Alex Brecher

This is a public forum but we still have rules our members must abide by. I understand your intent might not have been to promote or advertise your surgeon but you have to understand how it appears to everyone else. You posted (and re-posted) the same contact and sales info about your surgeon, in multiple forums. This is clearly not allowed according to our posted Forum Rules. Thanks for your cooperation!

I see it on both posts. Are you gals seeing something different ?

Thanks for pointing out this issue! We're on it.

Are you feeling pretty sure that weight loss surgery is for you? If so, you’re probably at least considering the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, or lap-band. The lap-band is one of the most popular bariatric surgery choices. Do you really know everything you need to know about the band before you make one of the most important decisions of your life? History of the Lap-Band The band has a pretty long history, dating back to 1983 when a Ukrainian-born surgeon named Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak used a non-adjustable band on his obese patients. He developed an adjustable band and began to use it in 1986. He and other surgeons continued to use the gastric band on obese patients and carefully record their results. These are some more key events in the development of the current lap-band. By 1991, enough progress had been made so that most gastric banding surgeries were laparoscopic instead of open. The adjustable gastric band became known as the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, or lap-band. In 1994, the First International Workshop on laparoscopic banding occurred in Europe as experienced surgeons demonstrated their new techniques. In 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the lap-band as a treatment for morbid obesity, or a BMI over 40, and for individuals with a BMI over 35 and obesity-related health conditions. In 2004, the lap-band VG replaced the original lap-band system. It had a bigger fill volume and could be filled all the way around instead of just three-quarters of the way. In 2007, the lap-band AP (Advanced Platform) system came out. It’s the current lap-band model and it comes in two sizes. Your surgeon will determine which size is best for you. How the Lap-Band Works Your stomach is pouch with a J-like shape. The gastric band goes around the narrower, upper portion of your stomach to create a small pouch known as a stoma. The remainder of your stomach, the larger pouch, is below the gastric band. The stoma has a volume of only 15 percent of your original stomach size. Food that you eat goes into the stoma and is held there for a while, above the gastric band, because the band slows down the emptying of food from the stoma to the rest of your pouch. Since the stoma is so small compared to your original stomach, you feel more full after you’ve only eaten a small amount of food – enough to fill the stoma – instead of needing a huge meal like you did before getting the band. One of the most important things to remember when you’re considering the lap-band or any other weight loss surgery is that the surgery is only a tool to help you. You will still need to be very careful with your diet if you are going to be successful in losing weight and keeping it off. The lap-band will not cause you to lose weight if you choose high-calorie foods, consistently serve yourself large portions, snack too much or drink liquids with calories. The Surgical Procedure Now, most lap-band operations are laparoscopic. They require smaller incisions and are safer and easier than traditional open surgeries. The following medical personnel are likely to be in the operating room during your procedure. Surgeon who is the leader and who directs the laparoscopic tools in your abdomen Anesthesiologist to administer and monitor anesthetics Circulator who plays a supportive role by handing instruments to the surgeon and double-checking procedures Details of the Lap-Band The lap-band system has three components. adjustable gastric band thin connection tubing access port The band inflates and becomes more restrictive when your surgeon fills it with saline solution (a liquid). To do this, your surgeon inserts a syringe into the access port, which rests below your skin next to your belly button. The solution travels through the connection tubing to band. An unfill, or deflation, is the opposite of a fill. Adjustments in the fill volume of your gastric band are normal parts of life with the lap-band, especially within the first few months. Chapter 3, “All about the Lap-Band,” in The BIG Book on the LAP-BAND® talks about all of this lap-band information. You can see diagrams showing the lap-band and where it sits in your body, and get details on things like the surgical procedure. By the end of the chapter, you’ll have a good understanding of what the lap-band is and how it works.

I believe I resolved your problem. If anyone else is having problems with PM's, please let us know.

You can fix this issue by logging in at your PC and going to http://www.lapbandtalk.com/index.php?app=members&module=messaging You'll get a pop up asking you to re-enable your private messenger. (I did this for you already)

What error are you receiving when you attempt to log in please ?

Thanks for reporting this issue! The specific issues are caused when launching in landscape mode. If you do not force/completely quit out of the app, prior to re-launch the issues WON'T go away. However if the app is launched in portrait mode, it should function okay. We hope to have this fixed in about 2 weeks.

Sadly, it looks like we're about 2-3 weeks away from releasing a version that will have this issue corrected. Sorry for the inconvenience!

"I hope this announcement finds you well and, of course, on track following your lap-band lifestyle. LapBandTalk.com is designed to be a comprehensive community that you can use for support and information. Now, LapBrandTalk.com has another, exciting way to help out our members as you continue to pursue weight loss and health. What’s the big news? Our first book is out! The Big Book on the Lap-Band! That’s right! We’ve been working for a very long time on research, writing and editing the book, and you’re invited to read it! It’s called, “The Big Book on the Lap Band: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band,” written by (yours truly) Alex Brecher and Natalie Stein. I'm the founder of LapBandTalk.com and a lap-band patient myself; Natalie is a nutritionist and experienced writer on weight loss and weight loss surgery topics. A Complete Guide to the Lap-Band Life The title says it all. The book is a guide from the beginning of the journey through life with the adjustable gastric band. These are just a few topics that are covered in the book. How obesity can harm you and millions of others. Why it’s so tough to lose weight without surgery. All about the lap-band: what it is, how it works and the surgical procedure. Looking at the risks and benefits to decide whether the adjustable gastric band is for you. Choosing a surgeon and preparing for surgery. Your post-op aftercare program. Your post-surgery recovery diet progression from liquids to solid foods. The lap-band diet: healthy eating and weight control for life. Starting and continuing an exercise program. Life changes to expect after the lap-band surgery. Using LapBandTalk.com and other resources for support and information. As you can see, the book is a great resource no matter where you are in your lap-band journey. How You Can Get Your Copy How can you get your hands on a copy of the book? It's available in Paperback and eBook versions directly from LapbandTalk, as well as from Amazon, Barnes&Noble, iBooks and Kobo. All the information you need is HERE! Check it out and spread the word! LapBandTalk.com Members Tell Their Stories in the Book! The book doesn’t just have complete information about the lap-band surgery and journey. It’s also a compilation of real-life member stories told in their own words. Several of our LapBandTalk.com members are featured in this book. They were kind enough to share their stories with us and now with you. These members are some of LapBandTalk.com’s most active, so you might already know them from the boards. A huge, warm thank you to everyone who helped out – we couldn’t have done it without you! Do You Want to Be in the Next Book? If you didn’t get involved this time around but you might like to be featured in another book, contact me via our private messaging system. We’d love to hear from you and give you the scoop! I'd love to hear your thoughts about the book! Let us know what you think when you check it out! We’re always delighted to hear from our members and we want to know what we can do to help you along your journey. Thanks for your support up through now, and enjoy The Big Book on the Lap-Band!."

VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevers!Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is officially underway! Filled with holiday shopping, festivities at work and spending time with friends and family, this time of year is can be the most rewarding. It can be hectic, too, so paying extra attention to your diet and health is even more important than usual. Use this newsletter as a reminder and some motivation to be extra cautious with your choices so that you can keep seeing the results you want from your weight loss journey. Here’s what’s coming up in this newsletter. Member Spotlight: Meet Ms skinniness! Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! Member Challenge: Activate Your Party Action Plan! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends We know the hustle and bustle of this season make your life busy, but we hope you spend part of your holiday season with us at Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Member Spotlight: Meet Ms skinniness! This month, we’re delighted to feature Ms skinniness in our member spotlight! She decided to get the gastric sleeve after developing diabetes and hitting a high weight of 223 pounds at a high of 5’6.” Her surgery was in October of 2011, and she’s only 4 pounds away from her goal weight of 140! The journey’s been worthwhile for Ms skinniness! Her blood sugar is within normal levels each day, and she’s able to keep her hunger in check. She has tons more energy and is a lot happier now! Ms skinniness loves being able to fit into smaller clothes. She went from a size 1x to a size 8 – and was even forced to return some size 8 Gloria Vanderbilt jeans that were too big! Getting enough Water in each day is still a challenge to Ms skinniness. She’s also working hard on avoiding mindless eating and only eating when she’s hungry. She reminds us that food is an addiction that can take a lot of effort to overcome. Ms skinniness uses VerticalSleeveTalk.com for support and information, and she loves the positive people on the board. She suggests following your surgeon’s instructions, gathering information from VST members and also doing your own research on everything so you can be confident that you are making the right decisions for yourself. An example of something she learned from VerticalSleeveTalk.com is to use a PPI to reduce stomach acid and make her less hungry. Ms skinniness also uses VerticalSleeveTalk.com as a reminder not to slip into bad habits again. With her weight loss and satisfaction, her advice seems to be working for her! Thanks, Ms skinniness, for being in the member spotlight! Congratulations on your success! Please post in the Protein snack or two for yourself and eat it when it’s time for your regular meal or snack. You can also take a healthy dish for the host to serve at the party. Sip water. Carrying a glass of water around gives you something to do without adding any calories to your day. Another benefit of drinking water is that you know you shouldn’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking fluids. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a source of calories that you just don’t need. Worse yet is that it lowers your inhibition. That means that you’re less likely to resist unhealthy holiday foods. Member Challenge: Activate Your Holiday Action Plan! This newsletter’s challenge is related to our advice on holiday parties. The challenge is to choose a specific strategy designed to get you through the holidays without interfering with your weight loss goals. You can take one of the suggestions listed above, or choose your own. Some other ideas are to keep healthy Snacks at work so you’re not tempted by unhealthy snacks and to record each treat that you eat in your food record instead of pretending that it doesn’t count. Tell us in the Member Challenge Forum how you complete the challenge! Was it easy or difficult? What tips do you have for other VerticalSleeveTalk.com members? We also want to know anytime you go back and complete an old Newsletter Challenge, which you can find in the archived Newsletter Forum. It’s never too late to try a Newsletter Challenge! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends As we close out 2012, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member. We truly appreciate your support. We value each member, whether you post many times a day and use all of VerticalSleeveTalk.com’s many features, or whether you log in infrequently to read just a few posts. You, the members, are essential to VerticalSleeveTalk.com’s success, so a heartfelt thank-you to each of you! 2012 has seen rapid increases in the number of members, the beginning of regular newsletters and the launch of mobile apps to access all of the forum’s features. Big plans are in the works for the coming year, and it promises to be an exciting ride. We’re glad to have you on board! Of course, we’re always open to member suggestions, so please feel free to contact any board administrator. That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it was inspirational and helpful. Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and take care of yourself and each other, Alex. ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevers!Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is officially underway! Filled with holiday shopping, festivities at work and spending time with friends and family, this time of year is can be the most rewarding. It can be hectic, too, so paying extra attention to your diet and health is even more important than usual. Use this newsletter as a reminder and some motivation to be extra cautious with your choices so that you can keep seeing the results you want from your weight loss journey. Here’s what’s coming up in this newsletter. Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! Member Challenge: Activate Your Party Action Plan! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends We know the hustle and bustle of this season make your life busy, but we hope you spend part of your holiday season with us at SleevePlicationTalk.com! Our members are what make the forums so encouraging and valuable. While you’re there, feel free to contact us about anything. We love hearing from members! Enjoy the newsletter. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Member Spotlight: Still Searching! Please post in the Member Spotlight forum if you want to be featured in the newsletter’s member spotlight section or if you want to nominate another member. If you prefer, you can also send Alex Brecher a private message telling us that you want to be featured. Everyone has a great story to share. Thanks! Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! The holiday season is challenging for all people who’re trying to control their weight, and it’s even tougher for weight loss surgery patients. You’re not just concerned about weight loss. You’re changing your lifestyle, and staying on track takes a lot of effort. If your surgery was recent, you’re still getting used to your new eating patterns and food choices. Holiday parties can interfere with your best intentions to stay on track. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, parties can be regular events at work and the homes of family and friends. Frequently overeating can not only derail your weight loss, but also lead to surgery-related complications, such as feeling overly full or dumping syndrome. Whether you’re a weight loss surgery veteran or this is your first holiday after getting the surgery, these tips can help you enjoy the holiday parties without doing damage to your diet. Eat before you go. You don’t want to go into the party on an empty stomach. If you’re starving when you get to the party, you might be tempted to grab whatever’s available – which probably won’t be that healthy. Enjoy the party. The holidays should be about appreciating people. Use parties as opportunities to spend time with coworkers and other people who mean a lot to you. Focus on enjoying the party, not on hiding yourself in the food. Take care of yourself. Make sure there’s something at the party that you can eat. One option is to pack a high-Protein snack or two for yourself and eat it when it’s time for your regular meal or snack. You can also take a healthy dish for the host to serve at the party. Sip Water. Carrying a glass of water around gives you something to do without adding any calories to your day. Another benefit of drinking water is that you know you shouldn’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking fluids. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a source of calories that you just don’t need. Worse yet is that it lowers your inhibition. That means that you’re less likely to resist unhealthy holiday foods. Member Challenge: Activate Your Holiday Action Plan! This newsletter’s challenge is related to our advice on holiday parties. The challenge is to choose a specific strategy designed to get you through the holidays without interfering with your weight loss goals. You can take one of the suggestions listed above, or choose your own. Some other ideas are to keep healthy Snacks at work so you’re not tempted by unhealthy snacks and to record each treat that you eat in your food record instead of pretending that it doesn’t count. Tell us in the Member Challenge Forum how you complete the challenge! Was it easy or difficult? What tips do you have for other SleevePlicationTalk.com members? We also want to know anytime you go back and complete an old Newsletter Challenge, which you can find in the archived Newsletter Forum. It’s never too late to try a Newsletter Challenge! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends As we close out 2012, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member. We truly appreciate your support. We value each member, whether you post many times a day and use all of SleevePlicationTalk.com’s many features, or whether you log in infrequently to read just a few posts. You, the members, are essential to SleevePlicationTalk.com’s success, so a heartfelt thank-you to each of you! 2012 has seen rapid increases in the number of members, the beginning of regular newsletters and the launch of mobile apps to access all of the forum’s features. Big plans are in the works for the coming year, and it promises to be an exciting ride. We’re glad to have you on board! Of course, we’re always open to member suggestions, so please feel free to contact any board administrator. That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it was inspirational and helpful. Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and take care of yourself and each other, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

RNYTalk Newsletter By Hey, RNYTalk members!Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is officially underway! Filled with holiday shopping, festivities at work and spending time with friends and family, this time of year is can be the most rewarding. It can be hectic, too, so paying extra attention to your diet and health is even more important than usual. Use this newsletter as a reminder and some motivation to be extra cautious with your choices so that you can keep seeing the results you want from your weight loss journey. Here’s what’s coming up in this newsletter. Member Spotlight: Meet kristy3k! Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! Member Challenge: Activate Your Party Action Plan! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends We know the hustle and bustle of this season make your life busy, but we hope you spend part of your holiday season with us at Alex Brecher Founder RNYTalk.com Member Spotlight: Meet kristy3k! Our Member Spotlight this month is on kristy3k from Oklahoma. Kristy3k has a family that many people only dream of: she has been married for 21 years and she has a 19-year-old daughter, a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old son. She works as a USPS worker. As she says, she played the “constant blame game” for years as she blamed her weight gain first on her pregnancies and then on her night-shift job. Her wake-up call came when her father passed away last July. Finally, kristy3k realized that she needed to take control of what she could – her weight. Her high weight was 340 pounds. After a lot of research – including many hours lurking on RNYTalk.com! - kristy3k got the gastric bypass done in February of this year. Since then, she’s lost 149 pounds and is well on her way to her goal weight of 165 pounds. She tells us that she’s had so many highlights in her life since the surgery! Just a few include not having to use the handicapped stall in public restrooms because she couldn’t fit in regular stalls; not being out of breath all the time; and not being the “fat mom.” She gets a kick out of her kids telling her she’s skinny, and one of her greatest moments was when her husband was able to wrap his arms around her again. Throughout the process, kristy3k has gained a lot of self-esteem and general happiness. She still wonders how she let herself get so big in the first place, but she’s determined to continue her weight loss journey. She loves RNYTalk.com because she can get information and inspiration from it anytime. Everyone on the boards is “so upbeat.” Kristy3k is modest enough to say that she is hesitant to offer weight loss tips, but she suggests eating your Protein, drinking your Water, exercising and above all, being patient! We know you’re doing all of those things, kristy3k, and thanks for sharing them and your story with us! Please post in the food choices. Holiday parties can interfere with your best intentions to stay on track. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, parties can be regular events at work and the homes of family and friends. Frequently overeating can not only derail your weight loss, but also lead to bypass-related complications, such as dumping syndrome. Whether you’re a weight loss surgery veteran or this is your first holiday after getting the surgery, these tips can help you enjoy the holiday parties without doing damage to your diet. Eat before you go. You don’t want to go into the party on an empty stomach. If you’re starving when you get to the party, you might be tempted to grab whatever’s available – which probably won’t be that healthy. Enjoy the party. The holidays should be about appreciating people. Use parties as opportunities to spend time with coworkers and other people who mean a lot to you. Focus on enjoying the party, not on hiding yourself in the food. Take care of yourself. Make sure there’s something at the party that you can eat. One option is to pack a high-protein snack or two for yourself and eat it when it’s time for your regular meal or snack. You can also take a healthy dish for the host to serve at the party. Sip water. Carrying a glass of water around gives you something to do without adding any calories to your day. Another benefit of drinking water is that you know you shouldn’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking fluids. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a source of calories that you just don’t need. Worse yet is that it lowers your inhibition. That means that you’re less likely to resist unhealthy holiday foods. Member Challenge: Activate Your Holiday Action Plan! This newsletter’s challenge is related to our advice on holiday parties. The challenge is to choose a specific strategy designed to get you through the holidays without interfering with your weight loss goals. You can take one of the suggestions listed above, or choose your own. Some other ideas are to keep healthy Snacks at work so you’re not tempted by unhealthy snacks and to record each treat that you eat in your food record instead of pretending that it doesn’t count. Tell us in the Member Challenge Forum how you complete the challenge! Was it easy or difficult? What tips do you have for other RNYTalk.com members? We also want to know anytime you go back and complete an old Newsletter Challenge, which you can find in the archived Newsletter Forum. It’s never too late to try a Newsletter Challenge! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends As we close out 2012, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member. We truly appreciate your support. We value each member, whether you post many times a day and use all of RNYTalk.com’s many features, or whether you log in infrequently to read just a few posts. You, the members, are essential to RNYTalk.com’s success, so a heartfelt thank-you to each of you! 2012 has seen rapid increases in the number of members, the beginning of regular newsletters and the launch of mobile apps to access all of the forum’s features. Big plans are in the works for the coming year, and it promises to be an exciting ride. We’re glad to have you on board! Of course, we’re always open to member suggestions, so please feel free to contact any board administrator. That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it was inspirational and helpful. Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and take care of yourself and each other, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Hey, Banders!Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday season is officially underway! Filled with holiday shopping, festivities at work and spending time with friends and family, this time of year is can be the most rewarding. It can be hectic, too, so paying extra attention to your diet and health is even more important than usual. Use this newsletter as a reminder and some motivation to be extra cautious with your choices so that you can keep seeing the results you want from your weight loss journey. Here’s what’s coming up in this newsletter. Member Spotlight: Meet Mis73! Tips for the Season: Thriving at Holiday Parties! Bander Challenge: Activate Your Party Action Plan! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends We know the hustle and bustle of this season make your life busy, but we hope you spend part of your holiday season with us at Alex Brecher Founder LapBandTalk.com Member Spotlight: Meet Mis73! Mis73, aka Missy, is this newsletter’s highlighted member! She’s a 39-year-old Michigander who has fought through obstacles to achieve her current weight loss of 168 pounds. Her high weight was 421 pounds, and her goal weight is 160, at a BMI of 27.5. She has multiple sclerosis and knew that her obesity was making the symptoms worse. So, she decided to get the lap-band and focus on the obesity because that’s something she could control. Missy says that the “biggest difference is, I am happy. I am happier than I have been in literally decades.” She’s gone from needing a handicapped parking pass and a motorized cart for grocery shopping to being able to take her son to the zoo and walk around for hours! Other great moments have been dropping below 300 pounds, fitting into blue jeans for the first time in 20 years, fitting in the seat at her daughter’s band concert and seeing her father’s look of pride and joy after seeing her for the first time – 100 pounds lighter. Missy’s biggest challenge right after surgery was to avoid exacerbating her multiple sclerosis, since symptoms can appear after trauma, such as surgery. Luckily, she was able to avoid a full-blown relapse. Missy used LapBandTalk in the early days for reassurance that her experience was normal. She’s grown to depend on the friends she’s made here and she continues to “offer education and support to others.” She has plenty of advice to offer. She suggests meeting with a nutritionist who specializes in bariatric patients and to keep your food to a cup per meal. Also, learn everything you can about the band: what it is, what it does and how you can succeed with it. Missy, we are so glad that you are finding happiness. We know that it will just get better for you as you keep losing weight, and it’s a pleasure to be able to share in your weight loss journey. Thanks for being in the Member Spotlight! Please post in the Protein snack or two for yourself and eat it when it’s time for your regular meal or snack. You can also take a healthy dish for the host to serve at the party. Sip Water. Carrying a glass of water around gives you something to do without adding any calories to your day. Another benefit of drinking water is that you know you shouldn’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking fluids. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a source of calories that you just don’t need. Worse yet is that it lowers your inhibition. That means that you’re less likely to resist unhealthy holiday foods. Bander Challenge: Activate Your Holiday Action Plan! This newsletter’s challenge is related to our advice on holiday parties. The challenge is to choose a specific strategy designed to get you through the holidays without interfering with your weight loss goals. You can take one of the suggestions listed above, or choose your own. Some other ideas are to keep healthy Snacks at work so you’re not tempted by unhealthy snacks and to record each treat that you eat in your food record instead of pretending that it doesn’t count. Tell us in the Bander Challenge Forum how you complete the challenge! Was it easy or difficult? What tips do you have for other LapBandTalk.com members? We also want to know anytime you go back and complete an old Newsletter Challenge, which you can find in the archived Newsletter Forum. It’s never too late to try a Newsletter Challenge! A Big Thank-You to Our Members as 2012 Ends As we close out 2012, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each member. We truly appreciate your support. We value each member, whether you post many times a day and use all of LapBandTalk.com’s many features, or whether you log in infrequently to read just a few posts. You, the members, are essential to LapBandTalk.com’s success, so a heartfelt thank-you to each of you! 2012 has seen rapid increases in the number of members, the beginning of regular newsletters and the launch of mobile apps to access all of the forum’s features. Big plans are in the works for the coming year, and it promises to be an exciting ride. We’re glad to have you on board! Of course, we’re always open to member suggestions, so please feel free to contact any board administrator. That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it was inspirational and helpful. Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and take care of yourself and each other, Alex. ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Hi Lynn, Please click here to edit your Before and After photos.

Working for me.

Hi! I normally shy away from doling out medical advice and usually rely on our great community of resourceful members to assist with questions such as yours. I feel your pain and frustration.....must be tough to be in your job and place! When was the last time you sat down with your Lap-Band surgeon ? It sounds like you might need an adjustment. You most definitely shouldn't be throwing up daily. How much weight have you lost since July ? The band isn't a set it and forget it device. You MUST have somewhat of a Lap-Band support system in place. Otherwise, you're absolutely setting yourself up for failure. It's great to go to a support group like Curves or Weight watchers but how will you learn to live and manage your Lap-band ? I'd highly suggest that you make the effort and visit your surgeon again in the near future. Discuss the above issues with him. I'm curious to hear what he suggests! I guarantee the book will clarify, teach and assist you with almost anything Lap-band related. It's not meant as an alternative to visiting your surgeon and following the Lap-band way of life If you purchase the book directly through us and for any reason, you're not satisfied. I will have 100% of your purchase price refunded, no questions asked.

It was disabled over the weekend. Should be ok now....

Gals, can't we all get along PLEASE ? Where is all this anger and hate coming from ? We're all in this together and we need to show a little respect to each other, regardless of our personal opinions. Everyone has a right to respond to any thread on these forums. Although, it is common decency to stay out of a conversation if you're requested to do so by the OP. Regardless of anything, I will not tolerate abusive or bullying behavior or language, in public or via PM. You can easily block any member and never see their posts or PM's ever again. We're pretty clear about what we stand for in our forum rules. Please re-read if you still need clarification.

As far as I know, the specific issues are caused when launching in landscape mode. If you do not force/completely quit out of the app, prior to re-launch the issues won't go away. However if the app is launched in portrait mode, it should function okay. If this is not the case, please help me come up with a list of steps to reproduce the above issues.

If anyone has an issue paying for the book, please message me privately. I'll see what I can do for you.

iggychick, you have no idea how I sympathize with your frustrations!!! I truly wish there was one universal way to share content across all (mobile & desktop) platforms and devices At the moment we develop, create and share content across four categories: Desktops Mobile devices iOS Apps Android Apps It's ridiculous that there isn't one simple and accepted way to share and disseminate information across platforms and devices (quite possibly as ridiculous that there isn't one single weight loss surgery which is or has been proven most effective !!!!) Only time will tell! We're currently working on a major re-design and restructuring of our weight loss surgery communities which will (hopefully) address many of these issues. I'll be sharing more information on this subject in the near future.

Does the app crash ? Do you receive an error message ? I'd love to know if anyone else is having similar issues. I feel your pain!!!!

You're very misinformed and it's even more obvious to me that you haven't read the book. There are NO surgeons mentioned in my book. Mexican or US based. I have the Lap-band and have had no revisions to any other procedures. We have a chapter that actually goes through the other WLS procedures. The book is very up to date. Natalie is awesome but definitely not my girl friend Again, there are no Mexican surgeons listed or mentioned anywhere in my book.

Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be! At the moment, we outsource most of our app development to 3rd parties. We've brought everything in-house now and we're hoping to greatly improve the site and app experience overall. You have no idea how valuable your feedback is, we really really appreciate it!!