New Hope

Michelle, you're beautiful - inside and out. Enjoy every one of those compliments! Your restaurant sounds wonderful. Now I'm even more impressed w/your weight loss...around all that great food!

I don't weigh or measure my food. But I do eat on a salad plate at home. That seems to help me keep my portions small. Have you tried using www.fitday.com? It's free and you can log in your foods, exercise, etc. and it helps give you a good idea of how your food choices are affecting you.

Scotty, how about going to the introductions section and starting a new thread about yourself...and any ?? that you might have? I know you'll get a lot of feed back and support on here. Best of luck to you!

Alice, sounds like you have good restriction (which is the purpose of the band). Are you able to drink fluids easily? Please follow your surgeon's post-fill directions. If he says fluids, then please do them as long as he says. Once you start eating real foods again, see how you do. The bread in that Sub sandwich will probably be hard for you to eat and not the best bandster food choice. Hard proteins (lean, moist meats) and veggies are the best and help you feel full longer.

There are four moderators at LBT...Alexandra, Penni, Iluvharleys (Betty), and New Hope (Marie).

Hmmm, maybe the "rep power" means how many hours we've been logged onto LBT. O.K., I admit it, I'm a LBT addict and I'm on here way too much! I hope it's not rating, because we're each going to have different ideas about different things.

Crystal, that is truly an amazing story! He should be on Oprah! You both have to be so proud. Wow, he has really been given back his life. I can't imagine pushing a motorcyle at all -- let alone 3 miles up and down hilly roads!

Terri, you're a better woman than I am! That's a big NSV!

Congratulations, Betty! Tangerine is unable to serve as a moderator. Mr. Alex has asked Betty (Iluvharleys) to accept this position. I know you will continue to use your levelheadedness, kindness, and support to help all of us here.

Thank you for sharing this w/us. This is disturbing to you, but it also has to make both of you feel so good...to see how far he's come since getting his band. How long has he had his band? What was his beginning and current weight? What kind of health problems did he have before WLS? I would love to hear how his life has changed since getting his band. I know for you, having him healthier is the best gift of all.

I'm a lot older than you, but losing the weight off my joints and bones has done wonders. I have excess skin but that's to be expected after having it stretched to the max for so many years. Dropping the weight, prescriptions, and health problems was certainly a good trade-off!

Hi, Daisy! How cute that your "name" comes from your puppy! Congratulations on your upcoming band date. Hope to get to "know" you better on LBT.

Hope everyone had a wonderful loving day!

Christina, you don't have to lie, but you have the right to your own privacy. Some people are just nosey. They aren't personally interested in WLS and it's benefits. Those are the same types that ask you how much something costs or how much is your paycheck. Once you get to dropping some weight, you will feel more energetic and will be doing more physically...and this does help you lose weight faster. So you won't be lying. As far as eating, most people are so busy shoveling it in, they don't even notice what you are or aren't eating. One thing to remember, once you tell, you can't untell.

You don't drink w/meals or 1 hour afterwards so the food stays in your pouch and you feel full longer. But you drink all the rest of the day, even right up until you eat. It is a hard habit to break, but you're wise to start getting used to that now. Just one less thing to do after you get your band. Also, if I try to drink w/my meal (after banding), I often feel like pbing (throwing up). So that has helped me to remember.

Christina, what a thoughtful gesture! I'm honored to be a moderator of such a fantastic board of "banded friends" that I wouldn't have had the pleasure to meet any other way --all over the world. I, personally, say, "Thank you, but no gifts please." Let's continue to support, respect, and encourage each other here on LBT.

Sure can't hurt to check with your benefits coordinator.

And you certainly wouldn't want him to use you for a guinea pig either! You're very wise to research and go in and talk w/these surgeons. Also get some info. on the surgeon himself...how long has he been doing this, his follow-up care, etc.

I met a nurse last week (in Houston) who's had her band since 1987, maintained a loss of 100 pounds, and has had no problems.

So, Greg, if I get those Depends, I can go on longer bike rides w/o having to stop at the local convenience store for a "pit stop"?

Wow, Brenda, please take care of yourself and rest! I'm so thankful that you had such a great surgeon. Aren't you glad you found out what was going on? Perhaps some liquid benadryl would help w/your sinus drainage.

Sounds like the band is better than a Mastercard!

When you feel better about yourself - physically and mentally, it gives you an extra boost of confidence. You're happier w/yourself. You have more energy, take more care in how you dress, buy pretty lingerie. It's a win-win situation for you and your spouse! For Valentine's Day, we got new bicycles. Prebanding, I wouldn't have been interested in even looking at bikes. I did get a dozen roses. But no chocolates here! He's always been my best friend, but now we do more things than just decide what restaurant we're going to try out next. In October, we rented a beautiful, romantic cabin in the Colorado mountains w/a fireplace and inside hot tub. Definitely a second honeymoon!

Hi, Julie, are you eating solid foods yet? Are you cutting it into little pieces about the size of a pencil eraser, then chewing it to pieces before you swallow? Do not drink any liquids w/your meal or 1 hour afterwards. Do not eat 2 - 3 hours before you go to bed. This will prevent you from having food in your pouch that can back up your esophagus and cause painful reflux (which can be damaging). Try to take your time and eat calmly. Quit after 20 minutes (or before if you feel restriction). Listen to your body. If something hurts, stop doing it. Have you had any pbing (spitting up of unchewed foods that get caught in the esophagus)? Have you had a recent fill - that could be too tight? A slight unfill should fix that one. It takes some trial and errors to work w/this band. But it's definitely worth it. Best of luck and hope you get feeling better very soon!

Chicago, how far out are you from surgery? Are you really hurting bad enough for vicodin? Those are pretty big pills, be sure they're broken up before swallowing w/lots and lots of water. Have you tried any of the things we've listed? Getting up moving around is the very best thing to do...it works that gas out of your system.