ready2bthin

Hey everyone, I've been attending some dfwbandster dinners/lunch around the dfw area (which are great, by the way), but would like to get something started on a monthly basis in the Denton area. I've spoken with 2 other gals so far who would want to attend one of these support dinners, so please post and let me know if you would want to meet in Denton once a month. It has been said that people with support, are more successful with the band. Let's get together and encourage one another and have some fun!! Oh, and please put what night/day would be best for you. Thanks!

Tomecia25: There are several dinners and a lunch held around the dfw area. The one in Arlington is on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 6:30-9:00 at Mecado Juarez on Miller. You can see the full list of all support dinners and groups if you go to yahoo and look for DFWbandsters under the groups. You can become a member and then access the calender on the yahoo homepage of the group. Hope that helps!! Happy Banding!!

Congrats Karen!! That's great!! But, I don't think it's normal to continue getting stuff stuck. If I were you, I would immediately go on liquids for awhile...protein shakes, etc. and give your and a rest. Then ease into mushies and then food over a week's time. Sounds like you have irritation going on. If you are still experiencing problems, then you should see your doc or whoever has been filling you. You are too tight!! Remember, stress and if you have PB'd and thrown up, it can cause irritation which will continue if not taken care of. Let me know how it goes.

hey everyone!! Well, I've been consistently exercising and am now into my 4th week exercising. I'm still struggling with the sweet tooth, but it seems to have calmed down yesterday. I may see the doc as when i do eat sweets, i totally crash and have to sleep. wonder if my insulin level/sugar level is messed up. I will look later for any posts. Miss my 06 friends!! I have made a lot of new ones on the chat though and that's helped me get back going again. Seeing them start out and losing so well, motivates me!! Come join us!!

Hey Jane: Glad to see you back! If you read my recent posts, I am also back on the "bandwagon" here. Seem to be struggling with getting my metabolism up to speed, and shedding weight again. I will say that I did exercise 5/7 days this past week!! My goal will be 3-5 days a week, so I did the upper end of my goal. Edie, aren't you proud of me?....LOL!! Okay, to all you others....where oh, where are my July 06 bandsters...oh where oh where could they be? Check in everyone and let's start a weekly check in to get us back on track (at least those of us who may need to be back on track).

Okay, ya'll...where are you?? I've been hanging out in the chat room and do run into Edie every know and then. I am happy to report that I have exercised 4/5 days so far this week, riding my recumbent bike and also have been eating better and not as many sweets as I was eating. I'm hoping to break this plateau I've been in and start losing again and get to GOAL. Anyone out there with me on this? Discouraged? Let's help each other out. WE CAN DO THIS JULY 06 BANDSTERS!!

<p>VLP: Congratulations on your success. I'm glad you put up that chart cuz I see where it leveled off some and slowly started declining. That's where I'm at and I need to start having it decline again.</p> <p> </p> <p>So, everyone, today began my NEW START!! Yes, I started documenting what I've been eating. I am going to exercise tonight. This has been a real issue with me, but I have to get my metabolism going again. I feel like my body in some ways has been starved of good stuff and fed too much soft stuff, like ice cream and sweets. I'm confessing here...again. My fill is pretty tight, so i have a difficulty eating the right stuff and sometimes don't even try. Then, I'm hungry so I eat something easy. BAD!! So, I will calculate my calories and protein, carbs, tonight and see where I'm at. If I have to do this to get things kicked in again for losing, so be it. I don't think I need anymore fill taken out, I just need to obey my band!! My band needs to take charge again and not my sweet tooth and head. </p> <p> </p> <p>I don't know if I posted this and am not going to look back, but I did remeasure again and I have lost 67.5 inches with basically only about 2 more lbs. gone since June/July. So, I lost around 5-7 more inches (estimate..not looking at my chart), but hardly any lbs. Inches are important, but until I get under 200 and a bit closer to my weight, I need to kick it in. If I can see 2 lbs a week, I'll be happy. Heck, if I can see 1 lb a week I'll be happy at this point. Time to WORK.</p> <p> </p> <p>How's everyone else? Seems quite on here so i'm guessing others may be struggling. Let's encourage one another and you who have gotten to goal or close, please be our cheerleaders!! </p> <p> </p> <p>Miss everyone!! Kari, been looking for you on messenger. Oh, where oh where are you??</p> <p></p>

Okay, I'm gonna jump in here. My doc gave me a protocol for when one throws up food. This is for after the healing period (4 weeks out or more) and for when someone is experiencing discomfort (I get left shoulder pain when my pouch/opening is irritated...which happens from overeating sometimes or when I've thrown up) 1. Don't drink/eat anything for 12 hours. If your mouth is dry, swish Water around or gurgle. Following that, try some water and see how it goes. If all goes well, go on liquids for 24 hours, making sure to get in Protein. 2. Then have water for morning and a Protein shake, followed by lunch of mushies (tuna salad, chicken salad, etc.....that type of texture, making sure to get in your protein). dinner same texture. Be sure and stay away from spicey stuff, tomato stuff, orange, lemon, pineapple, carbonated, wine, beer, etc. (anything that will irritate your pouch area). 3. water, protein shake for Breakfast, then mushy lunch and then try regular food for dinner...small bites (bandster eating). If all goes well, then you are back on track If you don't follow the first step and are experiencing problems, START fresh again!! Now, there are times when I've slimed something or had an immediate pb, that I haven't followed this and been fine. But, there are other times when it's been a more severe episode and I've been forced to do this, as I've had difficulty with shoulder pain, etc. It's BEST to take care of any irritation as soon as you can, as if you continue in bad habits and causing irritation to your pouch area, you can get chronic problems that could result in more serious problems. If you are ever in doubt, PHONE YOUR DOCTOR!! I had a lot of irritation after a too tight fill and me having problems and not taking care of it right away. I ended up getting a slight unfill, but still had to "work with it" and was on LIQUIDS more than I would've liked to be just to get everything feeling well again. So, again, take care of your band. Hope this is helpful!!

Hi everyone!! It's been awhile since I've checked in. I've lost a very tiny bit more of weight, but I remeasured today and have lost 5.5 more inches, making a total of 67.5 inches lost from neck to feet. I kept having people tell me how I was "shrinking", etc. Well, 2.5 inches came off of my hips, and an inch off of both thighs. I'm happy!! I'm also making better choices with eating and trying to swim in my pool more. I'm hoping that I will get under 200 soon, and it's sssllllooowwwllllyyyy leaving me. One of my kids started school Friday, my son will move into a college dorm (he's 16 and going to college to finish high school and get college credit...he was accepted into this special program for those who excel in math and science.) on Thursday, and my daughter will start her senior year next week. So, we've been school shopping, dorm stuff shopping and busy. Everyone is doing great and Chris and Leona, you both look AMAZING!! So proud of you both!!

Well, Kari, today is our Bandiversary!! Happy Bandiversary to us!! One year ago today, you were in Houston and I was in Mexico being banded. YAYYYYY!!!! I was hoping to have another 10 lbs. off by this day and it didn't happen, but that was all up to choices and I didn't choose wisely. So, now it's the beginning of our second year and I have a ways to go and I want to reach goal (even if I'm not sure what the exact goal is). You are doing great with the exercise and I'm sorry that I missed you last night!! I'm bringing my mom home today from rehab (still in MI) and will try and check in later if she's not on the computer. I have some high school friends in town, so I may go out with them, too. We will catch up eventually...lol!! Everyone else: Ya'll are doing FABULOUS!!!

Tonight, July 5, 6:30-8:30, is the monthly Denton Bandster Dinner at Jason's Deli in Denton. Jason's is located across from Golden Triangle Mall on Loop 288/35. Bandsters, people thinking about being banded and spouses and friends are welcome to attend. Any questions, feel free to post or pm me!! Hope to see you there!!

I went back to my Mexican doc for my first fill. I then have tried out 3 different places for fills/unfills. There is a list of docs on the yahoo group, Mexicanbandsters. Dr. Jayseleen (sp?) is one doctor in Dallas. I also called Dr. Benavides' office a year ago and for a fee, he would have taken me on (don't know if he still does). There is a Dr. Dobson (I think) in Grand Prairie. I had a doc in Bryan, TX, (Dr. Stephanie Eijsink), who was banded in Mexico, and does fills on Saturdays. She is not a lapband doc (she is a family doc, I think) but is trained in fills and uses the fluoroscopy machine. She also uses the same technique as my Mexican doctor. Another doc that many go to for adjustments is a cariologist who is the nephew of a Mexican doc (Sanchez...who is now deceased). He will do adjustments in Dallas and Ferris, TX. His name is Maese. If you go to the yahoo group, mexican bandsters and look under the "files" section or one of those links, there is a list for every state (most anyway). If you have difficulty with that, private email me and I will give you the phone numbers, etc.

Hey everyone!! I'm up here in the great state of Michigan enjoying the cool nights and beautiful days, although been at the hospital all day with my mom. She had her knee surgery and she does not do pain well. Steph, sure wish she would've come down to Texas to have the procedure you had done. She is in the "sticks" and they don't do it here yet. Anyway, she woke up moaning and groaning from pain. They gave her a pump with demerol (it was supposed to be morphine, so I don't know what happened) and she was pushing that button every 5 minutes, although the pain meds are only released every 10. They also gave her a vicodin tonight. I know knee surgery is very painful after having 2 ACL reconstructions, but her pain tolerance is kind of low. Anyway, she did sit up at bedside and tomorrow will be PT day and CPM day (they didn't start that yet). I'm doing okay with my food intake and hope to walk some while I'm up here. I've lost a bit more lately and would love to lose another 9 by July 28, just don'tknow if I can do it. But, I'll try. Okay, I'm babbling. Donna, great to see you back on and you are doing great. I will tell you though that I have always been able to eat more than 1/4 cup at a time. I probably eat 3/4 to 1 cup at a time, but I eat my protein and then green veggie. I do try and only eat 3 times a day but at times do snack some. I don't think 1/4 cup is much to eat at all. You have lost well. I would think long and hard about another surgery. This is just my humble opinion though. Well, good night all!!

Stephanie: You know that I'm a Physical Therapist Assistant, right? So, keep up those exercises!! How is your range of motion in both knees? I'm sure that you are working on that with PT. That's one of the challenges, getting your knees to full extension and being able to bend at least 90. You sound like you are doing terrific!! I will probably need a new knee in the next 10-20 years (hoping I last that long) on my right. Aren't you so glad that you had lost that 100 lbs. before the surgery? Congrats on that!! Kari: I did get in my pool yesterday, but mainly just swam around. So, I didn't really get a cardiac workout, but more of a muscle workout. I didn't do weights either. I bet you are looking fine with your muscles getting more definition and with the fat being burned off. I prefer exercising with someone and doing a sport, like you will be doing with your hubby. But, with my pool and a bike and the weights, I just need to DO IT!! Like I said, I think I need a kick in the butt or have Edie or you come live with me for awhile!! You both have been so disciplined with the exercise part!! I will be heading up to Michigan next Sat. as my mom is getting a new knee. Unfortunately, she is not getting the minimally invasive procedure, as they don't do it yet where she's at (small northern Michigan town). I'll check in though this week and when I'm up there!!!

Leona: Great to see you back!! My family and I are loyal Idol fans, so we will be watching for you!! You go girl!! Simon better treat you right!! Paula will love you and Randy...well...who knows about him...except for the "Dog" phrase!! LOL!!! I will confess July bandsters, as I've already told Edie...I haven't been exercising much these past couple weeks. I was working out with trainer, but now, I have the plan and should be doing it. It's been almost a week. So, today, I will go for it. I just need to daily get on my bike...what's up with my lazy butt? I need it kicked or I need Edie to come live with me for 6 months...LOL!!! I'd be at goal then. What do you think Edie?? LOL!!! Have a great weekend gang!!

Hey everyone, There hasn't been a great interest in the Denton Bandster dinner after 6 months of meeting. Therefore, we are not going to meet in an organized way unless others come forward and want to make a commitment to meeting. I'm going to plan on attending either the Dallas or Arlington dinners or the Plano lunches which are advertised on the yahoo group, dfwbandsters.

Just wanted to jump in here. Don't feel bad about ANY weight you've lost....CELEBRATE!! You may have to educate your inlaws on the band. Remember the average weightloss with the band is only around 1/2 lb.- a couple pounds a week overall. So, it's a safer, slower way to go. Some lose faster and more at a time, but that isn't what this tool promises. Don't compare yourself to others (this is something we must remember) and many people think of the gastric bypass weightloss surgery where people drop 60 lbs. in the first month or so. They don't understand the band!! So educate them and just keep living the band lifestyle. YOU WILL SUCCEED!!! Best Wishes to you!!

Dezadoo: Glad to see you checking in!! You are doing GREAT!!! Kari: I see your ticker says 179!!! HURRAH!!! You are really going after this aren't you? I've been exercising 3x a week (well, this is my second week...lol) with swimming and weights and trying to get in riding the bike on the other days or also just swimming. I'm going to get on that bike right now, as a matter-of-fact. Had to wait awhile after dinner before exercising. My trainer says that in 6 months I'll notice a BIG difference, but I better notice some quicker than that or I won't last....lol!! I still have quite a bit to get off, so I gotta work at it. I know I don't need a fill as I have pb'd some lately...I HATE THAT!! So, looks like I'll be on liquids for 24 hours!! That's my doc's protocol for when pbing/sliming happens, wait 12 hours, then try water, then protein shake to ease back into food again and give tummy a rest. I think I'm having a problem with my portions and maybe eating too much which causes this. I also think I'm having some allergy problems again cuz we've had so much rain. Seems to correlate with having increased restriction. I woke up today with my throat hurting and extra drainage. This weather down here is CRAZY!! Okay, take care all and keep it up!!

Richard, What did Dr. Rod suggest you do about this?

Kari: You HOT MAMA!! You look FABULOUS!!! Keep up the good work!! The scale may not be moving fast, but you are triming down fast!!! That exercise is obviously working!! Ruthie: Sorry to hear about the problems with weightloss!! But, I'm so glad you are not "throwing in the towel". Come here for encouragement and ideas. Everyone here is a great cheerleader and we go through our problems together, too. Stephanie: Where are you? How'd the surgery go? I'm thinking you don't have access to a computer now. Can't wait to hear how things are!! Okay, I did my workout today by myself. Couldn't swim due to rain and storms but did the bike and weights. So, 4/6 days I exercised. My goal is 3x a week, with trying to get in some extra cardio on 2 more days. I've been a bit down and not sure why except Father's Day is tomorrow and this will be the first Father's Day without my dad here. So, maybe that's why. My mom is here visiting and I think it will be difficult for her, too. So, if you think of me and believe in prayer, please remember me and my family. Thanks!!

Well, I'm checking in and letting ya'll know about my exercise routines. I have worked out with the trainer 2x now and she is kicking my behind...lol!! She has me swim for 30 minutes, doing laps and walking in the shallow end of pool, kicking etc. Then we go to weight training. I'm using 10 and 15 lb. dumbbells and she said I should probably get 20 lb. I also use a band to do leg exercsies and then do stomach crunches. Yes, I'm sore!! I've decided since I want to have around 11 more lbs. off at bandiversary, that I need to try and do cardio stuff the other 2 days. 3 days of the program, and 2 days of other cardio...my exercise bike. So, I spent around 40 minutes on my bike today. Now, I'm going to relax in the pool and just enjoy it. My mom flew in from Michigan, so we are going to enjoy ourselves some. I'm going to try and keep accountable here with ya'll. I really don't like exercise, but I want to get my body in the losing mode and tighten up what I can!! Hopefully, everyone is doing okay. Sherri Jo, I will be praying for you. You do have some tough decisions, as Edie stated. I do encourage you though, not to get into a "victim mentality" but to make a decision whether it's leaving or staying. My sister just divorced her hubby and ended up getting 1/2 of everything due to her being in a community property state. You may want to look at the legal options. I'm not one to encourage divorce, if things can be worked out, but at times, that's a decision that some have to make. This cannot be an easy time for you and we will be here to support you. I hope ya'll can work it out!

Donna Marie: Contratulations on your marriage!! And you are loosing after the honeymoon. Must be all that love!! I met with a trainer Friday and she is coming over tonight. She's a friend of mine that is a fitness guru. We'll see how I do. I still have to buy some free weights. I'm also working today and going to work a few times a week, along with hosting my mom for 3 weeks. My mom likes the pool and Cynthia did encourage me to power walk in the pool and swim. We'll see. I'm down a couple more pounds so it seems that I've broken through the plateau. Just thought I'd check in. My exchange student daughter went home and I miss her. But, with 3 other teenagers, I'm busy!! Take care everyone and have a great week!!

I will be at the meeting this Thursday, June 7 at Jason's!! I will be wearing the same shirt that I have on in my avatar pic!! Look forward to seeing ya'll there!!

Stephanie: Hope all goes well with your knee surgeries. Just do what you are told with rehabilitation (P.T.) and you will be fine. That's my field you know! Beth: Good to see you back. I also went crazy buying some stuff from CATO over here near Corinth. I love that store. Really cute, inexpensive clothes. Jane: You are doing well. I do understand about the "plateu and gain a bit/lose a bit time". I think I've broken through that for now, but am meeting with a trainer TONIGHT to discuss her working with me. I did swim a bit in my pool this weekend, but need to get my fanny out there more and really work. Kari: Okay, don't let that unfill give you too much of a license now, girlfriend. Really, after these weeks I've had with liquids, etc., and being too tight, I would have given anything to have all the liquid out and be able to EAT!!! But, I've eased back to food again, and seem to be doing okay. I guess with my restriction being so gradual over such a long length of time, I didn't "get" how little I would be eating. These past couple days, I've adapted. Now, I just need to make sure I get enough calories/protein. My body was in that "starve mode" I think. The cruise idea would be great!! It may take me awhile to get to my goal....hoping by next summer to be there. But, I don't have to be right at goal to go on a cruise with ya'll. I know some other people on the boards had a cruise planned for June. We'll have to see how it went. Then, maybe we can start planning in 6 mos. If we plan early, we will get better rates and can pay a bit at a time. That's what I did with the girls' cruise I went on in November. What do ya'll think?

I am on a yahoo group called "mexicanbandsters" that lists fill doctors in every state. I will copy them and paste them in here for you to have. You will need to call and verify costs, etc. as the information may not be up to date, although I did update it a few months ago. I have used 3 of these places for fills and they all use fluoroscopy with the fill, which I insist on having anyway. I've gone to nova solutions (which I didn't care for but know a few people who thought they were great), dr. stephanie in Bryan (she does fills like my Mexican doctor and was banded in Mexico by Dr. Sanchez (not my doc). Recently I needed a slight unfill and went to Dr. Jayaseelan but didn't meet him. Someone trained in his office did the unfill. I was a bit disappointed because I thought he was going to do it. Guess he was in surgery or something. TEXAS - DFW-Nova Body Solutions2696 W. Walnut St. Garland, Texas 75042972-665-2639$200.00 TEXAS - Dr. Dobson, email: janadob@swbell.net647 S. Great Southwest Pkwy. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 75051972-660-3188 $250 TEXAS - Dr. Jayaseelan Dallas 972-566-2263 250.00 TEXAS - Dr. Maese Dallas 972-842-3911 $200.00 TEXAS: Dr. Stephanie Eijsink3201 University Dr. East, Suite 405, Bryan, TX(903) 520-8847$200.00 (cash only)