LeighaMason

I am still at 160. Same as last Monday, however, I lost 6 lbs in the 1st 2 weeks so I am still on track. I am going to get a fill on Thursday and hopefully get back to losing.

I had my surgery on Tuesday and I went back to "work" on Thursday but not for 8 hours just 4 or so.

Once more the Republicans are out with their deregulation theory. We are still haven't recovered from the last deregulation and now they are proposing more. Ayn Rand wrote several books proposing a free market ideology where the interests of the corporations will protect the shareholders therefore regulation is not needed. (Lets keep in mind these books are all in the fiction section at the library.) Alan Greenspan was one of Rand's inner circle and he was converted to Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. So during his term as as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve the financial markets were lightly regulated or not regulated at all. And of course, greed took over, and the markets were raped by wall street executives who had no loyalty to their corporations. Afterward, during Congressional testimony on October 23, 2008, Greenspan had this to say about his long held Objectivism beliefs: "Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholder's equity — myself especially — are in a state of shocked disbelief." Referring to his free-market ideology, Greenspan said: “I have found a flaw. I don’t know how significant or permanent it is. But I have been very distressed by that fact.” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) then pressed him to clarify his words. “In other words, you found that your view of the world, your ideology, was not right, it was not working,” Waxman said. “Absolutely, precisely,” Greenspan replied. “You know, that’s precisely the reason I was shocked, because I have been going for 40 years or more with very considerable evidence that it was working exceptionally well.” Greenspan admitted fault in opposing regulation of derivatives and acknowledged that financial institutions didn't protect shareholders and investments as well as he expected. So our current economic crisis can be traced directly back to deregulation of the markets. Greed has to be held in check by regulations.

Catherine55 Quote:I disagree with the person who said that you have to limit eating out with the band. I eat out multiple times a week (I live in NYC) and it's not a problem. I just order good quality, healthy food. Your right, I should have been more clear. In the town where I live (East Texas) there are not very many places to eat out that offer good quality, healthy foods. At any given restaurant there might be 1 or 2 selections on the menu that work for me. Everything else is loaded with fat, calories and salt. It is not unusual for a single menu item to have 2000-2500 calories. Even if you only eat half it is still too much. Plus we don't have the benefit of having the nutrient contents available at most places. (I really applaud NYC for that.) So what I meant to say is: If you eat out alot and are not willing to change what you order I don't think the band does any good.:smile:

I am so impressed with your success that I made my husband get up and come in here and look too. Congratulations! BTW, I think I am going to need some breast life too! "Think I'm gonna need an abdominalplasty and a breast life":smile2:

I would check with some people who are banded long term and have moved on to maintenance. I am not sure if they are able to eat rice or not. If you could go through the weight loss stage without rice and then add it back in later that might work for you. There are several people that I have seen on this site who have maintained long term weight loss, I would look through the blogs and contact a few of them and ask if this is possible. By the way, I LOVE micro brew beer, however I decided that I would give it up (as in never drink it again) if I got the band. I decided that it was a good trade. I know beer and rice are not the same but I understand what you are saying.

I think maybe the poster with the negative comments thought you were asking for literal help as in "please send me money", as opposed to figurative help as in "give me some ideas". Please don't let these negative comments get you down. I think they have more to do with the poster than with you. By the way, I was self pay and I used Care Credit. Maybe you could set up with them and then pay for the fills in installments.

I have lost a hump of fat on the back of my neck. I put on my favorite necklace and noticed it hung lower than it use to. When I mentioned it to my husband he told be about the "hump" being gone. I had no idea it was there.........

I was self pay it was $10200. The price of an average used car. I didn't want to go to Mexico, where you can have it done for about $7500. There is a lady that I play cards with who has not lost any weight with her lap band, as a matter of fact she has gained. She eats very small portions now but will eat 5-8 times a day and snacks in between. The band can be defeated just like bypass can be. She tried to discourage me from getting the band but because I am around her enough I could see her eating habits were the blame not the band. I think the people who have the best success are the ones who have portion control issues, if you eat too much at one time. This is what my problem is. I have lost 35 lbs since 10-20-09. And I know a lady who had GB done about 5 years ago, and she has gained all her weight back plus some. So you can also eat around GB. But my step sister had GB and has lost over 100 pounds and is doing great. So I think you have to decide what you are going to do. Be truthful with yourself. If you are going to eat junk foods, eat out alot, graze, etc. the band is not for you, but if you will eat healthy food, eat only 3 times a day, and exercise then you will do well. Oh and by the way, after you have spent 10 grand you are "pot committed":thumbup:

I have been saving my skinny clothes for so long that when I got a pair of black slacks out of my closet to wear them they had a band of dust on the leg where they were bent over the hanger.

abi516--Dont worry most people go through this. I think this is where the Dr's drop the ball on telling you what to expect. You dont have any restriction until you start to get your fills. I actually gained weight during this time. I cheated during the liquid diet and ate mashed potatoes because I was so hungry. I am not saying its ok but it happened, everything is ok now, you should stop beating yourself up. Stay with your Dr's diet and be patient, remember if the band worked by just putting it in we wouldnt have the port:thumbup:

Floridacocoon--After I got my second fill I was no longer hungry between meals. The only reason I got the band was because I was always hungry. I was hungry 30 min. after I ate. Even before I had surgery I cooked almost everything from scratch and we only eat out about once a month. But I was HUNGRY. I had no portion control. Now I am only hungry like that when I go too long without eating, then I will be hungry the rest of the day. I get physically full when I eat and if I eat one more bite I will start to have chest pain. Sometimes when I get to this point, if I am really enjoying what I am eating, I feel sad that I cant continue eating. This is what "head hunger" means to me.

Don't be nervous, everything will be fine. Make sure you are ready to make a committed change to your eating habits. I use to love breads as well but now I physically can not eat them. (Restriction) Make sure you are willing to give up bread before you have the surgery. I love and I mean LOVE micro brew beer, but I made a commitment to myself before the surgery that I would never, ever have another beer. (I think the carbonation stretches the stomach out) You may have to make this bargain with bread. You will need to do 3 things to be successful with your band. 1. Eat good quality food. 2. Eat small portions. 3. Excersise The band only helps with #2. you have to commit to #1 & #3. Good luck.

I have yo-yo dieted for years, I had the lap band done 10/20/09. I have lost 35 lbs. I can lose weight but I always gain it back. That is why I had the surgery. I think the people who are the most successful with this are the ones who are willing to cook healthy foods. If you eat out alot and are not willing to change I don't think the band does any good. Eating less of the wrong foods still wont work. Eat good foods, eat less and exercise is the only solution to weight loss. The band helps with the eat less part. You have to be willing to do the others. Weight loss surgery is a business like any other, if they were doing it because they "cared" it would be free. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Oh yeah, you can drive. My fills are done with a local shot for pain but it hurts about as much as a regular shot. So if you can get a flu shot and then drive home you can have a fill and drive home. Don't be scared, there is a lady that I play cards with that told me how bad the fills were so when I went for my first one I was so scared. Of course it was no big deal with the local anesthetic. In and out in 10 minutes.

Dollar for dollar the least expensive car to buy new is the Toyota Corolla. Once you factor in the cost of the vehicle, insurance, repairs, depreciation and gas.

Here is the newest republican email going around.................... "Does this photo of President Obama in the Oval Office convey anything about his attitude and arrogance? Would you speak with the Chief of Staff, your Chief Economics Adviser, your Senior Adviser, or anyone, with your feet up on the Resolute Desk - a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880? This arrogant, immature, self-centered man has no sense of honor, or simple decency. While this posture is disrespectful in any culture, it is certainlly not appropriate in any executive setting. Further, in over half of the cultures of the world, it is recognized not only as disrespectful, but as an extreme insult. Electing him was an enormous mistake and will cost us in many ways, for generations" I am just wondering does anyone recognize this guy and this desk?

I drink red wine but I have given up beer forever, not a single sip ever again (I am scared of stretching my pouch). Before I can have wine I have to look at my daily calories and protein and see if it "fits" in. If I am under on calories and have all my protein then I can have a 5 oz glass of wine.

illuminationlady--That's amazing! You're doing great!!!! Congrats on the weight loss. Are you hungry?????? No I am usually not hungry. But if I get busy at work and wait too long to eat then I am hungry for the rest of the day. When this happens I usually eat a baked potato with cheese and sour cream. Even though it has alot of calories it is very filling, I think the fat content really helps my body settle down. Also if you feel you don't have time to cook, you can do what we do and that is we cook 3 or 4 meats on Sunday and have them throughout the week. Maybe a brisket, a ham, and a roast. But we also have 2 -15 year old boys that eat like you wouldn't believe.