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Hi! I just saw your message today...Don't know my way around this site yet!

I am having it done on the 13th of October. I did wait a little longer only because of work travel and a visit to California the end of the month. My son and daughter in law live out there and I want our visit to be fun!

So, after the first week of October, I was free to have this done with no work worries or social engagements that I could not handle! I am self pay....so I wanted it when it would work for me and I knew I could succeed.

I am so excited. No pre-op diet for me...but I have really been good and trying to lose a little weight before the surgery...I can feel my mind set changing each day and I know that I will be able to do this. I can taste being slim!

Your pup is cute....I have 2 Shar Pei.

Keep up the good work...you are an inspiration to us all!

You are so cute!!! You just made my day I just got home from work I have been there since 7 am this morning. I am so tired. I just loved Happy Friday THANK YOU... Yes it is You are so sweet to send me a nice message. You are an inspiration. Have a wonderful healthy week end. imaluckydog Kathy

Hi all! Wanted to share some before and 3 months after pics with everybody. Take a look. This band journey is a strange thing.:huh2: One day I can eat and the next day 2 bites will do me at one sitting. Throwing up has been more of a common thing than I thought it would be. Still a little bruised feeling at the port site :sad: and have had more gas in the last 3 months than EVER before. :ohmy: I go in next week for my 4th fill. And I am going to ask about these issues. Total wieght loss has been 30 pds! :tongue2: For once in my life the scale is going down not up!! :tt1: I'm lovin it! :thumbup: Can't wait till the next 30 pds goes away. Then I feel I will REALLY see it! And that's when others will really see the true effects of the band~! I had a lot of "bulk" on me and that's the 30 pds that's missing! :thumbup: If you have any suggestions or props, let me know. Always love to hear from you. :rolleyes2:

Catherine, your blog is an inspiration to me. I am being banded next week and I really enjoyed reading it!

Hi CC,

Cute name. My name is JoAnn and I was banded on the 27th of August. Tomorrow I start week 3 of my six week post-op diet and I see my surgeon on Friday for my first post-op checkup. I am feeling good and doing well.

Ivy, I'm glad you are doing well. The gas pain will lessen after a full week or so. I stuck to the liquid phase for 2 weeks. I had chicken broth, protein shots and jello. I stayed in bed most days of week one. I wasn't hungry, but did not want to be tempted so I stayed away form the kitchen. My family was great the first week. They ate out so as not to add to the temptation to want what they were having. It was not a bad time, especially when the scale was showing weight loss.

What are you having on the liquid phase and how long do you remain on that stage?

please...please...please stay off the scale....i honestly didn't weight myself unless i was at the dr.s office...thats y when people ask how much weight i lost every week...i don't know...i'm positive there were weeks i didn't lose anything...or lost less then other weeks...but i took it day by day...don't frustrate urself...ur going to get there...with as much weight as u've already lost...u'll keep going ....i promise

Hi.

The cost here is about 25,000.00 whereas only 7000.00 in Mexico. My husband is soooooooo against this, I think that is part of my reservations about it all. I have not slept in a week, worried about it..its coming so soon, and I am still unsure. I have been overweight for 20 years...I really want to be thinner...and know I can't do it on my own...God knows I have tried! It is nice to know others going through it at the same time. Thank you for taking the time to answer me.

The clinic in Mexico only requires a 5 day liquid diet. I am 46yo/5'6"/211#.

Hope to talk again!

Kimberly

hey gurly! i went back to work today yucko. But they decidied to give me a raise b/c everyone has quit while i was out lol. I'm goen to sign up for the gym by my house tonight. How many days a week to you go to the gym? I didn't start a protein shake yet b/c they're all expensive and nasty tasting. Which ones do you take?

Hey,

didnt speak to you for ages! how are you? how is the band? I just had my first fill today. was supposed to be 2 weeks ago, but when he tried to insert the needle the tissue was not healed enough to go through without damaging. so finally had it this morning. I'm good, lost 9 kilos and hopefully that will pick up with the fill........

what you up to?

take care

alison

Hi Bobbie, I am doing okay. So far, I have had three fills; the last being under fluoro, I was a bit disappointed with that one, because my second fill, which was done blind was 0.5 cc. Then it was only 0.5 cc during the fluoro fill. So, I am currently up to 4 cc in my 9 cc band. Still not feeling restriction. I spent 7 weeks after surgery stuck at a 9 pound loss. I upped my cardio work outs to 45 minutes to an hour on the treadmill, going from 2.5 miles to 3 miles each time. So, I really believe this is ONLY why I am starting to lose weight. I am now down to 233.2. Surgery day I was 248.8. I have another appointment for another fill on October 5th, but am hoping sooner. I don't eat as much as I did preop, but I am still able to eat too much. I usually get hungry about 2 to 2.5 hours after I eat. So, hoping the next fill will bring me more restriction! Hey my email address is Pjones4052@yahoo.com. Anytime you need me.

Hey lady I have been following you and aberchic. Dont get discouraged. I know it seems slow. I am down about 24 pounds in what will be 10 weeks this thursday. That is 2.4 pounds a week. I am just now starting to feel a difference. In a years time we will all be in such a better place. Although that steak potatoes and rolls you were speaking of sound freakin awesome!!!

Sorry I haven't been on here in forever.....life is chaos with three girls and being a working mom! How are you doing now? I just broke 56 lbs, so I am happy with that.

Hi Shasta1

I feel much better now that I have lost over 100 pounds in 1 year. I started looking into weight loss surgery over 10 years ago but my insurance would never cover it. Once I had a BMI over 50 they finally did. I was 5'6" and 375 pounds. I still hired beliteweight.com to get me through all the red tape with bc/bs insurance. There was a lot more of a wait for the gastric bi-pass surgery. I was in a hurry and opted for the gastric lap band. I was chicken for the drastic bi-pass. There was less of a wait for the band. I could always opt for the bi-pass later if the band didn't work. They put me on a liquid protein diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery to shrink my liver.

The lap band and gastric bypass has a diet to stick with so it is not easy and dieting free as I thought it would be. I automatically eat smaller portions of what I did eat before. It is a lot like the South Beach one with mostly protein, vegetables, low carbs and no "slider foods".

toosywoots

I was also banded on Aug 28th. My starting weight was 306 (4/24/09) I am down to 235. Everything has been going great and I haven't had any problems. I have hit the dreaded plateau period. I haven't lost any weight for the past two weeks. How are things going for you? Doug, in Delaware

Kiz,

I've been wandering the board today and noticed a post by you about eating out and you mentioned you are from Richmond VA area. Me, too. I was banded a week ago today at Parham.

I just was happy to see another Richmonder on the board and wanted to say hi!

Brenda

Don't stress. I barely lost anything before my surgery (and I had been trying) but they went through with it anyway. You'll be fine. But yeah, try not to gain anything!! I'm feeling great. I've officially lost 45lbs and I can't wait until I reach the 50lb lost mark. That's a lot of weight!! It hasn't been easy but I've gotten used to eating the new way (kinda) and living with the band. And adding exercise. What I like the most is weight training. I've never "lifted" weights before, but it's important because toning muscle is good. Muscle burns more calories faster. So dont just concentrate on cardio. Who is your surgeon? Honestly, contact me about anything! The first couple of weeks on liquid diet after surgery is hard. Dont be hard on yourself. Once you can eat "real" food again, you'll feel so much better!! Good lucka nd keep in touch!

My first week has been great. I've only lost 4lbs but happy just to be losing. Tuesday was the worst day for pain but even still not bad enough to take any pain meds. I'm still sore at the port site, of course, but other than that - I feel good! How bout you?

I know what you mean. I was going up and down in a 2 week time period until finally it cracked and I've gone past the hump this week. I went to the dietician and she told me to stay under 800 calories a day & only 6 oz of food per meal. I had definately been going over that amount. She said my stomach could stretch having more than that. I'm now being very cautious and measuring.

Hey Allena, my name is Allison. In reading your profile it seems that we have a lot in cmmon. I too am 31, I have a son that is 9. I know the feeling about the whole yo-yo thing. I was banded on July 14th. Since a week before surgery i have lost 27 pounds. Good luck in the rest of your journey. Hope to keep in touch and to see your progress.

hey, how is it going? Im doing better and feeling much stronger now days. I have one more week before moving on to mushies. I know, My doc is having his patients do liquids for 4 weeks post. I am soooo ready to eat because I still have no restriction yet. what about you? we will talk later.

I'm great thanks! I think I'm finally at that "sweet spot" that they talk about. I'm not hungry in between meals any more. Thank goodness! I had lost 39 about a week ago, so probably 40 by now. I have had a few issues with eating too fast, but other than that, everything is great. I still haven't gone down any sizes though.?? You see all these people on these magazines who lost 25 lbs and go down 15 dress sizes. hahah Not me!

HI I saw that you also went through Synergy Bariatrics, I am also going there, I just went to my pysch appointment last week so now Im just waiting to hear from the office to get me in to see the DR. So how long did it take you to get in, and after that how long was it til your actual surgery date. If you have any tips or things I need to know please let me know. Thanks for your time.

Hi Georgia girl,

Returning this week from Hilton Head SC and visited Savannah, Georgia. What a grand place! I came home from gaining 7 pounds on vacation and trying to find some motivation to get the weight off. I had lost 50 pounds but have regained 7 pounds. I was banded in April of 2008. I am wondering if the low carb diet aggrevates the gallbladder. I have stones and want to start the low carb but worried about that. I like the choices you have made and am ready to get back on track. Thanks mama 59

Hey ks,

Nice to hear from you. I just scheduled my consultation with the surgeon today. I asked them if I could start the required 2 week pre-op diet on my own (before the consultation) so that I could get the earliest possible surgery date (eeeeeeeekkkk). So my consultation with the surgeon is on September 3rd! Can't wait. I will probably start the pre-op diet tomorrow (just got it emailed to me today). Thinking of you!