Cindy C

Strap on some ankle weights!

I know how you feel. I used to be the queen of pizza. I was in the local gas station/pizza joint last week paying for my gas. I thought I was going to be sick from the sight of the slices for sale! I looked at them and all I could see was the slime it would certainly cause!

Why indeed? If I had a spare $5000 I would have them! (I'll be 52 in March).

I traded in my food obsession for a scale obsession. In the old days I would open my eyes in the morning and my first thought was, "what am I gonna eat today?" And I would run for the fridge. After my surgery when the weight started dropping that changed to, "what do I weigh today?" And I would run for the scale. I would see that number and the last thing I wanted to do was eat!

It's mainly caffeine. Might as well save the $30 and drink a pot of coffee.

All I had to have was EKG and blood work.

My doctor says ibuprofen is ok. If you're going to take vicodin you might as well take tylenol. They are both made of acetaminophen.

Think you could turn the faucet off so maybe they can get this game in?

I had my surgery in June, 08. I went for my scheduled fills but never felt any restriction until 4 1/2 months later. Without dieting during that time I lost 60 pounds. I never really had any hunger. I think that during the 8 week post op liquid diet my stomach contracted and I never ate enough to stretch it back out so I never felt hunger. Plus I got so addicted to the numbers going down on the scale that it gave me incredible incentive!

The camera doesn't lie! Just because the scale isn't moving, the inches usually are. Congrats. Keep it up (or down as the case may be!)

In the US, you must be 18 to legally have lapband. I honestly think you should wait until your body finishes developing. You could hit a growth spurt and thin out naturally. It happened for my son. He started gaining weight at about 8-9 years old. By the time he was 11 he was 5'7" and zeroing in on 200 pounds. At 13, he started to get taller and by the time he started high school, he was normal size. Now he is 21, 6'3" and about 185. You need to do what you, your parents and your doctor decide is best for you, though. Rest assured that lapband is the least invasive of the bariatric surgeries and therefore the safest. The mortality rate is less than 1:1000. At your young age, you should be perfectly fine. Good luck on your journey.

You can try all those things that people have suggested and they will give you minimal, temporary relief. At the risk of sounding like a broken record I will say this once again.....GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR! Have him adjust your mid-back. The "cracking" sound you hear is the sound of gas being released from your joints and that is exactly what's causing the pain. It will give you instantaneous relief! Of course the gas will build back up and you will need to go back about every 2-3 days for the first couple weeks.

Very well said, Jacqui. I could not agree with you more!

Protein does help boost your metabolism but you need a little fat and carbs with it in order to get it to absorb properly.

I'm the exact same age as you and yes, the weight loss has caused wrinkles! It's not just my face. It's also my thighs, arms and boobs. When I can afford it I may get a little Botox. If not, it's not so bad. I would much rather have the saggy, wrinkly skin than have it filled in with fat! Congrats on the weight loss so far. You look wonderful!

Hi, Mindy. Welcome. There is really nothing to be frightened of. You are doing the best possible thing you could do for yourself. I wish lapband had been available when I was 18! Good luck to you!

Oh, Honey, with your health issues added to your BMI of 37 you should certainly have this done. Ignore the naysayers. They usually don't have a clue what they're talking about. You're a medical person and know full well where you're headed if you keep up the way you are. You'll be so happy once the weight starts falling off and you come off of the meds. Everything you are being treated for is reversible and weight loss is the way to reverse them. Good luck with your surgery and your journey!

No, it's not just you! It honestly disgusts me to watch other people eat. Probably because I know I used to do the same thing.

That's great, Sally. Keep it up!

I always order soup when I go out with other people. I don't want to take the chance. My closest friends know what happens but I don't really give them all the gorey details, except for one friend who is also banded. We always know when it happens to each other. We've even gone into the bathroom together and held each others hair!

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/

Name, real or screen~ Cindy Age~ 51 Weight on October 1st~ 177.8 Goal Weight for October 29th~ 174 Personal Goal for October~ Get a jump on holiday shopping Date Banded~ 6/10/08 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~147

Creamed soups, thin mashed potatoes, thin oatmeal or cream of wheat....pretty much anything without lumps that is a consistency that can go through a straw.

French Fries are the Devil!

Thought I would move this over here so we wouldn't take over other threads.