tonya66

Oh, what a precious baby! Congratulations. My daughter was a premie too. She is now 14 and you would never know she came 2 months early! And only weighed 3 lbs 4 oz!

I asked myself that same question. So last year, I decided to give it my all, I was strick low carb, didn't cheat for 200 days, lost about 40 lbs. I was down to 190 lbs. Not at goal, but at least feeling better and thinking - I will do better without the lap-band. I can do this! Then July came and we went on our family vacation. I have a motto, vacation is meant to enjoy, so I enjoy everything. If I want dessert, I get it. I don't diet on vacation - ever. Well, vacation ended and back home we came, gaining 8 lbs in a week from the vacation, I said "tomorrow, I'll get back on my diet". Guess what, tomorrow never came, By November I was up to 248 lbs. I realized, I can diet, I am successful at losing weight, however, I'M A FAILURE at keeping it off. I was depressed, sad, and embarrassed at my massive weight gain from July to November - I had packed on 58 lbs in 4 months! I know my co-workers were talking behind my back, I know my family was concerned for me. My DH expressed his concern as well. Thats when I realized I needed help, serious help. I once again looked at the lap band. I started the process 11/22 and had my surgery on 1/18/07. I know I"m only a month out, but I tell you, I believe it is the best decision I have ever made. I no longer fear going on vacation. I know that I can enjoy what I want to, however, my tool (the band) will keep me from gorging uncontrollable. I feel safe now with my tool. I know that I wil NEVER be 248 lbs again. I am not trying to talk you into getting the band, I'm just sharring my thoughts. Only you know yourself, only you know if you can lose the weight on your on and keep it off. Whatever you decide, it sounds like your co-workers are a great support for you and care about you very much. I wish you the best!

Pinky12202 (Linda) Marjon9 Sula (Shawn) Reesh Soon2bthin.com Bandqueen Chunky Monkey Muttman Today marks 1 month since your had your band, tell us about your experiences this month, what have you noticed? What have you learned? What are your struggles? Did you measure before surgery, if so, how many inches have you lost, this tells so much more than the scales....the scales sometimes lie. Just curious how the 1 month bandsters are doing? I think it would be a good idea for all of us to maybe tell about our first month with the band.

Yep, expereienced right after surger when I bent down. I'm pretty sure you just pulled on your port area. Just take it easy for a week or so, you'll heal in no time. Contratulations on getting the band!

I've boughten 4 books now, one is Weight loss surgery for dummies - I love it, then I got Eating well after weight loss surgery, I recently purchased Lap-band for life (I love this one, probably my favorite out of all of them, written by. Dr. Ortiz, very well written). The other is called lap gastric band, achieving permanent weight loss - I haven't read this one yet. I have been reading everything I can, so far, Dr. Ortiz's book has the best information in it, however the Weight Loss for Dummies is very good too.

How long are you walking? Are you walking on a treadmill? I would say if your walking for 30 min, cut down to 10 min or 15. If your walking on a treadmill, get off. The treadmill killed me. I walk at a slower pace than I want to, but that is all I can do right now. I am trying to increase it every week, however, If I'm sore, I cut it back to the slower pace again. I totally understand your frustration. I want to jump back on my elliptical machine again, I want to start lifting weights, and I want to go back to the 5 am spinning class. However, there is no way I can do these yet, as much as I want to. I figure the most important thing is healing, and then we can kick some butt in the gym!:clap2:

Mine gets sore too! I'm 4 weeks out and still sore a little. I've just been taking it slow. My doc told me a good 6 to 8 weeks is healing time.

Exactly, my stats show I lost 39 lbs, but around 15 to 20 of it was Pre-surgery. I've always just counted my beginning weight, I figure, I lost it, why not count it. lol. Everyone is different, so don't compare yourself to others. Age plays a role in how fast people lose (the younger lose faster) Men lose faster. Also, the heavier you are, usually the more a person will lose faster. You are doing great, 12 lbs /15 lbs is nothing to be sad about, its great!

I've heard the more weight you lose, sometimes the port area becomes tender (not enough fat gaurding it). Hope your okay -

Your beautiful, what an inspriation you are. Please, you must shar your story, you have to write a success story!

I felt the SAME way, but I've learned that Lap Band controls the Quantity, we control the QUALITY of the food we eat. The key is making good choices, and lap band will do the rest. You do have to work at it, but it gets easier every day.

GREAT JOB! I will send you those recipes that you PM'd me about tonight, I have them on my home computer! Last night was too crazy around my house, and I didn't have time to get on the computer. I had a lot of trouble with my blood sugar too, mainly before surgery, they had to give me glucose, then after surgery - they kept me overnight because my sugar kept dropping. I think that played in with making my eyes so blurry. Are you having any vision problems? Your doing great!!!! Thats so cool about the jaw bone!

I'll share something funny with you guys/gals....as most of you guys are aware, I haven't shared my lap-band with many people, no one from work knows. I'm so obsessed with my lap band, that is all I think about. Well, today my manager and I was in a meeting together and she is getting me a lap top computer, well, when I start talking to her, I call it a lap band. LOL. I know she is thinking "what is a lap band", so we continue talking and I continue to call it a lap band. She finally says are you talking about the lap top. LOL. I know she thinks I'm crazy.

Jeanette - I've started solids today. I'm starting out with some soft baked fish. Or Tuna. What I'm trying to do instead of eyeballing it, is I measure my food out. That way I know I'm not over eating. This is the point that we will be increasing our calories, so keep in mind that our bodies have been eating very little before solids, so their might be a weight gain, but thats okay. It will soon come back off once our bodies get used to the new adjustment. My doctor recommends trying a food then see how you react with it, then move to another type of food. Since protein is so important, I'm trying to eat lean meat. I'm also adding in a small amount of veggies. I'll start with some can green beans since fresh are a bit stringy and could get stuck.

Joanne - hang in there, you've lost a lot of weight, now your body is trying to catch up....Sometimes it can take 3 weeks for this to happen. After 3 weeks if you haven't moved (the scale), then there are some other options you can try. But I bet you will!

I got the lap-banded for life book from Dr. Ortiz yesterday, and I've started reading it. I thought it was interesting, he said that men for some reason swell more after surgery than women, therefore having them PB more often. Not sure why that is, but it made me think of you. I just thought I would share that with you. Sheila - so glad your doing a little better - lets hope it worked!!!

Pamela, Try Dr. Keith out of Norman. I posted this on another thread you were questioning, but I'll post it here - I joined a yahoo group called Oklahoma Bandsters, they are the ones that posted his name out there for fills. He is doing fills for a doctor that recently quit the Lap-Banding practice out of OKC - (Dr. Floyd). I'm not sure if he will take Mexico patients, but its worth a try. I don't have his number, but they say he is out of Norman. There is also surgical associates out of Tulsa that I believe will do fills for other doctors. I'm not sure what their price is. Dr. Fisher there is a lap-band doctor. I had my surgery done here in Tulsa with Dr. Gorospe & Dr. JoBob Kirk. Good- Luck!

I'm going to take mine on the 18th - even though today is 4 weeks, I decided to keep it simple and just figure the 18th of every month. I will do a weigh in on the 18th, and take my measurements. I did weigh this morning and was down another 1.8 lb from Sunday. I know that I will slow down, especially since I am to start solids. I also am getting hungrier. But surviving off what little will power I have. I was on another website about being banded, and there was this lady that started out at 219, in 8 mos she is down to her goal of 140 - She said she didn't lose much in the beginning - but about 3 months, bam!!!! the weight starting rolling off. So for all of you that are not losing as fast in the beginning, have hope!

Sheila - how are you today? Did the remedy work?

Pamela, I had surgery here in Tulsa, with Dr. Gorospe, so he will be doing my fills. - I get the first 6 months free, i think? But either way, my insurance will be paying my fills, I will just have to pay the copay. I know there is a doctor in Norman area - I joined a Yahoo group called Oklahoma Bandsters, I've deleted the last email, but I know they gave a name of a doctor in Norman that does fills for Mexico patients. You should go out to Yahoo.com and join the group, its been beneficial for me.

For me, I didn't want to tell people because I had several reasons. 1) - I was unsure if it would really work for me, 2) I didn't want people asking me on a daily basis - "how much have you lost" - 3) I didn't want people judging me - or saying I took the easy way out 4) - I wanted to keep it private. I'm so glad I didn't tell - I might tell later on, but for now, I am keeping it a secret. Your making the right decision by not telling. The ones that have told usually say they regret it, or at least some of them do.

209 this morning! I'm 4 weeks post op, and Im on my way to 199!!!!! Although I've been at 199 so many times before, I'm looking forward to being there again, and even more to breaking it! I can't wait to get under the 190's - this is something I'm never able to do. I get down to the 190's, then gain back up to over 200, than back down to the 190's, back up to 200's. This time, I know I will get there, so it is so exciting. What an incredible journey I'm on! So here goes my countdown to 199! 10 lbs to go! I'm hoping to be there by March 17th - a little over a month away. I'm going to a big family wedding and will see lot of my family who haven't seen me in awhile, so thats my goal! I start my solids today - i'm nervous, but anxious to get to eating the right way for the rest of my life. My plan for today is: bfast malt o meal, splenda, ff milk lunch a few black beans 4 green grapes 1/2 cup of cottage cheese 1 or 2 slices of a boiled egg Dinner salmon green beans

209 this morning! I'm 4 weeks post op, and Im on my way to 199!!!!! Although I've been at 199 so many times before, I'm looking forward to being there again, and even more to breaking it! I can't wait to get under the 190's - this is something I'm never able to do. I get down to the 190's, then gain back up to over 200, than back down to the 190's, back up to 200's. This time, I know I will get there, so it is so exciting. What an incredible journey I'm on! So here goes my countdown to 199! 10 lbs to go! I'm hoping to be there by March 17th - a little over a month away. I'm going to a big family wedding and will see lot of my family who haven't seen me in awhile, so thats my goal! I start my solids today - i'm nervous, but anxious to get to eating the right way for the rest of my life. My plan for today is: bfast malt o meal, splenda, ff milk lunch a few black beans 4 green grapes 1/2 cup of cottage cheese 1 or 2 slices of a boiled egg Dinner salmon green beans

Deb - I haven't had my first fill yet, I still have over TWO weeks to go, and I was banded a day before you! I'm jealous! I will post my experience once I get my fill. Congratulations on your weight loss, that is great. Wow, you really moved fast with the surgery! I can't believe you had the seminar on Wednesday and by Friday under the knife. lol. You must have already had your mind made up - good for you! It took my months of researching. At least you didn't have the agony of waiting for your surgery date like many of us did, that was a killer.

Bfast - Malt o meal with ff milk, splenda Lunch - 1/2 cup of refried beans Dinner - 1 poached egg with grated cheese Water consumption - 42 oz - still working on getting 64 oz