Terry Poperszky

Yup, I want to be able to finish this ride. I tried to train for it last year, but I just couldn't push my bulk fast enough, forlong enough to do it. My only concern is that I won't be able to lose the weight and train at the same time. So, if not this year, then next. http://www.skinnytireevents.com/page.cfm?pageid=20054

Depends if you have a private room or not.

I'm sorry, who long did what take? If you are talking about the approval process, I am self pay. I attended the seminar on December 20th, and sub-mitted my paperwork the next day, was approved by the surgeon on the 26th, had my pre-op class on the 28th (where I started my pre-op diet), met with the surgeon for the second time on the 4th (first time was the seminar) had the surgery on the 7th. Yes it was fast, but I did a tremendous amount of research. I brought my wife (She is a detail person and I needed her council) with me to the pre-op class and the pre-op meeting, and of course she was with me the day of surgery, I bought the big lap band book that is advertised on this site, and I spoke with my primary care physician as well. My insurance carrier did offer wls with a 12 month Dr. supervised diet (which they don't cover). As I pointed out to my wife, if I could stay on a strict diet for 12 months, I wouldn't need the surgery.

I am 57 years old, and I got banded two weeks ago. In December my bubble burst, and I finally admitted that I couldn't do it. Keep the faith, there is hope.

No, you aren't alone.

I'm another member of the clean plate club. Both of my girls are being raised with "if you are hungry, eat. If you're not, don't". They have been taught to take small portions first, and then get more if they are still hungry. A lot cheaper to throw a little food away than deal with the emotional and physical damage of obesity.

I personally am looking into converting my car to run off of methane, although I haven't worked out capture system quite yet.

Depends. Right now I weigh myself every morning. From times past, I know that as this new life style becomes less novel I will switch to twice a week. During longer plateaus I will give the scale to my wife and tell her to only give it to me once a week. When I plateau, the number never changing starts to frustrate me, and then I start to wonder why I am doing this when I am showing no results. so it is banished. So, the answer is "It depends", the scale is a tool, when it stops being a useful tool I don't use it for a while.

I am the management and it is my observation that we are worse on taking breaks than most of the people who work for us. But there are always ways. I had a vendor call ask to take me out to lunch so we could discuss purchases for the year, instead I suggested that we meet for coffee. I actually enjoyed it more than our normal lunches, and I wasn't in a food coma for the rest of the day. I agree with you that sandwiches are going to be a problem, so I have ordered some chop sticks off of Amazon and when I reach solid foods I will just precut everything so that I can still eat at my desk. Even thinking about sealing lunch size portions into vacuum seal pouches so I can just grab one in the morning and not have to worry about the hassle of fixing it then.

Not a problem, that happens anyway with Testosterone prescriptions.

Sat down for dinner tonight, started eating and trying to go slow but it just wasn't working. Still moving it in too fast. I downloaded an app called "eat slower" and set it for 90 seconds, chewed for 30 seconds, set the fork down for 60 seconds. While the food was in my mouth, I focused on it, the flavor and the texture. During the 60 seconds, I read. With each bite I listened for the voice of Mistress Band, until I finally heard it. Looked down into my bowl and about 25% of the meal was still there, I thought about last night, and set my fork down, plastic wrapped the bowl and put it in the fridge. I realized something tonight, I have been interpreting a small pain/ache as the full point, but I was wrong. That and the hiccuping were actually the second signals, the first was much more subtle. BUT I HEARD IT! and I stopped, and I am satisfied. I also realized if I continue to eat like this I can stop being fat. For those of you having trouble slowing your eating down, try looking at the "eat slower" app.

What you are discribing (in explicit detail) is an enlarged prostate, not a testosterone problem. Welcome to being a male.

I have 5 or 6 pair, they are relatively new ( couple of months). Cost of shipping and they are yours.

Ok, I am enjoying the same meal I had last night but.... 1. I thinned it down a bit. 2. I only have my correct amount in the building. 3. I am eating very slowly, putting the spoon down and doing something else for a while between bites. 4. I am Thinking about the food while it is in my mouth, savoring the flavors and textures. 5. I am listening for the voice of Mistress Band. Thank you Mistress Band for letting me enjoy my lunch, I will be good

My pre--op diet had two requirements: 1. Protein shake for Breakfast 2. Calorie goal between 800 - 960 daily intake.

I read about using chopsticks, and as soon as I hit the solid food phase I am going to try that. I will definitely feel more manly whipping out a pair of chopsticks than a baby fork at my desk at work.

Because you haven't looked long enough. It isn't that there aren't male success stories, IMHO it is because there are fewer males who get the surgery, and/or choose to share in this fashion. If you were to go to a Weight Watchers forum, you would see similar ratios. Why is that? HECKIFIKNOW, maybe our male pride "Of I can do it on my own" precludes us from seeking help. I know that I did not turn to WLS until I reached a point of abject failure with my weight. But, I am here now, I am loosing weight, I will continue to enjoy food, but I will no longer let it rule my life. Between a change in lifestyle, and the help of my band ("The Dominatrix") I have hope in this area for the first time in years.

Oh, Newme I did this alright. But it wasn't until it had happened I realized why I had done what I had done. I shared it in a humorous way because what I did, I am sure every new bandster has done and I wanted to help those who have just been banded understand the ramifications and dangers of not paying attention to the voice of the band and I need to be able to laugh at my self and my mistakes.

Honor your Grandmother, do what is right, but realize this is not a normal time.

OMG, OMG too much and too fast OMG, OMG too much and too fast OMG, OMG too much and too fast OMG, OMG too much and too fast The creature from the movie alien is currently trying escape from my chest. I was hungry, and it tasted really, really good. I portioned out my 1/2 cup, that 1/2 cup disappeared like magic and tasted so good, another 1/4 cup won't hurt, after all I ate a full cup of thin Soup over 30 minutes at work today. it doesn't really matter that this only took me 10 minutes and was much thicker. Then the band spoke, and I didn't listen, so the band spoke louder and I still did not heed it's words. SO THE BAND SHOUTED and the alien creature started to try to claw it's way out of my chest. Well, after about 30 minutes, the band called off it's minion and it feels I was going to live. But of course the head hunger has started to kick in and mention that I really deserve a treat after going through that I think I am going to name my band "Mistress Band, the Dominatrix"

She walked into the kitchen while I was making my "pureed" dinner and said "Even when you have to puree something, it is still fancy" I had mixed refried Beans, Anaheim chili peppers, plain greek yogurt, Wisconsin cheddar cheese powder and taco seasoning together and pureed it with my hand blender. But she didn't complain too much since I made chili and cornbread for her and the girls.

Easier question is "Did anyone NOT get cranky"

I told very very few people before hand and was extremely happy about it. Everyone has an opinion, and what I have learned on here, especially people who have had another form of WLS are eager to convert you to validate their own decision. If that person choose GB, which is inherently riskier, then you choosing the band casts doubt on their decision. Do you own research, make up your own mind, be your own person. Afterward, I don't care who knows. If they have the balls to criticize me to my face for my decision, I will be more than happy to remove those balls and stuff them in their back pocket

That's the thing I don't know. But I have my level's checked again in March at my yearly physical, I guess I will find out then.

I was spooked by the pre-diet as well, but I took it as a trial by fire. How in the heck was I going to make the life adjustments that I had to make to be successful, if I couldn't go a couple of weeks on a extremely reduced calorie eating plan. If I couldn't do that, I really needed to rethink letting them poke holes in me. i'm on the other side now and my nurse was correct, the pre-op diet not only shrank the fat in my liver, it gave me the proper mindset to start to learn to live with my band.