marys

Just wanted to let those looking for a Utah fill doc that I just had a SUPER good experience with Dr. McKeen and his nurse Chris in Orem, Utah. I am a very discouraged/unhappy band patient and have been going to mexico for my fills. I was nervous about going outside of Mexico but wanted to try a different doc and go local, etc. I was a little concerned about not having the flouro (he has access to it but i think only uses it if warranted). And i am embarrasingly scared of needles - anyway - it was a wonderful experience and both the nurse and doctor talked to me at length and totally put me at ease and gave me good information and hope i could succeed - even slowly with the band. He does a numbing shot which they don't do in Mexico so really didn't feel anything - the numbing shot hurt for like 2 seconds (minor tho even for a baby like me) and he takes his time, very patient, calming etc. anyway, here's hoping i can get some pounds off now. Definitely go to him ifyou are looking for a fill doc - i highly recommend him.

Julie, I feel the same way - I can't wait to call him this week too - he talked with me at length last week about first bit syndrome and some things to try (harder) at and I have lost over 5lbs in a week! Im just back to my usual holding weight but am hopeful I can keep losing - if so, I will be more then elated -. I am so happy I found someone local who is willing to help me be successful. Congrats to you too - take care!

For one year all I focused on was eating properly and making good choices - true my goal was to eat all foods in smaller portions but as we all know some foods don't go. But even today I'd like to be able to eat 1/4c of Pasta or one slice of bread and just be satisfied - to me that is living like a normal person. However, after one year of not losing i have gone back several times to diets - it's a deperation thing. In my darkest moments I have tried medifast (awful), nutrisystem, several thermogenic supplements, weight watchers, to get some pounds off. I found myself several times right back into my crazy diet mentality (oh yeah i forgot that cabbage Soup thingy) and all this dieting makes me even more insane since i got the band to get off this crazy cycle. So that's my thing - now I'm back to my bandster eating once again praying and hoping and exercising and journaling and getting fills to make this work. I've 'given up' many times but I guess all this money and this implant makes me want to make THIS work.

Search for 'first bite' as I know it's been discussed a lot here but as I said - it didn't 'sink in for me' until my doc suggested it and we discussed it. From what I understand alot of us bandsters have a hard time with the first bite - the stomach is tight, the esophogus is involved and our stomach just doesn't want to accept food. So a warm beverage drunk slowly (or soup) relaxes the muscles and slightly opens us up to accept a meal. Then you even slower take that first bite (and smaller) and for a few bites after that. Literally my bite is almost microscopic it is sooo sad but it seems to work. After about 4 super small nibbles I can take a regular bandster bite. I also put my fork down, glance at the clock and don't take another bite for almost 1 minute (super duper hard) Before that - I would prepare my good bandster meal - take one bite and barf - if it was bad i would go on liquids all day -if not so bad I would try again in an hour or so. But i would replace my good meal with liquids or junk that would go down - consequently eating too many liquid calories and never feeling full. It seems so simple but in one week i've lost almost 5 lbs - i'm not getting excited yet cuz as I said I am back to my starting point but I'm hopeful this might help me lose weight which is everything to us 'failures' . Take care, mary

Not sure if this is still true but I called the fill center number because it had utah listed and the woman actually told me that she wouldn't send anyone to him because he had only done one fill - not sure how she thought he would get his experience but it wasn't going to be me. That's why I decided to see Dr. McKeen. Still very happy with him as he will take time to call me/counsel me/has helped me tons more than my surgeon/his staff who completely deserted me in my time of need. Yes, I still know they are there for emergencies but as far as after care - nada. Not knocking fill center as even I would still use them dpending on the expereience of the fill person, etc. just sharing my experience.

Thanks Betsey - yes I do exercise but like with most things I'm not consistent - I'll go gangbusters for months then stop but I am exercising 6 days a week now for at least one hour - in fact, I am just about ready to do my tape - the firm cardio sculpt. You are right that is key and also i have to really watch the starchy or processed carbs and alcohol. I haven't had an alcoholic ddrink in over a month and plan to keep that up until i at least get back to my 'regular weight'. Even when I was super duper fit (lol) i exercised about 4 hours a day and could eat whatever i wanted but i ate pretty well/healthy then too. And you are also right about the mushy foods - my new fill doc has me on a new plan and I noticed the 'hard stuff' is better (I definitely have first bite syndrome which was leading me to soft or mushy or liquid food and not filling me up and eating more - vicious cyclle. So now I do the hot beverage and wait 10 minutes drinking slowly and my first bite is so small a baby could 'chew it' so i'm getting in a true 'bandster meal' for brunch - small snack at 4:00 and dinner around 6:30 and that is actually working. So we will see. Hang in there too and try to keep up the gym and good luck to you too!

Hey maybe there is something to this 40+ thing because this is true for me too - i have not been successful with the band in losing weight and while I too eat - (and always need to diary my food to keep it 1200 or much less) nothing nothing nothing seems to work.. So now i'm doing metabolic tests and again trying fills, eating even less etc etc. i keep 'giving up' but something always makes me keep going but it's been 14 months post surgery and i'm still as fat as when i started. It is definitely harder to lose weight as you get older - we are proof of that - just don't have the answer to what to do

I used to get a pain in my shoulder after eating and always thought it was gas - another bandster told me it was overeating and sure enough it was - i eat a lot less now whereas i always ate to fulll but not stuffed. sometimes as bandsters (with a history of overeating all the time) it is one of the hardest new behaviours to learn - i seriously didn't even know what satisfied was - to me satisfied was always stuffed to the gills -now it is stopping way before that - maybe that's it but definitely talk to your doc as it could be serious!

I now eat egg whites (boiled, no yolks) when I'm hungry - after 1-4 it does the trick - also cut them up and put some mustard on them. they are filling and i believe only 17 claories per egg white. Sometimes I'll do a cheese stick but i love cheese and usually want more and they are about 70 calorries.

Has anyone tried this one and/or seen Dr. Siegel? I think he only practices in Miami but I'm thinking of trying to see him. Have been exploring why I can't lose weight (wish I had done this before paying 15K for a band) but what can you do? This seems to be for people with thyroid issues - you eat the cookies during the day and have one meal - I'm sure a cookie would go down and since I don't eat many solids during the day - i'm thinking it might work. Just curious what others have heard about this, if anything. I refuse to be blamed for my weight loss failure anymore - after a week of exercising 75 minutes a day of hard aerobics, taking thermogenic supplements, and eating a protein shake, 4 hard boiled egg whites during the day and a cup of food for dinner and I gained two pounds - I've had it! If cookies will help,, I'm in - lol

Gosh Susan - thanks so much - It's still very eearly but I have lost the 3lbbs i gained over the holidays and I seem to be doing better already - i'm back to my holding weight which while still high, at least puts me back to where I've been - lol. My fill doc has me really doing seveeral things to 'combat' first bite syndrome and whilel i had heard and read about it - didn't really make the connection to me. Well, now I always slowly drink a hot beverage before every meal and go super slow and small on the first few bites and it seems to be working. I'm also tracking my caloires and realize once again how easy it is to add up or snack and that is changing. So I am very hopeful this might continue. Every time i feel like i might lose my mind or give up - i come here or call my new doc and i can continue. thanks for the support.

Babygotback and faybe - thanks - i haven't tried chinese herbalist but that would be interesting. I am taking one supplement now called - scorch by man - pretty good and i just heard ephedra was re legalized so i am ordering something tonight but can't think of what it is off hand. I am also waiting for tonalin (CLA) concentrated liquid i just read about on this site and am very anxious to try it. i have been on fitday for over 1 year and have terrific (HONEST) DIAIRIES - you are right - my current fill doc who is wonderful and concerned (Dr. McKeen in Utah) is testing me for thyroid issues on tuesday and reviewing my diearies AGAIN - i can easily eat 1500 calories and struggle to keep it around 1200 - I can and have gone lower but since i don't lose weight at 800 i stay around 1200 so i'm not miserable. I did a two week wrinkle cleanse and fasted for one week and lost 2lbs on the total fast - so that's why i say something is going on. I get so sick of reading about people who want to lose 5lbs and they say cut out one thing - i have cut out tons of stuff and here i am - well don't get me going . thanks for ideas.

I follow all the bandster rules and still dont lose weight but at least i'm not fatter than before surgery - something I've never accomplished in my life. I also eat a ton less food, have only binged once (as much as one can binge with the band but it was with sugar and butter which go down good - lol), i eat slow and chew (never did before) and exercise but i always did that - sooooo, yeah totally frustrated and pissed I can't lose a damn pound but it could be worse. I wanted to be skinny by now but have pretty much accepted i will always weigh this - now i just will be happy staying where i am. If I ever figure out my problem i'll pass it along to anyone else struggling but in the meantime i am still trying to not be a band failure - (have not lost at least 25% of their weight after two years - i have almost 10 months to go)

I'm the constant complainer about not losing weight but at least the band has not made me any bigger than before surgery so in one year i'm about the same and that has NEVER HAPPENED IN MY LIFE

I may get back with you on the dosage - as I believe the one i ordered said 1/2 - 1 tablespoon (or maybe even a teaspoon) a day. Not sure what that equates to yet in mg or whatever! But I promise to keep you posted - I'm so excited to try this. Started spending time on lowcarbfriends.com and am going to combine with low carb (again) - i've always felt I've been insulin resistant, etc. Good luck to all us pigs - guinea that is - lol

Thanks Missy - I am having the test next week - thanks for sharing your story and congrats on your success - i hope to have the same soon.

I just ordered the liquid tonalin from lowcarbfriends.com (it's liquid concentrate) and I'm so excited to try it- i will report back after i get it and try it out for a week - if it helps me lose even one poound i'll be THRILLED.

Thanks for all good advice and suggestions - i find i get a little crazy with my weight every now and then - most of the time i can stay the course etc. My new fill doc who is very concerned/supportive talked with me yesterday for some time. He said no to the cookie diet (ha) and has me on a plan to track and treat first bite syndrome, i'm getting a thryoid panel and tracking my food (AGAIN). He said we will get to the bottom of this and he is hoping I can be filled differently and make better choices be consistent etc rather than hormonal or metabolic issues which will be harder to treat. So maybe I will have a n ew plan and a new result soon. I think I am menopausal - just getting older - saw thru reading my diaries that 6-9 mos before being banded NOthing was working either and I couldn't get any weight off - even weight watchers - nothing or gaining and all of that led me to the band so there is obviously something going on. I have always appreciated the support/advice I get here but at the same time this seems to be the lonliest and most frustrating issue I've faced and since others have many harder battles I'll get off my pity box and get to the gym. ha -

Good question - I'll ask the doc - and I don't have insurance so i pay for everything

The cookies are suppossed to help people with thryoid issues

I did this program for 10 days with the exception of two exercise sessions - i only did one in the morning for 75-90 minutes, 1 ate one protein shake and egg whites every two hours until a smaller dinner and I didn't lose anything - good program tho - never hungry, lots of exercise - felt stronger but still fat.

I just called his office and may be going in at the end of the month - he is only in FL and you have to see him to get the cookies and then every two months. I only know they are specially formulated to control carbs, sugar and hunger - you eat 6 during the day and one dinner with meat (no red or pork) 6 oz and 1 cup of veges - no creamers - just water, crystal lite and fake sugars allowed. people lose 15 a month. it costs 250 to see him and get blood tests, 112 for the cookies and 120 for the supplements for the month. As i've always said 'fat people will do anything' and that has always applied to me - it's really the only thing left right now that i can think of to try. I've not done any weight training - just cardio to try to burn fat - i would stay at the gym until i burned 450 or more calories so i don't think i have built any muscle.

I would say no unless your bmi is very big and you have other health issues - I would also say find a good U.S. doc that offers aftercare - group support, individual support, diet and nutrition help, etc. While I loved my surgeon he does no aftercare excpet fills and even then I was never asked how much weight I had or had not lost - just filled.

Hi Tanya you are right but I started over a year ago at 1200-1500 and didn't lose then either! I appreciate your suggestion but I really have given up all hope. I just flip flop now between any and all wierd diets - just like before the band. I don't mean to be negative but I've become negative - and can hardly help it. I have and continue to try every type of diet/eating behavior that i see/read about etc. It's a crazy cycle that I thought the band would break but it has only added one extra layer of craziness - what can i eat today, what will go down at this meal, ugh - sometimes I think I will lose my mind.

B: myoplex lite shake - 190 calories L: another shake or if i can eat - 2-4 egg whites (hard boiled) = 80 calories D: usually 1-2 cups of food depending on what will go down Still can't lose any weight! Can't imagine eating less - my stomach growls all day long and I wouldn't mind if i was skinny/skinnier - thinking of skipping dinner but i snow ski everyday and i am starving by dinner -