Betsyjane

I've never had a painful PB. PBing is just a reminder that I didn't follow what works for me. Let's put it in perspective.... I weight progressively less. I no longer take diabetes meds. As of yesterday's test, I no longer have osteoporosis. And I no longer shop in the plus size department.

Congrats on your weight loss! Can't join you-bad back and Lupus- but will be cheering you on. PS: I no longer have to take diabetes meds! Thank you band!

Here are 2 other bonuses for me....I have stopped taking meds for diabetes, and I no longer have osteoporosis, according to my test yesterday!

It's not as hard as you think it will be...and it's harder. Remember that most people have time to begin to adjust because after surgery, there are still fills needed for the restriction to be complete. For me, that gave me time to learn what I was doing, and get used to it a little at a time...although I was soooo impatient to get full restriction. I was ready fro it when I really got restricted. Then I had to deal with by reasons for eating, a harder challenge than I thought. I couldn't figure out what to do if I couldn't eat when I was bored. I couldn't figure out what to do while driving, if not eat. The good news on all of it is that the learning comes in stages, and you just peel back the onion a bit at a time as issues arise. I never felt like I'd been dropped off the edge of a cliff and wanted to panic about not being able to eat. It wasn't that harsh, so you end up working on things.... I guess that's the good news/bad news. It's not so automatic. You develop a working relationship with your band: Sometimes you let each other down, and sometimes you get it right. The nice thing for me is that screw ups no longer mean that I gain weight....just means I lose less until I get back on track. I can live with that~!

It's funny. I've alwasy been able to eat salads! Dry or wet! I do find though that baby spinach in a salad is the easiest to chew up......and salad with a tiny drizzle of sesame oil on it makes it so hearty tasting, and well, anything goes down better with a slider! By the way, congrats! You are close to your halfway mark! Woo hoo!

Yeah, I've heard people say that. Mine's in the middle too, but I don't notice it. I do hear that that goes away with weight loss....... Congrats on your 10 pounds! I just found out today that I no longer have osteoporosis! I don't take the meds for it....The only changes since last year are weight loss and weight bearing exercise! I've gone from the red danger zone in both hips and my spine, to the green safe zone in 2 areas just barely not into the safe zone yert for the third area! Cool! I thought giving up my diabetes meds was fun...This is great!

Hey listen to this! I had a bone density test today, and also had one last year at this time. Last year, my spine and both hips were in the danger range. This year, both hips are in the green/safe range and my spine is in the caution area and almost the safe area. I haven't taken osteoporosis meds and haven't changed my calcium intake...all that's changed are my weight and doing weight bearing exercises! Thank you, oh magic lap band!

Hey listen to this!!!!! I just got my bone density test today. I also got one 1 year ago. Without being on any of the osteoporosis meds, my bone density has improved to the point that there is only one area where I am even in the cautionary area. Last year I was in the cautionary or badly osteoporotic range in my spine and both hips! I haven't changed my calcium intake....the two things that have changed are my weight and doing weight bearing exercises. Thank you oh magic lap band.....

You don't feel the band around your stomach. The "tightness" is that after you have the band, you go back in for a series of fills in order to tighten the band so your eating is restricted. So you feel restricted or tight, which is a good thing. It's what lets me eat a meal of only 4 ounces and feel full! I can feel the port with my hand, but otherwise I don't feel it. You're wise to ask questions. There's a lot to learn to accomplish the bandster lifestyle. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Had a great time tonight!

Please think seriously about coming! I really want to hear what happened with your Dr..... I'm mostly over my cold, so I'm going to come and not hug anybody. Just crank up that A/C in the car and head on!

From Humble, go east on 1960 to Atascocita. It's on the left sort of across from Walmart. How are you feeling and how is your blood work lately?

Hi everyone! I went to the first Spivak support meeting and loved it but havne't been back. Too far a drive for me at night. Sounds like it has been wroth it, though.....

I've had 3 diet cokes since I was banded and never had a carbonation problem. Decided not to drink alcohol though...didn't want to sepnd the calories that way.

I didn't think I had a sugar addiction until I got the band. Then I was craving ice cream all the time. So I think mine was more about getting easy calories through..... Anyway, I certainly do much better with zero sugar.

I am not in your situation, but I know I would regain my weight without the band, so Im pretty sure I would opt to repair repar repair....and if eventually it failed again, I'd do gastric. I just know that new habits won't overcome my cravings without the band.

I may or may not be there tonight. Just getting over a head cold. I think I'm OK, but you know how it is...Have to see if I'm still not symptomatic by evening. Don't want to spread it.....

Look at the difference in the way your arms hang down straighter! Attagirl! I just created a calorie counter. Now don't laugh. I wanted to count calories without looking them up or carrying a pen and paper. So I put a rubber band around my left pinkie finger. Each finger is worth 100 calories. Right now, I've eaten 400 calories for the day, so the rubber band is on my left pointer finger. I've had the band long enought to roughly know how many calories something has, and I round up or down to the nearest hundred. When the rubber band is on my right pinky, I'm finished for the day!

I have a new invention to share with you. I was looking at that BodyBugg thing that tracks your exercise and your calories...for $400 plus a monthly subscription!!!!! I have really wanted to track my calories without carrying a pencil and paper with me. So here's what I'm doing and it works great! I've had the band long enough to know roughly how many calories a meal or snack has. So I put a rubber band around my finger, starting with the pinkie of my left hand. Each finger is 100 calories. Today, so far, the rubber band has moved to my left pointer finger, so I've had 400 calories. When I get to the little finger of my right hand, I'm through for the day. Anything gets rounded up or down to the nearest 100.

Most of us had it for a few days. They told me to walk a lot and take gas-x, but I decided I didn't want to be annoyed with it and kept dosing liquid Tylenol (and an occasional heating pad). Did you know that they had to blow up your insides with gas so they could work in there during surgery? Weird, huh? It's awful...and it goes away.

I was on diabetic meds, no insulin, and went off of it 6 months after being banded. Haven't had to go back. But everybody's different....

Is our OP still around? I'd like to know how she's doing......

Where's bikergrammy?

My hair is auburn this week and I'll be wearing a long sleeve navy t-shirt.......

Drooling.... I slime, but very seldom. It happens when I forget and eat too big a bite or chew too little. It's not like drooling. It's this fascinating adaptation by the body to create a thick slider to get food down that is too big to pass. It's amazing that the body will do that! hair loss, if it happens, happens to most people at around 6 months, and happens once, with the hair then regrowing. Sufficient Protein in your diet helps.... You're trading a new imperfect life for an old imperfect life. I like the new one better, not being morbidly obese!