JanetC

Good luck! Don't work yourself up too much, heh, it's totally anti-climatic (or at least it was for me! :bananadoggywow:)

Pre-op, full meant stuffed & really full meant groaning, painfully stuffed. Post-op but pre-fill, I struggled with the measurements. I was angry at having to give up my love affair with food. (I'm still fighting that anger daily.) I ate as much as my band would allow. If you're eating until it hurts, I don't think it's good on the band or your body (just my opinion). The band did tell me when I couldn't go any further... I'd get mild pressure "behind my breastbone" (best I've been able to describe it). I burp a couple of times -- not "real" burps, just small, almost "large hiccups". Then, if I continue to eat, that pressure becomes pain -- like a golf-ball stuck behind my sternum. And if I continue, that pain becomes an "incident" -- sliming or PB. After several weeks of fighting myself... of trying to get that "stuffed" feeling even with a band... of trying to get what I remember full to feel like... I've given up. Post-op "full" is not pre-op "full". We're aiming for "not hungry"... for "satiety". In another thread someone (I think Jack), suggested the following: 1. Start with a one cup portion 2. Take a small bite... 3. Chew to goo 4. Swallow & sit for 30-60 seconds with your mouth empty (watch a 2nd hand!) 5. Ask yourself, "Am I still hungry?" (Hungry = growling stomach or other physical symptoms. PHYSICAL, not mental!) 6. AS SOON as you can answer, "No, I'm no longer hungry." Stop eating. My doctor suggested I limit my portions to one cup... then if I'm still hungry in an hour, eat again. 9 times out of 10 I'm not hungry in an hour, so the cup full works. Now I just have to get over being angry about that! :bananadoggywow:

Gooney-Goo-Goo, lol. :bananadoggywow: Love your sense of humor, Kim! You always make me smile! I gotta say, I hate when doctors tell us to quit researching! Knowledge should not be something to be feared. I know it sometimes makes us more difficult patients, but seriously, they shouldn't be afraid to tell us WHY!! On the nurse telling you your diagnosis was PCOS, that was probably from the insurance coding. They code for payment, heh, not necessarily the "correct" diagnosis at any given second. You should see my super bill, lol, they have everything under the sun circled!

I'm praying for you, Brenda! While you're unfilled, any possibility of skipping the TV viewing? Switch it up for a late night walk? Take some water with you, walk to the park & drink it while you look at the stars? (Yeah, I'm being romantic & not practical, LOL!) When do you start getting fills again? Hang in there! You are a winner! You will conquer this!!

Hiya Hay! And welcome to LBT!! You're doing the right thing... researching! I believe the band is as successful as you let it be. It isn't a miracle cure... it's just a tool. You can have the best hammer in the world, but if you never take it out of your toolbox, that nail isn't making it into the wall. When I researched, these were the theories I came up with on why the average is 36%: If you're a sweet eater & don't change your eating, the lap-band won't be successful (it doesn't restrict sweets... they slide through the band very easily). If you're a liquid/soft calorie eater (drinks, Soups, yogurt etc), the lap-band won't help much -- same thing, they slide through. If you don't follow the bandster rules, the lap-band won't be successful. Drinking with meals allows the food to be diluted & slide through. Not eating Protein first will effect your weight loss. Making poor food choices will effect your weight loss. If you don't ever get fills & get to appropriate restriction (often called the "sweet spot"), you won't lose effectively. Fills can be expensive for some... so they put off getting them. Or perhaps they're afraid of the needle. Personally, we have fill appointments monthly. We don't have to get a fill every month, but the appointment is there, so we're taking full advantage of the band. Basically, the band will allow you to feel full on less food. The more weight you have to lose, the more that restriction of food volume will effect you -- even without changing WHAT you eat. However, eventually you get to the point where you'll either have to exercise more or change your eating habits in order to drop more weight. Some aren't willing to make that change, so they settle for less of their excess weight being lost. There are a few that obey all the rules & still can't lose weight. We call them "turtles". Often, there's an underlying factor... something hormonal or a disease or syndrome. Most doctor's will attempt to identify these problems pre-banding, but sometimes they don't. I wouldn't say that it's a large percentage of folks, but they are vocal! :bananadoggywow: For myself, I decided that I don't have to be average! I can choose to make the required changes... I can allow my tool to work. So far so good! We're glad you're here!! Keep asking questions! :Banane20:

Hey guys! I don't want this to sound like an advertisment. But, I'm sorta selling something. Well, technically not selling, since I'm not making a profit... but... well... At our first lunch, we talked about different products we liked & wondered if we could get them at wholesale prices if we "banded together" (no pun intended, lol). So I called SkylarHaley & am able to get "AchievOne" coffee Protein drinks for $24 / case (case = 12 bottles). It's cheaper then bariatriceating.com has them & as far as I know we won't have to pay for shipping, so I think it's a deal. vanilla. The Cappuccino is fun & the mocha java I use just to have some variety. I think I could do vanilla all the time & be happy, lol. NOTE: They DO contain caffeine, if that's a concern. They taste very similar to Starbucks Frappacino (sp). Anyway, the company's distributor comes up about once a month, so if you're interested, just let me know. I can take cash, check or charge (PayPal) & drop 'em off to you at our next lunch, if that works for you. If you want it sooner, we can try to hook up somewhere within DFW -- we drive across town often. I'm going to go ahead & place an order on Monday. Mikey & I drink about 3-4 cases a month (we're addicted -- they're breakfast). If anyone else wants in (I got a couple of PMs, so I'm counting you already), please let me know! I'm working on Nature's Best (Isopure). I'll let you know if I manage to get something set up!

Ya know, I woke up thinking about my last trip to GNC & Vitamin Shoppe. They didn't charge me tax. So I went on a search & found: So forget the tax, woohoo!! :bananadoggywow: Not sure why the Isopure rep was so insistent that I have a sales tax id... but there ya go!

Wow, that's awesome!! Welcome to LBT & congrats on your approval & date! Ask tons of questions & read all you can! We're glad you're here!

Congrats K@t! Hope it all goes smoothly & that you're up & about in no time! :bananadoggywow:

It's definitely an aquired taste. To me, it tastes like Kool-aid with that lovely whey Protein aftertaste. I don't mind it, but Mikey says it tastes like mud, lol. Of course, he's learned to like it. He drinks one more or less every day. It's hard to get better protein (160 cal, 40g protein). I find that when I'm over hungry I over eat. So if I drink an Isopure first it gives me time to slow down & be smart. I try to always have some on hand. Today I was super restricted (first time for me), so I'm using it for my food. :bananadoggywow: I'm like a Boy Scout, lol, always prepared! :Banane20:

Welcome to LBT, Smart! We're glad you're here! Hope your insurance comes through for you!

Happy birthday!! Hope it's the best ever!

LOL, you go, Yoda!! Or rather, heh, you'll go, Yoda!

Oh my word, Mary!! You look awesome!!! Congrats!

Hiya Cicely! Welcome to LBT!! I haven't had a TT, but I'll bump this so others see it. Look for a couple threads recently about plastic surgery (I'll see if I can find them for you): http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16435 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17104 Both Kel & Jes had PS & are doing great. Exciting threads!!

Heh, but I LIKE being ignorant! **sigh** Guess I'll have to start reading up on it. Hopefully the band weight loss will help take care of it before I get too into it. :Banane33: Thanks LB!

Congrats on beating your fear!! Remember to go SLOWLY!! 1. Tiny bites 2. Chew to goo 3. Swallow & wait 30-60 seconds with your mouth empty!! 4. Repeat

Happy & sad for you, LB! You seem to have a great view of it, though, focusing on the renewal & rebirth! Go get 'em!

Hmmm, wonder who I can bless today! On a funny note, lol, my dad's favorite phrase is, "Just trying to be a blessing..." He uses it mostly when he's being a brat, heh. Makes my mom laugh every time! He gets the cutest twinkle in his eye. Come to think of it, so does my husband! Guess I know why I married him!

Wow, LaLa! I'm so sorry you had to go through all that! I don't have any advice, but I'm watching your story with interest! Let us know what you decide & how it goes! One thing to note: bypass is not the only other option. I don't really know about any of them, but I've heard others talking about them. If you're researching, check out DS (duodenal switch -- sp) and/or the gastric sleeve. At this point in my life, I'd still choose the band again, but if my surgeon HAD to do something else... um... yeah. I don't know what I'd do! Good luck & let us know what happens! Oh, and welcome to LBT!

Welcome to LBT Denise!! I know Weatherford's a bit far out from Ft Worth, but we have get togethers once a month or so in the mid-cities area. We'd love to have you! Check out the Texas board for more info: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64 With 2 unfills, you're doing great! I know what you mean about plateaus, though. I'd really like to just get this weight lost & be done with it already! Do you journal what you eat? It really shocked me when I started writing it down (I use fitday.com -- the PC version). It opened my eyes & made me re-evaluate my choices. Not that I'm a saint, lol, but at least I understand why I don't lose some weeks! :Banane33: Great job on the exercise! Inches gone are more important than weight, imo! :woot: Welcome again! We're glad you're here!

Oh my goodness, that rocks!! Pictures! We want pictures!

(( Penni!! )) Glad you're home & back on the NS wagon.

On the Ryan versus the judges thing: it may be a fight over air time. Ryan seems to make sure he gets his -- and at the cost of the judges. He's always putting them down & cutting them off & being rude (imho). Paula is making more sense these days... but she's taking an hour to do it. Randy always gets stuck hushing the crowd & not getting heard & Simon gets cut off... but Paula gets to talk as long as she wants. I'm not sure she's the one I'd want getting full time! Hmmm, think they could give the judges an eduational seminar on new phrases they could employ for judging songs? I'm so tired of "Yo, check it out! It was just alright for me, dawg (or babe if it's a guy)." "You look fabulous." "It was like tired cabaret."

Oops! LOL! Wrong thread, though that one is one of my favs, lol. Try this one instead: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10405