NukeChik

Thanks Judy, I've really been working on watching my calories and working out. I'm a snacker, so I have a day to day battle with that dragon! Dancing, You will probably have to call the actual Realize number. I think it is on the card they give you for your patient information. The representative cannot give you the surgeon's number, they can only contact the surgeon in reference to you. So here's my advice: When you go to the surgeon ask about the surgeon id code. Its not the same as the number on your registration card (I think that is a 16 digit code, you will need a SEPARATE 12 digit code). If they give you that deer in the headlights look, then when you get home call the REalize folks and tell them what you need. In my experience they work with the surgeon's office to get them up to speed. It might take a week or so, but your surgeon should have a packet of stuff for you, the registration code will be in that. As I said before, its a one time only use number. Keep your little wallet size card they gave you after you got out of surgery, you will need that number too. Hope that helps!! Oh and about the oatmeal, it has not been long enough for me to forget just how good eating some soft foods was. The bad thing was I had it relatively easy (I didn't have to go on a pre-op diet). I did one week of Clear liquids, then 1 week of full liquids, then mushies. My first num, num, num meal was loaded potato Soup from O'Charleys. I just ate the liquid, none of the potato chunks or bacon. It was absolutely heavenly. Oh and I woke up from surgery hungry! I didn't have any of that "I have to force myself to eat" stuff goin on!!

The Realize My Success website is really good for your progress as far as measurements and weights. You can also link to your doctor so they can review your inputs, track your fill appts and fill volume, etc. You will have to get a special number from the doctor for your registration. It can be used only once so you can't use anyone elses. The realize site has a terrible food diary input IMO. I have emailed them feedback and they did assure me that they are "beefing" it up. I haven't seen any changes yet. As far as restriction, you need to get ready to be patient. In my experience and others that I have read, it might take a while to feel any restriction. I do have some now, but I am not where I should be yet. I have banded for almost 4 months.

Name.................Current.......Goal.......Lost..Still to Lose BigBandFan..............296..........270.........0...........26 KarenG..................174..........160.........0...........14 (by 7/4) kathystrick.............318..........288.........0...........30 Leslie2Lose.............233..........208.........0...........25 (by 7/4) LessNLess...............151..........140.........0...........11 Luu2008.................215..........185.........0...........30 (by 7/4) luvinke.................217..........190.........0...........27 Marissa's Mom...........388..........358.........0...........30 (by 7/4) Nettie..................193..........170........42...........65 Newhope4me..............177..........160.........0...........17 NukeChik................242..........222.........0...........20 nurse7263...............244..........150.........0...........24 (by 7/4) Sunshine2...............179..........160.........0...........19 (by 6/29/08) TexasFire67.............170..........145.........0...........25 Hastings................253..........228.........0...........25 nancy52.................197..........170.........0...........27 I just got a bodybugg and I have my 4th fill tuesday, hopefully that will get me moving again!

You really should try to load your pouch with protein first. Make sure you chew, chew, chew. My doc recommends filling the pouch with 1/2 protein, then veggies. If you eat veggies first you might get hungrier quicker. Also make sure that you aren't drinking with your meals, that makes a big difference. It really doesn't matter much with me now, if I drink while eating I will PB.

Yeah, I've lost 217 miles of blood vessels so far. It just keeps things in perspective!

Everyone that I have told about my banding has been that way. I think they are so afraid that I'll be smaller than them. It also manifests itself in different ways. So people want to share with me what they are doing to lose weight (my mom has started nutrisystem). Others are just out for plain old sabotage (bringing food and sweets to work). I guess they just realize that I'll be HOT when I lose all my weight Keep up the good work Rain, congrats on the 100 pounds!

I ordered mine from 24 hour fitness, its supposed to be here Thursday, I can't wait!! Will it make it through a metal detector? I have to go through one to come into work. Does it hurt it to get xrayed?

Copied this from "The Cardiologist's Wife's chocolate Too Diet: No Sugar, No Fat & Luscious." It's from the updated health information in the first section. Here goes: "1. Your blood sugar drops with just a 1-pound weight loss. In fact, with just the first ounces off, you’ve made yourself immediately healthier. (Overweight is also a huge risk factor for breast and ovarian cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, and colon cancer in both men and women.) 2. Your heart, which is the size of your closed fist, is a small, overworked muscle, pumping 24/7. And for every extra pound of fat you carry, your body has to grow seven new miles of blood vessels-- primarily capillaries but also small arteries (arterioles) and small veins (venules) -- and your heart has to work that much harder. Put on two pounds and that’s fourteen new miles of blood vessels; fifty extra pounds requires 350 miles of new blood vessels. On and on, do the math. But good news: the opposite is true. For every pound of fat you lose, your body sheds seven miles of blood vessels. They just re-absorb, break down, and get excreted. Lose two pounds and that’s fourteen miles of blood vessels gone, lightening your heart’s load. I’ve told you these two things so you’ll know that even a little is a lot. Repeat that out loud to yourself: even a little is a lot. Let it be your mantra. Because dieting is a slooow process, like watching the grass grow. Try to accept that, and the next time you catch yourself groaning, “Oh it’s almost a week and I’ve only lost two pounds” – understand that that’s good. You’ve already brought valuable change to your body; taken a literal load off your heart. Try this too for reinforcement: take a can off the shelf that weighs one or two pounds, and heft it. Or, in the supermarket, keeping your elbow straight, lift some wrapped meat weighing two pounds. It’s heavy. And you’ll think, Wow, I lost this much?" And another fun fact for every 1 pound you lose, you take 4 pounds of pressure off your knees. Wow, my knees are feeling 124 pounds lighter.

I can only share my experience with you. I lost 16 pounds my first week. I fully expected to gain it back when I started on solids, but never did. Now I'm 3 months out and down 31 pounds. It will really slllooowww down, so being expecting that. I've been at 31 pounds for 3 weeks now. I'm okay with that though.

Click on the search, then you will see a little hypertext link to the right that says "Advanced Search", click on that, then there should be an option that says "search by seller", put the username nicksie26 in and do a search. Or just click on the links below J JILL GREEN STRETCH PANTS 20 TALL WOMENS JEANS CORDS - eBay (item 220225751411 end time Apr-25-08 18:16:28 PDT) J JILL TAN PETAL SOFT PANTS 20 TALL WOMENS STONE DRWSTR - eBay (item 220225752814 end time Apr-25-08 18:24:17 PDT) When you open the item you can also go over to the right and click on "View Sellers Other Items" to see my other stuff. I went through my closet and tried on all my pants, I have so much stuff I need to get rid of. Its still hard to let it go though! Especially the J Jill stuff. I have 2 pairs of pants listed, they are the most comfy pants I've ever owned! I have a J Jill shirt I will be listing later too. It could almost be worn as a dress it is so long, I guess it would be a topper shirt, I'm not sure.

I just listed a bunch of my old pants on ebay. Most of them are tall sizes and practically new. They range in from a 14 to a 20. I have some J Jill pants (my faves, I hate to see them go!). So check them out if you wanted some cheapo clothes. My username is Nicksie26.

I love having BBK up at the top, but no I don't like the new format. I know, I know I can click on different stuff to make it look the same as it used to, I'm just resistant to change.

My doctor had me on Byetta for a time before I got my band. I did lose a little bit of weight, but the requirements and injections outweighed the benefits. I do not have diabetes. It is made from Gila Monster saliva and sometimes nicknamed "Lizzie". The link was discovered while scientists were studying gila monsters and their eating habits. Gila monsters can go long periods of time between meals. Byetta changes the way your body processes and absorbs food. It stays longer in your digestive tract and so on. I think it has been an absolute godsend for a lot of diabetics that have problems regulating their levels.

I have terrible gas. I just don't burp anymore,so it all ends up going out the other end! Its not bad enough for me to take anything. Its helped give me an advantage over my man! I know thats gross, but oh well....

How much does the web subscription cost? I saw 99 bucks a year on one of the pages, is that it? I know I get a 3 month free ride with the purchase from 24 hour fitness, I'm just wondering how much the web support is.

My highest was 273 pounds which was right before they took me into surgery. I would have to say my lowest weight would be 164 when I was about 16, my normal low was 173 pounds up until I was about 18. After the age of 18 my lowest was 190. I put my goal at 160, I'm sure its probably not attainable, but what the hell. (I'm 6 feet tall, so thats pretty slim)

I've mostly had problems with crackers and french fries. I will have some issues with dry chicken every now and again, but french fries are the worst for me (which is awesome!)

Isn't it sufficient to tell your boss you've got a doc appt?? I have no problems working after the appt.

Yay to Boo!!!! Love the pic, not crazy about the shadowing they did behind her though.

Thanks for the tip, but no dice.... I have a "screened" mailbox and it is empty.

PB- productive burp, preceded by sliming other things you'll see NSV non scale victory DH, DD, DS- Dear Husband, Dear Daughter, Dear Son, etc...

HELP!! I no longer get instant notifications when someone posts to a thread I'm subscribed to. I also no longer get emails for private messages or friend requests. Nada, zip, zilch, I haven't gotten an email from LapBandTalk.com for about a week and a half. I've looked under my options and such and cannot find anything amiss. I emailed technical support about 3 days ago and still haven't heard a peep.

No cath for me. Ice chips as soon as I asked for them in recovery. Water and apple juice when I was taken to step down recovery. I was at a surgical center, outpatient so I had surgery at 9 am and was headed home by 12 (by my choice)

Yes, Nuclear plants cause waste I guess I would see the difference as we responsibly handle our OWN waste. We store our spent fuel rods in a safe manner. Everything we do as humans produces waste, this is a fact of life. Take with the give. I personally worry more about hormones in my water, but I'm a freak :sad_smile:. I truly, truly wish that everyone could be more responsible with energy usage, recycling, etc... I wish we didn't need any more nuclear plants, but I see it as the only solution to the looming energy crisis. Its economical, the waste that is produced is safely contained. I live 4 miles from the plant that I work at. I can actually see the cooling towers from my driveway in the winter (when the leaves are down). I know everyone that operates the reactor. I especially know the level of knowledge and mental acuity that is required to operate a plant. The training is extensive both initially and continuing. I have no problems sleeping at night, or drinking my tap water, or breathing the fresh air!

Jack, I truly am sorry that your family was exposed to Hanford, let me say that first. Hanford was basically a dept of defense site. DOD sites do not follow the same rules or any rules for that manner that a power producing nuclear site does. Basically they can do what they want because they say that it is for the greater good, its actually a totally separate operating space. Unfortunately the operating nuclear power plants of today are plagued by DOD sites and the Chernobyl's and TMI's.