Alex Brecher

We've updated things and (hopefully) have corrected any issues you might have encountered. Please go ahead and update your patient info and let me know if you run in to ANY issues please.

We're working on this issue, I'll update this thread once it's working again.

Sorry about this issue. It has nothing to do with the browser you're using. Our developers are working on it and I'll update this thread once it's resolved.

If you provide me with the URL of an offensive ad, I can ban it from showing again.

ipad here, haven't tested on a Kindle yet. We're working on some better mobile options and hope to have some updates on that in a few months.

Not much! Maybe start a conversation going every once in a while. Let me know if you'd like to give it a whirl.....

I started the first LBT Group called Gym Rats. Anybody here have any interest in taking over moderation of this group ?

I edited the first two posts in this thread to show you how you can embed your YouTube Videos right in your posts. All you need to do is click the Share link on each Video in YouTube and then paste as plain text in your actual post. We do the rest automagically.

Ouch!!! LMAO We're working on our own IOS and Android app. I think we're about a month or two away from release.

You can include Youtube Gastric Sleeve Surgery Videos in your posts by just including the youtube video URL. Here's an example:

To be quite honest, I wasn't even aware of this card until a few years ago. In 2003 when I was banded I was never made aware of the card by my surgeon either.

Smart move on starting off with a trainer! If you have little or no experience working out, it's a great idea. The internet is a great place to start researching shoes but I still say that there's nothing like actually walking in to a store with knowledgeable (and friendly!) staff that can assist you with selecting a running shoe for you. Don't walk into any sporting goods store. Try to go to one that's geared towards runners or just sneakers. I've read online that the New Balance 580-series is a great sneaker for people who need extra cushioning and support. Check em out

Same here! I've been pushing myself at the gym a little harder as of late. I was surprised to see the scale move up a few pounds. I tested my body fat and measured my waist size and they both dropped very nicely. You can increase your muscle, which will increase your weight slightly. This type of weight gain is healthy and awesome

Hi Rebecca! The Lap Band card from Allergan has the following wording: This cardholder has an adjustable gastric band implanted around the stomach to restrict food intake. This device is MRI compatible. Caution should be taken when prescribing potentially ulcerogenic medications or performing any gastric or abdominal procedure. Additional emergency information for healthcare providers can be found online at lapbandcentral.com/er. Note to restaurants: Please allow this person to order smaller portions, as the amount of food this person can eat has been greatly reduced.

Please report this PM or member next time this happens. I just took care of lindababy as well.

Thanks for reporting this member! We deleted all (25) spam PM's sent. Please use the report button found in the PM or member profile. We normally will act on any suspicious activity immediately.

I slacked off for a long time until a few months ago. I go to the gym 5-6 days a week too and I totally feel guilty on the days I miss. When I miss, I usually make up for it by doing a few sets of push ups and sit ups at home just to get my blood flowing throughout the day. I got rid of the treadmill at home that was being used as a clothes hangar and collecting dust, gave it to a less fortunate friend who couldn't afford a gym membership. I think I used it a total of 2 times over the years I had it anyways. I used to only be able to run a mile or mile and a half max until I put down the cigarettes a half year ago. I took my unhealthy addiction and turned it in to a healthy gym addiction. I run at least a 5K (~3 miles) daily and do the elliptical for another 10-15 minutes. I used to HATE running too! The key for me was getting a pair of good Brooks running shoes that gave my feet support. I have really messed up feet and always felt wobbly when I would run for any distance at all. I went to a local sneaker store here in NY that specializes in running shoes and they had this contraption that videos you running on a treadmill and based on how you run, they recommend a specific sneaker. My Brooks were around $85, didn't break teh bank but made a huge word of difference for me. After my run I usually hit the weights and concentrate on different areas of my bod daily. You'd think going to the gym would tire me out but on the contrary, it gives me the energy to get through my daily grind.

Just wanted to let our Aussie members know that Allergan has recently produced some fantastic mini-documentaries on actual Australian LAP-BAND patients, they have some amazing stories to tell. The testimonials are non scripted and each patient tells their own unique powerful story of how LAP-BAND changed their lives. Please check them out below: http://youtu.be/DpBn5tdurS0 http://youtu.be/2MhLCK4y8Rs http://youtu.be/F7N_O44V-dQ http://youtu.be/fzzWcH6QjRY http://youtu.be/M9luKdxAKJc

Congratulations on taking that big step!! Many gyms offer 1 free personal trainer session when you sign up. They hope you'll spring for more sessions . I say definitely go with the free one and if you really feel you need more go for it if you're able to afford it. What type of phone do you have ? You might be able to save money by installing Pandora or another free streaming music service or loading your own music on to it. You can purchase MP3 players for pretty cheap these days. The Apple Shuffle is $49 and Nano is around $125. If you plan on being pretty active at the gym, I suggest getting earphones which are over the ear and meant for working out. It's a real pain in the ass running or walking on the treadmill or using other machines and having your headphones popping out all the time! A decent pair of running (or walking) shoes shouldn't run you more than $80-$90! I personally love Brooks sneakers. You can get free shipping at Zappos. If you're able, go in to a local running store (like Runners Performance) so they can fit you properly and suggest the right sneaker for you. It's no small expense but I guarantee you you'll save money (and your life!!!) in teh long term by being in better physical and emotional shape!!!! Good luck with your surgery and please keep us all updated here. We're rooting for you!

I drink 2-3 cups daily, haven't had any issues over the years!

Ok guys and gals, this is the deal....there are automated spam bots that sign up to forums such as ours for many different reasons (post spam links, send spam PM's etc.) We've recently implemented two layers of security checks that access third party spammer databases and we should see a major decrease or possibly a total elimination of bogus members. If you see a member that looks fishy, please use the report member feature! The report member link can be found on the bottom right of any member profile. The members you're seeing are actually most likely real members. We disabled the surgeon/bandster profile search and other related features until we completed our site upgrade. The data you currently see is something these members didn't have control over. Things should be back to normal within 24 hours.

We do have this feature available, it's just slightly different and more efficient for browsers. We're looking on implementing preview of topics with just a mouse hover. If you move your mouse over the right side of each thread or topic, you'll see an arrow you can click on to preview. Here's an example screenshot: and this is what happens when you click on the arrow:

For the best browsing experience as well as computer security, your best option would really be to upgrade to the latest version of the browser you're using. Here are links you can use to upgrade: Internet Explorer Chrome Mozilla Firefox Apple Safari

We have two separate systems set up in order to catch and weed out these these spammers and abusers. Some slip through the crack and there's not a lot we're able to do. We have a "Report" button next to each PM you receive. Please use this to report any abuse. Here's the location of this button:

The ticker issue has been resolved.