cleetus77532

I'll bet your doctor will tell you to stay away from slim fast! Stick to a good multi-Vitamin and powdered Protein. Natures Perfect Isopure, Dymatize Nutrition's line of Proteins and Optimum Nutrition's line of proteins are all excellent and meet the protein, fat, carb requirements of the preoperative/post-op diets. I have used Dymatize Nutrition's ISO100, Elite Gourmet and Elite whey protein isolate. All are excellent, low carb and economical. A 2.5lb tub of Elite Gourmet is around $20. ISO100 is around $26. Good luck to ya!!! Protein takes longer for your body to metabolize, keeping your metabolism up and satisfying your hunger longer than slim-fast/weight loss drinks. Good luck to ya!!!

Congrats to you all! I was banded in August 2010 and feel like I've been on track since the surgery. I've pretty much stuck to the low carb/high protein/high fiber diet with tons & tons of cardio in the beginning. I added weight training/core training after the first 75lbs came off. Since then, I've been going to the gym twice a day during the work week. One hour cardio/core before work and 1hr strength training during my lunch. I looked at it as though it was a life or death situation for me. I chose life and will not let anything get in the way of my workouts or diet. Before the band, "I" was my biggest problem with all the excuses. Since I've lost over 100lbs, I reward myself now and then with whatever I want to eat or drink for a day, within moderation. My only words of wisdom are: 1. Don't look at it as thought it's the end of your "favorite foods" life. Set small attainable goals, then reward yourself. Me for instance, after every 25lbs, I've eaten whatever I want to for a day. Then I get back on track for the next reward. 2. The band doesn't make you lose weight; you make you lose weight; the band is just a tool to make your job of losing weight easier. 3. IMHO, you can't do it with the change in your diet alone. You have to tackle this like it is the fight of your life and make time for gym time. Whether it is at an actual gym, in your basement, garage or back yard, make time for cardio of some type. STICK TO YOUR FAT BURNING RANGE, NOT YOUR TARGET HEART RATE. Just because you're barely sweating and not out of breath doesn't mean you're not making progress. 4. Add strength training/weight lifting. The more lean muscle you add, the more fuel (calories) you burn. 5. Remember, you didn't get the way you are over night! It took time to put it all on, it'll take time to take it all off.... 6. Above all else, If you fudge before your first attainable goal/reward, or at any time during your journey, don't look at it as a failure, you're going to make mistakes. When you make them, just learn from them and get back on track. And, whatever you do, don't fall back into your old excuses of, "Well, I ate a pint of ice cream yesterday, so my week is shot, I'll just eat this doughnut cause I already messed up. I'll get back on track when I go back to work." When I decided to get the band, I also decided to stop making excuses and started taking my health seriously. Next to my wife and kids, it has been one of the best things I could have done for myself or for them!!!!

I'll just say my experience with his staff at TRUE RESULTS in Houston leave alot to be desired. I should have let my experience with his office pre-band be an indicator x10 of how their service would be post-band. I'm near my goal weight and have been trying for two weeks to speak with someone before my next fill and no one will return my call. If you get the run around at all, pre-band, find another provider.......

I used Dr. Hollis as well. I was banded August 11, 2010. Pre-op, Surgery and Post-op was wonderful. I'm down from 387 to 269. However, I haven't had the good fortune some of you have with his support staff. I've had one problem after another with them. Seems to me they were quick to cater to your every need before the surgery; since then, you can't pay someone from that office to return a call or answer a question without sending you to VM. Just my 2cents.....

I'm almost there!!!! I had my surgery on August 11, 2010 and feel it was my best decision ever. I actually started my preop diet 5 weeks prior to surgery date. My starting weight was 387. Surgery day I was 350. I weighed this morning at the gym and was 278. 109lbs down in a little over 6 months and about 23 to go for goal. I didn't start with a problem eating good foods; my problem was quantity. I also have been very disciplined about going to the gym twice a day, 5 days a week. I usually do 40-50 minutes of cardio in the morning before work and my strength/core training during my lunch. All I can tell you is when you start seeing results, that impulse that use to make you eat more food (because it felt good), takes over and makes you want more weight loss. Every week in the gym has been more intense than the last. Constant progress in strength gains and duration/intensity on cardio has paid off. Congrats to you all whom have had similar progress and I wish you all the best and a very Merry Christmas...... Duane Innmon

Congrats on your decision to make a change in your life. I just wanted to update this thread with my current weight. I'm sitting at 269 now; down from 387. Because I'm 6'6", alot of people tell me I look like I weigh less than that. I'm finally starting to see more of the muscles I had when I played ball in highschool and in the military. I only have about 15lbs to go, then I'll be coasting.......

For some reason, my ticker isn't updating!!!!

***update*** I weighed at the gym again this am and it seems with the calorie deficit and exercise, I'm losing around .75 to 1.0 lbs per day. Dr. Hollis told me the first 60lbs or so would come off pretty quick but then should slow down. Still feel healthy, plenty of energy and loving every minute of it...Pre-Band Three weeks prior to surgery 375 to 362lbs. Post-Band, Aug. 11th till now, 362 to 322 lbs.

I had my band August 11th and couldn't ask for better. I started starving about day 4 or 5, so I called in and they told me to go ahead to week two (puree). Well, week two diet lasted 2 days. Called back in and they told me to ease into week three diet (mushy). Towards the end of week 2, the hunger started again and they told me to ease into regular foods. So, I've been on regular foods since three weeks after the band. I went in for my first fill September 3rd, which was 2cc and have had no problems yet. They cleared me to start working out at the gym again and I'm on my 3rd day. So, including preop diet until now, I've lost 50lbs in just under 7 weeks. When I had my fill, they told me guys usually lose faster than women and have to have adjustments more often. I'm starting to get hungry again between meals so there may be something to "fills more often." Good luck to all of you have started this journey.......

My doc, in Houston as well, put a 10cc band in on August 11th at 0cc. I went in for my first adjustment today and they did the x-ray/barium swallow to judge how much to put in. I'm sitting at 2cc and felt no real discomfort during any of the procedure. I can tell I'm a bit tighter as I can feel liquids now where I couldn't before. Just had to pay an $35 copay.

Can't see why they would keep you overnight. I had my band done August 11th at 0730 in the morning and I was getting in the truck to go home with my wife by noon. Most of the time it is an outpatient procedure and you're in and out in 4-6 hours. Unless of course there are complications. Just a side note, I also had a hiatal hernia fixed. I wish you luck.

I've used Isopure Zero-carb for a while, before being banded. The vanilla, chocolate and strawberry taste good and mix pretty good in water. I did recently find Dymatize Nutrition came out with ISO100. It's cheaper than Isopure and has the same calories/protein content and it tastes better than the Isopure. It too, is zero carb. If you buy your supplements online, check out supplementwarehouse or bestpricenutrition. They are alot cheaper than GNC, VitaminShoppe and other local stores. Just my two cents.

I'm having my surgery at 6:30am tomorrow morning. Lost 12 pounds on the PreOp diet and can't wait to get this over with.

I like the Isopure ZeroCarb Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla. Another few that are good are Dymatize Nutrition Elite Gourmet Chocolate, Vanilla and Cookies & Cream. I've tried BSN Syntha6 and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard; They are both good but higher in Carbs. All taste good, mix well in either water, skim milk, soy milk or almond milk. Not trying to knock GNC, but they are quite a bit higher than most places you can find on the net. I buy my supplies from supplementwarehouse.com and bestpricenutrition.com. When I procrastinate I go to Nutrition Depot locally. Just my .02c..........

I'm just gonna go by my handle. I'm from the Houston area and decided to get the Lap-Band performed by Dr. Hollis a few months back. Insurance is Anthem BCBS of Ohio; approval was quick. My portion is $1360. Pre-op is scheduled for this Wednesday and Surgery is scheduled for August 11th, 2010. Currently 6'6" @ 375lbs. My short term goal is 300#. Long term goal is around 240#.

August 11th. Good luck all!!!