lindata

Close, you don't know who Jillian is?!?!? You are watching waaayy too little TV, girl!! She's one of the trainers on the biggest loser and is mega-toned. Lizzie, the pic of your friend is exactly how I would like to look - except a mid-30's version so I'll probably be way more "droopy" than her. I know I can do it too, because once upon a time I did look like that. Curves in all the right places! sigh ...

You all look so great! Lizzie - you're like an entirely different person. I never would have recognized you. Beautiful - before AND after. Linda

Everyone says how easy junk food goes down. I've got a reaaaallly stupid question. If I eat "good" food I can only eat the amount I'm technically supposed to eat - like 1/4 to 1/2 cup or so. BUT if I eat junk food, I can eat waaaay more volume. Anyone experience this? Is this what is meant by junk food goes down easy?

Oh wow, I didn't think of it that way. I've lost my 3 year old son in weight!

So do you want to look like Jillian or more like the Apple lady at the top? I don't have any huge aspirations, just want to look "normal". I want to blend in. I don't care if I have a bit of cellulite on my legs or butt - like every other woman on earth. I'm not into huuuge muscles but I'd like to be somewhat toned. I'll definitely show off my curves though - unlike Apple lady at the top. What's your goal look? Are you reaching for the "Iron man" look or to be a certain size or a certain weight? How will you know when you've reached your goal?

Here's something just come to my e-mail box today from a natural news e-letter I get - I think it's naturalnews.com. Anybody wanna try? 1 Out of Every 3 Women Will Lose hair When a woman begins losing her hair, it is usually due to a condition known as androgenetic alopecia. The result of this form of hair loss is a thinning of the hair in the top, and front areas of the head. Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary and can be inherited from either side of the family. It is estimated that about 33% of postmenopausal women experience hair loss that can be contributed to androgenetic alopecia. Additional causes of hair loss in women include, stress, birth control pills, and hormone imbalance. Though distressing, hair loss due to these causes normally only lasts about a year. After giving birth, a woman may also experience some hair loss, and a number of women are extremely shocked when it occurs, but can take comfort in knowing that it is not usually permanent. Permanent hair loss can occur if the hair follicle dies, but if the hair follicle is in a dormant state, there is still hope to stop, and possibly even reverse hair loss. Fortunately there is a way to combat hair loss. Incredible Discovery: A Natural Nutrient Can Stop or Even Reverse Hair Loss Research has shown that by applying a tissue nutrient such as Emu oil, the tissue becomes healthier and more lively. In addition to restoring health to tissue, the regular use of Emu oil has shown to bring up to 80% of the hair follicles out of their doormat state. This allows for additional hair growth, and not only that, the hair is healthier. For hair loss in women, it is recommended that a small amount of Emu oil be massaged into the scalp about three times daily. At least twice a week, a heavy application of Emu oil should be applied and kept on the scalp for approximately 20 minutes, before washing the hair with a very mild shampoo. With regular use of Emu oil, there should be noticeable re-growth within 1 – 3 months. The best part about using Emu oil to fight baldness is that it is a completely natural alternative to some of the more expensive and intrusive treatments available today.

Hey Foofy gal. I've been an on again off again kind of exerciser. When I'm off I eat badly and, duh, don't lose any weight! Imagine that, eh? haha. I'll tell you what does work for me though. I have to do some kind of "harder" workout like a DVD or running for about an hour pretty much every day, and then if I do additional stuff like walking for an hour daily, that tends to be what it takes for me to lose weight - like a pound a week. When I'm active like that I also try to do more "extra" stuff like dancing to salsa with my kid or jumping on the trampoline with him. In other words, I'm consciously moving all the time instead of being a couch potato like I am right now! I'm getting to the point where I know I'm going to have to start that up again because the weightloss is stalling big time.

Hollyberries, I'm in the same boat. It's going to fall out with a trauma - surgery. It WILL grow in again - but it may take a while - like say 3-6 months from now. That's what I noticed when I moved. My hair started thinning and then 3-6 months from the day I noticed it thinning is when I started seeing little hairs growing back again. It will come back! But it sucks now, eh? You could go to the hairdresser and ask her to use those fancy schmancy scissors that cut some of the hairs out but leave others - the ones for making your hair stick up higher. Hmm, I'm not sure what they're called. It's used for height up top and it helps me in my thinner spots. It cuts like one hair out of every ten or something like that and they use them right near the scalp. It makes your hair seem thicker because there's more height. Make sense? I'm not sure I'm making sense.

I was sure I was going to die of a heart attack at 34 years old due to my eating habits. I was a junk foodaholic. I knew if I didn't do something I was going to die early. I wasn't terribly overweight, but my weight kept creeping up, not down. My s-i-l had amazing results, so I decided to get banded. Since being banded I feel like I don't stick out as much when I'm in a group with other women. I just noticed today my four-pack rolls on my back are down to a small two-pack. I have way more energy. I feel like I can finally conquer my weight - no diet ever made me feel that way. I feel hopeful about my future instead of depressed.

Cindy, I think it's terrible that your doc is wanting an account of what you eat. I got this band so I could eat normal foods but just not as much of it. It's not fair to go through life not eating certain things. I got the band so I wouldn't have to follow a specific diet. Yes, I'll definitely eat less - the key for me - but I'm still going to eat. Healthier is definitely better, of course, but I don't think it's fair for them to impose a diet on you. If diets worked, we wouldn't be here. Anyway, I'm not bashing on you, but taking out my frustration on your doc!

Yeah, I missed that Oprah, darn it all! Hmm, a tapeworm. Interesting. It might have been. She did say that she had always felt something in her stomach and then after a week on the cleanse this feeling stopped. I think she's so grossed out by the whole subject herself that she doesn't really want to even think about it too much. But it could have been this tapeworm dying ... More food for thought

Hey Lizzie. It sounds like you're finally there. I am not! I'm still very confused and not sure what's going on with my stomach. I think I need a slight fill and then see where I'm at. I'm glad you're doing so well. You sound so positive!

Yes, Cindy, this is EXACTLY how I feel!!! I feel the same frustration as you about getting stuck, yet still being able to eat too much, and having to diet through all this instead of being properly restricted. Where is that full feeling I'm supposed to have? I'm so confused.

Delo, thank you for not being "one of them"!!! And HUGE congrats on your success!!! I was just at a tea the other day where all the women were saying how big they were and moaning and groaning and saying how tight their jeans were. It makes me so angry when I'M sitting across from all of them. I feel like screaming at them "How can you say that when you can see how much bigger I am than you?" They didn't even have 20-30 to lose - I'm talking like 5-10, if that. I think it's incredibly rude and maybe even a little bitchy - like unconsciously one-upping me. You know how bitchy women can be ...

So in other words if you're already pooping 2x/day then you can forego the cleanse? Btw, my best friend, who I would trust with my own life, is currently on one of these cleanses. Now, she doesn't like to look at her own turds but she said she took a peek the other day and saw what looked like a dead, curled up worm. I asked how big it was and she said it was like an earthworm. The cleanse she's on states that it will get rid of any worms in the intestinal tract. So what say you to this?

Hollyberries, I think you and me are at the same point in our bandster life. For a week after my last fill I would slime once a day because I ate something a little too hard and not chewed quite well enough. Now it seems as though the fill has "loosened up" a little and things are going down a bit easier. I've found having a bit to drink before I eat makes things go down easier too - it kind of lubricates things. I'm having the same conundrum about getting another fill too. It seems as though I'm chewing as much as humanly possible, without which I would get stuck, and yet I can still eat way too much. So in other words, the fill is tight enough to make me slime if I don't chew enough, but not tight enough to give me satiety. I'm not getting the physical restriction that should be there with a proper fill. Any thoughts, fellow bandsters? Linda

Hey Lizzie, just wondering how you're doing now. After you had to "go backwards" were you able to get more fill again or are you sticking with the unfill? I had my first sliming experience with my last fill. I'd have to spit up everything into a cup (didn't actually puke, but couldn't swallow spit without it hurting) for about half an hour almost every day for a week. It must have been swelling, because a week later it feels fine.

Hey girl, I can totally relate! The biggest thing that has helped me was to exercise - even just walking, on a daily basis. If I would do that, I wouldn't get depressed. If I didn't, I would get depressed - and still do. And it's so easy to stop for one day, but then it turns into two and then a few months roll by without exercise and in the meantime you're eating badly because you just don't care anymore! Does that sound familiar? I've tried meds in the past, but they didn't seem to work. The only thing that has ever helped me was daily exercise. I also agree with Steph. I'm the same way with what I eat affecting my mood. I did the Atkins diet a few times and never felt better on it, but it was a "diet" and it got old like other diets and I stopped. But I don't eat nearly the amount of carbs that I used to years ago and the less carbs I eat, the better I feel. Hang in there. Know you're not the only one going through this! Linda

This is terrible! I'm signing it right now gadgetlady

Georgia Girl - what a great idea! I have problems sleeping too. It takes forever to get to sleep. I went to see a hypnotherapist (about weightloss), and I would listen to the CD she made for me (her voice with relaxing music in the background) and I would fall asleep listening to it. So even though the hypnosis wasn't for weightloss, it was so soothing it really helped me fall asleep. I've always had sleep problems since I was little, so this was huge for me. How about a hot toddy or soothing tea before bed? A warm bath with epsom salts? I've heard stimulating activities like being on the computer or watching TV is bad for getting to sleep. She could read in bed for a few minutes to relax. This may be a little too "out there" for you, but have you tried reducing the amount of indoor air pollution? If you research this, it may help - but it would be a bit of an investment. Basically anything that has chemicals in it would have to go - treated carpet (change to hardwood, bamboo, etc, with throw rugs that can be washed), change the mattress (which has all kinds of chemicals for flame retardents) to a natural rubber latex or wool, use bedding that has not been treated with flame retardents (get untreated cotton or organic cotton), take out any pressboard furniture and replace with real wood (pressboard has a LOT of chemicals in it), etc, etc. Drugs are great in the short-term, but long-term health should be thought of as well.

Longhorn, I just read your news. I'm sending you big, huge hugs. Can you feel them? I'm also wearing a pair of extra large cowboy boots. Count me in on the team stomp. Positive thoughts are coming your way. I know we've never met face to face, but I know from this board what a great person you are. I love ya, girl! Keep posting, keep positive, use your cowboy boot mental imagery. Linda

Well, I've finally had my first (second, and third) sliming episodes. I've never been restricted and was getting quite lax on the chew, chew, chew routine. I could basically eat like pre-surgery. So when I got this fill I wasn't as careful as I should have been and it's been tough lessons learned. The first slime episode - too much food at once. The second slime episode - didn't quite chew the last bite enough The third - swallowed just a tad too much without waiting long enough between bites. So I'm learning, and next time I'm going to follow the rules - tiny bites, chew, chew, chew, swallow and wait. I now understand why it will take me 45 minutes to finish 1/4 cup meal of food. I couldn't understand that before. I wish I had this restriction right after surgery when I was following these "rules" because now I'm having to relearn these lapband habits all over again.

Denise - I like your suggestion of having a "real" LBTer on there - like a before and after or something. That lady at the top has been bugging me too. It seems like a WW ad - and I get bad vibes when I see a WW ad on TV (or any other weightloss ad for that matter) Linda

Yes, this is what I was referring to. That's what they were advertising it did. Okay, I'm sold. I believe y'all. :shades_smile:

UPDATE: Great news! I told my doc about the 90 day thing and he said okay, I'll talk to Kay about it (crazy billing lady). Then I said well, actually, there's one more thing - and told him about the $53 office visit and how I was told $175 was going to be the charge. He said we'll take care of that. My doc is great! I didn't have to do any pissing contests like I did with crazy billing lady. He just understood right away what I was getting at and said he didn't want to make me unhappy (paraphrasing) and that I won't be charged the office visit from now on. He left the office and the nurse was there and he told her, "We've got to change this," this being the way they advertise their fees. She said okay and that was that. I feel so much better. It's great to stand up for yourself. I never thought I'd actually get anything out of it money-wise either. I think us "fatties" sometimes have a hard time doing this too - standing up for ourselves - and it feels great to learn these skills.