QueenV

Is anyone interested in participating in a study group using GeNeen Roth's book WOMEN GOD AND FOOD? This would take place in Knoxville. If you're interested contact me at: McDonaldva@aol.com:smile2:

Yes!! Are you the guy sitting next to me that likes venison? I was so glad we had other bandsters there last night. Ususally it's just me. I find the group very helpful. Sometimes it is hard to watch the bypass people shrink so rapidly. My brother just had surgery 4 months ago and has dropped all his weight. I just refuse to go there...I have to use the tools I have. Keep comming back! Victoria

Did anyone catch Carnie Wilson on Dr. Oz on 2-4? She has gained a lot of her weight back after gastric bypass. She's asking Dr. Oz for help getting her weight under control. He challenged her to take personal responsibility for her health--drop fad diets, commit to 10,000 steps a day and using a pedometer. I wish the segment had been longer and addressed the issues and challenges of those who have had bariatric surgery. Comments?

I'm going to keep posting until I get some kind of response. If I only ate when I was hungry I never would have had the need for bariatric surgery. A big part of my recommitment to my lap band tool is to take responsibility for my actions and attitude. Am I eating my protein first? Am I noting my portion size? Am I moving and exercizing? Am I grazing unconsiously? Am I really hungry or am I anxious? Am I going to support meetings? Am I able to positively advocate for my needs with my doctor, family and friends? Can I be patient? Am I willing to change? Just for today...I am.

Part of doing it differently for me is to be a poster, rather than a lurker. The Tennessee board doesn't appear to be very active--at the present time. Just for today...I will eat three correctly proportioned meals and drink my fluids.

My brother had gastric bypass surgery in September 2009. I elected to go with him to his support group meetings at UT Hospital in Knoxville. The group consisted on bariatric surgery hopefuls, and post surgical bypassers and lap banders. Lynn Moreland, group facilitator,mentioned that one advantage that lap banders had was the ability to start over at any point post surgery. I considered myself to be a lap band failure. Initially I had lost some weight after my surgery, but I never felt I I much restriction. I didn't attend to support group at the hospital where I had the surgery due to distance and night blindness. I knew I had a tool, but I was clueless about how to use it effectively. Lynn's comment really galvanized me. I made an appointment for a fill (less than weeks before Christmas) and started over. I've lost 11 lbs, have not missed a support group meeting and have an apopointment with my surgical/fill doctor Jan.26. I'm doing it again and I'm doing it differently this time.

After almost one year without a fill I went to Dr. Ray in Blount Co. for a fill. My port had flipped and Dr. Ray worked on it for over an hour. We were using flouroscopy and utilizing a local anesthetic and increasingly larger needles. He was successful in flipping it back into the correct position. I was grateful for his patience. Now I'm tight and losing.

Hi Skyeblu, After reading your post I ordered THE SUCCESS HABITS OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY PATIENTS by Colleen Cook. Where was this book two years ago when I was starting out? My doctor gave me a copy of WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY FOR DUMMIES. I knew most of the band post-op rules, but I had no ideas why they were rules. With such little understanding I never followed the rules with any consistency. I am so damn lucky that I had a Lap band procedure. I can get back on track! This book explains everything. Thank you so much for that suggestion. Tomorrow is my 55th birthday. I'm having the cottage cheese test for Breakfast. QueenV

This is my first posting. I have lurked for over two years. I had my lap band surgery May 2006. I was self pay. It took almost a year and four fills to even get any restriction. I wasn't agressive enough--I didn't know what I should be feeling and my doctor wasn't much help.So last summer I started loosing weight--slowly. I went down thirty pounds and was feeling pretty good about myself. In the fall of 2007 We found out my Dad had lung cancer. I was a heavy smoker, a pack and a half a day. How could I support my Dad while I was puffing away. I went to my doctor and I got a perscription for Chantix. I battled back and forth on smoking -- but it has been over two months since I had a single puff. I weaned myself off the Chantix. I recently had the courage to get back on the scale. I've gained back my thirty pounds. So here I am , two years post surgery, right back where I started BUT I AM SMOKE FREE. I resolve to get back to basics. I will go back to the liqid diet for one week and just start over. I will stop lurking. Hell, I stopped smoking. I can do anything. Queen V