clynnc

Rhonda.. here's my typical day of eating: BKFST: 1 egg with shredded cheese you can add salsa and even have it in a pita... good Protein, good carb & small amt of fat snack: yogurt w/ fruit or 1oz of cheese w/beef bites) they are in the deli section with all of the meats & cheeses they look like pepperoni sticks- they are small about 1/2 inch long lunch: salad w/ tuna or chicken salad or fish or ground turkey .. I don't use anything low fat--it's nasty to me-- you can make a good taco salad.. i experiment all of the time on salads... Romaine lettuce is easier to eat for me.. Iceberg lettuce tends to get stuck. ** don't me wrong.. I eat meat too..I just can't eat very much--I even eat mex. food... my fave-enchiladas, floutas & tamales.. band won't let me eat much afternoon snack--Zone bar... these are the best Protein Bars for me--My faves are: mint choc., strawberry, orange/cranberry Dinner: same concept as lunch... you need protein, carb & fat I try to use the zone plan -- in my mind fat is the size of cotton ball, carb is size of tennis ball, protein is size of deck of cards.. now obviously i can't eat that much food at one time so i reduce the sizes.. it's not hard once you get the hang of it.. i hope this helps.. I don't always eat the best, but try to do the better bad choices if you can.. It's hard as heck and sometimes I have to give in to my addiction- DairyQueen-OREO BLIZZARD! yummy..

i had my first fill 4 wks after surgery and lost 7 lbs that first month.. every one is different.. my sister lost 29 lbs her first month

OMG! CONGRATS to you... I am 208 today... I was just telling my sister that I can't wait to get out of the 200 club... the 200 club has been good to me, but i just don't like it~ Good Luck and keep me posted banded 11/28/06

It took me 1.5 years to fight and appeal multiple time with insurance.. But once I was appved.. my surgery was the next wk. My insurance company are Deniers in Denial---

Good Luck & keep us posted

no, but I feel that I have the best in houston..

Happy b-day & congrats!

I'm not sure how much your out of pocket would be.... my dr. was out of network, so I had to pay my 20% which was $4000.. but they set me up on a pymt plan

Hi Shawna! appx out of pocket is between 12-15 thousand dollars... Seminars are normally held by each dr.'s practice..Seminar &consultations are normally free-- they will guide you thru the rest.. If you will be a cash pay- you can get financing thru several ways--Capital One Health finance is one of them.. I checked into that about 2 yrs ago.. My insurance denied me several times and I appealed their decision b/c how can they know what's best for me. The procedure was not excluded on my policy but they wanted to pick & choose and wanted me to have the Gastric Bypass-- I surely did not want that- You can also, take a loan out thru your bank or credit union or try to find a low rate credit card.. there are several options out there I have been banded since 11/28/06 and love it.. I like that my intake is restricted.. I've lost 29lbs so far.. slow is good I only have 48 more lbs to go to my goal weight.. Good luck and I hope this help.. Some procedures are cheaper, but make sure that your are comfortable with the dr... do lots of research and attend several seminars by different dr's... good luck & best wishes... let me know if I can help answer any other questions PS my sister had this done 2/2005 and has lost 102 lbs she went from a size 22 to a size 8

Hi Dianne- I have been banded since 11/28/06-weightloss was a little slow-- had to go back each month b/c my fills were not restricting my eating very much.. I had minimal weight loss from my band date til about 4 1/2 wks ago-- i had only lost 17 lbs-- I got my last fill about 4 1/2 wks ago and how lost another 9 lbs -which is really great--my total now is 29 lbs..It is hard to eat certain things, the band is different for every one. My sister, had it done 2/2005-- she has lost 102 lbs (from a size 22 to a size 8)...she has problems eating hamburger meat-- I have problems with steak-- my friend that had this done can't eat pork or tortillas-- I can pretty much eat anything, but small quantities-- I love hamburgers, but can only eat 2 bites and then i'm full---that's good for me-- at least I can get a taste of it-- I usually eat ever 3 hours or so-- 7am, 10am, 1pm 4pm & 7pm... my first month was a little scarey b/c you don't know what to expect,,, it's not that bad.. I'm glad that my fills were very slow b/c it allowed me adjust slowly-- I'm doing great and good luck with your decision

i did really well with protein shakes(eat with a spoon or let it melt & drink it) can't use straw-- also, campbells potatoe soup add some cheese to it (yummy) i agree, try different soups, oatmeal, maltomeal,--add skim milk so it's not so thick... but the malto meal (of course I add sugar) really sticks to your ribs and is yummy- I also make me the Idahoan instant mashed potatoes (they have garlic & herb, baked potato, homestyle, buttery and other various flavors..) Yogurt w/ soft fruit in it (watch the sugar)

I know 2 people that have had the gastric and they regret.. Both people (my aunt and good friend) nearly died...Good luck in your endeavors I wish that I had positive feed back for you regarding the gastric. I think the LB is the way to go~ Obviously you do too~ My sister is having the same issue-- she has to lose weight before her surgery too- it's a safety issue due to too much fat around the liver.. Can the doctor give a plan to follow for those 3 mos? maybe that would help-- although I know it's hard- best wishes

Rhonda how are you eating? give me an example of bkfst, snack, lunch, snack & dinner.....I would like to compare to mine ..... I've been banded since 11/28/06 ..had to go each month to increase fill b/c the restriction was that great.. My last fill was 4 1/2 wks ago- i've lost 9 lbs in this time frame.. I read alot of nutritional articles and what we should be eating with and without the band.. it has helped me alot..

Congrats to you.. I was banded 11/28/06-- it took me 1 1/2 yrs of fighting with the insurance. But I thank God that I was able to get it done.. My weightloss has been slow. I've had a fill every month since the procedure.. Finally on my last fill about 4 1/2 wks ago and have alreay lost 9 lbs since then. That is great! I feel great and feel like this is finally starting to work the way it's suppose to. Well anyway- good luck & best wishes!

I was appvd on monday and they wanted to scheduled my surgery 2 days after...but of course that was 2 days before thanksgiving so I opted for the next week!! OINK! OINK FOR ME! Congrats & best wishes for you

hopefully your husband has a change of heart.. My husband wasn't for it or against it.. He just wanted me to feel better about myself and to feel healthy. Well, again- good look & best wishes

Don't be sad! I know it's hard.. I think that you should research it...I can tell you that I've been banded for 6mos... have lost 29 lbs so far! very excited about that.. My sister had it done 2 yrs ago and has lost 102 lbs.. I have not regrets... The surgery will probably reverse your diabetes.. you should attend a seminar.. find a dr. in your area and found out where there free seminars are held? They are very informative, Also the death rate is less that 1%.. The Gastric has a 6% death rate associate to it. My mom and I were both against it when my sister decided to do it.. that was b/c we did not research it. I agree with you. The co-morbities (high blood pressure) etc.. may get the best of you first... This is a way to take control and it's laproscopic and minimally invasive.. Here is the dr. that i used and there may be some informative info for you there.. www.bandmd.com.. The best of wishes & luck to you.

Congrats on your decision.. I've been banded since 11/28/06.. starting weight 237 now 208... goal weight 160. My surgeon is in Houston, TX-- his website is www.bandmd.com His name is Dr. Hadar Spivak.. He is agreat surgeon.. My sister was banded by in feb. 2005 (she has lost 102 lbs) and my friend was banded by him and has lost 70 lbs. They both look great and feel great too! Good luck to you and make sure that you are very comfortable with the surgeon that you pick

COngrats to you..... Great hubby's are hard to come by these.. congrats on that too!.. I was banded 11/28/06 staring 237lbs currently 208lbs.. feeling great and have appx 48 lbs to go...

First of all.... You should be hating yourself~ In order to have the surgery you must have a Psyche evaluation. You may need to work on not hating yourself first. I've been banded for 6mos.. love it... I have horrible food cravings..the band doesn't kill the cravings, but you can only eat a small amount and then you are full... that full feeling is a huge help....before I could be hungry and then be full and keep eating.. now once I'm full I have to stop or some of the food will come back up... Once that happens, I'm not hungry anymore.. .it's weird but it works and it works differently for every one... My sister had the band in feb 2005 and has lost 102 lbs...now she's 8 wks pregnant, but she still looks great from a size 22 to a size 8... that's awesome... good luck to you and please love yourself. You only have one you in this lifetime.. Take advantage of every day... Who cares if you are overweight-- we all are-love you for you and decide on your weightloss plan and move on.. try not to dwell.. if God wanted us all to the same he would given us all the same metabolism.. that's my theory and sticking to it.

are you kidding me? you are being banded b/c you are 20lbs overweight... why go thru surgery for 20 pounds... That's a horrible risk to take?

it's easy.....i've been banded for 6mos .. starting weight 237 now 208-- I was on solid foods 1wk post op... didn't have any problems... just some advise.. try to sleep in a recliner for appx 4-5 days after surgery...it helps the gas build up.. the gas travels if you lay down flat and can get trapped ...it hurts like heck...good luck...

The weight loss is slow-that's good! It's healthier that way. I was banded in Houston,TX 11/28/2006-started @ 237 and now I'm 208 lbs. Very excited. I have been back every month since the surgery to have the band tightened. It is now very tight. I was still eating like a heifer.. Now I'm good. Since the last fill nearly 4 wks ago I've lost 9 lbs. That's good. On average you should lose 6-10 lbs/month. I can't wait to get out of the 200 club... I haven't seen the 100's in 10+ years. Just a peice of advise: post op-for about the first 4-5 days-- try to sleep in a recliner.. Because I did this, i did not have any bad travelling gas build up. My sister on the other, was banded in 2/2005 (has lost 102lbs) slept on her back immediately and had trapped gas between her shoulder blades for days. She said that it was the most pain that she ever endured. I didn't have to endure that at all.

I've been banded for only 6 mos. My sister was banded feb. 2005..(appx 2.5 yrs) she has lost 102 lbs and looks great.. she feels great and has not regrets.. She currently is 8 wks pregnant. She has not had any complications and neither have I. So far so good for me.. I'm planning on getting pregnant @ the end of the year... Good luck in whatever you decide.

Goodluck.. I was banded 11/28/06..total loss 29 lbs..started @ 237 now I'm 208.....it's a good feeling... I have not regrets...Just a piece of advise.. post op- try sleeping mostly upright..in a recliner is good.. It really help with the travelling gas... I hardly had any...My sister thought she was dying b/c of her horrible gas pains. She slept flat on her back.. The first 4-5 days i slept in a recliner and did a lot of praying so I would not end up with gas... It worked.