readytoroll

Weighed this morning - I am now at 197.4 - almost 10 pounds down in the first 8 days.

Congratulations to you! I am very happy for you

Interesting - I have been in a lot of discomfort and pain - my incisions (5 of them) have been pulling on me when moving around, and I took my pain meds, but that also helped me go back to work on the Wednesday after the Monday of surgery. I drove for the first time on Saturday, and driving with my incisions has been difficult. She should take extra time for everything and not rush herself. I personally think it is a little quick, but it is doable with time and planning.

I just read a comment further down where it talked about having had all one's hydration fluids for the day. My surgeon's dietitian did say, as does my Manual, that coffee does not count toward my daily liquid intake.

Funny you would mention this - I was banded on the 16th and was close to a Diet Coke "addict". I have not had it since, and the same with coffee. However, I had one cup of coffee today with a little sugar free creamer. Where as it used to do a LOT for me; it didn't give me any satisfaction. I am going to stay away from the Diet Sodas going forward as it is, and as for the coffee; I guess I just don't crave it that much now, if at all. (I will still miss my Diet Coke - it was soooooo good).

I would say, even though I am only a week out from my lap band surgery, that ensuring getting the required Protein on a daily basis is a first and foremost. Not to forget the Vitamin supplement and hydration liquids. My surgeon and dietitian made this a big deal so that I do not lose weight from my muscles, but retain my muscle weight and lose fat. PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN

Is it okay if I disagree with you? Because, with your larger "normal" stomach it is indeed close to impossible to only eat three 4 oz. meals a day because the signals of fullness come so much slower, and you will normally keep eating. The point of the band (anyone chime in who thinks I am out in the left field or missing anything), is to create a small pouch above the normal stomach area so that the fullness happens quickly thus making you able to be okay with the 4 oz. 3 times a day. Simply, you should not be hungry after you eat that 4 oz. for a few hours. And, what are those 4 oz. consisting of? They have to consist of Protein, chewed thoroughly so that it passes through slowly, and gets absorbed. This is to protect your muscle mass, hair, etc. I DO believe this is what helps our lack of willpower by default.

That is what I did; well, I didn't go to any seminars but I started at a 207 weight. One of the reasons I did it was because of the 'up and down'. Mentally and physically, I was tired of it and from it. Just because you are at 200 pounds does not mean you should not do it. What is your BMI? That is something I would look closely at if I were you.

Hi Sherry, First, I am sorry you have been feeling this way. I was banded on May 18th, and MAN, can we say pressure right at the bottom of rib cage in the middle? Here is what I think it could be, and please don't consider this a medical advice (this was my own experience): 1. Air trapped in my system, and it also ended up radiating all the way up to my left shoulder - it did create a significant amount of pressure in my chest. 2. When I take deep breaths, I utter little noises because it creates pressure and it causes some discomfort still. My surgeon gave me pain medication to deal with the overall pain from the surgery in general - they are not the regular kinds that you hear about, so they came in very small sizes so I don't have to crush them. I would take my pain medication, stay in bed with my upper area and head raised. Also, my anesthesia knocked me on my butt big time. I have been under before, and I do not recall taking so long to get back on my feet as I have this time. Please also keep in my mind that it could simply be radiating pain from elsewhere that has to do with overall air in your system from the surgery and you are still swollen internally. Let us know how you are doing! ** I went home 6 hours after the surgery - I got up and walked/used the restroom/could keep ice down/was able to swallow pain medication. I just wanted to get home and get away from all the noise in the hospital, and be close to my family.

Yes! Exactly. My cost, and my sentiment as well. By the way, your progress looks amazing. Way to go!

I agree with you! My insurance covers it, according to my plan. Except, it has a 6 months waiting period and here are some interesting pieces of "qualifying" events: 1. MUST be 40+ BMI (no co-morbid conditions) 2. MUST be 35+ BMI (2 co-morbid conditions) All of the following apply to both above: MUST have followed a medically supervised diet program for 6 months (unsuccessfully), MUST have tried x-amount of other programs in the past x-amount of time and then there are a few other qualifying events. Even at that, there is no 100% approval rate. In other words, here I was, with a BMI of 34.4 (yes, .6 below the required 35) but I had no documented conditions that would be considered co-morbid. However, I was short of breath, feeling aches and pains in my body, sleeping poorly at night, and emotionally drained from my weight gain. So, I would have had to gain enough weight to have a BMI of 40+ and live like that for at least 6 months. I ended up paying myself because I hit the highest I had ever been, and I just needed a life style change asap. This losing 40-50 pounds at a time and then not being able to keep it off is not feasible, or even healthy in my opinion. I NEED a tool to help me sustain a life long change. It isn't about "looking my best" first and foremost. I want to live a healthy and energetic life - looking my best will be a wonderful reward from that. Do I believe that my insurance should have covered it without the 2 co-morbid conditions? Yes, because it makes me healthier period. On the other hand, being the devil's advocate - I never had a weight problem when I was younger and I do BLAME myself for being where I am at now (ate unhealthy and did not stick with my "new changes" - and, I believe that because of this, I programmed my brain and stomach that it needed more and more). So, maybe it is right I pay for it. I hope I am making sense. **Please note, that I do not think everyone is to blame for their weight - some people have true medical conditions that have caused them to get where they are and I think insurance should be there for them.

WOO-HOO, it worked. I picked the first code available instead: the bbCode. Thank you

I don't understand why it is not working!!

Testing to see if the ticker shows up.

Agreed! Can you help me with getting a weight loss TICKER? I am completely void of talent in getting this done...LOL.