LeighaMason

Yea for onederland!!!!:biggrin::crying:

Oh look I'm slumming....I mean slimming...I mean...What the..? :thumbup: I'm a size 4 who cares what they think!

Melody-- Pictures! I know that is a big emotional step for you. I'm glad you are feeling good enough to share these with us. And they are wonderful! BTW, how do you find time to diet when you spend so much time following WB. around disputing everything she says? Christie-- Girl, just buy some new boots for those skinny calves! Shammah-- Did your nut say anything interesting that will help us too? I am self pay so I don't have that resource so I mooch off of everyone else, so please share. Bobbie! Its great to hear from you, I see you some on facebook but we want to hear from you here too. I really limit what I say on facebook since my son and his friends are on my page, I feel like we can say so much more on here. Stacie-- I'm really pulling for you on the whole band position thing, it will work out one way or another. I have faith, there is always an answer we just have to look harder to find it sometimes. Elcee-- I'm glad were friends on facebook, I love seeing your posts, its refreshing to have a non-American view of things too. Even though I have not been posting I have been reading every day. I have been struggling in my personal life and it is coming to a head, I think today will be the day that hard decisions will be made, please keep me in your thoughts today.

When I crashed my motorcycle a few years ago I had a road rash the size of a salad plate on my leg, I used Reten A (sp?) and there is no trace of a scar.

I signed up to participate in a half marathon! (Notice I didn't say I was going to run or compete) I am going to run as much as I can and walk the rest. They give us 4 1/2 hours to finish and here is a picture of the finishers medal that they are giving. Its on 10-10-10 the same day my stepson Kyle is running a full marathon in Chicago to qualify for the Boston marathon. :thumbup: I am nervous and excited!

Miralax-- Tasteless and odorless, mix with water and drink, tomorrow you will be fine.

My Dr required me to sign a form saying that if he started the surgery and saw (based on stomach and intestine contents) that I had not followed the pre op diet, he would sew me up, not install the band and keep my $10K. That was enough for me to follow the diet to the letter.

I had .2 cc of fill removed when I got to goal so I could eat more. Now I just weigh everyday if I am closer to 130 I eat more if I am closer to 135 I eat less. Its working so far.... 139, WOOHOO!

My last 15 were the hard ones..I had to stop drinking wine completely, I was eating a very regimented diet, and I used a cross training program that was different every time I worked out to keep my body guessing (I wrote a blog on each workout). The good news is once I started getting really serious I lost the last 15 in about 3 months.

Go have .5 of the fill taken out. The more dehydrated you get the more they will have to take out to make it better. Don't wait, being too tight is a major cause of complications.

Here it is, for those who wanted to do another challenge. Its 8 weeks till Halloween! Here is the spreadsheet, I hope it works its the first time I have tried to make one. https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=tYmPkphTP9YKZEc8WCbyoHQ&authkey=CNrR4dQH#gid=0

I read a study on www.pubmed.gov that said flaxseed oil has shown as good of results as statin drugs I also saw this on www.whfoods.org Flaxseed Provides Comparable Cholesterol-Lowering Benefits to Statin Drugs In a study involving 40 patients with high cholesterol (greater than 240 mg/dL), daily consumption of 20 grams of ground flaxseed was compared to taking a statin drug. After 60 days, significant reductions were seen in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol-in both groups. Those receiving flaxseed did just as well as those given statin drugs! Body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol were measured at the beginning of the study and after 60 days. In those eating flaxseed, significant reductions were seen in total cholesterol (-17.2%), LDL-cholesterol (-3.9%), triglycerides (-36.3%) and the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (-33.5%) were observed in the diet+flax group, compared to baseline. Similar reductions were seen in those taking the statin. Benefits did not significantly differ between the two groups. http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=81

Does your state have Medicaid coverage? That might be worth checking into. Good luck with your search.

I recommend www.pubmed.gov for research. Search "adjustable gastric banding" for actual medical studies.

If I could have, I already would have. I had spend 15 years dieting by the time I was banded. I estimate that I was physically hungry probably 300 days a year and ate like I wanted to on the other 65 (not dieting 5 or 6 days a month) and I was still obese. For me the band takes the hunger away, that is the key.

It sounds like you have a bit of swelling, the first PB started it and every time you eat you are making it worse. I would suggest 2 or 3 days of liquids to calm everything down. I have a very sensitive stomach and this is what happens to me as well.

Alisabeth-- I am very happy that I spent $10,200 for my band, I studied the surgery carefully, decided that I was ready to make the life style changes that are necessary, I found a Dr who had done hundreds of band surgeries and then had it done. I have lost 100 % of my excess weight and I have stayed between 130-135 for 3 months with no effort at all. Here is a good web site to get factual information, www.pubmed.gov it is where clinical studies are posted by the government. Use the search for adjustable gastric band. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Claire, your never a bore, every time I sign on I wonder if I am going to hear from you today, your such a nice person, though a tad too hard on yourself (in my personal opinion). I had to quit exercising because I was starting to really be mean to myself about not progressing fast enough so I am taking a break and I will start back when I can be more reasonable. Have a great weekend everyone. :thumbup:

I cured my flying squirrel arms by selling my motorcycle....:thumbup: The more you run the more efficient your body becomes doing it...

Are you measuring and logging your food? Do you drink any alcohol? And the only other thing I can think of is the more you lose the less calories you need. Have you tried 800-1000 a day? To lose the last 15 I had to eat 800-900 calories a day and I used a cross training schedule instead of just running (Ex. Run 3 min, stop jump rope 3 min, repeat for 30 min). And I had to quit drinking wine completely. :thumbup:

I was BMI 32, Dr Kim in Colleyville (Dallas) TX, $10,200. When I had my surgery the Dr's in Mexico were using the old style bands so I paid extra to get it done here.

Your Dr is right, there is a newer 2 step process to install the band that significantly reduces the chance for slips. I read about it on pubmed.gov. You can go there and search adjustable gastric band and 2 step to find the clinical study report. I personally will never go back to nothing, its forever the band or sleeve for me. Good luck with your choice.