CALF

Hi Thanks for the update on your fill and banding situation. I too have an 11cc band with only 2.6 fill. No restriction at all!!! I'm heading down to OCC next Friday to have my second fill. Hopefully I'll have the same result and success as you! Love the hats in your avatar!!!

Don't worry about $$...I'm not asking for any. You COULD help me figure out how to post my photo's though...lol Email me a mailing address and I'll send them via post.

ME doing well??...YOU'RE the lady doing it on sheer mind power alone!! LOL I'd like it if we could make contact when you're down here... I live four minutes off the Trans Canada in Langford so it's an easy off/on.

Hi Teresa, I have an appointment @ OCC set for Jan. 29 How was your first week post surgery?

I'm going back to OCC for my second fill with them. No one here on the island does fills with a fluorscope and I'm kinda' concerned about going to Northwest Washington State..have heard mixed reviews regarding the three fill centers down there...

OK then...you would definitely have to hem them..lol. They are yours if you want them...dark blue denim..almost brand new, happily too large..

I have an almost new pair of L.L Bean blue jeans that might work..How tall are you Theresa? I'm 5'8. Cheryl

I'm right with you on Dr. O's quote Debbie! It's nice to have a doctor with a sense of humour Personally I Love not being hungry in the morning..I have my Probiotic drink and two hours later my Dr. Atkins Advantage shake and that lasts me until 2:00. I munch on some almonds and a small bowl of melted cheese, steamed tomato & spinch and that takes me to dinner at 7:00 when I have my Lean Cuisine. The weight keeps coming off so it's all good! Went past Shawnigan Lake turnoff last night on my way home from Coombs...we should try and connect!!! Cheers, Cheryl

Hi Katie, I'm a beginner with all this fill stuff (I've only had one to date) Can you explain the science behind a 10cc band only being capable of holding 4cc?? Or, is it that you just have too much restriction at 4cc?? I'm a bit of a technical dummy so any explaination would be appreciated!! Thanks!! Cheryl

Good for you Kayla for making the decision to get fit, healthy and feel good! It's one thing to wish for all of those changes and quite another to have the courage to make it happen!!! Just take the entire journey ONE DAY AT A TIME. It takes time and patience to change one's life (some experts go so far as to say it can take 6 weeks to change a learned behavior) and for whatever reason you gained weight in the past, you will need a positive substitute behavior to take its' place. For instance, I over ate due to stress, boredom and fatique. I could & would "delete" them with a Big Mac, shake and fries. NOW, thanks in part to the lapband (and a CPAP machine to deal with my sleep apnea) I go to the gym everyday to work off my stress, boredom and fatique. The physical exercise and body toning has ramped up my metabolism which of course leads to weight loss. You asked what my daily diet consists of. Typical day.... Four-five glasses of water spread throughout the day 8:00...a Dannon probiotic drink 9:00...A Dr. Atkins chocolate Advantage drink 1:00...a good size bowl of carrot, broccoli or squash soup with cut up veggies- (tomatoes,celery,spinach and mushrooms) 5:00...A Lean Cusine (I look for the lowest in calories & sodium) 8:00...A handful of raw almonds 10:00..Half a glass of cranberry/apple juice & half water mixed with lemon Metamucil The one thing that I've noticed on this site is that most folks don't mention their ages..and that has a huge role to play in caloric needs and metobolic rates. I'm considerably older than most of the folks here..I'm 58 so I won't needs as many calories as a 30 year old, nor is my metabolism as active as a younger person. When you go to OCC Kayla you will have a meeting with Dr. Miranda. Have a list of questions for her regarding what foods she thinks you should be eating to help you realize a healthy and active weight loss. It's a life journey and commitment to revamping your previous lifestyle and eating habits is a must. The lapband will work if you stay honest to it. Bye for now!! p.s ..I noticed a horse on your lapband journey counter..are you a rider? Cheryl

Hi Kayla, I asked my General Practioner Dr. about it ( I tan in a tanning bed three times/week) He suggested putting zinc oxide on the incision sites to prevent burning and to prevent any darkening of the scars. I went back to tanning at three weeks in a stand-up booth. I was banded in mid Oct of this year and it took just over a month for me to be comfortable enough to lay down and get up easily from one of the clamshell style beds. If you choose to use a stand-up bed then of course the getting up and down issue isn't a concern. Hope this is of some help to you! Good luck with your surgery. It's not a difficult proceedure and the recovery time and discomfort is easier than giving birth!! LOL Cheers, Cheryl

Yessiree..you are our golden girl Debbie!

Hi Steph.. Ahhh yes..the first day of solids for me was Nov. 6th 2009. I had been diligent wih my liquid program and for my breakfast on that 'blessed' morning I chickened out and had my Dannon Probiotic yogurt drink at 8:00 a.m & my Dr. Atkins Advantage chocolate shake at 10:00 a.m because they felt so familar and safe!! By noon I was ready for my Lean Cusine. It was SO good..I licked the plate clean!! lol. I am now heading to OCC on the 29th of Jan for my second fill. I'm doing well with the weight loss ( I'm really committed to going to the gym) but I want and need more restriction. Eat healthy foods in small portions, keep you water intake high, and exercise religiously!! You'll do great!! Think of how much fun you'll soon be having buying smaller sizes!!! Cheers!!! Cheryl

Thanks Debbie..You however are really the GOLD STAR LAPBANDER...92 pounds on just the band without any fills???!!! Way to go girl Cheryl

Hi Janice! Glad to hear all went well for you! I found the fill proceedure to be quite easy especially compared to all the mental apprehension I had prior to it! LOL. I also received 2.6cc's in my 11cc band. I'm going back on the 29th for my second fill. Would like to feel a tad more restriction and according to my conversation with Dr. So, it normally takes two or three fills to hit that 'sweet spot of desired restriction'. Only 45 more pounds to go to hit my target..but it's going to take another fill or so to help me STAY there! Best wishes..and remember to chew 30 times before swallowing!! Especially if you are out somewhere for dinner... I was Bad once..and it was an experience not to repeat!! LOL Cheryl

OCC is very aware of the safety it needs to provide its clients. The Mariott and Lucerna are well staffed, the shuttle service provided by Francisco (the driver from OCC) takes you door to door and all the amendities you need can be found in either hotel. Personally I don't feel comfortable walking on the streets of TJ by myself..so I don't. I go right to OCC from the airport and then straight back to the hotel. My trip to TJ at the end of this Jan. will be my third visit to OCC..for the initial surgery I was accompanied by my husband and twice for fills I will have gone by myself. When I go back at the end of this month for my second fill with Dr. So, I will sit afterwards by the hotel pool, enjoy the sun with a glass of bottled ice tea and think how lucky I am! The next morning Francisco will pick me up at the hotel, whiz me thru customs, drop me off at the airport and in 4 hours I'll be back in the land of ice and snow!! Yes, you'll be a bit uncomfortable for a few days...gas from the CO2 will maybe cause a bit of joint pain...the incision site will be tender and sore for a bit...but hey..it's easier than having a baby..lol And just think of how HOT you are going to feel and look after a few weeks/months... So put on your Happy face..lol ..The staff at OCC are kind, competent and caring. You'll do just fine!! Cheryl

It's true what you hear about the water..don't even swallow any while brushing your teeth! The hotel provides you with a bottle of water in your hotel room ..and if you want more you can request it at the front desk. They also offer drinks and water for sale in their little notions shop. p.s..the Mariott restuarant menu offers a dinner salad of bib greens, sliced fresh pear, toasted & glazed walnuts sprinkled with asiago crumbled cheese with a tangy vinaigrette dressing that was fresh, delicious and not expensive. It was the perfect light dinner choice for me the night before surgery

Hi..Congrats on making the choice to go to OCC..you'll be proud, glad and oh so happy when that weight starts melting off. The Marriott has a restuarant located inside the facility and they will provide you with the broth and juice at no cost to you. Just advise them you are with the OCC and the tab will be picked up by Dr. Ortiz! I agree with you...Tijuana is no place to be wondering around by yourself! Cheers... Cheryl

If you live in the land of ice and snow and walking outdoors is not safe, how about heading first thing in the morning to a mall and joining the ranks of the local mall walkers? I personally haven't done it but lot's of folks make it a part of their regular exercise program! It's just a thought....

Just to be on the safe side you should get checked in the morning by your regular family doctor. Good luck and let us know how you're doing! Cheryl

Hi..I was given the same advice as Janice by Dr. Martinez : no recumbent bike, treadmill, weights, etc,etc until 6 weeks post op. Just walk walk and walk some more! I lost close to 25 pounds post-op by just walking and staying on the liquid diet. Cheryl

Interesting...I had a plastic surgeon and a G.P advise me Not use Vitamin E or Polysporin as they both promote scaring. They both recommended any lanolin based product.

Annie Lennox and 'The Best of Eurythmics' keeps me burning those calories while pedalling like a mad woman on the recumbent bike!! LOL Cheryl

Hi Sky, I'm nine weeks post op..you can email me and we can compare our situations! Hope to hear from you. Cheryl