maygoddess

Hi all! I was asked to introduce myself, so here goes. I was banded in August of 2002 by Dr Kuri. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area(Napa area to be exact). My starting weight was around 285 and I am currently in the low 200's. My weight loss journey has been slower than most because I took about a 6 month hiatus from weight loss last year as I tried to get pregnant via in vitro. It didn't work and I got back on track..so over the 2+ years, my weight loss looks abysmal..but 75lbs down is nothing to sneeze at and I have not gained an ounce in two years, which really was my reason for being banded. I considered myself a foodie..I am not really an emotional eater as much as just loving good food. Living in Napa, we have access to the best wines and gourmet foods and food just taste good. I never liked diet foods, fake fats, fake sugars..so I eat all the real stuff, but in moderation. I don't do low carb, low fat, hi Protein or any of the other crazy extremes out there. Balance is really key. I know if I eat real ice cream, it slows me down, but I am willing to accept it. I make choices based on what I am willing to compromise and it works for me. I have no idea where my body will land at a "goal". I have been overweight my entire life and never dieted fully down to a goal weight. If I go by the height/weight charts, I would still have another 60+lbs to go..seems impossible, but we'll see. I am a comfy size 12/14 currently so I no longer really have to shop in horrid fat clothes departments or shops anymore. I want my clothes to be well fitted..not sloppy tents. Let's see..how has life changed? I didn't really have any major co-morbidities or take any medications that I can say I no longer take. It is just easier to move around...I always liked to hike but at close to 300lbs at my highest, it was harder to do. I think most of all, I feel more "normal" in the world. People notice me more as a person..not as a fat blob. I don't feel that I take up more space in the world than I should though I am still considered "obese"..just a much smaller obese! Because my journey has been slow, I have now gone through several seasons of clothing changes which is good and bad at the same time. This is my 3rd winter being banded..the 1st I was just down about 30 post lbs but by the 2nd, I needed a new winter wardrobe and THIS year again..all new clothes..same for summers. You learn not to get attached to clothes you won't see around the next season. No favorite sweater or favorite pants anymore! l look forward to the day I can buy clothes in my final size and keep them a few seasons! As far as the "technical" aspects of my band..I have the Inamed 9.75mm band. I currently have about a snug 2.7-2.8cc in there. I have had about 7 fills in the 2+ years. Mostly with Dr Kuri, but I recently started using Dr Helmuth Billy up in Truckee, CA for my last two fills(one of which was just last week). I am pretty new to lapbandtalk.com. I am mostly on Dr Kuri's Yahoo boards and I started my own group:NorthBayBandsters for those of us in the North Bay counties of the SF Bay Area. Ihave a bandster get together at my house this Saturday. We have small but supportive group up here. That is about it for now. I continue on this road to weight loss..at this point..once I hit the magic 200..the rest will all be a victory! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri

Hi all! I actually received the Utrition liquid today and had my first dose of it and it is quite pleasant. It has a tart taste when you first sip it, butthen it is slightly sweet...almost like a splenda taste to it...no bitter after taste or anything. Very nice. I will see if it makes a difference in how I feel after about 30 days! I will post any findings! Patty

Hey all! I wanted to add to this discussion.I am pretty picky about my multi-Vitamins. Most of the supermarkert chewables out there(flintstones, Centrum,gummy bears, gummy balls, etc) just don't have enough in them in my opinion to be of any value. I found Source of Life chewables recently and they have alot of good stuff in them in high enough quantities to be of value. I always look for high amounts of folate(for women in reproductive years, you should be up in the 400-800mcg per day area) and of course all the other B's, etc. Most vitamins fall short. SInce I have been taking the source of life chewables(I take 2 instead of 1 to get more of what falls short)..I do like it..it tastes like pineapple, but does leave a lingering aftertaste.. I looked into the Source of Life liquid mentioned here...i was having a hard time finding a good complete liquid. This liquid actually looks better than the chewable version as far as the vitamin/mineral content. In my search around the net to find a good price for Source of Life, I came across another liquid that looks even better! It is from Utrition. Vitamin Shoppe also carries it..I went through Amazon/Vitamin Shoppe and got it for $20.97 for 32oz..here is the profile. I like that it added 500mg of glucosomine for joint health.: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=525 border=0><TBODY><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD colSpan=2>Supplement Facts </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=left>Serving Size </TD><TD align=right colSpan=3>1 FL.OZ. </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=left>Servings Per Container </TD><TD align=right colSpan=2>32 Liquid </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> </TD><TD align=right>Amount Per Serving </TD><TD align=right>% Daily Value </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Green Tea </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Potassium </TD><TD align=right>25 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Magnesium </TD><TD align=right>20 Mg </TD><TD align=right>5% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Calcium </TD><TD align=right>50 Mg </TD><TD align=right>5% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Biotin </TD><TD align=right>300 Mcg </TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Folic Acid </TD><TD align=right>400 Mcg </TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B12 </TD><TD align=right>200 Mcg </TD><TD align=right>3,332% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B6 </TD><TD align=right>20 Mg </TD><TD align=right>1,000% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B5 </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg </TD><TD align=right>1,000% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B3 </TD><TD align=right>20 Mg </TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B2 </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg </TD><TD align=right>5,884% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B1 </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg </TD><TD align=right>6,668% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin K </TD><TD align=right>78 Mcg </TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin E </TD><TD align=right>50 IU </TD><TD align=right>167% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin D </TD><TD align=right>400 IU </TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin C </TD><TD align=right>1500 Mg </TD><TD align=right>2,500% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin A </TD><TD align=right>10000 IU </TD><TD align=right>200% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Sugar </TD><TD align=right>3 G </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Total Carbohydrate </TD><TD align=right>9 G </TD><TD align=right>3% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Sodium </TD><TD align=right>3 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Calories </TD><TD align=right>40 </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Lecithin </TD><TD align=right>6 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Pepsin Enzymes </TD><TD align=right>5 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Papain </TD><TD align=right>5 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Malt Diastase </TD><TD align=right>5 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Trypsin </TD><TD align=right>5 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Hesperidin </TD><TD align=right>3 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Bioflavonoids </TD><TD align=right>6 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Rutin </TD><TD align=right>3 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Inositol </TD><TD align=right>30 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Choline </TD><TD align=right>30 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Grape Seed </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Ginkgo Biloba </TD><TD align=right>80 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Ginseng </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Glucosamine </TD><TD align=right>500 Mg </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Here is the link directly from Vitamin Shoppe: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/browse/sku_detail.jhtml;$sessionid$SBECXWT0UCNQYCQUAOYCM4QKCQB00GXK?SkuID=224937&BreadCrumbType=SearchResult It is interesting when you buy it directly from vitaminshoppe.com it is $26.21, but when I linked to Vitamin Shoppe through Amazon..it was $20.97! I was able to use my Amazon checkout so Ididn't have to re-register through VS. Anyway..I will report back on the taste and how I feel. It does look like a good vitamin so far from the ingredients list..and hopefully will be better than the chewables. Patty banded 8/13/02 Dr Kuri