atgoalgal

Firstly, I wouldn't say it's too good to be true, they still haven't found the magic bullet, where you weight vanishes with no work. But, for me, I did learn to used this tool to get to and manintain a normal healthy weight. 4 years ago, I was struggling, in the same place. This was a really hard decision for me, but I can honestly say it's one of the best decisions I ever made. Only you can decide for you and information is power, so get all the information you can, and surround yourself with people who can help. These boards are a great place to learn and gain support, but your journey will be your own, like so many things in life. You may have seen me a lot on these boards, but I don't often post about my decison process and how confused I was. I just updated my blog yesterday with "back entries" about my exploring process back in 2005/2006. You may find it helpful at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let me know if it helps. Good luck with your decision. Feel free to PM me also (that applies to anyone on this thread).

Hey illuminationlady, soo glad you found "the 10 things I learned about how to use my tool" helpfful. If anyone has a better idea of what to name them, I'm all ears. I've sworn off the word "rules" for good reason! Will proabably start another thread about this with a different title... BTW- did you sign up to get automatic updates from my blog? Trying to make it easy for folks..

Hey Elfiepoo, So I'm assuming you are an east coast early riser like me?

Just like different people have trouble with different foods, I there a differences when in comes to Vitamins. Now in my 4th year, I can take just a about anything including 2 large fish oil capsules, but I DON'T recommend that for everyone, espeically early on. The practice I initially interviewed started people out in liquid forms only. The doctor I actually was banded with and who I still work with, did not have that restriction. I started out with liquid vitamins from costco. I switched to chewables - try to get samples and see what tastes ok to you. I know a lot of people use Bariatric Advantage; I like a the chewable multi from trader joes. Hope that helps.

When I started this thread, I really didn't know where it would go. It turned into a passionate debate, and a huge source of inspiration for me. The manufacturers of the bands have “rules” or “tips” posted on their sites. What I learned from my fellow members of the banded living community on this thread is that 1) a lot of us don’t like “rules” because we’ve tried them before and frankly they didn’t work as a way of life, and -- 2) we are all different, and we need to work hard to find what works “for me.” I mentor lots of folks, some of who are frustrated or struggling and trying to figure out how to get the most out of their tool. My doctor, my head coach on this Banded Living journey, reminds me over and over again, that it’s a tool, and I need to work it. I shouldn’t expect “it” to do anything. (A screwdriver can’t remove a screw unless you turn it.) I have to work it to get the results I want – and for me that was more than the average 50% Excess Weight Loss. My band helps me with portion control, controls my hunger and leaves me with a feeling of satiety when I work it. Many of you know I started a blog as a way of paying it forward and sharing my journey. I just did a post, inspired by this thread. You can click here to get to the 10 things I learned about how to use my tool: Transforming #003, Maintaining #004, Getting the Most from My Lap-Band®: How I Learned to Use My Tool Please let me know if you find it useful.

Hey Betsy, Glad u put your picture up. It's great to have a face with the name. I've seen many of your posts lately. You offer a lot of great perspective. By the way, I've been assimilating the dialogue on this thread, and decided to blog about it. Will be posting a link later. Have a great day!

Whether or not you are allowed cream soups seems to vary by doctor. My doctor was fine with cream soups and defined a full liquid as anything that you can easily get drink thru a straw (but don't use straws - they can cause gas). So it goes without saying, but always check with your doctor. I pureed soups, and still do after a fill, and my favorite new (to me) and inexpensive product is the magic bullet. May be the only infomercial product I bought that I liked, but I love it. I bought it at costco and it came with lots of extra individual serve size containers.

Saw all the replies and hoping u went to the ER. Glad to see some RN's repsonding here. As others have said, these boards are a great pllace for support and learning whats worked for others, but you must go to your doctor with medical issues. Please let us know how u r doing after u go. It's probably hard to have a positive outlook now, but hopefully once you've taken care of the medical problem - your banded living friends can help with that part.

If you are experiencing serious pain you really should check in with your doctor. Most of us on these boards are patients with a tremendous amount of useful experience, but we are not a substitute for your doctor. Please keep me posted.

From a long-term member of the banded living community and frequent traveler. DON'T DO IT, please! You should be able to go on the crusie, have a great time, enjoy a leaner and healthier you, and enjoy smaller portions of the foods you love most on the cruise. Why not instead, use the cruise as an opportunity to give yourself permission to maintain the weight you lose between now and then, instead of trying to lose. You can use this opportunity to learn to dine, by eating slowly and savoring the foods you love, instead of eating too fast, not tasting what you eat and feeling crappy afterwards. Just think how great you'll feel if you prove to yourself you can do this.

Great idea for a thread! I've seen most of you on other boards. Just wanted to check in and say hi!

Great suggestions on this thread. First and foremost, your doctors instruction must supercede anything we post, so share what u learn here with your surgeon. You may want to also check out my blog at: http://www.bandedliving.com and download the 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lap-Band surgery (below my before and after picture). You can also look at the "preparing" section for a list of things you may want to stock up on before surgery. Good luck on your journey. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

I wanted to share the best birthday present ever on this intro board - today I tuned 49 and I’m in the best shape of my life - I've been maintaining at goal for over 2 years! You can find my story and my before and after on my blog at http://www.gloriasbandedliving.com I think I’ll start telling people I’m 38 (LOL). My birthday gift - still maintaing, loving banded living and I have this strong, healthy body to live the rest of my life in, and I have an incredible support team who's helped me very step of the way. Before my band, I never thought this would be possible for me.

LOTS OF BLESSINGS. HUGS TOO! Good for you. Great picture! What is your plan for the info session and your consult - What do you want to learn?

Hey Greg, I've been thinking about your post. First let me say, I've been on weight watchers (many times, sound familiar), and it can be a good program. From my persepctive WW is about support and nutrition, although unless something has changed, I don't think they have anything specifically tailored to get the most out of our bands. I'm also wondering if your doctor has a band only support group and what else is available as part of your aftercare. It really helps me to be around other succesful members of the banded living community. My other question to you, is how did you use your tool? I'd be happy to try to help as well as see if I can help with the motivation. Feel free to PM me. Also lots of people are telling me that my blog has been motivational. If you haven't checked it out, it's at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story . You can sign up (below my before and after to get email updates - hopefully a dose of inspiration delivered to your inbox . I hope to hear from you.

Hi Friend. Congrats! It sounds like you have hit the sweet spot. As you say, this takes some getting used to but the frustrating phase wondering why you got this tool, or is it going to work, is hopefully over. Just one word of caution - as you are getting accustomed to this new filll level, and learning how to chew, chew, chew...slowing down and finding that some foods that used be to be easy don't work anymore, keep in mind that if you are getting stuck a lot, you can get yourself very irriitated. Check with your doctor, but after getting stuck, my doctor recommends taking it easy - stop eating, consider liquids for then next meal. If you remember, I was one of those people who took a lot of fills to get to my sweet spot, and here I am sitting at goal for over 2 years. I think you've been to my blog site, but for others who want to learn about how different the fill experience can be (in this case with 2 women with the same size band, and the same doctor), you can go to my blog at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story, and download our interview the 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lapband Surgery. We talk about this in Tip 3 - Don't Underestimate the Adjustable Nature of the Band. Let me know if it helps.

I'm in compelete agreement with cocobean, what were your doctors instructions for your post op diet. Now, while you are in the recovering phase is a really good time, to work on following your doctor's instructions to allow yourself to heal and learn how to use this tool. Welcome to banded living! We're here to help!

You have gotten a great result. Congrats! You've clearly found an approach that works for you. We are all differnt, and I honestly don't think "I eat what I want, when I want" would have worked very well for me." You do talk about "it takes portion control and a calorie deficit which is what the band is for." I see lots of folks struggling and frustrated on these boards, trying to learn to use their bands to create the calorie deficit they need to reach their goals. Any suggestions for those folks about exactly how to use the tool to achieve portion control and the calorie deficit?

Thanks Betsy. It's the first time I heard that. Thanks for sharing. And for everyone who reads this thread, and anything on these boards, please always check with your doctor and make sure you are following his or her instuctions.

I'm in my 4th year, maintaining a normal weight for the first time in my life, and trying to pay if forward. I've posted this list before, but wanted to make it easier to find for newcomers. Here's a list of Things to Stock Up on Before the Day of Surgery. But please be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, your doctor may have specific items to include or exclude. Protein shakes, and protein powders (taste–test and find the ones you like best before stocking up). Water broth and other clear Soups Clear, no-sugar added juices sugar-free non caloric beverages (NO carbonated beverages) Light sports drinks Sugar-free popsicles Sugar-free Jello Creamy soups Applesauce of sugar-free pudding cups (if, and ONLY if your doctor permits you to take your medications with a spoonful of these) Sugar-free hot cocoa Decaf and herbal teas Decaf coffee Chewable Vitamins Small 2-4 oz plastic cups A strainer (for removing chunks from creamy soups) BTW, I intentionally didn't include anything about prescription or non-prescription meds, since you need to work that out with your doctor. It's also not a bad idea to have adult liquid tylenol - but talk to your doctor; you don't want to be taking tylenol with your prescription pain meds. Also on your way on the day of surgery, bring your own pillow (for comfort if you are staying over night, and to hold on the way home), and slip on shoes if you can. If you find this useful, you can find more on my blog at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story. Good luck on your journey!

I'll be thinking of you next Tuesday. Glad to help. When I was banded there weren't a lot of places to go to get useful information, or learn from people who had long-term experience with the band. I'm hoping to make the journey easier for people like you. You may also want to check out my blog - lot's of real life expderiences posted there and also download the interview 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lap-Band surgery. Stay in touch.

Hey March 2010 folks. You are almost there. Welcome. I'm in my 4th year and very grateful, loving Banded Living. I'm really into paying it forward. Learned a lot on my journey. I posted a link to a list of things to stock up on before surgery that people that the February group found very helpful. Here' s the link from my blog: Preparing #001: Things to Stock Up on Before the Day of Gastric Banding Surgery Please let me know if you find it useful.

Thanks for sharing Betsy. I think I'm going to put your post up over my desk! Even in my fourth year, I still look for inspiration on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing. You gave me a gift!