club hitting the -100 pound mark! LegallyKristin, Dawg, and I are all right at the 50 pound mark. Anyone else? Who's close to -100 now?? This is our last week of March. Let's make it a BIG one! Drink Water, do 30 mins of exercise a day, and fight head hunger - tell yourself its just for this one week. You can do anything for one week, right?

Heyas IdahoGherl.. Im in Boise. What are you wanting to know?

Willey - Thank you! I amost missed that bit about drinking an extra 8 ounces per 25 pounds of excess weight! Mine figures out like this: 8 x 8 = 64 oz standard, plus 40 oz (5 extra 8 ounces for excess weight) = 104 oz. I drink bottled Water that has 16.9 oz per bottle, so I divided the 104 by 16.9 and came up with a little over 6 bottles per day. I've only beeen drinking 4 and not always good about it. I'm upping my minimum water intake to 6 bottles per day! Everyone feel like a fish yet? Glub glub!

Hey Kim, Talk to your Dr about this when you go in. My Dr determines the need for a fill based on your eating habits - how much, how often, etc. Mine aims for three meals a day, 3/4 to 1C max, and 4 hours apart with no hunger in between. Your Dr may have different guidelines. A lot will also depend on what size band you have. The larger VG bands usually require more fills to find the right spot. Talk to him and see what he suggests. And let us know what you decided.

Woo! Another Keller girl! Heyas Tina and welcome to LBT. Both Kim_8 and Feel2Young2B40 are both in Keller. Me, I'm in Idaho, feeling left out. Everyone in Texas has so much fun!

How many years have I wanted to drop food on myself and have it actually land on something other than my boobs!?! I was just eating some roast beef and applesauce for lunch. I looked down with disgust when I noticed that I had been a slob and dripped it down my front. Then it hit me! It went all the way down my front! LOL How crazy is this? I'm excited that I'm a slob that can actually get the food all the way down my shirt instead of just on my boobs. w00t! Next goal? Nothin' but lap baby! *looks down* Hm.. I know there's one down there somewhere.

What an incredible feeling that must have been! Are you still on Cloud 9?! I would be - for a week! *cheers* Great job Desi!

Welcome to Bandland, Jana! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: I'm really happy to hear things are going so well for you, but dont overdo it! Remember to drink lots of water.. sip, sip, sip! *hugs*

You'll be more concerned about your port. Trust me *grins* Jachut - That was funny!!

Diane and hubby went to Mexico.. her doc is in TJ so it might be a while before we hear from her. Hope you're getting good news, Diane!

I talked to Amy last night and she said that the new antibiotics are working. Emily's fever has broken and they thought they might get to bring her home today. She was planning on coming here last night and giving everyone an update, but I'm not surprised she didn't. She sounded so tired. This happened right when they moved to their new home.. so the house isn't even unpacked. Anyway, I'll let Amy give you all the details when she gets time. Bless their hearts!

*pulls up a soapbox and stands on it* *clears throat before beginning* Brothers and sisters! The Water bottle is near! Now is the time to repent of your dehydrated ways and drink in the fullness of life!! Wash away your fat cells! Clense your body before it's too late! Turn away from the wretched ways of bloat and kidney strain! Drink! Drink I say.. before it is too late! *glares at the audience, speaking with an ominously booming voice* All bottled waters are NOT the same! Thus sayeth Aquafina.. the pure water with the perfect taste!! Drink, brothers and sisters, lest ye be dry and parched for all eternity!

1. God's patience with me. 2. My loving husband who understands me like no other, and still adores me. 3. My family and how good life is for all of us right now. 4. For the chance to really live again that the band has given me.

Here ya go.. check out this site. It explains it all so well. http://www.inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Pardon my French.. but.. HOLY SHIT Big Paul!! 107 pounds in FOUR MONTHS!?! WOW!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

*laughs* Hey Julie.. maybe we could share? You take some of my girls and I'll gladly take your smaller tummy! LOL