BigDennis

I must apologize, I was delirious from the heat and passion, so I was simply speaking from my heat, errrrr I mean heart! LOL

Can you feel the heat coming through your computer monitor yet? Mine melted into a pile of plastic a few moments ago! LOL

I know I promised, but when your heart is floating upon a billowy cloud, it makes a man want to shout it out for the whole world to hear! You are one hell of a woman!!

Dang, too late! But let's be serious for a moment, when you look in the mirror each morning, it must be very difficult to walk away from an image so stunningly beautiful! Whew, its getting warm up in here! LOL

That is not what you told me in private!! OMG! These other ladies won't think bad of you for craving a blueberry stud muffin! LOL bahahahaha back at you!

I don't believe you! I think the very fact that I am here sweet talking you is making the rest of your week seem like a bad dream. OK, remember I am a little slow, 10 days and you are due for what?

I always have sweet words for you darling! You are so sweet and wonderful that I have no clue why anyone would ever refer to you as an Evil Twin or anything remotely close!! Huge hugs!!

Oh Lord, she definitely would not want to wait for me to be good! I kind of like that whole "Stud Muffin" thing though, because it has a nice ring to it! LOL

I knew it! All you had to do was say the words "Evil Twin" and P O O F there she is!! How have you been "Evil Woman"??? LOL

Oh, I know all too well about that evil twin! She has a way of crawling out of the woodwork, when you least expect it! LOL Now, on the other hand, the "Pink Princess" is a real sweetheart most of the time!

Leave it up to a wild-eyed southern girl to come up with the name "Dixie"! Don't throw anything CG!! I am just kidding. Actually my very first girlfriend in the entire world was named Dixie Johnson and she was sweeter than honey on a cat head biscuit!

I am so happy to hear you like the beautiful Spanish name we picked out for your band! So, it is official! LOL

OMG, you guys are doing great! Being banded freaks your body out initially and it has no clue how to react. Definitely follow your doctor's orders, to the best of your ability, increase physical activity when you are able, and pay close attention to your body's little signals. You know what they say about a "watched pot" right? Stop staring at your scale and amazing things will come to you very soon! Congratulations ladies and I can't wait to hear about your next successes! Dennis

I think Miss Wallflower needs a pretty Spanish name for her band too! How about one that matches her personality and is entirely female? Bella dama, which is Spanish for "Beautiful Lady".

Hi Liz, My heart definitely goes out to you and I sincerely hope you are able to find relief and happiness. The process to receive a band is in place for exactly the reasons you pointed out. It actually took me approximately 18 months to get approved, which gave me plenty of time to research exactly what to expect and all my available options. My doctor, dietitian, and nurses stressed and communicated the fact that the band is only a tool to assist me lose weight and not a magic pill that would work without a great deal of effort on my part. Nothing has changed, it has been and always was up to us to lose the weight, but we all felt we needed the assistance of a specialized tool to overcome weaknesses in our willpower. I lost 135 pounds through LA Weight Loss, so I know you can lose weight the good old fashioned way, but keeping it off is another story entirely. This is where I need all the help I can get from not only my band, but also the support of all my new friends on LBT. Liz, thank you for sharing your story with the group and hope you find relief soon. Dennis

You guys are all doing awesome! 11 pounds in a month is very close to 3 pounds each week, so more than enough weight loss and at a healthy pace! When you do go back to regular foods, take smaller bites, chew extremely well, and pay close attention to the messages your body is sending you. Congratulations on your weight loss and hope to hear about your upcoming successes as well! Dennis

Definitely follow Mis73's advice and fill out your profile, so others can help you along your journey and share experiences with you. Definitely do not get discouraged or depressed, because you are doing great! Dennis

Oh yes, 27 pounds is a lot of weight to lose in such a short time! You are doing awesome, so just hang in there and keep doing what you are doing. Actually, your doctor should not add Fluid to your band, unless you are not losing or gaining weight. You are doing great and I can't wait to hear about your upcoming successes! Dennis

Ah, those first few weeks are tough ladies! Your body is still attempting to make sense of your new band and adjust accordingly. Keep in mind that you are in a healing stage, where your body is attempting to heal itself inside and out. I would ask my doctor WHY you can't take your medications. Certain medications do not play well with your new band, BUT there are alternatives that could give you quick relief. Find out if the doctor is concerned about the physical size of your medication OR if the issue is the chemical content. Either way, I feel sure they can rectify your medication issues. Hang in there, because it definitely get better very soon! Dennis

I second Wildrose's suggestion! Definitely keep stool softener in the house to avoid serious and painful issues! Milk of Magnesia is one of my closest and dearest friends as well!

Hey, this is pretty! How about Mi angel de la guarda? Spanish for my guardian angel!

Now look what you got started D.R.! LOL Based on the way mine has been acting, since my last fill, I think you are correct in assuming it is a female entity! LOL

L.L., It definitely depends upon what stage you are in at this moment. IF you are past any of the stages that actually require mushy or liquefied foods, then yes you are circumventing the purpose of your band. Your doctor does not want you to simply blend foods and drink your meals. The idea is to slowly work yourself up to the point you can safely and comfortably eat three small meals per day. While many believe it is acceptable to drink your Protein, my doctor stresses that I eat my Proteins and not rely on the liquid versions. I hope this answers your question, but please let us know if you need more clarification. Dennis

Andrew, You may be on liquids and soft foods during the healing period, but the goal is actually to have you eating three small meals per day. The key is taking small bites, chewing very well, and understanding when to stop eating. Your doctor will discuss this with you at some point, but they do not want you getting your nourishment and Protein strictly from smoothies and shakes. You will start off slowly with foods such as fish and very moist chicken, but you will indeed be able to eat other Proteins as you progress. It will be a learning curve for you, but you will do just fine! Dennis

Good evening! I would definitely run it by my doctor and get his or her input first, before moving forward with any type of medication. I am curious, how much Fluid do you have in your band at this point? It would be easy to say you have too much in your band, but you were only banded in July, so that doesn't seem possible. I know a lot of folks opt to drink Protein shakes for breakfast, opposed to creating band and nausea issues in the early morning. Apparently, our bands tend to open wider later in the day, which allows easier consumption of more solid foods. Please let us know what your doctors says, because it would be interesting to see if they agree with the forums! Dennis