Lynn_Marie

I have DEFINITELY saved alot of money since I have been banded. I was self pay, too... $7,700 in Mexico. It's been about a month and a half since surgery and I no longer have to take 3 medications I was taking before surgery. We all know how EXPENSIVE medications are. Also, our food bill has decreased greatly because I eat so little and my husband is cutting back his portion sizes, too. We actually eat pretty cheap now. What is the cost of one egg for breakfast? 1/2 cup of refried beans with 1/2 oz of cheese on top for lunch and a 3-4 oz chicken breast or piece of fish for dinner??? That's it except the protein powder which I buy at WalMart for about $12 and it lasts forever! I was already taking various vitamins before surgery so no change there. Overall I think I'm living considerably cheaper than before...and that's just the food end of it. Can't wait until I can buy 'regular' size clothes and not have to pay extra for 'plus' size!!!

:rose: Oh yeah...I'm also taking the Spring Valley brand of chewable calcium...the chocolate. Now I won't give those up because I am very strict with my diet and I enjoy having them 3 times a day because it's like a treat for me. I also use Perfect B for a B complex....like it, too.

I'm currently taking Centrum Silver chewables, which taste just fine...but I don't really want to be taking synthetic vitamins. Any suggestions??? Anyone tried the GNC powdered ones that are supposed to be natural? And are they really? :rose:

So, how do doctors determine when a fill is necessary and how much it should be???

Just thought of a question I want to ask. I'm going to Jamaica in June and if all goes well I will have several fills by then. Is that a problem??? I don't think the flights are that long. One from KC to Nashville and then a layover and then another one from Nashville to Jamaica.

Wow, if you're going to India you could have just had your lapband surgery there for lots less!!! I checked into it before I decided on Mexico.

I really appreciate everyone's advice on this. I have told myself that, hate the treadmill or not, I am going to get on it first thing in the morning...no excuses. I have set a goal of 30 minutes, but won't beat myself up if I don't last that long. Something I may not have mentioned in my first post is that my hips hurt really bad when I walk a ways. It's getting a little better, but they still hurt. I also have a knee that wants to give me the blues since I have lost some weight and become more active. So I'll just take it easy at first...but I'm gonna make myself do it!!! I like the atmosphere at the Y. I wish it wasn't so high...and $50 is a special rate for educators!!! I'll be checking around to see if there is a gym anywhere close that is less. :car:

I definitely agree that the key is finding something you enjoy. What I really LOVE is water fitness at the Y. But I haven't been back since I had a mastectomy and I'm a little apprehensive about that with a prosthesis and all. And of course the other issue is the $$$$ They want $50 per month that I don't have right now.:cry

Laura...go for it ...just don't give up too soon. I've tried several different recipes now and can't say I liked them all. Wheetsin...thanks for the new recipes. I'm definitely going to try them. What does it mean to 'sweat' an onion, and what is Evoo??? :waytogo:

Some doctors call that your 'soft stop'. It has to do with the vagus nerve that runs down the throat. There's another thread about the 'soft stop' and the vagus nerve and the link on that nerve is interesting to read. :waytogo:

I don't have a hard fast rule on that, but most days I eat dinner by 6 or 7 pm and never eat after dinner. I try to stick to just 3 meals, a protein drink and vitamin/mineral supplements daily. :waytogo:

Anyone out there going to a chiropractor for adjustments that can tell me how that is going? Can slippage or any other problem with the band be caused? I really want to see mine for an adjustment of my sacrum. :help:

There were 4 of us that went to Dr. Arturo Rodriguez in Monterrey, MX. All 4 surgeries went just fine and no complications what-so-ever. Scars are all healing nicely, everyone losing weight. Dr. Rodriquez and his staff are all very nice and the facilities are very clean and everything is very organized and well run. The hotel 2 of us stayed at was a brand new Courtyard by Marriott. The other 2 opted for the 5 star hotel. We were all very pleased with our accomodations. If it means anything to you, Dr. Rodriguez is a member of The American Society of Bariatric Surgery. You can see the certificates he holds on his website. I didn't just take it for granted, though...I also went to the website for the Am Soc. of Bariatric surgeons and found it there. Dr. Rodriguez also gives you his cell # and you can call and speak with him directly anytime before or after surgery if you want provided he is not in surgery or otherwise tied up. His website is thebariatric.com ...sorry, I don't know how to make that a link for you. The lowest price paid by any of us (2 of us) was $7,700. Hope this helps!!! :clap2:

IndioGirl55 said: HERE YOU GO... comp met panel - lipid panel - cbc w/Dif - Vitamin A - Ferritin - Folate B9, rbc Lolabe (can't read this word) - b12 level - iron & TIBC- magnesium - TSH - protein total - pre-albumin - b1 2 3 5 6 - D 25 (oh) Serum Zn - Homocystein - Hemoglobin A1C<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig --> __________________ <!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->________________ <!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->prbrooksie said: Dr Malley has ordered a CBC, CMP, Hemoglobin A1c, and a TSH, T4. I am going to be seeing Dr. Malley at the end of October, so it's good to know ahead of time what he might be going to order in the way of labs. Problem is I guess I have too many doctors!!! Right now on my fridge I have two lab orders from two different docs, one from my pcp and one from my endocrinologist and looks like I'll be getting a third next month. I'm thinking about just waiting and having them all done at the same time and then having the results sent to each of them..anyone have any thoughts on that???<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I can't find the Viactiv brand in sugar-free, but I LOVE the store brand sugar-free chocolate calcium chews. At first I felt like I was Cheating!!! Now I just feel like I'm having a little treat. I also take the Centrum Silver, but am thinking about changing over to a natural rather than synthetic vitamin/mineral supplement....probably powdered. Anyone have any suggestions on that???

Hmmmm.... Passive Viewer isn't so passive after all. LOL! I agree that most of us promote our own doctors if we had good experiences and that we need to keep things here on a positive note. Also, on a more personal level, I would like to say that I have found Bubblebutt's posts to be overall quite informative. Passive, I believe that if you would poll the people here who have had their surgery done in the states and had no complications, and asked them how long they were in the hospital, most of them would say they were only in overnight.

INDIOGIRL55 In one of your posts you said: In my book I have a paper to give to my pcp to run blood test every six months and gives a list of what i should be tested for. Could you please share with us what those things are that we should be tested for? Thanks!

Ok...I bought some 'silken' tofu over the weekend and I'm going to make the spinach dip recipe that's on the side of the package. I'll let you all know how it turns out! :clap2:

Tonic Water works perfectly! If you can't get past the taste try diluting it and/or flavoring it. It works so good I took it all the way to Africa with me in '05.

Lynn_Marie August 13, 2007

Lynn_Marie August 13, 2007

I bought some extra firm tofu and sliced it and put Sweet Baby Ray's bbq sauce on it and put it on the grill. It was good, but next time I'm going to marinade it in the sauce for an hour or so and then grill it. I'm also going to freeze the tofu first to make it firmer. Does it sound like I am on the right track???

Hi...I'm not a vegetarian, but I am interested in tofu and other soy products. Any ideas for breakfast?

Hi everyone! I was banded on Aug 13 so it's been about 4 1/2 weeks for me. So far as I know I have lost either 19 or 20 pounds...not having any problems...scheduled for 1st fill on Oct. 22 but trying to get in sooner because that is 10 weeks post op. and I really don't want to wait that long having read on here about "bandster hell" which is a place I definitely don't want to be! :clap2: :bounce: :whoo:

I eat 3 meals a day..no more, no less. 4 oz or 1/2 C per meal...no more, no less. I make sure I get all my water, vitamins and protein in daily. I eat protein first and have no room for anything else after that. If I get hungry again at bedtime I just go to bed. No more food, regardless of how hard my stomach growls.