Tess415

I just came from my support group and the guest speaker was a plastic surgeon. That question came up and his response was... Skin is like a balloon, once its been stretched out and you release the air, it isn't going to be as tight as it was before. If you loose a lot of weight, you're going to have a lot of skin. The next point he made was that each person is different, meaning physical age of the skin. As we get older the skin becomes thin and not as elastic, so if a person already has thinning skin for their age, it will not tighten up. No matter the amount of exercise or loosing it slowly... in the end it will all be the same amount hanging. ( I know that disappointed me to hear) Everyone is different, he said he's seen 40 year olds with skin of 60 year olds and vise-versa. The more elastic your skin for your age the better! Tess Hope this is helpful, his presentation of before and afters were unbelievable!!

Just got back from the gym!!! 10 min recumbent crosstrainer 40 min treadmill :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2: Feels good!!!! Tess

Way to go! Keep it up! You're on your way!!!! Tess

Hi, hope you don't mind I jump in on this thread!!! I have made a month long commitment to myself to exercise at least 4 days a week. I was glad to find somewhere to check in. I walk the treadmill at the gym for 35 minutes at 3mph. There is a metropark with a walking trail that is 3 miles around. I never walked all that at one time, but I decided to give it a try. My DH went with me and I made it in 65 minutes!!!!! Didn't stop once!! I can't imagine what it will feel like to exercise and not have the extra weight of whole nother person on me!!!!! :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::smile2::laugh: Tess

Welcome to LBT!!!! Hope you are feeling well! This is a great place to get support! Tess:thumbup:

My lapband doctor said never have any carbonation. I was a diet pop fanatic and I was worried about going without I actually quit drinking any carbonation way before I had too. I really haven't missed it. They say besides the pain and discomfort you could stretch out your pouch. Don't know much else about it. Tess

We noticed how similar Auntlucy and my stats and dates are!!! Isn't that cool!!!! What are the chances?!?!?! I like to sit with my laptop when I get a chance to check it out... keeps me focused!!!! Tess

I have had my band now for 3 months, I had a regular size margarita the other night, of coarse I hadn't eaten for a few hours prior good thing I wasn't driving!!!!! I try to be good about not having liquids with meals so I thought I'd have my drink first!!!(LOL):incazzato: Well, guess you can call me a cheap drunk!!! :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2: Tess

Me too! At least if we are on here... we are not in the kitchen eating!! (LOL) I find this a good distraction, how ever my DH has been giving me the evil eye this weekend, :frown: he's been working his tail off installing some electrical plugs in the basement for the kids area for xbox and stuff!!!! And here I am on my laptop!!!!! Oh well!!! Tess :incazzato::driving::huggie::sad::tt2::frown:

Name..............Current.....Goal.....Lost...Still to Lose by July 4th atallen06...........231........215.......0......16 Bea1129.............231........200......5.5.....25.5 BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Cgailee ............219........200.......0......19 darr5380............170........165.......0.......5 Epm316..............220........200.......10.....20 erikadawn...........217........190.......0......27 faithmd.............302.1......300.......7.3....2.1(by6/21) Hastings............248........228.......5......20 Jennypoo............176........170.......3.......6 jrob281.............212........190.......0......22 KarenG..............170........160.......4......10 kathystrick.........318........288.......0......30 kellygirl0520.......236........220.......0......16 legster.............188........180.......9......8 Lenore1890..........263.4......247.......4.3....15.7 Leslie2Lose.........225........208.......8......17 LessNLess...........149........140.......2.......9 Lilmissband-aid.....236.5......225.......11.....11.5 losingjusme.........244........238.......6.......6(started 5/30) Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 luvinke.............217........190.......4......23 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......0......30 MollyMolly..........190........188.......14......2 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........168.8......160.......8.2.... 8.8 njudono............ 298........277...... 5......21 NukeChik............229........222.......13......7 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 renewedhope.........187........180.......9.......7 Sades...............194........185.......3.......9 Sunshine2...........179........160.......4......15 (by6/29) Suzzzie. ...........273........260.......0......13 Tess415.............327........299.......7......21 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........130.6......120.......3.6....10.6 Down another pound this week!!!! whoooohoooo! :incazzato::driving::huggie::sad: Tess

I too got tired of beating myself up and not liking myself because of my size and the things that I couldn't do. (My first weight watcher diet was with my grandma at age 12) But, I can tell you that you can change the way you view yourself. The first step is to admit that you don't like how you think of yourself... like you just did!! I have spent months pre-op battling the negative and replacing it with the positive!!! And it is working ... you can learn to be positive about yourself and lose weight ... not sabotage yourself! I have been seeing a life coach, and have found this to be truly an amazing awakening for me. They have had a few life coaches on Oprah! if you ever watch her show or check her website. I have been through so much crap with my DH that I don't think I even knew how badly I was treating myself, and using food as my drug to be content. It has been a lot of had work but I feel happy about the person I am and what I have to offer to others. I want to encourage you to be your own best friend, and you will be so happy that you did! Part of being my own best friend has led me to being successful so far on my journey. If your interested in seeing my life coaches web page PM me! Tess

I am so glad to be in such good company!!! We can do it!!! I have wanted to get back below 300 now for the past few years!!!! Only 20 pounds away!!! Let's keep everyone updated as we keep losing!!!! Tess :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I have had a few NSV's too: 1. Wearing clothes that I haven't worn in the past 5 years!!!! 2. Fitting into the seats in the auditorium at my kids school!!! 3. My 16 year old son noticed my arms are getting smaller, he said " Hey, I guess that band really works!" 4. My co-workers call me "baggy pants"!!!

Sounds great to me!!!! We are only a day apart on are fill dates too!! That's so cool to meet you! How do you feel? Do you have a good restriction? I've been feeling really good, a lot more energy! Have you noticed more energy? Glad to meet you! Tess

I can finally see 200's in my future!!! It's been several years since I've been below 300 and it didn't last long on previous attempts, but I'm feeling pretty confident this time with my band it will be different! I hope I'm right!!!! I've been doing good the last 2 weeks... doing exercise and following rules!!! Anyone else want to join me in the short term goal of getting rid of the "3" being the first digit in our weight????????? Tess

Thanks for the recipes... they look delicious! Can't wait to try some of them out! Photo shoot!!!! Good for you! That is fantastic!!!! When they get on the website you'll have to share them with us!:tongue2: Tess

Maybe a job at a hospital that offers lap band procedures. I know some nurses that work for a health system that offers it in their health coverage. I don't know what qualifications you have, but maybe something clerical or housekeeping etc. I think theirs were covered 90% after meeting deductible. Tess

Greg, I felt fine after my first (only) fill so far. I went shopping on the way home. It was done under fluoroscopy at the hospital. I had to do clears that day, then 2 days full liquid, 1 week pureed then back to soft. I felt restriction right away but, now I can eat more than I should. I really try to measure and pay attention to my portions! I know all doctors are different, mine and the nutritionist wants me to have 60-80 grams of Protein daily, and if I need to use shakes its ok, I use Water and ice, not milk to keep the calories down. I'm a nurse and sometimes I can't sit down for lunch and eat slow... so I keep the shake mix handy! If your feeling motivated, I wouldn't mess around and get your fill as soon as you can. Otherwise you might be tempted to eat things you shouldn't for the 4th of July. Plan ahead for yourself... Make something special and take it with you so you won't be tempted. Before you know it, you'll realize the company of your friends and family is much more enjoyable than the food everyone brings! Another food I thought about was Egg Drop Soup... that too was a staple when I was on mushies, there is a good chinese restaurant by me for carry out. It has egg whites and protein in that. Hope that helps Tess

On the mushie phase I ate instant mashed potatoes and used cream of chicken Soup as a gravy. You could even add your chicken baby food into the soup for more Protein. I really liked my Protein shakes so I still drank lots of those. Protein pudding is good too. ( 1 large box any flavor sugar free pudding, 3 cups skim milk and 1/2 to 1 cup skim milk powder... add to power to the milk then mix. You could make a couple of flavors that would last you a few days. I even added a little fat free sugar free cool whip for a topping) I also ate a lot of yogurt without fruit chunks and cream of wheat. (Maple and brown sugar... I hated plain)! Before you know it, you'll be on real food... You can do it!!!!!

I too was having a hard time trying to get used to not drinking with the meal. My nutritionist suggested using yogurt or applesauce to help clear your food at the end of the meal... it works for me!:biggrin2: Tess

I would try again to make an appointment with the surgeon. Any doctor that is who he is supposed to be always follows up with their patients. I also would look on your state's Medical License Board and see if he has any actions against his license... this will give you a good idea of who your dealing with.When you call for an appointment, don't mention your band... give them a generic reason for the appointment.... then let him have it!:eek: Is he the one who did your first lap band? If he no longer does them, where does he send his patients to now. If he won't do a follow up now, he should be the one to recommend another physician. Sounds to me he let his malpractice insurance lap on this particular procedure. ( A surgeon friend of mine told me that it's $20,000 a year just for malpractice to do these... so do the math, they need to be doing a lot of them to make it worth their while!) If he won't recommend someone, I would see if there is a doctor who will take over on your own. You need to be seen by someone! Good Luck!!! Tess

I've been stuck and finally am starting to see the scale move! Another pound gone! Let's keep it going!!! Tess

I would find a contact person at Aetna to speak to. Your employer should have a number to the person who would handle their accounts. I had to contact them that way because Aetna is my secondary insurance and they would not approve me as a primary payor. But I wanted to make sure I met every single one of their requirements, so I had my husband talk to the human resource person and they gave me a contact person, and believe me its best to have an inside person to speak directly too, she has been most helpful... and I found out she had gastric bypass 3 years ago, so she was very sympathetic to my case! Good Luck! Tess

Thanks for the info! I'll look forward to you posting your recipes! Have a safe trip! Tess

The first few days of the liquids are quite an adjustment. I too had the headaches and felt tired. I felt better if I drank some juice over crushed ice to chew on, I know that there is sugar in the juice, but I felt some of the symptoms was from a lower blood sugar, and it helped in between the Protein shakes. Jello or italian ice is another option to supplement and alternate with the Protein drinks. Hang in there, it will be worth it! Tess