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:smile2: Isn't it fun to find treasures in your own closet...Just think, all year we will be doing this.....my closet has never been set up since moving into this house (we moved in 3 years ago and my husband did the closet! I decorated and unpacked everything else!) So...I will just take this year to hunt and purge in there! Now, if only I could get rid of his stuff too, so that it was all my OWN closet! :w00t: Congrats on the finds!... OK, so I know I should be taking it easy and today I have been out all morning...oops :biggrin2: But, I will try and stay put now.....right. :w00t: Take care everyone!:Angel_anim: Shelley the Itch

OK...I just read this entire thread and boy am I inspired BBK!!! Also, thanks for letting me know who the knockout redhead is at the top...Learn something new everyday! I remember when the apple pic changed to you and I thought..why don't they pick people who are really going through this! OK....eat my words...better than anything else! So, thank you for being you and sharing and being brave too! I have no idea what I will end up with but I know I will be healthier! Your before pics reminded me of me in some ways...size wise...so THANK YOU! Good luck with the revisions etc...hang in there! Shelley

Amanda, take heart...men just don't know what to do so they think if they pretend or act as if it is no big deal..then we will respond the same way and calm down....it doesn't work that way but...as said many times above...They just don't get it! Let him take you to the surgery...it is a concrete thing that he can do to show his support! Although my husband has gone with me to everything just about...when I was scared and worried his reponse was..."you'll do great..fine.....just calm down or quit talking to that board or everyone about it!" See, I'm the verbal one and he is the silent one.... Also, they are so worried in their heads about how this will change their lives...like...guys will be googling you...attention will be paid to you! Will you still love him?...You know IT IS ALL ABOUT THEM! Just take this time to make it all about YOU and let him deal with it! I am excited for you, your picture is beautiful and you are going to do grreat! Good luck, Shelley

Ezma I am soooo happy for you and hope you recover quickly....I hope you do not have to deal with the gas thing....good luck...Shelley

Hey Bandfan....I am your fan....thanks for all the support! OK...so, my port incision looked a bit oozie yesterday so I called the doc...had to go in today so they could look at it....They decided...yes they....that it was just healing SLOWLY...but not infected but just in case...put me on Cipro! I have taken cipro before for other infections and hopefully will NOT have a reaction to it like I did 2 weeks ago to the Augmenton sp?.... As for my outbreak of psoriasis...yes...it is in part due to the band...aka a foreign object being IN my body and my body switching on the immunity fighters becasue they do not like that something is in there...the doc said...it should calm down...as it is doing so now...and eventually be a distant memory...but what a hassle! Why does my body have to be so picky? Good thing I never got fake boobs because it would have most likely had the same reaction...So, in summary...I am to stay cool...relax...and let my body get over itself! OK...I live in AZ...stay cool means stay in the house! Sun and Heat aggrivate my condition....so, that is what I will do...read some books and veg! Good thing I am a teacher and not at school right now! I am glad I waited for my surgery to be done after school...who'd would have thunk that I would have a reaction! LOL..... Good news is I did loose more weight but Bad news is no fill on July 2nd as planned because my port will not be healed enough....oh well, in due time!

I have my first fill next week hopefully! I know it won't most likely bring me to my sweet spot but I see this as training for it! I mean, right after surgery...I was not hungry...now I guess I am in "Bandster Hell" but I am actually doing pretty well most days...I long for the day that I am restricted but as I take a big chug of Water and realize...oops I should sip the water...I realize that I am in training...and thank goodness or I might have just gotten sick...the same for when I eat too fast or too big etc.... So, I just hope I am not in training for too many months! It reminds me of training bras...couldn't wait and then BOOM BOOM...too late now...Now I always need a real heavy duty bra! I used to joke that I prayed too hard!!! LOL...... Good Luck and hang in there!

Too funny!....I have been just eating off DH's plate if possible....If we agree on what...LOL My problem is I LOVE grilled shrimp and fish but boy do they like to charge you for that! When my hubby orders I always say...get steamed broccoli instead of french fries...better for him and good for me...he hates it...the brocolli that is!

You also need to factor in that some people do EAT around the band...do not change their habits...so they throw off the statistics! Don't be one of them! Good Luck with your surgery!

Good Luck you two...I was only on Clear Liquids for the first 4 days and other than head hunger...I was not starving...then by the time I could eat on day 4 I just had smallllllll portions...the swelling keeps you satisfied...as that goes down it is just a mindset... Good Luck again!

Ddem....I think you are right on schedule....what everyone said is true about upping the cals too....I was in Laughlin, NV and I know I ate more fruit than I had been...hey at least that was better than the other options at the buffet....anyway, I of course was walking around and doing the one arm slot exercise but...I lost over that weekend! So, this week I went back to my pattern on the food thing and then I noticed I was up and down all week....I know I am loosing, it just kinda floats along and then boom it is gone... Also, the cals from the coconut oil may take some adjusting...Kami have you decided to not worry about that? I love the MAY POLE idea...very creative Shelly! Take care all...I go to doc tomarrow because my port site is still not looking to pretty...I am to have a fill next week and I want it cleared up from the reddness!

Good luck Ezma!!!! Keep us posted! Shelley

I use a product called Weight and Inches....the gym I go to sold them but then I found it online at Dietdirect.com.... They are Meal Replacement and low carb...I mix with Water (I used to use Iced coffee but am still not having coffee...yet...as per doc. order.....) Anyway, sometimes I mix 1 - 2 tsp of greek yogurt to make it creamier, I also use ice to make slushy...you can also add sugar free syrups like...if chocolate flavored I like black cherry or coconut... You can check out the supplement facts on the dietdirect.com web site...look at Meal Replacements and then pick weight and inches shakes!

WOOOHOOO Felicia!!!! Good Going! Here is one for me...I was never comfortable driving my DH old explorer because the seat was lifted and then the seat belt was like toooooo tight.....now...NO problem!!! Not that I want t drive that anyway! LOL

Great Job you all! Hey Kami...when I started my preop diet and all on Dec. 4th I was 311...I have only been banded for almost a month, but what I am getting at is you will be where I am in NO Time at all! I was 264 on my scale this morning! I am tickering what the docs scale says... but still on the day of surgery, I was 278 so I am DOWN!!! My biggest problem has been all the skin rashes I've had...I don't know if you all every caught any of my other posts but since like January I have been plagued by one skin thing or another....then after surgery..OMG it was like...just peel off my skin please!!! I had what I thought was HIVES...reactions to meds etc...Well, last week I finally went to the Dermatologist and I have Psoriasis! It all makes sense now and yes, surgery aggrivated it all.....at times under my skin folds I had it and it is called inverted psoriasis...It was SO BAD LATELY that it covered my head...I have to use this expensive perscription shampoo, head tonic and body lotion..all total about 300 bucks for the amount equal to a large travel size of each! They are super steroids...I am finally getting better...UGH...what a journey...much worse than surgery! So, my port site was rashed out too...Doc said no fill unless cleared up...It is looking better....considering that 1 week ago today I looked like I had the measles...so one more week until fill....oh please rash go away!!! Well, that is my new news...like I said, it all makes sense...and the stress of this Spring with waiting for approval, my job, trying to loose for surgery etc...then new medications... just turned me into a stress strawberry! I hope it all just calms dowm...ohmmm...ohmm...that is me chanting for tranquility...LOL By the way Kami, I am drinking the coconut oil and lathering it on me hoping it will help too! According to the book I bought about the blessings of coconut oil - it should help me too! I am trying anything... As for sticking to the eating plan...doing pretty good...when I go to the nutritionist on July 2nd it should be interesting to see what else they say..... Well, Carry on folks TTFN, Shelley

I am glad you have some time off now Shelly....I have been so lazy this week..it is heaven!

Felicia! Great post..we are eating about the same way! I am not hungry too often so stay away from white carbs bandsters! I fully enjoy my Protein shake in the morning at it lasts me for about 4 hours! Keep posting folks! Shelley

I did not have to give injections after my band but last year I was on lovenex, which is a blood thinner also, for 12 or so days. I found they hurt....then I realized that by swabbing with alcahol you neede to let it dry before sticking in the needle becasue it pushed the alcohal into the injection site...... Some people have told me they were on more blood thinners after the heprin in the hospital...jsut depended on your risk for blood clots?? Good Luck

My prayers are with you...and be glad they want to take care of you for the days you won't feel great....much better than lying at home thinking something might go wrong and then what?....Keep us updated! Shelley

You bring up a very valid and interesting question...when I go to the doctor next time I will be sure to ask...July 2nd is when I go! Let us know sooner please!

OK everyone, let us focus on the positive.... I am so happy that I did my best pre op because...my surgery was 30 minutes of me sleeping and the doc said it went great...so loosing that weight really did help me be the healthiest I could be going into surgery... Post op...is not that easy always...you just keep trying and stay focused....so be good to yourself...follow doc's orders...and relax....it is all good! Hang in there!

OH Gosh I am so sorry you two...I know that I would not want to face surgery again but I am praying that this is just a small glich for you guys and you will be on the mend again soon...and HAPPY with your bands..... I have not had a fill yet, and hope I do not have any problems... but I do know that surgery was pretty easy so if I had to go again...It is not life threatening...just a hassle! Good luck and keep us posted! Shelley

Glad your fills went well...mine is July 2nd...... Gas X strips that lay on your tongue like a mouthwash strip help me in times of gas!

Was it ever mentioned to those that got approved (and those that didn't) this having to have your surgery by a "UHC center of excellence/doctor of excellence"? My employer has an addendum or something like that...it had the criteria that I had to have been employed for 5 years by them, I have been there 24!.... My BMI had to be over 40 or 35 with comorbidities...:Banane17: Also, that it had to be performed at the center of excellence...which LUCKY for me...My doc is and is a preferred physician etc..:Banane52:. So, yes I guess it is that way....keep fighting and switch docs if need be..:biggrin: OOPS, I see you were banded..self pay? .I really found UHC to be pretty easy to work with...my employer is the one that had the specifics???? Good Luck :rolleyes2:

Thanks Denise! We are lucky for Lapbandtalk.com too for bringing us all together!

I have the little blender at work from Walmart....it is good for a small shake which I guess we should aim for....I can sometimes get carried away with the liquids and add too much and then I make a mess.....same with the magic bullet thing...my daughter loves them but I think I must add too much ice... If you need a small one the 15.00 dollar one s good and can sorta crush up ice... I also have a larger blender...I have burned up a few over the years! I have always loved Protein shakes for Breakfast.... I really never HAD a mushy stage I went from Clear Liquids to food according to my doc so I did not use the blender for mushies... So, go with the $15.00 dollar one, if you need more later...you can always take the small one to work like I did...I am also taking it this weekend to a hotel as we are traveling and I can make my shake in the room in the morning...use their ice too! Good Luck to you!