CandySmooch

dang I want spydr's job - being in PJ's all day and talking to men! I agree Lisa - I'd like pour some whip cream & hot fudge and just gobble your boss up! Unlike my boss who makes me want to wretch when I look at him. LOL

I am soooo right there with you!! I love Olive Garden Salad - it is the absolute bestttttttttt!!!!!! I don't have any problems with salad but can usually only choke down 1 breadstick with a plate of salad - if I dip the breadstick in some dressing and take tiny bites of it I can get it down. Sometimes I miss being able to get full on breadsticks and salad but this is the only time I wish I didn't have the band cuz just one breadstick doesn't seem to do it justice - but I am thankful in the same respect because pre-banding I would have 4-5 breadsticks and 2 big plates of salad - now I have 1 med salad since it goes down pretty easy and 1 breadstick if I'm lucky. But Olive Garden is my favorite band friendly restaurant since its so easy to choose dinner.

I understand and sympathize with your feelings of loss & loneliness. I often feel this way when reminisicing of good times in the past with good friends you are never likely to see again. I am thankful I have those memories to look back on and realize I have experienced some of life's greatest things - laughter, love and friendship. I'm turning 25 in a few weeks and its hitting me pretty hard - everyone makes fun of me and laughs at oh 25 - shut up and wait till your 40 - but that's what I'm saying - my first 25 has gone by so fast - I want it to slow down. As I'm getting older my friends keep in touch less and it takes much more effort to keep in contact until one day you realize its been way too long and then what? Someone that was so close and dear - and all you have are your good times together. Things change, life happens, and part of me hates it. My boyfriend and I get along pretty good, but I wouldn't say he is my best friend - but a really good friend - is that all I have left to look forward to? No more silly girls nights - no more staying up late partying and playing games - talking into the wee hours of the morning? For me the loss of close friends has been a part of growing older, people are busy living their own lives and it gets hard to catch up through no faults of each other. Something a high school teacher said when I was really sad to be letting go and graduating - she said at the reunions everyone you know is still the same person so when you do get together its as if time stands still. One of my very best friends who I grew up with my entire life - we lost touch 7 years ago after high school graduation and recently we found each other again through mutual friends - and to be honest it was as if no time had passed - we picked up right where we left off. I take comfort in knowing all of my friends are still my friends and the same people - I just like to look at it we just haven't caught up in awhile. I think its just a part of life. Be thankful for your wonderful husband who you wish to be with for the rest of each others lives - you'll never lose touch with him

OH VINES - please stick around and don't ever think of leaving again - if you give up then I'd probably give up. I have the same thoughts running through my head - maybe I'm just destined to be fat - even with the drastic food reduction I'm still not losing either - hence why I gave in and ate a whole hot fudge sundae tonight - why should it matter? I'm not losing it anyway? (I'm also PMS-ing) I feel your pain - you still have lost how much total now in how many months? I do see a difference in you from your pics - there is no difference in the 13lb I've lost and why should there be? 13lbs isn't much - but I am thankful for at least knowing I will never get significantly heavier as I"d have to do too much eating around the band to gain a lot of weight - maybe I am destined to be the fat girl I am - that's not so bad I guess - I just really had very high hopes of being a healthier me at at least a 60lbs loss which is what I've gained in 7 years of being out of high school. Boo hoo - I'll participate in your grief - I'm here with you my friend

The other girls who got banded with me the same day said they were told not to smoke (neither of them were smokers) but I wasn't and I did except I was careful not to let the Doctor catch me in case we really weren't supposed to be, but like I said it was never mentioned to me by anyone. I'm not a heavy smoker either - about a pack a week maybe 2.

When Jon and I go out for dinner I eat at my own pace, but I've already come to the conclusion that eating out does not equal full for me since I take so much longer. I eat about 5-10 minutes longer than him while his food settles and he pays the check. I tend not to take too long because who wants to sit there and watch someone else eat for a long time? My meals usually take at minimum 20 minutes - 30 minutes becaue I take tiny bites and chew well. He's usually done in 10 minutes - its amzaing how much you pay attention to how everyone eats soooooo fast! A good thing that works for us is getting the soup, salad & breadsticks at Olive Garden that way he has plenty of refills while I work on mine and it works very well. More solid foods take me longer to eat but I can get salad down just fine.

OK I think lovecats has earned membership - welcome to our club!! I know VINES - here I sit at 13lb loss - but keep losing and gaining the same 3-4lbs so most days I'm only at a 10lb loss after 6 months - BOO HOO! I ordered a cardio striptease video to hopefully boost something or do something! This sucks and being the holidays I want to indulge and honestly I'm PMS'ing and ate an entire hot fudge sundae tonight! I haven't had anything else yet since I figured I blew my entire calorie count for the day on it besides some yogurt I had for Breakfast. Now I'm feeling a little guilty about the sundae.................I did eat the whole thing. And now I'm looking at my mini-goal was to lose 7lbs before my birthday jan 10, but I don't know if that's going to happen - I really thought a short mini-goal would boost my moral.

Don't worry I didn't get many comments after I posted a ton of pics - thought I killed the thread too - I thought your lil guy is adorable!

Santa Clause North Pole, Earth Dear Santa, I have been a good girl. It really wasn't my fault what happened at thad's Office party. It was jon who spiked the punch with too much bloddy mary. I can't help it if I drank 67 glasses. It was so good---smelled and tasted just like musky. I thought it was funny when I put Brad's bra on my head and danced the pole on the couch while singing `3 times a lady'. I didn't mean to break thad's ipod and don't know why thad would accuse me of murder. I don't remember calling josh's wife a hot cow---even though she looked like one with blue eye shadow and pink lipstick! And when I threw up on sara's husband's boobs, it was only because I ate too much of that pizza. After all that fun, I admit I was a little tired. So I fell asleep on my way home and drove my camaro through my neighbor's basement. I don't think that was any reason for my neighbor to call me a fat dog and have me arrested for rape! So, Santa...here I sit in my jail cell on Christmas Eve, all high and large. And I'm really not to blame for any of this generic stuff. Please bring me what I want the most---bail money! Sincerely and he yours, Riccarda (Really a nice girl!) P.S. It's only 154 bucks!

VINES - you totally look hot & sexiness exudes you! I am so proud to even know someone with as much guts as you! And we are very happy to see your man on here! How exciting - hope he continues to post. Soooo tell us did you make good tips at the restuarant since you were invited back? And yes I want to see video clips too!!!

You shoulda pitched a Slumber Parties speech to him - LOL

Only you Lisa - what great life experiences you always have!!! And the pictures to prove it is even better!

I've heard great things about those Vicks Shower Soothers! I want to try one but I don't have any congestion. I tried the new Tylenol PM liquid flavored Vanilla and it wasn't too bad. Liquid cough syrup tastes like crap anyway you go and I always have to chase it with something to avoid throwing it up. The liquid meds are something I'm still getting used to - I tried some Tylenol childrens Watermelon melt aways and they were soo gross! Besides I had to eat like 10 to get the same effect of adult tylenol - I don't think it worked anyway. But I"ve found a spoon of ice cream or a hard candy should do the trick with the liquid meds if you don't like the taste - just have it ready to go!

As always Jack your thorough posts always pique my curiosity

There was no decision between Band or Bypass - Bypass was not even considered in my book - I'd rather be fat than have my insides re-arranged - its just not natural enough - also the band is completely reversible if need be - I also know a few people who have had bad complications after bypass - one even died.

i know someone who rented his house out for more than his house payments and moved back in with his parents to save the difference - took him a few years but he saved enough to get surgery!

I started the name your band thread if you want to search that for ideas. Mine is named Bambi - because it is my alter ego sexy stripper name that someday with Bambi I could achieve a decent looking body. Somone emailed me later and said that BAMBI - could stand for Band And Me Bonded Indefinately. I like it - it will come to you!

Oh and I do think the idea of a graduation ceremony is a must for any of us turtles who move on to rabbit status - I love that idea!

Ok as a member and in good faith I'm asking for a review of lovecats & carries membership - I do not believe they qualifie and they should have to re-submit their applications at the appropriate time in the future. Carrie's ticker states 31 lbs in 5 months - that's over our strict guidlines of less than 1lb per week along with lovecats who is also over the less than 1lb a week limit. Hate to be the stickler, but we are an elite group who take comfort in our security of other turtles and if we let one rabbit in then they'll all want to join. Maybe we should have a denial form of membership LOL CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss thus far you Carrie & Loves for you are RABBITS as of now - ride the wave of weight loss as long as you can and we'll be patiently waiting if you need to return Wait...what were our guidlines again? I though it was less than 1lb a week - I could be mistaken here...........

thanks for the update

With all the erosion going on with MX banded patients I did some inquiring about Sanchez's statistics. Dr. Sanchez has not had a single erosion case since Fall 2003 aproximently 2 years now and the ones that were reported before that were due to the Swedish band that he used to place that had a higher erosion rate to begin with. Directly from Dr. Sanchez's person - through all of their research US erosions vs. MX erosions are not signifcantly higher than the other. The majority of erosions are diagnosed from 18 months - 30 months out. Erosions after 30 months are significantly decreased. Many of the erosions had port infections prior to eroding and 70% of all eroded who had their bands removed, healed and re-banded eroded again within the first year. There is a current study going on for those eroded & re-banded with a Vanguard band who are having more success, but the study takes time so it isn't a for sure thing yet. That makes me lean towards more towards everyones bodies reacting differently to foreign objects in our bodies. The general consesus is no one knows for sure and there doesn't always seem to be a common denominater - who knows? I at least feel a little more peace of mind with all the MX erosions going on that Dr. Sanchez has yet to have any reported since switching to INAMED exclusively 2 years ago. This could all change in the future, but right now I'm moving on and letting me and my band bond for as long as God sees fit. I could die tomorrow so I'm not going to sit around like I have been thinking I have a ticking time bomb inside of me. I just wanted to share the information for any other Sanchez patients who might have been curious with all the erosions going on - I kept wondering if I was next.

please refer to this link - that is my story - we've all been there http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10957&highlight=puked

hmmmmm interesting - nope not me

i too am a happy patient of dr. sanchez - no one better in my book

1. Finanicial - $8400 opposed to $16,000 when you are self pay because insurance denies. 2. Had surgery within 2 weeks of initial phone consultation. 3. Easier pre-op tests & no pre-op diet required. Yep that pretty much sums it up.