okiechick

the 29th will be my second year anniversary. I still say that the band is the best thing that I have done for myself. I started with 250 lbs., in size 22 and now I am at 143-145 fitting into size 8. It feels great, but now I really have to watch myself, because I find myself falling into the old way of eating the wrong stuff. Example: my love for ice cream. Have to fight the craving for it.

I can now paint my toe nails without having someone else do them, because I can reach the darn things. My Grand daughter called me her big Nana one time and now she calls me her little Nana. I can now go up stairs without huffing and puffing. 2 pounds from goal in 14 months.

I miss my salads. I love and even crave a salad, but my band will not tolerate it. I am hoping when I reach my goal and loosen my band a small amount that I can eat it again. I can only hope.. It has been a year since I have had one.

Hi Catherine: First let me say your picture is so cute. I believe it is a Maltese? I have two Maltese and they are both spoiled rotten. Back to the post I too am loving it. I have lost 73 pounds since August 29. It doesn't seem like much, but my goal was to lost only 90 lbs. Therefore, I am close to my original goal, but I believe I am almost to where I need to be. I started out at 230 and now down to 157 and wearing a size 8. I love the new sizes and the confidence I am gaining by losing all the weight. I LOVE MY BAND!!!!!!!:wink2:

HIGH FIVE to you. Great Job!!!!! Doesn't it feel great to meet a goal.:mad2: Keep it up......... You should be very proud of yourself:w00t:

Yes I do sometimes. I was a very avid soda drinker. Should have belong to CA (Coke Anamonis (ms)). lol.... However, I have not had one since August 08. I do miss it sometimes, but now it is better. I HATE Water and use a water flavoring in my water. I am doing okay. I have had three very small sips of coke and it was sooooooo good. I was advised by my doctor to not drink carboninated drinks of any kind. I miss it, but I don't have to have it now.

Thanks for the receipe. I will definitely try. It sounds delicious!!!!

I believe I had lost @ 20 lbs the first two months. I was banded on the 29th of August, 08. I have now lost 43 lbs. It doesn't sound like much, but I went from 230 to 187 which was a size 20 down to a size 12 as of yesterday. I feel great and I consider it all a work in progress. I still have work to do with @ 40 more lbs to go.

I live in oklahoma and I had my band done in Mexico. The doctor that I use to do my fills is Dr. Jayaseelan in Dallas, Tx. He is great and the staff is wonderful. His office number is 972-566-2263. His clinic is the Bariatic Clinic of Dallas. They even do fills on certain Saturdays. Hope this helps. Okiechick Pam

What is the name of the Protein bullet at walmart. I don't think I have seen them, but would like to try it. However, I have used the ones at GNC. They are good, but not cheap. I don't have a GNC close to where I live, therefore, I can't get them all the time.

Hi Ella: I was banded August 29, 08. I have lost almost 40 lbs since then. This December was tough, because of all the good stuff I made and ate, but now I hope to get on track. I have had four fills and am planning to get another one this month. It really makes a different to me when I get filled. I also have food that I cannot eat. Don't know why, because there is food that I can which I thought I could not. lol.. But I am learning as I go along. I will be happy to answer any questions that you have if I know the answer, but like you have still have a few. Good luck. Pam

My day started off miserable, but you brightened up my day. You made me smile. I am 4 months out on my band and have lost 36 lbs and went from 22 to 16 and fixing to go down another size. It is great, trying on those pants that you don't think will fit, and low and behold they DO. Incredible feeling. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too and I hope you have a great new next slim year. Pam

Hi Littlefroggy: This may not be your solution, but 99% of the time that I get stuck, especially when I first started getting my fills (I have had only 3) I am usually doing it my self, by not chewing up my food properly, too big of a bite and eating too fast. When I do what I am supposed to do, I have a easier time and have no problems. However, you may have too big of a fill. My fill doctor has his patients doing liquids for a week after a fill and I know when I don't do as he suggest. Pam

Let me try to help you with some doctors whose last name is Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a common name in Mexico. The doctor that performed my surgery is Dr. Jose V. Rodriguez in Juarez, Mexico, and NOT Arturo Rodriguez. Definitely two different doctors. You can check out the website for Dr. Rob at: www.belitemexico.com On this website, you will see actual pictures of the facilities, and I can vouch that this is the hospital I was in. You can judge for yourself. It was as new, well kept, moder, and very clean facility. My husband stayed with me every second, except in the surgery room itself. That is not any different that the U.S. He had a bed that was beside my bed and the nurses included him in on everything they were doing. You are going to have to make up your own mind. There are definitely people who are on this site that can tell horror stories, but the decision is still up to you. Do your homework. I did and that is why I went to Juarez, Mexico. One of the main reason I also chose Juarez is the cost. I have very good insurance, but it does not cover any form of bariatic procedures. Even if you are in the worst stage of obese. I could not afford the US prices, which everyone on here knows the price. I am no on Medicare or Medicade, therefore, I knew I had to go the alternate route. I had my band put on August 29, 2008 and almost 4 months and do not have any problems. I also have the card that shows the kind of lap band, the style, the total number of cc of the band, and the serial numbers. The band was made in the U.S. I hope this help, but again I reinaterate that you have to make your own decision and not let anyone sway you different. The only suggestion I give is DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!