Northernsun

I am so sorry to hear that. After all the pre stuff was finished and to find that out is heart breaking. Is there any appeal process especially if you have any co morbidities? Which insurance co? i am sure it is less expensive there then in Minneapolis for the surgery. Does your doctor have any kind of payment plan you can do? I was banded a yr ago and i am making my last payment on the part the insurance co didn't cover this month. Worth checking out......

Missy- i am just part way in to Dream Hunter and had high hopes for it as I also love her books. So far it seems that something is just "off"- can't put my finger on it but the characters don't feel right somehow. It is too easy to put down and walk away- something that rarely happened with the dark hunter books. Also waiting for Ash's story!

There is a Minnesota thread that has been posted to recently- look below under forums. Which dr are you using? Mine was done at U of M fairview hospital. Welcome to the group!

I started exercising about a month ago using the elastic bands (bodylastics) and using their circuit training dvd and I am really ( to my dismay!!) enjoying it. I do this 6 mornings a week and in the evening I walk the dog and on days we don't go out ( -30 wind chill is a really good reason not to go out!) I ride the bike. While my knees have improved greatly with the weight loss, they are still not good enough to do squats or lunges. What targets thighs? I know they are smaller then they were but I need to buy a larger size just to fit them and then the tops of my jeans need a belt! Also as I get "looser" my thighs are heading for my knees! Looks like another summer of long shorts! Any suggestions?:cry

Congrats! Great start! it only gets better from here. I have had a ball this past year. When i first started i had fun shopping "in the back of my closet". Now there is nothing left. Every Wow! I can wear that now or Wow my knees don't hurt as much has been a joy. Enjoy the trip!

I am deciding on whether i will do some cosmetic surgery when I get to that point- normal stuff- arms, stomach and/or thighs and I know i will have to start saving to pay for this. It is a very comforting to know that when I get to that stage I will be rich and well to do according to State Rep Phyllis Kahn in Minnesota who wants to start charging the 6.5% sales tax on cosmetic surgery because - here it comes- "those woman are well to do and can afford it!" :mad: I will have to save a long time to afford this. She did say the tax would not be charged on reconstruction surgery from accidents or burns. Meanwhile, those of us who scrimp and save to have some work done may in the future have to save 6.5% more. Sure hope they spend time on more important bills then this one and let this one die a horrible death!

I am not sure anything will get rid of them except surgery but i keep trying by loosing more weight and doing tricep excersises in my normal routine. I figure I will never were sleeveless shirts!

Wow! I was planning on running an errand in the middle of the race but stayed glued to the tv the whole time. ( well except for my normal 20 min nap- I do wake up if they start shouting when something goes wrong) As disappointed as I was when Tony got taken out i was even more disappointed when Martin lost by a nose. We were actually standing and yelling at the TV! I have never been to a race in person at the NASCAR tracks- go to the local ones occasionally.DH has been and says we need to go that i would love it. Probably would but where would I take my mid race nap??!!

I had set a goal for myself of at least 100 lbs by my banding date but missed it by 8 lbs. Really bothered my till my Dr (again) told me how good I was doing and (again!) gave me the didn't gain it all in a yr speech. The month is not over yet and I am nearer- now need 5 lbs to make it. I was finally able to start excersising and that has helped get the scales moving. Whether I make the 100 this month or not, the changes a yr have made are incredible and I am looking forward to the changes this next yr will bring. Oh my, It has been fun! Just by reading all the different posts I have finally gotten it through my head that we are all different- some of us will loose faster and some slower and just because someone has lost the same amount in half the time does not deminish what I have done personally. If we were all the same what a boring world this would be!!

I would distrust anything that has amazing in the name! They generally are not.......

I also bought the liquids but being the cheap person I am, I made it almost a half a bottle before I couldn't even open the bottle again because of the smell! I dreaded even looking at it and it really felt good th pitch the rest! I went to the GNC chewables and the taste is good and I have no complaints. Stay away from the liquid!!

Tho I really believe in Tony this year - his experience and desire after last year will put him at the top- I admit to a soft spot and a desire to see Sterling Marlin and Kyle Petty do well. Sometimes you just have to root for the underdogs and you can't get much more "under " then them!! Also sorry, I know I will really upset some people, but I would love to see a repeat of last year for Jeff Gordon!

I am new to this thread but not to racing. I agree ! This is Tony's year and he will take the chanpionship. I tried to go back an read some of the old posts to see if I was going over old ground, but is anyone else not happy with Jarret and Waltrip driving Toyotas? They were both some of my favorites but I am not caring much for Toyotas. Just doesn't seem right.....

Thanks Kat! I will add that to my morning routine. I know it is just takes time but sometimes i am not good at waiting for results!

Welcome! 39 lbs is a great start! There are a lot of things that don't agree with people but plenty of people here to tell you what is to be expected, and "normal" Good place to get support and learn all about the joys of being banded. Where were you banded?

Hi Kim I have nothing but good things to say about Dr Lederer and his staff. Had my surgery a yr ago and would do it again in a heartbeat. Everyone is very supportive and great to work with!

I met my DH at a bar one night where we talked for 3 hrs straight and he came home with me that night and never left. Soon his clothes started appearing then the stereo ( I didn't have one so it was really appreciated!) and before you knew it he was always there. We lived together for over a yr and finally decided to get married. We have been married for 32 yrs and he still is my only and my best friend and I can safely say he feels the same about me. Aw the memories we have of that time! What worked for me worked for me. I am a "whatever floats your boat" kind of person. We are all so diverse in our beliefs and feelings, how can anyone be right or wrong? I explained all the birds and bees stuff from a young age with my daughter and saw her on the pill when she was ready to think about sex. And there my knowledge ended and that is fine with me. I still get the OH mom! when my dh and I laugh at a chance remark or give the look. It is her life and her decision to make- just as it is each and everyone of ours.

As big as I was people look at me really funny ( which makes me giggle inside) when I tell them I used to own horses and was a barrel racer and poll bender. I have the trophies to prove it all tucked away in a trunk. I haven't been on a horse for a lifetime and would really like to ride again. I will think about it when I get down to wonderland. Basically I just want to do everything I want to do!

I was glad to see this thread- I am waiting for my newly purchased one to come from an ebay seller. I hope I can figure out how to get the most out of it but if I have problems, will come back here and ask the experts!

Rice is one of my favorites but I dont do much of it- spent too many years low carb and old habits are hard to break. I have a really hard time with noodles tho- they seem to get stuck a lot. I think it is because they go down too easy so don't get chewed up all the way.

I have always slept naked- i also hate getting tangled in clothes at night. When it gets really cold there is nothing like snuggling to warm you up! Without pj's you warm up the space under the covers faster and when i get the night sweats I can just throw off the covers for a few minutes.

Sunta, there are many people who share your views. I have been following this thread but have not posted because i make it a rule of life that my beliefs are my own. If I would have jumped in, it would have resembled your post. Thank you.

Not only are you not too old, you will feel so much younger after you get the band and loose the weight. I am 54 have been banded for a yr and would do it again in a heart beat. Other then the obvious weight loss, the most important thing for me was regaining my joy of life. I lost that somewhere and forgot just how much fun life can be!

Two things- one has been stated- don't let yourself get too hungry - I also tend to bolt my food when i am hungry and then pay for it. Slow is always the key. Now if i could just remember that! Second and most important is DON"T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF!! Everyones loss is different. it is learning how you relate to your band and how to make it work for you. My dr tells me this all the time when i complain i am not doing good enough and it is too slow. It is almost 1 yr and 95 lbs and he is more then pleased so i should be also. Now, do as i say, not as i do!!!

I always thought doing excersise was abit like having a root canal but i know i needed something to go with my walking so first i bought a recumbant excersise bike and then got the bodylastics bands and started working out with them every morning with their dvd. Ok, so i admit it, i kind of enjoy it and it does get me moving in the morning and i am awake when i get to work. While my knees are much better i still can not do the full squats or any lunges - just too much pain - but everything else is going fine. I wish i could share the look on my dh's face the first morning when he saw me doing this- i am sure he then went looking for flying pigs.......