nothereanymore

Kelly, you are doing great!! Congrats!! Its not just the band, its you too! That type of weight loss only happens when we use the tool as its meant to be used! I'm very impressed! Get some pictures up there soon! We want to see your transformation! Best! Lisa

When I was researching the band I saw a woman with hair loss – I spoke to my sister who has a salon and she recommended Nioxin products and I made sure to take use them and take my vits – no issues with the hair loss vs weight loss.

I love chicken wings - they have the most tender meat because of the fat content. (Paula's right - its high) I generally cook the entire chicken in broth, wine, veggies, herbs and spices - I get the wings - the skin comes right off and they are yummy! Since I'm eating such a small amount and I pull of the skin it lowers the calories I don't generally worry about them. Its just nice to have a meat you can eat and not get that full feeling right away.

Congrats! You'll do great and we'll all be thinking about you!

I've heard say that it takes a month for a fill to settle - but I know by the first week if its not there for me. Also were I go for fills you have to let them know in a week that you need an adjustment for a reduced rate - or you pay full price again. I’ve never had an unfill but I’ve had 2 or 3 times when I’ve had an adjustment and had more added to my fill. I always test my fill out after having one, I sit down to dinner, I don't drink andI eat (following the rules of course) an appropriate lap band size dinner. (The reason I choose dinner to test is that in the evening is when I’m lose). If I can eat too much or I’m hungry to soon I generally think I may need an adjustment – I call my doctor and have a frank discussion with them about it and schedule an adjustment if needed.

Take it slow at first, I didn't start my exercise program for 30 days, and no abs for 90 days per our packet. I worked with a personal trainer at first, and it really helped me tone as I lost the weight - the inches came off faster and I have a pretty darn good shape now. I don't think I'd look like I do or loose as consistently if I didn't exercise. The trick is finding something you like and do varieties, and do watch out for pain, stop if it doesn't feel right. When I worked out with the trainer (just 4 sessions spread over 4 weeks) it was to learn how to use weights and the machines properly at the club, I went 3 to 4 times per week on my own during that time. I’ve taken everything from hip hop, yoga, to belly dancing (my fav) and most of all I just turn on music and dance to it at home. The real secret is…… (shhhhhh) just move your body and find a fun way to do it so you stick with it. Good luck and start slow!

Your pictures are soo adorable! Congrats and I'm excited to watch your transformation - I can tell that your going to make this a fun journey!! Oh, and Montezuma’s revenge tended to stick around (or not so) during the liquid faze for me. Best, Lisa

You are the bomb, after seeing yours I'm going back in to talk to him about what you did. I want some of that!

I am so sorry, my thoughts and prayers are with you, and yours. Please let us know is you need our help, we are here to support each other in all ways. My deepest condolences. Lisa

My kids are on MySpace - I try to avoid the places were my kids hang out.....

I'm close to your age and one thing that sticks out to me is you say you don't have any restriction. Restriction is the key, you don't want to be too tight, nor do you want to be too loose. It’s a hard middle ground to reach. How much are you eating and what is your caloric intake? I know many don't want to talk about calories, but the truth is they are the key. If we take in too much we gain, just enough we stabilize and if we cut them down we loose. I'd look at that and see if you need an adjustment to your fill. Its hard not to loose if you are taking in 1/3 of what you use to eat and exercising on top of it. Best, Lisa

What a babe!!! (And you're pretty hot too)!!

You look so beautiful and (agreed it’s the appropriate word) hot! (Love your belt) Your face looks like a different person! What a difference! Congrats!

Hello, Many girls retain water during that time, so our bands are tighter than normal - so we avoid getting fills around that time of the month. (Myself included) I also try not to have a fill in the morning, as late in the afternoon as possible for my appointments. I generally can tell that I need another fill when I start feeling hungry 3 hours after my last meal and when I can eat more than "lap band" normal. Or don’t have a problem eating rice, bread or all of those other problematic foods that we try to avoid. If you can eat as much as you want - that's not what I would consider a good fill. Since this is your first fill your still in the experimental stage. If it seems like you can eat too much or your hungry all the time you may need to go in and get it adjusted. Generally there is a low cost or no cost for an adjustment. Just give them a call as quickly as possible to see what might work best for you. Best, Lisa

Rob, I think that womans name is Sufina. You all know her? I thought she had the same pic! Hmmmmm - I always say there's a reason for everything. I'd like to introduce you two to each other! (Only if you’re both single)! Rob meet Sufina, Sulfina meet Rob!

You are looking awesome girl!! Great job and congrats!!!! You can tell you've also lost a lot of inches. You look like you've lost more than 18 pounds since the surgery! Keep it up, you’re changing fast – can you just imagine what you’re going to look like by the end of summer! Lisa

You're going to be a skinny Minnie before soon Mr. Bill and we girls are going to want pictures!!! Come on, put your picture up - come on - you can do it!!

She's a very cute lady and I'm sure if you were one you'd want to look like her - so no worries! There's always a reason for everything!

I've had success with the band - and sometimes its a struggle, but my band isn't doing damage to my body and I can still enjoy life. I would rather be fat and happy than thin and miserable! I would not allow anyone to replace with another band until my body had time to heal. (And that includes taking time to heal my mind, body and spirit, I’m sure after going through everything you need some time to adjust and focus on enjoying life) If at all possible please wait and I would recommend consulting Dr. Ortiz - he is very well respected in this field. Please be careful and make sure to take care of yourself first. Best, Lisa

Great job - you are doing awesome! Think of yourself sitting on a beach, sipping a Mai tai and you're in a very small bathing suit and it fits you perfectly, doesn't ride up or anything... You get up to walk out in the sand to cool your toes off in the deep blue water and you don’t care if anyone sees your backside since it looks so damn good anyway (and its now a small touché). You'll be there soon if you keep up all of your hard work up, loosing weight and getting your masters! You rock girl, keep it up and don't fall prey to the .50 cent tacos, you'll get more fun out of fitting into a really small bathing suit in the long run!! Be strong!

Wow, how could you live like that for so long, that is so horrible. I'm so glad you're having it removed and hope for your speedy recovery. This is like the example that Dr. Ortiz talks about in his video when people have too tight of bands and its not like living at all. You’re the perfect example of what he says shouldn’t happen. I wish you had been a patient of Dr. Ortiz so you wouldn't have had to endure so much. It took me 21 months to reach my goal weight - I can't even imagine what I would have had to go through to reach it in 6. That would mean that I never ate, which it sounds like that happened to you – that’s not how the band is suppose to work. I don't even know how you are vomiting up bowls of blood - I thought if your band slipped nothing could go down, or up. I feel so badly for you! Good luck with your surgery and our thoughts are with you. Best, Lisa

Anyone joining tonight? Come on Cathy! Join in! Lets get some chatting going on! Cedar, I see you jumped in 10 minutes ago, where are you?

There is over the counter anti nausea liquid medicine that you can buy. Just go to your local pharmacy and ask the pharmacy for his/her recommendation. We banditos should always have some on hand in case we start getting nauseous. Take care and hope you start feeling better soon!

I did after 4 weeks,(that was the time frame I was given back then) and I did start with a personal trainer. He showed me how to work out and we used techniques and machines that would not affect my ab muscle. It was really worth investing a professional show you the ropes and different routines. We worked out together once a week for 4 weeks and I would go on my own 3 other days a week. After the 4 weeks I was on my own. After 3 months I had him back to teach me good ab work outs but just 1 session.