pizzicato66

Holy Smokes, Dave!!! I think you get the prize for most lbs lost out here! I would be proud of what you've done already, even if you don't make it to 100 lbs by the end of the year. I'm shooting for 60 lbs by then (2 lbs to go!)

phew! Glad to hear it turned up!

nice work, Val!

You probably will get that surgery date right away - I did. In fact I was shocked because it was 14 days out from that day - yeek! I freaked that night but settled right into it and started that preop fast a few days later. Dr. W is VERY capable and experienced and you're going to LOVE his PA, Amy and his nurse Carol. I really look forward to seeing them at my postops. I had my 4 month postop last night and was a little bummed when Amy said I didn't need to come in until my 6 month in February if I was doing okay. I kept my Jan appt just in case and can cancel if it looks like I dont' need it, but I will miss seeing them for that long! With the exception of the cranky psychologist there, I can honestly say I love all the staff at Park Nic. They're all very upbeat and supportive and I think they get energized from seeing their patients succeed. It's a really good vibe. Let us know how your consult goes and when you get your big date!

Frangipani, you're doing great! Even if the scale isn't moving as fast as you'd like, I would wager you're swapping muscle for fat, so you're probably getting leaner all the time. Salsa, I feel for you. I too was a teacher and went through much the same stuff you're dealing with now back in the mid-90's. I realized I was going to quit teaching and my ex told me he wanted to split up right around the same time in November that year. Ironically, I had just lost 50 lbs and was in pretty darned great shape (about 40 lbs under where I am right now). he stuck it out with me and then wanted out when I actually lost the weight and was feeling good. Anyway, I understand how emotional it is to change careers. but, you've done the hardest part now (telling the boss and actually deciding), so now you can start thinking about what you want to do next. I wound up going into computer work (I'm now a business analyst), and I'm making more than triple what I did as a teacher with a lot less overtime. There IS a light at the end of the tunnel, sweetie!

Ouch!!!! Well, I'm glad they were able to fix it for you. Nice job on losing 10 lbs unfilled! You're an inspiration!!

Salsa, what happened that you needed an unfill? I hadn't heard. Hope you're doing okay!

Oh, and I'm pretty sure I'll hit the 60 lb mark for Xmas - unless I totally goof off this week, I can lose 2 lbs in a week, don'cha think? WOHOOO!!!!!

Cheesy silver rings aren't worth getting resized! You rich married girls and you're fancy diamond rings... I'm just happy to have a nearly empty closet. I think I've donated at least a dozen bags of clothes that either don't fit now or won't fit in the Spring. Man, it feels good!! I had my 4-month postop yesterday and my PA said not to worry about coming back until my 6-month unless I feel like I need an adjustment. Boy, did that feel great! Part of me feels like it helps knowing I'm going in to keep the motivation up, but I have you all and my support group to help with that too. :-)

I'm lucky - I felt restriction right off the bat (they put 2cc's in right at surgery). I got another 1.2cc's for a total of 3.2 and I could really feel the difference. Maybe I've just got more fat pad around my stomach, but my band's been pretty comfy and doing it's job from the beginning. I don't get PB's etc. but it definitely tells me when I'm not behaving well! I'm a lucky bandster!

About the HP phone course - are you sure you have to take all 10 weeks? I went through it and just needed 5 weeks before approval. They want you to do 5 post-op calls but I was able to opt out, since it was all pretty redundant with what Park Nicollet's program gave me (and all my online research, book reading, etc). The phone course is really easy and it will all sound familiar (how to eat healthfully, what to expect with surgery and post-op. etc). Common sense stuff. It never hurts to get more reminders of course!

Still 2.5 lbs from an elephant's winkie. I should get there this week though!

hey All! Down another .5 lb today (total of 3.5 this week), so I'm at 228.5, which means I made my Xmas goal and I'm 2.5 from my 60 lb mark! It feels SO good! I have my 4 month post-op this afternoon and I'm pretty sure I won't get a fill this time. I feel pretty restricted and the weight is coming off nicely, so I'm sure they won't think I need one either. So, I'm feeling good at 3.2cc's on a 10cc AP band. Badonkadonk - nice to see you back! I'd been wondering how you were doing! :-)

The waiting time really is a good thing! I can attest to that myself - it gave me time to really think it over and to get the binge-eating out of my system (I have to confess I went through a "last supper" mode for about a month, but I think I needed it). You definitely get time to really think over the big decision so when the time comes, you know you're sure about it. Hang in there!

dang! Isn't it interesting trying out the different combinations?! Feel free to share! I snagged it from another place on the web myself. :-)

Okay, According to this list, I've lost an air conditioner and 2 guinea pigs! What have you lost so far? 1 pound = a Guinea Pig 1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts 2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs 3 pounds = an average human brain 4 pounds = an ostrich egg 5 pounds = a Chihuahua 6 pounds = a human skin 7.5 pounds = an average newborn 8 pounds = a human head 10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year 11 pounds = an average housecat 12 pounds = a Bald Eagle 15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs 16 pounds = a sperm whale�s brain 20 pounds = an automobile tire 23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year 24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream 25 pounds = an average 2 year old 30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year 33 pounds = a cinder block 36 pounds = a mid-size microwave 40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of Water or an average human leg 44 pounds = an elephant�s heart 50 pounds = a small bale of hay 55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner 60 pounds = an elephant�s penis 66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year 70 pounds = an Irish Setter 77 pounds = a gold brick 80 pounds = the World�s Largest Ball of Tape 90 pounds = a newborn calf 100 pounds = a 2 month old horse 111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year 117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she�s 5�11�!) 118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica 120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month 130 pounds = a newborn giraffe 138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year 140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year 144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she�s 5�4�) 150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary 187 pounds = an average adult man 200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds 235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger 300 pounds = an average football lineman 400 pounds = a Welsh pony

Yeah, I'm rather "attached" to my "girls!" (pun intended). but, it has to be what you're comfortable, huh?

Holy smokes, Princess!!! Was any of that preop loss? I'm in awe!!!! I did a little trying-on last night to see where I'm at now. I'm on the baggy side of 18 on the bottom and a 14-16 on top, and I actually FIT a bra at Victoria's secret! Now mind you, I think most of their stuff lacks the structure necessary for my "girls" but it was nice to know I could even shop there again! I was also tickled to notice that the girls aren't shrinking too much so I might get to keep my DD's, and hopefully they won't be down to my knees by then! :-)

Gosh Candle, too bad we don't live closer - we could trade some clothes!! And another update - I'm down again this mornign and have OFFICIALLY MADE IT TO 229!!!! That means just 3 more lbs till I get to 60 lbs lost and my end-of-year goal! Hmm.... at the rate I've been going this week, maybe I'll hit that by Monday - freaky, huh? I think my fill finally kicked in this week!

Gosh Candle, too bad we don't live closer - we could trade some clothes!! And another update - I'm down again this mornign and have OFFICIALLY

Candle, you rock!!! I'm just behind you now, and although it's not my official weigh-in day, I did step on the scale and I'm EXACTLY 230 lbs, so by Monday, there's no question - I'll be in the 220's too! :-) PLUS, I just adjusted the waistline buttons on my size 20 pants that were TIIIIIIIGHT in November (they take the waistline in about 2 inches!), AND, I got a size 18 top at Target that is on the rather big side already! This is getting really fun! Since everyone else covered the "occasional piece of cake" topic in-depth, I'll just nod and say "what she said!" :-)

Hi - I have what I hope is a different question - if there's a thread for this already, feel free to let me know where it is. I'm 4 months post-op and am considering a move and job change to California, but I'm wondering about insurance changes post-op. Have any of you changed insurance after getting banded, and if so, did your new insurance cover fills and checkups or was it considered a pre-existing condition? I know every policy is different, but I'm curious as to whether there's a trend for this. I'd love to live my dream and move to Sunny CA, but it would suck if my fills and postops aren't covered!

Just making my Monday checkin. I'm down another 2 this week for a grand total of 54 lbs. I'm 3 lbs from my Xmas goal of the 220's, so hopefully I can nail it this week! My loss has been slower lately, but I know it's all about my food choices and a few snacks sneaking in, so I'm trying to get my head back in the right place and get back to sticking with the eating plan. My tummy's been a little sore the last couple of days so I know I need to get back on track. If I get back to 3 lbs a week, I could make the 60 lb mark by the end of the year! How's everyone else holding out this week?

Hi - sorry your experience has been uncomfortable. I wasn't very comfortable with the psychologist when I went through my evaluation either, but she didn't put any red lights up that I know of (she was just kinda snarky and put me on edge). Is there another person that can do your evaluation at the clinic you're working with? It may be worth asking for a second opinion, especially given the bias this person seems to have against Banding. That really concerns me. Seriously - ask if there's someone else you can talk to. If there are things you want to work through, that's one thing, but if you feel uneasy about the experience, it's worth saying something about it. Hang in there!

I'll volunteer to swim upstream on this one. 1. She's in a foreign country. It behoves people in that situation to consider the culture and their values if they want to teach that culture's children. 2. yes, the punishment is extreme in our eyes, but again, we're not part of that culture, so it's not our place to say how they should live. 3. the issues in Darfur have nothing to do with the Muslim tradition. It's people of Arab descent killing blacks. Before you judge another culture, it's in your best interest to at least learn about what's happening and why, and stay your tongue before blasting a religion you know nothing about. Islam shares the same old testament as Christianity and Judaism, and the vast majority of Muslims are not extremists. Don't forget that extremists exist in Christianity too (bombing abortion clinics, quoting the bible to support the KKK, Protestant/Catholic struggles.....) For the record, I'm agnostic and white, but I do find some of the statements here ignorant and racist. There's something to be said for showing an interest and learning a bit about others before piling on stereotypes and generalizations.