Dianechef

My insurance was also Blue Cross/Blue Shield & I was turned down as well. I chose to go to Mexico where I paid $9500 for the entire procedure & that included the hotel stay & everything. (Did not include airfare, but I got a $29 ticket on southwest!) I live in AZ. I know they finance if you need that. I felt VERY, VERY well cared for in Mexico & do not regret going there for a moment. I used Dr. Ortiz at www.obesitycontrolcenter.com Your 2 little twin boys deserve a Mommy who is at her best!! How wonderful for you to adopt them!! I have 3 kids & besides wanting to be healthy for me, I knew I had to do this for them!! They need a Mom who is able to take care of them without huffing & puffing all the time. Don't give up hope. I've heard of others who have fought the insurance & won. However, it's a long process. There are still lots of options. Keep your chin up!!

I have decided that for every 25 lbs. I lose, I will have a reward for myself. I need to lose a total of 100, so that makes 4 awards!! The problem is - I can't seem to come up with any except the last one!! When I reach my goal of 150, I've decided my award will be either a Breast Reduction/lift or Tummy Tuck. (or both!!) I'll need to wait & see when I get there what my body looks like. I just reached my first 25 lb goal today!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! But, I still haven't decided what my reward is!! Have you rewarded yourself when you lose weight?!? If so, what was it?!? I need some help!!

I am trying to print all these yummy recipes out?!? I can't seem to figure out how to do it. Anybody know?!?

Hey Delarla, It worked!! There are over 767 posts on this thread!! HA!!!! I think I can speak for one of those religious people. I believe in God. God made our bodies & our bodies were made to have sex. I have read all of Delarla's previous posts & have not been offended. However, I truly have to say I don't have a clue what that rabbit thing is she was talking about?!?!?!?!?!? We are all so very different & that's a great thing!! I am not the type to talk about sex stuff publicly. Not sure why - It's just how I am. I am also not the type to talk about religion publicly. Both of those topics are just things I keep very close to my heart. If Delarla feels open & free about it - GO FOR IT!! If it's something I don't want to read, I would simply click on to another thread & not think a thing of it. We're all free to believe the way we wish & I respect everyone's opinion. It doesn't mean I agree with it & that's okay. There's probably something Delarla sells on her website that people like me need, but would never step foot in a real store to get it!! (Now, about those bunnies!!!!?!?!?!?!)

I just had lunch & drank a few sips of warm tea before eating. WOW!! It went down without pain!! HALLELUJAH!!!! Thank you Babs!! Thank you all for your wonderful tips & help. I can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vinesqueen! You are the best!!! I knew I'd lost a good amount of weight since surgery, but I had no idea it was higher then the average. I feel so much better!! I think I just need to continue what I'm doing & throw the damn scale away!!!!!!!!! I'm sure it all evens out down the road. I love this place. You all are so encouraging & helpful!!!!

Road Queen, You said your band is tight when it's hot. Hmmm...... I live in AZ & it's been 106 lately. I wonder if that has anything to do with it?!?!?!?! HA!!

I am not sure if I am filled too tight or if this is really how the band is supposed to work?!?!?!? I have problems getting down normal food. chicken, salad, vegetables, eggs, apples, bananas.....healthy foods!! After about 5 bites, everything sits right at my band & it hurts!! I have never PB'd anything because I just stop eating from the pain. It's frustrating!! However, I can eat chocolate, Cookies, ice cream, even cake!! I rarley eat them or even have them aroud the house, but I know I CAN!! The store is just 1 min. away!! It's torture on me. It seems as if my band is working AGAINST me! I can't eat the good stuff, but all the bad stuff goes down very easy. HELP!! This is not why I got banded. I thought I was supposed to get full on the good stuff so that I wouldn't be hungry for the junk!!!! For those of you who have lost successful amounts of weight with the band, is this how you felt? I am trying to very hard, & feel like I'm hitting a brick wall!! I'm not giving up - I've done very well. It's been 9 weeks & I've lost 25 lbs! But, I've been sitting at 25 lbs for 3 weeks & that's when I had my first fill. I have a constant struggle in my head over eating all the bad stuff that doesn't cause me pain. Suggestions please!! I'm feeling like I may not be able to maintain the good attitude I've had so far. I just might explode real soon & give in to it all!!!

I can eat only about a cup per meal! I chew, chew, chew & get full so fast. There are moments when I can eat more; for instance - I can have a full salad sometimes. Other times I can't! This is my first fill. Is this normal?

I'd love to know if anyone else has experienced this. I got a fill 2 weeks ago & have eaten very, very little. I am chewing everything very slow, making good choices, drinking Water & doing it right!!! I thought FOR SURE that when I stepped on the scale I'd have lost some weight. I actually gained 1 lb!! I WAS MAD!! I called my brother-in-law who was a doctor & he told me that because I was eating so little, my body was probably going into starvation mode. When it does that, your body wants to hold on to all it's resources & won't let it go. He said I'd probably see a weight loss next week. Ugh.... Anyone else have this happen?!?!

Hey there!! Congratulations on your decision to have surgery Angel & to use Dr. Ortiz. I live in AZ too & had my surgery 6 weeks ago. I am from Gilbert. I contacted Inamed & they told me that Dr. Simpson would do fills for patients who had their surgery done in Mexico. I found out that Dr. Ortiz trained Dr. Simpson on the lapband surgery. If you look at the pictures on www.obesitycontrolcenter.com you will see pictures of Dr. Simpson & Dr. Ortiz together!! I went back to Dr. Martinez for my first fill & have not contacted Dr. Simpson at all for a fill. However, I wanted to have a name incase there was an emergency. Has anyone contacted Dr. Simpson personally & they told you no?!?! Now I'm getting curious. Good luck Angel!! You are welcome to contact me personally if you'd like. Dianechef@cox.net

I was banded 7 weeks ago. I had my first fill last week. Before my fill, I had no restriction at all & could eat anything - although I chose not to. I've lost 20 lbs so far. I am having a hard time eating real food without PBing. I can't eat ANY bread, rice, biscuits, tortillas.......anything made with white flour. They cause very painful PB's even if I chew them to mush. I can get chicken, cooked carrots, eggs & green Beans to go down, but it takes me forever to eat just a few bites. After only a small portion, (3-4 tiny bites) I start to feel pressure in my chest & stop. I know If I eat one more bit, I'll be in severe pain. I ate a small portion of salad that went down yesterday. Today I tried salad again & I PB'd big time!!! I'm a little frustrated. I am supposed to go to dinner with my sister tonight & I am afraid to eat anything publicly!! I don't want to have to live in the bathroom the whole night or be in pain & can't enjoy the night. Is this normal after a fill? Will it eventually settle down & I can eat again or is really the way it's supposed to be?!?

I was banded July 15th & am down 23 pounds. Yeah!! I had my first fill 4 days ago & WOW!!! I am really learning what it means to chew, chew, chew!!! I haven't PB'd yet - but I've been close.

Okay, just had to post my 2 cents. You mentioned that you were a stay-at-home Mom & wanted to move on with your career... Dr. Phil says that stay-at-home Mom's work the same amount of hrs. as if you had 2 full-time jobs!! You are indeed WORKING!!! By the way, I am a proud stay-at-home Mom (3 kids!!) & I also teach piano lessons out of my home. (25 students!) I was banded 6 weeks ago & have lost 20 lbs!! YEAH!! 88 more to go!

It's been 2 weeks since my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz & I was very happy with my experience. I wouldn't have done it any other way. I felt very well taken care of & would do it again in a heart beat. He trained the doctors here in AZ so I knew I was in good hands!! BTW, I have lost 12 lbs! WAHOO!!!

Hello! Add me to the list. Dianechef banded 7/14

Hi Micki & Everyone, I am so glad I read your post! I am leaving TOMORROW for surgery!! (Banded on July 15th!) I have been so excited & overjoyed the past month just thinking about the surgery until 5 days ago. I am now anxious, scared & not quite myself. I can't seem to get anything done & I want to eat everything!!! I have 3 young kids (9,7 & 1 yr.) & I'm sure they are wondering what's up with Mom!! I am happy to know that I am normal! Thank you all for your great e-mails on this sight. I have been lurking here for over a month now & finally decided it was time to post something. I feel very prepared for this surgery & know that I have a whole group out in bandster land that I can turn to for support!! I'll be back Sunday & make sure to report in. Dianechef Gilbert, AZ banded by Dr. Ortiz in TJ on July 15th 260/140