La_madam

I think we are were nervous and excited at the same time.. Congratulations on your big day tomorrow I hope everything goes very smoothly for you:) Once you are home and feel up to it please post and let us all know how things went.

I love that hotel, stayed there a few years ago, love their beds..so comfy Have a great time

Joann did I meet you at Dr. Ortiz's office in November?

Mrie, I have been struggling with thesame issue. I lost 78 lbs with my band before I really started exercising, I joined a gym Feb 1st and have only lost 3 lbs since joining. I was working out 4-5 times a week and not seeing a difference, so I cut it back to 2-3 days a week and the scale is moving ever so slightly, but I am noticing a difference in my clothes sizes. I went form a 16 to a 12 very quickly, was not in 14's very long. It will happen, it is funny how our bodies work, more people have been noticing my weght loss now in the last week then before , it is because my body is shaping. Don't get discouraged, they say muscle weighs more then fat so maybe you are building more muscle, I started off with weights and cardio and was stuck but since have only been doing cardio and like I said the scale is moving agai nslowly. We can not let thescale dictate to us or discourage us, think off all of the non scale victories you have had since banding. Could it be you are not eating enough, when I do not eat 1200 -1400 calories a day my body shuts down and goes into starvation mode and every morsel of food I put in thereafter is stored . Hang in there you wil lstart to see a difference, DO NOT GIVE UP!!!

Are we not countig anything under a 1 lb loss? I noticed my numbers did not change on the chart, but I started at 184.50 an am now 184. I know it's not much but hey it is a loss

What a beautiful little baby girl and such a nice looking family. I'm very happy for you. 5l bs is nothing , you are so right it is the best 5lbs you will ever gain. Congratulations on your newest addition

Bushbaby..I know Dr. Ortiz does fill on other bands. I have met other women in his office who were coming in for their first fill with the mid band, they could not find a Dr. to do their fills in the US and they had theis surgery in another country like Belgium and Costa Rica Give him a call if not maybe he can tell you of a doctr in Mexico who will. I'm pretty confident he can help you, if anything put you under the fluoro machine to check your band.Losing restriction is a scary feeling. Im the kind of person who would go and see what was up, it is better to be safe then sorry, I could not wait a week, I would go crazy. I hope you find an answer or restriction returns soon.

184 for me a loss of .50 and I will take it, got my cycle coming any day. Way to go Darcy

Wade 4 lbs & Darcy..4lbs OMG way to go & Ladiebird 7 lbs ..all of you are awesome I lost .50 again but I got my cycle ready to start here any day now. I'm happy with my 1/2 lb Congratula tion all you losers

I was one of those whose Dr. did not require a pre -op diet. My Dr. only requiers a pre op diet if your BMI is over 50, atleast that is how it was when I had surgery 11 months ago. He may have changed his policy. Every meal was my last supper right up until the night before surgery .

One day at a time Jenna, you can do it, you're doing great so far

YES YES YES it is really worth it in my opinion. I have tried them all ( diets ) to only fail, this is the first time in my life I know I will never put the weight back on. Thje band has been the tool I have needed. yes there is some discipling and mental work but iyour band will help with that, it reminds you when you have eaten too much or eaten the wrong thing, thats the best part about it. This band really works but again you do have to do some of the work it is not a magic wand but a tool. Good Luck to you on your decision, I know it is a tough decision

I was one of the fortunate ones , my family has been behind me every step of the way. I have a very supportive husband, brother and children. My father also supported my decision and he is overweight, his wrods to me were " you are an adult" if this is what you think is best for you then I support you. If my mother was weighed 98 lbs her entire life and the most judgemental critical stron minded woman opn this earth were alive today she would be very supportive. I have been overweight all of my life, my parents spent tons of money over the years paying for every diet clinic, camp etc for me to only gain the weight back again . I know I did the rgihtthing. I understand your mothers opinion matters to you, but this is about you and no one else. If this is what you want to do and have researched it and are sure it iswhat you want to do, do not let anyone deter you from that. Now one of my closest girlfreinds is the only one who has not been supportive..you know why? She is jealous, she is morbidly obese and in a unhappy relationship and there is no way her husband would ever allow her to do this surgery. The ones I find to not be supportive are the ones who are somewhat jealous. , thats my take on it If it were that easy to do a diet and stick to it andlose it on your own without the aid of the band, then do you think there would be any overweight people in this world? Not every overweight person wants to be overweight this is not their choice to be overweight. I say go for it..do it for you!

I use the Therma Care heat wrps too, even at work under my clothes, I take liquid Tylenol and the 2 together seem to conquer my cramps.

Blossom alot of members have left and some are just taking a break from LBT over this entire fiasco. Ryan being one of them, he just came here yesterday to express his feelings on Alex B's thread he post about the moderators. There are also several who are just lurking afraid to post in fear of the wrath of certain members. So Sad it has come to this

Eating solids and losing is a true test that the band is working. Your Dr. gave you very good info. Not being able to eat solids is a sign you could be filled too tight. So it is good you are eating solids now before you get your first fill. Dark meat chicken goes down easier then the white meat. Sliced lunch meats are good too, they are solid and have lots of protein. You aredoing very well withyour weight loss. Congratilations!

Zoe, Great story!! I'm sure it will be very helpful for the newbies

Hi Dawn first of all you need to ask your Dr. your fill ammounts. It is obvious you need a fill. If you were filled properly you would not be able to eat such large ammounts. You seem to know what you need to do exercise andeat less. Got to get your head back into the game here. The band is not a magic wand, you do have to do some of the work. Better food choices, water andlots of it, protein first, lay off the junk food, start a hobby or craft to keep you busy from wanting to eat. Ask yourself when you go to eat if you are really hungry is it true hunger or do I just think Iam hungry. That always helps me. I keep a p[icture of a skinnier me from days long ago on my fridge so everytime I go to open it I see that pic and it helps me to make better food choices. Seriously though, the band works best when it is inflated , if you do not have nough of a fil land no restirction it will not work to the best of its ability. Callyour Dr and schedule a fill bite the bullet here on the finances of it and just do it. You will save money on food and it will pay for itself in no time. Where do you get your money for the food you eat? think of it that way, if you want it bad enough, you will find a way. You know this band works, you have proof, it is up to you to get back on track and get your head back into it too, good luck, you can do this

Very well put Jammin and I applaud all those who had the courage to come here and post on such a delicate subject matter many are in fear of those threatening PM's continuing which is why so many have yet to reply.

A good tasting protein drink is important. I preferred the Atkins Advantage ( chocolate) in a can ready to drink, 20 grams of protein they were great tasting.

Hi Shannon, I hope this time your band will be placed correctly. I wish you the best. As the others stated, Im curious to hear your story. Best of Luck to you

Alex I too sent you an email on Monday regarding this whole mess here at LBT, if you read it you will know how Iam feeling, but I will say that I agree with both Becky and Darcy. My thoughts on Marie is that she has been a very caring and kind member to myself and many others here, she has done a great job moderating this site. It is sad to have to walk on egg shells every time we log in here in fear of getting a nasty PM , getting threatened or wonder if the person we are talking to is really the person they claim to be. It never used to be like this up until recently. There are a few members here who I have confided in , that I felt something was up about 3-4 weeks ago, a conspiracy of sort and I was right, it all came to a head last weekend. During the time I felt something was up I even took time away from this board for about 5 days because I was so angry, after discusing this with other members they all felt it too, that should say something as to how we have all gotten to know this board and the members here. I do not have an answer as to how we can fix the rpoblem alot of damage has been done too many nasy things have been said I hope Alex their is a solution,and that others are not afraid to come forward like we all have and put in their feelings I will be waiting patiently to see it.

I do the chicken select strips at McDonalds, I can eat a taco from taco bell, I can do kentucky fried chicken from KFC, I try not to eat much fast food, we used to eat it 2 times or more a week but since banding it is down to once maybe every 3 weeks. I cook alot now.

I had esophagitis but a minor bump in my road on this journey.. I have lost 80 lbs in 11 months. Went from a size 20/22 to an official 12 WOO HOOO!!!!! That's my story!

Hi Teresa, I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I hope you have had a very nice day today