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I haven't lost those extra pounds, and gained a few more.  It really sucks.  I am still having intermittent issues with the band - some days so tight I can hardly eat soup, other days feel ravenous and like I could eat anything.  It is still a daily struggle.  I am wishing for the sleeve, but don't know that that will ever happen.

In the meantime, I've found a surgeon in Austin who is willing to treat me - Dr. Jinnie Bruce.  I have an appointment with her on Friday, and also with a nutritionist at their office.  I am hoping to have a small fill and get some guidance on eating habits and what to change.  I'm so frustrated that this was SO easy my first year and I lost 60 lbs with no effort, and now I have a day to day battle. 

Here's to hoping for a change!

Please watch Big Medicine tonight, Nov 18, on Discovery Health at 8pm!

Since I started training for the triathlon in January/February, I've gained 10 lbs!  This puts me at 162, which is a lot higher than I want to be.  My original goal weight was 135, which I got down to for a little while.  I am most comfortable around 145, so I have 17 lbs to lose!

My band is ok, but still quite finicky.  Some days I'm still really tight that I can't eat much at all, and some days I can eat quite a bit.  It was so easy in the beginning, but it's been a lot harder in the last year.  I have generally been pretty hungry, and I've been making poor choices.

I am making myself accountable now.  Yesterday I started the HMR at home program, and my goal is to lose that last 17 lbs.  I don't care how long it takes, but I'm hoping 2 months will do it.  The HMR program seems pretty good and was recommended by my brother.  I like the shakes and the food I've tried so far, and I like that I can eat any fruits and vegetables I want - helps me stay on track.  I've been pretty full the last two days, so that's good! 

I'm going to try and remember to track my progress here.  I think accountability is probably the biggest step for me - I have been ignoring my weight gain and my choices for 6 months, so I am really trying to remind myself to get BACK ON TRACK!

Here's to a size 6 :)

Just wanted to post a quick update!  Since my hernia repair and revision to the AP Band in September, I have been feeling GREAT!   At first I was able to eat a lot more, which was really scary for me.  But I've since had a couple of fills and have been doing really well.  I very rarely vomit anymore, which is a huge relief.   I have still been able to eat more than before, and my hunger has been increased, but fortunately I have not gained any weight...  The bad news is that I have not lost anything either, and I have about 10-15 lbs that I regained (during the hernia phase) that I am hoping to re-lose!

I got another fill today, and I am feeling much more restriction, so I am hopeful.  I have also started exercising MUCH more - at the influence of my inspirational brother.  He is training for a triathlon, so I decided I could do it too!  My ultimate goal is the women's Danskin triathlon this June here in Austin.  In the meantime, I have been training for a 5K in April, doing the Couch to 5K program.  It has been great - I am in my 3rd week of the program, which includes walking/running 3 days a week for 9 weeks.  I am also doing yoga twice a week.  It's a huge lifestyle change for me, and I am actually enjoying it!  i'm hoping the lbs start dropping again soon!

I highly recommend the Couch to 5K program and podcasts - just google it and you will find it.  It is a great way to ease into jogging, so that you aren't doing too much at first and getting burned out.  I am really looking forward to actually completing my first 5k and starting to train for the tri!  

In other news, check out my brother's great new book, The Expert's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery.  There *may* be a season 3 of Big Medicine, but they are still in negotiations!

It has been forever since I have posted, partly because I've been busy, and partly because I've been frustrated.

 I've had my band for two years.  I've always had intermittent issues with it being too tight, and about a year ago I had all the fill removed and continued to have daily reflux and vomiting.  There would be days when I would throw up hot tea and water, and other days when I could eat pretty normally.  I had several Upper GIs and an endoscopy, but no one could see anything.  It has been frustrating.  I gained back about 10 lbs from my lowest weight, but have managed to maintain my weight for the past 18 months or so.  I would like to lose those last 10 lbs, but I am still comfortable with my weight!  

My brother (a bariatric surgeon) decided that I needed a revision to the new AP band.  He said he's seen much more success and less complications with his patients that have that band.  He would only let me see Dr. George fielding in NYC, as he believes Dr. Fielding is the best band surgeon and excellent with revisions.  When I saw Dr. Fielding, he said he believed I had a hiatal hernia that was causing the major part of the difficulty.  He also felt that the AP band would be better for me.

So, last week, I flew to NY for my revision.  It ended up being a huge expense.  The insurance company paid for the hernia repair, but they would not pay for the band removal and replacement.  NY hospitals are ridiculously expensive, as well.  I had my surgery on Monday, and Dr. Fielding did find a large hiatal hernia.  He also replaced my older band with a new, small AP band.  I spent the night at the hospital and flew home to Texas yesterday (Wednesday).

I am nervous and excited, probably the same as anyone having the band for the first time.  I hope it works.  I hope I don't continue to vomit all the time,  but I also hope I don't gain back any weight.  Traveling yesterday was probably a mistake, and I have been extra sore as a result - my flight of course was delayed 2 hours on the runway!  I am having some wicked gas pains right now too.

Anyway, that is the saga from my end.  I still tell everyone, I do NOT regret getting the band in the first place for one minute, and even if I had to live like I was forever, I would never have had it removed.  It is a little scary that I'd rather be thin and sick like I was than be fat, but it is the truth.

Here's to hopefully an even healthier future! 

Monday, May 28, 2007, at 9pm Eastern on TLC

Big Medicine is the number one feature on the TLC webpage!  http://www.tlc.discovery.com, or go straight to their website on TLC, http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/big-medicine/big-medicine.html.

Check it out!
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070508/netu093.html?.v=5

Ads have started airing on TLC - they are pretty short right now, just 15 second spots, but will start to get longer as we get closer to the premiere date.

Also check out the Big Medicine Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/bigmedicinetlc!

Hi all!  I am a frequent poster on the lap-band forum, as I had my band put in last June.  Over there I have frequently talked about my dad and brother and their upcoming tv show on TLC.  I am starting to post the info on the other boards so people can check it out!

The show follows my father and brother, Drs. Robert and Garth Davis as they meet with patients, perform surgeries, and work with patients on follow up.  Each of the 13 episodes focuses on a few patients and their stories, from making the decision to have bariatric surgery, all the way to getting plastic surgery after they've reached their goal weight.  It's a cool concept, especially for those of us who have had WLS and like to see others' experiences!

The official airdate is going to be Monday, May 28, 2007 on The Learning Channel, right after the show Little People, Big World (I think it is 9pm, but not sure if it is eastern or central time.  I will continue to post reminders!

I just created a Myspace page for the tv show that you can all visit.  The website address is http://www.myspace.com/bigmedicinetlc!  It is very barebones right now, as I don't have the official descriptions from TLC or anything yet - but I will be updating it and hope that we can do episode summaries and have my dad or brother blog on there eventually!

You can also visit the website of their practice in Houston, http://www.surgerybydavis.com.

Hi all-

I got a couple nice messages from people asking how I've been doing, so thought I'd write a little update here. After my last incident feeling too tight, i found a very nice place called Barix here in Columbus - it's basically a huge bariatric surgery center! A doctor there was really great and gave me a little unfill - I immediately felt better and have been doing great ever since! It's probably about time for me to get some fill back since I've been much hungier, but since I am maintaining my weight right now I think i might hold off for a little bit.

Last weekend, TLC flew me to Houston to do a follow-up interview for the tv show about my brother and dad's practice! The TV show is called Big Medicine, and it basically follows my dad and brother in their private practice doing bariatric surgery in Houston. Each episode focuses on different patients through their journeys with bariatric surgery, from making the decision all the way to plastic surgery. They had interviewed me previously and wanted to hear more about my experience with the band for the tv show. I am a little nervous about being on national television, but I think my story is pretty cool, and I hope that some day the band might be widely used for people *before* they become morbidly obese. I am incredibly proud of my dad and brother, and I think people are going to love the show - it's done great in focus groups, and TLC seems to love it! Commercials and ads will begin in early May, and then the plan is for it to premiere on Monday, May 28, after Big People, Little World, which is the #1 show on TLC right now. Very exciting! I will keep you all up to date with their planned interviews and ads, as they have been booked to go on several tv shows and stuff to promote it.

So that's all for now! I am still weighing in between 134 and 138 - it definitely fluctuates! I am pretty much a size 4 in almost everything, though, which is cool. Thanks to everyone for checking in on me!

I'm almost 9 months post-op, and I am pretty close to goal weight. I've plateau'd a bit and fluctuate between 135 and 138, but I don't mind - i'm pretty happy where I am right now. I'd like to be at around 130, but I'm in no rush - I can't afford to keep buying new clothes!!!!

I have not done a single bit of working out since I had my band. Before my band, I hated working out as well, but I got really into yoga and had been doing it a lot - 4 days a week or more - for a few months. it didn't help me lose weight, but I definitely felt more toned. Well, I had my surgery, and then recuperated for awhile, and then moved to Ohio, where I have been too crazy busy with work and too lazy to go find a new yoga studio and get back into it. I know it might kick start my weight loss a little AND start toning me up for summer, but I just haven't been able to!

Friday, though, i decided I was going to do it. And I did! And it was wonderful! Today I went again, and it felt amazing. It's crazy how much easier it is do to when you're 50lbs lighter! But it was still challenging, and I broke a sweat for sure! I like to do Ashtanga or Vinyasa, both of which are more of a "flow" and so you keep moving quite a bit. I greatly miss my amazing studio in Austin and am still going to try a few others here in Ohio, but I am glad to have started down the road to total body and mind health. Yoga makes me feel amazing, physically AND mentally. Friday I was beyond stressed out, but I left the class feeling so relaxed and at peace.

In other news, I took a job in DALLAS! I will be moving back to Texas in September, and I can't wait! Additionally, I am really really really looking forward to spring and summer. I always hated summers because it sucks being overweight and squeezing yourself into tank tops and shorts. I never ever ever wore shorts because I always felt like I looked ridiculous, and skirts were always super uncomfortable. Which means I spent summers in 100 degree heat wearing PANTS! I think I am going to enjoy the spring and summer so much more when I'm able to wear shorts! Also, I need to buy bathing suits!!!!! I tried one of my old ones on today, just for fun, and it wouldn't even stay up! It's hilarious!

so that's all for now, just wanted to share! hope everyone in band-land is doing great! Look for my dad and brother's reality tv show about gastric surgery, Big Medicine, in June on TLC!

Well, life is good!

In February I went back to Texas for my birthday, and my brother give me a new fill. I have been doing great with this one and am back to my usual bandster lifestyle, and loving it! I have finally lost the last 5 lbs I've been playing with for two months! I have to say, I am FINALLY happy with my weight. I would like to lose another 10 lbs or so, but if I stayed right where I am, I would have absolutely no qualms whatsoever!

I have been traveling a bunch for job interviews all over the country in the last month. I got to go buy a new suit, which was ridiculously fun. I got one from Ann Taylor - it is a size FOUR, with room to spare!!!! My last suit from there, which was from December of 2006 (so only about 15 months ago) was a size 14. Wow. I didn't realize how much more confident I would feel walking into a job interview being a thin person! I also got the cutest new pair of jeans by a company called Joe's Jeans - they were ridiculously expensive, but I wear them every single weekend - they are a size 27, which just seems amazingly small to me.

I will say, though I feel great, I still don't truly realize how much smaller I am until I see pictures or see my reflection at random. In my own mirror, I still see the same chubby girl, but when I'm out and about I sometimes get surprised by my appearance. I am starting to truly realize that I am a "small" person now, which I have never been in my life. Even as a kid, people called me "big boned." It is so weird to be thought of as "small" now.

Certain things have really changed. I absolutely adore shopping - this is a bad thing- I spend too much money! I have also really noticed that I don't have near the amount of aches and pains that I used to have. I had a lot of back problems before, and though have pretty much disappeared! I don't get tired running up stairs and stuff. Crossing my legs is an absolute pleasure, and I literally think that every time I cross them! Just lots of weird stuff that I've started to notice more lately, for some reason. It almost feels like I wasn't letting myself notice all the great stuff until I'd lost my desired amount - now, I am finally truly realizing and taking advantage of it!