nothereanymore

I'm so excited for you!! Congrats - I can't explain the differance it makes to get this done - its changed my body image sooo much!

I love belly dancing, yoga, whatever - go to your local library and check out a bunch of CDs, once you find out what you really like you can normally find it on amazon. (But I hate buying before I try - so I check it out first) Have some fun - try things you would never normally look at if its free! I'll do almost anything once! Good luck!

Its a tool and sometimes we may just not have been meant to use it during a certain time. You just never know - life goes as it should and you're back on track so congrats! The hardest part is making that mental change to become one with the band and allow it to become a working part of your life. (I love Star Wars, can you tell.....) Take this as a fun opportunity and start new today! How cool is that! Best! Lisa

Good luck Lori - you're going to do great! Just as an FYI, as we're first learning some times the first fill is not the best - they don't want to get you too tight. Sometimes its not til our secound or third that we hit the sweet spot. You're doing great and I'm sure they'll get you right to were you're suppose to be! (But also you never know - some hit it right away) Let us know if you need anything and its pretty cool actually - getting your first fill! Take care! Lisa

Oh my gosh Jude - you are doing great! Big YIPPEEE on your success! I can't wait to see the pictures!! Get them on fast please! You rock! Lisa

Congrats - you're doing incredibly well! (And making all the girls jealous)!! You guys lose so much faster than us – but I have to admit – I think you take the cake – you’re doing better than anyone else than I can think of! Best, Lisa

You look absolutely stunning! So beautiful! Congrats, you are doing so well!! You are an inspiration to us and you should be very proud!! (You are one sexy lady)!! Lisa

Mary!! Congrats!! I'm so happy for you! Go girl and don't stop - check out the plastic surgery, it does make a big differance!! Put up some pictures for us please and thanks so much for coming back and telling us about your success! You are the BOMB!!!!! Lisa

Congrats on the 50 pounds lost! Next time you're in Costco try to pick up and look at one of the 50 pounds bags of dog food and think how all of that use to be on you! (I do that all the time - its fun to visualize but people think you're odd for playing with the dog food...) In the past I’ve gone in and had a fill “adjusted” its cost less money at my fill center for an adjustment within 2 weeks. Take care! Lisa

I know one person with a leak - if you search the forum you'll find the post about it. Take care and I'm heading off to Brunch at the club!! (I'm saving all my room for the desert table)

Yes, it’s normal, don't worry about it - your body is adjusting. If you’re doing everything right – the right thing to do may be to stay off the scale so you’re not thinking about it so much! Take care! Lisa

Even with most of my fluid removed if I'm not careful it can still happen to me - for some reason sometimes I'm so tight its like I'm at full fill and it sneaks up on me. There's pretty much nothing you can do, but for me walking helps - more to keep my mind off worrying which can make your band even tighter. Part of life with the band - gotta think about it at all times (I have a problem with that...) Take care and I also agree - liquids for a few days is good. (Shoot - its Easter)! Best, Lisa

Mona, I'm sorrry that happened - its so hard when is someone you love! I know Pammie had that happen to her a very close friend. Take care and know the band is not for everyone - you do have to be able to follow the rules and if you're going to fight it all the way - at some point something has to give. Take care and give your sis a big hug, I'm sure she needs one, its got to be tough on her with all she went through! Best, Lisa

I have two yorkies, started with one and then got the second one - they are terrors together!!

Twoflower99, your pictures are up and you look incredible! Congrats - such an amazing difference! Best! Lisa

We actually ended up seeing UB40 last night, what a cool show! Lots of fun and I was on my feet most of the show - I'm loven life!

Congrats! So happy to hear, here's to your dreams coming true and adding a little angle into your life! Lisa

OK, you know how sometimes we can just start focusing on something and can’t let it go – looks like you’re doing this with your surgery and no, you’re not the first and no you won’t be the last. I didn’t do this but have read several posts from others who did the same thing that you are doing. And its OK, those thoughts do cross your mind, but you shouldn’t let them take over and make you miserable and fearful. Here’s the deal, so far, no one has died on Dr. Ortiz’s surgery table, and he has a great record. He does his surgeries so fast, that unless he has to do something else to you, your in and out fast I was done in 15 minutes. But someone else who just posted and only because he had another surgery they had to work around took 3.5 hours. (I think he got the best bang for his buck and I’m kind of jealous…) So put your mind on vacation, and stop thinking about dying, start thinking about your new healthy you! You’re going in to receive the gift of a lap band – and I don’t care how much we paid for it, it’s still a gift – and you’re going to do amazing things with it. You’re going to use it to get healthy and turn your body into one sexy, bikini loving machine. (I never thought I’d wear one of those again, I did)!! And I’m a baby boomer! You’re going to be fine – you have a greater chance at dying driving to the grocery store. (Most deadly accidents happen close to our homes) Now are you all freaked out about that? No, of course not! Now go your mirror and repeat 3 times. I’m going to be fine I’m going to be fine I’m going to be fine There, done, you’re going to be fine! Congrats on getting the band – you’re going to have a great time with it! Lisa

I think the first thing you need to do is stop worrying. I have to hid my scale from time to time when I get in one of those moods… Eating is a big part of America’s past time, and the truth is, this isn’t something new. It always has been. What seems to be different is the types of foods we eat and the portions. It still is a big part of my life, but I learn how to manage it. I actually go out more now, and if that includes dinner, I get a glass of Cab for my h'ordeurves and an h'ordeurves for my dinner. (The focus is not on the food, but on your company) and I still get things I love to eat, just smaller portions, and have just as much fun as everyone else. If you have a glass of wine – the rule is you have to drink it before you eat, and nothing for an hour after. I usually stick to one, and during my weight loss only allowed myself two drinks per week. First you do need to find some activity you love – go back in time… way back and think about what you use to do – I’m sure it wasn’t all about eating. Here’s some that I have on my list of things I now do: Go see live music (tonight is Jazz) So far in the last month I’ve seen Smokey Robinson, Julianne Hough with the Lost Trailers (loved those guys) and Boz Scaggs is in a week and a half. Check our your local museums and art shows Then find some new hobbies, you might try bird watching to get in some walking, there are lots of clubs you can join. And try dancing (I’m checking out Pammie’s pole dancing class). And I have a few of mine that I do already. I have taken so many new classes and had so many new experiences in the 2.7 years that it boggles my mind. (From Buddhism 101 to healthy cooking, and other classes). I’m just trying to open my mind and take the focus off of eating in my life and more on living. Just go have fun, get active and get out, don’t let your band slow you down, let it give you the freedom to do more with your life! Best, Lisa

Since it’s so low, this isn’t a band pain that I recognize, and its important to not that I’m not a nurse – but one post I remember was someone who put off going to the doctor because she thought the pain was something to do with her band. It wasn’t and could have gotten really serious so she put a warning out to listen to your body and get right in if you think something is wrong with you. So if your inner voice is telling you that it’s serious, don’t put off going in, we don’t want anything to happen to you! Take care and keep us updated!

We're all thinking about you and sending our good vibes that you have the sexiest tummy ever! Take care and heal fast! Lisa

I had so much fun roller skating last night – never fell down once and was able to cruise after two hours. I could really feel it on my upper thigh which is what I need to work right now – trying to figure out how much I can improve my legs muscles. For me, to really succeed at something long term, it needs to fun, I want to enjoy it and learn new things from the experience. I think that’s why I started calling this my journey and I really set up to learn from the experience and have some fun! Its life long – lets have a great time! With the dancing AshleyMarie, you sound just like me; I started in the bedroom with tapes but then moved out into classes from belly dancing to hip hop. I have so much fun with these – they are a great way to get in cardio and do amazing things to your butte’. Also one very important part, when I had the courage to finally go out on the dance floor, after all those lessons…. I was one hot sexy grandma that could actually move (& knew the moves) out there on the dance floors. (If I can say so myself….) Really, I can now move parts of my body from belly dancing that I didn’t know I had! Fatfreeme, you can shadow me anytime – this banded life is pretty darn fun! Another thing that helps us, cooking classes – Whole Foods and PCCs have free cooking classes and they are fun to attend. Since we don’t eat much and I focus on eating just three meals – I use the good stuff (butter, cream – I don’t care – I’m usually fighting to get in enough calories, and yes they are organic...) And another bonus, usually after trying the food since I eat so little – there’s my meal! Hey have some fun – this is an amazing time for us! Lisa (Mona, I see you - luv ya babe) I have to add something else in, another thing we big girls do badly…. We try to hide – we don’t go out in public and won’t try new things because of our weight… Stop it, get out there – pretend your thin now and act like it – you will only hit your goals faster. Look at what thin people do and do it. I’ve said this before – wake up everyday and tell yourself you’re beautiful and love yourself. It’s amazing what happens when we get our mind and emotional thoughts in line to where we want our body to be. You’ll hit your goals faster; the mind is a powerful tool! Be positive and get out and start living life now! You'll have so much fun!

So if you know me, you know that I have learned to love exercise (or most of it – cross fit I’m doing because its giving me a 6 a pack – I’m at 4 now – but I don’t quite love it yet, too painful, but want the 6...). One of the ways that I started getting back into exercise was by sitting down and thinking about all of the old things that I use to love, like dancing, roller skating… so anyway - anyone who’s around the Bellevue area and grew up on the Eastside most likely knows about the old Skate King (the roller skating rink). I was there in 74 when they opened – love the snow ball!! They now have adult nights on Thursday nights at 8:30 and I head out there skate on my own to get in some cardio that’s fun and its something I like. If anyone is around and wants to join in – stop by – its great exercise and its fun! Now if you're not in the area, and you need to add in exercise - think about what you use to love and just start there - you're more likely to succeed! (So don't be afraid, I know we have some bandstars in the area)!! Come on by! Best, Lisa Bellevue Skate King 2301 140th Ave NE Bellevue, Wa 98005

Great suggestions, where have you been all my life! Thanks! Lisa

I never got that real hunger back. Its odd, I dealt mainly with the emotional hunger. But since I’ve had my band – I haven’t gotten the real hunger in my tummy signs. It'll be 3 years in Oct. (Emotional hunger took me about 3 months to figure out, I finally started being more vocal about things, if I couldn’t eat through my hunger – I needed to express them in other ways…. My poor husband…..) I was really eating on a schedule and food just became my fuel. I just went through this educational eating program and you focus on healthy eating but one of the requirements is you only eat when you’re hungry. I was friggen flunking that part of the class, I had no clue when I was hungry – I couldn’t get myself to that old true hunger stage (I was finally eating at 2:00 PM because I was getting loopy at work). I finally had to meet with the doctor and I eat based on the signs my body is giving. We’re just all so different – and once I started getting fills I really kept up on them – never too tight or too lose (I was a fill flunky too, I have the VG band and had a lot – too many by Dr Ortiz’s standards) I'd still get your fills, there's nothing worse than being to lose (or too tight for that matter) but there are always supper cautious on the first one. Congrats – and good luck with your journey! Lisa