Great2BThin

It's funny my quest to get to all 50 states started in elementary school. I don't even remember what grade. But we got this mimiographed (remember those with the purple ink and I loved to smell them LOL) map of the US. We had to color in the state we lived in and any states we had been to. I still have that map and said someday I will have it all colored in. Then I'll have to move on to Canadian provinces or Eurpoean countries or something. LOL I have 4 of the provinces so far. It helps being an airline brat. My dad worked for the airlines, I did and now my husband does.

Hi Indigo, I must be following you from board to board. I have eaten my way across America almost. I have this goal to get to all 50 states before the end of my 50th year. I have 5 left. Vermont, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Lousiana. I'll wait on the latter 3 til after hurricane season! may go to Vermont for a weekend soon.

The rash is a little blistery looking but not draining or anything and has these lines in it, she said it looked vascular. And skin isn't real sensitive which causes a little doubt of it being shingles unless it is in the early stages. I'm just hoping it's negative. If it is the RX is for the same stuff they advertise for herpes.

I want lobster!! with a little butter!! Maine is one of my most favorite places on earth. I just got home from a morning at the dr. and hospital trying to get to the bottom of my rash. Bottom line, they don't know. I'm being tested for Shingles as it resembles that but I don't have much pain in the rash. In the meantime I have some stronger RX hydrocortisone creme to put on it and an RX if the shingles is positive. If no improvement I am to call a dermatologist next week. They are confident it's not an infection in my incisons nor MRSA so I am relieved at that and JUST WANT TO STOP ITCHING I AM GOING INSANE!!!

Well I am finally back after spending 2 hours at the dr. and hospital. They are stumped on my rash. they say there appears to be no sign of infection so that's good. I saw the nurse practioner and surgeon. They then wanted me to see a dermatologist but can't get in til Wed. In the meantime they were a little concerned about shingles and didn't want it to get bad over the weekend. They sent me to the hospital lab for a blood test and prescribed the drugs in case, I am waiting to fill those. I did fill one for an RX strength hydrocortisone creme and that is helping the itch. They asked if I had chicken pox as a child and I had. They said that virus is dormant in your system and sometimes after stress can rear up, I'd say 2 surgeries in 2 mos was a little stress. So I am hoping it isn't that and gets better soon, if not I will call the dermatologist next Tues. Always something. When I got there a couple in the office commented, oh you are the rash girl. So now I have a reputation.

GeorgiaGirl, when I get the emails about replies to the thread, in that some of them are to the side, but when I open the thread on the web page they are lined up correctly. Are they lined up to the side foryou on the webpage too?? Weird.

There's an article in the current (summer) issue of Obesity Help magazine comparing the two. It came out pretty even. One difference is that the cushion area that is filled with the saline around the stomach, on the Realize it was a continuous chamber, in the AP Lap Band it was little pillows. No study yet though to see if that made a difference or not. I went with AP, liked the pillows, the website wasn't that big a deal I log my foods on dailyplate.com. But all in all it seems they are pretty equal.

Question since this is my first challenge. Does it start on Monday? If I lose before Monday do I still get to count it?? LOL There's incentive to stay off the scale til Tues!! :biggrin: Also how do I update? just copy the most recent list and change my info??

That does sound like a long time on clears only. However, there is a clear protein drink, it's called Isopure. It comes in a glass bottle and there's 20 grams per bottle. I preferred it over shakes, others don't. Its in individual taste. They sell them at GNC, also there are these big test tube looking vials that are 'protein shots', they are 3 oz. and 42 gms protein. I drink them 1 oz at a time, as there's something about the body not being able to absorb that much protein in a sitting. But they are a good source for a good strong 'hit' of protein and are clear liquid as well. Hope that helps. I know Bariatric Advantage made a protein chicken broth. I had it once as I had a sample pack, not the best. You can get tasteless protein powder and mix it in any broth as well.

Laura, Before surgery I didn't tell anyone besides my kids and husband. Since then I have when they started noticing my losses, that's family. Most friends and acquaitances have no idea nor have they asked how I am losing. In fact at 50 lbs they just started noticing. However, I still have not told my parents. They live out of state. My mom would've been real negative beforehand. And now after, I just want to surprise them when they see me next. They are talking about an October visit so we'll see. And, you are so right in that this is a positive choice for your health. I think us 'more mature' gals tend to be successful with it because we get that part so much more. We are approaching the age when all the health issues that go with the weight really start becoming more apparent. In my younger years, I was so what if I am overweight, it's not affecting my health. Little did I know how much it was affecting me, it just compounded and saved itself up to appear in my 40's. And by saying that I mean no disrespect to the younger folks. Many are very successful as well, and if they do this now and lose the weight, they will have so many more healthy years ahead of them. how I wish I did. I speak from personal experience, when I was younger to lose weight my motivation was to look good, now it's to feel good and be healthy. I've had a few health scares and it was enough for me to move on and take care of the weight once and for all.

I can't do bread. I tried a hamburger bun just the bottom part and that was a no go. Guess it's a good thing because nutritionist doesn't want me eating it anyway. But I have heard that toasted is easier to get down if you do have trouble, I've not tried that yet.

Fine on my screen too.

What are you testing? did we pass?? :tt2: Seriously, just got off the phone with the dr. office again. My rash is WORSE!! GRRRR I am to try benedryl now, I was to circle it with a pen so they can see if it's growing tomorrow. And I go in tomorrow. Dr. is in surgery all day today. It's worse than that horrible mosquito bite that just bugs the heck out of you. I feel like I am going to go insane from the itching. Anyone know what MRSA looks like? That's my big fear. One incision is much worse but a couple others seem a bit better. If it wouldn't be for that, I'd be feeling so good again. It's been 3 weeks today since Gall bladder surgery and next Thurs. will be 3 mos since banding. I want to get on with my new healthy life! At least the drive down tomorrow should be incident free, the convention is over tonight!!!!! The busiest section of the freewy in the entire state, is going to be shut down tonight during the busiest time, the evening rush, just for this convention and the fact they moved the speech to the football stadium. Glad I am not down that way today. But overall I think they've done a good job in informing people and providing alternate routes etc. And security has seemed top notch.

Very normal concerns or then again, maybe I'm not normal. I was banded in June and I still wonder can I do this. I'm down 57 lbs. and my big fear is still failure and gaining it back. I think it's my past dieting history talking to me and it's hard to forget all those failures. Just yesterday I was bagging up a bunch of too big clothes to take to Goodwill or possibly a clothing exchange my hosptital is talking of starting, but part of me wants to ask DH to just put them in storage for a bit. But then the more rational part of me says, STOP THAT STINKIN THINKIN!! :smile2: I paid big bucks (self pay) to have this done, I have a band in place to control my hunger and all the support in the world. I am not going back and I need to replace that thinking with more positive thoughts. Hopefully as I continue down this road the negative thoughts will become less frequent and positive ones will take over. Not sure my rambling helps but just wanted you to know, yep I think it's normal.

OkieChick, getting nervous before hand is normal. I couldn't understand it when it hit me as here I was so excited to get my date and then as it approached I started freaking out. I just told myself that I made this decision with a lot of thought and research with a clearer mind (not one freaking out before surgery) and rested in that. It's normal to get scared before any surgery I think. DeeDee, nope wasn't hungry til about the 2nd or 3rd week and I was on mushies and then solids at that point. Are you getting in some protein drinks? Beverly, you are officially in bandster he$$. My hunger did go away on my first fill for about a week. Then it was back and it went that way for about 2 or 3 fills. Now most of my hunger is in my head. I think it will depend on how aggressive your dr. is on fills. Hang in there. Okay now this is a rant: Is it too much to ask of a person to call and tell you they aren't going to make it when you make plans with them? GRRRR Tonight was a lap band support group through my dr/hospital. It took me an hour to get there. It was the 3rd time this gal and I had made plans to go to a group or class together, she cancelled the previous two at the last minute, but at least she told me. I drove an hour to meet her, and NO SHOW!!! So frustrating. I did say for the group and it was okay, but it's not a group that I will continue with as it's too far, I already go to a different one. A couple weeks ago I was to meet someone else for lunch for our 2nd try, she no showed the first and then no showed again. These are all lap band folks too. And after no showing, not even an apology or explanation or anything. Next time I said no. But I was really excited to meet some fellow banders (the gal tonight I have met before) so am so disappointed. Rant over.

I've not done a challenge before but this sounds fun. I really want to hit 75 lbs lost, currently at 57 so will make that my gaol. Name___________Start Weight __________Goal________ Lbs lost____Current Weight *****:cool2:***************************:thumbup:********:tt2:* *******:w00t:***** aJoneen.............223............213..........0......223 ahsem2bme.......................244........................225.....................0............244 Jodi_620............................196........................177.....................0............196 Leslie2Lose........................224........................209....................0.............224 livn4thm.............................235........................210.....................0.............235 Tess ................................ 304 ...................... 280 ....................0 ...........304 Caramia71.........................208........................195.....................0.............208 Luu2008.............................203........................183... .................0............203 mominlv13..........................299.8.....................275.....................0.............299.8 Long2bthin...................248..................230................0...........248

Ah, thank you Joann for the encouragement. I did go to the gym this morning, did 20 min on the bike and did the 2 weight machines that did quads, didn't do too heavy of weights though til I get clearance from my surgeon. I really liked the part about the cute tush!! Now why did that stick out over all the other benefits? maybe because it's been a long time since it's been cute!! :cursing:

I had mine out 2 mos after lap band surgery. Not sure about the genetic component as not a single person in my family, even extended has lost theirs. I'm blazing a new trail. :cursing:

I know I probably do have knee replacement in my future. I guess I am just hoping to avoid it at this point. Two surgeries already this year are enough. Plus I want to lose the weight and see how bad it is then. I had the injection series in June and that seemed to help a tad. I have another series that I will do this fall (have to wait 6 mos as well). I have an elliptical trainer at home that I do use or the recumbant bike at the gym. Also am going to work on some leg machines for the quads as that is supposed to help some as well. It just makes me so mad at myself that I let my weight get to the point that it's messed up my body. Who knows I may still have had the arthritis, my mom has it a lot but then again she's as overweight as me (or as I was). Also have a funky ankle and a couple fingers that it's starting to affect. They tested me for the bad arthritis, rhuematoid, but that was negative. PTL!!! One dr. also told me that I was on the young side for replacement that they don't like to do them so young (first time I heard 50 as young LOL) but I've since heard that's not the case anymore.

What other lapband board? Is there another place? I go to Obesity Help sometimes but find their boards harder to navigate, I get lost real easy! I have my gym clothes on this morning and plan on hitting the gym before the grocery store. Can't do much on weight machines yet but will do something cardio. Yesterday I went through all my pants in my closet and sorted through what fit and what didn't. Today I plan on going through the blouses and sweaters. Those seem to fit longer though as who doesn't like a baggy sweater? At least I do! But if it has a XX in the size or 22+ it's still gonna go!

I am so encouraged reading about knee pain getting better. I have a really bad left knee it is bone on bone arthritis. I've tried some injections and got little relief. It's my only disappointment so far with the surgery, i guess I was looking for a miracle. Bone on bone may not get better, but the pain is still pretty intense, I limp a lot. However, when I stop to think that before surgery I was taking up to 10 ibuprofen a day and now I take none that is an improvement, though some days I'd like to. So I am going to hold on to hope for more improvement. It's what keeps me from exercise. I do a stationary bike and do walk some but when I do too much it hurts worse. There's no water aerobics around so that's not an option at the present. I bought a bike thinking that would be good. It doesn't hurt much while riding, but afterwards it sure does. Sometimes I feel like such a baby but I am doing more and more and just read about strengthening the quads and that helps the knees so am going to check out the leg machine at the gym when I can do weights again.

Cathy, Way to go on almost being in onederland. That is a goal I can't wait to acheive. It will be awhile yet (see ticker) but I am closer than I was!! I don't have your energy yet, but look forward to it! I have more than I did. What color did you paint?

I had a hernia repair as well so maybe that's why I got the large too as he said something to that effect, can't remember I was still in a drug induced state. LOL I like to know all those numbers too. I figure it's my band, it's my right to know all I can.

I only have to be on liquids after a fill for 4 hours, then mushies. Tomorrow I can have solids. I had r/f Beans for dinner. And my dr. does seem pretty aggressive on fills. I got 4cc during surgery, then 3 for my first one, then .5 because I was pretty close to perfect then, but that didn't last long, so then got 1 last week and another .5 today. But I think this is the one!! Do you know if you have a small or large band? If it's the LapBand and not Realize, I believe a small is 10cc and a large is 14cc. I know I have the large AP Lapband therefore, 14cc. I didn't know either until the nurse told me. I just knew I had a bigger band. LOL I guess all the numbers don't matter so much because what is a good fill for me might not be for someone else. But I just like knowing all that stuff. She did tell me today the reason I have needed quite a few fills is due to my losing weight so well. There's a fat pad under the band over the stomach and as that melts away the band gets loose so that is why I was good before then not again.

Wow, Armywife, that's a long time to wait for a first fill. I am sure once you get it you will be less hungry. Though it might take a couple fills. Greyhound, congrats on the new smaller Capris!!! Apples, I was where you were if you remember wondering if I needed a fill or not. I got one last week, 1cc and felt pretty good at it at meal times, however, was hungry in about 2 hours so today I had to go in and have a rash checked on my gall bladder incisions and they gave .5cc more. I have a total of 9cc now in a 14cc band and I think I am there! I get solids tomorrow but beans tonight filled me up. I hope I am not too tight when I get the solids if so, I will have a tad taken back out. Congrats on being so close to goal already! That's awesome!!