tootsie_lou

You are doing great, Christy! That dress you wore for the rehearsal is adorable!! Congratulations to you!!

I had never heard of this before this thread was started. It seems to me, regardless of all the copious quoted information, that many people have used this and have gotten significant, measurable weight loss results. I disagree with the assertion that weight loss is as simple as "caloric deficiency". Numerous factors (including hormonal) are involved with metabolism and weight loss. Hormones from the thyroid control metabolism and also have a roll in reproduction. The hormone insulin is, of course, extremely important in metabolism and the uptake of energy by cells. Insulin resistance is on the rise--so regardless of the calories in or not, if your cells do not take up the energy provided (are resistent), insulin will help package that unused extra caloric load into body fat. The chemical reaction in our bodies that causes fat molecules to be broken down is actually called "hydrolysis"--meaning that for the fat burning reaction to even take place water (hydro) has to be present. Walking around dehydrated then will slow fat burning/weight loss. Adrenal insufficiency can influence weight loss (or even weight gain), regardless of the amount of calories that are restricted. Research is ongoing regarding calcium and carnitine as factors that need to be present for the cleaving of fatty acids from the fat molecule to release the stored energy, ie., fat burning. Folks that have done serious calorie restriction often operate in "starvation" mode, and can subsist on an extremely low amount of food and not burn fat because the human body will readjust metabolism to the lower calorie intake. For these reasons, and the fact that hundreds of studies of all kinds are going on in research of fat metabolism/weight loss, the process should be considered highly complex.

Hey Angie! I was thinking about you yesterday wondering how it all went--new day care and your fill appointment. So glad that it sounds like it was a win-win! I hear you about the hard time you were given about a having couple of goodies on a holiday weekend. When I think back to what I would have eaten (and drank) at holiday get-togethers pre lapband, all the while telling myself that "first thing tomorrow" I would get with the program, a hot dog and a cookie seems like a diet!! Congratulations on over 20 pounds lost! You're doing great!!

Hi Karin--I PM'd you

I so hope his plan works for you. Please keep us updated. You seem really motivated, and that is at least half (if not more) of this battle!

Oh Lisa, I'm sorry. I wasn't implying that anyone was knowingly offering anything harmful. I should have worded that differently.

Yay for you! Dr Nyte sounds like a really good surgeon. Hey, that's less than 3 weeks away--exciting!!

Hi Lena! So glad you are happy with Cosmed. See how you are missed when you are off the forum? I have had both Juvederm and Restylane in my lips, but haven't had it put anywhere else. Does the Fraxel hurt? Is two treatments all you will need?

Hey Trudy OK, it's the 3rd. Hope all is going (or went) perfectly!! When you can, please let us know how you are doing.

Hey Tracey! I think Lena went to Cosmed. Until she gets back on the forum, here is a link to a post from her first visit there http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=10515 __________________________________________________ Edit post: We posted at the exact same minute. She's back!! __________________________________________________

Thanks Angie!!

I agree--failure can be a self-fulfilled prophesy. Obviously, for most, getting the lap-band is not a snap decision. It is researched for the pros and cons (yes there are some) and gone into with a lot of forethought, excitement, anticipation and expectations. Please do not let some of the junk that is frustrating about this process derail your success. You can--and will--do this!! One of the best ways is to do what you are already doing--use this forum to get the advice and encouragement that you need! Many people here (myself included) tried everything (I mean everything) to try to lose weight prior to the band. Of course, none of those methods--some good, and some very very bad--worked long-term, so we got the lap-band. Sometimes it is easy to fall into the bad head trip that convinces us that since we had "failure" with everything else we tried, that this lap-band thing won't work either. DO NOT FALL INTO THIS TRAP! The lap-band will work for you--so put it into your mind that together you're going to be successful. This may sound stupid, but say it out loud to yourself. You can do this!!

Gee, is he charging you $ again next week, too? I know the idea is to "sneak" up on the sweet spot, but this could get ridiculously expensive at a few drops here and there. Does the doctor give a reasonable rationale for weekly fills?

You are doing great! Fourty-two pounds!! AWESOME!!

I didn't know you could even claim this. We were banded in '08 and did not include it in our tax filing. Do I have any options to still claim it?

I have not heard of this. HCG is one of the hormones that elevates when you are pregnant. I don't know if it is responsible for morning sickness, but I wonder if that is the appetite control component of the program. Where did you find out about it? Is there a website? I'm a little concerned with messing with hormones too much.

WOW! Another good testimonial to taking care of the band--and getting fills with fluoro. Thanks for sharing! (I think there are some instructions pinned to the top of the opening page of this forum on how to add pictures and other items to your signature--it is under Forum Policies and Technical Help)

Hey Angie! I think if I were you I would get the fill also. I think that the other response was entirely correct. If we waited until life wasn't stressful, we wouldn't do anything. It may be more of an issue if you were trying to fine-tune restriction to your "sweet spot", but you are looking to actually get some restriction. I also agree that since you will be on fluids a day or two after your fill, it will thwart any stress eating over the situation. Your son may surprise you and be completely cool with the new place. You have a couple of days to help him get used to the idea. Can you drive him over there and show him the playground, or actually have him visit the place prior to Monday? I hope, for everyone's sake, that all goes well.

Way to go!! You're doing great!!

YAY for you! You have done a couple of great things for yourself. One, you have gotten the lapband, which is the blessed tool of all of us on this forum. And two, with the buckle down YOU did after your original fearful post, YOU got it together and YOU DID IT. That is powerful experience to take heading into this journey. YOU will do this--and all of us here are cheering you on!!

So glad all is well. Rest up and heal yourself, girl. We're all looking forward to seeing your transformation!

Amen and amen. We used to blast the album "Thriller" out our dorm room windows way back when. He unfortunately was the poster child for the question "At what price fame?" May God rest his soul.

I agree--P90X is way too advanced for me, too. I did get Tony Horton's (same trainer) 10-minute trainer, and it's awesome. I can really see the changes in my body and feel stronger everyday. Never thought my arms could look this good. I got mine at eBay for about $75.00.

We're with ya, kiddo! So excited for you--can't wait to hear you came through it all ok!

Hey Bec! "Gush" away girl!! You have done great!!