marys

I could not stand any of the "food" - i'm happier with a protein shake and small dinner a day then i was on medifast - good you tried a sampler - it can get expensive! ebay has some deals but it was wasted money for me.

does he use flouro

If there is any way to change the color(s) back to black and white - the green/teal is icky. Also, can we 'x' out the ads on the right?

Hi Pamela - I've been watching your progress and I am so happy for you (I met you the day of surgery in Ortiz's office). Go easy when you start solids and I'm sure you will be fine - now the fun really begins. My last fill is finally working! I'm eating 600 or less (mostly less) calories a day and I've lost almost 10lbs since my fill! I'm thrilled. I'm down 16 total - which is super duper for me. take care! mary

Anniejo and Joanna - Believe me I know what discouraged is - I have been on the brink of despair and have gone from wanting to get the band out, diet pills, weight watchers, you name it - absolute hell trying to get this band to work. And yes I followed the rules at least 95% of the time. I tracked my calories on fitday for over a year and met with the nutritionist twice - i've been filled/unfilled and have eaten between 800-1500 calories and exercised 4-7 days a week. I snow skied in the winter very strenuously and exercised at a gym. At my last fill I was up in lbs for a total loss of 6 in almost two years. Since my last fill I am finally losing. I am 2.3 in my band which is where I started (minus a loss) so I think this is a good fill for me. However, I now eat less then 600 calories a day - I'm tight all day so I have some v8 juice and maybe a Protein shake or Soup and then about 1/2 cup of food for dinner. I am now at a total loss of 16 lbs as of today. I'm weak and don't exercise much but I take my Vitamins and I don't care as I am finally losing. I was 5'2 and 183lbs at surgery (well lost to 179 day of) today i am at 163 and my goal is 125. I never thought I could stand this low of calories but I guess it is what it takes for me to lose weight and I am going to stik with it. I've spent almost 20,000 and I refuse to be a complete failure. I am still hungry during the day but do get full faster on a very small amount of food. I never had that before with the band and always had to exercise restraint with amount, etc.

I also went to Ortiz and think he is the most experienced, etc. I was very pleased. The only caveat for me - there was NO way i could have the surgery in the states because of a lower bmi - had the option been available and knowing what i know now (I have had a super hard time losing weight and have spent tons of money on fills/travel to tijuana) i would have had it done in the states - with a very experienced doc. I spent 10K for the surgery and 10k for fills (almost) so all in all there are many docs who do it for that price or less in the states and some includes fills for the first year and support groups. I would have benefited from those things. Dr. Ortiz and staff give you their cell phones and are available by phone but you either have to travel there or to the hospital for real emergencies. if you are self pay and chose Mexico you will be surprised at the care - at least with Ortiz and cleanliness, etc. He also has more experience then anyone in the states and trained many of the surgeons here. good luck.

Welcome to LBT - hope to see you more often. It's so wonderful to hear stories like yours - it helps us that struggle a bit more so thank you! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Hey there - Just wanted to say I feel your pain! I'm pretty close to you in fills and weight loss. Are you getting your fills under flouro? I had one without and found out later it was quite a bit different then I thought. While I now think I have a 'good fill' I am also still hungry pretty much all the time - I have just learned to live with it - if you ignore the feeling long enough it goes away or you can drink water forever and sometimes that helps. I've also taken diet pills which really help but don't want to do those long term, etc. You didn't mention your lifestyle (exercise/diet) but I have also gone back to keeping good food journals (I did the first year + but then gave up) and it's good to stay on top of what you are taking in and expending. I couldn't lose a pound until my last fill and have now lost a few more - however I am now like many others here - barely eat at all. In fact most days I just eat a very small dinner and I'm eating only about 400 calories a day. Pitiful but some of us just have a harder time getting the pounds off. I guess I would say, just don't give up - you are probably in need of shaking something up - and honestly looking at some of the choices you are making. Maybe a fresh consult with your doc and his/her nutritionist to try to get the weight loss moving again would help. The fill level is critical to having a tool that is working properly but we still have to do 95% of the work. good luck

I love body for life and did the challenge six times in a row over 7 years ago - i went from 189lbs to 126lbs and i was ripped and beautiful (didn't win thought lol). Of course i won in many other ways. Unfortunately, like many other times in my life I slowly got into all my old habits and am about where I started but hoping to change. I think the program is great - good luck! One thing I always remembered Bill Phillips saying/writing: Once you even contemplate skipping the workout - 'cheating' etc - it's over - don't even let your mind go there - just do it. also follow the plan as closely as you can - the goal setting and journal keeping is key. go for it!

Mostly cuz pizza crust is hard to get down - thin crust only and only sometimes and it never hurts me to stay away from starchy carbs

Just wanted to let everyone know I tried the crustless pizza posted by wheetsin awhile back...It was beyond delicious and the only problem was making myself stop before I was full. Even boyfriend loved it. thanks - recipe follows so you don't have to search for it... I omitted the last cup of cheese on top and it worked (just trying to save a few calories) Crustless pizza Softened 4 oz of cream cheese 4 eggs (I use farm fresh brown eggs, just a personal preference and a steal at 25 cents a dozen) 1/3 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup grated parmesan (the dry, sprinkly stuff) 1 tsp chives (using fresh will make a difference!) 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning 1/2 tsp garlic (fresh minced or minced in a jar work best) Pizza Sauce (I buy as brand called "Mama Mia". It's by far the lowest carb one I've ever seen that doesn't taste like poo. There's a regular & a mushroom version, I use the mushroom... and you can buy it in small jars... you'll use maybe 3/4 cup). 3 cups grated cheese (I buy either the garlic-flavored mozzarella, or there's an Italian blend that has Asiago, Mozzarella, etc.) Heat your oven to 375. Beat the cream cheese & eggs together. Add the cream, dry parmesan, garlic and seasoning. Spray a 9x13 with non-stick spray. Put 2 cups of your cheese in the bottom of the pan - spread it around evenly. Pour the egg mixture over the cheese, kind of poke at it until all the cheese is covered with egg. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove it and spread your pizza sauce on the top. Add whatever toppings you want. Here's what I usually add: Turkey pepperoni Hormel bacon bits (on 3/4 of it, for DH) Browned turkey sausage Browned hamburger (on DH's 3/4) Chopped onion Top with remaining cheese, bake until cheese is bubbly/browned, and let it cool for about 5 minutes before you cut it.

Realized I haven't eaten fruit since banding - maybe a litle mixed in a protein shake but that's it. Decided this morning to try a nice juicy apple for breakfast and have been paying the price since. ugh - it stuck, it hurts, and wasn't fun. Do you think it was the peel? Maybe i ate too big bite etc. but I thought it was fine and juicy but what do you know. It's off my list for a long time. What fruits work for you?

A huge soft burrito filled with rice, REFRIED Beans (i know, i know), loaded with cheese and salsa. I'm embarassed to say over a one year period i ate sometimes 2 extremely large burritos from a place back east (no longer around) called Burrito Brothers. I would go to two different locations so they wouldn't know what a pig i was - I had the most stressful job working round the clock and survived on those buggers - i'm sure you can guess what happened after that year..... Gained almost 60lbs!

Hi puddin, Also wanted to chime in although I've not read EVERY post! I too spent my youth conflicted with sexual issues. I was the fat one, never had any dates until late in college and absolutely no experience with the opposite sex - very naive and inexperienced coupled with low/no self esteem led to many encounters like you describe. Once I lost some weight and had men pay attention to me I went wild. I slept with many people or engaged in oral sex with men that really had no respect or interest in me beyond what was happening. I was drinking heavily to give me the confidence (ha) to do the things I was doing. Unfortunately, none of the sexual encounters were fulfilling in any way and left me feeling cheap, degraded and worse then I felt before. I know you might find this strange but I am Happy for you that you are enjoying yourself - I even had sex with a guy and then told him we weren't going to do it anymore etc. etc. (i think you described that too) only to realize that wasn't going to work and of course, we did do it again. It wasn't until many years later that I met a wonderful guy who didn't even try anything beyond a kiss until I practically attacked him (still into my old habits) but I'm still with this guy after 14 years and we are happy, monagamous and still in love. I think a lot of young women go through the sexual stages you describe - unfortunately (or fortunately) religion, our own beliefs, etc cause us even more grief. Though raised Catholic I did not face the extreme religious consequences you describe although I've never been one to listen to the church as much as others - it is a part of my life but I don't live strictly by any religious group's doctrine. I'm not doubting you can stop having these sexual experiences because i guess we can all do pretty much what we want/say/put our mind to but I am saying you have discovered your sexual nature and you can't deny it now. You can only learn more about you and your nature and hopefully be true to yourself. I hope you can reconcile your religion to your life and lifestyle but I mostly hope you find a deeper self respect and a great guy that will respect and love you.

Keith, So sorry about your pain and troubles. Thank you for writing and sharing your experience with us - we need to hear it all. I'm not clear on a few things and hope you'll be able to write again! I am wondering if it was really the band that did this or the doctor making a mistake? How did the band make the hole? Just curious. Hope your recovery is quick and you are feeling better soon. Take care,

I highly recommend moving and starting over - in fact i do it regularly - i love to move and experience new places and my friend put it best - you love to reinvent yourself. Now i'm not talking multiple personalities here but back east i was skinny, a weight lifter and super fit - even worked in a gym - here out west i'm a ski bum, work various part time jobs and am fat again, I've been in the corporate world making big bucks (hate it) and poor - i love it. why not - if you are adverturous and can move do it. Sometimes you can get stuck in a rut - with family, friends, situations and it is hard to change or especially have people see you differently (think family - since i moved away as a young adult my family is in a time warp with me - they think i'm exactly the same as when i left no matter how much i try and have changed and i'm guilty too - my siblings and i always get into the same routines/fights, etc) - moving - near or far is a great way to shake up your life and become a different person/do different things, make changes. go for it

My friend and band sister Kay goes to Dr. Malley and she loves him and his staff - not sure of the price but it seems reasonable - also don't think he uses flouro but she is happy with him. I also think he has a support group that she goes to occassionally. I think you could pm here thru this site - kayford

HeatherGurl - If I may ask, did you follow the diet I recently read about Dr. Spivak's most successful patients follow - your weight loss is tremendous! I read most of his patients who have lost over 100lbs eat: (sample) 1/2 yogurt for breakfast the other 1/2 for snack lettuce and tomatoes for lunch meat + vege for dinner no Snacks at all and 5 days of aerobic activity a week No doubt that would work if you can stand it but was wondering if you did that?? I'm dumbstruck if you lost all that weight without counting calories, etc.! I'm sorry for others too that report slowed/stalled loss - unfortunately I can't offer any advice as I've tried it all too (except the above which I'm willing to give a shot at)

Here's what I ate the last few days: B: oatmeal with dried cranberries (was absolutely starving in less then two hours - tried drinking 16oz Water but still super hungry - sure it was the carbs/low Protein but was tight in a.m.) L: 3 hard boiled eggs with 2 tbls of light canola mayo on 1 slice of toasted wheat bread - very satisfied for almost 4 hours but went skiing for 4 hours and was hungry when I got home Snack: 2 cheese sticks dinner - 3/4 cup refried low fat vege Beans with shredded chedder (about 1/3 cup or less and splash of pace salsa Next day: Breakfast: 4 turkey sausage links Snack: 12 peanuts and a cheese stick Lunch: 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich (PAM spray and 1 slice american cheese) and 1 cup tomoato soup Snack: 3 pieces of thin sliced deli meat ham like shaved Dinner: almost 1 cup of tortolline Pasta (sp?) with prego sauce and a pretty nice size salad with lite italian dressing Boot camp exercise 1 hour at gym B: egg salad on one slice toast S: 2 pretzel sticks and one granola bar L: tuna with canola mayo on lettuce D: 14 tortilla chips with salsa; 1/2 small beef burrito (a good cup) and 2 glasses of wine. (Dinner with my old college roommate!) Also why I know I need a fill - I am close to my period usually tight but hunger/appetite is growing!! Went skiing for 2 hours - not super hard but some exercise After my fill I'm planning on doing Protein shake for Breakfast - the vege salad for lunch and just a meat and vege for dinner like Dr. Spivak's patients do. My weight is fairly stable - fluctuates about 4-5 lbs around my period. I have to weigh every day to keep on top of things.

Mark - Yes, I get it - very funny!! :clap2:

Wheetsin posted a crustless pizza made with a cheese crust too - you can search for it - i'm going to try that!

I had surgery on Friday and was back on tuesday half days and I have a very easy desk job with no one else around so I could moan etc with no one to wonder what was going on. Everyone is different but I could have probably used a few more days of just staying home (I traveled back to the states from Mexico and that was almost worse then the surgery). Conversely, it was good to keep busy and get back into my routine as it kept my mind off body things and the liquid diet. Congrats and good luck to you - how wonderful to have your best friend on the journey with you.

I was also raised pretty strict catholic and every friday we would have fried fish sticks and tator tots and a can of vegetables. My dad hated/hates fish and the only kind he would eat was those damn fish sticks - of course they were fried and i LOVED them. The rest of the week we ate meat, potatoes and a can of veges - oh yeah and an iceberg lettuce salad occassionally. I didn't even know other veges existed until i was in college and also became a vegetarian - i was sick of meat and could easily be a vegetarian again. As a child I was addicted to sugary cereals as that was our daily Breakfast - i can't even have Cereal around me to this day - After reading sugar busters and eating macrobiotically for a time I tried sharing some info with my dad:heh: and u can imagine how that went over - he said 'all you kids ate cereal your whole life and nothings wrong with you" Well here I am - banded, my brother has had gastric bypass - my sister is on her 100th time at Weight Watchers - you get it! Today lapbandtalk has given me a valuable lesson and Bubble Butt says it best - rethinking what I always believed or I always justified. I am meditating on that and going to make some serious changes in my behaviors and take some different actions. Thanks again.

Thanks for commenting on Sandy's tapes bubble butt - I haven't tried them personally so don't know. I do like innertalk tapes and really like their site - they seem very professional and as 'scientific' as I guess one can get when you are talking subliminal tapes!

Wow - thanks for posting and the warning - it was a bit hard to see but only cuz it seemed painful - glad you are not in too much pain. All I can say is your boobs look great - they are up there girlfriend! Please keep us posted - you can tell we are dying to see your progress.