barbara465

I love to fix sweet potatoes. You can buy them in frozen patties now. Yum and also as fries. My doctor has them on the list of things you can have. We also take them and bake them. I add spenda brown sugar and a little butter to mine. They are soooooooooooooo good.

No one was at the restaurant is holding a gun to your head to make you eat. I find it humerous that people are suing McD's for making them fat. They chose to go in there, eat that food, and in great volumes I might add. McDs provides a service. Bars provide a service. Bars don't cause alcoholics. They might make it easier for people with obsessions to get a "fix", but they are not the cause. There are healthy choices out there. I hardly ever stop at a fast food restaurant. I really don't think of it. We eat out a couple times a week, but tend to go to restaurants. They are just as costly as visiting a fast food restaurant, but at a restaurant I can make better choices. Sometimes I think people think it is easier to stop at a fast food joint than to cook something or search for something better for them. Its all about choices.

No she didn't leave the needle in. I think she thought this would be good. I did too actually. Then when I saw the barium swallow and it still going in at a rapid rate, I asked her. She said it was good, but she would feel fine with giving me more. I decided to take a chance and get more. I knew it meant a second stick, but they don't bother me. It was my choice. :scalesno: Remind me of that when I start to complain.

I drink up to 5 minutes before I eat per the Doctor. I don't drink during the meal and wait at least an hour after. He recommends 90 minutes, but I usually have something within 60 minutes. By doing that I can get my water in for the day. I try to stop drinking by 8:30 so I don't make so many trips in the middle of the night.

Glad to see a few more posters this morning. Please put your ticker at the bottom of your signature line for the Christmas Challenge. That way we can keep up with it. Went for a fill this morning. First we put in .5, but the barrium went through pretty fast. We stuck me again and put an additional .3 in. Now I'm at 2.3 so we'll see how that goes. I was able to drink the water same as usual and I'm now working on my protein drink. I'll do my 6 days of liquids/mushies and see how it goes. I lost 8 lbs since 7/31, but 4 of that was from a gain. I feel like I'm losing the same 20-25 lbs. They are quite pleased with my loss and think I'm doing great. Umm I am wearing a pair of pants today that I haven't worn in a year. So that is good news. My loss has been in strange places so I think it will be a while before I can go down a size or two. I really believe the water is helping. I think it keeps us hydrated and it is keeping me regular. I'm increasing my water intake every day and hardly drink crystal light at all now. I think the purpose of not drinking during meals is to hold the food in there longer. You should stay full a little longer. I find that drinking during the meal was a habit. I just don't put anything of liquid form near me and I've gotten used to it. In a restaurant I just order water and once I start eating I don't touch it. I haven't noticed that I stay full longer without drinking, but I'll continue not drinking in case. :scalesno: I really hope this fill gives me restriction, but no PBs. I'm looking for a nice weight loss. Have a great day everyone!

I think Dr. Felix Spiegel, Dr. Spivak, Dr. Matthew St. Laurent are pretty well known in Houston. Spiegel and Spivak have the most surgeries. All of them operate out of the Surgicenter on Main. I chose Spiegel. Look for the aftercare and what your money will buy. Good luck

I think the two choices that it narrowed down to were Las Vegas and Oprah in Chicago. Maybe, just maybe, someone is working on getting us on Oprah as a group. Wouldn't that be fun? Las Vegas seemed to be the next most frequent choice. I don't think anything has been decided and if there are more suggestions bring them on. 40 lbs down. That is great!!!!!!!!! There are many of you out there that have really had significant weight loss.

I think sometimes when people see our successes they think of their failures. It is difficult sometimes to be "happy" for someone when you have turned in to really look at yourself. Shrug it off. Be confident in what you are doing for yourself. However, remember, we've all been on the other side. We've seen others lose weight, get a promotion, whatever, and have felt jealous or sad for ourselves. I believe that is human nature. Sometimes we act like children - the its all about us syndrome. Most are really happy for you. They just can't express it. Now for my victory from yesterday. A young man that I met at work the first week I was here stopped me yesterday. I see him from time to time. I've been here about 10 months. He said I can't help but notice that you are losing weight. I said thank you and you are the first to notice. He said he couldn't help but notice. It was a brief moment, but boy did that lift my spirits. I can tell in small ways, but I still can't get in my clothes one size smaller. Its like I've lost and gained weight in different places. I have another wardrobe waiting for me, but I can't get in those clothes. Oh well, I'll keep plugging away at it. It was nice to get a complement.

I woke up with a little pain, but nothing I couldn't handle. Got up, did the barium swallow, drank my Water, finally tickled, and went home. I never took any pain medication, not even Tylenol. I had some discomfort moving from position to position in a chair or when I stood. I was answering email from work that afternoon and participated in conference calls the next day. I worked from home for 4 days because I didn't want the stress of finding something to wear. I was swollen, but not uncomfortable. I was hungry from the get go so I don't think my stomach swelled much. I am an older bandster, 59, and was not expecting such a quick recovery. I have chronic fatigue and fibromalgia and I did fine. Good luck to you.

WOW oh WOW. 58 lbs lost. OMG!!! I am turning Green with envy!!!!!!!!That is so wonderful. You look fantastic. I think I belong with the turtle club. I try to do everything right, but its slow. Well that gets fixed tomorrow. I'm going to say "fill me up". Just slap me if I complain. Big Brother is driving me insane. How can grown people act that way. :eek: I look through the live sessions and find some of the background that goes on away from what they show on TV. Its wild. Hope everyone is doing well.

Barbara you have me worried. I go on Wednesday. I hope she has more experience by then!!!!!!!!! I wonder what happened to the other one. She was good. I just thought they were bringing this one in because they had so many. This is the 2nd or 3rd "experience" I've heard about from her. She needs to get trained, but not on us! I have heard from the beginning not to eat soft bread, rice, pasta. I just thought it swelled in the stomach and that it was really fattening. I've never heard of the pouch getting packed and them having to do surgery. That sounds very strange and dangerous. I'll definitely stay away from them. I wonder if that was all she was eating? You would think she wouldn't be able to eat anything once she filled it up.

My doctor's instructions for lapband include the statement: No buffets! Why would you go to a buffet and expect special treatment? Go to a restaurant and order what you can eat, or go to a buffet and pay for it. Eat what you can and chalk up the rest to the convience of that restaurant. I wouldn't expect them to special price me for a buffet.

I haven't had any trouble at all. I've gotten to asking if I can have items a la carte since I can't eat much from surgery. Most don't question and are quite accommodating. I order what I want and make up my own plate combination. If a restaurant becomes difficult I'll just not go there the next time. I usally can find something on the appetizer menu.

Cindi and Dancing Queen - you guys look great!!! Thanks for posting pics. I guess we all should do that since its been 2 months. So get out those cameras and lets get going. I love the loop effect. You need to let all of us know how to do that. Linda, glad you are posting. I'm sure there are more Junebies than we know about. Its glad to hear from those of you staying in the background. :cool: I seem to be able to eat more and more each day. That really is preplexing to me. I wonder if some of my fill has leaked out. Guess I'll find out Wednesday. Just shoot me if I start complaining after that of being too tight. OK gang let's get the water in and the exercise going. I got off the bus this morning 6 blocks before my stop. The walk was not bad and it got me 15 min. of walking. I have a rolling bag so the weight of all the stuff I carry was not an issue. Any of you watching Big Brother this year? I am so caught up in that show. Its driving me crazy. Have a good day!

Love the pictures. We need to do more of that so we can all get inspired. DH party was a success. We made way too much food. DH won't have to cook for a week!!! I get a fill on Wednesday so I'll be off of food for 6 days. I drank 3 glasses of wine. I haven't had a drink for 3 months. I didn't eat much at all so the party was fun I hope everyone is doing OK. I know some of you got fills last week. Hope that is going well. I'm drinking my water and now miss it when I don't get it. Go figure! Have a great Sunday.

Aw Randi cheer up. Things will get better. I gained 5 lbs when I couldn't go to the bathroom. It has now gone. So will your weight gain from the antiobiotics. You need to concentrate on YOU. Your son has to live his life and make his own mistakes and find his way. Hard for Mother's to accept I know. We love them and their little ones, but they have to find their own way. Just like we did. Losing our parents is hard. I know now that both my parents are gone I find it strange to realize I'm an orphan. Being 59 doesn't change that! Remember the good times, but don't dwell on the loss. Let's get the weekend started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be good bandsters and have a fun weekend.

Can't you see it now - Lady gets arrested trying to bring powered protein in a baggie! She was on her way to Tijuana. Feds thought she was taking samples of her high grade protein to the border to see if they wanted to buy some. They really got suspicious when she was also carrying a spoon. No matches, but they figured when she crossed the border she could get some. After closing the airport for 6 hours the woman was allowed to leave. Bystanders heard her mumbling about needing a fill and what was she going to do. Feds didn't know if a fill was the same as a fix so they let her go. (my doctor says that you can NEVER get powder mixed up enough not to run the risk of clogging the band. Also can't have oatmeal. Makes you go ummmm )

They might be lifting the ban soon. If so, you might be able to drink your water and protein drink. Could you take protein powder with you and once passing through security buy some water? You usually have so much time before the plane that you could drink your drink while waiting. For some I guess protein bars would do the drink. Once airborne, water can be given out and you could mix then as well. My doctor doesn't allow us to use powder protein so not an option for me. I'm just going to plan around it.

Glad to hear from you Janelle. Are you going to visit some in Tijuana or just fly in and out? I can't believe you have gone this long on will power and no fill. Good for you and losing 30 lbs. Hope it goes well for you. Remember to take it easy after the fill for a few days. Mine is 3 days liquids and 3 days mushies. It seems just as I get on food I have to stop and go back to liquids for a fill. Have a good trip.

I have found that the appetizer section holds some good choices. I look there first. Next, I look for what I think I can eat from the dinner selection. If the plate contains something I don't like or can't eat I ask them to eliminate it or to give me more vegetables instead of that. My best plan is to share with someone. On a recent trip we were eating at weird times and at restaurants I was not familiar. One of those traveling with me was willing to share. It was so much easier. We each got what we wanted and wasn't presented with gobs of food. If that isn't an option then order what you can eat and leave the rest. In those situations I'm not so much counting calories as I am to good choices that will cause me the least amount of problems. Dining still should be enjoyed.

Dr. St. Laurent is out of network for UHC. I was going to pay $2500 out of pocket, same as Dr. Spiegel. He is a great aftercare program from what I can tell. I did visit him and was going with him, but at last minute jumped back with Dr. Spiegel. There was an insurance snafu and I didn't want to postpone my surgery date. I think most of them are good and its such an individual choice. You need to pick who you feel comfortable with. I wanted a surgeon who had a good track record for the surgery. Most of the complications resulting from lapband will have to be handled by other doctors, not the surgeons. So for me, the choice was easier. Good luck to all of you.

I honestly don't think we will ever see them. More and more of them in Houston are using the surgicenter for fills, etc. I think Spivak and Spiegel are more interested in doing the surgery and getting new candidates, I mean patients. This does not surprise me in the least. They are surgeons and the aftercare can be expensive in time and energy. I picked Spiegel as a surgeon, but didn't expect much from him afterwards. So for me I'm not disappointed. I think Spivak has a more caring attitude from what I read, so it might be a slight departure for him. Unless I have problems, the surgicenter works for me. I ask their advice about fills and talk to Patrice about diet, but that's it. If I want medical advice I ask my PCP. Most surgeons in other fields, don't have aftercare that lasts for years. If you get orthopedic surgery they may watch over you while you go through rehabilitation, but that's it. I think a great business to get in would be aftercare. We could have support groups, medical staff to assist, foods, etc. It will come you watch. Fill centers are just the beginning. This is big business. My PCP said she was approached by a well known doctor here to invest and come in on a new hospital they were building for lapband. It's not her "bag", but I told her to invest in it. It would yield a nice return for her. OK, I've had a perfect week with water. YEAH for me!!!!!!!!! I am definitely able to eat more than I want so a fill next week. I have about 5 weeks until my 60th birthday and I want to drop a size. Going to Hilton Head with the gals for some R&R, beach, and spa. Hope everyone has a great day!

Cathy that's great. As long as you are losing you won't need a fill. Your weight loss so far is phenomenal. You are really working the band. Keep it up and maybe you will never need a fill. I saw one on here who never had a fill and lost a hundred pounds. The first bands were not adjustable so it can be done.

Now I remember that lady. She was in the room observing. She did feel the hard spot I was talking about, but she didn't try to fill me. I guess she is the fill-in person, no pun intended. I heard them talking about how busy they were now. I guess all the docs that use the surgicenter are using them to do their fills.

Glad to see all those Christmas goals show up on the signature lines. I think most are being very realistic about their goals. This should keep all of us moving in the right direction. I was really bad last night. I had grilled fish and veggies for dinner. I really don't like fish so it was a sacrifice for me. Gordon's frozen fillets are pretty good, but fish is just not my favorite. Later I had some chilli con queso and a few chips. At 9:00 I had 3 crackers with Peanut Butter. Shame on me. I was hungry. I can't believe I did that, but I did sleep well last night. Needless to say I had called for a fill. I'll go next Wednesday. I needed to wait until this dinner party on Saturday is over and DH birthday on Monday. I need to work with some restriction and not my will power. At the surgicenter there is a camera they can use to locate the port. If they have trouble next time tell her to use it. They did that the first time on me when she couldn't locate it or it kept moving. She only poked me once so it helped. Hope everyone has a good day.