Skinny_Jill

A 1 - 2 pound loss per week is a realistic goal. You will probably lose more than that once you reach proper restriction. Good luck!

Linda, I'm so sorry you had to go through but I guess we all will at some point. I have not PB'd yet. I hope I never do but that is not realistic.

I can eat all meats as long as they are not dry. I can eat a small amount of bread and have to go slow, that includes tortillas. I love asparagus and like Wheetsin if it is tough then I spit it out. I can basically eat anything but some things just go down smoother than others. Everyone is so different.

I eat between 1000-1200 calories a day. On days that I work out with the trainer I really try to hit 1200 cal.

It is very true that clothes stretch after we wear them for a bit so my 18's were probably closer to a 20.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I really don't have any advice but hopefully they can correct the problem with your legs and then you can have LBS. My thoughts are that you won't be able to have surgery until the clots in your legs are under control. Let us know what happens.

I started out in an 18W and jeans were a 20. I am now in a 16, not 16W, but regular 16 even in jeans. I'm down 44 pounds.

You are doing great and the band will work if we work with it. The same thing happens to me when I eat bad foods. I don't gain but I don't lose. We must make better choices. I've recently started counting calories so that I know exactly what is going into my body. I also bought a BodyBugg so that I know how many calories I am burning. I've increased my exercise and bought sessions with a personal trainer. I consider the lap band a drastic step in my weight loss journey and I am going to use it the way it was intended. If I don't then I wasted $12,900. We can do this but it will take some hard work. It sounds like you have things under control and I'm sure the pounds will start melting away soon.

I found another article about wine and alcohol and health benefits. Raise a glass! Wine's health benefits - Health - MSNBC.com

I'm so glad you were able to get help so quickly. I have not PB'd or slimed yet and I hope I never do. I hope everything goes smooth when you start getting your fills again.

I found this article on low carb wines. Low-carb wines, sure, but how do they taste? - Wine - MSNBC.com

I realized this recently as well. I have been losing weight since banded but I was still eating bad foods just not as much. My weight loss slowed down and I realized it was up to me now. I track my food and count my calories and work out. It is totally worth it.

Missy, I'm in Houston and yes they are wusses! :biggrin:

I love it. I'm sorry you had to deal with him but I love the response.

I slap 'em really hard! I've only had one negative reaction from a dramatic friend. She immediately said "You could die from that surgery." She has a friend that works for an imaging center and they had a patient that died that had a lap band but the lap band had nothing to do with her death. She had a heart attack. She later apologized. I don't discuss the band with her anymore. I would stop the person immediately and tell them I've done the research and this is right for me. If they continued then I would get up and leave.

I suck at writing profiles. Mine are always practically blank. I can never think of what to write. I'll take a look at it if you want me to. Sometimes it is easier to do it for other people.

I am really getting into this. LOL Well, here it is. I wanted to be 100% sure for you and my sister and here it is straight from the department of labor. Bummer. I knew it had to be there because our HR department stays on top of this stuff but I always like to see it for myself. (a) Generally, FMLA leave is unpaid. However, under the circumstances described in this section, FMLA permits an eligible employee to choose to substitute paid leave for FMLA leave. If an employee does not choose to substitute accrued paid leave, the employer may require the employee to substitute accrued paid leave for FMLA leave. (:wink_smile: Where an employee has earned or accrued paid vacation, personal or family leave, that paid leave may be substituted for all or part of any (otherwise) unpaid FMLA leave relating to birth, placement of a child for adoption or foster care, or care for a spouse, child or parent who has a serious health condition. The term ``family leave'' as used in FMLA refers to paid leave provided by the employer covering the particular circumstances for which the employee seeks leave for either the birth of a child and to care for such child, placement of a child for adoption or foster care, or care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition. For example, if the employer's leave plan allows use of family leave to care for a child but not for a parent, the employer is not required to allow accrued family leave to be substituted for FMLA leave used to care for a parent.

Gotcha! I misunderstood. My thoughts are that anyone really serious about looking is going to pay the money. I probably wouldn't date someone that was to cheap to pay or couldn't afford the fee. Put a great profile that will make them want to pay to meet you. I'm sure once they check you out they will pay. :wink_smile:

Set up a free yahoo e-maill address to use for match.com use only. Of course if you post a picture they can still find you.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and was back at work on Monday. Talk to your surgeon and ask him why you need 2 weeks. Ask him if he will let you go back after a week if you are up for it. Maybe you can have surgery on a Friday and that will give you 10 days off including the weekend. You should be good to go by then.

This is what I found on U.S. Dept of Labor under "What is Family and Medical Leave Act?" (a) The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA or Act) allows ``eligible'' employees of a covered employer to take job-protected, unpaid leave, or to substitute appropriate paid leave if the employee has earned or accrued it, for up to a total of 12 workweeks in any 12 months because of the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child, because of the placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care, because the employee is needed to care for a family member (child, spouse, or parent) with a serious health condition, or because the employee's own serious health condition makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her job (see Sec. 825.306(:wink_smile:(4)). In certain cases, this leave may be taken on an intermittent basis rather than all at once, or the employee may work a part-time schedule. I was curious about something else because my sister had a similar issue a while back. I hope this helps. Link to this particular page: 29CFR825.825.100 - What is the Family and Medical Leave Act?

That does stink but unfortunately that is common practice. :wink_smile: I know this sucks but I can tell you that it is worth it. Talk to your boss about the time off at Christmas and maybe you can work something out. The company I work for also follows that policy but most supervisors will let them use additional vacation time since it was really used for medical reasons. I hope they will work with you. U.S. Department of Labor website: U.S. Department of Labor: Compliance Assistance: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Congratulations Cindy! You look amazing! You are one heck of a success story already. Keep it up! :wink_smile:

Name............Start.............Current...............Goal... ...........To Go Lizzie_07.........233...............233.....................220 ..........13 Osangriared.....252...............252.....................232 ..........20 Skinny_Jill.......180...............178.....................168....... .....10 Sades.............197...............197.....................185....... .....12 kandiceb..........187...............178.....................175....... ....03 shortgal............183..............181....................175....... .....6 TxArcher..........328..............328......................308....... ....20 Peaches11........217..............217.....................199......... .18 Momto1plus1.....223..............220.6...............210.............1 0.4 zippykat...........173..............173.....................160....... ...13 Trixie...............219.5...........217.....................199...... ....18 Shalee04..........196..............196.....................185........ ..11 wnt2lose..........219..............219.....................209........ .10 plump_princess....215.............213.....................199........1 4 Mariegabrieleee....250............250......................239........ 11 Foofy..............239.5............237.5...................230....... .7.5 Shalee04..........196..............195......................185....... .10

When I had surgery in November it was $12,900 and that included unlimited fills for the 1st year and there were no others options at that time. He added the second plan recently. I've had 3 fills so far and I know I am close to needing another. I believe that fills are $150. Some people need very few fills and some need a lot. I know someone that was also banded in November and I think she has had 8 fills. It really varies from person to person. I would probably go with the $12,400 plan. I would definitely verify how much fills are and ask what happens if the fill is too tight and you have to come back in within a week for an unfill. Will they charge you again? That could really add up. Sometimes Dr. S will agree to add a second year of fills if you lose 50% of your excess weight in the first year. You may want to ask about that.