Ellisa

I buy Viactiv soft chews (there are other brands), in milk chocolate. They taste like a tootsie roll. Great for the bones and a little something sweet. I keep some at work, some in my purse, and some at home. No excuse not to take them and when folks around be are having dessert, I find that an excellent time to have one. LOL These are sold over the counter with the other suppliments.

With my hubby and I both banded, if we can agree on what to order we just share it. Recently at a Ruby Tuesday's we ordered a meal to share, the server (or kitchen staff) actually split the meal and brought it on two plates. We tipped nicely for that! Another time at a family owned restaurant we both ate just a small portion of our meal and didn't want a box because we weren't going home for hours and didn't want it in the car so long. The waitress was sure we weren't pleased and kept asking if something was wrong. When it finally dawned on us why she was concerned, we told her the truth. But we aren't touchy about it. We'll tell anyone who will listen. LOL I certainly do understand that others are more private and it can be difficult to deal with.

Doing the happy dance! This is such a happy post! Congrats to all of you, see you as bandsters soon!

Shortgal, You are right about hygene, but poor oral hygene doesn't produce stinky pee. The bad breath and stinky pee that accompany weight loss are a whole different thing. That comes from the inside out. The faster you are losing fat (regardless of the method) the stinkier it gets. Atkins type diets when followed correctly tend to have higher weight loss rates. It's all about converting fat to energy.

Jax, I should have read your signature. I thought you were already banded. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. You'll be off to a fabulous start! Congratulations. Your story sounds like mine. I was the Atkins queen, along with my husband. He lost 100, I lost 50... but you know the story. We actually were on the WOE for 2 years, mostly maintaining. But that was several years ago. Oh and actually I was the Weight Watcher queen, the Shangr- La queen, the Redux queen, the Meridia queen, the Adepax queen, and a whole host of other methods. Always losing well, but regaining better. Hubby was banded 2 years ago, has lost 140+ and still losing. He's 6'3" and people are thinking he's getting too thin. Mind you, he's at the same weight he was 20 years ago when his doctor told him he needed to lose weight if he wanted to see our kids graduate high school (230ish)! Being a man, of course he has more leeway with any weight loss program. He eats right most of the time, but if he wants a big mac (or whatever), he'll eat it...well part of it. I doubt I'll be able to do that so much. Wanabthin, I should have read your post more carefully too... I had in my head the band allowed you to eat a big mac and fries... not realizing you only ate part.. So you do have decent restriction. Pre-band I could have ate the whole thing with large drink, biggie sized; and not felt stuffed!

Jax, How long have you been banded? That's awesome that you have so much self control! How do you do it? If I could've made good food choices all the time I wouldn't have gained weight in the first place. My band didn't educate me about about proper eating, I have to admit, I knew it way before I was ever banded. The difference is that I used to eat the healthy stuff and the bad too, now I eat less of both, and WAY less of the bad because there's just not enough room or time. But I just haven't been able to give up the "bad" totally. I'm sure I could be losing faster if I could learn your secrets.

Wow! Wanabthin, you are doing awesome! You are right, the momentary slip isn't as big a deal as the amount you were able to eat. Hope you find the happy medium and that your band is in its proper place.

Just have to jump back in here... I'm supposed to be eating 5 - 6 small meals per day. I don't. I allow my hunger to dictate when I eat (mostly). Eating that many times a day just doesn't work for me, time-wise or hunger-wise. I usually only eat 4 or rarely 5 times per day. I've only had one fill, 3.5 in a 10 cc band. Eating takes a long time and it sometimes becomes a chore. In order to "closet eat" I'd now have to eat at least 7 times per day! Who has that kind of time, working a full time job? Of course at my meals I eat the right stuff first and tell myself I can have a bite of something tempting or have it later. But when later comes, I'm not hungry, or there's no time so I don't miss it after all. So far there's nothing I can't eat, but bread is difficult to chew up well enough, it seems to grow as I chew. LOL So one bite of a tempting bread does the trick. And if it's a "nothing special" kind of bread I have no problem not eating it. You are going to do great. After the band, you won't feel like eating more than every 3 - 4 hours and when you do, it will be less than 1/2 of what you are eating now.

Call his office, the number is on his web site. thebanddoctor.com They are very nice and up front.

WHEW! You aren't banded yet! Don't beat yourself up. Guilt begets depression which begets more overeating. Just start over right now, not tomorrow. After banding the food still tastes good, but it takes so long to eat it you will eat less. If you love the subway sub, order a salad, eat it first and eat mostly the filling of the sub, but you can still allow yourself a little of the bread if you tolerate it okay. You won't have room to over do it very much. My husband is two years out and lost 140 lbs. mostly he eats as he should, but he allows himself a bite of things he really wants or even small (very small) servings ocasionally. The key is to eat the proper foods first, then just a little will satisfy. I'm finding that works for me too.

aroarkster, Just curious, who is your doctor? My insurance doesn't cover the sleeve but will cover RNY or band. I opted for the band because it's completely reversible, and far less invasive. I also reasoned that if I wouldn't obey the "band rules" I probably wouldn't obey the other surgery rules and if the pouch is stretched, you aren't going to lose weight regardless. Also, during the information presentation our group was informed that only the upper most part of the stomach has the nerves that tell the brain we are full, so keeping the food in that area makes sense to me to reduce the intake. Now on the other side, if you are a person who travels frequently, having the sleeve would mean not having to deal with emergency unfills with unfamiliar doctors. Also, you won't have to deal with routine adjustments, which can be inconvenient and costly. It's certainly a personal choice. I have no doubt you can be successful with either option if you follow the plan.

My Doctor gave me the preop diet to lose weight (actually in the liver) in order to do the procedure lap. If the liver is too large and there's not enough room they would have to do an open procedure. This would result in a larger scar and longer recovery time.

Insurance companies negotiate with physicians and facilities for reduced rates. When the rates get too low they will op out. To give you an example, I had a $7700 bill of which only $1400 was "allowed," (paid by insurance). The doctor cannot bill the patient for the difference because he agreed to accept the $1400 as payment in full for that service. I can see why many doctors and hospitals are refusing (certain) insurance reimbursement. As I understand, some insurances pay higher rates, Medicare and Medicaid are usually much lower.

My sister needed to have her gall bladder out and kept putting it off. When she decided to have the band, she knew she would have to be self pay for that. She didn't want to have two surgeries so asked if the doctor would remove the gall bladder at the same time. The surgeon told her he would submit the charges for the gall bladder portion to insurance. She was reimbursed the amount the insurance paid. She paid up front for the lap band. She had Tri-Care. She knew she didn't meet their requirements for the band and didn't bother trying.

Dr. Curry is charging just under $12,500 for the surgery (total for everything). He is no longer in network (as of January) for most (perhaps all) insurance, hence he's able to reduce the self pay costs. I don't remember how many years of fills are included but if you contact his office, they are absolutley wonderful. Things more along much more quickly for self pay than for those of us who had to deal with the insurance approval.

If you've read the rest of the post, you pretty much know my approval story. As for weakness, I can tell you that it's been quite the opposite. Energy has done nothing but increase. Eating enough Protein and reducing "bad" carbs (sugar, starch) has helped to keep my blood sugar from dropping and making me tired. Also, eating small frequent small meals keeps you from feeling extremely hungry. I should be eating 5 -6 small meals, but I let my hunger dictate when I eat so it's usually 4 - 5 meals. Of course there are times when I might be feeling hungery in 2 or three hours after eating, but it's just not convenient to eat right then. But the hunger isn't overwhelming and I don't feel sick or shakey.

Check with your hotel, many of them offer free shuttle service.

My husband is two years out, has lost 140 lbs. and is still losing. This is about 80% of what he'd like to lose. I'm 6 weeks out and have lost 28 lbs. I've only had one fill. I don't think "all hope is gone." Some doctors are less educated about the process than others. It is a tool; diet and exercise are required. And it's a lifelong process, just like any other successful weight loss method. It does help to reduce hunger. It doesn't eliminate the desire to eat for emotional reasons. It will work as well as you are willing to commit to it.

Dr. Watkins, Is the price for fills the same in Columbus area as in Cincy? My husband goes to Barix where he had his lap-band. They charge $250 per fill. Ouch!

My husband is going for a consult with Dr. Lied tomorrow. She's in the Cincinnati area. She does plastic surgery. And is in network for Medical Mutual and Anthem BC/BS.

My husband went to Barix in Groveport two years ago. They were awesome. Not in network, so high out of pocket ($5000). He had Dr. Vig, who is no longer there. But hubby continues to go there for fills, I think he saw Dr. Ramos the last time. He's lost 140 lbs and is still losing. The staff there were great.

My doctor does both bands. He said they aren't really that different, but the Realize online support is very good. I chose the Realize band, but haven't accessed the support site.

YIPPEE! I've been watching and waiting for that message from you and 4jin!

Had my first fill yesterday. I'm on pureed diet today, so far really can't tell much difference. Probably notice more as I progress to other foods.

I have the Realize Band. I've lost 22 lbs since pre op diet, started early December. I get my first fill today. I'd love to lose more quickly, but then, I keep trying to remind myself that 2 lbs per week is not bad and I've lost almost double that. It didn't come on 10 lbs at a time, so it isn't coming off that way... Have I convinced myself yet?