VegasGrace

Don't change it, Cindi. Just watch yourself this next week and see if the scales move down a tad. I went thru periods where my weight climbed up...but went down w/ 1 trip to the potty. It could also be hormonal. If, and that's an IF....if the scales don't come down after a week or so or if they climb a little more, I'd get another fill.

Wow. Look at you! You are off to a great start, Heather. This idea had come up before. We can do a recipe collection...but as far as something that's for bandsters...well, with the band there are no restrictions on food. Eat what you can tolerate. I don't diet, as diets fail. I use my normal recipes from Campbells, Martha Stewert, etc. I've not found any normal food that I can't eat. Hamburgers and Crunchwraps...those are the only 2 things I can't eat and won't even try. Maybe everyone can just submit 3 of their favorite recipes.

You can go all out, like first time moms do with the birth of their first child, or you can just go thru it w/o all the fuss. You will need to fill your scripts BEFORE surgery, perhaps the night before. You will need tons of drinks and different kinds. oatmeal Grits pudding Jello whipped cream Soups sweet potatoes, yams -when baked they go down so smoothly make sure the house is clean w/ all laundry done and put away. do the grocery shopping, pay the bills Get a sudoku or other puzzle books Get the remote ready. Good luck! And we'll see you on the losers bench.

Jax, I'm with you on that! I was a binge eater before WLS. I yo-yo'd from 140 up to 180. Then from 180 down to 160. Then back up to 185. Then down to 145. Then up to 256. Then to 200, 180, 136 (atkins)...but then back up to 200. It's confusing...just like the diets. Drive thru 3x daily and chips and Pepsi. Of course I was fat. Now? Well, I'm happier than I've ever been with my body AND I haven't dieted. When I want a candy bar...I eat one! Just had Dove chocolate last night. When I want pizza, I have it. Had 1 slice for supper tonight w/ cheese doodles and Mt. Dew. But that's 3 bites of pizza, 2 cheese doodles, and about 5 ounces of drink. Doesn't sound like dieting, huh? It's not. It's a new lifestyle. I can eat what I want...but have to portion out things so I don't overeate anymore. But today at lunch was egg salad. So you can see it's not junk all the time. Yesterday at BK I just sat and enjoyed the company of my children, I just didn't want that junk.

Want to clarify.... we all know diets fail. If we could do it...there would be no WLS. But, since diets fail...we have options, WLS. But hey, if you can diet...good for you. Many of us who opt for WLS can't. We are no less worthy...just haven't been sucessful. When you opt for WLS, your 'diet' changes but you don't have to diet...as in restrict yourself from what you eat. Diet, as in food.... will be modified to fit a band lifestyle. But that doesn't mean you can never have _____ or ______, or even______. Fill in those blanks with Cookies, ice cream, pizza...or whatever. With the band, the QUANTITY of food you eat is modified. And after a while, it becomes modifying the behavior. So, confused with diets! You bet! Again, I don't diet. And many of us w/ WLS don't. We've relearned how to eat correctly...something we should have done in our youth.

Yeah, it's burping. I've not ever experienced this though. I know babies do it...and my mom- elderly. My kids even do it- irritating. But if you feel the need to burp, do it! While I've not ever pb'd...I have slimed. Some hate it while I don't mind it a bit.

Yes, those were my favorite. Target brand was good too, my second choice. Thank goodness for the band...no more of that mess! My favorite shake now is the Oreo shake at Burger King. Three sips and I'm done!

Had my gall bladder removed at the bottom of one of my yo-yo dieting periods. Think I was around 140lbs...back 10 years ago or so. Yep, significant weightloss can cause your gallbladder to go wack. I don't remember any issues after it was removed.

My goal weight was 150. I remember getting close and just being so anxious. Now I'm below that. It's not pounds anymore...I use size. I'm a 6/8. Some 6s will work but 8 is comfortable...don't feel like a toothpick. June is coming right around the corner...one year BandAversary!

Diet confusion? I'd be confused, too. Hmm...I don't diet.

I wanted RnY but couldn't afford it. so for me, cost was the factor. But as you can see by my ticker...it worked just fine.

You are right about that...no telling what happens once you get put under. I'm sure you've already contacted Inamed and filed a report for a bait and switch. If this happened to me I'd ensure this wouldn't happen to anyone else! I had my fills done by Dr. Muse in Salt Lake. He's great. Only saw him 3 times and the results have been excellent! (2 fills and 1 unfill for maintenance) He really knows his stuff!

No, in all my procedures and surgeries, only child birth...that's the only one they sent a bill. Others must be paid for in advance. I used my overdraft/line of credit from my credit union. You want the surgery...but don't harm your credit doing it. Get a good interest rate w/ payment plan. Start with your credit union.

Hi Utahband. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I can tell you are in alot of pain due to your typing. But then English may be your second language. You hang in there and get well! There are going to be things that go wrong with any WLS, its called complications and WLS has been known to have complications from time to time. Sorry this happened to you. Keep us posted and let us know how you are doing.

Extra money. This is an outpatient procedure. Hello? That means less than 24 hrs. As a precaution a doc may admit a patient for a day or so. But three....and you are not even there. Extra money, I'd decline the stay. Tell your doc you'll make that call after you come out of recovery. Want to go home - GO! Want to stay...stay! Good luck and keep us posted.

Anytime someone discards an entire type of food....not good. It's okay to have a brownie. It's okay to have pizza. It's okay to have a burger, if you can actually digest it. Experts agree depriving yourself isn't the way to go about modifying your lifestyle. Moderation is. So, to me the choice is clear, eat what you want, when you want...but make good choices. Want a combo meal...go ahead. But it's not wise to do that three times in one day or more than 1-2x per week.

Wow! Dr. Huacuz spent a good deal of time with me day of/before surgery. He showed me my band....actually had the box there and explained exactly what he was going to do...how the band would be placed, etc.

Sure, many of us don't have insurance that covers it. Remember, you decide if you want the lapband...not your insurance. Insurance is a form of payment. Got it, great! If not, pay another way. You shouldn't really pay over $7k-$9k. Paying more is a waste of money. Good luck.

Feel? Hmm...I still haven't "felt" it. It's something that just happens. You know you have it when you lose weight eat less

LAX SLC LAS SBY BWI SAN RDU Not ever happened

Not told that at all. Some weeks I lost more, some...and many months was .33 pound. yep, took 3 weeks to lose one pound. You should expect weightloss. How much and how fast is dependent upon you.

Take your left hand and place it around your right wrist...now squeeze. Or, take a loaf of bread and wrap both hands around the center forming a ring....now squeeze. Restriction is when the size of something is reduced in the circumference. The esophogas to the stomach is free flowing right now....now take a band and clamp it. See how it can make the circumference smaller? Bands really don't do that...just sits around the outside. Fills make the balloon inside larger, thus the open area smaller. Restriction can be just a hair or a bit more to where it cuts off the pipes. Hope this helps.

The best treatment is a healty diet and exercise....lifestyle changes. But let's see....out of your list.... All are effective. And just like other treatments...say for depression. There is not ONE BEST treatment. Different meds will work with different people.

Monitored? Hmmmm....there is no food police so you will have to monitor this yourself. The lapband system is a patient tool...the patient controls all aspects of this system, including food intake. If you can't get a handle.....join the club. I was on regular food by weeks end. If you are hungry, eat! Your doc should give you contact info in case you need them.

I'm like you. Some times I can't eat much and the scale will go down after a few days. But sometimes I can eat quite a bit more. I'm on maintenance and still wonder about this. Just enjoy the weightloss with the restriction and work a little harder during those times restriction seems faded. It helps me to portion out, yeah, a teaspoon of this and that on my saucer. That way if the restriction has faded...I just do that again. And this prevents me from overeating. Good luck!