Lap_dancer

This will be a long post because I get that (ding ding ding) in my head that there is a time to post "the list". I got this card from Natalie at Dr. Kirshenbaum's office. I will retype it for the benefit of those who were and are where I was before my last fill: Get into the Lap-Band Green Zone ADD Fluid :cry When: You appear to always feel hungry You are able to eat big meals You are 'looking for food' SUB-OPTIMAL WEIGHT LOSS GREEN ZONE The Optimal Zone and what you target for You have early and prolonged satiety -you feel satisfied earlier at mealtime and that fullness sticks with you for a good while. Small meals satisfy Satisfactory weight loss or maintenance OPTIMAL WEIGHT LOSS Reduce Fluid :guess Difficulty swallowing Reflux-Heartburn Night Cough Regurgitatioin Poor Eating Behavior SUB-OPTIMAL WEIGHTLOSS .................................................. I hope this helps. It took me three fills to finally hit the zone. This "sweet spot" as it is known, is a lovely place to be. Mind you I have retrained myself to chew slowly, eat slowly, no liquids at meal time ( I will have the occasional room temperature drink of Water to cleanse the pallette). The band goes hand in hand with rechanging eating patterns (habits..event the bad ones) that we've developed over the years. If you still find you are struggling, you may benefit from doing some 'headwork'. I found the need to do this because my eating was based on emotion and some deep level of pain where I used food to cope. Removing the ability to eat away my troubles created new ones that a therapist helped me get through. These are all tools, just like the band. Tools to help us reach our goals.

Call the office and leave a message to have the doctor call you at his convenience. They will almost do a blood letting to get you to spill what you want to talk about....your response? " it's confidential". I've yet to have a doctor NOT call me back at the end of their day or in between patients ( and Dr. Kirshenbaum...you ROCK at calling back your patients!!!) ...anyway, do that. You'll get action. Meanwhile...seamstress baby! Seamstress. Most drycleaners have them or word of mouth. Just a little let out of the ones you can salvage otherwise save them until after your surgery. More to look forward to.* *I'm a big believer in synchronicity. Events that happen may appear to be for one reason but in the end, they come together for a different purpose and it tends to be for the greater good for those who hold life to a higher standard. Hope this helps.

Tracy Tracy Tracy! How goes it girl? Loooooong time aye? I tend to hang out at Dr. K's thread but spreading the love a little and thought to pop in here. You look awesome. So you're getting married? WOW. People are talking up-do, I see you definately with an upsweep, ringlets cascading and pinned with pearl studs. Have you see that look? With a simple veil it's beautiful. Your bones are structured nicely (don't you love hearing BONES, that they can be seen??!!) So definately let them show at the reception. And I'm diggin' that you do your own hair. I color and cut my own because I know precisely the placement of shading that I want. Just go to a Sally's and you'll find all those pretties that you need. I'm so excited for you! I finally hit my sweet spot!! Last visit to Dr. K did the trick. Perfect restriction, not too tight, not too loose. Just enough. Post photos...more...for those who cannot make it to your nuptuals. (and since my daughter ELOPED in July and robbed me of the grand affair, please share as much as you are comfortable with) Hugs, Patty in Florida

Oh for a pool nearby!!! Water walking is my favorite form of exercise but the closest one is a half hour south and $45 a month. No friends have a pool either.

I use to LOVE hot donuts and cold milk. (but I'll pass on the pain the thought of that conjers up ) Wouldn't it be GREAT to wake up thin? (smiles big) I can't wait until I wake up and I'm actually thin again. I'm starting to have skinny dreams. ................. Indiogirl55: Right before I got banded a gym opened up across the street from my house - so I joined - I bought an Ipod - loaded it and went. At first I could barely do a 20 minute mile and I was dead after that mile - but just kept going back - I am now doing 16 or 17 minute mile and for some songs push it to 4.0 (15 minute mile) - I am up to 3 miles most days - some days just 2 miles and everyonce in a while 4 miles (usually on Saturdays) I exercise 4-5 days a week Indiogirl55, I too have a sweaty head when I start picking up the pace. The IPOD new and loaded would be a motivation. I love music. Congrats on the achievement! Wouldn't it be great if most all of us had gyms near our homes? For now I'll have to work with what I have and that is pavement. Thanks for sharing

Everyone it is so interesting to see that most are losing evenly. So am I. You can see my face is thinning and my chins are down to two rather than one HUGE chin. That's where I hear it most from folks, that my face and stomach look so thin. My stomach use to hang very low (and swing when I walked fast)...yeah, nice visual, aye? But it is drawing up and in. It isn't so TIGHT now. I notice it all over.

Greetings all! I just came back from a walk with my dog and I'm SWEATING (see new thread I just started) There are "netiquette" forms for chatrooms. Establishing the netiquette for Lapband may help but there will always be cross talk. What I see as being a successful model is having a topic and a meeting time. For example: At 9 PM EST on TR night, the chatroom will discuss restriction. For the first ten minutes the guest speaker can post a focus...an article... and the group can join in at the end. OR the focus could be on restriction. Keeping in mind that the benefit of the chat is for group support LIVE. **I have to add that one of the highlights of support groups is being able to share with others. (smiling) and yes Jack, you are sooo very charming with your witty expressions of thought, how wonderful to see them LIVE (or are you not as snappy LIVE??) ..grins.

I'm not going to lie, I hate to sweat. I'm so large that moving for a long period of time tends to wear me out BUT TODAY I begin exercising. I'm starting small, 10 minutes my first day, and working my way up to one hour or more of healthy movement. So how do you move? Today I took my 85 pound pitbull for a walk. What did you do? Anyone else need to break the I-hate-to-exercise habit? What are you doing to change? Share your thoughts here. I am driven by the fact that exercise is essential to weightloss. Patty

Hi Heather, welcome to the land of the band. Best to you! Patty

From someone who is in her 19th year in education...elementary (the worst) and middle schools; teachers are the most horrible gossips on the planet. In two weeks it will be something else at the forefront of lounge language. By next year, some will have transferred to another school. My husband taught me early on, if you don't want anyone to know, don't tell. Just keep going and realize you are doing this for YOU. Best of luck.

Thought I would drop a note here. Dang, pretty soon we will need a page three for Dr. K. Wishing you all an awesome New year. Be strong and happy journey!

I was denied too. You know what? I just did self pay. It is like buying a car. I got a low interest loan, shopped around for surgery (which was REALLY fun in the end) and the whole experience turned out to be a positive one. I have a great surgeon, I'm six months post op and loving the band.

Not even on a good day do I miss that lifestyle. I equate my old eating habits with pain, swelling, inability to walk, and a deep emotional place of isolation.

Here's your Metamucil mention right here. Per my doctor I add it to my drinking water. No problems now. I had quite the opposite problem as I have Diverticulitis. OUCH. But no flairs of late and the Metamucil works like a charm.

Yes Yes Yes Yes. I totally understand. Or how about the empowering feeling that you know you won't have a pig out. I had one day during the holidays where I THOUGHT I would have a third cookie and one bite later it never even hit the back of my throat. I knew better. Last year at this same time I would have binged and I know that from years of experiencing that. It's so empowering to feel and know that it is happening.

This is true. .......................................................... Andrea, I am a big advocate of going back to your surgeon and getting their advice when things aren't trotting along. I learned it the hard way by holding out for four months when things did not feel quite right. I ended up going back out to Colorado from Florida, having an unfill then fill with spanky fresh liquid and getting perfect restriction. I posted something in Dr. Kirshenbaum's first thread (there are two) that talks about the three levels of restriction: not enough, right there, need a fill. I got this from Natalie at Dr. K's office. I carry this card with me. Having that perfect balance really is important. My suggestion is to go see your doctor.

I wish BCBS would just make their mind up. In Florida they won't cover the surgery (which turned out to be just fine because I used Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado and over half of my posts are just reams of Kudos about him and my experience). I have found that the doctor and/or a FEMALE behind the counter in the office who deals with the insurance can just be full of information. Try pumping them for tips.

Oh honey that's not a breakdown. That's you just getting older and not giving a rats patooty what anyone thinks!! and that's totoally okay! Never shave legs, wax them. (laughing) I know it hurts but it takes twice as long to grown and there's no muss no fuss with someone else down there ripping off the old fly aways. While they are at it let them do your toe nails. I suggest ruby red for a color. And while they have the wax out let them do your brows. While they are doing your brows might as well get color. I suggest RED. Yeah baby. RED. I just might have a great big old copper streak added right in front. Like I said, getting older means you don't have to care what other people think! SUCH FREEDOM!!! PS: I just turned 48 on the 28th of Dec, I was banded April 17, my daughter eloped July 5, she got pregnant in October which means I'll be a grandmother in July. You said so many things that are very liberating. No friends there where you moved? AWESOME, you don't have any preconceived image to live up to!!!! I'm envious!

This is a feature the website could use. My suggestion is every Tuesday, or Wednesday or Thursday...whatever, have a meeting. We could use the chat feature to loggin and have a support meeting with a featured topic. Another idea is to just have it there so folks could go into the chat room and talk. I think it should have a catchy name like coffee Talk. (yeah I love the old SNL) That's my first idea. Patty

Girlfriend here's a clue: No such thing as too many shoes or way too many blouses. All those colors, all those fabrics. At goal???? I promise everyone that I will be a clothes whore. I might even switch up professions. You deserve every single article of clothing.

Me too! I have the same goal not to mention a few personal head-work goals.:clap2:

Please all of you doubting the band or yourself, please DO NOT give up! YOU CAN DO IT!!! ..you inspire me!!!!!!!!! From the depth of my heart and width of my arms, I sincerely and wholey congratulate you! WAY to go! Patty

I'd make sure my stats were all good. Get your ticker checked. That procedure is very hard on the body and Mexico doesn't have the same standards our doctors here in the states have. Best to you. Post back your results.

Phentermine alone didn't help me. My doc. put me on it as one of the means to get the weight off.

I have never had luck with WW and that's why I am banded. Having said that, whatever it takes to make it happen for you, and if you believe this is a good plan, you should do it. Best to you on this last 40.