jhawkchick75

WOW!!!! 100 lbs you should be so very proud!!!! Great job and please continue to drop in now and again and let us know about your progress!!!!!

Hey there! I am in a very similar situation so here is my two cents... I had to be sized in January for a wedding i'm in May 16th. I was really worried so the lady at the dress shop talked me through it. She asked me about my history of weight loss and I told her i've lost several times and that my goal is to be at about my lowest i've ever been by the wedding. She asked if when I lose weight if my chest ever gets smaller and I hadn't really thought of that. I've been as low as 150 and my boobs have never gotten smaller. I get smaller around of course, but not cup size. After telling her that she encouraged me to stick with the size I fit in at that time otherwise my dress might not fit at all and if they had to take the sides in they could. Had my fitting about 2 weeks ago and i'm so glad I listened to her! It was loose around the middle and in the straps, but that is fixable. My boobs would have been shoving out the top if I would have bought the smaller dress. I lost almost 20 lbs between the fitting and the dress arriving. Sorry, in a nutshell I would encourage you to stick with the dress they sized you at now. You can always have it taken in a bit. Or, you can get one of the bras like brides wear. That thing will suck you in good! Another wedding I was in I gained some weight and by the time the dress came it was realllly tight, but I had bought one of those bras and it sucked me in enough that the dress fit nicely. OK sorry to ramble so much, but I swear the writers of the movie 27 Dresses based that off my life! I've been in a ton and have many more to go! Good luck!

Wow...your stuff is great! I voted for ya good luck and let us know what happens!

Isn't that a great feeling! I've been finding myself thinking ahead and about where I will be when a particular date hits. Makes me so excited about the future. You are doing great! Keep up the good work! Before you know it your PS date will be here!

Hi there! I was banded at the end of October. I can understand your apprehensions about Mexico, but rest assured the place is fantastic! My mom worked in the medical field for almost 30 years and she went with me and was incredibly pleased with the place. Better than some hospitals i've been in here in the US! Everyone is top notch and knows what they are doing. I haven't told everyone that I went to Mexico because of the same percieved notions many have, but I have shown some of my close friends my pictures of TJ and the OCC and they were very impressed. I know it's hard to say since you haven't been there, but trust me you will have no regrets! If any of you reading this are in the medical field chime in - I know we've talked about it before. They can attest to the OCC and the quality of care you receive. So glad your hubby is supportive. I wouldn't worry about it if he wasn't elated if he's supportive take it and run. It's probably just a healthy does of concern which is good. I had many friends and family that were supportive, but also asked lots of questions. It's great because that means they care!

My belly was pretty pooched out after surgery, but it went down after about a week or so. Had me a nice little beer gut for a while, but it wasn't too bad. I had a bra that was cottony and just a hair loose and I wore that and was fine. by the time i went back to work I was back in my regular bras and just fine. You will be so happy that you went first. Your friends will all be so jealous and will be chomping at the bit to get down there! I would love to escort any of my friends down there if they decide to do it. I can't afford to go back for aftercare but would love an excuse to go back and see the place and thank everyone!

I don't have any pics, but seriously a couple of mine look like mosquito bites and the large scar is a little noticable, but nothing like I thought it would be. I'm only about 6 months out so my guess is those will fade even more. And that is without using mederma or any of those things. So if you use those that will help even more. Everyone is different, but at least in my case they are very minimal.

My BMI was a bit higher, but once i'm done I think i'll only lose about 75lbs. I have lost 45 of it now and I can't tell you the difference it has made! I don't regret my decision for a second and i'm so glad I went to Dr. Ortiz. From what i've heard from folks that had surgery here in the states, my whole procedure went so much better and my healing process was easier. Even if I had the cash to cover having it in the states if I had it to do again i'd go right back to Dr. O. Would have spent that extra money and taken a few vacations days!

Congrats! I hope you are feeling alright! Best of luck and keep us up to date on your progress!

I'm just about to hit 6 months and I think I am just going to keep going with no pop. Since i've gone this long i'm just gonna keep up with it. I might have a beer now and again because I love them, but i'm gonna have those few and far between on special occasions. So here after a while I might have to go buy me a Miller High Life to celebrate!

A lot of folks have specific goals, but I don't just yet. I have an initial goal set, but it isn't my final goal. My first is 150, which is the lowest i've been in my adult life. I know I can get lower, but i'm just not sure realistically where I should be. BMI is a joke and there is no way I can hit what they say I should, so we shall see. I figure i'll keep working out and eating right and once i'm to a place I feel comfortable at and can stick with i'll be content. I'm hoping that is around 135, but not sure just yet.

I am sooo sorry to hear that. The economy is really hitting everyone hard. Thinking happy thoughts that you find something soon!

Ohhh Ohhh I got more.... When the shelf life of your clothes is about one month because you grow out of them so fast When the topics you are googling are protein, constipation, and plastic surgery! So googled all three today BTW! When you finally have to break down and buy new undies because yours are falling off your butt! Yeah, had that happen too! Note to all: don't wear undies that are getting too big to Zumba class - they will keep falling off your butt!

I completely understand where you are coming from. Our habits need to change so significantly after the surgery and the head hunger for me was out of control! But I will tell you it gets easier. I don't think it ever goes away - at least for me it hasn't yet and i'm almost at 6 months banded. Eating is an addiction and once you don't have that it gives you a lot of time to think - which can be a good or bad thing! As weird as it might sound, I went through a mourning process of sorts. Sadness that I couldn't eat like I used to, then anger that my friends most of them can eat what they want and enjoy themselves, then I finally came to the realization that although many things have changed in my life, I can still enjoy life. Yes, there are some things I cannot eat or cannot do, but to be really honest as time passes I really don't miss most of those foods anymore. Now, I don't think there will ever some a day where I don't crave or miss bread, but i'm managing and know i'm better off not having it. But what I would do to have 5 minutes alone with a bowl of rolls from O' Charleys! Once you are feeling more comfortable with your band you will not think about it quite as much. I'm still counting calories, but that is because I realized I wasn't eating enough and it was really impacting my weight loss. But now so much of this is coming without me thinking about it. You will get there don't worry!!!!!!

Wow that is fantastic congrats! Getting off to a nice weight loss really is a good motivator down the road. Keep up the great work!

I have no experience or words of wisdom as far as pregnancy and the band, but just wanted to say congrats! Many people once the weight starts coming off seem to become much more fertile so i'm sure your great weight loss was a key factor in you getting pregnant! Congrats again and keep us in the loop on how you are doing!

I haven't done it, but I want to order Core Rhythms off TV. Turbo Jam looks really good too! I had a Richard Simmons tape years ago and I LOVED it! It had toning bands with it and it didn't feel so bad as you were doing it, but the next day your legs and arms felt like they were gonna fall off! I think an old roommate took it when we moved - I really miss that tape, he was cheesy as all hell, but it was good. Back when I was really broke, I used to turn on one of the music channels and just have dance time. I would literally just dance my ass off like I was drunk at a club for about 30 minutes and I would work up a good sweat. I probably looked stupid, but it was great! If anyone has done Core Rhythms let me know if you like it.

Wow....I am so sorry she is having to go through that! Thinking happy thoughts that she recovers quickly!

LOVE the tuna one...that is so true! I've taken one of those pouches to work before and made it a 2-mealer! Got some for ya... When your chest gets tight and your mouth starts to water when you get within 5 feet of a panera. When you check the clock as soon as you are done eating and start counting down 45 minutes until you can drink. When you can say you've worn a paper thong with thigh high tights!!! SEXY!!!

I was one of those people that didn't have as easy of a time after surgery. It wasn't horrible, but definitely not as easy as others had it. I had surgery on a Thursday and was back at work on Wednesday. Those first few days back to work were a little rough for me. I wish I would have taken the rest of that week off and come back on Monday. Also, not just the pain but since I was still on clear liquids then I just really wasn't 100 percent mentally. I was tired and my brain just wasn't working on all cylinders. Once I was on full liquids it got better but before that I was just lethargic and a space cadet. Seemed like everything I did took twice as long b/c the brain wasn't working. Like they said, everyone is different but I wouldn't push it. Take your time and when you feel up to it head back. Maybe even consider doing half days those first couple days back. I wish I would have done that it would have helped.

Ditto to what everyone has said. Once I faxed my stuff I was like WTF!!!! Also, if you call OCC they will give you a list of doctors in your area that will see you for aftercare. But call ASAP and do it. I called right away after I set my surgery and set an appt for 6 weeks out. It was good b/c my doctor takes about that long to get into. Good luck! I read up so much in here and took so many notes by the time I got to OCC I felt so comfortable and was like OK...let's DO THIS! Had zero worries was just ready to get it done and get to losing.

Thank you all so much for sharing and i'd love to hear what others have to say! I am so day to day on how much I can eat. Sometimes (especially at night) I feel like I can eat as much as I want and I don't get full. That always worries me that I am stretching my pouch, but it doesn't feel like it. I don't get tight or anything or feel full, so I get scared that i'm messing something up. Next time I get a fill i'm going to ask them specifically if everything looks OK. They never say anything and assume that means it's all OK, but I want to make sure.

Glad the weight is starting to come off! I'm one of those wierdos that could not eat candy and be just fine, but my weakness is cheese! I've been trying to go low dairy, but am failing miserably. We all have our vices I guess! My body seems to go through phases. I never seem to lose weight and inches at the same time. It's always one or the other. Like right now, the weight isn't coming off too fast, but the clothes are fitting looser and folks are noticing the loss more. As long as there is progress i'll take it. Just no plateaus!!! Great job!

Totally agree...just take it slow and chew really well and have small bites. All my hunger was in my head at first. I didn't really start getting really hungry until about a week before that first fill. My recovery seemed to be a bit harder than others and so I think that might have had something to do with it. When i'm not feeling good or am in any pain, I really don't have any appetite. I had no food restrictions until after my 2nd fill and that was only bread. That is still about where I am now. Here are a few foods that I had early on and I had no problems: tuna, eggs, chili, cottage cheese, and oatmeal Good luck! This is where the fun begins! The trial and error as you go along is very interesting.

Thanks for the post! There are many on here that I see get frustrated very quickly after being banded and I think they need to hear this and know it is normal. I am now on fill #4 and although i'm losing, it is slow and I don't feel that restriction as much as others do. I don't let this get me down though. I am losing and that is what matters. I can't compare myself to others and just have to appreciate the successes I have had thus far. Never would I be where I am today without the band and I just appreciate that and enjoy my success! Congrats on all your success - you are doing great!