Dwayne Bordelon

Jack - I have to say that it is very entertaining reading your posts. You wield the english language like you know what you are doing.

I have lifted weights on and off all my teen and adult life. I know how to lift weights and generally know what works, but I want some kind of guide or reference to help build a schedule and routine that I can use going forward. I basically want a personal trainer in a book. I want something that covers workout cycling, schedules, etc. to maximize my effort and time. I also want something current. Can anyone help? My goal is maintaining and possibly building a little while I lose weight with the band. I don't want to be huge or freakishly cut because I don't want anything to time consuming or difficult to maintain.

I smell weird too. In fact, my daughter told me I smell different. I have searched around and some people say it may be a sign of ketosis which sounds plausible.

How many calories on average are y'all taking in on a daily basis?

So I have thought about this alot. I have been wondering how the band actually works to help you lose weight. I think the band helps in two ways. The doc builds a pouch that is right above where the band is placed. I assume they do that with stitches or something. That pouch represents 'how much' you can eat at one sitting. I figure that is fairly constant and doesn't change unless the band slips or you stretch it. The other thing that happens is directly controlled by the band. As the band is filled it narrows the passage at the bottom of the pouch. I think the more narrow this passage, the longer it takes for food to digest and pass. What this does is curb hunger and keep you filling satiated longer. I think between those two things, you end up eating less over time and that is what produces the results. I would like to hear from y'all if you think I am right or otherwise.

I have been searching for a thread that talks about the details of the surgery. I am curious how the band is attached, what is done during surgery and other details about how the band is installed.

I had the same exact sleep issue. I am a side sleeper and slept the first almost two weeks in my lazy boy. Me and the wife got tired of that. I am fine now. I had surgery on Thursday and went to work on Monday.

Which support group? Aren't there ones at GBI and at Memorial? I am not sure if I want to go to the meetings. I feel like I would be the only guy in there.

I am finally past all the liquidy crap. Tomorrow I can start on soft proteins(finely chopped meat, eggs, cheeses etc.). I have been walking every day and I want to start lifting weights and running and doing more so I am waiting on that. It should be after next Thursday. My hunger has slowly been coming back. I have lost 37 total so far, but it did slow down this week. I am not too concerned since the band isn't even filled yet. I know what the first 4 weeks are for so no biggie.

Hey, thanks for posting that pic. I thought about what it looked like in there. I was tempted to ask my doc if they routinely take pics or video and if I could see them. I may ask that next time I am up at the office. Its also good to see someone with plenty to lose like me. Keep posting - the men's room seems to get slow at times.

I had my first follow up today(one week after surgery). I weighed 388 today. I first saw Dr. Ponce on 3/11/2009 and I weighed 422 then. I am pretty happy so far, but for the first time since surgery I am getting hungry. I need to make it to my first fill before falling off the wagon and letting it back over me.

Does it hurt you to take a deep breath? Mine has subsided some, but every once in a while it still hurts. I am not too worried, but curious. I have been drinking gatorade, isopure, water, and chicken and beef broths.

Well, the surgery went well. I have not had too much pain. Just discomfort from the gas stuff and for the first couple of days, it hurt to take a deep breath. I am walking every day and I feel like I am pretty much back to normal. One thing that is odd is one of my incisions is about 3-4 inches long. Wonder why? I am going to ask when I go to my first appointment.

I had my surgery on Thursday. I was up walking the first day and I feel like I am pretty much back to normal. It hurt to take deep breaths for a couple of days, but I am doing better now. I have not had any appetite so far.

My surgery is tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to getting past it.

You lost 36 pounds in two weeks? Or did you do the liver diet longer? I am gettting in 4-5 of them a day, eating one yogurt and 2-3 juices and trying to drink 64 oz of water. I am curious how much weight I am losing, because I swear it seems my clothes are already fitting a little more loose.

I am already sick of these stupid Glucernas. I am actually having to force myself to drink them. I would rather not eat anything, but I want to follow the instructions to a 'T'.

Hello - just thought I would post up. I am getting a band by Dr Ponce at Memorial on April 9th. I started the glucerna diet 3 days ago - woohoo! Haven't seen downdc post in a while. Wonder whats going on?

are you excercising at all?

April 9th by Dr Ponce in Chattanooga Tn. I started his pre op diet yesterday - 6 glucernas a day, 1-2 yogurts, 2 glasses of 100% Juice and all the low call drinks I want. I am seriously glad it is only for two weeks.

Posted this in the general intro section: I have decided to start the process of getting the band. I have met with Dr. Ponce at the Gastric Band Institute in the past in preperation for the surgery, but ended up backing off when I considered the cost of self pay. Two years later and I am still struggling to get the weight off and I have decided the time is now. I am on bp medicine and on the verge of getting cholesterol medicine and I am quite frankly tired of that. I have always been an active person, I would even say athletic, but perhaps that is my downfall. I have always eaten big and for the last 10 years that has seriously caught up with me. I feel pretty confident I will be successful with a little help from the band. My name is Dwayne Bordelon

Scheduled for April 9 with Dr. Ponce at Memorial in Chattanooga. Two Weeks prior is 6 cans of glucerna a day with two cups juice and 1-2 servings of yogurt. I am looking forward to it. I weighed 422 yesterday and so it begins.

The Dr. Ponce I will be using works out of the Chattanooga Tn/Dalton Ga area with the Gastric Band Institute.

I have decided to start the process of getting the band. I have met with Dr. Ponce at the Gastric Band Institute in the past in preperation for the surgery, but ended up backing off when I considered the cost of self pay. Two years later and I am still struggling to get the weight off and I have decided the time is now. I am on bp medicine and on the verge of getting cholesterol medicine and I am quite frankly tired of that. I have always been an active person, I would even say athletic, but perhaps that is my downfall. I have always eaten big and for the last 10 years that has seriously caught up with me. I feel pretty confident I will be successful with a little help from the band. Dwayne Bordelon

I chose not to go to Mexico because of concerns about aftercare and issues with complications. I feel like it is cheaper up front to get the surgery done in Mexico, but if you have to pay a local doc to do all your consults and fills, the costs start to add up.