btrieger

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?

I don't use the menu part. I cannot plan meals in advance. You'll get used to it. I only take mine off to shower. But I don't wear sleeveless shirts. If you're arm goes numb, you have it too tight.

Wow! Congrats Kel!! That's a lot of weight to keep off. I wonder how Paula (th OP) is doing 5 months later. My goal is 5 pounds short of posting here and I feel like I am under age and sneaking into a club.

I can't make resolutions. They bring too much depression and guilt when I cheat or fail. Also, I am a guy and we hate commitment.

Thanks. Actually, "software engineer" is in my title somewhere. An approaching birthday kicked this all off. I had my first consultation a full week prior to the heart ache. But the heart attack did help quit smoking. So, maybe it is what is helping me stay on track now. I guess we can assume that heart attacks are tools for immediate weight loss and the lapband for long term? :Dancing_wub:

Love the cartoon YM! After seeing somebody start the "Do some research" thread yesterday and seeing the responses I have gotten here; I realize it is not in my head and I am not the only one concerned. I'm not even banded yet and it seems I know a lot more than a lot of the bandsters. I know I will still have a few questions once banded and I hope there are enough qualified people to give me good answers. "Don't worry, once you get fills you will start losing weight" is NOT a good answer!

Use a couple of the tax dollars you are stealing and buy a dictionary. I show plenty of apathy every day. ap⋅a⋅thy  [ap-uh-thee] –noun, plural -thies. 1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement. 2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting. 3. Also, ap⋅a⋅thei⋅a, ap⋅a⋅thi⋅a [ap-uh-thee-uh]. Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind.

I got on the scale this morning as I do every morning because I never listen to the little voice that says once a week is enough. Well, anyways, it said 305. I am down 60 pounds, 15% of my starting weight since I started this journey. I am NOT dieting. I am eating the same things. I just cut the portions a little and am logging everything. I don't go to bed hungry like I always have on other diets. I have NOT been working out. I have been walking and doing a teenie bit of running about 5 hours a week. I stretch for about 5 minutes every morning and pick up my 10 lb dumbbell for about 10 minutes 2 or 3 times a week. But I am not waking up sore like I have from other work outs. I have NOT been banded. I've lost a lot of weight and post on this site a lot with my cool little ticker. But I have not been banded yet like other posters. A lot of my weight loss has been with the help of the Bodybugg. Other has come from the nutritionists at my surgeons office. I will schedule my LAP-BAND® surgery in 6 days. It will probably be for the first week of February. I am having second thoughts. I am doing so well without the LAP-BAND® that it has me wondering if I need it at all. I am still about 80% - 20% in favor of getting it but that number is dwindling. This scares me because I have lost a lot more than 60 lbs in the past only to gain it back and them some. But in the past I was dieting. This is different. And if I decide not to get banded I have to stop being sarcastic and witty here :biggrin: I guess only time will tell.

I got on the scale this morning as I do every morning because I never listen to the little voice that says once a week is enough. Well, anyways, it said 305. I am down 60 pounds, 15% of my starting weight since I started this journey. I am NOT dieting. I am eating the same things. I just cut the portions a little and am logging everything. I don't go to bed hungry like I always have on other diets. I have NOT been working out. I have been walking and doing a teenie bit of running about 5 hours a week. I stretch for about 5 minutes every morning and pick up my 10 lb dumbbell for about 10 minutes 2 or 3 times a week. But I am not waking up sore like I have from other work outs. I have NOT been banded. I've lost a lot of weight and post on this site a lot with my cool little ticker. But I have not been banded yet like other posters. A lot of my weight loss has been with the help of the Bodybugg. Other has come from the nutritionists at my surgeons office. I will schedule my LAP-BAND® surgery in 6 days. It will probably be for the first week of February. I am having second thoughts. I am doing so well without the LAP-BAND® that it has me wondering if I need it at all. I am still about 80% - 20% in favor of getting it but that number is dwindling. This scares me because I have lost a lot more than 60 lbs in the past only to gain it back and them some. But in the past I was dieting. This is different. And if I decide not to get banded I have to stop being sarcastic and witty here :Dancing_wub: I guess only time will tell.

My weight loss has been dead on for practically the last 3 months! The burn and consume numbers aren't always dead on but the delta is correct. My activity has been way down this week due to not having to work and altering my routine.

CONGRATS!!! And this was during the holidays. Keep up the good work and don't get complacent. The lapband isn't doing the work. YOU are working hard and the lapband is just along to help.

Do not rush things. You have a lifetime to decide. Diets don't work for most of us. Diets have end dates and when they are over we have changed our metabolism and gain back more than we have lost. Weight Loss Surgery means changing your lifestyle forever. That can mean enjoying the same foods you always have except eating smaller portions or it can mean having to give something you love up forever. Everybody is different. The most important thing you will learn is that the lapband is a tool. The lapband, no matter how much you fill it does NOT make you lose weight. YOU lose the weight yourself by eating less calories than you are burning. The lapband is there to help you feel full after only a few mouth fulls. YOU do the rest. There are rules to follow and you must be ready to follow them FOREVER. Do more reading. Read the failure stories as well as the successes. Make sure you are doing it for yourself and nobody else.