Woodys

It is getting much stricter out there when it comes to travel....to be on the safe side you should always have a passport,can save yourself a lot of grief. Carol

It seems that the majority agree that you have to talk to this family and stop the way they talk to your 5 yr old daughter. Others are correct when they say that you should continue with the confident meaningful and healthful chats with your daughter......however, if your family does not get the message to back off then it just counteracts what you are trying to convey to her. Act now, yourd daughter deserves it. Carol

First..only weigh yourself weekly, not sure if you are doing this or weighing daily. Secondly....there are many factors that will affect the numbers on the scale. Believe it or not, air pressure, humidity, constipation, and when you weigh.....you should always weigh yourself at the same time of day, preferably in the am before you have begun to eat or drink. In hot humid conditions or if you have been exerting yourself more than usual your body will automatically build Fluid and try to hold onto it to help dehydration. Be careful of eating commercial food product and its sodium content, this will also cause Water retention.....in the worse way. Constitpation is a common occurrence when your body is going through changes such as yours....that counts for an upward move on the scale also. So, don't panic....do what you have been instructed to do by your lapband Dr's team and you will see the scale move downwards soon enough. Carol

Teresita....I started to watch my calorie consumption 2 weeks prior to the 2 week pre-op diet...this loss has occured sinced May 8th or earlier. I get my first fill this week and I'm hoping to maintain a 2 lb / week loss. Carol

I'm not thinking "greedy"...I'm thinking...."Ouch"

You need to get this family under control. It was inappropriate what was said to your daughter and they are way out of order since it is not their place to broach such subjects with your daughter. You need to tell them to back off and mind their own business, tell them that your daughter is your responsibility and you will take care of your daughter's well being as, and when you see fit. Carol

My Dr. said that age is a factor also.....I am 5', 54 yrs old and I was told I should weigh 125. A few years ago I lost it all down to 128 and I looked and felt great....I don't think I would want to be any thinner than 125, I would look too thin and drawn for my age. Carol

Good Lord.......12" ! :help: That's all I have to say! Carol

LOL Jack...................

Jack: I couldn't have said it better myself, both of your responses are right on....its amazing, how even after the fact, we still find a way to blame others for the cause and life of our problems. Carol

I would suggest you hire a trainer. In one session the trainer can talk to and question you on your goals, lifestyle, etc. He will put you through a fitness test (don't worry, its not embarassing). Then he will determine what you need and set up a routine for you. He will also orientate you fully on the equipment he wants you to use. We are all different bodies, lifestyles,and levels of fitness. I strongly suggest you not try to adapt to someone else routine but rather have a professional design one which is specific to you. Carol

My team was great to me too....however, as self pay.............$16,000 later, I would think that a note would suffice. Carol

If James Brolin is going to play the old hippie's role then the hell with Sally Fields, I'll play my own part. Carol

Hi: My husband has a reconstructed leg that doesn't bend at the knee. He can not get down on the floor to do certain exercises. We know of exercises he can do with dumb bells for the chest and arms but we need to know of exercises for the abs and back that he can do while sitting. Does anyone have any ideas? Carol

Oh goodie.....took me 45 years to find him, I won't give him up without a fight....I might be tiny but I pack a good whallop! He is an old hippie fart.....not sure who would be a good candidate to play him....he would have to wear leathers and ride a mean motorcycle. Carol

I think Sally Fields.....my nickname is Gidget because of my height.....I kinda look like her too...however, I don't whine like her, and I'm not a silly girl....LOL.....and she can't have anything at all to do with my husband....he's mine. Carol

I am 54 and married to professional chef. I always battled a few extra pounds but in 99 we moved north and opened our own restaurant in cottage/tourist country. My husband always worked outside the home so his excellent cooking was never that much of a problem. But since 99 we live and work in the same building so I am around his food 24/7. I sell it, serve it, clean up after it and sometimes help with prep. Even our apartment above the restaurant stores restaurant inventory in the fridge and freezer....just can't get away from it Our winters are very quiet...the restaurant is open but not so busy,so we have a lot of time on our hands.....this is a big obstacle for me. So, over the past 7 years I have gained........lost........gained.......lost....several times....I started out at 125 in 99 when I arrived in Fenelon Falls.....I was 218 on a 5' frame when I was banded June 8th. (I was self pay) I just got tired....I couldn't do it anymore. I'm really good at taking it off but I just can't keep it off...that's why I wanted the band...it will help me keep it off. I hated stairs, I would avoid social engagements especially if it involved people I haven't seen in a while. I couldn't take the embarassment. My health was failing dramatically, the Dr said my body was suffering from the yo-yo dieting and I needed to do something about it. I was once a very confident corporate woman.....before the decision to be banded I didn't know who I was anymore....but I knew who I wanted to be. It has only been more than a month for me since being banded but just knowing that I own it makes me feel so positive, so confident again. I would do this again in a second. Carol

My Dr.requested a pre-op diet of low fat cottage cheese, low fat yogurt, Jello and posicles for two weeks prior to the procedure. It was explained to me that it was to help reduce the amount of fat that surrounds the liver and stomach (not to shrink the liver) in order to make the procedure easier. The smaller the amount of fat that needs to be moved out of the way to operate, the safer and easier the procedure. Carol

Maybe you need to study what you are able to consume. You would be surprised how the calories add up in the smallest amount of the wrong food or liquids. Carol

I completely agree with Boo....Boo has said everything that I was going to say. There are resources out there that you can tap into. No one can handle all of this on their own. You need to seek them out....start with a local minister or the Salvation Army.....if they can't help they will be able to put you in the right direction and will have resource information for you.....and they are usually ready and prepared to speak with you now...and they won't charge you an arm and a leg for it either. There is NOTHING wrong with asking for help and accepting it....if you don't you and your family will suffer....so find the help and welcome it. I think you said in your message that you have a needy m-i-l.....why do you have to succumb to her needs....why can't she look after herself...and if she can't, why is her needs your responsiblility? You need to take care of your needs first...to heck with hers. Keep us posted....believe me, I've been where you are at....it does get better. But first.....FIND HELP....and get some of those monkeys off your back! Carol

I have lost 4 lbs so far......still working at it. Carol

Jane...I agree with you.....however, two points I made perfectly clear in my original post was that she ate was I served her with absolutely no fuss or resistance and enjoyed it.....she didn't even fuss when I took the order and she knew she wasn't getting fries. The second point....she said twice that she was full but the Father insisted that she have the ice cream....there is something definately wrong there. Carol

Joyce: I see this "in your face" constant publication on the topic of obesity in a very different way. I believe that public awareness is so necessary to bring it home for some obese....they need to know the consequences of obesity and if this is the way to do it then I'm all for it. I don't see it as poking fun or insulting the obese at all.....I see it as waving the red flag in hopes that the obese will consider the consequences of their state of body. Carol

Denial...as a big person that is one of the things that helped me get even bigger. I use to see this happen to big people all the time, they couldn't fit into restaurant chairs, couldn't squeeze into the seats on the subway, busses, planes, amusement park rides.....and I always use to say to myself...."that will never happen to me, thank goodness I'm not that big yet".....that attitude helped get me right to the point where I became one of those people....scary. Good news is.....we are all on our way to being among those who fit anywhere! Carol

I haven't been banded long enough to give you an experienced opinion. However, I could tell you what I will do when I reach that point...and I'm sure I will because I obsessed about food preband. First, if I'm tempted by food at home such as "doggie bags"....then I just won't bring doggie bags home anymore. I think it would be best for me just to wipe this obstacle out of my life. Secondly, if I'm not hungry I will force myself not to eat "just because" I'm thinking about eating. I have to admit....that this will be easier said than done....but it is definately the route I'll take. Carol