2KpUpwithAvery

Yep...as posted, I flew to Mexico on Wednesday, got banded and after about 36 hours of recover at Hospital De Angeles I flew home clear across the country and had ZERO issues (well no issues that anyone else would've had) I had the gas pains, and being trapped on the airplane sucks, but for YOUR ISSUE you'll be fine...

I read this whole string, and was fearful for you! I'm soooooo glad you made it through some liquids... So glad! Good Luck

Excellent start to your goal! Always happy to see a positive start... As for "how do you know" you need a fill, I went with the "if I'm losing comfortably" i won't get another fill program. I was only filled TWO times and I have the largest band they can possibly install, why you ask??? Because I'm losing weight at a good rate while ALSO maintaining my ability to eat stuff without being tightened to the point I PB... You do whats best for you, in the end you'll adjust your fills by the rate your losing. Your dr. will push you in a healthy direction! Good Luck!

laughnleo Welcome to the site, please keep us posted on your progress. I'll give you ONE tip, when you hit your first setback (not being prophetic, it happens to nearly all of us who have been banded) Please come back here and seek support, that is what this site is BEST at...security in knowing we've all been through it, and will help you along as well :-) OH...me personally, I'm still losing. NOT a know it all by any means, I'm in the minority (I weighed over 500lbs) when I started..my Dr. wanted me to do the gastric bypass due to a higher success rate, and less chances at "cheating" I convinced him the lapband system could work for me, because I'd stay committed. 18 months later I'm down 196 lbs....I work at it every week, but perhaps not every day There are weak moments, just stay on track! Be Good!

I wanted to post to you direct, you were a great help when this process started and I wanted to see how YOU were doing as well :-) Let me know!

Hello everyone, name is Steve and my surgery date is fast approaching. I'm learning things by the seat of my pants after having switched gears from a U.S. surgery to a Mexico based surgery. Pre Op diets all seem to be different. Advice seems to all be different. I am anxious, and a tad bit nervous.... I'm a 34 year old who is recently divorced from my wife (and daughter). Yah, the daughter was the big loss. Since my separation and subsequent divorce I've gain.. you ready..... 245 lbs! Yah, I basically doubled in size battling depression and separation anxiety disorder while I adjust to life without my daughter in my life everyday. In the past I managed to lose 260 lbs on my own, working out and eating healthy. That occurred from Jan 01 to December 01.. Thats right, 11.5 months and it was all gone! The weight was off... Then, I met the girl of my dreams.. Got married, had my daughter Avery and settled into a nice lil life... for a while.. then it happened... Divorce.. eating problems, and I went off the deep end gaining about 10-12 lbs a month for two years and hear I am now... This is a must, I tasted the good life.. and want it back..

Hello, its been WAY TOO long since I've been here to update everyone... Things are now one year and nearly one month in, meaning I was banded nearly 13 months ago. So far I'm down approximately 167 lbs, and I feel absolutely wonderful. Life is good, going well and I'm just getting ready to join the local gym again for the first time in 5 years! Thats a huge step, and will no doubt help me continue down this path to a healthier me :-) I'll post more when I can...things are going well :-)

:thumbup: I'd love to share some of the staple dishes that are helping you out there that are in the same boat as myself. What I'm looking for is ideas of meals, and trust me I know everyone is different, but I'd like to know sample breakfasts lunches and dinners that are working good for everyone! I'm a guy, and need to lose in the neighborhood of 250-275 lbs. I've been on the trail for about 5.5 months, and am down about 65 lbs. I'm good with that, and have recently started an exercise regimine due to less stress on my back and knees from dropping the first 65 lbs. (started over 500 lbs) I'll start with a couple examples that work good for ME, hopefully someone else will try them and get a good meal that works for them. Breakfasts: Not so hard, I can eat very little in the morning because the band is quite TIGHT. I have found a 1 egg "omelette" works great. I add onions and mushrooms for low caloric fillers, and ONE HALF piece of cheese. If i use a whole piece, it clumps and gets stuck! 1/2 a piece of cheese adds flavor and works. Also, I boil eggs a dozen at a time and keep them in my fridge. In a pinch, so I have a good Protein rich start to my day I grab TWO Eggs and have hard boiled EGG WHITES w/ a lil salt and pepper for Breakfast. Very satisfying for me :-) Lunches: I've personally settled on the following: Small dollar store bought premade Tuna and Chix salad meals. Less than 260 calories, they go down well for me and offer a decent mix of calories vs protein fat and carbs. (not a prot fat carb counter, but I know how to read a label) Half turkey sandwich with light mayo w/onion and pickles. Just a half, then I can add a yogurt or something to get in some dairy with healthy carbs to add to my diet. Dinner: By far the most successful, considering everything to do with the lapband.. Fish and Veggies... since I'm eating small portions, a little butter is used because the fat is needed in your diet and the calories/flavor factor is a GREAT no brainer. Just don't go nuts, that should go without saying. The fish I cook Blackened!! Its great, and fish is by far the BEST healthy food for making me feel full. Zatarins makes one of the best sprinkle on blackened seasons out there, and you can get it to stick without the butter (fat free Pam) if you so desire! Another Dinner: Comes from the "mushy" stage of the lapband process I still love Fat Free refried Beans mixed with my favorite salsa and a dollup of FULL FAT sour cream to bring it together. Again the fat vs Flavor benefit that using full fat sour cream adds to this dish is WELL WoRTH IT guys! Those are my best "luck" foods with the lapband, I really hope there are people out there who will share. I have other Ideas, but if we all post then we can get some good ideas that I'll be we aren't thinking about.

Thats the one, the Recumbent bicycle. It will REV UP your heart rate like any other cardio, and its great on the back. Big BUTT OR NOT BUY ONE! LOL, I can say this because MOMSTER0, I started this journey over 500lbs and 7 months in i'm down 95 lbs. My but is big, and if I'd waited to find a seat to fit it, well? I'd NEVER find one. Buy the most comfortable seat you can find and go with it, your butt will thank you for it :-) Recumbent bike, and if you did the quick math you realize we are both close to 400 lbs, is the way to go for sure. And its compact, and ez to put together. My advice, don't go to Wal Mart or K mart. Spend $600 or even $800 or $900 to get one that is stable, and suits a big person best. We are not meant for $185 bikes! So don't go there Good luck!

The lap band surgery is an EXCELLENT option, so long as your prepared to use it as a tool! Not a miracle, I always say that because for about two months I realized that it can be worked around, you have to WANT it :-) Now, that being said. I paid cash for my lapband, I went to Mexico! Total was well worth it, around $8000 for EVERYTHING including my flights from Ohio to El Paso, travel into Mexico (arranged by Hospital De Angeles) and it was seemless. Now, many people wont dare go to mexico. I also had the choice to go do Detroit MI, same set of people doing the surgeries just more red tape. They also had a cash price, but it was $12000 BEFORE travel and stuff. For me, being in Ohio. Travel would've been pretty much nothing. So $12 K in MI isn't that bad, and its below the $17K you had mentioned so I decided to post. I could hook you up with information on that place IF IF IF you are interested. I won't bother because I don't know where you are located. So, where exactly are you? Is Detroit MI an option? Not a bad price.. Thanks

Negative, I 100% agree with the poster that said quite simply. "WE have what we need up front, no need to go there" Its not worth it, and I too agree its a bit degrading on the womans part so why? I'm all for some good fun, but there are many MANY other things going on in that region I'd rather not mix and match with my sex life. Plus, you shouldn't have to prep for sex, it takes the spontinaity out of it when you have to "prepare" for it. Just MY THOUGHTS, since you think nobody was chiming in and speaking up. I must say this really isn't the place for this post, this is not why I come here and certainly isn't what I was expecting to read in the mens room today :-) I'm not an old fuddy duddy by any means, just giving my honest opinion.. Cya..

Hi Joe Straight up, man to man? Go back to the Dr., don't worry about being heavier than you "should be". You are still down in weight, and most heavy people would've simply gained on top of your original weight had you not opted for surgery back in 2005. Where would you be, maybe over 400#'s Well, thats where I am and its no joy :wink: I'm simply here to encourage you do INDEED go back to the Dr., let him see your weight and get you back on track. Until you go is not going to kick start this effort in your head. Here is another thought. If you managed to lose down to 260 you had the fills in place, now you technically need to be emptied and refilled, right? You need to basically get back on track, at this point I'm sure you've worried yourself to death that you've hurt your band, stretched your stomach etc? I assume anyways... I think the Dr. might be hard on you, but whatever! After you leave that day you'll feel the journey starting over and you WILL be able to handle it. I personally don't want to be in the minority of ppl that have failed with the lapband, and I don't want you to end up in that group either :-) Talk it out here, but most importantly get back to the Dr. so he can check out where you stand physically with the band and your New (in 2005) stoma. Take care Joe!

:thumbup: I'd love to share some of the staple dishes that are helping you out there that are in the same boat as myself. What I'm looking for is ideas of meals, and trust me I know everyone is different, but I'd like to know sample breakfasts lunches and dinners that are working good for everyone! I'm a guy, and need to lose in the neighborhood of 250-275 lbs. I've been on the trail for about 5.5 months, and am down about 65 lbs. I'm good with that, and have recently started an exercise regimine due to less stress on my back and knees from dropping the first 65 lbs. (started over 500 lbs) I'll start with a couple examples that work good for ME, hopefully someone else will try them and get a good meal that works for them. Breakfasts: Not so hard, I can eat very little in the morning because the band is quite TIGHT. I have found a 1 egg "omelette" works great. I add onions and mushrooms for low caloric fillers, and ONE HALF piece of cheese. If i use a whole piece, it clumps and gets stuck! 1/2 a piece of cheese adds flavor and works. Also, I boil eggs a dozen at a time and keep them in my fridge. In a pinch, so I have a good Protein rich start to my day I grab TWO Eggs and have hard boiled EGG WHITES w/ a lil salt and pepper for Breakfast. Very satisfying for me :-) Lunches: I've personally settled on the following: Small dollar store bought premade Tuna and Chix salad meals. Less than 260 calories, they go down well for me and offer a decent mix of calories vs protein fat and carbs. (not a prot fat carb counter, but I know how to read a label) Half turkey sandwich with light mayo w/onion and pickles. Just a half, then I can add a yogurt or something to get in some dairy with healthy carbs to add to my diet. Dinner: By far the most successful, considering everything to do with the lapband.. Fish and Veggies... since I'm eating small portions, a little butter is used because the fat is needed in your diet and the calories/flavor factor is a GREAT no brainer. Just don't go nuts, that should go without saying. The fish I cook Blackened!! Its great, and fish is by far the BEST healthy food for making me feel full. Zatarins makes one of the best sprinkle on blackened seasons out there, and you can get it to stick without the butter (fat free Pam) if you so desire! Another Dinner: Comes from the "mushy" stage of the lapband process I still love Fat Free refried Beans mixed with my favorite salsa and a dollup of FULL FAT sour cream to bring it together. Again the fat vs Flavor benefit that using full fat sour cream adds to this dish is WELL WoRTH IT guys! Those are my best "luck" foods with the lapband, I really hope there are people out there who will share. I have other Ideas, but if we all post then we can get some good ideas that I'll be we aren't thinking about.

Just remember this tip! You'll never ever miss a food like you'll miss a food AFTER you find out you can never eat it again. The smell of steak is like sex sometimes, ok thats an exaggeration, but its so enjoyable. But I cannot eat it.... I'm doing well, and not nuts. Many of us got here due to an obsession with food, I'm no different. IT's like the forbidden fruit, never again. Thanks

I was on a pre op diet, so the "last meal" was simply high Protein low carb. However! For those of you who eat steak regularly, or ever CRAVE a nice piece of Ribeye, Strip or Filet mignon... EAT IT NOW, cause it will NOT go down after you are banded and into a good phase of this lifestyle change. Steaks don't have a chance, maybe maybe maybe if you cook them for 70 hours (lol) in a slow cooker on low with cream of mushroom or something. Maybe just maybe you could get it down. but honestly, is that how ANYONE eats steak. For me, I NEVER ate steak a whole lot. Maybe on occasion, but those days are gone. I learned the hard way eating a 2oz piece of prime rib with 3 steamed carrots one night. The mistake of all mistakes!! It still hurts my chest just THINKING about it. Also, chineses!! Ah!! I thought, eat in moderation Steve. YOu can eat anything in moderation!! NO YOU CAN'T, general tso's chicken.. even in the smallest of a portion hurts so bad its not funny I'm sure you, and many others may post that that is not the case, that chinese and steak go down great. I find it hard to believe cause it hurts so bad for me, but if so cool Beans for you. Later... Take the time to enjoy one final meal, I don't recommend indulging but if you are not on a pre op diet that restricts it, mentally it'd be nice to pick a food with a normal portion size and enjoy it. Just my thoughts..

Frogstar Cool, Tofu sounds interesting. Any other Tofu recipes you have to share would also be appreciated, I've not cooked with it before and would love any tips you might have. Thanks

Some of my favs, chicken and rotel. Crockpot huh, excellent! This ones a definite winner!!

Excellent Idea, I have actually been eye balling a Foreman grill for that EXACT same reason. No heating of the oven, no pans or anything. Turn on grill, season stuff and forget it! I am so glad you posted your thoughts, I appreciate it and will be picking up a Foreman grill again this evening. thanks Mim