Dianechef

Hi Nuria! I am from AZ & had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz & loved him! I went back for my first fill & was very happy that I did. They use Florouscopy & I could actually see my band & and the Water going down. It was a perfect fill for me!! As far as what you eat, everyone is different. Some days I can eat bread, other days I can't! I've always been able to eat rice. Here is a list of some foods that I typcially eat. (I only choose one for each meal, not all!) Breakfast: Protein shake/2 scrambled eggs/1/2 cup of wheat chex Lunch: 1 cup of Wendy's Chili/small salad/egg salad sandwich Dinner: Small serving of whatever I make my family. (spaghetti, casseroles, chicken & rice, Soup...etc.) I drink lots of water through out the day as well. I really can eat most anything - just smaller portions. I think you'll have to figure out what works best for you. Good luck!!

I hear ya!! I paid for a full year at a gym a while back & never went. Sucks doesn't it!? But, after having surgery I was determined to get in shape. The first time I stepped foot in the most recent gym I SOOOO wanted to run out the door & scream. I was very embarassed by my jiggly stomach, big ol' behind & fat legs. It was not a pretty sight. I even hired a trainer who probably thought it was a joke when she saw me!! When I stepped on the scale there was absolute SILENCE. She said nothing & it was very awkward. I went home & cried. I decided I wasn't going back. Except for the fact that I already paid the money!! BIG BUCKS!! So, I went back and endured the agony. And it was AGONY!! But, after 4 months I am feeling good!! I am lifting weights with the big guys. YOU CAN DO IT!! YOU CAN DO IT!! Get over the emberassment & get something out of all the money you're paying every month at the gym. ha!

Work out! Work out!! Work out!! I didn't touch the gym until 3 months after surgery & my skin was doing the same thing. Your body is very forgiving. I am at the gym 5 times a day & I have seen a vast improvement. My stomach isn't sagging anymore!! It works!! I Promise.:nod:

Illude!! I say you write BOTH Oprah & Dr. Phil!!! We are all 100% behind you. Do it!!!!!! It can't hurt a thing. I will be the first one to send my letter to encourage them. You got a whole team here cheering you on. Just give me the address & the letter is there!!! :confused:

Having a good fill changes your whole outlook about the band. You start to really love it!!!! Enjoy the upcoming weight loss!!

Sorry everyone!! Didn't get the pictures taken yet. As soon as I do, I'll send um over!!

And here's my youngest. She's now a yr. old, but this was her 3 month picture!!

Here are my oldest two on a trip in Colorado!!

I agree!! Not sure how to fix this unless you stick right by the computer 24/7 to get all the new posts. HA!! I bet there really are people out there who do this!! Anyone what to admit?!?!?

I started reading the thread about "parts getting stuck in parts" & realized it wasn't what I wanted to read & I went to another one. I wasn't offended by it or mad that it was posted on a lapband website. I just simply clicked my mouse & went to another thread. It truly is OUR choice what we want to read. I kinda have to agree with Alex on this one. I'm not sure that having an Adult Content area would be beneficial. We all still have the choice to go there or not. Just like we have the choice to open up a specific thread. Personally, I don't want this website to attract the weirdos out there who might google XXX & up comes lapbandtalk. Ack!! Scary.

Very well said Heather!!

I've had a baby, knee surgery AND gallbladder surgery. Lapband surgery was by far the easiest surgery I've ever had. I'd give it a 3 on the pain scale & the worst was really the few hours after surgery. I never had to take any pain pills. I could have been back to work the next day.

Hi Txkrause, I tried to reply to your personal e-mail & it didn't work. So sorry. Here's the answer to your question about drinking AFTER your meals... You want your pouch to stay full as long as possible so that you actually FEEL full. When you drink any liquids after you eat, it will wash all the food out of your pouch & you end up hungry again. I always drink all my liquids BEFORE my meal & it really has made a difference with staying full. It's one of the bandster rules!! Good luck!!

I agree with your husband. OUT OF THE HOUSE this weekend. Now that you know, you can be held liable.

Get this.... My husband made me an entire Valentine's Dinner by himself. (No, he is not a cook & normally never makes anything but cold cereal.) I was thrilled. He has never done anything like that before. Then, I saw what he had made. Steak & potatoes with pop to drink. HA!! I couldn't have any of it. But, it's the thought that counts - right? Oh yeah, he had strawberries with chocolae fondue for dessert. Do you think I should keep him?!?!

Where do you work & what do you do?!?! What a great boss!! A great support system is a MUST & it sounds like you got it!!!

This is so exciting!! What's her reward? You gotta have a reward!!!

I'll have hubby take pictures of me tonight & send them over!!

I weighed myself at the doctor this morning & was so THRILLED!!!! It said I weighed 208 which means I have hit my first goal of 50 lbs!! (My home scale said 211, but I am definately going to take the doctors scale over mine!!!) Yesterday I went shopping & could hardly believe that I could fit into a size 16 pants. I've worn 22/24 for so long! Here's what I've learned so far: 1) You will hit LOTS of plateaus. I stayed at the same weight for 2-3 weeks many, many times & then all of a sudden I'd drop 4 or 5 lbs. Don't get frustrated at the scale. 2) Exercise really does work. I joined a gym only because I knew it was the right thing to do. I hated going & was emberassed to be seen among all the muscle men. I could barely walk on the treadmill for 5 min. without feeling like I was going to pass out. BUT....I made myself go & it's been very, very worth it. I'm now a regular & 2 days ago one of the buff women came up to me & said - "I've been watching you the past few months & you've really inspired me. Keep up the great work." Wow! I inspired HER!! That was a big NSV to me. 3) You really do need to follow the bandster rules. THEY WORK!! I had moments of just wanting to do my own thing. But, whenever I went back to taking small bites, chewing my food A LOT, & not drinking after meals I lost more weight!! 4) Patience is important. It took me a while to get this weight on & it's going to take me a while to get it off. I'm not only losing weight, I'm changing a life time of bad behaviors & that doesn't change overnight. 5) DRINK YOUR WATER!! I have never been a good consistent Water drinker until recently. But, I can tell a difference!! I realized that sometimes when I THOUGHT I was hungry, I was really just thirsty. 6) It's okay to eat junk once in awhile. You can't deprive yourself forever!! Friday evening is my free night & I let myself choose something fattening & sugary to eat. ONLY ONE ITEM. I eat it & it's gone. I've never gained any weight from doing this & I am satisfied. If I am tempted to eat junk during the week, I tell myself - "You can have that on Friday! I don't like to be told NO. If I know it's something I can't have, I want it more. Knowing I can have it on Friday makes it so much easier. Which reminds me, today is Friday!! WAHOO!!!! Thank you to everyone on here for all the great support & good information. I learn a lot from you all & consider you my friends! I can't wait to reach my next goal!!

I second the Oprah idea!! Try Dr. Phil too!! Send them pictures. I think they'll be just as impressed with you as we are!!! Go Illude!!!!!

WOW!! I am dumbfounded, just like your doctor. That is VERY, VERY good!!!!! Please share with us what you're eating. Do you exercise? How much Water do you drink?!?!?! This is very exciting for you! When ever you get over your camera shyness, we want PICTURES!! You go girl!!!

Thanks for the understanding Shawn!! I am down 3 lbs. & only have 2 more to go!! I'll be covered real soon. Maybe I should start up smoking or something & see what happens. Oh.....just kidding.

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">When I started eating better, I realized how much more energy I had & how I was an all around a happier person!! I realized that my family had all fallen into the same trap that I did. It was my fault because I was making the meals & buying all the food. I DO NOT KEEP THE JUNK IN MY HOUSE ANYMORE!! If the bad food isn't good for me, it isn't good for my family either. I 100% agree with Delarla & also Photonut who said that food is tied in with family & memories. We all want to sit down to a good meal & enjoy each other!! My family still does. There is no way I could eat somewhere other then with my family. I make the same food, only healthier. We all eat macaroni & cheese. I always serve a salad & green beens. However, the REAL JUNK like cheetos & gummy bears are OUT!! I have decided that Fridays are FREE NIGHTS! :hungry: We all (myself included) get to choose one junk food that we want to eat while we watch our movie. I specifically go to the store & buy the requested junk & it is eaten & gone before the night is over. (NOT STORED IN THE HOUSE!) It has never sabotaged my weight at all & I don't feel deprived. Moderation in all things!!!! It really does work, even with junk food! Thanks for starting this thread Dawg! It's been very entertaining!! :clap2: </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">I agree. If she wants to keep her WLS to herself, that's fine. However, she wrote & book & is telling the entire world!!! I think if you're going to tell the world, you might as well be honest about it.</TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HA!!!! I love this. Dang. All that money I wasted!