Lydia Levy Perez

a nice warm cup of tea.. and nothing gets stuck.. i wouldn't miss breakfast for nothin.. sides.. i go to zumba just after and need something to burn.. now what you eat for breakfast is another story.. trying to stuff a salami and a pork chop down might present an issue.. but i eat fruit only in the morning. usually fat burners like papaya or pineapple... no issue here folks.. and would never recommend not eating.. just find a way that suits your anatomy.. like your rings.. when your hands are swollen, sometimes your esophogas seems to be edematous too.. no telling when though.. since theres just no way of telling from out here,, just have to pull on the "ring" a little to see hows the fit today.. if its tight.. hey.. get out the soap... thats when i eat the creamed Soups and Water filled salads.. when its loose.. its time for the chicken and cole slaw.. work with it.. find its quirks.. see if time of day means anything.. but more importantly... check out the tight factor before you make your food choice.. so you have a pretty good idea what is NOT going to stick today.

I'm an 8. 5 4 and 138 lbs. from 200 biggg ones.. ok not as big as some, but when youve lost the same 60+ pounds 10 times in your life.. thats 600 pounds.. so...is 8 possible.. its probable.. but heres the kick.. you want it.. it doesnt come for free. theres a price..
its called a food diary
a committment to healthy eating
an exercise program
believing in yourself
making the decision that you know its in your hands.. no one elses
going for it.

I'm an 8. 5 4 and 138 lbs. from 200 biggg ones.. ok not as big as some, but when youve lost the same 60+ pounds 10 times in your life.. thats 600 pounds.. so...is 8 possible.. its probable.. but heres the kick.. you want it.. it doesnt come for free. theres a price..
its called a food diary
a committment to healthy eating
an exercise program
believing in yourself
making the decision that you know its in your hands.. no one elses
going for it.

I'm an 8. 5 4 and 138 lbs. from 200 biggg ones.. ok not as big as some, but when youve lost the same 60+ pounds 10 times in your life.. thats 600 pounds.. so...is 8 possible.. its probable.. but heres the kick.. you want it.. it doesnt come for free. theres a price..
its called a food diary
a committment to healthy eating
an exercise program
believing in yourself
making the decision that you know its in your hands.. no one elses
going for it.

insurance is a raquet... for 5K you can make your decision on monday and be banded in 2 weeks. I don't understand the games they play with the fragile minds of overeaters.. Its not bad enough you are overweight and sometimes unhealthy.. they have to put you through hoops to give you a surgery that is clearly going to relief most of your problems.. i don't know why they insist on playing armchair psychiatry... makes no sense at all to me.

How does it feel to get stuck? It's not something you want to happen, but it will occasionally when you eat to fast, too large bites, or something that is just not going to go down no matter what you do to it. It starts out like a heaviness in your upper chest..it starts to feel like a tightening and then the nausea starts. You start to think, uh oh.. I've done it now... and it's all you can do to swallow at all. Saliva starts to build up in your mouth and you are amazingly uncomfortable. You begin to think of "where is the nearest toilet" because any second you feel like you are going to barf... and you may get an overwhelming desire to put your fingers down your throat to stop the pain. and if you are lucky enough that whatever you ate does come back.. its going to be covered in this awful white frothy stuff.. some sort of mucus that your esophogas produces to help slide this object through.. its a vain attempt.. it won't go down..it ultimately is going to come back up one way or another...and if you do this enough.. you can screw up your band, screw up your surgery and screw up all the goals you have for yourself...
and surprisingly, lots of people seem to do this to themselves regularly so I hear. Overeaters who just don't listen to the rules or just plain don't get it.
I've been there.. done that so they say. Stuck is like taking a short trip to pergatory and back.. its where you learn to repent your bad ways..
and hopefully, don't go back too too often.
when you get "stuck" trust me you'll know it.. It ain't pretty.

How does it feel to get stuck? It's not something you want to happen, but it will occasionally when you eat to fast, too large bites, or something that is just not going to go down no matter what you do to it. It starts out like a heaviness in your upper chest..it starts to feel like a tightening and then the nausea starts. You start to think, uh oh.. I've done it now... and it's all you can do to swallow at all. Saliva starts to build up in your mouth and you are amazingly uncomfortable. You begin to think of "where is the nearest toilet" because any second you feel like you are going to barf... and you may get an overwhelming desire to put your fingers down your throat to stop the pain. and if you are lucky enough that whatever you ate does come back.. its going to be covered in this awful white frothy stuff.. some sort of mucus that your esophogas produces to help slide this object through.. its a vain attempt.. it won't go down..it ultimately is going to come back up one way or another...and if you do this enough.. you can screw up your band, screw up your surgery and screw up all the goals you have for yourself...
and surprisingly, lots of people seem to do this to themselves regularly so I hear. Overeaters who just don't listen to the rules or just plain don't get it.
I've been there.. done that so they say. Stuck is like taking a short trip to pergatory and back.. its where you learn to repent your bad ways..
and hopefully, don't go back too too often.
when you get "stuck" trust me you'll know it.. It ain't pretty.

How does it feel to get stuck? It's not something you want to happen, but it will occasionally when you eat to fast, too large bites, or something that is just not going to go down no matter what you do to it. It starts out like a heaviness in your upper chest..it starts to feel like a tightening and then the nausea starts. You start to think, uh oh.. I've done it now... and it's all you can do to swallow at all. Saliva starts to build up in your mouth and you are amazingly uncomfortable. You begin to think of "where is the nearest toilet" because any second you feel like you are going to barf... and you may get an overwhelming desire to put your fingers down your throat to stop the pain. and if you are lucky enough that whatever you ate does come back.. its going to be covered in this awful white frothy stuff.. some sort of mucus that your esophogas produces to help slide this object through.. its a vain attempt.. it won't go down..it ultimately is going to come back up one way or another...and if you do this enough.. you can screw up your band, screw up your surgery and screw up all the goals you have for yourself...
and surprisingly, lots of people seem to do this to themselves regularly so I hear. Overeaters who just don't listen to the rules or just plain don't get it.
I've been there.. done that so they say. Stuck is like taking a short trip to pergatory and back.. its where you learn to repent your bad ways..
and hopefully, don't go back too too often.
when you get "stuck" trust me you'll know it.. It ain't pretty.

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

Lydia, I am sure you get your fills in Mexico but wanted to let you know that my dr does see patients now that he hasn't done their surgery for. Just in case you ever have an emergency situation. I know you live near by. He has an office in Irvine on Tues and the rest of the week in Brea. www.oliakcenter.com

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

I am a Mexico "graduate" I would do it again in a heartbeat I didn't have insurance, I didn't weigh enough, etc etc.. I'd yo yoed up and down all my life. I was so depressed I was sure I was going to be the fat girl forever. I tipped the scale at 197... .for the 10th time.. I'd just lost and gained the same 50 pounds....Id just done the HCG diet..I was so sure I'd lost if for good this time and gave away all my fat clothes.. a year later.. I Jlooking at 200 again.. What was wrong with me????
Go back with me to January, 2012.... miserable, depressed, out of control eating. No motivation to diet, just regained 50 pounds...knee joints aching, can't fit into anything. Dumped by the boyfriend...Beginning to think, thats it life's over for me...I should throw in the towel and accept it all...
And then I glanced at the pictures of my two wonderful sons....and thought of how their lives were just beginning.. both in school... one studying law, the other premed...was I really going to let them down.. and just dissolve into this depressed mess of a person... or was I going to fight????
I was going to fight....
and I did fight...
I decided to fight with a vengence.... and Mexico played a huge part in this determination.
I got off my butt... I searched the internet..
I didn't have insurance to cover lap band surgery. I didn't even have the money.. I did however have a line of credit on my house.. and I did make the decision to use it!!!
January 24th I made the phone call. Feb 9th I was banded
I didn't have to go through 6 months of psychological counselling and reams of insurance issues.
I took my $5,000, wrote a deposit check and a bank note for the balance.
I got into my car... I drove to a border crossing
A van picked me up (if I'd flown they would have gotten me at the airport)
I was driven to a surgery center.. I was preoped, I was banded and recovered the same day
I stayed in a wonderful hotel overnight with some great people I met who also had surgery that day
I drank Soup, I ate popsicles, I went home the next day
I drove myself 90 miles to my home...I recovered in a week and went back to work
So began my journey...
It is 6 months later.. I have had 2 fills and a slight unfill....I have lost 59 pounds. i went from 197 to 138, from a size 18 to a size 8
I would do this again in a heart beat...
I believed going to Mexico to the surgeon I went to, saved my life...it gave me back my life.. and if it had not been for this affordable alternative, I am sure I would be completely miserable right now... instead I am healthy, happy, and going to zumba 6 times a weeks. What can I say? Viva La Mexico!

thats 47 :0

I'd go see a new doctor who has fluroscopy and barium and get my fills from someone who knows what they are doing.. That's nuts that you are a year into this without decent restriction. I go to mexico for my fills but i live in california. I had 2 fills and I"m 8cc in a 10 cc band. I'm tight but not excessively.. warm tea opens the band most times if i really feel too tight. but the bottom line is i was banded feb 9 this year.. have lost 40 pounds.. and don't see any reason not to get to goal by september 5th ( my birthday)..

i sometimes think i am overfilled. but the alternative is not so good. i'd rather feel this way then to have to rely on my self control to manage my intake.. a little tightness isn't that awful.. some food goes down better than others. later in the day is better than early morning. standing up helps food get unstuck...walking around a little.. i have 20 more pounds to lose.. I'm ok with being a little uncomfortable now and then... i figure its the price to pay to lose the weight.. so I'm just going to deal with it.

I laughed about the laxative. I think almost every bander can say they've had a touch of the Constipation along the way.. I said to my friend at the gym the other day... "It' truly is a sad situation when having a formed bowel movement becomes the highlight of one's day. " But I certainly relate. I think sometimes our bodies just hold on to what we eat... until we win the power stuggle.. Be patient, do what you're doing... and the scale will finally show your effort.
Banded February 9, 2012... Down 25 pounds just plain old dieting with no restriction in the band... can hardly wait to know what a fill feels like.. so far I can eat just about anything I want to and it all goes down just like any other day pre-band. I have a scar on my tummy and a port I can feel.. .but I haven't had a lick of help yet from this procedure.... but there is no other choice than to wait this out.. so I am patient.. patient to get some help from this band, to see the scale move downwards.. and yes to have a formed BM.