Lap_dancer

:eyebrows: How progressive!!! Someone in government did the math! Wow. ************************************************** :kiss2::kiss2::kiss2: sending some birthday love to Michelle:kiss2::kiss2: :clap2: and next year you'll look even HOTTER! **************************** Dynamomini said: Viri - make sure that the people that need to know, know. I have felt like my body was under a microscope for the world to comment on all my life. I told my family and set ground rules that they couldn't ask or comment about me or my weight loss. I also let them know they were part of the problem. They had some trouble accepting this, but that was part of my healing processs - setting limits. My experience is that weight loss with the band is slow and steady (and also not steady) and that people notice you have changed but don't always see the weight loss. I very much remember this conversation Michelle. This is good advice to give. *Right now I'm getting the 'WHEN DID YOU HAVE YOUR SURGERY??*:guess I want to say: "When I couldn't climb stairs and sit in the driver's seat without my stomach hitting the steering wheel.:eyebrows: ((slow and steady wins the race)) Wish I was going to Red Robin with you all. Would love love love to see each and every one of you. MAL: I am definately in the zone and I definately hit my sweet spot. Although I am up by four pounds (no doubt from the parties, gourmet chocolates and sleeping until noon...I know I gained 12 pounds last Christmas holiday. Plus, I figure atleast one pound of it is due to not taking my water pill for two days. I am very happy with the restriction level I have and TODAY is the day I start the excercise regime. First goal...10 minutes. I will walk with my husband for 10 minutes ( or more). The weather is in the 70's, clear skies so 'til perfect beach walking weather. This is going to be an awesome year! Hugs to all and onward we go! *SUNSHINE...smile friend, compared to childbirth, this surgery is ACES. I have two children (grown) but had my ovary removed when my son was 2 and my daughter was just under 4. This procedure is a walk in the park. I found the most complex part of the surgery to be making logisitcal arrangements from Florida to Colorado and learning the city of Denver. The surgery itself was a minor blip on the radar. **Think of it like having a day to take a nice long nap and if you really want to stretch it...two maybe three days.** From my other surgery how I handled the kids was to sit and let them crawl up in my lap. You want it all to heal nice and tidy...remember that. Everyone can navigate the barge left for one month while Mommy's tummy gets all better. Keep us posted.

From someone who is in her 19th year in education...elementary (the worst) and middle schools; teachers are the most horrible gossips on the planet. In two weeks it will be something else at the forefront of lounge language. By next year, some will have transferred to another school. My husband taught me early on, if you don't want anyone to know, don't tell. Just keep going and realize you are doing this for YOU. Best of luck.

Thought I would drop a note here. Dang, pretty soon we will need a page three for Dr. K. Wishing you all an awesome New year. Be strong and happy journey!

HERE I AM!!! Hi friends. I have been head into family and daughter was home for three weeks-a month. She's very much pregnant and doesn't like Texas at all. Yeah, my daughter not liking something isn't a thing you can miss. So she and hubby are back in Texas and I've been recovering from the holidays. Hi Sunshine! You'll love Crowne once you drive up and see it looks like a ski lodge in Winnepeg. I'm a Florida gal so I'm use to everything having palm trees and water. That is architectually one of the most beautiful places with the stone work in the lobby. Also the sculptures of the children on the right side at the entrance. You'll love it. Great surgery center. Clean, inviting, friendly folks and Dr. K is absolutely the best. He is a GREAT teacher. I say that about him because he is so very methodical in explaining what he will do, how he will do it, what to expect and there is no rush to his process. I cannot say enough about him just....congrats! that you picked an amazing surgeon. How did everyone do during the holidaze? Ask me if I pigged out...go ahead..ask. NOOOO! Because??? I CAN'T!! hahahahha. LOVE IT. I now begin the phase I hate. Excercise. Yeah. It starts Monday. It pains me to excercise but I will lose twice as fast if I do. I can almost put money on it. Shout out to my girls!!! Heyyyyy.

I was denied too. You know what? I just did self pay. It is like buying a car. I got a low interest loan, shopped around for surgery (which was REALLY fun in the end) and the whole experience turned out to be a positive one. I have a great surgeon, I'm six months post op and loving the band.

Not even on a good day do I miss that lifestyle. I equate my old eating habits with pain, swelling, inability to walk, and a deep emotional place of isolation.

Here's your Metamucil mention right here. Per my doctor I add it to my drinking water. No problems now. I had quite the opposite problem as I have Diverticulitis. OUCH. But no flairs of late and the Metamucil works like a charm.

Yes Yes Yes Yes. I totally understand. Or how about the empowering feeling that you know you won't have a pig out. I had one day during the holidays where I THOUGHT I would have a third cookie and one bite later it never even hit the back of my throat. I knew better. Last year at this same time I would have binged and I know that from years of experiencing that. It's so empowering to feel and know that it is happening.

This is true. .......................................................... Andrea, I am a big advocate of going back to your surgeon and getting their advice when things aren't trotting along. I learned it the hard way by holding out for four months when things did not feel quite right. I ended up going back out to Colorado from Florida, having an unfill then fill with spanky fresh liquid and getting perfect restriction. I posted something in Dr. Kirshenbaum's first thread (there are two) that talks about the three levels of restriction: not enough, right there, need a fill. I got this from Natalie at Dr. K's office. I carry this card with me. Having that perfect balance really is important. My suggestion is to go see your doctor.

I wish BCBS would just make their mind up. In Florida they won't cover the surgery (which turned out to be just fine because I used Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado and over half of my posts are just reams of Kudos about him and my experience). I have found that the doctor and/or a FEMALE behind the counter in the office who deals with the insurance can just be full of information. Try pumping them for tips.

Oh honey that's not a breakdown. That's you just getting older and not giving a rats patooty what anyone thinks!! and that's totoally okay! Never shave legs, wax them. (laughing) I know it hurts but it takes twice as long to grown and there's no muss no fuss with someone else down there ripping off the old fly aways. While they are at it let them do your toe nails. I suggest ruby red for a color. And while they have the wax out let them do your brows. While they are doing your brows might as well get color. I suggest RED. Yeah baby. RED. I just might have a great big old copper streak added right in front. Like I said, getting older means you don't have to care what other people think! SUCH FREEDOM!!! PS: I just turned 48 on the 28th of Dec, I was banded April 17, my daughter eloped July 5, she got pregnant in October which means I'll be a grandmother in July. You said so many things that are very liberating. No friends there where you moved? AWESOME, you don't have any preconceived image to live up to!!!! I'm envious!

This is a feature the website could use. My suggestion is every Tuesday, or Wednesday or Thursday...whatever, have a meeting. We could use the chat feature to loggin and have a support meeting with a featured topic. Another idea is to just have it there so folks could go into the chat room and talk. I think it should have a catchy name like coffee Talk. (yeah I love the old SNL) That's my first idea. Patty

Girlfriend here's a clue: No such thing as too many shoes or way too many blouses. All those colors, all those fabrics. At goal???? I promise everyone that I will be a clothes whore. I might even switch up professions. You deserve every single article of clothing.

Me too! I have the same goal not to mention a few personal head-work goals.:clap2:

Please all of you doubting the band or yourself, please DO NOT give up! YOU CAN DO IT!!! ..you inspire me!!!!!!!!! From the depth of my heart and width of my arms, I sincerely and wholey congratulate you! WAY to go! Patty

I'd make sure my stats were all good. Get your ticker checked. That procedure is very hard on the body and Mexico doesn't have the same standards our doctors here in the states have. Best to you. Post back your results.

Phentermine alone didn't help me. My doc. put me on it as one of the means to get the weight off.

I have never had luck with WW and that's why I am banded. Having said that, whatever it takes to make it happen for you, and if you believe this is a good plan, you should do it. Best to you on this last 40.

Dr. Kirshenbaum, linked in my signature, just under 10K. Awesome surgeon, beautiful facility, zipper quick recovery.

I'll say! But thank goodness I was not able to take it to the limits but stayed within a fenced area of normal limits. Enjoy that snow friends. It is most lovely to look at. I recall well driving in it, on it...bluck...but it sure is beautiful to look at. Onward we go! Patty

I'll say! But thank goodness I was not able to take it to the limits but stayed within a fenced area of normal limits. Enjoy that snow friends. It is most lovely to look at. I recall well driving in it, on it...bluck...but it sure is beautiful to look at. Onward we go! Patty

Great advice here. I'm at a 48DDDD right now. I've lost close to 60 pounds and the boobs have barely budged. I still have horrid trapezia pain and shoulder soreness. This I treat with Naprozin. I spoke with the doctor and he said we need to weigh the options of back trouble and pain NOW versus waiting another year or so. I'm going to go in for an evaluation anyway. My insurance covers NOW but may not cover when I get down as they consider it cosmetic. There is % they also go by. Post back your plan, I'd love to follow it.

there are several companies that do surgery credit. Some work on a sliding scale based on your credit score. Shop around. I went through my bank where we have had several loans and got an excellent rate of 11% Best of luck.

One for the holidays How we do it in Florida! and my trees the one upstairs and the one downstairs (gold)

Continued good wishes Brandy. ................................................. Merry Holidays to you all! Sending you photos from today. I do not weigh myself but choose to save it for Dr. K's office. Office visit in a little less than two months but I FEEL GREAT! Hope you all are doing really well through the parties and goodies. I thank GOD for this band because I know if I didn't have it I'd be plowing my way through all the sweets with no stop switch. Feeling FULL is an awesome incentive. I wish us all a superb 2008! Can you FEEL how we will feel this time next year? I can! Taken a few hours ago at sunset. No flash, little makeup...