btrieger

Congratulations!! I can appreciate the effort it takes. I am also 1/3 of the way to my goal prebanding. I figured that there was no reason to wait and I got a headstart

Good for you!! It is by far the best investment I have ever made as far as weight loss goes.

Not banded yet but I am definitely using my consultation weight afterward. I will be 75 - 80 pounds lighter than when I started by the time I have surgery.

We are never going to see eye to eye on this. I am selfish in the fact that I care about myself and those close to me. I don't have the time or motivation to worry about everybody else. Support is a two way street. For instance, I am on this site supporting people because I am getting their support as well. What do the uninsured have to offer me? I also have a deep hate for the poor. My father worked 3 jobs to make ends meet and I have done the same thing at times. There is no reason that anybody can't. I know people that have been on public assistance for generations and have no intention of ever working. They have no reason to. Clinton pretended to put a limit on welfare when all he really did is move all of the scum to disability where there was no time limit. I've gone to the ER bleeding after being bitten in the face by a dog and had to sit in the waiting room while the nasty little welfare scum lined up in front of me because they had the sniffles. There are probably open police jobs all over the country. Maybe all it would take for your son in law to get a full time job as a policeman is to move. I can't speak for him but if I were him, if I couldn't find something local, I would pick up and move for the good of my family. And from what I have read; if you don't have insurance, you are actually charged less for procedures than they would charge the insurance company.

Half of a piece of pizza is not cheating. Hell, half of a whole pizza once in a while is not cheating. Two whole pizzas is cheating. You have to snap out of the diet mentality or you will continue to torture yourself with guilt. It is ok to eat whatever you want, just keep it to small portions and not every day.

Best of luck and keep the positive attitude. I wish mine as positive as I pretend.

Call a surgeon or bariatric center in your area and get the ball rolling. While your balls are rolling you will most likely have a 3 to 6 month supervised diet period required by insurance. Use this time wisely to research as much as you can about the lapband procedure and your surgeon. Most of all, be very aware that the lapband is not a magic pill it is a tool. It does not make you lose weight. YOU have to lose the weight yourself by limiting your portions. The lapband will help by making you feel full sooner. You have to be ready to change your eating habits for the rest of your life. If you have questions, ask them here or of your surgeon's staff. Do NOT hold back. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Especially when dealing with your wellbeing. Good luck and good banding!

You are doing this for yourself. Not for anybody else and you should not let what anybody but you thinks matter when it comes to your health and well being! Repeat after me, "Screw them all, this is for me!!" That being said, keep reading and asking questions. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

It's called a "ticker" although I have seen it called "tinker" and "tickler" lately and got a laugh from that. The detailed instructions are here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

I just watched a few youtube videos. What a joke. Don't waste your money on that crap! But if you do, make videos and post them :biggrin:

Judges and Esther are old testament, the same one that contains Leviticus. Do you live by that as well? specifically Leviticus 15, 19-30?

Those in jobs without insurance should either put a little money aside each pay day or find a job that offers health insurance. They aren't my problem. If universal health care is established in this country then the standards of medical care will drop. Doctors would end up being paid little more than teachers and the good ones will quit, just like the good teachers. We hear about foreigner dignitaries coming to America for health care all of the time. Why don't they just stay home or go to one of the countries that institutes universal health care? Because our s is top notch and I want it to stay that way.

I just bought a $1,900 treadmill. I can't do the elliptical. I tried a few times. I don't know if I am too old or just too uncoordinated but I don't feel right on the things.

A real xtian woman would not be governor or run for vice president. She'd just be home supporting feeding her children and supporting her husband. After all, where in your bible do you find a woman leading anyone?

I think you are making a really big assumption there! Some of us think that if the poor want health care that they should get jobs or better jobs and pay for it. We can't just keep giving them hand outs so they can keep breeding and needing more and more hand outs.

I didn't even think about the anesthesiologist. Looks like I have a little more research. Thanks!!

I'd call his/her office and ask how many people they have killed. I asked, "how many lapband surgeries have you performed and have you lost a patient?" I can't remember the number of surgeries but the answer to the second part was none. I said I'd probably be his first and we laughed a little.

I agree with LMD. I started at 365 and have lost 60 pounds barely trying in a little more than 3 months. 100 pounds in a year for a 350 pound man should be quick as long as there are no big slips.

I will try and find the number again. I believe it was 1 in 2,600 for the lapband and 1 in 200 for bypass.

Congrats!! I know you don't mean 40 pounds since getting the band 12 days ago. Remember, the band is not losing the weight. YOU are working hard and the band is just there to help a little. Keep it up!!

Everyone is different and in the end it is your decision but if I could fit in a 40" waist, tight or not, I wouldn't be considering surgery just yet. What have you tried thus far? I've lost quite a bit just cutting my portions down a little and walking a few times a week. I am getting banded because I know by experience that I will pack the weight right back on once I revert back to my old ways. Have you looked at devices like the Bodybugg? The bodybugg will tell you how many calories you are burning and this will let you know how much you can eat and still lose weight. You don't have to starve yourself or get on any strict exercise routine.

Shaun, I don't think that it is just that women are more judgmental of each other. I think that we (men) just handle it better or ignore the comments. Women are much more emotional and take the comments to heart. I find it somewhat entertaining sometimes. Talk about inviting flames.

I don't plan on telling anybody at work but not because I am keeping it a secret. I am not telling them because it is none of their business. If they happen to notice and ask me how I lost the weight and I think they are sincere and not just making idle chat, I will tell them. I am a very independent guy and don't like being patronized. I find that a lot of people tend to be overly supportive when they find out I am trying to lose weight. It gets old being asked a dozen times a day how much I've lost especially when it's somebody I know that doesn't give a rats ass about me. Then there are those that tell me how good I look and take offense when I asked them if I looked bad before. I am doing this for me and don't need the praise of anybody else. Sure it help but as I mentioned above, people get carried away and that defeats the purpose. That being said, I always assume that most fat people, including everybody here is sincere in their praise because they know how much work and dedication it takes for us to lose a single pound. Let me finish by saying, you are doing a great job and keep it up!

Thanks for the support all! Your assumptions about me are frightening because you were all right on the money. At this point, I do plan on going through with the surgery and unless I get an epiphany in the next couple of weeks; it will happen. I am responding to people on the forums that have the same concerns that I do in a positive manner and am not sure about myself. I am basically using them as pawns to reassure myself. Is that a bad thing?