Dontondan

I just got back from San Diego and got my room through Expedia.com and paid about US $69 at the Haborview Sheraton which is right across from the airport. You can put in how much you want to pay and what area that you want to stay in and they give you the hotel for the price you want to pay. This was a beautiful hotel and we had a beautiful view of the harbor, comfortable beds and free shuttle to and from the airport to catch the busses to town.

Donna

Been there, done that!!! I think most of us have though. Every so often I can't resist and will try bread, sometimes I can handle it.....but sometimes it is a disaster.

Yikes! I am leaving tomorrow morning for my cruise and I haven't got much restriction right now. Oh well, I will enjoy myself, but will have to be extra careful in the dining room. I am getting a fill on the day we get back from the cruise so hopefully that will take care of things. I am gonna be at the OCC on Sat. the 13th.....hope to meet some newbies there!

I have problems with commercials too....I start salivating when I see the Dairy Queen commercials!!!! I have a DVR and I record all my shows now and whiz through all of the commercial at fast forward so they don't tempt me anymore!

When I was in the creamy soup stage I just used my hand blender and blended the chunks away.

Your port has no metal parts!!! Shouldn't be a problems at all, I travel all the time and have never heard of a problem. There may be some swelling where the port is for a while and I have some scar tissue and it is slowly dissolving in time, but I really am used to it now and no it doesn't "stick out". Most people can't see it and when I let them "feel" the port area they are really suprised.

Gonna be in Mexico next weekend and will see if I get any hot offers!

Candy,

First of all congratulations on your new baby girl! Secondly, ten pounds gained is actually terrific, and you should not feel down about that. Just hop back on the bandwagon and start losing it now. Take your time with the fills...it will happen. I have had both fills blind and with flouro and have had no problems with either, thankfully. Going to have a flouro down in TJ in two weeks just to check how things are because I will be down there anyways.

Donna

Great article for bandsters both new and old!

I have heard of people getting their ports repositioned after losing weight. I would recommend you contact the Dr. to see about getting this done.

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Donna

It sure is nice to have a great meal and be able to fit it onto a dessert plate! I actually tasted everything and savored the flavors (especially the turkey)! I still took a post-turkey nap--but that was mainly from being up and cooking for hours and cleaning the kitchen!

Donna

Some tips on slower eating:

Small plate--I just use the small desert plate for my meal

Small utensils--I bought mine at Ikea in the childrens section and I use a seafood fork! This really controls the size of my bite

Put the fork down between bites

Cut each bite into very small pieces

Concentrate on chewing well and thoroughly

I arrange my food in a nice way, like they do in a fancy restaurant and savor the texture and taste of each bite.

I have always been a "power eater", I grew up with older brothers and have always wolfed down the food and got very little enjoyment from the actual eating. I still struggle to slow down my eating and probably always will, but these tips seem to help the most.

Donna

I have had the opportunity to have both and it didn't make a difference either way, but I am still going in Dec to OCC to have one with flouro. I figured that I would go and have a flouro done every year to check everything out.

Hope you don't lose the weight in your feet!!!! That would be a waste of all those new shoes.

LOL!

Donna

FYI it is a little on the chilly side in TJ in the evenings so you may want to take a sweater or light jacket. I went last year around this time and it was a bit too chilly to use the pool, but was sunny and pleasant enough to go without a jacket during the day.

Dear Anne,

I commend you for doing this during the holiday times. I am coming up on my 1 year bandaversary so I did this during the holidays also. It wasn't too bad, I wasn't hungry most of the time anyways and it was a great Christmas gift for myself!!! I went down for my first fill to TJ. It is $100 for the flouroscopy and the fill....quite a deal. Otherwise I get my fills locally with Northwest fills in Arlington Washington. I am planning on a trip to Mexico following my cruise in two weeks and have just scheduled to get my 4th fill and flouro. I want my husband to see the clinic (I went alone last year) and meet everyone. Don't worry about everyone else's opinions on the surgery....most of them are uninformed about the procedure, the doctors, the clinic and the care that you will recieve. You can change their minds as they see your progress and sucess! I have lost about 65 pounds this year and have needed a new fill for a while now so I haven't lost in a few months. I have NEVER had any sucess at weight loss in the past and have no willpower whatsoever, so this says a lot. I have gone from a size 24 to a comfortable size 16-18. It has been gradual and the health benefits are tremendous. I am no longer diabetic, I no longer have high blood pressure, and my cholestrol levels are all in normal ranges and I don't have GERD anymore. I feel wonderful!

Good Luck,

Donna

Great Job!!! Keep up the good work and make the holidays about being with family and helping others and not just another "food function"!!!

I got the vanilla flavored protein powder and added it to my coffee!!! Tastes like vanilla creamer!

Donna

That does sound yummy!

Thanks all of you! Going to the Mexican Riviera......never been there, usually go to the Carribean, but am combining a trip to TJ to visit the OCC on the way home.

Donna

I am feeling so confident now that I can handle "food functions" that are coming up fast. First Thanksgiving, then Christmas with all the parties and I am going on a cruise in a few weeks and feeling very confident that I can handle it without going "overboard" with all the foods. We will be sailing on my first Bandiversary....how fitting is that! I am so looking forward to the "fine dining" experience and trying new things, and knowing that I can just eat one bite and leave the rest and pass on the bread basket without having to join in the "clean-the-plate" club. For the first time ever I will check out the fitness rooms, and also take advantage of on-board activities that require physical effort and enjoy it. Last year I was on a cruise for my pre-op diet and that one was a challenge....but I lost weight on my cruise, this year I will be the hot chick working on her tan next to the pool!

Donna

You always hear the "bad things" that happen, but there is good presence of the police all around TJ and you will see them riding around in trucks at all hours. Just be SAFE and SANE and use your common sense that God has given you....don't travel alone, or after dark....stay in populated areas....don't flash money or expensive jewelry.....the usual stuff. I have traveled all over the world and you hear this stuff from everywhere, but you will be safe at the Lucerna and you will be safe at the clinic and should have no need to leave those facilities unless you want to. Relax and enjoy your mini-vacation and don't worry so much.

Donna

Stormy-girl! You certainly have your probs! Hopefully you are feeling better now and changing meds is not always the answer, I am also on a lot of medications and was all excited to stop my meds as I am healthier, but after seeing the Dr. on Monday they want me to continue on all my medications regardless of not being diabetic any longer and no longer having hypertension! Oh well, I will do what they tell me and see another Dr. for another opinion. I used to take my medications in the morning, but found I couldn't keep them down then and had to switch the times that I take them and now all is well, but my Dr. wants me to take my Diabetes medication when I eat.....well, I will try, but it is a big-ass pill! Can't promise it will stay in! LOL! I would not be able to handle things if they stopped or reduced my Prozac....I don't care how much weight I lose, I still fight with depression at times and my family likes it better when I am on the happy stuff! You can also check with the pharmacist to see what they can recommend if you have difficulty taking your medications...they may have a smaller tablet, or a different way to take it. I never had a problem until after my second fill and then I could keep the pills down some days, but other days would be throwing them back up.

Donna

Amen, Cara!!!