Cindy C

I get pain in my port area if I over eat. Eventually the pain subsides.

I just went to Android Market to search for apps. I typed in' lap band talk' and the first hit I got was for the movie DUMBO!

I'll vote for you....especially after watching last night's debate!

When I get stressed I go to the gym or shopping or even to a movie. Anything that gets me out of the house and away from the fridge!

Prevention magazine has named the top eight artery-clogging cities in the U.S., and Detroit has topped the list. Detroit outranked other major cities such as New Orleans, known for its deep-fried foods, and Dallas, known for its barbecue. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Detroit has more cases of heart disease than any other major city in the nation, the magazine reported. And, 33 percent of Detroiters are obese, according to research. The magazine said it studied heart disease and obesity rates from the CDC to name the cities with populations of 200,000 or more. Other cities that made the list were Fort Wayne, Ind.; Lubbock, Texas; Baton Rough, La..; Tulsa, Okla.; Louisville, Ky. In Jackson, roughly 80 miles west of Detroit, the Community Action Agency currently is participating in a four-year obesity study. The study, conducted by University of Michigan and Michigan State University researchers, focuses on childhood obesity and ways to prevent it — insight that will hopefully lower obesity rates in Detroit and surrounding cities, including Jackson. About one in five 4-year-olds in the U.S. is obese, and low-income children are up to two times more likely to be overweight than middle- or upper-income children, according to the University of Michigan.

Good for you. It's all down hill from here! You'll be in Onderland before you know it!

Less than a week.

Wonder if you have to go back every month for a virtual fill!

When I first started, I was lucky to be able to do 5 minutes at the snails pace. I gradually added time, speed and incline and now I do 30 minutes at 4 mph with 6% incline. I go to the weight machines and then go do another round on the treadmill. Just do what you can and push yourself a little bit every day. You'll get there.

Welcome and congrats on your success so far. 91 pounds in 8 months is great. Keep up the good work.

Absolutely awesome! WTG!!

If you are having acid reflux and pbing you really should get a little taken out. You don't need to completely unfill. I had .5 taken out today (of 5.8) for the same reason. It made a huge difference. Felt good to eat without having to worry about it!

My doctor was more than OK with it. He thinks I keep my band too tight anyway. Plus I haven't seen him since April and have lost 20 pounds since then. He was kinda shocked my how thin I was. I will definitely be keeping a very close eye on the scale. If it starts to go up too much I'll be back in there in a flash! I did that the first 3 years. At some point I'm going to have to learn to control myself without depending completely on my band to do it for me. I guess there's no time like the present!

My out of pocket cost for my surgery was $2000. I saved that much at the grocery store the first year. While I spend a lot on clothes, I always have so that hasn't changed. The change is that I don't have to go to expensive "fat lady" stores ti buy size 10's. I can get them anywhere! Another financial change is my earning potential has gone up. Right or wrong, the fact is that HR directors are more willing to hire someone thin and fit than someone morbidly obese. Even if I hadn't had insurance and had to pay the $20,000+ it would have been a bargain. The benefits far outweigh the expenses. In the long run you'll come out money ahead.

I went to the doctor today with the intention of having .2cc taken out of my 5.8 until after the holidays. That .2 makes a huge difference and I just wanted to enjoy the holidays and my son who will be home from college Saturday for 3 weeks. When the doctor asked me how much to take out, I rethought and decided to take out .5 instead. My band is going to be sooooo loose! I can already feel a difference. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't gain!

Checking in at 171.0 today. I'm not going to hold out much hope to reach my goal for the month. I decided to go get some fluid removed today until after the holidays. Here's hoping I don't gain!!

I started dating a new man recently. We went out to dinner the other night and I honestly thought I was going to throw up watching him eat. He ordered fish and chips and ate every bite....5 big pieces of battered, fried fish, fries, slaw, bread basket....It was repulsive! It wasn't him so much as the thought that I used to eat like that that disgusted me!

Depends on the size of the barbell. If it's smaller than an aspirin it shouldn't be a problem. If its bigger you should probably leave it out.

Thanks, Alex. I knew we could count on you!

I received a suspicious message from mabar7. The profile had only been created 20 minutes before the message came. The spelling and grammar were horrible. Claims to be a female (although profile says male) from the UK and gave private email address. I received the same message a second time, 3 minutes after the first. I have no intention of responding to an outside email address and if anybody else received this you should probably follow suit.

Mark your calendar. I'm about to say something I don't normally say.....LISTEN TO YOUR HUSBAND! This time will be different. You're doing very well. 29 pounds in just a few short weeks. You have the tool you need to keep losing and not regain. Don't let your past failures get in the way of your future success!

Yes, the band has only been approved in the US since 2001. They've been doing it Europe since the 80's. I'm not going to stress out over what will happen 10 or 20 years down the road. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. All I'm sure of is without my lapband I probably wouldn't have lasted that long anyway!

What were your instructions? I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks.

I get those comments too. From my mother, my friends, my siblings....virtually everyone but my kids! The one that really got me was my lapband surgeon! Last April (the last time I saw him) he told me I looked great and didn't need to lose any more weight. I was still in the 190's at the time. Normal BMI for me is 125-169 and I'm currently hovering around the top end. I asked him if he was kidding. He's a weight loss doctor and thinks I should stop with a BMI of 28???

Listen to Corrigan. You should also sleep with your head elevated. Using 3 or 4 pillows will help with the nighttime reflux. If it isn't better in a few days you really should be seen by your doctor.