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OMG if the band can get in the way orally all I have to say is.... I WANNA MEET HIM!!!!!

Oh yeah, those office Snacks are killer. I emptied my little fridge and filled it with yogurt and 100 cal. muscle milk boxes. After 10 days I am almost used to the taste (almost). The dietician asked me if I enjoyed her recommendation for Pure Protein bars since I had done so well on my pre-op diet. I told her thanks but no. They taste like a chocolate covered wax turd. I think I hurt her feelings. I was sold on feeling full much sooner and eating less. The healthy diet change is good, but I am looking forward to completing the liquid and squishy food part of the process (not too soon, don't want to rush things) and get back to real food. These Protein Bars are a rung on the ladder (a very low rung at that). My wife bought me a Protein shake mix (I have it at home) that isn't too bad. It will be a part of the full liquid diet afterwards. Anyway, they have finished the burger grilling and moved on. I can't smell the grill anymore, thank goodness.

9 weeks ago I had the lapband along with plication surgery. As you can see from my ticker, I have been very successful. I am very happy about my decision. I have a good friend who had the sleeve and while he has lost a tremendous amount of weight, he also has been very sick. I can honestly say I have not had one single problem so far (knock on wood). The lapband with plication is kind of a compromise between just the lap band and the sleeve surgery without all the cutting and without the malabsorption issues. Good luck with your decision and I will say that no matter what you choose to do, following the doctors orders and working at it will be the key to success.

Carol, Step 1 - Hang in there Step 2 - stay as close to the plan as you can Step 3 - keep hanging in there The band *will* work. Prior to this past Monday (10/10) I was quite disgusted with this whole band thing. Just last week, I could eat what I wanted, when I wanted, then be hungry again in an hour. Pizza, fried chicken, Pasta, BBQ, nothing phased me. I had my 5th fill this past Monday, and I can tell this one is the "magic" fill. I am hitting the wall after about a cup of Cream of Chicken Soup. I've never experienced this full feeling so quickly. It's taken me 5 1/2 months to get to the 'green zone'. Please, please, hang in there.

Sure you are cheating. You are cheating early death. You are cheating diabetes. You are cheating high blood pressure. You are cheating the people who think because our clothes are twice as large we should pay 5 times as much for them. You are cheating back pain, breathlessness, and feeling bad about your self image. You know what - none of those things play fair - so you darn well ought to cheat them. The surgery isn't cheating. You made a choice to change your life. You overcame fear. You paid for the band or jumped through your insurance hoops. You took steps necessary to deal with this problem. You did what you needed to do, to make yourself healthy - and who is anyone to judge that. We all tried willpower alone. We denied ourselves. It didn't work. So now you are dealing with the problem rather than accepting it. Anyone who loves you will see you as smart and brave and be so glad that you are taking steps to be in their lives longer.

How is taking steps to improve your health cheating. I guess me, taking meds to improve my diabetes, is cheating? I recently read that over 90% of people that lose weight by dieting, gain that weight and more, back. I don't think it's lack of will power, it seems people are hard wired to gain weight to hold us over in lean times. When I eat with others, I feel righteous with my little bit of food while they eat their huge plates. Why not enjoy your weight loss and the hell with any detractors and forget the guilt?

If by getting the lap band, we were also provided with a personal trainer...just a thought.. we are paying all that money (or insurance is, whatever) for the surgery, it would be amazing if we had someone to work directly with us, one on one to shed those pounds... Ah well..I can dream can't I?

call your doctor and be aggressive. If you want to be banded, advocate for your self and get it done. Best of luck

I passed my doctor's goal and I hit my personal goal of 160 this morning. I am down 102 pounds in 8 1/2 months. I have now changed my personal goal to 145-150. If I don't make it I will be fine with that because I am happy right now.

I am 11 months in and have lost 120 pounds. Still have 35 to lose, but still dropping between 6 and 9 pounds a month. I will get to my goal by February 2007 if it kills me.