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My problem with these programs is that they are all so religion based. I personally don't believe in god, but why shouldn't I get some support too? My husband was having trouble with alcohol awhile back, and I made him go to AA. He went once and never went back because all they talked about was god. I wish there was a way to get support for your issues without having to believe in god, I mean we are still humans even if we aren't christians.

OK, my weakness is wine not ice cream. So I was a bad girl last night and had a glass of white wine. (I am still on liquid phase and this is liquid right??!!). Anyway, it tasted bad to me and my taste buds were not ready for it after having protien drinks for 13 days. My mouth was dry as the desert all night as I slept even though I drank 2 glasses of Water after the wine. Anyway, I am glad because I am not going to hurry to have another glass now. That will make me fall off the health wagon faster than ice cream. Does anyone else that likes an occasional drink have a story of their experience of alcohol with the band??

I was about to ask how in the world you got WC to pay for bariatric surgery to begin with, but then re-read what you wrote and now I get it. That's an interesting scenario, and I can definitely see why they'd fight having to pay for a sleeve, but I can also tell you that, having worked at the WC center for General Motors at one time, probably 95% of all lawsuits brought against the company by the employee are won, and that includes completely ridiculous ones like "I can't work because I'm an alcoholic because my job made me that way," or "I can't work because of the mental problems caused by my job..." yeah, totally serious. I'd say if the job caused removal of the band, and now you can't have another band, you'd stand an excellent chance of having your WC pay for a sleeve, maybe even without much threat from a lawyer (although you may still have to initiate that process). Hmmmm, interesting. Keep us updated!

I'm sold on fatsecret.com. If you wants to be my buddy on there we can see each other's food logs (I just switched from fitday so today is the first day). Search Donna4545. I bet you can get down to 900 calories/day--get rid of the sausage,alcohol, potatoes, bread and eat more like you did 6 months out (that's not a flame, it's advice). If you have a sweet tooth, don't eat that cookie! Instead make something lowcal and sweet from the Bariatric Foodie blog--she's got Protein cheesecake, bon bons, tons of stuff. You can do it! You are almost there. Donna

Actually, the comments were not as bad as I expected. Yes, some of the writers were seriously ignorant and judgemental, but not all which I thought was encouraging. It is very difficult for some people to understand ANYTHING out of their own limited experience. Just because they don't have a weight problem, they think that those who do suffer from gluttony. We see the same thing with drug/alcohol addiction and poverty. It's simpler for these people to pass judgement than to realize the complexity of the issues involved. Thank goodness NHS is continuing to pay for WLS. I don't blame you for being annoyed, Jane; it is annoying. I would like to submit the idea, however, that it could be much worse. I live in the US where there is no comprehensive coverage. I also live in AZ where the government is just plain mean-spirited. I could go into detail here but I don't want to start a political debate. Let me just say that I think they are fascist a-holes.

That's always been my "confusion" with people who are aghast that ?their? insurance pays for WLS but have no problem with smokers, sunbathers, texting drivers, drug abusers/alcoholics, etc. etc. etc. who don?t ?take care of themselves? using ?their? insurance to pay for the resulting health issues. ARRRRRRRRRRR

08/25/2010 OK...Today I met with this very nice nutritionist at UMC Hospital and really enjoyed my interaction with her. "Stephanie" was pretty knowledgeable about the lapband diet, pre-op, surgery, etc. even though this is a fairly new surgery for UMC. I have already been doing some of the pre-pre-op things such as eating with a smaller plate, watching alcohol consumption, using a baby spoon, actually measuring portions. All of this has been such an eye opener for me. If I could do all these things all the time, I wouldn't even NEED the lapband, but although I consider myself somewhat of a "professional dieter" after 30 years of being obese, I can get it off, just can't seem to KEEP it off. I am still feeling like luck is on my side and that although my Cigna has this stupid clause excluding CHN employees and their spouses (sheesh!), perhaps I will be that one that they just have to authorize. You know...Squeaky Wheel Syndrome!!!!:wub:

Good Evening Gang... Candice - LOL O'doul's - when pple try to give me a water down drink when I am drinking - i tell them put more alcohol in it - I am one of those drinkers who think they can drink all nite - cuz I use to - but again back then I had help from those things called diet pills - could drink all night and not get falling down drunk - I know you all don't think I'm as much of a drinker - not on a daily basis - but like when I go out - I can drink too much.. But I'm a fun drunk ;0) Love the $$$ saved by making ice that's cute... Hopefully pple will help you clean up - I know when my gf has a party pple are always helping clean up.. Karla - Yes you will be set free from letting go of all that junk that you are never going to have time to do... We have the same problem here in CA with # of kids in a class - I'm sure glad I don't have any kids in school.. Hugs you will survive So are you going to take a yoga class ?? Good for you... Well not much to report - back from the gym - boot camp tonite - then started my dinner - a one pot wonder - I didn't eat veggies last night so I have to get them in tonite. Tried to teach Bella to walk on a leash - but it's freaking hot - car said 119 at 6:30... Its the hottest it's been all summer - I can usualy go out at this time of nite and be ok not sweat - but tonite - hell no - we will practice more later.. Steph - How are you doing... How's Michael - is everyone ready for school to start - how's the house cleaning going Phyl - will be glad when you have regular internet - we sure do miss you.. Denise we haven't heard from you in AGES..

Julie, what kind of cookies and bars did you make? I just told my GS I would guide him through making cookies for the county fair (4H). I told him he could do bars, cookies, and a cake. Whew!! He is also showing a calf. Lexapro causes me to have dry mouth. When I was on the Protein Shakes my mouth was so dry I thought I was getting gum disease. That is one of the reasons I went off of the shakes. I use Biotene toothpaste, mouthwash, and spray for dry mouth. I love it. No alcohol so it feels so good. Probably the combination of Cymbalta and the pain meds really dries out your mouth. My DS is almost moved in. He travels alot with his job.....or he is at his new girlfriend's house. He told me the other day he loved her and was going to marry her. WOW! I haven't heard that come out of his mouth in the four years he has been divorced. It must be the real thing. Laura and Jessica.......Medals for both of you! Brave Mommy for the Day! I just bought some NB walking shoes on Amazon. They had the best price. All the reviews I read were five star. I did get the Velcro because I can adjust them better, and I am sick of my laces coming untied even when I double knot them. I sound old, but "it is what it is". Linda......How is Merry? Apples, thinking of you.......how is your arm? Great, you must be having such a good time.....can't wait to hear about it. Gwen......wow, Madrid.....awesome! Janet, Cheri, Laura K, Eva, Jodi, Melissa, Joyce, Judy, Phyl......hope you are having a nice evening. I know I am missing someone....Kurby...HI!

Well it finally happened to me. I had my first fill Aug.2nd. I think about 3cc in a 14cc band. Anyway have been doing well and losing 2-3 lbs weekly since I started. Last week went to spend a week with my oldest daughter and her family. I wasn't really adhering to the low carb part of my diet but still watching caloric intake and charting it daily. But decided to partake of a few cocktails. I was drinking bloody Marys and trying to keep the calories down. Friday evening I had a few and felt it coming on. Hadn't eaten so was really surprised when I ended up in the bathroom sliming away and gagging. It passed relatively quickly. So now I know too much alcohol can bring it on too! And I lost another 3.4 lbs last week! But like I said I gave up the food calories for the alcohol calories and I don't believe this would be healthy for too long!

Warm fluids. And drink drink drink if you can. Dehydration tightens my band right up. Also alcohol does it since it is dehydrating. I went out friday night and had a little too much to drink and I've been tight ever since. Travel does make me tighter so the idea of traveling wouldn't appeal to me either. Any way you can call your physician's office and see if they can get you a referral in China? Just a thought. They maybe able to check credentials of doctors better than you can as a "layperson". Keep to softer foods if possible to avoid the possibility of getting stuck. If you have access to ibuprofen (chewables preferably) you may want to take some with plenty of water of course to see if there is any swelling issues. I don't know if that's okay with breastfeeding, you probably do better than I. Tough to be in your situation, I wish you luck!

Hi Jamie, I think if you do it too fast your body will let you know. Liquids should just pass straight through although with the narrowing of the restriction you will get backflow if you try to pour it in too fast!! If it doesn't hurt it should be OK. I think its more important to drink as much as possible to keep hydrated and allow the body to heal itself. Your rates of drinking above sound good to me and I remember doing similar volumes at that point. I have pasted my doctors recommended diet for the 1st 4 weeks below. As you can see he is only concerned with speed of drinking on day 1. Have you had a contrast test to check for leaks yet? I had mine after surgery and it was fine but I worried too about leaking for months after because I am a pessamist :biggrin0:. Jane x Dietary Recommendations for Patients after Gastric Sleeve Resection from BMI Surgery Clinic in Brno First day diet: Usually an i.v. Fluid has been administered and a contrast X-ray examination precedes per oral alimentation Drink slowly in small sips of Water, tea. Wait in between the sips for a minute or two. Do not drink more than 50ml at once. Nothing but tea with or without sugar, or still mineral water. Wait for least 10 minutes between drinks. Your total per oral fluid intake should be not exceed two glasses or 0.5 litre in the first postoperative day. First two weeks Clear broth or Soup without vegetables or meat and not too creamy. Low fat, sugar free yogurt. Skimmed milk. Natural fruit juice or pureed soft fruit (apple, banana, pear, etc). Vegetable juices. Low calorie drinks. Sugar free Protein supplements, with skimmed milk. Water (6-8 cups / 2.0 - 3.0 litres a day). Between meals you may drink vegetable juice, milk, fruit juices & water to ingest sufficient liquids and prevent dehydration. Sample Menu - Week 1 & 2 Breakfast 1/3 cup pureed fruit ? cup yogurt lunch ? cup consomm? or broth 1/3 cup pureed fruit dinner ? cup yogurt ? cup pureed fruit Third and Fourth Week after Sleeve Gastrectomy A liquid/pureed diet for your meals during week 3 and 4 after the operation may help you to get used to smaller stomach. Remember to keep a high level of protein in your diet. You will need to use a blender or food processor. The food has to be blended until reaching a applesauce consistency. Avoid spicy foods; they may irritate your stomach. Here is a list to give you some suggestions for what you can eat on weeks 3 and 4: Liquids or beverages, and milk. ? Good options: Tea, non-carbonated drinks, natural fruit juices, coffee, water, skimmed milk, low fat and sugar free yogurt. ? Limit or try to avoid: Artificial fruit juices, soda, alcohol, all carbonated beverages, Iced tea with sugar, milk or yogurt products with nuts or seeds, chocolate milk, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk. Fruits. ? Good options: Applesauce, pureed pears, and bananas. ? Limit or try to avoid: Canned fruits or fruits with syrup. Vegetables. ? Good options: Pureed vegetables, vegetable juice. ? Limit or try to avoid: Raw vegetables, canned vegetables, vegetables that cause discomfort (gas forming). Soups. ? Good options: Broth, cream soups make with skimmed milk, egg drop soup, low sodium bouillon or consomm?. ? Limit or try to avoid: All other. Starches. ? Good options: Mashed potatoes. ? Limit or try to avoid: Bread, Pasta, rice and all other starches. meats or protein supplements. ? Good options: Pureed chicken, fish, tuna, veal, beef, low fat cottage cheese, baby food meats, mashed or pureed tofu, pureed egg or egg substitute, sugar-free Protein shakes, No sugar added Instant Breakfast. ? Limit or try to avoid: Peanut Butter, others. Fats, sugars and others ? Good options: Sugar free Jellies and puddings, sugar free ice cream and frozen yoghurt, low fat (slimmers) puddings. ? Limit: Others. Sample Menu ? weeks 3 & 4 Breakfast 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/3 cup pureed fruit (or4-6 tablespoons cooked refined Cereal, adding 3 tablespoons of skimmed milk) 1 hour later 1 cup fruit juice (or milk) 2 hours later 4-6 tablespoons yogurt 1 hour later 1 cup water (or unsweetened fruit juice) Lunch 3 tablespoons pureed chicken with 2 tablespoons pureed vegetables and 2 tablespoons mashed potatoes, 1 cup water 1 hour later 1 cup water 2 hours later 1 cup protein supplement (or1 packet No Sugar Added Instant Breakfast) Dinner 2-3 tablespoons chicken (or fish or tuna)with 2 tablespoons vegetables and 2 tablespoons mashed potatoes 1 hour later 1 cup skimmed milk 1 hour later 3 tablespoons cottage cheese with 4 tablespoons pureed fruit 1 hour later 1 cup broth-type soup or milky (semi-skimmed or skimmed milk) drink General Recommendations: 1. Eat small meals five times a day and limit snacking in between meals. 2. Eat slowly and chew food until it reaches a mushy consistency. (15 to 20 times per bite). 3. Stop eating or drinking right before you feel full. 4. Eat only good quality foods. 5. Drink low calorie liquids. 6. Drink enough liquids /about 2.0 ? 3.0 litres per day. 7. Drink after each eating 8. Exercise moderately, however not sooner than 2 weeks after the operation

Dont beat yourself up. I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago - 9 days in an RV with my parents came home for a day then we went on a 7 day cruise. No fills yet, banded June 10th. I gained 5lbs but it was lost within 10 days or so. I guess most of it was water retention from eating out, salty foods, alcohol on the cruise etc.

Good Evening Gang.. Linda you are too nice - I'm called the Simon Cowell of LBT ;0) Welcome MSampson - Congrats on your 79 lbs gone !!! Yep dear it's all about eating healthy - that the key - diets don't work - that's so very true !!! You have to eat healthy and exercise.. As Linda said - being too tight cause us to eat sliders that are usually higher in calories. Go back to the basic = Google the 5 day pouch test - it's liquids like for 2 days then soft for a day or 2 then back to regular - I haven't ever done it - but a few pple have - For the 1st year - I kept a food/exercise diary (I counted calories 800-1200 daily and varied them)- I weighed and measured my foods (for the first few month) I still pull out the scale for somethings even today. Always eat your protein 1st - then veggies - then starch if you do have any room Make sure you eat low fat - limit starches - and mostly sugar free.. I still eat off dessert plate and use small spoon and fork.. Get out and walk - start slow then every couple of weeks increase your speed and distants - I lost the majority of my weight my walking on the treadmill - lost the last 30 by weight training and treadmill. I still weight train and now am into classes at the gym - boot camp - yoga - pilos - for the last couple of weeks I have been to the gym 5-6 days.. Yep I have my food demons - I will be physically full - but my brain wants more food - Sugar is my heroin - I eat mostly sugar free - but every now and then I want a reeses peanutbutter cups - - well in the past I would buy a bag of candy and eat it all in one night - now - I buy 1 candy bar and no more.. I don't keep foods in my house that I can't say no to - why that's self sabotage.. We are food addicts... You wouldn't leave a bottle of booze on the counter if you were an alcoholic.. I eat the same way I did when I 1st got my band - I am not dieting - I eat healthy food - I eat tons of fish (known for being the fish queen) I eat veggies every meal and I will save my starches for nights when my will power is the lowest.. I eat an ice cream almost every night - it's a sugar free fudgescile or sf pudding I budget my calories to compensate for when I am the hungriest (night) I'm attaching a sample menu.. You can do this - you just have to make up your mind that you want to get healthy (our brains are where are real problems w/food lies not our stomachs) You deserve a healthy life - you deserve to take care of you - You need to love yourself - and that doesn't mean killing your self w/food cuz that's how you love yourself - we all have been there - food is our comfort - it's our love - it's our reward for taking care of everyone else.. So Pull up the bootstraps - the past is the past - can't change it - but you do have control over what you put in you mouth - So starting right now - get rid of the junk in the house (throw it away - or give it to your local shelter) sit down make a menu - shop for the foods on that menu - count calories read the labels - get out and walk - and when you want to eat get on lbt post - go clean out a drawer - get up and distract yourself - And I bet you in 1 week you will come back and tell us the scales are moving in the right direction.. Sample Menu.doc

I have always said that eating breakfast makes me hungry the rest of the day. I find that isn't so much the case with having a Protein Drink, but I've never agreed that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It starts my metabolism which starts my hunger. It doesn't matter what kind of food it is, its like an alcoholic taking that first drink. It gets me started. Now, with the band and with my need to keep my blood sugar stable, I don't feel well until I get something in me. Especially since I walk first thing. I usually take coffee with milk in it on my walk or my Protein drink because I usually walk from a half an hour to an hour and I need the liquid and to replace what I'm burning up. I have to tell you, I used to be thin because I never ate breakfast and barely ate lunch and only ate good food at supper. I was very active, drank tons of black coffee, and ate candy bars in the afternoon and a good supper at night. But I felt guilty because people said I wasn't eating right so I added more food earlier in the day. And I started gaining weight, probably because the ketosis that happens when you have a long period of time between meals, wasn't happening anymore. This is why I don't judge other people's methods of losing weight, or insist that they do it my way. But I know I never felt good after eating Cereal or oatmeal or pancakes or even eggs and bacon for breakfast when I was a kid. If I'd never listened to the "diet police" and stuck with what worked for me, I might never have gained the weight. Cheri

*begin rant* Do people who have NEVER had any struggle w/their weight really have ANY earthly idea how hard it is being a fatty? ESPECIALLY one who has struggled with weight their entire life. I’m just tired of the superiority that comes along with [some] thin folks. Especially-especially those that ASSUME they are healthy simply b/c they are thin. My doc was actually shocked at my last physical. No HBP, no high cholesterol, no diabetes, blood tests were fine, kidney & liver function were fine. Heart was good & strong. If i wasn't morbidly obese, I'd be healthy *lol* And he went on to tell me how many average size – assumingly “Healthy” folks would come in and have all of these health ailments and be on all kind of medications for cholesterol, HBP, etc. Most everyone has one vice or another. It may not be food…but it’s something. Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex…SOMETHING. All I know – if one more thin/“healthy” chain-smoking, coke-snorting, alcoholic, gambling, sex-addict says ONE more thing to me about my weight – there are gonna be consequences and repercussions! *BAH* If they hate me now? LAwd…There’s no hope for them come this time next year. Nonsense like this only makes me THAT more determined to hit Geyonce status (Gina + Beyonce = Geyonce) – and STAY there. *uh oh uh oh* :huh0: *end rant* Happy Friday all!

I'm sorry Mini, this is going to be one more of those adjustments. I once heard CC Deville (guitarist for the band Poison) say that he was an alcoholic, a drug addict and as he got sober he gained a lot of weight, he said that people were more uncomfortable with him being fat than a drug addict. That being said, its important to find new joys in this situation. I dated my boyfriend for 2 and half years, I was the only overweight person he ever dated, I know that if he started dating me after I was thinner, I would have been angry and not trusted that he loved me for me. Hang in there Mini! And I'd always give you a penny!

Hi there Congrats on your surgery firstly... the big step is over and done with. Secondly did you not get info from a nutritionist at all? You're 10 days out from surgery I think, so far too soon to be on solids. If you do a search on the board you'll find several dietary guidelines which might help. As a rough idea I had to do: First 10 days post op - clear liquids (which included skimmed milk, no added sugar fruit juice but not citrus ones), clear soups and Optifast shakes. Days 10 to 20 - Full liquids - soups with no lumps in yoghurts and all of the above. The next 7 days - Mushies and all of the above Day 28 for the next 7 days - Soft foods - chicken, fish, eggs, and all of the above. Day 35 onwards - normal foods but still no alcohol until 2nd month, and no gassy liquids or caffeine. I hope this helps - it is just a guide and you'll see various different ones on the forum, but at least you'll get an idea of roughly where you are. Don't over do your sleeve, you've worked hard to get where you are and don't want to risk a leak or anything getting caught in it and infection setting in. Good luck.

[3/28/10] Sometimes I wonder what miscellaneous people see when they look at me. Are they disgusted by my appearence as much as I am lately? Like, admittedly, when I see someone fat (my size on upwards of 4 or 500lbs): I wonder if there sturggles w/food have been like mine, I wonder how they feel about themselves, and wonder if they are as uncomfortable as I have been (physically, in terms of knee/hip/foot pain, exhaustion, etc) But most of all, I wonder if they have ever reached the end of their rope w/their weight/health or if they are content with being that way. I ask, b/c I know that some folks enjoy being overweight (ie: the lady recenty who aiming at trying to be 1200 lbs or something so assinine) I’m not judging. And this is not intended to sound/read as such – I’m just curious about peoples lives…and if, like me, they too are just as fed up with being (so) fat & out of shape…but don’t know what to do about it. I know people probably look at me on the Metro when I’m about to take a seat next to them thinking “noooooooo, I don’t want that fat broad squeezing me into the seat!!”. I’m very aware of peoples reactions…and it hurts. I just wonder if it affects anyone like it has affected me. And further – at what point do you decide to do something about your health. Being fat I could care lass about. IF I could be fat (morbidly obese is a less pretty term for the truth) AND healthy at this size…ok. But I think it’s physically impossible to be over a certain weight and not have any health issues (present & future) associated with it. Some folks are just riding down the river called denial. I know for me I wasn’t particularly in denial – its just that everything I tried never lasted long term, and I grew sick of feeling like crap about myself – especially over the past year. I don’t want to become one of those folks that acts (seems to act) like I’m so much more enlightened because I’ve decided to do something about my health – because that’s ALL this is about for me. But I wonder if people really know where they stand in terms of mortality. I’ll put it this way – there is NO food good enough, no alcoholic beverage tasty enough…for me to remain in my current state. I need help trying to shave some years off the death sentance I’ve given myself over the past 2 decades, and pray that the Insurance “Mayor” makes the Lapband surgery an easy pardon. I’m at my wits end. Add to it married life, motherhood, 9-5 job, jewelry biz…I’m damn near ready to throw myself (and a few other select ppl) off the Woodrow Wilson bridge. But its only a matter of time. Change come soon – I bring it!

Thank you all. . .I'm really glad the stall is broken and that I'm back to rockin' ! hehehe. . . PinkJewels, thank you for your nice comments, I don't watch anything really (I'm 8 months out now) however I DO watch how much of it I have. . . for example, some mornings I'll have my Protein shakes (yeah I'm still on those) and other mornings I'll have a bean and cheese taco. . . takes me about 15 minutes to eat. . then nothing at all til about lunch time, sometimes I'll have 1/4 cup velvetta and shells, or go out for lunch with the gals, and have a appetizer, bring it back. . then mid afternoon or so a fruit of some sort, and then a lean cusine (sp??) for dinner. . . that menu is during the week. . . for the weekend, I have a piece of toast or just coffee for breakie, nothing for lunch or some fruit, then whatever for dinner. . .I'm definately not perfect so I do snack and drink alcohol . . .I'll have 1 or 2 rum and coke every Friday and Saturday evening. . I do eat ice cream, but it's the healthy choice ones which only offer about 100 calories or so, I'll eat chocolate very seldom, but i do. . . my exercise regime is this 5 days a week, off on weekends. . .I do 20 minutes Forest Walk treadmill incline of 1.5; 10 minutes of the ellipitical (not speeding like a demon either but enough to sweat); 20 minutes on the bike at Random Hill, level 9; about 100 sit ups (machine); and about 4 sets of 10 arm exercises, be it chest press, flies, curls, or whatever. . . so it comes out to about 1 hour of exercise daily except Sat and Sun. . . it's the biggest pain in the gluteous maximus (I really hate exercise) but like I told my daughter, the gym won't come to you, you have to get up and go the gym, the people at the gym don't care if your there or not, you have to love yourself enough to do it. . . Cheers!!!! Oh and one more note, I've gone from a snug 4XL to L/XL in clothes (depending on make)!!! 16W pants/shorts and L shirts. . .sure does beat snug 4XL's

"Too many of us are programmed to apologize for our size, what we eat, how much room we take up in a theater seat. When someone chides us, we bow our heads, acknowledge our inferiority, and promise to do better. Well, I say the hell with it. Stand up, talk back, learn to be polite but firm, or just tell those people to go to the devil. We're overweight, we aren't childish, stupid, uneducated or in need of constance survellance by society. I am willing to bet most individuals on this forum know more about weight control than ten skinny civilians, so why do we let the uneducated and unexperienced buffalo us with unsolicited comments?" I could'nt agree more! I find in the workplace that people hush up and don't discuss distructive behavior like alcoholism, smoking, drug use, gambling, but feel free to attack overweight co workers. These people feel superior because they are lucky enough to be thin. I also had a hiatal hernia and that is what I am telling people outside my family that I had repaired.

I don't know what that was but maybe after practically zero carbs since surgery maybe it was the fat person carb equivalent of a drinker having alcohol after having been clean for awhile - it really hit my system. It was regular PB so maybe it was a combo of pure protein, intense carb, and sugar. Whatever it was, it was wierd.

Hi all! I have a few friends that have had bypass surgery and one who's had the band. My friends that got the gastric bypass all dropped a lot of weight but many of them had issues, (1 didn't heal properly and had to keep going back in, 1 became an alcoholic, 1 is losing muscle mass due to the rapid weight loss and gets dizzy spells etc.). My friend that got the lap band had no ill effects, (beside the normal food restriction adjustments), but she feels like she hasn't lost much and her band is almost full. I am really torn because I definitely need to lose. I have been heavy my whole life, (literally, for as long as I can remember), so I relish the thought of losing weight but, at the same time, gastric bypass makes me very nervous. My mother knows a woman that can't *stop* losing and is skin and bones now. Have any of you had problems losing with the band, (while following the basic instructions and food program)? What made you choose the band over bypass? What has been the key to your success? Have you had any loose skin issues? (I have heard that lap banders have better skin "snap back" because of the slower loss... have you noticed this)? I am not a sweet eater, usually. My issues are late night snacking, a love of all things starch, (especially bread, bagels etc.) and a sedentary lifestyle, (both for work and hobbies). Any insight you can give would be GREATLY appreciated! I don't mind losing a little less if the surgery is safer, (and I feel Lap Band IS a less invasive and, therefor, safer options on the whole), but I don't want to go through the whole process only to feel hungry 24-7 or lose only a small amount of weight. I have looked to impartial studies comparing the 2 processes but most of them are by one or the other school of thought, thus making one wonder if they aren't skewed. If you know of any recent, accurate, comparisons please let me know. Thank you, in advance! Shannon

We actually have one of those Margaritaville machines that shaves ice. I just haven't taken the time to figure out a low-cal flavoring to make it happen. It does make good margaritas (none since I've been sleeved tho) but there's no reason you can't make other non-alcoholic slushie drinks too. I am actually thinking about making a slushie mojito drink for company tonight. I went to the Dallas farmer's market and bought big beautiful limes and a mint plant. I've never heard of frozen mojitos, but why not? It might be my first alcoholic beverage since sleeving - except for a taste of wine a couple of times. The wine just doesn't sit well with me. Kinda burns my stomach, know what I mean? And thanks for the encouragement. Yesterday was tough for me. I don't know what happened. I just kept snacking after dinner on cocoa dusted almonds and regular almonds. Sort of like I used to not be able to quit when I was out of control. But today has been fine and I have had nothing but healthy, small quantities of food all day.