Kris_TX

Congratulations and welcome!

Remember that this is a time for your body to HEAL. If you have weight loss with this, that's great...but, if not, that's ok too! You will start losing after your first or second fill. Something that has helped me a lot is that I measure on the same day every month. There have been months where I didn't lose so many pounds, but I lost inches. Get a small notebook and write it all down. Neck: R Arm: L Arm: Bust: Waist: Hips: R Thigh: L Thigh: R Calf: L Calf: This has helped me tremendously!! I know you're ready for the scales to go down...I really do know. If I can offer you any advice, its this: Calm Down! Let your body heal and get ready for the weight to begin to come off in a few weeks. Use this time to prepare your mind for the way you will be eating for the rest of your life. Your weight loss will come! You're doing GREAT!

Congratulations Dottie! You can really see a difference in your pics! Don't worry about the weight loss being slow...I'm the slowest of slow! Just keep the scales going down...little by little, you'll get there! Great job!! You'll break 200 before you know it! Get ready, because that is an AWESOME day!!

Dr. Miranda gave me a goal weight: 142. I'm only 5'4. That's what I'll hit by my b-day of this year. From there, I'll lose another 5-8 lbs...maybe. I am at 156 right now and in a size 8. My goal size is a size 6. I have figured out that I weigh a lot...so, if I can get to the size, but the numbers aren't there...that's ok too. According to the BMI calculator, at 150, my BMI is what they consider "normal". Where I'm at now is still considered "overweight". If at 142, I'm in my goal size...that'll be great. I'll just concentrate on tightening everything up!

Two years post-op, I can tell you that I drink 3-4 liters of water a day. I drink over 1 liter at the gym in the mornings and in a short time frame. Then, I drink a protein shake on top of that--immediately after. I've never had any problems with drinking water...even if I drink a lot at once. This is, of course, just my experience...NOT a medical opinion. I don't see how water could cause problems...again, just my opinion. I drink tons of it!

Hi Christall. Congratulations on your choice to get banded. You will love the OCC and Dr's Ortiz and Martinez. You've made the decision to take charge of your life and that's awesome! Best of luck to you! Kris

I know for me, seeing other people's success really helped me. I didn't post on here for a long time, because I thought I was doing such a horrible job with this whole band thing. I went over a year without losing ONE SINGLE POUND!! Talk about struggling. Gradually, seeing other's success...I knew I could do this. I just had to get back on the right track. I get so excited to see other people losing weight and to hear how its changing their lives. Living down in the middle of nowhere, I have no support system. It has finally occurred to me that this forum can be a great source of support, if I'll let it. The truth is...we are all connected in our struggles with obesity. I know I've posted my story to offer encouragement. My weight loss didn't happen overnight. I didn't get the band and then "POOF", I got skinny. I think we all go into this thinking that is the way it should happen...and for some, it does. For me, it didn't happen that way...and I still have a ways to go. I look forward to seeing many more pics and stories of success. We all CAN do this!!

I weigh every morning. For me, its a source of accountability. I don't obsess over it...I can go two weeks without dropping a single pound (or right now over a month), and then it goes down 3 lbs in one day. But, when I don't weigh...there's a reason for it. It usually means I've been naughty (food-wise) and I don't want to know! So, keeping a daily eye on it, helps me...

Congratulations on beginning your journey! Get ready for all the great changes that it will bring! Kris

Lynna...Not being the fat cousin!!...I just finally experienced that for the first time. I had two of my cousins get married in the past 2 years and while I had lost some weight for the first wedding (6 months post-op), I was still pretty overweight. The second wedding was in January 2008 and for the first time, I didn't feel like the fat cousin! Here's a picture with the cousins who got married (one from October '06, and the other from January '08): Congratulations on getting banded and on losing weight, Kimmie, Lynna...all of you! Keep up the great work. Like MamaMichelle said...a positive attitude will do wonders for you. You will struggle (at least I did...and do), but YOU CAN DO IT!!! Look forward to seeing all of your success photos!

That's great that you guys are already on the exercise bandwagon!! I didn't exercise for oh...about a year and half after my surgery and only lost about 45 lbs without it. I finally realized that I had to get off my hind parts if I wanted to continue losing... You guys will have much more success than I did and that's GREAT!! I'm a slow learner, I guess! 15 lbs left to goal, and it feels like 150 left...they say the last ones are the hardest. AAARRRGGHHH!!!! Congratulations on being off to a great start! You guys are going to be skinny and fabulous before you know it!

Children's chewable, actually its the Jr.'s Tylenol, I think...pretty decent. I took that for a good while after surgery for anything, like headaches or whatever. Once I got past 6 months post-op, I went back to pills, and have never had a problem. As for actual pain pills...I can tell you that they are almost impossible to get in Mexico. I don't know if its because they used to be super easy to get...I think they (Mexico) got into trouble. I've lived in Mexico for nearly 2 years and I can tell you that even when you go to the doctor, narcotics just don't seem to exist anymore. I didn't really have any pain after surgery, so the anti-inflammatory that Dr. Ortiz gave helped. Anything stronger than that...not so much going to find in Mexico. Good Luck!

I caught a glimpse of you guys on Oprah online (we don't get Oprah down here) and I was so proud for Cassie. I read her story over two years ago when I was considering my band--and was so happy that you guys decided to take control of this before she spent 20 years struggling with the weight (like I did). I was 11 when my struggle began and it took 20 years to decide it was time to take control. Its great that you are continuing to offer encouragement and support to other's in the same situation. Congratulations and best of luck to you both! Kris

Congratulations! You do have great legs...I am super jealous! I have huge legs! I once had someone from a different culture tell me I had huge legs and thought she was paying me a compliment...she said "In my culture, that's a thing of beauty.". I had to tell her that in mine it wasn't!

How long does the pain last? I have super sensitive teeth...had the bleaching trays made with my dentist at home a few years ago, and couldn't hardly use them. That was a good $500 spent... I am thinking about Zoom, but am nervous about multiple days of pain after. Any input appreciated... Thanks! Kris

Wow! Too bad! I've got a lot of size 12 and size 10 clothes I'm about to get rid of...but, unless you guys have a trip planned to Cancun anytime soon...not so helpful. So, I'll have my own garage sale...American clothes will be a super hot item! Oh, ebay is a good resource for cheap clothes too. Good Luck! Kris

Banded March 2006...no post-op goodies.

I was so looped, I don't even remember. Before surgery, I remember Dr. Ortiz singing as he came into the operating room...and after, asking for my lipstick! No idea about paper panties...

Mona, The Italian restaurant at the hotel is AWESOME! Nothing is closed here in Mexico for Easter, and as long as you aren't eating from a street vendor, you don't need to worry about getting sick. Good Luck! Kris

Thanks for the nice comments. I really do appreciate it. I hope reading my story can offer encouragement to someone. The thing that I've come to realize is that this band is just a tool...and even after making the commitment (both emotional and financial) to change your life...well, sometimes you have to "Re-Commit". I lost about 40 lbs in the first 6 months after my surgery, but then didn't lose another single pound (in fact, I gained 5) for a whole year. I finally had a long talk with myself and decided it was time to stop making excuses and finish what I had started...time to "re-commit" to changing my life. I wasn't kidding when I said that I still struggle every single day...eating less, if you are eating junk...not so helpful. It is easy to "cheat the band". What has helped me is keeping track of what I eat. I allow myself once a week to eat whatever I want (which is usually sushi!!) and also it has helped me tons that I hired a trainer...I am actually enjoying going to the gym now and I've even started jogging (and like it)-- but knowing that I've paid someone to hang out with me and push me at the gym helps A LOT! I don't post a lot, because I don't feel like I've done a very good job with this thing...but, we're all human, and if it were that easy, none of us would have the band in the first place, right? I had really hoped to be at my goal weight by my 2 year anniversary date and am trying not to beat myself up that I didn't make my goal...gotta be realistic. I know I'll get it done...just gonna take a bit more time. So, don't get down on yourself, if like me, your weight loss has been slower than you'd hoped. RE-COMMIT and finish what you started!! You really can do it...we all can! Hugs from Cancun... Kris (re: OCC location in Cancun...even though it is still advertised on the website, there is no location here)

Congratulations Cassie! This Saturday will be my 2 year anniversary. Its amazing how it changes your life...you just figured it out a lot sooner than the rest of us! Take Care, Kris

My understanding is that after Hurricane Wilma, Dr. Ortiz decided to focus on the office in TJ. So, no office here and I cannot seem to find anyone else who does the Lap Band, fills, etc. in Cancun. I email OCC periodically to see if Dr. Ortiz has any trips planned down here, but so far, no luck. Hopefully, I can get something worked out this year to get a check-up, fill, etc. I love living here, but it does have its drawbacks...

Thanks! My weight at date of surgery (March 22, 2006) was 222 lbs.

This week marks 2 years ago that I was banded by Dr. Ortiz. It has been an amazing ride, that's for sure. You don't realize all of the changes that can come from getting rid of the weight. When you stop hiding behind your size and open yourself up to experience new things...WOW!! Eight months after my surgery, with quite a few pounds gone, I moved from Texas to Cancun. Sold everything and just moved. It was such a great move for me. I've written before how I didn't lose any weight for my first year in Cancun. I didn't even try...was just in survival mode. Turns out that moving to another country, alone, isn't as easy as it sounds. Last fall, I decided it was time to finish what I had started. I went back to eating the way I should, and I joined the gym...hired a trainer and am still paying him to kick my rear end 5 days/week. I've lost another 30 lbs since last October and have just 15 more left to hit my goal. For the first time since my freshman year in college, I am in single digit clothes (size 8), and headed for that goal size 6! Its not easy...I still have to choose every day not to eat junk. I have to choose not to cheat the band. I have no support system here and am sure I could use a fill...but, I just do the best I can. Its pretty weird...wrapping your head around not being fat anymore. I still just see ME in the mirror, but then I say to myself...I'm wearing a size 8, and I'm wearing it comfortably...I can't be that fat, right??? I still see all the things that need to be fixed...I know it will take me the rest of this year to tighten everything up and get my body to look the way I want, but I know I will get there. For the first time in my entire life, I am starting to have definition in my abs!!! So, its pretty exciting right now...seeing all the changes, and hearing all the gasps from people who haven't seen me in a while. I've started dating and just started enjoying life, in general. Here's a pic of what a difference two years can make...sorry, I don't have any full body pics (haven't figured out how to take those by myself, and won't ask others to take those kinds of pics). Will post one when I do... Hope this finds you all well. Enjoy the journey... Kris 2 Year Post Op