CoachCher

Hi Krygo, My eating varies from day to day. Some days it's 6 meals a day and some days it's 3 meals. Really you need to find what works for you and make sure you focus on at least getting in 3 meals a day.

Theme: Body, Mind, and Spirit August 7-8, 2009 South Shore Harbour Resort Clear Lake, TX Enjoy the beautiful views from this waterfront hotel and hear some of the top speakers in the world of weight loss surgery, including: Erik Wilson, MD - Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery at UTHSC-Houston Mary Jo Rapini, LPC - Therapist on Big Medicine and author of Is God Pink? Dying to Heal John LoMonaco, MD - Plastic Surgeon on Big Medicine Christopher McClintock - Founder of Personal Best Fitness and author of Exercise for Lap-Banders …and several others, including a special Mystery Guest! Browse our great vendors, pick up a fabulous outfit at our professional clothing exchange, and savor the 4-Star Sit-Down Luncheon. Plus, Dr. Vuong will announce the winner of the Lap-Band Giveaway, and host a Silent Auction benefitting Snowdop Foundation & Wounded Warrior Project. Limited to 250 participants - register today! Call 409-933-3022 or download the registration form here.

The Band Meltdown Challenge is a 12-week healthy living contest. Participants are encouraged to record their progress with before and after photo's. They are also asked to record their inner transformation in a short essay and they are judged on the quality of their outer and inner transformation. Crucial steps to success in your Summer Band Meltdown Challenge 1. Register now for the Summer Band Meltdown Challenge 2. Take your "Before" photos 3. Start your transformation — Follow our exercises, empowerment and nutrition recommendations for best results. 4. Take your "After" photos 5. Record your inner transformation 6. Keep up the great work — Look what you've done in 12 weeks! Enjoy your progress, but continue on with your new healthy lifestyle. Lose the weight you want, feel better, improve your health and change the way you look at weight loss! Access insider tips, advice and help from the experts Health & Wellness Coach Cher Ewing, Personal Trainer Christopher McClintock, Nutritionist Suzette Kroll. Get motivated and stay on track with a community of your fellow bandsters. Weekly tips from our nutritionist expert Suzette Kroll. Weekly motivational and empowerment tips from our health & wellness expert Cher Ewing. Weekly fitness tips from our personal trainer Christopher McClintock. The official kick off date for the challenge is June 15, 2009 so register today. Deadline to register for the challenge is June 12, 2009 Join in on all the fun over at the Band Meltdown Challenge Website

Join us as we welcome Dr. Duc Vuong on "The Band Banter" Talk Show In this two part series we are going to discuss the “Best Practices” which get the most out of your gastric band. In part one, we will cover Social Eating, Gastric Band Nutrition and Staying Focused throughout your gastric band journey. In part two we will discuss Satiety, Goal Weight vs. BMI, Exercise and The Importance of Support Groups. Date: 05/18/2009 Time: 6:00pm CST Where: The Band Banter Talk Show on Blog Talk Radio We hope to "HEAR" you there. Thanks, Cher & Krys

The show is every Monday at 6:00 pm CST. We look forward to having you join us :thumbdown:)

Please join us as we welcome "Banded" Surgeon Dr. Duane Tull. Dr. Tull will share his experience has a banded surgeon. This is our first banded surgeon so we are thrilled to see how different a banded surgeon is compared to a non-banded surgeon. This is going to be a fun, educational show. Date: 05/04/2009 Time: 6:00 pm CST Where: "The Band Banter" Talk Show We hope to "Hear" you there!! Thanks Cher & Kris

Lap-band Personal Trainer Christopher McClintock will be on the show this evening. You don't want to miss this show, Christopher is going to share with us how to get the most out of our fitness program. Remember fitness is very important to our success so come learn from the best. Date: 04/13/09 Time: 6:00 pm CST Where: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebandbantertalkshow.com We hope to hear you there!!

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Trotta Associates is conducting focus groups with patients who have received either the Lap-Band or the Realize Band procedures for weight loss purposes. They are looking for patients of any age and period of time since surgery in the Los Angeles area at this time. Patients will receive $100 cash for participating in the group happening April 16th in Marina del Rey for 2 hours. All patients would need to go through a 5 minute screener to verify they qualify. Please contact me directly to learn more.

Please join me Monday 03/23/09 as I welcome Mary Jo Rapini from TLC's Big Medicine. Mary Jo is a psychotherapist specializing in intimacy and relationships. She works in Houston, Texas at Methodist Hospital, maintains a private practice, and is a renowned lecturer and author. Mary Jo's philosophy: The Essence Triangle- Self, Relationships and Wellness. Mary Jo's Goal is to empower women to gain the freedom to be all they can be before worrying about intimate relationships. Women must understand their bodies, their sexuality, and their own passions and gifts. Tonight we will be discussing Online Dating. Date: 03/23/2009 Time: 6:00 pm CT Where: "The Band Banter" Talk Show Call in number: 347-237-4004 **Big Announcement**- For all you single folks, you will not want to miss tonight's show. I hope to "HEAR" you there tonight!! Thanks, ~CoachCher~

Due to the economy and its decline we have not met the expected attendance as originally planned when we first organized the 2009 NYC Gastric Band Conference. At that time we expected approximately 100-150 attendees with less than a week away we have less than 25. Unfortunately since we have such a low attendance we cannot meet the minimum financial obligation contracted with the hotel. As you might expect we have to postpone this conference to a future date, ideally between September and October 2009. We are very excited and hopeful for an economic upturn that will result in an even more spectacular conference, with more speakers, vendors and attendees. We look forward to seeing all of you then.

Please join me Monday 03/09/2009 as I welcome Mary Jo Rapini from TLC's Big Medicine. Mary Jo is a psychotherapist specializing in intimacy and relationships. She works in Houston, Texas at Methodist Hospital, maintains a private practice, and is a renowned lecturer and author. Mary Jo's philosophy: The Essence Triangle- Self, Relationships and Wellness. Women don't need a boyfriend or a husband to be complete. They need a strong support system that reinforces what a good man is and does, and includes women who are brave enough to make individual strides and be their own person. On tonight's show we will be discussing healthy relationships and online dating. Date: 03/09/2009 Time: 6:00pm CT Where: "The Band Banter" Talk Show Call in number: 347-237-4004 This show is interactive be sure to join us in the chatroom to be involved in the conversation. I hope to "HEAR" you there!!

Got your tickets yet? The 2009 National “Gastric Band” Conference is just two weeks away! The focus of this year's event is "Living the Gastric Band Lifestyle", and speakers will address topics such as post-op eating, fitness, and emotional changes for patients who are considering or have had the Lap-Band® or Realize Band procedure. The goal is to educate all weight loss surgery patients on the tools for success, so their determination and motivation will result in a lasting transformation and a healthy new life. Loyal members of Lapband Talk are eligible for a special discount on event tickets. Just click here for the Conference Link and enter Username: limited1 and Password: offer. See you in the Big Apple

Due to the economy and its decline we have not met the expected attendance as originally planned when we first organized the 2009 NYC Gastric Band Conference. At that time we expected approximately 100-150 attendees with less than a week away we have less than 25. Unfortunately since we have such a low attendance we cannot meet the minimum financial obligation contracted with the hotel. As you might expect we have to postpone this conference to a future date, ideally between September and October 2009. We are very excited and hopeful for an economic upturn that will result in an even more spectacular conference, with more speakers, vendors and attendees. We look forward to seeing all of you then.

Got your tickets yet? The 2009 National “Gastric Band” Conference is just two weeks away! The focus of this year's event is "Living the WLS Lifestyle", and speakers will address topics such as post-op eating, fitness, and emotional changes for patients who are considering or have had the Lap-Band® or Realize Band procedure. The goal is to educate all weight loss surgery patients on the tools for success, so their determination and motivation will result in a lasting transformation and a healthy new life. Loyal members of Lapband Talk are eligible for a special discount on event tickets. Just click here for the Conference Link and enter Username: limited1 and Password: offer. See you in the Big Apple!

Yes you can pay on Saturday. The cost for Saturday only is $67.50, this includes your lunch as well.

Hey Apple, Still working on the dates. The October Conference is being hosted by The Fill Center USA, I will be participating as a speaker. Once I know the exact dates I will let you guys know.

I'll see what I can do to turn this into a poster, I would hate for you to get "Inked" :party:)

Join me today as I welcome Rebecca Regnier from "Does this blog make us look fat" Rebecca is not a lap-band patient but she is a professional dieter who has choosen humor as her "Diet" of choice. As lap-band patients we sometimes forget to find the humor in our journey. Rebecca is a hoot and will have each one of us laughing and hopefully we will lose some weight. 100 laughs a day is equal to 10 minutes of exercise! So join us tonight I bet we get in more than 100 laughs with Rebecca tonight. Date: 03/02/2009 Time: 6:00pm CST Where: "The Band Banter" Talk Show I hope to "HEAR" you there!! The show is interactive so be sure to join us in the chatroom tonight.

Join me as I welcome Sheri Morris and Jennifer Sands Bariatric RN's as they share with us secret's and tips on how to be a successful post-op with the lap-band and realize band. We know the RN's are truly the one's who keep us in check. Show them some love, call and ask questions. When: 02/23/2009 Time: 6:00 pm CST Where: Health internet radio shows and Success internet radio by "The Band Banter" Talk Show | BlogTalkRadio Call-in Number: (347) 237-4004 The show is interactive, join us in the chatroom or call in live to ask questions. I hope to "Hear" you there.

Are your emotions making you make poor food choices? In these emotional times it’s very easy to fall back into bad habits. I know I’m finding myself eating things I know I shouldn’t be eating. Sure we can all make the excuse “Good Food is too expensive”. Who suffers when we allow our minds to go there? We do!! I’ll give you an example of eating things I know I shouldn’t be eating. It was 10:30 on Saturday night I was starving, instead of going to the kitchen and making a shake or a bowl of cereal; I jumped into my car and went to Jack in the Box. My morbidly obese alter ego showed up and I ordered 2 tacos, onion rings and an egg roll. Now most of you know I consider “Saturday” my free day and I eat what I want without guilt. Okay this was beyond a free day, this was complete and total insanity. I knew as soon as I placed the order I wouldn’t/couldn’t eat everything I ordered. It was if I had stepped back into time and had no problem ordering all of that food. Sure enough I get home and sit down to eat this crap I had just ordered. I seriously only ate a small amount of the food; a couple bites of the taco, a couple of onion rings and a couple of bites of the egg roll. I had all of this food left over and knew I wouldn’t eat it the next day. This kind of food does not make good leftovers, nor should we want this as a leftover meal. Not only did I spend $6.43 on crap at 10:30 on a Saturday night, I wasted a ton of food. So what did I learn from this experience; I still have to fight my “Inner Fat Girl”. Was it my emotions that allowed me to make that decision; you Betcha. I gave into an impulsive craving and just went for it. Bottom line is we can blame our poor eating choices on whatever we choose. I don’t want our emotions to be an excuse as to why we are making poor choices. Own it, accept it and then get back on track. After really thinking about it, I know what caused me to make the decision to drive thru at 10:30 and buy crap. I was sad and lonely and wanted food to comfort me. It had comforted me so many times in the past and this was going to be no different. The great news is it was different, it didn’t comfort me, it didn't make me happy and yep you guessed it I was still lonely when I was done eating. I was watching a report on the news the other day and it was saying as “Americans” we are turning to comfort food during these trying times. Most Americans are seeking comfort food to help them through. It’s cheaper and easier to feed a family. We can’t fall into this mind set/trap. As banded patients we have to make better choices. This is a lifestyle we signed up for, think of it as a marriage for better or worse we have to make good healthy choices. I am almost five years out, I know better. When I think of my “Free” day I do allow myself to eat foods that I would not eat during the week. However what I did Saturday night was much different. I allowed myself to go to the dark side, I let my inner “Fat Girl” take control, and I didn’t even try to fight it. I would encourage to look at what you’re eating and ask yourself “Why am I eating this”? Then be very honest with yourself, yes it will be hard but well worth the time to figure it out early instead of 20 pounds later. If you are still finding yourself reaching for food to comfort you or to fill a void in your life contact me today, so we can discuss the void in your life. Together we will create a plan and get you on the road to weight loss success.

Hi DannyLu, I was completely guilty of wearing my fat suit as a suit of armor. I have embraced my suit and love it. It takes time to shed the "Old" us but trust me it can be done. Please let me know how I can support you.

Hi Whitepants, Good for you getting out there and swing dancing, I love that. Your right the underlying issue us your job and not enough social connections. You are on the right track making the social connections, as far as the job goes you can do one of two things, try to change the moral or find a new job. I'm sure the latter would be hard to do in these economic times but at least you could keep your eyes open for new opportunities. We are a community who has to "Band Together" ( no pun intended, since it's the name of my company) and help each other out. Everyone always thinks they are alone and no one else is going through this, that couldn't be further from the truth. Next time you feel that way make a post and watch the people come out and agree with you/support you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you.

Hi Ashleyrenee, You are part of a community and you are not alone. This is why I do what I do, think of me as the "Band Connector". I write these articles so others know they are not alone. I'm almost 5 years out and trust me I still face the same issues that someone who is 4 weeks out. Thankfully I know how to handle them now but my food addiction still rears it's ugly head every now and then. We have to stay connected to those who are taking the same journey as you are. I always encourage others to share their story, who knows you may strike a cord in someone or they might strike a cord in you. The only way to know if someone is feeling what you are is to post it on the board and watch them come to your side. I wish you the best of luck. Let me know if there is anything I can do to support you.

Hi Eficka, I can relate to what you are saying, I too was abused as a small child however mine was sexual. I would relate sex to love, not a good thing I promise. We are not a product of our upbringing, we have to accept what happened to us as children, 1. it was not our fault and 2. it will not define who we are as adults. I'm not going to bash you, but I do disagree with the nutritionist. I would say 100% of us have eating disorders that's why we choose to have the surgery. We all had/have a unhealthy relationship with food, we use food to Celebrate, comfort, cure boredom the list goes on and on. It has nothing to do with us losing weight we all know how to do that, what we don't know how to do is keep it off. With the band I have been able to keep off 80 pounds, without the band I would of gained it all back without a doubt. Do some people require counseling after surgery? Of course they do, as the weight is falling off they have to face this new person and really feel what they feel as opposed to stuffing their feelings. This could/would happen if they lost weight on their own without surgery. I don't believe placing a band on someone who has a eating disorder is unethical. As with diet and exercise the band is only a "Tool" it's not the be all end all. All of my coaching is done via telephone or email, so skype would be easy to use for coaching as well. I wish you nothing but the best of luck, you can do this I promise.