macacoza

Hi NM Sunshine...I also love this name better! You happen to be my neighbor. I am in Colorado also and think I ahve a great Band Dr...I actually went with him to Albuquque and had a seminar for the band 2 yrs ago. If you would like more infor on him please let me know. May be closer than Mexico. deb

Hi Nicnak...As in everyone case..we are all different. I found that being in a support group at first was what helped me the most. My Dr. sponsored a group and we met every week. Now we meet once a month at someones house. We bring different recipes and ideas. I never joined a gym whichj works for some, but not for me. I just love to walk. AND, I have weights stuff ing arage and I go out early in morning and turn on my music and get with it. I also ride my bicycle. I have to admit that the exercise kind of went down the drain for a bit and I am gettign back on track now. I had tummy tuck almost a year ago and ahd soem complications. LAst thing on my mind was exercise...so am back in the swing of things. The thing you always have to remember is that the band is JUST a tool..you still ahve to make changes in your life. BUT, if it will work for me it will work for most!.. I thank God for this chance at changing my life and hopefully living a healthier life for as long as HE gives me!..Good luck and if you want to pick my brain..here I am..haha hugggggggggs to all deb

Hi all...I am 55 an dhad the surgery when I was 51...was the best thing I ahve ever done! FA...you may find those knees dont bother you as much after the weight starts coming off...I have been at goal for 2yrs..wowwwwww...It feels wonderful to be able to maintain..give or take 5 lbs!! Good luck and May God Bless! deb

wowwwwww..I guess I am shocked that you were not told about the diet before...that concerns me..WELL..you know now..go for the dream and make it work...I was banded 4 1/2 yrs ago and have kept off the 95 lbs and feel wonderful. You can do it!!!

Hi Belinda...congrats on your soon to come band!!..You are in for an adventure!! We ahve a Heritage Softail..but I am havign to listen to all these folks stories...my hubby broke his leg 3 months ago..no riding for us this yr..HAve thought about learning myself...BUT..haven't..dont really trust myself in the drivers seat..lol...keep in touch and let us know how you doing!

WOWWWWWWWW...Congrats to you! That was quite a trip! Wish I had of known you were goign thru opur lil town and I would ahve met you for lunch and heard your stories! Friends of ours that were in Sturgis kept sendign back pics on their cell phone to us..haha...rubbing it in that they were there and we were here!..Next year! UNLESs hubby breaks something else!.. I hope you all had a grand trip and made it home fine!..Be safe! deb uote=RidinMyHDDream;539019]Hey Randy! Congrats! Yes, I made it too. Ended up going with a couple of guys from my HOG chapter. It was kind of like going alone for me...lol We did Sturgis, Rapid City HD, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and then on Tuesday I decided I wasn't having as much fun as I wanted so I took off and left for Colorado. I have friends and family there and decided since I was so close...why not! :confused: It was a great solo trip. I had one scary moment in a Wyoming storm, which has to be the windiest state in the country...lol I put on 3513 miles on my Sporty and rode through eight states. :rockon: Rode over some really high passes in Colorado. (Macacoza, even had lunch in Canyon City) Crossed my 10000 mile marker too. Made it home on Saturday night. Wouldn't trade any part of the trip at all. Would definately go back to Sturgis but only if I'm with a group of friends. Now, back to the reality of work...(sigh) I really need to win the lottery so I can do that all the time. :peace:

I had a weird thing happen to me. My insurance approved everything...Then 3 months after the surgery insurance sent a letter saying they had made a mistake and would only pay for half. We repealed that decision, but it was no use. So I had to pay back half of the money..ugggggggggg..Oh, well..half was better than nothing! That was 4 1/2 yrs ago..I have lost 98 lbs and have maintained with-in a 5 lb radius for over 2 yrs...This was the best thign I ever did for myself..Good luck and look forward to a healthier YOU!! deb

Good luck and God Bless! deb:clap2:

I am too late to wish you safe ride Carol, but will be looking forward to those stories! Friends that are already there have been calling off and on all day rubbing it in that we are not there..haha..Then they take pictures over their camera phone and send them to us!. They are having a grand time and say that there are more people already there this year than ever before. Gonna be a party!..I am so jealous...if hubby breaks another leg next yr i am going without him..haha...Be safe all!!:clap2: deb

Hi Sandra!! So good to hear from you! WELL..friends left out this mornign for Sturgis..and we are left behind...boo hoo They will have a blast..there is always next year!..Hibby is doing good. HE can now put 50% of his weight on leg. And is walkign with 1 crutch. He gets to go back on light duty middle of August. Will do that for 3-6 months...then we shall see where we go from there. Tell your b/f to be careful out there...and to not jump any fences at his age..haha. You will find the way to makign the band work for you..take it a day at a time and go for the dream..just do it smart and healthy!!! Hope to hear from you again soon! deb

What link ?? how do i get to it?? Nite nite and sweet dreams!

Needles was wonderful!..Did you see the bus coming thru the eye?? my my my..it was spectacular..i could not believe how that big bus got thru there..i wonder how many have scratched the sides??

CONGRATS!!!!!...Your life is about to change! We did not have our HArley at the time I got the band. AND it was MArch in Colorado..lol..BUT..I did ride my horse for a nice gentle ride about 2 weeks after...not sure if that was a good idea or not...BUT..here i am 4 yrs later..98 lbs lighter...yeee hawwww..Go FOr The Dream!....deb

Thanks Carol! YEah..staying home this year. Hubby poops out after havign leg down for a coupel hrs..AND..the most fun for us is takign the bikes and going to see all the sites!.. We loved Mt Rushmore, Needles Hwy, Devils Tower, and Chief Crazy Horse...the scenery is spectacular!..Dont forget your camera!..haha... Here's one for ya...we bought so much STUFF for the kids, grandkids, friends..AND us that we had to ship stuff home..Cost us $40 to ship it all...haha...I think we need a trailer to pull behind bike!..haha Would love to meet up with all of you and if youare up this way in Colorado...drop by!...We will sit out on back deck..look at our gorgeous views...and talk bands and bikes! What a combination!..lol nite to all! deb

I am still learning how to use this program..I been waiting for a message on my email telling me I had a answer to my message posted here..lol..so computer illiterate i am! Decided to come here and look again and i see y'all are talkign to me and I didn't even knwo it..bummer! I live in Canon City..which is the home of the Royal Gorge Bridge. There are so many beautiful places to ride up here. Mountain riding is so exciting..the curves...the beautiful sights...the cool air...Friends of our had always wanted to ride to Lukenback, TX..just so they coudl say they had..haha Last summer they did..was that crazy? They were stopped at a red light...a car pulled up by them and had seen the license plate from CO...and he man asked them if they were nuts to be down there in summer!..lol..They agreed!... I am so jealous that y'all are gettign to ride...huge sighhhhhh...I think it is time to learn how..haha...So many from here are goign to Sturgis..they are trying to get us to just drive up there with them, BUT...hubby is just now gettign to put soem weight on leg..and he is on crutches..for those of you have been before..it is not very good place for a man on crutches who cant put all his weight on leg..haha.. We will pass this year, but may see you all next yr. nite nite and sweet dreams!....deb

I am gettign the idea that you are in TX..lol..I was born and lived first 21 yrs in Lubbock, TX...so was my hubby! I go back once a yr to visit friends and relatives..although I do love Colorado! Keep on the track and you will wake up one morning and all of this will be worth it...it surprised me that I got this size...BUT..I am very short...and before I was as wide as i was tall..and I hurt everywhere. Just watch the foods you eat while gone..you know what to eat and what not to..there is always soemthing you can find to eat. AND you will be having so much fun that you wont worry about it. GO..RIDE...LIVE THE DREAM..and relax and knwo that you are ok..and the band will love the ride!..haha nite nite!

My hubby just reminded me that being from such lower elevations you are not jetted for the higher elevations...our Heritage Softail is jetted for it so we dont have trouble. We rode to Cripple Creek which is at 10,000 ft and about 45 mi from us and all is good!..take care of you all and ride safe..off to bed I go!!..nite nite and sweet dreams

I had to re-read these and I am laughing my head off..i sing too..do we all?? I wonder what kind of noise the birds here as a bunch of us go by and all the hear is the rumble of the bikes,.,and the ummm..singing ...I hope you all ahve a blast at Sturgis...remember us here!..lol

WOWWWWWWWWWWWW...I am so excited to hear from you all and to be welcomed like this!.. We will not be goign to Sturgis this year as my hubby broke his leg 9 weeks ago on duty. HE is a City policeman and was chasing a 17 yr old girl froim an underage drinking party..HE CAUGHT HER TOO!..haha..not bad for a 57 yr old man with 20 lbs of gear aroudn his waist..haha..taking her back to the patrol car they had to jump a fence..when he landed..SNAP..there went the Harley season!..There is always next year! Being banded and riding?? well..it is a piece of cake with a few changes and being aware of eating right and takign care of yourself..I forget I even have it except for meal times. HAve had the band since March of 2003. HAve lost 95 lbs and kept it off give or take 5 lbs..i go up 5..I go down 5..BUT i am very happy with where I am..size 6 chaps..woww..who would have ever thought it!..This band i know can be hard at times..but over all..i thank God every day for my health..no knee pain..feet pain..and can go all day..and half the nite..lol...I have read a lot of the threads that folks have had trouble..i feel for them..I just take a day at a time and know that it is a gift..a tool that helps me to stay healthy..my my my..listen to me go on and on..y'all will be sorry you welcomed me here...lol Thank you all again! be safe out there! deb

wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....this is wonderful..I just stumbled on this thread..anyone around? ha We have a Heritage Softail..I ride on back so i can look around or take naps if I get a chance..lol...I do all the picture taking too...I ahv ehad my band for a lil over 4 yrs and find that I can always find soemthign to eat when we are on our rides. We went to Sturgis 2 yrs ago with a bunch of friends and were gone for 6 days..i did fine!..Just go and have a blast folks...LIFE IS GRAND ON A BIKE!..lol

Just be careful..It concerns me that you may go into surgery with the band not unfilled!..The surgeon and the anesthesilogist both knew and had all the facts pertaining to my band. I still aspirated. My band Dr. was very upset and he put out a bulletin to all banders. Maybe I was tighter than you are...this I do not know..but i would never consider any type of surgery without opening my band..Good luck to you and God Bless!!!...deb

SORRY! I disagree!..I had a tummy tuck and did not have an unfil..I aspirated on the table...scared everyone to death....I was on oxygen for 8 days after comign hoem because of it going into my lungs! Because of this my band Dr. has told all his banders..never have surgery without an unfill..it is not worth the risk! deb banded in 2003 starting weight...229...now is 145 and holdign for 2 yrs give or take 5 lbs..lol

Hi Denise...I am wondering why you are moving back closer to startign weight??? deb

I read so many of these and it is a lil bit scary..BUT...I have to say..it has been 4 1/2 yrs since banded and I am fine...Thank you Lord!! I pray it continues. I am very sorry for everyones problems..makes me sad and makes me wonder, but I do not dwell on what might be. My health is so much better...my energy level is high..I am 55 and feel better than felt in many years when so heavy. God led me to this place..I will make the best of it..what may or may not happen can be scary, but I refuse to dwell on it! God bless you all in your endevors to be healthy...go get em!!!

Cindyh Thank you for your kind and helpful words. I plan on taking this problem to support group meeting next month as I am sure there has to be more of us right here in town suffering from this and not even thinking it has to do with the band! I think this needs more research and DR's need to be more aware of it!.. I was even sent to a throat specialist and he could find nothing and contributed to my tremors...wowwwwwwww...I ahve to tell you this is a relief to me and I am sure to many others!!! I will let you knwo how things are going!..Thank you again to all of you posting abotu this troubling problem! Deb