silvers320

I dont think its cheating because you do still have to choose to excerise, and choose what to eat. But I do think you have an advantage that the non banded members do not have. It as if I say we are going to do a car race with Ford Escorts and you want to join in but only have access to a Nissan 350z. They both require skill and gas but one does have an advantage. Maybe they would be comfortable giving you a 10 pound handicap. I think thats what they do in golf if you have two differnt skill sets playing.

I love comments like that because it show just how uneducated people are, and yet they feel that they should but in thier two cents. My reply is a standard - "Well is a pacemaker an easy way out" or "Or HBP meds" - which every one say "Of course not". Then why should I not benefit also from 200+ years of medical research!

Mine too - it cracks me up. This is the link to the More to Love/ Fall Previews The Soup: Go Big or Go Home | E! Online And as if the video wasn't funny on its own - its presented by LEAN CUISINE!!

If you enjoy this thread the way I have check out this week's THE SOUP on E!. It cracked me up. And I thought this group would get a kick out of it. About 1/2 thru they bust on More to Love, and Dance your ass off. I actually watched it twice!!

Goat Cheese Meatloaf -- two of my favorite things - Goat Cheese and Meat - Please give it up ? What else is in there? And when do you get your own time slot of the food channel?

You had a rough experience and I am sorry for that. But I have to ask you a few questions: 1. You know your body better then anyone else. Why did you wait 4 weeks before going to see/ DEMANDING to see the doctor? I get that you wanted to see if it would loosen up - but 4 weeks? I ask you this because I see people that "dont want to bother" the Doctor - "Hes too busy" etc. Thats BS! They provide a service. And if were in a hotel and they put you in a room next to a bunch of parting kids - you would demand change, no? Then way is your body less important? 2. What about you did the new Doctor say was the reason that the band would not work for you? Did he learn something new about you that the Old Doctor didnt know? Just wondering. Is this worth it? For many people (including me) without a doubt, it was 100% worth it. I had some problems but I would also never be happy if I pb-ed everyday, or threw up for a month. As to talking to your friend - this isnt an easy road and you shouldn't sugar coat your experience. Be honest. They is good and bad in everything Good Luck.

I am sure if I did the math -my food bill dropped. I was a huge fast food, sandwich, deli, and pizza shop guy pre-band. Once I moved over to regular food post band my actual grocery store bill went up but my total food bill dropped. You will be shocked at how many meals one package of ground beef becomes. However, I did spend more money on "better" things within the store also. Meaning the can keep the 3 for a $1 dollar nasty yogurt give me the $2.00 per yogurt good stuff. At the end of the day what you might end up in saving in total food is going to have to go towards the purchase of new pants. So don't plan for any savings!!!

I live in NY but was banded in CT too. Greenwich hospital here, 7/2008. So am a 1/2 a CTer too

Over the last 3 or 4 days I have seen the ads for the latest Domino's offering - pasta, covered in cheese, wrapped in bread dough. After days of watching, my interest was peaked.....while I could find the price within seconds- 15 minutes of trying to find the nutritional info and I finally gave up! Granted - A year ago, I am not sure I would have cared but a little education goes a long way Now I believe every food as a time and a place but do we really need this???

I do 1/2 CL ice tea and 1/2 CL lemonade. Its a nice change up from water

Let me tell you the dehydration is no joke. It came over me quick - mostly because I didnt know the warning signs - muscle spams, fatigue etc. But I passed out on a subway - hit my head on the floor, spent the morning in the ER! As bad as it was - I was lucky - what if I had been driving? Point being - watch the water table!!!

I can relate. I had those same issues/concerns but not until the day after my surgery. My issue was not so much what I ate but the volume. I was never happy with a cookie, I needed 1/2 a bag at a sitting. It's hard to explain, or describe but the band works for many folks- myself included. Did I change what I was eating - yes. But know I now that I could not have changed the volume of what I was eating without the bands help. I know this because I had been trying for 20+ years. And as the weight dropped - and I was starting to see results, I found the time for the gym. To the point that I actually enjoy it. No one can make the choice for you. And you should consider the other WLS. Best of luck

It sucks when you seem to be doing everything right and the weight still seems to be working against you. As a general rule - I eat pretty balanced on a day to day basis, but here are some things that worked for me to break the plateaus: 1. I would log my food. I know it takes time but the insight can be really helpful. You dont have to do it forever but just to see what your intake. I used the DailyPLate.com and it made the task tolerable. 2. I would throw in a couple of days of protein shots from GNC. 3.If I had been eating normally (say around 1500 calories) then I pump up the calories for a couple of days, then I drop it back to 1500. 4. I found interval cardio really helpful. Its all about tricking the body. Good Luck -I hope you find something that works for you.

I used to look at unanswered posts when I had the free time and try and answer some of them. My thought was that if someone took the time to ask a question - they should get at least one answer. Anyway with the addition of forums for intros, and doctors, I can not longer do a quick search to get this answered posts. I can't believe that I am the only one who has this problem.

I used to be a footwear buyer for a small sporting goods store. At the time - about 10 years ago, the biggest Nike made was EEE in very limited models - around 6 or 7. Reebok was the same in terms of width but did have a few other models. I believe if you live near a town that as a Niketown they have a machine that will make a ditigal print of your foot and will make a custom shoe for you - but its crazy expensive.

I'll tell you that my fixation of the insurance company approval, turned into fixation on having the actual surgery. This became a fixation new food & nutrition (I used the early stages of mushie etc to learn about calories/portion etc). So about 4 months after surgery I was a little worried that I had swapped my fixation on white breads and carbs into a LAPBANDTALK and general lapband fixation. The good news is that at a little over a year post surgery - life is returning to normal. Actually a new normal- the band is a part of me and we work together. But I dont fixate on it.

For the most part I am anti- reality shows, but I had to watch this. And what a train wreck.... 1. Did we need to know the girls weights? I mean you could tell they were not size 2s. Did it add anything to the show to know that they claimed to be 220lbs? 2. As with all fat folks the second thing they said to each other was "What's ur favorite food". I know that has always been my go to pick up line. Well right after "Need more blue cheese" 3. Felt it was a little heavy (no pun) on the "No one loves me cause I am fat" and a little light on the "I like me for me" 4. Loved when they took back the rings. I give you my heart - WAIT stop - NOW I need it back! Classic. 5. After all these years of these types of shows do these people really believe they are going to find the love of thier life here? And after 20mins? Maybe I am just hard hearted. Part of me doesn't know if I can sit through another hour of this but part of me wants to see how many fat sterotypes play out.

Its a year tomorrow, and I have lost about 117 lbs. Would love to lose another 5 but if it never happens, that's cool too. I was pretty luckly only had two fills - can still eat everything, just not in the Fred Fintstone quantities I used to.

If your insurance company has a 4 month wait period - I doubt there is anything your Urologist is going to tell them to move that process along. From an insurance company's point of view - the more they drag it out, the hope is that most of the folks drop and therefore save them money. About the testing- is it possible these items are required by the WL institute? I know I had to the sleep and stress testing. It might also lead to things that would help the case with the insurance company. This is a major change in your life. Four months will really seem like nothing 6 months post op as you learning to re-eat/ change habits etc.

I cant help with the back pain - as I have a bad back for years. But I had port replacement about 4 months after it was installed. After the new port was installed, I ended up with a huge seroma, by the new port. It has been about 6 months and it is only just recently started to break up on its own. Good luck.