ValleyGirl

Well, I'm waiting until the manager gets in at 7:30am hoping they will sort this out, but Houston, we have a problem! On the phone (both the Best Western 1-800 number and when I called the hotel itself to confirm), they said they had free shuttles every hour and now that I am here they only offer one at 7am and one at 9am- AND it's not free! If you pay the "medical rate" (which I'd never heard of till I got here) then it's free but that's $30 more than the regular rate. Not impressed so far.

I used to be bigger on top than bottom (a size 22 top and size 20 bottoms) and now I'm the opposite, size 8 top and size 12 bottoms. I've lost SO much on the top (face, boobs and arms especially) now I need to work on the tummy and legs. And note to self, no more skinny jeans- not very flattering. How has your body changed? I never dreamed I'd have such small boobs but I like them. Sabrina:)

I was looking over my stats and see that I lost 66 pounds in my first six months being banded. The next six months, only 20 pounds. Do most people lose the bulk of their weight in the first six months? I know my situation is unique in that I had an unfill and a couple gains in there (so I have actually lost 20 plus 5 I gained eating sliders while too tight and 9 I gained during unfill), so actually 34 pounds in the past six months. But still, 66 pounds in the first six months and 34 pounds in second six months....the losing rate is half what it used to be. Why is that? Sabrina:)

So happy to have you back!!! My last twenty pounds is taking forever to lose too. I remember seeing ladies at "Weight Watchers" over the years that would moan and complain about having 20 pounds to lose and I would bitterly think to myself, "it must be nice- stop your boo-hooing, I have 100 to lose!!!". Now I know how they felt. It's torture being so close yet still so far away. But alas, I'll take a curvy size 12 over a frumpy 22 any day! I've been in a pattern for the past three months where I will drop a bunch of weight overnight (up to 6 pounds), then I will stay at that weight (even go up and down one or two) for three-four weeks and then BOOM I drop again. So, about six pounds per month but all in one week with no movemenet on the scale the otehr three weeks....which is why I dread Weigh-in-Wednesday,lol! If the pattern stays the same, I should be due for a drop next week and then again mid-January. So hopefully (fingers crossed) I will hit goal by then. I'm tempted to aim for 150 pounds instead of 160 but my face is looking older with this weight-loss so I don't know. Hmmm. Anyway, WELCOME BACK!!! Sabrina:) http://www.facebook.com/SabrinaStorey

I know of three or four cases where patients died during (a heart attack on the table) and after lap-band (infections they likely picked up in hospital) but none were Dr. Ortiz' patients. There is always a risk with any surgery, but going to an experienced surgeon like him lessens your risk considerably. Sabrina:)

Yes, I still count on my restriction to keep me on track. I hoped that a year in to this, I would have self-control but my bad habits have been hard to un-learn. If I could just stop at a cup of food because I "know" I should, I never would have had to have been banded in the first place. I admire those with will power, but I count on my band-power. Can't wait to get a little tweak this week. I've lost 20 pounds since my last fill so it's over-due. Sabrina:)

Yes, I'll report back with details on the place when I get back. Magkai on the forum lives tehre and told me about it. Sabrina:)

Good to hear. Lucky for me, I only lose my restriction about once a month so I can usually stay on track most other times. Believe me, when I can eat, I do! By the way, this is totally random and I don't know why I thought of it, but do you have an accent?! I feel like I know you guys so it's weird never having a chance to hear your voice! Just curious. Sabrina:)

When you want something warm, Starbucks Tall Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte is low cal and high protein! I drink lots of them. Sabrina:)

I don't think it's a perfcet "science". IMO, it comes and goes. Stress also messes up my band. How are you feeling now? Sabrina:)

Good Morning Angie! I feel for ya. I have days when I feel like my band is wide open and I can eat anyting and everything. I don't know why this happens, but you may have been having one of those days, despite your recent fill. I'll bet today you are back to normal, with restriction. If you don't have restriction in a couple weeks, have them check for leaks but don't panic. Remember that you have just dropped a lot of weight in the last two weeks so your stomach is shrinking and you may actually need more fill. I'm still figuring it out, but I seem to need a tweak every time I lose about ten pounds. I'm so overdue for a fill but I've been putting it off because I'm terrified of getting too tight again like I did in the summer. Keep us posted. Sabrina:)

My appointment is on Wednesday at 1:30....I am hoping to find out why my port area is still sore more than one-year post-op and hopefully I'll be getting a small fill! I'm going to do some ps consults while I'm there too. Hope to see you! Sabrina:)

You are doing so well, Debbie. Way to go! I wish I was as motivated as you. I'm getting a little lazy over here, but I get my next fill in less than a week and hope to get to my goal soon after. At this rate, you should be at goal by summer! Next pic you'll be in a bikini, tee-hee. Sabrina:)

I'll be in town by myself for a couple days next week and would love to meet other people from the forum if you are free!

There's $38 flights from Bellingham to LA and Vegas too. Oh, how I'd love to be a lady of leisure..... Sabrina:)

OMG!!! If I would have waited one more day to book I would have got an even better deal...........$38 each way as of today!!!

I just booked what I think is a great deal down to OCC. If you need to get there on a budget, Allegiant Air is only $68 one way and $38 return Dec 15-17 from Bellingham to San Diego. I've flown with them before and service was great. Thanks to Margaret on the forum for pointing me towards th Best Western Americana by the border. I just got a room for $56 per night that includes free shuttle to and from the clinic! The FREE shuttles run 8am-10pm every half hour. So the whole trip is only costing me $253 for two days including taxes and fees...... for flights and accomodations! Now if only I can stay away from the outlet mall that is three minutes away from the hotel! 48 hours of freedom, here I come! Sabrina:)

So sorry for you Angie. We had to do the same (for the same reason) about ten years ago and it was the first and last time I ever saw my husband cry. Thinking of you. Sabrina:)

I just booked my trip! I arrive in San Diego around 6pm Tuesday Dec 15th and don't have to leave until 6pm Thursday Dec 17th....48-hours and no plans save for my one-year check-up and fill at OCC Wednesday!! Anybody want to get together? Sabrina:)

I have a few days off, flights are really cheap right now, and I need a fill so I thought I would go there for the first time. I normally have blind fills locally but my port has been bugging me all year so I want them to look at it and I figure a general one-year check-up is probably a good idea. Now I'm just trying to figure out where to stay and how I will get there...cab, OCC Van, etc. I really don't want to go alone. Anybody else due for a fill? I'd like to book my flight tonight, before cheap seats sell out. Sabrina:)

Boy, did I need to see this. I've been so bummed out lately. I don't know how to put my finger on it but I'm just not myself. I'm in a "just don't care", "can't be bothered" kind of mood. I didn't even have the energy to post on my one-year bandiversary which was Wednesday. I have lost almost 90 pounds but I'm still the same person and that person struggles with good and bad days. I think I thought losing all this weight would be a magic fix for any and everything that wasn't right with my life. Nope, I am still me and life still has it's ups and downs. On the weight-loss front, it's funny how fat I still feel. I know the number on the scale keeps going down, and people keep telling me how good I look, but the extra skin is still there and plastic suregry is not do-able financially for a few years. Some days I eat crap and justify it cause I'm afraid that losing more weight will actually make the extra skin look worse, but then the next day I feel like I need to keep going and get to my goal (160) or maybe even try for a goal of 140 or 150....which I have NEVER been in my adult life. I don't know. I don't mean to be a bummer, but I could use some good virtual vibes sent my way. Sabrina:)

After losing six pounds last week, I did not expect to lose any this week............and I did not. Still 169. Today is my one-year bandiversary!!! Sabrina:)

Angie, I hear ya! Since I saw that I lost six pounds last week and was in the 160's, it's like I've given myself a free pass- I ate way too much crap on the weekend and now I'm afraid to step on the scale. I guess I'll see what kind of damge has been done tomorrow. This will be VERY hard for me (I weigh morning and night too) but I will try staying off the scale except on Wednesdays...we'll se if it helps with my head games! Good luck! Sabrina:)