Wheetsin

I dont think it harms the family, but I have to say "no thanks!" Don't get me wrong. I have gone to clubs with my husband, and I enjoy watching erotic movies or shows with him. But I would not want him to go out on his own, get worked up on his own over other women, and then come home and use me as an outlet. He can do that on his own, and then come and get me when he's ready for it to be a two person sport. It doesn't even have to be actively about me. Not at all. I'm more than happy to just do things for him (because I get enjoyment from making him feel good). It's the principle.

Sorry for all the typos above but I'm not going to bother editing. In a pinch you can always bring some baby food. It's the right portion for post-op, doesn't need to be refrigerated, and it creates very little trash OR you could reuse the bottles for something else on your trip.

This would have been helpful to know. Refried beans!!! They're still one of my staples. The Rosarita "Chili and lime" (or smtg like that) are delicious. You can eat them right out of the can if need be... but of course they're better heated up. Bring some hot sauce from Taco Bell or smtg if you want to spice it up, or a can of cheese sauce/soup to thin them down. If you want to try tuna salad again, try before the trip so if it doesn't work, you're at least someplace comfortable. Just make it REALLY wet, take VERY small bites, and chew chwe. It should (did for my, anyway) count as a semi-solid. Tip: the LIGHT (not WHITE) is a moister meat, and has higher Protein... and just so happens to be cheaper. Bring some tofu. I don't think the cryo packs have to be refrigerated. Cook them in a skillet with some seasonings. Be sure not to get "silken" tofu though. Soft, easy to eat, and good numbers. I have tofu 2 - 3 x per week. If you can get Blue Bunny where you live, they make a low carb yogurt smoothie that's VERY good, and would be great for breakfast. Or find some kind of instant breakfast that can be mixed with Water, and bring a shaker cup. Bring some cans of Protein Drink. They aren't the best, but will keep you going. THey won't be good warm though - will there be water nearby? If so just float them (tied to a rope or in a fishing net) in the water to chill. Hmm... Hormel beanless chili. I would think the meat in it would be ground up well enough to constitute semi solid but you might want to check with your surgeon to be sure.

The long term average is still something like 0.5% chance of complications. I'm guessing most of your research comes from messageboards/internet. Remember that most of the resources out there are for people with problems who are looking for help, therefore the percentage of complications will seem exaggerated.

Green, just for you -- I will keep my eyes out for you and if I ever happen upon said elusive t-shirt, I will buy you one of every mentioned color that they happen to have. To be sure we're talking about the same thing, "boat neck" (to me) refers to a wide but high opening, similar to a regular neck, only cut farther out toward the shoulders. Kind of like the first pic below. N'est pas? BTW, you sure you don't like a nice chocolate brown? I know for a fact that (somewhere) I have a boat neck 3/4 sleeve in a chocolate brown. And I'm pretty sure it's the equivalent of a 3x. I ALSO have boat neck-ish full sleeve lightweight sweaters (somewhere) and (not sure of size, but can check). The neck is wide like a boat, though lower, but then there are two pieces coming around each shoulder that sort of cut it off at a boat neck length except for a tiny bit that shows under. Kind of like a faux wrap. My BAD 4 second redition is below. Like said I would have to check sizes, but if you like, I have black, a deep beautiful turquoise, cream, and a sort of cranberry. I used to love wearing these, but anymore they hang too low and my bra shows even when I'm upright.

Check for threads on travel foods or similar, I know these issues have come up several times. I have no clue how long you've banded, and that may change a lot of my answers. But you should pretty much be able to eat the same things as anyone else. For avoiding dehydration, just bring plenty of Water. You don't want to rely on the foods you'll eat to keep you hydrated! Here are some suggs that should fit within your limitations: Boiled - boil an egg or two. You can eat it as-is or make egg salad (if you use condiment packs they don't have to be refridgerated). Boil some fat free hotdogs (or regular, I just pref. fat free). If you can boil, you can steam, right? Will you be fishing on your trip? Bring some oatmeal or other "add hot water" type dishes. Target Archer Farms has some really good selections, especially of the Asian dishes. Bring some veggies and make veggie soup. Bring some canned Soups and use your pot to warm the soup vs. boil the water. Non-refrigerated: Jerky, trail mix, pretzels/chips. Buy the pouches of tuna and use your condiment mayo from above to make tuna salad. If you pre-pack a little vinegar in a disposable cup, and bring along a can of northern/white Beans to add in, this makes a great dish and has lots of Protein. Any kind of nut, particularly raw almonds. Protein Bars, Cereal bars. One of my fav. travel foods - microwave ssome turkey pepperoni ahead of time. You nuke it until it's crunchy. They will store in a baggy just like chips. They're great alone, and awesome with cottage cheese or garden veggie cream cheese. Some refrigerated ideas: Make some "hobo" packs before you leave, maybe to have the first night while you will still have ice. Just throw some chicken (we usually use quarters), veggies (small red potatoes, onions, carrots, whatever), and butter on to some foil. Wrap several times to make sure it won't leak. Then just throw them on top of the fire or portable grill when you get there. If you can refrigerate through the morning, just throw a bunch of eggs, sausage or bacon, cheese, etc. into a skillet and there's Breakfast.

I had 200 lbs to lose when I got banded. I've not always been obese, so I've also been at the point where I had maybe 50 or 60 lbs to lose. I can tell you hands-down, undoubtedly, they are NOT the same "journey" (or whatever the right phrase is). Even now that I'm "one of those" with "only 60 lbs" to lose, if I got banded today, it would not be the same event that it was 140 lbs ago. And I'm not talking about easier or harder. That's all in the eye of the beholder. I'm talking about things like psychological impact and growth, physical changes, coping with life before and after the weightloss, etc. Some of the issues we've talked about are - straight up - not issues that someone "with just 60 lbs" or even 100 lbs to lose will ever have to deal with, at least not because of their weight. I know - I've been both theres. Then how do you feel about the state/regional sections of the board? Or having threads designated for "newbies"? It really is no different. In fact, there are probably fewer things that a 400+ bandster will have in common with a 180+ bandster will have in common, than a bandster in California and one in Arizona.

My husband could have written this. Strip clubs make him very uncomfortable. There's a bit of a boys' club at work, and their vendor meetings usually end up at a strip club. And sometimes the boys at work get lap dances from their boss for their birthdays. Hubby has spent many nights in the parking lot on the cell phone with me because he can't even stand to be in the club. It sickens him that people don't respect themselves any more than that.

Good, then what's the problem? Abortions were illegal for about 100 years. Then someone got smart. Now they are not illegal. Seems pretty clear, I agree!

Search for "pregnancy," "pregnant," etc. It has come up a few times and I think we've had some fairly long threads of people's experiences. I hope to be pregnant sooner than later and my surgeons indications are that, iof your restriction is such that you need an unfil to get enough calories in, then he will give a slight unfill but a complete unfill isn't needed unless you have morning sickness, and even then a fill can be given once it has passed. I've heard very mixed messages about weightloss/nowightloss while pregnant. A lot say it's a big no-no, but I know a won of women, overweight and heathyl weight, who weighed quite a bit less after delivery than before getting pregnant.

What?

We used to have no abortion, abortion used to be against the law? That's really flawed. MANY things, including abortion, used to be against the law. This doesn't mean we didn't have them. BTW, the first recorded abortion (~2600 BC) was around way before the first recorded law (~2350 BC). So yeah, I guess we used to have no abortion, more than what, 4600 years ago? But law has nothing to do with it. Don't tell me you'd also blame liberals for abortions 4600 years ago?

This is getting personal. I'm locking the thread for now.

Just a thought, but if we start a voting process on the "prettiest" (or most transformed, or most well-liked, or whatever slant is has) bandster - well, I'm imagining how those who submit and aren't chosen will feel. Look at how much "rep" stirred the emotional pot, for the very few days it was around. It had a BIG impact on users. And now we're going to be looking at someone's physical appearance and collectively saying "so and so is better looking than you" -- rating appearance instead of just thoughts and opinions. I can see it getting... well... not great. I would vote for something neutral. Either a generic model (this doesn't bother me, but I understand it does bother some), or a generic image - like our old lap-band, or something new that represents the transofrmation most of us will go through (I know this is cliche, but just as an example - a butterfly, a flower, a tree, etc.) Or perhaps instead of a "model" contest, what if you open it up to the resident artists and have a "logo design" contest?

I'm not one where a piece of paper matters. If our situation had been different, DH and I may still not be married. Having the piece of paper had nothing to do with how we felt about each other, whether or not we were dedicated, etc. I truly saw it as just a formality and PITA, really.

The feeling of stuck food varies. Some explain it as in their throat, some as in their chest, some get headaches, etc. For me, it's either pressure right where my band is, or pain in my abdomen.

No better, just suited on an individual basis. Since this is a lap-band board, most people here found the lap-band to be the better choice for them. You've been given some good links. Additionally, search terms like "pros and cons," "band vs bypass," etc. And if you haven't yet, find a bypass board and ask their opinion. Best to get both sides of the story from people actually living with it.

Sex appeal... so since we're mostly women, I vote that this little chunk of sex appeal gets put up instead:

You know, I would have to see it on fluoro to be convinced that this happens. To me, it's not logical. I would think that if you have food in your pounch and drink, either the water trickles through the food, maybe taking some small bits with it - or the water gathers on top of the food, causing discomfort (I KNOW for a fact this happens, but not all the time).

I can go to a lot more places. But I still find the best cut for my shape at LB. :rolleyes I did find some jeans at Gordman's that fit great, so I bought one, and one each in the next 3 sizes down, but most of what I buy are work clothes. I'm still a plus size so no going to any random place just yet, but I'm definitely no longer limited to just a handful of stores. Most tops I'm an 18/20, sometimes a 14/16, sometimes a 22/24. Most bottoms I'm a 22, sometimes 20, sometimes 24. I've been embracing the store changes. When I bought Catherine's 0X and it was too big, it was sooo nice to ask, "Do you have anything smaller?" I don't miss that place one bit!

When I asked such questions in a previous threads, the replies were along the lines of: god understands if people haven't gotten the word, and while disappointed that they didn't give in to the "natural" inclination to have faith in him, he can be forgiving for those who didn't have the opportunity. It's pretty much the answer you'd expect to get, no? There are pbviously a lot of mini debates hiding in that answer.

If you aren't already, take pictures. Taking them nude is best, but if you aren't comfortable with that, try to take them in the same outfit. The side by side evidence this provides will help. I have to do it to see a difference, and even then I rationalize it (flattering angle, those clothes are slimming, etc.) Just keep doing it, and eventually it's going to be undoubtable.

They don't bother me, then again I'm running 1600x1200. I wonder if it's partially a matter of resolution for those it does bother?

This is a really good point. I am definitely a facts-oriented person, but I understand the concept of faith. It doesn't make much sense to me in the concept of religion, but if it did, I wouldn't be me. I was looking for something I posted a very long time ago, because that's easier than re-typing it. I couldn't find the exact post (though I could find one that references it), but here's something similar: Point being, if you come to any forum online or not, with the expectation of entering into a religion-based argument/debate/discussion with the intentions of "winning," you will never succeed because there is no win, there is only share beliefs and at the end of the day it's probably a matter of agree to disagree, but wither way chances are great that both sides walk away knowing more about the other than they did before the dialogue occurred.

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