B-52

The best thing about the 60's is that we were (are) the offspring of the best generation the world has ever seen. (pre depression to post WW2) I really miss those people. Would anyone understand if I said I have a hard time remembering the 60"s ??? And then I was off to Vietnam for 2 tours.

Now that's funny. That reminds me of another locker room story I'll save for the right time. BTW you can never get me to sit in those vinyl lounge chairs at the TV!

Ok, decided I have to share this. Let's see if you can top this...... I belong to a health Club. I say health club because besides having a gym, they have racquetball courts, an indoor pool, basketball, different rooms for workout classes, a spa for facials, massages, etc, 2 restaurants one a food court the other more upscale, a cocktail lounge, etc, etc, etc. I go there mainly for the gym, and the fact that they have LOCKER ROOMS !! Locker rooms with showers, a sauna, whirlpool, steam room, plenty of sinks with blow dryers, etc, etc. It's great to shower, soak in the hot tub and steam room, then put on fresh clothes after a good workout. They even have a flat screen 52" HD TV in there. ( I still find a bunch of naked men sitting in lounge chairs watching TV amusing.) So now, having said that, you have to picture (if you dare) the place filled with dozens of men wearing nothing but their shower shoes!! (flip-flops) At best, some will wrap a towel around their waist but trust me not many can do this. I've just been able to recently. Also the age range can be anywhere from high school to mid 80's!! Depending on the time of day you're there. There are a few Sylvester Stallone types walking around, but for the most part there are your everyday average guys......Just Naked!! So, having set the scene.....The other day I was there, and after a sweaty workout and a quick shower, I go into the 165 degree sauna. When I walk in another man looks up and says "Bob....Is that You??? My God...I didn't recognize you" This guy is a friend of mine whom I haven't seen or talked to in over 10 years. We talk about family, etc, but he keeps coming back to how good I look and how much weight I have lost. Remember we are all a bunch of very sweaty and very naked men! I did start to get uncomfortable only once when I noticed other men listening in and checking me out also.! So...Can you top that?? BTW, the women have their locker room also and I can only assume the same thing is going on...but I have not had the opportunity to see for myself.

Since it's too big for me, maybe I can give it to Big Poppe" when he moves to New York.

I work with pediatrics and conduct / attend clinics in different hospitals and other facilities every day of the week. When a appointment is made, a time slot, space, and the time of various healthcare professionals is set aside just for you. You are asked to give at least 24 hr notification if you can't make it. When there is a "No Show" , as you did, then there is wasted time (and money) and someone else who could have used your slot. Imagine a hair dresser in a salon who depends upon her appointments showing up. All I'm saying is be happy they got you an appointment when they did. You are probably at the bottom of their list. Would not expect any special treatment right now.

Agreed. Best investments I have made is a high quality blender, and also a very high quality non-stick wok. (electric) bought them both from Williams-Sonoma. The blender makes the best smoothies with a Protein shake base which I have every morning for breakfast. The wok - I bought a large bag of stir fry mixed vegetables from costco, and it is so easy to stir fry a little chicken, fish, etc, then throw in a handful of vegetables. Perhaps a little brown rice mixed in also.

Ok, got to share this update. Somebody up there likes me. Went to Macy's. Big sale on leather jackets. 30-40% off. I find one I like, but the cost is $795!!!!!!! There is no red tag on this rack showing the % off. So I take it to the register. He swipes it and tells me 40% off. Ok thanks, I'll put it back on the rack. Wait. If you open a Macy's credit card, you will get an additional 20%, he says. Ahhhhhhhh....thanks, but I really don't need another credit card. (my wife has a Macy's card) There is a very important looking man standing off to the side listening to this exchange. He chimes in, "Aw c'mon, take the 20% and credit card." Thanks, but no thanks, I say. He says, "I have a coupon in my pocket for 20% I will give you if you take the credit card." That's 40+20+20, = 80% off? So guess what I bought! Did that make up for the clothes I got rid of this morning?? You Bet! Is there a lap-band Fairy? (BTW, the VIP looking man was the east coast regional men's clothing mgr., or something like that.)

Temps went down into the 40's. Went to a football game last night and found all my warm outerwear was way too big. I had 1XB, 2XL's, etc, etc. Everything looked like a tent. So this morning, I filled 2 garbage bags with......... North Face Fleece, LL Bean parkas, a leather Bomber Jacket, wool overcoat, numerous hoodies, some with my favorite college name and colors, and my all time favorite NY Yankees World Series warm up jacket, and much more. UGH!!!!! So today, I'm off to the mall to begin shopping for new coats. As a reward to dropping from a 1XB to a normal Large, I'm going to get a new leather Bomber Jacket to spoil myself. (and I'm not at my goal yet)

Few things. I like my band tight! I have been stuck numerous times,,,,,20 times easily. But not in past month or 2 because I have learned to live with the tight band. I'm sort of a self-proclaimed authority. You do not vomit when you get stuck. Vomiting comes from deep within your stomach. Getting stuck is above your band, when the food has nowhere to go. It will come up not from vomiting, but more of a spit-up, with a heavy hiccup so to speak. But vomiting is a easy term so people use it. If I ever get sick and start vomiting, I would be very scared my band will slip, and I would call the Dr ASAP to get unfilled temporarily. To be specific, there are no foods I cannot eat. It's just that some are harder to go down than others. To give you a example: pizza.....If I take a normal bite of pizza, chew and swallow, I know I will get stuck! (from experience) I will have to stop and wait for it to pass through the band, and if not, the sliming will begin. I can sip some Water and speed up the process to get unstuck. That does not mean I can never eat pizza. I have to take very small bites, with adequate time between bites. It would take me at least 20 minutes to eat one slice. So why bother at all. I know it's not good for me in the first place so I put it on my "Never again" list. To me that's a good thing. Now compare that to when I was not banded. I could, and did many times, sit down and eat a large pizza with toppings all by myself in a single sitting!!! There are many other foods that fall in the same example. Rice. cannot eat it straight by itself. I could but it would take me an hour. I have Chinese food every Friday night. I mix the rice with the food thoroughly and eat it with no problem. Not to mention I now eat very, very small portions, as opposed to eating enough for 4 which I used to do with no problem. Donuts....one normal bite and I'm doomed. I can nibble at it and finish in 1/2 hr., so I don't eat donuts anymore. Is it bad I don't (can't) eat jelly donuts? My favorite fast food is Chipotle Burrito in a bowl, with chicken ,rice, black Beans, etc. No problem. I have it 2-3 times a week. So you are not doomed to eat nothing but "Slider Foods" the rest of your life, just learning a new way of eating. Better foods, smaller portions, slower pace, and not that often during the day because I always feel full. (it's not from being tight though) This is Exactly what I had hoped the band was supposed to do. I like what my band is doing for me! As far as getting stuck, it is a learning experience. If you have never gotten burned, you would not know how to deal with fire.

Do you eat chicken? Is being a vegetarian simply deciding not to eat red meat?

Welcome to the club. It was your first episode, and trust me, it will not be your last. It's all part of being banded. Yes. It is a learning experience, and over time, you will have to adapt to an entire new way of eating. I hope you've learned a few things from this episode. In my case, I would say Burger Kings and other such places are 99.9% off limits. Wendy's Chili works good for a quick lunch but that's about it. I can't eat a burger patty, meat is too tough! For that matter, I don't eat much red meat at all lately. Drinking something (anything) while being stuck is not recommended, unless you are prepared for what will happen next. If stuck, nothing can pass, or passes real slow. Thus the sliming begins. Drink anything and it has no where to go, will add to the sliming process so to speak, and it will all come up almost instantly. I have been stuck more times than I can remember, but not at all in the past month or so because I have adapted new eating habits, food choices, etc. I have learned the hard way. My Dr. laughs at me when I tell him my experiences. When I have gotten stuck, I would sip some Water while standing over the sink to get rid of it quickly rather than dragging it on.

Are you a diabetic, and are you taking any Rx drugs??

I'm not a vegetarian, but I have been finding that I hardly eat red meat anymore since being banded. I find it too hard to swallow. I ordered a steak last night, first time in weeks, and barely touched it. Two swallows and forget it. And it was not that tough either. Just wasn't worth it. So, I may be very interested in what others have to say because I may just go over 100%

That's exactly the way I feel when eating. Some say my band is too tight, and aggressive, but that is the way I like it. I know it is there doing it's job. You have to learn to live with the band. Learn new ways to eat. The restriction forces you to take your time, put the fork down between bites and wait for the food that accumulates in your pouch to move through the band into your stomach. Take small mouthfuls, chew thoroughly. Having that level of restriction will force you to eat differently, lighter, and smaller portions or you will get that uncomfortable feeling, perhaps pain, or spit it all up.

Yesterday: Breakfast - Protein smoothie with fresh blueberries, liquid protien supplement, along with my Rx meds. (routine every morning) And yes, 2 cups coffee - black. lunch - Wendy's chili with a few saltines. Dinner: Stir fried Cod Fillet with mixed veggies in the Wok. Bedtime snack - Yogurt. (I have a Rx I take at bedtime that must be taken with food) Went to the gym, did 40 mins. cardio on elliptical, (using cardio coach), lifted weights 40 minutes, sat in sauna 30 minutes. 936 calories consumed 89 g protein 97 g carbs I track everything with "MyNetDiary" I-phone App.

Exactly 4 weeks after surgery, then every 4 weeks after that for a total of 4 fills. Have not had, or needed a fill since then. I go back first week of November, and will ask for a .5cc fill. I seemed to have stalled a little in the past few weeks. Bottom line though, first thing he does is weigh me, looks at the weight difference and divides by # weeks (4) to determine how much I am loosing as a total loss, and how much per week. Then and only then is a fill open for discussion.

Ok, I took a photo of my big hairy belly. (not as big as it used to be) Above and parallel to the scar that runs to the side, is the tube which the picture doesn't show, but you can feel it. Looks like a golf ball, right? Every time I go for a fill, the Dr. states he wishes they were all like that, just below the skin.

IMO I find it very hard, if not impossible to stretch your pouch. My band is very tight, and I like it that way. Makes it very easy to manage what, and how I eat. In my case the food does sit in the pouch, and passes through the band very slowly, depending on the type of food I am eating. I can feel it with every swallow. I have to put the fork down between swallows and allow the food to go through. Eat to quickly, or too much, and the food accumulates and I am in pain, or stuck. Drinking fluids while eating will only compound the issue. Having said that, in order to stretch your pouch, you would first of all need a certain level of restriction for food to accumulate in the pouch. When this happens, you will know it. Too much and you are in a great deal of discomfort, and perhaps pain. To stretch your pouch, if possible, you would have to over do it from this point. I can tell you from personal experience it is not a pleasant thing to do. The food has no where to go, but back up from where it came!! The slimeing will begin! Not to mention the pain you may experience. Someone here described it as swallowing a golfball, and having it sit there! So, like I said, if it where possible, it would be very hard to do, IMO. As a side note, all these little things they teach you to do: Chewing, waiting between swallows, drinking while eating, etc, etc, I have now found to happen naturally because of the level of restriction I have. Many people will say I am too tight. But everything I was told before the surgery is now reality. There is a way to work around and cheat the band, but I will never give anyone here any ideas, so I will never talk about it.

Mine sticks out and looks like a golf ball under my skin! I can even see the tube that runs from the port. I am a male, and have/had a very large "Beer Belly". Large and tight. Think of a woman 8 months pregnant, with triplets. The skin layer is thin with little or no fat. It shows through my clothes if they are snug. I've had people ask me at the gym is I have a hernia. I should take a photo to post, because this has come up here many times before.

That's Ok, but you missed my point entirely!! I have been Obese for many, many years and have become so sick and tired of it that there was very little question whether I would get the band or not. My love for food certainly was not going to get in my way of a better life. When I had pre op Physch. eval., after the session was over, one thing she said they look for is whether there is any resolve in your decision, or any uncertainty. So, tongue in cheek, if you are happy being obese, don't get the surgery. BUT if you are fed up being fat, like me, then there is really not much I'm going to miss being thin.

I do not think you are ready for this surgery. It is for people who are at their wit's end, IMO. You're not there. You still enjoy being obese. I don't think you would be cleared by the Psych Eval.

When I had a Upper Gi done, there was a woman there who was crying uncontrollably. My wife told me she just had hers done and was told she would not be able to have the surgery. Our Surgeon schedules the Upper GI's last, 2 weeks prior to your scheduled surgery.

Peanut butter!! I never thought of that. Will try it ASAP!

I start with Muscle Milk Lite, vanilla. I put that in a blender with a few ice cubes, Water, and add what other I want after that. Strawberries, Blueberries, etc. Use your imagination. Make your own thick smoothie! I have that plus a liquid Protein supplement everyday for Breakfast, curbs my hunger all day.

After loosing a lot of weight, I purchased a new pr of Levi's. They fit a little tight, but I knew they would be fine. After this, I had plateaued big time, not really loosing much, actually fluctuating up and down but always same average. Very frustrating. But I kept with my routine, worked out every day, etc. Put on those tight jeans, and found they are too big!!! Only wore them twice before!! So, even though I did not loose weight, something else positive was going on. Also, I agree with the premise that the less you have to loose, the harder it gets.