OICU812

I had my 2nd fill last Jan. and seem to have hit the plateau. I have lost 130 lbs. but haven't lost any in a while. My portions seem to be getting larger and hungrier between meals. I had hoped 2 fills would do me, but have decided to get a 3rd. I seems kinda dumb to have this tool and not using it to its potential. I plan to get my fill and then maybe some shopping with my daughter. Has anyone done any shopping in TJ lately. Just wondering how Revolution Ave. or the shopping malls were lately. Anybody get any good deals?

I had my last fill (my second) in January. I have done very well and lost well over 100 lbs since my surgery in Aug 08. Lately, my meal portions seem to be on the rise, and I have been hungrier between meals. Still feel like I have restriction at times, especially if I try to eat any bread, so I usually stay away from it. Just wondering if you think I could use another fill. Thanks,

It's very likely. The day after mine, My wife and I crossed the border and went to the SD zoo and to old Town San Diego.

Banded on 8/14/08 and have lost 130 lbs. Feeling great. I have had 2 fills. The last one was in January and I still have restriction

I got banded in Aug. and had a 2.5cc fill in Oct. and had another 2cc in Jan. on my 2nd fill. I still have some pretty good restriction. It seems to come and go, but I have adjusted my eating habits, so I don't really feel that I am really using the band that much anymore. I realized very early that the band wasn't going to do this for me by itself, that I was going to have to do this with assistace from the band. It has been alot of work, but I am down 130 lbs.

Will there be any youtube video? Maybe we could help you decide whether to take level 1 over again.

Post some pictures and we will help you decide.

I have lost 125lbs since August and I still drink a protein shake every morning. It keeps me full until lunch, and since I am working out 6 days a week, I feel like I need the extra protein even though I can eat about whatever I want, just not too much of it. I used the EAS protein powder from SAM's club for a few monthes and it tastes pretty good, but now I am using the Max Protein powder from GNC. It has the same amout of protein, but fewer calories and carbs. It also tastes alot better. It tastes good enough to drink even if it had no protein in it. The chocolate is almost too rich, so I mix 1 scoop of choc. and 1 scoop of vanilla. My trainer told me to stay away from the Muscle Milk, that it will put weight on you.

What a crock of crap. My happy weight at 155. My legs weigh more than that. There is no way I could ever get to 155, so now I'm not happy. I happen to know that my happy weight is about 730 lbs. but that ain't my healthy weight, so I'm just shooting for 200 instead.

I used to eat food so hot that you could use your breath to weld with, but since the band, 2 of the worst nights I have spent were after some very spicy food. No more of it for me.

Follow the Dr.'s orders. If they told you to eat mushy steak, then my all means, eat it. It they told you not to eat anything that you had to chew, then there is a reason. With Dr. Ortiz's diet, there is no mushy stage, just 21 days of liquids after being banded, followed by small balanced meals. I have read that some Dr.s have different diets, but Dr. Ortiz's diet has worked very well for me and I can only recommend that it be followed. Most people on this board have been banded my Dr. Ortiz and probably will tell you the same.

Last weekend made 6 monthes since my banding. 6 monthes ago I was 370 lbs and my dr. told me that he would really like to see me down around 250 and more active. This morning I was 253 and very active. I haven't reached my goal yet, because I don't have one. I just wanted to be much healtier, so then again, maybe I have met my goal, but I keep setting new ones. I wore one of my old belts today, just to show how many inches I have lost. There is now 17 inches of belt hanging past the buckle where I used to use the last hole. A few more inches and I think I will be able to make my wife a belt out of what is left over. I have bought new jeans 3 times since being banded and it is time to buy some more. This band is costing me money, but I'll gladly spend it.

I brought back tramadol, vicotin, and amoxicillin and a few cuban ciggies. I also had about 10 kilos of cocaine taped to my belly, and my suitcase filled with illegal mexican fireworks. Just the first sentence is true, the rest is my typical B.S. LA and Hollywood was great and we had a really fun time. If I ever need another fill, I will definately go back. I didn't get in to get my tattoo from LA Ink, so I have to go back for that. My daughter said her hands and feet fit perfectly in Marilyn Monroes. I tried to fit my feet into John Wayne's boot prints, and just as my wife predicted, I couldn't fill his boots.

I had my pockets full of goodies when we crossed the border last time. I brought back amoxicillin and several pain meds. Also some cigars. I just put them in my pants pocket. I guess I could have brought back anything since they didn't even have the xray machine going for luggage when we crossed. If I had known that, I would have myself a new gardener now.

Don't worry, they'll give you a list of no-no's that you can't eat for a while. Go ahead and schedule some dental work if you need it, cause you won't need your teeth for a while. Whether you are a vegetarian or a Carnivore like me, you will be drinking most of your food for a while. When you can get back to regular food, just eat small quantities of nutritious food and stay away from the snacks, junk food and fast food.