Maurice

You guys are a wonderful support system! I can't add much since I was really blessed to have encountered zero health issues. However, I did have remorseful periods through the first six months,until I was able to accept a serious lifestyle change. Of course, see some dramatic results certainly helps. Listen to those that have walked where you're walking. Maurice

:bandit I'm the G.M. of a Community Center in a small Minnesota town. It has a fitness center that I never used for five years, until the banding. I've been able to use my 90 lb. loss to encourage others. I know I should've been a better "poster boy" for fitness over the bigger years, but at the end of the day it's still performance that matters in the work-place. Get out and go get em!

All I can add is that in this day in age, your coworkers will react with the same outrage as we have. I would be surprised if you aren't greatly supported more than ever.

This is a rather courious heading.... If it's a question; yes and even moreso with the increased energy of not having hauled the extra weight around all day. Also moreso because the visual has also improved. If this isn't a question; 'sorry about letting out more than you probably wanted to know....

I think it's been pretty well put on this thread. I could only add that maybe you could hold it all up in prayer for the wisdom and strength to follow through with whatever you decide that the Lord has in mind for you. You have plenty of time as no date has been set. I suspect after your banding and subsequent weight loss he may expedite his marital plans in order to lock you in.

We receive one card from the Medical Center that includes this statement: "We are requesting that if you have a senior and/or childrens menu, that you would allow our patient to order from one of those since they are unable to consume large portions of food". We also receive the I.D. card from INAMED that has a graphicictire of an installed band on it. I choose to use the card from the medical center, and have only had to pull it out once.

I was waking 72 times per hour according to my sleep study. I'm now down 85 lbs., and have gotten off of the CPAP

My port protrudes quite noticably. I've been told that my fat does not lie in the skin, but deeper. They are now using a lower profile port, and again, I'm told that it would be simple to replace it. I think I'll wait. 'down 85 lbs.: 15 to go!

I've also been away for awhile. I'm looking forward to reading up on the "family" news. Thanks for keeping this great site alive

I love this thread (misery enjoys company...). It's great to see what others are eating in our quest for wellness. Please keep the menus coming!

Beakfast: 2 cups black coffee 8 oz.of egg-bake w/sausage and salsa Mid-morning: 1 Atkins Protein Shake Lunch: 1 cup of chicken-salad w/ mayo and a tsp of roasted pepers Supper will be a low carb T-V Dinner, and cottage cheese. Evening snack will be BBQ pork rinds w/ranch and dressing low carb ice cream. Crystal Light through the day.

I use cheese, BBQ Pork Rinds with veggie cream cheese, some peanuts, or chicken or tuna salad. Low carb ice cream and popcycles help. Crystal Light (Walmart's version) or Atkin's Shakes. Much else triggers a real feeding frenzie of naughty stuff.....

Hey Tony; I can't add much to the usual great wisdom submitted on this site. I think to an extent you have already answered your dilema. I was a pro athlete at one time and in wonderful shape. I used to wonder why big people ate such huge portions or went to buffets. Surely they had to realize how big they were, and that they[/B] couldn't be happy in such condition. They had to understand that they could never lose that hideous weight if they ate that way.... Well, over the course of almost 30 years, I grew from 195 to 285 ponds! Even at my morbidly obese tops, I didn't think I looked like them. Well at 5'9", you tell me that I didn't look like them hauling around 285 lbs. I began to get self conscious at any public or family feeding. Wondering if people were wondering about me, what I had wondered about others years ago. I got banded at the end of August, because I finally had to admit my health was going south, and I could not maintain any diets on a consistant basis. I am now down to 220 lbs. (target weight is 185), and when I see big people, I feel both compassion for their struggle, and appreciation for the blessing of my banding. I now realize that most people would not be large if they had a reasonable and possible choice. I also realize how fortunate I have been to be able to have had the procedure. Michelle; I also watch my wife eat with huge bites, and am at a loss at how to approach this without being critical or hurting her feelings. Any tips? It can't be healthy.

Hey Lisa; All is well; I'm keeping up with my two year old finally, and feeling great. I'm getting my other knee replaced in April, then I'll hit the ice again. I still miss alot of the eating that got me to where I was, but all in all have gotten used to the new lifestyle better than i thought I would. I truly feel blessed with my outcome as I've followed the horrors that you've been through. I think I can speak for all of on the site in wishing you better results as you move forward. And again to everybody, please continue to share your experiences, because there are many of us who check in to see that many of the challenges and rewards that we face are shared by the group. And also to see the differences in our own lives, bodies, fills and bands (mine is 11 cm). Thanks.

I love the information that you girls share. Thanks for being so generous with your experiences. Our M.D. suggests Atkins for one month prior to banding, but at the end of the day, the only requirement was to have not gained any weight over that month. I was bad as usual and only dropped 10 lbs. (some final food "send-offs"). I truly agree that it becomes a behavioral issue when we get banded. I have a friend who was banded and never filled and lost 110 lbs over the past year. It seems as though for her it was a behavioral kick-off to discipline. I, of course did not have near that discipline and have had three fills to get to my "Sweet Spot". I've chosen to continue counting carbs rather than calories, and I chose to replace daytime meals with Atkins shakes. When I do sit down to eat, the band has allowed me to fill up after about a cup of food or so. The new years resolution has also gotten me to exercise about 40 minutes per day 4-6 times a week. Without the physical restrictions of the band, I could never have gotten to this point. For me, the limitations has bred the behavioral changes.