transformer

Welcome! I can say that with proper restriction, food no longer runs my life (which is a major miracle)! Do lots of research before making your final decision since not everyone experiences the same positive results I've been blessed with so far! Good luck!!!!!

Considering that I often don't remember why I'm leaving one room to walk into another room and I'm only 41...maybe being microchipped doesn't sound all that far-fetched to me at all! I think the appropriateness of using this technology would depend on what information was encoded on the chip. Would it say something like "If found wandering aimlessly, please return this individual to the nearest hospital or police station" kind of like a video store card I used to have that said to drop the card in the nearest mailbox if it's lost (it listed the store's address). I could definitely see the usefulness of having a microchip implanted if a hospital needed critical medical information about you in an emergency (debilitating stroke, heart attack, accident, seizure, etc. that rendered you unable to communicate). The medications you take, any allergies you have, and your blood type could be included. Your living will or permission to donate organs could also be encoded so there is no doubt about your views of being placed on machinery to keep you alive or whether or not you want to donate your organs. If you don't want to be resuscitated, your organs could be used more quickly to help more people survive. If you do want to be resuscitated, the hospital staff would know that right away. The other issue to consider is how access to the microchip would be handled to ensure that your privacy was protected. What safeguards would be put into place to prevent any Tom, Dick, or Harry from accessing your medical data? I probably wouldn't want to put my Social Security number on the chip or anything like that. As a teacher, it would be admittedly kind of cool to be able to scan all the little darling children to make sure I didn't lose any students on a field trip. LOL! Seriously, it would be helpful to those who work with the really young kids in daycare centers. As with anything in our world today, being able to prevent all abuses is probably impossible. For every good use of a technology, there always seem to be scores of people trying to use it for nefarious purposes, such as: Videotapes/VCRs and DVDs/DVD-Rs--movie piracy, peeping toms, and the porn industry Music CDs/MP3s, etc.--music piracy The Internet--cyberstalkers, pedophiles, spammers, finanacial scams, identity theft, etc. GPS--more stalkers Guns used to commit crimes, the abuse of prescription drugs, publishing programs used for counterfeiting...the list could go on and on! It's an interesting innovation to debate, that's for sure! Hmmm...to chip or not to chip? That is the question! :help:

I'm certain that Wheetsin can quite capably handle a bit of sarcasm--it just isn't necessary in the course of a normal discussion. I feel badly that you weren't able to take advantage of the information you've learned since being banded prior to having the surgery. It is a shame that not all doctors go out of their way to make sure that each patient is well-prepared both mentally and physically. It's too bad there isn't some sort of universal, standardized pre-op program that every bandster must complete before surgery. That's why it's important for everyone to be able to share their experiences on a forum like this because it might help someone else become better informed. On the other hand, I also agree with others who have posted that we should be try not to present our own stories as something that is inevitable for all bandsters. We each have to take our own personal journeys...

Dear LBT Psychotic Poster, Please follow these directions to ensure the re-establishment of peace and harmony on LBT: Open Microsoft Word. Type in your current screen name. Begin typing all of your ranting and raving thoughts that include lots of insane griping, name-calling, and inane conversation that has nothing to do with the thread you are currently viewing. Be sure to personally attack everyone you can think of in the text of your faux post. Press the "Enter" key a couple of times. Type in another one of your multitude of screen names and proceed to "talk" to yourself electronically. Be sure to include as many derogatory comments as you can about everyone you dislike on LBT. Double check this faux post to make sure that you agreed heartily with yourself...I mean your on-line imaginary friend. Remember--at no time should you post anything on LBT! When you are done responding to LBT posts in your Word document for the day, log out of LBT. Close Word. When prompted, DO NOT save your document. Go to bed, sleep it off, and repeat the same steps tomorrow. Sincerely, A Really, Truly, Totally Aggravated LBT Member

You know, I used to think reptiles were kind of cute around their dry little scaly edges... but not any more! :hurt

Chelle--Regardless of what others think, I'm happy you were able to have some time to post again. It's nice to hear from you! I was hoping you've just been busy with a lot of holiday activities like the rest of us! I have no idea why anyone has an issue with you in the first place--you are quite friendly and pleasant to interact with on-line! That personal attack was not provoked and seemed to come from out of nowhere... Green—Thanks so much for the timely words of wisdom as usual. I agree that everyone needs to get back to the original topic. I am not familiar with these people who keep hijacking our threads and turn them into some bizarre, hostile environment instead of a sane and rational discussion about a particular issue. I’m getting really sick and tired of these antics…and I'm also starting to notice a pattern in the way the antagonistic posters write (why does it seem so familiar to me--could it be the dastardly work of the same individual)??? :focus: I'm the first to admit that I'm not very well-versed about a plethora of different religions nor do I know much about people who do not believe in organized religion. However, this comment got me to thinking that maybe I've gone wrong somewhere in my poor uneventful life! (Sex orgies? Where does one register to become a pagan anyway? Sign me up!) :faint: In any case, I digress. I tried to do a little research about paganism and this website literally made my brain hurt: Meanings of the terms Pagan and Paganism I think I'm way too tired to think about all of this deep stuff right now! :notagree What does it all mean? :help:

Exactly my point...thanks!

Does this mean that if I really do go back to school to earn my doctorate that I can throw together any old idiotic study to pass? Hmmm...

While watching television coverage of the Bhutto assassination story, I was left wondering why everyone felt the need to express their "grief" by killing each other and practically burning down Pakistan. I just don't understand their culture I guess. I wonder how long it will take for her teenage son (who was just named the head of her opposition party) to be offed as well?

I don't think we can really believe anything reported by our American "journalists" regardless of the channel their drivel is broadcast on...does anyone else smell something rotten?

Hi all! I just got back into town last night, so I thought I’d pop in and catch up with the latest and greatest “Steady Losers’” news! Claudia—I feel so bad that you didn’t get the job! I hope there’s an even better opportunity out there just waiting for you!!!! Your brother sounds like a funny guy—you’re only an “oink-and-a-half” now? Bkwalling—Love your new look! I want to turn my waves into curls now, too!! VABandster—So glad your latest fill is helping! I hope the numbers on the scale go down, down down! :scales: Nikki32—So good to hear from you! The scans they do these days are just amazing—I’m sure it made you feel wonderful to hear your baby is growing well! :preggers: Boo—The new pictures are great!!! I hate having my picture taken so I haven’t posted anything yet…maybe someday! J The “Mom’s sabotaging me” comment cracked me up—dealing with family can be such a pain!!! Bannannie—I’m so glad you made it through your lower-body lift okay! That’s fantastic! I can’t believe they were able to remove 22 pounds—WOW! You are going to really be “hot stuff” now! :wow2: B-man—I agree with your thoughts about the new fellow vs. the Marine—you’re right, things do happen for a reason! I haven’t been on a real “date” with a true stranger I just met since 1987 or so! If you think you don’t know what to do with all of the attention you’re getting from men, just wait until I have some stories to share! I’m looking forward to providing some comic relief! Sweethot—I’m so happy that you had fun in Rome! Thanks so much for sharing the pictures. It must have been surreal to actually see all of those famous sites in person! Keep us up-to-date with how your BodyBugg thingy is working for you (now that you found it again)! StephC—Sounds you were frightfully busy over the holidays! Congratulations on the size 10s! That is outstanding!!!! You fit into tall boots, too?? Bonus! Jillrn—So great to hear from you! I hope you are back to your old self really soon. Stomach flus suck!!! Hang in there! As for me, my son and I had a great time up north at "home" in New Hampshire between Christmas and New Year's! It snowed while we were there which was a nice touch. The best thing about this holiday season is that I didn't gain an ounce! It's a freakin' Christmas miracle! I love my band! I love my band! I love my band! LOL! :whoo: I did some clothes shopping while I was visiting NH since there's no sales tax. I managed to buy two XL blouses from the "regular" ladies' clothing department. I also bought a new coat a couple of weeks ago that was XL. I could wrap my old coat around me about twice! :eek: I never had my last doctor's appointment so I wasn't officially weighed in around my bandiversary. I asked for an office visit when I called for the appointment, but someone booked me for a fill appointment at the other site. OOPS! I'll have to wait until later in January to see my doc now. :cry I'm going to spend some time tonight setting some 2008 weight loss goals. I want to lose the rest of my weight by next December.I gotta go back to work tomorrow--boo, hiss! I hope everyone's 2008 gets off to a great start! :clap2:

Have you had any harrowing experiences on the roads so far this holiday season? Has anyone practically run you over to steal the parking space you were about to pull into? Feel free to vent away...:confused:

That's the thing I'd be worried about! I'm not a big fan of cake in particular, but I have to be wary of foods that "trigger" a desire for more of the same. Chocolate in any form comes to mind! I used to work with a very skinny woman who had the ability to eat one "rectangle" of a Hershey bar and put away the rest of it. I would regard her with total and utter amazement. I was not born with that ability, unfortunately! LOL! I guess if you were always capable of having an occasional piece of cake then go for it! If you think it'll lead to a total breakdown of your new healthy eating habits, I'd think twice about it. :biggrin1:

I definitely see your point, Chris, because I know I didn't participate in forcing Native Americans onto reservations (neither did my ancestors). Similarly, there's still a lot of blame going around over slavery as well (people asking for restitution, official apologies, etc.). No one in my family ever owned any slaves either (of course, I'm known in Virginia as a "come here" because I'm really one of those damn Yankees)! As an educator, I spend all day trying to get children from every walk of life, religion, race, etc. to reach the highest level of achievement they can which is the opposite of holding people back. I guess the same can be said about gathering up Japanese-Americans into interment camps during WWII (or muslims during the current conflict). If there is evidence of wrongdoing and we need to protect ourselves, that's one thing. Deciding that an entire group of people is guilty without any evidence is another thing. Thinking about these things makes me cringe because segregating people or treating them as property (even if the plantation owners thought it was an economically sound idea at the time) isn't how we should treat people. The human race is supposed to be above that thanks to our highly-developed brains that have the ability to reason. Also, I think that Americans should be held to a higher standard because our country was founded on the belief that everyone is equal. How can anyone reconcile owning slaves and forcing people into camps or reservations with that? So much for highly-developed brains! When members of our country do things (or did things) that go against this basic belief, it does kind of embarrass me. Embarrassed in an "oh-look-at-my-drunk-Uncle-Louie-puking-under-the-table-again-this-year" kind of way...:faint:

Oh...one other thing I was thinking about. Lance Armstrong was given the following odds of surviving his cancer: 65-85% at first, then 50%, then 40%, then 3%. Despite the odds, he believed he could beat it. His fancy team of doctors opted for an innovative round of chemotherapy. He beat the odds and survived his bout with cancer. Now consider this scenario. A guy down the street from you named John Brown finds out he has testicular cancer that has metastasized to his brain and lungs. John has a very positive attitude and believes he can fight this disease. He isn't worried because he has health insurance through his employer. His doctors highly recommend an innovative chemotherapy procedure that shows a lot of promise. the insurance company refuses to pay for the procedure and John Brown dies within a couple of months with his wife by his side. Perhaps the doctors thought the young teen didn't stand a chance in this particular case. However, medical science does not have all of the answers. Miracles happen every single day in hospitals all around the world that cannot necessarily be explained by scientific facts and medical tests (sorry to all of the non-believers out there). People pull through, defy the odds, and prove doctors' predictions about their chances for survival wrong. It's one thing to try to curb costs by not approving unnecessary tests, but insurance companies should not be given the right to play God with people's lives. They shouldn't get to decide who lives and who dies. Just my warped little opinion...

Then I must be WAY too youthful to have heard of them (yeah, right)! LOL!

We can definitely agree to disagree on this one... I stayed awake for three days straight and traveled to five different doctor's offices/oral surgeons in three different cities before I could get my son's broken jaw treated after an accident thanks to the ***damn health insurance company. The only thing the local hospital emergency room would do was suture the laceration on his chin. They x-rayed his jaw (it was broken on both sides near his temples) and kicked us out because they said we had to go to an oral surgeon's office the next morning because no one was on call. We went to the appointment at 10 AM the next day and were told that our insurance no longer covered this doctor either. We went to the pediatrician's office to see if they could help us find someone to treat him. At the next oral surgeon's office 30 minutes away, after we waited for 2 1/2 hours and more x-rays were taken, the doctor refused to work on him because "the fractures were too complex." Next, I had the distinct pleasure of arguing with the insurance company ass on the phone, who couldn't see my child suffering, to convince them that he was in serious pain and needed to be taken care of right away. The insurance a**holes told his father and I to go back home because "it wasn't an emergency and it could wait until the following Monday" (three more days away). Keep in mind his head was deformed, discolored, and swollen, he was without pain medication all this time, and he couldn't eat or talk. He could barely drink without choking. We found out later that he had four shattered teeth inside of his mouth that had to later be crowned at the dentist's office, too (which my dental insurance hardly covered by the way--I paid through the nose for that work to be done). They finally gave us permission to go to the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center emergency room in Richmond (1 1/2 hours away from home). At the VCU emergency room, they examined him, x-rayed him again, and then they tried to throw us out on the street in the middle of the night with no place to stay after we hadn't slept for 3 days. NASCAR was in town, so there weren't any vacant hotel rooms in Richmond. We dug in our heels and said we weren't leaving until the oral surgeon in the building next door was ready to see him the next morning. Keep in mind that we had nothing with us--no clothes, no toothbrushes--we had planned to go to one oral surgeon visit at 10 AM two days before. No one at any medical facility we visited helped us out in any way as far as finding somewhere to get food or something to drink. At the oral surgeon's office in Richmond, they gave us toothbrushes and toothpaste and let us use the restroom and gave us towels so we could at least wash our faces. They told us where the snack machines were because we hadn't had anything to eat since the accident. Those were some VERY classy people. Within 1 1/2 hours of arriving there, my son had been given pain medication, was sedated, and his jaw was wired shut. By five PM that afternoon, we finally on our way back home. So, trust me, if it were my kid, I would have found a way to get the surgery done if the physicians on the case had strongly recommended it (and a second opinion confirmed their original recommendation) regardless of the ***damn insurance company. If I had to move somewhere else in order to access specialized treatments, I would do that without blinking an eye. Not fighting for my child would never be an option for me. If this was what my child needed in order to be healthy or to survive, I'd sell everything I own first. It's only money--I can always make more! We all know that this case is only high-profile and being plastered all over the media because it involves a lawsuit led by a well-known "Hollywood" lawyer (Mark Geragos) and the death of an attractive young, white teenager. I wonder how many other people are dropping dead all around our country because the insurance companies are calling all the shots concerning our health care instead of the doctors who actually treat the patients? I hope some investigative reporter latches onto this aspect of the story and digs a little deeper. By the way, I paid for my own lapband because the same damn insurance company won't cover anything that will make us healthier and save them money in the long run!

If it were your kid who was sick, perhaps your viewpoint would differ...

No one should be too surprised by this latest development...all Native Americans were treated like total crap. Kind of makes me ashamed to be an American...

I didn’t happen to mention that my son has special needs, too (bipolar II, AD/HD, fine motor skill and sensory issues, etc.). He was born after 28 hours of labor following 2 1/2 months of being bedridden due to diabetes and toxemia. Let's just say getting banded was a walk through the park compared to that! I’ve been on my own with him since he was 3 months old. Now I’m home schooling him as well due to the incompetence of the public school system. Good thing he’s cute! :biggrin1: People who whine about the government not doing enough for them annoy me to no end. When Hurricane Isabel hit our area in 2001, the power was out for most people for a minimum of a week. My son and I had squirreled away supplies in our hurricane kit over several months because that was the only way we could afford it. I took out some cash the day before the storm in case the ATM machines didn’t work. After the storm passed, everyone in the neighborhood ventured outside. We helped each other cut up trees and move debris. We cooked our canned goods outside on our little Coleman camp stove and made s’mores. Everyone cooked up the meat from their freezers and we had a neighborhood block party. We drank bottled Water. We played board games and cards by the sunlight during the day and by candlelight at night. Basically, we pretended that we went camping for a week. The worst part was that we didn’t have hot water, but we survived. Our main source of entertainment that week, though, had to be listening to the local AM radio stations. The DJs reported that people were lining up in droves at gas stations and at the grocery stores even if they didn’t have power because they were desperate for gas, bottled water, and bags of ice. People were fighting in the lines and acting like crazy people. The state sent in trucks of bottled water and bags of ice and everyone fought over that, too, and blamed the government for taking so long to bring supplies! It was absolutely hysterical! Of course, we didn’t need gas because we stayed home where we belonged. Where was there to drive to? Many roads were blocked by fallen trees and power lines and almost all businesses were closed because they didn't have power. In fact, we gave our lawn mower gas to our elderly neighbor to power his generator (he needs an oxygen tank to breathe). We didn’t need ice because we had stocked up on nonperishable food. We didn’t need to run out and get bottled water, either, because we had already enough. We made do with what we had. Finally, after about a week, a fleet of Florida power company trucks roared into our neighborhood and we all cheered! We gave the men food and water because they had been working straight through for days. Once power was restored, I had to figure out how to restock the fridge. Two of my siblings were kind enough to send some money because I couldn’t afford to buy everything we needed. I paid the money back—we pretty much seem to send the same bunch of money around between the five of us as we’ve each weathered tough times. Thousands of other people lined up to apply for free food stamps. It was discovered later that dozens of people, including some who actually worked for the food stamp department, had committed fraud by lying on their applications to get free food! I’m hopeful that our next president understands the business world and our nation’s economy well enough to make sure that more good paying jobs are created on U.S. soil. I’d like to see a sweeping welfare-to-work program be put into place to make welfare a temporary assistance program, not a career path. Enough of the free rides already! If you are able-bodied, you ought to be out there working. If you have family, you ought to take care of each other before expecting the government (and my tax dollars) to bail you out. I suspect that some politicians would much prefer that entire segments of our population continue to be held back from reaching their full potential by their over-reliance on social services. After all, people who rely on these services are much more likely to vote for someone who is promising even more freebies. Seems like a pretty clever “racket” to ensure that you have a built-in constituency to me! :guess

Speaking of color changes, my teenage son "sees red" every time Sandra Lee starts going on and on about her "amazing tablescape." You should hear him muttering. It goes something like this: "What the heck is a tablescape? Why would anyone want all that crap on their table? How can you fit any food on there?" What would be really funny is if he could tape a "tablescape" segment of her show and insert his comments as a voiceover! LOL! I may make fun of some of her ideas, but I do admire her for being a survivor. I like people who can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make something of themselves despite the odds. :clap2:

Oh DerickM--you absolutely slay me! Did you make up all of your last post yourself or did you copy it from somewhere? I'll add the next events on the schedule (if I may be so bold): 3:00 AM Ted Kennedy floats to the surface of the body of Water his car just sank in and his female companion inexplicably doesn't make it... 3:05 AM Bill Clinton is named the new Democratic nominee 3:10 AM Ted Kennedy proposes a toast LOL!

I agree with trystelle. Once you train yourself to eat and drink separately, it becomes like any other habit. I don't notice I do it any more--it's just part of my new "normal!"

Since my last fill, I feel the same way in the morning. I typically go the route of cottage cheese or a protein shake, too. No big deal!