nothereanymore

I've cruised a few times since being banded. I like it since the food is included - I just get what I want - do what Shelby says - follow the rules and have small bites of everything.

I never gained weight – took full advantage of the gym and stayed really active –I always lose weight on a cruise.

Have fun and I so agree - take lots of pictures! We want to see everything! Eat PO PO and drinks some Mai tais for us! Do something you never would do when you were overweight, be totally adventurous and wild!

Lisa

Carrie, welcome back - its great to see you again! We all have our ups and downs - just part of life and the learning of the bandsters ways!

Congrats on losing those 5 pounds so fast!

Missed you!

Lisa

Congrats and good luck - cheers to the start of your journey and a new you!

Lisa

We all go through these things, it’s hard especially when your dealing with highly emotional issues, as you are with your divorce. The band is like a set of dumbbells, if we don’t use it – it won’t do anything. But like the dumbbells, it’s always there if we ever want to pick it up and start using it again. You made a lifelong decision to change by adding it, and you still can use it and most likely need to more, now than ever.

To be honest – I bet you could do without a fill for a while, if I were you I’d just start over. Pretend you just had your surgery and go from step one. Start with a liquid diet – 28 days of pure hell, but sometimes doing something like this can help us get our mind back in focus and there’s a good chance you may have stretched out a bit – and doing this would most likely bring you back in. I’d stay on the forum and do what you’re doing – add in heavy exercise – it’s the best at getting your head back on straight. It helps to get the endorphins up and nothing is better than seeing those muscles come out.

You are starting a new chapter in your life, its going to be sad, happy, confusing and now is the best time to focus on making a new better you. Sometimes things are just meant to be, take it and go – but make the most out of it.

My thoughts are with you, I know you can do this – get back on the band wagon and start kicking some ass.

Best,

Lisa

Congrats - that is so awesome! Keep up the hard work - its sooo worth it!

Yaaa Holly - I'll pm you my cell this weekend - I'm hurriedly packing - did belly dancing and then went roller skating tonight - now have to pack, work in the AM and catch a plane - what a ride! (And I have two sisters - one in Tempe and one in Paradise Valley - I'll be all over the place)!

I wish I could see you too Carrie - I bet we'd have fun!

Lisa

This happens, to a very small % of people - its less than 4% loose their bands is what I read. I got the band with those odds and glad I did. Nicole hit a hard spot after reaching her goal and due to complications needs to have it removed. She's not the first person we've had on this board that had it removed - however it’s important to note that in 3 years that I've been on I've only seen a few - and that's with hundreds of patients using this forum. I bet if you asked Nicole - she's most likely glad she got it - even with the problems. She's lost over 115 pounds. That's life changing.

With any surgery there are chances of complications – based on what I could see (with myself) the chances of complications from being morbidly obese were much higher than any I could find with the band.

Nicole – once a bandster – always a bandster – you have the knowledge and wisdom to have continued success with healthy living. You go girl!

All my best and I hope you continue with us – it really helps to keep you motivated – (or at least it helps me).

Lisa

We stay away from the liquid calories. I kept myself to just one or two glasses of wine a week, and really had mine when I had to go out to dinner – used it as my appetizer and it helped to keep me from filling up before dinner (which was normally a small appetizer), and kept people from trying to “ply” food onto me.

I recommend you switch to a nice sleepy time herb tea to help you sleep and add in some mediation and relaxation therapy to do the trick.

A small glass of wine (and that’s a very small one) has about 100 calories – (most people when they fill up their wine glass are having two of those) if you’re drinking 3 per night you’re most likely consuming about 500 extra calories per day – or 3500 per week. On average you have to eat 3500 calories to gain a pound and stop eating (or drinking) 3500 calories to lose one. Just cut out the wine (or most of it) and you could lose an additional pound per week.

When I started looking at how I was consuming food and beverages and gained insight on how it all worked I was really better equipped to use my band to its fullest.

Take care and congrats on the decision to get your band – it’s really life changing in an amazing way! Some of the most difficult changes we make end up really being the best for us.

Best,

Lisa

Stacey, you may be too tight – or you may have just irritated your band.

When something like this happens to me I’d go on liquids for three days to allow time to heal. Drink small amounts slowly - give yourself time to heal and be gentle on your body. (Full liquids, broth, and such) nothing heavy or blended - just like in the beginning.

After the three days slowly incorporate soft foods back into your diet – small amounts. If you do fine work, in solids, making sure to chew each (very small) bite 30 times. Remember to measure your food – and follow the rules when you eat (that’s when you go back to solids) start with your protein, then veggies/fruits last carbs.

If you can’t even go to the liquids – go in for an unfill. And next time when you have a fill start with liquids and move slow to test it out.

Take care, I hope it works out – its good to see you back!

Lisa

Hey Sabrina,

I was so like you – at 188 pounds I felt pretty thin and just wanted to move my body in a more tone direction. My face was a little bit round but compared to where it use to be… I was fine with it. Now I'm 50 pounds lighter and I’m having problems finding where my weight should be – when I like my body – my face is too skinny, and looks old – mainly because of the skin on my neck (that’s why I want the face lift to get rid of that). However if I get to the point where I like my face – I think I’m too big in my body.

The truth is I’m most likely just over thinking everything. Been on this quest to get lean and healthy for so long that I don’t know what a good place for me it…. It’s weird.

I just had to re take my drivers license picture and I actually posted it to the Gallery – as soon as Chad approves it’ll be up to view – and I think I may be too thin in my face – I put the old one next to my new one, its pretty shocking.

I look at your picture now and think you look absolutely beautiful - can't think of you losing too much more weight - but that's difficult to tell someone since I did.

Losing weight is hard; finding who we are once we lost it can be hard as well.

Best,

Lisa

Sabrina, you are totally rocken those white pants! You looks so cute and stylish (and skinny)!! - congrats girl!!

Hey Shelby,

Well you know I've had PS, and I really thought long and hard about the arms. Pammie had hers done - but she heals up great and you can barely see her scars - me on the other hand – I’m not so lucky. Since the arm scars are so noticeable I decided to wait. I'm coming up on my three years and decided to have some professional pictures taken. The photographer was great, a beautiful lady who used to be a photographer with the marines. She was very impressed with how I was able to build them up to decrease the need for PS. They still bug me a bit – (I can see wrinkles when I bend them up – so I try to avoid that…..)

I think you should wait and see what happens – I’ll put my pictures up as soon as I have them so you can take a look and I know Pammie is really good about documenting her progress – so you’ll be able to take a look at her surgery as well to help you decide. You have plenty of time.

The part about PBing – I do that now and then – I think instead of PBing the entire meal our body now knows to just get rid of what it cannot handle – I could be wrong but that’s what it feels like to me.

Best,

Lisa

I’m heading out to AZ to visit my big sister; I need to get her on a healthy diet and exercise program. I’m getting in late Friday night on the 11th and will be there till the 22nd. If anyone wants to meet up let me know!

My goal is to take some hikes - and really focus on getting out and having some fun. (Dancing is on the menu....)

So let me know!

Lisa

My eraser was the good, old fashion tiny one. I would pre cut my food to make sure I'd take small enough bites.

I think that’s why I know really eat and like flavorful food. Love the fresh herbs (lots of garlic) and balsamic vinegar, strong fruits and veggies, intense blue cheese – since I only eat a small amount it better have great flavor!!

Wow, CONGRATS - it has been a while and its great to see your success!!

I think the numbers we see on slippage are most likely correct – based on what I’ve read slippage (where the band has to be removed) occurs in less than 5%. If you think of it – with 100 people on the forum could have, say four of us had a band that slipped and had to be surgically removed? I don’t think we’re there yet.

But there is slippage where the stomach wall can slip up through the band. It causes an hourglass effect with a bulge above the band and extra stomach tissue with in the band and these don’t normally have to be resolved through surgery; they can be mild and resettle down with a liquid diet and then focus on following the rules. We really have to come to terms with the fact that this is s tool, we need to use it wisely.

Will things happen and we’ve done everything right and it slips – yes – but the truth is most slips likely lies in the fact that at times we don’t follow the rules. Now don’t think I’m up on a high horse – because I mess up all the time – been lucky so far and want to beat myself silly when I do, I never want to chance going back to how I use to be. And I hate myself sometimes for doing things that might jeopardize my band.

Here’s the most important piece I want to focus on – we have to deal with slippage – mortality with the band is extremely low – mortality with other surgeries is about what it is for our slippage rate…. Something to think about.

Small, I'm right with Pammie, but when I was losing weight and had a tight fill it was eraser size.

Food isn’t the same for me anymore – it will lose a lot of its luster and it’s more about turning it into fuel, I don’t like watching people eat – the big bitters gross me out. (I call myself a tiny bitter now).

They are one and the same for me - just cues to listen to and act on.

For many of us the "I'm full" sign is differant. You need to find out what yours is and listen to it. (It can also change after a fill).

Best,

Lisa

Wowser!! You look great!!

Congrats!

(Angie, what's that on your finger girl)??

Nicole, my thoughts and prayers are with you. You have to do whatever is best for your body needs. I know you've changed your life and learned how to better manage your food intake - that since you are at your goal if you remove your band (which many bandsters do) you'll be fine.

Trust your instincts.

Best,

Lisa

It sounds like you were sick, (food poisoning?) normally when this happens I go on liquids for a few days to make sure I give my band time to heal.

If you continue to have problems you should go in for a check up – especially if you have heavy acid reflux or can’t eat - or most important - you can't swallow liquids. Get in for help.

If she's just generalizing and saying "in Mexico", you can generalize and say just in the "States". (Remember Pricilla Presley had bad plastic surgery in the States) http://www.bittenandbound.com/2008/03/26/p...ghtmare-photos/

You can generalize about any Country, but the truth is you need to do your homework. There’s a reason why Dr. Ortiz has proctored so many Doctors in the States and throughout the world. He’s one of the best. Be smart – do your homework – don’t listen to stupid people who “generalize” about one Country. (The truth is – they are pretty ignorant…) But you owe it to yourself to check out who you are going to for surgery, do your homework. I did, that's why I went to Dr. Ortiz.

There seems to be alot of confusion on this subject.

I wish one of the doctors would reply!!

I'm not confused - however to get an answer you are comfortable with you should go directly to the doctors.

This is a forum for the patients to use and I’ve yet to see a doctor reply to a post. Not saying it can’t happen – in almost three years I haven’t seen it.

I’ve just kept changing for almost 3 years now.

My body has started and stopped so many times that I kind of given up on what to expect.

My sister hadn't seen me in just the last 5 months and was really surprised at how I changed my shape since she last saw me. I really didn't think it was that drastic, she just thought I had gone really athletic, and liked how I had molded my figure – which was really my goal.

What I see happening over time is your body does get comfy at a set weight – to get it moving again you have to step it up and surprise it - then it kicks back into the weight loss process. Whether it’s through diet or exercise - or hopefully a combination of both you can get it going again.