Alana

I do eat them because they're fast, easy, convenient - but they have a downside. And that is SODIUM. Man, they're chalk full of it, like all other frozen dinners, I guess. I wrote about them in my blog. If you want more info on them, check out the link in my signature. I believe that post is titled "Salty". It has some facts I got off of their website and some tips from the American Heart Association on how to cut down on your sodium intake. Congrats on only being 30lbs away from goal!!!

Wow! Congrats! I'm glad things are getting back to normal for you. I know I was so relieved when I could finally sleep on my left side again!

I waited till all my glue fell off, which took about 3 weeks. I got into the pool that weekend! I love it and use it as a primary source of exercise.

Thanks, ladies - that means a lot! Elaina, you'll be there before you know it!

oh wow, you can totally tell a difference! you look great! keep that smile on your face!

I totally agree with #1 - if I use my debit card, I feel like I can buy anything. But if I have a specific amount of cash with me, it definitely restricts what I buy. Same reason I leave my credit card at home when I'm paying it off - so that I don't use it. Maybe next time I'll leave my debit card in the car (hidden safely, of course) when I go out to eat so that I don't buy more than I should.

I saw this article on AOL.com and while it's not related to the LapBand, it is about weight loss. It has some tips we all might find interesting and helpful. I don't agree with all of them, but overall it was a good article. 1. You buy your lunch with a credit card People who pay for their food with a credit card spend 30 percent more on average than people who pay with cash, according to a Visa study of 100,000 restaurant transactions. Thirty percent more money, translates into more food (and calories and fat) you don't need. The next time you dine out, pull out the cash. 2. You're a meat-eater Where's the beef? It could very well be on your hips. Researchers asked over 55,000 women to classify themselves as either omnivores, semivegetarians, lactovegetarians or vegans. A whopping 40 percent of omnivores were either overweight or obese while only 29 percent of semivegetarians and vegans and 25 percent of lactovegeterians had these weight issues. To slim down, eat more plant foods and less animal products. 3. You eat at church functions Blame it on the between-service cookies, potluck suppers and ice cream socials but Baptists, Fundamentalist Protestants, pietistic Protestants and Catholics have the highest rates of obesity among religious folks, according to a Purdue University researcher. Avoid splurging at food-oriented church activities and look to your church for help with your diet: Many have faith-based weight-loss programs. 4. You dine in a group Other diners may make you overindulge. With one other person, you eat 35 percent more. Yet when seven or more are at your table, you could eat 96 percent more. Not interested in eating alone? Just sit next to someone who eats slowly, as they'll help set your eating pace. 5. You drink diet soda Diet and other artificially sweetened foods may not be so waistline-friendly after all. When rats ate yogurt sweetened with no-calorie saccharin, they later noshed nine percent more, gained 25 percent more weight and added more body fat, according to a study from Behavioral Neuroscience. It's too early to tell how this applies to people, but if you're concerned about weight, ditching fake sugars may help. Just don't switch to regular soda or you could really pack on the pounds -- drink water instead. 6. You're married When you took your vows, you may not have realized you were also signing up to be partners in weight gain. Yet a 32-year study found that if one spouse becomes obese, the other spouse was 37 percent more likely to be obese. The obvious solution? Encourage each other to adopt healthy habits like exercising regularly and eating healthy. 7. You drive everywhere Where you live could impact the number on your scale. One study from the American Journal of Obesity found that people living in walkable neighborhoods with access to healthy foods were leaner than people living in less desirable physical environments where they rely mostly on cars for transport. 8. You wear baggy clothing You're quick to notice you've put on some pounds when you struggle to zip your jeans, but if you frequently wear oversized clothing, you may not notice the pounds creeping on. You don't have to don a tight outfit to keep your weight check, but you might consider weighing yourself regularly to avoid a sneaky gain. 9. You have heavy friends It's true: Obesity is contagious. Researchers examined the social networks of over 12,000 people for over 30 years and found that having an obese friend increased a person's risk of being obese by 57 percent. The odds were even greater if they were close friends or the same sex. Don't think you have to ditch your friends, though. Instead, meet for a walk instead of a latte or take a fitness class together rather than hitting the movies. 10. You don't drink alcohol Here's a surprise: The odds of obesity were 17 percent lower for people who consumed one or two drinks daily than for non-drinkers, according to a study of over 8,000 non-smokers. Heavy drinkers, however, were more likely to be obese. Don't take this as an okay to start drinking, especially if you don't already. But if you are currently consuming alcohol, make sure you're keeping it to a healthy minimum. 11. You rarely see the sun Dermatologists have been warning against sun exposure for years, but there may be good reason to let a little light into your life. Obesity has been associated with lower vitamin D levels, and sunshine is one of the best ways to increase those levels. Although you still need to be cautious about how much sun you get, some experts recommend getting up to 20 minutes of unprotected exposure (except the hands and face) daily.

I am a licensed massage therapist and after my scars completely healed, I rubbed a little vitamin E oil on them and rolled the scar around between my thumb and forefinger. You can also use 1 finger and make a friction motion against the scar - it helps break up the scar tissue, just like Phoenix said. I'm a little over 2 months post op and my scars are now smooth and you can't feel any scar tissue or lump under them. Just give it time Don't use more pressure than you can stand or do anything if it hurts. The amount of scar tissue is usually pretty tiny (on the 4 smaller incisions) so not much work is required. I'll post a pic of my scars soon.

Aw, that is so wonderful! I had a jeans epiphany recently myself, so I know how much fun it can be. I found a top that I bought at Christmas, but couldn't wear and now it fits! Before the buttons wouldn't stay closed and now they do. Yay for new clothes!

you look amazing!

You made a cameo in a dream of mine the other night! You were SOO skinny! Not like anorexic gross skinny, but gorgeous and slim.

This is definitely the most amount of weight I've lost in a single attempt. It feels pretty darn good! I can't wait to get to 50lbs!

Just looked up their site - tuition is $6,250 a month. Wow. Students generally stay around 4 months.

I didn't catch her portion of the show, but I did see the part about Dexter, the overweight teen who went to the Academy of the Sierras - a boarding school for obese teens. He ended up doing pretty well for the amount of time he was there. I'm sure it's EXTREMELY expensive, but I wish I had known about this place when I was in high school!

I always weigh myself at my parent's house. I've used their scale since I made the decision to have surgery. I also weigh in at their house so that I don't obsessively do it at my own. I decided to start using my highest weight rather than my decision weight in keeping track of my weight loss. I'm proud to say that I've finally lost 30 lbs.

WOW! You look amazing, Kim. I envy your legs!! I just got my hair done recently, so I'll add photos of my new 'do!

woo hoo HOTTIE!! Great job! Keep it going!

Hey! I'm Alana from Florida! Welcome to our group.

Hi Aaron! :lb9: Congrats on being banded! My recovery sounds quite a bit like yours. I had a problem with diahrrea, but I quickly found out it was because of the apple juice I was drinking. I cut that out real quick! I think you'll find this forum really helpful. Don't hesitate to ask us anything!

I had my first PB episode yesterday. Before, I had a couple "almost" episodes, but after walking around they all seemed to pass. This one did not. I made a turkey sandwich for lunch - toasted the bread (which I've never had a problem eating), a couple slices of lean, thin sliced turkey, and a 1/4 teaspoon of light mayo. After I finished, I felt like I had a painful ball in my chest and no amount of walking was helping. I burped a couple times and thought that would help move it down. I went to go pee (sorry, tmi!) and suddenly knew that this burp was going to be THE burp. I had to throw up into the shower, since I was still on le toilet! Ugh. Not fun.

Lookin' good, ma'am!

Wow, I feel lazy! I made it 11,000 for the first time this weekend. I really need to step up my walking! You ladies are giving me a real challenge!

Welcome! Where are you from? Tell us about yourself! Let us know if you have any questions.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with Citerra. Personally, I had a great experience with them. I heard from them promptly, they always answered my questions promptly, and I would use them again if I had to. I guess every experience is different!

Oh hun, I'm sorry this has been such a pain for you. I went through a surgery financial loan company, Citerra. They work with several different banks and although I was denied by one of them, 2 of them approved me. The interest rate is a little high, but not too bad. I only did partial financing and paid the rest in cash. I hope things work out for you!