btrieger

What she said :smile:

I pride myself on the fact that I seldom if ever eat at fast food joints. However, I eat at Subway® at least every 2 weeks. Someone include Subway® in their list of fast food joints and I was curious as to how many others considered it this way.

I've had no Hell at all. I started the process a year ago; was banded 6 months ago and have been enjoying every bit of it. Keep a positive attitude and you probably won't have any problems.

Congrats!!! Time flies when you're having fun.

Exercise doesn't require a gym. You can do it at the office. Take a few coffee breaks during the day and walk around the office; walk up and down a few flights of stairs; park as far from the office as you can; bring a couple of Water jugs to the office and lift/curl them every so often.

The band doesn't require cutting off 3/4 of a vital organ and tossing it in the trash. It is too new to have any real figures but I'll be willing to bet that just like with bypass, the majority of patients that manage to live gain any weight they lost back. The band requires maintenance if done right and helps keep us in check.

We are all different. I am at what I think is my sweet spot and still enjoy bread, rice and Pasta. The bread is a little tougher if it is not toasted. I basically chew it and swirl it around in my mouth until it melts. I can't do spaghetti or thinner pastas unless I cut them very small. They are too hard to chew otherwise and slide down (and sometimes back up) whole.

Our esophagi produce a clear mucus to aid in the swallowing of food. When food gets stuck the mucus/slime has nowhere to go but up. It's kind of fun. Looks like a jellyfish when it is spit into the toilet.

I just like pointing out that I am atypical

I eat out at least 5 days a week. I just relax and get what I feel like eating. It's not about what you eat. It's about how you eat it. Cut it small and chew each piece long and hard. Have the waitress take your glass away when she delivers the entree and don't be afraid to ask for a to go box early as well. PS. Yes, you can go wrong with a salad. I tend to be hungry as soon as I get back to my desk if all I have is a salad for lunch.

Thanks all!! FnC, My ultimate goal is 170 pounds but if I never lose another pound I am content where I am now. When I set the 170 goal, I set a plastic surgery goal of 215 pounds and I hit that 2 weeks ago. I'm estimating that I will lose 10 - 20 with surgery and 6 - 8 inches off of my "waist". I don't mind a little sag in the scar. The surgery is strictly for practical purposes, not cosmetic. I actually asked the doc about lipo and he said that the cost is close to that of surgery and surgery would be needed later anyways.

Down 151 pounds since last year and I am making arrangements for my pannulectomy. I called around last week and prices were ranging from $9,000 to $16,000 for a tummy tuck. I was asking about tummy tucks because I didn't want to try and pronounce pannulectomy. I had a consultation with a plastic surgeon yesterday and was quoted $4,870. He comes highly recommended. The price is a lot less than I thought because he said I can get 40% covered by insurance if I have my umbilical hernia fixed simultaneously. I have another consultation next week with another highly recommended plastic surgeon next week. I am probably not going to try any more unless the diagnoses and quotes are very far apart. I am really fearing the pain but am looking past it to the final outcome. I'll be losing 10 to 20 pounds of ugly fat and skin. Then I won't have to tuck my dulap into my swim suit and the next picture may be me in a speedo.

I'll trade you. My signal is hiccups.

MrsCabes, this differs from one person to the next. I was getting stuck and full before my first fill. Everything Betsy said is right on. There are several different signals, mine is hi-coughs (hiccups). Others get watery eyes; runny noses; twitches and I've seen a few other things. Chest pains; getting stuck and sliming mean you went to far.

I'm meat and potatoes myself. Just way too much of them. I cut down my portions and lost 95 pounds in 5 months leading up to surgery. In the past 6 months I have dropped another 56. If you stay away from drinking your calories and eating junk food, you can lose 200 pounds easily. The lapband can definitely help. Speak to another surgeon. Consultations are usually free and it is best to shop around.

Many of us have problems eating solids the first thing in the morning. Do NOT skip breakfast though. It really is the most important meal of the day. It jump starts our metabolism for the whole day. I usually have yogurt fr breakfast but if I let Cereal like miniwheats or raisin bran get a little soggy, I have no problem with it.

Somebody couldn't pronounce or spell regurgitate. So, they made up a new term and acronym. Probably the same person that invented "Head hunger" instead of appetite.

Hi, all. Welcome back Shamma and Betsy. You are too good of a person Betsy to have to go through this. I am a shit and sometimes feel guilty that I am at such a good point in my life while others that deserve better are suffering. I had my first consultation with a butcher (plastic surgeon) yesterday and got great news. I was quoted $4,870 total out of pocket for my pannulectomy when I was expecting $9,000-$16,000. I'm still shopping around and am going to see another next week.

Mom American; Dad American; me American I don't do hyphens

Congrats!!!

I've become a pro at it and I've been warned by my surgeon and his staff that it is the best way to cause a slip. So, you really don't want to learn. But, if you must know it's all in the abs. I crouch a little and flex my abs so they keep pushing the bottom of my stomach. It's a learned behavior but it doesn't take long to learn. I don't do it nearly as much as I used to because I am also learning not to get stuck as much. Walking it off is a much safer way to do it. It takes longer but is safer.

Maybe I should have made my font a little bigger on the last post. Is putting your life at risk worth saving a little money?!?!??!??!?!?!?! There are good surgeons in Mexico but I don't think this guy is one of them. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!

He needs to check with his surgeon. Mine and others say prescribe nothing strenuous for at least 6 weeks following surgery. Leaving only walking; swimming or light stretching.

I am not judging you, honestly. I am pointing out that making the choice to drink diet soda instead of the calorie laden crap is not difficult no matter how strong-willed you are. The same goes for skim and whole milk.

Nancy, the lapband didn't fail her. She failed the lapband. Do you honestly think a revision will help her if she refuses to do things as simple as not drinking soda and whole milk? Howdy, I only know a handful of bypassers but none of them dump any more. They all did for the first year or so.