kgloverii

I am really sorry to hear that. I truly hope your band replacement you have scheduled fixes your issues... Sending you big hugs...

I am NOT one to join the drama that goes on via internet boards... I hate it intensely... HOWEVER, skinnyplease you DO seem to have some sort of vendetta. Seriously. Are you a patient coordinator or something? I've looked through your posts and you really seem to rail Ortiz and ONLY Ortiz, but no one knows your background... I am NOT an Ortiz worshipper. He was my doc. I have been very successful with my weight loss. I have been upfront and honest that the surgical experience went well, but there is always room for improvement... I am very curious to hear what your problem with Ortiz is, because you obviously have one, and honesty is a noble thing here...

I think we will ALWAY be aware. The previous posters comments, I echo. DH took me into Ann Taylor and we bought quite a few skirts and shirts... size 8. Ann Taylor is NOT forgiving in size. But I insist that I am still a 10 because somehow admitting that an 8 would actually fit, is impossible. I still see fat in the mirror. But as others have said, I'll see a reflection walking be a mirror and go... HOLY COW. But I have not wrapped my head around it. Maybe someday, but not quite yet... It is funny, cause my family went to McDonald's for lunch a month ago and I had ordered a Filet O Fish. I had 'dissected it' at the table and was eating the fish filet, no bun, and this lady was STARING at me. DH pointed it out and I was like "I can't eat anymore cause she's staring." I thought she was looking at me, going "That girl should NOT be eating that fish." DH told me, NO that's not why she was staring. It was cause me and him were sitting there, arms around each other... a black man and white woman with 2 adorable little MIXED children and in our small town, it occasionally gets looks of interest. But, my fat girl brain thought it was cause of the fatness... I just immediately KNEW it was cause of my weight. I told my mom that and she said "Katy, you would be the LAST person someone would look at and think that about the fish" and I know in my heart it is true... but I am still the fat girl... to me.

I don't REALLY like self torture, but why do I STILL do it to myself?! I am fairly experienced with the band, being over a year post op... There is a learning curve, but once you 'get it' you pretty much follow the rules... except every so often I still do stupid things... Like today... I made these nifty little BBQ beef biscuit thingies for my DH and kids for when I go to work tonight. They are easy to warm up and daddy-proof. So, they came out of the oven and I decided I needed to 'test' the cooking. Ate 1/2 and got the 'feeling' that I needed to stop. And still, I decided to rationalize, saying "If I just chew the last few bites a lot, it will be fine..." Like I can rationalize with my Band. In a couple minutes I was on the floor, doing the downward dog, trying to loosen up that overeating... and regretting every moment of it. Will I EVER learn?!! :cool:

Sweets are a beautiful thing. I always have liked them, and ALWAYS will. But I keep my sweet tooth in check by: A) keeping the sweets out of the house. If they are in the house, keeping them out of sight. By simply taking them off the counter and out of sight makes a difference. C) 100 cal packs provide instant portion control. A bite or two is not a bad thing. Half a pack of Cookies is... D) I love Sara Lee cheesecake bites in the frozen section. I can just eat 1-2 bites (20 cals each) and it is the perfect amount... I get the 'taste' for what I want. E) The previous person's idea for italian ices is a great idea. I also have the Flavorice freezer pops in my freezer ALL THE TIME. One of those makes my sweet cravings go away... F) Don't underestimate the power of fruit... Put it on your counter. Eat THAT as your sweet first. It will retrain your brain... GL!

Yes... I am treated much differently than before. my friend Julie and I were shopping in Ann Taylor. Pre-op, and even in the size 14 range, I was invisible to sales people. But now, in the size 8/10 range, I had salespeople hovering on top of me as I tried clothing on. It is an interesting perspective to have... Shows how shallow people are, really.

I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. Stay positive. Hope all is well... Keep us posted.

I couldn't live without my spices. Hotter the better. And lots of cinnamon too...

Just as an FYI- Every month, when it is TOM, I also get the tapeworm. I get ravenous and I swear my band loosens. But as soon as those 2-3 days are over, I'm restricted again and feeling great...

I'd also ask your PCP for a complete blood work-up. You should make sure your thyroid is working properly...

Leslie, I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. It DEFINITELY sounds like you are too tight. I went through your problem for a month, existing on liquids only for the most part and miserable as can be. I started getting reflux, woke up one night with the throw up in my mouth from some juice I'd drank an hour before bed, and got scared straight. I called my doc and got an unfill of .3 ccs and that made ALL of the difference in the world. I am restricted very nicely now, and am able to eat again, although not very much. My husband was scared to death for me, as yours is for you. Imagine if your band slips from being too tight. You'd be kicking yourself for not going to your doc. That is a real possibility, so treat yourself RIGHT and go get a bit taken out. It may not take much and you'll be on your knees thanking God that you can actually can eat. As a previous poster said, the band helps us lose by restricting our portions... it should NOT be making us unable to eat anything. After my slight unfill, I've lost more weight, even though I am eating more now. My body had gone into starvation mode.

On a minor occasion, I take an NSAID paired with Prilosec to protect my stomach. This is only when REALLY necessary.

The person is not very well written. And this could mean they may be a foreign user 'posting' as a patient so they can give rave reviews for their 'doctor' (i.e. employer). LBT is really good about looking at IP addresses.

A WLS exclusion on a policy is VERY hard to override. I hope you have good luck with it. You need to call them and find out how it would be considered 'medically necessary.' If it is a blanket exclusion, then it will be almost impossible to get it covered. GL.

I love teas... Chai is my favorite. I make a Tazo Chai Tea bag, let it steep for 5 mins, and then add 1 pkg of sugar in the raw and 1/2 milk. The best ever... and I get lots of calcium in that way too...

Congrats! I know exactly how you feel! It is amazing how your brain gets rewired when food is no longer a constant thought... Enjoy your new perspective! It truly is amazing!

It all depends on you and your body. I do not have a set amount of calories to 'aim for.' I just eat until I am full, since I am at my 'sweet spot.' Each person needs a different amount of calories for weight loss and maintenance. If I add it up, on a daily basis, I only eat about 1000 calories per day, and am currently losing weight at a VERY slow pace because I am nearing my goal weight. Even when you hit your goal and are in the maintenance phase, you will probably eat less calories than a 'normal' person. A lot of bandsters maintain their weight at about 1200 calories per day.

I occasionally have acid issues now, but it is very hit and miss. I take Zantac when there are issues.

People like making excuses period. A lot of people find solace in not taking responsibility for their actions... and your support group sounds like that. A good friend and I were joking about my new size 8 pants and she said "Yeah, if I had a rubber band I'd wear size 8's too." Coming from her I took it in stride and was not offended. But coming from someone else, well... that's just plain tacky. I now have the TOOL to make wise decisions. My good friend Julie, who had the band done the same day as I have, and I compare notes frequently. She and I were within a pound or two of each other up until a couple months ago, and now there is about 10 pounds difference. She freely admits that she has a love for chocolate and that is slowing her progress. She does NOT blame it on her being older or some crap. That's why I love her. She keeps it real. so many people beat up on others when they see success. There was a lower BMI'er that posted yesterday about how they'd lost 'faster than bypass' and she got railed because she is a low BMI'er and that so she had less to lose so that's why her stats match that, and blah blah, blah. My God. I felt like complete crap. My doc told me the same thing, about the faster than bypass and I knew it was a huge compliment. I had no idea others would look at me and make 'excuses' for my success. I work my butt off. I make good choices. My lower BMI does not make me set up for more success... I'd seriously speak up at your support group meeting and tell them the rude comments are uncalled for and snippy. And then remember YOU take credit for your success. Success is not just defined in better food choices, it is defined in YOU DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. Going to support group, taking an active role in your aftercare. And not sitting on the couch and crying about your lack of weight loss with a tub of bon bons. HUGS!

Happy Bandiversary!

Thank you for the clarification, MacMadame. I agree that Ortiz's business may be factory-like in nature, but it is a competent factory. I enjoyed my 'factory' experience. :smile2:

Long term, we eat the same stuff. Usually, I can't eat breakfast, but love to cook, so today I had the waffle maker out and bacon for DH and the kids and it didn't bother me. There was a little cinnamon-infused maple syrup that dripped down the side of the bottle, that I was happy to test, but otherwise didn't miss a thing. The rest of the day, we all eat the same. I am not interested in running 2 kitchens. Whatever I make that is a lot of bread, like potatoes, rice, pastas, anything like that, I just don't put much of that on my plate... I make a fabulous THICK spaghetti sauce that I don't need the pasta for... or I use spaghetti squash, for the WHOLE family. Your family's eating habits may change a bit... we eat more proteins and veggies... and less Hamburger Helper... and that is good for everyone.

Guys, this thread is a year old. Kimmee already had her surgery. :cool:

I agree with PPs regarding Ortiz's PR savvy-ness. He may lack in the aftercare department... but I don't think he'd just ignore a patient. JMHO.