vinesqueen

if you are having trouble with your band, your insurance should cover it. Doesn't matter that it didn't cover it to begin with, it should cover it now because you are having trouble with it now. I sure wish I had something better to offer you sweetie!

your band does not work without a fill. A very few lucky people have a feeling of restriction from the get go, but they are rare indeed. Of course you are hungry right now, it's like you weren't banded at ll Relax, you will get your fill soon. Don't go crazy of course, but don't beat yourself up for not feeling satisified on what never satisified you before.

Hi Megan, I think you answered your question yourself! Stop drinking with your meals and skip the fill. You can always make another apointment, right? Yes, I know it will be a while before you can get in again, but do you are already fairly restricted. Do you want to have to get an unfill? When was the last time you had your body fat percentage measured?

This is not a diet! This is your life, there is no cheating in your life! Do you really want to live in a world where there is no ice cream? No, you obviously don't, and neither do I, since ice cream = love. (I know, I'm twisted, thanks Daddy!) Now, you know that 5 scoops is waaaay to many scoops, like 4 too many. Please listen to what Renebean said, you might find that more helpful. Some of us are paragons of virture, never need to look at ice cream, Cookies, pizza, cheetos, beer, you name it. Others of us are more... human. I strive to be a paragon of virture, but I realize that I'm human. I never beat myself up over what I have or have not eaten. I have more than enough stress in my life without needing to add to it by stressing about food. Now, I'm late for my marketing exam, talk about stress!

Is it possible for us to get this made Sticky so other slow losers can easily find it? I think this is too important to fall off the radar. It is so hard for some of us Turtles to only see the results that the Rabbits have. We start to feel like we've done something wrong, even though we have followed all the stupid bandster rules to the letter, and yet we still don't lose weight. We get discouraged and stop trying because the Band is obviously working so well for everyone else (oh look at me! I lost 8,000 pounds in 5 weeks!, or worse yet, "I've only managed to lose 8,000 pounds in 5 weeks, what am I doing wrong?") and we manage to lose .000008 pounds in 5 months. We need to have this a sticky so that we know that there are others who are being the best little bandsters in the world, model bandsters, but we can't manage to lose that 1-2 pounds a week like we were promised. Hell, sometimes we can't even lose 1-2 pounds a month! We need the encouragement to update our NSV lists and to be reminded that there are other measures of success beyond the scale of pounds and kilograms. So, can we make this thread Sticky so it doesn't disapear?

one other think to keep in mind is that while the scale may not be moving, are you losing inches? Are you gaining muscle pounds in exchange for fat pounds? Are you tracking your NSVs? Baby, I know it is very hard be where you are, becuse that is where I've been since May. Please check out our slow loosers thread. I think it helps to know that you are not alone in this. http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10174&page=5

Oh Brunswick22, please be kind to yourself! The Band is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. Thre is no cheating in a lifestyle, it isn't possible, cause it's a lifestyle and not a diet! It's about learning to make healthy choices for yourself, 80% of the time. Do you really want to live in a world where there is no pizza? A slice of large pizza has about 370 calories, and that's for a Pizza Hut supreme. (I know way too much about counting calories ) So, the salad and pizza had what, 500? 600 calories? For your main meal? This can fit nicely in a 1200 calorie diet. All the lit does say to keep to a 1200 calorie diet for a Safe and Healthy loss. And if you have an occasional 1500 or 1600 day, big fat hair deal. I was very strict about keeping to 1200 more or less. The scales didn't budge for ever. I had a couple of days where I jumped up to 1500-1600 calories and the next week I lost a pound. The point I"m trying to get is that you have to be kind to yourself. Trying to be perfect all the time will get you perfect none of the time. It's not an either/or situation, it's an everything deal. Shoot for the 80% good, and give yourself permission to be human, it's a lot easier that way. Cheers and like Capt'n Jack says, COURAGE!

Congrats on a job well done! You've done great work and aren't NSVs just the best?

Hi Maggie, my thoughts are still forming on this, but like I said, I feel like there is something important in what you've posted. I know that you are currently in a very hard place. You are living with your mother, and you find that situation very, very difficult, since she isn't supporting you in the way you feel you need. Trust me when I say I understand financial hardship, and I understand not being able to make it on one's own. Have you been able to continue your education? Education is the best way out of financial harships in the long term. You also said that you felt that you would take a hand-full of pills if not for your darling son who rightfully needs you. Maggie, Sunshine, you are not ugly. You deserve only the best this universe has to offer. You are worthy of being loved, not only by your son, but by the man who loves you. But most importantly, you are worthy of being loved by you. You said you are not depressed, but suicidal thoughts and ideation are halmarks of being deeply depressed. Please please please seek trained councelors who can help you through this dark period. You have not posted your size, at least not that I've seen it. Not that that matters. I understand that tiny little size 2 women can be just as devistated by their size as women who are a size 30 and beyond. Maybe even more so. I've watched the young women in my PE classes stress over bellies that are invisible to me, but that doesn't mean that their pain is any less than someone who has a 60 inch waist-line. Please do not put off happines because you do not weigh 150 pounds. Do not postpone your life, because you deserve the best, you deserve to be loved by you. Please, please, please find a professional councelor who can help you with your body image. With your feelings of not being pretty enough, with your low self esteme.

I wasn't successful. I gained weight between my consult and my surgery. But I was on steroids and that does it to me every time.

Perfect, PERFECT! You are doing it perfectly! If you are relying on restriction then you are using the band as a crutch and not a tool. The goal is to eat until you are satisified and still loose weight! The point of the band is not to "be restricted" the point of the band is to BE SATISFIED. I think that if we are constantly and consistantly going to the Golf Ball pain stage then we are doing something wrong. Pain is a bad thing. Okay, it's a good thing too, becuase the purpose of pain is to let us know we've GONE TOO FAR. Congrats for figuring out what I have not yet learned!

okay, I have to say that I find the need and obsession to remove secondary sexual charictaristcis disturbing and more than a little creepy. A hairless vulva looks like a childs's vulva, a little girl's vulva and not that of a mature woman who is physically and emotionally ready to handle sex. this obsession with requiring men to shave or wax their backs and chests turn them into adolecent boys or unics, who again, are physically and emotionally not prepaired for an adult relationship. Personally, I was a virile he-man with rich chest hair to run my fingers through.

yup, sounds like you are too tight. You may find that you have difficulties with meat-- roasted beef and chicken can be really difficult for me, if I'm not careful. Ground meats are easier for me. You might try something with the consistancy of taco meat, and always, make sure you have some good sauce handy. Just make sure that you are not using really high calorie stuff--some BBQ sauce has almost 100 calories per serving! Contrast this with the la victoria brand taco sause with 5 calories and no added sugar!

oh no, I'm never had much in the way of body hair at all. I believe when I was working out 20 hours a week I had awesome circulation! I believe it's because I have Native American blood lines. My older sister and mother don't have much, nor does her mother. so how do ya'll deal with the ingrown hair???? I don't shave anywhere because of the ingrown hair. Well, that and because I don't have to. I'm with you <3 Kare! They either found me au natural, or they weren't for me!

First off, no butt kicking for you! I wouldn't even worry about telling your current insurance that you have has WLS. You have a pre-existing condition, and unless you let your coverage laps, you should still be covered. You've done supper since you haven't had any fills in the last year. You should be proud of what you've done. And if your sugeon yell at you, simply remind him that he or she works for you, not the other way around

that sounds like Jessie alright!

well, if you were not nervous, you probably aren't human, that or you are lieing! We really don't think you are lieing, since I think everybody was a complete wreck before their date ... Hugs, and you will be just fine. And yes, none of us are going to tell you to get any other procedure We are funny that way!

I can't for the life of me imagine why I would need to shave. But I have practicially no body hair to speak of. I waxed my legs before the vegas trip, but you still cant' see any hair on my legs, and I'm a brunet.

what did you take before, and why are you not taking it now? when I have a killer head cold, nyquel is my drug of choice. The occasional OTC drug is not going to damage your pouch, especially if you wash it down with a big glass of water or hot tea.

congrats to both of you!

I like the "poke 'em in the eye" approch too, but unfortunately, two rudes don't make a polite. Just because someone else doesn't use social graces doesn't mean I have to stoop to their level. Or should for that matter. I understand that no-one like the food police. No one. But I think that many people do this out of genuine concern for our well being. Of course, there will always be busy-bodies who think it is their duty to monitor what other poeple eat or buy. When I was on food stamps, complete strangers would think they had the right to go through my cart and remove food items. One person actaully went to far as to remove all the meat from my cart because they didn't think I needed to be eating such luxury items. Mind you, this happened to me more than once too.

Tell these well meaning busy-body types that yes, indeed you are permitted an occasional treat, potato, thing... being short with them won't help, they will just get offended and their feelings hurt because they "are only trying to be supportive." Smile, pat their hand and thank them for their support. the nominal lead for our group questioned my choice of having a candy bar one afternoon (I had a snickers bar). I told him that it was my first candy bar in weeks, and that I probably wouldn't have another one for a couple of weeks. All the truth mind you. He harumphed but I didn't care.

bumping because I want to.

I don't know what it is, or why it is important. That's why I have to think about it.

.... since I'm a girl type person, I don't believe I've ever seen my it parts without either minor or major gynastics. (and yes, I spelled it that way on purpose.) I believe I caught a fleeting sight of the carpet a long long time ago, and then I had to shift ... well, the twins were in the way.