2BHealthE!

D - the scenery in the photos is beautiful. YOU are even more so! Cool pink jersey. Were you calling Lance A in the first photo? :wink2: Cleared to hop on the bike - YAY!!! Rainy, rainy day - BOO!! :crying: I know, I know I'm being selfish, the plants need the rain, yada, yada, yada....I wanna ride. Tomorrow is another day! :thumbup: No fill today, still too much bruising from surgery. Question for all you experienced LB riders...I usually ride with a camel back (if I am doing distance). Any problems with air when drinking water via the camelback tubing/mouthpiece? :confused2: Have a great weekend! KY

Articles like that are soooo annoying! By-the-by, there is a similar article in "O" magazine this month (p. 116, "Beyond stomach stapling: What's new and better". Bands are lumped together with "staples". Isn't stomach "stapling" a treatment of about 1978?? Yes, we need to write to the editor(s)! We need to stand up, and educate the public that bands are a TOOL, not a quick fix. Writing weight loss with a band off as less valid is the same as writing fitness training done with a treadmill as less valid than fitness done running on a outdoor track! The principle is that correctly using the TOOL, changing one's head, and changing one's habits is the only way to lose. Weight Watchers, Atkins, LA Weight Loss, South Beach, etc. are all tools to - they just come in a different form than a band. Also, while I am ranting (since I'm on my soap box anyway), I really get steamed when Oprah disses any form of successful weight managment. Talk about using tools to acheive her past successes - a private trainer and chef!! Usually I like her show - but she's w-a-a-y off on this topic, baby! :thumbup: KY

Dr. McDowell did my band on July 10th. I can't say enough good things about the entire staff at the office, and the care at the hospital. If only all medical treatment was so caring. :smile2:

From Bowing Green, banded on 7/10 by Dr. James Mc Dowell @ Baptist in N'ville. Love, love, love the practice & hospital. Will you be coming to the bandstanders support group at Baptist? KY

I've only been banded since 7/10, but I've been wondering about sushi. One of my most favorite treats! :smile2: I had the gut feeling (no pun intended) that it wasn't going to be a go...oh well.

#1 You are beautiful. #2 What an amazing journey. #3 Cute family. #4 WOWWEE!! KY :smile2:

Hi all - I'm not from Eastern KY, but I thought I'd drop in and say "hey" since it's good to hear other KY voices. I'm from So-central KY and had my surgery on Jul. 10. Hang in there, keep chipping away at the insurance co, and it will come through. I could not stand the liquid diet either. The only good thing that I can say is that some weight came off...unfortunately, some of it was hair loss. So, learn from my mistake...even if it's nasty keep up the Protein intake!!!! :smile2:

I agree with HP, it may not be height of seat as much as front/back. Although, keep in mind that your knees should be straight when your leg is fully extended on the downstroke. Not locked, but fully extended. Also, if you are wearing shoes with clips, check how your feet are positioned when you are clipped in. Are your knees facing forward, or out in a "V"? It's the "V" that will get you! If you are not wearing clips, then check for the same thing when you place you feet on the pedals, you may need to reposition them more towards the inside or outside of the pedal. Good luck and ice, ice, ice sore knees. KY

I have the same question! My surgery was 7/10. Some of the edges have pulled up, but overall the glue is still holding on. I thought it would be long gone by now. :biggrin:

Clay - lately the "N" has stood for "Not so many wins". :thumbup: But a true Husker still bleeds red....hey, that makes us all huskers! KY

Do you hear it?? It's the countdown timer until my post-surgery appt. on Friday am, when I can get cleared to get back on my bike. Whoooeeee!! I started riding on a "hybrid". No...not like a Toyota Prius, :thumbup: this was a Trek that was supposed by be a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. It weighed about 7,000 pounds and was indestructable. It was great when I was always riding with a toddler or preschooler in a set behind me. It was like a semi truck - hard getting up the hills, but ohhhhh the momentum on the downhills. In fact, my daughter (now 22) used to say "go for the mo, mom!" when she was about 3. Then I died and went to heaven. OK..ok...so I didn't really die but getting my Cannondale road bike was a lot like heaven. I remember the first time I got on it and pedalled. It was like swimming, no pushing the weight of the bicycle, I felt positively bouyant. My cycling buddy called it my "nerf bike" since it's so light. I love it! So, I guess my rambling recollections are a roundabout way of saying that what bike works for you evolves over time. It really doesn't matter - what matters is the joy of the road. Get out there and ride! By the way, HP, great jersey! And you have a PURPLE bike?! Double sweet! For those debating what is between Chicago and Seattle, I have to speak up for pigs to go with the corn. After riding RAGBRAI (the cross-Iowa ride) a couple of times, I can say with absolute confidence that it smelled like Iowa was predominantly made up of pig farms! Born in Nebraska, I also have to mention that fine football also comes out of that region. Many a solid defensive player is "corn fed". Unfortunately, there is also a bumper crop of grasshoppers, flooding, tornadoes, republicans, and snow (depending on the time of year). KY

... did pre-approval on my surgery, no problem. Weird, isn't it, how despite BCBS FEP being a national program it still makes a difference which state is managing the FEP contract? :ohmy: Some of them give enrollees a run around, and some make it smooth. Hang in there!

OH Juli - I am in Bowling Green (South-central KY). We have a ride coming up on Aug. 16th for the Kidney Foundation with 8, 20, 44 and 60+ mile courses. C'mon down - the routes are mostly flat! I usually ride sweeper for the 8-mile route because most folks in the club don't want to do that route. I say "more power to kids and whimpy riders!" We all have been there at one time or another!! :ohmy: HP - I can't wait until my doctor's appt on Friday and clearance to ride. Of course, there is a part of me that is afraid of how much endurance I have lost over the past couple of weeks. Your goal for mileage is so motivating, and I'm green with envy. Used the time since surgery to get my bike tuned up, put on new handlebar tape and brake pads. Brought it home yesterday, so I just pat it and say "soon baby". :biggrin2: Mary

I had my surgery on July 10 at Baptist in Nashville. I had never been there before, and I can not say enough wonderful things about their bariatric program. From the office staff, docs, dietitian and including each and every person I dealt with at the hospital (pre-op and op day) it was an outstanding experience. I'm a former ER nurse so you can guess that it takes a lot to impress me - and I WAS impressed. Consider checking out Baptist Hospital and the Metabolic Surgery Center! :thumbup:

Hi all - I'm really happy to see this bicycling thread. I've believe that cyclists are the best folks to "hang" with!! Banded 9 days ago, not yet cleared to get back on my beloved "Lil' Red". I can hardly wait! No mountain passes in my part of KY (as the discussion has been referring to) but there are some challenging hills... I LOVE to ride hills. I look forward to clocking some miles with y'all in the near future. In the meantime, thanks for being out there. Take care - and wear your helmets!

Hi - I was banded on July 10, so I'm a few days ahead of you. I am happy to report that on Day 9 post-op have have nearly no pain at all, so hang in there. For me, one pesky incision hurts a bit, but that's it! Do you know if you fill-port was placed near your sternum? My surgeon warned me that the incision there would be the most painful due to the placment of the port. On the other hand, if it's gas...walk, walk, walk. It was the very best medicine for me. Divamom - thanks for the "how-to ticker" info!