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Welcome! Your kids and husband will be so proud of you! I think with all you have learned in weight watchers, the band will be just what you need. A lot of bandsters do both. I chose to follow the South Beach way of life because I don't like to go to meetings and it's a very band-friendly diet. I have arthritis too and getting 80 lbs off has made me more comfortable. Will your knees require surgery? Keep firing out those questions! Good luck!

I've never done this before so here it goes. I'm 1 week post op and yesterday I felt like I had turned a corner. I have little pain left under my incision though my skin is still numb. I ate an egg (substitute) today and boy was it tasty. Even 45 minutes later, cold, it still was good. It felt good to chew. I've reviewed my diet and am not getting enough protein in. I bought Herbal Life protein drink and started on that instead of Carnation. It has 30 more calories but way more protein. I drank them pre-banding to help loose weight. Back then I could make it with ice and add different flavors. I'll have to get use to the taste without the extra. I'm finding that hunger feeling now and again. Is that normal? I'm worried my band isn't tight enough. Is anyone else experiencing that? Well I hope I get some responses. As I said, I've never blogged before. :thumbup:

I've never done this before so here it goes. I'm 1 week post op and yesterday I felt like I had turned a corner. I have little pain left under my incision though my skin is still numb. I ate an egg (substitute) today and boy was it tasty. Even 45 minutes later, cold, it still was good. It felt good to chew. I've reviewed my diet and am not getting enough protein in. I bought Herbal Life protein drink and started on that instead of Carnation. It has 30 more calories but way more protein. I drank them pre-banding to help loose weight. Back then I could make it with ice and add different flavors. I'll have to get use to the taste without the extra. I'm finding that hunger feeling now and again. Is that normal? I'm worried my band isn't tight enough. Is anyone else experiencing that? Well I hope I get some responses. As I said, I've never blogged before. :smile2:

Please help. I am having severe nausea sometimes with sometimes without vomiting. I am unable to tolerate anything. Water even makes me sick. Worried about malnourishment and dehydration. Fatigued and sleeping 18 hours per day. Not losing any weight. How long will this last? What can I do to get over this hump?

Simply put, yes, I think most successful sleevers follow that type of lifestyle without realizing it. I know I did. I didn't really know I was until someone else pointed it out to me after seeing my plate with just meat and kale. But I'm a person who, having been haunted by the word diet in the past, have decided I am not going to do anymore "diets". That is why I got the sleeve. But, if you have looked at the recommended meal plans, you can see it is weighted heavy on the protein and good carb side of things. If you want to follow this and say you are on a diet, you can do that. I just know it is all I can do just to eat my meat and veggies before I allow myself a cookie or something which may be considered "non-paleo".

i love reading everyone's comments to each other, because I can't believe how many emotions i can go thru in 1 day! I'm excited, nervous, anxious... and have felt the OMG moments of removing part of me. BUT... i'm down 25 lbs on pre surgery diet, and i can't wait for some help to continue this. I can't even remebr the last time i lost weight. I'm on my protein shake countdown before surgery, and I try not to think about it, but here i am. i have to be at the hospital early wednesday morn, and I'm first on the or list for the day. wish me luck....

I'm in the same boat but I had my band done in 2007. I was never very successful and after having three babies , finally going to put myself first and have he RNY November 7th. When I met with my surgeon he asked if I throw up a lot and I did almost every meal so he removed the fluid and I've been struggling to keep the weight off first few days I gained 7 lbs! Do you mind if I ask what insurance you have ? I'm so worried my insurance will deny

I was looking for the same thing. I started having issues with my band last year and had to have all of the fluid taken off. Since then, I have gained back 90 of the 100 lbs I lost. Insurance denied my revision, at first, but I won on appeal. I saw the doctor 2 days ago and got my new surgery date... November 7th. I'm excited and scared all at once! My husband has had the gastric bypass and is doing wonderful. Now it's my turn, again. Just don't know if my experience will be any different, since my band has to be removed.

I go for my pre op surgical consult tomorrow and I saw someone who was sleeved about two years ago who looks so frail and thin and now I am worried that could happen to me. I want to be healthy - not uber thin. Will I be able to control when the weight loss needs to stop without gaining it all back? I am writing this instead of doing what I really want to do (which is find anything in my house to eat myself stupid and sabotage my appointment tomorrow).

I haven't been back in a while, sorry y'all. Just been working on healing. The ER trip a shortly after surgery wasn't much fun. I always seem to have a hard time recovering from any surgery that seems to do with the abdomen. Anyhow, been just over a month, doing pretty good. Doc kept me on liquids for the first whole month, I think to be safe. After a bit, I was getting where I was starving. Ended up doing a lot of cream of whatever soups, every two to three hours. So when I went to see him I gained back six lbs. Now I like my doc real well but he is such a "surgeon", all about results. In and out quickly. Tried to lecture me on the soups, *which is listed in the paperwork as a FULL liquid, and keep and mind he said no solids*, plus how I hadn't come to see him in a month. Hmmm, convenient, considering he went on vacation, so reschedule, then he was moving to a new office, they called and reschedule again! Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Anyways, last week he told me I was to go to Stage for eating within a week, did I get sick, yep, at least twice, got to slow down, listen to my body. Am I a little more satisfied, yes. I do realize, that I eat when I truly don't need to, so aware now. I have my first fill tomorrow, a little anxious, just hoping the port does not start to hurting real bad again, it just finally let up. Wish me luck, hope the rest of y'all are doing well.

I know how you feel! The hunger does end...when you move onto the soft stage! I had never looked so forward to cottage cheese in my entire life! But I would have miso soup(it's a clear liquid soup) from a Japanese restaurant and it was pretty tasty!! The good thing is, you're losing lots of weight right now! I lost 10 pounds in 10 days! I'm now on day 16 and haven't lost anymore because I'm eating real food. Hang in there!! This too shall pass!!!

Okay, it is October 29th and I have been banded for almost 8 weeks now. I have lost a total of 8 lbs. (13 pre-surgery). I had restriction from the surgery for about 2 weeks then it faded or completely diminished overnight! :omg: Then, I started to eat like I did prior to surgery! I did get a fill on the 16th of Oct. of 1.6 which is good but not my sweet spot. I continued to push my band to the limits with overeating. I could not eat bread because it would get stuck but I ate everything else. I was very discourged and finally reached out to a couple of people on the boards about a week ago. I received some great advice from a couple of really awesome gals, Bridget S. from OH and Sisteqh here on LBT. For some reason I felt that I should be able to eat what I want because I deserved it! What a crock! Who do I think I am? Well, Bridget responded to me about fighting her band and the day that she had a "lightbulb" moment; July 4th - her day of freedom!! She told me what I needed to hear. That advice started me on a new track. I was truly inspired!!! Since then, one week ago (10/22/06 - My personal day of freedom) I have lost 3 more lbs!!! On another subject. I am somewhat bothered by others here on LBT that seem to think or show in their posts that those with lower BMIs really don't deserve to have the band. As if we have not fought against our weight like they have. It is a shame that people are that biased! All I can say is grow the heck up!! Okay, I am going to set a mini goal for New Year's Day. Here is how I came up with it: My lowest weight that I acheived was 163 with Weight Watchers in 2003. I would love to beat that by one lb. So, my goal is to be at 162 by New Year's Day and to fit into my size 10 jeans. I can do it! I am going to up my exercise routine - 3 days treadmill 2 miles and 1 or 2 days hiking. For safety reasons, I do need to find a hiking partner!

Hello all my name is Doug Steele, I'm from the loveiy town of Roseville Just north of the greatest city in the world (IMO) DETROIT!!!! I was banded Wednesday June 18th by Dr. Hawasli (St. Johns Hospital & Medical Center) Started at 340lbs 6-2-08 (BMI 50.1) Started pre-surgery liquid diet 6-4-08 Surgery at 324lbs. I Feel great!!!!! and I won't know what I weight now because I only weight myself on Wednesdays (also my wife snaps 2 pictures (front;side) SORRY TMI) Good luck to all See you all on the other side Doug

Shelby ~ Not sure what side of town you are on. But I went through the Royal Beaumont Weight Control Center and Dr. Krause did my surgery. I would highly recommend the center all the staff and doctors are great. They offer various lectures, cooking classes, etc. too. Good Luck.

My name is Ashley, and I grew up in Chicago as an only child, by two loving parents, and the best grandparents in the world. I was encouraged to try to accomplish every goal I could set for myself. Every time I think about the love and encouragement of my family, I am deeply humbled, and eternally grateful. With all my successes, there has always been a challenge I have yet to overcome. That challenge is my weight. For as long as I can remember I have been overweight. No matter how many diets, or exercise plans, I've tried the worse my eating became. As I got older, I turned to food for comfort. Whenever I was upset, angry, or lonely, I would turn to food. In fact, while recently taking a walk down memory lane, everyone of my memories revolved around food. In 2003, I was diagnosed with PCOS, and pre-diabetes. I was told that both were a result of all the excess weight I was carrying. Almost immediately, I tried to change my eating habits, but before long I was right back to my old habits. After doing much praying and thinking, I trust that God has lead me to Dr. Marvin's and OSS-Houston. I pray that by taking this step, I am on a healthy path. This is my journey to a new life......and new choices..

Marc, Cheer Up, you have made a very positive step in your health and at a much younger age than most of us do. I am 50 years old, I have a son your age and I have just now gotten fed up enough to take a step like this. I wasn't always fat, and the largest I have been is 278, but over the years I have been on every weight loss plan you can imagine, including medifast, HCG, and hypnosis (to name a few of the less common). I was banded on 6/30/2010, and I am only down 13 lbs. 5 of which are from the pre-op diet. Now I know guys tend to lose weight faster, and the larger you are you tend to have faster drops in the beginning too, but 21 lbs is amazing, I mean WOW! As far as food goes, talk to your Dr. when you go in, tell him how you are feeling. Have you had any problems so far? When I went to my first post-op appointment I told my Dr. I was getting realy hunger and he told me this phase was known as "Bandster Hell" because we have had the surgery but none of the benifits of the fills yet. Now my Dr. seems to move at a faster rate than some other Drs. on here seem to, but mine gave me to go ahead to progress to regular foods at that point. He just cautioned me to chew everything really well, eat slowly and stay away from starchy carbs, so I would continue to lose weight. Oh, and this is very important, make sure to get enough protien in, only eat when you are hungry,and if something makes you throw-up stay away from it. I left his office on day 8 post-op, and stopped on my way home and bought a side order of bourbon chicken from a WOK place, I just ordered the chicken no rice or anything, and that single bowl lasted me threw 3 meals, I would eat a little of the chicken and something else like a yogurt or some well cooked veggies with it, and things have gotten much easier for me. The truth is I also had my first PBing episode after about the third bite of the chicken, but after that I have learned that well chewed REALLY MEANS "chew it until it disintegrates." At 5 days post-op I would immagine you are on a "full' liquid diet, which in my Drs. deffinition includes anything that could be sucked threw a straw (but don't use a straw). That includes creamy soups, either strained or blended so their are no chunks in it, and yogurt, blended no fruit chunks, even mashed potatoes and gravy, as long as they are not too thick. When I started eating these thicker items I felt much more satisfied, plus they tasted more like a real meal than Jello and juice. As far as when you can have a first fill, that is up to your Dr. but mine usually waits 4 weeks post-op, and many Drs. wait 6 weeks. Since I am going on vacation right at my 4 week date, I will probably wait until I get back which will be just over 6 weeks. The most important thing is talk to your Dr. and get support, on here or if they have one threw a support group your Drs. office may have or be able to suggest for you. DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED !!! You are doing GREAT!

Alfie, Smart decision moving forward. Initially I find I can lose weight when I am under the doc's supervision and I know I am going to be getting weighed in. That seems to make all the difference...just knowing you have to get on that scale and be weighed by someone else. Keep up the good work. You will be shrinking that gallbladder!! The more you lose right now the better.

Hi welcome!!! LBT is a great site for researching the band, and what is has to offer. Blue Cross Blue Shield differs depending on which state it is from. I for instance live in New Mexico, but have BCBS of Texas, because my husbands company is headquartered there. It also is dependent on whether the company you work for has excluded weight loss surgery---some do, others cover it. My experience with BCBS, is that they usually require 6-12 months of medically supervised weight loss attempts. So they will want you to see your Dr. each month, and follow his directions aimed at weight loss. Then when you submit to insurance, he will have to show where you saw him steadily as required. They also usually require a BMI of 40 or 2 co morbidities---which it sounds like you have covered. They wanted 5 years of documentation of obesity, which can be obtained through any Dr. records, or hospitilizations, any documents where they weighed you. As for cost it varies, from $10K to over $20K here in the US, and in Mexico you can find it for down in the 7-8k range. Financing it might be difficult with a fresh bankruptcy---any way to do it prior? Oh sorry, I just re-read you were doing it this week. Some people have used 401K's, refi'd their houses, e-loans, family loans---all kinds of things. There are some Dr.'s in Mexico I understand who do in house loans for the surgery, but I know nothing about them. I am older than you by many years, but relate to the want for the surgery. I provide day care for my 2 year old granddaughter. And I can tell you with 90 pounds gone---it is SOOOOO much easier to do! I think about it, and realize, that if I continue this way, she will never remember Granny as being fat!!! I love it! I too was taking 2 meds for HBP, 1 for high blood sugar, and had a massive family history of heart disease. Now less than a year later, I take no meds---my blood pressure and blood sugar, are both normal. I cannot change my family history, but I know if I inherit the artery disease, or heart disease, fighting it at my weight now will be much easier than when I was morbidly obese! We look forward to getting to know you too---good luck in your lap band quest!!! Kat

Any kinds of almonds i bought some salt and vinegar and some habannaro bbq but i wanted to buy some honey roasted but wasnt sure if i could the grams of sugar was 4g compared to the other 2 which have 2gram and i believe they had 7g of carbs compare to the 2 i have which are 5g should i be eating these period they have 6g protein per serving ? Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App You are probably not going to want to hear this.....but the answer is "Neither". Nuts are really not something you want to be fooling with at this point in the game. Way too caloric. If you feel you simply can't live without them, then buy the 100 calorie packs and stick to just a single pack. 8 weeks has you in the prime timeframe to be in hardcore weight loss and sticking firmly to your plan. Meals vs Snacks. Snacking is an old behavior from the past that we have to learn to stop doing. All foods will be able to be enjoyed down the road....in very close moderation.....but all foods are certainly on the menu. It's just a matter of if you are willing to take on the calories and lack of nutrition that come with some of them. Right now.....it's the time to burn it off. I had to learn this the hard way with nuts and cheeses. Great to know i wasnt eating them as snacks i was eating it as my meal but you are right there are lots of calories so i wont be eating them either lol back to basics thanks Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

I am using it to try and change my eating habits. This includes not only what I eat and how much but when I eat (emotionally). I'm learning everything I can about living after surgery and successfully losing and keeping weight off. I'm going to see a psychologist for some tips and counseling around emotional eating. I don't really eat or drink anything that I may potentially have to stop after surgery (soda, sweets) but if I did I'd use this time to kick the habit as much as possible. I'm disappointed I have to wait but I'm turning it into a positive.

I researched my options and I didn't think I had a 6 month evaluation. Well I do I feel defeated I have weight watchers and switched to two liquid diets to get my liver ready. I guess my question is how did you pass the time and stay positive with your decisions?? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

Most docs and most all bariatric surgeons understand the ups and downs of weight loss. If they don't get it by now, they should find a different profession. If your doc has any compassion or an interest in his patients well-being, he/she will understand your issues and encourage you to get back on the bandwagon. There have been several accounts of some A-hole doctors who think that scolding their patients motivates them. Stupid docs. But, they're in a small minority so go in and expect to be hugged and encouraged!

Its the one thing that hasnt improved much. Not that I have a bad back but I do suffer a touch of piriformis syndrome - my sciatic nerve runs right through the piriformis muscle and if I allow my lower back and buttocks to become tight then it squeezes the nerve and I get sciatic pain. I almost never take a run without some form of sciatic aggravation which generally goes away once the endorphin rush kicks in at about 2kms in, lol. But overall that is better than it used to be, it was very easy to set off before, now not so much. Every other physical ailment i had has improved markedly. I sleep so much better, that's what amazes me. I used to get back discomfort at night and I likened it to when I was heavily pregnant, I'd lay on my side and my hips would just ache (and wake me) due to the huge weight through my pelvis. I'd started getting that through both my pelvis AND my shoulder girdle due to the weight of my boobs and my belly (which werent that huge). So I'd sleep poorly every night just due to this moderate discomfort. All that's gone. My body's biomechanics are definitely better too - posture and gait have both measurably improved (says the podiatrist) due to weight loss. And I was only a relatively modest BMI of 36 so it really does make you wonder just how hard it is on the body to support morbid obesity levels of 40 and higher. You cant fail to feel better in lots of respects from losing weight like that.

Good luck with your surgery! This is a great site for infor and support. You are so right in thinking about the end results for your wife and kids. Health issues like you named is a definite reason to do something about your weight! Stay positive and take pics with you of your family. Let us know how your doing!

Hey! I have been battling with this for many months now... only recently I have realised that I am smaller.. a lot smaller... but it took best part of a year. I remember when I was first sleeved and the preceeding months, reading topics about how long it takes for the head to catch up with the body. I must admit, it is true... for some reason, the ole grey cells are reluctant to realise exactly what is happening. You're 4mths out and lost an incredible amount of weight... try to focus on the positive stuff and not the negative... ok, ok, ok, that is easier said than done... you will start to feel the difference soon... even if it is in spits and spats. Keep up your good work and congratulate yourself on a daily basis! Oh, and by the way, we were exactly the same weight on the date of surgery!! =]