EricCharbonneau

I recommend you lose as much weight as possible prior to surgery. The band will ensure that you don't gain back any weight you lose in advance. Think of it as the beginning of your journey. Your goal is to lose 100+ pounds, no need to wait for surgery to start that process. There are advantages from the surgeons perspective if you reduce the fat deposits a bit prior to surgery. The point is to get to the benefits of weight loss as soon as you can get there - I lost 59 lbs between my intake date (the first visit to the bariatric center) and my surgery last October - it took 4 months to get insurance approval. Look at presurgical weight loss as a strategy to optimize your results and get to your goal weight more quickly. Good luck to you all!

Don't give up. Remember weight loss is not only dependent upon the calorie restriction the lapband provides us. Another variable you can control is the amount of calories you burn each day. I have had unusually great weight loss results, but I am doing at least 1 hour of dedicated exercise 6 days per week along with the calorie restriction from the lapband. Everyone has a different journey to get to the end result. The key is consistency over time.

Interesting article on the new Allergan lap-band advanced platform (AP) from the Bariatric Times: http://bariatrictimes.com/2007/06/02/the-lap-band-ap%e2%84%a2-system-the-platform-advances/

I had good luck with BCBS TX. They approved and paid for my lapband procedure. Process took 4 months from initial appointment to surgery. I was a diabetic (oral medications, poor blood sugar control) and had a comorbidity of sleep apnea. So I had to do a sleep study, psych study, etc. My initial BMI was over 44. I feel very fortunate that BCBS TX covered my procedure. I'm doing well and am off all diabetes medications and my blood sugar tests in the normal range. I am confident that BCBS TX made the correct decision. My diabetes medications alone would have set them back more than the surgery over the years. Good luck with your insurance submissions. Get the procedure done even if you have to self pay.

Walking is a very good exercise for weight management. I'm happy to share what I've learned. I started at 290 lbs. It's really hard to walk long or fast when you weigh 290 lbs. I started walking every day, at least 1/2 hour a day, rain, snow, sleet, I let nothing get in the way of walking every day. Within 2 weeks I built up to walking 45 minutes + every day. Then I started to focus on distance. By the 5th or 6th week, I was walking 90 minutes at least 5 times per week over hilly routes. I used pedometers to keep track of my steps, but I eventually purchased an accellerometer watch, which let's me track my distance, time walked, average speed, and steps. I record these details daily in a spreadsheet and keep track of my progress. I also limited myself (pre-surgery) to 1200 calories a day. The idea is to create a sustained calorie deficit over a long period of time. You have to burn more calories than you consume (that's not a big problem post surgery, but you have to focus on eating correctly while exercising before the lapband surgery). Focus on distance first and when you find a good distance to walk everyday, then work on increasing your walking speed. I find that if you walk in excess of 3.2 mph you will burn calories like nobody's business. If you build up to walking as much as 5 miles a day (specific exercise walking - in addition to the other walking you might already do during the day), you can easily control your weight loss rate by the number of days per week that you exercise walk. Walking is great exercise for several reasons: 1) Walking is the number 1 way to lose weight. 2) Walking is unlikely to cause any injuries, so you will be able to keep doing it on a regular basis for the extended time period required. 3) Walking is an activity that builds upon itself - i.e. you get better at it the more you do it and it gets easier the more you do it. 4) Walking requires little special equipment or location - you can walk in a mall or airport, outside on sidewalks, just about anywhere. 5) Walking results in benefits other than weight loss - better muscle tone, increased libido, better strength to weight ratio. 6) Walking tightens up the muscles and the skin tone - which can get loose with significant weight loss. Good luck with your walking program - I recommend the book: Thinwalking by David Rivas (or any other walking book by this author - you can probably find in a used book store).

Hi guys, I was banded on 10/26. It took 4 months from my initial bariatric appointment to surgery. During that time I exercised like a fiend (walking program) and dieted and lost 59 lbs. I am a 49 year old male, 5'8" tall. I started at 290 lbs, today I weigh 215 lbs. My goal is to weigh 185 lbs. It's been just over 4 weeks since my surgery. I've lost 16 lbs since then, so my total weight loss is 75 lbs in 22 weeks. My results aren't typical, I look and feel great, but I have not yet resumed a full exercise schedule. Adjusting to the band and our new way of eating has been interesting. I'm not terribly hungry yet, but I think I'll be eager for a fill and some additional restriction in a couple of weeks. I'm still adjusting mentally to my new size and energy levels. I've got 30 more pounds to goal, but I've been amazed at how rapidly I've achieved my weight loss so far. I'm off of all of my diabetes medications and my blood sugar tests in the normal range now. Good luck to us all in this journey to better health!

If I were going to Mexico for my band, I'd pick one of the several volume banding physicians. There are thread about Mexican doctors you can search for - I would probably choose Dr. Ariel Ortiz Relocate There are other highly qualified surgeons in Mexico and many of their facilities are top notch, no compromises. Be an informed consumer.

Guys, I'm 49 and getting banded in 9 days on 10/26. I've been exercising and dieting like a fiend since my initial appointment (6/26/2007 - 290lbs, BMI 44.07). I've lost 55 lbs pre-operatively keeping my diet between 1200 and 1700 calories a day and walking > 5 miles a day. I'm now at 235 lbs, BMI 35.73. My 14 year old HS football playing lineman son has been watching me head out to do my roadwork every day. Yesterday he gave me the highest compliment you can get from a 14 year old: He said: "Dad, you are very Chuck Norris like in your walking". I've been smiling ear to ear. Part of my banding experience is the accountability in action I can demonstrate to my 3 sons. I have a weight problem, I'm taking active steps to fix it.

Hi guys, I'm scheduled for surgery on 10/26. I'm excited. I've been working hard on my diet and exercise since my initial consultation and I'm so ready for the band. Good luck to all of you and I'll hope you share your experiences.

Ron, yes you've got it. I'm 49 now and previously lost significant weight with Phen-Fen (gained that all back + more) and then later lost 63 lbs on Atkins (gained that all back + more). The weight loss is all on us - the band makes absolutely sure that all of this effort pays off now and in the future. I don't want that weight back and anyway the second 50 lbs are the hardest to lose. You should schedule your initial consultation ASAP. Many insurance companies use your bariatric intake weight while evaluating the insurance submission. You may also need additional testing, which can help support your insurance submission. I needed to do a sleep study that confirmed sleep apnea (a co-morbidity. My surgeon required a psychological test - which I found helpful - because it helped me better understand the way I feel about food. The whole insurance process can be a hassle. If you just start living like you already have band before you're banded, I just feel that you optimize your physical condition for surgery and you'll probably have better results. My sister is banded and she has had great results as well. If you need to lose 100+ pounds and your weight is making you sick today, then it's time to take action, not keep doing what you're doing and expect different results. Good luck, I already know that I'll be exercising for the rest of my life - otherwise, I'll just be that same old fat guy I was 4 months ago. I'm NEVER going back....

Ron, I am also a type 2 diabetic and I could not control my blood sugar levels with Glyburide and Metformin (oral meds). My initial consultation was 6/26, my surgery date (insurance covered) is scheduled for 10/26 so for me it is exactly 4 months from initial consultation to surgery. If you are making the commitment to using the band to control your weight, I see no reason for you not to diet prior to surgery. Your blood sugar control will only improve with dieting and exercise. I have been doing that to get ready for surgery. I am off of all of my diabetes medication and have had my blood sugar between 90 - 120 mg/dl for the last three months. Look, the band is just a tool. Your diabetes is going to get significantly better with diet, exercise and weight loss. We will always be type 2 diabetics, but we can keep our blood sugars within normal ranges. Just keep in mind that the fix isn't the band, it's on you. Start living like you have the band today - diet, portion control, exercise - add the band at some point in the journey. The transition from sick to healthy is a process that YOU have to control. The band is just there to make it possible. I've lost 52 lbs in the last 15 weeks getting ready for my surgery - and all I did was to start walking EVERY DAY (working up to 60+ minutes a day) and I ate a Protein first, portion controlled diet. Be the CEO of your weight loss. Take personal accountability, demand results of yourself and your support team. Prioritize your health above everything but your loved ones. Track your progress - set milestones and achieve them. Good luck - remember what matters is that we lose weight and keep it off and reap the benefits of improved health.

Big Wave Dave speaks the truth. I'm getting banded on Friday, 10/26. The turning point for me was my initial consultation - I committed to myself that I am going to be thin. It'll be exactly 4 months from my initial consultation to my surgery. Today I weigh 52 lbs less than I did on my initial consultation appointment - all due to diet and exercise, because as Dave points out - the band is a tool - you have to lose the weight through diet and exercise - so I decided to get halfway there before the surgery. I want to improve my odds of having a successful outcome. I am determined to have an exercise habit I can return to following surgery. I'll be posting again once I'm banded. Glad we have our own thread. Anybody experience hair loss post banding? I'm very hairy (think missing link) all over my body and I'm wondering if I should expect hair loss.

Don't ever give up. Now that I'm older I care less and less what other people say or think. The lapband is about taking proactive steps to improve your health. This is something you do, not something other people decide. I too had problems getting my contact to work through the process. I recommend you get in touch with your "inner asshole" and demand what you need. Nobody has more stake in this than you and you need to make it happen. Do not take NO for an answer. Don't ever give up, never surrender - complain, escalate, make a nuisance of yourself, abandon civility - but get done what you need to get done. Bandsters need more respect - instead of just continuing to live in unhealthy misery, we are doing something about it and we should NEVER let anyone dissuade us from our committed goals.

My surgery date is 10/26. My initial appointment was 6/26/2007. Since my initial appointment, I have lost 48 lbs walking, getting ready for surgery. Since I'm a guy, I expect to lose weight a bit more quickly than the ladies, but walking has enabled me to go from 290 lbs to 242 lbs in 100 days. I started slowly, walking 25-40 minutes every day. Now I can walk 8 - 10 miles over hilly terrain at speed uninterrupted. I've learned a few things along the way. Music will help you walk further. I use an MP3 player with rock music. I'm 49, so I'm not as spry as I used to be. I try to walk at least 60 minutes a day now, I often walk 90 minutes or more though every day with a day off every two weeks or so. I used pedometers, but I recently purchased an accelerometer watch, which I like better and is more accurate. I can track my steps, distance walked, average speed, calories burned, and total time exercised. I find this is a useful tool for holding myself accountable. Walking is great exercise - most people consider it moderate exercise, but if you increase your speed interesting things happen. Humans have two gears for locomotion - walking and running. Walking is inefficient at speeds in excess of 4 mph - in other words, at 4.5 mph you will burn more calories walking than you will running. Since we're here to burn off fat, not win races, walking fast is very good exercise. As I've lost weight, I've been able to slowly increase my speed. You will find that you need to change your walking techniques if you want to walk in excess of 4mph. You have to change your arm swing (half pendulum versus the full pendulum swing) and you have to transition from a parallel stride to a more linear stride - you can search the Internet for race walking techniques to push yourself to higher fat burning levels. My interim goal is to drop another few pounds before my pre-op appointment next week. I figure if I can lose 50 pounds before surgery, I will recover more quickly and I'll be halfway to my goal. The band is just a tool. It makes sure we don't go back to the bad place. You still have to eat properly and exercise. The more we can exercise the faster we can get to our goal - the happy place.

I just heard from my bariatric center that my insurance submission for lap-band surgery has been verbally approved - I'm excited but unsure of what to do - I need some opinions. I know I'm lucky my insurance has approved this procedure, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't defer the decision to have the surgery. It's taken 14 weeks since I started the process. I'm a 49 year old male, 5'8" tall, starting weight 290 lbs. I have Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea complications. Once I made the commitment to change my lifestyle and pursue lap-band surgery, I focused really hard on my diet and exercise. During these 14 weeks, I have lost 43 lbs - my eating and workout schedule enables me to burn fat at over 3 lbs per week. So I've gone from a BMI of over 44 to a BMI of 37. At 247 lbs, I'm still a fat man, but I'm no longer morbidly obese. I'm off of all of my diabetes medications. I exercise intensely every day. I feel that I can sustain this rate of weight loss for some time. Since I've had such good results from diet and exercise, should I keep the surgery as a fallback option and keep trying to lose more weight without the lap-band tool? What would you do?

Congratulations! 110 pounds in 10 months - great results and proof again that the band is a tool that properly used can enable someone to achieve life changing weight loss. I hope I do as well once I get banded. Down 17 lbs so far on a pre-op diet. Thanks for sharing your achievement and letting us all see the light at the end of the tunnel. Eric

Allergan sent me this information on the new band - PDF attached. DFS Products.pdf