JennaR

Sheryl, That is great news! I hope all goes well! Keep us posted and continue doing research! Jenna

Anyone going to be in TJ for 3/24 or thereabouts? My surgery date is in one week (ohhhh myyyy gooooosh it is coming fast!) Just wondering.... Jenna

Well, I think this is all a matter of opinion for most people. I have not come across anyone in the 6 months of research and groups of someone who had a band with less than 30 BMI. I think the littlest I have seen is 34 and that is me. I am a 34.7 BMI. Normal BMI is 19-25 for an American woman so I am not sure that any doctor would even do it under 30. But then again, I think it depends on each persons situation and quality of life. Are you healthy? Any co morbidities? What have been your weight loss attempts? etc etc.... I think a consultation with your doctor or a nutritionist is probably the best step but only YOU know YOU. And the band is a weightloss tool only and is a decision based on you by you. Good luck in your journey! Correction: My bmi is 33.7 I just found out! wooooooooo hoooooooo!

Ahhh, ok. Darn, I was about to get excited too!

I thought Ortiz/Martinez wanted patients to be on liquids for 24-48 hours again after a fill?

Hi everyone! Just wanted to add this poll and get some conversations started here. This is a wonderful site that can be very useful to us all!

Debby, Did you find a good day spa there? boyyyyyy, I sure could use a massage or a nice pedicure/manicure the day before I have the surgery! Let me know! Jen sunsetsandstars@juno.com

Here are some exercise tips that were sent to me by several banders all over the place.... I thought I would share them with you! They are very creative! I have gotten A LOT of private message (about 15 emails and pm's!!!) suggestions as well (guess they don't want to post here?) and thought I would share them with you all. I think some of them are quite creative and "free". Since self paying for this surgery I definitely need some creative and FREE things to do. Some of them were REALLY creative and I thank everyone that messaged me their suggestions!!! These are other peoples suggestions, but since they PM'd me I guess they don't want their identity revealed? So all of these suggestions I guess are anonymous, but they sound GREAT!!! And now to share their creativity with all of you....... 1. Walk the dogs. (and if you don't have one, ask your neighbor if you can walk theirs!) 2. Park your car in the farthest available spot. Not only do you get the exercise walking into the store/mall/whatever but your car won't ever get dinged. (this one is my favorite!) 3. If you have stairs in your house, climb them! Up down up down! (the person that messaged me said that when she does laundry, she puts a load of clothes at the top of the stairs, then has allowed herself to take ONE piece down at a time, therefore having to do the "stairmaster" while getting house chores done, she says it is fun and makes a game of it and the break from the bottom of the stairs to the washer allows her to "break" and get her breath back) 4. Mow the lawn(great for legs/arms), pick weeds (good for legs but don't use your back!), gardening (great for upper arms) 5. Wax the car (great for arms/back/shoulders) Wax on.... wax off... 6. Mall walking (it is free, comfy and lots to see... and I guess there are actual mall walker clubs you can join!) 7. Hiking in woodland trails, nature trails or mountains (each city or area should have maps, check with the visitor center) 8. Bicyling 9. Pilates at Home 10. Using a chair for lifts/dips/pushups 11. Play mind games... for example, you tell yourself that the mailbox at your driveway but you are not "allowed" to get to it except by approaching from one side or the other therefore you must walk around the block to get to it. (yeah, this one seems a bit strange to me too but hey, if it works, I appreciated the suggestion!) 12. Jumprope 13. Fly fishing (I was like whaaaaaaaa? when I first saw this but then they explained all of the upper body strength it needed and I was like, oh.) 14. Sweep the sidewalk/driveway. (It gets you moving and uses upper body for the sweeping motion as well as cleans off your driveway! Once you are done, you are wanting to do more!) 15. Go to Vegas baby! Walk the strip and people watch!!! (woo hoo, I like this idea) 16. Never take the elevator, use the stairs! No matter how high, tell yourself you are not to take the elevator. (this person also said he uses this with money: tells himself he is never allowed to buy or pay with change, therefore spends $2.00 when something is $1.10 and gets .90 in change, then pockets it in a change jar and has booookooooo bucks at the end of the year and buys himself something he wouldn't normally have spent the money on!) 17. Visit the botanical gardens/nature centers/zoos etc.... 18. Vacation while you exercise!! Pick places like the Grand Canyon and hike down. (this one didn't exactly sound free to me though lol ) 19. Stand or walk in place while watching TV. 20. Volunteer. It may not be all out exercise but you get out and get moving just by volunteering and you do something for others. Habitat for Humanity is one volunteer organization that will really exercise you while doing something great for other people in need! (i love this idea too!) OKAY... well that's all I have for now. All were GREAT suggestions.

GOOD LUCK MONICA!! Yes, tell us how it goes!!

I have been on here for almost a month now and the board is very active with views but not with replies. It seems to be the same 4 or 5 people posting and replying. I would like to see this forum get more active! Come on bandsters!!!

I am not banded yet (March 24) but I am a planner so I have been gathering a list from everyone I come in contact with and I will share it with you... So far, I heard some good things to bring/pack/do/tips/advice though..... carmex/chapstick, a bra with no underwire, a portable heating pad, robe, comfy slippers, crossword/game/puzzlebook, shave your legs before surgery day as you may not feel like bending over for a bit, take plenty of small bills for tipping, slip on shoes for the ride/flight home, have a wheelchair arranged for on the way home with the airlines (this can be done at the baggage check in or ahead of time), very loose and cool light clothing, your favorite pillow/stuffed animal, your "fat" picture to remind you of why you are doing this, small picture book of family/friends, have your friends/family call you as cell phones work intermittently, digital camera and journal (document it! even if you feel icky, you will be glad you did), leave valuable jewelry at HOME, in self pay make sure the check is not a personal one but a US cashiers check from a bank, ALL of the things that Shell suggested (tylenol, gasx chewables/mycolin drops, comfy clothes, hubby snacks) Hope this helps..... (I am a bit of an over achiever I think when it comes to planning) if you send me a message at sunsetsandstars@juno.com I can keep updating you as my list grows...

Got it today! WOOO HOOO! I keep reading and reading, but I want to save the book for the flight and waiting in pre op and post op. SOOO MUCH info. Thanks!

I ordered his book almost 3 weeks ago and paid immediately but haven't recieved it. Anyone know how long it takes to get it????

So much information I do not have depends on so many things about your case. For example, what is your BMI? How tall are you? How long have you been obese? Do you have co morbidities? Having the band approved in the States with a low BMI is near impossible. I too tried Curves but the resistance training did NOTHING for me. It was a waste of my time I think as the level of exercise maintained my obesity but did not cause me to lose. Plus, it just tired me out for any additional exercise. I do believe it is perfect for older or severely morbidly obese individuals to get their start back into healthy living and exercise. But if you are on the "cusp" I don't think it is helpful. (just my opiinion) Are you wanting to go to Mexico and self pay if you can not be approved here in states? The cost in Mexico for self pay ranges between 8k-11k, depending on the doctor. As for me, I have a BMI of 34 and am going to Mexico. My suggestion for you is to research, research, research. Any and all information is good information. I suggest lapbandtalk.com and http://www.geocities.com/michellojackson/N...SWEET-SPOT.html (click on her additonal links she has some good ones. Then I suggest making a food log. Write down everything that passes your lips, even gum. If you do decide to have the surgery and you are self pay, I suggest Mexico. Many of the doctors, such as Dr. Ortiz (www.obesitycontrolcenter.com), are fabulous surgeons that do many of the Americans surgeries. If you are covered under insurance, then finding a doctor is your state, near you for follow ups, is the way to go. Hope this helps! Good luck in your searching!