steph_co

Oh...I actually came to this thread to add one more thing. ActiTrainer has SUPER customer service. I was a little irked because I went in to try and use the sleep tracker. Well, my problem is that I sleep during the day because I work at night. Whenever I tried to put in my info, it gave me an error and wouldn't go in. I just figured, "Ugh! What a rip-off." I wrote them an email asking why they don't allow night-people to sleep during the day and track it. I've been working with a lady from ActiTrainer so they can figure out what the problem is and fix it. In the meantime, she offered to extend my free 15-day subscription until the issue is resolved. I thought that was awfully nice. So if you have a problem with the ActiTrainer, don't hesitate to call or email them! They could probably help you out.

I started using Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate before I got the Actitrainer, so I'm finding it hard to convert over to the online ActiTrainer meal tracking because I'm kind of stubborn. You could look for your foods there and then put them onto ActiTrainer? As for the waistband. That's because I'm sure they figure most people wear pants. LOL - I'm sorry, I'm sure that sounded really snarky - I don't mean it to be. I'm just saying that pretty much no matter what I'm wearing, I can clip it to my waistband. If the waistband is a little bit flimsy, then I wear it with the clip out and the ActiTrainer against my body. If the pants are tight, then you could get away with putting it in your pocket - just somehow that it's not going to be swinging around while you're walking. While I'm at work, my work pants are too big, so the waistband is kind of puckered by my belt...so I wear it on my belt, facing inward to my body. There are lots of ways to wear it on your waist.

These are great, guys! They get me so excited. Keep 'em coming!

It's set to be DVRed!

Oh, I forgot one. I wear 8" boots for work. Before I started this journey, if I wore thick socks, I couldn't zip the boots up all the way and I even would have a struggle with the thin socks. Now I can easily zip the boots up over my cankles even with thick socks! I love it.

I love hearing NSVs. With us all being around the same time, I can relate to a lot of it. I'll share a couple of my own... My work pants are getting too big. If I wasn't wearing an extra insulating layer underneath them, I could probably pull them off without unbuttoning. LOL I'm noticing a single chin when I smile. Yay! I tried on my REAL wedding ring yesterday and it goes on without forcing. It's not LOOSE, but I was able to slip it on. I've been wearing a silver band since I got too heavy for my ring (it made my finger hurt!). Now when I'm not at work and don't have to worry about the setting, I can wear my real wedding ring. :clap2:

Green, it's standard practice for passengers to not touch a carry-on once it is under control of TSA. It makes it difficult to control the situation if somebody's hands are all over it. If you had ever worked that job, you would understand. And with all the possible distractions, who's to say that they couldn't slip something out from under the TSA guard's glance? There are signs all over the checkpoint upon entering - you are submitting to a search of your person and property just by putting your items on the x-ray belt and walking through the magnetometer. That's not a violation of civil rights. It's called an administrative search. Now, if they had taken your undies out and flashed them around, then YES - that can be a violation of your basic civil rights and you don't have to complain after the fact, you can demand a supervisor and complain RIGHT THEN and there. They are random screenings done with the ETD (Explosives Trace Detection) machine. Because when somebody makes a bomb, that stuff is sticky. Therefore, traces of it can be left on the bag. The machine checks for a wide variety of explosives...not just gunpowder. So one little tip...don't put on a ton of hand lotion with glycerin and then grab your handbag. It's an unfortunate result of the society we live in that we have to be so careful. I'm sorry if you felt affronted by the process. I know it can be a little unnerving realizing that you (yes, you!) are being treated like a potential terrorist. But that's what everybody is that comes through those gates. Personally, I'd rather go through all the nonsense and know that my flight is safe.

That made me sick to my stomach. That is an abuse of the position. Not only that, that is sexual assault. Those two could have easily been charged and paying the price right now. I wish somebody would have reported them. Again - if something questionable is being asked of you by somebody in a uniform, ask to speak with a supervisor. What they are doing needs to be brought to light. Male TSA are to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER touch a female unless there is not a single female TSA screener in that airport, and even then, generally a supervisor must be present in case of complaints. Your story reminds me of what happened to that girl at that McDonald's when the "officer" called in and requested she be strip-searched. I want to throw up.

That's right! And nobody better try and tell me different, or I'll have to hurt them.

Consultation went great! I hate when other people touch my eyes, so that was kind of hard. LOL But the lady (nurse, medical assistant? I dunno) took all my measurements to make sure I'd be a good candidate and then passed my numbers off to the doctor. He came in with the biggest grin (this isn't my surgeon...my surgeon is actually based in Denver and comes out once a month to Glenwood Springs to do the surgeries). He said my numbers were awesome. He said, "It's even kind of fun to look at." LOL He said that if I choose to do Lasik, I have about a 95% chance of getting 20/20 or better. He said if not 20/20, then the absolute worst would be 20/25. LOL Oh, no! haha He said I'd see better than I EVER did with contacts. He was all excited about my numbers. That was reassuring. He told me a little bit more about Dr Spivack (the surgeon) and said he was in like the top 3 of the nation (yes, I know...plugging their own surgeon...but my research seems to back this claim up). I have a couple of exams between now and then. But my surgery is scheduled for January 15th! I told the lady that I need to pay it this month so that I can possibly count it in my taxes. I am so excited to be able to see soon without glasses!!

Granted, this is not about the Lap Band. It's about Lasik. I have a consult later today to see if I can get it done. I would LOVE to be able to live my life without glasses or contacts. Anybody here done it? I'm trying to see if I can get it squeezed in by the end of the year so that it will probably ALL be deductible since I've already spent so dang much this year on medical bills.

I just wanted to wish you good luck with your surgery. If you go to the monthly support forums, you have a bunch of people getting banded this month that could probably give you more insight since they're right at the same time as you. I'm sure you'll do great!

WTW - I am about 170 miles from my surgeon (3 hours). I went to my 2-week post-op appointment and drove right back the same day. So 340 miles in a day. I didn't have any issues. If you start to feel kind of cramped or uncomfortable, it's not a bad idea to pull over and get out to walk a little bit. But I didn't feel a need to and that was 2 weeks post-op. I'm 2 days shy of 3 weeks since my op and I wouldn't have a problem with a long car journey right now.

I was back to work 4 days post-op (physical job as a night security officer). Non-smoker and weight was 230 the day before op.

Of course, WABB!! Of course! Here, I'll tell ya what...give me the link to a forum that you attend that is your area of practice and I'll go be your wing-woman to provide "evidence" that you ARE the best nurse! :heh:

WTW - I was back at work 4 days post-op. Yes - VERY tired. I was moving pretty slowly. I'm trying to think when that let up. It might have been about a week or more post-op.

Early complication rate with the Lap Band procedure is 1.7% and chance of mortality is .08%. So I would say no - not very common. I am very sorry to hear that this happened to her. I know that must have been very distressing. I hope she recovers quickly.

Brenda, are you not allowed protein shakes? The only one I can stand is Slim-Fast low carb. 20 g of protein.

WTW - I had issues with port pain up until about 7-10 days out. And yes - I was taking Vicodin up until then. Of course, things were a little bit physical for me being at work, but eventually it calmed down. I felt like it was never going to go away. But it will - I promise.

Wow, Rain - that's crazy! How scary. I'm really glad you are okay and that your husband was there to help. I'd say that's an exciting NSV about the hospital food!

Lizzie - I've found that I have to measure out my food before I start eating. If I only have a cup in front of me and the rest of the food is put away out of sight, I don't have the heart to get it out and dig in to get more even if I feel hungry still. I dunno - that's just what works for me. And yes...I may only be 2 1/2 weeks out from my surgery, but I do know hunger and that urge to want more!! And this is stomach-grumbling, non-head-hunger.

That is too funny. I just read about this website last night on another forum I go to...right after I had thought knitting would be a great distraction for me. Was actually coming back here to post it! LOL

solaa - That's what I'm worried about with mine. I have no idea if he'll say "no fill" if I'm still losing. But really, I'm just eating a lot less than I used to by choice. The beginning of a diet is always the easiest and most thrilling - the weight drops right off. But I know I'm going to need that fill to keep going. If I find out he won't fill because I'm still losing, I guess I'll have to go back and eat more.

I'm doing the T-Tapp basic workout (15 mins) on my days off...which was 3 days off this last week. Then I'm just doing all my walking at work. As soon as things calm down a little, I plan to get into running and would like to do that at least 5 times a week. Elle - I did a 1-mile walk 2 days after my surgery and continued with the walking before I went back to work. Then I did a real "workout" with T-Tapp this past Monday, which was 11 days post-op. None of it has been too bad. I'm kind of antsy to get moving, actually! Trying to take it easy just because I know I'm still healing.

*sigh* Even though we're having a full conversation, I guess I have to completely pull a thought from something I just said into my next post so you don't take it out of context. I am not enforcing my will on other people by using pain. Again - we choose to control when we fail to inspire. Getting the band is the only thing that I have found so far that works for me so far. I have no idea how it will be down the road. It's not so much a fear of PAIN that is keeping me in line - I'm a comfort person. Meaning that I will not wear the nicest pair of shoes that anybody would die to have if they are not COMFORTABLE to me. But that's just me. Everybody's different. I don't believe in smacking somebody to teach them a consequence. L&L has shown me other ways to teach consequences that don't cause pain, but have a lasting effect. My mother used to spank me. Did I shape up and become her best behaved child? No. I was the worst out of all of them. I wasn't awful, but I did many behaviors repeatedly...ones that I had been punished for in that way already. It did not teach me that what I did caused the pain...it taught me to resent my mother for doing it, it taught me to do my best to not get caught. But I still continued to do whatever I wanted. :confused: In my study of L&L, I have run across similar scenarios as behavior I had done (no, I can't think of a specific example right now...it's late, I'm tired, and I'm at work) and when I heard their solution, it made me go, "Ooooo, good one!" I have never, ever thought that hitting was an effective way to get results from anybody. I wish my mom had known L&L when I was growing up - my life would have been a whole lot easier!