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Hello to my short friends! I'm 4'11" Yes, we do carry weight differently. I'm very short waisted, the space between my waist and (sagging) boobs is only a few inches. (which contains my muffin top)! When I bend over and have a belt on, I can feel my port digging into my insides, somewhat uncomfortable. Anyone else have that problem? I've always said "if I was 5'7", I wouldn't be overweight"!

I had absolulutely no problems with my approval with BCBS of MI. I have always had regular appointments with my Primary Care Physician. (high blood pressure & stroke) even though he never "officially" put me on a diet. He had no problem writing the letter to BCBS about my weight loss attempts, even thought they weren't medically supervised by him..I was instantly approved with my BMI and co-morbidities all taken into account. I think that was the key...I have seen the same Dr. for almost 20 years and he has seen 1st hand my struggle with weight. I basically walked into his office and said this is what I want to do, you need to write a letter to BCBS, and he agreed.

I've been very "comfortable" with myself this winter. I've found I can stay within my daily calorie goals and maintain my weight without exercising on a routine, scheduled basis. (but I do still exercise) I know once spring sets in and the bike path is open and the days get longer, I'll pickup where I left off and kick it up a notch in the exercise dept, i'm confident in that. Not sure why I need to explain myself to anyone, maybe it's just for me, setting things right in my mind on why I haven't lost any significant weight in 4 months. Thanks for listening to my jibber-jabber. ++sledding tomorrow will surely burn a few extra calories! Supposed to get 2-4 more inches here in Northern Lower MI. See everyone in the new month.....We will be 1 year Marchies! We've come a long way, haven't we?

I've kept my LB surgery mostly to myself adn immediate family. I would feel awkward showing a card to the waitress. It's hard enough now to convince them I "don't" want anything to drink. I have no desire to order off the kids menu, spaghetti, chix tenders and hamburgers are not my thing. I usually order salmon or tilapia (fish..yum-o)!and get steamed veggies. Yes, these meals usually cost around $13-$15...but I can get at least 3 meals out of it. JMO

Janine. I'm so sorry about your band. I was devastated for you while reading your post. I pray this will all work out for you and you can get re-banded with insurance paying. The main thing is your health is safe and your stomach will heal and you're okay to deal with whatever comes your way. We are here for you.

I've always stayed away from the sunflower seeds & almonds/walnuts. Thought they were too high in fat to eat Your recipe sounds like it would be worthwhile to try. I too, have been constipated on and off since surgery. I should really get a night time hobby to keep me from snacking also. I have no clue how to knit/crochet. I do like to sew, if I could replace eating with sewing I could outfit the whole family! Good Luck on your run tomorrow OH Juli, I know you'll do great Everyone have a great weekend

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

No one responded to jlobyxmas...and I was reading wheetsin' with lots of ideas in my head too......what is "the thing"? The first thing that came to mind is a sex toy.....?

Blund Dr. found my hernia while placing my band. Even with my co-morbities (high blood pressure & history of stroke) My primary care physician got my BMI to 40.4 by taking my shoes off while measuring my height (I'm 4'11") and keeping them on while weighing me, at the time I was 201.5. I attended 2 of the "support group" classes. They were mainly a speaker in front of a group of 50-75 ppl. There was a Q&A at the end. They were mainly focused around ppl that had the RNY procedure. Not us LB ppl. Even the nutritionist has her menus and plans and instructions geared towards RNY ppl. So if you see her, perhaps ask if she has changed anything. I have a hard time eating some of the things on her sample menu. Not sure my $140.00 fee was well spent with her. Maybe things have changed in the last year. The RNY people cannot eat any sugar, while the LB people can't eat bread and pasta. Her meals did not reflect that. As far as a one-on-one support group, I'm not aware of any for LB. I've been going this alone except for this forum which is great. Enough babbling, gotta run

Blund Thanks for the compliment on my weight loss. Dr. Featherstone found a hiatal hernia during my band placement, not a big deal for him to fix it right then. I saw the psychologist out on Old Mission Peninsula, I forgot his name. I took a fill-in-the-circle test of about a million questions and then spoke to the psych after he reviewed my answers. We talked awhile, and he told me right then and there that I was a good candidate for the procedure. He then forwarded his recommendation to the Dr.s office. I never received a copy of my test. If they sedate you for that scope thing, you should be alright. You'll do fine. Hang in there. I know this process seems long and drawn out, but you'll be a Lapbander before you know it! Good Luck with your tests Mary

Welcome Blund... Dr. Featherstone did my sugery last March 14th...almost 1 year now! It sounds like I started out the same, BMI of 40 and 2 co-morbities. I had NO problems with BCBS of MI approving me. I've been struggling to lose this winter, by nothing but my own fault. I've lost 53 lbs. and feel great! Good luck, whens surgery?

I love eating out. It gives me a chance to eat things I don't prepare at home. My meals are usually a few dollars more expensive cause I usually order salmon or fish of some sort (yum-O) It will feed me for 3 meals so I'm okay with the price. I ordered a side of cottage cheese for a meal once and the waitress looked at me like I was crazy. I tend to stay away from the kids menu. hot dogs, chix strips and spaghetti are not usually my 1st choice. Every once in awhile I just want to pig out, like the good old days! Eat my entire meal and bread and dessert in one sitting. But then I remember that's what put me here in the first place.

Looks like our 1st year is gonna be behind us before we know it! I have finally broke my plateau. Down 3 lbs. woo-hoo! Been home with my 6 yr old, he had a fever of 102.5 yesterday, yikes! We colored, put puzzles together and snuggled today, back to school & work tomorrow. Hope everyone is staying healthy and happy!

I never thought of weights and adding clothes. I did have 2 co-morbidies, High blood pressure and had a Stroke 3 yrs ago. I didn't have 100 lbs to lose, but I'm 4'11" and weighed 201 at my dr's visit. All that qualified me.

My Dr. required I stop smoking 2 months before he would schedule a surgery date. Chantix is a miracle drug in my opinion. I have told anyone who would listen about it and how it helped me. I started taking it and quit smoking 1 day before I really had to....never looked back, don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy the 1st 2 weeks...but now, I don't even think about cigarettes. The only side effect I had was decrease in appetite (like that's a problem, I lost 5 lbs) and a few weird dreams. GO GET YOUR SCRIPTS FILLED! Start this today!

Thanks for your concern everyone. An Aura happens before the actual onset of a migraine headache. It causes visual changes, blind spots, tunnel vision and zigzag lines, it's very hard to see, bright lights normally trigger mine. It can last from 5 minutes for up to an hour. White pants, you'll do fine dining out. I usually order a normal dinner, usually salmon, my fav! and have enough left over for 2 more meals, what a bargain! Hoping to see the Dr. on Saturday about my BP. Thickchick...congrads on the size 12!!!!! horray for you! OH Juli have fun at the water park! Mary

whitepants Well, I did try out the scale and have decided to return it. I'm not sure where they got their nutrition information, but it seemed to be off from what I'm reading on the food label. Unless your weighting a straight forward food like fruits and vegetables, I find it just as useful to read the labels. ie..my DH weighed his vanilla icecream and it was off by 150 cals and 5g fat from the label. Hanging in there with my weight. This winter has really got me down for some reason. I miss riding my bike. I'd really like to get some x-country skis. My blood pressure is back up again. I've been checking it daily, an average reading is 154/91. My PCP took me off meds 8 mos ago. This weekend I had my 1st migraine in almost 3 years. Women that have migranes with an aura and HBP are 7 times more likely to have a stroke. I had one 3 years ago. So, I really need to get this BP under control. I really thought my WL would take care of it. gotta run

Janine, you crack me up! Congratulation on the great restriction. I have it also, but haven't been making the best band choices the last few days. Yes, it is cold here in MI. 11 degrees this am just North of you. My DHG and I were at Soaring Eagle in Dec. for a NAPA Auto convention....shoulda looked you up! darn. Have a great weekend everyone!

I like "Weight Loss surgery for Dummies" I still reference it and I'm 10 months out. Hang in there!

Good Job juliegeraci! And everyone else! I have been smoke free since 12-21-2007! My Dr. would not perform surgery until I was smoke free for three months. The Chantix was a god-send! I have told anyone that would listen about how well it worked for me. My PCP who prescribed it to me has been keeping track on his own and even though the Company says there is a 44% success rate after 12 weeks, His survey, of his patients, is 65% success! I actually lost weight while taking this (7 lbs.)

I should be receiving my scale in the mail soon. It was $39.96 $ 5 s/h. It is a Kitchrics Digital Food Scale with Nutritional Facts Display. You can find it on the QVC website, or perhaps your local kitchen store? I seem to be drawn to these "aids" then stop using them for some reason or another. ie..my pedometer has had a dead battery for a few months now. jmcambra...an hour of elliptical? You go girl! I tried it once at the local gym and did the pre-programmed cross country session, man did that kick my butt, and it was only 30 minutes. Perhaps I started out doing too much. ***my latest fav Diet Lipton Green Tea with Citrus. zero everything except 60 mg of sodium.

Just bought a neat scale from QVC. It has 1000 pre-programmed foods in the memory and room for more of your own. It weighs food, tells the calories/fat/carbs/sugar/protein etc...Can't wait to get it! Any fun, easy contraption to help the cause!

Husker....Were you writing a biography of my life and thoughts just then? Do I have a web-cam set up in my house that I don't know about? That was ME yesterday! Everything you said.....ditto! Except the only reason my DH put a load of towels in the wash was because he was probably watching porn on the internet while the kids and I were at church and needed to hide the "evidence" I know, too much information. I don't mind reading other peoples rants and raves, sometimes you just need to vent and let it all out...I hear you! So I did 8 loads of laundry wash, dry fold, put away, washed dishes twice (no dishwasher) cooked a really nice dinner, went grocery shopping, church, helped afterwards, gave the kids a bath, played a game of sorry, read bedtime story, swept floors, vacuumed, and finally at 9:45 sat down. DH still on the computer in the same spot he'd been since 10:15 am (that's what time he woke up!) What a putz!

Janine...The fluro is no big deal. My Dr. required me to do the swallow test before I would be released from the hospital after surgery. It was like a thick strawberry-chalk milkshake, but warm! Kinda cool to see it go down. Well, my restriction has set in from my fill on 12-17 I think I have acid reflux, but without the acid part....I can "burp" and taste food I've eaten 2-3 hours ago. I can't eat anything 3+ hours before bed, even my nice cup of tea comes up if I lie down too soon after drinking. Is that what I have? Acid reflux? jmcambra & I must have the same addiction. SUGAR and candy I have blew it for today but tomorrow I'm going on the no sugar band wagon. If it only takes 5 days to get over this addiction, I'm gonna try it. NO MORE CANDY & CHOCOLATE

Sparkpeople looks way cooler than fitday, just registered, thanks for the info! NSV!!!! DH & I took the kids sledding yesterday. BIG hill. Last year at this time I would have been huffing and puffing and would have had to stop quite a few times climbing back up. Last year I would have said, "you kids go back down, mommy is resting" No, Not me! It was a fun challenge, I never stopped, not once. I really enjoyed myself and I was proud of myself for keeping up