JoanieP

See the ticker....hang in there everyone!

Oh hell yes it is very possible...I have lost about 95lbs and have seen some that have lost more than that in less time than it has taken me. You can do it! Good luck!!! Joanie )

Not trying to discourage anyone, but I still get that shoulder pain after nearly 2 1/2yrs. post banding. I've gotten it when I haven't eaten as well as when I eat, so I give up trying to second guess why I get it. I've learned to deal with it, but that's just me! Good luck!!!

Actually, Dr Chang recently sent out flyers about having a lapband sale...so to speak! haha!!! Anyway, $13000 I believe is what he was charging cash pay patients. I had my surgery done in Houston by Dr. Spiegel in May '06 and it cost me $15000. ($6000 for him and $9000 for the surgi-center) I didn't shop around for a surgeon, I jumped at the first one I saw, but I trust that Dr. Spiegel did a great job, and I am equally as happy with finding Dr. Chang now, so I don't have to take that long drive to Houston. When I saw Dr. Chang for the 1st time it cost me $260 I think and the last visit was $65. I know he charges more than $100 for fills, but haven't had him do one yet, so not sure exactly how much. Hope I didn't scare you with the money talk, but trust me, it is worth every penny! Joanie )

Congrats to you and more power to you for the bike riding as well as the triathalon. I'm not quite that energetic. haha! Keep up the good work!

My sister made me throw out my baggy panties and get ones that fit me.....not necessarily in that order of course! haha !! :biggrin:

Thanks for reading, and best of luck with your weight loss and triathalon wins!! :redface:

Are you drinking the protien shakes that come ready to drink, or the powders you have to mix yourself? I was just wondering if you were mixing them yourself if it wasn't mixed up good enough. My sister experienced something like this when she was banded, but eventually found a shake she liked and could drink without gagging on it. Good luck!

I am very bad...I guess I've been stuck for a half hour or more at times, but I will usually make myself throw up cause I can't handle the pain in my chest. Wrong I know, but I have been doing pretty well not having to get to that point lately!

I would think that at you're age you should have any problems with loose skin, especially working out as you are, but everybody has different bodies so each case is different. How's your skin looking so far...Does it look like it's loose yet? How tall are you, by the way? My daughter is 5'7" and had gotten up to 190#s in HS. When she was in college she lost 60#s and didn't like the way her tummy looked around her belly button. It wasn't bad but she was self concious about it and wanted to wear the cute little tops...anyway, even though she went to the gym and had a trainer it didn't do any good, so she had a tummy tuck. aside from the scar around her lower body her stomach looks great. She was only 19 then. She's 22 now and has never regretted having it done, but she has put on about 15-20#s and is mad at herself. I've started to ramble so I'm gonna let you go and wish you luck on the weight loss. later, Joanie ) I won't even go into how my body looks, but I'll take the sagging skin instead of the fat anyday. But I'm 54 yrs old and happily married to a wonderful man who loved me at 240#s. :eek: In fact he married me while I was at my heaviest. A little saggy skin doesn't bother him. Thank God, since I can't afford plastic surgery. haha!

Hi all, Been a while since I've been on...Well, I have my 2nd appt. with my new surgeon (my other one was too far away) and I don't think I've lost anything in the 3 mos. since I saw him last. I was really praying I would lose my last 15 or so lbs. and wouldn't need another fill, but...I seem to have all his criteria for requiring a fill...I'm hungry(all the time), I'm able to eat more than I should(unless I eat wrong, in which case it gets stuck) and I am looking for food and snacking all day. I guess I should be glad I've just been bouncing between 145 and 148 and haven't gained. Anyway, I have my appt at 10am this tuesday (the 26th) and I am gonna ask for a fill. I'm so tired of being the same weight for soooo very long, especially when I'm so close to my goal weight. I guess I've vented enough....thanx for listening! Joanie

Hi Maggie, :thumbup: Whatever problems I've had with my band has been minor and was brought on by my own stupidity. I still, after 2 yrs., sometimes forget to eat slower and take small bites, which will lead me to get sick or have some pain for a while until it goes down. I love my band, and would recommend it to anyone who needs to lose alot of weight. I wish you the best and hope you get your date soon. Keep in touch! Joanie :thumbs_up:)

I'm sure you can get your surgerys done together, or at least one after the other. My surgeon only took about 1/2 hr per pt. and did about 20 of us the same morning. I guess not all surgeons do it like that, but mine did. Good luck to both of you, I totally understand about being a dieter but not keeping it off. later, Joanie :eek:)

Here it is, and it does work...check it out! Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

Welcome to the site and to our 50's thread. I wanted to let you know you are not alone. I have to have a cup of hot tea first thing in the morning before my protien shake or it won't go down very well. 22 lbs sounds about right...you are doing well. Sorry about your first fill being too much. Keep up the good work.

:Banane03: You go girl!!! We have to do what's right for us, and hopefully he'll come around and be happy for your choice. I think I'm gonna put in an ad, like you did, for someone here in Beeville to work out with. Wish me luck!! Joanie :Banane11:)

:Banane06: Whoop!!! Way to go at the gym!!! :Banane02::hurray::Banane22::thumbsup::Banane03::Banane11: Joanie :Banane08:)

Thanx for the nice words and Beeville is about 60miles north of Corpus Christi and 2 hrs south of San Antonio. I'll be here for you if only in writings. haha! Good luck! Joanie :cool2:)

Wish I lived closer, I would love to be there for you. Years ago, when I was married to my ex, I wanted to try medifast and he said we couldn't afford it. I did it anyway, on my own by pawning my own stuff and I lost 80 lbs. He would never even acknowledge the weight loss. Nothing, no "I'm proud of you" or "lookin' Good" I'll never forget that. Unfortunately I put the weight back on over several years and we divorced. Long story longer, I met the wonderful man I am married to now and he has supported me with the lapband decision, although I was 240 when we married so I know my weigh was never an issue with him. Back to you, sorry...I got carried away, huh? Anyway, sounds like your on the right track. I love my lapband. You don't sound like you're in too bad a shape. I'm only 5 ft tall and weighed 240 lbs when I got mine. Of course I'm still only 5 ft. :frown: Hang in there and I hope you find a buddy close to home! later, Joanie )

:frown:I'm not going to afford it afterall. It looks like a great experience, though. I'll keep it in mind, but I doubt we can swing it. later, Joanie (

I loved the info you gave and even went to the webpage and copied it to my favs so I can read it better soon. Thanx, Joanie :embaressed_smile:)