Lin12/20/07

Hi All! I use these because they are easy to carry with me. The papaya enzyme pills (chewable) have worked both ways for me- sometimes they help it "all go down" and sometimes they help me throw it up (which at the time is a great relief!). I keep these with me for any meal & don't need to use them very often but they work great! Another thing I've used but isn't as handy is pineapple juice. good luck! Banded 12/20/07 lost 105

Thank you all for your posts!! We'll just keep at it! We can do it!! It is really nice to have that support!

Hi, I've lost about 95 pounds since being banded 12/20/07. 1 year & I'm thrilled with the results. However, from what I'm reading I don't have restriction & haven't found my sweet spot (5.4cc in 14cc band). I've got another fill scheduled for 1st week of January. I think all loss so far has been thru my own hard work & exercise. I'm hoping you can help w/ my question as I haven't found it on the site or in any of my books. I have gained about 11 pounds in a month from bad food choices & not exercising (injury). I'm hoping to eat better after holidays are over & start exercising then too. I have not been pbing or vomitting but at times I feel full & occassionally (maybe 3 times) a bit of pain in left shoulder area. I'm just concerned about stretching the pouch. Does anyone know how long you have to over eat or how much to stretch your pouch? i wouldn't want to damage it. I am allowing myself thru the holidays to eat more of what I want but have a firm plan to restart in January. Is that ok or am I damaging it? Pretty much anything goes down at this point so I know I need another fill but I was worried about doing it before the holidays. Information & encouragement appreciated! Thanks!:huh2:

Wow Gingerbug! thanks for sharing-that helps! Its good to know it's not permanent for a little fall off the wagon. You're almost at your goal- I bet that feels great! Hopefully this year for me. I'm back on track & have lost 10 pounds so far. 65 to go!

Thanks so much!!! I did go to the doctor at the beginning of the month & got 1.1cc added. I'm feeling the most restriction I've ever felt (& most of the time it feels good!). Nothing to get me back on track than a trip to the doctor, lecture, and a fill. It's really really slowed down my eating which is a good thing. You can get back on the wagon too! We've come to far to give up now! Good luck to you too!

So far I'm at 5.5 cc in a 14 cc band. I don't have restriction yet- hopefully soon!

One problem I am seeing is that the dr has to bill it as an office visit for my blue cross because if they bill it as an "op surg office visit" then it is rejected because bariatric "surgery" must have a preauthorization. So if they bill it as an office visit at $125 it is covered. If the surgeon bills it for $125 as "op surg office visit" it is not covered. Good luck!

I'm still here. I don't get to post much or read it much but I do come on here & there to see how everyone else is doing. I was banded 12/20/07 & this week will mark my 11th month. It's been great- I've lost 102 pounds & have 61 to go to goal. I've been only losing about 5 lbs a month for the past few months but i've also been a little off track on eating & exercising. So I know where the blame lies. But, I'm trying to refocus myself (hence the visit again to the website) & I'm setting holiday goals for myself- trying not to be too hard and planning to really focus in January. I was going to go for another fill soon but I don't think I'm focussed or committed enough right now (had a death in the family & it's taking its toll) so i will wait a bit. i'm focussed on staying within 5 pounds of my weight (up & down) & it's working pretty well. That also gives me security that I will be able to maintain my weight after I reach goal (that's always been a problem- I can lose it but not keep it off). Thanks for sharing your amazing successes & your trials & the suggestions. It's encouraging! And it sounds like, for you all too, this was one of the best things we ever did! Have a great week!

I'll post my info. I lost most quickly at first- about 90 pounds in 6 months. I had a total of 163 to lose and have 57 pounds left. My weight loss slowed significantly after that first 90 pounds and I've been tetering with the remaining 10 pounds to lose 100 for about 2 months. Probably fair since I lost so quickly up front. But, from losing well at first to slowing in the past 3 months I've noted several things. First, I feel so much better & my clothes are smaller so I'm really fairly satisfied w/ how I look, especially compared to before. That makes my mental choices harder. Ex. "I'm thinnER so I can have a few bites of that cake". The choices I think i've made in the past 3 months that have slowed my weight loss include: --not watching portions as closely --not overstuffing, but not always stopping at the moment I'm full- just a few more bites! --eating more sweets --reducing exercise --snacking more --eating out more When I was really maximizing weight loss i was doing these things: --exercising/walking 6 days/week for 1 hour per day --weights 3 days/week --eating low fat, low carb diet with meats/protein as the primary part of the meal. --eating only at meal times or a fruit cup if i was hungry in between --cut back to once/month eating out That's what I've been refocusing on the past 2 weeks & the weight is coming off again at a good pace. I have to stick w/ what I know works for me. What that 3 month stall did enforce to me was that even with some eating of non-nutritious foods & unhealthy choices I can still maintain which is encouraging that once I reach goal, no food will be forbidden- I'll just have to monitor closely & not go outside the lines too often. I also noticed that when I have more sugar than I really should, I feel like crap. A few days of that is incentive to get back on track. What they say is true- if you take care of your body, it'll take care of you! As far as specifics, i like to eat tacos for breakfast- no shell of course but I make a pound of lean ground turkey & a pound of lean ground beef & ground it up tiny. I freeze half of it & then portion out the rest seasoning it for taco flavor. Then, in the morning I heat that up w/ some low fat cheese, sprinkle some lettuce & pico on it & that can really keep me going until lunch. I've really gotten away from the Protein bars & things after about 4 months just because i craved the actual meat more than the Protein Bars so I just eat that. I also like rotissere chicken. I serve that to the family & myself and then debone the rest. For other meals then I use that chicken to make a salad- this chicken is just so juicy! Someone said the out to eat salads are better than their own- i so agree- but since I have to reduce the eating out (lots of extra salt & calories) I try to make my salads even better. I have recently added polmegranites, various fruits (mandarin oranges, plums, strawberries, etc), sunflower seeds or pinenuts (toasted or not), and various cheese- feta, blue cheese, fresh parmesean, etc, and seasonings- like the spray on dressings & Bam it! salad spice by emeril. Hope there is anything here that might help someone else. What a ride! Lin Banded 12/20/07 Goal 150 Current: 207 Start Weight: 313

Had my surgery on Wednesday & back to work on Monday. But, I made sure not to sleep too much after I went home from hospital. I tried to stay awake during the day, resting in bed & doing my hourly walking, visiting, reading, etc. Basically tried to stay a little busy while relaxing. This strategy worked really good for me after an open surgery several years ago & helped me get back to work in less than 2 weeks. I didn't mention I was having surgery to anyone at work & no one mentioned a difference. I have a mostly desk job so over doing wasn't really an issue. You have to see how you feel. It's a shame there isn't enough leave to take the time we really seem to need to recover & still get paid! Good luck!

I thought long & hard about this issue before I decided. I was banded 12/20/07 & have lost 100 pounds & have 50 to go (:sad: I never liked discussing my weight before w/ anyone & really felt I wouldn't like discussing it after. I think if you're the type of person who likes everyone to know you're on a new diet or ask if you've gained weight or lost weight, then there will probably be no issue with you telling others you've had the surgery. But, if you are more private & don't like everyone mentioning it every time you drop 10 pounds or gain 10 pounds or start a new diet, then maybe keeping it close to you is best. Everyone is different & I certainly don't begrudge anyone who felt it was best for them to tell others. For me, this has been one of my better decisions. not only to have the band (best decision) but to keep it to husband, kids, and sisters. Others have indicated in the past they would not be supportive of surgery for weight loss and I didn't feel I had their support. In my months preparing for the surgery, waiting on insurance, I used that time to fill my mind w/ positive thoughts about the surgery & myself. I just didn't need the negative feedback. I didn't even tell my work- I took a few days off before a holiday & returned like normal. I still have people asking "how much have you lost", "how much more are you going to lose" and "how are you doing it". As to the how much questions- my answer has changed from years past (I lost a significant amount on south beach years ago & gained it all back). I used to go ahead & tell them (100 pounds lost or 50 to go). Now, I tell them I'm not focused on the number any more. I tell them (truth) I am focused on healthy choices, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, not the number. How am I doing it? I tell them through really watching quantities, drinking Water, less eating out, lower fat & higher Protein, and an hour of exercise a day (all true). My only sadness is not being able to give credit to the lapband because it has made a real difference. But, I just don't need the scrutiny with everything i eat, the negativity about the "easy way out" (yeah, right!), and other negativity. 9 months down the road, for me this was the right decision. I don't really think about it anymore, it's just a private part of me. I don't tell others about other private areas of my life, why would I share this one. Weight, money, health- to me, those are private areas. But, everyone is different. Maybe one day, even I will change my mind. I did like what someone else put about making sure those you do tell know that you aren't telling everyone & being asked to keep your confidence. That's one of the reasons I really like this forum because I dont' go out & get support elsewhere. Good luck!

everyone is doing great!!! Keep it up!

It was really hard for me at first too! I was a 2 Route 44oz Sonic drinker of Diet Coke a day! I got off the diet coke about 3 weeks prior to the surgery & haven't had any since. I started drinking the Water & went for the mininum goal first 64 oz/day. Then, gradually, started doing a little more & little more. LIke others have said I would make sure to have water with me every where I went. today I gave a presentation & was concerned with all the talking I would have trouble getting in the water, but I didn't. I found myself looking for it. You can always try the different flavors of Crystal Lite, etc to add to it to help with taste. I prefer bottled water & have a mini frig in my garage so that I can grab my bottles on my way out to the car. Their always chilled & ready to go. I drink 20 oz bottles only so I can do at least 5/day & make it 100 oz. I drink half in the am before I go exercise, then drink the other half after I exercise. I eat Breakfast when I get back & then after I get ready for work I start another bottle. I read in a book that you don't drink water 30 min before because you kind of "fill up" on water & don't feel hungry enough to eat the foods you need for nutrients. I had read a lot of conflicting information about the 30 min before rule (some drs have it & some don't). I tried to do without it for about 2 months now & just use the "no water 30 min after' rule" that my dr gave me. My weight loss is still going well. Good luck! banded: 12/20/08 Start weight 313 Current weight 227 -86 total/ 77 to go

i'm not at goal yet. I was lapbanded 12/20/07 & have lost 75 pounds. I do the treadmill 5 days a week, mall walk 1 day/week, and do weight machines 3x/week. Just this past week I noticed a little more "wrinkly" skin. Prior to that, it didn't look much different than usual- since having a baby I always carried the skin weight around the lower middle. I also went into this thinking I don't want to do plastic surgery- it would be fine, it wouldn't look much different than I've always looked. But, now I'm starting to reconsider. Even with the weight lifting I haven't noticed much shaping. I read an article yesterday that said you need to focus on an area 60-90 minutes at a time to "shape it". I know me- I'm not lifting weights 60-90 minutes to tone the arms. To sum up, there looks like there is some bounce back but not all- I'm 39.

after I lost 40 pounds I no longer needed the cpap. i was exercising and that combined with the weight loss, i think, made me sleep fine. not sleeping was the reason I had the sleep study in the first place. To me, when that was resolved, i no longer needed it. I talked with the doctor about it at my next visit & told her I had stopped using it but was sleeping fine. She was fine with that. I had also stopped taking my blood pressure meds but was monitoring bp daily- it was fine as well. Just keep in touch with the doc! Good luck!

My non scale victories: -lost 21 inches top to bottom in measuring the main areas -have hated exercise my whole life but am actually enjoying it now (not the sweating or effort- but I do like the way it makes me feel!) -exercising 6 days per week & enjoying my day off from it -making healthy food choices at meals -getting back into my eddie bauer jeans -I kept all my thinner clothes (I had lost 150 pounds about 8 years ago) & every month I go through the boxes of clothes & find cute clothes that fit in smaller sizes :smile2: Banded 12/20/07 Highest: 313 Presurg: 303 Current: 254 (-59)

I know I'm over 18 (38) but my friends kids are in college so I'd like to comment. I would keep in mind sometimes your bff in college isn't with you for life. Things happen; people change. likely, if they are not overweight (or as overweight as you) they will not understand. I had 163 pounds to loose when I started. People with 30# can't understand the same struggle. I ate out a week after I had the surgery. You can almost always find something on the menu to eat- you say the truth "i;m eating healthier!". The temptation to eat foods that are not "good for you" will always be there whether it's a t home, restaurant, or dorm. But, usually there are healthy choices as well. You just have to choose well. You're body gets less chances to get it's nutrients in when you eat less w/ the band. So, you have to make healthier choices. I don't think any food is forbidden but you have to ration it & choose it rarely. I was banded on 12/20/07, lost 10 pounds in the 10 days before the surgery; & have lost 49 since then for a total of 59 pounds! yeah! I feel great. I've been making better food choices, portions are controlled easily, and I've been exercising for an hour plus per day 6 days per week. I'm determined this will work for me. Since no food is "forbidden" I've had a very very small portion of things i like (ex. on valentines I had one piece of chocolate from the russel stovers box) on very rare occassions. Hope that helped you. Life isn't over with the lapband- it's just beginning. And, you & your mom are smart enough to do it early instead of struggling with it for another 20 years before you do something about it. Best of luck to you!

Not sure on the ticker- Sorry! But as far as the hospital list: stretchy, loose pants to go home in (nothing that it too tight or fitted at the tummy area), large bed pillow for the car if you are traveling to hold over your tummy, something to read if you get bored with tv, your own nightgown/robe, hairbrush, slippers or nonslick socks. I had a whole big list from Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies which was great, but really the hospital provides everything you need- so no worries- you'll have what you need. Good luck!

I had my surgery 12/20 & around 12/7 the office had called & said they had a new requirement that I had to attend 2 classes (6 hours away round trip) on a Tuesday & a Friday & pay an additional $750 for the classes. This was required before my surgery. First I talked to the nurse- she said that that was the new rule the hospital had come up with. In order to ensure success they needed to enstate this new rule to give more nutritional support info (after the nutrition consult I already had for insurance). So, I told her I was never told about this & it was already a sacrifice to come up with the $600 which was my portion for insurance & the $500 deductible. In December, yet! I just didn't see anyway to do this unless we had no gifts for the kids & family this year (that just seemed too selfish of me). So I composed a letter to the doctor directly. The nurse said she'd print it & show it to dr in the morning before he called me. I basically stated that this was not a condition of the surgery prior to now. I should be included in the old rules I came into his care under- not some new rules. I also explained my situation with the driving time & costs of the travel. In the end, he agreed that I should be able to come in under the old rules. Yeah! Remember, you're not just a patient- you're the customer! Good luck!

I had the same thoughts when I was on mushies- this can't be good for me! But, you really have to focus that it's all about you healing right now. You're not going to eat that much of it & like someone said, the calorie count is not that high. When I tried to look at the acutal amount of calories I was consuming in mushies (small portions) it was probably less than 1/3 what I was having before. Use this time to heal & stay off the scale- it's better for you! Just practice eating appropriate portions and the foods the dr recommended,. When you go back to the doctor you'll probably move on to the next phase & you'll start losing weight after you're healed. Take care !!!

does anyone drink from "sports" bottles (water)? When I had my orientation before the surgery the nurse told me that you get too much air when you drink from Water bottles with spouts- she said only drink from the ones with open mouths. I kinda miss the sport top so I wondered if anyone else has had good or bad experiences with this? And, how do you post a new question? I had to post this on another thread because I don't know how to create a new one.... Thanks! Lin banded 12/20/07 3-1-08- lost 53 pounds

does anyone drink from "sports" bottles (water)? When I had my orientation before the surgery the nurse told me that you get too much air when you drink from Water bottles with spouts- she said only drink from the ones with open mouths. I kinda miss the sport top so I wondered if anyone else has had good or bad experiences with this? And, how do you post a new question? I had to post this on another thread because I don't know how to create a new one.... Thanks! Lin banded 12/20/07 3-1-08- lost 53 pounds

I started sleeping on my tummy again after about 2 weeks- when I felt I could without pain. I slept much better on my tummy again! I was banded 12/20/07 & have been doing it for about2 months now & I'v e not had any probs. Good luck!

Hi, You also might, if you haven't already, ask your doctor if he'll release you to drive yourself after & if so, what conditions he will place. My doctor did say that he prefers someone else drive me home & that if I was driving myself I had to be off the pain meds for 24 hours (?). i bet you're getting excited- it'll be here before you know it.

Congrats! Wow- it was very encouraging to see you so far along in the process & how great you look! I know it wasn't easy so you are to be commended ! Happy Bandaversary!