MacMadame

Welcome to LapBandTalk! I had a hiatal hernia repair and it took me a lot longer to recover than some of my friends who didn't. But it does get easier!

Welcome to LapBandTalk! I decided to grow up when it came to my weight too. But I waited until I was 50+ to do it. Congrats to you for seeing the light a lot sooner than that!

Welcome to LapBandTalk! Be sure to check out our section for the UK. You might find some friends who are local to you!

Yikes, I hope I wasn't that rude! I was trying to be respectful, but I felt like she was dumping all over Chickie and, really, anyone who had WLS. I really hate it when people come here and tell us that *they've* found the way and don't need no stinkin' band. They are so kidding themselves, IMO. Oh, then I want one!

Well, it isn't necessarily instant sweet spot. Because when you go home, things adjust and the fill could loosen up or the stomach could swell and you'd be overfilled. But that happens the way your center does it too. So who knows?

I couldn't do any of the ready made shakes. But a lot of people like Carnation SF Instant Breakfast, EAS Mylopex, Atkins and Muscle Milk.

They have way more carbs so I'm guessing, no. What shrinks the liver is low carbs, high Protein.

I didn't say you did. But these people got to that point because they didn't have a program. So a program is not necessarily a bad thing. It's also not necessary to do the extreme Atkin's version of low carbs to do low carbs. I am currently right on track with my weight loss and I am developing a lot of healthy habits. So I am going to stick with my surgeon's program. I have talked to some who share my surgeon who didn't want to have to restrict themselves during the 6 month honeymoon period and didn't do low carb as he recommends and they are sorry now. It took them a lot longer to get to goal and they never got down as far as those of us who did follow it.

There isn't one specifically labeled "Bandster Hell" though. It's more indirect than that. But there is a TON of good information there for pre-ops so I figured I'd pass the link around. :laugh:

It's not really a lot though. It's something like 20 % who regain and a lot of them don't gain it *all* back. Compare this to people who diet without WLS.... Not to me! I commented in the thread Chickie was alluding too. I think the whole "you're insecure" thing is a massive case of the pot calling the kettle black.

While I wish you well, FallOutGirl, the odds are not in your favor. We know that diets don't work and we've know that since at least WWII, if not earlier. I personally only know one person who lost more than 50 lb. and kept it off for more than 5 years. I have heard of two others (famous people). That's 3 people out of millions. They say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different result. I would add to that that insanity is thinking that somehow you'll be the exception and going for the 0.001% odds instead of going for the 75% odds. We've all been insane because we've all done it. But I've chosen to get off the yo-yo dieting merry-go-round and try something with much better odds. Maybe some day you'll get to that point too.

You can bike indoors?!

I signed up for a triathlon. Now I have a deadline so I can't slack off.

3.1 miles. Ran 18 min. of it per the Couch-to-5K tape. My goal in the challenge is to not come in last.

Ran/walked 3.1 miles. Took me 51 freaking minutes though.

I think the terror is normal. It's a big step!

Welcome to LapBandTalk! I grew up outside of Philly. I live in CA now though.

Yes it is. But most of the time, the ones who do this haven't actually stretched their pouch. Like that guy on The Biggest Loser. Qui-Gon was HAWT!

They'll probably tell you about the no drinking thing when they give you your post-op instructions. My kids were home when I had my surgery. My daughter didn't go to school so she could come to the hospital with us and my son was sick and couldn't go to school. Then, they had a day off in there too. It was okay, but they are 10 and 17. And Mr. Mac was home too. I don't have to do B12 unless I have a problem. My surgeon says B12 problems are rare with the sleeve and he's done over a thousand of them. I had my B12 tested last month and it's good so I'll keep on this way.

You mean like this: Frequently Asked Questions (NEW!) - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

My surgeon has a program. The people who follow it lose weight faster. I want to get goal ASAP because I think the hard part will be maintenance. I think you need to be careful if you think of the band alone as the program. It's so easy to eat around (any WLS, really) so if you don't have nutritional goals and guidelines and a plan of some sort, it's easy to get off track. For example, on another list I'm on, people are talking about how they don't eat all day and then are starving at night and eat a lot and poorly. That's a bad habit to get into and it will sabotage their weight loss and their maintenance, if they don't watch out. I am a big fan of low-carb, btw. I started it pre-op to lose some weight to make the surgery safer and it really made a big difference in my hunger cravings. I find if I eat carbs, I crave carbs. Plus I have so much energy when I put Protein first.

That's almost my entire day's allotment of calories in one shake! I can get 54 grams of Protein with only 360 calories via the Protein powder I use and there are others that are even better. (Mine is a tad high in carbs for my liking and has a dab of fat as well -- but it doesn't upset my stomach like the others so it's worth it.)

Until it doesn't. Diet and exercise alone have a horrible track record when you look at the long term. Heck, they have a horrible track record in the short term -- most have gained all their weight back in only 2 years which is nothing in the greater scheme of things. But you know this. You lost weight through diet and exercise and couldn't keep it off--just like everyone else. That is why you are getting a band.

IOW, just diet and exercise because that works for *so many* people! Er, only not. Most of us end up spending much less on food and medicine and doctor's bills and our surgery pays for itself in a very short time. It's an investment in ourselves and no more expensive than buying a new car. I was going to buy a new car next year, but now I'll wait. My surgery is more important. That said, $19000 is an outrageous price to pay for a band, IMO. My surgeon has an amazingly low complication rate and the part of the country I live in has one of the highest cost of living rates in the country. But he'll do a band for around $14-15,000. Heck, my VSG surgery -- which is more involved and requires an overnight hospital stay -- was only $17,000. I have found prices on bariatric surgery vary wildly and you don't always get what you pay for. It pays to shop around.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't finish the 6". I'd eat out most of the insides and leave at least some of the bread. And yet I was still MO. Go figure. I have a SIL whose sisters both have bypass. They both gained all their weight back, assuming they even lost it all to begin with. I didn't even realize they had bypass until I had my surgery and the family gossip tree started humming. They not only are big, but they drink with their meals, drink diet soda, etc. I think it has to be quite frustrating to be them and that's my biggest fear -- that it will happen to me.