StrawartS

Ok, I debated whether or not to post this because I didn't really want to tell the whole story. I used to post on LBT under a different name. I was made to feel like a jackass by another member, got my feelings hurt, and deleted everything I ever posted. Then I changed my name and changed my attitude to try to stay away from situations which caused the first problem. Having gone through the whole deleting thing, I see the need to keep the option open. And I completely agree with Susan that anything you post on the internet should be considered temporary...especially in such a casual environment as a message board. And I mean no offense by this, but I think the argument that someone is deleting your work product is rather tenuous and pretty self-important. Again, we're talking about the triviality of a message board. I think we tend to get into these LBT wars when we take ourselves a little too seriously. That being said, if there's a way for the original poster to delete the thread-starting message, but to preserve the replies, that seems like a fair option. And I also dislike the quoting function. It preserves messages I wish could be deleted into posterity.

Ok, I'm going to hijack for a moment. On another thread, I got shit from someone for saying that I don't go to the gym because I know all the skinny people are judging me and giving me the eye because they're terrified of looking like me. I was basically told, get over it and stop being paranoid. I'M NOT PARANOID. These people do exist, and I wanted to vent because my concern was trivialized in that thread. Hijack over. Oh, and that woman was a bitch. Even Miss Manners would agree that it's possible to politely deliver a rude line, like smiling kindly and saying, "I'm sorry, I'm not comfortable discussing my health with perfect strangers."

What was the Da Vinci thread about? The book?

Paula, I would love to meet you! I think we'll do the next one at the end of June to keep it a month apart. Maybe we should just start doing them the last weekend of the month, which would make the June one on the 24th. I can host in June, and you and your entourage are welcome to stay in my guest room. I won't start a thread yet, but let us know if that date would work for you.

If you have more friends on LBT than in real life, you might be a bandster.

If you stop eating because your jaw is tired and not because you're full, you might be a bandster.

Megan, I was thinking the hoohoo one, too! If you know what 4 cc looks like, but you've never taken a science class, you might be a Bandster.

THE POTLUCK lunch IS MAY 27 AT 3:00 PM. PLEASE POST ANY FURTHER REPLIES ON THE NEW THREAD: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=201003#post201003

Houston Potluck lunch Saturday, May 27th 3:00 PM :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: Please sign up to bring one of the following dishes: Meat/seafood entree-type thing chicken Chili - StrawartS Crawfish Etouffee - Sallyjo Sides Crudites - JanetC and Mikey Deviled eggs - Ms. Vicki Dessert and most importantly...BOOZE! 1 bottle each Shiraz, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel - StrawartS Bottle of wine - Suzi_D Bandster-friendly dishes would be appreciated, and printing out your recipe to share with the group would be fun, too. Everyone is invited - band or no band - and any guests and family, too! Please PM StrawartS for directions to Mary's house in Spring.

Hey guys, I'm lurking. I lost one of my best friends last week, so I haven't posted much. I'm going to make an executive decision and say that our luncheon will be on May 27. I will start a new thread shortly for food sign ups.

Lady in Red - your replies are perfect - no new threads being started. If you don't want your post to be in the thread for everyone to read, you can send a PM to the original poster. I love your thunder comment!

My parents were like Alex - I was left alone starting at about age 7, and from the 3rd grade on, I was a latch key kid. Is anyone else a little creeped out that there's a LAW about this? I'm not a fan of government intervention making it harder for single moms and those who can't afford child care to raise their kids.

You do NOT have to go to Mexico to have surgery. My BMI was 30 when I had surgery, and Dr. Spiegel in Houston placed my band. I don't think any insurance will cover a BMI under 35, but no American doctor will turn down a self-pay patient.

Here's the problem with a complete unfill - it may take you three, four, or five fills to get to a good restriction level. By a year out, you should have hit your perfect level of restriction. After you get your unfill, even for as short a period of time as 13 days, your doctor will NOT automatically fill you back to your previous level of restriction - it will take you another three, four, or five fills. And at a complete unfill, you will not only be able to eat more than with a fill, you will eat as much as you could pre-banding...it's like not having a band at all. However, I understand the cultural implications of visiting European relatives and eating with them. If you eat like a bird, they will think you are rude and picky. But a year out of surgery, you will have learned techniques to be able to eat around other people and not have them question you. I know it seems to easy to you now to just fill and unfill, but once you have your surgery and go through that frustrating period of trying to find proper restriction, you will understand the gravity of a complete unfill.

Don't rule out the straw until you've tried it. There are about a million and one bandster rules, and you'll find out that only some apply to you.

5. This is my new hungry / full sign. I just need to learn to read it. Until I was propertly restricted, which took 4 fills and 2.8 cc, this WAS my full sign. I never felt stomach fullness and sent DeLarla more than my fair share of desperate "when will I ever feel full" emails. In my case, I think this full signal came because I was pushing more food than necessary through the pouch (because I wasn't feeling full), therefore constantly irritating my diaphragm. Now that I can stop eating when I'm physically full, a much smaller amount of food passes through. So...that's why I think the pain comes from being not filled enough. Everyone says that when you're unfilled you can eat like you did before, but you're still not supposed to because the band is in there doing SOMETHING (not sure what, I'll let you know when I figure it out). And everyone anti-RNY keeps saying that our innards aren't rerouted, but they certainly are changed. For example, if you can't burp or pass gas, all your extra gas is getting trapped inside your now compacted organs. I know when I had similar issues, I had sharp pains in very odd places. That all went away with a good colon cleansing, so you might consider something stronger than Benefiber. So how's the pain today (at the ass-crack of dawn that I see you on here)?

Oh well, to each his one. I feel the exact opposite when I exercise...the first few minutes are fine, and I feel like I can keep going, and then it just starts to suck. Don't feel sorry for me, though, I get that great feeling from a lot of other things, like cleaning my house or doing things that I'm not supposed to talk about in an unmarked thread.

And the very best one of all.... I used to be a Realtor, and you know how all Realtors have to have those cheesy photos for their business cards? Here's mine! I have about 40 lbs. to go to get there again.

Monet's gardens at Giverny...

University graduation...

And holding a stinky koala that later proceeded to shit on me...

:bump: :bump: :bump: :bump: Here's one of me feeding a kangaroo in Australia 2 years ago.

You know, Paula, I have to agree. I was beginning to think I'd never have one again! It's nice to know that my band is still in there somewhere doing it's job. And after the first couple, I know how to handle them, so they really ARE just small, non-terrifying, productive burps...no more 9 inch bubbles.

My secret bunny gift arrived today! My secret bunny only put her real name on the box, and I'm not sure if she wants that disclosed on this thread, so I'm waiting for a PM from Kim to thank her in person. I got a fabulous silver lamp with a beaded purple shade. The lamp holds a strawberry gel candle that smells delicious! As you can see from the pictures, the package was wrapped so beautifully that I didn't want to open it. Also, the lamp matches my living room perfectly as you can see from how well it complements the photo over my fireplace. Thank you so much, secret bunny! I love my gift! Edit - my secret bunny was Maggie63, and I just sent her a PM thank you. Thanks again Maggie!

Hey, great palindrome, Tommy! And excellent quote, too. But I'll stick to my paranoid excuse to stay off the treadmill.