liannatx

I am also self-pay and hoping I can take it off my taxes. Any more info on this would be great!

Hhmmmm........i am confused too.........

NJChick, Good luck to you! Congratulations!

:banana Kudos for you on the -7!!!! Glad you are getting things down easier now. Was this just a case of waiting out some swelling, and not an overfill? Seems that way. I am mentally filing all this info away for future use, lol.

WOW!!! I cant imagine how fantastic he must be feeling right about now! You must be so proud for him! That is a major accomplishment, and like everyone else I am dying to see a current pic of him! As for the being away at school part, you must have one helluva spirit in you my dear!!!

Congratulations!! And what do you mean "slower than a lot"? I hope I lose 50lbs in that amount of time! Keep on working that band!!!!!!!

I am also not banded yet. (will be after oct 28) The only time I go hypo is after I eat too many carbs or too much sugar and my blood sugar goes too HIGH. When it finally starts dropping it just goes down, down, down. It seems like if you follow bandster rules and have protien followed by veggies there would not be so many blood sugar swings. I have been curious about this also. Just a thought, have you considered getting some glucose tablets? They work much faster than food at bringing bs level back up some. I just use them because they are easy to keep on hand and prevent the overfeeding low bs, which can just cause a rebound high and low again.

I truly feel for you dear. My dog is like a furry child and best friend rolled into one. They truly become a part of the family. Another hug sent your way.

Honestly, I dont think the stuff would give enough results to be worth it. I saw such little difference. I really read up on this stuff. Body builders use it when they are really cut to get rid of the last tiny fat deposits on their six packs and love handles. I think some dermotologists use it to lessen small fatty deposits under the eyes. I dont think I recall reading anything about it tightening the skin, it is supposed to be a lypolic catalyst. It helps the cells break down and get rid of fat. I would never try it again. I know some of the lazer stuff that they do now can help rebuild collagen and tighten skin, but that works on skin that is sun damaged/aged and not just stretched out. Sadly I dont think there is an easy fix for loose skin.

Wow, I am also very insulin resistant and take 30mg. of Actos daily. My Doctor wants me to stay at 1200-1400 calories a day. (This is all still preband numbers) He said that if lost as little as 30 lbs the insulin resistance would be much less severe and actually make it easier to lose weight. I am actually quiet successful in losing weight around 1200 calories if I am taking in 20g. or less of carbs per meal. The problem is that it has been very hard for me to do that long term. So I am not very successful in sticking with it or keeping it off. I just had to add that I have never heard of a Dr. advising anyone to keep calories under 1000 for ANY extended period of time. Never. Not even on a for a short-term "crash diet". Someone correct me if I am wrong, but after the initial couple weeks of banding calories should not be below 1000 should they?

Well, this time next Friday I will be banded. I have been amazingly calm about this. I am going to Monterrey, so I have dealt with all the financial crap. Got a personal loan and cashiers check. I have my travel arrangements. Just ordered some

I almost hate to admit to this. Okay, I do hate to admit this. I live 30 min from the Mexican border and was going to a wl doctor that gave the injections in conjuction with a low carb diet and diet pills. It was $85 a visit, and I went every 2 weeks. I lost about 20 lbs. in 2 months, not that dramatic but a nice loss. It got expensive and inconvenient, so I researched the stuff that his nurse told me he used. It is called Lipostabil (phosphatditylcholine). I bought the vials of Lipostabil and used insulin syringes and did the injections across my abdomen. I did them myself!!! I did 9 injections in a smile shape across that fat area of my abdomen, about 2 inches under my belly button. Spaced them 2 inches apart. I did this every Saturday morning for 6 weeks. Not dieting, just doing the injections, I guess it was an experiment in looking for the easy magic bullet that would just melt off fat, lmao. I weighed 2 pounds more at the end of the shots, but my stomach/abdomen was about 1 1/2 inch smaller. So......I personally think the stuff is a waste of time and money. I lose that many inches or more when I lose 10 lbs. The stuff is pretty expensive , over $100, and felt like yellow jacket stings at each injection site. I guess I just add that experience to the list of pathetic failed attempts to get rid of some of this weight. I am 7 days from being banded (the 28th) and thinking of doing those injections makes me certain that the band, combined with healthier eating habits and smaller portions, is the key to success for me. I almost deleted this, but maybe I can come back and read this if I have moments of doubt once I am banded!

Congratulations! Good luck with the band and in getting pregnant!

Okay, Ya'll are all bad influences, lol. I decided to try the bare minerals makeup. I have normal/oily skin and the humidity here always has me like a greasy mess by mid-day. So.......... I went on E-bay.......got the makeup, and set of 9 eyeliners. Had to go back and get the mineral veil........and the darker makeup. Then got a set of 4 eyeshadows. My husband wants my creditcard, lol,,,,,he can have it! I have everything set up on paypal!

Congratulations!!! I cant answer your question, but just wanted to let you know I am excited for you!!

I think Star Jones is definitely Gastric Bypass. She was way too heavy for way too long. I just dont see her loss and the slow steady band loss.

I am going to Dr. Sanchez on the 28th. I will personally be able to tell you more afterwards. I have spoken on the phone to several people that have gone to Monterrey and had it done with Dr. Sanchez, and they were very helpful and recommended him highly. Basically I learned that it is done in a top notch, modern, extremely nice and sterile, etc.. large medical hospital there. The staff is very attentive and professional. The aftercare is always tricky if you go to Mexico, (finding fill drs.) I am lucky enough that it is 4 hours on a bus, $36 round trip, to Monterrey for me. I only chose Sanchez because I know a lady that went to him and had the opportunity to speak to several others. I will also be checking back to see what others here have to say about both!!! Good luck!

I have visited OH occasionally since I started researching this, and especially since I got my date. I really prefer the way this is setup, it is reassuring to see people that have posted thousands of times, long term members. I dont feel like this is a site for "driveby" posters, which I feel like alot of OH posters are. I think people go to OH to ask questions and move on. Most of the posts I have been reading are also from people considering this or people very newly post-0p. This site seems more supportive for the longterm. Maybe they just havent discovered this place yet.

I work as a teacher with 60+ other females. I am also the type to talk about just about everything, and in detail, lol. When I cleared my days off with my principal I said, "I am going to have a minor surgical procedure on the 28th and will need off X days for it. It really is minor, I am just worried about cramping or bleeding.... plus I will be on medication for pain". She said fine and didnt ask anything else about it. I'm sure she assumes it is female related. When I actually take the days off is when I expect the questions from co-workers and friends. I am going to be a closet bandster (at least until I lose enough to feel like I can justify and handle any critisism). I told several ladies I am close to that it is just minor female stuff and left it at that. It is easy for me, they all know I have so much trouble with fibroids and cysts, I think they all assume that is what its over. But really, it is your body,your health, your peace of mind.....flat out lie if you need to and arent comfortable spilling your guts over this. I have just found that being evasive about it makes everyone think I just dont want to talk about it. p.s. regarding eating, I only have lunch to deal with. I figure I will just say the pain meds made me nauseous. It wont surprise anyone to see me decide to go on a "slimfast" version of a diet. Ive been on one diet or another for years it seems like.

I really wonder about Oprah. She has had such a public battle with the weight for decades now. She has done low fat, low carb, liquid, workouts, personal trainers and personal chefs, etc... She takes it off and puts right back on. It seems like she has tried everything already, I really wonder what her secret is in taking it all off this time. She has not been as vocal about it as past attempts. If she keeps it all off this time I will REALLY wonder. And if it is due to the lapband and she wants to keep that private, more power to her, at least she wont spend the next 2 decades fighting her weight.

Hey! I am going on the 27th for pretests and having surgery on the 28th!!! I am going to Monterrey, but we will still be banded on the same day. Seems better know that someone on here will be going through it at the same time as me. We can do liquids and mushies together, lol!

Wow, have to agree I am shocked that a therapist would always connect weight with sexual abuse. I am in no way a victim of that. And as for the sexual interest FROM men, that is one of the things I really miss. I dont remember the last time a man actually checked me out. I love to feel attractive. I do however get stuck at certain weights. I gain and basically sit there awhile, and lose and gain back some then sit there for awhile. Whenever I gain another 10 or 20 I am always striving to "get back down to...." I love Jack's (? that posts on here ?) signature line......" i'm nearly down to what i swore i would never get up to".

My goals have changed as I read so many posts on here. I really want to lose 30 and get below 200 as a short term goal. I had set a conservative goal of 159 being my final goal weight, and set that because so many attempts at loss have left me demoralized and fearing failure and disappointment. I realized JUST this morning while reading threads on here that I CAN DO THIS. I lowered my final goal to 139, which is a reasonable attainable goal for me. Setting that goal is a combination of knowing what a healthy weight is for my height (5' 4") and knowing what I weighed throughout high school (125ish). Getting banded on the 28th, so I have been thinking about this a lot!!!!! also: 1. to be able to wear heels without my knees aching 2. to not look like a snowman in my midsection (boobs,stomach,abdomen rolls) 3. to get off meds for insulin resistance and blood pressure

You get your surgery date tomorrow! Be sure and let us now when you will be scheduled for so we can be praying and rooting for you! p.s.... i want to lose 90 lbs so i can look like i did in my sr. pic in 1985,,,very close goals there. very close age also. we can do it together.

Another welcome to lapbandland! You are doing awesome so far! I will be joining you on the 28th, hope my recovery is as uneventful as yours! Congrats on that first 20 lost!!!