sparetire

Oh Paula,

I am so sorry! I am crying there right with you!

When you had your pre-surgery dental check up, did she discuss this with you at all?

I was disappointed in my check up as I know I needed some work done but she just quoted me on cleaning.

I hope your pain subsides and you can find a way to fix your teeth without jeopordising your band.

Val, you know if you joined us, the platonic part would be thrown out, right?

Yah...I know... but then it would be FUN

Thanks everyone! I'm going to give her a call now. I'll let you know what she says.

Yes, that is the best... I know when I quit smoking, I made sure my diet did not change, yet I gained 50lbs... never did get it back off. My friend also quit, she gained 20 but it eventually came off her. I guess what I am trying to say is that hormonal and nicotine changes to you body will also wreak havoc on your weight. be sure to tell Dr Miranda exactly what you have been doing...

willi333 (Ute), willT (Bill) and I are heading to Roswell, GA this Sunday, June 22 for a fill/adjustment. Our spouses are joining us so this will be purely a platonic get together! Awwww shucks ::kickin dirt:::

If anyone else is going to Roswell Sunday or lives in the area, let us know. We'd like the opportunity to meet our fellow bandsters.

bandgroupie/Dawn

Darn, I wish I could join you guys... just a little too far for me to travel.

I received a book about weight loss surgery from Fill Centers when I had my first fill. (I don't have the title off hand, it's at home) It mentioned something that really stuck with me and I thought I'd share.

It said it takes 21 days to make something a habit.

21 days is not a long time, people! that's only 3 weeks. think about all the GOOD habits you could learn by doing them for just 21 days. (Granted, everyone is different and it make take certain people less or more time).

I think I'm going to start my first habit with the gym. I never minded working out, it was GETTING to the gym that was my problem. On Thursday, I get paid and I'm going to take advantage of Gold's Gym $14.99 month to month program and start a 21 day challenge. I will go to the gym EVERY DAY for 21 days, even if it's just for a half hour to walk on the treadmill. Hopefully this works!!

I have heard of this before as well... really, 3 weeks is not a long time! I don't plan to go every day, but I plan to get there 3 days a week... with walking outside on the "off" days.

What a great thread! i am reminiscing, can't remember elementary school when I was less than a 14... that bein said, I am sure that after a tummy tuck and ahem, boob lift, I could be an 8. At a size 8, I will take up pole dancing...

Commenting on Redhead's call to her boyfriends cell the night of your surgery. I did something similar, but I don't remember this at all. Apparently on the day of my surgery, must have been the night, I called some infomercial I saw on TV and ordered a weed wacker for $119 (The Worx, if you have happened to see it) and not only did I order that weed wacker, I ordered a 2nd weed wacker (maybe I was getting my dad one for fathers day??) and I ordered a hedge trimmer.....I don't have but 1 bush in my yard, and I can't imagine spending $179 for a hedge trimmer!

I didn't think the meds they gave me were that strong!!!

Oh my Goodness, this is hilarious! did you return the stuff and get you money back?

Hello everyone, my name is Holly and I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in TJ June 9th. I love reading this board and I love all the support and topics that are here! I'm loving my band so far...it's nice to meet you all!!! Me details: Married 19 years, two children, 3 weeks shy of 18 (son) and 13 (daughter). My family is very supportive of my decision to be banded! This all my childhood/teen years, started putting weight on in my 20's...gradually went up. Lost 44 lbs a year and a half ago, then went through some pretty major stress (lost a very dear loved one) and put it back on over the next year. Of course I went up even higher than where I started (isn't that the norm?). Anyway...topping the scale at one point at 296, I decided at 293 it was T.I.M.E. to take matters seriously. Don't want diabetes, heart problems, tired of being tired, breathing hard and my body hurting...so I DID IT!!! I have a very good friend banded by Dr. O 9 months ago and watching her lose 96 lbs was a HUGE encouragement for me!!! So...I'm here and it's nice to meet you ALL!!!

Holly

Welcome Holly!

sorry to hear of your loss. It is great that you have decided to get healthier! along with us all here.

Keep up the great work, and soon you will be like your friend!

Hello everyone. I have been reading my brains out the last couple of days. This is such a wonderful forum for support. A little about myself....I am a 38 year old mother of 2 girls - 13 and 9. Married for 14 years. I was overweight as a child. As soon as boys came into my awareness I lost it all by not eating. I stayed thin until I was 22 and then I started gaining (too much beer, LOL). I was 145 lbs when I got pregnant with the first child. I have consistently gained ever since. My last child was born at 6 months gestation and passed away. My body never recovered from the shock of having the baby early, and neither did my emotions. I am an emotional eater! Any way I am now 200 lbs and 5 feet tall. I have done and failed at so many diets. As I am sure you all have.

I was 1 week away from have the bypass surgery about 4 years ago and backed out. I felt that is just wasn't what I needed. This brings me to now....I am so big around and short legged that I have a hard time driving my bus (my career). I either have to drive with my toes or have my belly against the steering wheel. Either way sucks! I just want my true self to shine through again. I am/was a very outgoing person who liked to joke around but now I feel that everyone I run into judges me for my weight. That stems from a life of thin brothers who always called overweight women FAT PIGS!!!!! Oh the life we lead, and the baggage we carry.

Lori told me today that she can book me in for the surgery in July. The excites me and scares me at the same time.

Is there anyone else here that is in Alberta, Canada? What was your overall experience? Thanks for listening to me go on and on. LOL

Trudy

Welcome Trudy,

Sounds like you found the right place for support. Many of us have similar stories.

I am from the North Okanagan in BC.

Hi, Just wondering....I haven't seen many posts or references in posts to "food journals". From all my many previous attempts at weight loss, this was usually one of the top suggestions they encouraged you to use.

Is anyone using a food journal and if so, do you find it helpful?

Seems to me like it couldn't hurt and it might be especially helpful to those that aren't having the results they are looking for.

Thanks,

Kim

Yes, I am using Spark People. I think Evette posted an invitation just a little while ago. It is a really neat site where you can earn spark points by doing certain things....helps with keeping motivated. http://sparkpeople.com

That is so funny! I love that cover. Y'all look smashing!

I talked about the very topic with my therapist yesterday. I'm a little concerned because I've lost 40 pounds and I still have a lot to lose. I don't want to answer someone and them think "OMG she's lost 40 pounds! I wonder how much she weighs 'cause she needs to lose a whole lot more!" I don't mind telling them AFTER I've lost it all, but now, I'm ready to stop offering up the information.

My therapist suggested that I come up with a standard answer, something like "I've lost a good amount, but I've still got more to go. I've lost 2 sizes!!" She said that most people wouldn't push it any farther. She said if they do, just flat out say, "None of your business."

I can't wait until someone asks me! I want to try out my new boundary.

Jena

Jena,

thank you for sharing this. I am also having this issue with some people and I really don't want them to know how high I actually was... your answer will be perfect!

Val

Sometimes I feel I haven't lost enough especially when i see how wonderful people are doing who were banded after me.

This is why I love the NSV's and I remember this is MY journey. I will lose my weight slowly and in my own time.

Is your sister banded ? Does she have a history of yoyoing. At least you know whatever has come off will not go back on.

You have done great. Keep going.

Nicolek

My sister and I were banded the same day. She was always 20lbs heavier than me, but also quite a bit taller... anyways, I have gotten over that part, just hate the fact that I have no support from my husband or family. that is why I came back here to the forum...

Before the band I was a great water drinker! Like 8-10 glasses a day. I've been trying reallllly hard to get in my water, but I haven't been successful. I used to chug the water and now taking sips it takes FOREVER to get down any water. I don't want to drink too much at once and cause some flooding or a drowning or something, hahahahaha.

Anybody else have this problem? Any tips?

I like the taste of water so I don't need crystal light or special k protein powder. It's just that I can't find time to get it down. My husband keeps joking that I should set alarms in the middle of the night to get up and drink water, haha.

AND we can't drink an hour before or after eating? Ahhh! Help! :help:

Hi Yorkie mommy

Yes, I also found this after getting my band. eventually though, you will be able to drink the water you need to. it is just during your first week or SO that you will feel totally unaable to drink it all. you can drink before eating, just not for an hour after eating. I too struggled with this rule. but now, it fits well with my work day. I have a cup from weightwatchers that is 32 oz. so i fill it 1hour after breaky and have to finish it about 15 min before lunch break. same thing after lunch, I fill again and have to finish it by the time I leave for home. then any water I have at the gym or while walking is bonus... hth... it will get better!

Hey there girlie,

Thats great. I am not going to tell my GP until I go for my next annual physical. Next January.

That way I should be close to goal.

Nicolek

P.S How old are your kiddies. Like myself you don't look old enough to have 6.

Yeah, I wasn't going to tell him either but then decided since it was time to see him and I needed some other stuff done and I was so excited... well Yah he is great.

kids... oldest is 22 his wife is 20 baby is 4 months old... daughter is 21, son 19, son 17, son 15, son 12... lots of testosterone around here!

both val and nicole have 6 kids?????

[will T faints]

LOL must be the Canadian air....

can you drink it... also, dr Miranda said to not go directly to milk products. believe me, it is not pretty if you end up with an intolerance. I was there and in agony for a week... til i called her and she helped me figure out why.

I do remember Dr. O saying it takes about 30-45 minutes.

Jena

My paperwork says surgery time was 35 min. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired during that time. My experience with recovery was much like everyone elses in TJ so maybe things are done differently... I have had surgery in Canada before where I was give a specific anesthesia that kept you under for exactly the time necessary and woke up immediately after. it was also a quick recovery surgery... compared to the other 10 or so that I have had.

maybe I'm wrong cedar, but I believe that if someone woofed down a mountain of food and post about it on here, that person tries to find a way back on the band wagon and is looking for some support. I maybe don't agree with what a person did or not, but I would not want to judge anyone either.

Now, help a german girl out and tell me how much is 4 little dixie cups ? Is it equal to 4 regular cups?

And yes, I personally believe in .....

"Nothing will work unless you do!"

- Maya Angelou

dixie cups are 5oz ea so 4 would equal 20 oz or just shy of 1.5 regular cup measures.

hth...

btw cedar, I am not saying that having icecream is ok, but one can afford a few extra "creamy" calories when on the liquid phase due to your body not getting enough calories. i know i struggled with gettting enough. rarely could I even hit 800 in a day so having icecream would be a choice during this phase.

the gist of this gal's post was owning up to her mistake and asking others not to do it. she held herself up as an example of what not to do.

I love to read the stories here but i get so pissed off at people who act like the band is some miracle,or they treat it like garbage.

I listened to Dr Miranda.You should too!!

Please don't cheat.You just spent around 10k to have all of this done.Can't you wait 21 days to eat?

If you can't wait 3 weeks,you can't do it! Plain & simple!!!

You wasted your money.

Come on..4 cups of ice cream on day 7?Plus 2 huge bowls of soup all at once?

I'm fat too,but dammit,this isn't the supporting shoulder we all need to read that it's ok to pig out on day 7!

Hi Cedartown.

The wonderful thing about this forum is that we CAN support each other. some people have more willpower than others and some just need reassurance that they are doing the right thing. After all, we wouldn't be fat if we could restrict ourselves on our own. Read the posts that interest you, respond if you like but I don't think it helps those who are doing the wrong thing to judge them harshly. Instead, friendly advise, tips on making it easier to get through "bandster hell" etc will help those who are struggling. If you are pissed off, don't read them.

Have you ever been on a diet where you have cheated? If not, I commend you. In the 30 years of yo-yo dieting, I can honestly say I cheated. It may not have been much, but even a candy on a low carb diet can ruin it for the whole week...

Every one of us was told how to make our band work and sometimes just talking about it in order to figure out what we have done wrong, will help us in getting it right. Everyone also has the opportunity to talk with dr Miranda at any time after, she is as far as a telephone. The only thing I would be concerned about on the creamy stage is starting it too quickly without doing the lactaid part. believe me, it can make life miserable.

I personally have been struggling with losing weight the last 6 weeks. I know that if I didn't come here to the forum, I would likely have eaten everything i possibly could. I like that I was able to glean information to help me get through this period. People may not have responded directly to me, but it was good to read that others were in the same boat as me and struggling.

Now, did I cheat on pre-op diet? yes. Did I lose the weight I was supposed to? 10 of the 12 I was asked to in less than 2 weeks. Did I cheat on my post op diet? not really. by week 3 I was a guilty chew, spitter. by the last week I would chew a juicy peice of chicken and then spit. That is how I got through it.

Everyone must make a choice when they are eating their creamy foods. Is this going to benefit me? Is this on the list of "good, healthy" foods? If they arent and a person has make a mistake, and the head hunger has taken over, they are here to get advise and help to get back on track. Everyone has to realize that they are in the healing stage of the lapband and losing weight is not the ultimate goal of that stage. it is an added benefit when it happens. they did not "waste their $$$" and will be able to turn things around.

Hi

Did you hit your mom with the ring?

Nicolek

LOL no, but sometimes I wish... actually it just reiterated what I had been telling her about my weightloss... she just compares #'s between my sis and me. I lost36 and my sis has lost 59... so she thought I was a failure. not too great when one is feeling down...

I am so afraid they will say I am not heavy enough and just brush me away. Thats what happen in NY where I live. They thought I was already a patient and looked at me odd when I was there for a consult.

They will not turn you away here. You have a history of struggling with your weight. This is what they will look at. I think Dr Ortiz's book also talks about this a bit, once a person has the fat cells, while they may lose weight, they will never lose the actual fat cells. hence the tendency to gain excess weight with every diet or weight loss technique that does not allow for permanency. That is the beauty of this, the lapband is a lifelong change, but also a lifelong friend.

Sparetire, who is a cutie, is right.

Gosh darn it... you always make me blush....

Hi there,

I just got back from a week in Indiana with my family. My cousin has lost 68 pounds doing HCG shots and looks great!! She wears a charm bracelet that she started at the beginning of her weight loss journey and puts a new charm on it everytime she looses 10 pounds. She now has a bracelet with six beautiful charms and everytime she is tempted to cheat she looks at her bracelet and it reminds her how far she has come, and reminds her of the new charm she will get when she reaches her next mini goal. I loved the idea. Before I left she bought me a bracelet and put my first charm on it. At the airport I was sooo hungry, but when I looked at my beautiful bracelet it gave the encouragement to continue on my wieght loss journey without cheating.

I ate so bad in Indy, I can't even face the scale. Tomorrow I am goint to do three days of liquids to get back on track, and I can't wait to add my second charm!

This is such a great idea! is the bracelet an "Italian" charm or a regular chain with charms? I guess it doesn't matter... either would work.

Here's to many more charms!

Hello, My name is Kim and I am 37 years old. I am the mother of three and I have struggled with weight all my life. No I wasnt the heaviest in my class but if I didnt watch every bite I had I would be tremendous. I struggled in school trying to keep a healthy 130lbs. I did all the diets. As I got older the same things I did ( starving myself etc.), didnt work. The pounds came on rapidly. I wanted to live a happier life without the focus on food so I just watched what I ate. 30lbs pounds came on quickly. A child later another 30lbs. Worked so hard to get some off after child birth only to gain another 30lbs. I used every diet you can think of. Yes really I did. To most of you you probably think what is the problem shes not as big as I was. It still hurts when you are overweight by 50lbs - 60lbs too. At mt heaviest I was 192lbs. I am 5'4. I jumped into the gym full force again, thinking I can do this on my own. Hooray I lost 25 lbs on my own. I skipped the gym for one week and bam 10lbs came on just like that. NO I didnt indulge on everything near me just didnt work out. I went back to the gym but I have struggled to get any more weight off. I took thyroid test, hormone test, you name it. I am so tired of waking up every morning thinking about my weight. I now weight 175 lbs and really would like to lose 50lbs. My knees hurt my back hurts my shoulders, feet everything. My question is would a Doctor even do a proceedure like the lapband on me? I do not have health problems because of the over weight but the weight just hurts my body. 50-60 lbs might not seem much to you but it is the world to me. I want to play with my children without the moans and groans. Any opinons please help me!!! This isnt something I just thought of on a wim. I have struggled to keep a healthy weight for 25 years. I am tired of it controlling my life. Am I crazy?

Hi Kim,

you are not alone and not crazy! the factthat you ache is reason enough to get help. My story almost mimics yours except I was not successful during highschool in maintaining my weight. after my 6th kid and quitting smoking I put on another 50+ and became a whopping 283 at highest... I am the same height as you. Read here, see if it fits you, call the center and ask your questions, you will get the help you need!

btw, welcome! >

so today i started off with a dentist apt and then had a Dr. apt.. I started our conversation with "you know how we have talked about weightloss" and "have you heard of lapband?" Well... he blew me away with "Yes, I have a patient with one."

Now, here in Canada this is a relatively new thing (he didn't know they were being done here) but he was so excited about his other patient and how she is doing... answered a bunch of my questions etc and then I dropped the bomb... "Well I had one done too in March" He nearly fell off his chair! He was so excited for me. (this dr is the same one who I had as a teen, delivered all 6 of my kiddos and was with me through all my other issues)

It feels so good to have his support. his final questions were "where are you going for your fills? and how do they do it, can I feel your port?"

He was GREAT!