scubadottie

Good Morning Everybody! Just came across a coffee creamer (Ripped Cream) that has 5 grams of Protein, 11 amino acids and Vitamin D3. Thought I might try it with my diet hot chocolate or decaf coffee. Sounds like an easy way to get alittle protein in with my drink. Has anyone tried Ripped Cream? Cheers, Dottie

I am purchasing the Ninja Pulse 204.... it has gotten rave reviews and Buy Happier.com has free shipping and an extended 3 year warranty for $79.99 Seems like a good deal... will let you know how it performs.

I'm September 10th with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. NUT wanted me to lose 32 lbs before surgery.... I've lost 35 lbs so far... Woo Hoo! Can I make it to 40 lbs lost before my surgery? Keep your fingers crossed!

I want to say goodbye to all plus size shopping...Lands End, Lane Bryant, Dress Barn Women... and on and on!

I can't wait to NOT have to ask for a self belt extender on a plane.

You could have developed a food allergy to lobster. It might not have anything to do with your sleeve. I use to love shrimp and lobster. I ate shrimp one day and got sick...vomiting and dirreahea. I didn't realize it was the shrimp and one week later, I ate shrimp again and got sick. Tried different shrimp... nope, got sick. Ate lobster...got sick. I had developed an allergy to shrimp and lobster . I can still eat oysters, conch, crab...just no shrimp and lobster. Go figure. Doctor says you can develop food allergies throughout you life. Oh well... I do like the fake lobster. Hope you feel better.

Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center is excellent.... give his website a look.

Hi, I live in the Caribbean...where it is always hot. I work outside on a dive boat every day, I love being on the water...even if it is hot and I sweat constantly. But, I really dislike exercising or taking a walk outside after or before I have been working outside all day. So, I have discovered Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home DVDs. They are great and very easy to follow. You are just walking in place with a few moves added in... and each DVD is set for a particular distance... so, you know how far you have walked.... one mile, three miles, etc. Plus, you are in the comfort of your own home with the AC blasting and whatever else you need close at hand. It definitely helps me get some exercise in. www.walkathome.com/ cheers, Dottie

Hi, I had LapBand surgery with Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in August 2007. My Mom and I both were very impressed with OCC. The staff was great and I felt very well taken care of.... that is why I have scheduled my Revision surgery with OCC and Dr. Ortiz for September 10, 2012. Hope this helps. Cheers, Dottie

I found two on Amazon.com that looked good. Gabrialla Breathable Elastic Abdominal Binder for Women, 9" wide, Size XXL $27.80 And McDavid Waist Trimmer for $12.08 I haven't bought one yet.... still deciding.

Hi, My Revision is scheduled for September 10. My biggest concern is that the doctor will get in there and decide that he can't do the sleeve after the band removal. I wonder what the instances are that the sleeve has to be postponed due to scar tissue, etc. That is my biggest scare. Dottie

Never been married.... I live on a tiny island in the Cayman Islands with about 180 people. Needless to say, the dating pool is really really small! All of my co-workers are in their late 20's to early 30's.... so, my fantasy is to drop 120 pounds and have all the hot guys on the island come a calling.... one at a time!

I emailed my NUT today with my current weight... and she told me that I am doing great and now only have to do the Liquids Only Diet 3 days before surgery instead of two weeks! Can you give me a high five! Yippeeee!

Kellie, Thank you for the reply. I am envious that you are already 8 months out. September can't get here fast enough. But, I know the time will be flying by and it will be here before I know it. I live on a tiny island in the Caribbean with about 180 residents. So, no gym.... we have one tiny grocery store on island and our bank is open two days a week. I work as a scuba instructor/dive master and work/dive 6 days a week. My job is very physical...lifting scuba tanks and dive gear all day long. I take my 2 cats for a walk in the evening... and that is about it. I need to ramp my exercise program up. I have been thinking about trying the indoor walking with Leslie Sansone. At least, I can do it in the comfort of my own home with the AC on. Again, you are an inspiration! Cheers, Dottie

Hi Kellie, Congrats and I am so happy for you! You are definitely inspiring! I am scheduled for my VSG in September and am working on losing some weight before my surgery. What do you feel was your biggest challenge in regards to your keeping on track? What do your meals consist of 8 months out? How much do you exercise? I will stop here with my questions. Thanks and good luck with your lat 14 pounds! Dottie

I'm gonna beat you by one day. My surgery is September 10. Congrats and see ya on the loser's side. Cheers, Dottie

This is what I came across a few weeks ago..... The Cottage cheese Test: The cottage cheese test is a technique that was presented at the June 2000 meeting of the ASBS (and many times before that) by Latham Flanagan, MD (website is at The Oregon Center for Bariatric Surgery). It is meant to be a standardized, reproducible measurement of the physical size of the stomach pouch in a person who has undergone a gastric bypass procedure. Purchase a container of small curd low-fat cottage cheese. Begin the test with a full container, and perform the test in the morning before eating anything else (this will be your breakfast on that day). Eat fairly quickly until you feel full (less than five minutes). Note that the small soft curds do not require much chewing. The idea with the rapid eating is to fill the pouch before there is much time for food to flow out of it. After eating your "fill" of cottage cheese, you will be left with a partially eaten container that has empty space where cottage cheese used to be. Start with a measured amount of Water (16 ounces, for example), and pour water into the container of cottage cheese until the water is level with the original top level of the cottage cheese. Voila - the amount of water poured into the container is the functional size of the pouch. If this is your first time doing the test - DON'T PANIC. You are likely to find that the "cottage cheese" size of your pouch is way bigger than your surgeon told you he/she made it at the time of surgery. Dr. Flanagan's data indicates that the average size of the mature pouch by cottage cheese test is 5.5 ounces. He has also found that sizes ranging from 3 to 9 ounces have NO IMPACT on the person's success in weight loss."

Hi All, Just wondering if anyone knows if it is okay to take sleeping pills after surgery? How long to wait? I have problems sleeping and take an Ambien to help me get to sleep. Sometimes 2-3 times a week... sometimes 2-3 times a month... just depends. Has anyone had issues with taking sleeping pills after VSG? Thanks, Dottie

Hi Guys, Thanks for the good advice.... I had never heard of sleep eating! Luckily, it hasn't affected me that way. I don't think Lunesta... it gives a very metallic taste in my mouth that lasts for hours after I wake. I thought my water was bad... but, in reading the fine print... that can be a side effect of Lunesta. I work a physical job... and try to go to bed around 9-10pm. If I am not asleep by 11pm... that is when I take an Ambien.... they have really helped me in getting a restful night. I know that can help in my recovery, so that is why I was asking how soon I could take some if needed after surgery. Cheers and looking forward to joining the Loser's Bench. Dottie