Turler

B I normally ride with Shimano SPD's. I use a mountain shoe so the cleat is recessed. I prefer that over road shoes (you know, walking like a duck). My cleats are small and double sided. Right now while I'm healing, I don't want to risk clipping in and not being able to get out in time if there were a fall so I am putting on the platform/SPD's temporarily. I have been on a bike for many years (was a mountain biker first) and I keep just love these pedals. They are easy to use, easy to adjust and I like the shoes a whole lot better. Some people don't think you should use mountain bike stuff on road bikes and vice versa, but now people are seeing the comfort in some of the mountain bike stuff and are calling them 'hybrid'. I've even converted the LBS owner from the road bike stuff to ones like mine!! LOL I had tried several different pedals on the advice of many, but kept falling. Made it miserable. I started to not want to go anymore. It put fear in me that I hadn't had before. The last fall I had upset me so much I told them all I quit! They had my old (the ones I use now) pedals on my bike that night! LOL I know it sounds ridiculous, but the gear you use can make or break your ride. Price isn't everything either. You don't necessarily have to have a big name or the most expensive, latest trend to find the right product. It can take some tweaking. I hope you found the answer you were looking for in that very long story about pedals!! Sheesh, sorry! ~C

We talked about it, and he is game so far! We need to be sure of our schedules before we register. He does care! I can't wait to meet up again. He wants to meet you too. Maybe one of these meetings he'll come along! Have you registered yet? (Lansing) If we get a break in the weather tomorrow, I'm totally riding around my neighborhood! ~C

I found some on a website. Congolese names are harder to find apparently. But for male: Lamia female: Makemba Oh my, there are so many, but those are Congo names. I found a site with a whole list of male/females names complete with how to say them and what they mean. Here's the link: African Names Birds are cool aren't they? They can be a lot of work, and they get really attached to the one who feeds them and talks to them the most. We had a Ghana Grey named Tieki. ~C

Oooh, good idea! ~C

Oh, okay! LOL I was wondering if you'd seen some of the pics people have posted of the scars. They are kinda high up on the middle of the belly. Of course, aside from the port scar, which is longer, it looks just like gall bladder surgery scars. If anyone asks, that's what you could say! I'm hoping that once I get to goal and am ready for a tummy tuck that my scars will be pulled down under the belly button area. Here's to hopin'! Will you keep us posted? I'd like to know where you decide to get it! ~C

It's the best. Was one of the smarter purchases we've ever made. It sounds ridiculous, but I'm telling you, the cats prefer it over the 'normal' ones (we keep several in the house), and it doesn't stink. You empty it when the container gets full (that's the worst part). My DH was pissed when I bought it, but now loves it! I'd like to get 2 more and just do away with the regular ones altogether. I heart my kitties and my puppies. All this talk about them makes me wanna kiss em and squeeze em! LOL So I've got Lily and Casey...the dogs Brutus, Baxter and Poopy...the cats

J, OMG, my DH just asked me what you decided to do about your pedals!!! I'm so glad you found a solution (even if temporary)! I love the fact that I can walk around in mine. It makes such a difference. I don't see it as a step backward for you, I see it as a solution! This may give you the opportunity to get more comfortable with clipping in and out and all that! So your GF and BG will ride together??? How cool is that? ~C

Right...I agree. You shouldn't have a lump at all (aside from the chest wall and that is only because there is so very little fat there compared to a belly). Anywhere on the belly should be sufficient and shouldn't show. How will you explain the 4 or 5 incisions you'll have mid-abdomen. There won't be anyway to alter the approach the doctor uses to place the band. I guess I'm confused. You will have scars from this surgery and they will show in a bikini or 2 piece. The port is inside of your body. It won't show at all. ~C

I think I get what you're looking for! LOL The excess would be the amount of weight that puts you in a 'normal' BMI catagory. The only way to get a true figure, is to find out your actual body fat %. Once you know that, you can do the math. You must have a certain amount of course, but once that is figured in, you will know how much you are carrying around that is considered excess. My dietician used a calculator and BMI to determine mine. So let's say you weighed 200 pounds at the time of surgery and you are 5'3". So that would mean your BMI is 35.4. Your want your BMI to be around let's just say 23 (well with the healthy range). To acheive that you would need to lose 70 pounds. That is your excess weight. So if you lose 35 pounds, you've lost 50% of your excess weight. I might be completely off base and totally wrong about all this, but that is how it was explained to me! Hope this helps. ~C

Yep...got 3 of 'em!! I love my cats. They are so funny and loving. Two of mine are always with me. If I sit, they sit/lay on me, follow me around, talk to me. It's awesome. They make you feel so special. Oh, and I have a kitty litter box that scoops itself. Now THAT is lazy!! LOL ~C

Doctors differ on port placement. I am a bit surprised about the amount of people who say they have one on the collarbone. Odd place for a LapBand port. The doctor would have to thread the tubing all the way up, make another incision and then attach it to a port. Why not just use one of the incisions you've already got (at the time of surgery)? I had a port for chemotherapy last year and it was put in my right chest (under the collarbone). Even heavy, it was visible and quite palplable (which is part of the point of putting it there). That 'spot' is typically used for those kinds of ports and I'd sure hate to have someone mistake it for an implanted IV line!! Eeks! If you are one of those people with a chest port, be sure you always carry something like a medical ID bracelet explaining that it is NOT an IV access (in case of an emergency and are unable to speak for yourself), but for the Lap Band! Good grief, that makes me nervous. I would prefer, and have the port come through one of the incisions that was already made for the surgery itself. That is how most doctors do it. I've heard that with weight loss it can 'fall' with the weight of the skin on the belly, but can easily be revised and placed elsewhere...especially with a tummy tuck! Love: You don't have much weight to lose. Good for you! If your doctor will put it where you want it, than go for it. I don't know how much more comfort you'll get from it there vs. the typical place. Are you wanting it there to hide the scars? ~C

Yeah...traveling can be inconvenient with pets. I just love mine to death, but my big dog always has to stay home. Lily is portable, she fits in my tote bag!! LOL Still though, it's much harder to have that freedom. Once our pets are 'gone', we would like to be pet free for a while. We'd like to travel more and between the kids and pets, it's an ordeal. We are almost out of kids, but the pets aren't going anywhere anytime soon! My mom just got a French Bulldog and absolutely loves her! She said she's a wonderful pet, and not yippy. ~C

Welcome! This is the greatest place! I found it a few months ago, and what a wealth of information everyone is around here. I learned so much. I think coming here was one of the best things I did to get me prepared for surgery. I was able to weigh pros and cons, do more homework/research on my own and find out things that the doctor's office didn't tell me!! I went into surgery well informed and very comfortable with my decision. I love it here! Glad you came! ~C

Yes, they have a flat face! But their eyes sort of bug out too. Pure bred/well bred Peke's don't bug out much at all, you usually see that with lesser pedigrees. I think Pug's are so cute too! It really surprised me how much I ended up liking the little dogs...I can't stand the constant yipping though. I could do without that. But I like the cuddle factor! :frown:

I got some 'post-op' pedals for my bike! LOL They are pretty cool actually. They have the clip inside, but are flat like a regular pedal all around it so you can choose whether you use clipless pedals or regular shoes. My LBS guy hooked me up because I'm so worried about falling while I'm still so fresh from surgery. Doctor said I could ride, but I've been leary...have stuck to walking thus far. Of course, it's sucky weather this weekend here in O-HI-O. Gee, what's new? LOL I'm glad you liked the video clip of my DH. He does not get a dog...darnit! I would love to have one and so would he, but he needs to provide 'back-up' to them, and also has to work in an office fairly regularly so it just wouldn't make sense. Anyway, he gets to see them all the time, but it would be really neat to have one here at home. ~C

So how many Rep comments do people have to leave you before you gain a point? ~C

Hello everyone! I'm an RN in Ohio. I'm currently working in OR with a background in ICU and ER for almost 10 years. I wanted to try something new, so I've made the switch to OR about 6 months ago. I would like to advance into management or education until I can go back to school. I'd like to either got to NP school or CRNA school. I'm struggling with the decision, but I know that I am not done yet either way! I am very interested in Legal Nurse consulting, but have really no idea how to get involved. Any suggestions/advice on that? ~C

Yes, I'm still hungry!! The doctor gave me Adipex (phentermine) to help me curb my appetite, but I only took it one day. I was so high strung on it. I couldn't sleep at all!! It was ridiculous! I'd rather suffer and be hungry, than not sleep! So I'm back to where I started. I do better on the days I work because I'm so busy that I don't have time to think about it. I can't wait for my first fill either!!! ~C

ROTFLMAO...Okay that was funny!! You didn't offend! Lord no!! HAHA She ended up in one of my daughter's homecoming pictures on her leash and everyone that looks at the picture asks me why I tie my cat up outside!!! Isn't that funny. She is the fluffiest little thing I have ever seen! How could you not fall in love with that??!! ~C

Jachut: Great post. I agree. Good point about role models. You are right, we should be admiring or rather aspiring to model our lives like people that stand for a good cause. Not just because they are a celebrity. However, they (the celebrities) are who we know. They are in the media, they are in our living rooms, at work, in magazines, etc. They dominate our everyday lives. We follow fashion based on what they are wearing and of course that is part of the big game that everyone wants a slice of the pie from. The clothing, accessories, haircut...and hey, don't forget you can even have their doctors!!! If you want boobs like so-and-so, go see Dr. X...if you want a nose like so-and-so, see Dr. Y. We don't see everyday women/men because they don't generate the sales. I can see why you don't feel particularly motivated to buy their (Dove) product. You already look like them (meaning we are "regular" people), so using their product isn't going to improve anything right? I think the campaign was a fantastic idea, but it's missing something. The consumer is always looking for some quick fix...something to make you look better, etc. You provoke a lot of thought into why it really hasn't been as successful as we all would've hoped. Kat: I too love reading your posts. You have such a great way with words. I think you are an amazing woman who has much wisdom at your age. I am so happy for you and all your accomplishments! BrandyII: LMAO-My avatar is a dog! Her name is Lily, she is a pekingnese (show dog). She is the cutest damn thing I ever did see!! Many have no idea what she is even in person...she is so fluffy! A lot of people think she is a cat! Cracks me up! I am a 'big' dog kinda girl, but she won my heart! GeorgiaGirl: I agree that striving for healthy BMI range is the best goal. I don't understand people who want to knock you down when you are happy. It's not right that anyone would criticize how you look (although we all know people do it everyday because we are fat, so why should/would it be any different when we lose weight and become thin?). You can achieve anything you put your mind to I'm sure. Don't let others steal your thunder! ~C

I'm glad you all agree! I am tired of the standard. Tired of the airbrushing, theatre make-up, hair extension, etc. etc. Beauty in this country (USA) is seemingly only for the rich/famous. Why can't these models, actors/actresses and spokesmodels get by on what they were given naturally? That is how the rest of us look---just as we are. There is NO WAY I can be convinced that everyone of them have such perfect complexions, silky shiney hair and great bodies. They don't even seem real. We can never look like that, unless of course we come into millions too! LOL That is also why I liked the Dove campaign. It's refreshing. I like seeing their freckles and curly hair, gray hair, wrinkles, crooked teeth, saddle-bags and all that baggage that WE come with! I want to see more of it. I think the more we are exposed to that kind of advertising, the better. Maybe we need to 'start over', wash the slate clean and give all of us a fresh perspective on what's beautiful. And hey, we should give a shout out to the women who agreed to do the campaign in all their true, un-retouched, un-airbrushed nakedness!! Woot woot! ~C

YAY!!! Good for you! Isn't it great to have these little victories? I'm happy for you! ~C

Thanks for the encouragement Id0008!! I know this can't last forever, but as you already know, when you're in the NOW, you can't seem to focus on anything else! LOL So you like our graphic descriptions of sheer, animalistic hunger??? LOL

More power to ya! I cannot tell a lie...I could never commit to that at this stage. I'm enjoying the changes and even when the scales stalls, I am not willing to not look at it! LOL You'll have to keep searching for someone to take you up on that! ~C

letschat: Hang in there! I'm so glad you're getting your fill so soon! WOW! My doctor said no fill until 6 weeks, period. BUT, he gave me Adipex (diet pills) to curb my appetite. I said the exact same thing...if I had all this will power I wouldn't need the band!!! ARGH! Keep us posted...and btw...don't stay away when you're discouraged, we are here for you! That's what LBT is all about! ~C