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Actually, I thought it was stupid and a waste of money as well. But after talking with the guy I sort of understood why it was important. Some people just aren't good candidates for the band because of psychological issues that will most likely keep them from succeeding if their issues aren't in check prior to surgery. Also, losing your best friend (food) can be quite an emotional ordeal. Hell the whole process is a rollercoaster of emotions and mental adjustments. I was severly depressed (and so were we) and had been on Effexor for about 4 weeks. Since it takes 6 weeks for that stuff to really take affect, he allowed me to come back in 2 weeks and retest. I was still showing as depressed, but no where near what I had been 2 weeks earlier. I was determined that I was going to answer those questions truthfully and not try to cheat my way through it because I wanted to know where I really was in my own head (so did we). Anyway, I think it may not apply to everyone as something they "need" but the screening is important. There is no point in banding someone who is emotionally not ready for the weight loss, who won't be willing to put in the work it will take to succeed, and who can't deal with the emotional impact of surgery and life changes this extreme. (we agree, listen to her.. she's one smart cookie.. and we know - we live with her)

Great! Get used to that excited/nervous feeling. It keeps growing! Grats.. can't wait to hear about your progress.

You know what Wheetsin? After reading your last posts I do see a big problem with pre-arranging it and making her feel like she has to do it to keep you from losing the money. I also think this has to be a very personal decision, and even though we all agree that it's a wonderful thing that you're offering, it would have to be something your mom really wanted for herself. I think the best way to handle this is straight out. Do you live nearby so you could take her out to lunch? If so, take her out (when you can eat again) and talk to her about your progress and the band, and ask her straight out if she's had any thoughts about getting one for herself. Then, let her know that you and your husband love her and have already decided that if she wants the band, you have the money set aside for it and all she has to do is say she's ready. Assure her that this money is not going to affect your finances in any way, and that it is set aside for her and her alone. And even if she doesn't want it right now, it will be there if and when she decides she does want it. That way, you put the decision in her hands while assuring her that its taken care of should she decide she wants it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oops, I guess you and I were posting at the same time. You just said she did say she would want it. So that's one hurdle jumped. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holy cow.. I love the journal idea as well. Very much along the lines I was thinking.. but I really like the journal aspect of it. Sorry folks, I was writing the same time you all were.

Dawn, I failed my first evaluation too. But the psychologist agreed to let me come back in a couple of weeks and retake the tests. And then I did better. I find it very hard to believe that he did an evaluation with you over the phone. If you are uncomfortable with this, call him back and tell him that you were having a bad day and would like to speak with him again in a week or so for reconsideration. If he refuses, I would call the surgeon and tell him that this guy did your eval over the phone. That just doesnt sound professional to me at all. My eval was three hours of testing and discussion with the psychologist. If the guy is on the level and your Dr feels that the evaluation was complete and trustworthy, then I guess I'd go with Jack's thoughts and count it up to growth. Don't you all agree, Dawn? *chuckles*

Sounds very positive to me. Always hope for the best, you might get disappointed but at least you spent that time in a positive happy way, rather than wasting time being worried about things which you can't control. Right? Oh, and if you end up in need of bubbles, talk to Kim_8. Apparently she is producing them in the back of her throat! LOL

Wow girl, I think that looks like a reaction to the stickies too. Looks very much like hives. Try some Benadryl (spelling?)

Back off Keri.. that's MY ride! *laughs*

Last weekend we went to the store and there they were. Those innocent looking girls in green uniforms. We successfully dodged them and made it out without having to have a box of temptation stuffed under our noses.. but....! Today I'm sitting at the Dr. office (as mentioned in prior post) and the receptionist suddenly says to the waiting room full of people, "Would anyone like a Girl Scout cookie? I have the thin mint ones.." My mouth dropped open and my eyes went wide, then I busted up laughing and told them about LBT. The lady sitting next to me was diabetic so she was acting like the woman had just asked her to worship Satan! One of the nurses offered to chew them up and suck all of the fat and sugar out of them for us, but noone seemed interested in that idea. Not one person in there took any! *laughs* So guess who I was thinking about the rest of the visit? DianeChef?? Did you put a curse on me or something? LOL

Jamoorse - To update your ticker, go back to tickerfactory.com. If it remembers you, it will bring up your last numbers when you click on "Weight Loss". Then all you have to do is update your numbers, click Next and copy the text inside the bbCode. Delete the current one from your siggy line and paste in the updated one. (Only copy from [ img] through to [ /img]. Leave off the [ url=http:www.etc...] and the [ /url]. Then they won't show up in your siggy line.)

*sigh of relief* I've been holding that breath for days! Look how blue I am! Great news Alex, you'll be in our prayers for quick and complete healing so you can keep right on with your progress. *hugs*

Hiya Wavydaby! I'll let the folks in your local area answer your specific questions.. but I just wanted to say Hello! and welcome to LBT.

I will walk a minimum of 1/2 mile every day. (I was going to.. but good intentions and all that ) I will drink 64 oz. of water every day. (So far so good.) I will write down every bite I put in my mouth - quantity, calories, protein. (Yup, keeping up on this.) I will take on one achievable project in my house per day. (Spent three hours at the wound care Dr and went shopping for work out pants. I'm counting it.)

Welcome to the GFG Kimbo, and grats on your excellent weightloss! I'll get your stats added to the Members' Page asap. Mystjin - No no.. dont take your ticker off. All we are doing it unchecking the "Show your signature" box just below the text box when you post. Anytime you don't want your signature line to show, just uncheck this box and it wont. But it doesn't remove it for good. See? We are just trying to make it easier to read through all of the posts on this thread because its going to get very big soon. Sorry that was misleading. *hugs* Rhonda - Someone else will have to help you out with the Dr thing. I don't have a clue. About the walking and Curves.. my Dr appt ended up taking THREE hours! I waited in the waiting room for over an hour and a half, and in the exam room for another fricking hour and a half, and saw the doctor all of 10 minutes! *growls* By the way, this was nothing to do with the band. Anyway, I had to go shopping for some pants to work out in at the gym (had to buy 18-20s.. everybody saw Awwww) and by the time I got home I was tired and starving. I doubt I will walk tonight, but I will tomorrow by golly!

w00t! Great news Dodster! Hey, how about adopting me.. I need a new car. *grins*

Donna, In the thread that Wheetsin actually started for the super sized bandsters, she lists a starting BMI of 50 or over. And I'm part of a couple of groups within LBT and it doesn't isolate you from anyone else on the boards, it just creates a thread with a more focused subject matter I guess. Specific support for specific issues. Here is the link to the thread she started for the super sized bandsters: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16168

I know those burgers. I'm from the south where they have Crystal burgers, much the same. *wags a finger at Rhonda* You stop that. Remember, nothing tastes as good as being thin feels! Every bite will take you in the opposite direction. Get a grip now and you'll be ok. Everyone slips, just don't stay down! I haven't been drinking my water either and I didn't walk yesterday. Tell you what, Rhonda.. check in tonight and we'll confirm that we did what we should today. Drink your 64oz of water and get your bum to Curves! Don't even stop to argue, just grab your stuff and go without thinking about it. It will be over before you know it, and you'll feel so good about it! I have a Dr appt in about 30 mins but when I get home, I will walk my 1/2 mile on the dreadmill before I allow myself to get back on here. Then, tonight.. I'm coming looking for you. Dont you let me find out that I did this for you and you didnt do your part! *peers at Rhonda with a grin*

Nope not related. I met him and his wife when our kids were little. We've been friends for years but lose touch now and then. Destiny keeps bringing us back into each other's lives though. I walked into the local support group last Tuesday night and there he was, so I drug him to LBT. I think he's addicted already. hehe

*chuckles* Ok Dog.. want your stats up there too? Check out page one and see what the others have done. You don't have to, you can put as much or as little as you want. Some report their weightloss each Wednesday and we update it. Its all up to you.. just let me know. And how about a brief bio on ya Dog? *grins* (pssst.. I know this guy, you all will love him)

This is so neat. Hmm.. why not just pay for it and not tell her how much it costs? Tell her that you'd like to do this not as a gift for her, but as a gift for you and the rest of the family, so you can keep her around longer. Instruct the surgeon and others not to inform her of the cost, and play it down.. tell her its not really that much. Good luck with this. My mom paid for mine and I wasn't offended in the least.

Hey Doug, Welcome to the club. I'll add your name to the member's list (on page 1) and if you want me to add your stats to that, just let me know.

Hmm.. the carb free icecream. I would suggest looking carefully at the fat and calories in that. Icecream is one of the danger foods for a bandster because it can get through that band so easily. If you think you can have just a bit, and you count the calories in your daily intake, I guess you could. But for me, I'd rather "spend" my calories on food that's going to stick with me and not leave me hungry or craving more. I'm not a big sweet eater, so this isn't much of a problem for me. I know many here buy fat free, sugar free jellos, puddings and ice creams. I read an idea the other day.. dip fresh fruit in fat free sugar free Hershey's chocolate syrup. There are 100 calorie packs of Snacks you can buy, but for me, this would be a killer to my weightloss. Why? Because I wouldn't eat just one pack! LOL There are several foods which I have just resolved to keep out of my life, even if I can find the FF/SF versions because I know they trigger more cravings which I just don't want to face. If you check out the food forum, I'm sure you'll find many good suggestions.

They are the work of Satan, Suz. Sold door to door and at super market entrances by innocent looking little girls in green uniforms. You've never seen them? *grins*

Doug, I responded on the other thread you started about your reflux. In that thread, what you described sounded more like gas pains from the surgery than reflux.

Reflux is when the fluids from your stomach comes up in your throat. It's almost like regurgitating. Is that what you are experiencing? It's possible that what your feeling is residual pain from the gas used in surgery. It pushes against the diaphram and the pain radiates into the chest, neck and shoulder. And grats on your banding!

Back in December, I could no longer fit in my size 24 jeans. Umm.. today.. I'm wearing my size 20 jeans! :ermm......:faint: