honk

My first consult I was at 335 and at surgery was 282. I am at 213 and would like to loose another 60. Before the band journey though I was around 380 and through diet and exercise got to the 335 figure. It can be hard on here when someone says "I can't wait till surgery I am sooooo fat". And then I look at their ticker and they are my weight now. I can't help but feel like all my hard work is trivialized ; I worked really hard to get to this weight. This is a life journey. Be really proud of the work you've done.

I had a stroke at 39. While the doctor couldn't say my weight caused the blood clot they couldn’t rule it out either. The ironic thing is I was eating better and exercising daily and had lost about 50 pounds. After the stroke I had an eye appointment where they noticed swelling inside one eye. I went to a specialist who asked if I had ever considered weight loss surgery, and did I want him to write me a referral to their bariatric team. I was sooooo hurt and embarrassed. I left but started to think about lap band. I had seen the commericals and when I googled it I came across this site. I ended up going to Lahey Clinic instead off Mass General because it's an easier drive (Both are world class hospitals. We really have an embarassment of riches in the greater Boston area when it comes to excellent healthcare providers.)

My doctor prefers whey isolate which is a higher quality protein. The shots are Whey but not isolate. I found they gave me horrible gas and seemed to go through me like a blow torch.

I don't bother with the card. Children's meals are usually high in fat (fried chicken fingers , pizza), or carbs (pasta). Another thing I've noticed the healthier your food choices the smaller the portions. A baked potato is usually kind of small whereas they serve huge portions of french fries. Most servers really don't care what I'm eating. I think they can tell I'm eating half the meal and bringing the rest home. In my entire life the only time I've had someone comment about ordering a small amount was at a upscale Italian place in Needham, MA that told me they had a per person minimum like $5. My friend and I were looking for a small snack.

As to gallbladder when you loose a lot off weight esp. quickly it can lead to gallbladder problems. I had mine taken out when I was 19 (!) after loosing over 100 lb in about a year. Women esp. tend to have gallbladder issues there is a saying Female, Fat, Forty, and Fertile.

My doctor never told me to avoid specific foods. That said bread, crackers, rice, pasta are nothing but carbs which just turns into sugar in your bloodstream. I can eat bread but due to calories I don't bother. Cheap white bread tends to mush up like paste and I have had stuck episodes with that type of bread.

I did not get restriction until 10.6 in 11cc band. About 6 months out.

I guess you might tell someone eventually. I don't really see a reason to tell someone. I never told coworkers and I eat lunch with them. Unless you can't eat solids really not a problem.

Most people do not get much or any restriction from their first fill. Also, it can take up to two weeks for a fill to take affect and you are still in that period. How many times a week and how long are your walks? Most doctors request 30 minutes minimum daily. You could also try different exercises. Do you have access to a gym/pool? If so you could mix up your work out swim one day walk the next, try various cardio machines. Are you weighing your Protein? My doctor says 3 oz of solid protein for lunch and dinner. I am at restriction but still measure.

5 business days and 2 weekends so 9 days.

I was told no vitamins for 2 weeks post op. For multi vitamin I take the equivalent of a flintstones chewable with choline.

I take vita fusion fiber gummies daily. Unflavored benefiber can be added to lots of things as well.

Adding low fat laughing cow cheese will make canned tuna or chicken mushier. It will be lower in fat or calories then mayo.

Are you supposed to be on solids? I was not moved to mushies until day 15. I did not get restrition for 6 months so no you may not get full on small amounts of food.

Hi. I know you are super nervous. It's really not a big deal. My office does not even use a numbing agent. Also, doctor does not do fills they are done by a nurse practitioner. My first fill was 3 CC's in a 11 CC band. Before I had lost much weight she had me do a small crunch which made the port more "feelable". Took me 6 months off fills to get restriction. Weight Loss. Most doctors say you can loose up to 2 pounds a week. At about 15 pounds lost you have gotten rid of all the Water weight you had. Everything now is solid fat. You need to either burn 3500 cals or reduce your intake by that amount to loose 1 lb. When you look at it that way every pound is a VICTORY. I am not trying to be a downer. Some of us are slow loosers. I am at restriction, eat around 1000-1200 cals a day and do between 1 1/2- 2 1/2 hours of moderate cardio daily. If your doctor is demeaning call him/her on that. You are not their child or employee. The two of you need to meet as equals. My NP says while she is an expert on Biology I am an expert on my body. Portions. My doctor never told me to eat by volume. Instead he wants me to have 3 oz of solid Protein lunch and dinner. I have a contain of Greek Yogurt for Breakfast (with half a scoop of Protein powder, benefiber, walnuts, high protein Kashi Go Lean). If you have not gotten a kitchen food scale do so. Weigh the protein and then eat low fat/cal veggies until full.

I don't think you hurt anything. If you are hungry drink more broth. There is only like 15 cals in a cup of broth. I do think you went back to work to soon. Regarding Peanut Butter. I had to stop buying it. PERIOD. I was justifying eating it esp. early on because it was a mushie and a Protein. Only problem was I was eating it out of the jar; and one day noticed I was going through a small jar a week! You may want to check out PB2 http://bellplantation.com/. I have no connection with this company. They grind up peanuts and remove the oil; so you get peanut powder. You reconstitute it with Water. It can be added to Protein shakes and the taste is quite good. I even used it to make Cookies for my nephew's college care package when I ran out of regular peanut butter. For me I can have a small amount, get the peanuty flavor and be done. I don't over eat because the salt and sugar of regular peanut butter which we love is missing.

Regarding vitamins: 1 childrens chewable with Choline (Double check for Choline as not all vitamins contain it. I buy the Costco version of Flintstones much cheaper); 2 Caltrate Plus with D; 2 Vitafusion Gummy D (I have no levels); Vitafusion Gummy Fiber (couple in the morning couple at night); 1 Biotin 5,000 mg (For hair loss. Available as a tick tack sized capsule.). I also take 65 mg Iron. If you take an iron supplement make sure to wait an hour before taking calcium as they counteract one another.

I did not get restriction for 6 months; and I am not the only one on this board with that experience. If you have not yet done so buy a digital food scale. Starting with mushies weight out you Protein my doctor says 3 oz. I am at restriction and still weigh as you are guarenteed to underestimate the amount of food you serve yourself. I am not saying this to be a downer. My doctor never said when I could expect restriction. But after reading on here that some people got it after one or two fills I felt like a failure; because it was taking so long. Also pre op I had lost about 100 pounds. This meant I had no "water weight" left to loose. I have been a slow looser but I also don't have loose skin so I will take my victories where I can. If you loose 2 or more pounds per week good for you; just don't expect that. Weigh your food and exercise; restriction will come.

I was allowed protein shakes during the clear phase even though they weren't clear. They were just powder and milk though no fruit etc. If you are having trouble with the shakes post op perhaps water them down so they are even thinner.

I stopped cold turkey the day of surgery. I can have decaf I ice coffee so that's my drink of choice when I'm out in the summer (splendra no milk). It really does'nt bother me. I would go through soda phases where I drank it all the time and when I never had any preop.

I am almost 2 years out and have never PB's or vomitted (knock on wood). I have only had about 3 stuck episodes all from raw baby carrot (just hard to chew it well enough) or cheap doughy white bread.

It really just depends on what your employer chooses to cover. If it is excluded no amount of petitioning will help you. This is why some people go to Mexico.

I had been laid off but was still covered under Cobra. You could look into the cost of Cobra which would take you for another year but it is reallllly expensive. When my Cobra ended I had trouble getting insurance because 1) Most companies won't cover you until it's been a year since you had surgery, 2) I was still over weight. I ended up having to go through the high risk pool for my state. This insurance does not cover weight loss treatments like the band. If you get another job where your employer offers insurance you shouldn't have to worry about the pre existing issue. If the employer does not cover weight loss surgery however they won't cover fills.

Looks like you have to be twice your correct weight (if you should weight 130 pounds for your height and you way 260), and have a co mobidity like high cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

I have chobani fruited yogurt for breakfast everyday. I add half a scoop vanilla whey Isolate protein, unflavored benefiber, splendra (Greek yogurt is sour), 1/3 cup high protein Kashi Go Lean, couple walnuts.