Zoe

I agree, no money required -- but, Greg, go ahead and post that Speedo picture! OK, everyone, get ready for Monday.

Most of us lose a lot of Water weight during the first couple of weeks. Then, as our bodies heal and we start eating more normally, some of the water returns. We're losing fat, but gaining water, so the scale might not show a change -- but you might look different. Don't get discouraged. What you're experiencing is completely normal. So is the hunger!

Great news! How are you feeling?

In my case, that ain't gonna happen without the aid of pulleys or duct tape.

DeLarla, I suppose you can have an exemption from the challenge while your wound heals (sigh). Greg, I'll PM my Monday weight -- and thank you for offering to keep track of us. Anyone else, jump in on Monday and be prepared to face some serious exercise over the holidays. (Yes, chopping down pine trees counts, as long as you use an axe and not a chainsaw; lifting heavy pieces of fruitcake from your plate to your mouth does not.) OK, Greg and Becky, just four more days until showtime. Bring it on!

Greg, you've gotta stop! You don't want to be responsible for making DeLarla's wound open while she's ROFLHAO!

Melanie, I'm glad you were able to work out an arrangement for help with the kids. You might be feeling up to all your old activities in just two weeks or so after surgery -- there's no way to tell until you're there. And a lot of us enjoy a big energy surge that hits sometime during that first post-band month. I did not have counseling after the lapband. Once every three months I check in with my shrink for med management; I spoke to him two days ago (first time since banding) and told him how I was feeling, what I was eating, how much I'd lost, etc. Turns out that he has several banded patients, and he said I seemed to have the right mindset for the band. With a few bandsters and RNY clients, he's had to educate himself on the procedures: not only their effects on the emotional lives of people, but how they affect absorption of psychoactive drugs. He's overweight himself, so he has more than a theoretical interest in the subject! We're all starting at different places in our weight-loss, mental-health, and life journeys (sorry if that sounds pseudo-Buddha), and lots of people have found that counseling is a big help before and/or after the big change that banding represents. I've been to that rodeo before, however, and I'm feeling great right now, so I'm not one of them -- but I won't hesitate to get help if my situation changes. If the medical center performing your surgery offers free counseling as part of a Lap-Band package deal, it's probably worth checking out. They may have group sessions where you can meet other people going through the same thing, or at the very least, counselors who have a lot of experience with weight-loss issues. Whatever you decide, you're less than two weeks away from Bandland! Congratulations.

Everything sounds good to me. Lisa G, we'll let you play even if you are a young whippersnapper! Let's check in about once a week -- Monday or Tuesday or whatever works for you -- and report on the last seven days' activities, so we don't wind up with an incredibly long thread. Anyone is free to report special daily victories or challenges. If you want your challenge more structured or more free-form, do whatever works for you. No excuses!

Band obsession is normal, but you might want to keep that to yourself when you're talking to the shrink. Good luck -- you're almost there! PS: Love your vegetarian quote.

So glad you're back, Ryan, and that everything went well. Please write again when you feel up to it, and let us know the details. Congratulations!

I couldn't find the lyrics, but if anyone wants a sample of Willie's tune, go to http://www.lonestarmusic.com/album.asp?aid='2833' and click "Big Booty." Blossom's right -- it's a hoot.

Betty, all I do is walk, too. (Unless you count hanging on to the 80-lb. dog's leash while she's chasing after squirrels; thanks to the critter, my arms have more muscle tone than you'd expect from someone whose usual upper-body workout consists of pushing a computer mouse around.) This challenge is for anyone, anywhere, any kind of exercise. I'll match you mile for mile!

You Texans sure know how to have a good time. Sorry I missed the karaoke!

OK, you can sleep on it, DeLarla, but I expect an answer tomorrow, and it better be yes! You're in my challenge cohort. Burnt out or not, you can do this and you know it! Greg made an excellent point on the main exercise challenge thread: Anyone who loses a pound in this challenge will be a winner. It's a way to try to keep sane in the midst of pumpkin pie, sage dressing, Christmas Cookies, latkes, eggnog and general wretched excess. Remember, no starvation allowed. Hey, Betty, you exercise fiend, are you in?

What a great suggestion, Becky! I can throw in some lotions, etc., too, making sure that we have some macho scents available in case Greg wins. Maybe I should add a couple of bottles of non-irritating pain relievers -- we might need it after all that exercise. OK, there are three of us in the challenge so far, with room for more. Come take us on -- you've got bandsters from three different states ready to spur you into shape. What are you waiting for, maggot?!

Great pictures! I vote for #2, but they're all lovely. And what's all this big booty talk about? You look too slim to have one!

OK, Greg, I accept! I started a new thread on this holiday challenge at http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3818. Monday the 22nd it is. So what's our prize gonna be?

It may seem like a lot to ask of friends, but since they've offered -- please say yes. They are looking for a way to help you because they want to. And you'll actually be doing them a favor by letting them show kindness. Four weeks seems like a long time, especially this time of year, but it will pass quickly. If you would prefer to wait until after the holidays for your surgery, that's another option too. Whatever you decide, good luck to you. You're taking a big step toward a longer, healthier life, and your friends and family will be the richer for it.

FYI, Dr. Lopez Corvala would be called, informally, Dr. Lopez, not Dr. Corvala; Lopez is his father's last name, Corvala is his mother's. And women's last names get really complicated. We'd better call him Lopez Corvala to distinguish him from all the other Dr. Lopezes out there. Catfan, I'm sorry to hear of your bad news. There are other people on this board who have also been diagnosed with erosion; you might want to check past posts to find out more. Good luck -- hope you can find a solution.

Becky and Greg, I love your challenge! Is there anyone who's roughly at the same place I am (70-100 lbs. to go, 1-6 months after banding, 35-55 yrs. old) who'll take up a challenge from me? Oh, hell, I'll challenge anybody! Weigh in on Nov. 22 (the 41st anniversary of the JFK assassination), check in again on Jan. 3 (first Monday of the new year). Only rule is: no fasting or other insane food deprivation. Or, if you want, we can have a straight exercise challenge on the honor system. Come on, you competitive bandsters, dare to try to kick my ass! (Mind you, you've got a big target.) Note: I've started a new thread for this holiday challenge.

I don't get it either. I had my first and only fill a month ago. Of course I had been reading all the fill posts here, so I asked the doctor, "how come it can take a while for people to feel restriction after a fill?" He shook his head and said, "that makes no sense. You'll feel it." Well, I didn't! Maybe conventional medicine doesn't have an explanation -- but then how come so many of us have the same experience, namely, waiting at least a week to feel restriction, or having it come and go for no apparent reason? This is one area where bandsters' experience seems to outpace research.

I thought my incisions were all healed, but my sides are aching after reading Greg's story and Lauri's. That pug puppy probably felt like it was in a department store getting sprayed with the most glorious perfume.

Margie, it sounds as if your life is just beginning! How wonderful that you had the strength and courage to refuse to accept any more years of pain and immobility. Marie is right -- you are an inspiration. The reason I (and probably some others too) suggested that you see a doctor was not so that you'd have someone to talk to; your average MD is not the most sympathetic listener! It's just that your mood swings, which sounded pretty serious, might be the result of hormonal changes from menopause, a nasty side effect of some of the pain meds, or something else biological. If you keep having mood swings, it might be worth checking out. "Put your seat belt on and hit the gas... and let's enjoy the ride" -- amen to that!

Thinking of you, Ryan, as you cross into Bandland. When a lot of us suggested that you do something to take your mind off surgery, repeated dashes to the bathroom wasn't exactly what we had in mind! It gets better, really. You're taking a brave step to reclaim yourself, and we're all going to be thinking of you tomorrow. :banana

Andrea, it's sweet that you're concerned about the nurse who gave you the fill, but right now you should be worrying about yourself. It sounds as if you're way too restricted, and the blood can't be good even if your fill was perfect. I'd be tempted to drive to the fill doctor right away rather than tough it out overnight, but then I'm paranoid. Let us know if there's any change in the next 24 hours -- and good luck.