Iulizbug

I have cheated before on a previous boyfriend and it hurt him so much that I swore I would never do it again. I had so much guilt that I dealt with and then karma bit me in my a$$ and my next boyfriend cheated on me. I then knew how awful it really is to be cheated on:think My boyfriend I have now of almost 3 yrs I would NEVER cheat on no matter how attracted I was to someone, or how strong our connection was. I already vowed and promised him that if I was going to be with somebody else i would give him the decency of breaking up with him first. I think its only fair.... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'7''

HaHa...thats great! I love it...thx for making me smile on a Friday!!:biggrin1: ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'7''

The band has saved my life in so many ways. It has been 8 mos and I am now 5 lbs under my goal. The beginning of the journey can be trying and rough but it is all worth it in the end. I am addicted to exericise now instead of food and have more energy than I know what to do with. Plus, being a size 8 doesn't hurt either! No complications and going strong....:success1: ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'7''

I went to my first seminar in Nov '05 and submitted my request thru insurance in the beginning of Feb. I knew I was denied by the end of Feb and was banded thru self-pay in early March. I didn't want to waste any time b/c I knew I needed to get the weight off ASAP. The entire process can be a bit lengthy IMO but it is all worth it! Good luck! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/157/160 (3lbs under goal!!:clap2: ) 5'7''

Wow!!! You look absolutely incredible!! What an amazing transformation. Such an inspiration--keep up the great work! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/161/160 5'7''

I usually stick to around 1200-1300 cal a day and a South beach like diet with more Protein than carbs. I do eat carbs but try to make them as healthy as possible. If I have to choose b/w higher fat and protein and low carb or lower fat and higher calorie and carb I will usually go with the protein/fat. I tend to lose more that way:) ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/160/160 5'7''

$300 for your first visit regardless if you get a fill or not--the fee is supposedly to get you into their database for future visits after that it is $155 a fill I believe but they don't use fluro. I had a bad experience there and will never use them again... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/161/160 5'7''

I had a complete unfill about two months ago for the same reason for three weeks. Fortunately my band hadn't slipped (it probably would have it I had kept it that tight for too much longer though..). After the three weeks I got more saline in, though not as much as I had in previously and I am doing great now. Just focus on resting your band and healing right now--you will get back on the bandwagon in just a few short weeks and continue losing. Good luck!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/161/160 5'7''

I completely agree that the ppl in the ER need to be better able to handle lapband patients. I had a similar experience about two months where my band completely closed up for two days and I wasn't able to hold down my spit or drink Water so I went to the ER. Same experience--nobody knew what the heck I was talking about in the ER, one lady thought I needed my tonsils out when I told her I coudln't get down water! Ha! My only relief was that my doc was in surgery so she was able to come down in between operations and do a fluro and remove all of my saline to provide relief. I wish there was a way we could learn how to do fills--it seems so easy to me.... I don't understand why it can't be taught to more trained people? ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/161/160 5'7''

I agree...With a vigourous exercise regimen I would take in around 1200-1300 a day for good loss. Any less than that and you might be stuck in starvation mode. Good luck!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/163/160 5'7''

If you don't mind me asking Telly, how much $$ was your TT with Dr.Romero?? I am trying to keep track of all this stuff just in case I need it down the road....thks ~Liz~

Here are a couple of old pics from Jan '06 at 240+ and then the pics from yesterday. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/162/160 5'7''

I hate how these doctors are raising the prices for fills so much. I had a similar experience happen to me. I see Dr.Jessee in Largo and when I went for my first appointment I learned that the price of a fill self pay was changed from $200 to $400. It had changed ONE DAY before I went in. I love Dr.Jessee and her staff but that is just way too much money for a fill. Not to mention the fact that it is $750 for a fill with fluro. That is just ridiculous... They know that we have no other choice but to fly back to TJ so they keep jacking the prices up. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

Dawn, I understand completely....When I quit smoking AGAIN I gained a bunch of weight and now I only limit myself to one or two cigs a day but I am not gaining anymore...I have tried the gum but that didn't work. I heard there was a new medication coming out that was supposed to be awesome but I don't think it is out yet. I hope it works better than the gum b/c that just made me crave nictotine more... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/163/160 5'7''

Yeah she shouldn't worry about how much she is losing yet--it is too early in the game for that. The first 6-8 weeks are for healing and the 1-2 lb avg loss a week doesn't start until you are properly restricted which could take up to 3-5 fills. Plus everybody is different--some lose rather fast and others are turtles but what is nice about the band is that there is no window of opportunity. It is perfectly fine to take as long as you need to get to goal. Good luck to your daughter on her band journey. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/163/160 5'7''

You're doing great so far Karey. The beginning of this journey is without a doubt the hardest IMO. I remember being so darn frustrated before my first fill b/c I was STARVING and I felt that I was eating way too much. I was worried that the band wasn't going to work for me, that I would stretch my pouch, pretty much anything negative....But it does get better. Just do the best you can on making nutritious choices until you get your first fill. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones who feels restriction right away. I unfortunatley was not. I was completely wide open and able to eat as much as pre-band until my 2nd fill and then the weight started falling off of me. The band does work, it just takes an extraordinary amt of patience-something I don't have much of. And once you start losing the weight and getting compliments from ppl it fuels you even more to eat better, exercise more, etc. It is empowering seeing the positive changes on your body as you go thru this journey, just try not to get discouraged at the beginning. I think i only lost 4 lbs in the 6 weeks between my surgery and first fill and I was so frustrated. But the band wasn't doing what is was supposed to do without any saline in it, so I was hungry. As far as your doctor goes and the portion size he recommends I would just toss that out the window. It doesn't surprise me that he gives the same advice to both bypass and lapband patients--a lot do but that doesn't make it right. Keep doing what you are doing and keep posting. I am looking forward to watching your progress. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/163/160 5'7''

I was a 40DD and now I am in a 36D. Much much better... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/163/160 5'7''

Hi Pebbles, Drinking doesn't bother me at all. I have had no problems ever with beer or any mixed drinks. I was expecting beer to be painful from what other ppl have said about carbonation hurting but it went down fine for me. I dont' get drunk any faster than before either(from what i can tell :grouphug: ) Enjoy going out at the clubs!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

Hi LVMOM, I would definately try to get in to get a fluro so you can check the position of your band. I don't want to scare you but this is pretty serious and you need to make sure that you dont' have a slip. You have done outstanding with your WL since your banding but you shouldn't be having these reoccuring problems, espc since you had more fluid taken out of your band. I had similar problems about 2 mos ago and I thought I had a slip for sure. I had xrays done and my band was fine but very irritated and swollen, so my doc completely unfilled me for a month and gave me some Nexium to calm down my stomach. It sounds like you may have some reflux too possibly. Don't take no for an answer if they try to tell you that you are fine. Demand a fluro and then go from there. Personally, I would get a complete unfill to let your band and stomach rest and recooperate for a bit. It helped me immensely. Good luck to you. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

I agree that you may need another fill. It sounds like you are getting the proper exercise so keep that up. I wouldn't quit the weights b/c lifting is what keeps you from losing your muscle mass as you lose weight. If you stop lifting weights you will be losing much more muscle along with the fat and you wont' look as toned. Not to mention the fact that doing weights help speed up your metabolism which will help you lose faster too. It is frustrating at the beginning--I remember feeling EXACTLY the same way you did but it does get better. It really is all about the fills. Until you have perfect restriction, and i really mean PERFECT, it can be a bit difficult. It took me awhile to get any restriction and then I got a bit too tight which was even worse than being hungry all the time. I think I have perfect restriction now but it took a long while to figure that out. And I know its super hard not to weigh yourself alot but just try and only let yourself do it once a day. I always weigh right when I get up, after i use the bathroom and naked to get an accurate reading. If I compare that # to what I would weigh in the evening it could be as much as 4-5 lbs heavier later on. Its best to stick to weighing yourself at the same time of the day. Keep your chin up. You have done excellent so far and have only just begun your fill journey so I am sure you willl feel more restriction on your next fill.:grouphug: ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

That is a misconception about the band. There is nothing wrong with eating a cup of food in a meal. That is normal. We did not get the band to starve ourselves and eating less than a cup (if you are only eating 3 meals per day) almost guarantees to put your body in starvation mode b/c you won't even break 1000 cal for the day unless you eat/drink high calorie junk. I think those rules are often meant for bypass patients but thats just my 2cents. I have always eaten about a cup of food per meal, sometimes more and I have lost weight just fine. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

I couldn't find a financing company that would give me that good of a rate so I put it on a new credit card with 0% interest for 15 mos. I plan on transferring the balance to get it paid off. I definately don't regret paying for this. It was the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. Hopefully somebody will give you a good financing company. Good luck:) ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

I grew up in Southern Indiana in Newburgh and went to IU in Bloomington. I now live in sunny Florida though:biggrin1: ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''

hairy **(but not TOO hairy) lol Convertible or sunroof? ~Liz~

I don't think Dr.Ortiz's book, Lapband for Life, focuses just on nutrition but it is a great book to have for everything about the band and the lifestyle changes following the surgery. I recommend it. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/164/160 5'7''