kirajh

Salsa - great news!! Sure wish I was there with you. Rebearty - That is good to know about the plastic surgery since my insurance won't cover it and I can tell already I am going to need it. Just, don't forget to donate your excess skin to Gift of Life. Kari banded 7-16-07 Dr. Ortiz, TJ down 52 lbs total Lots more to go

Forget the soda. I was told no soda for six months because the carbonation will stretch the pouch. For my liquid diet, I was on fruit juices (watered down), broth and water. (special K water and vitamin water OK) The second and third week I had protein drinks, liquid yougurt (like Danactive), and first week liquids. Popsickles are fine and so are chewable vitamins. I read here the other day that one doctor said the gummi vitamins were great if you didn't like chewables. I bought some and they are just yummy. You need to water down the juice so you don't get diahrea. I get the impression you've yet to be banded and to tell you the truth, those first couple weeks are the easiest if you can just overcome the head hunger. GOOD LUCK

Phyl Got on the scale and I am down another five or so pounds. I made the 10 pound challenge. Also did 75 minutes on the exerbike today. Anyone have any other ideas for exersize besides the bike for people with bum knees? I know about water aerobics but there isn't a pool to be found close by. That's what happens when you live out in the boonies.

NO REGRETS HERE, EITHER. IT IS REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO GO IF YOU ARE SELF PAY. Unless your're rich.......and even then.....

I did 90 minutes pedaling this morning.

Add me to the list. Shouldn't be a problem since I am already riding my exerbike at least 60 minutes a day. Kari banded 7-16-07 Dr. Ortiz 50 lbs down

Sorry to hear that. Where did you have your surgery?

hI EVERYONE Went for my third fill today. Weighed in......after losing the same three pounds over and over for about two and a half weeks....I lost 8 pounds. YIPEE!!!!! I am down 49 pounds total. As for restriction?? Not yet. Well, maybe a little bit. Just a little. Each fill the doctor seems to pull out more than the thought I had. He figures I now have about 7ccs in my band. Said I'd have restriction in the next fill or two. Want to hear something funny. I was in Meijers,(like Walmart) and reached up to get something off the top shelf.......Caught my pants just as they were slipping past my butt. I don't think anyone saw though. I really had a hard time last night...craving whatever....so I went to the old standby...a spoon full of chunky peanut butter. OOPS. 3 of them. Then I checked the calories. OOPS again. So I got on my exerbike and went another 40 minutes. Said I burned over 1200 calories. I need to get my knee replaced, Soon. iT'S FRIDAY GUYS......EVERYONE ENJOY YOUR WEEK END AND DON'T PIG OUT TOO MUCH.

Just wanted to say THANK YOU, JANET!!!! I love it that you are our food police. You always seem to inspire me to do good.

Durga, I had a consult at Barix in Ypsi. I didn't have to have records of previous diets for my insurance. What they did tell me I needed was a stress test, a psychological evaluation and a pulmonary test (my lungs were damaged by Legionaires disease). My insurance company only required a BMI of 40+ or 35 with comorbidities(?), a letter from my PCP. a letter from the surgeon and a psych evaluation. The only thing I had to pay was my $20.00 co-payment I ended up in Mexico cause I flunked the psych evaluation but I now go to Hillsdale for my fills and my insurance covers them too.

I originally went to Barix in Ypsi. I went to the seminar and then I have had two consults with Dr. Kam. I liked him. There are other doctors there but never met them. Also, Dr. Kam has left Barix as of Nov. 1. I neded up in Mexico because I flunked my psych evaluation and knew my insurance would make me wait. (I couldn't) I did try to make an appointment to get my fills there but they weren't taking outside patients at that time due to Dr. Kam leaving. So I ended up getting my fills in Hillsdale. I Was going to go to Port Huron, but Hillsdale is closer for me. (And my insurance co. is paying for my fills)

Indio - Thanks. It really takes a lot of getting used to. What is really hard to understand is, that six months after Jayli died, I ended up in the hospital with Legionaire's disease and should have died. Why??? Well, my daughter now has a son and another daughter but we won't forget Jayli. You mean if you donate your excess skin, you get the surgery for free?? Where can I find that doctor? Jackie - I know exactly how you feel. Head hunger is the PITS!!! Only four more days til my fill. In fact, I'm fighting head hunger right now. I'm starving and I just had lunch an hour ago and just finished a bottle of Water. (I think what I need is a pepsi......NO I DON'T!!) Bite your tongue, Kari. Distant - It was hard enough just losing a granddaughter. I'd have been devastated if it were one of my kids. GOOD LUCK ALL, IN MEETING YOUR GOAL IN THIS CHALLENGE.

sOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE HERE IS DOING GREAT. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. Now for the reason of this post. I know I am jumping the gun here but this will give you something to think about somewhere down the road. Something very near and dear to my heart...........organ donation. You see, my granddaughter passed away four years ago at age two, waiting for a third liver transplant. Anyway, I just found out from Gift of Life that skin tissue is needed and if you have surgery to remove excess skin, they will use that excess to help those in need. THANKS FOR LETTING ME GET ON MY SOAPBOX.

I have been so frustrated these past few weeks. Seems like everytime I'd get n the scale, I'd be up three, down three, up again then down again. Same three pounds. Well, I have increased my time on my exer-bike and when I got on the scale this morning, I was down FIVE POUNDS !!!!! Yahoo ! ! ! !

I sat down last night and figured out my intake of calories (including the cookies) and it was just about 1300 calories. (cookies were more than 3 meals combined) So I got back on my exersize bike and pedaled some more. Ended up after deducting the calories used pedaling, only eating 262 calories. Afraid to get on the scale though. Doing great today though. Only had one cookie and that was because I waited too long to have lunch and being diabetic, my sugar levels bottomed out and I had the shake, bad. Still under 400 calories. Looks like another Lean Cuisine night. I did tell my husband we had to talk about the cookies. There are a few kinds I know he likes and I don't. One good thing....he had his route changed at work and no longer delivers anywhere near a Jewish bakery. Jewish Rye Bread. That is my really big downfall.

I really need to get back on the bandwagon too. I kniw exactly what you guys are talking about. I do great in the morning. My yogurt fills me up. Then usually I do good at lunch. Late afternoons, I do get the munchies but it is nights that all the wrong foods keep screaming my name. And of course, I have to answer. Hubby keeps filling the cookie jar and I keep emptying it. BAD BAD Kari. I keep remembering the old Lays Potato Chip catch phrase. "Bet you can't eat just one". That's me. Next fill, next Friday.

I have to add my birthday greetings here. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Jackie, just want you to know that I have been there too.

Dr. Ortiz in TJ did my band back in July and I would be very surprised if his clinic wasn't cleaner and more up to date than the hospital you work at. I was very impressed.

What little angel on your shoulder. Mine is red with a tail and horns telling me "GO AHEAD!"

I'll try for ten, too. I have a fill scheduled for Nov.9 so hopefully I can do it. Kari

I take Zoloft. My doctor just weaned me off Paxil and put me on Zoloft just before my surgery. I never stopped taking them and had no problems.

I've had two fills since being banded in July and I don't have any problems taking my pills whole. At first, I cut them in half but again, no problems with them, so now I just take them. And, one of my pills are giant metformin caplets. Now those are BIG.

Dr. Ortiz did my band back in July. I was leery of Tijuanna at first but his practice is first class all the way. He has more experience and his clinic is cleaner than a lot of hospitals here in the states. Don't let anyone tell you different. I would go there again.......in a heartbeat and I don't hesitate to reccommend him to anyone. You cn rest easy with Dr. Ortiz, knowing you are with one of the best.

Hi Four years ago, I ws hospitalized with Legionaire's Disease and was also a very long time smoker. It really did a number on my lungs. I had my surgery 7-16 in Mexico and they did a breathing test on me./ They said I only had 61% lung capacity so they gave me an Albuteral treatment before and then again after the surgery. So, I don't think you would have a problem unless you have less lung capacity. I didn't have any problems.

Stairs were NO PROBLEM. In fact, if it wasn't for the tenderness of the incisions, I wouldn't be able to tell I had the surgery.