faithmd

Name...............................Starting…....Current…......Goal…..........To Go losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. 287... ..........275..................12 tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ . 208..............198....................10 Josette.................................322....... .......322..............307..................15 RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....264..............264..............254........ .........10 FaithMD............................... 308..............305.4..............299.................6.4 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275....... .......275 .............265..................10 Libra..(Angela)...................... 214...........;...214..............208............ ........6 glindab..................................282...... ........278.6...........265....................13. 6 Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...............295.............280........... ........15 waterlily1072...(Nicole)............279........... ....279.............269...................10 Rainer (Lorraine).....................311...............3 11..............299...................13 staindgal (Bridget)..................319..............316.8. ...........299.................. 17.8 jbtullis (Jonathan)...................317................31 7..............299...................18 Insubordination.......................311......... ......311..............306...................5 GO TANN!!! EXCELLENT, Chris_NJ and welcome insub! I finally broke that 306 pound mark that has been my brick wall the past three weeks. I am actually eating 2000 calories or more a couple of days a week and bam! I dropped a couple lbs. Who'd a thunk?

Adelaide, :welcomeB: to LBT! Take some time, look around here, there's loads of great info. One of those things is a fantastic thread about scar stages, where people post photos of how their scars are doing. Here's the link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/scar-stages-share-yours-6117/ Also, when you post a thread the software does a search for related threads and provides a list of them at the bottom of the thread page. If you page down, you'll find a few threads about scars. I know many folks try quite a few different things. Some swear by Mederma, other like pure Vitamin E oil from the capsules. Some love cocoa butter, or CCB with E. That's what I'm using. I spent five years working with burn victims and the topical we used to minimize scars was cocoa butter. But the key is to purchase either pure cocoa butter (which is pretty solid), or if you purchase a cream, it MUST have CCB as the number one or number two ingredient on the label, and should smell like a chocolate bar. Hope this helps!

I cannot imagine, but I think they seem like a fantastic family. There are very few folks who could handle four kids, let alone seventeen, but the Duggars do it well. I love the idea of big families if the parents are involved and actually raise their kids aand teach them values and right from wrong. So many people say the Duggars are awful because the older kids raise the younger ones and that the kids aren't allowed to be kids. I think nothing could be further from the truth. Of course the older ones pitch in and help raise the younger ones, that's how it's done. Of course the parents could not and should not have to do it all on their own, what would that teach the kids about work and responsibility? Too many of our young folks have no responsibilities and no limitations placed on them. Good for the Duggars. Though the J name thing makes me quite ill.

Sheesh, I keep teetering and tottering! Back to the 306's. Once I get below that, I'll be happy! Name...............................Starting…....Current…......Goal…..........To Go losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. 293... ..........275..................18 tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ . 211..............198....................13 Josette.................................322....... .......322..............307..................15 RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....264..............264..............254........ .........10 FaithMD............................... 308..............306.4..............299............. ...7.4 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275....... .......275 .............265..................10 Libra..(Angela)...................... 214...........;...214..............208............ ........6 glindab..................................282...... ........278.6...........265....................13. 6 Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...............295.............280........... ........15 waterlily1072...(Nicole)............279........... ....279.............269...................10 Rainer (Lorraine).....................311...............3 11..............299...................13 staindgal (Bridget)..................319..............316.8. ...........299.................. 17.8 jbtullis (Jonathan)...................317................31 7..............299....................18

Advanced Performance or Advanced Platform (what it's called by the manufacturer) band has been around in Australia and Canada for a while now and was just released to the US surgeons to use at the ASBS conference in June. There are a bunch of threads around here about it. Here's a couple links, one to Dr. Curry's site and one to another lapband site that has a really good thread about it: Here's a link to a thread Dr. C posted on his forum that discusses the AP: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - New AP band Here's a link to a thread on another forum that has good info about it as well: Advanced Platform (AP) Band Information - Band2gether.net (b2g) Lap-band Support Forums

Happy Bandiversary!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for updating, Christine! And thank you Molly/Nicole for your kind words of wisdom. I hope that I'll be more successful this month.

It's a cereal. You can usually find it in the States in larger supermarkets that sell various world foods, it's usually in the British section. I think I've also seen it at World Market.

I'm updating as well. I can't seem to get past this same three pounds (306-309) Name........................Starting….......Curren t …...Goal….....To Go losingjusme...................293..............288 ..........266...........22 juliegeraci....................226..............22 6...........206...........20 areellady.....................251.5............240 .5 ...........230...........10.5 punkeyb88...................306..............238.. ..........225..........13 Chris_NJ......................326.............310. ...........290..........20 PaulaD........................222..............222 ............200..........22 MM............................248...............24 8............230...........18 sdakotaRN..................255...............255.. ..........230..........24.6 Babygrl1234...............224................218.. .........199..........19 faithmd.....................312...............308...........285...........23 Jan421......................267...............262. ...........247..........15 Metalband.................203...............197... ..........183...........14 tann........................223................211 ............198...........13 Banannie..................182..............176.8.. .........162...........14.8 Josette....................322...............322.. ..........299...........23 chickatee.................217...............213... ..........199...........16 beachgirl..................270..............220... .............155...........65 Marlluvia...................220.............220... .........200...........20 Jennifur....................222…............219... .........200..........19 KariK.......................179..............179.. ..........155..........24. MarCar.....................296............ 290.............276...........19 Punkeyb88................238............238....... ..... 220......... 18 Jadrad7....................243............230..... .......220..........23 Denise......................265...........259... .........240..........25 Wen.........................303...........299.. ...........285.........14 SWEETY...................217...........211........ ......199.........12 Lochnagar................249...........249.... ........221..........28 glinadb....................285…........282........ .....260..........22 Denise....................330............265...... .......240..........25 mel........................254.4........248.4..... .....230..........18 .4 Amelia40..................285...........288....... .....255...........33 Crabby54.................257...........245........ ....232.........25 Sunny 112...............219...........181.............16 5........16

I won't make it either. I'm FRUSTRATED as all get out. I'm eating about 100 to 1200 calories a day. I log EVERY bite and EVERY sip that goes in me, and that's what I'm taking in. I was losing at 1800 to 2200 calories a day, and I lost at 800 calories a day, but I'm stuck at 1200 calories a day! ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!! Name...............................Starting…....Current…......Goal…..........To Go losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. 288... ..........276.................12 tann.............(Tammy)........ ...224............. 211..............212..................0 Josette.................................322....... .......322..............307.................15 RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....267..............266..............256........ .........10 FaithMD............................... 312..............308............299........... ....9 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275....... .......275 .............265..................10 Libra..(Angela)...................... 218...........;...214..............208............ . ....6 glindab..................................286...... ........282..............275.................7 Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...............295.............280........... .......15

Oooo, weetabix are WONDERFUL!

Ooooo, I NEVER eat canned Salmon. I also had toooooo many Salmon patties as a kid. EWWWWWW! I would go hungry on those nights because I thought they were tooooo disgusting. I am not a fish fan at all. I DESPISE, I mean truly truly truly DESPISE tuna. The mere thought of it repulses me, the smell makes me immediately gag. Needless to say, I am not a fish fan. But that having been said, I really do like FRESH salmon. And it does have to be fresh. If it smells fishy, I won't touch it. I love it broiled with some lemon juice and dill on it, or with a bbq glaze. But these cups were awful. Though the various flavors offered in the tuna varieties would probably be pleasing to tuna eaters. I don't know about the mercury in salmon specifically, but when I was at Trader Joe's yesterday, there was a sign above the canned fish that said that ALL fish has at least traces of mercury in it. I'm guessing that would include salmon.

I agree with those above me (thanks, WasaBB! The Matrix and Nectar were good!), and I also like Slim Fast CARB CONTROL, NOT the Optima, NOT the High Protein, the Carb Control, it has more protein than the others and is low in carbs so better for diabetics. It was rich and thick and satisfying.

What worked for me (and others I have suggested this to) is to get some Gerber baby Apple Prune juice. It comes in 4 oz bottles and is 70 calories for each bottle. It is a clear liquid and it is VERY good. I drink one a day, or now that I'm on food, I'll have a jar of baby food prunes or a prune combo. They are quite yummy. Trust me, it will do the trick.

Citracal is calcium citrate and is available in chewables. You can get them in chocolate, caramel and lemon, I believe. I find them in chocolate at Walmart for around $9 for a box. A little more expensive than other calciums, but it is a citrate and yummy and chewable. That's what's important to me.

Check out this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/new-cpt-codes-lap-band-11845/ Write down the codes and ask them if those specific codes are covered.

I go back to work in three hours, we'll see if anyone notices anything different. I have lost over 60 lbs and am still in the same clothes! That's making me crazy! Sure they're a little looser, but I don't feel like they are loose enough that I'd need a smaller size. Grrrrrrr!

I looked around the net a bit and didn't see anything about an updated VG in 2008, but I could be missing it. Perhaps giving Allergan a call and talking to Don Mills (he's the Band Guru) about it would be helpful for you.

I posted this over on the Obtech thread as well: I do not know anything about an updated "VG" but the company that makes the bands currently in use in the US which includes the VG is Allergan, you can go to their website at lapband.com there may be news there. I would find this very interesting becausr they just released a new version of the band last month at the ASBS conference to the US called the AP or Advanced Platform band. It is basically an updated VG which is an updated LapBand. I'd be surprised to see them release another updated band in less than a year. Especially since they just used some of the VG technology in the new AP.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Jacqui, I adore you!!!! I love to read your posts!

I also posted this on your duplicate thread: The theory is that the liver can be shrunk by eating a low calorie, low fat no sugar diet. Several studies have been done to prove this theory. Though some say that any weight loss will help it to shrink. Many surgeons prefer their patients to do this diet to shrink pre-op because it is easier to retract a smaller liver out of the operative field. The lap band is placed laparascopically through several holes in your belly and then a gas is pumped into it to blow it up so they can see where they are operating. The liver lies over the area that needs to be accessed to place the band. It must be grabbed with an instrument and moved out of the way. If it is big and boggy and fatty, then that does make it a bit harder to move (retract) out of the way. If your liver tears, that's a bad thing. So a smaller liver helps to avoid these problems. I have heard tell that there have been occasions (though I don't know of any personally) where people have either had to be opened up to place the band (though that's really tough as it was not designed for placement via an open incision), or some folks have been woken up and told their liver is too large to safely do the surgery and then they were placed on a longer diet. Again, I don't have any personal experience with either of these scenarios, but that's what we're told can happen. Some docs do not require a pre-op diet. Usually you will find those docs have been placing the band for a VERY long time and are very skilled at what they are doing, others may just not buy into the liver shrinking theory. Though it was presented at the ASBS (American Society of Bariatric Surgeons) meeting last month again.

The theory is that the liver can be shrunk by eating a low calorie, low fat no sugar diet. Several studies have been done to prove this theory. Though some say that any weight loss will help it to shrink. Many surgeons prefer their patients to do this diet to shrink pre-op because it is easier to retract a smaller liver out of the operative field. The lap band is placed laparascopically through several holes in your belly and then a gas is pumped into it to blow it up so they can see where they are operating. The liver lies over the area that needs to be accessed to place the band. It must be grabbed with an instrument and moved out of the way. If it is big and boggy and fatty, then that does make it a bit harder to move (retract) out of the way. If your liver tears, that's a bad thing. So a smaller liver helps to avoid these problems. I have heard tell that there have been occasions (though I don't know of any personally) where people have either had to be opened up to place the band (though that's really tough as it was not designed for placement via an open incision), or some folks have been woken up and told their liver is too large to safely do the surgery and then they were placed on a longer diet. Again, I don't have any personal experience with either of these scenarios, but that's what we're told can happen. Some docs do not require a pre-op diet. Usually you will find those docs have been placing the band for a VERY long time and are very skilled at what they are doing, others may just not buy into the liver shrinking theory. Though it was presented at the ASBS (American Society of Bariatric Surgeons) meeting last month again.

I do not know anything about an updated "VG" but the company that makes the bands currently in use in the US which includes the VG is Allergan, you can go to their website at lapband.com there may be news there. I would find this very interesting becausr they just released a new version of the band last month at the ASBS conference to the US called the AP or Advanced Platform band. It is basically an updated VG which is an updated LapBand. I'd be surprised to see them release another updated band in less than a year. Especially since they just used some of the VG technology in the new AP.

I doubt anyone here had the "pleasure" that I did of meeting her face to face as well as reading her "autobiography" that was written while she and Jim Bakker were still married. My mother was a PTL FANATIC and as such we of course had most of the books and tapes and records. I think they still have quite a few of them. We were fairly poor when I was growing up, and my mother would call or write in to PTL and promise to pay a little at a time if only they'd send X tapes or X book. You know what? They did, every time. Even though I was a little girl, Jim Bakker struck me as a slick snake oil salesman and Tammy Faye struck me as really really blonde. I agree with Lucy, I don't think she had a freaking clue. Not about Jim and not about life. At least not in the beginning, I think she may have finally figured it out near the end, but at that point she was soooo devastated by learning that her husband had tag teamed a 21 yr old church secretary in a swap fashion with another preacher (after purportedly drugging her-but I again take that with a grain of salt, just like the Kobe Bryant thing) that it just didn't matter. This all didn't come out until Bakker announced that he was stepping down as head of PTL and Heritage USA, pending the imminent disclosure of the sexual encounter and that he would be replaced by televangelist Jerry Falwell. Investigative journalists and auditors hired by Falwell uncovered $265,000 in hush money paid to Hahn as well as serious financial irregularities that led to the collapse of the PTL empire and Bakker's conviction. I think Tammy Faye was way too wrapped up in herself, and her kids and decorating their penthouse apartment at Heritage USA (not to mention probably drowning in Valium) to notice what the real story was. I am sorry she passed, she really was a passionate Christian who seemed to truly love the Lord and enjoy singing the Gospel when she and Jim were still together in PTL. It was an addictive show, I'll admit. I used to not mind watching because I'd play a game with myself and try to guess how many times she'd cry on camera in an episode.

Here's a link to the forum on obesityhelp.com that talks about it. ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. - Forums - Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery (MGB) There is a lot of controversy about it, lots of negative, some positive. Not many surgeons do it. The "Father" of the procedure, Dr. Rutledge, in Nevada does not have the most stellar reputation amongst bariatric surgeons. Take some time, research it well. Good luck!