merelou

Hi, No I didnt have my surgery with Dr Friss as I heard about surgeon a little closer and where I could have family accomodation . Dr Robert Cable did mine, a very nice man and very thorough/concientous. Merelou

Merelou again. Well it is a week since my last visit to Tauranga, and now have 11ml in 11ml band! At last getting some response from the band that helps.For Nuff who asked about Robert Cable, I guess by now you have your band done, Rob is a very thorough man and nice guy also. I travel up from Southern Hawkes Bay each time I need a fill, fortunately have friends and family up there so usually go up on a Monday (drive myself) get fill on Tuesday and back home on Thurs if all is well. As many of you may have been told "its only a tool ! " well, as I explained to Rob its pretty hard chopping wood with a blunt axe and now he has sharpened it I can get results!!! I have a tendency to question restriction and try and beat the system etc and this is the worst thing to do with a band! Back on liquids for a month and so far so good. Have set myself a goal to reach by Christmas, going to Oz in January.Also started going to Curves Gym,Time will tell. Merelou

Hi from down under, NZ.I have just joined Curves and it looks good so far, I keep telling myself to exercise but never quite find the time so decided it was time to face facts! Will see how it goes, first day only yesterday. Anyone else go to Curves? Merelou

Hi Merelou again.. Banded 3rd May 2006 by Rob Cable in Tauranga SW CW GW 135 113 87 Currently 10 ml in an 11ml band, will probably be 11 in 11 shortly as I have appointment next week again and having problems shifting the weight the last few months. Up a few, down a few etc. Can still enjoy most things, just lot less than used to. Have occasional "chokies" with bread, rice, Pasta, chinese takeaways (just as well) lettuce and some meals if talking instead of focus on eating carefully. I suspect that seeing nutritionist and phsycologist as Fris requires could have been a help to me, not so much the nutritionist but the phsycologist to better understand why I undermine my own efforts at times. My head seems in the right place but somewhere way back I guess there could be reason.How did those who have been banded through Robert Fris find these extra appointments? Merelou

Hi Beka, There is a group thgat meets occasionly in Auckland somewhere so Robert Fris should be able to put you on to a contact. Good luck, I am sure it will go well. They love to tell you "it is only a tool" which it is, the rest is up to us to lose the weight,for some it is easier than for others., some have more restriction quantitywise.Just take it quietly, follow instructions and all should start melting away! Dont rush into eating too much once the mushy stage is over, you are not really hungry and it is too easy to revert to old habits, just take care and all the best. Merelou

Another one here from Hawkes Bay. I was Banded May last year, all went really well to start with then I seemed to come to a screaming halt! I have had fill after fill, 10 in an 11 band at this stage. I am not hungry, but there is really very little restriction and it is the head that needs re training! Old habits die hard.Occasionly PB but mostly have very few problems other than the realisation that I still have to diet and use the head to control as I can still go up in weight easily."They" say it takes from 1 - 3 years to re train the brain.For many the limit restriction is there early and control is easier and much faster, for some it is the way it is for me. But...still the best thing I have ever done. Merelou

Havent "posted" to the list before and probably a lot of what I say/ask has been said before. I was banded in May last year, and after the first 2 months went back to my surgeon for a fill each month. I have an 11 band and I kept waiting for the expected restriction to happen. I friend had had a band done the year before, had small amount of "fill" put in at the time of surgery had gone home and just kept losing until she reached goal weight and still is very limited in the amount she can eat. Well it has worked out differently for me, after an initial fast weight loss and then beginning the fill routine, after each fill I felt no different, by the time I got to 10 in an 11 band I finally experienced PB'g if not careful but really I can still eat more than I need to lose weight, still eating much less but have found I can still go up in weight overnight, just as before. It even seems easier to do so? For me, there clearly will be no real restriction and I will still have to "diet" by head control for rest of my life it seems which is disappointing/frustrating. The only real difference is I can experience PBing and I cant say I feel hungry but re training the brain after a lifetime of bad eating habits is very difficult.I was 66 when I had it done and wish I had known about it sooner.Does anyone else have the same experience? Thanks.Merelou