Dianechef

COUNT ME IN!! I'm all over it. I will do 3 meals a day w/out snacks!! Oh, this is good!! I can't wait to see what these "cute" chips will look like!!! Great idea Delarla!!

Maria, Losing 40 lbs in 3 months in my opinion is ABOVE AVERAGE!! You should be jumping for joy!!!!!! If your happiness is determined by how much weight you lose, then you truly do have more to work on then just your weight. No matter what your weight is, you are a BEAUTIFUL PERSON!! Even though I don't know you personally, I know that there is beauty in everyone. I had my surgery 1 week after you & have lost 30 lbs. To be honest with you, I wish it were more too!!!! It looks like you & I are about the same weight & size. Losing 30 lbs. isn't a head turning weight loss & I've found that not very many people have noticed. As a matter of fact, other people have asked me - "Have you had the surgery yet?" (Some people are RUDE!!!!!) However, I have to remember my long term goal & keeps my sight on that!! We will get there & when we do - WATCH OUT!!! Keep up the great work. We are all pulling for you.

I can eat Macaroni & Cheese very easily. I have a good fill & cannot eat breads & lots of other white flour stuff. However, Mac & Cheese is no problem. I tried a place of spaghetti the other day & I ate about 10 bites & then I was done. I started getting that pain in my chest. I think it's a little different for everyone.

I had my Gallbladder removed 10 years ago & had the exact same thing happen!! 3 months later I was having the same pains that felt just like it did when I was having Gallbladder attacks. It lasted 3 hrs & I thought I was having a heart attack. When I went to the ER, they couldn't find anything! I was very emberassed. I had a few more pains afterwards until they became less & less. I no longer have any problems at all. I think you're right about continuing to develop stones or sludge even after you gallbladders is removed. Good luck. It will go away!!!

I'm laughing so hard I can hardly stand it!! Good ones Anne!! Here's some more: 1) It's so much easier to add our weight loss together. 1+1+1+1+1 = 5 Who wants to mess with 2's or 3's?!?! 2) We want to make sure we go through each size slowly. Who wants to start at size 22 & skip right to 16?!? Not me!! I want to experience ALL the numbers!!! 3) We LOVE the process of losing weight so much that we want this experience to last as long as we possibly can. (And each moment we experience it, we'll have a very BIG HAPPY SMILE on our face.) 4) When the RNY losers walk in the room, they've lost so much weight, people don't recognize them!! We, on the other hand can bask in the joy that we will be definately recognized for a VERY, VERY long time!!

This is going to sound really gross, but it has to be said..... I had the same problem. I kept thinking it would take care of itself eventually. After a full week, I was in EXTREME pain. I had never felt such terrible pain in my life. I called my brother-in-law who is a doctor. He told me to try an enema which did absolutely NOTHING!! He told me if that didn't work that I had a severe blockage & could do one of 2 things. 1) Go to the emergency room where the doctor would have to put a glove on and manually get the "monster" out. 2) I could put a glove on & manually get it out myself. UGH!!!!!!!!!!! I was in such pain I would have done anything!! I chose #2. (Ha, no pun intended!) I felt like I was giving birth. I have never felt so gross & disgusting in my entire life!!! So, lesson learned........it won't take care of itself!! I now take stool softeners if It's been 2 days & no "monster." I also take benefiber regularly & always stay on top of my Water drinking. I can't believe I just told you all this. Nobody but my husband knows about this little incident!!! You all must be my VERY good friends!!

Hey Angie, CONGRATULATIONS!! 40 lbs in 3 months is awesome. I love to read posts like this!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! We are all so proud of you!! You're an inspiration to us all. I can't wait to join the 100 club too! I am smiling so big for you.

I'm down 30 lbs. now!! Did someone mention an October challenge of 10 more lbs? I'm in!!! Who else?!?!

My recovery was a breeze too!! I kept waiting for the UGH feeling to set in & it never did. I didn't have gas pains & was able to sleep just fine. We are the lucky ones aren't we?

I'd love to figure out how to post my pictures here!!

You're the DADDY!!! Very cool - I am even more impressed. To answer your question about the fills: YES, I went to MX to get my first fill. However, you do not have to. There are nearby doctors who can give you fill in your town. I wanted to get my first fill by the doctors who did my surgery. It was only $100 & they did it under floro. I have only had 1 fill & they hit the SWEET SPOT!! I am very happy I went back. Good luck on your journey! You can do this!!

I've been taking pictures of myself every month of my weight loss journey. The day of my surgery I had my husband take a picture of me from every angle. I had never seen myself from the back & I about DIED when I looked at it. I have the picture hanging inside the door of my office & I see it every day. It blows me away that the whole world sees this side of me the most & I have been oblivious to how bad it really is. Vines, I sure hope you are right about being able to reach my goal faster by having the THIN vision in my mind. La_Madam, when you were size 22, did you ever invision yourself as being thin or are you like Vines? I am wondering if I am the odd ball here!! How about the rest of you? What do you invision yourself to be on the inside? Why is it that our minds & the actual person we are don't ever meet up?

I can't wait to lose weight & FINALLY look in the mirror & see the "real" me that's hiding behind all this STUFF on my body. I feel like I should just be able to unzip this fat body & step out of it all. Why can't I see the real me that is FAT?!?! When I think of myself, I still imagine the "normal" size person that I used to be. My dreams are the same way. I've been overweight for over 10 years & every time I take a picture I say to my husband - "Is that really me?!?" My husband says it means I have a good self-esteem. I think it means I am not living in reality. There's so much that the body inside wants to do, but can't because this fat suit keeps holding me back. My biggest NSV will be the day I can look in the mirror & recognize the person that is looking back at me. I'M GOING TO GET THERE!!! And when I do, I'll send you all the hot picture. Only 80 more lbs to go.....

That's exactly it!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

I am having a hard time getting down protein. Chicken gets stuck way too easy; even when I put bbq sauce & all kinds of stuff on it. I need some more foods to eat that can help me get more protein down. I know beans have protein, but I can only eat so much!! I think I saw a thread here once that listed a bunch of foods that had lots of protein. Anybody what thread that was & where I can find it?

I asked the EXACT same questions. I am now 9 weeks on the other side of being banded & I 100% agree with what has already been said. I can no longer numb myself with food. My entire life changed with this band & it isn't just about trying hard to change your habits. You simply HAVE to change your habits - the band forces you to. Yes, I can eat chocolate & ice cream. However, when you eat your protein & veggies first, you are STUFFED & cannot put anything else down. Work the band the way it's supposed to be & it will work for you!! I'm now down 30 lbs!!!! I don't feel deprived or left out. I simply eat less & feel fuller. That's what it's all about!!

I don't know about you guys but I really like chocolate. Did I say LIKE? I meant REALLLLLY LIKE chocolate. I crave it & it's been one of those things I have missed since being banded. But, I've found something that's still chocolate & actually healthy. I can eat it!!! I dip half of a banana in a thin layer of chocolate & let it harden. (I found it in the banana section at the store.) It's only a small amount of chocolate & it really feeds my appetite for chocolate. I dipped 6 of them at a time & freeze them in seperate baggies. I told myself I can have one a day for my snack & I feel like I'm in heaven. The banana is very healthy & it goes down easy without any problems. Just thought I'd share if there are others out there who miss chocolate as much as I do.

Okay, it's me here again. I've read all the great, informative, supportive, funny & entertaining posts. I'm still laughing that Greg actually sent his MIL a cemetary plot!! To answer some of the questions: No, they didn't pay for any of the surgery. I paid for it myself in cash. Yes, we have 3 children which whom they love & adore. YES, they are crazy. NO, my DH & his parents do not have a very good relationship. We pretty much go around them for the sake of the kids. These are their only grandkids & I wouldn't want to hold my kids back from getting to know their grandpa & grandma. My parents also know of the surgery being done in MX & were absolutely fine with it. No problems!! I just finished sending my in-laws an e-mail that wasn't very nice. (This so soooo unlike me.) I got out all my feelings & was very hurtful - I'm sure of it. I told them I would be okay if I never spoke to them again in my life. After reading what "giveyouthemoon" wrote, I am feeling very bad about writing the letter. I'm sure they were concerned, but they sure have a funny way of showing it!! I think I'll let the air clear for awhile & see how it all goes. Just a warning for those of you who plan on going to MX. If I were to do it again, I wouldn't tell a soul. I don't regret going to MX AT ALL!! I only regret telling people about it. Ugh.....

I worked out 30 min. at Curves!! I love that place!!

Hi Teresa, My husband went to Mexico with me & agreed that it was a great place to go. He has lived with his parents & knows they go overboard about a lot of things & is so easy to just push things to the side. He thinks they're a little crazy!!! At the 2 hr. meeting, I explained EVERYTHING to them. I told them I didn't want them to worry about us or to talk us out of it. They didn't care. They just kept saying over & over -"You deceived us & lied." By the way, my mother-in-law weighs over 400 lbs. You'd think she'd be a little understanding with the weight issue. I think that deep down she doesn't want me to lose weight because it would make her look worse. Any other Mexico Bandsters have someone get so upset at you having surgery in Mexico?!?

It's been 9 weeks since my surgery. I live in AZ & had my surgery done in Mexico with Dr Ortiz. I felt very good about my decision & didn't feel I needed to let everyone know about where I was having my surgery because they just wouldn't understand. I told everyone I was traveling to San Diego & having the surgery near there. (Which is the absolute truth!!!!) 3 weeks ago I told my in-laws that I had my surgery done in Mexico. (I only told them because my 9 yr. old daughter mentioned it briefly.) They didn't speak to me at all after that. Last night they came over to our house for a very "special" conversation. They proceeded to tell me that I was a liar & a very dishonest person for not telling them I had my surgery done in Mexico. They were here for over 2 hrs. going on & on about it. I have felt so upset over this. I have had very good results with this weight loss surgery & would just LOVE for someone to be proud of me for doing something for myself. Why do people have to be so mean & hateful? This is my life & I am not required to tell ANYONE about my surgery, much less where I had it done. Why would my in-laws even get involved to the point that they have to come to my house & insult my integrity? I am a grown adult who can make decisions for myself. I hate my in-laws!!!

Jessiebear - you are so right about the fish bowl effect!! I told my family & friends about my surgery & they are ALWAYS watching everything I do. It's very annoying & it makes me wish I hadn't of told anyone & kept it to myself. I overheard one of my friends yesterday telling someone that she thought I should have lost more weight by now. She also said she saw me eating something she thought I shouldn't have & that's probably why I haven't had as much success. In hindsight, I really wish I would have kept the surgery to myself. I have done well & am thrilled with my results. (Lost 27 lbs in 2 months - that's good!!!) However, I feel like the world is against me sometimes only because I told too many people. I think everybody's situation is different. I know that telling family has been a very big benefit to some people. Not me.

I was filled at 6 weeks & it has worked perfectly!! I am losing weight steadily & have the perfect fill. Dr. Rodriguez hit the sweet spot the first time!!

YOU ARE WHAT I HOPE TO BE IN ONE YEAR!!! Thank you for the wonderful post and for inspiring us all. I love to hear great stories like this & it reminds me that I truly did make the right decision when I chose the band. Congratulations & keep going!! Nothing can stop you now!!