nothereanymore

I agree Chad and so do some of the top Doc’s in the country. http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400413/Preg...eight-Loss.html As Andy says “Don't waste your money”.

Pinina, The band can be strange – when I get into these situations I pretty much start over. It’s a pain and I hate it – but it’s also a good jump start to weight loss. I go back to liquids for 3 days, then soft foods for 3 days and slowly work back to solids. I really measure – rarely would eat over ½ cup per meal and took very small bites. If I even thought I was getting uncomfortable I’d stop. When we have excessive stress we can end up with swelling that really tightens our band and the only way that I can ever get mine back into shape was to really focus and do the liquid program noted above. It also was a great deterrent at not allowing myself to PB or stress, I hate doing the liquids again, but one good thing, it really kicks in the weight loss. Also check out the breathing exercises I noted last week - it really does work. I use to stress allot - and one good thing about the band it’s taught me that I've got to learn how to control it. Finally, Breakfast was hard for me at times – I would wait to see if I could eat - you know pretty fast and if not I would have a protein shake. One note I never blended my protein shake or drank it cold (with ice and especially not with blended ice) I only drank the ones in single servings – cold ones tightened me up and I couldn’t drink them. I drank them at room temperature – you do get use to it! You’ll do fine – there is a learning curve with the band. Best, Lisa

Try a relaxing warm herb tea with honey. The warmth will open you up, and good relaxing herb and honey helps to calm you. I normally then go to my breathing exercise and I eat once I’m more relaxed and open – which at times can be mid morning. I’m really into Greek yogurt right now and love the honey one you find at whole foods. Its easy to eat at around 10:00 while I'm sitting at my desk working. By then I've opened up and I'm not as tight. I don't use foods to fight this, and I'm not into dry/fried corn products, to me they are just wasted calories and not really good fuel. If this continues and you don't loosen up - you most likely need an unfill if you can't manage it. You want to be able to eat healthy good for you foods - I know a lot of people who get by trying to eat the junk foods (sliders) the truth is, you can see it in their face and body’s - you put crap into your body, and you're going to start looking like it - you put in good healthy fuel, and you're going to look a hellalot better.

Hey, So sorry about this, to me it sounds like you have the flu and threw up and you are sore from it. Do you have anti nausea medication, I always take some to help me not throw up, since it’s really hard on the band. If at all possible get some and I keep mine with me at all times. What's recommended now is that you go on liquids only to get down the swelling - its something I do if I ever throw up. After you've been on liquids, and/or if you continue to have problems make sure to check in with your doctor. Being a bit sore after a big throw up session is normal - taking it easy and doing liquids is part of what we need to do to baby our bands. Take care, hope you feel better! Lisa

Finally, you just started on your journey. Stop, take a deep breath and read Dr. Ortiz’s statement for success. http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?show...amp;#entry31257 You don't want to get yourself in a negative mindset this early on; it can really defeat what you are trying to do. (Sorry I'm not a candy coater on this). When you first start you're going to have these times as you try to find your sweet spot - I understand that they are frustrating but don't start second guessing yourself and planning your failure - know you will get it and you will succeed. Pinna, you’ve been around for a while – I’m not sure of your stats but some of us do tighten. I would like to have a little bit more info to help. Where are you at in your journey? Love to help, just need some more information. Best, Lisa

I do them when I'm stuck (it’s hard sometimes though when you wait till that moment and you’re panicking) and for a while there I was doing them before I ate - it really helps to "open" you up a bit when you are tight. Dr. Oz is really big on doing this as well. It’s believed that it will help cleanse out your system when you release your breath and get rid of the toxins. And one thing about Dr. Weil, he’s very into studies and really understanding why something works and how, so there is backing on most of his principles and teachings. Once you get in the habit, you really miss doing it – it’s like if you forget to brush your teeth, you know how you’re like – ugh! That’s how it is now if I forget to do my breathing exercise. And I really believe it’s helped with my energy level as well. Its free, easy and there's no reason to not try it - its just a few minutes - it might be worth it if it helps you out!

So most of you know I really try to regulate my stress to have better control over my band. One technique I use is breathing exercises. Here’s 3 good one’s from Dr. Weil. http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three...-exercises.html I do exercise 2 almost every morning. Best, Lisa

Please let them know that you have been taking fat burners and the rest of your program. Many have been linked to heart issues and death. I'm not trying to scare you but your band will not race your heart up - look at what you've been putting into your body - take everything to your doctor. I’m very worried - they can cause long term damage that is irreversible and death. We had someone on this forum that almost lost her life due to taking them. Be careful - losing weight with the band can be slow - but do it right and it works. However adding in chemicals may cause a deadly reaction. Its not worth it. Be careful, my thoughts are with you! Lisa

Congratulations, it really will be your new and very own independence day! It’s great to hear that you have a strong support system in place - that really helps with the success for your upcoming journey. For the gas, I just walked (it wasn't that bad for me) but many take Gas X. Its surgery, and there's pain, which is different for each person. You’ll be fine – we all made it through and are either done with our journey, or on the way. Just think – in just a few short days you’ll be one of us! Best, Lisa

Welcome, here's to you having a great journey! Cheers! Lisa

Are you sure you’re suppose to be eating eggs and tuna 9 days out? Patients of Dr. Ortiz cannot eat those types of foods. However different Doctor’s have different guidelines – (this forum is for patients of Dr. Ortiz so we're just use to seeing more of his guidelines). And I’m just really surprised you can eat like that. I would be afraid that I would hurt my band. Just for my sake check your paper work to make sure you are suppose to eat those types of foods. Best, Lisa

I really had to get into breathing and learning how to relax and let go. It’s so amazing that now with the band we can actually see and feel how badly stress affects us. It’s immediate! One good thing, its making us listen to our stress and work to improve how we handle it. Bad thing – it’s a hard thing to do. I meditate every morning and chant to relax and breathe in and out deeply to cleanse and get ride of the toxins. I also just let some things go or I kiss it off. It’s not worth what it was doing to my body and spirit. Take care and sorry about this! Lisa

I wouldn't take anything before your surgery unless it has been recommended that you take it by the person doing the surgery. That can include supplements, many can cause you to bleed heavily and you're suppose to be off all (or most) for a couple of weeks. I know people who have taken things without approval and had their surgeries canceled. They will know, it can come up on the blood work. And I can’t imagine taking a laxative and then having surgery, can you imagine what could happen if it hit you hard, when you are out and don’t have control over your body – ick…. Congrats on the surgery, call and check before you do or take anything. Best, Lisa

Hey Pammie, I go to Onvo, it’s a whole body health and performance program, located in the really old church right in front of the Toys R us in Bellevue. (It’s easy to miss, a super cool place totally focused on whole body health). Dr Mark is a Naturopathic Physician and gives does the B12 shots Wednesday from 8 to noon. There's also other independent health and wellness providers located there, this is where I work out and attend many of the programs to help me learn long-term healthy eating, and really just learning to have a healthy relationship with food. (Food and I get along much better now....) http://www.onvo.com/ If you are ever in Bellevue and want to check it out give me a holler and I'll meet you there. Good point about fills while on maintenance, it’s such a different place and my problem right now is with all the working out I can't stop losing weight. I'm into most size 2's and I'm about 20 pounds thinner than when we met up in Portland. (I may be at the too thin point - but since I'm so into exercise I still look really fit - not skinny). I'm trying to figure it out; I absolutely don't want to lose anymore. But with the band, sometimes I just don't have an appetite, Lisa

Hey Vicki, You don’t need a prescription, however since it’s a shot many go to a nurse practitioner or a doctor. Some Nutritionists do give the shots as well. Just call around your local area – were I go it cost $15 per shot if I buy a package. And you’re right; many of us, me included do get tighter around our periods. As you retain water and your body swells, you swell on the inside as well and it causes the band to be tighter – that along with stress, eating real salty foods always cause me issues. And I'm big on not getting a fill around my period, it can cause a "fake' tightness that can dissipate after your period ends. Best, Lisa

Good question, based on what I know, there are no studies to support that. Here's more from drweil.com - http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA142964 as you can tell, he's not into taking the shots. However, that being said, I do feel better and have more energy when I take them, than when I don't. Is it a placebo affect - I don't know but I'll take it. Best, Lisa

I've been taking B12 shots every week for the last few months since I've been working out heavily. I can't say I've lost any weight due to the shots, however my energy level is better as well as my moods. I’m working out at such an intense level right now that I need all the help I can get!

Congratulations, you're about to take another big step in your journey! It’s exciting, but scary, so I totally get your apprehension, but you’ll be fine and know we’re all sending our good thoughts your way! Lisa

Me too, just let me know when and where and lets meet up. See you soon. Lisa

Hey Carrie, Its so hard to tell when you are still on liquids, unless of course you can’t even drink liquids, then it’s a no brainer – you’re too tight. But you’re not there – and you’re not on solids yet. Take it slow when you do start eating, you know you’re tight so you don’t want to do anything to aggravate it. When you can finally eat start with really soft foods, chew the dickens out of them and go slow, small bites and really small amounts – test it out without getting yourself into trouble. (PB – getting things stuck which could cause swelling and then the downwards spiral to an unfill) You may be fine – it’s really hard to tell until you are eating. There have been times when I felt the same – I could feel it, but I was super careful with that fill in the beginning and didn’t have to go in for an unfill. But if you do, you do – it’s not the end of the world. You’ll know if you can’t take this fill and then just make sure to get in to have an adjustment. Best, Lisa

Congrats! I'm so happy for you and wish I could see what you look like now! Its sucks to be stuck - be we all know it cannot last forever! (And if you work out like you do - you know your body is changing for the better). Great job hanging in there - you never gave up, that’s a huge piece of why you are successful! I bet the pounds will just start dropping off now - its either feast or famine some days. (No pun to the band intended). Lisa

CindyLou congrats on hitting such a major goal! We all have to do it “our” way, what works best for us – at a certain time and place in our lives. We’re all going to go down different paths – what works for one person may not work for another. But I believe it’s not the path we take, or how fast we get there – it’s just that we get there…. Period. All the best, you’re doing awesome, onederland is wonderful! (I hope you’re able to move closer like you plan – to have all those extra hours in your day would be so great for you)! Lisa

That’s an awesome article, I think there’s going to be great change in the food industry, it’s like anything when we truly understand how much harm something is doing to us, we are normally smart enough to try and avoid it. I love the one that’s under it about shopping as well. In one of my classes we went to Whole Foods with a nutritionist and learned how to shop – It follow her teachings. Here’s how we shop for food based on what I learned: When I walk into the grocery store I always walk to the outside and start where the fruits and veggies are first. I choose organic and focus on locally grown if possible. I then start my big circle of the outside isles, avoiding the center isles at all costs. My next stop is normally meat; it’s usually in the back. I choose free range, grass feed and organic as much as possible. I then make my wait to dairy which is normally in the back, right down from meat. I don’t chose anything “low fat” which is generally highly processed, I chose organic and natural, (absolutely nothing processed). I drink whole mike and half and half and real butter, I avoid products with lots of salt or additives. I then make my way to grains, I only buy unbleached and organic. Here’s an example of the ingredients of bread I just bought: Organic unbleached wheat flour, Water, Natural Levain (this is a natural form of yeast) grey salt. I rarely go into the center aisles, if there is something I need that in the center aisles I don't buy anything with more than five ingredients and I have to be able to pronounce and know what’s on the ingredients package label. I have a tremendous sweet craving too, however it’s been curved by eating good for you foods. Its still there and I believe its OK to splurge sometimes, just in small amounts. Which I did last night with Ghirardelli chocolate. I like food much better now, its not my enemy, its my friend, its what makes me healthy and beautiful as long as I use it as its meant to be used. The band is a very powerful tool that has given us the opportunity to change our lives. We have time now since we don’t spend so much of our lives craving and thinking about food in that addictive manner, that we can actually learn how to better manage our eating habits for life long changes to better our health. Love it, very thought provoking, thank you for posting. Lisa