Terry Poperszky

No, the Doctor's don't have the final say. You do. I went with LB because I wanted something for he most part that was reversible, and didn't remove or re-route portions of my intestinal system. I liked the much lower risk of complications and death and was willing to settle for a slower weight loss. I am very happy with my choice, but what ever WLS you choose, it will require you to work, and work hard to get where you want to be.

Yup, the year before surgery I struggled to hit a certain speed on my bike for a distance of 10 miles, now if I hit that speed on a 30 mile ride I am disappointed because I am going so slow

My surgeon does nothing but lap bands, but he was up front about what to expect, he told me that the average loss was 60%, then he pointed to his nurse and said she lost over 100 pounds and all of her excess weight, then he said "you get to decide which category you will be in". So, the question is, are you willing to settle for "Average"?

I just spent the week at Yellowstone, which is about a 3-4 K altitude increase from where I normally live. I found out the first day that things were going to be different, it was like I had just gotten a fill. My LB nurse had warned me to expect it, as many of her patients had reported the same reaction to altitude.

Welcome to the family, and wishing you success on your journey

I can't speak to ED, but I do know that in my life my weight loss has taken all of my focus, which in turn has lead to a decreased interest in many things that once where important to me. Sometimes I think my body has dropped into survival mode, and is cutting out everything but the most important things.

I just got a check for 309.00 on an 11K lap band procedure.

I haven't been swimming since my LB surgery in January, and while we were in Yellowstone this last week the families wanted to go swimming. Well I am not a cork I have never had a problem treading Water, when I jumped in with 60 pounds less fat I sank like a rock, it took everything I could do to keep my head above water. I honestly believe if I had breathing gear, I could have taken a stroll along the bottom of the river. Well, at least I won't need as much weight the next time I go scuba.

Personal preference, but I buy smaller clothes as soon as I can. I shop the sales just picked up 4 pair of dress slacks for 22.00 each. My scale is plateaued right now and I find that being able to fit into the next size down is so much more real to me than just seeing a number on a measuring tape.

Are nothing compared to the guaranteed complications arising from being fat... http://www.nbcnews.com/health/too-fat-fly-growing-girth-grounds-5-000-patients-air-6C10485763

My Dr.s office warned me that many of their patients experience increased tightness with their bands when they fly or visit higher altitudes.

Let's see you wouldn't recommend the band because you have had complications, but you would recommend the sleeve which you haven't had, but has an admittedly higher complication rate than the band. I'm sorry, that doesn't make sense. Frankly, I don't care which people have. They just need to do the research, weigh risks (which all WLS has) and make a choice that they are comfortable with. For me, that was the band. If I have complications with the band I would have few problems choosing a sleeve revision, but I never would have gone to the sleeve first. But each of us is different, and no matter what WLS you choose, you are going to have to make lifestyle choices that are consistent with weight loss, or none of them will work for you.

Distance: 22.82 mi Time: 1:25:43 Avg Speed: 16.0 mph Elevation Gain: 262 ft Calories: 1,120 C Avg Temperature: 66.0 °F

Sorry, if I could have controlled my weight with diet and exercise I never would have gotten a band. One of the best decisions that I ever made, I am sorry you had such a lousy doctor, but your negative absolutes about the band simply aren't true in my experience and the majority of others. My recommendation? Do the research, understand what you are getting into (IMHO easier now, than it was 6 years ago). Oh, and if your Dr. is an idiot, find one who isn't.

It is only a bigger issue when banded because many of us can not chug Water like we did pre-band. In cycling I have to be more diligent in my drinking (pre/post/during), because I have to drink slower than I did pre-band.

Lest we all forget, correlation does not imply causation. Obesity, health and corporal punishment could all have another component that ties them together (i.e. socio-economic position).

21.85. 85 Minutes, 1100 Cal

I bought my bike the week before I went in for knee replacement. I rode it once, and then it sat in my office until I spring. It was my goal.

In to work: Distance: 21.83 mi Time: 1:20:55 Avg Speed: 16.2 mph Elevation Gain: 213 ft Calories: 1,032 C Avg Temperature: 63.0 °F

Pardon me but you are passing up a prime opportunity to screw with people. Think up a really good story, like during a routine physical examination they found the remains of a partially separated twin that your body tried to absorb in the womb and it has started growing again and they have to remove it. Or simply tell them it is the first step in gender reassignment and walk off.

And what did your Dr. say when you talked to them about the symptoms you are having?

Well, that was unpleasant, I have offically ridden my bike through a thunderstorm, complete with hail. FYI, hail hurts. Distance: 21.85 mi Time: 1:22:45 Avg Speed: 15.8 mph Elevation Gain: 381 ft Calories: 899 C Avg Temperature: 78.8 °F

I have changed the subject, just a little. What are your pet peeves. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/weight-loss-pet-peeves-what-not-to-say_n_3530083.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Well, 90 minutes on the bike is sure a lot less work than the landscaping I did this weekend. Distance: 21.80 mi Time: 1:23:20 Avg Speed: 15.7 mph Elevation Gain: 266 ft Calories: 1,121 C Avg Temperature: 62.7 °F

You can find several apps for your iPhone/Android, or you can go with a dedicated device. Both Polar and Garmin make excellent devices, I moved from the Polar to a Garmin years ago because of the better GPS abilities of their devices, so I can't speak to the Polar line today, but they have an excellent reputation. Stats are extremely important to me when I exercise, and my Garmin really fills the bill in that area.