mbanja

I had my band done in TJ, MX by Dr. Huacuz at the Huacuz sugical center. I found him at Group Lapband Trip to Mexico it is a group trip and they try to take multiple people so its a group. You meet others and go thru the lapband journey with them. It was great. I was very happy with the staff and how perfessional they were. Some of the night time nurses didn't speak english but it was not that much of a problem. They know when you ask for pain meds or water, or anything you need. I was given exceptional care. Dr. Huacuz also does plastic surgery and if it comes down to me needing it, I would go to him in a heartbeat. The price in MX is awsome. Roundtrip and a 3 day 2 nite stay cost a total of $8,000. The coordinator even arranged my flight and pick up from the airport, and she was actually with me the whole time. I am so happy I chose MX. Being a self pay it really saved me loads of money. For fills, I could go back to MX for free, but I live in GA so it would be expensive. I use fill centers usa for fills. Some people have not had good experiences with them, but I am happy so far.

Yes it is over the counter. The over the counter brand is called Alli 60mg. To get the 120mg you have to have a perscription. WOAH, it is not fun. WARNING: Orange oil leakage from your rear! Don't even try to pass gas while taking it cuz it will be a mess. Took it both pre and post band. Didn't really have an effect on weight loss either way. To much trouble for what it is worth in my opinion. And I second what Miper said. It does ruin your clothes and if it goes thru your clothes onto the chair you are sitting in, it ruins that too! If you are going to try it, I would suggest getting depends. Not just the panty liners, the whole underware. It ruined so many pairs of my underware. I had a grilled chicken salad with fat free ranch dressing and 15mins later orange gooo was running down my leg. I know that is TMI, but I just want you to know what you are getting into ahead of time! Too bad they don't make those cloth diaper covers for adults. You know, the plastic panty covers for babies....or do they?

Ohhh, Ohhh, I have a no touch zone too! My hubby doesn't care about the excess weight and skin around my stomach. And now that I have had a c-section the skin hangs differently and makes me super self concious! When my hubby wants to love me up in bed the first thing he does is wrap his arm around me and starts "rubbing my fat." Ugg, I hate it. I try to tell him that if he wants me in the mood, that is the quickest way to kill it. I know he just doesn't care about the skin and fat, but all I keep thinking about is how disgusting it must be to feel that. I know he doesn't think it is disgusting, but it really bothers me. I have about 50lbs more to my goal, so a TT is not in my near future, plus I want to have at least 1 more child so I don't want to do it until I am finished having kids. He is optimistic that the skin will shrink and I will have a flat stomach, but being realistic, it is not going to happen. I have really bad stretch marks, I have been over weight all my life, and my skin doesn't have as much elasticity.

I have not read it yet but you could check out Khalia Ali's book (Muhammad Ali's daughter). Seems like she has had great enough success to write a book on her banded weight loss journey.

Light salt was recommended to my mother when she did the Quick weight loss diet. Personally I can't tell a difference in the flavor. I am a salt addict too! Kosher salt has less sodium than regular salt and sea salt has less sodium in it too. If I am not mistaken, and I could be, I think kosher salt has less sodium than some sea salts. Go to the grocery store and compare the sodium content on the boxes. That is what I did when I was pregnant. I ended up buying Kosher salt, so that is why I am thinking it has the lowest sodium than regular and sea salts. Can't give any input on Nu-salt, never tried or heard of it.

Watch out for frozen dinners and canned soups. Some have loads of sodium in them! I have been on a Wendy's chili kick since banding.

OMG whatta great post! My DH doesn't know how much I weigh, but he can ball park it! It is my goal to weigh at most what he weighs, hopefully ten lbs lighter! When my water broke a year ago I went into the hospital and the nurse ask how much I weighed right in front of him. I said, "do I have to answer that question?" And she kinda looked at me, I finally fessed up to 258lbs. Well, I was pregnant. My hubby weighs maybe 158 soken wet. It was sooooooo embarrassing letting the cat outta the bag that I weighed 100lbs more than him.

BTW Jfran, you look gorgeous in your Dec. pic! Way to go! Not that you don't look good in your others, but you look so much more full of life and energy. I can see your happiness all over your face! Good for you! I also love your hair wavy too!

I think I am on my way to 16's too! I am too scared to go try them though! I just bought a pair of juniors size 19 and I can pull the down without unbuttoning or unzipping them. Congrats to you!!!

Hey guys, I am Michelle and I am 26yoa. I am married and have a 1year old daughter. My biggest motivation to get this surgery was I wanted to feel better about myself. After I had my baby I went from 200lbs to 260lbs. I lost 30lbs preband but it stalled. I tried the Nutrasystem diet and went a whole month eating that crappy food and only lost 2lbs. I was fed up. I was and still am healthy with no co-morbidities soooo long story short I hoped on a plane to TJ, Mexico and got my band. I am kind of a slow looser, I was banded 8/07 and have only lost 34lbs. I am 1.4lbs away from onderland and it is killing me every time I jump on the scale. I am so glad though to see people here in their 20's getting banded! The psychologist I met with said she was glad too that more 20 something people were discovering the band. I have been heavy all my life and I am working hard on trying to get some much needed self esteem. I really have a problem with my body image and I don't want that to rub off on my little girl! That was also a major motivator in my decision. I don't want my girl to go thru school with no self esteem and poor body image!

I tried yobaby to start out with since my hubby's favorite is Soneyfield farms which makes yobaby. She hated it. I tasted it and it is hardly sweet at all. I guess if you like plain yogurt flavor then some might like it. I am not a big yogurt fan, though. I also tried some other brand specifically geared towards babies and it tastes like the yobaby. They are good brands cuz they don't have as much sugar in them, but my baby doesn't like them. I wish she did cuz my hubby is type 1 diabetic so we are having to watch out for our little girl who might get it. I try and watch how much sugar she is getting. I also, because I have a weight problem, am trying to keep my baby intrested in water, veggies, and wholesome snacks. As opposed to loads of fruit juice, gatorade, cookies, cakes, and ice cream. Funny thing is, while I am trying to do this, my family sabatoges my efforts by giving her cakes and other crap! I tried to explain to my family the reason why I want to limit her sugar intake, but they don't seem to listen.

I love the way I eat now, but sometimes I do miss being able to eat a hamburger or a calzone. Its funny cuz I never really liked hamburgers that much!

I have started giving my 1year old yogurt and damn if its not in there!!!!

I actually hit my own personal sweet spot on my first fill.....but didn't realize it until I went and got another fill. Long story, but I ended up too tight and had to have all the 2nd fill taken out. It actually made my first fill volume on the too tight side too. So now I am at my first fill volume, but have more restriction and am slightly still too tight. Don't know why at the same volume it feels tight, but it is.

I bought a total gym for my hubby, and I also have an elepitcal. In my own opinion I would go for the tread mill. Like others have said, you can add things in with that. The total gym is basically strength training, no cardio. Mine hasn't been used it about 3 years. It is also a pain because you have to adjust it all the time depending on what workouts you want to do. I wouldn't spend the money on it. Unless of course you want to buy mine. LOL!

I hate the stuff. I was eating something the other day, sorry can't remember what it was, but I looked at the ingredients and damn if it wasn't in there. It was something that wasn't even sweet. I think that food companies put it in foods to make us addicted and keep buying the crap!

Well, the people that get the fastest possible results, are the ones that don't indulge. It is hard to explain it, but you will find out in all due time. If you want to shed it fast, keep a super close eye on your diet. If you want to enjoy food, just not much of it, and still loose, you can pretty much eat like you want. There will be times that your loss will stall and you will kick yourself and say, "why did I eat that?" But for the most part you will be ok. Just don't eat around your band!

It is typical to get preband hebies! Try not to freak out. I know it is hard. Most people can eat their favorites just less. One thing that I found is after banding I didn't crave things I use to, and things I use to love didn't really "do it" for me anymore. It wasn't to the point where I was crazy about it though. I didn't even miss them. Some people's taste changes after the band. I did weight watchers off and on before banding with no success. I was ALWAYS hungry! Now though, I will do my weight watchers plan when I hit a plateau, and believe it or not I can't even eat all the points I am allowed. I usually drop down 1 to 2 point columbs, which means I am not eating as many points as I should for my body weight. The trick with weight watchers though is you really have to eat the right things. You have to make sure to get the protien and veggies in, not just eat 10 bags of 100 cal cookies because they are only 2 points a bag.

I buy the generic Zantac and it is about the size of a baby aspirin. I have no problem with them. I can't compare it to the size of namebrand Zantac since I have never bought those. I am tight, but I don't have any problems getting pills down.

I chose mine for the sames reasons as Stareyez, and cuz I didn't want to look like a bobble head doll. Example: Star Jones (GBS) vs. Khaliah Ali (Lapband). Of course it helps having mega $$ for plastic surgery, cuz Star gotta lotta that done. I on the other hand don't so I though with lapband I'd loose it slow enough to give my body and skin a chance to try and catch up. It is no garuntee that I won't need PS, but with GBS you tend to loose it mega fast.

I too would suggest going back to basics. Also, cut out all the diet soda! The carbination alone can stretch you little pouch, add it to food that is in there and it is just bad formula!

Snowbird, I am so glad your daughter's girls evened out!! Poor thing. Being young with mixmatched boobs is hard. Especially if she is a teen.

I've never like front closure bras either, my boobs are not big, but if I bent a certain way the thing would pop open. Check out the spanx web site, take a look at their bras. Personally I think it would feel wonderful having supportive hose material holding up my girls. Plus, I seriously need help with the backfat! When I get my bra I will be sure to give ya'll a review of it!!

Well, ladies I am surprised no one has posted this one since Spanx are a bandster must have! Spanx has come out with a new bra it is not on the market yet, but it comes out on Jan 8th I think, for sure in Jan. It is made from hose material and has a front clasp no underwire and is supposed to be super comfortable and supportive. They already make one that is like a sports bra it is about $35. The new one is going to be about $60. I know this is kinda pricy but it looks as if it will illiminate the shoulder strap indention. Plus it is supposed to minimize back fat and side boob fat! I can't wait I have already preorder one!! If you are a fan of Spanx check it out on their website!!

Alotta people use stevia here. I have not tried it so I can't give you any insite, sorry. I was warned though to sweeten carefully when using it cuz it is very sweet. If you try it take it a little at a time and taste to get the right sweetness.