bogiesmom

You might want to try www.lapbandtalk.com this site is better suited for questions about general banding guidlines as Dr. Ortiz's guidelines are more conservative then others. Bottom line is that you need to have a conversation with your doctor's office for their specific guidelines but the site I referenced with give you more of a general idea.

Hi Mandy, The Doctor I had my band consultation with put it best... "Hunger is a psychological condition. Feeling Full is a physical condition. Often we confuse the two. The band is designed to help you feel full. It can not and will not stop you from being hungry." I needed to go home and wrap my brain around this for a few days before I decide to proceed with my banding. I hoped this help.

Angie, I am so addicted to these. Why potato chips still exsist when there are these I will never know! I also like the Popchips brand too. The Genisoy roasted garlic & parmesan are to die for. Enjoy!

POINTS® Tracker entries Thursday, November 19, 2009 Morning 1 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1 1 Tbsp sugar 1 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 serving(s) Naked Fruit Juice - Berry Blast 3 Subtotal 5 Midday 1 serving(s) Water with Benefiber Raspberry Tea Drink Mix 0 2 cup(s) water 0 2 cup(s) Acorn squash & mango soup 2.5 Subtotal 2.5 Evening 1 cup(s) Creamy potato leek 2 1 serving(s) Active Life Gelatin Cup 0 Subtotal 2 Anytime 1 serving(s) Slim Fast French Vanilla Optima Shake 3 Subtotal 3 Food POINTS values total used 12.5 Food POINTS values remaining 9.5 Activity 30 min walking, leisure 1 Activity POINTS values earned 1 Check off these important items daily: Liquids: 3 glasses of water Milk & Milk Products: 3 Servings Fruit & Vegetables: 6 Servings Multivitamin/Mineral Healthy Oil Activity Lean Protein Whole Grains Approximate Calories: 785

Hi Angie, I think I have an answer for the rice. Dr. Miranda warned me about sticky rice last week when I met with her. I told her that my favorite food in the whole wide world is Indian Food and I do not think I could live without Basmati Rice and I buy it from Costco since it comes in really cool microwavable pouches and she said that since Basmati Rice is not sticky I should not have a problem with it when it comes time for whole foods. I am guessing that steamed rice in general would be fine. The thing she told me that I would not be able to do is the Naan

Hi Beth, I know exactly how you feel. We had pizza catered today to celebrate November birthdays. The way I handled it? I stayed at my desk and worked though lunch with a bottle of water with Benefiber drink mixed in. Every time I got a wiff of the pizza I took a sip of water. It sucks I know. I thought the pizzas were actually coming in yesterday instead of today so my stratagy then was to walk to Whole Foods during lunch and shop for soups and walk back so that is what I did yesterday

Hi Beth's Mom, 8 pounds!!! That is amazing! You were so petite to begin with too! I can't wait to see pictures of you. I started full liquids yesterday but I am doing Weight Watchers too, even though it is sort of pointless on liquids since I can't possibly consume 22 - 24 points per day in liquids. I know I have lost 3 pounds since Friday (I got banded the same day as you) it maybe more but I am only allowed to weigh once a week. Last night I struggled too with my hunger but I was able to control the urges by forcing myself to sit down in the living room and read my Women's Health magazine cover to cover. Talk about inspiration and motivation! I think I am going to make a habit of doing this when I get uncontrolable urges to eat what i shouldnt.

POINTS® Tracker entries Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Morning 1 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 1 serving(s) Naked Fruit Juice Mighty Mango 4 Subtotal 6 Midday 1 1/3 serving(s) Roasted Red Pepper Soup 2.5 Subtotal 2.5 Evening 2 cup(s) Creamy potato leek 4 1 serving(s) Water with Benefiber Raspberry Tea Drink Mix 0 2 cup(s) water 0 Subtotal 4 Anytime 1 cup(s) Zero calorie chai spiced tea 0 1 tsp sugar substitute 0 1 serving(s) Mishima Miso Soup Mix 1 1 serving(s) Slim Fast French Vanilla Optima Shake 3 Subtotal 4 Food POINTS values total used 16.5 Food POINTS values remaining 5.5 Activity 30 min walking, leisure 1 Activity POINTS values earned 1 Check off these important items daily: Liquids: 5 Waters Milk & Milk Products: None Fruit & Vegetables: 4 Servings Multivitamin/Mineral: 2 Flinstone Chewables Healthy Oil: None Activity Lean Protein: None Whole Grains: None Notes Walking, Leisure - 30 Minutes: Walked to Whole Foods and back during lunch.

My first Weigh In Post: I am 180.8, On Friday Nov 13 (my banding day) Dr. Miranda weighed me at 183 but on Nov 11 I weighed 181.9 so I technically lost 1.1 pounds this week! I know, not much for liquids but we will have to wait and see.

I know! I am signed up for her daily emails. Her cook book is the best too! I recommend everyone sign up for the daily emails since she gives these valuable tips, tricks and news alerts in her emails that are more difficult to sift through the site for. http://www.hungry-girl.com/

Hi Beth, Wow I wish now that I stayed at the Lucerna with you and your mother. You take wonderful pictures and have such a photographic eye. I think these pictures should be included on the OCC web site. How is your mother doing? She is so petite to begin with that I can't even begin to imagine what she is going to look like a couple months from now. I am doing great. I really love the liquid diet. I told Dr. So today that I am too scared to go off liquids now. I can hear all the liquid moving through my pipes and it is really cool. I feel like I am going through major detox and all the pipes are being flushed It sounds and feels like pogress. Like my body is actually accomplishing something. I wonder if your mother feels the same way. I think you are back on liquids now too. How is it for you? This morning was my weigh in and I lost 3 pounds since Friday (water). I cant wait until next weeks weigh in. Well, tootles for now. Maybe we will run into each other again at the Center.

:lb6: I see this is not going to get anywhere. Goodbye & good luck to you and your rudeness Cheryl. I am taking the high road.

There is no reason why we should'nt be able to do both. The best of both worlds right? I am so happy that I have the band and WW for the rest of my life I can't imagine one without the other.

POINTS® Tracker entries Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Morning 1 serving(s) Naked Fruit Green Machine 3 2 Tbsp Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Liquid Creamer 1.5 1 tsp coffee, instant or regular, powder 0 1 Tbsp sugar 1 Subtotal 5.5 Midday 3/4 cup(s) Organic v8 0.5 1 serving(s) Roasted Red Pepper Soup 2 Subtotal 2.5 Evening 1 serving(s) Active Life Gelatin Cup 0 2 cup(s) Organic chicken broth 0.5 1/2 cup(s) 98% Fat-Free Cream Of Chicken Soup 1 Subtotal 1.5 Anytime 1 cup(s) Zero calorie chai spiced tea 0 1 serving(s) Mishima Miso Soup Mix Subtotal 1 Food POINTS values total used 10.5 Food POINTS values remaining 11.5 Activity No entries for activity. Activity POINTS values earned 0 Check off these important items daily: Liquids -8 glasses of water Milk & Milk Products Fruit & Vegetables -6 servings Multivitamin/Mineral -2 Flinstone Chewables Healthy Oil Activity Lean Protein Whole Grains

Dear Odette and Angie, Thank you for your support and understanding of where I am coming from. I did write down a list of questions to ask the doctor in a notebook before my Surgery (and before I was under the influence) and I brought my notebook with me to the Center. I also had 2 people in the room with me when I asked my questions in case something were to come up that I did not think about. Dr. Ortiz explained to me why he said what he said and I am okay with his reasoning. Would I have liked to have the 4cc Allergen band? Heck yes! But the doctor told me that he feels that patients with low BMI's such as my own have been more successful with minimal fills with the Realize 11cc band. I respect his opinion and in the end only time will tell. I am very happy on liquids and how my body is responding to them. I feel clean and detoxed and I love it. I wish I could stay on liquids forever. I am scared to go off the liquids. I have lost 3 pounds of water in the last 24 hours and it feels so good not to be bloated. I am really paying attention to my body and what it is telling me.

Well you are being rude and very pretentious. I am not going to even comment on your tone however I will state that I know my own body better than anyone else since I have lived with it for the last 34 years. My opinion and experiance about my own body is relevant in ANY conversation I have with a medical professional and this happened to be a conversation that did not include you and one in which you were not privy to.

thank you for asking angie. I was not given the impression that backing out was an option. I just thought I would share the information that was given to me. I think it is important for people to have valuable information like this before making a final decision. Just a thought.

I had Surgery on 11/13/09 and stayed at the Mariott and here are things to consider: 1. Service was excellent and worthy of the Mariott name. 2. The beds are as hard as bricks but the pillows are super soft. 3. The Mariott is far away from the OCC - about 5 miles away at least. 4. I had hot water in my room but my mother did not have hot water in hers 5. The Mariott has an outdoor deck and patio and Rene from OCC told me that Camino Real and Lucerna did not. 6. The food in the dining room was just "Okay" and nothing to write hoem about. Did'nt bother with room service after that. 7. Asked for a wake up call but did not receive one (sort of knew would happen so set the alarm as backup). 8. Clock in room maybe wrong so double check with time on your cell phone. If it is off by a few minutes the shuttle from the Mariott to the OCC will leave without you. 9. Rene told me that the most sophisticated out of the 3 was Camino Real and it was comprable to the W here in the US. I chose the Mariott becuase the outdoor patio/deck/lounge area was the deciding factor for me.

News update! OCC has gone to One Size Fits All. According to Dr. Ortiz when I spoke to him on 11/13/09 the above statement is not true (wish I had known this BEFORE the procedure). When I asked him if I could see the different brands/sizes of the bands he uses he looked at me like I had a racoon on my head. He said to me that he only uses the Johnson and Johnson Realize band and he has been doing so for 6 months! I told him that 11cc was too big for me and I thought I could use a smaller size and he said the only people who get a different band are those who weigh 400 - 500 pounds! Am I angry and bitter? Hell yes! I feel deceived and I am taking it personally. This board and my coordinator (who shall remain nameless) led me to believe differently. Just know that if you elect to have the procedure done at OCC you will be getting (unless over 400 pounds) the Johnson and Johnson Realize band no questions asked or "No soup for you!!!" I think this is important for people to know BEFORE they pay for this procedure at the OCC.

Hi Ladyhart, I look forward to meeting you! I will be taking the train down from Los Angeles on Thursday 11/12 for pre-op work and I get banded on 11/13 (Friday). Maybe we will run into each other. I am very nervous!

Hi Susan, Best of luck with your revision. I was told by a doctor in Beverly Hills that what you have is known as "Buldging" and this happens (though not very common) in a small percentage of lap band patients. From my conversation with him I gathered that there are cases of buldginging, slippage and erosion that have occured in the best of lap band patients and that although minimal, these are the risks that the doctors warn us about before getting the procedure done. I am scheduled for my procedure on 11/13 and I am going to ask Dr. Ortiz more questions about the risks to get some clarity but I have been under the assumption that there are risks involved that even when taking all precautions still occur in some patients. I know this does not help you much and I am sorry I can not offer up more valuable information specific to you or your situation. I just wanted to offer some solice that it was probably nothing that you did to cause this and it has been documented as happening to others. I have to give you a big huge CONGRATULATIONS on maintaining your weight loss!!!! That is fastastic & most encourage and admorous! You did not let this buldgiing define your journey or slow you down and that is an example to live by. Can you share with us how you did this specifically? I am very intimidated by the risks involved and I think what you did will offer some comfort in knowing that if something like this does happen there will be a stratagy I can rely on to help me through it.

Hi, I am scheduled for banding on 11/13 (this Friday) and the one thing that I would advise you to do that REALLY opened my eyes is to attend a free consultation provided by a Lap Band Surgeon in your area. If you go to the Lap Band web site there is a section where you can find a qualified Surgeon in your area to schedule a consultation with. This will give you the opportunity to learn about what is involved and you can ask all the questions you want. This is where I started and the information I got from my consultation was a starting point for me to do more research until I found the OCC and learned more about Dr. Ortiz. They will try to hard sell you at the consultation but you can always stand your ground by stating that you have not made a decision yet and are there for information only. There is a lot of factors to take into consideration such as insurance requirements, out-of-pocket expenses, financing, change in life-style (eating habits), what the band will help you with, what it will not help you with, so-on & so-forth. The Doctor I had my consultation with in Beverly Hills was very up-front and blew my mind away when he dispelled the myths and assumptions that I had about the band. I really liked it when he said "The band by no means is an exact science." And I was like "What the hell?&*$@?" All this money and your a BH Doctor with a PHD from USC and you are telling me this is not an exact science? I walked out of there thinking I really got to do my homework on this and figure out what I am getting myself into. I also suggest that you get a head start by trying to eat like you are already banded even tough you are not. Smaller portions, balanced meals and plenty of water. Try keeping a journal of everything that goes into your mouth including calorie intake. It always helps to start thinking and acting like you have the band even though you don’t. This is something that will be a part of your body for the rest of your life (under ideal circumstances) and your very young so start making the changes you will have to make for the rest of your life beginning with you next meal. The hardest thing I had to wrap my brain around was the thought of no more Diet Coke for as long as I live and in my mind that is HUGE. Personally speaking having Weight Watchers under my belt for awhile has helped me to the point (no pun intended) that I now live in the WW Matrix...other people see food and all I see are points There are other things you can start making habits of now that will help like start counting how many times you chew every bite of food you take. A co-worker of mine said you should try to achieve 32 chews per bite of food. I mention this b/c after you are banded chewing will become your only means of keeping a meal down from what I know. Another great, great practice technique that I discovered is to eat your meals without allowing yourself a beverage with them. When you are banded you cannot eat and drink at the same time. You will have to choose one or the other. What I have found is that by NOT allowing myself a drink with my food I actually eat less and become fuller with less food! Maybe b/c the food is just sitting there without anything to wash it down - no longer a bottomless pit? Or maybe I become so thirsty that my thirst outweighs the sensation of felling like I am starving to death? Fantastic!!! The best secret ever kept!! All of a sudden I am acutely aware of when I am hungry and when I am thirsty and I do not confuse the two! This is something that my WW instructor warned me about a long time ago (confusing thirst for hunger) and I never got it until now! This is becoming very long winded so I guess the take home is get a consultation, do more research from all angles and finally start making lifestyle changes now in preparation for these changes being with you the rest of your life.

Thank God, I only answed Yes to 4 out of 9 and the rest do not apply. Thank you for the valuable information.

Margaret, Why is your band so big? Did the Doctor tell you why he decided on 10cc? Or did you get the Realize Band and that is why?

I track everything on weightwatchers.com and plan on continuing this habit after my procedure. My problem is I need to be more consistant with it. A lot of times I will track right up to dinner but then forget it. Or I will not track on the weekends. So my focus will be tracking for every meal and every day.