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Like JAM2YOU said ... if you're having an endoscopy ... they won't let you and you shouldn't ... drive yourself home. I had an endoscopy a couple of years ago, my sis drove ... I don't even remember the drive home. I went straight to bed when I got there and slept for hours. LOL I have a low tolerance for drugs. Even Tylenol makes me a little drowsy. ~fran

You're right, walking does work .. it just takes sooooo long. At least for me it does, hence the carb cutting. I don't know about you but my legs are getting really thin while my upper body fat is holding on for dear life! It's not that I am not losing on top, it's just taking a long time to see progress. I have spinal stenosis so I have to be careful about upper body exercise as well. So, while I am walking I move my arms util they are reaching for the sky. I figure any movement in my upper body will help. We can do this, Shirley ... no matter what our bodies say! LOL Good luck next Thursday. ~Fran

Oh Shirley, nooooo! Such a long drive and the surgeon wasn't there?!?!?! I'm sorry. I haven't had to drive that far but I waited 3 hours for my surgeon to get out of surgery to get a fill once. It's just not fun. I hope your next appointment goes smoothly. I am currently stepping up my weight loss regimen hoping to get my "turtle" moving too. I cut my carbs drastically starting this past Monday. It's been a roller coaster but I am trying to shake things up to get the scale moving again. I also have stepped up my walking by doing 2 1/2 miles in the morning and another couple of miles at lunch. The problem with that is my back (surgery in 2004), I am having problems. I will see my ortho on Tuesday to make sure I haven't done any damage. You have done a great job losing so far and I'm sure it will continue. Good luck, Shirley! ~Fran

It sounds like you have all the equipment you need, just not the motivation. I totally get it! You have many more options than I do. Lucky you! It took me a loooonnnng time to get going with the exercise consistently. I have medical problems (back surgery, spinal stenosis) so my choices are limited (although I tried Zumba and it was great, but I was bedridden for a couple of days afterward -- hurt my back ). I walk 2 1/2 miles M-F before going to work. I get up at 5:15 and I am at the park by 5:45. On the weekend, now that the weather is nice, I do 3 miles at the Marina on Saturday mornings. It took some doing to get me there. My weight loss was slow so I had to make up my mind that I really wanted to do something about it. Once I had it in my head that I was willing to do it, voila! I HATE to miss a day. Oh, and I MUST have my iPod playing when I walk ... that's a deal breaker. No iPod, no walk. LOL If I had an xbox at my disposal (there is one in my house but it belongs to my 20 yr old nephew/son - I raised him, and he doesn't like to share), I would get the "kinnect" (sp?) and go to town! Eventually I will buy one, just not in my current budget. Anyway, I suggest you experiment with different things and then find what's right and fun for you. But first, make up your mind that you want to see changes in your weight loss. You are going to be soooo proud of yourself once you get going! Good luck. ~Fran

Ok Shirley, it's after 12 here in L.A. so it's after 3 in Michigan, right? What's the good news on your new surgeon? We're all rooting for you! ~fran

Dave, you have THE best attitude! Good going, because that was surely a "backhanded" compliment. LOL ~F

Wonderful news Z! Good to know you are feeling better! ~Fran

Of course you're not being unreasonable, it's YOUR body, not the docs! If your doc really won't fill you once you are at 160 lbs, you will merely have to work it out -- AND YOU CAN! Only you know at what weight you will be comfortable. These doctors make me crazy trying to make all the decisions for WLS patients. Your body, your life, your weight loss! You are doing a great job, don't let anyone hinder you from reaching YOUR goal. ~Fran

My breakfast is a Protein drink in the morning (3 grams per scoop of protein and 7 grams per cup of soy milk). lunch yesterday was tuna with egg and mayo. My snack was celery and creamy Peanut Butter. For dinner I had a salad with chicken. The same breakfast and snack today. Lunch will be different ... I just don't know what yet. I am grumpy today, but not feeling great so I am calm. Couldn't finish my walk this morning -- my back was killing me. I am feeling better now so I will probably do a couple of miles during my lunch break, then come back and eat. I am making a big effort to drink lots of Water. Cutting my carbs is stressing me out so I am having trouble swallowing. I know it is stress because I was fine before. Geeezzz I hate when I behave this way, getting in my own way! I'm sure a nice walk at lunch with help. I'm sure that if I would stop kicking and screaming like a 3 year old this would be much easier. It will get better. @spoiltmom: thanks for the tip about natural calm magnesium. I can do this! ~Fran

tnt: You had surgery TODAY, of course you are in pain. I totally agree that the liquid pain meds are the pits. I took Darovcet pills instead. Nothing much helped the gas pain in my left shoulder. I didn't even know it was gas pain. I thought the doctors had laid me on my side too long during surgery. LOL Use the Gas-X and walk if you can, as suggested here. I hear it helps. I assume from your post that you had the out-patient surgery so you are home instead of in a hospital bed being waited on hand and foot. Being in that much pain and at home without a doctor on hand must be scary as well. It gets better. Walking is a sure cure for moving the gas out of your body, so if you are not in too much pain, give it a go. It will get better. Ask your doc for a different pain med. Take some extra strength Tylenol or something until you can speak to your doc's office. Whatever it takes to help with the incision pain, because you can't heal if you can't rest. Take care of yourself. It WILL get better. In a few months you will look back at this post and not even remember the pain. ~Fran

I can attest to the "bank account" thing! But it's a great feeling so enjoy it. I would rather buy new clothes than food these days. Never thought I'd say that!

Congratulations! I did that in my closet until the old clothes got too big ... then I went SHOPPING! I now love to shop! This weekend I bought a pair of yoga pants, they are suppose to be "fitted". I got them at Target, so I thought, hmmmm I think I'd better get an XL to be sure hey fit, and are long enough. Well, wouldn't you know it ... they are NOT fitted at all!! At least not on me! YAY! They are still wearable but just loose. So, next time I'll get a L. I whine regularly that I am not happy with the numbers on my scale. But every time I buy new clothes it's a smaller size. I need to stop complaining and just keep exercising! Again, congratulations ... but look out, it won't be long before that batch of clothes will be too big! ~Fran

Thanks Melody. I think I mght have to add this book to my Nook this weekend. It is now 5 p.m. and I have to stay late at work ... just another 30 mins or so, but I am already jonesing for carbs!! I keep telling myself: just for today ... leave the carbs alone!!! It's not that I haven't had any carbs at all today, I had about 10 carbs with Breakfast and maybe 20 between lunch and Snacks. Still, I am craving carbs already! I hate when that happens! I will keep trying ... so far, so good. But when the sun goes down ... ~F

Hi Melody, Interesting topic. I don't recall, are you diabetic? I was diagnosed Type2 in January 2007 or 2008. About 3 months after my lap band surgery I was off all meds (at the time I was taking 500 mg Metformin 2x a day). I check my blood sugar from time to time and it is food -- usually between 80 and 106. After reading your post, I can't help but wonder if, even though I am off my meds, I would still be considered insulin resistant, and thus in need of magnesium. I wonder this because seeing the numbers drop on the scale continues to be a slow process for me. And, the hardest place for me to lose, which is common for diabetics, is in the belly. My legs, however, are turning into twigs! All that said I will tell you that this morning I began, yet again, down the "low carb road". So far so good ... but who knows what casualties lie ahead. LOL I will have to check out Dr. Bernstein's book. ~fran

Glad to hear that this has been resolved and that you are on the mend. Have a safe trip. ~Fran

Okay ... I don't know if this will work but what if yo ordered Boost or Ensure or something from Amazon.com - the "2-day" delivery. I have no clue if it's possible to get that kind of delivery in India ... but I can't see why not. True, my limited (i.e., zero) knowledge of India's postal, UPS or FedEx availability might make my suggestion null and void, but ... it's sounds like you are miserable and I just want to help if at all possible. I do agree that if you are spitting up blood, it's time to find a hospital - fast. Good luck. Keep us posted. ~Fran

Yes. Protein helps curb your appetite and since we as bandsters are eating less, it helps us get from one meal to the next. Also, the more active you are (i.e., exercise), the more protein you need. Protein also helps protect and repair cells, so during the healing process it is crucial.

Pink, I am so sorry that their words cut you so deep. I totally understand - as I am sure all of us bandsters do. Before writing this post I was compelled to go to yahoo and leave a message for my "skinny-all-her-life" sister. I thanked her for being my biggest supporter and that I love her very much. Because, you see, while we often focus on the negative things that are said to us, we sometimes don't give the good stuff the same attention. Your experience reminded me of that, so thank you. Our struggle with weight loss is one of those "walk a mile in my shoes" things that some people will never understand if they don't experience it. I once (years ago) had a woman I worked with tell me that she would kill herself if she ever got as fat as I was. WOW! That was some statement. But, I knew her and she had A LOT of issues, and was a very unhappy person. She was the one to be pitied. People love to give opinions about things they know nothing about. That's just human nature (although I have no idea why . I like to think that I don't care what others think of me, but who wouldn't be moved after hearing that your "lazy" for using surgery to improve your health. It is a good decision to speak to their manager, not just for the other patients/family members, but also for you to feel empowered. To feel that you don't have to cry in your car and be the victim of their insensitive statements. I hope you can erase them from your mind and concentrate on the positive people in your life, and the support you can receive here on this forum. You are about to take a journey that can change your life! You are young and will enjoy it even more than I do at 55! Lapband is the best thing I ever did for myself, I wish I had done it sooner! I have never worked harder to lose weight and I have never enjoyed working this hard to do it either! Keep your head up! ~Fran

My insurance required a psych eval for surgery approval. But, before I contacted my insurance or surgeon, I found an obesity specialist therapist and made an appointment. I did this because I knew that WLS was more than just “physical” (i.e., eating less, exercising more). I wanted to feel sure that I was making a decision that I could live with. I personally am an emotional eater, so it was important for me to incorporate the mind and body in my weight loss journey. I started seeing my therapist in October 2008 and had my surgery in June 2009. I continue to see her even now. My problem is not, and never was about being “physically” hungry. Taming the “head” hungry monster has been more than a notion for me. Today I can honestly say that I am thrilled to have my band AND my therapist. My weight loss has been slow compared to many; but the changes in my life with regard to how I feel about food have been tremendous. Everyone’s journey is different, WLS is a very personal thing – each journey is unique for the most part, with a common thread between us all (i.e., having this little band inside of us). You may have it all together, know exactly what you want, and be a person of great discipline, and unless your insurance or your surgeon require it, you may not need a psych eval. Either way, I wish you success on your lapband journey.

You are one brave soul! You posted on facebook that you are having this surgery? WOW! I would never put it someplace that public. Why? Because I would wind up in jail for mutilating someone that said something stupid to me (like your friend from elem school). How on earth would he know how "easy" weight loss surgery is???? People, gotta love them ... cuz if we don't ... we'd KILL THEM! LOLLLL I don't regret for one minute getting my band and to all who think it's the easy route or that I'm crazy for putting something foreign in my body (my SIL said something like that), I say "talk to the hand, cuz I ain't listening". My body, my life ... I'm going to live it MY way. And I promise not to try to live anyone else's life ... well as much as I can, I have kids 20 and 22 ... yeah I still try to tell them what to do ... to no avail ... LOL But what can you do. Sorry, I digress. All the best to you on your journey. It's your life ... LIVE IT! ~F

Jacqui, You continue to amaze me. From your weight loss, to your courage in the face of cancer, to your sense of humor about your ileostomy -- and I'm sure that took some doing. You are an inspiration to me, and others as well. I am always glad to see you here on the forum. I (along with numerous others, I'm sure) am sending you good thoughts, positive energy and heartfelt prayers for a speedy and permanent recovery. ~Fran

Sad, but true. LOL

Yes, my initial reaction definitely would have been the toddler! LOL It's nice that food is losing some of its importance to me now. Looooonnnngg time coming. I am so sorry to hear you have (had? is it over yet?) the flu. And sorry to add to your pain. LOL Feel better soon. @vlp: thanks. ~Fran

Be sure to speak with someone at the doc's office TODAY. If this is not the flu, then I would have to agree with PaminLA, sounds like an infection. How are your incisions looking? ~Fran

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that after losing about 50 lbs I stopped using my cpap. I thought I was fine. But after accidentally taking my night meds one morning before work (allergy meds, singulair and Exced p.m.), I found myself stuttering (which is a side effect of sleep apnea when you don't get enough oxygen to the brain). So I had another sleep study in January and I am back on my cpap. The good news is that more and more I don't think that sleep apnea is the cause of my bouts with stuttering. I say this because even with my cpap and the special "pep" pills my doc gave me I am still tired. I have just about decided to see the neurologist again. I think most people no longer need their cpap after losing weight, and hopefully you won't need one at all! Good luck! ~fran