steph_co

Because if I follow my nutritionist's guidelines to a T - protein first, then veggies, then if it'll FIT whole grains - I am low carbing, anyway. We have so little room for quality food. Protein is most important for us. Besides that, I've also read of people having problems with bread going through the band. And any processed sugars/flour isn't good for anybody, period. I agree, though, that moderation should be key. I do usually get my protein first, but sometimes when it's a meal like chili, protein is mixed in with the veggies so they get an equal shot.

The video of the transcript: Exclusive: The Cruise Indoctrination Video Scientology Tried To Suppress Can you say muy loco? He's a fruit cake. He sure cracks himself up, though. Good for him. I got an image in my mind of him in a straight jacket laughing like he did on the video...he'll end up in that jacket soon enough if he truly ever does pull off the road to interfere with rescue measures in an accident. Maybe somebody should tell him not to go 80+mph down an incredibly curvy mountain road that is 50mph...that causes accidents. Just know this - he has a private jet that he rides into Telluride and I'll just say that the local law enforcement is NOT impressed with him.

I was a self-pay. No serious health co-morbidities. I claimed infertility, plantar fasciitis, spider veins, and depression. But quite honestly, they didn't impact my life all THAT much - I could have just dealt with them. But why should I? I'd rather feel normal and at 100%, not just "good enough." But I also knew that diabetes was on the way because I was dealing with hypoglycemia which can definitely be a pre-cursor to diabetes especially in those that have a family history of diabetes. I was scared nearly everyday when I was eating terribly that the next day I would wake up diabetic. I got pregnant in July last year and was so scared I would end up with gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. I ended up miscarrying which ended up being a blessing in disguise because it spurred me on to finally DO something about my weight instead of living with the feeling of impending doom. I also want to say something about "normal" eating. I'd sure like to know who the heck defines "normal" eating such that I keep hearing that banded people don't eat "normal" anymore once they've had the surgery. I sure don't think it was normal to be able to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's or a whole bunch of oreos or other similar life-shortening food. Nor do I think it's normal to be able to pound down about 3 cups' worth of food to the point that I felt like I was going to burst. Once I'm down to my goal weight, I'll be able to eat more like a "normal" person rather than being on a restricted calorie diet that I am using to LOSE the weight. Once I hit maintenance, I can balance what I eat with how much I exercise. That is a whole heck of a lot more normal to me than being able to go to a buffet and get every imaginable form of carbs I could find and eating until I felt sick. I'm still experimenting with foods since my most recent fill, so I'm not sure if there's anything I won't be able to tolerate. But just before that fill, I could eat anything. I think that level of restriction that I WAS at will be ideal for me in maintenance because while I was able to eat any variety, I was NOT able to overdo it on quantity. But isn't that how most normal weight people are? They CAN eat anything, but do it in moderation. Sounds normal to me.

Make a list of things that you can do to fill your time. If they require materials, get those ahead of time. You can make a box full of things to do. Like reading, crocheting, knitting, puzzles, etc. Is there something you've always wanted to try? Like maybe playing the guitar or doing origami (two that I chose to keep on hand for "bored" times). Make a list ahead of time and make sure you're prepared to be able to do anything on that list. Then when you're bored, pull out the list and pick something. You could try online games if you're into that. Come chat on LBT. Pick a movie to watch on TV (no commercials...less temptation to eat). Write a letter to somebody. Hubby or boyfriend? Think up something romantic to do for your honey. Go take a bath with some candles lit and soft music playing. Find other ways to indulge yourself. Good luck!

For some people it can, I have read on here of people going in for a port conversion to a low-profile port. I think I've read those type of threads in the plastic surgery forum. Usually in conjunction with TTs or LBLs.

I count my protein shakes in my water intake.

Sounds like your surgeon's instructions are to start mushies at 4 weeks, so it sounds like to me, you are good to go.

EXACTLY how I felt.

NICE, LH! That is really awesome. I have some clothes in the closet that I need to get to trying on, but I'm scared of the disappointment. *sigh* Maybe I better get in there. That's really exciting about the skirt! WTG on the size 16, too! I LOVE going down in sizes. I think it feels even better than the scale, IMO.

There's only a couple things I can think of. First off, your body may be getting used to the same amount of calories every day and adjusting your metabolism accordingly. Try upping your caloric intake for a day or two and then cut back down to regular. That usually kicks my weight loss in the rear big time. Another thing - doing weight training, it's possible you are gaining MUSCLE and not fat. Have you measured yourself at all? Are your clothes getting looser? It may be possible that your heart isn't getting enough of a workout with the cardio portion of your workout (making it harder to burn fat at the same time you are building that muscle). Try switching things up and doing a different kind of cardio (like stairs instead of run/walking). The body is a fascinating and sometimes very frustrating thing. It will do all it can to hold onto its fat stores just in case a famine comes along. It's a survival thing. You kind of have to surprise it and do something different and it can startle it and catch it off guard so the pounds can keep coming off. Good luck!

You'll get back to it soon enough. At least now I know what everybody was talking about! I was starting to lose hope that I'd ever get this feeling! WB BankChick. That's great to hear you are feeling it, too. I wish I had felt it at around 4. But it took me until 6.5 to feel it. WTG on the loss! You are burning it up! Keep up the good work!

Do a search for the member CoffeeWench. She was part of the FDA trials, has done great with her band and says she'd do it again. I know there are others around here that have had the band quite awhile, but she's the longest in years that I can think of.

1. Not yet. But then, I've only had 2 of them since being banded. But they were both right on time (even though the first one was right after my surgery when I would have ovulated on or around the day of surgery) and not much different as far as pain. 2. Kind of. The reason I say that is because it's not so much a physical drive as it is that I just LIKE being naked more with DH and feeling his skin on mine.

Gees. This thread makes me want to cry. But you know - it's stories like these that have scared me into staying away from doctors. But I haven't had a single doctor tell me I was too heavy...at least nothing I can remember. And yes - I looked fat at 233 and my heaviest, 240. I've stayed away from getting a gyno check up for 4 years because I didn't want to get a comment about my weight - I already knew I was heavy and my mental state couldn't have handled it. When I got pregnant, I was TERRIFIED to make an OB appointment because I didn't want a snide comment. The OB turned out to be this incredibly skinny lady and I thought for sure she'd say something...she never did. I wish doctors could be educated on sensitivity when it comes to this because it's not like people don't KNOW they are overweight. It's the bad ones that ruin it for everybody. I'm REALLY glad I never ran into this bias because I seriously probably would have burst into tears. I don't like getting comments about being fat.

* what were all the costs involved? Was the initial amount given to you the full amount or are there hidden costs that I need to be taking into consideration My cost was $10,850 and included the pre-op visits with nutritionist, social worker, surgeon, NP, the surgery, the surgical center costs, anesthesiologist, aftercare and fills for 3 months post-op. No hidden costs. Oh, I did have a blood draw that I paid for on my own but that wasn't done through their office. I want to say that was less than $100. * if your BMI was between 35 to 40, does the center you went to still require you to have a comobidity to go along with your lower ranged BMI (I have a BMI of 36 or so and I'm not sure I have any comobidities - I will need to do a sleep apnea test and I know I have a higher range on blood pressure, but it's never been diagnosed (I have med records that show all my bp ranges, I'm sure). I was just under 37 BMI. I didn't have any major medical co-morbidities, but more like nuisances... infertility (not proven that the weight was to blame, but heck, why not count it), aching joints, spider veins, plantar fasciitis. I think those are all of them. Oh, I think they also count depression and then there's also obesity-related hypoxia (haha...fancy word meaning you get winded doing physical activity...I did...going up stairs). Any kind of physical complaint you may have that you can blame on your weight...COUNT IT. * is there anything esle I need to be researching as for as self pay people go? I feel like I have researched and researched, but could still be missing something.... Erm...the only thing I can think of is going into the FAQs section and they have questions you can ask your surgeon. Make sure your surgeon is part of a Center of Excellence. Oh, I did find a doctor who normally charges $12,500 but is running a "special" (I know that sounds bad, huh) of $9,500 thru 2/29. I thought that was a great deal being as that's lower then anywhere I have researched yet! That is an excellent deal. My surgeon used to charge $10,850, but recently lowered it to $9,900.

I'm not in law enforcement. I'm a lowly rent-a-cop security officer. :hurray: LOL But I have looked into law enforcement for quite awhile even before the band. I even saw this as an opportunity now as I'm getting smaller and don't feel like I'd be snickered at for asking if I could go on a ride-along. Our company works at the courthouse in our county and I know several of the detentions officers there. Good luck with everything! I hope you get your wish!

I have to 100% agree with Wheetsin on this one: He definitely needs to decide what's more important, his pride or his life. As to the "weak" comment. I'm moving around a whole heck of a lot more now since the surgery than I was before and I feel fantastic. I'm eating A LOT less than I used to before surgery, too. I had issues with hypoglycemia before the surgery. Meaning that I could eat and less than 2 hours later, I could be falling down and feeling like I hadn't eaten in ages. I don't experience anywhere near the degree of hypoglycemia that I used to. Part of that may have to do with eating more quality foods than I was before, but also not having the hunger signals helps. And really, is he so athletic right now that trying to lose some lbs by eating less is going to dent his routine? By losing weight, it'll be SO much easier to move around and he'll actually LIKE moving around more.

I really, really, really hope this lasts. This certainly feels like restriction. I made myself 2 deviled eggs when I got up for work yesterday. It took about 45 minutes to eat them, I had to chew, chew, chew and wait between bites. Even then, if I swallowed anything bigger than a pea, it HURT. So I got full on my two eggs at 5:15pm and seriously wasn't even hungry until after 9pm. That was NICE. I started getting a little weak just because I do so much walking. But I got my Slim Fast in at 10 and everything is hunky-dory. I just realized I drank that 2 hours ago and I don't even feel hungry right now. OMG, if this lasts, I am in HEAVEN. Because if eating is as much of a chore long term as it has been just for the eggs I ate yesterday, then I am SET to break this dang addiction.

*cough*PLAYER*cough**cough*

I can only hope and pray. And I'm agnostic.

She tried to add 2 cc for my first fill. Every doctor varies. You should just ask your doc what they start out with when they put the band in and then what they usually add on the first fill. As for advice...hum. Can't think of anything, really. Practice relaxation techniques. :frown:

Name.......................Start.....................Current.......... ......To Go 1. TxArcher..................360.......................353............... ......8 2. Momto1plus1.............241.......................237................. ....8(229) 3. Hungryforchange......227.5....................219.5..................4 .5 (total lost 8 pounds) 4. Steph....................203.5.....................192.5..................4 (188.5 goal)

Being aggressive on fills CAN cause complications. Before anybody jumps on me, I said "CAN," not WILL. I think that's why some surgeons are more conservative. If they had possibly been aggressive to begin with, ended up having problems, they may have changed their method. I had 3 cc in when I got the band installed. For my first fill she tried putting in 2 cc and I couldn't get Water to go down, so she took out .5 cc to bring me to 4.5 cc. I COULDN'T have had any more than that amount then. My band loosened, I was then able to have 2 more cc put in on my fill yesterday. I'm now at 6.5 cc. Sometimes you need to let your body adjust to this band thing - it is a foreign object, you know. It's good to be gentle with your body in this process. It's doing a lot of work for us.

That's exactly what I thought. That's why it was the first thing I did after LapBand...it was the next most noticeable physical trait that I don't like that I could pretty easily fix. I had the Intralase. Best laser in the country. :frown:

Dang. Got 2 cc of fill today on top of my 4.5 already in there. So up to 6.5 cc. I could feel (and HEAR!) the Water gurgling through right after the fill. I'm on liquids for 2 days, so I started a Slim-Fast shake when I got home. I took my Vitamins while I was drinking the Slim Fast. YEOUCH. I thought for sure I was going to PB them. It hurt. And they weren't even big vitamins. I'm taking supplements to hopefully help my skin as I lose weight and they're capsules. It took me nearly an hour to finish my Slim Fast after that. Gees. This might just be restriction! Goodness, I hope so. That would so rock. I have lost a lot of weight and the NP asked how I've done it without restriction and I told her "will power." It's true - that's what this has been. BUT, the weight is at least a tad bit harder to regain when I slip, now. It'll be so nice to be able to lose weight with the assistance I PAID for over two months ago. LOL