TEXAS DIVA

OH, OH,OH, i will post Alex!!! I want an ipod!

THAT IS WONDERFUL! THATS WHAT MY TIME FRAME IS LOOKING LIKE.. I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH 2.5 TO 3 LBS LOST PER WEEK... GOOD FOR YOU!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! 15LBS in ONE MONTH IS VERY GOOD! AND MAGGIE IS SOOOO CUTE!

i always felt like a stranger in my old body.. since I have been overweight, I never felt like myself.. I wanted the lap band but, didnt want to deal with the fills. when plication became affordable, i jumped on it.. i was never ever comfortable being fat and would never accept that this is life for me.. though all my friends told me it is a part of getting older.. im like ok whatever.. now i guess i need to find the fountain of youth? oh, getting into a size 20 was probably the kicker

well, my cousin, who is my age and very competitive with me like when we were kids, actually drove me to the airport for my surgery.. i would never , never tell her about my surgery well, because she generally gets on my nerves and makes me sick most times.. she thought i was going to see some dude out of state. if she knew she would judge the heck out of me.. im down 30 lbs and she hasnt noticed one pound lost on me... whenevever we are together all she talks about is her 10lbs weight loss and lies about her size...im thinking.. ichbay, im down 30 and you dont even notice? haters, i tell you... i had to explain to my mother and her sister, my nosy auntie on Easter Sunday why I wasnt partaking in the dinner.. they both cried saying I should have felt comfortable enogh to let them know and i should not have gone to Mexico by myself.. im thinking if you all were not so dang negative and close minded, i may have told you, but too late now!

in the words of Michael Jackson: "you are not alone....i am here with you..."! lololol i have to laugh to keep from crying.. im sick of this obsessive cycle!

FATTOPHAT AND CHOW CHOW: I feel your pain! I am 2 months out.. only down 30lbs and boy and Im always pissed... I dont eat a lot.. I have lots of restriction and Im always with Water.. Hell, I am almost to the point where I want to give up.. really this is worse than before the surgery because prior to the surgery, I was always dieting.. and with my "new tool" it seems that I have to constantly be on a diet as well. i know that when you have less to loose, it may take longer.. my goal was to loose 79lbs. and to be down 30 is good, dont get me wrong.. im down from a 20 to a size 16 but dang it. man..im tired of waking up with weight still being an issue.. like some freaked out obsession... everyone says incorporate exercise, but if i had the time, energy and inclination for that, hell i would not have had this surgery... my bestie told me to just forget about the surgery, dont ever weigh for the next 3 months and just see what happens.. oh and just last night, i had to go on my phone and computer and re set all my goals/goal dates cause at this rate.. man i dont know when i will be weiging 148..well, im mad at the world and myself right now.. good luck ladies

HELLO EVERYONE! I HIT ANOTHER MINI GOAL THIS PAST MONDAY.. I AM IN ONDERLAND NOW! I HAVE WEIGHED IN ON MONDAY AT 199.2 WELL THATS ON THAT DAMN HEALTH O METER FROM WALMART.. FOR ALL I KNOW I WEIGH SOMETHING ELSE. BUT IM 8 WKS OUT AND IM DOWN 25LBS. 5 LBS SHORT OF MY 8 WK GOAL OF 30 LBS DOWN, BUT, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SLOW LOOSER. IM IN A SIZE 14/16 AND I CANT WAIT TO BE IN A 10/12..I CAN ACTUALLY BY MISSES CLOTHES INSTEAD OF PLUS SIZE NOW.. OVERALL, IM STILL HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE WAY I EAT AND CHEWING.. BUT, LORD KNOWS IM HAPPIER NOW THAN I HAVE BEEN SINCE THE SURGERY.. TODAY THE MAINTENCE GUY IN MY OFFICE BUILDING ASKED ME IF I HAD LOST WEIGHT.. I WAS TICKLED PINK! OH, THANKS FOR THE INFO ON A BETTER SCALE... GOING TO GET ONE TODAY!

HELLO TO EVERYONE: Wanted to give my 1 month surgery update. At first, I didnt want to do it because it has not been an easy month. I previously posted about my emotional issue following surgery. Im still dealing with that but thanks to the support of board members, a little research and a whole lot of praying, Im dealing with the issues. Im down 15 lbs in one month.. Not exactly what I was hoping for. I remember a year ago reading about people on this board who had lost 25 lbs in one month! I was sooooo sure that would be me.. but, i have had mitigating factors that have slowed my process. Mostly, I have had to get out of MY OWN way. I am guilty of over analyzing and over thinking this whole process. I have really had to meditate on the fact that Plication is simply a tool, nothing more nothing less. All together, pre op diet included, I have lost 20lbs exactly in a 5 week period of time. I guess that is nothing to really sneeze at. My total weight loss goal is 70lbs so I have 50 more lbs to go. If I continue to loose an average of 4 lbs a week, I should have about 4 months before I reach my goal weight of 157lbs or so. What I miss the most since my surgery? definately the ability to eat without pain..I still get a stomach ache and tightness after very small amounts of food What I like the most post surgery? the money I save by not eating.. I didnt realize that I spend about $30 per day between Breakfast and lunch, while working, on food. I have really been able to see the money that I am saving. Not to mention, my car stays cleaner because I no longer eat at the dashboard diner. Good luck to anyone who is considering plication. I beleive that once a little more time has passed, that I will really be able to appreciate what I have done. Right now, im still wondering how it will all turn out. Thanks for reading! Misti

Chow: I think you are right about the calorie thing... Must inrease

HEY JENN! I am eating tons of watermelon..thats my favorite.. bananas, cantelope and I have tried strawberries. I am now putting my 40 oz water bottle on my desk at work and sipping it all day.. it gets to be warm or room temperature but i still sip it.. most days i finish it.. i know i should be drinking at least 64 oz but i am working my way up..

Fort Worth (funky town) in the mix!

I am extremely by bothered constipation. In six weeks since surgery, i have only gone on average 1 time per week. So surely, this affects my weight loss. I think im not putting in enough to have anything come out. I have increased my Water, taking more walks and I will certainly pick up some of that benefiber. Oh and I have lost my addiction to STRING cheese. Im sure that wasnt helping my situation. Good Luck!

WOW! you guys have given me MOTIVATION.. i have been setting mini goals but i havent always reached them. I, too, am a slow loser. I am six weeks post op and not down the 30lbs that i wanted to be at this point. My next mini goal is to be 200lbs by Friday, 5-20-2011. Only thing is I should be PMSing soon and that always adds about 3lbs. Today, I am 204 (down 23lbs). so, 10 days for 4 pounds weight loss, considering that time of the month coming up, should be reasonable. Also, can anyone recommend the a GREAT AND ACCURATE SCALE? That "health o meter" scale from Walmart is a TRIP!

welcome and good luck Muskwa! To plicate or not to plicate can be a stressful decision. I also researched WLS for years before taking the plunge. There is a lot of support in this community. Learn all that you can and mentally prepare yourself for this challenge. Remember.. This surgery is only a tool and it requires a lot on your part to make it a success. Best of Luck! Texas Diva

im six weeks post op and thought I have my strength back, im only down 20lbs and I must admit, im very disappointed. I just knew I would be one of these people who lose 25lbs a month. Someone told me that since I only have 70 total to lose that I am considered a "lite weight" (yes it made me laugh too) and that would be one reason I dont loose as fast as people who have over 100 to loose. I am still bothered by a lo of guilt feelings that come with the surgery. I ate and oreo cookie the other day and felt like the worst person on the planet. I dont eat much, I cant get a diet plan with food together because Im told to avoid bread and Pasta which was such a big part of my pre surgery diet. I eat a lot of fruit and cheese.. But, I just guess im a slow loser. I would love to be 30lbs down by my 2 month anniversary but, I just dont know if that is gonna be possible. I will increase my Water and try to get in more 40 minutes walks. Until then, this is no different for me than pre surgery.. constantly watching what I eat. Uggghh.. Good luck to everyone on their weight loss journey! Texas Diva

HELLO EVERYONE! I am super excited that we have our own forum just for PLICATORS! Dang, they can really make you feel like a second class citizen for plication on the mother board. Anyway.. LMOM.. I FEEL YOU! iTS BEEN 6 WEEKS and I wanted to be down 30 lbs by now and Im only down about 20lbs. I feel restriction when I eat solid food, but I also quickly learned that potatoe chips goes down pretty easy. I know this surgery was just a tool, and I know that having only 70lbs to lose, It may not go as fast. I think my scale is a piece of ish. I can make that thing say 5 different readings in 2 minutes!.. i suffer with constipation and I just dont understand why im not losing faster because I really dont each much at all. Its been 8 weeks since I have had bread or soda. I really eat a lot of fruit and drink about 40oz of Water a day. I know that I must get consistent with my exercise and increase my water. I have a big function on July 4th and I want to be close to my 1st goal weight of 180lbs, but thats 20lbs away! I wish I knew why some lose faster than others. Well, I just wanted to say stay encouraged. Like you, im a self pay patient and I dont know what imma do if this weight doesnt come off and stay off. Kinda out of options. I will keep you and all plicators in my prayers.. Texas Diva

Hello Everyone: im gonna try to keep this topic brief.. I know I get long winded. I really want to express how I am feeling because I need HELP! In a bad way.. If you guys can give me input and feed back I would really appreciate it.. Im on the verge of going to see a counselor because I really cant understand what I am going thru.. Please be patient with me.. Just typing this post, Im getting teary-eyed (I now understand the importance of pre surgical psychological evals) HONESTY: I feel like I cant be honest with the friends and family that know I have had wls because people are so judgemental and no one was supportive of my wls to begin with. I want to be totally honest with you guys. I am 19 days post op and beginning with day 8, I have really not done well. One night, no lie, I literally was sleep walking into my pantry and opened/tried to eat a snack size bag of lays potatoe chips. Its like I was dreaming because I woke from a sound sleep and did this.. used to do this pre surgery.. Well, I was able to get the some of the chips down and I couldnt beleive they went down, once I realized what I had done.. I immediately threw up.. dont know if I did it on purpose or if it was reflex/reflux. While fully awake, on different occasions, I have tried to eat some chopped hamburger patty, I have tried to eat the topping from pizza and I even tried to eat the meat and cheese from the inside of a philly cheese sandwich. Well of course, none of it when it down and all three times it was followed by episodes of vomitting.. WHO DOES THIS? I just dont know what is wrong with me.. Its like following this post op diet is impossible.. WHY WHEN I KNOW I CANT EAT REGULAR food??? GUILT: On all four of the occasions where I have screwed up.. I have literally cried myself to sleep.. I feel like a complete failure.. I feel guilty ALL THE TIME because I didnt think I was this type of person.. I MEAN REALLY WHO CHEATS ON THE POST OP? I was able to stick to the pre op diet WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CHEATING WHATSOEVER. Now, I cant even make a 4 week post op diet? The only thing, aside from Soup, broth and baby food that goes down and stays down is this ice cream by Blue Bell, it has no sugar and very few carbs. But, even after eating maybe 5 teaspoons, GUILT SETS IN AGAIN cause who has wls and eats ice cream? After taking this trip to war torn Mexico by myself, enduring an invasive surgery, 72 hours of post op hell not to mention the THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I SPENT AS A CASH PATIENT, i just cant believe I would be this weak and jeopardize everything.. I didnt realize my addiction to food was this bad.. I FEEL LIKE THE BIGGEST LOSER OF ALL TIME,.. how ironic, the wrong kind of loser. Oh, now all of a sudden, I hate looking at myself in the mirror, partly because of guilt. Even though I know I have lost (threw the scale out on day 9) because my clothes are FALLING OFF, I just cant stand the site of my own image and even pre surgery, I loved to look at myself. I dont know where this self hatred is coming from, other than guilt of not following this pre op diet. SUBMISSION: I am a believer and I pray on and about EVERYTHING. I have asked God why I am weak now, of all times, when I have had to be so strong my whole entire life. I wake up every morning wondering if im still "plicated".. I see other people eat, though I have not had ANY hunger since the surgery, and I realize that I will never be able to "enjoy" food again the way I used to but, I do know my "enjoyment" of food got me into this mess.. so, I get sad, just thinking that I will be on mushies FOREVER.. at this point, I cant even see me ever being able to eat regular food, even in tiny amounts because it hurts so bad and Im tired of throwing up.. so.. ACCEPTANCE AND SUBMISSION to the surgery is what has come up in my spirit after really praying and meditating on the subject. I guess to ACCEPT the fact that my life has changed forever and SUBMIT to the surgery.. meaning just realize that this sewed up stomach has the upper hand and this is just how my life is going to be.. If anyone here can relate to any of this, please let me know.. I dont have anyone to talk to that can remotely understand. I really dont want to spend the money on a therapist after taking so much from my savings for the surgery but I feel totally alone and I need to talk to someone.. If you dont want to share in front of anyone in the open on this topic, please send me a private message. I really need the help of anyone who understands cause I am starting to believe that I AM LOSING IT.. Right now, trying to heal my body, mind and spirit, I just cant afford to be falling apart like this. Thanks in advance for your help. Thanks for tolerating my long post. Texas-not feeling like a-DIVA

Hello Everyone! I had plication surgery this past Friday, in Juarez, Mx, with Dr. Rodriguez. I wanted to post as soon as I was out of surgery but, Lord knows on this day five post surgery, I can barely muster up the strength to post now. For those interested or considering going to Mexico, I would like to outline my experience in this topic. I want to give the kind of info I was looking for before going to Mexico: THE TRIP: I had extreme reservations about traveling to Mexico by myself. Most people I asked said I should be fine alone and only a couple said take someone with you. I also was worried about transport to and from El Paso into Mexico. Well, the driver called me on my cell just as we were landing to tell me he was outside baggage claim. He told me what he was wearing and everything. It was a 35 minute trip across the border to the hospital with no problems at the border patrol. The van was older and needed shocks because I felt every bump in the road. No problem with this going to the hospital but sure didnt appreciate it coming back after surgery. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKING SOMEONE WITH YOU IF FOR NO OTHER REASON YOU WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SOMEONE TO HOLD YOUR HAND,RUB YOUR BACK, PRAY WITH YOU, COMFORT YOU, HELP YOU WITH YOUR BAG (even a bag on wheels is too much to deal with coming back)AND JUST SPEAK ENGLISH TO YOU.. TAKE SOMEONE..THE HOSPITAL HAS ACCOMODATIONS IN YOUR ROOM FOR A GUEST. Oh, I felt very safe with the travel and my hosptial stay. THE HOSPITAL: Star Medical hospital was absolutely gorgeous; very modern, neat and VERY CLEAN. Most of the nurses were male nurses.. Though their English wasnt perfect, they certainly were able to understand me and communicate with me. For some reason the day time nurses seemed more accomodating then night nurses. The night nurses seemed like they were bothered if i rang for them. For the most part, I give the nurses an 7.5 out of 10. THE DOCTORS: Dr. Calderon met me in admitting. In fact, he did most of the paperwork with me... He was always accessible and explained everything and answered all my questions. He has a warm and sincere spirit. He came to my room to check on me..I saw him when I was walking the halls.. he met me in Xray.. man he was everywhere I was. Dr. Solis, the anesthesiologist, was not only beautiful, but she spoke great English, answered all my questions and asked me several questions.. I felt at ease with her. I was able to barely say my prayer before I was out like a light. Dr. Rodriguez was very personable .. came to my room before surgery, spoke with me and answered all my questions. He made me tell him the kind of surgery I was getting because he didnt want me to be confused about anything. He was a great doc.. Only saw him that one time prior to surgery though. The docs get a 9 out of 10 in my book. THE MEDICINE: i dont care what anyone says.. the medicine in Mexico is NOT THE SAME AS IN THE USA. Any pain meds they gave me did not ease pain. The medicine for nausea did not ease the nausea and the meds for gas were and absolute joke. The sent me home with something for reflux that was supposed to be similar to Prilosec...yeah right... took it 3 times and had to send for some Previcid which gave almost immediate relief. They sent me home with a couple boxes of "pain medicine" which i put straight in the trash can. Thank God for my hypocondriac (sp?) family members that had plenty of Darvocet for me. The meds in Mexico I rate a 0 out of 10. THE GAS: I dont know wth kinda of gas or CO2 comes out of Mexico but I have never, and I mean NEVER, in my life experienced anything like it.. Gas everywhere in my body! all over my back, my shoulders, under my breast.. Man. I really thought I was gonna die the first 12 hours after suregery! AND I AM NO STRAGER TO PAIN..HAD THREE BABIES, NATURAL WITH NOTHING... I could not get any relief from the meds they gave me, from walking nothing.,, Oh and that GAS X save your money.. This "mexican gas" laughs at Gas X and does the Marcarena in your body while it is laughing at you and those strips. Day two was not much better.. I could not get comfortable for nothing and even though I was so weak, I forced myself to walk but nothing..aboslutely nothing as far as relief.. this is day 5 and I still have severe gas pain right now, as Im typing. Honestly, this gas pain had me to the point that I regretted surgery.. THATS HOW BAD THE GAS IS! If you cant tolerate excrutiating gas pain, you might want to think twice about surgery, or at least surgery in Mexico, maybe it is better in the US. I dont know.. I fear NOTHING IN THIS LIFE DUE TO MY SPIRITUALITY. But even the thought of the gas pains I experienced while in Mexico brings shivers to my body.. I DONT EVER WANT TO GO THRU THAT AGAIN! POST SURGERY: I have mixed emotions. Though I am close to GOD, this surgery has brought me closer. I swear I have had moments that all I can do is fall on my knees and beg for his mercy to give me relief. The gas, the irritability. the inability to sleep more than 2 hours at a time.. Just second guessing myself and overall misery. Im weak, cant even walk around my house without getting winded. I have a pain in my chest, between my breast , that I assume is gas, but I dont know.. Learning to sip is still new to me.. my throat wants to be quenched so bad but i accidentally gulped a lil bit of Water and had chest pains that made me almost call 911, not to mention I threw up profusely.. Oh didnt mention it THAT THE FIRST TWELVE HOURS AFTER SURGERY, I THREW UP EVERY HOUR.. I have to stay on Clear Liquids until this Friday but my granma has convinced me that I need to start the protien drinks now for energy or the lethargia will continue.. Im trying to do what the doctor said and wait till Friday but something tells me that tomorrow, Thursday, I will be on these shakes. sometimes you have to just use common sense and listen to your body. WOULD I DO IT AGAIN: Cant objectively say so right now because I am in too much pain from gas but i will say this: DAY OF SURGERY (five days ago) I WEIGHED 222.4LBS. this morning i weighed 210.0! SO 12.4 LBS GONE IN 5 DAYS MAKES ME WANT TO STOP WHINING ABOUT THE GAS PAIN! I hope this info helps someone. Like I said.. it is the info I was looking for before my surgery.. I want to report back on Friday which will be 1 week post op. If you are a BELIEVER, PLEASE PRAY FOR ME! Thanks for listening to me! Texas Diva

HELLO EVERYONE! Ok this is embarrassing. But, I have developed this strange addiction to STRING cheese. I absolutely love it. Yesterday, before I knew it.. I had eaten 8 sticks thru out the course of the day. I can chew it up very well and swallow it without getting a stomach ache. I can only eat 2 at a time AT THE MOST. I looked up last night and realized, I had no food all day, just STRING CHEESE!.. Then I couldnt wait to get to my office today to eat some more. Well, though each stick has about 6 grams of protien, no carbs and about 70 calories.. I have read online that they are high in fat. Well, hell, now I feel guilty. Its just strange that I can get this cheese down and I dont get a stomach ache like with other things I try to eat. Am I severely re-tar-TED. or can anyone here relate to STRING CHEEESE. Im not buying anymore cause Im sure it will cause constipation, if nothing else. but, I sure do LOVE IT! HELP.....!!!!!

thanks for the responses.. glad to know that others out here loooovvvvveee cheese. Can you guys suggest some healthy Snacks other than cheese as well? im having a hard time planning out food to eat so generally speaking, I just skip eating since Im never hungry anyway. I know this isnt good though. Please, share with me what you guys eat and snack on. thanks Diva

Congrats! you are doing so goood! keep it up!

CONGRATS on your surgery and weight loss!

HONESTLY, KERRY..I didnt feel my normal amount of energy until about week 4 post op.. Im a big shopper and I would try to shop on saturdays of weeks 1,2 and 3 and I couldnt.. I would just go back to my car. Thats when it hit me that I had a major surgery and I was still weak. Week 4 all things changed. I was still drinking Protein shakes which gave me loads of energy.. remember to get your rest in. That is really important. I would get winded walking around my house. I had to learn to sit my arse down and let my body heal. But between 21 and 28 days post op, I got my energy back.

Well Kerry, you have 7days before you got Mexico.. You will feel safe crossing the border and at the hospital. Like you, of course, I never left the hospital so I cant say one thing about the city of Juarez. I know that now, 6 weeks post op and down 25lbs, I can say that Im glad I had the surgery. Im glad to have had it with Dr. Rodriguez. He and his staff are excellent. Its just that my post surgical experience was not that great. Kerry, if I can give you some advice, please meditate and wrap your mind around the fact that your life is about to change greatly, your relationship with food is about to change and your relationship with yourself is about to change. I wish you all the best. ALL THE BEST. Please let me know how it goes for you. Misti