btradio

I am coming in for my second fill on 12/9 (a Thursday) with my appointment at 12:30pm. I am curious about how long it will take to cross the border back into the US on a Thursday around that time? I ask because there is a flight out of San Diego at 2:40p that would be great to get, but I am concerned that I would be seriously pushing it. I know that when I had my fill last time the whole process took about 15 mins, however, the border crossing was almost 2 hrs. But that was on a Saturday afternoon. Is it more or less crowded during the week? Am I being overly optimistic about trying to catch that flight?

good job, man!

Hi everyone! It has been awhile since I posted on the board due to the extreme schedule demands that I have had this summer. To say that it has been busy would be an understatement. Anyway, I wanted to post my news from this morning. As of this morning's weigh-in (and yes, I weigh in EVERY morning) I was UNDER 300 lbs!! I have officially entered "twoderville." Just to recap, I made my decision to have surgery on 3/1/2010 when I weighed in at 420.4 lbs. On May 7, I had surgery with Dr. Ortiz and weighed in at 394.0 lbs. Today, just over 4 months later, I am down 120.6 lbs (94.2 lbs. since surgery) and weigh 299.8 lbs. Some highlights from the last 4 months: - I have gone from wearing 4x/5x shirts and 56/58 waist pants to 2x shirts and 46 waist pants. - I have gone from completely sedentary to running 3 nights a week (as well as other exercise) and have signed up for my first 5K run! - In the last 4 months I have had no bread, no rice, no pasta and no soda. I totally gave up pizza too. It was tough at first but has been a great move. - I don't sweat NEARLY as bad as I used to nor am I winded at the slightest exertion. - My relationship is stronger than ever because I am able to do SO many more things than I could before. I could go on and on and on about how amazing this journey has been so far. To say that I am over the moon about it would be selling it short. Everyone I see just marvels at how great I look and are constantly telling me (great for the ego, btw.) When I had the surgery, Dr. Ortiz and I discussed what my goal weight would be. We settled on 250 lbs. That number seemed so incredibly far away at the time. In fact, I had set my goal for the year to hopefully be under 300 by 12/31. And, yet, here I am under that number on 9/13. It is pretty damn awesome to be so far ahead of schedule. I am hoping to continue losing at a decent rate and maybe get below 290 before the end of October as I would like to make it up to Busch Gardens to ride a roller coaster. I haven't been able to do that in over 15 years and it is something I dearly love to do. Wish me luck! To everyone else that has had surgery or is thinking about having surgery, I wish you the best and can only hope that you have felt as good and had as awesome a time as I have had. Brian

I, too, recently took a vacation and came home up about 4 lbs from where I was before I left. But you know what? I didn't let it get to me. In the past, that kind of setback, minor though it is, would have totally derailed me on a diet. I would have slipped into the "Oh well, I'm a lardass, nothing I can do about it, might as well order a pizza" mindset. But I didn't do that this time. I just got right back into my routine. And I lost that 3lbs. the first week I was back. You have been incredibly successful with the band so you clearly know what to do. Just go back to doing it. Also, don't let others get you down, even a spouse. Just concentrate on doing what is best for you.

I try to never represent myself as something other than what I am because eventually the listeners will find out and that would be bad. The funny thing is that we have a DJ whose air name is "Fat Tim". Tim is NOT fat. Anyone want to take a guess who I constantly got confused for? If I had a dollar for everytime someone asked if I was "Fat Tim" I could have paid for all our surgeries! :-)

It actually just sort of petered out. I think I was the only one that did anything. The others did ok for a few weeks, but then gave up. I think most of them actually ended up gaining weight. I did tell them that I had surgery, however, that was never explicitly forbidden. One person did try to make an issue of it but they had a personal trainer that was provided to them for free through an endorsement, so I argued that was an outside benefit just as much as surgery was. Honestly, I will probably never see a dime of the money, but the 100+ lbs. of loss is victory enough.

On March 1st of this year, I was in the studio for the morning show on the radio station I work at. I was there because we were all going to weigh-in, on the air, for a weight loss competition. As each person stepped on the scale, I watched the numbers. It was clear that no one else was going to be anywhere near where I was. When it became my turn to get on the scale, I stepped up and watched the numbers shoot up to the moon. When the dust settled, I saw that I weighed 420.4 lbs. This was just an unbelievable number to me and acted as the catalyst for my decision to have WLS. I remember at the time wondering if I would be successful, what I could expect, how I would feel. It was all a big mystery, however, one thing I knew for sure was that 420.4 lbs. was enough. Fast forward to May 7. That morning I had lap band surgery with Dr. Ortiz. He was positive, supportive and made me believe that I could accomplish anything. He didn't judge, he didn't criticize and he didn't make me feel like I was a failure at life because I was so big. I felt like I was making the best/smartest decision I had potentially ever made. Now we arrive at July 23, 2010, 143 days since I stepped on the scale in the studio and announced to the entire listening audience my inflated weight, I have arrived at a pretty big milestone. On March 1, I weighed 420.4. On July 23, I weighed 318.6. In 143 days I have lost 101.4 lbs. I feel like a million dollars and know that I am still on my journey. I am excited for the continuation and look forward to the future and where I am going to go. Thanks to everyone for all the advice and help over the last few months.

First off, you have been banded about a month longer than I have, so I am not sure you are able to counsel me on what my experience with the band will be. Secondly, I don't think the purpose of this board is to blow sunshine up people's asses either. I think the point of this board is to have open, frank discussions about the lap band procedure and how it works/doesn't work/affects us. I am not trying to call anyone out, and I would say that the people that have responded to this thread are able to use their band as a tool because they aren't the one's complaining. Clearly most of us were banded in order to lose weight. But I think if we see people that are complaining that the band doesn't work when in fact it is them that isn't working (i.e. they are eating too much/wrong) we owe it to them to point it out. And it just never seems like anyone does. I suppose what I am saying is tough love isn't the worst thing in the world sometimes.

I hope this doesn't come across as inappropriate or anything, but I just had to make a point about something I see on this board all the time. It seems to me that too many people are looking for some mysterious "perfect restriction" to help them lose the weight they need to lose. I can't count the number of posts that I have read about people gaining some weight and then lamenting that their restriction isn't good enough. Forgive me for being blunt, but that seems like an excuse. Everyone of us that had surgery at OCC was told by Dr. Ortiz that the lap band is merely a tool and that we have to do our part too. When I read these posts saying that someone's restriction isn't perfect and that is why they are gaining I feel like they aren't taking the other half of this process seriously. Also, I think it can send the wrong message to people that are considering the lap band option that it only works when there is "perfect restriction." Yes, the band helps by restricting our food intake and yes, the closer you get to an "ideal" level the better. However, we can not expect the band to do everything. If you notice that you are gaining weight all of the sudden, then perhaps it would be better to look at what you are eating and how much you are eating. You CAN get by with less, I promise. Just because we got the lap band doesn't mean we never have to diet again. If you are still in the losing phase, you definitely still have to diet. No one said this process was easy. If we wanted easy we would have gone with gastric bypass or something. But we all chose lap band and must deal with all it's pluses and minuses. I guess my point is that instead of feeling like "man, if I could just get that next fill I will be set!", try to examine what is going on right now and figure out how you can be successful under the parameters you are having to deal with. At the very least, you will be restricted somewhat because you HAVE the band. Work with it and you will succeed. Rely on it to do all the work and you won't. Seems pretty simple to me.

Same here, first fill done at OCC and I got 4 ccs put in. Patience. Isn't that a word we should all commit to memory? :-) I have had tremendous success so far and I pray that it continues. But I have to remind myself daily that it will eventually slow down and there will be days (weeks) where I might lose nothing or even possibly go up. However, the reality is that it took me 37 years to get this big and I am not going to lose it all overnight. Would be awesome if I could, but that isn't going to happen. :-) So, yeah, patience is a virtue. Just know that if you do what you are supposed to, you will be successful.

First a comment on my loss so far, yes it is amazing (to me) and it is a large amount, but keep in mind I had a LOT to lose. I still have 90 lbs. to go to get to goal. Also, I have worked my ass off in the last 2 months to lose that 65lbs. :-) Secondly, to answer your question, I (like I would imagine a lot of people here) have tried just about every diet you can think of: diet center, nutrasystem, jenny craig, atkins, etc. And they all worked somewhat, though some better than others. The problem was that none of them worked for a long period of time. I would lose some weight, but then get bored with the food or tired of the restrictions and then just stop. Of course, I would then gain back all the weight (plus some) and be right back where I started. So I started trying to really get to the root of my problem and what I discovered was that my main issue was portion control. This was why the lap band seemed like a great option for me. And so far, it has been amazing. Whereas on those other diets, I could still choose to gorge and overeat if I wanted, the lap band prevents that (mainly because it will punish you if you try to overdo it!) This was exactly what I needed! Like I said, I am someone that failed on literally every other diet out there. On March 1 of this year, I weighed 420lbs. On May 7, I went to the OCC and had surgery with Dr. Ortiz and as of today (7/12), I weigh 326.8. So in about 4.5 months, I have managed to get rid of almost 100 lbs. Do I give all the credit to the band? No. However, I think it is the primary reason for my success. Because I know what I paid, what I went through and what I *HAVE* to do to succeed. And in the two months since surgery, I have made lifestyle changes that I think will be with me for the rest of my life. I exercise a lot more (including some running), I eat way less and I eat only good food. I have made a lot of sacrifices in my life to get rid of foods that I used to love. But I am in no way bothered by that. I spent 37 years of my life eating those foods (in large quantities!) and it made me fat. So now I am going to put those things aside and try a different lifestyle. And let me tell you, so far, it is has been wonderful! :-)

Good luck on the surgery! You will be pleased I am sure. I actually flew back to the OCC for my first fill a couple of weeks ago (from NC). It was a breeze. I was in an out of the country in like 4 hours, most of which was spent getting out of Mexico on a Saturday afternoon. :-) The fill itself was nothing and according to the doc, it is possible that I may only need one of two more fills in my lifetime. So, for me, it is worth it to spend a little extra now (flights) to get the fills done at the place I had my surgery. I know they use flouro, I know they will be giving me the best care, and I know that I will feel better about the results. Perhaps it is different for me as a man since statistically I will likely have fewer fills than a woman. If I was going to be looking at 7 or 8 fills or whatever, perhaps I would stick closer to home, but for me, this was the better option.

you can find ways to cheat on any diet or surgery. The question you have to ask yourself, especially before you go and have a surgical procedure done, is are you ready to do what you have to do to succeed? If you aren't, then don't waste your time or money. However, I think the simple fact that you have come this far shows that you are serious and that you are ready for the change. Just take that next step and commit to yourself. I had surgery 2 months ago today. I have lost 65 lbs. and I feel better than I have in YEARS. It was the best decision I have ever made. I can't say any more than that. Good luck to you with whatever you decide though!!

no bread (at all), no pasta (at all), no rice (at all) That has been my mantra pretty much. In addition to that, I have basically eliminated cheese and beef from my diet as well. I still have some cheese in a couple of dishes, but nowhere near what I used to consume. I think it is a personal decision for everyone, but I have read way too many stories of people PBing after eating those items. And since I don't have a desire to PB, I just decided to give those foods up at this time to avoid just such a possibility. And there are so many other great foods out there that don't cause me any problems, I haven't had any trouble with "missing" those foods.

OK, I hope this isn't the unpopular answer, but whatever... Are you sure that surgery is the right option for you? While you are overweight and could stand to lose (don't take offense at that by the way, we all were/are in the same boat), I think you could still try to do it the old fashioned way. You are only 18, it is highly likely that your body is still changing to some degree. Even at 5'7", you probably only need to lose about 50lbs, maybe. I would suggest trying to do everything you can before you try surgery. But at the end of the day, it's your body and your decision so do what you think is best. But I can't help but thinking that if you go with surgery at such a young age and with such a small amount to lose (in the grand scheme of things) you are going to get somewhat resentful. Especially when you turn 21. :-)

Call the OCC and talk to them. They will tell you all about the costs associated with the procedure. It is generally frowned upon to talk about price on the forums, but I will say that the cost was SIGNIFICANTLY less than it would have cost me here in the states. I also understand where you are coming from regarding men's opinions on lap band. It was hard to find the male perspective. It has been amazing so far for me. I can't say what your son will think, but if I would have known at 18 what I know now, I would have done damn near anything to shed that extra weight. Good luck!

Not sure how big you are at this point, so I will only speak to myself as I was probably bigger than you at the start. :-) For the first 3 weeks, I kept my exercise to walking and exercise bike. After 3 weeks, I added a little swimming (which was awesome, sadly, pool membership expired so that is done for now). After 4 weeks, I started doing couch 2 5K. If you aren't familiar with that program, it takes someone from sedentary to being able to run a 5k in 9 weeks. Now, my previous attitude about running was that I would only do it if I was being chased and didn't think I could take the person chasing me. :-) But I started this program and it has been fantastic! I am starting week 3 of the program tomorrow and am actually looking forward to it. It's crazy. I was told that I could start trying to introduce other exercises now (per the Dr. at my fill on Sat.) So I am hoping to start adding weights and other physical stuff like golf, etc. Really though, just do as much physical stuff as you can. Yard work is great, cleaning the house, etc. Just keep moving. It all adds up.

I had my first fill on Saturday morning (must have missed you when I was there) and I also felt the pain in the right side that night. I am chalking it up to gas pains. It went away and wasn't anything crippling or anything. It could also occur if you are dehydrated. (at least that is what my google searching over the last month has taught me.) :-)

Paul, First off, congrats. You made a great decision on getting the lap band. It has been the best decision I have ever made for myself. Now, to answer your question about what to do about cravings... FIGHT IT. The lap band is an amazing tool. But that is all it is, a tool. If you don't do your part, it won't be as successful as it can be. Friday marked the end of my 7th week since being banded and I was down 56 lbs. Here is how I did that: 1. I eat very small portions, protein first. I also eat off of salad plates as it tricks me a little. You have been fat, you probably have no idea what "full" really feels like. Erase that word from your vocabulary. Your new word should be "satisfied." That is what you should shoot for. As soon as you feel it, stop eating, even if you aren't finished with your smaller portions. As Dr. Ortiz surely told you, see how little you can eat and feel good. 2. I have removed all of the following from my diet: carbonated drinks, breads, pastas, rice, starchy vegetables, milk, pretty much all cheese. I also avoid processed foods like the plague. I have cooked every meal I have eaten in the last 7 weeks save for 5. I was not a cook before this, but I learned to follow recipes and how to shop better. This will sound like its a hellish challenge, but you can do it, I promise. There are a ton of great resources for lap band friendly recipes online. 3. Exercise as much as you can. When you think you can't exercise any more, do an extra 10 minutes. :-) I highly recommend Couch-2-5K as an amazing exercise routine. I was 360lbs when I started it, so give it a shot if you can. 4. Go ahead and accept the fact that you are on a diet right now. ***BUT*** it is not like any other diet you have ever done because this one is going to be amazingly successful! :-) You have already done the hardest part which was to make the decision to have the surgery. So now you just have to get your mind around changing your existing eating habits. Just pull the band-aid off all at once and change all your bad habits. If you are going to have to miss one thing, miss everything. Because if you indulge in one area, it will be easier to indulge in another. And that slippery slope is one of the reasons all of us are/were fat. Just think of everything you endured to get here (cost/surgery) and think about how you came to that decision. Those little indulgences won't seem so appealing. Plus, when you reach your goal weight (or at least get closer to it) you can start reintroducing some of these "bad" items back into your diet. By that point, you should be better equipped to integrate something like that into your new healthy living/eating lifestyle. It's not always going to be easy, but I can't help but think getting to the end of the journey is going to be AMAZING! Believe in yourself and you can do it.

I don't know about the pills question, but the other stuff sounds like gas. I had it (hell, we all had it!) and it will go away over time for the most part. Gas-x strips are your friends right now. I suggest getting some asap if you haven't already. :-) Also, walk walk walk.

I read an article today warning people about going to Tijuana for bariatric surgery. The gist of the article was that "you get what you pay for" and "American doctors are better" and "don't be stupid and go to Mexico" and several other extremist/ill-informed comments. It was the type of article that if read by someone on the fence about having surgery could be the thing that turns them off. This really bummed me out because seven weeks I went to Mexico and had bariatric surgery and it has been the absolute best decision I have ever made. Seven weeks ago, I weighed 394 lbs, wore size 56 pants, 4x/5x shirts, sweated almost constantly unless I was perfectly still, ate an obscene amount of food, never exercised and generally felt like crap all the time. Seven weeks ago, I got on a plane and flew over 3000 miles to another country to let a surgeon cut into me with absolutely no fear whatsoever. Seven weeks ago, I was privileged to be cared for by a staff that was courteous, friendly, and as thorough as any medical staff I have EVER dealt with in the United States. Seven weeks ago, I changed my life. So where am I seven weeks later? As of this morning, I weighed 338.8 lbs, a loss of 55.2 lbs! I am down to a 48 pants size and 3x shirts. I exercise almost every day and have even started running(!). I eat probably half a cup of food for each meal and am getting probably less than a sixth of the calories I used to eat (and it is all fresh, home cooked food, no take out/fast food.) I feel better than I have in YEARS. And it is all going to keep improving. That is the crazy thing. As good as I feel right now, I know that I will feel even better in seven more weeks. I will get to my goal and I will live a life that I have never actually known. It's intoxicating to even consider. I wish that I could talk to the person that reads that article and decides against going ahead with Lap Band or something else and tell them not to believe everything they read. Research your doctor regardless of where they are because that good reputation is something that CAN exist across the border. It is possible to go to Tijuana and come away changed for the better. I am living proof.

Saw this story this morning on Consumerist.com: Do Not Choose The Cheapest Doctor In Tijuana For Your Weight Loss Surgery 1. Ignorant, ignorant people in the comments field. 2. I think the message of this story should be "be careful what doctor you choose REGARDLESS of where you have surgery."

Dama, I will be at OCC on Saturday getting a fill also. It will be my first fill and I am curious about the process. What types of questions do they ask you? I am averaging around 4lbs a week lost since starting back on solids and don't really feel hungry very often. I am eating FAR less than I used to (easily a 1/3rd of what a normal adult meal would be) and it satisfies me. When you guys say you are able to eat full size meals like you did pre-band, are you finding that out because you ARE eating full-size meals like you did pre-band? I guess I am just taking what Dr. Ortiz said very literally in that I am not testing the band at all. I eat solids, protein first, and when I feel any level of satisfaction, I stop.

All throughout last fall I thought about WLS and even went so far as discussing it with my Ins. company. Unfortunately, I found out that I would not be covered and with local costs of more than $20K for the surgery, it seemed like a moot point and I just continued on the path I was on. Fast forward to March 1 of this year. Some friends and I decided to have a weight loss contest to see who could lose the highest percentage of weight between 3/1 and 7/1. When I stepped on that scale, something I hadn't done in months, it registered at 420.4 lbs. It was one of the most depressing moments of my life. I suspected I was pretty big, but it was way worse than I imagined. That very night I started looking again and discovered Dr. Ortiz and OCC. I called the next day and made scheduled my surgery, all paid out of pocket. I had my surgery on 5/7 and it has been the best thing I ever did for myself. I am just over six weeks out from surgery and have lost over 80 lbs. (over 50 since surgery alone!) I feel amazing. I have started running (!) and doing other exercises regularly. I have had to get smaller clothes. I just flat out feel better. I go back to OCC this saturday for my first fill/check up and I can't wait to see them and say thank you for everything they did. My life is changing daily and I couldn't be happier.

forgot to post on Friday so consider this a Monday weigh-in. As of this morning I am down 54.2 lbs since my surgery on 5/7/10. Things are going great!