Betsyjane

Never heard of him. sorry. I went to Spivak in Houston.

i'S MONEY WELL SPENT, BUT LOOK FOR A BETTER DEAL BEFOR EYOU SPEND IT...THEN GO FOR IT. There's one person here who came down to Houston and rented a house on the beach in Galveston. She's all by herself but had her surgery with Dr. Spivak, who makes it hassle free. Lots of folks here say good things about Ortiz in Mexico. Just do it!

Check in with your doctor. I would guess your diet is high in fat and calories. Try meats and veges with just a little slider on them....a little applesauce on pork, a little mayo on tuna, no heavily processed high calorie lunch meats, less dairy. Keep a food log for calorie counting for awhile.

Notice that we're all talking among ourselves, and she's ignoring us? she was honest...she wanted a place to monolog....not help. Created chaos and left the room to go play another day. You're right about 19! Not equating anyone with a pig, but I've always liked this expressions. "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It won't work, and it annoys the pig."

Analoren-Sometimes after a fill you can be a bit inflammed and tighter than you will be later. The only thing that stopped my reflux was nto eating for 4 hours before bedtime.

I'm trying to fine tune my eating. What are your healthy band-friendly snacks?

Steal at will. I just am discovering more and more that it's that quiet little voice within me that needs attending to, and that whisper of the band. It's hard for me to do that, with TV, billboards, demands of the day....but the more I do it, the better my relationship with food and the band. I thought for a long time I was going to name my band Trixie after a guard dog we knew and loved. Now I think I'll have to come up with a softer name because my band is quieter than a bark.

For me, I'm trying to eat healthy and give up all the fad diets I've ever tried and failed at. I know it sounds silly, but I do better by taking a long deep breath before I eat. For me it's about slowing my insides down in order to accept food. almost a prayer, or an honoring of me and food. However spiritual or unspiritual you want to get, I'm beginning to understand that what I need is a slower heart rate and slower respirations when I'm in the presence of food. I also find that I need to struggle through getting enough of the right foods at each meal, and not just eating a little and then making up the difference with cheap calories or shakes.

Mackinac Island is fun! I haven't been there is years, but it's so pretty. Tom is great at putting things in perspective. We're still new kids on this journey and as much as we want the weight to melt off, I frankly still feel like I'm in a huge learning curve. It's hard to change my head, my stomach, and my behavior about something as significant as food in my life. When I count calories, I am surprised what has sneaked in. When I exercise, I am surprised how good it feels and then how hard it is to go back to it. When I eat perfectly, that is comprised of so many components. And some days the band is more subtle than I would like, while other days it is a harsh taskmaster. Seems like one of the BIG things I need to learn about me and food is that there are successes to build on, and there never have been before for me. sometimes small successes, or just aha! learning experiences, but they are there and I am improving, albeit slowly. I can also tell you that getting the right amount of fill is so helpful.

I also have to find a balance with food. Too many "sliders", and I can eat too much....gravy, melted cheese, dressing. Too little and I can't get enough nutrients down, but I try to stick with chunks of meat and veges without sliders as much as possible.

I have Lupus, and when I don't feel like I can treadmill, I swim.

I had problems "finding" restriction. I can usually eat past my band if I eat quickly with lots of distractions. I don't get the sense of fullness quickly enough or loud enough unless I turn off the TV, put down the book, take a deep breath and get into a trance-like commune with my band. Small bites, slowy, putting down my fork regularly, and I find my own sweet spot.

A woman who is busy drinking everyone else under the table is not likely to take advice...or condoms! A person who is drinking most of her calories with the band is headed for a fall. I don't think an internet intervention can sway her as much as a striiper. We are here to witness a car wreck.

With so many hoops to jump through for insurance to pay, I woinder how many people give up so the insurance company gets to keep its money.... I felt bad that my insurance doesn't cover barriatrics and I had to self pay. I gues it's all a mixed blessing. You'll get there.....

The longer you cover up problems with stimulants (food, strippers, alcohol), the more of a mess you'll be in. The more of a mess you're in, the more you'll wonder why other people get things and you don't. The more you feel rage about others getting things, the less you'll be heard for who you are. You say you want to get the goodies of life and you want to be heard...in order for that to happen you'll need to work through your problems. If you don't work through your problems, you're choosing for things to remain the same. If you choose for things to remain the same, don't be angry or surprised if you get what you choose.

Lana-If not this month, we'll go next month..... No hurry for me! Barbara-It was great to meet John! He's proud of you. Aw, newlyweds!

If it helps any, I have Lupus and am on meds that have in the past caused me to gain as much as 80 pounds at a time. I'm doing fine with the band. It sounds to me like meeting with your surgeon and getting back on track is the way to go, and if you were uncomfortable with one support group, try another.

Fun! It's easier to do short term distractions than long term problem solving, eh?

That was really fun tonight. Laughter is great medicine. Sounds like the schedule is.... Humble City Cafe 6:30 PM March 12 La Villa in Atascocita 5:30 PM March 26 (I will have just driven nonstop from Kansas City the day before so I may be goofy....) Lana-I can go to Spivak's meeting the 13th, if that's when it is. What time? (There's also a Houston support meeting on the 17th at Central Co-op.)

Your stomach has been swollen oost surgery. Now it's not and you ahve no restriction. So you're eating. After your first fill, you may be lucky and start to lose again. Or your dry band may absorb the liquid and you won't be restricted. Once you are filled to your sweet spot, it will be a different story.

He sounds depressed. If you decide to delay divorce, you might want to go to counseling to learn a different way to deal with his stuff while keeping your self esteem.

Just s thought.... If you are disabled and have gotten into financial problems because of it, you may have to wait until that stuff gets straightened out before you can self pay for the band. That just may be the reality. Disability can definitely take several years to get, and it may partly be based on the illnesses that you are hoping to correct after you are banded. I hate to say it, but maybe things are happening in the order they are going to happen....... The band is expensive and necessary, and so is getting things righted for your family financially. Maybe your plan should include what you want to do in the interim until the band is a reality for you.

Hi Deb. It's about 4 miles east of 1960/59, on the left.

Telly, you're fierce! You mentioned that you have exercised every day. Is there some way to tell if on a day that you might gain weight, whether that's fat or muscle? Seems like some of your weight now will be solid muscle! Or do you go more by how you feel than what you weigh? Not that I need to figure all that out yet, but someday I will....... I'm also curious...I have heard people say that you need rest days from exercise. You sure haven't needed it. Any thoughts on that? Teach me, Telly!

Sounds like you're doing things in a good order. There's another person somewhere on this site who is having trouble getting started on exercise because she has other illnesses and because she smokes so much. If you can get the smoking stopped and then do the band to help stop what otherwise might be even more weight gain, and then get the exercise started, you've taken on a HUGE task, but a worthy one. Good for you.