Woodys

Benny Hinn's hair scares me! Carol

I can't believe that Melinda was voted off last night. She is the only one who has consistently displayed talent, showmanship, stage presence, professionalism, etc. Blake and Jordin are talented and entertaining in their own right, but Melinda was clearly a pro. What a pity that votes based on "being cute" and "being younger" matter more to some than actual "talent". Carol

January works perfect for me, our restaurant closes for the entire month......I could probably manage the fall if it was after September...I would love to go, I voted for Vegas but up for anywhere. Carol

Kathy: I am a self pay bandster....$16,000. Canadian. That is a huge amount of money to me but I didn't have private insurance. If I had an insurance company that was willing to cover the cost of the surgery I would do the best I possibly could to drop that 45 lbs. $16,000, in one swift payment, really made a difference in our family budget, to have some else pay for the sake of losing 45 lbs.....hell, you wouldn't have to ask me twice. The band definately helped me lose the 93.5 lbs to reach goal, but I've always been pretty good at losing......however, I am horrible at maintaining whatever I have lost so thats where the band really comes into play for me....it will help me immensely keep this weight off and that is where I usually fail. Do it Kathy.....start now.....1200 calories a day...some exercise, and you should lose approximately 1 - 2 lbs / week if not more. Don't look at the long term because you will surprised how fast the time will pass and you'll be ready for surgery. I can't believe that next month will be my one year bandaversary......I can't believe that a year has already gone by. Go for it Kathy, the band is the best thing that I ever did and it was so worth the money....I would do all over again in a heartbeat. I am so healthy now, I feel healthy, I look better, I feel a great sense of freedom has arrived. My before and after pix are posted in the "Before and After - Pix only" thread.......this could be you! Carol

I keep a bottle with me at all times and just sip, its hard to sip.....I love my Water and am so use to gulping it. I also by the single crystal lites and keep a few in my purse....it helps to change up the flavours of your bottled water so that its not so boring, it helps me. Carol

Tell him to grow up for cripes sake! Disney will still be there when you reach a comfortable weight to visit it! People can be so damn cruel....my ex Mother In Law use to take my Sister In Law shopping all the time....of course they would do nice shops where she could treat my SIL to a few nice things to wear.....and me, she'd take nowhere but to her back porch where we'd sit and drink black tea and eat celery and carrots......just plain cruel I tell ya. Carol

<p>B-1 cup cheerios with 1/2 cup light soy milk and 1 tablespoon dried blueberrfies</p> <p>S-1 low fat yogurt cup with 1/2 sliced peach</p> <p>L-1 texas slice light rye bread with big bowl of potato leek soup</p> <p>S-other 1/2 of peach with some light crackers</p> <p>D-10 steamed mussels and cooking broth with garlic, tomatoes, rosemary, and shallots....with slice of crunchy Italian bread lightly buttered....toasted. small plate of mixed veg.</p> <p>S- non.....not hungry</p> <p> </p> <p>Carol</p>

Loreen: how unfortunate for you, I wish you could have experienced what I have but........if you think the band is not for you then you should have it removed...however, Alexandria had a great suggestion....maybe a different band would work. CHICKIE I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY....I reached goal last week...93.5 lbs off in one year! I followed the rules, I stayed on top of my fills and I can tell everyone that I eat very healthy. I eat 5 - 6 small meals / day (don't have to puree anything) and they include choices from all the foods. I calculate that I eat approx 1000 - 1200 calories / day....less in the beginning because I was nervous and trying to get use to being banded....maybe that's why I dropped quickly in the beginning. I also exercise almost everyday...I'm not a fanatic but do at least 30 minutes if not more. And I also agree that this "two bite and I'm full" is crap....if you can only consume two bites at one sitting then you need to get an unfill because your body is not receiving the nutrition it needs to survive....common sense needs to play a part in this. Carol

I didn't wear any of those garments while losing however, I did use firming cream everyday...different brands....and it did nothing. I guess I was so big for so long that it was hopeless, age is not on my side either...(55). Even though I have reached goal I still have an apron of loose skin and fatty deposits, lots of loose skin on my inner thighs, just below my backside, and on my upper arms. As far as I'm concerned its a small amount of grief for the pleasure and freedom I'm feeling after reaching goal. Carol

I answered no because at this point the ads do not have a significant enough negative impact on my visits here. However, I enjoy this site and if the ads did get the point where they piss me off I would be willing to donate. Carol

A few days ago I reached my goal of 125 lbs.....so pleased with myself. Most of you have probably already read this on the main board, Argon reminded me that we our own Canadian board. I haven't been to lapbandtalk for a quite awhile because my husband was diagnosed with a serious liver condition and we have had (and still are) making frequent trips from up north to TO for his treatment. At times I couldn't even keep up regular email communication let alone trying to keep two business afloat. I hope all you canucks are doing well and exerpience success with your band as I am. Carol

Argon....my husband was diagnosed with liver disease and the past 6 months have been hell. We have had to take frequent trips to Toronto from up north so that he could receive treatment...and all this while trying to keep two businesses afloat. I had a tough enough time keeping up with regular email, there just wasn't much time or energy left for this site. I wasn't ignorning the Canadian site, quite frankly.......I honestly forgot that there was one. RKidder.....I own/operate a small fitness centre that is based on the Curves concept. I also do the treadmill and gazelle, ab roller and about 10 minutes of aerobic tapes. Carol

Does it really work? Hell yes! I was banded one year ago and have reached goal.....lost over 90 lbs.....and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Carol

I'm not so sure I agree, I have mixed feelings on this one. Once I got a handle on what, how much, at what speed I could eat I pretty much still enjoyed some of my favourite foods. Balanced nutrition is key to helping the body stay healthy, I wouldn't want to see this jeopardized by such eating habits. For me it was definately in my own best interest to learn how to eat properly because this is not a temporary experience....this is it for the rest of my life. Carol

Hubby is a chef and this is something he invented for me for me pre/post op liquid phase. 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese 1/2 cup low fat sugar free plain yogurt 1/2 - 1 cup ice cubes 1 - 2 packets artificial sweetner Puree in a blender until it has a smoothie consistency......use the following as a flavouring agents 1 - 2 teaspoons plain cocoa powder or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla or 1 - 2 tablespoons sugar free jam I loved these smoothies, tastes like liquid cheesecake. Hope the helps. Carol

I eat 6 very small meals throughout the day, I find its much easier for me to handle. Sometimes the 6th meal is a hit or miss....sometimes I have it, sometimes I don't. Carol

I have reached goal and for a long time now I've eaten 6 small meals every day. I start with a small bowl of cheerios and light soy milk and coffee. Mid-morning I have yogurt and either a piece of whole grain toast with sugar free jam or a small serving of fresh fruit. For lunch I have a nice Soup with lots of nutrients in it with crackers, or I use rice paper wraps and make spring rolls, veggie wraps, use left-overs from the night before, whatever.....I can usually only eat half so the other half is another meal later in the day. dinner is usally a small portion of Protein with some veg....I sometimes have a small amount of mashed potatoes or mashed squash with it, in the early evening if I feel I need something then the 6th meal kicks in and its usually something very light because I have trouble with acid reflux if I eat too soon before going to bed...so usually some crackers and sugar free Jello with a bit a light cool whip. I eat a variety of stuff but small small portions. Carol

I would absolutely love to do this but I can't commit to anything during the summer months.....after labour day straight through to April lends me more flexability with my schedule. I'm definately in if the timing is right, Vegas is my choice. Carol

Thanks all.....I appreciate your notes of congrats! Kat: The one thing that I was very conscious about at all times was my restriction. As soon as I noticed that I could consume more than I should be I booked myself, very quickly, for another fill. I also watched what I ate......I ate high density, low calorie foods such as broccolli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, skinless white chicken, tuna steak, red meat only once a week with all visable fat trimmed, whole grain Cereal and soy milk, yogurt, fish such as salmon because the Omega 3's are essential.......etc. I ate 6 very small meals / day, never ate past 7 pm, and never did I ever attempt to sabotage the band by eating items that would easliy slip through like ice cream, milk shakes, etc. After a year I can't imagine going back to the way I use to eat, even I could. I'm so programmed now that I even have my family and friends inspecting labels before the purchase anything. The attitude I copped at the very beginning when first banded.....was that the band was not to be used as a "try not to fail" aid..... I saw it as a tool that would help MY efforts to lose and maintain weight loss....I kept myself the responsible one throughout.....I never held the band responsible....I also kept myself the accountable one. I always looked at the work towards weight loss was my job, not the band's....the band was my backup, my support. This attitude, this routine, has worked so well for me.....I am very proud of my success and I can tell you this......I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Carol

I just reached goal after being banded June 8/06. Am I happy......well lets put it this way....if I had to do it all over again I would in a heartbeat. Carol

Karla: exercise was key to fast and successful weight loss for me.....and keeping on top of my fills. As soon as I noticed that I could consume more than usual I marched right back to the clinic for another .5 or 1 cc fill....this kept me losing on a regular basis. And yes, everything is different. I feel like a very different person....in a very positive way. I haven't planned anything to "reward" myself. LOL.....all along the way I set mini goals for myself and rewarded myself for each one reached.....now, its just kinda old hat and not so exciting....LOL However, I have learned one thing.....it totally defeats the purpose of everything we are doing and everything we are learning about adapting to a new healthier lifestyle.....so, I refuse to reward myself with food. My biggest reward is my size 8 jeans......and having my husband compliment on how great my ass looks in them. Carol

I was told too that I would lose only 60% of my excess weight......however....I lost it all and in one year reached my goal. The band certainly did 75% of the work but I did the rest. If you focus more on losing 100% of your excess weight rather than on what someone else's expectations are, then for sure you can do it. Good luck. Carol

Don't worry Yenken, you'll get there! And yes, I did lose it quick. I lost a significant amount 2 weeks pre-op and 2 months post-op. The last 25 lbs were tough but I was determined. Carol

It will be my one year bandiversary June 8th.......yesterday I reached goal! Carol

Not unusual at all, I've had 7 fills.....all for the same reason. Carol