DiSanders

I know the 25% failure rate is daunting-but that is 75% success! What other weight loss effort can boast that? I still think that the success or failure is more determined by the human factor than anything to do with the band. If course there are complications, but those complications are still a small per centage of the reasons for failure. I have been on this site reading exhaustively for the past few months, and I've yet to read a post that says the instructions for diet AND exercise were followed to the letter and no weight was lost!

I gained BIG time! Once I made the appointment, I quit even trying to regulate myself. I was eating creme sticks for breakfast, fast food for lunch, and snacking all night. I gained at least 30 pounds-but now I know it will be the LAST 30 pounds I ever gain!!

I think the band was created for people like us who do not stop eating when we're full. There is a physical reminder when we have eaten too much that is just not there without the band. I am even getting that "uh oh" feeling after drinking too big of sips. So yes-it WILL work for you!

Right now i am eating yogurt-7g of protein per serving. It is the perfect food-high in protein, calcium, and portable!

I REFUSE to go by the scale. I am only going to weigh myself once a week. I DO NOT care what the scale says, I only care how my clothes fit. I was down 13 lbs 4 days after being banded-how can any other weight loss be less than a let down? IF I follow the plan I know it will work-so the scale will not dictate my moods.

I don't mean this to sound flippant, but I am more ashamed of committing suicide and having those who found me think my house was messy. Sooo...until I get around to really doing a deep clean, I guess I'll stay alive!

I went to my regular doctor the day I got back to check my incisions and my discharge orders. He made a referral for me for a specialist who will do my fills, etc...

Let me echo everyone's reasons for going to Mexico. If I would have had to wait a year to jump through all, of the hoops required here, I would have gone crazy. It was a month between my initial contact and my surgery-nolw it is over and I am on my way!!!

As fo r food, I copied a diet from someone here yesterday that allowed baked potatoes on the seventh day...HALLELUJAH!!!! I had half a baked potato for dinner last night and it was the most delicious thing I've ever tasted in my life.

It has been a week for me since my surgery-I am a little puffy AND a little sore still. I went back to work yesterday and wish I could have taken more time off. My weirdest side effect to date is a really sore throat! Has anyone else experienced this? I can't figure out why my throat would hurt-there was no tube inserted, so why ismy throat sore????

Another twin mom! Mine are 14, though-girls. They have been a big support to me during this band saga. My new band incisions feel a lot like my c-section!

I am right with you-banded on 11/29! I am soooo excited to start this journey!

I was just banded on 11/29 at the Molding Clinic. It was a very positive experience. Everything was spotless, and Celina and the doctors were great. We were booked into a five star hotel, and Celina called me at least once daily. I would recommend this experience for anyone. My husband is VERY picky and a bit neurotic about doctors, and even he was impressed with how everything turned out. It has only been six days, but I feel great. I saw my personal doctor on Friday, and he was impressed with my incisions and the discharge orders.Feel free to send me a private email if you have any specific questions.

Wow, Deena! That is impressive weight loss for such a short time! I am getting banded on the 28th, and I hope I have similar results. I know that once I see some weight fall off it will all have been worth it!

I applaud your tenacity. I am blessed to be able to "self-pay" because I KNOW I would not have the patience to wade through the insurance hassle. Why don't the insurance companies recognize that this is actually a cost-EFFECTIVE procedure in the long run? I know my meds for anxiety, depression, and heartburn (all weight-related!) EQUAL what this band will cost in one year's time! Do you have a retirement plan to borrow against, or a generous relative? This is the time to get industrious! I would take out a loan at any interest rate if I had decided this was right for me. The best investment is YOURSELF!!! Hang in there-Diane:Bunny

Do you know if Barix clinics will do fills for surgeries done outside of the country? I have the name of a doctor in Akron-Dr. Chlysta-but have not contacted him yet.

I made the mistake of having a tummy tuck before I lost weight. All it did was act like a huge rolling pin-all of my fat went upwards to my upper stomach, arms, and chest. At the time of the surgery I weighed 182 and was mortified-thought that would be my "high." Forty pounds later...from the side now I look like a barrel-no fat on my lower stomach but a ton above it! I am eager to see how I will look "post band". One crazy thing about an abdominoplasty-a new belly button! You'll never regain feeling there...it's like a "black hole" in the middle of your stomach!

I would love to loan everyone some of mine:rolleyes:...Maybe mine would be more impressive if I didn't have 2 more sets underneath them! I am built like the Michelin man...but not for long, baby!

I am continually amazed at hoe "helpless" we allow grown men to become. If mine doesn't want to cook, he can go out. My kids never eat what I cook for them anyway. The weird thing is that I love to cook. I see it as a different activitiy than eating. I actually see myself maybe cooking even more because I'll have the time to do it. I just won't eat it!

You would LOOOVE my husband! He loves concerts and feels left out when we miss one. He is lucky now because my 14 year old twin daughters are big music fans. We just saw...Weezer with Foo Fighters, The Killers and Hot Hot Heat, Green Day, Ryan Adams, went to lollapalooza in chicago in july...i am into "girly bands" like the Indigo Girls and Sarah McLaughlin...seen them both many times...my girls saw the rolling stones and beck--I love the eagles and am waiting for a tour to come to cleveland that is actually affordable!

lurking on this broad-you sound like my students! I had to smile...

I live in OHIO and am having my surgery done in Mexico. Even if I have to go back there for fills, it will be less expensive than having it done here. I look at the price tag as an advance on all the money I won't be speding on food, alcohol, diet coke, and fat lady clothes. Considering I eat out at least once a day-I should be about even in a year! I am not trying to downplay the costs-I had to borrow against my retirment, but I refuse to put myself off any longer. I would take a second job, do a home equity, beg or borrow from relatives--ANYTHING. I have spent two months researching the foreign doctors and truly believe we are going to see more and more of this. Our American doctors are forced to spend so much on malpractice insurance--I don't blame them, but I'm not playing that game. I also have some risk factors-but nothing losing the weight won't cure. GO FOR IT-make it happen yourself and quit being at the mercy of the health care system!!

I have my surgery on the 28th, and I am trying to wean myself off diet coke. Right now I am substituting one for one without caffeine. I hope by the time of my surgery I will be off it completely!

Best of luck to you-hope it goes GREAT!

i don't care what the scales say-i am only going to go by how my clothes fit. they are the best barometer!