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My diet has been a bunch of junk food too, and I'm having a hard time stopping this downward spiral. I've been the same weight for 4 weeks, so I'm maintaining but not losing. I have great restriction. I've been eating nothing but m&m's candy bars, cookies, protein shakes, last night had a fried chicken drumstick, I eat wheat thins & hummus, protein bars, salads from McD's, string cheese, yogurt and salmon...That's my whole menu pretty much. I'm going to pull out my "weight loss surgery for dummies" book tonight and flip through it again, just to remind myself what it was like before this surgery and the reasons I did this. **I guess I'm getting too comfortable being a size 10, even though I need to lose 25 more lbs. I don't want to go in for my checkup on 11/19 and feel like a failure. I know the band rules but my brain doesn't seem to have the will power to follow them. Gotta run

Good Morning newbies from MI! I had surgery last March at Munson Medical Center... Dr. Featherstone. Haven't had any problems, still have 24 lbs to lose. Good Luck to all!!!

Yes, that was one of the co-morbities that determined if I was eligible for the surgery, along with high blood pressure. I had a small stroke almost 3 years ago at the age of 36. Had a BMI of 41 I had to have the normal tests, EKG, pulmonary breathing test, blood work, psych exam... I hope this works out for you! Good Luck

I agree, I have that same problem. My sister saw me yesterday for the 1st time in a few months, she was amazed at how I looked. I said "Thanks" but I don't really and truely feel it yet. But I still have the same mental body image as I did before surgery, even though I'm down 5 clothes sizes and down almost 50 lbs. Why is that? ...Are we crazy?

Good Morning! My Dr. made it mandatory that I had to quit smoking at least 2 months before he would schedule surgery. So, I'm here to tell you about the drug that helped me do it... "Chantix" I have smoked for 20 years, quit using the patch during my 1st pregnancy, quit using the patch during the 5th month of my 2nd pregnancy...Had a stroke at age 36, still didn't quit with Zyban. PCP prescribed the Chantix. It really did it for me. It was physically hard the 1st 2 weeks but the drug didn't allow my body to "crave" it. I quit December 21st, 2006 5pm and haven't looked back. Quitting smoking was 100 x's easier than this Band is. I never think about smoking any longer...I always think about junk food. The success rate with Chantix is 45% after 12 weeks. The highest of all stop smoking aids. google chantix.com and check it out, you get online support daily with great tips and tricks. Just one person's opinion, I truly believe this saved my life.

Sophie I don't have pains. My annoyance is when I bend down my belt and waist band squishes my port and it's very uncomfortable. I kinda have to "move" it out of the way. I just started getting worried also about my band. I have been perfectly restricted since my last fill. I just noticed the last week, not so much. I has become apparent that I don't have to slow down quite as much when I eat. I would slime coffee in the am if I drank too fast, now I can drink a cup way quicker. So , not sure what's up with that. I think we all find motherhood can be a challange at times. My kids are growing so fast, with new experiences, friends, school and not being so dependent on mom any longer. I 'm thankful every day they are happy and healthy. take care everyone

I've been pretty busy, have a lot going on right now and I don't seem to get on the computer at home much, I usually check the site from work. I'm stuck in a rut that I'm not really motovated to get out of right now. I have not been exercising all that much, I haven't been eating all that great, I have been getting in my protein. I'm down into a clothes size I haven't seen since 9th grade! (YEAH) and I'm okay with it all. My scale hasn't budged in 4 weeks. So I guess you could say I've been "maintaining" Good Luck with your fill thickchick gotta run

Thick chick.....You have to put your pictures in some online account, ...I use Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket It's free, you just open an account and download your pics from your computer onto Photobucket, then from there you use the URL from that to copy and paste into your LB profile. It took me a while to figure it out. Perhaps someone else can give you more details, I'm no computer whiz. hope it works for you

hey SusieQ yes, I drink protein shakes. I really like Muscle Milk Light Banana, I mix it with light soy milk vanilla. Isopure grape frost (I get them at GNC at the Cherryland Center) The Isopure is a premade drink in a 20 oz bottle, kinda like kool-aide it's expensive for me $3.99 a bottle, but I buy when they are on sale. 40g protein per 20 oz. I really like the High Protein slimfast strawberry that is already made up. 15 g protein. LOVE the Pure Protein chocolate peanut butter bars 160 cals, 5 fat, 20g protein. I haven't had any problems except hair loss. (not enough protein) I've only thrown-up once, but I do slime when I eat too fast. I won't put down the office, I should realize they see how many patients a week and can't remember everyones name that walks thru the door. Dr. is really good at giving fills, I'm a needle phobic and i've never felt a thing, even the numbing shot hardly hurts.

Great job Nikki! Isn't it a wonderful feeling when that happens? I shop at thrift stores and seem to drift towards the plus size section, I held up a cute sweater the other day and thought it will fit...it was huge on me, an XL. My eyes and brain haven't caught up with my actual size yet.

Susieq125 I had my band placed last March by Dr. Featherstone. The process went fairly smooth and the office handled all my insurance without any problems. I have 2.5cc in my 4 cc band. Have lost 47 pounds. I'm not overly impressed with the bedside manner. I guess I just feel like a number as I walk through the door. I see them every 4 weeks for a checkup/weigh-in. Last time she didn't even remember my name or when I had my surgery. Perhaps she could have looked at my chart b4 she walked in the room. Anyway, just one person's opinion. Good Luck! Your gonna do great!

Since this is the "cheating" forum, perhaps someone could give me some advice...... My husband cheated on me 3 yrs ago. I found out about this just last year. I have very few details. Yes, I went snooping, Sometimes when things don't add up, and things don't feel right, you just need to know the truth. Last week she "stumbled" across his web-site for his business and emailed him. What should I do? He now has his emails from that website forwarded to a private one, I'm guessing so he can email her in secret. I don't want to come across as an immature psycho wife, but damn...I don't know what to do. Should I try to get his password from the web design guy to monitor the emails? Should I email her and tell her to back off??! Or just ignore this whole thing?

Marjon.......Are you serious? 10 grand??? My Dr. obviously way overcharges his patients. I guess I wasn't too concerned since he's only a 45 minute drive and BC/BS paid. If I was self pay, I probably wouldn't have had this band placed.

It seems every surgeon has set their own prices. I have BC/BS of MI and my Dr. charged $18,500, that included a required overnight stay at the hospital and 3 months aftercare. The Pre-op tests: EKG, Pulmonary tests, blood tests, Psych exam, nutritionist were all extra. My insurance is really good. Ded $500. Copay $1000, so I met some of that with my tests before the surgery. Now that my 3 mos is over, I pay a $10.00 office visit co-pay. My fills are covered by BC/BS. According to what I've read on this forum, my Dr. charges a bit more than others.

Nikki...i'm with you here. I busted my butt last week exercising and the last few days nothing. Haven't dropped a pound in almost 2 weeks. I really need to stick to an exercise routine and i'm sure i'd be more consistant in my weight loss. *****So when I started this journey I was Morbidly obese according to the BMI chart (42)....right now I'm Obese.(31.8) ...I only have 6 more lbs to go and i'll offically be "overweight!" (29.9) Yee haw! Hoping to get in one last trip out on the boat before we shrink wrap it for the winter, supposed to be around 80 degrees here on Sunday. Everyone have a great weekend, probably talk to everyone in October!

TGIF momlambert/So sorry to hear about your father. Grief is a hard emotion to handle. When a loss like this occurs, we all need to remember to make the most of the time we have with our loved ones. It looks like everyone is losing and not gaining....could we have said that a year ago? I don't think I could have! I was 47 lbs heavier last year at this time....WOW my son weighs 48.5! Saw the Dr. on Monday and he said my 6 lb loss in 4 weeks was just perfect...That's what he wants to see in all his patients. ( I could have lost more if I had stuck to my exercise routine and stayed away from the m & m's and the banana cream pie blizzard at DQ!) I'm having a difficult time staying away from sweets. I bought a whole bunch of different flavors of soy protein shake mix samples. When I get that need for sugar, I'll make one of those. I just have to remember these changes are for life and I need to get my eating under control. Everyone have a wonderful weekend

Thanks Jmcambra!.... I have no clue what all the stuff is in my post, and I have no idea how I got two of the same picture on there! Oh well.

<p>My 6 month anniversary was last Friday...The blue shirt pic is my before and the others were taken this weekend. Thanks to everyone for all their support, it means a lot! <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p></p>

It sounds like your Dr. was a bit busy to bother answering your questions...that really annoys me. Were you required to see a nutritionist? It was mandatory for me to see one before my surgery. My insurance didn't pay for it, but it was well worth the 120 dollars. Just a thought...or I also reference the book " weight loss surgery for dummies" It has some eating menus that I have referenced many times. Hang in there!

I found this article while surfing the web. As a fan of health and fitness articles and of Oprah, It is quite interesting. Thought I'd share it. The Dr. Oz Diet

I know we love all these NSV's! I discovered I had lost one of my rings. My DH had got it for me last Christmas, it has the kids names engraved on it with their birthstones.....very special to me. I did find it after a few hours on my hands and knees in the yard. Time to take my rings in and get them resized. I'm sure my wedding ring can go down at least 1 size. I have nothing to wear! I shopped at goodwill for my summer clothes, today it's 60 degrees in MI and I have no fall/winter clothes at all. My boss told me yesterday that my pants were too big. (So I snooped and found a pair of pants in my older son's dresser...they are 32x32 and fit, rolled up of course)...Yee Haw! Have a great day everyone! Keep up the good work

I agree with the calcium answer. Happened with me during each pregnancy...skim milk and cottage cheese and yogurt should do the trick.

Marnie.....Sorry I'm just replying now .......Dr. Featherstone from Grand Traverse Surgery in Traverse City, MI did my surgery. He just started doing LB last October. Has done RNY for years. Yes, thanks, I do feel pretty good. I quit smoking to have this surgery and I have not smoked since 12/21/2006 (I smoked for 20+ yrs) I'm also off my high blood pressure medication. Good Luck with your journey

I'm here to tell everyone how proud I am. I'm proud to be a Marchie! All of us have our own stories, our own accomplishments and dissappointments. I'm glad to log in and see how everyone is doing. And the support and feeling of togetherness I get from all of you really helps keep me accountable. We are all unique and lose differently and those differences are embraced here at LBtalk. What a journey! We are all 6 months out and look what we've accomplished! WaY To Go EvEryOne!

Okay thickchick & jmcambra, lets see some 6 months pictures! I've been 2 weeks with pretty high restriction and still have only lost 3 lbs. But, I have been slacking on my exercise. ( My bed is so much more comfy than the treadmill at 5:30 a.m.! ) But seriously, now that the the kids are on the bus at 7:45 am and I don't have to be to work til 9am, I think this will be my new time for exercise. so far today: 2 bottles of water, slimfast high protein shake powder mixed with 1 C. light vanilla soymilk, 5 wheat thins, 3 tbsp hummus, pure protein bar. See ya! ...Oh, congrats on everyone's losses, you're awesome