nothereanymore

There are these really small plastic containers, I think they hold about 1/3 cup, I cut up the veggies up really small to help with chewing and to fill up the container. I cannot eat a lot of each food group so try to keep it pretty even. Swanson's has canned of beans, beans with rice and they have spices and peppers/onions in them. I love them and use them for my carbs. You can find them by the canned kidney beans.

Don't worry about it, I love you and think you're an absolutely amazing person with a great spirit! We have so many different personalities in our community, and that’s what we are, we’re a community of people trying to better ourselves with a tool put in us by Dr. Ortiz. We just need to come to terms that we are all different (and we're going to go about using it differently) but honestly I’d hate it if we were all the same – it would be so damn boring. I just love Mona and want to give her a hug all the time, and Dawnie, she’s such a feisty personality I’d like to have an arm wrestle with her – normally I win these with women, but I have a feeling Dawnie may kick my butte’. We’re all different and sometimes a pain, but we’re pretty damn cool. Take care, Lisa

I have the VG band, I've had 9 fills over 20 months, small increments. I have 6 cc’s in my band and from my understanding it holds up to 11cc (I’ve heard 10cc as well). I went to another doctor for my fills and my gut feeling is, if I had gone to the OC I would have received less fills. (At $375 a pop that’s could have been a substantial savings). I’ll be honest, early on I saw a woman early on come into the Doctors office at the same time as I did, and she had had an aggressive fill. Her band was closed (or tight I don’t know) and she was dehydrated and the only way I can explain it foaming at the mouth. It scared the (blank) out of me. So I decided slow and go, if you average out my weight loss its 1.5 pounds per week. We each need to make our own decision on how we want to loose the weight, there will be several factors, the big one I fight is emotion and when I get frustrated. I sometimes have to hold myself back… (and then there’s costs, its not cheap to get fills) Best, Lisa

Wow, you guys are on it - I also will add salmon which I like moist. I will make some protein, the chicken, beef, and fish and organize them in the small plastic containers by my potion size. The chopped veggies – same thing organize them in the small plastic containers by my potion size (I eat fresh or quickly stir fry). For fruit I buy those natural fruit cups you buy in the veggie area. But I like the idea of the frozen fruit and you could put those in the containers. For carbs I buy the cans of like Caribbean Recipe beans, and other types carbs (some have brown rice but its soft so I can eat some) take them out of the can’s and again organize them in the small plastic containers by my potion size. So when I need to eat a meal I just grab one container of each and go. It makes life easier, and remember since we don’t eat much you can get a few meals out of very little, and use those really tiny containers you find in the grocery stores.

Thank you that felt good…. (Hey, have you lost weight)?? and I promise not to be such a cranky hard bottom anymore.

That's awesome for Missy, love to hear when good things happen to good people, and good kitty kats!

I'm good, I'm waiting for my hug.....

Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba......

She blew it and I think she knows she did. I can tell you one thing from everything I’ve heard, when Dr. Ortiz puts that band in you he expects you to take care of it – he doesn’t want you to do something that can jeopardize your band or your health. She ate 2 bowls of soup and ice cream – did she stretch her band – I don’t know - but I know there’s always that chance and I know it takes surgery to correct. Personally I bet Julie will pick herself up, learn a lesson and not do it again, and I hope that she hasn’t done anything to harm herself or her band. However I would not want to be the one going back to the clinic to explain to Dr. Ortiz – from everything I’ve heard it’s not a fun moment. So lesson learned…. I understand how people react – we have all different personalities here and that’s good. You’ve got the supporters and the hard ass’s and then some nice middle grounders. (I’m actually in the hard ass camp, I get how they feel, and when you’ve totally dedicated yourself to being successful with a program and you hear about people doing things that can jeopardize it - it makes you upset, it shouldn’t its not your body – but it still does). Plus it’s just my cranky personality and I’m bossy. But the truth is, we’re all here to support each other –we just do it differently and some are not going to like how each other reacts at times, or what we say at times – we just need to sit back and get that, without getting too upset with each other. Also a little spice never hurt – keeps the blood moving – as long as we end up liking each other at the end of the day. Best, Lisa

Its coming, I remembering thinking "I just want to see my toes when I stand strait up and look down". It happened, and it’s amazing. (I can see my whole fee)! I also remember thinking about how someday my big ol tummy would be gone. It’s gone. I don’t have thunder thighs; I’m generally called small…. Small, I just couldn’t fathom that word being used for me over a year ago. You're on your way and though sometimes it doesn't seem like it - it comes faster than you expect, so focus on your journey and keep imagining and dreaming because it does come true!

Judy, I have the VG band as well - I was banded 10/6/06 and have 6cc's in my band. I've lost over 125 pounds and I never wanted to take the chance of putting my band or myself at risk. Its not worth loosing your band, because if you do you're just plain screwed. All of the hard work, money, time and everything emotional we put into this, is for nothing. You’re going to loose the weight, you want to do it carefully and in a smart manner. One thing people are surprised about in regards to my weight loss is how I look. I don’t have that look that people get when they loose fast – your skin really drops and you look old and tired. Take you time, don’t take chances – we don’t want anything bad to happen to you! Best, Lisa

Congratulations!! The countdown begins! It's 21 days, or 3 weeks or just 2/3’s of a month! It will go by fast!!

Protein is what gets you really feeling full, don't mix - eat protein first! Followed by the rest in line as to what you have noted.

Congratulations! I'm so excited for you! Have a fun journey and welcome to the wonderful world of lapbands! May your restriction be good and your 21 days of liquids only be bearable!! Best, Lisa

Congrats Kathy! Get some rest, I'm so happy for you! You now can look forward to your new you! Take care! Lisa

That's awesome!!! I've gone from a 44.5 to a 23.1 - I'm in the healthy category and no longer even considered overweight (Let alone morbidly obese which is what I use to be) Yippee!

It depends on each person, I have the VG band and after over 20 months its only filled to 60% of its capacity. (And I've had a lot of fills to get it there, but I’ve lost over 125 pounds now) We’re all different, just use caution and remember he wasn’t writing about you, we’re all talking about getting tight fills, myself included. But what I may consider tight – someone else might consider loose and vice a versa. Take care and you know how to make the best decision for yourself with the help of the fill director. Good luck, and I completely understand where you're at, when your in that loosing mode and mentally your in the game any set back is horrible! But they come and go, I know you're going to do great! (Just want you to be safe). Best, Lisa

Good luck today, I know this one will be the one! We're all thinking good thoughts for you!

Its amazing how different we all are. And I know its noodle soup, but you still have to really chew, there may be chunky things in there like celery and chicken, and you might not realize they are in too big of pieces. Also if you don’t chew the noodles think about it they may glum up in your new smaller stomach. (Good luck with your fill today Mona)! Remember 30 times to chew per bite. Its strange but try that and see what happens, plus its really good to get in the habit now before your fill, and yes that is what it feels like. And it does fill like you're chewing air some times - but I do it anyway. Also when you start feeling like that (and it’s not comfortable) stop eating, and if needed go for a walk. What is really bad is if you keep going – horrible feeling when things get stacked up! Best, Lisa

There's a posting put up this morning on fills by Dolittle: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=6669

Its so hard, I know we all want to be tight, that's always my goal as well. I've had one of those gaining times and nothing is worse. (Generally it does end up being that time of the month) One thing we have to do is listen to the specialists. I've seen someone whose band was too tight, they were dehydrated when they came in and it was not pretty. (They also waited to long to come in). And they were in really bad shape. I’ve been lucky that I’ve never had an unfill, but you really don’t want to have one if you’re not close to the center. It’s not worth it. If you made good food choices, be confidant in yourself and know its most likely water weight. You need a fill, but try to not go to overboard and get yourself in trouble, what I saw was scary and really made me think about how tight my band was and how I manage it. Best, Lisa

I emailed Dolittle about it and he said he was having the same problem and contacting Chad - looks like they are having issues with the site or making an update - notice how the posts are applying below each posting now. Hope this isn't on purpose and I'm sure they will fix it soon.

I've had the same experience as Dontondan, no problems in over 20 months. I would call the corporate office as well and let them know you've posted this on a website for bandsters. We generally don't go to buffet restaurants alone unless we are sadists and want to torture ourselves... (But you never know, looks like we are hanging from chandeliers in the "sex" posting and will T is living vicariously through the posting) so not only would they be loosing our business, but our families as well. I’m not going there if they are going to act that way. I eat less than a child… Good luck!

That is awesome - I wish I knew that back during my time pre and post op time - but it really sounds good now too! (I'm picking one up)