BabyGotBack

My husband is my support and is very excited for me! I chose not to tell my two step daughters, 19 and 15 and two daughters 5 and 7. Parents don't have to tell their kids everything. We have a right to our privacy. My mom was also not supportive in the beginning. I had to come to a place that I didn't need her permission or need her validation with my decision. Now that she sees I am doing so well, she is asking me, how am I doing, am I not eating enough, am I taking Vitamins, will I become anemic... But, she is not being unsupportive about it. Audree

Yeah, meeting for lunch would be easier! Also, some people who diet don't eat dinner. I had a friend lose 60 pounds by not eating dinner. It made it hard to meet up with friends and evening dinner parties, but she didn't bend her rule for anyone! She kept by it for a long time, but has regained her weight. I even saw on the Discovery channel a woman who lost by doing the "Reverse eating diet". She lost a ton of weight by eating a HUGE and I mean HUGE breakfast, Soup and salad for lunch and like a small bowl of Cereal for dinner. Her husband met her after she lost all the weight and didn't like that they NEVER went out for dinner together (if they did, she'd order, box it up right away and eat it for breakfast). We can tell people we are on the NEW REVERSE DIET!!! hehe I'll even try to get the info on it!!! The other thing I am telling people is to kick off the New Year, I am doing a liquid fast, for physical and spiritual reasons. I am not only saying it, I am doing a lot of praying and interceding for people. Audree

Congrats Madden on losing 2 SIZES!!!!!!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: That is an awesome accomplishment!!!!And a BIG deal and a big change!!!! I am also excited about joining you all on the Beach, South Beach that is!!!:hungry: Who wants to start? You can start with out me, I dont' want to make you guys wait another week and a half!:faint: I am also a very upbeat person like you!!!

How are you doing DeckedOut???? Audree

Lets see.....My friend told me about it a year ago, but I didn't think about it for myself at the time. She then one day asked me, when I was crying about my dieting and recent weight gain, why I didn't look into banding. She told me to come on here. Nov. 22 was the date I joined and started asking my questions, made my decision about choosing Dr. Ortiz, bought his book, my financing that I had been trying to get for home improvements that had not gone through for 6 months was now "miraculously" coming through now, for such a time as this..... I scheduled surgery for Dec. 18 but had to reschudule since the money didn't come in in time, a few days too late. Resceduled for Jan. 5 and had it done!!! So, my time line from the date I even considered it for myself to the time I had it done, was only about 1 1/2 months!!!!! Had my money come through, when I was hoping, it would have gone to wood floors or granit countertops!!!! Audree

"If God be for you, who can be against you" I felt the same in the beginning, wanting my mom's approval. But, in the end, it is my body. My husband and mom thought the same thing before I had my tummy tuck, what if it was psychological and I still wouldn't be happy. Well, I was and still am very happy about it!!!!! I proved them wrong!!! My mom was not to thrilled about me getting banded, but I told her that it was what I was going to do and needed positive support. I also felt that God had provided for me in a timely manner for me to do the surgery. I told her my husband and I had prayed about it and we had both gotten peace about it, the peace only God can give. She left me alone after that and started just saying nothing about it, which is better than trying to talk me out of it. She has also seen me struggle all my life and was seeing me once again starting to gain it back. I only told one friend from church, but also just relocated from that church to another church. A fresh start in a bigger church! I don't know why God orchestrated it that way, but He did lots of things and changes at the same time!!! He is good!!!!!

Well, what I did was get as educated as I could, was on these boards a lot asking questions. I bought protein water, Nectar protein drinks, Better Than Boullion, Wolfgang puck gourmet chicken broth, crystal light in different flavors, drinkable yogurt, jello cups, creamy soups as in split pea, chicken mushroom. I bought Dr. ORtiz's book Lap Band For LIfe and read it three times, I stocked up on convenience food for my family. I know a freind who is getting gastric bypass and she had to take classes for six months before her surgery. This group was that for me. These people have helped me to know what I was going to deal with mentally and psychologically. If I had not been prepared, I would be freaking out. Sometimes I see posts here, people newly banded, panicking and saying they want to get the band taken out. It makes me wonder how much they were prepared in advance mentally. My surgery was actually supposed to be earlier and had to be postponed, but I think it turned out better that way so I could learn the things I needed to learn first and know what to expect. I feel like I was very prepared for what I did and that is why I have been so at peace and happy!!! I hope that helps!! Audree

Where do you buy Myoplex? I bought one at Target, but it is not as good as the one I had. I have not had any protien shakes except for the Nectars. Today i had the Strawberry Kiwi with soy milk and it was good. I have two weeks to go and need ideas!!! Thanks,Audree

I have just been saying I have a touch of the stomach flu or don't feel well!

Dr. Ortiz told me if that ever happened to call him on his personal cell, which all of his patients get in their little white folder. Tell her to call him. Did she just get a fill? She may need an unfill. Thanks for the encouraging words! Skinny Cow is a cream cheese type cheese, only low cal and delicious. I am a stay at home mom right now, but will be starting back to college online in a few weeks!!! Audree

Don't worry.I actually gained 5 pounds over the start weight, I was supposed to be, lost 4 on the week of preop and it was still okay. I only had to drink Protein shakes for Breakfast and lean cuisine lunch/dinner. Every doctor has a different pre op, but it is all good!!!

Actually, Dr.Ortiz is affiliated with them both! I got his book and it says it is one of his clinics, so you are in good hands!!! You will be great!!!

I am in the same boat as you. I am a lower bmi and people think we can just lose it on our own. Well, I have been dieting for 21 years and obviously can't. That is why when I finally decided to do it, I didn't tell anyone. My husband and a couple of girlfriends know, one was banded a year ago and told me about it. The mental anguish I had to live in everyday of my life. The way it affected my family when I dieted, again!! Just because we are doing this as preventative measures, against the dieseses that come with being overweight. In my family diabeties, heart diesese, high blood pressure, breast cancer all are made worse by being overweight. So, I see this as taking care of me, before I got that far. I was on the upswing, on something I was calling the Un-diet, totally binging and tired of dieting. I was definitely on my way to the 200's again!!! I did this for me!!!! I am the one that has to live in this body and I should be able to make choices to be the best me I can. So, do you. I get all my talking about the band, out here with my band sisters who understand me. I don't need to talk to anyone else about it, well except for my supportive husband. I am choosing to make positive environments for myself and keeping around positive people. Most people are either ignorant of banding and talk about it from a stand point of knowing nothing about it and no one who has done it, jealous, afraid of the thought of a thinner you and how they think you may change, losing their eating out buddy, losing their fat friend, etc. the list goes on and on.. I did talk about it in the beginning to people to see what they thought, but I didn't go back and tell them my very personal decision. Why should I? And if they would ask me if I did it after all and I thought they would not be supportive, it is my perogative to keep it to myself and say, no but I am thinking about it. I choose to not give them power to make me upset, discourage me, make me feel like I have to defend my choice. This is a good place to find supportive friends. That is why I love it here and all the wonderful women (and a few men too!) here!! I don't regret for one second getting banded. And although I am only 9 days post op, I already feel a freedom I never knew could exist for me. I can't wait for my journey to unfold. I feel a peace I have never felt before. My tortured mind is at rest. The real "me" will emerge and I know she will come all the way out this time. I dont' have to almost get there, just to be pulled away from success by piling alll those hard lost pounds back on so fast. Audree

When I had my tummy tuck I had those twinges and when my husband has a vasectomy, he had those twinges. We were told that they were nerve pain, due to a nerve being cut. There is no way to keep from doing it, since we have so many. It goes away with time. I think it is the same thing, at least in our experiences. Audree

I was on a protein drink for breakfast, lean cuisine for lunch/dinner. I did devieate a couple of times for lunch and diner. I just made better choices.

You are doing great!!! We are just a work in progress! Your surgery date is only a few days away!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: It will be here before you know it!!!

Forget about the last meal syndrome, when my surgury date got postponed I went nuts from Dec. 15 to my pre op Dec. 30!!! I called it the Un-diet! I ate EVERYTHING I never allowed myself to have due to always being on one diet or another. It was total nuts!!!!!

Oh, did I mention they have a three bed trauma unit,just in case and have never had to use it!!!! State of the art medical equipment. Even better than what they have here. Made my plastic surgeon in the US look 3rd world in comparison!!!

Yes, for them it is standard procedure. I also bought some Scar Zone which I will start to apply on the ones that are completely healed. I was also told the more water you drink, the better your skin has a chance of going back with out wrinkling. I can't wait till you see it there. It is awesome. I was in shock. Dr. ORtiz and his staff are the BEST! The nurse who does your IV, Josefa, she doesn't speak any English, but she is the best!!!!! The IV is what hurt me the most in my 5 different surgeries I've had here in the states, and she got me in one prick!!! She even drew my blood and I didn't even know it! Tell her Audree says hi! She is a sweet heart!! Wait till you check out your private suite!! Flat screen tv with relaxing music, mini water fountain, beautifuly decorated room, with roman shades, sofa and chair for you companion. I didn't even know my nice bed was the bed they wheeled my into surgery on!!! Unlimited free calls from your room too! And the Hotel Lucerna!!! VERY NICE!!If the bed is too firm for your liking, they will come in and put 1 or 2 more pillow top thingys on for you. The chicken soup broth, jello and tea from room service right after surgery, the room service was the BOMB!!!! Personal drivers to and from. Lifestyles of the rich and famous, baby!! I paid a lot for my tummy tuck/lipo and it was NOTHING like Dr. ORtiz and his staff. Be prepared to be blown away!

Sounds great!!! The measurements will get you through those plateau times. I took mine and posted them on my journal. Pre op diet also got me prepared for post op eating. Prior to Pre Op, I was totally pigging out badly!!!!!

Yeah, it happens to me too and I check everyday. The other day I got to talk to someone and they were not even from LBT

Those are cool! I used to do a conference call like that when I used to be involved in a MLM business. It was so neet! We did a roll call/shout out and we got to talk to people from all over the country at the same time!!! Please add me! Audree_Vasallo@hotmail.com

I emailed you someones email who was banded by Dr. Kuri and is in charge of support groups here in Southern CA. Audree

I was just told they will give you gas and gas is so painful when you are banded

Coffee is my Breakfast with one cup of soy milk everyday!!! I used to read that with a lot of bandsters and I couldn't believe it, but it is all I can consume in the morning due to being so tight in the morning. Audree