FlaLMT

Hello! Registered not 5 mins ago. Yay. I would like to hear from Dr Aceves' patients. I am currently emailing back and forth with Nina. (She is so nice!!!!!) Can anyone share experiences? Really excited, anxious and scared, I guess. :boink:

Absolutely loving my band! L photo: Nov 2006 R photo: Just this Friday at my fiance's cousin's wedding.

Just wanted to share... Happened this morning when I ate some leftovers. Bad, bad, bad. :tongue: I am now sipping hot tea to calm things down. Will stay on liquids for the next few days. PB'ing sucks but it truly is a good reminder of how one has to be mindful. This is a small setback for me. I am truly proud of how much I have lost in 7 months! The band is STILL the best thing I've done for ME!!!!

MicheleK: Thank you so much. Gottaluvme: Thank you very much for your kind words. Truly, I appreciate it. As they say, the first step is always the hardest. I am excited for you! Even with all the crazy stuff that can/may happen, trust me - the band is worth it. Although I didnt have any co-morbidities, my fiance did. He had mild sleep apnea, which really affected both of us. He was always tired during the day and I couldn't sleep thru the night. He also suffered with heartburn and regularly popped tums at night. Only a month after surgery, he stopped waking up gasping for air and no more tums! I, on the other hand, can finally cross my legs and now wear a size 16/18 (started at 24). Things like this and not so much the number on the scale is what really makes it an amazing experience. About the PB: I can only relate my experience. Im sure everyone has experienced them differently. I ate leftovers which, for me, is never a good idea because I usually reheat in the microwave and that always dries food up! Anyway, I had about 4 bites and there it was. Getting stuck almost feels like I need to burp but can't. It was a very uncomfortable. I can't say it was painful though. I also did the worst thing you could do - I drank some Water. Thinking, "This will push it through." NO! So I paced a bit, tapped my chest and as soon as I turned to walk into the bathroom, it just came out. It caught me off guard actually. I thought it would feel like vomiting (force). It just slipped out, kinda poured out. It absolutely didn't feel like I was choking. I think you can be discrete about it. My fiance would excuse himself and just say he had to pee. I hope this helps you. My best advice is to always be mindful. Enjoy the food you are eating; the textures, the flavors... I think I can safely say that most of us shovel food down and not really savour it. I've found the slower I eat, the more mindful I am of the flavor, etc., I am quickly satisfied. Also, I find that it really doesn't help to constantly worry about it happening. It takes away from the great stuff that you should be celebrating (wt loss, dropping sizes, etc). If it does happen, learn what you did incorrectly, forgive yourself, and move on with a better understanding of your body. That's how I look at it anyway. Again, I hope this helps you and good luck!! :eek: (love these smileys! HA!)

Thanks Jack!!

Thanks Jack and Gayle. Today, the area feels numb when I touch it. No pain. Just an annoying numbess. I am keeping positive. :crying: 2 more days til my first fill!!

Hello everyone! I was banded 11/23/07. Weight loss has been great and I get my first fill on the 10th. (Very excited!) I have been really concerned about my port lately. At times, I feel a pinch just under my largest scar. Other times, the area feels numb. I feel one or the other almost every day the past few weeks. I realize the best thing to do is get it checked out at my first fill appointment. I'd appreciate any insight/opinion/experience though. Thanks in advance!! ~Nancy

I completely agree with Shortgal. You look great! Really. Congratulations!

OMG, this is so awesome! Started crossing my legs about a month ago and I actually felt like I wasnt going to fall over! hahaha. Too bad it increases occurrence of spider/varicose veins though... :-( Awesome NSV still!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the band!

BooBoo, What kind of Protein shake do you have for bfast? :biggrin:

Lovin my band!!

Hello fellow Nymphs! Was banded 11/23/07. Went to the gym for the first time since surgery yesterday. Did 30 minutes on treadmill (was at 2.9 speed) and 15 minutes on the bike. Felt really good!!! My goal is to spend at least an hour in the gym. I've read here that 30-45 minutes just isnt enough. I dont mind doing the exercise. In fact, I look forward to it! (lol) Anyway, my mini goal is to get into a size 14 by Feb 14. Now, I know setting a scale goal would be easier to track but I just dont know what weight that size would be for me. The only thing I could think of is when I was a size 18, I was about 230(??) So, Im guessing, 200? In any case, I need help with caloric intake. How much should I consume to get to 14 by the 14th? (Hey, that sounded cool!) I see a lot of people sticking to the recommended loss of 2 pounds a week. I would prefer being more aggressive without hurting my body. Help for the inexperienced please?? Thanks!!! Nancy~

Started doing the machines tonight. Leg press, triceps, biceps.. So sore... But it feels great to realize I can lift/press more than I thought I could. :wink: The trainer was really helpful. I liked her. We're not going to purchase sessions though. Waaaaaaaaay too much money. Learned the basics and will work with that for the next 3 weeks. Have a great weekend!

Two nights ago, I discovered a part of my body I've never felt before.... MY HIP BONES!!!!!!!!!!! Im shakin these hips cuz they dont lie! Oh yeah! :wink:

Jeannie, I live in Melbourne. Tallahassee, I think, is about 5 hours north. We love doing weekend trips so if we do go up north, I'll let you know! Trainer orientation tonight. Yay!!!!!!!!!!

Hey! Im about 5'7 and a half. Even distribution as well. (Hence the typical comment -- "Oh, youre not fat. Youre just big boned." ugh!) The area I most dislike are my arms. (Double ugh!) My fiance and I have our orientation with a trainer tomorrow night. Im actually looking forward to learning the proper techniques. Hey, I just noticed your signature. We're driving up to Columbus GA this weekend. We're visiting fiance's best friend. Have a great day!!!

Jeannie, I wish typing real fast counted as exercise!!! I will keep you posted. That way, there's accountability. I give you permission to kick my butt when I get lazy. hahahaha. Ok, going to the gym now. Kinda late but Im not gonna make excuses. Gotta do it!!!!

I have NEVER been a 14! Its my "ideal mini-goal", if that makes sense. But I'll take whatever I lose by then. Its kinda like "shoot for the moon..if you fall short, you'll land on the stars." Thanks again!

Hey, thanks Jeannie! I opened an account for this around Christmas and totally forgot about it! I was using SparkPeople and it only allows you to calculate loss of 2lbs/week. Thanks again!!

First off, congrats on getting banded! If I were in your shoes, I would be beyond pissed!! Your surgery wasnt --isnt-- info for her to tell. I myself despise confrontation but, I guess what I can suggest is, if you feel strongly about not talking to your "friend", then dont. But each time someone asks you how you're doing, say something like, "Im doing great, thanks. But I'd really to keep something that personal (weight lost, whatever the question was) private. I hope you understand. I appreciate you asking though. **BIG CONFIDENT SMILE**" I really think when people see how honest and confident you are with your decision as opposed to seeing this as a "secret" that is no longer, people will respond to YOU positively and to that blabbermouth, negatively. Just my two cents. Hope you feel better about this!! Congrats and good luck!!!!!

Does this apply to surgeries done out of country?? Thanks!

Hello!! Fiance and I were banded 11/23. No fills yet. Strayed a bit but for the most part chose healthier food. Had taboule (sp?) and hummus (sadly, with some pita.. but chewed, chewed, chewed). Mashed potatoes, egg salad, turkey. Again, chewed, chewed, chewed. Its definitely not easy during the holidays...plus the fact that we do not have much restriction. Although, we have noticed that mentally, we've changed.. We know we can eat more, but we dont. Looking forward to our first fill and an exercise routine in '08!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! I need some advice... I am having a tough time finding a fill doc in Central Fla. I live in Melbourne, Florida. My question is - Fluro or no fluro?? Need to weigh pros and cons, I guess. I'd appreciate your help. :eek:

mbanja: I am now finding that it is a personal preference. Im with you on liking seeing my insides and how its doing. :eek: Its just a little frustrating that its not a standard procedure, you know? Thanks for the response though. I appreciate it.

I didnt realize there were groups by month! Anyway, my fiance and I were banded on the 23rd. I have lost 12 lbs pre-op, another 12 lbs since surgery. 30lbs gone forever! :clap2: Its really exciting, and I cant wait to start an exercise routine. (Did I just say that??!?!? lol) My fiance's loss is a little slower compared to mine, which I think is odd but we're not complaining! :biggrin1: I hope to hear from everyone!