stevegoad

You've lost a good bit of weight. Congrats on that. Keep it up, and you'll get there. Good job so far.

Definitely congrats are in order. Great work. Nothing wrong with the "little goals." They are the things that keep up going to the big ones. We do it one step, one day at a time.

This goes back a ways, but yes... the Baptist church did (and some individual churches still do) have it that dancing was wrong. That did change, at least mellow, about 20 years ago (I remember a few years back with Baylor University had its first official dance on campus... there was an honest outcry to have its Baptist funding cut - it didn't happen, but the call really went out - there are still some in Texas who claim that Baylor went too liberal because of that). So it is true that it was against Baptist church rules, but it is not so much any more.

I had my 4th fill yesterday. The first did something, a bit for a short time. The second did nothing (except for being an extremely rough fill, hurting like all get out). I DID NOT LOSE A POUND IN THE MONTH AFTER FILL 2 The third was a pretty good fill, did hurt too much, and gave me amazing restriction for about 2 months, then wore off a bit. I LOST 33 POUNDS BETWEEN 3 and 4, though I only lost 2 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Today, after fill 4, I am feeling restriction again, drinking slower and feeling like it will come off more. (and the fill was the easiest one so far). After one day, I am down a pound. So it will get better. Just takes time to hit the sweet spot. It might be 2, 3 or more fills before you get there, but you will get there.

Many of us broke our pre-op diet on occasion. The two times I did, I didn't tell my surgeon, and it wasn't a problem. (of course, I have one of those laid back doctors who told me the day before surgery to go ahead and break it to have a nice "last meal"). The pre-op diet makes the surgery easier, but it is not a make or break deal if you do the best you can. Don't worry about it. You're good.

Well, I am not sure what your exact situation is. But first, I would contact your doctor's office and make sure about his orders. It definitely sound as though you need to clarify what he is saying. Second, after you make sure, I would do as he says. This group is made up of people who might have had similar surgery to your own, and it is a great place to get informaiton, but it does not and should not ever override your surgeon. Ask him, and then do what he says.

Actually, I was told to bring my machine with me the day of surgery, just in case I needed it during recovery. My doc said to use it the first night, and I have used it from day one. No problem.

Well, Susan. We are about the same age. For the first time in my life, I am older than the president (just as you are). It seems that he basically writes his own speeches. No matter your politics, it was an impressive day With that said... what the heck was that poem about. Our new poet lauriet did not do herself proud with that one.

I'm going to take another stance (playing devil's advocate, if you will). I will say beyond any doubt that it is wonderful that your husband loves you enough to be concerned. It is clear that he loves you, fat or thin, and only wants what's best for you. That said, going into this surgery is not simply a "me" thing... if you go through it, he does too. I know well that the only thing that is making mine work, and indeed, ,making me want to have it work, is that my wife is supporting me in this event. If she were not with me supporting my decision, it would just be a self-imposed hell. I would not want to do anything, even if it was for my good, if it meant giving her grief... because in the end, my life with her is not worth that sort of risk. So I would say take the words you get here. Show him that hair loss, surgery recovery time, etc, are not certain... but before your surgery day, try to get him on board.

I flew a week after banding... and again a couple of months later. I will fly again in August. Sure, there could be some restriction, but since planes are somewhat pressurized anyway, unless you are flying in the luggage compartment, it is not a big problem. If you eat on the flight, just be careful and extra slow n eating. But it shouldn't be a problem.

I love beef jerky, and eat it regularly. It is a great treat. Just eat it slowly (one of the great things about it is that it can be eaten slowly). I don't think I can say I would not survive banding without it, but it keeps helps me sane.

Well, while I have not been a fan of Patty's attitude, I will say that the previous Biblical Quotes and statements have a lot of textural and contextural problems, and are not good evidence of.... whatever the author was trying to convey. I will add, however, that if you want to use those texts out of context, fine... there are a lot of humans in the Bible. No one ever said people in the Bible, even those considered great people in the Bible, were perfect. But trying to "disprove" the Bible doesn't do this discussion much good.

Pretty much, the general rule is no sodas (like you haven't already guessed that). I can't say I don't have any sodas. I was drinking between 4 and 6 liters a day before surgery - I went from that to almost none in 3 weeks. Now, I will have a can of diet coke maybe once a week.(usually if it is a situation visiting friends who don't know about the surgery). It is amazing how easy it was to cut it out. No problems.

I can only speak from a male prospective - Sex is much better without the extra pounds, and the band causes no problems at (in any position tried).

Well, one week short of my 6 month anniversary, and I am down 77. It would be woderful that, when I get to Jan. 25 if I am down 80... but not worried. Just happy that I am moving on!

I went in at 6:00 a.m. Had surgery at 7:30 a.m. Woke up in recovery at 10:30 a.m. drank Water... pee'd Went home about 11:30 a.m. At True Results, that seems to be the norm.

I am not normally a cold person... I have always been the one who goes out without a jacket when it's 40 degrees. I am also the person who doesn't like shoes and socks, and is barefoot most of the time I am home. Over the past month or so, I have been freezing. Now I know it is a common thought (and I have believed a common misconception, though I might be wrong) that being fat causes a layer of insolation. But in my case, I am mostly talking cold hands, cold feet... I have actually been wearing socks even until bed. Lisa, my wife, has jumpped when I try to hug her because my hands are so cold. It is even the case when it's in the 60's outside. Since it is mostly my extremitites, though the rest of me is somewhat cold too, I am wondering if something is up. Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing... BTW, I post this with great apologies to those in the north facing below freezing weather... I know that you definitely have an external reason to be cold, and I feel for you... especially in July when it gets to 105 with 90% humidity here in Houston. Thanks for your thoughts.

Welcome-welcome Gus-Gus... Glad you're here. Good weightloss so far. Congrats! Don't get down. I didn't even come near my sweet spot until my third fill. Now I am about to go back for my 4th, because after 2 1/2 months, I am beginning to lose my restriction a bit. So just hang in there... you're doing fantastic!. And again, welcome!

Here I was looking at this one, expecting that it was about her recent confessions that she had blown her diet again (like any of us had doubted that one). So, she got taken in, just like book publishers, movie makers and lots of other people. If that's the most stupid thing she has done, oh well.

Great question. Wow. There are many options on that one. If my situation were exactly the same, with the exception that I knew exactly what the pains, the lifestyle changes, etc., that came with the surgery, Yes... I would still do it, because I did it for my wife and our relationship together. It makes her happy, and it gives us a better chance for a long life together. But without that single factor, I must add that I have been very happy as a fat man. I was respected, even though I have no doubt that, at 400+ pounds, I faced some prejudgements on peoples part. My work was respected, and when I would sing, or preach, or do my graphic work or whatever, people knew I was not the stereotypical fat man. Overall, life is good, with or without weight. But it is better with Lisa, and I am happy for my decision. So yes, I would make the same decision again if all things remained the same. If things were different, I can only speculate that I would be much more hesitant.

OK.., Patty. Let's get something very straight, from one Christian to another. As long as God puts us in this world, we are called by Jesus first and formemost to love all people. Jesus never told us to judge people, even if we think they are living in sin. We are just called to love them and, in doing so, set an example. Saying "I only have to stand next to them in this life" may be true... especially if you think that you can condemn them to hell. I personally believe that I might be standing next to a bunch of hookers, pimps, druggies, and yes, even forgiven judgemental fat Christians who have found grace in Christ when I get to heaven. Please, get off the judgement... it is not the seat that Christ gave you.

I haven't today, yet. My exercise is Water Aerobics on Monday's Wednesday's and Fridays, and when weather permits, my family (my wife, our "foster", our three dogs and I) take a walk, usually a mile or so, in the evenings. So yesterday was aerobics and a walk, plus cutting some branches off a tree and doing a remote recording session (a lot of exercise setting up and tearing down one of those).

Well, I haven't posted much on this one, but I am feeling pretty good... down about 5 in the new year, and it continues to come down. Looks like all you guys are doing great as well. Cool! Great work, guys!

I posted my thoughts on this one back on page 1 (or maybe 2, who can keep up). I don't believe it should be legal. I am sure my Christian background plays into it, but I left my arguements on the social level. I did this because I am a Christian. One thing I learned spending many years as a Christian, going through 4 years of Seminary, spending 7 years pastoring churches, spending another 6 years doing special ministry to people with mental retardation and autism, and spending some time doing homeless ministry and other "non-traditional" ministry is that you don't get anywhere using the Bible as an offensive weapon. Standing up saying "This is against the Bible" or "That is against God's will" doesn't tell people who do not come from your background anything. Faith is vital, and like I said, my beliefs in God through Jesus are the deciding factor in most everything I do... But using the Bible without taking the world's needs into account doesn't strengthen the arguement, only weakens the world's opion of your faith. Sorry for those who are not looking for faith arguements... I am off my soapbox now.

That is what I call an "Oh well" situation. She was kind enough to ask. Cool. She didn't understand, or didn't worry or whatever. Oh well. If she is a friend, forgive her mistake. If she is not, shoot her... (of course, that's a joke). Just say "oh well" and move on. Don't take it as a big insult. It is a pretty small part of life.