Maurdan

Just wanted to let people know that some of us have found each other again in this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f107/anyone-banded-december-06-a-36957/

Oh I like that we're finding each other again. I haven't lost much, but it's totally my fault. I go for a 3rd fill on Tuesday (because I still can eat too much and I do). I also bought an elliptical machine for home. I'm hoping this will spring me into action. I don't regret my band but I do feel like a failure sometimes.

I haven't researched it, but I was thinking maybe it was the red dye?

I love the fruit punch, but when I drink it a lot I get a headache.

Well, I had my second fill yesterday. I wish I had done this sooner!!! I spent the last three months wondering why I couldn't get it together, why I was still eating so much, wondering if I was going to be fat all my life. See, my first fill I supposedly got 2.5 ccs under fluoro. Well, yesterday I had my fill under fluoro the right way. The first fill Dr. didn't use barium or anything!!! Ugh. Then, to top it all off, this doctor pulled out my first fill and said I only had 1.2 cc in there. No freakin' wonder I could eat like a cow again! I've spent months down on myself, thinking I failed when I had half the restriction I was told I had. I didn't want to get a 2nd fill because I couldn't believe I wasn't restricted at 2.5. Then I started freaking out, worried I had stretched my pouch! Thank god I listened to everyone and made an appointment for a second fill. I went to a different doctor and she was wonderful (Fillcentersusa.com St. Petersburg location). She did the fluoro with barium, watched as I drank it to see how much restriction I had, and helped me find the right restriction. She said my pouch looked perfect. What a sigh of relief. I now have total of 1.8 cc and she said if I feel like I'm losing restriction to come back in 4 weeks. You better believe I will! I'm not suffering again. So, I'm was on Clear liquids for 24 hours, now full liquids for 24 hours, then mushies for 24 hours, then regular foods. I feel like there's hope again. I was getting so frustrated and had even started gaining again!!!

Just wanted to introduce myself. Central Florida here, banded in December in Mexico (Dr. Rumbaut). Not exactly where I want to be weight-wise but it's entirely my fault. I'm refocused and rededicated now so I hope to see the lbs start coming off again.

In other words, you may be burning 3200 calories a day but you need to subtract what you eat from it. That is the deficit. So if you're burning 3200 and eating 2200 a day, that ends up being a 1000 calorie deficit a day which should lead to a 2lb loss in a week.

That's why I like my bodybugg (when I'm doing what I'm supposed to). It tells me all the calories I burn in a day, subtracts what I eat when I enter it and tells me whether or not I have deficit. You need a deficit of at least 3500 calories a week to lose one pound a week. That averages to a deficit of 500 calories a day.

I was on it when it was Xenical. Nasty stuff. I won't go on it again.

I'm ok. I canceled my fill appointment because I was still ill from the weekend. Let's just say I now need to swear off alcohol!!! I did get on my elliptical yesterday for 30 minutes. I'm going to shoot for every other day. I cut out the sweets yesterday and only had a small sample today when I went to Publix. I'm a sugar addict so that's a plus for me. Still fighting the head hunger like crazy, though. I can't believe I've had this band 6 months and I haven't made progress. It's all my fault, though. I've started having the "wish I had had RNY" thoughts but then I remind myself that that would have been cutting up my insides. I've had 2 days of success (as I define it) so hopefully I'll keep going. Thanks, Nat, for always checking in on me!!!

Dr. Rumbaut here. WONDERFUL experience. Fills through fillcentersusa.com which is adding up. But I could fly to Monterrey and get free fills if I wanted to. But then that's hotel, travel, etc to pay for. I do want to make it back one day though!

Add me as one who can eat salads no problem. Of course, I drown them in dressing so I'm sure that helps. That's also why I need to stay away from them!

Bman.. Wow, you look AMAZING!!! Nat, thanks for checking in on me! I'm struggling... BUT, I go for another fill Monday and I'm determined to get my head on straight. I now have my own elliptical, too, so there's no excuse. I'm giving myself until Monday (which sounds horribly like my old habits!) and my fill to get my sh*t together. Congrats to everyone who is doing so well!!!

You are a saint!!! The elementary school I teach at feeds into that school. I love the kids, but they are a CHALLENGE as you know. Good for you! I'm moving to middle school next year (not Boone) and I'm very nervous. I love the little ones! But, I got my Ed Leadership from USF, am in the AP pool, and wanted to round out my experiences. I had my second fill there and am going for my 3rd Friday. I love that place.

Bloody hell. I didn't know a Long Island Iced Tea had that many calories!!! I need to stop drinking when I go out.

I'm still getting used to the fill. Falling into the habit of eating easy, but bad foods, that will go down. Last night I concentrated on small bites and it really made a difference. I'll get my head on straight one of these days.

Ok, this is sounding like me. However, I know I'm not taking the proper bite sizes and eating slow enough. When you were too tight, were you taking pinky nail sized bites and eating very slowly? I'm trying to figure out if it's just my behavior that needs changing or if I need an unfill.

How could you tell she is too tight? I worry about this sometimes.

Well, I need suggestions on what to eat. With this latest fill I'm restricted, but the bad stuff still goes down too easy. What do some of you eat for lunch and dinner? (I'm ok with breakfast since I drink a yogurt smoothie.)

She'll make sure; she's wonderful. I thought I had 2.5 in my band, but she took it all out and all I had was 1.2. I HIGHLY recommend doing it under fluoro. It's only $75 more. I had a great experience with that office about a week ago.

I went to the one in St. Pete, FL.

I had to do liquids for 48 hours then soft foods for 24 hours. If you are taking small bites and chewing well and still have these problems, you may be too tight.

Who did your fill in Dr. Rumbaut's office? I found my doctor through fillcentersusa.com. I paid $155 for the fill and $75 for fluoro. Good luck!

I went with Rumbaut and had a WONDERFUL experience. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I've found a great doctor to do my fills here, but I still plan on returning to Mexico in a year or so just to check in. The whole office is exceptional. Highly recommend.

This board (and others) were wonderful in helping me make my decision who to go to in Mexico. I had found Dr. Rumbaut's site via a search engine, but then I also searched his name on forums like this to get reports from a 3rd party. I had a wonderful experience. Even though I have now found a wonderful doctor here for fills, I still want to make it back to Mexico in a year just to check in with his office. I'm sorry you had such a terrible experience, though.