123crod

We call them bullets. But your body can only absorb so much protien at a time so drink ½ at a time and the other later in the day. My Dr. made me stop using them as he wanted me eating protien and not drinking it as that is how the Lapband is designed to be used. Walmart also sells them. Cheri

If I was you I would not go to Juarez, It is too dangerous down there right now. My husband is from Mexico and ½ of his family lives in Matamores and it is very dangerous there too. Juarez was just on the news again today. The cartels are threatening all the teachers (federal employees in Mexico) to turn over their Christmas Bonus or teachers and children will die. I met a Lady on this board and she was scheduled through some program to have her surgery in Mexico too but a couple of days before a lot of people died there and she call her company and said she could not do it so they told her is could go to a Dr in Detroit instead for the same price. If you are interested PM me and I will call her and asked the name of company. The first weekend in November I went to a WLS Conference in Houston. Met a few people who had the Lapband and Sleeve in Mexico and were very happy with that Dr and he is not in Juarez. I am going to give you his name, BUT I know nothing about him EXCEPT what I was told. I was banded in Houston, but these people spoke highly of him and he was one of the venders there giving out information that is why I have a card Dr. Guillermo Alvarez Toll free # 1-888-214-5884 website: www.endobariatric.com Please be careful in whatever you do. We are all dying to be skinny but we do not want to be dead really!!! And people are dying in Mexico right now. I am sure we will now hear from everyone who has been banded in Mexico, but it is the truth it is not safe down there whether you live there or are visiting not right now anyway. Please research really good where you will be going and if you will be on your own anytime. How you will get back and forth from the hospital to the border. The drug cartels do not care who you are. Also you do have to have a passport or a passport card (45.00) to get back in US unless you are flying then you need full passport. You can pay a little bit more and get it in less than 2 weeks Cheri Rodriguez

You can still have movie night with popcorn. I can still eat some you will just have to eat one piece at a time Cheri

I aready cooked Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night for my family. I cooked it all incuding turkey and roast. I ate a very small amount of some mash potatoes and that was about it. I have been feeling really tight. Tried one tiny , tiny bite of a roll and it went down so I took another small bite it became stuck for 2 hours with all the company at my house. Yesterday I started on an Herbal Cleanse for 10 day to see if I can jump start weight loss again, so I will be in the boat with you tomorrow. Just remember it is only one meal. Hang in there! Cheri

Stick with it. You can do it!! It is all worth it, I promise. I could have spent this last year gaining weight or losing weight, the year would still go by. Find something that can replace food with, such as a book, bath or call up a friend when you get hungry. Every pound you lose now is one less pound you have to lose later. I was on Medifast for a long time once and I drank so much of it that my skin started to smell like the soy. Call your surgeon's office and ask if you can drink a different protien drink instead they would rather you do that than eat. Muscle Milk light chocolate is good and not high in fat. I buy mine at Sams, HEB, Target or GNC. Hang in there you can do it. Food does not comfort us, just makes us fat. I also just started a Herbal Cleanse for the next 10 days and I bet it taste worse than what you are drinking Cheri

I like the new look!! I had to look around to find things but it is refreshing as I have been looking at the old format for 15 months. I love the spell checker, but remember it only checks spelling not if you used the wrong word . . . but spelled it right. Cheri

Since I already had a “Thanksgiving Dinner” with my family early as stated above I decided to start a 10 day Herbal Cleanse to avoid all the leftovers in my house and to try to avoid any weight gain maybe get some weight loss. Cheri

I crushed all my pills for 3 months and then gave up and just took them and so far so good. I take all of them but that one after i have had coffee. That pill they want me to take when first wake up and then wait an hour before drinking anything but Water. Cheri

Even with Floro that is too high! I was self pay too but all my fills are under floro, The first year was free but now I pay $100 for fill and $150 for fill with floro. And we wonder why insurance cost so much. Cheri

I cooked Thanksgiving Monday night for my husband and our son's family. We do it a few days early so my poor kid does not have to choose Mom or Mother-in-law. Also this way they do not have very large meals on same day. Anyway I was very good only ate good stuff. But the next day when all the leftovers were alone with me all day the were homemade rolls still siting the. I like a dummy told myself I would only eat one bit and throw the rest away . . . .well one bite so tiny turned into a bigger bite and then 2 hours of being stuck. Please be careful with your choices. I knew I can not eat bread []

I was fat because all my life I used food to comfort me. Now I choose other things to feel better 99.9 % of the time

food was my friend too, my comforter, but just like in an abusive realtionship you would not stay and take the abuse. Food allows you to do the same thing . . . move on and let a hot bath comfort you, a good book and chat with a friend on the phone. We all know we never felt better really when we ate for comfort. No guilt in a hot bath or good book. Cheri

I think It was good for me to experience being too tight once so now I know it is not for me. But I think it was a good expreience for me to know what it felt like. NOT GOOD!! Cheri

I am an emotional eater . . . or was . . . I am . . . my body wants to be but I am pretty good about handling it. Since my first fill of only 1cc with no fill at surgery I lost almost all hunger. Still at 15 months out I could go all day and not eat. I don't because I will not lose any weight my body goes into stravation mode even though there is still some fat on me that my body could use for fuel . . .too bad it does not work that way. Even now I only have 3.8 ccs in a 10cc AP Band and have no hunger and can not handle anymore fill. Hope that helps somehow. Jacqui - I hope all goes good for you. You are always so honest and straight forward and an inspiration to many of us. You will be in my thoughts and prayers in the nexts weeks. Keep us posted. Cheri

I visit your website quite often since we were banded so close, and enjoy it, but I did not have unfill problems you did. I am down 81lbs since July 09. To lose the last 10 I lost I had to do very low carb for about 6 weeks. Now I too have to change it up to lose the last 20 I want to lose. Just drop your carbs even more than now for just a little while. Cheri

Do it! Was great for me, 15 months out, down 80 lbs. Whole new lifestyle. Do research and dedice for yourself Cheri

Try just getting ½ of last fill removed that will probably help alot. Cheri

I suggest you go for a small unfill like .2ccs it is a very small amount still will leave you with more than you had before fill but will make all the difference. You can aways add some more later. I am self pay too so I know it costs for fills. I went 7 months too tight and could have lost my band. $12,999 surgery compared to $150 fill is a big difference. When I finally got unfilled everything was so different they only took .2 ccs but things could go down and no more vomiting. Cheri

Too tight have a tiny bit taken out. I was too tight for 7 months and put my body through heck. Had .2ccs taken out what a difference Cheri

Chili keeps me full. I make it pretty thick. Cheri

I do not feel I have done something wrong by getting the band. I have a personal relationship with God and I know that being overweight was my problem created by me and my eating habits. But I also know God created medicine to help us heal even though I believe He could and can do it in a minute if He chose to. I also suffer from Clinical Depression and have spent much time in prayer and almost begging God to remove this from me. He has chosen not to so far. So I have done everything I could to stop the depression, making sure I have forgiven people and not carring around unforgiven sin in my life. I stay as close as I can trying to stay in His will. I have been through 3 years of Christian counseling (not dealing with weight issue but my life and thought patterns). Last year I told my husband I could not deal with both the weight and the depression it was too much for me, I had done and am doing all I know to do to get rid of the depression and still have it, but the weight I could lose but could not keep it off, so that is why I got the band. I believe God wants me to be happy and healthy and that is what I am striving to do. I am not being unfaithful to God I am just doing what will help me. The Bible says our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should take care of it. So I am. Cheri

Wow that is a lot of fill so fast. I am 15 months out and only have 3.8 ccs in a 10cc band. About a month ago I had to have .2ccs taken out after being too tight for about 7 months. Some people do not require that much fill. My Doctor did not put any fill in until a month out and after that .5 ccs after every 15 lbs lost. I think slower is better for you to adjust to. I also vomited several times a week until I had some taken out. Cheri

You just have to make up your mind to do it for you. You can spend everyday eating all the wrong things or do what you are suppose to do. Time will still go by. Exercise is a good way to reduce stress. My brother passed away almost a year ago and I still am not over it . . .so give yourself a break it takes time. But you know as well as I do that food, our comforter will not really make you feel better in the long run you will feel worse. I really think seeing a counselor would help you. You can learn some great coping skills. I am an emotional eater too so I have to really watch myself. Sometimes I tell myself you can eat that after you drink two full glasses or bottles of Water . . . after the water I do not want it anymore. Cheri

I was self-pay too it is hard to see yourself spend that much money. I put mine on a credit card with a very low interest rate. If you are taking meds for anything that might change as you lose weight you can apply that to your payment too. I was so happy to be able to do it. It must be hard to pay for insurance and when you need it they are not there for you. Sorry. Cheri

Write down any questions you might want to have answered? Good that your husband is going too, mine went with me and it helped me alot. The only question I ask was had any of his surgeries resulted in death and he said no. He was very honest about everything. Ask any question you have that does not get answered. Enjoy learning about your new lifestyle you are going into. Cheri