Jnlebean

Hi Babe, You are right on the money!! Put the fork down, and eat slow! Jenelle

I am going to Curves in Calgary, either the one on Richmond Road or the one on 4thST and 23rdAve! The OA Meeting was amazing! It is just what I needed. I went to the OA website and found a meeting. I am going to the one on Wednesday night at Woodcliff Church and I might on to the Monday night meeting at the Bethany Care Center, again all in Calgary. From the 1 hour meeting I learned so much about myslef just by listening to people's stories! OH guess what!! I have to buy a new belt. I posted a month or so ago that I have one more notch on my belt to go...well i moved it over this morning and its still not tight enough! Jenelle

Yahoo!! Good for you! Jenelle

:-h No Problem, I know I took advantage of all the info I learned on this site when I had my surgery in January. I look forward to hearing from you when you get back, Welcome to bandland...soon anyways Jenelle

I know the hotel has computers you can use! If you have your laptop you might be able to plug in wirelessly. Jenelle

Robbyn, How are you doing? You might not have even had your surgery yet! Let us know how you are doing when you get to the hotel! > Jenelle

For the OCC Drive, the first time I gave him 10, cause it was just my mom and me and then then the second time I gave him 5, cause there was more people in the Van. The bell boys, 5 Jenelle

I woke up yesterday morning and felt like a light bulb went off, I was going to kick this into high gear and get very serious about my goal of competing in a sprint triathlon this summer! I joined Curves gym a month ago and yesterday had my first weight and measurements taking. I am down 3" and 5 pounds! I have only been going once maybe twice a week since then. I know I have to go at least three times to get the full benefit but with everything takes time to get into the routine! So when I got up yesterday I told myself that I would go three times this week, and walk my puppy 3 nights this week. That's it. I'm not going to worry about next week, one week at a time and before I know it I wont miss a day and going to Curves will be second nature! I tend to get overwhelmed, when I look at the big picture it just seems to be to much and i fail myself by just not doing it! I am on the smart chip thing at Curves and once I was done my full body workout in 30min I had burned 975 calories!!! If i go three times a week that's a pound a week just by exercising! I know everyone probably knows that but when your a fat girl and a simple thing like working out three times a week for 30 min can burn a pound its amazing!! I love Curves the ladies there are so nice and its FUN, i have never said that about working out. I HATE gyms, cause i feel like I am the only dumb person there and everyone is so cocky and they all seem to be know-it-all's. I don't mean to offend any gym loving people, but the pressure there to be thin and ripped is just to much for me! I am having a hard time with this first fill, i don't have any restriction and I cannot afford to go back to the OCC until June 6th for my second fill. So i am trying out the willpower thing! If nothing else i just don't want to gain between now and then. I wish there was a doctor here in Alberta that would do a fill for me! My pants are falling off of me, my shirts I am swimming in them, and my winter jackets i could almost get a small child in there with me!!!!! I'm going shopping this weekend for a few new dress pants for work, how cool is that! I'm now at 249, I haven't been this small since I was 17 years old, 10 years ago!!!!! I'm in such a good mood, on cloud nine, smelling the flowers (at Safeway, its still winter here) and looking forward to getting in shape and completing the triathlon this summer!!! Nothing is going to stop me now. I have all of you to thank for getting me through the rough times, i might not post but I read this forum everyday and the topics, every topic, reminds me that Im not alone and I can do this. Oh, tonight I am going to my very first OA meeting, cause YES, I am a compulsive over eater. And this band is a tool not the mental cure! LOVE ALL OF YOU, Jenelle >

I tipped the OCC drivers, and the bell boys at the hotel! I didn't tip the cab drive cause I was paying in American money, and it is so much more valuable than the paceo (sorry about the spelling) Jenelle

You look so BEAUTIFUL!!! > Keep up the hard work, Jenelle

=D> Good for you! Happy Birthday, that is the best gift you can give yourself. It means you will be around to see many more birthdays! > Jenelle

I was just there last Monday getting my first fill and had absoutly no problems, not one. The hotel was clean and safe, people very nice and friendly, they will tell you where to go in town and where not to go! They will call you cabs and take care of you! They even told my mom and me how to cross the street! It is safe! I wouldn't go any where alone. At the boarder there were a lot of people but it was fine as well! You will have to cross the boarder and walk to the parking area that the driver will tell you to go too, I was alone on this trip last monday. There was a guy that was also being driven back to the airport him and I stuck together. The OCC drivers are very nice and very friendly they will help you and tell you what you need to know! They are all very professional! Welcome to band land Jenelle

Sorry just re-reading my post! I think I made it sound like crossing the boarder was bad, but its not bad at all!! Really no problems! I think Jennifer is right in saying that a lot of the advisories are coming from texas/mexico! Welcome to your new life! Jenelle

Oh, you will be just fine! I went to the OCC last Monday for my first fill. The driver picked me up from the airport and took me to clinic, then to the hotel. The only part that was nerve racking was crossing the boarder from Mexico back to the States, you wait in line and go to see the customs people then you have to get your bags scanned and then you have to walk out and over to the parking area! Walking to the parking area is werid cause there are lots of people crossing and some are very poor. But I was lucky to be with a guy that was also being driven to the airport, he had his first fill as well that day! Him and I stuck together! No one talked or bothered us! You will be fine!!! Don't listen to the travel advisories yes there are problems but what city doesn't have problems! Take the warnings as just that adviories! Be a smart traveler! Once again I have gone twice now, once was with my mom and I have had absoultly no problems! Even the hotels are save and clean! The drivers are very nice and will tell you exactly what you need to do! Jenelle

Hi Stormy, good to see you agin on here! Lisa, mentioned the green, yellow and red graph, it is under the forum topic Fill Doctors and Fills in Tijuana. It is a pinned topic by loribecky! I hope the graph helps. Jenelle

I took 2 weeks off from work after my surgery and could have gone back on the Monday! I didn't need the time off. My surgery was on a Thursday and I was back to Canada on the Sunday. I love my flexible job! Jenelle

Wow, thank you Smiley for the great post! I'm going to print it off and keep it in my binder of things to remember! Thank you again, Jenelle

Thank you so much for the replies! I knew you ladies would have the answer, I'm going back on liquids and then start with the real soft foods after a few more days! Thanks again Jenelle

I had my first fill this past Tueaday, and I now feel like a real bandster!! I was on liquids for 3 days like Dr. Acosta said at the OCC. Today was my first day of solid foods. I know that I have to chew and chew and chew, and I have been practicing since my pre-op diet. But now that I have a fill everytime I take a bit of food and I chew then swallow I have a great deal of pain and then I PB. So then I wait a few mintues after PBing and once the pain is gone and I feel ok I try to eat again. Sometimes I can swallow and eat but sometimes the pain, like I have swallowed an orange, continues and I eat through it. I can only eat about a cup maybe a cup and a bit of food and I'm either full or can't handle the pain anymore. My question is...is the pain from the food going through the band or is the pain from the food going through the esofagus(spelling?) and into the pouch? So once I swallow the food sits in the pouch for a long time and slowly goes through the band and into the larger stomach,right! That's why I feel full longer. So where is the pain coming from? I'm I really not chewing that well? I think I am, like 20-30 times before I swallow. Or does the food go through the band as soon as I swallow, and that's why there is pain, cause I didn't chew enough or I am to tight with my fill. And the full feeling is the food sitting in my large stomach? If you follow where I'm going with my question please help me in answering the question! I hope I was clear in what I was asking! Jenelle

I had my first fill this past Tueaday, and I now feel like a real bandster!! I was on liquids for 3 days like Dr. Acosta said at the OCC. Today was my first day of solid foods. I know that I have to chew and chew and chew, and I have been practicing since my pre-op diet. But now that I have a fill everytime I take a bit of food and I chew then swallow I have a great deal of pain and then I PB. So then I wait a few mintues after PBing and once the pain is gone and I feel ok I try to eat again. Sometimes I can swallow and eat but sometimes the pain, like I have swallowed an orange, continues and I eat through it. I can only eat about a cup maybe a cup and a bit of food and I'm either full or can't handle the pain anymore. My question is...is the pain from the food going through the band or is the pain from the food going through the esofagus(spelling?) and into the pouch? So once I swallow the food sits in the pouch for a long time and slowly goes through the band and into the larger stomach,right! That's why I feel full longer. So where is the pain coming from? I'm I really not chewing that well? I think I am, like 20-30 times before I swallow. Or does the food go through the band as soon as I swallow, and that's why there is pain, cause I didn't chew enough or I am to tight with my fill. And the full feeling is the food sitting in my large stomach? If you follow where I'm going with my question please help me in answering the question! I hope I was clear in what I was asking! Jenelle

Way to go! That's one of the best feelings in the world! I like to remembers these feelings when I'm feeling down on myself! Jenelle

This is a hard one for me too! I try to wait at least 5 min. before i eat something that want, if its not at meal time. That way I try to figure out if it mental, boredom, or not! Jenelle

Nope! My mom was with me and we had it all covered in the cost of the surgery. We only needed money for food and drinks! oh, and to tip the driver! Jenelle

Hi Lindsay, Wow, you hot little thing you! I want that! On March 23, I start my running course to learn to run. I am signing up for a Sprint Triathlon in August and I cant wait to do it. My brother is huge into the sport and wants me to join him. You can help me. I will be in touch in the next few days to let you know how you can help me, training and work out info! Thank you for letting us know that you have such a vault of knowledge! Oh one question, did you have the lap band surgery? Jenelle

Kristy, question for you...how come you are getting your fills approx. every 4 weeks or so? are you losing your restriction that fast? just wondering? I just had my first fill and I am hoping to push the second one off as long as possible like 2 months or so, I know you and i are both every different...let me know! Jenelle