gowalking

Well...as many of you know, I have severe arthritis in my right knee. It was a co-morbidity and made it that much easier to get approved by the insurance company. I have alot of pain still even after losing more than 70 lbs. so I had an MRI done and was told that the damage is too severe for any additional shots or medicinal interventions. The doctor is recommending a knee replacement. That's the bad news. The good news is that I've lost enough weight to have the surgery...which was the reason I did this to begin with. I was told nearly a year ago that at the weight I was, surgery would not be successful. I was banded in January with the hope that I could go ahead with the surgery in a year but I've done so well with the weight loss that I'm looking at surgery at the end of the summer or early fall. Not happy about having surgery but am so hopeful that the surgery will be successful and I'll be able to walk without pain again. .

Thanks so much Missy. I'm glad you told me about your mom. I'm hoping to be as successful as she is.

Sorta depends on how much you need to lose in total as well. My goal was to lose about 120 lbs. and I've dropped 70 of it rather quickly but now it's coming off much much slower so just be aware and don't let this derail you if you don't meet that goal in the timeframe you anticipate. Remember...this is for life so while it's nice to lose it fast, it's more important to just work the program and let the weight come off as it will..

yeah, no one can remember everything. write stuff down..and find out if they have handouts. most offices do so you can keep referencing the instructions. good luck!

Huberman, right? He was easy... My experience was that Ren-Fielding is a good surgeon but I got more information on this site than anything they told me in the office...especially the nutritionist. She was of no help other than telling me to eat 3 oz. protein, 1/2 cup veggies, 1/4 cup carbs. It's working but I'm also wide open...no fills. I'm just one of those lucky few who doesn't need them. I was banded six months ago and lost 70 lbs. so far.

I noticed your surgeon is Dr. Schwack. I had Dr. Ren-Fielding.

myfitnesspal is a great app. I use it to track calories, Protein, carbs, sugars, sodium.

cheese is Protein and most of us eat it with meals, or as Snacks. I would never presume to know better than your doctor, but I would really speak with a nutritionist or talk to another doctor. cheese is not a slider food...like ice cream is. Bread can be a problem for some but if you can tolerate it, you should be able to eat it. Lot's of people toast the bread so it is dryer and crumbles. Oh...and lots of us eat more than a half cup of food...including me. Really....speak to another doctor or a nutritionist. Those rules you were given will set you up for failure.

Did your doctor really tell you no potatoes, no bread, no cheese, etc.? If yes, that is not most bandster's experiences. My nutritionist told me to eat 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, 1/4 cup carbs ...which is basically weight watchers. I eat bread, rice, Pasta, and other carbs...just in small portions. I do not drink juices, soda, eat ice cream....but that is my choice as these are empty calories. I deny myself nothing.....and I have lost 70 lbs. in six months of being banded. I'd suggest speaking to a nutritionist...or finding another doctor. I've never heard of all those foods as being off limits.

a few close friends at work know and have not blabbed at my request. My manager only knows I had surgery to help my knee (which was a white lie in that I'll need knee replacement and the weight loss will help....hence my little white lie) I've dropped 70 lbs. so folks are obviously noticing the weight loss but if asked what I'm doing to lose the weight, I just say that I'm calorie counting which again is true. What I leave out of my response is my own business.

So I went to a work luncheon today and sat in a tight corner at the table that 65 lbs. ago, I’d have never been able to fit into. My first reaction when I saw where I was likely headed was oh uh…too tight…sit somewhere else…but then I realized it would probably be OK and it was. I know I’m still overweight and not nearly at goal yet, but these little ‘normalcies’ that so many people take for granted are so uplifting for me and help me to keep my eye on the prize.

Yes. This was an insurance requirement and had nothing to do with anything from a medical perspective. And once I went to the informational session, I contacted my insurance company per their instructions and found out at that time about the three month documentation requirement.

I had to go through all the pre-op appointments with the psychologist, cardiologist, and pcp who had to document three months of supervised visits related to weight loss. I went to the information session a year ago, saw the surgeon in August and had a tentative surgery date in late October or early November. So, it would have been about a four month process but then Hurricane Sandy showed up and the hospital was severely flooded and was closed until early January. I had the surgery on January 14th...and was on sick leave at work for one week, and worked from home the second week. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey.

I was on vacation for a few days this week and then when I got home, I ate out a couple of evenings as well. I got on the scale this morning as I do every Sunday and I lost a half pound and I feel great. Not because of the weight loss....a half pound is nothing. I feel great because I feel in control. For the longest time, I gave in to my food desires and overdid at every occasion. Of course, then the guilt comes from not being able to stop. So...this week I truly enjoyed every meal, and paid attention to what I ate and how much I ate and never ate too much...and again..I felt like I was in control...not just of food, but in control of my life. I don't know how else to explain it but I feel like I am in the driver's seat for a change and not allowing this damn food addiction to control me. My only hope is that I can keep this up. I've lost weight before and always slipped back into bad habits. When I read posts from bandsters who have gained all or some of the weight back, it scares me. I want to be a long term success and I'm hoping the band makes the difference this time for me.

If you are satisfied on the amount of food you are eating, you might not need a fill. I was banded in January and have not had any fills...and I've lost 70 lbs.

Hi Hopeful. I'm on the other side of the East River from you but have run into plenty of NYC and Long Island posters on this site. Do a search on NYC and NYU and you should find some folks from Queens.

Great mental shift aviva. That's the real secret of the band. Change the way you think, and you will be successful. Good Luck!!

Very good advice from Steph and Maddysgram. Couldn't have said it any better myself. The only snacks I have now are sf pops and sf pudding or jello. It satisfies the sweet tooth with minimal damage. If you go onto myfitnesspal and plug in the calorie count of what you've been eating, it will give you a very good idea of your current daily intake. Don't be surprised if you are consuming in excess of 3,000 calories. I was....and found myself having to lose more than 100 lbs. After you are banded, you should be in the 1,000-1,200 calorie range. That means about 3 ounces of protein per meal, 1/2 cup veggies, and 1/4 cup carbs. I've been following this plan since I was banded in January and I've lost 70 lbs. so far. Believe me, I'm not special, so if I can do it, so can you. Good luck tomorrow!

There's no shame in seeing a professional. It sounds like you have alot on your plate and talking with someone could benefit you. Life is stressful and anything that helps you cope better that's not destructive to you is worth considering.

Have had this problem since being banded as well. Just a week behind you BTW...I was banded on January 14th. I take Dulcolax stool softener and I still have issues...I get all stopped up for a couple of weeks and then I explode. Told my pcp about this last week and she immediately put me on a new drug that treats irritable bowel syndrome and also told me to start taking Mirilax. She said it was very important to get my bowels moving. Have not started the Mirilax yet. The new meds seem to help some. You should talk to your dr. because my dr. said I could develop diverticulitis which is pretty serious. Good luck...make sure to follow up with your dr.

are you on solids? if yes, sure you can have it. just be careful with sugar when it comes to fruit...it can be higher than you realize.

Sorry beanie...I meant once you are eating solids. Agree with you 100%...it's very hard at this stage. I just wanted you to know that you have something to look forward to.

It was my PCP who started me down the road to WLS. She wanted me to get a bypass because I needed to lose more than 100 lbs. She was not happy that I went with the lapband but now, 70 lbs. down in 6 months, she's finally admitting I went the correct route for me. The only other health care folks who know about the surgery is my sports medicine doctor and the physical therapists from the same office. I'm being treated for severe arthritis and of course they are so on board with this because losing weight will help me have a good outcome when I get the knee replaced.

I agree with mrsinto. I don't snack at the movies. Having said that, if not being able to nibble will bother you, bring stuff with you....grapes, almonds, a cheese string....things that do way less damage than regular movie snacks. By the way, the lollipop sounds like a good idea...unless it was more calories than some popcorn. That's why I use myfitnesspal. Oh man...some of the food I used to eat was so laden with calories and fat and I didn't even realize how bad it was. It's empowering to know the calorie counts of things so you can make better choices.

Thanks everyone. Thanks Hazel....I appreciate your wisdom and words of encouragement.