TheGh0st

Hey there you two. Congratulations on the surgery dates. How exciting! I Did a little digging out of curiosity myself and found the following thread that might interest you. There is another one I saw before that showed pics of both. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/realize-vs-inamed-50722/ - Realize's port possibly smaller than Allergan's - Realize's port attaches differently some sort of hook device vs stitching in place. Maker claims will reduce risk of port flipping but only time will tell. - Realize band appears to lock a bit differently. I'm no doc but my first opinion is I'm not sure I like how it locks. Allergans port tubing threads through the locking device and locks a bit like a zip-tie. Realize's doesn't thread through but has a similar hook like thing that locks it in place. - Allergan's band has these waffle like compartments that the saline fills up inside the band where Realize doesn't. Some claim the waffles reduce chance of slippage. - Some have said Realize has a wider band which is supposedly to help reduce chance of slippage and pb'ing (productive burp - a bit like throwing up but not the same) - Realize also claims to have a better interactive site to support bandsters after their surgery although I have heard that Allergan is also doing a major revamp of their website so that difference may become mute soon. Again, I don't know the validity of many of these comments or how much of the claimed benefits are unproven hype or just flat misinformed comments by other bandsters. I hope this helps. Personally I suppose I'd tell him to use whichever band he is most comfortable with. I know he has more experiece with the Allergan band but not sure if that matters either. Actually the band that interests me the most out there is a new hydraulic band they are marketing in Europe. It has NO PORT at all and the doc adjusts it using a radio controlled device. Sadly it isn't available in the US yet and even if it was its not like I'm going to ask them to go in and replace the one I have already. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" Good luck to the two of you.

I also have some found Abbott & Costello type "who's on first" memories from my college days when I kid you not my dorm had some asian students with the names pronounced You, Now & Soon. Yu was my roommate and her name caused many a confusion in conversation. Phone rings, I pick up and say "Hello?" caller "May I speak to Yu?" me "Speaking" caller "No not you, Yu." or talking to a friend telling them about my weekend. me "Yu & I went out to eat last night" friend "No we didn't." Then there was the time I was running late and my friend waiting in the hallway asked if I was coming I shouted "Soon!" and as he happened to be walking by he asked "What?" Then my friend getting impatient shouted back "Hurry up we need to leave, NOW!" and the poor girl who also happened to be just coming out of her own room down the hall looked like someone had just slapped her thinking my friend was yelling her name. I swear there were a couple more with names like that in the dorm that year but I can't remember them right now. Actually for misunderstanding conversations I think the hands down winner was the foreign exchange student from France. I was eating Breakfast with him and some other friends in the cafeteria one morning. When someone else joined the table and asked "What's up". He responded a perfectly adequate "Nothing." but after a couple minutes finally broke down and asked us why everyone kep asking him what was up? He said he could never see anything "up" out of the normal to know what in the world they were referring to.

This is so off topic but funny. My mother ran a preschool for years and between there and my actual school here are a few names I've run across as well. Richard Naylor Richard Wonderlick Rosie Rumph Harry Rumph Harry & Rosie are brother and sister, thier last name is pronounced Rump and to make an already terrible situation worse their parents owned a local plumbing company. But I still can't decide who had it worse them or the two Richards during roll calls that called out their last name first. At least Rosie was able to get a new last name through marriage.

The puddings I make are low carb at least by my definition. It has a bit more than twice the grams of Protein compared to the grams of carbs which makes it better than all the Protein Bars I've seen on the market. I just didn't want to be responsible for turning this thread into a thread where we were telling each other what to do about our head issues, even if I was only pointing out how I wasn't following my own past advice. I think it is good for us to have a thread where we can do a little self bashing without fear of someone giving us a tough love comeback on how what we are doing to ourselves is wrong. We already know what we are saying is wrong or we wouldn't be posting it here in the first place.

Good Luck to you on this journey what ever decision you make.

Wether you drink or don't drink during meals the MOST IMPORTANT thing to remember is DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING when you think you are getting stuck. By the time you feel stuck its too late for the water to help in most if not all cases.

I went ahead and created a thread on it today in the recipe forum here is the link for anyone interested. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/protein-pudding-recipes-53707/#post736533

I've heard there is a pretty good store bought one called Stallone I think, but I make my own. I have several different recipes. My favorite is to make sugar free pudding by replacing the 2 cups milk it calls for with 1-1/2 cups blended cottage cheese with 1/2 cup skim milk (or Water to reduce calories) I know it sounds weird but it really tastes good. It reminds me of pudding made with whole milk. The one I’ve been using lately is: 1.4oz sugar free chocolate pudding mix 2 cans of Low Carb Slimfast and 1-1/2 scoops of Protein powder. The entire batch has 680 calories, 76 protein, & 36 carbs. I divided it up into 4 servings which breaks it down to (170/19/9). Plus the added Vitamins & minerals that Slim Fast adds to the mix. It tastes pretty good as is but I usually like to put it in the freezer for about 1/2 hour until it starts to freeze then stir until it is about the consistency of a Wendy's Frosty. I also like to stir in 1/2 tablespoon of P.B. just before I eat it. That bumps the breakdown up to (217/21/10) but is worth it to me. Like I mentioned before my favorite is to replace the Slimfast with 2 cups cottage cheese & 1/2 cup skim milk that has been run through the blender until completely smooth before mixing with the pudding mix. The cottage cheese has a better protein to carb ratio than the Protein Powder and is an all natural substitute for those that don't want to use Slim Fast or Protein powders. The end results taste really good, it reminds me of my mothers puddings made with whole milk. It does NOT taste like cottage cheese in any way. The best thing about the cottage cheese blend is that it works great with all kinds of different flavors. I've used it to make the sugar free cheesecake mix as well as a sugar free lemon pudding. The cottage cheese also makes a thicker pudding which helps fill me up. You can change it up all kinds of ways. I've mixed in frozen bananas, frozen strawberries. A dash of Lime juice in the cheesecake flavor to make it more like key lime pie. A couple friends of mine also like to add instant coffee to the chocolate pudding (YUCK!) The nutritional data on 1/2 cup 1% Cottage Cheese is 14 protein to 3 carb and 81 calories. Approx 4.5 to 1 Ratio for Protein to Carbs -Vs.- The whey powder I have right now which is 21 protein to 4 carb but 120 calories. Approx 5 to 1 Ratio but more calories.

TommyO - :Dancing_biggrin:Welcome Back!!!:woot: I for one missed your presence on LBT. Things have been a bit dull :Yawn: around here since you left. Coincidence perhaps but true never the less. I nearly shed a tear :sad2: when I realized I missed saying goodbye in time on your "Goodbye before a break from LBT" thread.:cryin: Oh and I hope my last post wasn't too passive-aggressive for you.

OK I'm jumping in something I shouldn't here. Although I understand and basically agree with what you seem to be trying to say I can't help but point out the Dr she quoted did not try to claim that Global Warming didn't exist. His dispute was with the over-emphasis of the human "cause" behind it. You should have rephrased your comment to say "...doesn't disprove the effect of humans on the current rate of global warming..." My own personal belief is that GW is occurring but due to a combination of causes both human-related and geologically-related. Unfortunately instead of debating the percentages of contributing factors both camps tend to argue that the other side has no impact at all which is hardly likely.

Drinking with meals In my "humble" experience. I've found there to be two possible effects of drinking with a meal. One is where you take constant sips from before you begin to eat all the way through the meal. This type of drinking during a meal tends to dilute the food and make it pass through faster. The problem with this is first off I end up eating more food than I normally could before I feel full then I experience what I call the "Chinese Food Syndrome". In other words even though I do get that full feeling I'm starving again in just 1 to 2 hours (if not sooner). The other version of drinking with a meal is where you start off not drinking but then part way through the meal you decide to take a "small sip". This is probably the worst one as you already have food setting in your pouch then you take a drink and it just sits on top of the food. In most cases it really doesn't help dilute the food at all and you are liable to end up feeling very uncomfortable or even PB-ing. And it's never good to PB anymore than necessary for risk of a possible band slip. Picture a funnel that you are trying to put pureed baby food through. If you alternate adding small amounts of food and Water to the funnel it is going to slide right through. However, if you fill the funnel up with enough baby food that the top is over half full waiting to go through the funnel then add water to the top the water is not going to magically dilute the food underneath and help it slip through faster. OK the stomach is a living moving organ and the funnel is not but the principle is very similar. Not trying to be on a soapbox here as I'm often guilty of steadily sipping on a drink through my meal. But my weightloss definitely slowed in response so I am not advocating anyone follow my example. How does the old addage go??? "Do as I say not as I do."

You know technically I have heard of people who had to have their gall bladder removed twice. I'm no medical professional but you can kind of compare it to how the RNY patients stomachs can re-swell. The gallbladder is a holding pouch for bile that is produced (rats can't remember what produces bile right now) Removing the gallbladder is only removing that holding area not the bile producing organ or the tubing to the stomach so there have been cases where the tubing "re-swells" into another gall-bladder like pouch that can form new gall-stones, creating the need for a second surgery. That aside I know how you feel about fate biting you in the rear if you lie and say thats what you had. If you are determined to keep it mum, I lean towards the trying to say she mis-understood and it was just some routing feminine medical tests not a surgery.

Here is a list of names all revolving around the cat theme. Maybe you could use a variation of one of these paired with Ginger or Scarlett. GATTINA KONEKO HAYDARA ARIELLE FALENE SANURA NEKOCHAN You could also use the last name of one of the characters from Gone With the Wind such as Butler, Wilkes, Gable, Dalton, Howard... Of these I like Ginger Dalton

This may be over thinking it but how about Ginger Feeney Boo Boo Kitty was the name of Shirley Feeney's stuffed cat on Lavern & Shirley, so it would be a tribute to both your hair color and your LBT moniker.

Sure but this is probably not the thread to do it. Infact I felt a bit bad posting the comment about the puddings at all as this is a thread for us to vent our head issues not to actually tell each other how to "fix them". But I'd be glad to PM it to you or post it on a recipe thread.

One trick that use to work for me in the past was to make some tasty homemade protein puddings then freeze them until they were the consistency of icecream before eating them. I'd eat one most nights before bed. Then during the day whenever I was tempted to eat something high cal/high carb that I ought not I'd remind myself of the healthy *treat* I had waiting for me that night. Only for the last several months I have been too lazy to take the time to make the puddings to have on hand when I'm tempted. And telling myself if you don't cheat now, you can spend an hour tonight prepping a healthier treat just doesn't work near as well as knowing it is already there and waiting.

The one that is plaguing me the most recently is an old variation of the "I'll re-start my diet on Monday" trap instead I've been telling myself "I won't eat anymore... Valentines Candy, Ice Cream, Rice Pudding, *Fill in the Blank* once what I already have in the house is gone." Problem is once one pit-fall has been removed (via my stomach) another one always pops up.

I think any other day of the year the street vendor flowers would be sweet. It would show he was thinking of you for no particular reason. But on V-Day it seems more likely that he actually forgot and it wasn't until he saw the street vendor that it finally hit him that he needed to do something for me and just grabbed the quickest and most convenient bunch of flowers, no matter what they looked like. My beef with flowers from my DH has actually been more pathetic (on my part) I'm always pointing out to him the various frequent flyer mile specials that we get in the mail around V-Day for flowers, but he can never be bothered to figure out how to do it. Even though it is dead easy, just call the 800 # on the post card and give them the promo code. For some reason it drives me nuts that he can't take the couple extra minutes to figure it out when I've gone to great lengths to tell him I'd rather he spend half the money on a small boquet with FF miles than to spend twice as much for a large boquet and no bonus miles. (OK I'm a little flyer mile crazy but we are working to get enough miles to go on a first class trip to Europe and are soooo close)

Great list Hijabigirl I would add: Under no circumstances, I repeat under NO circumstances ask if I need another fill. If you absolutely insist on complaining that you thought I wouldn't be able to eat that slice of pie after the band then get your arguments straight and tell me off for choosing the pie over a healthy Protein rich meal not for being able to eat in lieu of a meal. And for Pete's sake if you didn't want me to eat a slice why in the world would you by that pie when there was no holiday or company coming over? Is there some reason you are allowed to eat an entire pie by yourself but I can't have a single slice without being told to go get a fill. (Sorry, I obviously am having some issues here) Other suggestions for just after banding would include: - Put a list up on the refrigerator clearly listing the different food stages. I went so far as to arrange both my cubbards and refrigerator according to when I could re-introduce various foods back into my diet. - If you usually do the cooking, try to pre-cook some meals if you are willing but make it clear that they are under no circumstance to insist that you cook a meal for them that you can't eat yourself. (Unless it's your own idea to do it ofcourse)

Hello Kitty, Congratulations, you are doing GREAT! There are differing opinions out there on carbonated drinks. Some doctors say no way no how and others just say take it carefully. The main reasoning I have heard against it involves the difficulty you might find in getting the cabonation back up through the band. I steered completely clear of it for more than a year after being banded which was some feat considering I use to drink over 10 cans of diet coke many days pre-band. I've slowly started drinking it again but rarely have more than one any given day and will still go weeks without drinking one. - I see you are from Glasgow. I'm from the US but graduated from the Uni of Aberdeen back in 92. I remember there being quite the rivalry between the two cities back then. I also remember one of my fav shows back then being Rab-C-Nesbit. I'm back in the US now but would move back to Scotland in a heartbeat given the chance.

The important thing is he is gone.

Cindy - I could have gone back to work within a couple days but then I sit all day. Would it be possible for you to bring in a bar stool or chair with wheels to sit on while you work? And if washing someone's hair is too much for you would there be anyone else there willing to do that portion for you? I'm from the KC area myself, small world.

LJM - my heart goes out for you. I can't imagine the roller coaster of emotions you are going through right now.

I will post an update eventually. Honestly. My PS's mother passed away recently and my follow up appointments have been justifyably postponed while he was taking care of her through her illness and now funeral. I ought to just see if I can't get my neighbor to take some updated photos. She had a TT herself a few years ago and took my 24 hour post op photos. I'll see what I can do.

It is open to anyone. I know one gal that came each month for over a year while battling her insurance company. You can also google "KCBandsters" to find a link to the Kansas City Yahoo Group. FYI - I am always pushing LBT on the KCBandsters as well. Honestly I probably get more out of LBT considering its size but I still love being able to make the local connections and friendships that KCBandsters offers.