Shell

Just thought I'd share some band friendly recipes with all of you that myself and my family enjoy For those of you who like Spaghetti but can no longer enjoy it try spaghetti squash. Once it is cooked and removed from its rine it looks just like Spaghetti Then top it with your favorite Spaghettie sauce. I make a meat sauce with ground turkey. Its very lo cal and very tasty. I fel like I'm eating the real thing! OR Artichoke Chicken 4 boneless breasts 1 jar of marinated artichoke hearts ( chopped) 1 c fat free mayonaise 1/2 c grated parmessan cheese 1 can cream of chicken soup( healthy request campbells) Mix all together pour over chicken bake 350 for 1 hour OR Chicken Wondermere 4 boneless chicken breasts 1 c fat free mayonaise 1/2 cup fat free sour cream 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can golden mushroom soup 1/2 c low fat cheddar cheese ( grated) Mix ingredients together and pour over chicken bake 350 for 1 hour

Can anyone translate this for me?

I have no regrets. I am 100% happy with my band! I was SO ready for this lifestlye change. My head was so ready for this lifestyle change! Gayle is right...Dr. Ortiz & Dr. Martinez are the best!

No I have not yet but I plan to ..hereis a link with some helpful info for your taxes http://www.lapbandinternational.com/taxpayers.html

There are several bandsters who see a therapist in conjunction with their bands. Emotional eating for me was not a big thing, the first 2 weeks were the toughest and I cried alot..all of my emotions were now coming out to the surface because I was not eating like I did pre band. I 'm a lucky one I have no emotional eating issues . I think part in becasue I want to be thin so bad that I'm willing to do whatever it takes and my brain and soul were ready to make this change. Once I saw the band working it was easier and easier not to eat for emotional reasons...I never thought I ate much for emotional reasons in the first place so I had that going for me. You know it up front that you eat for emotional reasons so it may be wise for you to get into therapy becasue the band is not a cure all..it is a tool to help you but it does not make your food choices for you. You still have to do most of the work. I know several women who are banded and are struggling with emotional/food issues 4-5 month post op. My attitude towards people is not different but one thing I do find myself doing alot is watching how people eat, the size bites they take and how fast they eat without chewing their food well enough. When you want something bad enough ..something clicks inside your brain atleast for me it did...and the band is working and I'm working with my band..we work together to achieve weight loss, it is not just the band doing the work. You sound like your heart is ready to make the change but just make sure your brain is ready too becasue if your brain is not 100% into this journey, you will struggle! Best of Luck to you

I would do it again in a heartbeat and I would use Dr. Ortiz again too. You living in SD is a + Aftercare is important..I live in Orange County so it is just aan hour and a half to get to Dr. Ortiz for me. Once you meet the doctor & his staff you will feel so good about your decision to go to Mexico and want to schedule your surgery ASAP. I have tried all the diets you mentioned and have always gained my weight back. I can honestly say this is the firsttime in my efforts that I wll never gain the weight back. I love my band ! Right now it loves me too

I was told by my PCP that a lower BMI usually means that person has no co morbitities that are life threatening. A higher BMI presents more co morbitities. Most insurance companies wont apporve at BMI under 41. However Mine was 42 at the time of surgery but I had zero co morbitities with being overwieght. No high blood pressure, no sleep apnea, no heart problems, no arthritis no back problems, no diabetes. I was basically told by my PCP that I was a healthy fat person, there was no way my insurance was going to cover me so I went to Mexico. In order for your insurance to cover you you need to show proof of co morbitities and proff of long term efforts of failed weight loss. Do you have co morbitities? Do you have proof of other methods of weight loss you have tried and failed?

I have nothing negative to report about my experience to date. I felt great the next day and went shopping in TJ . I went back to work after 2 weeks but NOT becasue I was in pain but becasue I have a restaraunt and I did not want to be around the food during my liquid phase. I did not kn ow I would feel about that so I took the extra time off until I was on the mushy stage. a normal days of food for me is 2 cups of coffee 20 oz of water at 6:00 am 8:00 am 2 scrambled egg whites and either a slice of turkeyham or a 1/2 cup of spinach or 2 scrambled egg whites with a slice of cantaloupe and 1 sausage link (turkey) 10:00am 20 oz of water 12:30 scoop of tuna with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese 2-3 wheat crackers or 1/2 chicken breast with small salad or in place of salad scoop of low fat cottage cheese 2:00 20 oz water 4:00 20 oz water 5:00 dinner is usually whatever I fix for the family just a very small portion and I eat the protein first always! 7:00 my last 20 oz of water I stay away from all junk foods that go right through the band no cokies, candy, ice cream chips etc..and drink NO liquid calories only coffee and water Sometimes during my menstrual cycle I crave chocolate so I have 1/2 cup sugar free/fat free chocolate pudding My wieght loss in a little over 5 months is 51.75 pounds I have only PB'd twice and I have had 2 fills currently at 2cc's Exercise = either ride my stationary bike 3-4 miles 3xs a week or swim laps in my pool 20minutes 3xs a week. every now and then I will walk (1.6 miles) The band is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Dr. Ortiz & Martinez are fantastic! The entire OCC Staff is so friendly and supportive. There is a book out on amazon.com called Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric banding : Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery that is very helpful for any one interested in having surgery. I own a copy of it and have read it when I was newly banded. There are also lots of great support groups online to with loads of info and support. One important thing, if you do not plan on going back to TJ for your aftercare : fills etc please make sure you have lined up after care in your area wherever you live. I have seen so many who did not do that and are finding it difficult to get aftercare in their hometown, many docs will not see Mexican patients but there are some that will. Having aftercare lined up if you choose not to go bac kto TJ is vital! Best of Luck to you

I'm feeling pretty good today..got on the scale this morning like every Monday morning and I hit the 50 lb mark..I'm now currently at 51.75 lbs lost in just a little over 5 months. Just thought I'd share my victory with all of you. I love my band

Hi I was told byRobin (who no longer works for Dr. Ortiz) that Dr. Ortiz does not require a pre op diet unless your BMI is over 50. I did not have any pre op diet instructions from Dr. Ortiz becasue my BMI was only 42.If you have any doubt call his office and ask Gadrielle or email Sandy. I'm sure they can answer you Good Luck

Hi Jennifer..too bad I just had a fill last month or otherwise I would love to meet you. I hope it all goes well for you, you are going to love his new office and his new staff . Grabriella is so sweet, she the new head office woman. Best of luck to you

Best Wishes to all of you..you have made a wise dicision not just with the band but with also choosing Dr. Ortiz. He and his entire staff are awesome. You are going to love your band! My band is the best thing I have ever done for myself... Good Luck

Hi Doris Dr. Ortiz has you do 3 days of liquids, not clear liquids but full liquids. If you live out of state and are flying home, he may have you eat a meal right after the fill to make sure you are not too tight, atleast that is what he did for my girfriend who was flying to PA that next morning. We got our fills went and ate, waited a half hour everything was fine so we headed home, then started our 3 days of liquids. Best of Luck to you

Hi Jennifer I do not know if they raised the price or not but most likely yes, they have an entire new staff now so it would not suprise me..have you considered taking the trolley from the airport and then a cab to his office. His office is so close to the border, he does his fill there now at his new office. It is just a 5$ cab ride from the border.. go to the trhead on this forum of Fill trips to TJ and look for the one that says cheap transpotation to Tj..some of the members have posted their experiences there with the trolley. Good Luck Michelle

You are Welcome Veronica..I'm glad it is helpful to you!!

Hi Steve..so glad to hear you are doing good. Yes I went down for a 2nd fill. This fill I think is the sweet spot everyone talks about. 3 weeks and down 8.5 pounds all ready. I will definately say hello to Dave for you. Keep in touch

http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm This is a great site...it will give you some guidlines to follow. Everyone is different and everyone has their own version on how that want to be successful. For me I pretty much follow these guidelines.

What a great story Brad...Thanks for sharing it with all of us! Dr. Ortiz and his staff are such good people I agree with you there.. I wish you the best and much success in your weight loss journey

Hi Tina Dr. Ortiz typically does his fills on Mondays and Saturdays. You can call this number 1-619-270-1126 and Gabriella will set up an appointment time for you. Ask Gabriella for the address to the office and when you catch a cab just hand him the address, I just keep a copy of it written down in my wallet sho I just show it to the cab driver and he knows exactly where to go..I hope this info helps you Good Luck Michelle

Hi below is a great link to tell if you are properely adjusted or if you need an eating adjustment or an attitude adjustment.. It is very helpful http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm

Hi Jennifer Congratulations to you! What an awesome accomplishment. You must be so proud of yourself. I hope that I am as successful as you..So happy to hear you are doing so well. Keep up the good work!

Hi Linda Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you're home safe and everything is going good for you. I had a great time with you also. I enjoyed our 2 days together, you look great too. It was so nice to see you. Now that you have the voucher for a free flight I look forward to the next time you come to visit for your fill, next time we will have to make it a little longer visit so I can show you more of California. You are so right about Dr. Ortiz his expertise and know how made everything work out for you ..NO SURGERY!!! WOO HOO!! He is awesome! ( handsome too) That is a big relief for you I know. My fill is working well so far not too much restriction but just enough so far ( I think). My first meal tonight went down good. Keep me posted on your progress

I was in TJ yesterday with a freind I made on surgery day, we were both getting banded by Dr. Ortiz a day apart. We have kept in touch in the last 4 months and have become very good friends. She decided to have her aftercare done by her local doc in PA but there was a problem, when she went in for her first fill last week she was informed that her port had flipped and he could not do the fill unless she had port revision surgery. She was devastated with the news so she called Dr. Ortiz last week and told him of her situation, Dr. Ortiz reccomended she come into see him from PA so she did and I picked her up at the airport and then drove her down to his office where he worked his magic. Dr. Ortiz was successful in getting her port to flip in order for her to get a fill without surgery, it did flip back and she was so happy and relieved the Dr. Ortiz was able to help her. While I was there I decided to get my 2nd fill and it was nice to have Dr. Ortiz preform it personally, now I have had a fill from both Martinez and Ortiz and couldnt be happier!. Dr. Ortiz is a very caring and experienced surgeon, his aftercare is excellent and I will continue to refer patients his way. Thanks to Dr. Ortiz and his wonderful office staff (Gabrielle & Alicia)for a job well done and for being so caring and kind to all of us!! Two happy bandsters here Michelle 4.6.04 265/223.5/160ish

I drive down and park on the US side and then take a cab to Dr. Ortiz's new office for just 5.00 from the border and then the parking is only 7.00 Driving in TJ is an adventure!! Michelle 4.6.04 265/223.5/160ish 2 fills @ 2cc's currently

Hi Doris You know that is a good question..I thought there was not a difference but as I sit here and think about it , I'm not so sure now. I would think that oatmeal or cream of wheat , mashed potatoes, refired beans would be considered mushy foods but can also be considered soft foods too. Sorry I'm not much help but maybe you can call Marissa and ask her, or email her. She is always available and helpful. Good Luck Michelle 4.6.04 265/224/160ish