Kathi

O.k.. I don't know who has tried these yet, but today I discovered: Barilla brand Multi Grain Pasta. It is high in Protein (17g) and really tasted good. Even better was the fact that it chews up easier and goes down comfortably unlike "real" pasta. Slim Fast High Protein shake. These are new, not the Optima or the regular Meal Replacement ones, but HIGH PROTEIN.

I was a self pay (I had Aetna), for the lapband in April. I have been extremely frustrated with the lack of results. I know that the lapband works for some people, but it really was a waste of $$ for me. I am only down 20 pounds, and have had a dozen fills. I just got a new job that has Cigna so when I saw this post it got me hoping that I could have a revision done to a RNY..... Does anyone know if Cigna HMO will also cover a RNY???

I just heard this morning that Carnie Wilson will be on the next Celebrity Fit Club show on VH1. I don't know if anyone else watches that show, but I do occasionally.

As long as you are able to keep liquids down, I don't see it as a problem. Gurgling has been the "norm" for me since banding. You will lose a little more of the swelling in the next few days and you should be fine. I got too much put in on Tuesday and couldn't swallow my own spit. I had to go back yesterday and have .7cc taken out... I am still not 100% so I may have to get a total unfill if it doesn't loosen up.

I just recently started back on my supplements.... I take Omega 3 fatty acids, pomegranite juice, L-Carnatine, and I drink Green Tea now. Of course I have been taking my multivitamin. Since I started on the supplements I have pretty much lost all restriction....I know that they have have anti-inflammatory properties and I really think that the supplements caused the restriction loss, so I was wondering if anyone else has had the same experience. I noticed that I now am able to eat double the portions that I could when I felt the restriction. That is scary! I am going in tomorrow to have a fill done. I am curious if I lost any of my existing fill amount.

Well... All of my previous fill was in there. We discussed the supplements having an effect on stoma swelling due to the anti-inflammatory properties, and he said that he does think that it contributed to my loss of restriction (as well as the fact that I had lost more weight). He got a little too aggressive with the fill, though.... He put me at 3.2cc's on Tuesday, and I couldn't swallow spit so I had to go back yesterday for a .7cc unfill. Man it is really bad to get too tight! I am still suffering a little, so hopefully the swelling will ease when I can take my supplements again! At least so far I am able to keep the clear liquids down.

I wouldn't give much creedance to a short term relationship that didn't work out. My sister does "power dating" and "falls in love" with almost every guy she dates on the first date... It is really silly and immature to me, it takes time to develope love and it also requires BOTH people to feel it. It could be that it is just not what he is looking for. I certainly wouldn't loose any sleep tonight. There are a lot of men who want to share your life with you. You just have to wait until the time / person is right.

I am VERY lucky in the fill department too, apparently.... My doctor can turn on the x-ray machine and it shows a live picture of my insides so he can see exactly what he is doing the whole time. It is really cool, I have never seen an x-ray machine do a live action picture before. One stick only every time.... Knock on wood.

PB's suck, but you will learn to live with them. No one likes them, alot of people won't even get a fill in their band to try to avoid them, but it happens. I think that band doctors should be more accountable about letting people know what they are in for with these problems.

I know that you have read enough threads on here to realize that ALOT of people suffer from depression after surgery. It is very common, kicks in weeks after you have had the operation. I say just do things that bring you comfort. If you need to keep to yourself, or stay in bed for a day then just do it. Try to get in some exercise though, it will help with the mood.

~Gone for Good Club August Challenge Score Card~ Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. Week 1: 8-02__1__8-03_1____8-04__1___8-05__1___8-06___1__8-07_____8-08_____8-09_____Week's Total_____ Week 2: 8-10_____8-11_____8-12_____8-13_____8-14_____8-15_____8-16_____Week's Total_____ Week 3: 8-17_____8-18_____8-19_____8-20_____8-21_____8-22_____8-23_____Week's Total_____ Week 4: 8-24_____8-25_____8-26_____8-27_____8-28_____8-29_____8-30_____Week's Total____ Bonus earned_____Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 2 For each increment of 30 minutes that you exercise this week, you earn 1 point. Week 1: 8-02_1__8-03_1__8-04__1_8-05__1_8-06___8-07___8-08___8-09___ Week's Total___ Week 2: 8-10___8-11___8-12___8-13___8-14___8-15___8-16___ Week's Total:___ Week 3: 8-17___8-18___8-19___8-20___8-21___8-22___8-23___ Week's Total:___ Week 4: 8-24___8-25___8-26___8-27___8-28___8-29___8-30___ Week's Total:___ Grand Total:___ Points earned for decrease in BMI For each .1 increment your BMI decreases you earn 1 point Starting BMI: 38 (at the start of the challenge) BMI Week 1____ BMI Week 2____ BMI Week 3____ BMI Week 4____ Total decrease in BMI for August___ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 8-02: 242.4 Weigh-in weight 8-09: Weigh-in weight 8-16: Weigh-in weight 8-23: Weigh-in weight 8-30: Total lost during challenge: Total points earned for Rule 1: Total points earned for Rule 2: Total points earned for weight loss: Total Challenge points earned:_____

My stats this week: C- 242 (-13 total, -1 this week)

Well, I have a different opinion with over the counter diet pills (I did the prescription ones too).... I took MANY for appetite control / energy and I really liked to boost they gave me. I am normally a pretty hyper active person, so it just enhanced what I was already doing and helped with the hunger issues to some extent. I STRONGLY suggest to you that you monitor your blood pressure religiously while taking any uppers. I did, and never had an elevated one that is why my Dr never had issues prescribing me the "good" stuff. BTW... I took the Stacker 2 & 3.... They helped with energy only, but the best over the counter one I found is one that I bought online called "Thermadrol".... I would take it now, but I could never get one through my band. I don't even want to try it! Maybe I should empty the capsule into a protein shake and give it a whirl???

I vote "yes" for the 6 days of exercise... I am doing it already anyways. Even though I don't hold out much hope for a big loss in any given month, I do feel great about how good I'm doing with my daily workouts. Even if my scale creeps along I will not loose my momentum with my exercise program. Emilee- Way to go! You should be VERY proud!:clap2:

Wheetsin I had to laugh at what an idiot you have to deal with. She should really listen to what is pouring out of her pie hole. yikes! You are kicking butt, and you know it. Don't worry, the "no strings attached" NSV is soon to follow.

I think that you probably will have extra skin.... One thing I know for sure: Skin won't kill you, extra weight sure will!

I had my surgery to lose weight. PERIOD. The lap band has not helped me lose weight. I have lost ONLY 12 pounds. I have worked alot harder to lose these tweleve measily pounds than I have ever worked in my whole life. I eat properly, I exercise DAILY (really exercise and get my heart rate into "fat burn mode"). I cannot go even a smidge above 1000 calories a day and expect to lose anything. I have found that the "lower complication" lap band is really a pain in my a$$ most of the time. Getting filled perfectly, risk of PB's, risk of a slippage and my port is all completely a complication in my book. There are MANY people on this site who are even afraid to put any fill in their bands at all for fear of PB's or slippage or erosion. I feel really jipped because I wasn't one of the lucky ones who pretty much lost weight without effort initially like alot of people do. I claw and scratch away every pound. I kick myself all the time for not getting a RNY, but I still continue to work my band everyday. I also have the "ticking time bomb" feeling. I will have a different surgery when I have to have ANY kind of follow-up surgery on my lapband.

C 243 (-1 this week) Thanks!

I am also on the "No Sugar" orders.... From what I was told is that sugar adds no nutritional value, empty calories but mostly that it causes you to crave MORE sugar each time you eat even a small amount. I do use Splenda as a substitute, my doctor says that it is great for a substitute, but I have heard other bandsters say to stay away from sugar substitutes because it makes you want sweeter items. I have not found it to be true. I am very happy with my sugar free life right now.

My B day was really nice this year. My kids were awesome and my cake rocked! Although I gained 2.5 lbs over the long weekend (I already lost 1.5 of it by this am) but ya know.... It is no biggie because I am really working hard and I will hit my next mini goal by the end of the month ( to get <241). Back to the B Day.... If anyone is reading this, I welcome your input... I am one of 4 children. I was "given up" when I was 14 years old. "Given up" meaning that my parents gave me up to custody to the state of michigan. I was not a troubled teen, and not ever in any legal trouble. Plain and simply put my parents really never loved me and I sincerely believe that. I was the only one of the 4 children given up by the way. My oldest sister is 8 years older than me and she and her husband petitioned the court for guardianship of me. After about 6 months in foster care, I was sent to live with them in Texas. It took me until this past year to finally put the hurt away and try to reconcile with my mom. My dad died last year and I think that that was the major factor in my decision. I am now 37 years old, so I did not have ANY contact with my parents for 22 years. ANY at all. I never got to speak to my dad again since that day in the courtroom when I was 14. I reached out to my mom. I really do want her to be my mom. I want to believe that she is not a monster anymore. She remarried a nice man, and I really love him. I invited them to come stay with me for a week earlier this spring and they did and it was nice. My kids got to meet their grandparents for the first time. O.K... This is where my B Day comes in.... This was my first B Day since reconciling with my mother and I did not even get a card. She called me on my day, but not even a card. I sent her and my new dad both cards on their B day's and a $50 gift card to a steakhouse. That was alot for me to give, as I am not rolling in the dough but I wanted them to have a nice gift from me. Two things exasperate (sp?) this in my head..... She sends my older sister substantial amounts of money constantly. I am talking so far about $10 k that I know of. No, I don't want her $$ but I don't know how you drop loads of $ on all of your kids and not even send a card to one. She calls both of my sisters all of the time. She never calls me. If I don't call her then we don't talk. I have told her that I want her to call, and hinted that it was hurting my feelings that she calls the other girls and not me but it does not change. Also my oldest son, her first grandchild to graduate, graduated this year. No card. She says she sent a card and a check, but when I told her that it never arrived she did nothing about it. He was pretty hurt by this as well. This is hurting me really bad. It is really reminding me alot of my childhood. I was always left out. Maybe it will help that I wrote that down. I did not sleep last night. I keep checking the mail, even today to see if a card arrives. It is pissing me off that I am letting this hurt me so much. Onward with the weight loss stuff.... I haven't missed a single day of excercise in 3 weeks! I am up to 25 minutes on the dreadmill at 3.3 mph with a 3% incline. I am very proud of that. I can also do the second level of aerobics on my workout dvd (even if I am ready to pass out when I am done, it still counts). O.k... enough drama.

My B day was really nice this year. My kids were awesome and my cake rocked! Although I gained 2.5 lbs over the long weekend (I already lost 1.5 of it by this am) but ya know.... It is no biggie because I am really working hard and I will hit my next mini goal by the end of the month ( to get <241). Back to the B Day.... If anyone is reading this, I welcome your input... I am one of 4 children. I was "given up" when I was 14 years old. "Given up" meaning that my parents gave me up to custody to the state of michigan. I was not a troubled teen, and not ever in any legal trouble. Plain and simply put my parents really never loved me and I sincerely believe that. I was the only one of the 4 children given up by the way. My oldest sister is 8 years older than me and she and her husband petitioned the court for guardianship of me. After about 6 months in foster care, I was sent to live with them in Texas. It took me until this past year to finally put the hurt away and try to reconcile with my mom. My dad died last year and I think that that was the major factor in my decision. I am now 37 years old, so I did not have ANY contact with my parents for 22 years. ANY at all. I never got to speak to my dad again since that day in the courtroom when I was 14. I reached out to my mom. I really do want her to be my mom. I want to believe that she is not a monster anymore. She remarried a nice man, and I really love him. I invited them to come stay with me for a week earlier this spring and they did and it was nice. My kids got to meet their grandparents for the first time. O.K... This is where my B Day comes in.... This was my first B Day since reconciling with my mother and I did not even get a card. She called me on my day, but not even a card. I sent her and my new dad both cards on their B day's and a $50 gift card to a steakhouse. That was alot for me to give, as I am not rolling in the dough but I wanted them to have a nice gift from me. Two things exasperate (sp?) this in my head..... She sends my older sister substantial amounts of money constantly. I am talking so far about $10 k that I know of. No, I don't want her $$ but I don't know how you drop loads of $ on all of your kids and not even send a card to one. She calls both of my sisters all of the time. She never calls me. If I don't call her then we don't talk. I have told her that I want her to call, and hinted that it was hurting my feelings that she calls the other girls and not me but it does not change. Also my oldest son, her first grandchild to graduate, graduated this year. No card. She says she sent a card and a check, but when I told her that it never arrived she did nothing about it. He was pretty hurt by this as well. This is hurting me really bad. It is really reminding me alot of my childhood. I was always left out. Maybe it will help that I wrote that down. I did not sleep last night. I keep checking the mail, even today to see if a card arrives. It is pissing me off that I am letting this hurt me so much. Onward with the weight loss stuff.... I haven't missed a single day of excercise in 3 weeks! I am up to 25 minutes on the dreadmill at 3.3 mph with a 3% incline. I am very proud of that. I can also do the second level of aerobics on my workout dvd (even if I am ready to pass out when I am done, it still counts). O.k... enough drama.

It is funny that you mention this... When I saw a post of MollyMolly's the other day I thought that for sure that the woman looks nothing like her picture anymore thanks to her great weight loss!! AVATAR!!!!

I agree that this behaviour is definately child abuse / neglect. I have a friend that has a daughter that they have taught to eat horribly! She is eleven years old and has been obese since she was 6. They were told when she was 9 that she was pre-diabetic and that she has to have a major change in diet and it never phased them. They don't care whatsoever. The mother says that she thinks that the daughter will just outgrow the weight, and the father complains that the daughter is overweight because the mother lets her eat junk constantly, but he feeds her junk all the time too. I personally feel that this is child abuse. She wears adult plus sized clothes, has hair that is never brushed, teeth that are stained yellow and the soles of her feet are constantly filthy. She is tormented at school about her size and the parents do nothing to help her. What is wierd is that she is the most spoiled child that I have probably ever seen. I feel so sorry for her.

I hit the mini goal that I was tryinig for, two days ahead of schedule!!! I was trying to get below 245 before my B-Day (this Thursday) and I did it!!!!! This morning I weighed in at 244. I have been doing good everyday. I am keeping below 1000 cals, and doing the intermediate level aerobics daily. I am finally seeing progress. Well, it is about damn time! I still haven't added the crunches yet, but that is my goal for later this week. I am loving wearing clothes that haven't been on my bod in about 8 or so months... It really feels great! Including what I lost pre-op my grand total is -21 lbs. only -11 since banding, but at least it is starting to finally come off. It is gonna be tricky to eat a piece of cake and still stay under my 1000 cal limit. I am definately foregoing the ice cream (even the "light"),. My 13 yr old daughter (Stephanie) is making my cake. This will be her first attempt at a cake, but all of her other cooking is excellent so I know she can pull it off.

WOW!!! Major accomplishment, and good for you!