mferra

I am down 11 lbs. in 7 weeks which is a very slow loss but I am okay with it. I have not been the most perfect bandster. I am learning every day to be more compliant w/my band and now with my first fill (1.6 cc)compliance comes a little easier for me! Just wanted to share. Thanks.:cool: Michelle

Oh, I do have to add that 5 of those 11 lbs. was lost 3 days prior to surgery on the pre-op liquid diet. So, it is more like 6 lbs. in 7.5 weeks. Michelle

Okay, it is October 29th and I have been banded for almost 8 weeks now. I have lost a total of 8 lbs. (13 pre-surgery). I had restriction from the surgery for about 2 weeks then it faded or completely diminished overnight! :omg: Then, I started to eat like I did prior to surgery! I did get a fill on the 16th of Oct. of 1.6 which is good but not my sweet spot. I continued to push my band to the limits with overeating. I could not eat bread because it would get stuck but I ate everything else. I was very discourged and finally reached out to a couple of people on the boards about a week ago. I received some great advice from a couple of really awesome gals, Bridget S. from OH and Sisteqh here on LBT. For some reason I felt that I should be able to eat what I want because I deserved it! What a crock! Who do I think I am? Well, Bridget responded to me about fighting her band and the day that she had a "lightbulb" moment; July 4th - her day of freedom!! She told me what I needed to hear. That advice started me on a new track. I was truly inspired!!! Since then, one week ago (10/22/06 - My personal day of freedom) I have lost 3 more lbs!!! On another subject. I am somewhat bothered by others here on LBT that seem to think or show in their posts that those with lower BMIs really don't deserve to have the band. As if we have not fought against our weight like they have. It is a shame that people are that biased! All I can say is grow the heck up!! Okay, I am going to set a mini goal for New Year's Day. Here is how I came up with it: My lowest weight that I acheived was 163 with Weight Watchers in 2003. I would love to beat that by one lb. So, my goal is to be at 162 by New Year's Day and to fit into my size 10 jeans. I can do it! I am going to up my exercise routine - 3 days treadmill 2 miles and 1 or 2 days hiking. For safety reasons, I do need to find a hiking partner!

Okay, it is October 29th and I have been banded for almost 8 weeks now. I have lost a total of 8 lbs. (13 pre-surgery). I had restriction from the surgery for about 2 weeks then it faded or completely diminished overnight! :omg: Then, I started to eat like I did prior to surgery! I did get a fill on the 16th of Oct. of 1.6 which is good but not my sweet spot. I continued to push my band to the limits with overeating. I could not eat bread because it would get stuck but I ate everything else. I was very discourged and finally reached out to a couple of people on the boards about a week ago. I received some great advice from a couple of really awesome gals, Bridget S. from OH and Sisteqh here on LBT. For some reason I felt that I should be able to eat what I want because I deserved it! What a crock! Who do I think I am? Well, Bridget responded to me about fighting her band and the day that she had a "lightbulb" moment; July 4th - her day of freedom!! She told me what I needed to hear. That advice started me on a new track. I was truly inspired!!! Since then, one week ago (10/22/06 - My personal day of freedom) I have lost 3 more lbs!!! On another subject. I am somewhat bothered by others here on LBT that seem to think or show in their posts that those with lower BMIs really don't deserve to have the band. As if we have not fought against our weight like they have. It is a shame that people are that biased! All I can say is grow the heck up!! Okay, I am going to set a mini goal for New Year's Day. Here is how I came up with it: My lowest weight that I acheived was 163 with Weight Watchers in 2003. I would love to beat that by one lb. So, my goal is to be at 162 by New Year's Day and to fit into my size 10 jeans. I can do it! I am going to up my exercise routine - 3 days treadmill 2 miles and 1 or 2 days hiking. For safety reasons, I do need to find a hiking partner!

Banded 7 weeks and just filled on 10/16 to 1.6cc. Finally I have some restriction. I think I could use a bit more but I had no restriction as early as two weeks out from surgery on 8/31. Michelle

Banded, home and walking off the gas pains. My experience with Dr. Ortiz and his staff was wonderful. Looks like quite a few of us ABCers were banded by Dr. Ortiz. I was down 5 lbs. pre-op and my goal for October 1st is 10lbs or more. I am on day 4 now and just started yogurt (Light n Fit Smoothie). Glad to be back and appreciate the support from ABC.:welldoneclap:

Hi August Bandsters! I am headed to TJ for my surgery with Dr. Ortiz. Thanks for sharing your experiences here on the boards. I feel better informed to begin my journey into bandland. I did'nt do too well on my pre-op - only -4lbs. but I still have today with Protein shakes, so maybe I can make it 5 or 6lbs! Looks like you are all doing pretty well. Keep up the good work! I will post when I return from TJ. Michelle

Three full days until I enter bandland! I am very excited but also finding myself extremely nervous. . . nervous enough to screw up the pre-op diet. :embarassed: The next three days I really have to buckle down and stay with the 3-4 shakes a day and salads with balsamic vinegar. I have been battleing allergies the past week but I am feeling better today. :sick

Three full days until I enter bandland! I am very excited but also finding myself extremely nervous. . . nervous enough to screw up the pre-op diet. :embarassed: The next three days I really have to buckle down and stay with the 3-4 shakes a day and salads with balsamic vinegar. I have been battleing allergies the past week but I am feeling better today. :sick

Faybie - A cancer survivor! WOW! There is nothing you can't do now!! YOU ROCK!! Thanks for the great list of August bandsters. Okay, Pre-op schme-op . . . I did great for uh . . . ONE day! Yesterday, I ended up eating a bagel, a brownie and fruit in addition to my 2 shakes. On the up side, I have lost 3 lbs. of the 10 I needed to lose . . but, I only have 6 days to lose the remaining 7 lbs. I am a lower BMI (35) and hope Dr. Ortiz' office won't turn me away if I don't lose the full 10 lbs. I am back on track today and have stocked up on Slimfast Low Carb shakes. I am also going to add a couple of salads w/balsamic vinegar to my diet (allowed by my doctor). To those who have been banded - GREAT JOB!! To those of us who have yet to be banded - GOOD LUCK!!! Michelle

DH is feeling better about me having LB surgery. He took the time off of work and said that he wants to be there for me. So, surgery is paid in full and airline tickets were a bargain $49 each way to San Diego!! I had a voucher for $420 with Southwest Airlines and only used up half of it. I will save the rest of my voucher for when I have to get my first fill. I have not started the pre-op diet yet but have been cutting back a little. I will start on the 25th and will have to keep myself very busy and away from the kitchen because I tend to migrate to food when I am at home. On a real personal note, I have not wanted to go anywhere, except church, because I feel so embarrassed of my weight. When I was in my 20's early 30's I was overweight by 30-40 lbs. but people would say how beautiful I was. I hated it because I felt the pressure to keep up with that label. Why do I even care? God loves me. My husband loves me. And, my children love me any way I look! I know that I am depressed because I would rather stay at home with no make up, hair not "done" and in comfortable (ugly) clothes than go out with my husband anywhere. Not that he is ashamed ... I am! I would love to have a trendy, small sized wardrobe and be able to go in at any time and wear anything and know that it is going to look and fit great. No more wearing black all the time to make myself look slimmer! The ultimate would be to wear jeans and look great! I love jeans but have only worn them a couple times in the adult life. I am going to name my band "Freedom". Not that it will give me the freedom to eat anything and everything but that it will give me the freedom from my volume eating addiction. 12 days until Freedom!

DH is feeling better about me having LB surgery. He took the time off of work and said that he wants to be there for me. So, surgery is paid in full and airline tickets were a bargain $49 each way to San Diego!! I had a voucher for $420 with Southwest Airlines and only used up half of it. I will save the rest of my voucher for when I have to get my first fill. I have not started the pre-op diet yet but have been cutting back a little. I will start on the 25th and will have to keep myself very busy and away from the kitchen because I tend to migrate to food when I am at home. On a real personal note, I have not wanted to go anywhere, except church, because I feel so embarrassed of my weight. When I was in my 20's early 30's I was overweight by 30-40 lbs. but people would say how beautiful I was. I hated it because I felt the pressure to keep up with that label. Why do I even care? God loves me. My husband loves me. And, my children love me any way I look! I know that I am depressed because I would rather stay at home with no make up, hair not "done" and in comfortable (ugly) clothes than go out with my husband anywhere. Not that he is ashamed ... I am! I would love to have a trendy, small sized wardrobe and be able to go in at any time and wear anything and know that it is going to look and fit great. No more wearing black all the time to make myself look slimmer! The ultimate would be to wear jeans and look great! I love jeans but have only worn them a couple times in the adult life. I am going to name my band "Freedom". Not that it will give me the freedom to eat anything and everything but that it will give me the freedom from my volume eating addiction. 12 days until Freedom!

Hi Dawn, Charlene, Coyotegirl, Ethansgrandma! I'm live in Phoenix. I am being banded by Dr. Ortiz on 8/31 (was originally scheduled for 7/21). From what I have read here and on Obesity Help it is important to be in some kind of support group. I do know of a lady named Becky in Tucson that started a bandsters support group and they meet once a month on the first Sat. of the month. I would like one closer but to travel once a month to Tucson would be worth it. Charlene, good luck on your banding. Keep us informed. God Bless, Michelle

Me too! I would love to stay in touch to encourage each other in our journey to GOAL! Michelle:clap2:

I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Ortiz on August 31st (originally scheduled for 7/21). Will be starting my pre-op diet (4 protein shakes a day) on the 17th. I was told to try to lose between 8-10lbs. before surgery. Good luck to all August bandsters! Michelle:)

Okay, so I thought DH was on board with the LB surgery. I guess I was wrong! He is not worried about the cost, so he says. He does not like the idea of going to Mexico for the surgery. And, now he says that I really don't need it-- that a could lose 20-30 lbs. this year and 30-40 lbs. next year. He has known me since I was 13 years old and knows that I have lost weight before and have never been able to keep it off. I am 37 years old and if I continue to be obese or go up and down with my weight, it will affect my health and I am already seeing signs of it -- high blood pressure, joint aches and high cholesterol! He doesn't understand my struggle because he has been thin his whole life and he comes from a thin family. :tired He did say that he is not totally against it. I really do want his support on this! Onto my pre-band drinking/eating.:hungry: Today I am going to drink water 30 mins. before eating and take tiny bites and chew, chew, chew to practice for my band life. I did have a fiber drink this morning but I forgot to drink it S L O W L Y.:rolleyes oops! I am also going to have only 1 diet coke today and slowly wean off of it. I would like to be completely off of it the week before surgery. As for exercise. :mad: I am going to try to get on my treadmill for 30 mins. today also.

Okay, so I thought DH was on board with the LB surgery. I guess I was wrong! :confused: He is not worried about the cost, so he says. He does not like the idea of going to Mexico for the surgery. And, now he says that I really don't need it-- that a could lose 20-30 lbs. this year and 30-40 lbs. next year. He has known me since I was 13 years old and knows that I have lost weight before and have never been able to keep it off. I am 37 years old and if I continue to be obese or go up and down with my weight, it will affect my health and I am already seeing signs of it -- high blood pressure, joint aches and high cholesterol! He doesn't understand my struggle because he has been thin his whole life and he comes from a thin family. :tired He did say that he is not totally against it. I really do want his support on this! Onto my pre-band drinking/eating.:hungry: Today I am going to drink water 30 mins. before eating and take tiny bites and chew, chew, chew to practice for my band life. I did have a fiber drink this morning but I forgot to drink it S L O W L Y.:rolleyes oops! I am also going to have only 1 diet coke today and slowly wean off of it. I would like to be completely off of it the week before surgery. As for exercise. :eek: I am going to try to get on my treadmill for 30 mins. today also.

I have scheduled surgery for August 31st! :mad: I will be doing the sacred heart diet two weeks prior to surgery and then protein shakes one week prior to surgery. I need to get to 190 for surgery. Right now I am 201. I have told my mom, Brittany and Becca about the surgery. They are all praying for me. I will be walking on the treadmill everyday for 30 mins. and will try to chew my food to mush in order to get ready for my band life eating. I also will slowly wean myself off of Diet Coke and instead drink more water. :help: My goal is to go from 190 (surgery weight) to 125.:clap2:

I have scheduled surgery for August 31st! :eek: I will be doing the sacred heart diet two weeks prior to surgery and then protein shakes one week prior to surgery. I need to get to 190 for surgery. Right now I am 201. I have told my mom, Brittany and Becca about the surgery. They are all praying for me. I will be walking on the treadmill everyday for 30 mins. and will try to chew my food to mush in order to get ready for my band life eating. I also will slowly wean myself off of Diet Coke and instead drink more water. :help: My goal is to go from 190 (surgery weight) to 125.:clap2:

Thanks BGP! The pre-op diet is 3-4 shakes as meal replacements and two salads with balsamic vinegar per day for 7 days. I have been walking 2 miles 2-3x week, but I know that I need to up that a little a lay off the sugar. I tend to eat more when I am excited or nervous (I am nervous about the surgery). Needless to say, next week will be a trying one with the pre-op diet but I know I can and will have to do it. BGP, I also see that your surgery is coming up. Hope everything goes well and I look forward to seeing your post-op posts on your progress! Thanks again. mferra

I am being banded by Dr. Ortiz on 7/21. I have to start my liquid diet next week. I ordered FIT365 (protein powder), per my doc's instructions. Anyone else use FIT365? Any suggestions on how to make it somewhat tastey? Also, I am 202 lbs., 5'3", what if I am not able to get down to 191 by my surgery date? What if I can only lose 5lbs.? Has anyone not been able to lose the 10% required? Were you turned away or did it make you higher risk at surgery? Would appreciate any info. Thanks, mferra

Count me in! I will not be banded until 7/21/06 but this will give me the push to lose the 5% required before surgery and thensome. I am 202lbs. and would love to see the lowers 190's or, dare I say, 180's!!! Great Challenge! mferra

Surgery is scheduled for July 21st with Dr. Ortiz in TJ, Mexico. :clap2: I am very excited and sooooo ready to lose the weight and KEEP IT OFF. Glad to be a part of the July Bandsters and look forward to reading the posts after everyone's surgery! Michelle

Thanks coyotegirl! There is so much info. here on LBT. If there is a support group in Flag. I would be interested in attending. My family is going "up north" the week of the 10th. We are renting a cabin in Kachina Village and are looking forward to getting out of the heat!:clap2: Thanks again for the wellcome. mferra

Hello, I and am scheduled for sugery with Dr. Ortiz on 7/21. I live in Phoenix and was wondering if there is a support group here for bandsters. mferra