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I totally agree. Or people saying that they are throwing up, cant keep anything down, not losing weight, or in a lot of pain and they are 3 weeks or more past their operation date. So it makes me think is there another side to this story? Maybe they are wanting validation for something the doctor has told them is a no-no.

My time period was 8 months. I had to pay deductibles over two years because there are costs spread out over the two years. The initial cost were primarily for meeting the 6 month medically supervised weight loss program where I met with a physician every month for 6 months. There was also the cost of the psychologist visit, which was not covered by the insurance. The later costs which included an extensive array of pre-op tests, a second round of pre-op tests with specialist in their fields, hospital and surgeon costs, post-op medicine were the greatest.

Hi. According to BMI charts, for your height, your weight should be 115-155lbs... Again according to bmi.. But realy go to where you feel confortable and feel healthy...listen to your body.

PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrom (PCOS) counted as one for me, as well as being borderline diabetic (another symptom of PCOS). If you have ANY family history of weight-related health problems, make sure your Dr puts it down in the paperwork he sends to insurance. Mine put down my dad's diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which helped form my "case" for surgery.

Hello I started the process in December of 2007, and will meeting with the Surgeon for the first time on 2/28/08. I have completed the process in six weeks. I just loved the overnight sleep test!!!!!!!????!!! I will find out on 2/28/08 my surgery date, but each hospital works differently I work 10 minutes from the hospital so I was able to get all my appointment quickly and at lunch time. Others are not as fortunate because of the hospital location. Good luck and this is a good year to lose all the weight - like you I am so excited also 140 pounds to go. We can do it!

I had mine with Dr Ortiz at mi doctor hospital. I believe it was previously a military hospital. It is not fancy by any stretch. But I was checked every 30 min or so after my surgery, my husband was provided a bed beside me and didn't leave my side other than when in the OR. English was not a barrier whatsoever, and they were very kind and compassionate. They are more attentive than they are here In Canada. You will be in good hands. Sleeved Sept 10/2016 HW 267 SW 252 current weight 232

I had my lapband surgery in November 2006. I lost seventeen pounds pre-surgery and then another fifteen pounds by January. I had a total of two fills. Things were going okay, but not perfect. I had regained a few pounds over the holidays and was struggling to get back on track. In February 2007, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. I ended up with a total hysterectomy. Recovery, both physical and emotional was brutal. Several months later I lost my job along with my health insurance. I was unable to continue with visits with my bariatric surgeon. The band has since been "unfilled" and I have re-gained every single pound I lost. I am scared, depressed, and most of all ANGRY. How did this happen? Is there any hope for me with the lap band at this point? HELPPPP!!

I had surgery 6 weeks ago. I'm frustrated that the weight isn't coming off as fast as I thought. I'm down 30lbs. Am I over thinking? Sent from my LG-H901 using the BariatricPal App

Mary, I think you have done very well losing as much as you have lost. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. Are you still following all of the band rules most of the time? Have you had many fills? Overall I think you should be really pleased with your success. I think as you get closer to goal the weight loss might be a little slower. I have heard that before. Best wishes, Teresa

Happy sleeve day! I had mine on 8/9/12. I'm very excited to see the surgeon tomorrow to find out how much more weight i've lost. How are you doing, what things are you eating and how is your weightloss coming along?

152 totally effing rocks (my last weight too! ) So good too see you gamer girl

I too have never been able to reach my goal weight, sigh ..... I've been within 5 lbs but then gained back 5 and have been fighting to maintain with many ups and downs ever since. It seems to be the way it is for many of us. I think it's difficult on multiple levels. First we lose like crazy and then it suddenly seems to come to a screeching halt. The honeymoon is over!! At least we have a fighting chance now. But none of us are used to success with weight loss so we're hyper critical of ourselves for not attaining a goal that may be unrealistic for our bodies. I also struggle with so much anxiety about regaining my weight and stress over it which only makes me want to eat more! Lastly, our body and our body image may not be in agreement. I still feel so damn fat! WTF?????

I am 35 years old, and I had the sleeve done on March 5th. When I went in to the program (October 31, 2014), my weight was 529lbs. When I started the four week pre-op diet (Feb. 5, 2015), I was 517. On surgery day I was 480 and today, a week and a half later I am 467. An astonishing loss in a relatively short period of time, and is (according to my surgeon) not the norm. I am thrilled, though. I have had zero complications. No nausea, no vomiting, no cramping and most of all, no pain. I was completely off of the narcotic pain killers within 36 hours of surgery, and have been able to take in every last bit of liquids and Protein that my surgeon requests. I consider myself very fortunate that I have had no difficulty compared to others. I firmly believe that recovery is 20% physical and 80% mental, or at least it has been for me. If you get in to the mindset that VSG is a tool that you will be able to use to get healthy and to lead a much longer, fuller life, then you will not only be able to do it, but to succeed. VSG has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Good luck to you.

:drool:Hi All: These have been posted before and I think it is a great way to try a great-tasting Protein drink. It has a high protein to weight ratio. That means that the 26g serving size will yield you 23 grams of protein. Other Protein drinks I have tried have a 30g serving sixe and 15 grams of protein. The rest of the 15 g is sweetener or filler or whatever else they put in those protein supplements. YOU CAN ONLY ORDER THESE BY PHONE. THEY ARE LIMITING ONE PER PERSON. IF YOU HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, YOU CAN PUT IN AN ORDER UNDER THEIR NAME AND CREDIT CARD. SYNTRAX'S PHONE NUMBER IS 1-866-333-7403. ASK FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE (THEY CLOSE AT 5P.M. CENTRAL TIME, I THINK) and place your order for 10 samples for $9.99 UPS GROUND shipping. Bodybuilding.com has all the flavors available. Search "Syntrax nectrar" 2.2 pounds 36 servings is around $28 and their grabngo packs are $24 for 21 individually-wrapped servings of one flavor. Bodybuilding.com has a good price on click coffee protein but melting mama is the best one to contact for all the click protein promotions! Question: the max protein the eggface uses in her recipes is quite expensive at GNC. does anyone know a website that carries this protein for a reasonable price? what flavors do you all like of the max protein?i know even if i don't like the protein, i can always make protein ice cream. i am soo sick of sugar free popsicles and crystal light pops. i wish grocery stores carried healthy protein ice cream. I like the herbalife unflavored Protein powder and their shakes. i go through reputable sellers t hrough ebay (always fresh products--great service) because i don't want to go through a local distributor that wants to recruit me into the herbalife organization. Herbalife chai latte ranks up there along with click and my syntrax nectars. i buy the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury once a year. i like all the flavors but i prefer the syntrax. The unjury Soup is okay. If i had to do preop again, i would do unjury for two weeks instead of the expensive and bleh tasting medifast and Optifast for 2 or more weeks. UNJURY HAS SAMPLES--ABOUT TWO BUCKS FOR EACH FLAVOR. you have to check with your doc, of course. for those that are mandated to do the optifast/medifast "hell" you might be able to find affordable products at dietdirect.com--they have a lot of protein-enriched liquids that are less than a buck a serving. when i go on a roadtrip vacation., i like the smartforlife.com. Yup, those are the gimmicky cookie diet folks! Their Cookies are okay and prevent my convenience store snacking that i do mostly on weekends (choc chip is the best IMO) but what i love are the shakes--the powder is premixed in a little bottle. you have to add Water voila! i love their shakes--it's cheaper to go through costco.com and search "smart for life" or through their website. The SMARTFORLIFE.COM company sometimes lower the price of items if you ask. Here are my favorite Syntrax Nectars: fuzzy navel, twisted cheffy, chocolate truffle and capuccino. They mix well in a shaker bottle and not in a magic bullet. As people have mentioned. they have a "foam" bot a not-so-heavy protein taste. i mix them with skim milk, soy milk, filtered water, g4 gatorade, Vitamin water zero, Powerade zero, crystal light, coffee, orange juice (i love the tropicana 50--coupon on tropicana.com--it has 50 perecent less sugar than regular oj). I HOPE EVERYONE GETS TO TRY THE SYNTRAX nectar SAMPLES! Please post where you get your wls samples, what you paid and what you got in the sample pack! Cheers, Angel in Phoenix

Do as much research as you can.. the lapband is only a tool and requires a life long commitment... Getting started - well call for a consultation - again this site provides many great doctors/clinics. My insurance denied my request because I did not meet the qualifications. My insurance has also become more strict in their requirements.. they want a year long doctor monitored diet, 5 year weight fluctuation, 100 lbs over weight and a BMI of 40.. needless to say I was a selfpay - so depending on whether or not you are paying yourself will also determine your next step... I would suggest research, call for a consult, start the insurance process and go from there... You could always call your insurance first to see what they require...good luck

HOW MUCH WEIGHT HAVE U LOST

Well, I was banded in August (3rd to be exact), and it's now 7 months later and I'm down 40 pounds to 225#. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to now have my life back! A couple of things have happened to me since banding...my horse died (Feb 3rd), my aunt died (march 14th), and i bought a new horse (march 15th). The band has helped me in MANY ways, the most important was to get back into the saddle and showing again...I have a horse show this weekend in Tacoma, WA! I feel great; however, there are some frustrating parts...since loosing 40#, I haven't had the want to get a fill...but, I'm finding that I'm throwing up daily, no matter how little or much I eat. I know that my band hasn't slipped, I feel no discomfort but I'm wondering if it adjusted to a smaller size since I've lost a good amount of weight.... Here are some pictures of me now......

Well, I was banded in August (3rd to be exact), and it's now 7 months later and I'm down 40 pounds to 225#. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to now have my life back! A couple of things have happened to me since banding...my horse died (Feb 3rd), my aunt died (march 14th), and i bought a new horse (march 15th). The band has helped me in MANY ways, the most important was to get back into the saddle and showing again...I have a horse show this weekend in Tacoma, WA! I feel great; however, there are some frustrating parts...since loosing 40#, I haven't had the want to get a fill...but, I'm finding that I'm throwing up daily, no matter how little or much I eat. I know that my band hasn't slipped, I feel no discomfort but I'm wondering if it adjusted to a smaller size since I've lost a good amount of weight.... Here are some pictures of me now......

Hi Lori!!! So you were banded in CO do you live in the area? I used to, and still have family all over the state. We are in New Mexico now. It is pretty normal for weight to drop rapidly then slow or stop for awhile. I understand your body is holding on with all it's got, as it thinks it is being starved! And in comparison to how we ate pre-banding---it is! More water will help with the constipation, and if you continue to have problems, talk with your Dr. mine recommended a stoll softener for awhile, until my body adjusted to my new eating style. You may see and feel a difference with your first fill, or it might not seem like much of a change. My first one, made me slow down, and begin eating smaller bites for sure! I thought I was already eating the bandster way, but without any restriction, I had slowly slipped back into some quick eating habits. My first fill while not giving me much restriction in amount I could eat, made me chew nd slow down. I had a second fill a month after the first, and then I got good restriction. I had it over 7 months ago. I find myself sometimes able to eat more, but not always, so am not intending another fill for awhile yet. It is so good you have a supportive husband, I do not know what I would do without mine! He too is right there beside me encouraging, and it is so helpful!! He is always telling me when he hugs me how much smaller I feel. I don't know if he gets tired of saying it, but I haven't got tired of hearing it yet!!! I began at 289 pounds and am now as of this morning at 202. I wore a 22/24 pants, and now wear a 14.Tops have been slower losing sizes---I have always heavy or thin been top heavy--but I have gone from a 28/30 or 3X to a X large, or a 18/20 in most styles. I tend to still buy my clothes too big. I have to take someone with me, I have issues seeing myself as changed. I look forward to following your progress----it is an amazing help in losing this weight. Tell us all about you-- Kat

Not sure how you or the guests feel about pumpkin flavor but on mine my step mom made me this pumpkin pie fluff you use a can of pumkin and a thing of lite cool whip and add cinnoman and ginger it tastes pretty good and very low calories it was a reciepe from her weight watchers

I have been feeling so depressed. Because i havn't lost any weight in the last 2 weeks (yes it has been my fault). I have been killing the christmas cookies. I have a horrible sweet tooth and since being banded i have keep all tempations out of my house well christmas shows up and everything goes out the window. Everyone gives us christmas cookies. And my husband having the highest metabolism know to man can eat pounds of them without gaining an oz (still weighs the same he weighed in high school 176lbs). Well a least i didn't gain and i still enjoyed the holidays. The scale has started to move again. All the christmas cookies are gone. I started to get scared because i started to feel like old habits were coming back these last 2 weeks but i have to remember that i am stronger with the band and i will not go back to old ways because i am loving this new life.

@@kell911 so I cant start to get these things done before I see my surgeon for the first time? also I read that I have to get a clearance from a PCP, Cardiologist, Pulmonologist. Do I really have to see all of those doctors?? & do you know if its best to see your PCP or Weight Watchers for the supervised weight loss program?

I was 281 (5' 10) and set my goal at 200 originally. I use to be 5' 11 1/2" and competed nationally as a ski racer at 200. As I quickly dropped weight, I changed it to 190. Realizing that it's all about health, not weight, I am now targeting a comfortable 36" waist. I'm at 186 and some 36's are lose and some are tight. I've been on maintenance for over a month and at this point, I have no idea where I'll end up. My wife tells me to stop losing weight and I'm sick of talking about "my diet" (we decided to keep the wls secret and thus I've done more lying in the last 6 months than the rest of my life combined ).

I was sleeved Nov. 1 and I have lost 30 lbs. Mine isn't coming off as fast as some people. But I am eating all the right things, so I know I'm being true to the weight loss program. I am exercising the last two weeks. I joined Golds Gym for the pool. I have arthritis in my knees, hip and toes. So the water is helping. So I'll just take it slow.

Heidi, I hanen't had my band too long yet but its the best thing I have ever done. i did every diet plan, workout plan known to man and was always able to lose weight. But it always came back and usually brought friends with it. With the band, its more of a lifestyle change than a diet. I eat things i like, just small portions, and exercise regularly ( daily). We have people in my support group that have been banded 5 years and are doing great. As you will hear, this is only a tool and it will be up to you to modify your lifestyle to adapt to it.