jnbwilds

I've just started a video blog about my lap band experience on youtube. Actually I think I'm a better writer than I am camera fodder, but I felt like there were so many really great weight loss blogs out there (i.e. the fantastic Dietgirl, and hilarious Half of Me) and I only found a few lab band related video blogs. So at my doc's suggestion, I started the youtube blog, which I hope to update weekly. BTW - I agree about the blog area on LBT - this is a great forum, but not so great as a blog hosting site. You take take a little peeky at my intro video here. I plan to show off my pretty scars on this upcoming weekend's update. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NskJPWWsOSE]YouTube - BECCA'S BAND BLOG FOR BANDED BY MCEWEN[/ame]

Slurp, slurp (that's me tapping into the huge mug of coffee next to me as I type). Yep - my nutritionist said to stay away from the stuff just because it "can" be an appetite stimulant, it doesn't do you any favors in the heartburn department and caffeine just plain isn't good for us. So, after 4 weeks of going cold turkey before and after surgery, I went back to it. Here's how I compromise with my "new brew". I make either decaf or half caf coffee and limit myself to one large mug in the morning. I put half of a packet of carnation instant Breakfast, a tablespoon of Benefiber and a tablespoon of powdered multi Vitamin in the bottom of my mug, pour in the half caf, and a splash of fat free creamer. It actually is my breakfast (since band is usually tight in the morning and does not like heavy food). Here's what it does for me - first, keeps me regular since I've had some post-band stoppage...second, keeps me from feeling deprived in the caffeine area...third, keeps me full til lunchtime with the added inst. breakfast and Fiber. So far no problems.

Yesterday my husband said that my boobs now stick out further than my stomach. I must now take a side photo of myself to see if this is true - but if it is....hooray!

Please do join us! I've lurked around on other support groups on the forum, and honestly, this is the best one! (don't tell 'em I said so). If I hadn't had my surgery in February, I would have pretended I did just so I could join the double V's.

EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Becca MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: Husband Jason, 2 boys Brayton (8) & Christian (3) NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: Sam, the big dumb dog (black lab) and Cayla (the Sam-hating cat) I LIVE IN: Indianapolis OCCUPATION(S): HR Director (for which I get paid) / Mom, Housecleaner and Weight Loss Diva (all volunteer) AVOCATION(S): Reading (read 125 books last year - including almost all classics I had not yet read). Used to scrapbook like a mad thing, but golly that takes time!! FAVORITE EXERCISE: Ummmm....what was the question? Oh yeah...well, does makin' sweet love with my husband count??? I COLLECT: Dept. 56 Dicken's Village Lighted Houses. As a teenager, I worked in a beautiful Christmas store for a few years, and used to say to myself, "gosh darnit, when I grow up I'm gonna buy myself some of those pretty things." I now have about 20.

Jeanie, REALLY? I did not know this - but it makes me feel better. Thanks for letting me know - and thanks for checking out the blog!!

Hey Victorious Valentine friends! The video blog I have just started for my surgeon's webpage is up and running! I am so excited. My husband is taping these and we'll be doing an update every one or two weeks. Would you guys do me a favor? Go check it out and give me tips (I already have noticed that the type is too small to read well - this is probably good since only people with 20/20 vision could read the posted weight at the end. I've also noticed that I have an odd habit of tilting my head to the right. Weird...must stop doing that). I've made a list of topics to cover in my upcoming blogs - but if you have fun or unique ideas for stuff I should talk about - do tell!! I'm having my 2nd fill taped for the blog in 2 weeks! Yikes, hope the good doctor hits that port on the first try! Here's the link - hope it works. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7egdTwzlLxU]YouTube - BECCA'S BAND BLOG FOR BANDED BY MCEWEN[/ame]

Lori - I'm so glad it went well! I was thinking of you today, and hoping it was quick and easy. And the weight will probably drop off this week, since you're on liquids and mushies for a bit. I lost 8 lbs the week after my first fill!! (and then....got stuck in a 2 week plateau, but who's counting)

Ha! Beautiful! Who among us has not been filled with dread when approaching a turnstile? I have been to many a concert in which I had an awful picture in my mind of the fire department having to use the jaws of life to come get me out of the turnstile, while angry fans crawled over me to get to see their band! LOL!

Lori, Thank you SO much! I appreciate your kind words. And HAA! I shall show your comment to my mother. I agree - and wanted to stay in the chair, but she said I should stand up so people could see the rest of me. I think she was afraid I was hiding my tushy by staying seated, and it gave the illusion of being skinnier! HeeHee! Next blog I'll be walking around a bit, and I'm going to try to get the surgery center where I was banded to let us tape the blog update there!

Oh I send you all big cyber-hugs! You guys give me warm fuzzies! Thanks so much for checking it out - and thanks for your kind words. I'll let you know when the next one is up! (I plan to show my scars on the next one - eek! Must work on tighter tummy before next shoot!!) Plesae always feel free to give critique or ideas - I trust you all so much. You all are a safe place to confess, vent, laugh or cry and I'm so glad we are going through this together (weeps emotionally...likely pms related)

Angie - I'm so sorry about your break up with Micky - but honestly girl - you were so BETTER than him! He did not even deserve you, and I think you made the right decision. (hehe)

HeeHee! You're hilarious!

My doc didn't - since the surgery was so short - but they did make me pee before I went into the OR! I'd ask to have them leave out that step.

Further confession. I was eating an egg and cheese croissant while I was typing that answer, Angie.

But I have a really conservative goal - in fact - I'm going to change it right now! Watch that there ticker. And plus - that shouldn't mean I can be bad, should it? Maybe that's why I'm struggling right now - I think - gosh, I'm halfway there, why not relax. (hence the stealing of malted chocolate eggs from my children's Easter basket this morning). I've decided that there are just too many yummy treats on Easter - so I'm giving myself a weekend off plan to Celebrate hitting the halfway point (of my old goal). Here's my deal with myself - easy on the carbs and portion sizes - but otherwise, have fun this weekend and have a few treats. Monday, it's back to business. Someone ask me on Monday if I behaved!!

Holy cow - what happened to this poor "confessions" thread? I found it pages back. Does that mean you've all started behaving perfectly? Say it ain't so - because i've got a doozy of a confession and I need to own up right now. First - the background is important. Vanity made me weak today. I was feeling vain because I was wearing a cute new outfit of adorable 1X blouse with size 18 pants. I was also feeling vain because I shot the first of my video blogs today and it turned out pretty damn cute. I've been asked to blog my progress for my doctor's website. I choose to believe that I have been asked to do this because I am a model patient - the very picture of lap band compliance, positive attitude and steady weight loss. (no proof that this is the case, but I'd like to think so) Anyway - full of this vanity, I went off to volunteer at church tonight, wearing cute new outfit. We are doing lots of services for Easter, so I was there for a long time. food was provided for volunteers - a healthy assortment of deli meats, cheese, veggies and fruit. Lap band heaven you say? Sure - unless over the evening you feel so svelt in new outfit that you accidentally eat a half pound of cheese and smoked turkey. And, because my volunteering involved greeting people at the door (and it's a wicked cold Easter in the Midwest , my friends) I felt justified in ordering a hot Black Forest cafe mocha from our coffee bar. Nice. I came home and confessed to my husband - feeling sick to my stomach and guilty, guilty, guilty. "I ate a ton tonight" I say. He smiles, "That's very naughty" he says. I reply, "Yes...I'm a bad girl." He grins again, "A very bad girl." Clearly this conversation is doing nothing to hold me accountable. Later same night - I'm hosting an Easter Breakfast tomorrow for friends, so I'm preparing by cooking 3 lbs of bacon tonight, so that tomorrow I can just warm it up. While DH and children are busy playing video games, I sneak bites of bacon, telling myself that I am just eating the burnt bits. The dog sits nearby me with a shaming look on his face, which says, "If that was really burnt you'd give it to me....and hey - aren't you on some sort of diet?" I tell the dog to shut up and nibble bacon until my stomach starts to gurgle in protest. I think between 3pm and 10pm today, I have likely eaten 2000 calories. More than I've eaten in 3 days over the last few months probably. Now don't reply and tell me it's ok - and that everyone falls off the wagon. I need accountability! Tell me I'm completely out of line and deserve to have nothing but Atkins shakes for 3 days in punishment! Aarrgh. But I feel better having confessed.

I'm with you Angie! I had great restriction for the first 2 weeks after my first fill. Just in the last day or two, that seems to be going away. I've got 3 weeks to wait until my next adjustment, so I'm going to have to rely on willpower. Frankly, willpower is not a strength of mine. Last night, I had an incident involving baked potato Soup with cheese and sour cream, and lots of it. The embarassing part was that I was having dinner with a recently banded friend, and still I could not behave - even if only to be a good example. Yikes!

Hey there. I'm an HR director in real life, so I'll try to answer your question. Any pre-existing condition can impact the availability, cost or type of coverage you can get if you are looking on your own. As Jack said, the best possible option for you in group health insurance through an employer. Group health plans are prohibited by law from declining new eligible employees for any reason at all. If you are stuck getting coverage on your own without the benefit of an employer - absolutely do not omit any health conditin, including the band, from medical questionairres. That's insurance fraud and can cause you a heap of trouble. But think of it this way - you possibly had all kinds of health problems pre-band (insulin resistance, GERD, sleep apnea, morbid obesity, high cholesterol or high blood pressure?) Any one of these problems could impact your ability to attain coverage. So, assuming that you've resolved some or all of these through band related weight loss - I doubt you are in any worse shape to get coverage after band than before!!

I have a funny NSV today. I love taking baths, but I hate that my tummy was always so big it stuck out of the water like one of the Hawaiian islands surrounded by the sea! LOL! My belly was always cold and looked so stupid poking out of the water. I took a bath today, and the water completely covered me - tummy and all. Hee Hee!

Well, golly! I must have joined after this thread was started - because I don't remember seeing it. It's been so fun to see all of your beautiful faces and actually be able to picture who I'm talking to! This is a great idea!! Ok, so I'll give it a shot... Here's a lovely "before" picture of me taken this Christmas. I'm lounging in all my glory at my highest weight - somewhere in the 280's. I really like how I'm actually reading a COOKING magazine with holiday Desserts on the cover. Classy.

Yes...it will get easier. You'll get used to it and you'll learn tricks to keep the hunger down (blend your shakes with ice - at least you can chew the ice....drink tons of Water...brush your teeth when you're hungry) Also, you'll start losing weight which will give you motivation. Just keep picturing your liver shrinking smaller and smaller and getting you ready for a life-changing surgery!

Here's a few of my fav's... www.southbeachdiet.com Half of Me Funniest weight loss blogger ever - in my book Welcome to Webkinz® - a Ganz website Yes I know...nothing to do with weightloss - but whenever I am sneaking on my son's account to play games, at least I'm not eating.

Today B- Decaf coffee with 1/2 pk of Carn. Instant Breakfast L - Atkins shake D - 3.5 oz. baked chicken

Amen sisters! The work week is so much easier!! I have the daily menu down Monday through Friday. Either a scrambled egg or oatmeal for breakfast, a Protein shake for lunch, grilled fish or chicken with veggies for dinner. Simple - it works well and I don't have to think about it. But the weekend?? Watch out! Suddenly I have to contend with eating out at restaurant with DH and/or friends. And, I'm home with my little boys and I'm snacking on leftover Peanut Butter and jelly crusts, or a handful of grapes, or sneaking the toppings off a slice of leftover pizza. Yikes! Send me back to work!