Buffie

I'm definitely on the flip side from the rest of you. My sugars were completely normal for my entire life as a morbildy obese person, as well as my cholesterol. After I dropped 75 lbs with my band, BOOM, type II diabetes set in and my cholesterol rose along side it. I definitely couldn't control it with diet alone, I was on Metformin/Avandia and that wasn't enough, so now I'm on long-acting insulin as well as Metformin (dropped the Avandia) and Lipitor. My doctors are baffled, I've since lost another 30 pounds and I've become more and more insulin resistant. I hate hate HATE diabetes, it's like an annoying monkey on my back constantly. My docs figure it was something that would have happened whether I was fat or not, whether I lost a hundred pounds or not, it's genetics in my case. What a pisser :wink2:

Hi there, thanks in advance for looking at my question. I am wondering if there is such a surgery as a calf lift? I'm almost at goal and going for brachioplasty and breast augmentation next month. I carried a LOT of weight on my legs/calves and developed a lot of stretch marks on the backs of my calves. I have floppy calves now, just like my arms! If there is such a surgery, what does it entail and what kind of scars are involved? Thank you!

Hiya, I know this is dudes only, but YES, I'M COLD ALL THE TIME TOO!!!!! Just had to comment.

Hi everyone, It's nice to see a Feb/Mar PS thread! I'm going for breast augmentation/brachioplasty in either February or March, I don't have a date yet. I'm going to post before/after pics, I'm a little worried about that, but I also COMPLETELY appreciate PS pics that are posted on here so I feel like I should share. Thanks for starting this thread! Buffie

Congratulations!! You've done an amazing job and must feel so proud! I hope I can be there some day soon.

<p>Enterprise, you look amazing and beautiful. I'm terrified about my arm lift/breast augmentation coming up next month, especially the arm lift. Youre arms look great, really nice. Thank you so much for posting your journey and especially your private pictures. I'll probably do the same after I get my surgery date.</p>

Just wanted to let anyone know that the pinapple juice did the trick, I couldn't believe it. I could feel the obstuction sort of dissolve it's way through the band. It worked and I was VERY relieved. Thanks again!

I've never posted my pics before so I thought I'd show my progress, I LOVE this thread, it's so inspirational. This thread helped me make my decision for the band in the first place! I have next to no before pictures of myself, which I'm sure is common with a lot of you as well.

I'm stuck right now, I had no clue about pineapple juice. I'm sending my dh to get some now. I had a fill yesterday (0.1 cc, MAN at this point even the smallest fill makes a HUGE difference) and I'm finding my band to be too tight. I'm going to try the pineapple juice and see if it helps. Thanks for the tip.

I'm sitting here looking at your pics and I'm feeling scared SH***LESS for this surgery in a couple of months. I remember the drains all too well from my TT and how awful it was when they were pulled out. You look GREAT, it will all be so worth it in the end. I think I'm going to have to ship my kids to my parents' house for a few days after surgery. Do you feel like you were good to go home the same day? I'm having breast augmentation at the same time and it's a day surgery. I have no clue what the breast augmentation will be like, I'm not having a lift so it shouldn't be too bad, I believe the implants will be placed over the muscle so the recovery won't be as bad (or so I've heard anyway). When do the full length arm bandages come off? Hang in there!!

Best of luck to you Enterprise, I wish you a speedy recovery!

WOW JULIE. You look amazing and are such an inspiration to SO many. Thank you SO much for posting your surgery pics, I'm going for brachioplasty and breast augmentation in March/April 08 and am a little nervous about the arm lift. Your pictures and posts have given me an honest picture of what I'm getting in to. Thanks again and you are absolutely beautiful. Buffie

I'm sorry for the loss of your "friend", but WHAT THE HELL?? I think she wants to continue being the "skinny one" and is threatened by your success. A true friend loves you for all your diets, successes, failures, weight losses and gains. I can't imagine how you can get your head around that absurd e-mail. Move on girl! She'll just complicate your life with too much drama. Surround yourself with people who encourage your success, not make you feel guilty for your success!

Hi Doddie, yes I do work at a hospital in S'toon. We corresponded a few times. You're doing GREAT!!!! Congratulations! I spoke at great lengths with my family doc yesterday about what my goal weight should be. She informed me that 160 is not likely going to work for me because of my body structure, she told me that 10 pounds more will be enough. So I'm setting my goal at 175 and if I hit 170 I'll be satisfied. At the rate I'm going now it'll take me 10 years to get there anyway! I went for a .1 cc fill Friday and I'm going for another one next week. I'm just not getting enough restriction at this point. Anyway, how have you been doing Doddie?

When I called TLBC last week and asked about the 10cc Midband I was told it holds 12 cc. What? I don't get it. How can a 10 cc band hold 12 cc?? I asked the nurse 3 times and she said all 3 times it holds 12 cc.

Thanks Maria, Loriely and Peaches. I KNOW I'm not drinking enough Water. So has anyone heard anything about artificial sweeteners and if they affect WL? I drink SF Kool-Aid and Crystal Lite every day, a couple of times a day. Do you take in a lot of artificial sweeteners and do you think they make any difference? I hope you're all feeling and doing well! Buffie

Hi everyone, I was banded June/06 at the TLBC and have been thrilled with my results so far. I live in SK and have never been back to the clinic since the day of my surgery, I WISH I could go to the X-mas event this year. My family doc does my fills and has never had any problems. My problem now is that I am on a HEINOUS PLATEAU. I can't get the scale to budge, I use a Bodybugg, I work our every single day (90 mins cardio including jogging and walking, bicycling) and weight training every second day. I'm happy with the weight I am now, I just want to push myself further. I'm going for another fill tomorrow, hopefully this will help. I've been too tight in the past and I don't want to go there again, but at this point I'm desperate!! I'm going for an arm lift and breast augmentation in Mar/Apr/08 and want to get 15-20 more pounds off before then. My body has learned to burn calories very efficiently (which I've learned from my Bodybugg) and I burn much less energy while working out than I used to. If anyone has any words of wisdom about the evil plateau issue, please advise! Thanks!

Hey LivingtheDream, According to my BB, I burn 2600-2800 cals/day, that is with 1 hour and 20 mins of hard cardio and weight training every second day, on top of working full time and running after a 3 and 8 year old in the evenings after work. I'm taking around 12,000 steps per day. To lose 3 lbs/week I am allowed to consume 1150 cals/day with the BB, and I have to expend 2650 per day. My calorie burning pace as definitely slowed with my weight loss. I'm down 100 lbs, 20-30 to go, and it's getting harder and harder for me drop weight. Your metabolism adjusts to your new body weight, you have to trick your body to keep losing by changing up your daily exercise routine and tinkering with your calorie intake. I'm at a serious plateau right now and having a hard time breaking out of it. After surgery I had absolutely no problems losing weight quickly, maybe doing half the work I'm doing now and consuming the same amount of calories, maybe even more. Of course all this is what is happening with ME, I'm sure other people have different circumstances. I hope this helps, good luck with your surgery!! Buffie

Thanks for the link B.

Hey everyone, LOVE my BB so far. I'm on strike at work and walking the picket line for 4 hours every day, I'm averaging around 17,000-18,000 steps/day and that's before going to the gym. I guess going on strike isn't so bad for someone trying to drop weight. Does anyone know how to enter just a straight calorie meal? I haven't had my consultation yet. We ate out last night and I just wanted to estimate the calories but couldn't figure out how. Is that possible? Thanks! Buffie

Way to go Linda!!! You're on your way! Hugs and love!

Yah, I was also wondering about the daily calorie thing, mine says I should have 1700/day, that seems a little high doesn't it? Can you change that? I'm absolutely LOVING this thing, I love the graph. It definitely is making me keep my calories/exercise in check.

Hey everyone, I've been lurking in here for awhile. I got my BB yesterday (I live in Canada and was COMPLETELY screwed on the price AND at the border, but I think it will be worth it. I couldn't order through 24hourfitness, I had to go direct from Apex) and I LOVE this thing. The watch is on it's way. Thanks to all for all the posts, this place has been SUCH a support for me before and after surgery, I don't know what I would have done without it.

<p>I thought about this a lot before surgery, clothes were a big thing for me too and they still are. Now that I'm getting closer to my goal it's the little things that mean the most to me. Things like being able to cross my legs comfortably, fitting in the car comfortably, being able to bounce up the stairs instead of being in pain while I drag my big butt up, and the BIG one for me is my legs not rubbing and slamming together when I walk. It's amazing how easy it is to just walk now without that, I can jog now, which is a miracle in itself. Good luck to all of you!</p>

Linda! You have a date! Congratulations on your decision, you're on your way. I'm nervous and scared for you, but also VERY excited for you. I'm into a size 11 pant now. Size 11???? I can't even believe I'm saying that. I was a size 24 before I started my pre-op diet. Just remember that no matter what happens, good or bad, you're doing everything in your power to be happy, healthy and full of life again. Not only for yourself, but for your family as well. I'll give you a call at some point before your surgery, I have a HUUGGGGEEEE favor to ask of you about a X-mas gift for Eva that's not available in Canada. It's a Littlest Pet Shop VIP stuffed animal or something, I'll find out and give you a call. I also would REALLY love it if you could bring me a couple of those awesome banana holders next time you come up! I'm so excited for you that I have butterflies!!! Take care, love you, we'll talk soon. Buffie