MamaHerm

Hello LJTexas, Welcome! I just went to a seminar, and it was great. I've been reading a lot of the posts on this site, and they will give you lots of info. The reading will help you come up with your own questions to ask the folks at the seminar. The hospital's charge nurse, the surgeon, the dietician, and post-op patients spoke at the seminar that I attended. A support group meeting followed the seminar, and I really enjoyed sharing info with the bandsters who came. I don't know if you are in Texas or not, but the seminar I attended was in Sugar Land, near Houston. I hope to have surgery in April in Sugar Land with Dr. Ponce De Leon. Best wishes!!!

Howdy Aggiegal! Welcome! Best wishes in finding the right surgeon for you. Are you in Texas, and if so, what area? My husband is class of '73 and my son is '02. Whoop! We live in El Campo, Texas, about 60 miles SW of Houston. I hope to be banded in April. I have to lose 40 pounds before surgery; have lost 25 so far. My surgeon is Guillermo Ponce De Leon. He is wonderful -- listens well, has a great sense of humor, and explains everything in layman's terms. Anyway, hope to hear more from you. Gig Em!

BRENDAFRANCES, I bought a protein drink mix from GNC called Nature's Best Perfect Low Carb Isopure. It's pretty good. I also tried one called Lean Body for Her. It gets really thick, and it tastes ok. EAS Advant Edge Carb Control is ready to drink, tastes pretty good, and you can get it at most stores. I tried Arbonne Figure 8 Weight Loss shakes, but I didn't care for the taste. But everyone has different tastes. Katie +

Hey HarleyNana, I got the Magic Bullet for Christmas, and I love it!!! I can't get it to chop onions -- they turn to mush -- which is great for bandsters. It does shakes and smoothies very well. Let me know if you get one! Katie

Hello marivi, Was Dr. Ponce De Leon able to help you? Katie

Hey WASaBubbleButt, I don't think they are the same doctors. Thanks for replying!

Hi Marivi, Dr. Guillermo Ponce De Leon is in Sugar Land at the new Memorial Hospital on West Grand Parkway (near Hwy 99 & Hwy 59). He and his group are in the professional building next to the hospital. I don't know if he will do your fill, but you could call his office at 281 342 8932. His web site is Southwest Surgical Associates - Trust. Hope this helps!

HI HeatherGurl, Hey Wharton girl. I live in El Campo. I hope to be banded in March or April after I lose 40 pounds and bring my BMI down to 50. I noticed that you have lost 190 pounds!!!!! That's awesome!!!!! Have you kept the weight off? How do you like that new KFC and Taco Bell? I haven't eaten there yet -- trying to lose that weight! I'd love to hear back from you.

Hey, TerriDoodle! I live in El Campo and am new to this forum. I hope to be banded in March or April after I bring my BMI down close to 50 and lose about 40 pounds. My doctor is Guillermo Ponce De Leon from Sugar Land, and I will have the surgery at The Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land. Do you know anything about him? Later, Katie

Dear Slainte, My surgeon requires me to lose 40 pounds before he will schedule surgery. That's because my BMI was 58+ and he wants it to be closer to 50. Then I also have to do a liquid diet (4 Protein drinks a day) for two weeks. He says that this is to shrink the liver so it won't be in the way of surgery. I've lost 23 pounds since December 12th by going to Weight Watchers. I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I grill, bake, or broil my meat and eat mostly fish, chicken, and shrimp. My family eats the same foods, and once a week we have beef. We also have Mexican food once a week. How much time do you have to lose the weight? My doctor wanted me to lose it at a rate of about 2 pounds per week. Also, it depends on your insurance requirements. My company requires a three-month diet before surgery along with the dietician's and psychologist's evaluations. My doctor also requires that I do a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day. Good luck! I know you can do it!

I've never heard of Big Medicine, but I don't watch much TV. Is it a one-time show or a series? Will it be on again, and if so, could someone let me know when and on what channel? Thanks!!!

Dear Kat817, Wow!!!! You have done a great job at losing 100+ pounds!!! Way to go!!

Welcome, katies! You are right, this is a great forum. I joined recently and have learned a ton of information. Great luck on your weight loss journey!

Dear arde07, Great job on the weight loss! I am from El Campo, TX, about 55 miles SW of Houston. I have a niece who lives in Quemado and works for the Rio Grande Electric Coop (I think). I will be banded as soon as I lose 20 pounds and will be having it done in Sugar Land. I don't have questions now, but I'm sure I will. Thanks for offering to help!!!

Dear Zannie, I love your pictures! You are such a pretty young lady. I am 5'1", weighed 308 in November, and wear a size 32, so I feel like I can understand where your journey began. And you have done so well!! Don't let the holiday setback get you down. Don't look back -- look forward! I'm trying to lose 40 pounds so that I can have surgery, and I am looking up to people like you who have lost weight. You are my inspiration and my hope. Consider today as the first day of a new journey, just like you did when you were first banded. Fill yourself up with the desire to succeed, get back on the "band" wagon, and go forward. You can do it! You are over halfway to your goal! Good luck and keep us informed.

Way to go, maziemommy! Keep up the great work! I hope your mom gets better.

Welcome, Ky! I just joined this forum yesterday and have read a lot of great things from a lot of people. Congrats on your surgery! I can't wait to have mine done -- should be in March or April. I have to lose weight to have weight loss surgery -- by BMI is too high! Anyway, you are so positive and sound happy, so you have encouraged me with your message. Thanks! I'm from the Gulf coast in Texas, so I always considered myself a southerner, but you really are living in the south!!! I'd love to visit Australia. It looks so beautifully unique!! Hope you continue to do well! Katie

bibo07, I'm also scared about the surgery. I have to lose 40 pounds before I can schedule it because I am 5'1" tall and weighed 308 in November. I know how you feel about your body. I have been so disgusted with mine for years, and the thought of losing 180 pounds to get to a healthy weight has overwhelmed me, so I've just said, "Forget it! It will never happen!" I have all the medical problems associated with obesity -- diabetes, joint pain, shortness of breath, etc. My pulmonologist has been pushing me to do lap band, so I began thinking about it in about September. He kept pushing, so my thoughts began to change. He said that 180 pounds seems impossible, but it's a mind set thing. He said to break it down into smaller amounts and set goals to lose smaller amounts at a time. I started Weight Watchers and set goals to lose 1 pound a week, so that I would lose 50 pounds in one year. Then set another 50 pound goal and another, so that at the end of 3 years I would lose 150 pounds. I've lost 21 pounds since December 12th, so I'm getting closer to the 40 pounds that I need in order to do lap band. What really scared me is that the surgeon told me that he wouldn't want to do any type of surgery on me because my BMI was so high, and I would be at great risk for complications. I wanted to lose the weight by just doing Weight Watchers, but I know that with lap band I will be more successful. Although Weight Watchers is great -- it's healthy eating -- I still feel hungry and sometimes feel like I could eat and eat and eat.... I want to continue with Weight Watchers after I'm banded because I like the weekly support and weigh-in. I also plan to attend a support group for banders, but they only meet once a month. Between the two live groups and this forum, I think I will have the support I need. Of course, my husband supports my decision, also. I think a lot of my worries and concerns are not about the surgery itself -- it's about losing my love affair with food. I enjoy eating and I certainly enjoy good food, but look where it's gotten me. I am so fat that I can barely fit into the restroom on an airplane. I have to ask for a seatbelt extension, and sitting in the airline's seat is so uncomfortable. In November I could barely fit into the seats at our local movie theater. Now they are better. I have to drive 55 miles to buy clothes that fit me, and I'm in the largest size that the store offers. If I gain any more weight, I will have to order all my clothes online. And there are many other things that I cannot do any more. I'm not trying to complain here. I just wanted you to know about the things that are encouraging me to do the surgery and get this weight monkey off my back. Of course, I will still love to eat. And I will. I know that the portions will be smaller. But with lap band, I will get full, and I won't feel hungry. I'm looking forward to that. I'm sorry my posting is so long.

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have not been banded yet. I have to lose 40 pounds before I can schedule surgery. I've lost 21 pounds since December 12th, so I have 19 more to go! I've been going to Weight Watchers and plan to continue going to WWs after banding and would like to hear from others about their post-op eating experiences. I live about an hour west of Houston, Texas, and will be having my surgery in Sugar Land. Are any of my neighbors out there? I'd like to meet you!:glare:

Thank you for asking these questions. I, too, am getting ready for banding, and I am asking myself the same questions. Thanks to all of you who responded because you have given me renewed faith that banding will work for me.