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You made a great decison w/ Dr. Garcia...his coordinators are wonderful and you will be treated like royalty. The hospital is very modern and clean and has an ICU. The "walking the halls" though is very short...I think there is just 10 rooms. My husband and I drove from TX to TJ and back again...week took about two weeks for the whole trip, so if I can survive that long long drive w/ no complications...that's pretty good. If you have more questions, I'd be happy to answer them....just message me!

My surgeon wouldn't even schedule surgery until I had lost 10% of my excess weight. It depends on your team, but you might not get to the pre-op diet without some work first. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

We are going out in a bit do buy diet supplies. . .lol. We will have our weigh in on friday so I know we will need to loose 10# from that point. I know we have to do 3 meetings after that. I hope it doesn't take forever to get a surgery date I am all ramped up to get going. Guess I will see you in August. =):tt2:

My Doc said it was a hr and he did fix y hiatal hernia then they woke e up 30 in after , my mother had waited till she knew I was awake not alert just awake then I stayed one night in the hospital and she came and picked me up , but the surgery took a hour of course the initial waiting at the hospital for them to get me ready was about a half hour then they rolled me in gave me the med to put me to sleep was abot 10 in and that was it so it goes pretty quick .

Support YOURSELF! I read several WLS boards daily and I'm truly amazed at the helplessness and lack of power some of us have. I've been there myself, having dealt with seasonal depression, early childhood abuse and growing up with a mom who had Borderline Personality Disorder. In my 20s depression reared it's ugly head in a big way and the weight gain started. I'd weighed around 150 and at 5'5" that was close to ideal. I finished my 3rd decade weighing about 225, despite getting psychological support. In my 40s after getting up to 260, I sought counseling to deal with unresolved issues with my mom, who had passed away 10 years before. This helped me deal with relationship issues I had on many levels with pretty much everyone in my life, and I dieted my way down to 190. I felt in control and powerful. That was a great feeling. Today I read a post laying out strategies for success in losing weight. It listed a few good ideas and some that were a bit impractical, but the point I got out of it was in order to succeed, we must support ourselves; get the trigger foods out of sight, etc, but I think it missed a key point. It's not about hiding bad foods...it's about keeping healthy foods available in the moment we are being tempted and taking back our power over temptation. This is where I've been missing the boat recently, a technique I know works, but in my blue mood, had forgotten. The strategy I've used is positive affirmation. You visualize how you'll feel, look, walk 20, 30, 40 lb lighter and create an inner dialog of positive statements: I'm enjoying shopping for clothing one size smaller. It feels great to take a walk without my knees hurting so much. This chicken Greek salad tastes so fresh and it's providing my body with nutrients and Protein to support my healthy lifestyle. You create a positive environment within your mind to support your goal of being healthier. You replace the negative inner dialog, you KNOW what I'm talking about, with positive self talk. It's a habit you develop over time, usually about 6 weeks. It's a known fact that thinking positive thoughts while developing a new habit helps in establishing the desired behavior. You focus on the new behaviors, not on overcoming the old behavior. If you find yourself berating, chastising or otherwise having a negative inner dialog, you stop, breathe and replace that dialog with a positive affirmation: I am worthy, I am powerful, I am in control and move on. I did this throughout my band journey, including the 3 month supervised term and especially during the year I was struggling with the complications. In the last few months, I'd let the negative self talk sneak in...the fear of regain, feeling vulnerable, powerless and depressed. I forgot the mantra "If you believe it, you'll see it" and I did...30 lb of regain since September. So go ahead and hide the Cookies, better yet, leave them at the store, but don't forget to visualize yourself 1, 2 or 3 sizes smaller, congratulate yourself for every accomplishment and forgive a misstep. You are worthy, you are powerful, you are in control. Bandarella????

Well its almost 48 hours after surgery, and things are good pain is an average of a 3 1/2 worst a 5 1/2 not so bad. gas today is the worst. Feels like im going to give my self a hernia at the slightest attempt to push it out. so really careful about that. other then that this is cake. no hunger yet. I've lost 15 pounds since the 10 day pre-diet to now so 15 pounds. I was 290 im 265 now since I started with Swedish weight loss. Dr Ross McMahon is a mad genius and I highly recommend this surgeon. Down to earth with the highest level of confidence he his in him self he instills that in you. Made me soooo comfortable. I give him a 12 out of 10!!! life is good even in pain:) only negative is im a non- smoker (I quit 1 1/2 years ago) and am coughing up blackish green thick phlegm all day today. Anybody else have this?

I haven't had BOB (band over bypass) but know a few folks who did that. It didn't help one of them, another did fabulously well and lost all the weight she'd regained plus another 10 or so pounds and has been maintaining fine. I've lost track of the other BOBsters. I would urge anyone who's considering revision to think carefully about exactly how their original surgery "failed". Did your original surgical tool stop working, or did you stop working it, or a combination of both? You really need to have that clear in your head before you have more surgery. Every bariatric procedure requires some degree of hard work on the patient's part. If your regain after RNY has been medically shown to be due to a stretched pouch or dilated stoma, you also need to talk to your surgeon about how to avoid those conditions once you're banded. Good luck, and congrats on the baby!

I think the pre op diet depends on how heavy you are from what I've heard and read from others. Some have only 3 days others had 2 weeks. I was a big girl rolling in at 399. I stuck to my pre op diet one week out of two. EAS Carb control shake in the morning and lunch. Water And Sobe in between then turkey for dinner with salad. If i got hungry between that i'd add sugar free Jello or Protein shake.My body eventually got used to it. I cheated one day and had pizza and popcorn at night at my favorite movie dine in place but that's about it. Lost 20 pounds and it was all worth it. Was so scared my liver would be too big and my surgeon would call off the surgery. But turns out my liver shrank to normal size, my surgeon was so stunned when he operated on Tuesday 4/10. He was so proud of me and liver, I felt like a champ lol. liquid pre op is hard, no joke but you can get through it. Sometimes you have to tweak it to customize it to fit you. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I have always says that I am not dumping because I've only thrown up once. Now I am realizing they I might be dumping in the sense of a slight tummy ache, feeling weak, dizzy, feeling nauseated, and even sweating. This happens after I eat sometimes, but I don't feel as if I'm over eating because I'm not eating over 6oz. That is the amount my nutritionist said I should be able to eat. Help if you have some input or have experienced this. Thanks SD: 10/10/12, Converted from Lapband to RNY, HW (before band) 263, HW (RNY) 230, Preop 219, after surgery 223, CURRENT... 187 YEAH!!!!

I was banded on 10/29 and the same thing is going on with me. I am trying to limit my calorie intake and keep protein up. I get my first fill 11/30 so I am excited for that. Bandster Hell sucks!

My husband has a 10 cc band and was like you after his first fill. He could eat practically anything during the holidays and gained back the 10 lb he lost after the first fill. Now he has his second fill--6 cc in a 10 cc band--and is doing much better. When I feel myself starting to binge, I eat something I know will get stuck a bit, like a bite of bread, on purpose, just to stop myself from eating anything more. Probably not the healthiest thing to do, but it does work.

My liver shrinking diet consisted of a Muscle Milk for Breakfast, low fat cheese between lunch and bfast. For lunch I had two In-n-out Protein style burgers (wrapped in lettuce instead of bun or another Muscle Milk. Lowfat yogurt or another low fat cheese stick for snack and for dinner a grilled chicken breast and some broccoli. I lost 11 pounds in 10 days doing this. Also, be sure to get out for at least a 30 minute walk each day. Good luck to you! Banded 4/17/09 w/.08 cc First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc

For me Isopure clear liquid protein drink was the best way to get my protein its 40 grms of protein per bottle, also sugar free jello. Another thing I do is whisk up the jello when its liuid with low carb, low fat evaporated milk and let set makes it a little more tasty then reg jello. Have been on mainly clears and some soups for 10 days, start mushy next week , so far down 11lb since banding on 12/15 Good luck its not too bad

hello....I think its just one of the foods that are not band friendly....I have 7 ccs in my 10 cc band and I have no restriction still....but rice made me feel horrable last night....just like you said felt like it was stuck right there.....all i could do was walk...and kept pressing against my chest ( not thatit helped just made me feel better) ...good luck....

Well it has been some time since I posted to my blog. It probably has something to do with consistant loss of weight since then. Well I should say until recently. I guess I have alot to be happy about, but can't seem to be at this time. I guess gaining 4 pounds seems like alot at this point in time and it is impossible not to feel discouraged. I was filled to 7.6cc but had reflux and heartburn so I went back to the doctor and he took out a whole 1.0cc. I guess I should be thankful he didn't take the whole fill out:scared2:. Since then I have been so hungry it is driving me crazy, nothing seems to fill me up, or at least not before everything comes back up. I NEED HELP!!! My next fill is not for 16 more days, I am worried I will have gained 20 pounds by then if not more. I am trying to stay positive but it has been frustrating. I guess I should be focusing on the 70+ pounds I have lost, but I just can't seem to get past this hopeless feeling. I really had hoped to be down at least 10 more pounds than I am right now. I just need to refocus. Good luck to all on their journey. I am hoping this blog can help me put things into prospective.

I thought it would be a good idea to have a gathering place for useful stuff so it doesn't get lost in the forum and maybe we can add to it and refer back to it. I found this under the articles section on this forum and wanted to share. Good info! The official Bandwagon® Eating Skills are: 1. Don't drink while you eat or for 30 to 60 minutes afterwards. 2. Take tiny bites. 3. Chew, chew chew. 4. Eat slowly. 5. Eat the protein first. 6. Learn your stop signals. 7. Pay attention to problem foods. 8. Eat only when you're hungry. 9. Avoid liquid calories and slider foods. 10. Use a small plate. 11. Plan your food in advance. 12. Don't watch TV or read while you eat. 13. Don't put serving dishes on the dining table. 14. Eat sitting down at the dining table. 15. Follow the HALT rule (don't eat when you're too hungry, angry, lonely or tired).

I will throw my two cents in. I have a vague goal of 150 (I am 5; 4 1/2"). HOWEVER, I do believe the scale is such a small part of my goal. I want to look good in my clothes, not even sure what size I want them to be. What I don't want, is to struggle to be a certain weight and fight that battle vigorously. I guess when my body says "this is good" then I will do my best to accept that. Finally, I have a friend who wears a size 8 and I can honestly tell you that she is chubby. I have another friend who wears a 10 and she looks lean and trim. Go figure!

Excited to hear how well your doing my Journey has just started my surgery is in 10 days and I also have 150-175lbs to loose any advice for me?

I started this journey at 245. I am now 155 and 5 pounds from what I thought would be my dream weight. I had a closet full of clothes that I JUST WANTED TO GET INTO again... that was my focus and goal. I was happy at that size, I felt healthy etc... (all thoughts I had prior to surgery and thus the determination to get surgery) All those clothes were size 14's and 16's. I am now wearing a 12 and can squeeze into 10's. I think if I loose anymore weight, I will be too thin. If I were to loose another 10 to 15 pounds I would honestly look sick. Does anyone else have any thoughts on WEIGHT and scale numbers? With the whole Keirsty Alley announcement, and dealing with my own perception, I am confused. Oprah says she weighs 150. Her goal weight. I weigh 155 and am much smaller then she is. We are both 5'4 to 5'5. Is it possible my bones actually weighs more? My organs? What?! I remember telling my doctor I just wanted to get to 150 to get into my size 14/16's and his reply was no, size 8. I remember thinking he was off his rocker at the time, and I still think so today. I would be too thin and feel frail all the time. My sister is a size 2, and she was wearing 18/20's when she had her surgery (she had RNY) and she is TOO thin. But with her surgery, she will gain back a little. (hopfully) Any thoughts anyone?

Hey Sleevers! I am getting cold feet. On my 2 week liquid diet and I have cheated but not letting that bring me down! I literally can not believe I will be getting sleeved in 10 days. I don't know where to start, I am so ready but nervous of the new life to come. I am taking 4 weeks off from work, because my surgeon suggested it was enough to prepare me for my new life. I suffer from sleep Apnea and the worst one of all Hidradenitis Suppurativa after gaining 70lbs so quickly my thighs develop boils on a weekly basis.. I hate them. They ruin my life and people think its easy to work out..but not when you have this embarrassing disease. Well here I am guys and my faith is in God! Tell me why are you doing it? What are some of you NON scale VICTORIES?

Hey Jen, My surgery is in 10 days also! I was on the liquid diet, but my body wasn't reacting well. So my surgeon told me to get off it, and to restart it two days before the big day.

I sent you a friends request on myspace. I was banded March 10, and so far so good other than the gas pains. Good luck to you.....Kim

Female Height: 5’ 6” Starting Weight: 250 Starting Clothing Size: 20 Surgery Weight: 228 Surgery Clothing Size: 18 Current Weight: 140 Current Clothing Size: 4/6 In the beginning: • I had a lot of restriction due to (I am assuming) increased swelling from the additional procedure of the hiatal hernia repair. I am comparing myself to 4 other family members who had the surgery with the same doctor and described their post-op experience as feeling sore and having the ability to drink 2-4 ounces of Fluid without difficulty. It was difficult to even consume 1 ounce. Week 1 post-op was what I called “hell week.” I was very weak due to the lack of ability to consume fluids/calories and remain properly hydrated. • The 6 week post-op diet was difficult, but I reminded myself that I ate whatever I wanted (and in copious amounts), whenever I wanted for many years. • Once I was released to a full diet, foods did not taste the same. Some of the things I use to think of as delicious, were now bland and without flavor. I read a study that links your sense of taste to your stomach lining. However, this “lack of tasting” does go away and food eventually does taste great again (uh-oh!). • I monitored my calorie intake. I did, however, have my ups and downs. I slipped and fell into crappy eating habits. Despite the food restriction, I found that I could slowly graze on things and that the “bad” foods tend to be the “sliders”. • However, I constantly caught myself falling back into consuming these bad foods and I would work on redirecting my behavior. I was constantly “checking and balancing” my eating habits; trying to change my way of living. • Exercise started with walking (1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, and as my endurance and ability increased, 4 miles in one hour). As the weight began to melt off, along with my increased endurance, I upgraded to intervals of jogging (I would jog the straight-a-ways and walk the curves at the local school track). I would also use my elliptical trainer at home and by the time I reached my 6 months post-op point, I could complete a one hour, high intensity cardio session on my trainer. Feeling great! 6 Months Out: • As the weight began to melt off (I was weighing 167 pounds at this point!), I did have that “fallen” face look. My skin was saggy and loose. So, I decided I wanted to fill up my loose skin with muscle. Weight lifting slowly trickled its way into my weekly workouts and—at first—it was about a twice-a-week affair. I also upped my Water intake and made hydrating my face, neck and body with creams and lotions a daily and nightly ritual (as hydration helps to increase elasticity in skin; my face doesn't look fallen anymore...it takes time, but it does retract!!!). • My ability to consume fluids and food had greatly improved by this point. I seemed to be able to consume fluid the best after a good workout. I could drink water faster and in greater quantities! I continued to monitor my calorie intake and tried by my best to refrain from eating bad foods. Even when I did succumb to eating unhealthy foods (which happened on a weekly basis), I stayed within my calorie range. • My Protein intake was still around 60-80 grams per day. I really like the Premier Protein shakes. They come in ready to drink 11oz containers, they are only 160 calories and pack 30 grams of protein. About 12 Months Out: • 153 pounds; size 10 • By this time I was lifting about 3x per week at home. I began to notice my skin firming up around the muscles I was developing. At this time I began taking pre-workout supplements (NO-Xplode), post workout supplements (Cell Mass) and I upped my protein (100-120 grams per day). My goal with the supplements was to create longer workout endurance, quicker muscle recovery repair. I knew that the more muscle I had, the more my calories my body would burn due, as well as a better a metabolism. Even though I wasn’t really dropping that much weight at this time, my waist size started to go down with the increased muscle mass. • A little after the 12 month mark, I went down another 3 pounds, but I also went down an entire size! Typically, before the weight lifting, I would see a size drop about every 20 pounds. So, this was awesome! • Still working on eating clean at this point. I probably ate clean about 80-85% of the time. Weekends were a killer for me! It was hard with the weekends off, kids at home, and being out and about. No routine! Now, 22 Months Out: • 140 pounds • Size 4-6 misses • I eat clean foods 90-95% of the time. “Dirty” foods tend to make me sick now. • I have one cheat day, and I still limit myself and stay within my calorie range • I consume 150-170 grams of protein (still drinking the Premier Protein) • 1800-2000 calories on my cardio days (twice a week) • 2200-2500 on my weight lifting days (5 days out of the week). YES…I do more weight lifting than cardio! And carbs (good carbs, not dirty carbs) are your friend!!! Key for energy retention/endurance and muscle building! I consume more on my weight lifting days. Key intake is about an hour/hour-and-a-half prior to workout. • I still have really good restriction • My skin around my face has firmed up! It doesn’t look fallen. I’m a high school teacher and I get mistaken for a student all the time! • I do have some extra skin (and very little) in my upper arm area, upper thigh/groin; however, it isn’t that much! The muscle I have built really helps! The belly area has a little “apron” and—of course—the stretch marks from weight gain and 4 pregnancies make it look like a very wrinkly old grandma; but other than that, my stomach is flat! I do plan to have a tummy tuck this summer… so bikini here you come! All in all, I LOVE my SLEEVE!!! I would do it all over again! They key thing—and most doctors tell you this from the get-go—you HAVE TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE for LONG-TERM SUCCESS! The weight will come off that first year, but once you’re in that maintenance mode you can easily put weight back on. Especially eating dirty foods that are higher in calories/sugars/fats. They slide through your restriction, they are full of empty calories (no nutritional value), and they will be your downfall. Does that mean you cannot enjoy a piece of cake, chips or some other dirty food? No, but you have to teach yourself to say “no” most of the time; and when you do say “yes,” limit yourself and eat in small quantities. Don’t make it a daily thing, make it a once-a-week kind-of-thing. EXERCISE! You don’t have to turn into a gym rat…in fact, you don’t have to go to a gym at all, but find some kind of active activity that you can engage in at least 3 days a weeks, for a MINIMUM of 30 minutes. It can be hard at first (grueling even), but before you know it—with consistency—your body will crave it! YES!!! Literally, your body will crave the activity! I wish all of your sleevers and soon-to-be sleevers the best of luck! I hope you find your success in this life changing journey!

I just had mine on 10/4. Recovery is going well for me so far. I feel like the worst part was the gas pain right after surgery. I spend 2 nights at the hospital because I was not getting all my fluids every hour. Oh head hunger is a real thing, any tips on how to deal with that?

Hello everyone, I had my surgery on Monday, 3/10/14, and I am doing pretty good but I have been having esophageal spasms since coming out from surgery, it feels like tight chest pain that lingers for a couple seconds and then relaxes. My doctor is aware and I'm told that these are more related to the hiatal hernia that was also repaired, that I didn't even know I had, but I was wondering if anyone else had the same thing and how long they took to go away. They make it hard to drink anything and right now I am far from reaching the amount of Fluid and Protein I am supposed to be drinking daily.