~~Beth~~

December Diva's - I'm right there with ya! I was banded 12.30.08, band is empty and so is my tummy! Lets stick out together!!

Try looking at bariatriceating.com they have a large selection of protein, and 100% Berry Whey is my favorite and oh and the chocolate mint, and they have them on sale at this moment. There is also suggestions on how to use protein in food drinks etc. It has a lot bigger selection than GNC, but GNC is good if you did'nt get to order you items in time and need to grab something to keep you going til your order comes in. Good Luck with it, it was really hard for me to get use to the taste, YUCK!

Just curious, who is from TN - I'm in Tipton County, and would like to know just how you are doing, and see if anyone is close to my location.:tongue: I was banded 12.30.08 by Dr. George Woodman, doing good I think, can't wait til my first fill.

Yeap, thats says it for me.... Woohoo, I peed .6, according to the scale, or Woohoo that Protein drink added two pounds, etc. but, I only really count it on "my official weigh in day - Tuesday" but it is bugging the stew out of me, up - down, up - down, up - down. I think I tell myself that I'm trying to figure out what works better, and was does'nt. But I don't think thats working either!

Awesome, I'm glad to see at least a few TN' are on here! I wish us all the best of luck, lets try to keep in touch with each other on our Success to a NEW life!

I have to agree with KyBankChick, I also have Aetna POSII and just had my surgery completed on 12.30.08 granted I had to go thru the detail of six months, and alot of paper work, but they approved it with out any problems. They try to frustrate you because it is very pricy, but don't give up, start at the bottom - by reading the exclusions. good luck - and don't give up

I couldn't help it, I googled.... FUNNY - Vegetarians would have you believe that the "perfect" stool (that is, one uncontaminated by the consumption of animal parts) is the Floater. Many vegetarians have spent their entire lives in the Quest to produce perfection -- when in fact no particular diet can reliably produce Floaters. The vast majority of us bring forth Sinkers. SINKERS it is.... that my vote!! Sinkers really need a good P.R. person -- they have gotten a bad rap over the ages. Sure, Floaters are cute and all, but a good solid Sinker will never let you down. :sneaky:

Mine is all liquid.... is that still normal 14 days post op? **I agree, I don't think I will google sink or float, it would be funny thou to see what the bosses say, or how they would bring it up in conversation..**

Congrats to you on the band, YEAP, the GAS, it was horrible for me also. When I would lay in the bed at night I would threaten my husband that if I could pass just a little, just a little, I might feel relief. I think I scared him!! It did take about two weeks for mine to pass, but everything else was wonderful. Good luck! C-Ya around!

:thumbup: LMAO:lol: I love it, your girls ROCK, for telling it like it is. I wish I could spill more but I think its been said already, and who wants to be a copy cat anyway, right..... I'm new to this site and I'm totally loving it, band topics, off topics, everything, the more I read the more I'm seriously finding out that I'm normal, (physically heavy, but mentally normal) heck its the others that aren't, SO I SEND A BIG THANK YOU out ALL the thread starters, keep em' coming!:sneaky:

:tt2: What a chuckle I've had reading these stories, I guess we all have one or two that are just hilarous, I tell you, I have been laughing so hard, I shut my office door and my co - worker had to come check on me, he was worried! Yeah right he wanted in on the fun. I got banded on 12.30.08, and the first thing I said was "where the hell is my MOTHER-N-LAW" of all people right, the nurse replied... she can't be with you at this moment, is she out there waiting.... I said nicely "No, but if I'm in this much pain someone else needs to suffer to" I'm not really sure why I said that, maybe she made me upset before I went in or something. But, also when I woke up my sugar and blood pressure where sky rocketed high, and I remember when first opened my eyes I had two nurses on one side and one nurse on the other side, and they were all yelling get us this, check this, it freaked me out big time and stared panicing and of course the blood pressure was still moving up, I nicely looked at the THREE doctors at the end of the bed just standing quietly, with their lab coats on and funny hats, and said NICELY "Damn, are you guys gonna do anything, or let them keep yelling" well the nurses doped me up pretty well, and then my O2 sats would'nt stay up, and the nurses kept saying breath deep, after about the third time of her saying this, again, I nicely said "what do you expect, you guys doped me up with stuff to relax me, and thats what I'm suppose to do right" she replied breath deep hunny, breath deep, and I did for a time or two but would pass back out, and again, and again finally I came back too, and said "look, follow the Doctors from before, and be quite and walk away, before I jedi your A**" and I was out again. I dont' even know what jedi is.... but when I was moved to the next recovery area the nurses came over there and laughed with me and was telling me all this, and said they laughed.... so I guess it was all good for them

:lol:LOL - thats what I started in a "C", funny I would love to be in trainers, I think I skiped that part to begin with! Thank you so much for the chuckle, I really needed that one!

Ok today is Tuesday 01.13.09 and as we know Tuesday are my weigh in days, I've lost 2 more pounds! Now for a total of 16.8 pounds so far and much more to go. I was so excited when I got to the gym last night, I'm going by myself, with my husband working and Kelsi is grounded and Lilyan too young to go, I'm having to concur the embarrassment that comes upon us when know were over weight and we feel that people look, stare, whisper, and talk, I'm sure a lot of this is my imagination, but if you've ever been heavy and insecure you know the feelings I'm talking about. Any way with me now going to the gym at the busiest time of the day, I was so excited to see Alisa come in shortly after me, and I was able to waive, and then J.R. & Cayla came in shortly after that, boy was I feeling comfortable then, just the security of seeing them made me at ease, not that I now had a buddy to work out with, but just the comfort of knowing they were there. I'm now up to almost a slow steady run on my treadmill mile, granted its' only set on 3.7 but before I couldn’t even walk a fast pace with out thinking I'm dieing, or wanting to give in on it. But yeap, I’m putting my earphones on, pulling into the TV and off I go. I couldn’t and really still can’t tell that I’ve lost anything, until yesterday – I’ve had this gorgeous RED shirt (Red is my favorite for clothes) that has been press hanging in my closet for I tried to where during the Christmas season and the buttons in the breast area were stretched, so yesterday I was running late, as usually and I thought to myself, heck that Gorgeous red shirt is already ironed lets just try it and if it does great, and if not, well, its still pressed. Well low and behold, it fit and fit rather nice I would say, and I even had to tighten my bra straps this morning. So, I would hate to think that all 16. 8 pounds were in my breast, but the funny thing is that’s the only change I’ve seen!

Ok today is Tuesday 01.13.09 and as we know Tuesday are my weigh in days, Monday's are well, urrg - Wednesday are the middle of the week, Thursday too close to the weekend, and Friday well.... So I have chose to use Tuesday... I've lost 2 more pounds! Now for a total of 16.8 pounds (post opp) so far and much more to go. I was so excited when I got to the gym last night, I'm going by myself, with my husband working and Kelsi (my oldest) is grounded and Lilyan too young to go, I'm having to concur the embarrassment that comes upon us when know were over weight and we feel that people look, stare, whisper, and talk, I'm sure a lot of this is my imagination, but if you've ever been heavy and insecure you know the feelings I'm talking about. Any way with me now going to the gym at the busiest time of the day, I was so excited to see Alisa come in shortly after me, and I was able to waive, and then J.R. & Cayla came in shortly after that, boy was I feeling comfortable then, just the security of seeing them made me at ease, not that I now had a buddy to work out with, but just the comfort of knowing they were there. I'm now up to almost a slow steady run on my treadmill mile, granted its' only set on 3.7 but before I couldn’t even walk a fast pace with out thinking I'm dieing, or wanting to give in on it. But yeap, I’m putting my earphones on, pulling into the TV and off I go. I couldn’t and really still can’t tell that I’ve lost anything, until yesterday – I’ve had this gorgeous RED shirt (Red is my favorite for clothes) that has been press hanging in my closet for I tried to where during the Christmas season and the buttons in the breast area were stretched, so yesterday I was running late, as usually and I thought to myself, heck that Gorgeous red shirt is already ironed lets just try it and if it does great, and if not, well, its still pressed. Well low and behold, it fit and fit rather nice I would say, and I even had to tighten my bra straps this morning. So, I would hate to think that all 16. 8 pounds were in my breast, (NO WAY) but the funny thing is that’s the only change I’ve seen!

Omg'sh that it what I weighed in on my pre-op sugery date, and thats awesome on the weight loss, you have given me what I'm looking for, and est of weight loss / time - thank you so much! AND keep up that good work!

Ok today is Tuesday 01.13.09 and as we know Tuesday are my weigh in days, I've lost 2 more pounds! Now for a total of 16.8 pounds so far and much more to go. I was so excited when I got to the gym last night, I'm going by myself, with my husband working and Kelsi is grounded and Lilyan too young to go, I'm having to concur the embarrassment that comes upon us when know were over weight and we feel that people look, stare, whisper, and talk, I'm sure a lot of this is my imagination, but if you've ever been heavy and insecure you know the feelings I'm talking about. Any way with me now going to the gym at the busiest time of the day, I was so excited to see Alisa come in shortly after me, and I was able to waive, and then J.R. & Cayla came in shortly after that, boy was I feeling comfortable then, just the security of seeing them made me at ease, not that I now had a buddy to work out with, but just the comfort of knowing they were there. I'm now up to almost a slow steady run on my treadmill mile, granted its' only set on 3.7 but before I couldn’t even walk a fast pace with out thinking I'm dieing, or wanting to give in on it. But yeap, I’m putting my earphones on, pulling into the TV and off I go. I couldn’t and really still can’t tell that I’ve lost anything, until yesterday – I’ve had this gorgeous RED shirt (Red is my favorite for clothes) that has been press hanging in my closet for I tried to where during the Christmas season and the buttons in the breast area were stretched, so yesterday I was running late, as usually and I thought to myself, heck that Gorgeous red shirt is already ironed lets just try it and if it does great, and if not, well, its still pressed. Well low and behold, it fit and fit rather nice I would say, and I even had to tighten my bra straps this morning. So, I would hate to think that all 16. 8 pounds were in my breast, but the funny thing is that’s the only change I’ve seen!

I have struggled with my weight for years, especially these last five or so, well I have committed to myself to lose the weight and keep it off this time, roller coastering is wearing down my system and alot of health issues keep coming up, so for me to continue the wonderful life I have currently and to be around for the future, I have made up my mind. I hope that each and everyone will be supportive with me not just because you asked but because you deeply care. No I don't want to be skinny, if that is what you asking, I want to be healthier: So I can go outside in shorts and not be embarassed by my fat thighs. So that I wont be ashamed by my imperfections. So that I wont be thought of as one of the statistics of obese America. So I will see a difference between myself months ago and myself minutes ago. So I will have confidence So my thighs wont touch when I sit down. So when I moisturize my legs they don't jiggle. So my breasts would be more perky. So I wouldn't have to look for a bigger size in the department store. So I wont have stretch marks. So that I wont be the sidekick to my beautiful friend So I can have higher self esteem. So I can motivate myself to achieve any goal I set my mind too. So that I can fit into a size small rather than an average mediocre medium. So when I put my jeans in the dryer I want have to worry if I can fit in them again. These are just a few of the things that come to mind. A few known people say wait til after the holidays, NOPE, I wanted to do it thru the holiday to prove to myselft I can avoid the tempation of splurging, once that tempation is gone, I will be well on my way to my success. and I have proven to myself I can.... **this was originally posted on myspace blog**

I have struggled with my weight for years, especially these last five or so, well I have committed to myself to lose the weight and keep it off this time, roller coastering is wearing down my system and alot of health issues keep coming up, so for me to continue the wonderful life I have currently and to be around for the future, I have made up my mind. I hope that each and everyone will be supportive with me not just because you asked but because you deeply care. No I don't want to be skinny, if that is what you asking, I want to be healthier: So I can go outside in shorts and not be embarassed by my fat thighs. So that I wont be ashamed by my imperfections. So that I wont be thought of as one of the statistics of obese America. So I will see a difference between myself months ago and myself minutes ago. So I will have confidence So my thighs wont touch when I sit down. So when I moisturize my legs they don't jiggle. So my breasts would be more perky. So I wouldn't have to look for a bigger size in the department store. So I wont have stretch marks. So that I wont be the sidekick to my beautiful friend So I can have higher self esteem. So I can motivate myself to achieve any goal I set my mind too. So that I can fit into a size small rather than an average mediocre medium. So when I put my jeans in the dryer I want have to worry if I can fit in them again. These are just a few of the things that come to mind. A few known people say wait til after the holidays, NOPE, I wanted to do it thru the holiday to prove to myselft I can avoid the tempation of splurging, once that tempation is gone, I will be well on my way to my success. and I have proven to myself I can.... **this was originally posted on myspace blog**

Yes, it makes sense In some ways that is. First you need to get ride of the negative words "I suck", "eating like a hog", and "if I CAN'T", if you say these enough that is what you are going to expect and nothing less. Set you mind to "That’s awesome" "Great job" and "really" these are positive terms that you relate to with every situation you go thru not just weight loss. I would get discourage with every diet I would try, and of course there was always an excuse, but when I came upon the opportunity for the Band, my mind was made up, there was no second guesses, no excuses, I mean WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOOSE BESIDES WEIGHT? Right? And that is what we all need / needed to do, or we would be here on this forum looking for support. My suggestion to you is, get positive - this is a positive change, and once you truly believe in yourself you will succeed.

Hello to all! Yes, I'm a newbie - I WAS BANDED 7 days ago today (12.30.08), talk about a New Year resolution. I started the day of surgery at 237.8 and today I'm at 230.4 in a week, (is that about on track?) I'm sure its all water, but ghee it sure does make you happy to look at the #'s going down for once. I hope to follow in all of YOUR success and continue to my goal! (Which I'm not really sure what # that is - I just want to be healthy, off the RX's, and enjoy my life the Lord has given me) I'm from TN about 40 miles north of Memphis, if anyone from this area is connected, let me know. I would love to know. I'm so open to any and all suggestions, yes, am I scared... definite who isn't, but thru guidance, talk, and prayer we can over come anything! Right? Believe me the doctor said read this binder that they gave me at least twice before surgery, let me tell you, have I not only read it twice before surgery but about ten times since. I'm so worried that I will mess it up, some how some way, but I would say that the hardest thing for me to get use to this past week was the sipping. I'm so use to grabbing a bottle of water and POOPH!!! It’s gone, now I'm sipping, and that’s a challenge for me. I look forward to keeping in touch, giving and getting support here.... thanks again!! :wub:

Girl, Rach - you are rolling, great job! and your right its that feeling not that number, I so agree. Heck I can't wait for the one feeling of "Yes, I made it!" when I walk up the steps, just the first floor of them. At this moment I'm so out of breath when I get them, all I can do is stare, and oh lord they wonder why my blood pressure is high when I make it to the office!!! Keep up the good loss, and best of luck!

Yeah, I have a twin???? Congrats to you also, how are you feeling? and making it? what is your loss so far.... girl fill me in...

Well, first the night before I didn't sleep at all, I was too excited, then when I went to weigh in, I had actually lost three pounds more than he requested, and all this was during Christmas, and I was out of town, talk about "wanting something bad" that was me! BUT it proved to me that it was possible if I could get my mind in that frame. (But, I get discouraged so easy) The surgery was fine, I have three little holes, and two places about one inch, not too bad. When I woke up in recovery, my sugar was sky high 285, and my blood pressure was in the red zone (not sure what it was) but it was enough of a concern that they pumped me full of insulin and something for the blood pressure, BUT once I got all that under control, I was up walking around and joking and the nurses were making the comment that I didn't even look like I just had surgery. That night I went home and slept, the next day I drove myself (with my teenage daughter) to work about 40 miles from my house, I worked about a half a day (New Years Eve) and then I went home and lounged around. I think the worst part for me was the GAS that I could not pass that was in chest, its' slowly getting better, but as the surgery - NO problem, came back to work on Friday and worked another half day, and Monday I was energetic and ready! Hey, I'm not that much taller than you - I'm only 5'4.. you will do wonderful, be sure and ask for something to help with the nausea when you speak with the anthespologist (spelled wrong i think)