nothereanymore

I travel a lot and I also always bring powdered protein mix, protein water packs, along with chewable vitamins, aspirin, anti nausea medication and all of my emergency information about the type of band I have. Have fun!

Throwing up and PBing is very hard on our bands, make sure to get some OTC anti nausea meds ASAP and if possible have your doctor write you a prescription. And whenever your band is tight, and you are PBing, go right to liquids. PBing - throwing up causes us to swell and you may start on a downward spiral that could cost you your band. If I PB I go on liquids for 3 days to be safe and if it continues I would recommend you go in for an unfil, much cheaper than losing your band. Warm herb tea can help, also when we are stressed about it - it makes it worse. Hope it all works out! Lisa

I don't have the problem now - I did when I started. What I did was clear any liquids from within my reach. You can't drink if there's nothing in front of you and getting up to get something makes you think about what you are doing. You don't want to do this for 2 reasons, you can eat more - it can stretch your band. Best, Lisa

Hello Judy, I've had several surgeries since having my band - my extended tummy tuck surgery was over 6 hours. One thing I noticed is that since they pump you up full of fluids you really swell badly and your band gets really tight. It is painful - but I drank lots of fluids and it did go away. Good luck but don't delay too long if you don't start feeling better soon! Best, Lisa

OK, I'm busily getting the last things done for my trip - I leave in 45 minutes, running around like a crazy person and jumped on to see if anyone emailed me a hotel… (No,,, WAAA)…. Someone help me here – don’t leave me hanging! Back to the real issue that is going to make me late for my 13 hour flight which I hate!! Are you just having buyer’s remorse? How overweight are you? If you are considered obese and it’s a health risk for you, if so I'd ask you to really think this over. If you are not a health risk and have made the decision that you can and will do this on your own, I'm proud of you - go kick some ass and loose the weight. I couldn’t do it on my own, but many can – however if its just one of those nagging thoughts that happens when we put money down, think it over very carefully – I know if I didn’t do this based on my rate of gain I’d be about 330 pounds right now and most likely very unhealthy, making less money and not enjoying life like I am now. I’m sad to say that thin people are treated better – make more money and get things for free (I’m telling you its not fare – I get more free stuff and better service – its crazy). I'm liken it though..... Don’t rush to this decision – look at yourself in the mirror – naked if you have to and ask yourself if you need and want to make a change. I did that, and it set me on my path to get the band. Hated that view then – love it now – I can’t even explain – but more importantly I’m healthy and will be around longer for my kids, and grandkids. I’m outa here – gotta go! Good luck on your decision! Lisa

Thanks again for the nice posts! Yes it’s interesting, the thinner I get, the blonder my hair gets, the shorter my skirts get and the bigger my b...bs get. But I'm liking it, and so it seems is the hubby! (Blondes do have more fun)!! I'm having fun with the little sexy dresses and all the fun things that go with them. Since I'm now a Grandma, and turning 50 in a few years I may have to calm that down a bit soon. I'm off to Halifax for 10 days for work - hope to see a couple of bandster sisters while I'm out there - hopefully the weather will hold up for me. Take care everyone, and keep up the good work! (I am so looking forward to Portland - would someone send me an email with the hotel they are staying at). Thanks, Lisa

Good luck! Here's hoping for a great fill for you! (But not too tight)!! Take care! Best, Lisa

Remember, its not about what goes down easy - we actually try to stay away from those types of foods. Its about eating in the right progress, taking small bites and chewing the heck out of it. Good luck, and make your band work for you, don't work around it! Lisa

So I just sent this off to someone else, read your post and it fits..... "OK, I need you to do one thing for me. For one week I need you to truly eat like a bandster. 1/4 cup out everything, protein (use tuna, canned salmon, boiled chicken) whatever is easy for you - then veggies, then fruits then carbs. Every meal - its a pain I know - but I have a feeling your band is good, but its how you are eating. Cut everything up in 1/4 teaspoon bites, chew each bite 30 times - wait,,,,, if you feel full stop - you're done eating. And don’t go back to food until your next mealtime. No soup, nothing - Please, you can do it, takes a little bit of organization but I think its going to work for you." So sorry for using the text twice, but I think you're on the same path. The reason we do protein first is it fills us up, it can be a pain if its not chewed or its dry. Also don't mix food, protein first, once you go to veggies you are done with protein, then I personally go to fruits, then carbs. Good luck - you will figure it out - we all do! Lisa

Thanks so much for the great compliments – it really is nice to feel good about how you look! My pictures are from a cruise we took last month and I can’t ever remember putting on clothes, including swimsuits and just feeling great about how I looked like I did on that trip! It was a great feeling! I wouldn’t be there with out Dr. Ortiz and the support I received from this board, so thanks everyone for helping me get here! There are many of us here that have made it to our goals, and many who are on the journey, some who are deciding if it’s the right path for them, personally speaking, this is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. The band was such a gift! I don't know if I'll ever be able to pay it back! (And I'm totally looking forward to Portland, can't wait to go dancing - my husband is not a dancer and its been way to long for this girl, so someone is going to have to keep an eye out for me and keep me in line)!! Best, Lisa

OK, I hate it when its something new, but my guess is its gass - just not 100% sure. Do you let your pouch empty before going to bed, and since it happens after you eat and when you wake up the only thing I can guess it can be is gass due to the food. Sorry - I'm sure someone else will help as well. But here's what I'd try - stop eating 2 hours before bedtime and drink some warm herb tea *sleepy time is good, about 30 minutes before sleep. Also try eating smaller amounts, you may be putting too much into your pouch - see if this helps and also I'm sure we'll have other help and guidence! Lisa

Since you can't get out much and you're dealing with stress can you try yoga at home? There are many good yoga tapes out there and yoga helps you deal with the stress. Also try to get a good breathing tape. Dr. Weil has a good one and that can really help you control your stress and alleviate some of the swelling. I also lock my bedroom door and dance away my stress, can’t imagine what I looked like doing it at 275 pounds, but its better now. It was a great way for me to start liking my body and learning how to control it, I also bought the belly dancing tapes; those are really relaxing as well and beautiful to work out too. If you have to, do it when the kids are in bed or watching their favorite TV shows. Make some time for you, and don’t let what you cannot control – control you. You’ll be fine, we all have the bumps in our banded life, but its not the end of it all. Also I just was on a cruise last month – make sure to plan some fun excursions, they generally have good exercise classes and I kept up on my sets while I was cruising. My thoughts are with you, you’ll make it through just fine. These are the things that make us stronger and better people.

This isn’t going to be popular, but I think one of the major differences between some people is exercise and how they change their overall lives. I’ll be honest, I normally take the ones that I think are going to succeed – watch and wait for them to figure it out. Michelle is a prime example; I knew she was going to get it, and when she disappeared for a while and slowed down on her computer access – In my heart I knew the next time we heard from her that there were going to be major changes and I was absolutely waiting for it – she didn’t’ disappoint me. You see that happen time after time, I did it myself. You’ll also notice the differences in people’s bodies and shapes, the one who add in exercise, they figure out that they can change the shape of their bodies and start really working on them, and they look thinner at a higher weight than others. Its all up to us, we know there’s no magic pill, if you want to move faster you’ll most likely have to put something extra into it. The old timers aren’t gone because of any changes on the board, the truth is it pretty much stays the same, you get to busy living life and many of us are still here – we don’t have time to spend a lot of time. I’ve been on this board since 2006 and have 529 posts. I haven’t spent a lot of time online – I’d rather get on the treadmill or do something good for me. But I’ll check on everyone when I’m reading the news and if I have something to say I will. That’s why it seems like I’m here, but it doesn’t take the place of my exercise, or commitment to changing who I am into a healthier person. You want to loose more weight, don't watch as much TV, limit your access to your computer and start exercising along with limiting your caloric intake. Just my thoughts on it. Lisa

Besides meals you also need to find something fun you like to do that could be considered exercise. Dancing, (belly dancing is fun)! Do anything that gets you moving and motivated. This will help both your mind and body and get you back on the right track. You get to the point were just dieting and eating less is not enough – the truth is you’re most likely going to have to add on something and you’ll be surprised how good you feel once you start! I'm looking for pole dancing classes right now, already bought my stripper shoes! I know for sure I wouldn't be in as good a shape as am after my weight loss if I didn't add in exercise.

Another thing - since you’re smaller down below it looks bigger. (The stomach fat is the hardest to loose and it takes the longest) And as you start loosing more weight, your skin is getting loser and it starts hanging over more. (Since it’s emptier of fat) I started noticing so many odd things as I was in the major weight loss mode. But it all came together in the end! (Oh yeah, and the butt, that’s another thing, the way you loose weight there – I’d like some back)!!

Wow, look at you, all the girls are really comen out and showen off their stuff! Girl you are looken great!! Such a big difference, you look so cute!! (I'll be honest, I never thought I'd get as thin as I have, sometimes it can be hard to stop loosen the weight, I was hoping for 165, thought 175 would be fine, but I go between 135 and 145 now, I think I'm finally at my stopping point) Just a forewarning! And I like curves too!!

Wow, you look so beautiful!! Don't you just love the strappy little sundresses!! And you look so sexy and incredible in them – congrats, you are really such a success story! Isn't fun!! And I love, love, love Bette! What a great Birthday you must of had!

You are looking soo beautiful, congrats! Its great to see the changes, it shows not only on the outside, but from within the inside. You look so much happier! Keep it up, I can promise you that the next 6 months will show even more dramatic changes! You are the size of Kittycat and I, its fun to see people who look like you on this journey!

OK, I'm actually not going to tell you what I think about them because its not important. It really isn’t. I'm going to focus on you, you are the important one here. Whether or not they are in a relationship - who knows, but more importantly you can't allow this to drive you to overeat, eat the wrong foods, eat things that can hurt you. This is the time when you need to focus on you, kick some friggen ass here and right now it’s your own that you need to kick. Focus on turning your emotions into a driving force that kick starts your weight loss and muscle gain. You are on a journey to a new you, you already let him control you, how did that help???? What did you turn into???? its your turn now to own your destiny and I’m telling you right here and now you are prettiest girl on this forum. You are most likely much more beautiful than that girl and I’m sure she’s as nice as pie…. But you can kick her ass in the looks department any day, and I know pretty. Don’t let this hurt you or take you off the course, let it be a driving force to help you get you back, that beautiful healthy person that you are. If I can go from a size 22 to a size 6 you can beat me any day of the week. Get on the boat here, don’t think about food, think about exercise and turn yourself into the goddess you are meant to be! (Trust me, this will be better than anything else you can do)!! Get the protein in the morning, start moving every chance you get - get on track and get motivated!!! Seriously, gaining anything back is not going to help – you have a tool in you that you can make work and you will be so surprised and how differently people treat you when you loose weight.

Congrats - that's awesome!! Here's hoping that you win!

How about lunch and then hor-de-vors before a night of dancing?

I would be po'd if I took a day off work and paid for a consult. My consults were on average less than an hour if you counted the wait time and I never paid a consulting fee. I booked most appointments early morning and would end up being late at worst. My surgery was a year after my lap band surgery, but I was not at my goal, I had what is called an apron, and it a fat pad in it. I was 200 pounds at my extended tummy tuck surgery and had over a foot of skin remove that goes around to my back, and over 6 pounds of fat, I also had lippo on back and sides which removed a bit of fat as well. I went down 3 pant sizes after my surgery. I am now over 50 pounds lighter (lost some during my surgery) and you could not remove any more skin, since he focused on removing the fat with the skin, along with tightening up the muscles during surgery. I'm not tight as a board (which I didn't want) and I have a round belly button which is what I wanted. (I personally don't like the almond shaped ones...) Unless there are studies, I go by what the doctor says I believe in recommends, and yes mine does work on overweight patients who aren’t at their goal yet and haven’t been there for a year. And I'm thrilled with the results, and know many women who have received tummy tucks who were not at their goal weight and they look fine, I know one who had to go in for a minor aug surgery, but she just wanted a little bit of pull up from the front. You have to do what you think is best for you, I’m a person that believes in long term studies, I’d ask him for those studies, (conferences don't fly for me, I have to create newsletters that have to do with medical advice and my lawyers will not take conferences, they want studies to support or else the text is removed) unless he is 100% the doctor you believe in, and you've decided for him – if not go to another one. Its your body and your call, but I went to way more than one doctor, before I made my decision. And non told me I needed to wait a year or hit my weight loss, it could have been the shape of my body and how I had an apron who knows, but I do recommend going to more than one, booking at a time convenient to you and look for someone who doesn't charge a consulting fee. One other thing I will add, when I asked Dr. Ortiz about plastic surgery he recomended that you be at 75% of you weightloss goal. When I was at 275, my goal was to get to 165, and I went in for my consult and booked the surgery, I actually never thought I'd get to under 140 pounds. Best, Lisa