bandiva

Hi Chloe. I hope you enjoy your pampering session. The blow dry is my favorite part, although there is something diva'ish about sitting up on a raised chair, with tin foil in your hair, and sporting a shiny cape. Watch out for the mothership! Have fun, you deserve it! Victoria.

Neenagh - I am sorry to read about your troubles. I hope you can get a fill soon. You must be so frustrated, but try to remember that this is just a bump in the road, and will make a permanent mark in your life's journey. Big hugs and warm thoughts.

Hi everyone! I am home! I had so much fun, thank you for encouraging me to go! I will write a big post about everything I did in a few days. For now, I just wanted to say hi and catch up with all of you. I ate poorly yesterday. Today has been much better. I ate well while I was gone, except I had a few chocolate bars that I bought at duty free...it wasn't my fault. I was bored. Ok, it wsa my fault. I went to the gym once while I was away, but I did a lot of walking. I havn't weighed yet, but I hope I am down a couple pounds. I am so excited...I had my first slime today. I feel like I am officially part of the club now. Funny thing happened in China...(where we are huge by the way). The taxi that picked us (and our luggage) up from the mag lev train when we got there kicked us out of the taxi because we were too heavy. If it wasn't so funny I would have been offended. He doesn't speak english so he just 'shoo'd' us out of his cab. Another time, the cab driver stopped at a red light and got out and checked his tires. I started laughing hysterically and after about a minute of that the cab driver started laughing hysterically too. It was so funny. It wouldn't have been funny if it would have happened here...I would have kicked some skinny butt! I think that is my favorite China memory. It felt really good to be able to laugh at the situation. I will be reading as many threads as I can, then I am off to bed to try to get rid of some jet lag. Big hugs! Victoria.

Hi everyone, I just got back into town, so I am catching up on reading. Looks like I missed a little fire. Glad is it all resolved but I have to admit it was entertaining! I used Dr. Ortiz in Mexico and loved my experience. My husband was a little concerned so he made me take my mother in law with me. (Like it wasn't traumatic enough just to be having surgery! lol. I couldn't find insurance here that would cover me, however I did get general insurance that covered me for everything but surgery related illness. Feel free to let me know if you have any more questions. It seems much scarier than it really is. You will be fine.

Yasmina, congrats. I am glad you are doing well and I am very impressed with your work ethic! You are awesome!

Ok, I am official now, I just had my first slime! I just got home from work where I had some applesauce about an hour ago...then I had about 1/2 can of tuna...then I was gonna have some cheeze, but...I started getting really bad pain. I felt like I couldn't breathe, enough so that I called my husband and I never ask for help! I couldn't talk etc...went down to my knees...tears...the whole lot...this went on for about 5 minutes and then I threw up a huge cream colored ball of slime. (I know it was slime cause it looked so weird I had to touch it!!! lol. I made it to the sink and it plugged it up! (Sorry if that is gross!) Then I had instant relief! I am so happy to have that behind me. I was starting to think something was wrong with me because I don't feel a lot of the things other bandsters feel! Yeah I am normal!

Just a quick note cause I am off to work and then holidays! I will be back next monday. Wow, a second family! No wonder you are tired. To get my energy back arfter surgery I used vitamins, protien shakes made with juice, and walking walking walking. I hope that helps. Don't worry about the buyers remorse thing, we are used to thinking that we are not worth it BUT: those days are over baby! We are worth it! Talk to you next week.

Warm thoughts to Mookie... I have a closet full of clothes that don't fit. (my spare room) Today I put a pair of size 22 jeans in, and took out a pair of size 18 jeans...and they fit too, a little snug, but they will stretch out! lol.

I think it is different for everyone. I started right away, and then stalled after a couple weeks. I did a pre-op diet as well, which I think really helped me get my head hunger under control. Good luck.

Oh ya, one more thing...my goal this week is to get my ticker under 100 pounds to go. I can do it, I can do it. I just have to think that I am the little train that could!

Thanks for the great send off! You all are so great! I hope I can find something decent to eat while I am there...or maybe not! I will post with details as soon as I get home. I can't believe this is happening...I would have never dreamt I would be able to go to China. I will miss you and all your support! Bye for now. xoxoxo

All of a sudden I can feel a stomach ache coming on...maybe it hurts so bad that you should just have some soup!

If I had it to do all over again I would choose the same Dr. I used in Mexico. I was treated like a guest. Not one negative thing to say.

Way to go Audree. You must be looking and feeling fantastic. I hope your mom is being supportive now! Sounds like you have a great husband. Me too! Having the right people in our lives makes all the difference doesn't it. As for my fill. It was completely painless. Really. It hurts more to go get blood drawn. It was really quick, about 5-10 minutes. I asked if I could see Dr. Miranda while I was there so I got to spend some time with her as well. (No extra charge) I walked across the border. I recommend doing this, but take a cab! I didn't take a cab on the way back and walked in circles for a while before I found the border. It probably wasn't very safe for me to do that, and I can assure you, some of the places I walked smelled really really bad. KW and Green- I am sorry to hear about you losing loved ones. I can only imagine how painful that is to watch and to be a part of. Big huge hugs to both of you. KW-Great news on the clothes. I LOVE that feeling, even if it means I have to spend more money on new clothes. Nothing makes me feel slimmer than feeling 'it' in my clothes. Green-I can't believe you don't have a scale. I am a slave to mine. I visit it every morning. I have tried not weighing, but I always gain weight when I am not weighing daily. It is hard to think that the day will come that weighing myself won't be the first thought I have when I wake up in the morning. GOOD FOR YOU! Mandi- The toast and PB didn't go down quickly. Probably ate it over an hour, but I was full/not hungry for about 4 hours. I think I am feeling a little more restriction. I hope I am good for a few months now. Thanks for your support and feedback. Byt he way, I agree about the ticker BMI, I am trying to focus on that rather than the amount I have to lose. Losing 10 BMI sounds easier than 100 pounds! Well, I can't believe it and I am almost afraid to say it, but we leave for China in 2 days. I am screaming inside my head. I am so excited/nervous/scared that I can hardly stand it. I have to work a long day today, and then tomorrow I will pack and buy groceries for my son, etc...then monday I work in the morning and leave at noon. I can't even fathom what it will be like. Thanks for all your feedback on that subject, I am suprised to realize that I almost didn't go! Bye for now!

Andrew...love the ticker. Very manly! Yoda...look at your ticker go! It must be really windy at your house! Keep that little boat moving!

Yasmina-You will be able to do it too! It's almost your turn to get the band, and before you know it you will be down 30, then 50 and so on. You and I have similar stats, so we can do it together! I guess the biggest thing is patience, and of course I have to work on patience! I want patience, but I want it right now! Bye for now! Victoria.

Carol-you reminded me of that line in "The Devil wears Prada" where the girl was proud because she was 'one stomach flue away from her goal weight'. Hope you are feeling better!

Yoda...you never fail to make me laugh! Thanks for the laugh .xox

Hi Khrissy, welcome back. How is your fill working out for you?

I think Dr. Amson does them in Victoria (once you convince him that he is not the only one who can do lap band surgery). I am having a little stress on that front right now. I am also considering Dr. Neal in Washington state. Where do you live?

Have a great weekend...and I agree, no adjusting our tickers for 'speedbumps'. Good call!

Carol...congrats! You are on the right track to changing your life in a very positive way! It is true what they say...if you don't have your health. Way to go. Proud of you!

I haven't slimed yet, but I think it is a cross between throwing up and a fur ball! Shoulder pain...caused by the gases they use in the surgery. It is bearable, just do lots of walking and know that it will be over in a few days. Good luck!

Hi everyone...I had my first fill in TJ and I am home safe and sound. I definatley feel more restriction but I am not uncomfortable. I am trying to record everything I eat to keep me on the right path. I am feeling good about myself and I hope you all are as well!

Hi Audree. Thanks for keeping track of me. I am so glad you are doing well. I will write more on my CND page...I don't belong here with your lower BMI's...yet...lol. Congrats everyone ...you are doing great!