juno610

I've seen lots of good comments about them too. Good luck! I finally got through to Dr. Krause's office (I'm so impatient! haha!), and I have an appointment for January. I feel so much better

My only resolution this year is to exercise consistently. I'm with Sula on that one -- they usually end up working against me. I'm happy to report that small bites are working. I've been eating better things and actually enjoying it! Tonya -- lasik! That's so exciting! I keep trying to talk DH into, but I think he's still nervous about it. I know 3 people who had it done and they all think it's the absolute greatest thing. Maria

<br /> <br /> I have a set of bands with handles at each end. I like them a lot because you can do many different things. You can put them around something else really really sturdy (I use one of our basement poles) and do chest presses or flys, seated rows, delt flys. My set also came with a little loop with a weight on one end that you can shut in a door -- I use this to do lat pulldowns and tricep pushdowns. It's nice to have variety. Plus, my dumbbells only go up to 10 and the bands give me more resistance than that. I think the tightest one is rated at 30lbs.<br /> <br /> This is the set I have: Block Fitness Systems, Inc. - Home - Gym on the Go-The workout for home or the road I think you may have just inspired me to haul it out again.

Hi Marilyn! You are going to Dr. Krause right? I think I'm going to see him as well. I'm having a hell of a time getting through to the office though. I've left two messages and still have not received a call back. Frustrating!

I agree with you guys about the obsessing too. Well, I had a talk with my nutritionist last night at our support group meeting. She suggested that while I thought I was taking small enough bites and eating slowly, I probably wasn't. We talked a lot about spacial reasoning and how you really sometimes need a concrete thing to compare your food amounts too. One example she gave is how an anorexic might look at 1/2 cup of rice and estimate it at 4 cups. It's all in our heads! So, today at lunch I actually got out a dime and put it next to my plate. I made sure that nothing more than that got on my fork and into my mouth at one time. It went pretty well. I had about 1/2 cup of wonton soup broth, 2 oz of chicken, and 1/3 of an egg roll. I thought was a decent amount of food. Plus, nothing got stuck, and nothing hurt going down. Score 1 for me! I think my barfing comes down to two things: 1) I know I'm going to be tight during my period week. So, slow down, pay attention, and stick to ground meats, cooked veggies, etc. Better to be safe than sorry for a couple days. 2) Go back and practice the basics. Small bites, chew chew chew, eat slow, protein first, etc, etc. I'm supposed to go out to eat tonight, and I'm planning on having steak and veggies, so this will be a good test! My mom has also told me that she has seen what I put in my mouth and there is no way in hell it is a dime-sized bite. There's nothing like my mom for some cold hard objectivity, especially when it comes to me and food.

Ugh, you guys, I barfed for the second time this week! I know it's just my period tightness, but I am SO FRUSTRATED!!! It doesn't help that I am between docs and I feel like I don't have anyone to talk to about it. I almost feel like I need a little unfill. So confused. Anyway, just needed to vent a little bit. Hope everyone else's week is going better!

Hi April!! I missed seeing you these past couple months -- I can't believe I missed two meetings in a row. Looks like I will miss you again this month! I missed October because my sister had her baby that night, and I missed November because I was out of town. I do still plan on coming until they're over. BUT, I hope some of us will still get together regularly on our own. I was going to pick Meguid, but when I called the girl told me I didn't need to come in unless I needed an adjustment. I was a little put off by that because I'd like to actually meet the guy and talk about things -- especially since I'm trying to get pregnant. I just called Krause's office today and left a message but didn't hear back. I'm striking out everywhere! I posted about Meguid on this board, but it seems you are the only person who's been to him! I was really hoping to get more feedback. Seems like people do like Krause, and he is a lot closer to home, so I'm kinda leaning that way. Keep in touch! Maria

Hi Chrishell! We are here! We all tend to post on the same thread (the one titled "Anyone Here") even though we have a whole board to ourselves. I have to admit I wish I had lost a little more this year, but I have no one (and no-THING) to blame but myself. There is still time though. My strategy for the holidays is just to stick to what works, watch my portions, be careful with Desserts, and keep exercising. Glad you checked in! Maria

Have you gone through this thread yet? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/post-op-checklists-things-have-before-surgery-14814/ That is what I based my list off of, and I probably went a little overboard.

I'm up for this. I need some motivation... and some exercise buddies!

I have Blue Cross as well, but I haven't gotten any messages like that. Strange! I'll be interested to hear what comes of that.

I was 30 when I was banded, and I had been looking into it for about a year.

Most of my journey was pretty smooth except for this: my white blood cell count was very high and no one could figure out why. So, I had to be cleared by an oncologist (they thought it might be leukemia) before surgery. On top of all my pre-surgery jitters, I had THAT to worry about to! My count finally came back normal literally 3 days before surgery. I was so close to getting cancelled!

TOM seems to be a bad time for me as well. That is definitely the cause of my most recent episode. After reading the latest posts, I think I am probably still taking too big of bites sometimes. I think I will take it easy for work lunches and stick to soup or chili. It's just not worth being sick at work and having to explain myself.

Hi all! I'm having a craptastic day. I barfed. It sucked. I've been feeling pretty good the last few days with exercising again and eating fairly decently because of the metformin. Then I had to go ruin it by yakking up 3 bites of chicken and 2 bites of potato. I mean, can I catch a break here? I was actually thinking of asking for a small unfill because I've been barfing so much. THEN, I catch that post in the General forum about meal sizes. Well, let me just admit that I can still eat a hell of a lot more than 2 oz sometimes. Ummm... maybe that is my problem right there? So, my question to you all is how much do you really eat at lunch and dinner? Breakfast is moot point for me since if I eat anything before noon it's just a granola bar or some yogurt. Maria

Metformin (or Glucophage) is commonly used for diabetes to help control blood sugar levels. It is also commonly used for insulin resistance, in which a normal amount of insulin is not sufficient to produce a normal response from other body tissues. Insulin is one of the hallmarks of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which is why I am taking it. I took it once before (years ago) as part of some weight loss scam. I remember it making me really sick if I ate anything sugary or too carby, so I'm trying to be really careful what I put in my mouth!

Sherilynn -- I'm so sorry to hear about your BF's father. We lost DH's grandpa last Christmas, and it is still so hard on everyone remembering around this time of year. Tonya -- we must not be slugs!! LOL So, today I started on the metformin. My doc prescribed a smaller dose pill that I can cut in half. So I'm to take 1/2 pill twice a day for a week, then move to 1/2 pill 4 times a day. I drank some hot tea this morning before I swallowed it (on advice from my surgeon) and that seemed to work. I ate an Activia yogurt with it. I also decided that I am not allowed to knit or crochet unless I have done some exercise for the day. Even if it is 15 minutes of stretching! Maria

I don't feel like I need to go so far as grinding pills. I can swallow most things. I was on metformin a few years ago, and I remember them being really big. I wouldn't see it as a problem at night, but I would worry in the morning. I guess I could just crush then. For those that take the time release, how many times a day do you take it? Does it depend on your dosage? Thanks, Maria

Hello everyone! Sound like we are all keeping busy! I'm still on a plateau, but hopefully not for long, as I've actually managed to exercise twice this week -- and plan to continue. I found out my cholesterol is UP 15 points from when I had surgery, so really the only thing to do is exercise and quit eating like crap! I'm also going on metformin soon for PCOS, so that should keep the sugar out of my mouth. Maria

What a great thread. I was just diagnosed with PCOS, and my doc wants to put me on metformin. I was wondering, for those of you taking metformin/Glucophage -- how do you manage swallowing them? Aren't they big pills? I think I am my OBs only lapband patient, so I don't think she quite knows what to do with me. I saw in a drug formulary that it comes in liquid form, but when I asked the pharmacist about it, she practically told me I was making it up (hate that!). maria

I'm at about 2.1 (check my siggie below) and I have LOTS of restriction.

Hey gang, I've been away for awhile... tried to catch up a little. I finally lost the 7lbs I gained over the summer, but I can't seem to get past this plateaum. I know it's just my bad habits. I've been eating like crap and not exercising. I just can't find the motivation right now. I would love to get off another 10lbs before my 1 yr bandiversary, so I can call it an even 50lbs for the first year. It's so frustrating. My other frustration is that I am without a band doc right now. My original surgeon moved out of state, and I haven't yet gotten in with anyone else yet. The doc I'd like to see -- his office person told me I didn't need to come in unless I needed a fill. Arg! How do I know if I need one? I mean, I know the basics, but sometimes I like to bounce ideas off my surgeon, ya know? Regardless of fills, because I KNOW I don't need one yet (must actually try exercising first, ya?), I'd still like to meet the guy. Enough of my venting. Anyone else struggling? Or anyone have any uplifting and motivating thoughts for me? Maria

I have to admit, it felt really good to MOVE! Starbucks is an issue with me as well. And I still splurge on the occasional slurpee (so so bad). At least I manged to cut out most alcohol since I'm trying to get pregnant! It counts for something :eek:

Thanks Tonya I actually went to the gym this morning! 40 minutes on the treadmill -- I think it's a good start. I'm also starting a food log today. I'll be seeing a new nutritionist soon, so I want to have something to show them. Plus, my OB/GYN wants to put me on Metformin, so I need to make sure I'm making good choices for that too. maria

Just wondering if anyone has gone to Dr. Meguid of Bon Secour (now Beaumont, Gross Pointe). I'm one of Dr. Deol's patients, and I'm still on the fence between Krause and Meguid. Thanks! Maria