Marimaru

Your post is a few days old, but it's been a while since I was hear. I've heard about people having restriction for a few weeks after a fill and then it going down. Why do you have to lose 60 lbs before you go get another fill? The point of the fill is to help you lose weight faster right? I've read about people who've had this problem and then on their 4 or 5 fill fill or so it 'sticks'. I'm sure that it's possible that Fluid goes up into the tubing, but I can't imagine that all of it would. It can only hold so much. Your stomach could get used to the restriction, or you lose enough weight that the fat around your stomach is smaller so it's not so tight. You could always call your doc and see what he thinks, no charge for phone calls right?

I definately miss sammiches. With my first fill I could eat a half of a sandwich but bread is pretty much out for me now, and while for the most part I'm cool with that, sometimes I just want a good sandwich.

I use splenda all the time (and yes, I put it in my coffee most of the time, but coffee is best with real sugar, I can't do black). I wonder if maybe it agrivates arthritis, which I don't have, so it doesn't bother me. I also don't have IBS so it doesn't bother me that way either. :shrug:

I think that if it were me (based on not knowing what you've already tried to do), I would print out a bunch of literature on the band and have him look at it so that he can better understand that for the most part, you'll be able to eat like a normal person, maybe no bread, etc, but still you can go out, etc. Anyhow, I don't know what you could say to a thinner person who doesn't really understand what you are trying to do for yourself, since they don't understand what we have to live with. I just hope that after your surgery when you start trimmin' down and having NSV's he'll see how happy it makes you.

My boyfriend was totally supportive. I was actually on vacation with my mom and sister when I decided to have it done (I was telling my mom about this new thing I'd read about and she said "you should do that, I'll pay for it). He said that I should do whatever makes me happy (I still can't get him to tell me what he was REALLY thinking). He was quite nervous about the Mexico prospect, but was quite calmed when we got there and he saw that it's not quite like he had in his head.

I've been told by some people that I talk to that the price at the WISH center is about to go up from the $10500. I have no idea if this is true or not but thought I'd pass it along. At the time I had my surgery the WISH center was not available, or at least not easily found on the web. I didn't actually find flying out of the country for my surgery stressful at all. I think that people do need to do research on the doctors that they are going to, but I think that there are alot of misconceptions about Mexico that just aren't true. :shrug:

I think it's good to know that you can call Inamed and get information like this.

I'm down about 45 lbs (depending on what day it is). I also have been feeling down about it. It's not so much the "slow loss" but that I've been stuck for quite a while. I started exersizing over a month ago (walking), and now I walk 2 miles a day at about 3 miles per hour, and yesterday I ran part of it. I lost 2 inches at my widest point in the last 10 days or so, so I know something is happening. Take your measurements if you haven't! I didn't when I had my surgery and I've been kicking myself for it. I took them about a week and a half ago for the first time, and then again a couple days ago and there was already a difference.

Nykee- I really like to see your progress with how you are working and looking at your foods, etc. To you question about protien: Use your IDEAL weight in that calculation. You don't want to eat enough to support to the body you have now, you want to eat enough to support your future body. Cutting out the liquid calories is going to be hard, and not drinking when you eat is also going to be hard. I suggest that you tackle them one at a time, and here's how I would do it: Drink the liquids you want, but demand from yourself that you drink the glass of milk before you eat, and then put the milk and the cup away. Then you've already had it, and you wont drink during your meal. This will help you stay full longer by not "washing down" the food that is in your pouch. It'll be slow probably. There will be times when you reach for and drink something and then realize it's not what you wanted to do, but just take it one meal at a time. Then once you get this part down, work on replacing juice with Crystal lite or flavored Water. Crystal Lite has 5 calories per glass vs 130 or whatever is in Juice. Not to mention the carbs! Take it slow, and you'll do fine

To the question about how the food breaks down; from my understanding (disclaimer; not a doc or a nurse or anything) the top part doesn't really do anything. Think of it as an hourglass. The food sits in the top and slowly moves to the bottom. This helps us because the nerve at the top of the stomach is stimulated and tells our brain we aren't hungry. Then the food is moving to the 2nd part of the stomach and is actually digested. Reflux needs to be addressed because the acid is getting to the top part of the stomach and pooling up there like liquids do before moving back down, so it's extra time spent that you don't want for the acid up there. Have you had any fills yet? Reflux can be a sign of being too tight. Although I know some people just started having it after they got the band, and take Nexium and they are fine.

I didn't have Dr. Kuri as my surgeon, but I see him for my fills because he's closer than my original surgeon. I didn't know about his 'procedure' for his fill appointments so it was rather a shock, but now that I know, it's no big deal. When you call for a fill, the appointment is always at 1pm. Everyone gathers up and then he shows up and blasts through us all in about an hour. I don't think I've seen 40 people there, but I've only been there twice. The first time he was like a half hour late, but he really gets through people fast. He takes time with people if he needs to, but most it's just swallow, fill, swallow, see ya later! just my 2 cents on the fill process for Dr. Kuri.

I never saw this the first time either. Dunno where I was. "Just take up running" We should strap 100lbs (at least) of saddlebags on that person and say "now, you just go run down the street there buddy". I actually ran today. Not very far, just the last part of my daily walk. I still weight too much for my ankles to appreciate it, and I definately need a new bra if I want to start doing THAT on a daily basis (black eyes comment definately hits the mark!). I can't imagine if someone told me to "just take up running". Not to mention that fact that sedentary people are really supposed to work themselves into a workout program, not just dive in full force. bleah. ignorance irritates the heck out of me. I'm with Lisa, pass the salt!

Hey there, I'm 23 (as of last week) and started at the same weight as you are. I've lost 40+ pounds so far (I'm bouncing a little at the moment). At first I didn't really watch anything, and I didn't exersize. I didn't eat nearly as much as I used to, so I lost 25 lbs but then I got stuck. I got my 2nd fill, which helped me eat even less and I lost another 15~20 lbs, to where I am now. I've been stuck since about the beginning of February, and I've been exersizing since the last week of February. Around then I also counted my calories and found that I wasn't really getting much in (unless I had some drinks). It was at or less than 1000 for a few days until I started working at it. I quit counting for a while, and started counting again this week and haven't hit 1500 calories. My goal is 1200 ~ 1500 a day and I've been right on target. I started walking that last week of February, just around the block, and now I'm going 2 miles at roughly 3 miles per hour, and today I even ran the last little bit. My weight dipped to an all time low of 230, but has been bouncing a little bit and I'm not sure what's up with that, but what I do know is that in the last 10 days I've lost 2 inches from the widest part of my belly. I guess all that goes deeper into what you asked, but my point is that at first I didn't have to work and now I do. I wouldn't say that I "diet" but I'm definately more aware of what I'm eating. I bought a box of girlscout Cookies the other day and I've been having 1 serving at a time, instead of a whole package or whatever it was I used to eat. Probably your kick boxing class would be ok, but you might mention it to your surgeon so that he can decide where to put the port. Some of them put the port right in the center of your stomach and that might not be ideal for you.

I saw Dr. Rumbaut in MX for my surgery. I had a really great experience, and haven't had any complications. I see Dr. Kuri for my fills because he is much closer to me than Dr. Rumbaut. Definately make sure you have someone local for after care (or money to fly). As for my family, my mom wants to go to Mexico to have some things done herself, so she didn't much think it was a big deal. No one else really voiced condern except for my boyfriend who'd never been there and felt better after he saw that most of MX isn't dirty little back alleys.

I like this thread . It's good for today too, because I was kind of thinking along these lines. This morning for Breakfast I had a CIB. A little later I had ONE SERVING of the Thin Mint Cookies I bought (one box, wont buy more). It felt good to stop at a few cookies instead of eating the whole darn thing. Then later my boyfriend and I went out to lunch. I had a bunch of iced tea and almost 2 cheese sticks, then my entree. I ate about half the chicken and about 1/3 of the mashed potatoes that were there. I chewed well and ate slowly (which I sometimes have problems with), and didn't even get the tight feeling in my chest, just an "i'm done now" feeling. I pushed my plate away and had the waitress take it the next time she walked by. Unfortunately if it's in front of me, I would nibble on it until I was in trouble. I would subscribe to the idea of ordering a to go box with my meal, but for some reason microwaved leftovers do me in, so I don't bother with that anymore because they'll just go bad in my fridge. Anyhow, I still feel full (finished lunch about 30/40 minutes ago), don't care to snack or anything, and that box of cookies is sitting right next to me, untouched. Honestly, it's wierd to sometimes feel like you pigged out, but then you look at your plate and laugh because more than half of your food is there.

Happy Birthday

No before nakey here. My before shot is actually reall horrible. lol....

It really does look like an eye with eyelashes! I'm so happy for you!

Vinesqueen, I hope you feel better DESK CALENDARS!!! That is the best idea! We could all be in multiple pics in any month we wanted! lol. There's even the desk ones that have a new page for every day, but that might be a bit much. lol

Teresa, I'm sorry I missed you in my initial list for the months. We've obviously scrapped that idea for the most part, because we have to get everyone in! I could most definately do some collages. We could do some collages, and some themed group shots, and a few loners (just kidding). I like the idea of a bio section as well... of course, that means I have to write something about myself, but hey Maybe Lisa's gnarly teeth scar wants to smile for the camera too? tee hee

We're gonna have to do group shots. There's too many of us!!! We all have to get in the first year I think!!

We could each just do one... erm... nevermind. :laugh :laugh :laugh

Not trying to spam, but I started a new Calendar thread here: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=62245#post62245

Ok, for the history on this go to this thread: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5808&page=1&pp=15 We somehow started on the idea of a Calendar (like that one movie with the older ladies who did the calendar? I can't remember the name...) It started as a way to fund Lisa's future surgeries We have enough people for a 2007 calendar, but is there anyone that missed it that wants to play? (how serious are we about this anyway? I may need to knock out my boyfriend for a while for this...)

[quote name=So Sarah, how much touch up, editing experience do you have???? Can you erase cellulite off my butt???? Cause if you can, your my new best friend.. Hey if Tara Banks can have her pictures touched up, why can't we... I better start working out to get this butt toned up.. Watch out UK here we come..[/quote] I haven't done much actual photo touch ups, but I do web graphics for a living and work with photoshop every day. I can DEFINATLY do the adding of the diamonds, cupids, what-have-you, and with a little practice I could prolly get rid of your cellulite too