crazycoolbutterfly

Well I'm glad to hear ya'll are doing great with your workouts! I was reading on another link that during your menstrual cycle the band tends to tighten and there is discomfort, so I think that is what is going on with me right now. This is the first time I've had my cycle since the banding, and it seems to be getting better today, lets hope that's what it is. Thank GOD for everyone posting so honestly. I know sometimes I feel like I get a littel TOO personal, but hey, we have to support each other through it all! I will fly into TJ in June, probably 12th or 13th and stay for a week, my family and I will vacation there and CA for the week, so I scheduled my fill for the 17th, a couple of days before I fly out (just in case I gotta go back to the office or something) hope to see some you guys out there :-h As for my experience here is my link: My OCC and TJ experience hope it helps out I love reading and participating on this forum, THANKS~

GREAT WAY to kick off MAY and on Mother's Day weekend too! You all will have a nice time.

Hello everyone! My name is Julie; I picked my screen name as crazycoolbutterfly because it totally describes who I am- flying around on a cool day through this crazy world free as a butterfly (now I would like to add LIGHT as a butterfly). I'm married to the most handsome, loving, and caring husband in the world. I am a proud mother of four beautiful boys ages 14, 14, 10, and 2 (yes, I have twins). I currently have the advantage of staying home with my toddler and am able to participate or volunteer for my other boys at their schools. I’m originally from Corpus Christi however we recently moved into a suburb north of Houston, TX which we truly enjoy. Love camping out annually in Concan TX, 5 minutes from Garner State park. Love dancing (totally can relate to BeBe), reading, blogging, and spending time outdoors –especially star gazing. Enjoy spending time with my husband and children, enjoy looking at new homes (especially custom homes, some of them are magnificent), enjoy bargain hunting. We adore traveling (can relate to bandgroupie). My husband and I are absolute road trip junkies. Sometimes we just grab a light suitcase for the family and hit the road for the weekend. My favorite travel destinations are California and Florida, I think because of the wonderful weather both states offer, similar to the weather that I’m accustomed to here in Texas. We decided to make our family trip this year in TJ so we are going to catch a Padres game in San Diego, catch some bullfighting in TJ, and hit up the beaches and other attractions up and down the coastline, that we can get to, while we are there for the week. My boys will be flying for the first time, so it will be adventurous from the beginning I was thin my entire childhood and right thru high school. I guess because I was very active in track and swimming that I could eat anything and not gain any weight. I have been overweight for about 12 years and out of those obese for about 9 years. I thought about the lapband and the gastric banding for over 5 years, but never felt it was my time yet. I started gaining weight with my first pregnancy and after my third pregnancy I was at 200#s (2005) and hadn’t really weighed myself since then, well I went to my annual this year and weighed in at 273#s. I was on the phone with OCC the next morning! Sometimes you get that "admit it already and do something about it, before it does something to you" moment, well that was mine. I have truly been blessed with a new opportunity to enhance my life not only for myself but for my family. I enjoy this forum so much; everyone is thoughtful, polite and straightforward. I am so glad to have joined the OCC team.

I'll take the GOLD for 20# please :lb25:

CONGRATULATIONS :lb13: I love your pix, it's is soooo motivating to see people's transformation through pix and videos! Thank you for sharing your story and I'm so happy for you.

I'm three weeks post op today, and I'm glad that you mentioned this because as of yesterday I have this on/off slight tension on my left side. I think it's near the port or maybe it's the band, I'm not sure where everything is so???? Well I was worried all day today because it's like a shooting pain, kinda like a tightness or sore muscle and I was thinking because it got a little chilly over here that maybe that's why I was feeling pain. However, I this is the first time after getting banded that my cycle has began and I never connected the two. THANK YOU for putting me at ease, for now. I'll let you know it about 3 days when it's over...

Happy Solids Day April 10th Bandsters!! Hope everyone enjoyed their first day of "guilt free" solids! I know some of us have cheated, myself included, but today was supposed to be "guilt free" and I still felt guilty! This morning I had a soft scrambled egg, with a 2 oz side of potatoes. For lunch, protien shake. For dinner seasoned broiled chicken, homemade beans, and white rice which probably all added up to about a cup of food - believe it or not! Of course, vitamin water throughout the day and plain water. I'm really not that hungry, I guess because i'm afraid to eat solids. I started with protien first, then carbs, which I just realized i didn't have any veggies today. Gotta get them in tomorrow. My left side has been hurting all day, but it started late yesterday we had a cool wind blow in, and maybe its because of that? The pain is like a pulling muscle, or tightness, when I bend over or move too quickly. I think it's the port area, but I'm not sure? Well hopefully it's nothing. I am walking about 6000-7000 steps daily now. It usually takes me 45 min to an hour but I do enjoy it and have noticed that I can do more walking now then I did three weeks ago. I am looking forward to the gym, but I a question: can we do anything? i know except ab work, but i'm talking eliptical, spinning, swimming, free wights? Just wondering because i know that swimming and eliptical works your entire body at the same time, so would that be stressful right now? I'm signing up with MamaMichelle's motivation plan, hope to see our progress for this month go smoothly.

I totally agree. I made the final decision March 25, started the pre-op diet same day, and was banded on April 10! I couldn't believe how quickly the motions went for me. Although while I was in TJ, I had a friend from CA with me, but I flew to and from CA alone. So it really never set in, until about a week later. I'm 20 days post op and sometimes look at my scars and think, "i really went through this and it's great"!

my deepest condolences. i'm glad to hear you feel a little better, but i would still check with a doctor, it's better safe, than sorry.

:lb5: WELCOME to a new chapter or maybe even BOOK in your lives! I'm glad to hear everything went well. Soon we will be partying in our skinny black dresses (or slacks -for men) LOL:party:

Isn't it amazing? I LOVED my experience also. You right about the warm fuzzies, everyone is happy over there! :lb24: on your weightloss so far! You are doing fabulous =D>

Michelle YOU are HILLARIOUS!!! I can't stop laughing about your Shamu joke!! But really you look terrific. I was reading your first fill report and I think you are right, it takes alot of self will power to lose the weight. It reminds me that the lapband is a tool and not the "miracle method" that we need to use well and it will give us HUGE results! I think you are doing a great job. I love that you post so honestly and keep us up to date regarding matters like fills, new experiences (good / bad) and just overal topic information. THANKS! And in response on how to take a compliment, smile and say thank you sweetie. don't over analyze or rethink the sentence because then you add, the BUT and it comes out as a thanks, BUT, you really mean this which is kinda backfires the compliment. I had to learn this, actually I'm still learning this because it's hard to give yourself credit. I think it's a MOMMY thing.

Well 1) you could serve yourself a smaller healthy portion and let them know you are watching what you eat and are commited to this new you. <That's what you will be doing post-op on solids> 2)serve soup and salad with an entree and only eat the soup 2) fake a tummy ache 3) pretend to be "busy", clean the dishes, pick up after the kids, have a last minute errand, go to the grocery store for the tummy ache 4) have a "friend" call you that needs your help at the last minute, like pick up her kids because something came up (like a road block because of traffic, husband staying late for work and you're closer so you meet her at her house, or pick up some meds from the pharmacy for her sick child because she can't leave the house right now while he is sleeping) That's all I could think of! I know it's funny because while I was re-reading my post I started laughing at myself thinking, man can i come up with an excuse to avoid someone or what? I've not ever done this, but I already feel like an expert! hahahahaha Good luck to you and hope all goes well!

Well hello there Sara! I was wondering about you and how you were holding up. Glad to see things are going well for you. Good to see you too 4mygirls- your husband was great I noticed that he did stay with you after you were out for the night because I was walking around doing my laps and later on the computers which were located right across from where you were. Has anyone heard from Kendra or her mom? Just wondering because I haven't heard from her? :lb21: way to go on everyones weight loss so far! I know the creamy soup stage is a little difficult. I think because people normally don't eat soups unless they are sick or it's winter... But so far so good. Keep in touch!

:lb14: Gina and welcome! I hope that whatever decision you make that it all works out. I know of a few people what had the Gastric Roune Y about 4 years back and both have gained back 50+ pounds each. I'm not sure why because I don't even know if they have followed up on it, but they are probably the reasons why I went with the Lapband. Here's to HOPE and FAITH in yourself and God (if you believe in one) so that you may reach weightloss success again and this time for good! :lb10: on your current weight loss to date!

OUTSTANDING!!! You are Almost there, don't give in and you will be on your way to a new YOU!!! :lb10:

good for you! I know telling someone is hard enough, and telling someone who cares about you is even harder because of the apprehensible reaction. I'm glad that she has accepted your decision and is supporting you! :lb24: kittycat's mom for being there for your daughter!!!

I think you should listen to your body. Because I wasn't hungry either, so i thought I wasn't getting enough calories so I did a schedule for like 1/2 a day where i would eat 2-3 oz of shake or broth like every 3 hours, and I got a huge gassy pain in my chest. So I stopped the schedule and went back to eating only when I was hungry. I do however drink, drink and drink alot of water. That may also be the reason why I don't feel so hungry. Now that its been 10 days, i do get a little rumble in my tummy to remind me that i am hungry because honestly i forget to eat. I make food for the family to eat and i just drink water. I would think just listen to your body and try to eat lots of protien first, then the salty soups. :lb24: on losing 25 pounds so far!

I believe they that both the hotel and OCC have wireless, but at the same time they also have computers that you may use for free. I used the ones at OCC to check email and surf the net while passing time after surgery. I also thought about bringing the laptop, but didn't want the hassle at the airport or carrying it around and worrying about it getting left behind, since i was traveling alone. :lb11: and have a nice time in TJ!

I'm sooo glad I wasn't the only one thinking or actually doing this. I thought I was "cheating" although I felt fine. Thanks for replying and reassuring me. I am between 1/2 c and 2/3 because I am afraid to stretch the pouch or have the band slip. I haven't had any vomiting or anything like that (thank God) and I always wait to drink later because I too am afraid of what may happen. I guess fear is a good thing right now. I know later when I do get on solids my fear will be even better for me. Thanks everyone for the advice and praise

Ok so today is day 9 post-op and I feel really good. Yesterday, I started creamy soups with Campbells Select creamy potato, cheese and broccoli 1/2 cup and no more. LOVED IT, I ate only the creamy portions and nothing else. So today, I bought Campbells Select Chicken and Dumplings and couldn't resisit the potatoes and carrots so I got a forked and pureed the whole serving (1/2 cup) and it was DELICIOUS. i thought i was going to regret it, but no gas, no painful chest, nada! I also had 1 small serving (pre-packaged small cup) of Motts applesause later this evening and again no probs! Would you consider this cheating? According to Dr. Miranda we shouldn't have piece of fruit in our yogurt or chunks in the creamy soups, but I did puree it...what do ya'll think? I am drinking my liquids and had Optifast for breakfast and don't have any probs feeling satisfied. I save all the "extras" for another day and appreciate the fact that i can eat more than clear liquids and yogurt. I only eat 1/2 cup or 2/3 cup of eating "liquids" at a time. I know the idea is not to stretch the pouch, so I am keeping track with my measuring cup. Stil walking and loving it. Thanks for "listening".

Yur HILARIOUS! I totally agree with you all and can't wait to run upstairs without panting! :lb13: great job on the post-op weightloss!