Mariposa Bella

The only thing I can't eat is bread and tortillas (flour and corn). But I don't have any problem w/ steak if its cut small and chewed well. And with other foods if I'm in a hurry and eat too fast I get the occassional pbing.

I am so very happy to hear that you are doing well and that you both are taking steps to fix your relationships. You know my grandmother always tells me, that us modern girls give up too soon on a good thing. She says if something is worth fighting for and fixing, why throw it away and start again. YOu might end up with alot worse. She says women now adays want everything the easy way and that we don't want to compromise on anything. Well in part I think at her 90 years she is right, its just that selfish part of me that sometimes doesn't agree. But every relationship is different and difficult, we all have to work at it, and when its worth working for, well more power to you, when its already rotting and can't be fixed then and only then throw it away. Just my 2 cents worth. But I admire John for going to counseling w/ you, my husband and I have been attending counseling 2x a month and it has helped, its not all happiness yet, but some issues are getting resolved. Wishing you all the luck of the world. Love you bunches Penni.

I'm really sorry for you loss. Hope you are feeling better. Sending (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

They are just beautiful, my girls had their dance recital earlier this month, I'll get pictures posted soon..

Hi everyone, I need your advice. Well this is my dilema, I am now averaging at 156-159 lbs depending on what I eat that day and I was planning on having my tt at the end of this month. I had set a goal of 145 lbs for myself, (I felt I would deserve my tt if I worked hard at it). Well, I am not even close to hitting my goal weight and am faced with a problem.. I had already arranged for the time off work and all. The ps believes that with the tt and lipo I'm getting I will be at goal once all the swelling is gone and I heal up. So do you think I should go ahead and have my tt, without getting to my goal weight? Or should I wait, cause if I wait to get to goal, I won't be abel to take the time off work, as this is the slow time around here. I am also concerned that I will spend the money I have saved up for my plastic surgery. So please give me your opinion on this matter. If I go ahead and go get my procedures, the surgeon will fix my port (since its flipped) at no additional cost. If I don't decide to get the surgery I'll have to have my port stitched into place here, because it is really starting to hurt from where its really pressing against my skin. So I'm probaby better off going ahead with the tt, right??? I'm so confused, should I wait, or go ahead. Help me out in making my decision. My husband is no help, he says he supports anything I decide, but he doesn't want to give me his opinion, cause he says no matter what he tells me he is always wrong. So its up to you guys to give me your 2 cents worth. Tks,

I'm glad that you will be getting a fill w/ Dr. Gomez, he is really nice. I hope all goes well with your fill, let me know how it goes. The reason I had another fill so quickly is that I felt no difference in restriction level and since Dr. Gomez doesn't charge you more $ if you don't get restriction, I thought I'd go ahead and have some more put in, and I did. I am in need of a fill again, I am scheduled for next month on July 6. Well let me know how it goes and don't you think Dr. Gomez is a cutie Pie??? I think he is fine..

I'm sorry that you are not feeling well Penni, I hope you can get rid of that nasty cold soon. And yes, I have to agree with everyone here, Penni is beautiful. She is even more beautiful in person, and that smile of hers is awesome.

My port was infected for a while, but thank God that it healed. My surgeon said it was probably an allergic reaction to one of the stitches, but it was really gross for a while. It looked like I had some chicken fat coming out of my incision. It really freaked me out, when I saw him, he said there was nothing to be concerned about, that I shoud just wash it really good and put some anti-bacterial ointment on it. About a week later it healed up, but it is scary when it happens. I'm just fortunater that it was a small infection and nothing major. I really feel bad for you Delarla, I know how bad your got and that was really scary. But I'm glad that your healed now, and don't worry as soon as we get this calendar done, we'll have plenty of money to buy you a new port.

I'm so excited for you, one more day and you will officially be a bandster. I will keep you in my thoughts and I hope all goes well w/ your surgery, keep us posted.

How wonderful that you have already lost 16 lbs, so happy for you. About the belching, all I can say is get used to it, Saturday will be my 7 month bandiversary and I constantly burp all the time. It entertains the kids...

Me too. Last december we brought back 6 bottles of tequila from Mexico and its all gone now. Guess its time to stock up some more. I don't like them in the blender, I love mine on the rocks, had one last night, slept like a baby.

Dr. Eddie Gomez 3661 S. Miami Avenue Suite 708 Mercy Professional Building Miami, FL 33133 305-285-5090

The only doctor I found out here that will take Mexican banded patients is Dr. Gomez in Miami, the cost for fills is $300 w/ out flouru $600 w/ flouru, I do without he is an excellent doctor and has tons of experience. My port is flipped so you would think it would be hard for him to hit my port, but he does, everytime. And on the first shot. So I really like him, and its a whole lot cheaper and less time than hopping on an airplane and going to Mx for a fill. Let me know if you need his info.

I really like this one, I'll have to print it out for hubby

I try not to watch the news anymore it is more than I can handle. And something must be in the atmosphere, becasue this has been a bad year for traffic fatalities in our area. I live in a very small rural town, and already this year the death toll for this small county is about 12, the most recent was 9 year old boy (roll-over accident) and a young father of five (he was passing and hit a car head on and both cars where engulfed in flames). Also, a young mother of two (my husband's friend's wife) was hit head on by a truck and killed. Just horrible. I am so terrified of what could happen. I used to not wear a seat belt and now I faithfully wear one and I especially make sure my kids are in their carseats and seatbelts even if we are just going around the corner. I want to be around to raise my kids and pray to God that he keeps us safe. I especially worry about my husband, he has to work an hour from our hometown and gets into some pretty rough traffic, so I pray that God keeps him safe as well. I also witnessed a horrigying accident last month, it had just happened there was no ems or anything yet. There were bodies scattered all over the place and hanging out of the car, just awefull. Two were killed in that accident, the others were in critical condition. I'm devastated by all that happens and pray that somehow it could all end. I was thinking this morning about Joe the young father that was killed, his little boy was in my daughters class since they were three but moved away earlier this year, his wife is a loser, she has major problems w/ drugs and he was an excellent father to his children. He was always the one taking them to school and picking them up. Since our kids attended the same private Christian School I saw him often and was always impressed by his ability to be such an excellent father. His wife was rarely around, at all the meetings or functions at the school. So what really makes me sad, is the future that these kids will now have, without their caring father, what will become of them?? Who will take care of them? Those kids future w/ that type of mom is what is really sad. Please pray for them and for all the others that are in similar situations. And don't forget to help families in their time of need, my husband and his brothers picked up a money collection and raised about $1500 for his friend when his wife passed and I'm sure w/ all the expenses involved w/ an untimely death like that they can sure use the help. Remember to give from the heart and the blessings you will receive will be far greater than any wordly good. Sorry for the long post, but I'm an emotional person when it comes to things like this.

I met Penni. I too hope that I can somehow find a way to come to the Vegas Bash. But don't know if the pocket will allow. Will be keeping my fingers crossed.

Hello, everyone, just wanted to let you all know what a fabulous holiday weekend I had. First off, I was able to meet Penni, and I have to tell you all she is even more wonderful and beautiful in person. She treated my kids and I too a wonderful lunch and I'm only sad that we didnt' have more time to spend together. She is just awesome and sooooooooooooo beautiful. After we left Penni, we went to check into our hotel in Orlando, it was fabulous, our room was really nice, with an awesome view, there were three pools at the resort and four restaurants and best of all, I had a facial at their spa. Really nice. The kids and I spent all Sat afternoon by the pool, they had a blast, we didn't leave the pool until 8:30 that night, boy they were pooped. My husband got there about 9 pm, so it was too late to go out and do anything (too band we didn't have a sitter up there, cause I sure would have liked to go out on the town.) I tried talking my husband into going downstairs to hang out at one of the restaurants but he was tired from working all day and then driving up. Well on Sun, we had planned to go to SeaWorld,but the kids didn't want to go, they wanted to go back to the pool, and that was perfectly fine for us. So we spent all day by the pool, had a couple of drinks and played w/ the kids. We had such a wonderful time, that afternoon we went out to dinner and hung out at downtown Disney, the kids rode the train and the carousel out there and I did a little bit of shopping. Well, Just had to share my fabulouse weekend w/ all of you. And to tell Penni, thank you, so very much for lunch and for giving me a little of your time, I really loved meeting you, you are just fabulous. Ya'll have a great day, I better get to work, my boss comes back to town tomorrow, so I have to clean her desk off today. Yuck!!!

You know I have always had large breast and when ever I have lost weight these babies don't disappear they are hear to stay, and after being pregnant so many times, these girls have had it rough and yes they do hang. Yesterday, my best friend told me that my boobs look a little smaller, they aren't, I still wear the same size, it is just my back is thinner so I've had to tighten the back a little more which gives the impression that they are smaller. Well, anyways I was thinking of getting a lift, but my breasts look really pretty decent in a good push-up bra, nice cleavage and nice shape, so I figured why risk something going bad there when a bra is the only thing I need. Maybe in another 10 years I will change my mind and get a lift, but for now I am keeping my saggy girls. I have actually been accused of having had breast implants when I actually show my cleavage and can't convince certain people that I haven't---so hey, if they think these babies look to good to be real, who am I too convince them otherwise.

Keeping them in my prayers. Keep us posted.

Most of us on this board are self-payers and since most of us are NOT independantly wealthy we all had to find a way to make this happen. As you can see most of us had to travel to Mexico to have our bands, ideally I would have preferred to stay in the states because of convenience and most of all suing power, but most Mexican doctors have more band experience than most US doctors. Some doctors here don't even have an idea of what the band is. So you see, you have been given lots of creative ways to get your band, try the diet, and in the meantime save, save and save some more. If you lose alot of weight on your diet and become a lower BMI you can still travel to Mexico and get your band so that you can maintain the lost weight, so that is a plus. Some of us have paid as little as $6000 in Mexico, I know I did. so you see there is hope and if you have to wait a little longer, well try to be patient, good things come to those who wait. Meantime we are here for you. Keep us posted on your progress.

No, Penni lives in California, but she came to Orlando, Florida to spend the holiday weekend w/ her daughter and son-in-law. So since I am only a couple of hours away I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to meet her and we did. It was wonderful.

Oh how I too wish I could get to my goal, wow, 148, I am stuck at 158 and can't seem to go down, what is wrong w/ me, I keep sabotaging myself, I hate that about me, I have been making all the wrong food choices lately and have not been exercising any, I need to get off my butt and work out. I must work out. So how does it feel to be in a skinny body? And to wear such a tiny small size. I am super happy for you and hope I could be in the 140 something w/ you. Hope to be there soon.

Well bandit you are more than welcome to come to Florida and visit w/ me and my brats (oh sorry, I mean kids). So hop on a plane and I'll be waiting for you. You know we are forming some strong bonds here and I truly hope that we all get the opportunity to meet each other in person, because in all honestly since i got my band I spend more time w/ all of you that I do w/ my best friend. So I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you. And I have to brag once more, I MET PENNI THIS WEEKEND, NA, NA, NANNA NA, HE, HEEEEEEEE... So I am truly happy that some of my other band sisters also got to meet, how wonderful it is.

I know she is just wonderful, I can't believe more of my bansters on here aren't interested in my visit with her, cause I'm sure still excited about having met her. She is so caring and compassionate to each and everyone of us on this board, so it was truly my pleasure to meet her. And she bought me and my three kids lunch, so that's how much more wonderful she is, she also put up with my four year olds twenty million questions and still kept a smile on her face. Well, I'm disappointed that more people haven't responded to my wonderful post about meeting Miss Penni.

riverrat, who said you couldn't have chocolate anymore??? Cause I have a band, and I can eat tons of chocolate, I shouldn't ---but I can. With the band you can basically eat everything you want, just less of it. Of course there are certain things that each of us can't tolerate, but for the most part you can basically eat everything. I for example can't eat tortillas (corn or flour), but I can eat tortilla chips (isn't that weird) and I can't eat lettuce, and I used to have trouble w/ bread, but I ate half a sandwich last week w/ no problems, and I can eat cake and pie w/ no problem and I love and can eat reeses peanut butter cups, so you see, basically you can eat anything, just alot less of it. That is the beauty of the band.