tootsie_lou

Wahoo, yippee, and Happy Birthday! You're doing awesome!! Has your sister had the same success as you?

Hey Sabrina! So glad all is well with your band. It gets worrisome when there is pain and you don't know what is up. I also had (and still do from time to time) trouble with eating way to fast. This was a real issue after my second fill. What I did was set an egg timer for fifteen minutes, and I would try to eat 1 bite/minute. Oh yeah, it went over big at the dinner table with the thing ticking away, but I really got the hang of chewing (and enjoying) the food, and s-l-o-w-i-n-g down. Just puttin' it out there.

Thank you for the information of the reduced price at 24-hour Fitness. I ordered mine last night. Can't wait to get it. Thank you again for all of the good information!! (For anyone else interested, a membership at 24-hour Fitness is not necessary to be able to order it from them.)

Got you--I let my hubby go deep sea fishing on our boat on Mother's Day (since I had gotten a fill the day before, we couldn't go out to eat as planned), so he owes me big! I think I found just the right thing for him to get me!! (haha)

Like they say, "Strong, fierce, and unstoppable!!"--that's you, Tracey!

I can only imagine you are out of your mind with excitement!! Good luck and be safe there.

Hi Louise-- Which one did you get--digital display or no digital display? (Thanks for the info--this looks really cool!)

Very good advice! It has been stated here before that the most successful folks with the band do not test it to see how much they can eat before the band gives its signals to stop, but how little. Of course that doesn't mean eating 6 beans and half of a wheat thin, but it does ask you to be the driving the force of it, you know? Many of the folks here were banded in Mexico by Dr Ortiz. He tells you that you should be able to, with the correct fills/adjustments, eat about one third of the amount that you normally would have without the band. So, if you would normally eat a whole sandwich and a handful of chips for lunch, you should barely be able to comfortably finish the first half. I do not tempt myself by making the whole sandwich, thinking that I'll save the other for lunch tomorrow or whatever. That only tempts me to eat the other half. I make 1/2 of a sandwich, and then that's it. Also, my husband and son eat on regular dinner plates, and my daughter and I eat on the dessert plates (which at first seemed microscopic--haha). For me that really helps. There just is not room on the plate for all kinds of food. Another instruction from Dr Miranda was to eat your protein first, then eat your vegetables. Doing it that way hardly allows you to think about any dinner roll or dessert, etc. You are going to be successful at this--everyone here is rooting for you!!

Are you going there for your plastic surgery?

You guys (Lisa and Pammie)--is that what folks do when they reach their goal is empty their band out? I'm a little over half way, and that idea is one that I can't even comprehend right now. Is it a test of the new eating habits that you have devoloped? I have so many more years of bad food choices than good ones, I think I would be pretty nervous about doing it. I don't really trust myself yet. I really admire and look up to you for your choices and perseverence (and all the great advice and support). Good luck, whatever you decide.

Hey April! Glad it went so well when you told your mom. No one loves you like your mom can. So happy for you--enjoy your vacation. (Are you doing the pre-op diet on your vacation? Girl, you are brave!! )

I think I was just the opposite. I had gotten so out of control with food, that once we made the decision to get the lap-band, the pre-op seemed like a welcome relief. It was a set of rules, simple enough to understand, and if I didn't do it and lose what they asked me to, I might not get the surgery. I know it sounds crazy--but I had become a bit of a basket case wonderinng where it would all stop with my weight gain. I was almost happy to have a "plan" I had to follow.

On the "no gum"--I tried chewing sugarless gum (post-op) for the very reason that ToddS stated, but I ended up with terrible gas pain (I think because of all the swallowing of air), so I gave up on it. :lb12:

Hey gang! I had my third fill today at the new Fill Centers USA location here. WOW--the folks were so nice and the doctor that was there training them was so nice and competent. He is a Fill Centers USA doctor that was visiting from New Jersey to do the training. (He gave his name, but I apparently didn't make a good enough note of it since I can't recall it right now-- sorry.) He even apologized for speaking to the doctors he was training while I was sitting there, in case I might be offended (which I wasn't). I only got 0.2 put in--they tried 0.3 and the cold water wouldn't go down real easy. Thanks DOLITTLE for advising me to sneak up on the sweet spot. They said nothing but fluids for two days, which I guess puts a raincheck on the 1/3 of the steak burrito I had planned on eating out to dinner on Mother's day tomorrow. I'm sorry I didn't get to speak to anyone there that might have been from this forum. It was a little difficult to head into the waiting room asking "Hey, anybody here have the lap-band?" or "Who here is getting a fill?". FAbi--I hope you had a good experience there. I know it was to be your first fill today, so you didn't have anything to compare it to. Praying that all went well. Sorry if you were there and we didn't get to meet each other. All in all, I think Fill Centers USA has made a great decision on choosing this center as their new provider.

Just beautiful! Congratulations!

Hey April! Congratulations on scheduling your surgery! My teenage daughter and I both have the band and basically only my husband and son know, as well as my mother and a good friend. I didn't want to worry about justifying the procedure not only for myself (as some folks have negative opinions regarding weight loss surgery), but also our decision to have our 13 yr old (at the time) daughter getting it as well. We/I just didn't feel the need to tell everyone about it. Just the same as I wouldn't exactly need to know that someone had a hysterectomy or other personal procedure. It is up to you, certainly. Many here have openly shared with everyone they know and they have great support because of it. Whatever you do, know that you have many friends here on this forum.

Congratulations Robbyn!! We're all excited for you!

Oh Robbyn So sorry to hear about the postponing of the surgery--again! I hope that you can find out exactly what the allergy is, and soon. Best of everything for a safe move to Dallas!

Hope you had a super birthday!! All the best for a super year to come!

Ditto on the "you're a grandma?" part! Wow! Neither of my grandma's ever looked like you do--way to go, lady! Thanks for sharing!! Your grandson is a little doll--congratulations! God bless your family. Please thank your son for all of us for his service. Many prayers are said daily for all our kids over there.

Hey Shelby! I wanted to tell you that your newest picture at the bottom of your signature is beautiful! You look amazing and your hair looks so cute cut shorter! (And that little baby in your member photo looks like an absolute angel!)

Me too! I have a 9am appointment. Maybe we will meet each other there!!

Hey Kim! How cool for you!! That is what happens (to many of us), especially if you've been bigger for a while. It is hard to imagine that there is a smaller "you" in there. Keep goin' girl--you're inspiring many of us!!

Hey Fabi! Are you going back to OCC for your first fill?

My daughter and I had our first fill(s) at the 8-week mark (at OCC). We both have had the lap-band 14-months and we both have lost about the same amount of weight. Here is the difference, as I see it. She started out at 185 and is now in the 130's, which is her goal weight. She has only had the one fill. I started out at 232 and now I am (stuck) in the 180's. I have had 2 fills, with a third scheduled in a week. She is at a point now where she eats what appears to me to be a normal amount of food and is maintaining her weight. I agree with Clynn, I think my daughter may have lost enough weight to provide a natural loosening of her band. She is at her goal weight and has never had issues with PBing, "too tight", etc. I think I need another adjustment to continue on in my weight loss, hence the scheduled 3rd fill. One additional thing I have noticed. I have been hanging around this same weight since the first of the year, yet on Sunday evening I was able to fit into a pair of jeans that 2 months ago I couldn't get buttoned. So having been at the same number, I feel that my body has adjusted/shifted/rearranged? some weight so that I am a somewhat smaller size. Whatever happened, I'll take it!! It would be awesome to not need any fills at all, because unless you live in TJ or southern CA, you have to do some addional work to either travel back to OCC or find a provider to work with you for your fills. For many, the aftercare becomes a major endeavor. Our best to you as you continue to heal and begin your lap-band journey!