Betsyjane

I know! I thought I was going to pass out from fear before my first fill, and then it was NO BIG DEAL! Life is great, ain't it?

I've known people to fly to other states to have it done or have gone self-pay just to get it done. And people who have taken the 6 months or a year just to educate themselves and to know that this is a lifelong journey. You have lots of options. don't be discouraged, but do start looking at your options. The one thing I would say though, is that I would not want a doctor with limited experience to do my lap band. I would want the guy with the most experience and the smallest number of complications! Without a doubt. If you are looking for other doctors, keep reading this site. I've read some wonderful things about a guy in Colorado who is good and much less expensive. I don't remember his name, but you'll find it around here. anyway, there are lots of options to consider..... Keep thinking out loud here and we'll all chime in too. (PS: With self pay, you can get the operation done immediately in many places, and not bother with pre op hoops to jump through....)

That's interesting. I've done that too. In fact with other areas of my life, sometime just doing something different...whether it makes sense or not...shakes up the system and leads to growth. Er, or in our case, loss. I like your theory.

It's been an interesting week for me. I've been discouraged by my behavior and my plateau for a long time. So I went back to basics a few days ago...writing down my food intake and exercise. I'm now firmly convinced that I am such a liar to myself about food, and if I don't write it all down at least one week out of the month, I will slip and slide and con myself into thinking I'm doing the right things, and then not. Once I started writing it down, I was able to tweak some things and feel clearer and much better. And that got me back to more exercise the last few days. I guess I just need the reality check and the accountability regularly. I haven't been back to OA because my schedule was beginning to be overwhelming for my energy level, but I know I can get the accountability there if I don't do it myself. I think, though, that tracking stuff one week of the month will be a key for me. I bought this exercise and food tracking diary, but assorted dogs have eaten about half of it, so it's mostly just loose pages now. I'll bring some of the pages to our next get together in case anyone wants one. I guess just like never being able to gauge my own wieght by looking in the mirror, I'll not be able to gauge correct food my just going over it in my warped mind. Good things for me to know about me.....

I've had an interesting week. I've been in such a slump lately, and recommitting to exercise helped, but I also decided to go back to basics and track my food. I'm now totally convinced that I can't trust myself. Things slip and slide food-wise and unless I write it down at least one week of the month, I'm not getting honest with myslef. For the last few days, I feel SOOOO much better and clearer. I also know without a doubt that protein shakes---any sugar or sweetener---give me terrible cravings. The most I can do without totally messing up is to drink a glass of water with just a splash of protein drink in it, so that by the end of a 3-4 hours, I will have ingested a full shake on days when I need that extra protein and I'm just not getting it in. Anyway, it's been a good week.

Can your back handle whatever he needs? Call if you need help. Glad he's doing well. food from La Villa would probably help him recover faster.... Life intervenes, doesn't it? You'll get back to your program when it's time. Hope to see you at Tai Chi. You gave me the bug to go search eBay for softer jammies.... How's the house Lana, and how was the trip Suzanne?

I think crunches really help, if you spend the whole exercise concentrating on using just your abs to do the exercise. It's really easy for your body to cheat and use other muscles or momentum. I like doing crunches on an exercise ball at home since it protects your back.

I finally figured out that sugar and artificial sweetener give me cravings! Days that I don't have a protein shake, I stick to healthy foods. Days that I start with a protein shake, I'm a mess for the day.

There is a tax credit for buying a new hybrid, and oddly, it's a higher tax credit if you buy a Prius than for any other hybrid car. I'm still trying to figure that one out. We started with an empty piece of property and have been evolving. We have our own well and aerobic system, and we compost and recycle. We are getting ready to build our dream home here... A 750 square foot concrete dome home that can be heated and cooled by a single window unit, even in beastly hot Houston. We will have enough solar panels to be able to sell excess to the power company instead of getting a bill. The dome is hurricane proof, tornado proof, fireproof, mold proof, so we won't be burdening the Government with our need for their help following any natural disasters. We grow our own vegetable and some fruits for part of the year, and we get eggs and milk from the neighbor. Our grazing animals mow the fields and our browsing animals keep the fencelines clean. they all provide fertilizer for the plants and fields. Mulch is provided by any left over animal hay. We use a clothes washer, but no dryer unless it's raining.I do drive a van to haul the animals and farm supplies around, but my total mileage is only 4000 miles a year.

Just don't get discouraged if you guys lose at a different rate! Men and women lose differently.

Well, after a spell of not doing the exercise I should, eating poorly, and being in a plateau, I'm off and running again. I'll have to remember that when I'm plateaued, I need to start diligently writing down my calories, exercise, fat grams, protein, and carbs. I am such a liar to myself about food that it gets me honest again. I'm back on the right road.

How many calories are burned by feeling bad about not exercising? I'm sure that counts for something, don't you think?

Insub...I have two fallow deer, John Deer and Jane Doe. They grew up in our house with us, slept in bed with us, watched TV. They think they're dogs. They curl up under our bedroom window at night, and the barn cats sleep on them and leaning on them. During the day, they go running through the fields with our dogs.

Hey fellow Houstonian. I've been doing recipes from low fat or low carb cookbooks. I also keep a bunch of salad in the fridge, some cooked chunks of various meats and fish, and some grilled veges. I mix and match for salads, Soups, lettuce wraps.... It's pretty spartan, but I don't do well if I let myself snack or have sugar or artificial sweetener...both of which set off cravings for me.. I use Thai seasonings and other spices and herbs to liven things up. I'm fuller when there's spice. Then when I'm out to eat...and sometimes I'm bored with my own cooking and go out...I order anything that sounds yummy, and just do protion control. It makes for a nice balance for me. Eating out is still a lovely luxury, and eating in is an exercise in healthy eating and discipline.

When you travel, go or a slight unfill beforehand.

OK. Tell me if this is right. The nuts are high fat, so I would eat those minimally. Everything else is high good carb, which would be a major change for me, and there's probably a list somewhere of which ones have the most protein. I'll find that, and then start sampling with highest protein first. Does that sound like a plan?

Wow! Thanks for the list, Insub. I'm printing it, and I'm going to try it all a bit at a time and find my favorites. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

hi Susannah. I have Lupus. I know what you mean about good days bad days. I developed a little stretching routine for myslef for bad days, just so I'm doing something. If I don't talk myself out of doing it, it feels good..... Hi everybody-I keep thinking about the people I know who never miss a day at the gym. Somehow they prioritize it and sort of fit the rest of the day in, but exercise comes first. I guess putting ourselves and our health first takes some practice.....

Oh, I suppose everybody knows this already, but I just figured out that I can't eat right after I exercise. Nothing goes down but water for a good 40 minutes. This is the second day I tried it, PBed, and then the light went on. Duh.

Tom: On the assumption that over time you may regain a bit of weight after maintenance starts, it makes sense to start a bit under your goal, if you can do it. Enjoy!

I heard from Barbara...She may be at home crashed in bed already. All went well. Tai Chi was amazing tonight. The teacher had an apprentice with him sho was also teaching, so they traded off teaching me as the novice, and teaching the more advanced people. It was great. australian accent. Gorgeous eyes. Engaging smile. O, I mean the workout was good, too.

Now go have a great meal while you can.....

I'm wanting to be at least vegetarian at this point, but need some help getting started. I don't care for processed food, so I'm hesitant about vege burgers and the like, but I guess I'll need them for the Protein. The protein is what has me stumped because I don't like Beans. How does this sound for a start, and please rip it apart if it isn't a good plan: Breakfast: Protein shake sweetened with Stevia and fruit Lunch: Veges and ? dinner Veges and ? See where I'm stuck?

I do 24 hour too. I love their 24 lift class, but the first time, it practically killed me...for days and days. I had no idea I was getting that much of a workout! It seemed so reasonable at the time! I like 24 hour because when I get bored, I can always go do something new. I also found that it helps to put just a touch of instant coffee in my morning protein shake before I work out..... I've been off all caffeine, but just a tad helps.

I IMed the folks who had contacted us on this thread or had joined us for a meal. Heard back from Scatkat, who is STILL trying to jump through all the hoops for her insurance company and get banded. Glad to hear Tai Chi went well. As it turned out, we didn't have a drop of rain, so I could have taped up the window and gone to Tai Chi. Who knew. The dog is very sorry for leaping though the living room window. Glad he's OK. I think he really surprised and scared himself. Lana-How's the bathtub plumbing?