mrsto

I can eat pretty much anything since being banded. As long as I chew it to death, I'm fine. But some things take a bit TOO much chewing, so I don't bother anymore. Steak being one of them. If it's a really good filet, then it's okay. But overall, unless it's ground meat, I don't gravitate to it anymore. I don't really miss any foods. What I do miss, is being able to snarf it up; whatever I'm eating. Sometimes I just want to take a BIG bite, and finish what's on my plate. It's not the food I miss, it's the old way of eating the food. And in the next breath I will tell you how much I LOVE my band! If it weren't for this surgery, I would have probably gained another 10-15 pounds since last March. The band/plication is doing its job......a miraculous one at that

Here in Italy they do not ask people who are going to have lap band surgery to go on a pre-op diet. But I knew it would be too hard passing from the huge amount of foot I was used to swallowing to the tiny quantities allowed by the band. So, a month before surgery I was for three weeks in a hospital where I followed a program of rehabilitation from obesity, which consisted in healthy food, exercise, group meetings with a nutritionist and a psychologist. It was very helpful. I'm grateful for that experience because it contributed to change my attitude to food. Anyway, I don't mean my old self never comes back.. Change is very slow and might take years. Rossetag - I love the idea of the three week "pre-band" rehab program. I've never heard of it being done, but it makes good sense.

Wow, I've never had a leak, but if my doctor told me not to worry about it, I'd go get another opinion. Doesn't make sense to me. If you have a slow leak in your tire, it's going to be flat at some point. How can leaking Fluid from a lap band be normal? Something in his information and attitude doesn't feel right.

I never felt that I wouldn't be able to eat certain things again, after surgery. I knew up front that the only thing I wouldn't be able to do, is stuff myself. If I'd given myself the "last supper", it would have been all about stuffing, not necessarily the food I chose to eat. I'd already stuffed myself with everything I could ever want. That's how I ended up on the bariatric operating table

Yummy! Did ya have fries with that burger??

Amen to that!

I had surgery March, 2013, and would do it 100 times over. That's how happy I am! The pros are that I've lost 64 pounds so far, I'm off all obesity related medications, and my labs (cholesterol and blood sugar) are now normal. I no longer wake up each day with dread. I get up, have PLENTY of choices of what to wear, and live each and every day.....healthy. I can now walk up the stairs without feeling like I'm going to drop dead at the top. The only con with the band is the upkeep (doctor visits). Now I go only once every 2-3 months, which will become once a year when I pass my anniversary date. If you're adjusted properly, and long past all of your post op phases, the doctor visits are pretty much on an as needed basis. Once a year mine does a TNE to make sure there is no erosion starting, or slippage, but that's pretty much it. After weighing out the pros & cons of all the surgeries, this one is the one I could live with. I like having control, and knowing that it's reversible is a huge plus. BTW, I have plication with my band.

Karen - I just picked up some Benefiber yesterday. The jar says two teaspoons three times a day. Do you take it as prescribed, or does it work well on less than three times per day? I pretty much used it like it said. I don't use it anymore, as now I get better results from my magnesium citrate. But, if you need to add fiber to you rdiet, I would just use 2 teaspoons 1x a day. 3x is a little much! Karen..aka.kll724 Thanks, Karen. I need whatever is going to work best in the bathroom! Do you have better results with magnesium? I have a bottle in the cabinet, but the tablets are huge (from pre-band).

I didn't have a last big meal. I was already so fooded out and miserable, and felt there was absolutely nothing that I could shove in that I hadn't already had. I was so ready for this surgery, and already felt the absolute worst I wanted to feel. But that is not to say that I don't understand the "last supper" mentality. I've certainly done it before starting other diets

Karen - I just picked up some Benefiber yesterday. The jar says two teaspoons three times a day. Do you take it as prescribed, or does it work well on less than three times per day?

Thanks! My before and after pics are in my profile. Haha - never occurred to me to look You look great!

You rock! Thanks a mill for arranging the meet n' greet! Later on this year we plan on creating local BariatricPal chapters in every state. These chapters will hopefully facilitate more personal and close interaction between members by organizing local events and meetups. Love that idea!

Bandista - that is wonderful! SO empowering...... Good job!

Oh......those points. I damn near hyperventilated just thinking about it

Every doctor is so different in their pre and post-op protocols. There not much you can do about the sluggish feeling, but it sounds like your about to have surgery? My doctor had me on 1,200 calories a day; low fat, low carb, for two weeks prior to surgery. Two days prior to surgery I was on full liquids. The only time I was on clear liquids, was for three days after surgery. Then onto full liquids.

How fun!! You all look great! I'd love to have a meet & greet here in SoCal. I've only seen one person on here, who is local and went to my surgeon. Haven't seen him post in a long time, though. Alex, it's hard to imagine that you were ever heavy :-) Would love to see your before & after pix :-)

Hot, this is one time you can allow yourself to drink with food. The drinking with food rule is to avoid pushing the food through too quickly, so you're able to stay satiated for longer periods of time. You're sick and need this med. Take it with as much water as you need to comfortably get it down. You will not do any damage by drinking with a snack. Feel better.....

I haven't really been stuck, but I did have something happen a couple of weeks ago, which was the closest thing to it (I think). I went out of control with a jar of mixed nuts, and kept popping them in my mouth. I didn't feel like I was having an issue, but after I ingested waaay more than I should have, I think they were sitting....like a wad a paste in the pouch. I took a couple of sips of Water, and BOOM......felt the wad go through, but it hurt. The whole thing went down quickly, but it was enough to tell me that I don't want to go there. I hear people talk about being stuck for long periods, and how painful it is. I can't imagine.

WOW - fabulous! Big pat on the back to you :-)

My first thought is.....are you tracking your daily calories? If not, maybe it would be a good idea right now, so you're aware of what you're taking in. It adds up quickly. That, and all mentioned above.....time of month, etc. And STOP weighing all the time! You will make yourself absolutely nuts! Just do what you know you're supposed to do, and don't let the scale dictate how your day goes.

I'm with you on the scale thing. No more daily or weekly weighing, so I don't let those "normal" fluctuations bum me out. I've lost consistently since surgery, and only two times did I see a pound or two come back. Each time I knew exactly why, and dropped the add ons along with another pound or two within that same week. Letting go of the scale obsession is liberating!

lol the breaded and fried dishes are my fav! That's my downfall. I ended up with cashew chicken which was so good and had a small bite of hubby's sesame chicken Yeah, I love them as well. I absolutely LOVE sweet & pungent shrimp, but again.....breaded and fried. That's why it's so good!!!

I laughed when I read your post - could have been written by me!!!!! I, too, have a cabinet full of supplements that I purchased after I started watching his show. I bought two bottles of raspberry ketones and were never opened. Selenium tablets. Mineral supplements because Vitamins weren't enough. I could go on, but you get the point. I stopped watching after I looked at the sticky notes on my desk listing my next purchases I wanted to make! LOL. Hahaha.....I know, right?! One of the things he was hot on, was konjac root. That, and another one he spoke of that same day. My husband went out and got both bottles. We went on a trip to northern California, and took a walk through Muir Woods. I had taken the konjac root, and halfway through the woods I got cramps; needed a bathroom DESPERATELY. The problem was, NO bathrooms throughout that whole expedition. We turned around and headed back, and I had to stop several times, bent over to control the explosion (sorry for the graphics) that was needing to happen. We made it back, but I will never ever forget that experience. Then, there was the garcinia cambogia and green coffee bean extract. Both completely wigged me out. Yep.....I'm so done with his BS. I'm surprised that he still has an audience.

I've been through most of them, and my favorite is Premier Protein Chocolate ready made shakes.

I have plication with a band, and though I've had fleeting thoughts of the stitches opening up, I've been reassured by my doctor that it won't happen. But it's best to run these concerns by your doctor, who can better advise on your specific concerns. Good luck :-)