Catherine55

Louie, you are awesome -- and I love it that DH gave you props on your awesome Boot Camp strides!! Isn't it so amazing how far we've all come this past year?!? Honestly, it was so hard for me to understand a year ago that all of the WL success of the past year would be real. . . But it is! Gooooooooo October (and all other) bandsters!!!!! Catherine

No -- but I can recommend Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey. They have a gorgeous new hospital there, and Dr. Rumbaut is banded. He also does 2-incision surgeries for some patients (which is what I had). I put photos of the hospital at the beginning of my blog. Best, Catherine

That is so great! Congratulations and best wishes for a safe surgery and speedy recovery! Catherine

You could probably do it, but if you are planning to be at all private about your surgery, it might be better to sit this one out so that people you may not want to share this with won't be asking you questions about it. BTW, be sure to take before photos and your measurements! You will want them later! Best, Catherine

Right. :cursing: Catherine

I'm glad that Happy2Lose responded -- that is 99.9999% for sure your port! No need to worry -- that's where mine is, too. Congratulations on getting banded! Take your measurements and some before photos asap if you haven't already! You will definitely want these things later on! Best, Catherine

I try to keep it low fat, but I also try to focus on eating real food. Honestly, I eat so little (compared to before) that I feel like it's healthier to eat real ingredients and forego the fake stuff. I still have Diet Snapple Iced Tea (have been off my daily Diet Pepsi for over a year and don't even miss it, surprisingly!), and also have FF/SF Jello chocolate pudding every once in a great while. But, other than that, I try to keep it healthy and just eat real food. Hope that helps! Catherine

There is a simple answer to your question. . . H*LL YES!!! Just be prepared for "Bandster Hell" (when you're back on food but don't have restriction yet). It will be hard to stay on plan, but it's just a few weeks. . . and when you get to restriction, it will be smooth sailing from there on out. I'm not saying you won't have to do any work. . . plan your meals. . . eventually exercise, etc. But it is SO MUCH EASIER than staying on a diet for over a year. And, having your band remind you not to overeat every single day . . at every meal -- while at the same time, you get full quickly and don't feel deprived -- is a huge advantage. So, YES. Not to channel our President or anything, but yes you can. And, you will. Welcome to Bandland. Lots of great things in store for you this year! Best wishes, Catherine

I totally agree with the other posters -- this is just temporary (and if it doesn't go away soon, check with your doctor). Once in a while, my stomach will gurgle weirdly, but it's no biggie -- now that I'm only 12 lbs from goal, I just say -- Wow! Guess I'm hungry! (Whereas before, I never would have talked about wanting to eat.) Apples2 has the right sentiment -- it's been SO worth it! Best wishes, Catherine

Take a bunch of "before" photos so that you can see how big a difference there is later on! Also, take your measurements now -- it's great to be able to see inches lost, especially when you plateau (e.g. when you start seriously exercising). Best wishes, Catherine

Hi, Curlicue! Here are my answers to your questions. . . Also, feel free to take a look at my blog -- it's got a year's worth of entries about what it's like to be banded. The change really isn't that extreme -- you just eat less and get full faster, and you have to chew your food well and pick foods that aren't going to get you stuck (e.g. no gummy breads). The main thing I wish I knew was that "Bandster Hell" exists so that I wouldn't have been frustrated by feeling hungry and not losing between the time I got on solid foods and had my first decent fill. I also wish I would have taken more "before" pictures, and am really glad that I took my measurements before I started this process. The thing your nutritionist told you to do has nothing to do with how bandsters eat. She's probably trying to get you to learn to pace yourself and get full as you are eating. It's not a bad thing to do right now, but it's not at all how you'll eat when you're banded and at good restriction. I hope that helps! Catherine

It sounds like you need a wee bit of an un-fill. You should be able to eat normal food at restriction. Definitely call your doctor about this -- you don't want to damage your band! Catherine

It really sounds like all of the things you are p-d about are just the things we all experience during Bandster Hell. Based on my own experience, you are going to be surprised by how much easier this is once you get a good fill and have some restriction going! I'm coming up on my 1 year Bandiversary, am down 63 pounds, and have really been happy with my experience. I hope that you will find the same is true when you are farther out! Best, Catherine

Hey -- and if you haven't taken before photos and your measurements, be sure to do that soon! You'll want them later on!

Welcome -- and congratulations!! Your throat should heal pretty quickly -- should be fine in a day or too. Just be sure to get up and walk around to get the gas from surgery moving out! Best wishes, Catherine

Just 2 pounds to go to get to my 10/31/09 goal! Go October Bandsters!

Congratulations on your surgery! That pain should get better pretty quickly -- but it took a while for mine to go away completely. Don't worry too much on the drinking front. Just take small sips and you'll be fine! BTW, Isopure makes a Protein drink that tastes more like Gatoraid. I hated the shakes and that drink really helped me to get through the liquids phase. They sell it at stores like GNC. Welcome! And, best wishes for your success! Catherine

I agree -- you don't have to say anything at all until it's more serious! You can do things like. . order Soup as a starter; order a starter as your main course; suggest that you share a bunch of starters as your meal (he'll never notice what you eat); order one of the lighter and smaller Entrees on the menu; etc. Plenty of skinny girls barely eat on dates. As long as you don't make a big deal about it, he may not even notice. One thing I make sure to do is tell the waiter how much I enjoyed the meal. That way at least he or she won't call attention to how little I ate by asking if there was anything wrong with the meal. Works like a charm! Best of luck to you! Catherine

What I can tolerate varies now and then. I have the hardest time with beef. Fish is a breeze. chicken is fine as long as it is tender & juicy. Same goes for pork. I had braised oxtail a week or so ago, and it was just fine (but it was slow cooked and amazing. . at a Mario Battali restaurant)! :wink2: I actually haven't had a steak or a burger in ages because I don't cook them at home and am wary of ordering them in restaurants because I don't want to get stuck and have that ruin the meal. Hope that helps! Catherine

Therapy is great -- but have you thought about taking regular photos of yourself? It might help to be able to see your picture in the context of photos from weeks past. If you can see the changes in the pictures, that may help you to recognize them when you look in the mirror and to remember the ways that you have improved when you picture yourself in your mind. Congratulations on your success!! At some point the fact that you are much thinner is bound to sink in! Catherine

Also. . don't forget that you can eat all the things you had on full liquids. Think about making some butternut squash soup -- it's so easy and delicious! I put a bunch of good recipes for soups (with photos, etc.) on my blog -- check them out if you are interested. Actually, you can go to this link -- http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/office-workers-whats-lunch-103295/ -- I gave another bandster links to the recipes so that they would be easier to find. Catherine

I totally agree about the. . poached salmon; refried Beans with cheese; and chili (but I put mine in the blender to make it smootherand ate it with Greek yogurt, which tastes like sour cream). Also, don't forget . . mashed potatoes. . yum! sweet potatoes . . also yum! guacamole (without chips, of course!); and hummus There are TONS of good things to eat on mushies! Just get a little creative and you will sail through this phase! :wink2: Catherine

Hi! I had my surgery almost a year ago with Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, MX. Had a great experience, am now only 14 pounds from my goal, and feel amazing! There is a link to my blog below. If you go to the beginning, you can see photos of the hospital, my description of what it was like, etc. I was very impressed with the quality of care. Also, Dr. Rumbaut is banded, so I felt like he could relate to me on that level in a way a non-banded dr. might not. He was able to do my surgery with just two incisions, which also made for an easier recovery and, obviously, less scars! Good luck with your decision! Catherine

1-Is it worth it? Definitely! I am 11 months out and only 14 pounds from my goal. I feel and look a million times better than I have in years. I know that I could not have done this without the help of the band. 2-What can you no longer eat As the people above mentioned, it varies from person to person. I have trouble with steak and doughy bread. I can eat crackers, toast, the crust of hard rolls, etc. I do not ever feel deprived by not being able to eat those things -- I honestly don't care. If I really wanted steak, I'd just eat it at home so that if I got stuck, I could be more comfortable dealing with it than at a restaurant. How do you get all of your nutrients and eat healthy? I take Vitamins and generally pick healthy foods when I eat. The band has been a really wonderful tool for me and for most of us on this site. It has helped me to change the thing that bothered me the most -- being overweight -- and to feel good about myself. I hope that helps! Welcome to the site -- this is a great source of information and support. Best wishes, Catherine