JulieNYC

Denial, anger then acceptance -- the normal pattern of grief, right? I'm thrilled for you and your successes. Congratulations on clearing that huge emotional hurdle with style and grace. I can't wait to read your future post about throwing out those 18s as well. You're doing great!

Trystelle, I know exactly how you feel. When I first came to LBT, I spent most of my time on the Extraodrinary Bandsters thread because I felt "normal" there, where everyone had more like 200 or more to lose instead of the "average" 100 or 150 lbs found on the rest of the boards. I don't think I was so much jealous of those people, but it made me DEPRESSED about how long my own journey would be. That's one of the things that got me in so much trouble with my weight to begin with -- when I got to where I needed to lose 150 lbs, I thought it was SUCH a long road that I'd never make it, so why bother, and I gained another 70 lbs at that pity party. Anyway, I do agree wholeheartedly with Wasa. This is a journey not a destination and I learned more about myself in losing 200+ than I would have with less. There is something different about having lived life at 350+ than there is having lived life at 250+ -- I know -- I've been at both places. It's now part of who I am and what my life experience is. Honestly, as hard as it has been, I'm not sure I'd trade it. I'm starting to like who I am, flaws and all. Anyway, I'm not sure how responsive this post has been to your initial thoughts. Suffice it to say that I understand the jealousy and I think it's normal. Now that you're -98, you're already a major success and you know the path to goal. Hang in there.

OK, so I had a minor run in with my Dad last night. Sometimes he can be a complete jerk (I realize I'm venting)! He's a surgeon through and through -- all about the surgery and not so interested in the patient's feelings. Anyway, I've been pushing the idea of breast implants at the time of one of my thigh lifts. I really feel I want them. My breasts are so deflated. I don't want large breasts, but I'm down to a small B and I'd like to be a small or mid C. Anyway, his point has always been to wait 6-9 months from the thighs and adjust to that body before I make more changes. My point is I'm ready to be DONE with surgery and I KNOW I want implants, so I don't want to wait. I think 2008 is going to be about me accepting my body, for better or for worse and I don't want to waste another year living in a body I know I'm going to improve and buying a whole new set of clothes that I know won't fit once I have the implants. Anyway, we had a run-in about it. There's no medical reason I can't have them. His point is cost -- that playing "musical implants" (his words) costs a lot of $$. Implants themselves cost a couple of grand. My point is I'm glad to spend a couple of grand for the chance that I'll be done with surgery this year. If I'm wrong and I want to go bigger or smaller later -- which I don't think will happen -- so be it. I'm the one writing the check! Anyway, we've always had money issues between us and I'm sure in the abstract he's right that I should wait. What has me in a twit is that I don't think he's taking the time to HEAR me and my reasons for wanting this now, not 6-9 months from now. I think my reasons are quite good. (And I do think I'll win this one, I'm just annoyed and venting.) Grrrr. Thanks for listening!

My recollection is that it's not a straight "above the line" deduction. Your medical expenses have to equal a certain portion of your income before they become deductible. I don't know what the current percentage is, but when I was in school (a million years ago) it was around 7%.

9.5. I had 10 for a year, then backed out 0.5 at my year checkup because I needed to eat a little more volume (oddly enough) and ahve the pouch empty a little quicker, per my doc. Never had probs at 10, just precautionary. I had 4 at surgery, 6.2 at first fill, 7.6 at second fill, 10 at 3rd fill. Stayed there for just over a year, then backed down to 9.5. I'll probably stay here for life (knock on wood).

I resisted morning exercise for YEARS. I thought I was just one of those people who couldn't work out in the morning and that the world had it wrong when they said to get in your workout in the morning to feel the best and make sure it happened. Every time I'd try, I hit the snooze and made myself miserable trying to get up. Then when exercise really became a part of my daily life, I just had to move it to the mornings to get it done. Now it's habit and I look forward to it. I sleep better, I have better energy in the day. It's "me time" before my day starts and I wouldn't trade it.

Yes, I'm staying with my dad again for the recovery. At least for 2 weeks. I hope to go home before Thanksgiving, but if it's after, that's ok too. Yes, I'll post the "befores" -- maybe not until I have afters to share as well -- the befores are depressing to me right now. Once I have the afters it won't seem so depressing.

Betty, I'm so sorry you're having such a tough spell. The medical issue with your daughter sounds so scary and I'm glad it's under control. Wow. Just what you needed, huh? Maybe you DO have a leak. You know? I mean this much fluctuation in restriction level just isn't normal. I'll be interested to hear what your tech says. Guess I won't hear until I wake up from my PS, since they're on the same day!

Wow. You know, I read the title of this thread and I thought, I'm going to go find one of my old posts and link to it instead of retyping the same thing again, which is that if you suspect you're overfilled, you're overfilled, plain and simple. Shows what I know, because I actually think you're the first one I've seen whom I don't think is overfilled! Sounds like anxiety. 4 cc's in a 10cc band is almost like nothing. It takes 3-4 cc's to hold the VG in place -- in a neutral position. I have a VG and I had 4 cc's put in in surgery. My first fill took me to 6 cc's. Anyway, give yourself some time. If the anxiety doesn't subside, don't discount there being something else physical going on, but it doesn't sound, from your description, to be that you're overfilled. I can't believe I'm saying that! Good luck and take care,

I'm with Ghost in that losing weight and managing the rest of the things going on in your life are on a balance. Bandsters can lose 100% of their excess weight. I'm at 97% and I plan to get to 100% and stay there. But I have several things going for me that are out of the norm: (1) I live alone and can completely control my food environment at home (no cooking for spouses, etc.), (2) I'm young and healthy so I've become a distance runner, and (3) my father is a plastic surgeon, so I can have the excess skin removed that will take me to goal. Don't settle for 40-60% if you don't want to. But likewise, the price for getting from, say 85% to 100% may not be worth the life sacrifice for some people -- maybe even most people. And that's ok. Life is a balance. Coming from 350+ or from any weight that merits banding, weighing, say, 155 when some table says you should weigh 136 (as an example for a woman my age who is 5'2) is an extreme success. Find your balance.

I'd bet the farm on you needing a fill. Finding the right fill level is the key to making the band work (whether too much or too little fill). Other than being busy (as we all are), do you think there may be other reasons why you waited a year to get a fill? There may be issues there that you want to think about and see if they're getting in the way of your future success. And 55 lbs is great. Congratulations!

Yeah. Losing, where'd you get a picture of my arm! Actually, my arm is worse. Seriously. I'm going to take some "befores" tonight. Now that surgery is NEXT WEEK. Oh my goodness -- I'm so ready to have this behind me....

I did my last pre-marathon race today. It was a 5 miler that I ran in 45 minutes. That's 9 minute miles even. WOOHOO! It was so incredible. This was the marathon week "kickoff" and the race ran the last 5 miles of the marathon course, including ending at the actual finish line where they have all the bleachers set up, etc. It was SO AMAZING. I can't wait for next week. Yall have to watch the recap on TV, OK? I'll post details. Hugs,

Marys, You have no idea how happy I am to see your post! I'm so glad for you and you know LBT is always here to help. The new job sounds great too! All the best, Julie

So, the marathon taper (i.e. when you quit running so much in the 2 weeks before the race to store your energy) is really hard! All I want to do is run! My ankle is appreciating the break though, so that's good. Other than that, no news. 10 days to the marathon.

I was really worried about that pre-TT and it wasn't an issue. I was worried because I'd just started running about 2 months pre-TT and I spent such a long time working up to being able to run 3 miles that I just couldn't fathom having to start from scratch again. I remember getting on the treadmill at week 6 and saying "I'm just going to run 30 seconds" like at the beginning of the training. I ran the 30 seconds, then kept going for about 5 miles. It was awesome! So, no, my cardio definitely stayed with me during the recovery. My trainer said I lost a little strength, but that it only took about 2 sessions to get me back to my old weights. I couldn't tell a difference, certainly not for long. In short, my exercise routine was dramatically improved by my PS, not hurt.

Exactly, exactly, exactly! Quit eating the SECOND you think you CAN (i.e. satisfied not stuffed) -- don't wait until you're overfull, be it at 15 min or 30 min. It took me months to get that straight. You'll feel so much better once you can master that.

After the TT, I took 3 weeks completely off -- no exercise at all. Then I did 3 weeks of LIGHT walking. At week 6 I was released to run and strength train again. I'm very worried about this for the next surgery because I'm likely doing #2 and #3 exactly 6 weeks apart, which likely means 12 weeks of almost no exercise. I signed up for a 1/2 marathon in late April to make sure I get back into it this spring....

I think there's probably an ethical wall for referral bonuses between patients and doctors. I've never thought about that before, but for lawyers there is.... I bet we can come up with some other lapband related ideas to pay for PS, new clothes, etc....

I've got a seatbelt extender (for a plane) that needs a good home. Whomever PMs me first with their address, it's yours. I'll even throw in (US domestic) postage because I "borrowed" it from the airline and that'll be my penance!

You cause me pain, Jackie! (wink) It's not a "few weeks yet" -- it's 2 weeks 1 day and 12 hours! Hahaha. I could put that in minutes for you, if you'd like! (Excited, anyone? Uhm, yeah, maybe just a little!)

I'm so, so sorry. That's just a bummer plain and simple. Hang in there. Your body is fabulous just as it is and you'll enjoy it just as it is until you can get rescheduled.

Thanks guys. I'm doing better today! Marathon in one week and six days -- WOOHOO! Then surgery practically HOURS after that (96 hours, but still). Things are looking UP in my life, man problems or not. I do appreciate the support. It came at a great time and I thank you.

I tripled it when I did it and that really helped (meaning, I did each "day" three times before moving to the next step). It made me feel like I was doing something but I was losing enough weight so that I didn't hurt myself by the time I was actually running the longer segments. Get released to exercise, then go at your own pace. Never run 2 days in a row and don't run through pain. Cardio stress is fine, some discomfort WHILE running can be expected at first, but if you have pain after running, back it off until your body can handle it. The goal is to be able to run for years and years to help combat this weight we all struggle with. Running is a MAJOR tool, if you can make use of it! (I'm running the NYC marathon on November 4th -- one week and six days from now. I started with the couch to 5K plan in January of this year, so it really, really can work!)

Like the others, even though I was a high BMI patient, I wanted a tool that would be adjustable FOREVER, not just another method for quick weight loss (I'd had successes losing before through Nutrisystem and Optifast and I was looking to head off the regain). I also wanted to let my body absorb foods naturally unless I couldn't be successful, in which case I'd still consider bypass if that ever proves to be the case. Hopefully I'll never know. As for PS, PS's will tell you that losing slow or fast won't affect your skin issues in the long run. If you lose slowly, your skin has time to shrink WHILE you're shrinking, so you may look a little better during the process. But if you lose quickly, your skin will still contract just as much, it's just that it might be a little saggier during the loss phase. In other words, 2 years out, both the ones who lost quickly and the ones who lost slowly will come out the same (assuming a healthy loss in both instances). Don't worry about PS at this stage. I need a lot of it, have had some of it, and loose skin at its worse is still better than carrying 200+ extra lbs, as I was. Thigh lift on Nov. 8 -- can't wait!