faithmd

I won't make it either. I'm FRUSTRATED as all get out. I'm eating about 100 to 1200 calories a day. I log EVERY bite and EVERY sip that goes in me, and that's what I'm taking in. I was losing at 1800 to 2200 calories a day, and I lost at 800 calories a day, but I'm stuck at 1200 calories a day! ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!! Name...............................Starting…....Current…......Goal…..........To Go losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. 288... ..........276.................12 tann.............(Tammy)........ ...224............. 211..............212..................0 Josette.................................322....... .......322..............307.................15 RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....267..............266..............256........ .........10 FaithMD............................... 312..............308............299........... ....9 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275....... .......275 .............265..................10 Libra..(Angela)...................... 218...........;...214..............208............ . ....6 glindab..................................286...... ........282..............275.................7 Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...............295.............280........... .......15

Oooo, weetabix are WONDERFUL!

Ooooo, I NEVER eat canned Salmon. I also had toooooo many Salmon patties as a kid. EWWWWWW! I would go hungry on those nights because I thought they were tooooo disgusting. I am not a fish fan at all. I DESPISE, I mean truly truly truly DESPISE tuna. The mere thought of it repulses me, the smell makes me immediately gag. Needless to say, I am not a fish fan. But that having been said, I really do like FRESH salmon. And it does have to be fresh. If it smells fishy, I won't touch it. I love it broiled with some lemon juice and dill on it, or with a bbq glaze. But these cups were awful. Though the various flavors offered in the tuna varieties would probably be pleasing to tuna eaters. I don't know about the mercury in salmon specifically, but when I was at Trader Joe's yesterday, there was a sign above the canned fish that said that ALL fish has at least traces of mercury in it. I'm guessing that would include salmon.

I agree with those above me (thanks, WasaBB! The Matrix and Nectar were good!), and I also like Slim Fast CARB CONTROL, NOT the Optima, NOT the High Protein, the Carb Control, it has more protein than the others and is low in carbs so better for diabetics. It was rich and thick and satisfying.

What worked for me (and others I have suggested this to) is to get some Gerber baby Apple Prune juice. It comes in 4 oz bottles and is 70 calories for each bottle. It is a clear liquid and it is VERY good. I drink one a day, or now that I'm on food, I'll have a jar of baby food prunes or a prune combo. They are quite yummy. Trust me, it will do the trick.

Citracal is calcium citrate and is available in chewables. You can get them in chocolate, caramel and lemon, I believe. I find them in chocolate at Walmart for around $9 for a box. A little more expensive than other calciums, but it is a citrate and yummy and chewable. That's what's important to me.

Check out this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/new-cpt-codes-lap-band-11845/ Write down the codes and ask them if those specific codes are covered.

I go back to work in three hours, we'll see if anyone notices anything different. I have lost over 60 lbs and am still in the same clothes! That's making me crazy! Sure they're a little looser, but I don't feel like they are loose enough that I'd need a smaller size. Grrrrrrr!

I looked around the net a bit and didn't see anything about an updated VG in 2008, but I could be missing it. Perhaps giving Allergan a call and talking to Don Mills (he's the Band Guru) about it would be helpful for you.

I posted this over on the Obtech thread as well: I do not know anything about an updated "VG" but the company that makes the bands currently in use in the US which includes the VG is Allergan, you can go to their website at lapband.com there may be news there. I would find this very interesting becausr they just released a new version of the band last month at the ASBS conference to the US called the AP or Advanced Platform band. It is basically an updated VG which is an updated LapBand. I'd be surprised to see them release another updated band in less than a year. Especially since they just used some of the VG technology in the new AP.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Jacqui, I adore you!!!! I love to read your posts!

You can't, it's darned near impossible. But I'll step away now, because I was talking with my nutririonist for my cardiac rehab today and we were discussing the same thing and how the bandster diet they teach us makes no sense. Research shows that several small meals is MUCH better for metabolism, yet they say to eat three a day, no snacks. Some get told 1/2 cup a meal, there's a woman here who keeps saying 1/4 cup (no way) a meal, and my nut says 2-3 oz protein and then 1 cup of side dishes per meal. I wish they could agree out there. I hear no more than 800 calories a day, then I hear some say 1500 calories, others say 600 calories, I say if you are losing, then yea. Eat what you need to, just track it all.

I also posted this on your duplicate thread: The theory is that the liver can be shrunk by eating a low calorie, low fat no sugar diet. Several studies have been done to prove this theory. Though some say that any weight loss will help it to shrink. Many surgeons prefer their patients to do this diet to shrink pre-op because it is easier to retract a smaller liver out of the operative field. The lap band is placed laparascopically through several holes in your belly and then a gas is pumped into it to blow it up so they can see where they are operating. The liver lies over the area that needs to be accessed to place the band. It must be grabbed with an instrument and moved out of the way. If it is big and boggy and fatty, then that does make it a bit harder to move (retract) out of the way. If your liver tears, that's a bad thing. So a smaller liver helps to avoid these problems. I have heard tell that there have been occasions (though I don't know of any personally) where people have either had to be opened up to place the band (though that's really tough as it was not designed for placement via an open incision), or some folks have been woken up and told their liver is too large to safely do the surgery and then they were placed on a longer diet. Again, I don't have any personal experience with either of these scenarios, but that's what we're told can happen. Some docs do not require a pre-op diet. Usually you will find those docs have been placing the band for a VERY long time and are very skilled at what they are doing, others may just not buy into the liver shrinking theory. Though it was presented at the ASBS (American Society of Bariatric Surgeons) meeting last month again.

The theory is that the liver can be shrunk by eating a low calorie, low fat no sugar diet. Several studies have been done to prove this theory. Though some say that any weight loss will help it to shrink. Many surgeons prefer their patients to do this diet to shrink pre-op because it is easier to retract a smaller liver out of the operative field. The lap band is placed laparascopically through several holes in your belly and then a gas is pumped into it to blow it up so they can see where they are operating. The liver lies over the area that needs to be accessed to place the band. It must be grabbed with an instrument and moved out of the way. If it is big and boggy and fatty, then that does make it a bit harder to move (retract) out of the way. If your liver tears, that's a bad thing. So a smaller liver helps to avoid these problems. I have heard tell that there have been occasions (though I don't know of any personally) where people have either had to be opened up to place the band (though that's really tough as it was not designed for placement via an open incision), or some folks have been woken up and told their liver is too large to safely do the surgery and then they were placed on a longer diet. Again, I don't have any personal experience with either of these scenarios, but that's what we're told can happen. Some docs do not require a pre-op diet. Usually you will find those docs have been placing the band for a VERY long time and are very skilled at what they are doing, others may just not buy into the liver shrinking theory. Though it was presented at the ASBS (American Society of Bariatric Surgeons) meeting last month again.

Tell me about it. I got banded so Icould have a variety in my foods, but trying to eat the way we should be and still getting in the protein, fiber, calcium, etc that we need it ends up being the same foods over and over again. I've quit thinking about it. I'll eat what I eat, and if I need a protein shake I'll drink one. Advil *is* ibuprofen Same thing. Advil or Motrin are the trade names, ibuprofen is the generic name. The usual prescription dose is 800mg, the usual OTc dose is two of those little pills or 400mg. I admit I was a baaaad girl and I went and bought some children's ibuprofen liquid because the Tylenol (acetaminophen) just wasn't doing it for me, either. I took 400mg of ibuprofen liquid per dose and I flushed it down with a full glass of water so it wouldn't be sitting in my stomach or pouch. I'm not suggesting anyone do that, but it's what I did.

I do not know anything about an updated "VG" but the company that makes the bands currently in use in the US which includes the VG is Allergan, you can go to their website at lapband.com there may be news there. I would find this very interesting becausr they just released a new version of the band last month at the ASBS conference to the US called the AP or Advanced Platform band. It is basically an updated VG which is an updated LapBand. I'd be surprised to see them release another updated band in less than a year. Especially since they just used some of the VG technology in the new AP.

I doubt anyone here had the "pleasure" that I did of meeting her face to face as well as reading her "autobiography" that was written while she and Jim Bakker were still married. My mother was a PTL FANATIC and as such we of course had most of the books and tapes and records. I think they still have quite a few of them. We were fairly poor when I was growing up, and my mother would call or write in to PTL and promise to pay a little at a time if only they'd send X tapes or X book. You know what? They did, every time. Even though I was a little girl, Jim Bakker struck me as a slick snake oil salesman and Tammy Faye struck me as really really blonde. I agree with Lucy, I don't think she had a freaking clue. Not about Jim and not about life. At least not in the beginning, I think she may have finally figured it out near the end, but at that point she was soooo devastated by learning that her husband had tag teamed a 21 yr old church secretary in a swap fashion with another preacher (after purportedly drugging her-but I again take that with a grain of salt, just like the Kobe Bryant thing) that it just didn't matter. This all didn't come out until Bakker announced that he was stepping down as head of PTL and Heritage USA, pending the imminent disclosure of the sexual encounter and that he would be replaced by televangelist Jerry Falwell. Investigative journalists and auditors hired by Falwell uncovered $265,000 in hush money paid to Hahn as well as serious financial irregularities that led to the collapse of the PTL empire and Bakker's conviction. I think Tammy Faye was way too wrapped up in herself, and her kids and decorating their penthouse apartment at Heritage USA (not to mention probably drowning in Valium) to notice what the real story was. I am sorry she passed, she really was a passionate Christian who seemed to truly love the Lord and enjoy singing the Gospel when she and Jim were still together in PTL. It was an addictive show, I'll admit. I used to not mind watching because I'd play a game with myself and try to guess how many times she'd cry on camera in an episode.

I found this very interesting bit about timing of taking vitamins and supplements on another site. I just wanted to post it to point out that if your MVI has iron in it, you shouldn't take it with your calcium supplement, here's why: Which vitamins should be taken with breakfast? Most all of your vitamins can be taken with your breakfast meal. This includes your daily multivitamin, B-Complex, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C in addition to others. Not only will this help to start your day off right, but the breakfast meal is often a convenient time to remember to take your vitamins, as many of us consume our morning meal in our homes. In addition, the B vitamins in your multi and B-complex will help to convert food to energy, which can help you start your day off right. There is one caveat, however. We do not recommend taking Calcium along with your multivitamin if your multi contains iron. The calcium may interfere with the iron`s absorption. If you take an iron containing multivitamin with your breakfast meal, take your calcium with the other meals you consume throughout the day, such as lunch and dinner. You may also be interested to know that vitamin C helps increase the absorption of iron, so keep drinking your orange juice for breakfast or take a vitamin C supplement with your iron. What vitamins should be taken with, before and after lunch? If lunch is a more convenient time for you to take your vitamins, then go ahead and consume your multivitamin, B-complex, Vitamin E, Vitamin C or any other vitamins at this time. The most important point is that you consume your vitamins and supplements with food, to help with proper dissolution and absorption. If it is easier for you to remember to take your vitamins at lunch, then go ahead and do so. Once again, do not consume an iron containing multivitamin along with a calcium supplement. Many multivitamins do contain a small amount of calcium. The iron in the multi should not affect this small amount of calcium. What vitamins should be taken before, after or during dinner? Calcium can be taken with dinner or later before bed time with a snack. We would hope that you would have taken your other vitamins earlier in the day, rather than waiting for your dinner meal. You should enjoy the benefits of the vitamins during your waking hours!

Here's a link to the forum on obesityhelp.com that talks about it. ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options. - Forums - Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery (MGB) There is a lot of controversy about it, lots of negative, some positive. Not many surgeons do it. The "Father" of the procedure, Dr. Rutledge, in Nevada does not have the most stellar reputation amongst bariatric surgeons. Take some time, research it well. Good luck!

Welcome, take a look around here, there's loads of good info, one great place to start reading is the FAQ and Reference foum, there's a great thread there about abbreviations and what they mean. Here's a few good threads about PB and Slime: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f76/what-sliming-29072/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/pbs-sliming-17625/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/sliming-pb-28870/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/newbie-question-what-pb-sliming-18946/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/what-slime-ing-ad-pb-ing-38160/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/pbs-slime-inevitable-19383/

Check out this thread in the food Forum http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/liquid-stage-recipes-17636/ There's a few recipes threads in the Food Forum, I found lots of good stuff there.

And to edit, copy the post you want to edit before you click on the edit button, then click it and then delete everything in the box (all the smilies) and paste what you copied from the original post into the box, then edit away. Or just click on Go Advanced after clicking on Edit, there are still some tags to delete like < p & > but that's still a lot better than all the smilies.

Try the benefiber, or try drinking a baby Apple Prune juice per day. They are 4 oz, 70 calories and taste really good. I enjoy them and drink one per day. It has made all the difference in the world.

Welcome and good luck, I know you'll do fine. First I want to tell you that you are not alone. Many of us freaked out before we were banded, and a lot of us still freaked out after banding asking "What am I doing????" It's not at all unusual to have moments where you wonder if you should do this. Are you happy at your current weight? Are you healthy? Do you like the way you look now? Can you face the rest of your life the way you are today? I would assume you answered "No" to some or all of those questions, if so, then it's time to so something about it. Many surgeons want you on a clear liquid diet but to drink something like a Boost or Slim Fast or Optifast or another Meal Replacement drink a couple of times a day so that you are getting the Protein you need. Here's a couple of links to threads that discuss what to take to Mexico (or when traveling for the band) as well as a checklist of things to have ready when you get home. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/travelling-banding-packing-list-25646/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f18/leaving-soon-need-packing-ideas-3098/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/post-op-checklists-things-have-before-surgery-14814/ Good Luck!

Lindsay Lohan, I am SOOOOO sick of her! I can't say how giddy I was to hear she's screwed herself and gotten nailed fresh out of rehab. Maybe she's going to actually have to live life a little more like the rest of us. It would be kind of nice to see her go to State Prison. After all, I think if I were nailed for TWO DUI's and Cocaine posession TWICE in as many months, I'd sure be sitting in the pokey for a looooong time. Why shoud she be any different?