JazzyJude

Linda and Justin...GREAT job! You both look FANTASTIC! You should be proud of yourselves. Linda, the dress looks real good on you and love the color! Keep up the good work you two!

Hi Tara, The family of (3) is my son, daughter in law, and my grandson and they were ALL banded by Dr. O!

AW GEEZ! And here I was coming on here to say that I am averaging between 3 TO 5 miles a day! HOO RAH!! I am now walking this darn STEEP hill with anywhere between 5% to 8% grade climbing up towards my home. THAT is a challenge to me!l NOW you are really killing me with this new added 'bonus'. Literally, I am really jazz about this! HA!...and to think I actually hated to walk! It's now interesting, to say the least. OK...you will hear from me on Monday with my progress. WE CAN DO THIS! WALK ON!!!!

I am using Vit E and there is another product Cathy suggested but haven't used yet, and it also works on old scars as well. I have it home and will look it up and post. Jude =)

Hi Kim! Wow, you are on the road girl! That is what we are here for - to support everyone for all issues. I, too, was so glad to have others assist me. It seems as though you are all set really! Good to see you can add alittle extra time for fun before going to OCC. Make sure you have a valid, current, picture ID - I had my passport. The only thing I personally used while at TJ was the Gas X strips, protein water packs, my toiletries, and a change of clothes. I didn't shop around, as I live in San Diego, but just relaxed and enjoyed myself at the Hotel. NOTE: Both at OCC and the hotel you can use their computers, so I didn't have to bring my laptop at all. Good Luck and see you on the other side!!

That's great Trudy! I hope this will be your "sweet spot" for awhile!!

You've got that right Susanna! Baja is really something else nowadays! I also took the Riveria Cruise down to Cabo and BOY!, did they change since the last time I was there!!1 It's so amazing and huge ~ I didn't want to leave! Anyway, the point is, everything changes and it's a good thing in TJ!

Hi Kim! Cograts and welcome to Bandland! HOO RAH!! You should follow your dr's diet plan. If you had your surgery at OCC, you are on 'clear liquids' for the first 7 days, and you count your surgery day as day 1. Starting day 4 you are have those yummy drinkable yogurt smoothies. I have the strawberry bananna for the potassium I needed to prevent dizziness or lack of. Starting day 8 thru day 21 you are on the 'creamy soup' stage and then starting day 22, you are on solids! Congrats again and keep us posted on how your are doing on your weight journey! G'luck!!

GRAT Carrie. You and Theta will soon be on the other side! Congrats! Yes, you are getting the 'star' treatment there at the hotel! It's awesome. Enjoy yourselves and we will see you tomorrow night! REMEMBER, to sip, sip, sip and WALK, WALK, WALK! Those little suckers of gas bubbles inside you will juggle around and you will have less body aches and pains when you walk! Relax and enjoy the rest of your stay...the surgery is a piece of cake! Good Luck and see you later!

Good luck to you too Kim!!!

THIS IS THE SAME RESPONSE IN YOUR FIRST POST AS WELL... Hi Iabella, I can't say I have ever heard of Myocel. The protein shakes I am using is AmazeRX, that is used for lapband patients. You can view their products on line at www.AmazeRX.com. They have 4 flavors and they are all so YUMMY! They taste like real thick milk shakes and have NO chalky, gritty taste and NO after taste either. It's reasonable priced - you get 2 cannisters for $49 and I mix 2 flavors, chocolate and strawberry, or just have the one flavor by itself - your choice. It's AWESOME! I've tried other protein shakes but don't like the 'taste' of it, even though they may be higher in protein grams. I know me, if I don't like it, I won't drink it. Every person is different and you may need to try a few brands until you get the one you like the best. If I am low on protein intake. I will either do a protein shake or do a liquid protein bullet you get at GNC, and mix with Cyrstal Light or Gatorade. They have like 4 or 5 different furit flavors. Hope this helps!

Hi Iabella, I can't say I have ever heard of Myocel. The protein shakes I am using is AmazeRX, that is used for lapband patients. You can view their products on line at www.AmazeRX.com. They have 4 flavors and they are all so YUMMY! They taste like real thick milk shakes and have NO chalky, gritty taste and NO after taste either. It's reasonable priced - you get 2 cannisters for $49 and I mix 2 flavors, chocolate and strawberry, or just have the one flavor by itself - your choice. It's AWESOME! I've tried other protein shakes but don't like the 'taste' of it, even though they may be higher in protein grams. I know me, if I don't like it, I won't drink it. Every person is different and you may need to try a few brands until you get the one you like the best. If I am low on protein intake. I will either do a protein shake or do a liquid protein bullet you get at GNC, and mix with Cyrstal Light or Gatorade. They have like 4 or 5 different furit flavors. Hope this helps!

Taz really said it all Michelle! Your beaming smile says it all! You are so proud of yourself with your accomplishment and YOU SHOULD BE! You inspire a lot of people here on the forum and you believe in the band. WTG! Awesome job - you look FANTASTIC girl!

AH!!! Sounds really interesting! Getting the family together, eh? I will just have to get the other Fishell Family bandsters together!!! Is it Dec 1st yet?

Good Grief - Chill out! Stop being so paranoid! It's like going to another state or any other country. Just be alert and be prepared accordingly but don't over do it! To date, I haven't heard anyone mentioned catching anything. The clinic is totally, without a doubt, the cleaness place I been to and WAY cleaner than any hospitals I've been to in the US! I am sure the other bandsters can back me up on this. Just concern with yourself and be prepare to have your Passport in order, enough money to spend on any shopping spree you may want to go, etc. Just like going to Japan or Europe, be cautious. If in doubt, buy your foods in restaurants and buy bottled/canned drinks to be on the safe side. I live in San Diego and yes, TJ has changed quite a bit, to the better! They've really cleaned up to make it more enjoyable to visit. Enjoy your stay there, otherwise, there wouldn't be so many bandsters being banded from OCC!

Jaime and Salena...you WILL get into the dress before you know it! Like Cathy says, take monthly pictures, like I was banded on Oct 8, then I will take a picture of myself the 8th of each month...so you can SEE the difference as your go along with your journey to the new you! Focus...be determine...set several small goals along the way...set up your exercises...BE DRIVEN! YOU CAN DO THIS! It's awesome to see other's successes and it keeps you going. GOOD LUCK!!

Hi rdhdleo! I am 53 also and really, age doesn't matter at this point. My health does. I was banded by Dr. Ortiz on Oct 8. Even though I live in San Diego, I would still go to OCC in TJ because Dr Ortiz is first class and HE has trained other drs, worldwide, to perform this procedure. He has done over 6000 surgeries, NO death, his fee is very reasonably, the clinic is cleaner than any hospitals I know in the US and they have a strong, educated medical team of doctors and staff with the state of the art medical equipments. What more could you ask for? I thoroughly checked into this and trust them completely. My son, daughter in law, her sister, and my grandson all have been banded by Dr. Ortiz as well.

Shelby - I love your new picture!!! OK, for me I just kept with the rule of no more than 3/4 cup of food per meal. The trick of the trade is to make sure you are drinking your liquids daily and drink up to the moment of you eating your meal. And no drinking until after one hour from your last bite of food. Use the standard portions as 3 oz of meat, 1/4 cup veggie, 1/4 cup rice/potato/fruit/bread. So far, I can get my meat and veggie in but can't finish my starch/carb. If you practice this rule, you will be fine. I personally take the new chewable Fiber Choice tablets and the Benefiber powder every day to help with the hunger quest and cleansing your rotor rooter job (smile). This really helps me and I rarely have snacks because of them. Hope this helps!

...AND speaking of a plate full, there is another tip too I have heard others do and so do I. I bought myself a nice place setting for myself - a child's setting. We are so use to having a regular plate or bowl FULL of food. So, using a child's size plate or bowl will hold my "3/4 cup" of food really nicely and it DOES FILL up my whole plate/bowl! So, visually, I do have a FULL plate of food just a smaller portion! See what I am talking about? I am using a child's serving size verses the logic of an adult's serving on myself and it's working just great!! I will do whatever it takes to have this band work with me...and I don't care what other people are thinking or saying either...it's MY life!

Congrats ckiki...you will NOT regret your decision. So glad your friend will show you around to be more familiar on your special day. I know you are anxious to have this done and if you can have Dr M do sooner like Rod says, then go for it. In the mean time, really browse through this forum and gather some ideas, tips and hints. Get yourself familiar and prepare your first 21 days post op diet. Get yourself a journal to help your journey along and a binder to put important issues you like from the post after printing them. We are all here for you...good luck!

AWESOME Jann...dang girl ~ you go!! So, what's the difference between the 'exercise' and 'walking' miles? I was only able to get to 11,789 steps. Today was my first time around the neighborhood block and I really chose a steep street on my way home route that really just killed me. I was huffing and puffing and cursing myself for this route, I kid you not! BUT, the greatest NSV for me was...I NEVER STOPPED FOR A REST! I was so proud of myself for this huge accomplishment! I just kept going and thinking of all of you doing your steps, and it kept me going forward. YOU guys are my inspirations!!!! Taz, you really pushed the right button for me on the exercise 'program' I needed to do! I will never forget you with this challenge and future ones. So, Taz...can you give us a small hint as to what the new challenge going to be on Dec 1?? Just a tad hint? WALK ON!!!

hehehe...me too!!!

Oh yes Lisa, I do feel full. I do have some restriction but I am driven and strict on myself too. I literally have 3/4 cup or less of good food choices per meal. Yes, I weigh my food after they are cooked. My measuring cups have never been used so much as they do now! LOL You see, I 'imagine' I have a fill already...so I tell myself I only have so much room to eat and I better choose the right food to make me full the longest. So far, I don't have the hunger quest that everyone is talking about before their first fill...BUT, I do continue to take those chewable Fiber Choice and the Benefiber EVERY day. They help curb my appetite and my rotor rooter problem.

Hi Lisa, I was anxious for my first day of solid foods, like all of us are, but was so nervous because I wanted to make sure I eat the right things. Like Rod and Cathy said, this is the time to start learning the proper way of eating, and choosing you food carefully. You want to progress yourself. I started out with an egg omelet with bacon and cheese (and I still do have that once a day - good source of proteins). For lunch, I had chicken that was moist (just baked chicken in the oven and half way through, used foil on top of the chicken to retain moisture). For dinner, I had steak and beans. You can basically have anything you want in moderation, of course. Just remember to get in your proteins and keep your calories between 1200 to 1500. CHEW, CHEW, CHEW...I can't stress this enough, because when you start getting your fills, I am hearing that you need to take tiny bites and chew the dickens out of them to have a pleasant, successful meal. I've been on solids for two weeks and it's a good thing for me now.

I was so proud to see my family on the show. They just beamed and they BELIEVE in the band and have great family support to one another. Let's see how they look in another 4 months! I am so PROUD of you Mike, Dante, Joey and Darci (Dante's sister). You all Rock and are my inspriations! HOO RAH!! Stephanie ~ you are a sweetheart and you glow! With your Mom's determined research for your weight loss, you can tell she cares and loves you honey!. I wish you all the best. Good luck in your journey and know that we are all here for you. Keep us posted on how you are doing! This, too, is my first time seeing an actual lapband surgery ~ very interesting. My daughter and husband watched the show with me and now they 'understand' why I can only eat 'so much'. I love the way Dr. O stepped in to make corrections and did a simple brief explanation of what WE have to do with the band. I, too, thought the food displayed was a bit much. Like Jann said, they were talking in general, where as we all know that each person's body is different and can consume food differently as well. Now, more than ever, I am DRIVEN to prove that the band does work! Already, I can see the difference in me in only ONE month! I am relearning to choose my food quality and the proper way to eating. I am doing exercises I thought I wouldn't do again. I can only imagine what I am going to be like in 4 months, like my family have done! God Bless you Dr. O for this precious opportunity you've given me and my family! Jude