cashley

Susan - Welcome! This board is a great resource... I've really enjoyed my visits here and it keeps me on track. I was also self-pay... it was hard to part with that much money but I felt it was the right decision. I hope I wasn't wrong!

It's not free but not to expensive - it's like 10.00 per month (either $9.95 or $10.95 I can't remember) You are supposed to be a member but.... you can go to one meeting since they have free registration, sign up, get all your material and ask for an e-tools code. The first meeting is only $11.00 I think e-tools is actually better then Weight Watchers Online and it's cheaper. Of corse weight watchers wants e-tools to be for members of the meetings only but once you put the code in they don't check again. I'm a lifetime member so it's a good alternative.

My doctor let me go on solids way early. His main concern was that I wasn't going to throw-up or PB... he said that is what tears the stitches not the digetion process. Since solids went down without any problem he said "A - OK"... though I would ask yokur doctor and not take any of our advices.

If we all agreed all the time it'd get boring here.

Dr. Pleatman - just out of curiousity what would the cost to convert from the band to RNY for a self-pay person? I'm asking not because I'm ready to move to that route but my doctor does't perform RNY and I would like to know that was an option if I had erosion or wasn't losing. I've already spend $17,500 (which I think now is a bit high) I get fills for 1 year but if it doesn't work I'm glad to know there is an alternative.

This nor his other post appear to be advertising... he has interesting opinions and for one I'm glad he's here.

I'd like to watch tv with no commercials period... can we vote on that? Too bad advertisers feel they work... I just Tvio what I like and skip them anyhow!

I had my reduction and lift about 5 years ago... I have "no" sensation in them but don't really care since i have plenty in other areas. What I hate about them is they look like someone sewed a patch on the front of my boobs and they don't work at all... I don't get nippley from cold or anything. They are really kind of numb and I hate when I get an itch there because scratching feels weird!

I don't agree with this statement... Lipoosuction doesn't take off that much weight and I have friends who have gained it back when they've had it... It's not pretty either, when you gain weight after lypo it's goes to weird places and looks really lumpy. I think the purpose of lypo is to remove the stubborn fat that won't budge after diet, surgery, exercise whatever has got 80% of the weight off.

I'm sorry!!!! I can only imagine how hard that is... It's just hard to eat healthly and right for the rest of your life. Now that you've had your little party you can get back on track... The good thing with the band is getting back on track isn't as bad (I hope anyway) I wish you luck with your fill and hopefully things won't get too crazy before then.

I don't think there is a truly "easy way out"... even with all the money that many stars have so many of them still struggle daily... If there was an easy way out it would be instant... If there was an easy way out do you think Oprah would still to this day battle her weight with all the money she has? For me she's a poster child for the surgery (not because she's had it) but because she tries and tries to do it the old fashioned way and still goes up and down. In my memory the only stars that have lost weight and kept it off for a long period are the ones that have had this surgery or gastric by-pass. Not that stars are better then us but they ususally have plenty of money and plenty of motivation to be thin. If they can't do it without surgery I'm not sure I ever had a chance.

I also took a loan and paid myself. It was $17,500 but even with paying myself the first doctor I went to wouldn't do it without a BMI of 40 or over or a 35 with co-morbidities. I have high cholestrol and high trig. but that didn't count.

Things are a bit better... I mean I still can eat too much but I can feel it and know when to stop. I've discovered something pretty powerful (yet depressing) if I do weight watchers are directed and eat my 26 points plus my 35 flex points plus my activity points.... I won't lose at all.... Since the fill I've tried to keep my points under 20 - I still exercise about 60 - 90 minutes 5 days a week. I do full blast on the ellipitical since I love to try and burn as many calories as possible on it in 30 minutes. So what I was saying (typing) is on 20 points.... which is low with no extras I think I'm losing. It's hard to tell today since it's only been since last Tuesday I was filled but I maybe down 2 pounds since then. I'm unsure since I don't trust my scale and waiting until I go to Weight Watchers to see really if it's working. 20 points is depressing since that's not much and hard to juggle them to try and get travel food, social food and healthful food all in. When I used to have flex points and activity points I could save up or exercise more to have a special meal. I'm going to try real hard and not be depressed... I'm going to the gym in a few minutes and working out. I'm going to have something delicious for dinner afterward and keep the points low. I can be positive (I think)

Things are a bit better... I mean I still can eat too much but I can feel it and know when to stop. I've discovered something pretty powerful (yet depressing) if I do weight watchers are directed and eat my 26 points plus my 35 flex points plus my activity points.... I won't lose at all.... Since the fill I've tried to keep my points under 20 - I still exercise about 60 - 90 minutes 5 days a week. I do full blast on the ellipitical since I love to try and burn as many calories as possible on it in 30 minutes. So what I was saying (typing) is on 20 points.... which is low with no extras I think I'm losing. It's hard to tell today since it's only been since last Tuesday I was filled but I maybe down 2 pounds since then. I'm unsure since I don't trust my scale and waiting until I go to Weight Watchers to see really if it's working. 20 points is depressing since that's not much and hard to juggle them to try and get travel food, social food and healthful food all in. When I used to have flex points and activity points I could save up or exercise more to have a special meal. I'm going to try real hard and not be depressed... I'm going to the gym in a few minutes and working out. I'm going to have something delicious for dinner afterward and keep the points low. I can be positive (I think)

Yum.. I love lattes and have been trying to stear clear since they ar liquid calories. I used to make my own but half&half that made it taste sooo good also made it soooo calorie rich. When i use skim milk it's not that good... I hope theirs are good.

I'm doing weight watchers now. I use the online tools (called e-tools) to count my points and activity. The activity depends on the intensity. But basiscally it works out to about 1 point per 100 calories you burn. So if you are using a machines that ask your weight, age, and tracks you heart rate you can count the calories on the machine as accurate. If the machine doesn't ask all that or you are using something not on a cardio machine then you would have to gage it on your own. Here's some examples I looked up on e-tools... Ellipitical - Moderate Intensity - 30 minutes - 2 points (I don't know why cuz I burn 400 calories) Walking Moderate Intensity - 30 minutes - 2 points. Stationary Bike - 30 minutes - High Intensity - 5 points.. (this is weird since I only burn 200 calories on it) I hope this helps... Also, I get 26 points a day plus the 35 extra per week and I don't lose. If I cut my points to 20 still exercise 60 - 90 minutes per day and don't use the 35 extra I'll loose about 2 pounds a week. - Sad huh? I think I've realized finally not that I'm banded that I just can't eat as much as others. Now it's a bit easier since i have the band to stay under 20 points.

Wow Photonut... that's a lot of rules...

I was in the same boat and actually gained weight to qualify for surgery. I didn't have to work real hard at gaining since I just basically gave up on diet and exercise for a few months and in no time I went from 190 - 209... Even at 209 I still didn't qualify for the surgery so the last 11 pounds were actually a combination of adding a few pounds between my first surgeons appointment to going to a doctor that let me weigh with my shoes and jeans on during my period.... I made it to 220 (the magic # I needed to be a 40 BMI) I went down to 215 the day of surgery but actually that was after a week of liquids only, no surger and no shoes and jeans. So techinacally I didn't really lose 5 pounds.... I'd do it in a second for 190 pounds just because I dieted & exercised myself to death and only managed to maintain 190. I don't think you'll lose 20 pounds pre-op if you've been dieting just to say where you are... My family has a bad history of heart problems and obesity and I was fighting an uphill battle. I can't say I've lost a lot since banding on 2/8 but I feel I'm well on my way to actually having some control over my hunger and eating. The weird thing is I haven't even lost the weight I put on for the surgery. I wouldn't have gained weight for the surgery (and I'm not suggesting that you do) if the doctors weren't so strict here about being 40 BMI (or 35 Major Health problems - which I didn't have yet) Now I'll be so happy to make it back to the 190 I started this journey... I was that weight all the way until November of last year.

Weight Watchers has a "candy" bar that has 140 calories in it but I'm afraid it's not a Protein bar.... I like them for an occassional indulgence since they only count as 2 points cuz they have quite a bit of Fiber in them. They have two flavors that are like a milky way or a snickers but they only sell them in the Weight Watchers Centers.

I travel for my job so McDonald's is a standby for breakfast... I've been ordering a side of eggs since it doens't bother me with the band. They still taste good and I don't have to though a lot of food away. I could try the fruit & yogart parfait but suger makes me crave and I found I work better with some Protein in the morning. I'm looking forward to having a mcgriddle again.. just I'll probably eat half.. I'm most likely will wait until goal 'ish but I'm not going to say I'm giving up anything "for life".

I've struggled a little with the timing of eating... eating correctly and getting all the liquids I need in for the day.... I travel for my job and for example was on the road yesterday from 6 a.m. for 3 hours til I arrivied at my customers... worked 8 hours and drove 4 hours home (traffic in Nashville)... it was a long day and very hard to balance my eating and drinking. I shoot for this... Wake-Up - coffee with Cream & Splenda / Bottle of Water 20 minutes or so later - Fiber One (1/2 cup) with skim milk 1.5(ish) hours later - Bottle of Water (2nd of Day) lunch - Lower Calorie Fast food - like small 1/2 subway or Grilled chicken breast... I stay away from fries and no soda. I eat fast food since I'm normally between clients or on the road (and I had to take a lunch it's just annoying to me) 1.5(ish) hours later - Bottle of Water (3rd of Day) At Gym - Work out 30 - 50 minutes cardio + circuit / Bottle or two of Water (4th & 5th of Day) dinner - 3 - 4 oz of meat, 1/2 cup of veggies Evening Snack - Fiber One Again or Weight Watchers Snack Bottle of Water before bed (6th of Day) I use weight watchers to track my points since I've learned the plan well and it helps me stay focused. I like that I can have whatever I want on it but try to stay with lower point options. It helps me to not feel deprived at Events like Birthdays since everything is allowed. I can't say I've had huge success since I've only lost about 4 pounds since surgery (the rest was pre-op) and it's been about 8 weeks. I do think that my effort will pay off but I understand how hard it is to be patient. That is my # 1 weekness. I can be "soooo" displine for about 4 - 5 months, but if results don't come I get depressed and give up.... that's why I'm so excited about the ability to get fills. I hope to keep the depression at bay.

My doctor said I could start exercising after a week.

I had my surgery on Wednesday and went back to work on Monday. I still had some gas pains but they were minor and I drive a long distance also. I've had surgery before and knew how I'd reacted to that. I know that each surgery is different and people are all different but for the most part I think it's pretty normal to be back at work about 4 days afterward (if your job isn't physical - from what my doctor told me).

My doctor and his partner assist on each others surgeries plus the both take turns assisting with the new doctor they added to their practice. They've don'e over 500 combined but both been there for all of them. Maybe you should ask if your doctor will have another (maybe more experience doctor) with him during you surgery. My doctor said it's standard practice for them.

Wow! That's amazing surgery. Did they move your port for the tummy tuck? Also, you look great... I had a breast lift and they made me have stupid ole' gauze sewed onto my nipples for about 3 weeks. I was gross... You're look all perfect already and mine looked like someone beat my boobs with a stick. They were ok after they healed though.... Bad news is I need a new breast lift since I've gained so much and it's all went right back... mine was about 5 years ago.