Lap_dancer

I'm excited for you!!! What an awesome place to be at...the beginning of HOPE. THE best to you!

Yeah, Ginger cookies here!! I was doing the same thing...ginger cookies, milk, soft power bars, two, three...I counted my calories one day and realized I was over 2500. Not good. So the slow weight loss was ME. Only I don't think I was too tight, I think I was eating the stuff that would go down easy and then having a meal on top of it just so I didn't contend with the restriction part ...restriction of things I really wasn't that hungry for. Just an offbeat sense of hunger is the bottom line. So yeah, I was doing the same thing. Not listening to my body, not paying attention like I use to. I had medical problems...remember? the stomach thing (not related to the band) and I think I ate what would not flush through me. Getting that saline flushed out to a clean start is something I just feel better about. No stomach discomfort, nothing at all feeling funky. I'm at a good place. That was a thought provoking read wasn't it?

Gummi you could be overfilled. I posted on Dr. Kirchenbaum's 2000+ thread an article that I found really interesting. it's about fills. Search it if you have time.

Chickie you look AWESOME!!! Love those hip bones! woo hoo for you.

Jessica Rabbit: and I would have shot back " oh yeah? I guess that means you're my Judge Doom". Sometimes a snappy answer does the trick. Avoid being in the same proximity with Professor Perve without another student present.

Call your doctor.

Hey KVP glad to offer up answers to your questions: How have you come to the decision lapband is/was right for you? Because I had tried every diet on the planet and continued to lose but gain more after the end of that diet. This procedure did not involve cutting my intestines and sewing them together. (something I wasn't prepared to do) Is anyone disappointed in thier procedure? Not one day since I awoke from the surgery. I awoke with HOPE. I loved the methodical way my doctor answered my questions, how he was not in a rush, how I felt more informed after talking to him (and I hadn't paid him a dime). Does the reward outweigh the risk? In my case I had sleep apnea (you stop breathing in your sleep), diabetes, high blood pressure...I already had risks from being fat. How do you deal with the complications? I have had no complications from my Lap-Band. I did have a complication with certain foods running through me that my MD was not able to resolve. My Lap-Band surgeon suggested a plan of action that worked. I have read several threads with people complaining that the band isn't working for them I will tell you this. If you are looking for a CURE for obesity, the band is not a cure. The band is a tool to help people like me who have a heck of a time with portion control. It restricts food intact but you still must maintain a healthy diet. Listen to yourself. Do what is best for YOU. No one else has to live with the journey of choice but you. Best to you.

OH OH OHH HAHHAHAHAAH GREAT STUFF! For a word that's been tossed around in songs and syntax, I think it was a slow news week and the talking heads pounced on Dog. C'mon...look at the guy. Racist? I think he'd turn racist if someone went trolling after his Beth but other than that...Not. I heard the tape, GOT IT..I know what he was meaning. There are people "of color" but we still haven't figured out at school if someone's parents are black and Haitian. See, the whole "black" thing doesn't work. and on the subject, there are *iggers and there are *rackers and trailor trash, *ed necks too. A nasty way to discribe a person who is lazy, no good..blah blah. To use it means the person really doesn't have a better vocabulary, just like swearing.

Sounds like a plan! I love music and that would be a good incentive.

Dang ya'll. Wow. But...how's your butt? I'm thinking all that has to exit some way. OUCH. smiling but happy for your LOSS.

My first reaction was that you both love yourselves enough to do this journey together. You support oneanother. Destroy? Nah, I'm thinking not unless you know something about his personality that would be such that he has a competitive nature that supercedes your getting healthy. Wait until the drama dies down with his family. There are the holidays to contend with as well. Try to do things exclusively together and also attend a support group meeting together..things just for you. I would personally talk about this with him LATER.

Is anyone else getting that it sounds like brother is picking up where dad left off between dad and mom? No wonder they divorced. Good for you in not spending your money to go up north and have your family verbally abuse you. You would pay for that? ..not just no but hell no. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Your life, your body, your health. Whatever you share with your mother, god love her for not broadcasting it to the family. TRUST is a big issue for me. My mother and sister have given me zero reason to trust them. I had to cut my sister out of my life and I'm sad as she is my only sibling but she has very toxic habits that are toxic for me. Your brother sounds the same. Maybe later it will work out but for now, if he wants to talk to you, he can call. If he wants to see you, he can come to Florida. PROTECT YOURSELF*

Mal that kitty is adorable! Nothing heals the loss of a pet like a puppy or kitten. I'll have to post photos of my cat's litter of babies that are now walking. They are soooo cute. DynamoMIni ~~ So sorry I missed you all. Next time for sure. VA~ Glad you liked the pics..I have more!!! ShelbiC.and Want2beme: To answer your questions here's what happened. After my fill at Fill Center USA in St. Pete, I had stomach pain, could be she had the needle digging around trying to find the port. Mind you she was using the fluoroscope too. She told me I had 7 in my band as she extracted the Fluid. She then re-injected the fluid. Who knows what happened in that process. Not being there to observe, I didn't expect Dr. K to really know what happened. All I can tell you is after the Fill Center, it was about three weeks to where I started feeling hungry again. She told me my band was "almost full". I had no idea how much almost full was but learned that this was not the case from Dr. K on Friday. The discolored fluid....I don't know. But what he did was he removed it. Then he injected me to an over restricted level so that I could feel the Water hanging up. From there we worked backwards to a good comfortable slide down the pipe with a little bit of restriction felt. Honestly, I believe I now hit my sweet spot! There is no indication any damage was done to my band. Fill Center put in about .05 and that was gone but I was still sitting at about 7. I'm at 8 and a teensy bit more now. I've got good satiety after my meals not feeling hungry with a stomach growl for close to four hours. I'll take that. I still have the new habit of chewing SLOWWW and no liquid with my meal. I might whet my whistle with no iced tea but other than that, I stay eating with no liquid. My first meal after the fill was a crock (small) of french onion Soup at Bennigans. Between the cheese and soppy french bread and broth, I was FULL and was full for the next five hours before I got a signal I felt hungry. Thinking about food?? Nope. Not thinking about food is awesome! So I think I'm good for now. I found a photo of me at close to my peak weight. Check out my stomach. This is where I told some of you when I walked it swung back and forth...yeah..well here are two photos of me and hubby in Seattle on vacation. About a year plus three months ago. French kissing the totum. (not really but faking it) and I had a girdle on!

DREWSLOU- I take the "purple pill" or use to...over the counter use to be RX. Does a great job on reflux. Might want to check back with Dr. K. I can share with you that since banding, certain foods just don't cut it in my sysem anymore. In my head, I use to think this made me some kind of freak because when I was younger, part of the fun of my teen years was stoner time and eating munchy foods. When I was young, it was sleepovers and watching scarey movies and eating garbage til the first one fell asleep. Food Food. Reality check for me is that now, at this time in my life, I just can't handle some foods. Start taking notice of some of the foods that are killing your gut. Like for me tomatoes/IE tomato sauce, is a gut buster. Hope this helps.

Drewslou... you'll want to read this post. I'm going to type an article I got from Denise at Dr. K's office. Feel better. 75 is still a lot less of you. ......... Hello friends who commented...more from me after I type this for you all. It's a great read. Think You Need a Fill? THINK AGAIN By Nikki Johnson Do you remember that feeling you had when you first had your band placed? For a while, everything was great. You didn't experience hunger, you felt satisfied with a small portion of good food, you had more energy, and you were thrilled with your initial weight loss progress. If you are like most people, your experience changed over time, Some of those feelings of hunger returned, and you stopped losing weight. You knew you needed something, so you went to your surgeon's office and asked for a "fill" right? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it is your thinking about your band, and not the band itself, that needs adjusting. The LAP-BAND Bad Word Paul O'Brien, MD, FRACS, is a skillful, compassionate surgeon and a foremost expert on the LAP-BAND System. he was involved in its design in the early 1990's and placed the first band in Australia in 1994. Since then, he has treated thousands of patients and is recognized worldwide for his expertise. When his patients utter that worst of four-letter words, "fill," in his office, they are asked to throw a dollar in the Red Cross donation bucket--a reminder that, according to Dr. O'Brien, thinking about a "fill" is just wrong thinking. How can a concept that we hear about so constantly be so very wrong? Dr. O'Brien's answer is simple: "Any adjustment to the band is something that only takes place in the context of clinical consultation--part of a relationship of trust, honesty and communication between patient and surgeon--that is much more key to the success of the patient than the precise number of milliliters of Fluid in the band. This concept of partnership is the central theme of Dr. O'Brien's new book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership of Weight Loss. Patty's Note: Available on Amazon.com ISBN#9780522854121 Like many people, you might assume that weight gain or a sustained plateau means an incorrectly adjusted band; in fact, you may be right. But you may be surprised to learn that weight gain sometimes results from a band that is too tight. This is part of the reason why the "fill" concept is so misleading. If your surgeon determines that you are not losing weight as you should, then discovering why that is happening is crucial. Sometimes adding fluid to the band will only make matters worse. Life in the "GREEN ZONE" Most people who have the LAP-BAND operation will have an amazing feeling of disinterest in food for the first week after surgery, before any adjustments are even made to the fluid in the band. According to Dr. O'Brien, that lack of interest in food is referred to as satiety. A related but different feeling is satiation, or the feeling you get as you are eating, precisely at the point that you don't need any more food to eat but you do not have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness. These two feelings--satiety and satiation--are what the properly adjusted band helps you achieve, allowing you to maintain your new healthier eating habits. Your careful observation and truthful sharing of your feelings and eating behaviors, combined with the expert care and training of your surgeon and his or her staff, can make the very individual determination of whether your band is properly adjusted much more accurate. In order to help create the most effective partnership between themselves and their patients, Dr. O'Brien and his colleagues at the Australian Centre for Obesity Research and Education have developed a concept they refer to as the "Green Zone". When patients are in the green zone, they experience satiety, satiation after properly-sized small meals, and satisfactory weight loss or maintenance. However, there are also yellow and red zones, both of which indicate that the band is not optimally adjusted. If your band is too loose, you will not have the benefits the band's hunger-controlling mechanism. If your band is too tight, you will have trouble eating properly and may actually gain weight because the foods you can eat more comfortable, that tend to be liquid and calorie-rich, like ice cream and chocolate, do not provide the proper nutrition. Learning to recognize when you have the feelings and eating behaviors that signal a problem can help you give your surgeon the information he or she needs to help you keep the band optimally adjusted. Thinking Adjustment Once you have eliminated the concpet of "fills" from you Lap-Band vocabulary, you will be able to let go of much of the conventional thinking connected to it. Perhaps you have heard talk about the "ideal" amount of fluid in the Lap-Band. While it may be helpful to have some idea of how much fluid is in your band, Dr. O'Brien says there is no magic number. No perfect amount of fluid will provide the best results for everyone. He says, rather, that "whatever volume of fluid is needed to achieve the [feeling of non-hunger] is the correct volume." When you notice that you are feeling hungry or are not losing weight, your body is telling you it is time to revisit your partner in weight loss -- your surgeon. your success absolutely depends on this relationship. So rather than thinking "adjustments," adjust your thinking, and, in partnership with your surgeon, find a lifetime of health! For more information about all of the themes discussed in this article, please see Dr. O'Brien's book, The Lap-Band Solution--A Partnership for Weight Loss, which is available fro Amazon.com. We also invite you to visit LAP-BAND® System Forum - Home for more information and supportive resources. ADD FLUID OPTIMAL REDUCE FLUID Hungry Early and prolonged Difficulty swallowing Big Meals satiety. Reflux - hearburn Looking for food Small meals satisfy Night Cough Satisfactory weight loss Regurgitation or maintenance Poor eating behavior ................................................................................. Friends if you contact Denise at Dr. K's office, she has index cards with the above information in COLOR and printed so that you can nicely tuck them in your purse or pocket. FREE

While hubby toured the Coor's plant....(okay, honey whatever) I drove around and took photos of just STUFF.

After the fill, we left and Like I said before ..went to Buffalo Bill's gravesite up in the mountains. What an awesome drive and peaceful. I love anything history and Colorado is a grand state to provide that. Here are some photos overlooking Golden and then some... ................................................................................. Taken this morning as the sun was coming up while we checked in our luggage at the Frontier Airlines terminal. It was coooold outside (Baby it WAS cold outside)...as you can see, my double chin is still there but not touching my chest thank God.

Hello Friends! Grab your coffee....long post. Well I just unpacked my luggage. This trip was with hubby (photo posted of his chilled out self listening to a movie on Frontier Airlines) We flew out on Thursday afternoon and by the time we got to Aurora, had dinner and checked in, it was about midnight eastern time. I was pooped. No internet with me so that might as well have been like binding and gagging me. But the sunset coming into Colorado was just...oh chills! I went to my appt. on Friday and was suppose to see the nutritionist. She was a no-show. That ended up being cool by me, I had a premonition she wouldn't show and was actually mentally prepared that the nutrition appt. f2f would not happen. The upside to that was meeting Denise. Have you all met her? Dang ya'll! She's a LapBand sister! She's been on our journey and frankly I think I gained more from our conversation than I would have potentially with Paula. Denise>>> Michelle, I hear you about the bonding between us! That's what I am speaking to. I personally don't think people really understand what we go through. We aren't gastric bypass, or RNYZWXYZ or whatever the heck that thing is called. (no diss intended). I got an article from her on feeling full and fills. ( I love alliteration can ya tell??) This is a great article and I'll probably scan the card she gave me and type the article because it is worth the read. My fill~~~ It was GRAND to see the good doctor. I don't think I appreciated his talent and skill until I saw him after going to the Fill center in St. Petersburg, FL. Ask me if I'll go to the Fill Center again...go ahead, ask me. ( Patty will you go to the fill center again? Not just no but hell no ) Since my visit to Dr. K in June, I've only lost 12 pounds. COULD BE...that I went to the Fill Center and she removed all my saline and then put it right back in. Not saying what happened, who knows and can only do the scientific method of reason to conclude that when Dr. K took out the fill, it was less than what she had put in, it was discolored...I didn't ask what color it was but my imagination has it going a Shrek green, and it had "floaties" in it...my kids word for a drink that's been swigged upon and someone backwashed into it. I know, I know...EWWWWWWWWW... but the upside is I am now more grateful for a skilled doctor to go to. Lesson learned! I got my fall colors!!! Check this out....... Hubby and I discovered the quiant little town of Golden,Co. We drove up to Buffalo Bill's grave, BETTER POST THIS NOW

Hello my friends!! Oh so sorry I have been off this board. Marilyn thanks for the email! I fly into Denver tomorrow at 5:30. My appt. is Friday at 9 AM first with Paula and then with Dr. K. Hubby is coming with me. I have to check the weather to see what to pack. I'm going between layers or velour. Sorry I have been absent, I do peek in but haven't been as vocal as I normally am. I think I told you all I won an election to the Board of Directors for my professional organization. Very exciting. ((I'm becoming more active!!!))) yayayay me!! So kids what's the groove? I need a fill! OMG I need a fill. Not that I am cowing down things..no, but I can intake more than before. Still nothing cold to drink. Still not drinking too much, only a few sips of room temp tea with meals. Pasta is still not an option. But I can eat toast. Halloween didn't bother me as it has in past years. Is anyone else experiencing that "I use to love this food but now it isn't my first choice" feeling?? I'm packing. Talk soon.

A great read this morning! Mal I heard about the Rockies via my price quotes watcher. Plane fares, hotel rates, rentals go up and down with the games. Can't wait to get to Colorado!!! ...................................................................... Here is a collection of thoughts for the day. Enjoy! Life is drawing without an eraser. Getting something you've never had requires doing something you've never done. 33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 "...In my private practice, I often ask my clients to read Portia Nelson's "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters", requesting them to observe which chapter from the five listed best describes where they find themselves today..." Chapter 1 I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in I am lost.I am helpless It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter 2 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place But, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter 3 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in.it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter 4 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter 5 I walk down another street. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. Mark Twain We have often heard that no on can make us miserable without our permission. A corollary of that idea is also true: No one or nothing can make us comfortable without our own approval. Suppose every one of our wishes and dreams came true. Suddenly we have everything we always thought it would take to make us happy. Would that do it? Would our itch finally be scratched? Perhaps not. The fact is that it is something within, not treasures from without, that grants or withholds satisfaction. In other words, we usually need to "grow into" serenity. If the lottery winner hasn't experienced a deprivation of sorts and had not grown enough to handle new wealth, that prize may turn out to be a curse. If a golden opportunity arrives before we are prepared for it, it's just another reason to get down on ourselves. And our dreams of love and romance can easily be short-term if we don't have the personal stability to hold up our end of a relationship. Readiness can't be faked or wished into being. More inner growth may be necessary before we're capable of receiving what we most want. ............ Have an amazing day everyone!

Wanttobemeagain said: "the band is like a flippin shock collar that dogs wear so they don't bark," ((laughing so hard)) ....................... Hello friends! When was the last time I logged in? Over two weeks ago probably. Been busy with my state conference for the work I do. I am an interpreter by profession and guess what? I was elected to the Executive Board of Directors this past Saturday at our annual conference!!! I will confess now that had I not proceeded with the band, lost weight, felt better, I doubt I would have any hope for the future in my stamina and ability to go forth doing anything like standing in front of the conference attendees and talking about myself. Wouldn't have happened, nada. Now I feel a huge sense of responsibility and motivation to now purchase upscale clothes to wear when I'm out there. ( I am very happy about this ) Friends in Denver...I'm coming! Flying in on Frontier airlines flight 356 on November 8 and flying home on Sunday, November 11th. I NEED A FILL!!! ahhhhhh It would be fair to say that I do not eat as I did before the band, however, I am able to eat more ounces than I think are necessary since I was first banded. Weight loss is happening at a Sloth's pace with MAYBE a pound every three weeks. I've missed you all! But you are in my hearts daily. Who else walks this same walk? ((hugs to you all)) Patty

what a great feeling!

Hey friends! Have fun at RR! I will be thinking of you. .......................................... I've been busy with my work. Really busy. Haven't had much down time but wanted to share that I got two books off Amazon : Twenty Four Hours a Day and food for Thought. Both are OA books ............................................. Looking forward to Colorado. Will be there in just about 3 weeks. ........................................ Meditations: Take a blessing with you wherever you go. You have been blessed so bless others. Such stores of blessings are awaiting you in the months and years that lie ahead. Pass on your blessings. Blessing can and does go around the world. Passed on from one person to another. Shed a little blessing in the heart of one person. That person is cheered to pass it on, and so God's vitalizing, joy-giving message travels on. Be a transmitter of blessings. *May your blessings flow into the lives of others* ...............................................

Hello Friends!! Mal those pictures are just divine!!! Thank you for sharing a little bit of Colorado and the fall. I'll be there one month from TODAY!! I'm staying at the Doubletree Hotel in Aurora. My appt. is on the 9th at 9 PM. Can't wait! I've got some odd pain happening here. What is helping is Metamucil and Gas-X. I found my stomach was puffing like a puffer fish The GAX-X is nipping that right in the bud. The diverticulitis is being aided by Metimamucil. My stomach is calming down and GOING DOWN which I appreciate. I am back on toddler dinners for a meal replacement/meal (protein oriented) and then I ease into food during the day. If you have a Walgreens, their GOLDS brand protein bars are on sale buy one get one and the Propell water is $1 a bottle limit 6 (the big size). I'm feeling better though. Let's get together!!! I'm counting on it people. Really! I need that love and support and hugs from you all...please lets try and do a gathering for November. Literature Catalog This is a link to Overeaters anonymous things. I haven't found anything that wasn't useful. Therapy is still going great but I'm still shoveling manure. I know that I FEEL better though. Mentally I'm starting to come through the hazy part of the fog. From the Alcoholics Anonymous BIG BLUE BOOK Chapter 5 (which is used with Overeaters Anonymous) WISDOM “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program.” The AABB, Chapter 5 I always believed that I had to control every aspect of my life or I would be a “less-than” person. This attitude even crept into my attempts to learn the art of watercolor still life and portraits. Even my art could not escape the effects of my character defects! In order to learn something new, I have to be willing to follow the rules of the very thing I want to learn. I shared this with an experienced artist and best friend, “I find myself still wanting to control the outcome of the colors.” “Isn’t that the way we try to control our lives? She replied. “Drop the paint where you want it to go, then drop the second color into that one and let it go! You can take your brush and guide it, but don’t mess with it!” My life is like learning to watercolor. I have to trust that doing the footwork of recovery as others have done will bring about a beautiful portrait of growth in recovery. One day at a time... I will do the footwork by making good choices, letting each build upon the other, and I will stand back to see what God will create. ~ Sharon

This is how I roll: Upon reservations I let them know I need a wheelchair door to door. You get out of the car at curbside, check bags, get your ride. Someone pushes you to the gate, first one on, last one off. Ask the flight Attendant for a seat extender for your belt. You are met by a wheelchair roller and/or a golfcart type vehicle to take you end to end. Someone will get you to the awaiting buses to the car rental area. I'm never afraid to ask for a wheelchair or front door drop off. (I've huffed long enough) When you get to the plaza where Dr. K's office is, you can park and take the shuttle to the front door or you can do valet parking. Since that shuttle is rolling every five minutes, it's quicker. No charge either. Hope this helps. Best to you.