SoCalDixieGal

What about making a few smaller ramekins of like a layered taco salad with the guac and bean dip and just eat it with a small spoon? Can just grab your own portion size and have at it. If you're on solid foods you could use vege sticks as the dippers - jicama is good as it's crunchy and very mild and great with the Mexican style dips.

I'd also take them back. Fallenangel made a great point about where you may end up after the remaining 50 lbs are gone! People often even find that their entire foot size changes. I know my mom lost about 150 lbs went down a shoe size and width. I'd save that gift card to splurge when you're a bit closer to leveling out.

I have to brag for a moment because I did something this week never before done in my entire history! I frequently travel for business (50%+). This past Monday I flew from Southern California to Atlanta then on to Orlando before going home late Thursday night. There were lunches with colleagues, dinners with clients, more lunches with clients and colleagues, etc. I lost 1 lb! So, it's not huge, but seriously, a pound! I took Protein shakes with me for Breakfast, made the best choices possible for lunches and did duck out of one team dinner where I had a shake in my room for dinner. Another night instead of sitting at the lobby bar, which would have been what I normally did, I walked on the treadmill. Instead of eating crap at the airport, I made a shake in my fabulous shaker bottle (those rock). This week I start the pure liquid diet (ugg). There are two important client dinners that I have to attend. Will make the best choice possible there and do liquids the other meals. Then the week before surgery it's back to Orlando, shaker bottle in hand! Yay, I lost a pound!

Yeah, I'm at a conference the week before too. Cocktail parties, client dinners etc. I'm planning on excusing myself from the lunch and making a shake in my room.

this is the first I've heard of the dental check! How bizarre. I'm 100% covered for dental, but always have to cancel due to travel. Hmmmm. something to think about.

The attny thing sounds fishy. Bet there's a kick back going on.

I'm insured through them as well. I know they vary though around the country. I called them some time ago about what their policy was on WLS. Yeah, the 35-40 BMI needed 2 co-morbidities, which I dont' have so then it's all cash. Considering how much money you'd spend on the attny, you might want to research the Mexico route. I initally didn't think I'd ever do that, but the difference in $ was enough to get me researching.

I already asked one of the doctors if I could take Ambien the night before surgery! Thank goodness the answer was a yes. good luck! Keep us posted.

My kitchen is much cleaner now that I'm on the pre-op liquid diet phase My manicure is lasting longer since I'm not washing dishes I'm hoping that I can hurry up and start losing quickly so I don't have to iron the clothing hanging near my iron . . .it's growing by leaps and bounds

I do, but it"s because I am a band to sleeve revision. My dr does have a pre-op diet and then as you get closer it goes to liquid only for a few days prior to surgery.

I was banded a little over 5 years ago with a goal to lose about 90-100 lbs. I lost 20 in the first few months. Then it was another 30 over the next 2 - 3 years. I sat around a 50 lb loss for a while then steadily began regaining. Now only 20 lbs down. The biggest issue was a near lack of restriction. Always either too tight or too loose. Kept it too tight for too long and had reflux and fell into the slider food route. Have the larger band with 12 cc capacity. Even at 9 cc I had very little restriction. Turns out it's too big for me, but the doctor didn't want to use the smaller one and have me suffer too many issues. Great, I paid how much for something that wasn't even right to begin with? I've never had issues with slips, port problems, etc. This just hasn't been the right tool. Kinda like using a screwdriver to pound in a nail.

Part of my paperwork was an agreement for confidentiality on pricing so sorry, can't disclose my price.

Oh, and the refrigerator is spotless! Sometimes it's the little things that cause pleasure . . especially on a pre-op liquid diet

Sounds like you're doing great! I can't wait for my revision - 2 weeks to go.

A few forums down from this one there's an entire one dedicated to Mexico - there are LOTS of posts about Almanza there.

Best of luck Mary! Keep us posted

Yeah, it can get so confusing when on these forums you see such varied pre-op/post-op instructions and behaviors. I'm trying to read it more from a "that's interesting" angle and just follow what my doctor has recommended. The harder part will likely be post-op and not comparing your weight loss to anyone else.

Same boat here but with a twist - I'm going solo to Mexico for my surgery. I was going to stay here and use the doctor who did my band years ago, but switched (and it actually wasn't all about the $). Anyway . . . . this doctor keeps his revision patients for an additional 4 nights locally with daily visits which is a bit of a relief as there's actually more care given! But, once I get home I'm totally solo. My house looks like I'm a hoarder with all the Protein drinks, Vitamin waters, etc. I've only got really one friend locally who will pop in if I need her. One of my friends out of state was with me for my band surgery and stayed with me for several days after (that was outpatient). I actually could have done that one solo as well, except for driving myself home of course. We almost could use our own forum --- Solo Surgeries or some other cutsie sounding group name.

I have to say that finding this post was a delight! Just finished reading through some battle ground posts on another thread . . . sigh. This has totally cracked me up! Congrats on your armpits!!!!

You could add some international data plans to your phone, but may not be worth it. Blackberry is the only one with an international data plan for $20 all others you go int'l roaming if you use their data networks. I believe you can also add an international texting plan for about $5 or $10. WiFi should work though (normally at the Marriotts). I do recommend turning off all the automatic data "push/pull" on the phone. I had an unpleasant surprise once by incurring about $100 in international data roaming charges in Germany over a 12 hour period as my phone updated automatically everything on it's lovely 3/4G network.

Best of luck! I'm 2 weeks out now. Got all my boxes too! Went with Chike (mixed flavors) and Unjury (vanilla and chicken soup). My house is beginner to look like I'm a hoarder!

I make smoothies all the time! Biggest thing is watch the calories going into the cup, it can be very easy to quickly add up to 300+ calories. I'll use yogurt if I'm looking for more Protein, but with the powder it can be calories without return. But, if I do use yogurt then I don't use a milk/soy product, but thin with Water. I tend to lean toward fruit smoothies and I'll buy frozen berries, mango and other fruit. when I buy bananas if they start to ripen too quickly then I'll slice and freeze. This way I don't use ice, but let the fruit contribute to the iciness. So, a typical banana (or any other fruit) smoothie for me would be: 1 scoop vanilla Protein Powder, 1 frozen banana, scoop of greek yogurt, and about 1/2 cup water to start. Blend away. I also make my own greek yogurt by straining it in a coffee filter lined colander placed over a bowl - put in frig for a day and drain the whey periodically. I do this mostly because i"m cheap!

I had my band unfilled about 3 weeks ago and boy was it weird. The actual unfill was bizarre, I could always feel a pulling sensation on fills, but to have that much removed so quickly was so strange and I had a muscle spasm even! Not fun. I have a 12 cc band and had 8 1/2 in it with no restriction. My stomach felt weird for about 24 hours, I guess it was finally relaxing after being squished for 5 years! I'm revising in just 2 weeks so pretty excited.

I love reading posts from folks like you who are longer out. You've passed that honeymoon stage and in reality! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm living the "reality" of being banded and converting to the sleeve in 2 weeks. From the band, I know that living in the diet depravation world isn't sustainable long-term so glad to see another person who is real here! Thanks again for sharing!

When one of my friends brought up the 'can't you just try to one more time?' My reply was "yeah, that's worked really well for me over the past 9 years we've known each other." She actually stopped and thought about it then and has become very supportive.