sue

Has any one had a tightening or redo of their plication? My restriction has become less, but it is still far better than pre plication in 4/2012.....I am considering it, as I fell short of my 70 lb weight loss. I have lost over 50 lbs and wanted to lose another 20 to 30 lbs more. That would put me at a normal BMI.

I looked AT ANGELES CENTER briefly, but after months of investigating I chose Obesity Control Center in Tijuana - Dr. Ortiz. Everyone speaks english there, so there are no barriers...Angeles is not so bilingual I heard.

Thanks 134and happy!!!!.....why should we set ourselves up with all these negative feelings/attitudes? Do we all not feel better with any kind of weight loss? dedication - like you said and patience!

OH YEAH....lots of sagging...It is amazing what you can hide in skinny jeans!!

That is a great idea, but I still think we all need to drink as much water as we can...very important..(I have a hard time with that one too)

Hi Bekrudz...I have been missing in action...traveling...how are you doing? Im still loosing..a little slower now, but it is still coming off...going on month four....53 off!

HI to be thin...how are you doing? I havnt been on for a while..traveling...I'm doing pretty good..down 53 so far..looking forward to month four!! 20 - 30 more pounds to go I hope??

Everyone really needs to step back, and see this whole plication "tool" if you will for what it is....a tool...for future weight loss. We all want quick results, I did too. The fact of the matter is, the pounds WILL come off when your body is ready...I decided 2 months ago, that I am going to sit back and enjoy the diet ride....as long as this journey may take. I am planning on keeping my expectations real, focused and on sound ground. It took me years to put all this weight on...I now want to enjoy seeing it come off...in a healthier way...slow! June I took off 11 pounds, July I took off around 8 pounds....but it is coming off. First i loose a few pounds...then I go on a plateau (that we all know about)...but the amazing thing is that you will find your body is catching up..and it is loosing inches (I Promise!!). Bottom line is that none of us really know the magic number we will finally reach.....but one thing for sure...whatever that number is...we will all be a lot healthier for it! My surgery date was April 17th (at OCC) and I am down 52 pounds....was a size 18 now down to a 12. In my own mind I would someday like to be another 25-30 pounds lighter and in a size 10 or 8. I must say I feel pretty good right now and it wouldn't be the end of the world if I stayed where I am. We will see! You guys just hang in there....you are just beginning the ride!!

My experience is with Dr. Ortiz at OCC in tijuana. Everything went perfect! Would deffinately recommend them.

Not sure if this is similar, but i have been having sharp pains during certain twisting movements...near my scars. I play golf, and I wonder if I strained my incisions?? I had my surgery April 17, 2012...Just started having this pain for the last 2 weeks. It doesn't feel like a deep stomach pain..it feels more surface. Has anyone had similar issues?

ok I found that eating more protein is better..plus I upped my sublingual B12 vitamin!! much better thanks!!

It has been so hard to burn extra calories....i feel sluggish a lot of the time..how can I stay upbeat about losing when it is soooo slow? How can I help it along?

This is a long time out.. since April...I am now down 53 pounds...went from size 18 to a size 12...and very happy. Need to lose another 25 ish....It has really slowed down now..lost only 8 pounds for the month of July. but I have already lost 2 pounds for April..so it is still coming off! I know I can eat a little more....obviously..and I have cheated many times..The difference now is that my cheating amount is soooo much less. (example.. instead of eating 15 cookies..I only eat one or two. But I hope everyone of us keeps our faith....take our time..be patient! Life is so much better with this weight off. I can't wait to get my next physical and see the new stats on my blood tests. We will all be so much better off!

I had my surgery in April...lost 53 pounds so far....I would like another 25...we will see. I chose to only tell a few family members, and swore them all to secrecy! I have several very close friends...but I knew they would be against this surgery...and be very concerned for me. They have watched me go up and down in weight... on so many different new fad diets...without any lasting success...so I wouldn't really blame them if they were to feel that way...I totally would understand. It has been almost 4 months now, and they are all shocked at my weight loss....and I think a bit suspicious !! They have watched me eat only a few bites of our meals when we are out together...and i hear them whisper to each other...wondering if Im ok, and what diet am I REALLY doing now. I just tell them that I am trying to eat like a skinny person...that my (pre-op) diet, with protein shakes & 1 meal...has shrunk my stomach...which in turn allows me to feel satisfied quicker..etc...They are accepting that for now..so ...so far so good!! I know that I will keep loosing...but it is slower now...so I think that they will not notice as much...hopefully. I was a size 18, and I am now a size 12. Last month I lost 8 pounds.

I remember the first week right after surgery, I thought i would lose so much weight...honestly i only had liquids...and very little of that!! I found that it took over 2 weeks to really see the scale lower! From what I understand, your body is still in shock from the trauma of surgery...you need to give it some time to heal, and your body to catch up with the new form of eating your are forcing upon it! Just hang in there...the pounds will come off!!

Pranjala, About every month I go thru the same thing...I think my body needs to catch up with the weight loss...If you measure yourself I think you will find that even though you are not losing weight that you will be losing inches! Don't get down on yourself. The fact of the matter is you are eating less...just try to make better choices..eat more protein that will help, and exercise (weight baring especially) to build muscle mass it key. Yes, I also have been losing 1 to 2 pounds per week...Think of that in a months perspective...wow that is close to 10 pounds! It is all good! (ps sometimes I need help for constipation..protein is a very powerful stopper if you know what I mean)

There are 2 (I believe) coordinators Carolyn was mine. She was excellent...answered all my questions whenever I had one. (She also had surgeries as well!) She is actually located in Florida. I have never heard of getting cheeper rates from other people within OCC. Also, I believe Dr. Otriz for the most part does all the operations. He is wonderful, as Is his whole staff. Hope that helps. Im here if you need me. good luck!! PS I love my restriction..It is my secret tool...my secret friend!! 41 pounds off since pre-op the first of April!

It is scary traveling to another country...especially for surgery! I Had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz at the obesity control center on April 17th! It is a smaller hospital/clinic setting...and at night it was really quiet...but I slept most of the night. There was a nurse there but I really didn't need her. My sister was with me until after the operation, then she had some facial plasma injections done there by the plastic surgeon. I saw her the next morning, then we both went back to the hotel..where we both rested. Went on a Cabo vacation for 10 days after! Actually a very good experience.

I was told that juices will slow down your weight loss. Just like any diet (which I have been on just about all!!), you are never allowed juices because of high sugar content. I drink tea now...I was soooo hooked on diet coke...we can never do sodas again..;( but that is ok, I have gotten used to it. I think that I would stay away from any fruit juices just in case.

Hi gang...I'm just over 2 months out from surgery, and I am down 40 pounds! Down 2 sizes! Starting weight 230....now 189. I was told to expect to get down to 165 range, but I would really like to be 145-150...I am 5'9 and larger boned. I think that maybe I might be happy once I reach a loose size 10...we will see. I am also getting more comfortable with knowing my limits in food portions...I literally find myself stopping mid bite and realizing that i am full then i have to spit out that bite and quit. It is really hard to get use to. In the am I feel a tightness in my stomach which makes me feel like not eating! I have to force myself. Were any of you told that you need to really be religious about protein, water and exercise especially in the FIRST SIX MONTHS? I now wonder and wish i would have asked why only the first 6 months. Is it because your stomach stretches out or what? I plan on asking Dr ortiz at my mid year checkup. Also why did they tell me to no longer have protein shakes..I was told on plication talk by a member that it goes right thru you and that it doesn't fill you up. That is probably right. The shakes are so good to grab and run if you are in a hurry..I miss them.

Hi Alex, In your newsletter you stated that "Sue" won the iPod touch. I just wanted to make sure that wasn't me? I wish...just checking!! Hope all is well with you. I'm doing great! Sue

Yeah!! Congrats tobethin!! Great Job!! See, never give up!! Proud of you!!

I despise evenings!! like right now , I would love to take a nibble on something..I wonder if a sugar-free popsicle would be ok? Do you find that you are not always hunger in the am? Typically i have to force myself to eat (especially when I take vitamins etc..not good on an empty stomach)??

A BRIEF HISTORY... SIMILAR TO MOST ... I AM NOW 57, AND YO YO DIETED ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE....(LOWEST 125!!) AFTER GIVING BIRTH - AGE 30- I FOUND MYSELF WEIGHING IN AT 235... MY HIGHEST!! I AM NOW 230. LIKE MOST OF US, I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MY DIET, TRYING EVERY SINGLE FAD, EVERY SINGLE DIET TO NO EVAIL. I AM AT AN AGE NOW THAT I JUST CANT DO IT ANY MORE. MY METABOLISM HAS SLOWED AND NOW IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP WEIGHT OFF OR EVEN GET IT OFF. MY KNEES, HIPS, ACHE, I HAVE PLANTAR FACIATIS IN BOTH HEELS, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, ETC..JUST TO NAME A FEW. I STARTED THIS FINAL JOURNEY SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD A GASTRIC BYPASS..SO I STARTED TO WATCH ON THE INTERNET FOR OPTIONS TO A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO MY DIETING INSANITY! FINALLY LAST YEAR I WAS ON LINE SPEAKING TO A SURGEON IN MICHIGAN WHO HAD SUGGESTED FOR ME TO LOOK INTO PLICATION. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID. I FOUND A SURGEON NEAR MY WINTER HOME IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA. I WENT TO HIS SEMINAR..LIKED WHAT I HEARD. FROM THERE I MADE THE DECISION TO FOLLOW THRU. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE, WHICH OF COURSE DENIED IT BECAUSE IT WAS STILL EXPERIMENTAL! I KNEW THEN I WOULD BE A SELF-PAY.....SO I ACCEPTED THAT AND FOLLOWED THRU WITH ALL MY REQUIREMENTS OF SEEING A DIETICIAN, AND A PSYCHOLOGIST AND GETTING A PHYSICAL WITH MY INTERNIST....GETTING THROUGH TO THIS DOCTOR WAS LIKE CALLING THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA!! ANY QUESTIONS I HAD HAD TO GO THRU A MESSAGE SERVICE THEN I HAD TO WAIT FOR DAYS FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK! I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS. SO BACK TO THE INTERNET I WENT...I KEPT SEEING Dr. Ortiz NAME, AND HIS OCC CLINIC OVER AND OVER AGAIN....I STUDIED HIS VIDEOS , READ TESTIMONIALS AND FOUND HE HAD DONE SO MANY BARIATRIC SURGERIES INCLUDING THE PLICATIONS THAT IT WAS A NO BRAINER! SO I MADE THE PHONE CALL TO CAROLYN WILLIAMSON. IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION AND I FINALLY FELT LIKE I HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION....... FOR ME! THE REST IS HISTORY.... MY PLICATION DATE IS SET FOR APRIL 17TH, I WILL MEET MY SISTER THERE (SHE IS HAVING SOME COSMETIC SURGERY AT THE ARIEL CENTER - WHICH I MAY HAVE SOME PLASMA INJECTIONS IN SOME FACIAL LINES TOO)!! WE WILL STAY AT THE MARIOTT UNTIL THE 20TH THEN GO ON A VACATION FOR ANOTHER WEEK! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS JOURNEY AND PRAYING IT WILL BE MY LAST DIET ENDEAVOR!! I STARTED MY 2 WEEK DIET YESTERDAY, AND AM NOW 227.....SO I AM ON MY WAY. I WILL KEEP UPDATING AS I GO....SO TALK TO YOU SOON!! PS HAVE ANY ONE OF YOU NOTICED HOW PEOPLE TREAT YOU WHEN YOU ARE HEAVY? I THINK THEY LOOK DOWN ON YOU...BUT JUST MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE IT IS THE VIBE IM GIVING OFF BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF WHEN IM FAT? NOT SURE, BUT AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, IT IS DEFINATELY A FACT! BUT I WILL REMEMBER THESE PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE WHEN I AM MORE SLENDER AND HEALTHIER TO EMBRACE MY REAL FRIENDS WHOM I LOVE. :) :)

OMG you guys are the best...I feel sooo much for confident that eventually everything will be ok...It is such my personality to get anal about things....I do need to up my exercise I know..and I plan on getting a check up in october or november providing nothing goes seriously wrong.