bandiva

Hi Everyone! You are very inspiring. Thanks for the link Audree and congrats on your fill. I am glad your hubby went with you. I will probably go again in April and take hubby too. Maybe we can hook up. I will let you know when I have more details. Glad you are doing well! I din't get restriction for a couple weeks after my fill, but believe me, I have restriction! I am not complaining! xoox

I had it done there and would highly recommend it. I received the best medical care in a state of the art facility. There is lots of info on here...maybe try searching the word 'Mexico' for more info. Good luck!

Hi! I am glad you found this site. I found it very helpful in the decision making process. Let me know if I can help!

There you are Yoda! You can hide, but we will get back out to play with us! Hope you are doing well. I lurk sometimes too. Lately I have been feeling a little grouchy and stressed and I really enjoy just stalking the site. Guess I am going to have to work on sharing instead of internalizing everything. My, my, so much to learn. Everyone is doing so well. I am happy for you, and worry about you when there are complications. I will write more soon. xox

I broke a scale once by throwing it out of the bathroom window on the third floor of the house I was living in. Then I went down into the yard, picked it up and threw it against a tree till it shattered. Nuff said.:opps2:

My fill didn't kick in for a couple of weeks. I remember lying in bed and thinking I wish I had more restriction. The the next 3 days I slimed and PB'd anything I ate. Now, a month after my fill, I am still having to be careful about pretty much anything I eat till mid afternoon, when I loosen up a little. I am rarely hungry. I hope you find the restriction you need to feel encouraged and know you are on the right path.

I went to Mexico and have no regrets. I also returned for my first fill. I am so fed up with the system in BC that I don't want much to do with it at the moment. I have a problem with Dr.'s playing God...before you all get mad, that is just my opinion based on what I have read about surgeons in BC. I may be wrong, but I just feel like a person who has struggled for years knows when he/she is ready for surgery or a fill. We have to take some responsibility for our health, and under the current system, that can be difficult. I believe I would have spent thousands over the next 10 years in medication, loss of income, food ,clothes etc...so I don't mind jumping on a plane and going down there. My initial cost was $8500 US plus travel exp. I was really happy with my Dr. Let me know if you have any questions. Best Wishes! Victoria

Had a rough afternoon today. I had some garlic sausage for lunch. While I am eating it, I am thinking..'man, this hurts', but do I stop???? No, why would I do that? So then I slimed for a couple of hours, had a hot tea and lived to talk about it. It's strange how the body is saying no, and the brain is saying keep going, there is just a little left. Hope you all had a fabulous day!

Hope you enjoy your trip, and congrats on reaching your goal!

You must be so excited! Congrats!

My parents are older and on a fixed income. We gave them cash for Christmas with a note in the card saying we wanted to take them boxing day shopping. They bought new bedding, shoes, practical clothing etc...and it was a fun couple of days shopping with them. You probably don't have time to do this...but...my dad is turning 80 this year. We are registering in with a travel agency (chain) so that whoever wants to donate 20 or 200 etc...can do so. My parents have never been anywhere outside of the three western provinces. My sister and I figure we will go with them to Hawaii or an Alaskan cruise or something. ( Keep in mind we are expecting a couple hundred people at the party so it will add up...) I am glad you are taking such good care of your grandmother. You will never regret the time you spend with her.

Hi everyone. Just thought I would pop in and say hi. I lurk here reading posts almost daily, but just haven't posted often. I do enjoy reading about you though! We all are at the same stage, so it is very encouraging. I am doing well, still have lots of restriction from my first fill (Jan 22). I need to exercise more, I have just been working so much that when I get home I want to lay in bed with the remote till I fall asleep. Next month won't be so busy, and I will need to get serious about the exercise. I did buy a universal gym...does that count? Steph, your pics are great. Huge difference. You have a nice indentation for your waist line. That is great! BK-I think of you often, and your busy life. I hope you are getting some time to take care of yourself. You deserve it. Nikki- sounds like you might need a fill. That is how I was feeling/eating before my fill. Kirsten-congrats on your second fill and weight loss. That is awesome! Beversman-WOW! That is all I have to say about that! Well, I am off to work. Take Care everyone. Victoria.

Hi everyone! Glad you are doing well! I love reading about your activities...I can't wait till I am that active. I really enjoy hiking swimming etc. I just bought a universal gym, so now I have that, a treadmill and a recumbant bike. I live in an apartment, so it is quite packed! My son came to visit the other day and when he came in, he asked how much a membership is! It was very funny. Keep it up everyone, you are doing (and looking) awesome!

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been out of the loop. I have been really busy at work. February is not usually a busy month, but I had my open house yesterday, and today I am going for more training and then next Sunday I go for more training in Vancouver. So no days off for me! I have been losing quite well. I am really happy to have reached the 40 pound mark. It is amazing how quickly a pound here and there can add up. I have good restriction. I am trying to stick to softer foods, I find if I eat more than 3/4 of a cup of stickier things I end up sliming. I kept a diary of my trip to China, so when things calm down I will post the condensed version here. I read through the Canadian forum almost everyday. It helps to see how you all are doing, what you are going through etc, now I just need to start posting more! I am very happy to have my band. I feel like I have no doubt that the weight will come off and stay off this time. I treat it like it is pure gold and to be treasured and handled delicately. I feel much calmer about my weight/weight-loss than I ever have before and it feels great! Take care everyone....you are my inspiration! xox

Hi Yasmina. Glad you are feeling better and doing great. Sounds like you are a very busy person! Take Care.

Seeing photos. My passport photos were of this huge body and a little tiny head. A family wedding, in the group picture I stood out more than the bride. I felt like a freak all day.

Mookie, as much as that sucks, things always work out as they are inteded to be. I am guessing that in a little while something will happen that will make you say "Thank God I didn't take that other job!" Green, wow, you are the incredible shrinking bandster. (I just noticed what a funny word shrinking is!) Anne, I am so looking forward to getting off meds...you are an inspiration!

Hello! Congrats to all you new bandsters! Audree, hope you are feeling better soon. You must have got some serious nails if you can't type! hehe. My fill has kicked in big time. I have had trouble keeping food down the last couple days. I am a professional slimer. I have to learn to ssssslllllooooooowwwwww dddddooooowwwwnnnnn. I also can't have something/someone stressing me out, or distracting me with conversation while I am eating. Sounds like I am a fun date. I was layingn in bed the other night wishing I had more restriction....well I got my wish! I feel like I have to learn to eat all over again....but no regrets, not even for a second. Take care everyone! Victoria.

You are all so great. Whenever I need motivation I just come back to this thread. I am so proud of all of you and I can't wait to join you! I had a realization the other day...I am going to lose over 100 pounds! It's like it clicked in my brain and became an achievable goal. Thanks for the inspiration!

Well...I reached one goal by getting under 100 pounds to lose. The excercising...not so much, but I am working on it. lol.

I agree with Lianna. I read this site cause it is fun. I am not a Lower BMI so I guess I am intruding but what the heck, my BMI is lower than 40 now, and it's lower than 50 too, so atleast it is lower than something! lol. I am doing well. I have been doing very well emotionally and my energy level is up. The house is getting cleaner by the day! I am very lucky to be surrounded by very positive people at work and at home, and that makes life a lot easier. Hope you are all doing well. I will be keeping an eye on your success. I can't wait till my BMI is under 30...I will get there. Bye for now!

I cried and cried BEFORE my operation. It totally freaked me out to be losing my best (worst) friend and habit of binge eating whenever I had an emotion of any kind! About a month after the operation it hit me how much money I had spent. I could have put one of my kids through college. I cried a few nights then. Then I chilled out. I will still help my kids and I will be alive amd active to care for my grandchildren when the time comes. I also agree that a lot of emotions are from that damn love Dr....the Anesthesiologist!:mad:

If they are anything like Dr. Ortiz's team, you are in good hands. It is not one person who makes the experience so great. Everyone made me feel good. My experience was that as soon as I walked into the clinic, all my anxiety disappeared. I hope you have the same experience. By the way, I was very anxious the night before. My GP had given me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds just in case...I was very glad I had them. I slept well, and it took the edge off the fear. As it turns out, there was nothing to fear, it was a great experience.

Hi Carol. Sorry about that, I am easily confused...lack of calories! I worried about the first fill more than I needed to. It didn't hurt at all. It gave me restriction, but I still need will power. I am so thankful to have this band. I will probably get another fill in a month or 6 weeks. I am feeling really healthy and I love that! By the way, you are very funny, made me laugh out loud! My hubby thinks I am crazy....

Hi Laura, I am in Victoria too. I hope you are doing well. Making a decision can be the hardest part. Have you got your date and/or surgeon yet?