MrsParris

Wish I could join you guys, but I am looking at my first fill around Jan. 2nd. I plan on using the Roswell facility because I live in Alabama. How do you all like it? I love the fact that they do their fills on Sat. and will fill on Sunday if necessary. PM me and let me know what to expect. Thanks, Kimberly

That is too funny. I love to hear about the NSV's as well as actually pounds. Please post some pictures. I am being banded Nov. 20th, and my husband is considering being banded during Spring Break. I am sure he would enjoy seeing what the guys look like as they lose. Keep it up!!! Kimberly

Hi. I am being banded on the 20th also. I will be arriving on the 19th. I faxed the copy of my check to the OCC today. I am so excited. Keep in touch and I am sure I will see you there. Kimberly

I am so sorry to hear about your bad luck with your first attempt. I admire your tenacity to continue after all you've been through. Good luck with everything. Kimberly

CindyLou, I see that you will be banded on the 20th. So will I. Maybe I will see you there. I did the two shakes and lean cuisine. It really is not that difficult. I lost the 11 pounds I was told to lose quickly. I emailed Dr. Miranda the other day and she told me that was great and that I could now switch to 1 shake and 2 lean cuisines. I really like the Wal-Mart (Equate) brand of shake better than Slim-Fast. The chocolate is really good. I open the can, then put it in the freezer as soon as I get up in the a.m. and by the time I am ready to leave for work it is about half frozen. I can then sip on it all the way to work. I am a teacher and I don't always get my lunch break(planning period) due to parent conferences, meetings, etc. so the convenience of being able to drink my meal is really working for me. I will probably continue with the shake for lunch even after my surgery because I have to take my" lunch" with my students and I will not be able to concentrate on small bites, and thorough chewing while trying to oversee 25 middle school students. Not to mention the fact that we are only allotted about 20 minutes to eat. I have only tried Atkins once, but I was not successful with it. I know a lot of people who have been. I only did it for about 3 weeks, but I followed it strictly and I gained weight. Maybe I just didn't stick with it long enough. Good luck with your pre-op weight loss, and if the Atkins just isn't working try the shake option. It worked for me and the weight is staying off, even after an 8 day trip to DisneyWorld in October. I ate like a bear, but I walked my butt off. Kimberly

I am being banded three weeks from today!!!!!!! Well, the other day I received an email supposedly from my health care provider to watch an online video about what to expect. It doesn't specify Dr. Ortiz or the O.C.C. Is this standard procedure? I don't recall anyone else mentioning this. Anyone else receive this? Thanks, Kimberly

Congratulations! I hope I can do as well as you. I am getting banded three weeks from today. Kimberly

I am a middle school math teacher and the students can be sweet at times. Do you have a problem getting your water in each day? I go to the restroom before homeroom, then I don't get another break until 4th period. Do you have a similar problem? If so, how do you handle it? Kimberly

Hope everything is OK. Kimberly

Congratulations! Keep us posted on the progress. I have a tad over 3 weeks until my band date. I am so excited!!! Kimberly

Congratulations! Glad to hear you are doing well now. Kimberly

Great news! Glad all went well. Please keep me posted on how things are goning on the post op diet. I am really nervous about it. Kimberly

Thanks for your post. I love to read the good things about the OCC. It keeps my mind at ease that I made the right decision.

Glad to hear all went well. I am scheduled for Nov. 20th. Keep us posted on your progress. Kimberly

It is easy to get discouraged when the scale doesn't tell us what we think it should. I can't wait to read your post when you get under 200. Once you get under 200 your physical appearance begins to dramatically improve with every 5 lbs. That will give you the motivation to work even harder. Every pound is a victory, and you my dear are definitely winning the war. Keep it up!!!!

You look great!!! I can't get over the dramatic difference from August to October. Your photos inspire me. Keep it up! Kimberly

I hope everything went well!!!!! I can't wait to hear all the details. Kimberly

Thank you for the update. I am to be banded Nov. 20th. I think it is a good decision, then I read negative posts and I re-think my decision, especially the financial part. But, being a normal size has always been the one goal in my life that has been the most difficult to attain. Your post has helped me to see that my weight loss may not be quick, but if I am persistent it will be attainable eventually. I also have an overweight son. I am doing this for him too. If everything goes well for me, I plan on having him banded summer 2009. Once again, thanks. Kimberly

Congratulations!!!! It gets easier and easier as you get more and more determined. Now is when you will really start to see a difference physically. Every 10lbs. makes a dramatic difference in your appearance. Put up some before and during pictures. I love to see those. When I figure out how to do it, and as soon as I reach 199lbs. I plan on posting some. Keep up the great work, Kimberly

Congratulations Julie, 2lbs. is great!!!! I was really good on my diet last week, drinking my water, added exercise, and gained 1.5 lbs. But, I've been through this before and so have you. When you least expect it a really big drop in pounds will occur. Anyway, that's what I keep telling myself!!! Stay strong, Kimberly

Way to go!!! I can't wait until I can celebrate the same thing!!!! Kimberly

I am glad you are doing well. I was told not to book a flight earlier than 9:00 a.m. I did as I was told. That bothers me that others got to book an early flight. I could have saved around $260.00 on my plane tickets if I had booked the early flight. I guess it irritated you also, that you had to get up at 4:00 am and wait three extra hours because someone booked an early flight. Keep us posted on your progress. I am to be banded Nov. 20th. I am excited, but also scared that I won't do well and that I would have wasted $8,000 plus. My sis is also giving me a lot of grief over choosing Mexico for my surgery. My BIL is from CA and he is also feeding the negative ideas to her about getting it done there. Best of luck, Kimberly

When I lost 105lbs. 10 yrs. ago, I used this exercise move from Denise Austin. It really did help my arm flab. OK, I will try to explain it... To work out your right upper arm, bend your left knee and lean forward in a kind of lunge. You can rest your left hand on your knee. Extend your right arm to the back of your body as high as you can, keeping your fingers straight, then you just move it down about 12 inches and back up. Repeat as many times as you feel necessary. If you do this for a minute or two, you should start to feel the muscle on the back of your arm begin to burn, that should let you know that you are doing it correctly. To work your left upper arm, you just switch knees. To help tighten up a double-chin, open your mouth slightly and stick your tongue out as far as you can over and over. I am about to start pilates again. They are awesome for toning and flexibility. My favorite is from Mari Windsor. Good luck , Kimberly

Thanks everyone!

Thanks!