rosstheboss

Not sure if you have Kroger by you but they have this CARBMASTER MILK! Chocolate, Plain and Vanilla, 8 onz has 11 grams of Protein and 60 Calories. I know you need more but you could maybe mix protein powder with it. A Christmas I used it with Egg Beaters to make Eggnog. I told a friend of mine who's daughter has medical issues she was talking how her girl needed more protein but wouldn't drink ensure etc. I told her and she loves it. Tastes like regular chocolate milk. I mentioned it to my Dr he said it was find but as space is at a premium perhaps mix some additional unflavored protein powder with it. I currently have a band and am having a sleeve revision in May.

Can you give me an idea how much you can eat a few months after sleeve? and how much water can you drink. I drink lots i understand that goes through quicker. I'm drinking water or unsweetened tea all day.

My Dr In NC is now doing the Sleeve for $9998.00 In part because there are many band people who can get them removed under insurance but will not pay for the revision. I would check around at some of the major Bariatric enters in the area. Some are doing them in out patient facilities that are actually nicer than a Hospital setting

Hi Glad I found this. I just scheduled my Band to Sleeve revision for May 5th. And I am nervous as the reality is sinking in. My Doctor does them together, he never mentioned two surgery. But in our meeting today he said the new stomach is 1/4 of the old one For some reason I thought he had said it would be 1/3, This difference seems little but kind of through me. Perhaps because I had the Band before, really not sure. I have to go to see the PA a few weeks prior to surgery as we are over the 4 week cut off which is OK. The PA actually is more of a optimistic, actually the PA has been the one who first suggested the revision and how knowing my history and compliance he thought it would really help me. I really only saw the DR a few times in the last 8 years as i mainly saw the PA, The Dr you have to wait literally hours and hours!

Ins may pay for removal which is easer to justify but you may have to cover revision

Hi just came from dr to schedule my revision. Actually he was asking me about what I sent to get them to approve. It is hard. I later was told they sen 160 pages of documentation. And yes they check off from there list. For me after the rejection and Pier review they questioned a year that I had not seen the Bariatric Dr. But I had other dr notes and pages of compliance records.

Hi actually meet with dr today And have date of March 5! really not sure he never mentioned 2 surgeries. I Think it depends on what band complications you have, and maybe your general health. He said it will take 1.5 to 2 hr total. My band has been empty now for a few months now.

Thanks. We were banded around the same time too. So many tests but they want yo minimize potent problems. All my tests went well. I know this will be hard but would rather do it now than regret it later

Thanks. Yea I've been hanging around this 250-260 for years. But coming from 300 plus and needing the band out I'm so concerned about just having the band removed without any revision. As the band is empty it's more comfortable but getting harder. I'm Am concerned long term about the band.

Hi I know many guys don't get this done. But i had a lower body lift a number of years ago. I had a lap band and my Port was about 3 inches or so the right. after my body lift it was 3 inches on the LEFT! I said to the surgeon, You moved my port? he replied no that is where it ended up after tightening the muscles. I don't know why you wouldn't have it done. One bit of advice (listen to the Nurses! ) They said if you don't have a recliner than purchase one. It will be your best friend. I actually slept in mine for a few weeks. It made it so easy to get up and move around etc. I

It's difficult. I was banded in 09. I've kept off 50 lbs. but it's been a struggle. I have had fill put in and out so many times I can't remember. Ins will want to see compliance and if you gained that say you were not compliant. Many dr mine included are doing the sleeve for $10,000 all inclusive, hospital etc. with 3 yr follow . My ins is covering a revision but I have Years of compliance history even then it was denied at first. So ask your dr about private pay especially for revisions.

Hi. Do you have a Kroger near you. There Carbmaster milk is high in protein and I believe lactose free , I use this instead of protein powder

Thanks for your input. My dr plans to do them both at the same time. I don't really want to have two surgeries. While my current weight is not bad I know I'll face problems down the road as I have arthritis in both knees so eventually may require knee replacement. I am currently recovering from foot surgery and know weight is not helping. As I gave been working out these last 8 years I have a lot more strength and am in far better shape then when I was banded.

Thanks for your help. Yea its been a life time of weight struggle, I was a fat kid, the 33O in HS. I did loose 100 lbs in college, actually in like 6 months, also lost a lot of hair and wasn't able to keep it off. For the last 8 Years have kept a good amount of it off, working out a lot. I wear a 36 to 38 pants, mostly XL shirts. Most of the fill was taken out at Christmas and the rest a month ago. I do find i am hungry, Weight is still up and down same 5 lbs. I am concerned about just having the band removed, but also trying to get my head around the very small volume. Actually most of the time I am doing protein shakes, until the band was empty it hurt to eat unless I was drinking with my meals.

HI Friends, Have not posted in awhile, I must say that I cant believe its been 4 years since I was banded. I am having major issues! While I am proud that I have maintained a weight loss of over 50 Lbs since my Band. And 85 lbs from my high weight. I am still frustrated as I want to loose more and don't know what else I can possibly do. I train (Weight 3 x a week) Try to do some cardio 1 other day. I know I could be doing more cardio. I eat well but if I go off my plan for a day or two due to any even the scale is up like 5 lbs and it than takes a few days to get it back down. I found some old photos today from 2005 they were really hard to look at. When I look at them vs today I know I have come along way but the scale is driving me crazy. My High was 330 when i was 17, my low as an adult was 223 when I was 25 after server diet, for most of my adult life I was hovering around that 300 Mark. UP or Down 10/lbs. I was banded May 1 2009 at 300/lbs. My low was that following year 237, In the last 3 years my weight is between 240 to 250 and I am not happy about that. My new goal is 235 but it is so hard to try and get their and probably harder to stay their. Really don't know , I thought I would try something different and joined WW. The plan is good but the points were far to high. I cut it down and have been loosing a bit than had a weekend away for a wedding and it back up again. I know all this stuff about body set point. I have seen a nutritionist and she say to look at family and I am a big guy and my weight where it is is OK! But still not pleased just need to be reassured I guess. I need to learn to accept myself. It really pisses me off that many of the guys I know are bigger than me and seem so secure with themselves and they are fatter than me. I have even though that maybe I should have By pass surgery now. You may have noticed that I on prior post that I had a body Lift. So I do look ok but really want to get another 10 to 15 off and don't know what to do next. I enjoyed eating WW and tracking good amount of fruit, Now I am doing WW but only Power Foods. Veg, Protein etc. at least for awhile but I tell you lack of carbs make me cranky!

Hi ! my high was around 330, A long time ago. I was always heavy in my 20's I lost 100 lbs in a 7 months. than slowly gained virtually all back. Was banded 4 years ago at 300. Got down to 335 and had a body lift. Would do it again. and Again. When you get their contact me but if your young and have not been heavy that long you may not need it.

Yea Stay Away, I do not drink soda very often. Hear an interesting thing from my DR. Every person that later had a weight gain after successful weight loss had something in common, and that was they started to drink soda again. Not to say every banster who drinks soda gains their weight back but all that she has seen had this in common. Now certainly this was not the only factor but might have been a symptomatic of a person going back to their old habit of eating. Regardless was an interesting observation. Also the more I hear about the obesity problem one common thing is Soda, DIET and Regular. Our bodies were not meant to drink this stuff. I am certainly not perfect and am having issues but try to keep away. For yourself, I too can go up 5 lbs in a day and its caused by Carbs, Salt etc. My body just loves to retain water and carb do it every time. Anyway good luck to you, you seem that you are well on your way.

Hi we have similar stories. I am 3.5 years out with the band, have kept off 55 lbs. I was 65 lbs down but getting back on track. The good news have kept 55 lbs off for 3 years not. I was about 330 in HS. In collage went on a strict plant on got down to 225. but gradually came back on. So for most of my adult life have been around 300. I am just over 6ft tall. I was 300 when banded. Lowest I got to was 335, for a while I have been hovering in the mid 240's. Anyway the band can get you to a healthy weight if you work at it and I guess I am at a healthy weight so says my Dr. But I would like to be thinner. I also work out 3 x a week. My Dr office now does the band with a procedure to the stomach. It is kind of a band with a Sleeve type procedure, he inverts part of the stomach and that makes it smaller but they do not surgically remove the extra part. You may want to ask your dr. about it. My Dr office started doing this about a year ago, it was not being done when I had mine 3 years ago. Kind of wish he was doing that too back than. You do have to work hard. Slimming etc not a big deal and should not happen too often, if it does your doing something wrong. Ask about this band plus procedure.

I had a bad respiratory infection before surgery and we just pushed it out a month. Call your Dr. you might go on an antibiotic or just wait a bit. Good luck to you.

Have you tried the knee shots of lubricants? ( Not just the cortisone If not try them and make sure they do the injection under the ultrasound to make sure they hit the spot. Helps a lot to hopefully move out the replacement. Also swimming instead of running. Good luck.

Follow your Dr. Orders, remember the scars will look worse before they start to look better. Their is not much to do in the first few weeks until the bandages, tape, drained etc are out. Than you will start to treat them. Some of the worse scars now look the best. I had a body lift a year ago.

You need to go back to your band Dr. Maybe go on some medication for acid reflux. I had a bit of a problem last year and actually had to take a few things. you could have inflammation etc. Sorry to hear of your trouble.

Hi All, Well the time is getting closer for my Body Lift and I am of course freaking out a bit. Weight has been fairly stable but would like to loose a bit more before the Nov 1st date. I am scheduled for a body lift and I know it will be hard, I am concerned about the risk and if it is worth the money $12K etc. My wife is also scared and concerned. I look OK but their are areas that no amount of weight loss will help with that. IE Hanging skin. love handles etc. I have been heavy virtually all of my life and for once would like to be relatively thin but part of me is thinking that an old fart like me (53) should even bother! Am I being selfish? I would like to hear from anyone who has gone through this and if you would do it again?

Hi All its 3 1/2 years since I have been banded and 1 year since my body lift. And I am really pleased with the results, I never though I would have abs and kind of that " V " that everyone strives for. But I need some help to see if I am just fooling myself and eating too much or If I really OK and should accept myself where I am. Its really frustrating. My top weight was 330 - 335 in High School. Today I'm 240. i was 245 1 Year ago the morning of my body lift. I am almost 6' 1" I did get to 233 a few months after my body lift when I was recovering. I have been around around this 240 Mark now for a few years! And don't know what I can do to get to my goal which is moving up now to from 225 to 230! I am still a big guy. I have been heavy all my life, my dad and mom were big. So the it's in the Family. The only really thin "ADULT" member of my family is a cousin (HE's ADOPTED!) I was always the biggest guy in the class or room etc. So hear I am. Down 90 lbs from my High and 60 since the band. I work out 3 x a week for 3 years now. Yea I have built muscle but want to loose more. I keep looking for an answer and no one seems to have one for me. My Nutritionist says that my body really likes this weight! At my thinnest was 225 when I was 25, Now I am 55 and 240. so 225 is not realistic! My Medical Dr says I am fine! Not on any medications, labs are good. He is really happy where I am and what i have done. My Lap Band DR says I am a success. "Because the band gets you healthy not skinny." Oh THANKS FOR TELLING ME NOW! My Shrink says! "Live in the Now look where you have come from" Your a big guy and can't change your body type. My Trainer says do more cardio on my off days But I still want to loose some more. My Body lift was a year ago today, the Dr said he took off 10 Lbs but not so with the scale. I was 245 when I had my body lift, so I should be like 235 now but I am hovering around 240. I had gotten down to 233 during the recovery of my body lift. One I got back to the gym it started to up again. I would love to get some other suggestions too. It is frustrating, I know I am building muscle. My chest is almost a big as when I started ( NO MAN BOOBS THOUGH) but my waist went from a 44 to a 36, My Chest from a 52 to like a 48. My Shirt went from XXL to L but now back to XL Because of weight training my chest is getting bigger. Some guy friends have poked my chest and commented about the muscle so I guess that's good but not what I was really aiming for. (Yea I do kind of have abs now ! Yea I said that before) So really at a loss as to what to do next. I have tried eating more, eating less. Low Carbs, no carbs, normal carbs? The scale goes up if I eat too many carbs or go off my plan. A few days back on its down. I have had the tests done on the amount of calories I should eat. They say around 2,000. I actually have My Nutritionist and I agree around 1500 - 1600. I work out with a trainer 3 x a week, doing mainly strength I really should be doing more cardio on my off days. But I do have bad knees. Guess I am looking for motivation or something. I never thought I would have a body this good especially at 55, Yea my abs are fairly good but still see that fat guy, Yea when I look at old photos I know I look much much better but still, want to be thinner but not sure if I am willing to starve. And I can't starve and work out! Just can't do it! " I have tried it! " Any suggestions am I kidding myself or just being ungrateful. I guess I just look NORMAL Now. Better than most of my Friends , but am I just being ungrateful and unrealistic. any suggestions.

Hi All its 3 1/2 years since I have been banded and 1 year since my body lift. I need some help to see if I am just fooling myself and eating too much or If I really OK and should accept myself where I am. Its really frustrating. My top weight was 330 335 in High School. Today I'm 240. The lowest I was was 233 a few months after my body lift when I was recovering. I have been around around this 240 Mark now for a few years! And don't know what I can do to get to my goal which is moving up now to from 225 to 230! I am 6 Ft and a big guy. I have been heavy all my life, my dad and mom were big. So the it's in the Family. The only really thin "ADULT" member of my family is a cousin (HE's ADOPTED!) I was always the biggest guy in the class or room etc. So hear I am. Down 90 lbs from my High and 60 since the band. I work out 3 x a week for 3 years now. Yea I have built muscle but want to loose more. I keep looking for an answer and no one seems to have one for me. My Nutritionist says that my body really likes this weight! At my thinnest was 225 when I was 25, Now I am 55 and 240. My Medical Dr says I am fine! Not on any medications, labs are good. He is really happy where I am. My Lap Band DR says I am a success. Because the band gets you healthy not skinny. My Shrink says! "Live in the Now look where you have come from" Your a big guy and can't change your body type. My Trainer says do more cardio on my off days But I still want to loose some more. I also had a body lift a year ago, the Dr said he took off 10 Lbs but not so with the scale. I was 245 when I had my body lift, so I should be like 235 now but I am hovering around 240. I had gotten down to 233 during the recovery of my body lift. One I got back to the gym it started to up again. I would love to get some other suggestions too. It is frustrating, I know I am building muscle. My chest is almost a big as when I started ( NO MAN BOOBS THOUGH) but my waist went from a 44 to a 36, My Chest from a 52 to like a 48. My Shirt went from XXL to L but now back to XL Because of weight training my chest is getting bigger. Some guy friends have poked my chest and commented about the muscle so I guess that's good but not what I was really aiming for. So really at a loss as to what to do next. I have tried eating more, eating less. Low Carbs, no carbs, normal carbs? The scale goes up if I eat too many carbs or go off my plan. A few days back on its down. I have had the tests done on the amount of calories I should eat. They say around 2,000. I actually have My Nutritionist and I agree around 1500 - 1600. I work out with a trainer 3 x a week, doing mainly strength I really should be doing more cardio on my off days. But I do have bad knees. Guess I am looking for motivation or something. I never thought I would have a body this good especially at 55, Yea my abs are fairly good but still see that fat guy, Yea when I look at old photos I know I look much much better but still, want to be thinner but not sure if I am willing to starve. And I can't starve and work out! Just can't do it! " I have tried it! " Any suggestions am I kidding myself or just being ungrateful.