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[quote name=Devana;330121The ingredient in catnip' date=' however, has not yet been found to have any dangers, and it's supposed to be 10 times more effective than deet. I have never seen it for sale in a store either, but I have bought it online. How I use it is this: I put some in a small pump spray bottle with some Water and give a good shake and squirt when I need it.[/quote] How does it smell? I found some online that's already in a spray bottle mixed with some peppermint and other seemingly harmless stuff. Along with my various annoying skin allergies, I also get headaches with some smells (like perfumes, basic laundry detergent smells, etc.).

Most in here have answered your questions very well. From my personal experience I love the weight loss my band has provided but at the same time it can be a pain in the ass. The constant tweaking to get to a good restriction almost always tempts people to get too tight with disastrous results. Let me list some things that annoy me about the band. 1) I can't drink liquids quickly. I can't tell you how much I would love to down a bottle of Water in a couple of gulps right now! Lol. 2) Can't go straight to bed after eating or it's very uncomfortable. 3) Veggies can go down slow and hurt sometimes. 4) Daily heartburn if I don't take Prilosec. 5) TIGHT DAYS...out of nowhere my band can tighten up like crazy...causes can be drinking alcohol, stress, exercise, dehydration, early in the morning. 6) LOOSE DAYS...sometimes I'm just loose and can eat more than normal and then I'm hungry. 7) Hunger. Yes. I get hungry. No I don't need a fill. If I get a fill I will be too tight and bad things will happen. 8) Fills can be annoying...I had to get over 20 adjustments to get good restriction. I currently have over 14cc in a 14cc band. 9) I can't sleep on my stomach. If I sleep on my stomach I get reflux. No I do not have a dilated pouch. 10) Sinus drainage wakes me up at night because the nasty Fluid pools in the back of my throat. Gross! This can wake me up choking and is quite disgusting. I'm sure operations like the sleeve has its own bag of nasty tricks but those are some that annoy me about this particular surgery and applies to me. Your mileage may vary. If I had the choice to make over again I would SERIOUSLY consider the sleeve. Would I get the band again? Yes. If I didn't think the sleeve was all people make it out to be after research then I'd get banded again. Getting lapband surgery because you think it is a 'gentle' surgery is a mistake. To anyone that thinks they don't want to get the sleeve or bypass because it's too invasive and they want a gentle surgery then you need to diet and exercise and stay away from a doctor with a knife completley. Surgery is surgery and there's no 'easy' way about it even with the lap band. Look at what a band does to a stomach after 5 years and it's not all daises and sunshine. Don't even get me started on erosion or a slip. Lapband surgery is SURGERY and alters your body. Don't choose it because you're scared of something else. That's not a good reason to make a decision in my opinion. Good reasons to choose lap band are that it's adjustable and you can control, to a point, the speed at which you lose weight. You can usually opt for sleeve or bypass if your band fails which is a plus. Anyway, I've listed reasons why it's a pain in the ass above, but you can still lose weight with it and that's what matters. Is it better than the sleeve? I don't know. All I can tell you is what I do know. Good luck with your choice.

Catnip oil. Crushed catnip leaves rubbed on the skin will even work. You can buy it online.

Do you just have to exercise to lose weight? I was planning on starting to walk after my surgery. But I've been on a high protein low carb diet before my surgery, and I use MFP to keep track of my calories and keep in mind I'm not exercising. I'm suppose to be able to eat 1800 and some calories, seems like a lot to me , but that's what it said. I'm not loosing anything. I thought it was calories in calories out kind of thing. Is it simply a matter of exercise or is it to many calories or both? And yes I hate exercise and have a bad knee, but do plan I doing it I know I have to. But I was just curious why I am not losing something. I don't want this to be what happens with the band. Can you just be unable to lose. I am 5'3 and 277 pounds, plus I am 47 yrs old, and was thinking my metabolism might be shot or something. I do have a thyroid (hypo) problem but it is OK on meds. I'm guessing the answers going to be to exercise Actually I hope it is that simple. Not easy but simple. BTW my nut said he has no calorie or quantity restrictions for me he said just eating healthy would take care of everything when I get the band..

remember FAT has less density than muscle. so while your scale is stalled your body is still burning the fat and thus you are loosing inches but not poundage... hope that makes sense

Please don't be hard on yourself! You have an average loss of over 5 lbs. a week-that's a terrific average! I'm hoping to lose 4 lbs. a week on average, so that's 16 a month. If I lose more one month-terrific, but I know another month I may not meet my monthly goal....so... I've computed my month to month goals and if I could lose 16 a month I'll be almost at goal in a year. Remember, slow and steady wins the race (and has nicer looking skin and hair!) 

So I'm getting pretty nervous... Two things that are weighing heavy on my mind are loose skin and alcohol. I love having a good scotch or glass of wine. I don't drink everyday, so that's not a problem. It I hope I can still drink in moderation! Obviously I won't be crushing 12-18. Were while trolling for salmon all day, lol. Has anybody had their loose skin removed? How much does that cost?

I'm not sure if that will necessarily cause problems, but you'll probably be dealing with loose skin again after you lose weight...

It was very hard for me to do...it's still hard. The worst is that most of it is excess skin that just hangs. I have the same issue on my back. I don't think I posted those. But to see the change is a great boost for me and I need it when things get rough. Best of luck to you with your weight loss. Oh, and it's never too late to start taking photos of the things you didn't take photos of.

I felt that every month for the first 5 or 6 fills. I'd start off good and then it would get loose. It was a combination of getting used to the tightness and losing fat on my stomach making it looser, like a belt. Just sounds like time for a fill to me.

Hi Lisa, I was sleeved Jan. 7. My signature lists everything my insurance required me to go through. You are going to get a lot of different answers about what everyone had to do to prepare for surgery. For me I had to loose 10% of my weight prior to surgery. I don't regret the surgery at all, but that's not to say it's been easy. I would have never imagined something so simple like drinking Water could be so difficult. Or making sure you are getting in your Protein. Foods I loved pre-op I can no longer tolerate post-op. It definitely is a life changing surgery. I have stumbled a lot, but I am more conscious of carbs, sugar and protein (but not obsessed, yet lol). It does begin to get a little easier with time. Everyone's time frame (recovery) is very different. Congrats on your decision! Enjoy your journey.

@Nomorethickchick I had gastric sleeve surgery just this past March 24th at age 59 because I have congenital heart failure and couldn't loose weight fast enough to take the load off my heart. Both my dad and his mother died at my age of heart failure and they were not obese, as I was. I had surgery to save my life. I have lost 92 lbs in FIVE MONTHS and have a LONG way yet to go. At this point in the journey, I am healed well enough to eat what I choose and this is where the same old DISCIPLINES of CHOOSING the right foods and exercise are mandatory. Weight loss slows to a crawl if your head is not where it should be, even with the pouch. It is a DISCIPLINE for the rest of your life. The pouch is a TOOL in this discipline. It helps, but it is not a cure. My caution to you as an older woman is just to very carefully weigh abdominal surgery to remove 7/8 of your stomach and the natural effects of menopause and aging with a 65 lb. weight loss. We simply are not 24 anymore. Only you can make this determination for yourself and your health.

I was 67, 4 years ago. I went to the hospital, about 6 am, had sleeve by 10 am, went to room, slept, walked, had swallow test, and was home in 8 hours. Never looked at my phone, or needed anything. Wore loose clothes there, and wore them home. Took one pain pill when I got home. Drove to the grocery store late the next day. Never felt like I even had surgery. I walked in the mall about four days later. I wish everyone had such an experience.

Its been said over and over again....you have to eat in order to loose weight. Journal your calories/carbs/fats/protiens and find out the trends where you loose the most. I was on Atkins many years ago to drop (and kept off) 85lbs, I found that my body type dropped the most eating 60% protien/ 35%fat and 5% carbs.....over the last 2 yrs though, I noticed I can loose when I eat about 50% protien 40% carb. I just don't like the way the carbs make me feel. Good luck, and tweak your eating periodically to shake things up and see where your specific body type looses the best.

I'm so embarrassed to admit that I do on occasion tan because in Australia, only an idiot would add to the sun load on their skin in an artificial environment and we all know that it may look good today but we're going to pay a HUGE price for it years down the track. Leather handbag anyone? Nonetheless I do it for special occasions such as a wedding, it gives a way nice result than a spray tan and it lasts for a couple of weeks after you stop. I find I must ALWAYS cover my hair with a thick showercap, tanning beds absolutely ruin my hair within one or two sessions, they wreck the colour and make it really dry and strawlike. And acrylic nails yellow too, I have to cut the ends off rubber gloves and put them on my fingers. And never ever ever ever tan without a proper tanning lotion. They are hellishly expensive but absolutely vital, they prevent a lot of the superficial damage, allow you to tan faster, make your tan look better and moisturise your skin. Dont use babyoil or a cheap alternative. Start out very gradually, never tan every day as your skin needs time to recover in between and actually tans best if you space it out, no more than 3 times a week. And NEVER fail to wear your goggles.

Same story--my surgeon told me my acid reflux could be enhanced by the Band and with the bypass, I could "lose 100 pounds in a year" (he does mostly bypass). (Note: my acid reflux is GONE!) Hey, at my age (60 then) I didn't want anything so invasive, and I've read it will take us 3 years to lose as much weight as the bypass patients lose in one--so what?!!! No dumping syndrome or any of the other problems associated with non-laproscopic surgery. So I'm taking my good old time--losing an average of 2 pounds a week and working out 4 times a week--who's going to have the saggier skin?? Not me says I!! :glare: PS Check with your insurance company and find another surgeon who will do it laproscopically, m'dear!

I agree excersise is key! I was at a stall in weight loss and uped the intensity and frequency of excersise. It got that scale moving again. Are you journaling? Are you getting enough fluids in? You may want to take your measurments, sometimes people don't loose weight but loose inches. Try not to beat yourself up and move on from here. Everyday is an opportunity to do the right thing.

This is in a more natural postion so a little harder to see, but compared to other women... a developed upper arm. At this angle, it does not look odd to me, but with the arm raised it does. I was at a friends house today and asked her to compare and her arms are not defined even though she works out. Mine are covered in loose skin so hard to see when relaxed, but in my mind it is out of proportion. Or, i am actually out of my mind and i would not rule that option out.

Kathy thanks for the pics....I don't think we got together in Oct because of the fall fests and stuff going on. I think you have them all. You go girl!!! I wonder if we could get someone to make that a sticky for us so we don't loose it since it will only get updated once a month? Thoughts? Ok so Good Morning NC...I am at work been here for an hour and needed to take a little chat break. Anything exciting going on today? My dog got under the tree last nigth and unwrapped a present that wasn't even hers. She got into a box of choc and this is the second time this year. UGH..she was sick we left this morning but I think she will be ok. We left her in her kennel tis morning which is not something she is use to. What a way to start off a monday morning. Hope everyone is doing good....

I'm also pre-fill and go back and forth with thinking the band is tight to thinking it's too loose. I'm getting a fill on 3/21 and my doctor said things will get better. He said I wasn't chewing well enough if stuff was getting stuck at this point. I hate to admit but he's most likely right. I think I'm chewing well but put too big of a bite in, then swallow part and chew chew chew the rest. Well that first swallow is the big chunk that's getting stuck. I'm trying to learn but it's a hard habit.

For those of us who have suffered from rashes, yeast, infections & other problems in our skinfolds, I have a product i would like to share with you. It is made by Burt's Bees. It's called "Baby Bee Skin Cream". It comes in a jar & it is the best thing I have ever found. I even had a patient in the nursing home I was working in who suffered with a raw bottom all the time & would cry. I asked around & she had been suffering with it for a couple of years. I told her about this product & she had her sister buy some for her & after 2 days her bottom was healed! It even works for "babboon butt" as my husband calls it! LOL!! Just thought I would share. I know this is a topic that is avoided at all costs, but there's no reason to suffer!! :biggrin1:

Some say hunger is taken care of only between meals...The chart says "Not Hungry"....I am one that is never hungry, 24 hours a day...the band is there all the time, so why should the benefits not be there all the time .....never understood how the band can work just some of the time....but that's me, not everybody.... Also, I get automatic portion control...there is just so much I can eat, making it IMPOSSIBLE to overeat.....so things like buffets, parties, big holiday dinners, etc....don't concern me the slightest.....either does head hunger.... With all that I have had good steady weight loss, untill there was nothing left to loose (fat). And all that equals "Patient Satisfaction", YOU BET!!!! EASIEST thing I have ever done...nothing compared to the struggles of dieting.....

Hi sara i hope u start feeling better i am at 6cc's and i think i might nee a little more i dont feel full fast enough although it migh be my own fault i still cannot break the habit of eating and drinking at the same time. I hope that my next fill is the good one.i am also loosing very slow i have only lost 27 lbs since jan 14,2010 iam happy about it but i know its not very much, good luck and take care, Chachis keep in touch.

Ok First of all congratulations and everything you need to know is on this site As for water DRINK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN min 64 oz is the goal. Now further down the journey other liquids can be put in place of water. For example I drink tons of Gatorade and electrolyte drinks but that is a long time down the road. As for moving for now you simple take it easy walk a little but you have to heal before you do to much exercise. CBC cream really helps the incisions Get the skin tightenign lotions and apply by the gallon durning this journey I have little to no saggy skin and I used it the whole time, Now once you are about 4 months you can begin a workout designed to tighten skin, Get a trainer or look online there are some great rubber band exercises. BUT FOR NOW CHILL OUT YOU HAVE TO HEAL WORK ON YOU SHAKE.SMOOTHIE PLAN AND VITAMIN AND MINERAL PLAN

Hi Everyone, Well tomorrow will by my 12th day with the band and I am feeling sad. I only went down 2 KG. Now i weigh 77KG. I feel for the past 2 weeks, I've barely had a decent meal and still not achieved any big change in my weight. Many people talk about how they lost so much weight in their first and second week. But, I just sometimes wonder, when is my turn :-( I know I will loose the weight in time..but maybe I'm just getting carried away. I know it isn't a magic band. I just really wish I can see a 60 something number when I step on the scale. I can only tell myself, that maybe my period is coming soon...so perhaps I am bloated? ..really? sighh :-(