tombourn

Congrats Becky!!! You are a true endurance athlete!! In bking as you know, a Century Ride is the standard in endurance. You did two of those on back to back days. I too ride and will be weighting until next year to do my first Century. Here in Colorado there isn't too many that don't incorporate some major climbs, so I'm still staining in the 20-30 mile range along with my marathon training.... Question?? How was your liquid intake, that stil is a bit of a trouble for me during races where water is few and far between and you need to drink a glass or two fast? Tom

Congrats Becky!!! You are a true endurance athlete!! In bking as you know, a Century Ride is the standard in endurance. You did two of those on back to back days. I too ride and will be weighting until next year to do my first Century. Here in Colorado there isn't too many that don't incorporate some major climbs, so I'm still staining in the 20-30 mile range along with my marathon training.... Question?? How was your liquid intake, that stil is a bit of a trouble for me during races where water is few and far between and you need to drink a glass or two fast? Tom

CalKev and Roger Thanks, CalKev you were right I do know what I SHOULD do. With these last three weeks, I have really built up my craving for any food and wanted someone to say "Heck take the 2-3 cc out and enjoy." THe less devilish side of me said hey with a 1.1 unfill plus the weight loss I should be able to eat way more, but maybe not that double bacon cheeseburger... but as I read Roger's response, I realized its not about going back to what I once knew, but continuing on the path. So, thanks to you guys, I will not be having that double bacon burger or that pizza anytime soon. I have decided on having .6 cc out which would make the last fill .5cc. Tom

I have a dilema on my hands. Three weeks ago I got a fill that was too tight. I have lost 20 pounds in those three weeks. I am down seventy pounds total in 10 months. I have not been able to train for a marathon that I have registered for in October since the last fill. My options are as follows, let me know what you think you would do: 1. Unfill .5 So as at least not to have problems with liquids and soups. This would still limit my training and I might have to cancel out on the marathon ( my second marathon and last, but I said that after my first one.) 2. Unfill 1.1 which was the total amount of my last fill. I would be able eat soft solids again, but not drink as rapid as I might need to replenish during races. I could probably still do the marathon. 3. Unfill 2-3 cc and be able to eat more of the foods I haven't ben able to over the course of the last 10 months, but with the distance training I shouldn't gain any weight back, but probably or might not lose any until after October race and a re-fill Fills/ Unfills are no floro at $150 a pop. Let me know what ya think. Tom

DreamHappy: My question isnt about the fills in TJ, but how you arbitarily set your next fill date? October is three months out...if I were you I would play it by ear for now, you may find that it wont be needed until December or it could be next week. I'm by no means an expert with only 5 fills under my belt and still less than a year banded, but I have seen many unhappy people wondering why they arent losing weight or this or that, and many have neglected to get the fills when they NEED them, and not when they can schedule them in... sorry for my two cents worth Tom

You can make it from the San Diego Airport to OCC and back for under $20 dollars using bus/trolly/taxi. Look around this forum for detailed instructions. But the bus/ trolley is about $5-6 and the two taxi rides are $5 a piece. And if you want exercise as we all should, you can walk to and from the clinic and save even more.

Nita... 74 pounds lost is nothing to shake a stick at.. way to go girl... and a bit of a confessional.. my pic is a bit stretched, not that i did it, but I definately look thinner in the pic than in real life.. but that is a good motivational tool.... I too am trying to bare with this current fill.. they have me on 36 hours of clear liquid to see if i wassnt suffering from contstant swelling and hence don't really need an unfill.... I've been lucky on the skin thing so far not much droopage and over 1/2 way there so we will see. Good luck keep posting

macy... you only need off an hour or two... just as you would for a regular doctors visit. As far as NY... no idea... I'd go back to your surgeon for the first one or two fills.. Tom Curent Weight 235

Hey Nita: Nothing like getting another fill to take us down a few more notches. I got my fourth fill on the same day, but here in Denver this time sans floro. Everything went fine, I think, I should say I know I'm a bit tighter than I should be, but I'm going to try and get past the next week or two... As of this morning I'm down 13 pounds since then, so you can see why I say I'm too tight. I'm just now geting protien shakes and puree'd chicken down.. slow, but its going. Still have 35-50 to go for goal weight ( Still haven't decided on goal. BMI says I have to be at 184, but I think 200 might be a good weight for me, I'll see when I get there. Keep up the good work and I hope this fill last awhile.. it is nice to feel full at 1/2 cups of food. Tom Current 235 lbs

Can sympathize. I am a week out on my 4th fill and I'm thinking it's abit too tight. Good news is I have lost 9 pounds in the past week ( i know most is from just emptying he system, but I did climb the tallest mountain in Colorado this last Saturday or Gatorade and Goo alone. I'll give it another week to see if things loosen up. If not, maybe a slight unfill. Like those of us who have had the band for awhile know, this thing is fickle and you never know from day to day exactly how it'll work.. but it does work. Good luck, be patient, and listen to your body. Tom Current Weight 239

Congrats All Although you guys are newbies and I'm a 9 month veteran, were in the same boat. I had my 4th fill and am going through that mental physical hunger thing too. All will pass and come again with another( first fill). The first week is the hardest. Except for your first PB... then just make sure all guns in the house are locked and you don't have access. ( Especially if you try peanut butter on white bread.. even without a fill) Good luck and if you have any questions give me a hallar Tom Current Weight 242

Hey there congrats... If your going to go back to OCC just relax, I have never been turned down a date for a fill. So just concentrate on one day at a time and 3-4 weeks out you can worry about a fill. If you are going to stay in the US you still can relax awhile and and then research. My suggestion is go back if at ALL possible. A fill with floro in the states will be about as expensive if not more than one at OCC plus flight. But for now don't worry about it. Tom P.S. The proces has started...be patient expect to be at goal weight in TWO YEARS... if you do it that way... it won't come back.. and you won't get disappointed in the meantime Current Weight 242 Fill #4 7.8

This post in no way is an attempt to discredit Roxane's experience at FillCenterUSA. Each of our situations are unique. Also, nothing said below should be considered as an endorsement either. I just returned from FillCentersUSA Thorton in what I believe will be a successful fill. I say believe because as I type, I'm still belching my coffee from earlier. I may be a bit tight, but I'll wait and see. If someone is expecting the experience level of the OCC, do not go to FillCentersUSA Thorton...any of them for that matter. Dr. Romero does more fills in the morning than many of the FillCenter providers have done in a lifetime. But, if you have had multiple uneventful fills, a port that sits relatively close to the skin and hasn't moved, then FillCentersUSA, may be an option to flying back to OCC every few months. Dr. Singh was professional and receptive to my suggestions. He actually filled me with the exact amount that I thought would be appropriate based on my past fill levels. He took my suggestion not to numb the area and just go for it. He hit my port on the first shot and double checked the fill level as protocol suggests. If in doubt, I would still recommend OCC and/or FillCenterUSA using Floro... however, if your trusting and feel comfortable that your port isn't all that hard to hit, you may want to give FillCentersUSA a try. After the intitial vist, $155 is far from airfare/hotel/transporation and fill. An added plus is free fills! Assuming you refer three of your friends. But to do that you better trust them, or you'll lose friends fast!!. I'm not posting for that reason, but if your going to go anyway...please drop my name:) For every three referrals you get a free fill.

Hi there. Just a few thoughts.... definately go get the next fill.. the third fill for me dropped me 25-30 pounds. Ive dropped 55 pounds since 9/7/07 not a record, but I challenge you to try to gain that 30 pounds back...I have put off another fill and haven't gained a pound back. The band literature says it takes 2-3 years, but everyone always looks for results 2,3,4 or 6 months out. If it weren't for Butterfingers and Instant Mix Coffees, I would have lost another 30 or 40 pounds. Calorie ins versus calories out is a big T truth. So I blame me, not the band. Another challenge is to post your daily food intake for a week. Sometimes we thing we arent eating alot because we are constantly hunger ( wrong fill amount) and in fact we are eating smaller but more often. I"m frustrated too, but not at the band, at my continued attitude towards food. The word Buffet still makes me desire all the food i can eat, but I realize its a wase of money no matter what my desire is. So don't give up.. be patient and don't kick yourself around for spending $8500 you'll save that on buffets in a few years:)

I maybe heading that way on the 10th as well. In the past, I have flown in in the morning, got the fill and flew out that night. I take the trolley taxi by far the cheapest and just as fast as the van. Still lookin at hotel prices before I make final decision. If I make it there, I'd be more than willing to navigate the transporation....and security ...but I can't take my weapon across he border but I doubt any of my parolees are in Mexico for surgery that week:)

Pre-op these may not be good as you are trying to lose weight. But post -op when calorie intake is needed. 1/2 slimfast High protien chocolate, 1/2 cup crushed ice, 1 gallop( tbs) peanutbutter and 1/2 frozen banana... you can even add more protien if you want and they still taste great. Also while down in Mexico you can find Banana/Yogurt flavored bran ( Kellog's makes it but not for the States) that is really good to mix in protien shakes to up the grit. Tom

I would guess your'e alright. Two weeks most swelling should be gone. If you could get it down without pain and keep it, you have little or no restriction. Just don't push it... Tom

Hey Nita /Roger, How's things going? Back from Hawaii yesterday and ready to get back on the wagon... should have gotten a fill four weeks ago, but wanted to wait for this trip to be done and over with. For those of you out there wondering, even without the proper fill, it's still almost impossible to gain weight back with the band. Anyway, going for a local fill sometime this week ,hopefully. Going to try FillCenterUSA. Have heard mixed reviews, but with my port so palatable and it being my fourth fill, I'm going to give them a shot. Training for Marine Corp Marathon in October, out in Washington D.C., it'll be my second and probably last:). Anyway just wanted to say Hi...HI Tom Current weight 243lbs

More than likely ...YES. Especially if alot of your excess weight is in the belly region

Katie : I went to Routt High School.. Is Bowman still the football coach down there? Grew up in Murrayville, but most would know where that was. Still a speed trap going thru Greenfield? Tom 24th was for fill on Monday.. or if I went down and came back same day it would be 26 or 28th.

Sister Lookin to go possibly the 24th...Still don't know if I'll stay the night, but could meet morning of 24th for fill Tom

Doolittle...Where at in Western Illinois. I grew up in Jacksonville and went to WIU for one year.. I'm heading down late June, but thinking of makin it two days. Ive done one days three times.. its a long day. Tom

Looking to go in late June. May just go for day and head back that night, but could stay the night. Trolley and Taxi is the best way to go, it'll pay for the hotel room. Flights are cheapest on Tues-Wed... Can't Change current Weight down below... 245 lb now

JC : Tend to agree with most of what you said. The 15-20 pound refill is proving to be a fact with me too. Just this week, I am eating more and more and that means all the things I couldn't eat before, I am eating now. Unfortunately, I am heading to Hawaii for probably a once in a life time trip there( too many other places to see in the world, plus heli-snowboarding in Alaska next year), so I don't want to get a fill now, the frst three weeks are a bear, but its the 10-15 weight loss that makes it worth it. Tom

Girls: It wasn't until my 3rd fill that I experience that satisfying full feeling. One reason is until your just right ( sweet spot) you can and more than likely will eat to test your limit. when you are at your sweet spot you wont test it and will feel full mainly because to go any furhter will bring pain/discomfort.. I am two months past my third fill and I need another one...even though I still can eat only 3 chicken strips total for a meal.. thehact that i would even try to eat three tells me I need another one.... but i 'm going to hawaii in 30 days.. so by choice I am waiting...I wont gain weight for the next month, but i probably wont lose any and wil eat to pain more times than not. Tom sorry for grammar and typing