Back~To~Amy

In food, what do you track? Calories, carbs, Protein? Anything else? Also, what are your daily calorie, carbs, liquids and protein goals?

Thanks for your responses. I especially like yours LindaS. It kinda answers a question I posted in another area of the boards about carbs. I just cannot eat low/no sugar due to the fact that I hate all sugar substitutes. I'm glad to know I can focus on protein and not worry so much about carbs and still be successful.

I think only you can make that decision for yourself. That being said, I think a lot of us are here because we couldn't do it without the help of surgery. However, I'm sure there are people out there who have done it and who had been successful at keeping it off. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide. ~Amy

That comment sounds like it's coming from someone without much weight issues or someone who is jealous. You obviously didn't go into this haphazardly so stay strong in your decision.

Congrats! Great accomplishment! Enjoy that new, smaller body.

Christy- I don't have a date yet. I went to Dr. Nick's seminar last week. I'm waiting on them to check insurance. I've heard his preop diet is 2 weeks of the slimfast diet. I am an EXTREMELY picky eater and bought some slimfast the other day and it made me gag. Did you have to do the slimfast diet for two weeks? If so, do you know if there are any other options? Also, once you scheduled your surgery, how far out did you have to schedule it? Where are you coming from to have your surgery? Are you having it at Forest Park or Baylor Plano Med. Ctr.? ~Amy

Amber--a lot of the things you mention are reasons I've decided to get the sleeve. Thanks for your comments which affirm my decision. Skinny Mom--who is doing your surgery? I live in the Dallas area and am going to be using Dr. Nicholson.

For those of you who have lost a bunch of weight post VSG, what you do tell people that ask you how you did it? I have told some people, but I'm not sure I want everyone knowing I had surgery. However, weight loss after VSG is typically faster than when you just diet. So, what do you say to the random person who asks you how you lost so much weight?

That is kinda the angle I was thinking. Because, after all, it isn't a lie. Thanks!

Hi Sarah and welcome. I will add you to the list.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Based on what has been said here, it looks like their might be a lot of people out there who switched from band to sleeve. Reasons here are some of my reasons for highly considering this procedure now over the band. I still need to do further research though before making a final decision. ~Amy

Hi Kalika. Welcome. PM me your e-maill address and any information about you that you'd like the group to know about you and I will add you to the list.

http://www.forestparkmedical.com/media/pdf/band-education-manual.pdf This link contains a lot of useful information. Check it out.

Never been there but sounds good to me. I'll check it out tomorrow.

Congrats! I know how excited you must be.

Sleeveplicationtalk.com It even has apple and android apps for it. Same set up as here.

That's exactly why I shared it. It is full of useful information for the unbanded and newly banded people.

I'm still looking into the plication. I called Dr. Davidsons office today because they advertise it on their site. The lady I talked to said they are supposed to be taking the plication surgery off their site because he isn't currently doing it. She said he trained to do it though. I told her I know of someone having it in Ft. Worth and I am interested in it, but can't seem to find anyone on this side of the metroplex doing it. She mentioned Dr. Davidson trained with a doctor in Ft. Worth and I brought up Dr. Smiths name and she said yes. She was very surprised I knew that. She is supposed to talk to the doctor and get back to me for the final word.

Right after we quit texting last night I actually found a surgeon on my side of the metroplex who does the Iband.....Dr. Davidson at BSC Dallas. I didn't research too much on him since it was getting late and I needed to get to bed, but from what I saw, he seems to be very experienced in WLS. And, his fees for the the lap band alone are $1100.00 cheaper, a big bonus. Hopefully, the Iband is the same. I have already signed up for one of his seminars in 2 weeks and in the meantime am going to do further research on him.

Aawww Tahnee. Sorry it was a rough day. Truthfully, I wonder if they give us a two week liquid diet because they need us to be compliant 5 days and they know us over eaters! :-) You are right, tomorrow is a new day and you can do it. Truthfully, I wanna go to sleep two weeks before surgery and not wake up till several weeks after it. Do you get any solids or is it a complete liquid diet?

How has today gone Tahnee?

Whoo Hoo! Best of luck to you on your journey!

Welcome to the boards! Everyone around here is so wonderful and helpful. Best of luck to you in your journey.

feb27bandwoman--sounds like you had a great time and had some great food! Those of us with weight issues often inhale our food without really tasting it. Glad you really tasted and enjoyed your food. dhales--I think Coke for me is like cigarettes used to be, an addiction. I gave it up once a long time ago and went years and only had a handful. Now, I drink it like it's the last thing on earth and it is about to be gone. :-) I'm better off to get off it and just stay off it since it doesn't sound like it will be an option after banding. Thanks for the advice you gave me on weaning. I am doing virtually the same thing only using tea since it is a drink I've never liked sweetened. So far today, I haven't had any caffeine and only have a slight headache. After work though, I do plan to get me a tea.

Coke! My goal this week is to work on giving up give up Coke. I am a total caffeine addict. I plan to use unsweatened ice tea to to wean myself off so I don't get those awful headaches. The other thing I plan to do in the near future is to start trying Protein powders. I'm am 100% fearful of the portions of this process that I will have to use Protein powder and eat sugar free things. I am about the pickiest eater out there and HATE anything with any any type of artificial flavoring to it. Anything else I could do to kinda start preparing? I think its better to start working toward this process then go through total withdrawl during the preop diet. I think it will be hard enough on it's own and anything I can do to make it easier, is worth doing. Thanks for any advice!