Dianechef

Hey Kare! I love the music!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! I finally downloaded it onto my MP3 player & my favorite is the first one called SUCCESS. I had never heard that before!! Great selection!!

Step Away From The Chocolate!!!

Kare!! I got mine today!! YEAH!! Thank you so much. You are so kind. I haven't looked at the list or listened to them yet because I need to download it to my computer & then put them on my I-pod. (I don't have a CD player anymore!) I can't wait to listen to it. This was a great little Christmas present. THANK YOU!!!!

You are such a nice person. What a wonderful offer to share. I've already PM'd you, but wanted you to know that I think you are so fabulous. I love having you on this forum. You're a great inspiration to us all!!!

I personally went to Mexico because of Dr. Ortiz. When I was studying up on Lapband surgery I found out that Dr. Ortiz had actually trained several American doctors on the lapband & that really made me want to have the surgery with HIM!! In my research I hadn't found ANYONE who was unhappy with him. (There may be some out there, but I haven't found them yet!!) At first I wasn't thrilled about going to Mexico because well......it's Mexico!! Then, when I started doing all the paperwork with BC/BS I realized it was going to be a nightmare. I said forget it all I ran across the border. I don't regret my decision even for a second. Dr. Ortiz & Martinez have been exceptional & I was very well cared for. Just my 2 cents worth!!

Ha!! Very funny. No problem. I guess Tempe really is East side!!!! Thanks Andrea!!

Not sure what you're asking? Are we sending items directly to YOU or are you taking donations to help people in you area.

THANK YOU for this wonderful story Carmen!!! I am so happy for you. I think it should be a requirement for everyone to post on their anniversaries. We love to read them. They are so inspiring. You are beautiful Carmen

Andrea - We have several AZ Lap banders who live on the West side. Tempe is central to everything. I personally would LOVE to meet on the East side since it's closer to me, however; I think there are several who would have to end up driving a very long distance & I'd like to make it fair for them. We'll make sure to find one that's easy access to the freeway for our cute country bumpkin!! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, Jan. 14th at 12:00. We'll find the perfect place!!

I am totally open to any restaurant we can meet at. Chili's is the only place I know of in that area. Anybody else know of a good restaurant in Tempe that has easy access to the freeway?!? Andrea, you are VERY smart to not have told anyone. Seriously. If I could do it again, I wouldn't have said a word to anyone. Very funny about your daughter telling the people at the dance studio. Kids are too honest aren't they?!?! I am open to lunch in January and the Vegas Bash!! Sounds fun!!

Hey Andrea, Did you end up telling your mother or not?!?

That's right Terri. You live so far away! Lunch it is!!!! How does Jan. 14th look for everyone? We can meet in Tempe which should be a central location. I know there's a Chili's restaurant off of University/Mill. It's right off the 202 & pretty easy to find.

Hi Andrea! Congratulations & welcome to bandland!! I too am in AZ. I live in Gilbert. We could be close to each other!! How are you feeling?!?! I am hoping that we can get enough people together to meet for breakfast on a Saturday morning sometime in January. I have never met anyone in person who had lapband & would love to be able to talk to people face to face.

Thank you for posting this!! I had the EXACT same problem & I thought it was just me!! I also have large boobs & they started itching. I thought I was going crazy & couldn't figure it out. I had a friend who told me it was from the weight loss & that my skin reacted to it. Will our boobs ever look normal again after weight loss?!? It's a little scary to look at them!!!!

Hi Michelle! I AM SO HAPPY YOUR HOME. I love your attitude & how great you are handling this all. I too am a patient of Dr. Ortiz. I am very confused about this "stitch". Can you explain a little more? Is this a stitch that was placed in a certain place that normally isn't? Do all bandsters have this stitch placed in the same place? I am confused at how a stitch can cause erosion. I know so many people have asked the same question, but I truly don't understand!!! I'd love more info.

I am so impressed!! Congratulations! PLEASE share with us what you feel has been your success?!?! Do you work out? Count calories or just let the band do its thing?!?!? Your goals are EXACTLY what mine are. I have always told my husband that my goal is to weigh less then him. I'm gettin' there!!! I love to read these kinds of posts. They inspire me. Thanks for sharing!!

I joined Lifetime fitness too & LOVE IT!! I have felt very comfortable there. If anyone needs a little incentive to work out, I would definately encourage you to check these gyms out if you have one in your town. I look forward to working out. I am thrilled that my weight loss has been "slow". My body has time to adjust which means the chances of me ever gaining back this weight is very slim. My friend had Gastric Bypass surgery the same day that I did. She has lost 80 lbs & I am at 36 lbs. However, her skin is HANGING on her & her face looks very sunken in. I am THRILLED that I won't have any of that. This is all GOOD!!

I started doing something that has really worked & helped me in my weight loss battle. (Besides this band of course!) I am not a good calorie counter. I have too much to do & it seems like stopping to count every little nibble I took was overwhelming. But, I have been at a plateau recently & knew that I HAD to take an inventory of what was going in my mouth. I made up a chart of meals that I like & they already have the calories counted out for me. For instance, One day I drink a Protein Shake for Breakfast & then a Wendy's Chili & ceasar salad for lunch. I already caculated exactly how many calories, Protein, carbohydrates etc. is in these meals. Then, the only thing I need to count is what I eat for dinner. I can handle counting one meal!!! The next day I pick another menu of foods that I have already counted out the calories. Easy! Easy! Easy! These are all foods that I like & eat regularly. I know they're healthy & I don't have to guess anymore. Hurray! This has done wonders for me & taken all the work out of COUNTING!!! I've been at 230 for 4 weeks now. I started doing this 8 days ago & the scale now says 226. WAHOO!!! It's working. Just thought I'd share in case there are others out there who are in the same boat.

Hey Jonathon! WELCOME HOME!! Your name & face are very familiar to me because my kids go on your "Waisting Away" website all the time to play pacman. We all completely understand your situation & you are definately in good hands here. We're willing to give you a good kick in the butt too if you need it. I'm sure we all need one now & again. I have often wondered about you & how you were doing. Thanks for checking in. Hang in there. "If life were easy, it wouldn't be hard!!"

I've read all the threads from the slow losing turtles & then read all the successes from the rappid weight losing rabbits. I am somewhere in between. I had great success in the beginning, but can't seem to get going anymore. I have stayed at the same weight for a whole month & this morning I GAINED 2 lbs!!! What the heck?!?! I'm so frustrated!! As much as I LOVE all you turtles out there, I WANT TO BE A RABBIT!!! I had my first fill 8 weeks ago & have lost only 5 lbs since. I feel restriction, but my problem is that the band doesn't restrict junk. I think I truly have no control over food!! I tried to eat broccoli yesterday & slimed it up. Then I tried some chicken. Same thing!! Then, I tried cheetos & they went down great. THIS IS WRONG!!! My band won't let me eat healthy foods, but all the junk goes down just fine. I work out 3x a week & eat healthy most of the time. (I have a few slip ups here & there, but not every day!) I am so emberassed over people asking me if I've had my surgery yet. HELLO!!! I had it 3 months ago & have lost 30 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, nobody can tell. What are you rabbits doing that works?!?! How can I join the rabbit club?!?!

I have been a part of Curves for over 3 years. It is WONDERFUL for people who are not used to working out & getting exercise. (That was me!) The people who go are people just like us!! I was never emberassed or felt like I was in a meat market. (You know how people want to dress to impress!) I loved it for the 3 years I participated. However, I reached a point where it wasn't enough & I needed a little more. I just recently ended my contract & joined a gym with a trainer & it has made all the difference. However, I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't of joined Curves & got my foot in the door to exercising again!! Good Luck!!

Okay, I've heard from 3 of you so far who'd like to get together. Let's do it!! I live in Gilbert. Where are the rest of you?!?! I want to find a central area. Please reply with the area you live in & what day/time would work best for you. I'm thinkin' a Saturday Morning Brunch would be fun!! :mad: Gosh, I'm looking at my calendars and Nov & Dec are crazy months for me. Is everyone else as busy as I am?!? Maybe we should shoot for January. I can't wait to put a face with all the names!!

Oh, I love chips & salsa!! We went to dinner the other night & I ate so much chips & salsa that I was completely stuffed before my real food ever came. I just make sure I don't keep the stuff around the house or I'd have a VERY BIG problem!! It goes down toooo easily!!! My suggestion: Get rid of the chips - FAST!! That will fix your problem.

I have to say... PB's scared me before I had the band. I kept thinking of it as a real throw up or a very large burp with lots of food coming up. For those who are pre-banded, please know that a PB is really not a big deal. It's just a small amount of slime that comes up in your mouth & nobody even knows you've had a PB except you. Now, there are moments when you are in pain, but those are not considered PB's, that's food getting stuck & it happens on a few occasions - but you learn real fast how to avoid that happening again. If the thought of PBing is holding you back from getting the band, you really have nothing to be afraid of. REALLY!! It becomes a part of life & isn't a big deal. Everyone reacts to different foods. Even the same person can eat some foods today & not tomorrow. It's a very strange thing!! Today I could not eat a tortilla. Tomorrow - who knows!?!? Good luck with your research!!

Hi wonderkidsmom!! If we met in Tempe on a Saturday at about 10 a.m. would that be convenient for you? I think Tempe is probably the most central for everyone. Where's all the other AZ Bandsters?!?! Come out! Come out!! Where ever you are!!!