Paulax

Absolutely I have heard of it. I am an addict. The more I eat, the more I crave. I believe that the whole idea of low carbing is to attack the addiction head on by getting it out of your system. The only way to solve this addiction is to starve your body of it. I have actually felt the pain of withdrawl for 3 days when I strictly low carb. That is eating fresh vegetables and Proteins and small amounts complex carbs only. The wonderful thing about getting it out of your system is that you no longer crave it, and your appetite for other food is in control. Keep researching, it is very interesting.

All great suggestions, some days I am happy with an Atkin's shake or bar, and many days, I LOVE those Knorr Soups in a carton. My favorite is the Autumn Vegetable, directions, open, pour, nuke........One cup makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

I agree it is no one's business but your own. I think sometimes we feel as though we need to give all the details and that is just not true. Facts are facts, you have a right privacy and to use your insurance if your work offers that. No need to say anything further than you are having surgery and will require X time off. Good luck. If any employer asks for specifics, they are probably just curious or concerned. But they have no legal right to ask for specifics. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Hugs

OK, so now I am 207. I guess I can start to believe this weight loss 'miracle' but now I doubt I will ever get below 190. I really need to start thinking positive. What kind of negative Nelly am I? I guess I just really find this a miracle, after so many failures. I am so proud of myself for taking this step. I feel so good minus 72 pounds, I am just exctatic. To think of my body minus all the excess weight. I guess it brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes.

7 :heh:

Can't you just hear the music now?

I agree 100% BTW Gaffer, I have been chuckling about your profile, '$16,000 Man' for months now. Being that I am old enough to remember The 6 Million Dollar Man and all. Hey, you are pretty cheap in comparison.

GO LAPDANCER! I did 24 days of Clear liquids after my surgery. I lost a LOT of weight and as hard as it was, it was worth every minute. My favorite banded breakfast, ya, coffee, sometimes an Atkin's shake....

HA, I just reread my post. I change my mind. I AM a size 14 now and want to be a 12 at goal........... 5'11"

I say whatever works! Good for you and continued success.

That is awesome! Good for you TLBC patients. However, I must add that I paid 12,500. for my surgery. If I am right, TLBC patients pay 16,000. So I still feel as though my surgeon is justified in charging a mere 30.00 for a fill. Thanks everyone.

Sorry Denise, I just read your post about getting stuck. I rarely get stuck. I sometimes eat too much and feel like I swallowed a golfball, but rarely get stuck. Try to remember to chew food until it is almost liquid. Sometimes I forget this and swallow chunks of food too large to pass through my band. If you keep getting food stuck even after you chew to liquid, then be careful you might be too tight. Let us know how it goes.

I think the answer to that question is individual. I am one of the people who like a tight band. I have VERY small meals and they usually take a while to eat. I am full after 1/2 cup of food, which is what my surgeon recommends I eat at one sitting. I somtimes just have an Atkin's shake for breakfast and either a light lunch or an Advantage bar, again eaten slowly. Others have more discipline than I do and can live with a looser band. So tell us how you are doing with your fill.

I have found a few things online at www.torrid.com. But I warn you banded people not to buy too much. I have bought and shrunk out of a few new things and regret the purchase. ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL? So anyway, now I am waiting to see exactly what is necessary and just keep wearing the same ol thing every day. Which is easy for me as I am a mom at home.

Hey, I am ready with you on this countdown. 8 pounds to go for this girl. I also need to kick the sweets habit. I just got back from holidays, I had a few sweets. Now back to business. WHO HOO Here is my countdown. 8

My pants almost fell down. If I wasn't holding onto them they would have. I was wearing my admittedly too big favorite jeans, I was running and had to grab the waistline. :girl_hug: Loving this band.

Up til recently I did not have to pay for fills at all. My surgeon just started charging 30 dollars for a fill and 60 for a fill with flouro. I'd like to know what you are paying, if anything. Some people on my board are all bent out of shape about this, but I feel it is fair and others are paying more, especially in Canada. Thanks in advance. Paula Dr Leung Vancouver

You were right, I did not set off any metal detectors. I was eyeballing up the person at the 'walk through' wondering how one explains that yes, it is a weight loss device in my belly, ha, but my underwire bra didn't set it off either. Disneyland was wonderful, I rode all the rides with my 3 kids 3-4 times in a row. Autumn, I was VERY impressed with the fresh fruit available at the park. My kids headed for the pineapple every single time. I had a blast, and the only time I knew I was banded was at dinner time. I never ordered a meal, just ate off my 7 and 9 year old plates since they NEVER finish even a kids size meal. So that sure saved a lot of money. Also finally got smart and hired a taxi to take me to a grocery store where everthing was much more reasonalbe. So California Screamin' 4 times Maliboomer 4 times Tower of Terror 4 times, etc, etc, had a blast, laughed like a kid. The BEST part of the trip, was NOT weighing myself for a full week. One evening whilst running to catch up to my kids my pants did almost fall down. I was holding them up at the airport on the way back. They were loose when I left, and looser upon my return. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. Disney was AWESOME!

Thanks Julie and Molly, I am on my way. I love rides, never throw up. I am sure I can outlast my kids......still worried about the metal detectors however.....lol

In 4 short hours I am hopping a plane and heading the family down to Disneyland. Very excited. Now, please tell me I won't buzz the buzzers going through the metal detectors. Please tell me my band won't bloat up and cause me to not be able to eat or drink. Please tell me it will be OK. I guess I should take my band card hey? I'd appreciate any advice on travelling, and going on amusement rides for that matter. Thanks in advance.

Those teens were nasty and disrespectful! But they all grew up and moved on. HELLO SINGLE DIGITS.

Just checking in to say the scale is moving again. I had a fill to 3.0 and at first it felt very loose, but one week later it has kicked in and I am tight. Whoo hoo, talk about restriction. This is awesome. Down to 212 at almost the 9 month mark for me and a 68 pound weight loss. I am really excited to get below 200, so will work on that as my next goal, don't care when it happens, expecting my body to fight it as I haven't been there for YEARS! How is everyone else doing at the 9 month mark?

Actually, the port is sewn to the muscle. So yes, it might 'smart' from time to time. Mine surely does and I rarely forget it is there at 9 months now. But the pain of being 100 pounds overweight is far worst in my opinion.

When I am that tight, usually a week or two after a fill, I drink Slim Fast shakes or Atkin's Shakes for Breakfast and lunch, and whatever I cook for the family for dinner, tiny portions. I inevitebly loosen up after 2 weeks or so. If you don't loosen up then go get a slight unfill, but if you are anything like me, it will loosen up.

Would someone explain 'dialation'. Is that where the pouch stretches, or that some of the lower stomach comes above the band? If it is stretched, I don't understand how a few days of liquids would shrink the stoma. On that other hand, what do I know...ha, just curious. Thanks. Interesting information.