oktwigs

Donna and I are banding sisters. I am a lower BMI patient and my weight loss has been slower than Donna's and others. I'm down 25 lbs. since April, but I'm not unhappy with that at all. Every pound I lose is a gift. Twigs

Milk's fine! I drank a lot of soy milk (Silk's Very Vanilla is my favorite, but not low cal) during my recovery. For a good low cal soy milk, I prefer 8th Continent's light vanilla. Glue ... it comes off at different paces for everyone. It should start peeling off soon. Good luck on your journey. Twigs

Hey Banding Sis! It looks like you are doing well Donna. 33 lbs. is nothing to sneeze at. I'm down 25.5 lbs. now and lately it seems to be dropping very steadily. I have a goal of 2 more lbs. before I start back to school on Sept. 4 and hopefully I'll make it. I'm with you, I don't eat like I'm on a diet, I just eat smaller portions of whatever supper is. We are just wrapping up our kitchen remodel and I can actually cook and bake again, so that could spell trouble for me though! My family still has no clue that I was banded because I've had no problems with PBing or anything like that. I just eat slowly and chew things to death. My husband is going to gain weight though if he keeps eating everything I can't finish...I had 1/2 a quesadilla the other night at a local carnival/food fair and he finished the rest, as well as his dinner too. I keep thinking I should get a second fill, but since I'm losing I just figure I'll stick where I am at a 1.8 cc fill. As for exercise, that's something I've been doing religiously. I hit the gym 5 days a week, usually do cardio a minimum of 3 days a week, weight lifting all five days, and then I added in a water aerobics class two days a week too. I don't think I'd be losing the weight without the exercise. I'm down to 177.2 lbs. and just loving it. Time to head to the gym. Take care girl! Janice/Twigs

My report for the week.... Monday: 30 min. walk in the evening-- waited around the house all day for deliveries and workmen to show up. Tuesday: 30 min. TM/45 min. weights/60 min. water aerobics Wednesday: 30 min. TM/30 min. weights/chased grandson all day Thursday: Cabinets installed! No visit to the treadmill or weights but I bustled around all day watching the workmen and oohing & aahing over the cabinetry. I really missed my water aerobics class though. Friday: 45 min. walk in the evening -- another day of waiting for contractors to show up to do their part of the remodel. What a pain! Today: Chasing grandson all day....planning on another 45 min. walk this evening. Down 1 lb. this week! Good news is that after next Thursday I shouldn't have to be waiting around for workmen or craftsmen to show up. Whew. My remodel is about done and now I can start the work of putting everything away. That'll be a workout in itself. Twigs

The ATM's weren't as convenient as one might think. The one at Office Max down the road was out of commission so I walked down to the mall. I had some pesos from my vacation last year and used them as well as dollars. They love those. Also, remember your bank will probably charge you $2 - $5 for using an international ATM. Have fun! Oh, when cars honk at you as you walk along, it's cabs wanting to see if you want picked up. Twigs

My report for last week: Monday: 35 min. treadmill/1 hour weights Tuesday: 45 min weights/10 min. TM/1 hour water aerobics Wednesday: 30 min weights/30 min. treadmill...chased grandson all day Thursday: 35 min treadmill/1 hour weights Took Friday off... Saturday: Chased grandson all day again Twigs

Usually Momma Ortiz takes family members back to the hotel, but it's not any more than $5 by taxi if that is the transport that ends up being used. You don't need to worry about a phone card...you'll be able to make stateside calls from your room at OCC and if you have a cell with nationwide calling, you should be able to use that from the Lucerna in TJ hitting American cell towers without difficulty. My cell company is an obscure little company and I had no problem just over the border, but further south (on a vacation) I had no coverage at all. We also tipped the driver to and from the airport $5 each way, meals are very reasonable, and if you want to shop on Revolution Avenue the day after your surgery, you'll need to plan accordingly. Easily $100 cash is more than enough if you don't plan on doing any big shopping. I set up my credit card at the Lucerna to buy those $4 bowls of chicken broth, which do taste wonderful. Good luck, Twigs 202/179/150 goal

My report for the week... Mon., July 16: 30 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting Tues., July 17: 30 min. treadmill/30 min legs workout/1 hour water aerobics Wed., July 18: 30 min. treadmill/30 min weight lifting/chased grandson all day Thurs., July 19: 35 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting/1 hour water aerobics Fri., July 20: 35 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting Tomorrow I'll be painting...Our remodel is getting closer to completion. The new walls were all textured today and once it is all nice and dry I need to prime and then get busy with putting color on the wall. Hip Hip Hooray...hardwood floors are next and then cabinets! Twigs -1.5 lbs. this week!

Yes, it is my understanding that Dr. Ortiz stitches it in place ... supposed to lessen the chances of slippage. I'd ask them directly though, just to be sure. Twigs

Like Clynn said, contact Rene at OCC and he'll set up the time and date. There are easy ways to get to the border from the airport, taxi, trollies, etc. It's just $5 for the taxi ride to OCC from the border, although it is easiliy a walkable distance. If it were me and I was planning on spending a day or two in San Diego, I would rent a car, drive to the border and park, go get my fill, and then walk back across and play for a few days. I regret I didn't do that last time when I came down for my first fill. Twigs

Dr. Romero did my fill and used nothing to deaden the area where he stuck the needle in -- not to fear though! This guy is a pro and it didn't hurt one little tiny bit! I can't answer the alcohol question -- I've avoided it since it is empty calories. Twigs

My report for the week... Monday, July 9: 30 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting Tuesday, July 10: 30 min. treadmill/30 min. weightlifting/1 hour water aerobics Wednesday, July 11: 30 min. treadmill/30 min. weightlifting/chased grandson all afternoon/leisurely 1 mile walk in the evening Thursday, July 12: Low energy day... 17 min. treadmill/40 min. weightlifting/1 hour water aerobics Friday, July 13: Energy back to normal today! 30 min. treadmill/45 min weightlifting Twigs

I hope I'm not the only one out there exercising! I'm sure others just haven't posted....right! Monday, July 2: 20 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting Tuesday, July 3: 1.5 hr. doubles tennis/30 minutes weight lifting (legs only)/1 hour water aerobics Wednesday, July 4: Babysitting grandson -- Thursday, July 5: 20 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting/1 hour water aerobics Friday, July 6: 20 min. treadmill/1 hour weight lifting 1.5 lbs. gone! Twigs

You're right Donna, I did forget about that! It is nice to have you along as my memory! How ya been doing? Email when you have time. Twigs

I did mine in secret too...only my husband knows. Are you going to TJ by yourself? I did and it went just fine. The other people being banded kinda took me under their wing and gave me support. You know who you are! Twigs

This past week.... Monday, June 25: Weights 1 hour, treadmill 20 min./ Chased Grandson half the day Tuesday, June 26: Doubles tennis 1 hour, Weights/Legs only 30 min, Water aerobics 1 hour Wednesday, June 27: Weights 50 min., Chased grandson all day long Thursday, June 28: Pilates 60 min., Weights 30 min, Treadmill 20 min, Water aerobics 1 hour Friday, June 29: Day off -- ran errands all day long Saturday, June 30: I will be chasing my grandson all day long. Calories per day: approximately 1200-1300 Weight loss: Zero pounds (:

I hear people talk about Dr. Kuri, but I don't think you'd be unhappy with Dr. Ortiz. His staff is well trained and they do pre-op testing, although I don't recall having blood drawn. I liked that Dr. Ortiz has his own private clinic, which was spotlessly clean. Overnight we each had our own private room with a flat screen tv and a phone for calling anyone I wanted. We did share a bathroom. Another thing that impressed me was the staff on hand overnight. We had a nurse and a doctor for the six of us. Another perk is Mamma Ortiz providing taxi service to and from the clinic and the Lucerna Hotel. She's a riot and how she manages to drive in that horrendous traffic is a testimony to her agelessness. I feel I can drive almost anywhere but I was intimidated by the traffic in TJ. I returned for my first fill and it was literally painless -- plus Dr. Romero has a great sense of humor that made the whole experience seem like a visit with an old friend rather than a doctor who is poking a needle in me! Twigs

Only my husband knows ... I was banded April 3. I haven't told my mother or my three sons or any of my friends. I've been very careful when eating around family without any issues at all. They know I'm trying to lose weight, but assume I'm following Weight Watchers. When I've been out of town I've had to tell little white lies (gone to a class -- gone to a woman's retreat), which I hate to do. I don't have plans on telling anyone until I've been successful and maintained my weight for sometime. Twigs

Hon, It gets easier, I promise! We all go through the stage of mourning food and after you can start eating solids, you'll find at about 6 weeks out you wont' have any or much restriction. I have to admit I dragged my feet getting my first fill (just last week) because I knew it would mean I'd have to cut back. So far though i've felt great, just had a diminished appetite, and can eat just about anything as long as I eat slowly and chew well. I found a soup that I really liked during my liquids phase and almost exclusively lived on that...even watered down pudding (with milk)...anything so you get some nutrition in. Take care, Twigs 1.8 cc fill 6/12/07

Now that school is out for me, I am pretty faithful about visiting the gym five days a week. My main exercise is weight lifting, something I really enjoy. As for the cardio part I have to really discipline myself to get on the treadmill for a full 20 minute stretch. I've been trying to take a different approach though -- warm up on the tm for 5 minutes, work one body part, back to the tm for another 5 min and so forth ending with another 5 minute walk. Since I work three body parts per workout I can get in my 20 minutes that way. I'm adding in tennis doubles once a week too -- although I'm not too sure how much exercise I get there because we sure do a lot of talking and catching up. It seems more social than physical. Here's what I did this week, my first week out of school... Monday: Gym 90 minutes (weights & walking) Tuesday: Fly to SD and get my fill -- lots of walking on the beach that afternoon -- Dr. Romero is a charmer! Wednesday: Fly home -- not much walking except at the airport Thursday: Gym 60 minutes (weights) and babysitting grandson all day (lots of running and chasing involved) Friday: Gym 60 minutes (weights) Saturday: Heading to the gym in a bit... I have a hard time in the winter getting to the gym though. I'm hoping being thinner this winter will help me stay motivated, plus the fact that our family is going to Mexico for Christmas vacation. I have such a tendancy to hibernate once the long nights and cold weather sets in. Twigs 203lbs/183 lbs current/145 goal 1.8cc fill 6-12-07

Most of the people who post here are patients of Dr. Ortiz who are self-pay for a variety of reasons (insurance, lower BMI, etc.). So I doubt many of us could help you with the insurance issues. You might find more help on either http://band2gether.net/ or www.lapbandtalk.com. Don't get me wrong, you are more than welcome to join in our discussions, but we probably won't be much assistance and I don't want you to think we are snobby. I chose Dr. Ortiz because of his excellent record of success and his wonderful staff. Since I was self-pay, going to Mexico was my only option and I felt lucky to find Dr. Ortiz. Twigs

I don't work for Alaskan Airlines, but saw they are having a great promotion for their air miles credit card through Bank of America. Right now for applying and qualifying for their credit card they are offering 20,000 free air miles. That's a round trip ticket....just a thought. Twigs

Yes, that's the right airport. Twigs

All of my calls showed up on my bill as being out of Chula Vista -- so if you have coast-to-coast service, you should be OK. Twigs

Hey everyone, I've been moving along with my post op liquid diet and wanted to share a great soup that I found...I'm not a big soup person so this has been like a real treat to me. I don't own stock in Campbell's either -- I promise. The Campbell's Select Southwestern Corn soup is outstanding. I ran it through the blender to pulverize those little corn niblets and absolutely am living on it this last week. Tonight I'm going to add a little of the tasteless whey protein to it and see how that goes over. I figured I'd have to add some grated cheese to make it passable, but was pleasantly surprised. Another fine treat has been homemade applesauce. I was raised on an apple orchard so this has been a staple all my life. I wash and cut the apples (I prefer goldens or fuji's for this) into quarters...cut out the stem end. Cook the apples in a covered pot in water until they are soft. Use an old fashioned food mill to separate the seeds and skin from the mushy pulp. Add as much of the cooking water as you need to make the sauce a thinner version of what you'd normally eat. If you didn't have a food mill you could take the time to peel and core the apples before cooking and then run through the blender. Use splenda and a bit of cinammon to taste. Soooo much better than the store bought junk they sell! Enjoy Twigs