KSBandster

Congratulations Cate! :clap2:

Congratulations Angela!! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Congratulations Angela!! :clap2::clap2::high5::high5::whoo::whoo:

Robyn- You look great!! :wow2: Congratulations again on such an amazing accomplishment!! :clap2:

Robyn- Congratulations!!! :clap2: :high5: :whoo: :hail: :first: :humble::cheer2: :scared:

Hi gals! I'm back...the reunion was fun, but I'm tired from all the running. Glad to hear your dog is doing better Angela!! I'm all for meeting up and going to a different support group...or having our own. I'd just like to go somewhere and feel welcome. What's the plan for the 6th? Do we have a time in mind??

Hope you all had fun at dinner after group, sorry I couldn't join you. I'm all packed and ready (as I can be) to go to the family reunion. :rofl: Angela- I hope your dog is better, please let us know how he's doing. :hug: Diane- Thanks for the sample of your puddings. I will definitely be trying the chocolate peanut butter one...very good. :hungry: Pat- It was nice to meet you, sorry I didn't recognize you earlier. :nervous Cynthia- It was nice to finally match a face with the name & nice to meet you too! :rofl: I'll check in with you all when I get back in town on Sunday! Everyone have a great weekend!!

Angela- The powders will be fine. I think I've got most of the things I'd need to try your special blends. I can't wait to try something different!! :hungry: Panera is close to the corner of 75th & Antioch, almost at the end of that strip mall across the street from the Georgetown center. I'll be there and it sounds like Diane is joining us too! :confused: Robyn- I'm with Holli...I want to go on vacation with you next time! Sounds like fun!!

Angela- If you want to bring in a few of your favorite mixes, I'd be more than happy to try them!! They all sound pretty good, how about just pick your favorite 3 or 4 and bring those? :jaw: I needed the ideas to jazz up my protein shakes. I've moved to the Isopure Low Carb Chocolate. I'm using Holli's no-carb trick of using cream and water to mix it with. It's way better than the zero-carb vanilla version, but it's still kind of bland. I end up chugging it down while I read my e-mail in the morning. I'll have to check our Wal-Mart for the one you recommended. I'll be at Panera between 4:45 and 5pm, so I'll see you and whoever else shows up then!!

OMG Holli...:omg: That sounds really scary. :fear: I wonder how many band patients the ER has had to deal with? I guess I always assumed one of the band docs would have to do an emergency unfill. Did you go to SMMC? I hope you're doing better now and that it never happens again. It makes no sense to me why one meal is ok and the next meal becomes the PB from hell. That is one of the things I worry about the most, living with the band, you just never know which bite could be 'the one'. You poor thing, I just can't get over you having to go to the ER.....scary!! And 3 HOURS of pain!! :hug:

Holli- I'd checked out that site back when hubby and I were on Atkins a few years ago. There used to be (& I assume still is) a way to sign up for their free e-magazine that has recipes, tips and product recommendations. One of the reasons I got burnt out on all those recipes is that I can't stand the taste of Splenda and hubby can't either. Most of the recipes I got from low-carb sites all use Splenda to cook with. It just tastes like chemicals to me. I'd prefer just to eat the real thing in smaller portions. Has anyone ever tried cooking or baking with Stevia?? I'm not sure what exactly it is, but I've read a few places that it's a great natural alternative to sugar.

Diane- You're more than welcome to meet me before group. I don't know who else is coming for sure....Angela?? Robyn?? Cynthia?? I had thought of Panera because it's quicker than an Applebee's or Chili's type restaurant, and since group starts at 6, I thought that would be a good thing. And, it's right across the street, easy to find. If anyone can think of another place they'd rather meet, that's fine too. I haven't tried the egg souffles from there yet, but I've heard they are really good. I stick to the soup and salad/sandwich combo. I have a hard time with bread sometimes, so it's usually a salad or the inside of the sandwich. This may be a dumb question, but do you just mix your protein powder in with your pudding once it's made? I make pudding from a box, instead of buying the ready-made stuff. How much do you add? I'm trying to get back in the habit of a protein shake every morning, but they just aren't that great. I need some ideas to get more protein, because I've been losing handfuls & handfuls of hair every day for at least 2 months now. :Cry: I used to shed quite a bit of hair, but this is much more. My husband has even commented, because he's finding it in the drain now. Any good ideas??

Holli- Yes, it's a new ticker. I finally got to move it down a pound and decided it was time for a little change. Cate- Glad to see you made it ok. Good luck on the job hunt!! :gluck: Diane- Good to see you! I do remember you from group!! Aren't you the one who said you mix your Protein powder into pudding or am I totally mixing up my faces and helpful hints? :nervous I haven't made it to the the last couple meetings, but am looking forward to hearing what Dr. Sabapathy has to say this time.

If we meet before, how early do you all think we'd need to meet? If we do go to Panera, it's right across the street from the hospital. Do you think if we met by 5pm, that would give those who might want to grab a quick bite of dinner enough time to eat? :hungry: I can leave work a bit before 5...I could be there as early as 4:30 or 4:45 if anyone else would be there that early. I like the idea of going out afterwards, but I just can't do it this month. I'll have to see about next month, because hubby's bday is the 28th. :biggrin1:

Would you guys be interested in meeting BEFORE support group this month? :eek: I get off work at 5, not too far from the hospital and hate to drive all the way home just to turn around and come back. I also will be leaving town Friday night, so I need to get home after the group to pack. Just wondered if maybe anyone would be interested in meeting, maybe just at Panera across the street from the hospital for coffee or dinner? :hungry: Let me know, because I may want to leave just a little earlier that day to meet up with ya'll.

Holli- Glad to see you're ok. I was really wondering about you at work yesterday. :bananajump: I'll email you a little later. Robyn- I'm happy to hear you're on the mend. Hopefully this will be the last of the surgeries. I'm also glad he was aware of the office situation and was comforting to you before surgery. He seems like a great guy, what small amount of time I've actually talked to him. :Banane20: Did he have to do any repair work to the tear in your stomach or will it just heal itself? That sounds kind of scary. Take care of yourselves and keep us updated. When you're ready, we'll all have to get together in person.

Cate- The last meeting I went to, I think was the first meeting you came too. Not too long before your surgery maybe? I hope we'll all be able to get together before you move!

Wow Wheetsin, that is a pretty scary day. Thank goodness for seatbelts and airbags, even though he's sore...he's alive. I'm glad to hear he's ok, that had to be terrifying for you AND him. Good luck with the police report and let us know how it turns out.

I have United Healthcare. My paperwork was submitted around Christmas and I was approved in early January. I know my Dr has several self-pay patients, but know sure how much the cost is. I live in Kansas, near Kansas City. My doctor is Dr Stanley Hoehn and he's located in Overland Park KS. If you're going to be in the KC metro area, he'd be my recommendation.

I got my band on March 1st and my BMI was 35.7 according to my Dr.'s website. I had my surgery done here in the US and my insurance paid for the whole thing. I'm 35, almost 36, had a co-morbidite of high blood pressure and have been on medication for about 5 1/2 years. I have a history of heart disease on my dad's side and also have had back problems for a little over 2 years. I figure that the insurance company thought it'd be cheaper in the long run to pay for the surgery, and not have to keep paying for medication, doctor visits, chiropractor visits, x-rays, etc. My weight before my kids was always between 140 and 145. At my highest, I reached 218. I've never been able to lose any major amount of weight from any diet and what I did lose, I'd always gain back. The band is a tool for me that will be there when my willpower falters. I was raised with food being a comforting thing and it's the first thing I turn to when I'm depressed or upset or even happy. Food in my family equals love and its very hard to break that cycle. My main goal with the band is to get healthy...to be off my medications, not have constant back pain and feel like being active with my family. That's more important to me than whatever size I end up or whatever the scale says. Of course, being able to feel good about myself again would be a close second. :scared: If you have any questions, feel free to ask...there are lots of friendly people on here that will help you how they can as you make this big decision. Good luck!!

I'd love to see a place where we could exhange clothes. I have sooo many clothes that hopefully I'm going to be outgrowing soon. A lot of my clothes are from Lane Bryant and I hate to just throw out all that money. I love their clothes, but I can't wait to be able to shop somewhere else again...as long as I can still find those stretch jeans. I love Lane Bryant's jeans so much, I'm spoiled now. I can't imagine going back to regular jeans. In fact, I love the way all their clothes fit. I'm gonna have to learn how to clothes shop all over again, and find some new stores. Back on subject...I vote for the message board or whatever would be easiest to get our 'too big now' clothes to someone who can put them to good use for a little while longer. :clap2:

I'm glad to see some fellow NASCAR fans on here. DH & I are season ticket holders to Kansas Speedway, and so far that's the only live racing I've seen. My favorite driver is Tony Stewart, who is also the hubby's favorite. I only have a few driver's that I don't like...I just enjoy watching racing. I finally had to break down and get Dish Network just so I could get the SPEED channel. We always have parties for Daytona and usually for the fall Bristol race, because it's usually right around the hubby's birthday. We also do a family race pool every year, with everyone picking a driver & whoever gets the most points wins the pot. Hubby always takes Tony, so I have to pick someone else to cheer for...this year I have Reed Sorenson. I decided to just pick a rookie...since I always just end up donating my money anyway. It doesn't hurt of course that he's a cute kid. Has anyone ever bought one of those racing cake kits? I've thought about it a few times for hubby's BDay, but didn't know if they'd really turn out that nice.

I'm only 4 days post-op and have just graduated from Clear liquids to being able to have cream Soups. I had some broccoli & cheese Soup tonight, just the creamy part and got about 1/4 cup down. It's the most I've eaten since before surgery. I can't stomach the broth anymore and all the sugar-free Jello or popsicles that I tried to eat made me queasy. I hadn't had anything to eat since yesterday morning, as I'm not feeling hungry and the broth just doesn't taste good. Is this normal? I know I should be eating, but I just can't bring myself to eat the broth..the only thing that didn't make me queasy. I'm starting to crave Peanut Butter, and cheese...not together, but am wondering what the peanut butter is considered. It's listed on my Protein list, but not when I can have it. I think the cheese I can have after 8 days or so. I didn't really feel anything when I was eating the soup tonight, but stopped on my own as I was scared to eat too much. I'm terrified of throwing up or the PB's ya'll describe. Would I be able to blend up the rest of the soup, with the chunkies in it...and eat it? It'll probably be my lunch tomorrow. I have the Isopure Protein shakes, but haven't started drinking those yet.

Thanks for all the good ideas! I made potato soup tonight for the family and just blended some for me. It was great!! They were happy because it was the first time I'd cooked since surgery. My doc's instructions say we can start mushies on day 8; cottage cheese, eggs, thin deli sliced chicken & turkey, mashed potatoes & oatmeal to name a few. I can also have baked fish & tuna at this time. So I think I'll be ok. I set aside enough blended potato soup for tomorrow's lunch and dinner. I am just so happy to eat something that tastes like food. I love the Peanut Butter & banana idea! Bananas aren't on my list until day 23, but I seem to be tolerating things ok...so I may try it a little earlier, but not much! My hubby got worried because I wasn't eating anything...he said something was better than nothing and was encouraging me to try some other stuff. But I'm trying to stick semi-close to the guidelines. I have a family birthday party coming up for my kids in about 2 weeks and they are wanting Mexican food. I've already started planning out what I can eat by then without being very obvious to everyone. My mom is still under the impression that as soon as I lose the weight, I need to have the band removed. My hubby & I both have repeatedly explained to her that it doesn't work that way, but she just shakes her head. I know it's going to be a point of argument with her for lots of time to come. Thanks again ladies!

Hi all- I've been scanning this site for a week or so now, just getting up the courage to post. I'm getting my band Wednesday morning (3/1). I'm excited and scared, just ready to get it over with. I just wanted to send a quick post and thank all of you for sharing the good and the bad about your bands, it really helps those of us who are just starting out. Jennifer :nervous