Michee

My liquid diet was shake for breakfast, shake for lunch, and vegetables for dinner, as many vegetables as I wanted. The vegetables gave me the chewing/crunching I was looking for. I am surprised that a doc would recommend a frozen dinner, since usually the cardboard wrapper contains more nutrition than the dinner, and they are full of sodium. Try a huge plate of cooked and uncooked veg, and skip the frozen dinner and/or the chicken breast.

After the surgery I developed an aversion to artificial sweeteners, didnt eat the jello/crystal light etc etc that I had purchased. I would add about one ounce of apple juice to 10 oz of Water to add some flavour, and I ate chicken and beef broth during the clear liquid phase. Full liquids was no problem because I could have milk, and lots of nice Soups. Good Luck

This part can be frustrating. I was banded in August and didnt get proper restriction until February. I have come to the conclusion that I have a slow metabolism, I have upped my exercise to 2 hours per day (1 hour at the gym before work, and a 6km walk after work). I also recently started running 3 times per week. With good restriction, healthy food choices and what I consider plenty of exercise, I am losing about 1.5 pounds per week. The weight loss is slower than I would like, but I feel fabulous, and when I look at pics of last summer, I cant believe how far I have come. It may take some of us longer to reach our goal, but the victory will still be as sweet.

I am having a TT on August 20th. I have lost 63 pounds so far, with another 23 to go. In terms of cost, I am paying $6700.00. So its basically the price of an awesome vacation, or two average vacations. When people at work ask, what are you doing for vacation this summer, I say "tummy tuck" Here is the irony......by November I will have a "beach ready" body, but no money to go on a Caribbean Beach Holiday. I think I will just turn the heat up, and prance around the house in a bathing suit !

Add rice protien to almond milk (called almond breeze) to make a delicious shake

It really depends on how "tight" your band is. If a bowl of soup (not carb loaded with rice or pasta) is filling you up then fine. If you are eating soup, then a meal, it's a different story. My doctor suggests that the band works best when you avoid all liquid calories.

I have been wearing size 10 pants (american size 10) for a couple of months.......when I started wearing them I was considered obese according to the BMI. Currently I can fit into size 8 jeans from Old Navy (they are tight) but I am still almost 30 pounds overweight. I have posted on a "dating" website and have put myself in the "extra pounds" category. I think American sizing has been changing over the years to accomodate the swelling bellies of Americans (and Canadians). Looking at my own weight, it seems reasonable that a size 10 would be a "small" plus size model.

There are several threads on this subject with comprehensive lists, try the pre op section

I was banded in Ontario Canada, and I am self pay. It was 3 weeks from initial consult to surgery day. In that three weeks I had a sleep study, pre-op exam with my GP and 10 day liquid diet. I think it depends on the individual clinic

I have kept mine a secret........ Here are my reasons It's no ones f** ing business that I have a lapband once you tell you cant "untell". Only 3 of my friends know, because the clinic insisted I get picked up after surgery and NOT go home by cab. If I chose to tell more friends, I will have to ask THEM to keep it a secret from others, which is not entirely fair. Good luck with your decision

Thanks Becky.......we crazy eights are a real successful bunch

Learning to Listen to your Body Perhaps your body is naturally needing something in the orange juice? A few weeks ago I was craving milk, yogourt, anything dairy. I figured perhaps my body was telling me something, so I listened. This was a new experience for me (craving something with actual nutrirional value). As long as I'm not craving junk food, I am learning to listen to my body. Just my humble opinion

Dont spend tons of money In 2006 I had a hysterectomy and bought all the items recommended on a similar forum. The shopping cost quite a bit of money, I think around a couple of hundred dollars. When I had my lapband in 2007 I took a more conservative approach, but still ended up spending money on things I didnt use or didnt really need (pill crusher, magic bullet). My suggestion to those pre op, is to take a look at the list, and if you have some of those items already, put them all together in a box or container, so you dont have to hunt for them after surgery. If there is anything else you feel you need, you can ask someone to get them for you post-op, or you can wait 72 hours until you are driving yourself again. I was self pay (16K), so those dollars I spent, could have been better used to pay off my surgery debt. This is not meant to be contrary to the OP, just something to think about for those on a budget.

Angela You Rock Last year I quit smoking and got the lapband, to date I have lost 58 pounds. I didnt tell anyone about my plans to quit smoking or to get the band. (i had 2 tell friends about the band after I booked surgery as I needed a ride to and from clinic). The FABULOUS thing about not relying on anyone's "support" but my own. Is that I can feel proud of my accomplishments, and I have no one to blame or praise for my successes or failures, but myself. As the old addage says "if it is to be, then it's up to me". Be your own Cheerleader........It feels awesome !

Every surgery carries a risk of complications and possibly death. In fact everything in life carries a possible risk of death. The OP provides excellent advice, that EVERYONE should have a will and people who know where the will is located.

I would ask a lot of questions about aftercare, fills, access to nurses and nutritionist etc etc. Are these available, are they included in the initial cost? In my case, all else being equal, I picked a doc that is less than 10 miles away. I needed 5 fills in the first few months. Due to proximity, I only had to miss one hour of work each time. I was self pay (16K) and the fee included 5 years of fills and aftercare. I like the fact that I go back to the clinic where I was banded for my fills. That is my personal preference. Good luck with your decision

The first one was taken a few days before banding in Aug 07, the second was taken in May 08

Get off the computer and call the doc or clinic immediately....

I have all three mentioned above. However the scales and food processor are somewhere in my basement from when I moved in 2005. I bought a magic bullet, and hated it because it is cheap plastic. I have an old blender with the glass jug that my mother bought at a yard sale years ago. This thing is from the 60's. It has a dial! Anyway the old blender is the only thing I use.

I am on plenty of fish, been on 3 weeks, met 2 nice guys (in person) so far........now I have another guy who is interested, but he says he wants a big woman........I am not sure if I am big enough, I am gonna meet him anyway. It will be so much fun to hear him say "this is not gonna work, cos you're too thin" Worth the 16K I paid for the band. Try plenty of fish.....dont be afraid to send the first email just to say hello

I had one in 2006. I had several large fibroids that were pressing on my kidneys and causing kidney problems. I know it sounds very strange. I was cut along the bikini line.....recovery was longer than the band, but even at 260 pounds and a smoker, I was ready to go back to work in less than 3 weeks. I had a doc note for 6 weeks but I was bored to death at home............ I LOVE having no periods, and the orgasms are much better when you dont have to wonder about untimely pregancy.........

My doc prescribed Optifast, cost about $4.00 per shake, I did it 2 weeks pre op and one week post op (after a couple of days of clear fluids). Trust me, I was spending way more than $12 per day preband. That is how I got to 224 pounds.

I buy 100% juices and dilute them with a lot of water. I find it gives the water some flavour. I usually do 2 oz of juice and 8oz of water. Since the natural sugar will be diluted also, it may feel better on your stomach Even though it has calories when watered down, I think it is a better alternative for good health than bevvies containing artificial sweeteners.

I have more or less "lost" one friend. Before I got banded we would shop at plus size stores together, go to get manicures together, go to the french bakery and eat lots of yummy desserts. Obviously we dont shop for clothing together anymore and I do not hang out at bakeries. I am interested in exercising, and that kind of stuff. She is not interested in that stuff, so we dont really have common interests at the moment. It's more about me changing, increased confidence etc. It's not really the weight loss or the surgery.

I went to a Naturopathic doctor on February to get some real medical advice on a colon cleanse. She recommended a 21 day liver cleanse program called mediclear. I lost 7 pounds during the 21 days, since then I am taking subling b12, vitamin D drops, flaxseed oil and fish oil. Also I cut out aspartame/nutrasweet, and artificial sweeteners. I am now losing about 1.6 pounds a week. I recommend finding a naturopathic doctor who will give advice based on your medical history, any meds you take, etc etc. I am certain that this is not a "one size fits all" solution. Good luck !