dejongshy

I am so proud to day that my mother was banded 3 years ago (with a BMI of 57-59, almost 400lbs). She has dropped an astounding 187lbs and is going to have her Tummy Tuck in the morning... They expect her to be a size 12 when all is said and done... You can do it... The thing to remember is that this is a tool....

Her friend that had G.B. is now looking at being banded over her G.B. because she has stretched her stomach...

Good Luck.

Shy

I had trouble with most of these items at the beginning but now that I am 1 year out, I have found a rhythm and can eat just about anything except for rice in moderation.... Good luck, take it slow and realize that somedays things will work and some days they wont... Good luck..

Shy

My sister is banded too and she has the same problem... I think there might be something to it.

Shy

Hey Shy--

I've noticed that too--that if I happen to skip lunch (usually too busy, not that I would ever forget to eat-haha) dinner becomes a real challenge. I thought it was just me, but maybe there is something to it. Thanks for posting it.

This is going to sound funny but I have found that if I don't eat something for lunch then I can't keep anything down at dinner time... So no matter how busy I am I force myself to eat (chew) something around lunch time... Weird I know.

Shy

Shelby

How did you time yourself?

My biggest fear of starting to jog is that people will see me... OUT of Breath and red...

Shy

My sister and I were banded a little over a year ago and we have both done well. The hard part is we can't really visualize what size we are. I am a size 10/12 but still see myself as a 18/20. My sister had a great idea that everyone should have to walk around with their size marked on them that way we could get a better idea of what size we truly are.. But no way in hell would I agree to wear my size...

Shy

Saw another lady there buying size 10 clothes - that was nice as it gave me a visual for the size that I am and I think I like it.

What a great website... I have been kicking my self in the ass because I have been doing my 3-6 mile walks with no probelm but jogging has kicked my butt. I felt like a failure but I can follow this plan...

Thanks....

Shy

I started running about a month and a half ago. I was able to move pretty quick I think because I had been doing pretty intense cardio for a while before that. Had been doing Zumba quite a bit which helped me prepare. Also, I did the first couple of weeks of the "couch to 5 k" program. For anyone interested in running it is a fantastic program that really works you up to it and gets you running a 5k in about 2 months. I didn't follow it to a T b/c I was feeling good from the Zumba, but did it for a while. Here is the program if you want to check it out:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

The run i'm doing is on my bday which is kinda cool. I'll make sure my friends take pics of me crossing the finish line! =D>

HUGS!!!! SO AMAZING!!!! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Congrats.... How great.... I have almost the same stats and results.... I have been platued at 173-175ish for about 3 months.... I would love to see your pics because I struggle with the same body image issues...

It is hard to believe that one year ago today I had my band put in. I have learned so much over the past year. I went from a size 18/20w to currently size 10 in pants and large in shirts. My boobs didn't shrink much. It took me a little while to figure it out. I finally learned that I wasn't taking in enough calories. Once I started consuming about 1200 calories a day, the weight started to fall off. I have lost 51 pounds in the last year and feel so much better. I still have trouble every day when I look in the mirror. I still see that person that was 226 pounds and a size 18/20. I am now working on my mindset. I am not used to getting so many compliments. I still would like to lose about another 20 pounds, but if I do not lose another pound I am still very happy with where I am at now. It is a tool. It is not a quick fix and you do have to work with it. I have not had a soda or any carbonated drink in the past year and I do not miss it. I hope everyone has as much success as I have. I am currently at 2.0cc in a 4cc band. I can no longer eat bread and I have learned to LOVE broccoli. I will post some pictures this weekend. I will have to find some of me before the surgery. I was always the one behind the camera.

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks...

Ok, so I am 1 year post op and super happy with the band.... I am looking for Dr. Miranda's email because I am having some body/weight image problems. I am hoping that she will be able to give me the expected weight form our pre-op meeting... Currently I am 172lbs, size 10/12 (mostly 12).

So if you have her email somewhere can you please post it...

I had a really tight fill about 2 weeks ago and the heartburn is finally what made me get the unfill. The heartburn went away for about 3 days and now it is back... I am not tight and I can eat just about anything now as long as a I chew, chew, chew.... When I had my unfill it was checked under flouro and I was told everything looked great. I would love to hear what OCC says about the heartburn... Please keep us posted.

I had a similar thing the past 2-3 weeks. I am soooo happy that I went in yesterday for a partial unfill. Even though I wasn't PB'ing alot, i honestly wasn't eating well either (soups, cottage cheese, mushies). It has been so great to be able to eath solid protiens again and drink water and protien drinks without pain or the 45mintues for 1 cup of liquids...

I finally went in because I was getting Acid Reflux.. Not good..

Shy

My fill doc told me that it is very normal because there is still fat between your stomach and the band and when you loose weight it makes the band looser because there isn't as much fat. Frustrating I know.... It happened to me on my first 3 fills, I would loose 10lbs and then loss of good restriction..... My last fill it hasn't happened yet....

Shy

I am looking for other Dr. Ortiz patients who have had to have their lapbands removed. I had to have my removed after 10 months and am wondering about rebanding. Has anyone else had this experience? I am depressed that I have gained all my weight back and had such an awlful experience with the band, but am desperate now, any others out there?

Why was your band removed??? Slippage???? erosion????

[qu

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you feel your doctor or advisor told you everything they knew about the pros and cons of your Lap-Band experience?

I feel like I was given very good info about the band from my consult. It also helped that my mother was banded 2 years before me so I could pick her brain and ask questions.

2. Would you do it again?

In a heartbeat....

3. Did you pay out of your pocket or did insurance cover?

I paid out of pocket, I use to feel guilty about spending that much $ but now I feel it has changed my life enough to justify it.

I sure will, when was your surgery? We started off pretty close in weight, I was 203 on surgery day,

now I am at 188, you have done so good, I am hoping this fill will do it..... I have a ways to go

till 1st goal.

My surgery was 11 months ago, I would have liked to have been at my goal weight of 155 by now but I am close.... I couldn't get a fill durning the winter months because of the weather and long drive over a pass. So I am finally happy but alittle worried that I might be too tight. The thing I love is that I am not hungry, even when I eat very very little. It is such a great feeling to not have food control my life.

Shy

One thing you might find from American doctors is that they won't recommend him because they don't want to loose your business to Mexico.... There is a huge problem with doctors in the states not being supportive. Dr. Ortiz trained the doctor that did my mothers lapband and he won't even do my fills locally because I had it done in Mexico....

Shy

I'm at the same spot. But I am thinking that I might get a small unfill because I have PB'ed 1 time each day since my fill. Not sure if I should stick it out or if that is an exceptable amount of PB's per day... I just don't want to have a slippage... Let me know what the OCC says...

Shy

I totally take adult gummy vitamins--2 a day. I get mine at costco. It's $10 for a bottle of 200.

Same here... I get mine from Costco... 2 gummies per day... Personally I think the Childrens gummy vitamins are better (you have to take 4). Both works great...

Shy

I am going through something very similar, I had a fill 1 week ago today. I was swollen for the first 3 days and then I was good until yesterday. I had trouble with water at times and the only thing solid that I got down yesterday was 2 slices of cheese. Totally weird.... Today I can still tell that I am tight but I can drink water with no problem, I'm going to try cottage cheese for lunch today.... Sure hope it works or I might be looking for an un-fill soon. I want to loose weight but I don't want to hurt myself or my lovely band.

Good luck.

Shy

WAY TO GO!!!!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU..... Keep it up... I think we would all really like to see some recent pics.

Shy

Yes Robs, Mine is sore and like I posted in the MAY thread I have some redness

This was my original post.... My incision was fine, I had a reaction to the glue they used nothing major..... I'm almost 11 months out and 15lbs from goal.

Shy

Hi,

I just had my band on 4/21/09. I just got my first fill last week (no restriction yet). I can eat anything and any amount right now. I have not lost any weight since last week, so now I am wonder it may be what I am eating.

Could you please share what you are eating during the day? What is your portion size?

Thanks you,

These are just basic items that I mix and match for meals, I tend to get stuck on one thing for long periods of time.

Breakfast items (I have never ever like breakfast)

- protien shake ( I hate to eat breakfast)

- 1/2 cup scrambled eggs with cheese

Lunch:

- 1/2 to 1 cup of cottage cheese

- 8 oz of chicken nuggets (white meat/low fat) with mustard

- 1/2 cup steamed veggies with small portion of protein (varies_

- cold cut meats (turkey, roast beef, ham)

- 1/2 to 1 cup of Chili

Dinner:

- What ever I make for my family but I try to add veggies to my meal and I don't eat the noodles

Snacks:

- cheese stick

- beef jerky

- almonds

- skinny cow ice cream (after dinner)

- protein bar (check the calories though)

- low fat popcorn.... yum....

- rice crackers

I put money away each month in a special account for this. When I had enough I scheduled the appointment.

I used the money that I would have spent eating out or entertainment, etc.

Good luck....