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You will do fantastic! Im trying to decide whether to wait on my insurance and "waste" another year being fat or to self-pay. I can DO it but it would be a major squeeze and once Ive lost some weight Im going to want that money to start living again!!! Isnt it funny how everything we do is controlled by weight? There are so many things I dont do because of it and if I have to wait a year to get the whole surgery paid for, thats almost too long and I litterally am contemplating financing it just to not "waste" another year. Now who says it has to be a waste? Me. I feel like anythign I do as a fat person is a waste. My therepist isnt fond of that mentality, but thats how I feel. I am excited for you. Post your results and let us know how you are doing!!! XOXOXOX Lauren Ashley

Hi Sandaisa! Congrats [emoji5] Mine was the 21st too. Pre-op weight 284, SW 271, 2 wk post op 263 and now 3 wks around 250. So far so good. Puréed food was a little tough but now it's better. I just have to remember to eat slowly [emoji106]🏻

Hey, just play the game to get your insurance benefits. I wouldn't go below the 40 BMI either. You don't want to give your insurance any reason to disqualify you. I was self-pay, and had to gain some weight to qualify with a 40 BMI. I just got banded yesterday and am doing fine. I know it's worth it already!

I don't struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, but I wanted to reach out and tell you how brave you are for telling your story and looking for support. I can't imagine dealing with these food issues we all face on top of maintaining sobriety. It is a lot to handle, for sure. In the food realm, the "one day at a time" approach has served me well in this journey. I used that strategy to get me started in March, and although I am firmly rooted in what I am doing now, I try to embrace that mindset when the scale is pissing me off or I have to face any of the occasional obstacles that present themselves. The fact that I have now lost 124 pounds is comforting no matter what happens in a day. As you lose more weight, that will comfort you, too. I encourage you to find something non-food related that is fun and makes you happy and get out there and do it. I go to the spa every day, and that has helped me as I move into the final stages of my recovery before I go back to work in a couple of weeks. Also, lean on your husband. I lean on my partner every day, as he leans on me. That's one of the most important parts of relationships. I wish you all the best!

Hi everyone Looking for some words of encouragement. I was banded 9/27 and lost 23 lbs in the first three weeks of swollen stomach and generally feeling lousy. Since then I had a fill in nov of 5cc and 2days ago another 3 in my realize band which holds 11cc. I am starving!!! Trying to stick to soft foods just so mentally i will stay on track But I just ate some pretzels anddddd nothing! Little restriction. What? I'm already at 8?!? I know I'm not supposed to worry about the number but really?!? I'm getting discouraged. I've gained 9 back. Seems like its the same old of not being able to control myself. Worried this won't work for me If I go back for more will I ever get there?

I just asked this question to my nutritionist last week. She said that my surgeon's protocol is to loosen the band after a certain number of years (I can't remember how many) at goal weight. The reason for this is to avoid any complications linked with a potentially-inflammatory implanted device, especially as one gets older. My surgeon has observed that by that time...(the certain number of years maintaining), the patient has acquired the eating and exercise habit/mindset etc that will prevent him/her from gaining the weight back. If the patient observes weight gain after the band losening, he/she is instructed to return for a fill immediately.

So this maybe a silly question, but do most bandsters have some liquid taken out after they've met their weight goal?? Because it would seem that if you continuously loosing weight, it would keep going and going past your goal and past healthy weight, and then you would become underweight and maybe even sickly... But if you do have some fluid take out so you can maintain instead of lose, do people tend to gain weight back? Or maybe that's how you know too much has been taken out and then you would get a slight fill again?? I'm not at my goal yet...another 30-40lbs to go, but I was just wondering what the future holds for me. Thank you

I hate it when drs blame everything on your weight!! I have that rubberband snapping feeling when mine is acting up. it's always at night or when I've been sitting in one position for a long time. I will roll over in my sleep at night and will wake me right up with the pain in my thigh. a good chiro can really help relieve the pain of sciatica. a tens unit will help even more. best 50 bucks I've spent!

First of all Congratulations! Second you will need to up your calories and get out of ketosis for the sake of the baby. That being said the baby will take their nutrients from you and you will most likely still lose weight while the baby gains weight. I would not be discouraged with your weightloss it will happen. Right now the baby needs the proper nourishment to grow. Keep us posted on your progress with the weightloss and the baby .

Take a very deep breath and decide if you are truly ready for this to happen. If you are, none of the other stuff should matter at all. Take things one step, one day at a time and that is how it all becomes less overwhelming. This includes the 3 week diet. It really is not that bad and will kick start your weight loss, ensure you have a healthier liver and make things safer. I can tell you that every bit of this is worth it in the end. I am 14 months post op, down 135lbs and 10 lbs from my goal. I thank god everyday for putting the Bariatric community on this earth to help us get healthy. When you feel the stress practice breathing very deep, it can be calming. Good luck to you!

Yup, what @@BLERDgirl said... Surgery won't change the reasons why you binge, and frankly, I would be concerned about your success and even the dangers of you damaging your little sleeve if you happened to binge. I would hope you are currently receiving professional help for your binging disorder. At 7 months post surgery, losing the weight has been the easiest part of this whole journey. Learning to deal with stress, sadness, anxiety, happiness, celebrations, holidays and social situations without automatically turning to food has been the biggest part of this for me. Just make sure you understand it's so much more than losing weight. Good Luck to you and keep us posted!

Try not to stress over family visiting. Let them come, but tell them you will be adhering to your doctor's orders regarding food and exercise and hope they will be supportive. And someone I know, who has been banded 12 years, says "progress, not perfection". If you should make a poor choice or two while family is visiting, it's not the end of the world or the end of weight loss. Just get back on track and try to do better. Congrats on your banding. P.S. Is there an error in the stats re preop diet & date of surgery weights?

It's different for everyone depending on what your surgeon thinks best. I was cleared to start on the cross trainer the second day after surgery, but "just don't overdo it." By the time I went back for my 1 week checkup I was doing an hour at a time on the cross trainer at a moderate level. At the 1 week checkup, my doctor cleared me to start working out in the gym again at 1/2 my previous level of resistance, and 1/2 my previous number of reps, and I was to "work up slowly over the next month" to my previous levels. The main thing is you don't want to overdo. If you do, this will cause you problems instead of helping you. The best advice that I or anyone could ever give you is "Stick with the plan." And be patient. Don't compare your weight loss to anyone else, for therein lies certain disappointment.

I'm still in the early stages of getting approval for surgery but there is one question I would like to ask sleevers. I see on this message board how successful many of you are after surgery. That takes determination and willpower! I've been able to do that on and off for at most 6-9 months at any given time...but gain the weight back. How will I know that after surgery I will suddenly be able to do what I have not done successfully before on my own? What is it about the surgery as a tool helped you make that switch or connection to that determination/willpower?

Hi...I was banded in Monterey, MX by Dr. Sanchez. I could not be banded in the US at that time because I was not considered "morbidly obese". I did the yo yo with my weight most of my adult life and was never able to maintain a constant healthy weight. At that time the lap band was very new and a lot of people were going to MX for placement. I have not had a fill in over 10 years and still have restriction. I still have to eat slow, chew well and am not able to eat certain foods unless I have had a drink or two (which loosens the band...relaxes me). I still have a difficult time eating out .... I eat much better at home. I can't eat in the mornings and have carnation instant usually. I try to get my protein in with cottage cheese, yogurt, organic chicken and eggs (eggs don't always do well). I juice occasionally to get my veggies and fruits. I am considering removing my band this next year because I would like to be able to eat salads and fruit naturally and I do have to work at getting my nutrients in. Unfortunately, ice cream, candy and white russians go through very well, lol. I know I would lose another ten pounds if I would cut out the sugar. I still slime a lot and that concerns me. Im not really sure what I will do. I am not being followed by a doctor and have not been for 10 years. I do have a lot of heart burn and am sure it is because of the sliming. I am going to see a doc to get checked out this year for that. I do not regret getting the band as it has helped me in the long run. The band is the boss as you all know. Any questions, feel free to ask. Also, I had a tummy tuck in Monterey with Dr Cardenas about a year after my weight loss and that was the best thing I ever did for ME....

Melting. That's what I want to do. Mellllllt away! I know the band certainly won't make that happen but at least I won't be steadily expaaaaaanding instead! Tomorrow is the first day of my two-week pre-op diet and I'm committed to following it. I honestly don't think I've been truly committed to any diet in well over fifteen years. We'll see how well I can hang. I have been intentionally reading all the horror stories I can find about fatty livers, open surgeries, ruptured livers, cancelled surgeries and every other thing that can happen if I don't lose some weight before the big day. I hope fear motivates me since nothing else has. My pre-op diet is two or three unjury shakes with skim milk and a Lean Cuisine every day. Ironically, my "last supper" tonight was one of the Lean Cuisines. Of course, I only ate that because I was still hungry after I ate my roommate's leftover french fries that she had thrown away. Yes, you read that correctly. I got them out of the garbage. That's how pathetic I am. (Before anyone unfortunate enough to actually read this starts vomiting, I'd like to add that they were still relatively fresh and still in the fast food bag on TOP of the garbage.) Good Lord. How do I even think I can justify something like that? :rolleyes2::biggrin: I'm only putting this on my blog for the world to see because I'm hoping and praying that someday I'll be a big success story around this board. Right now I can't think of a soul who is going to read this but I'm optimistic that someday someone will want to see how I did it and where I came from. I guess you can't come from anything much lower than eating trash out of the garbage, can you? I already have two friends and my Mom who want to have a "last meal" with me before the surgery but I'm going to have to say no. I have to keep reminding myself that this pre-op diet is for my SAFETY and this time whatever weight I lose won't come back on in a week's time. Wish me luck. =)

Lots of nasty stuff is stored in fat. As it's melting away it's released into your body. Also, the surgery itself sends your hormones out of wack. The beauty of it is that your body is recreating a new set point. A new, healthier metabolism. For the next year you have a fantastic opportunity to get that set point stabilized at a healthy weight. Think of this time as a great time to optimize your weight loss and increasing your chances of lifetime success. I sat my husband and son down for a chat about my potential moodiness, regrets, etc. it was important that they know so anything I may have said could be put in context. My son was always asking me if I was feeling regret or if there was anything he could do to make me feel better. I loved him for that. You have come to a great place for support. I came here because I have no support group in my area. You will get encouragement advice (good, bad, nice, not nice) but most especially you will get honest and forthright answers to any question. And I mean any question. There are no boundaries to propriety here:-) Good luck and hope to see you on here more. Take care

I get banded on Wednesday! I'm so excited to get this tool to help me out with losing weight. My pre program weight was 275. My current weight is 253. I can't wait to start losing more weight Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If you haven't lost any weight in 1 1/2 months then its time for a fill. Don't forget to exercise or add activity every day. How many cc's is your band?

I have this issue, but I haven't figured out how to love myself with it... I'm actually not at my goal weight yet, but feel like my excess skin on my tighs, hips, and tummy could be part of that... Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

I have my pre op appointment in a couple days. They are shooting for April 30 or May 1 for surgery. I am very aware that this is going to be a lot of work. I am hearing all these stories of weight gain after bypass surgery that I am so afraid I will be one of the statistics that do gain it back. As many of you all know the feeling of diets not working, I can't help but keep asking myself what will make this any different? I know me getting the sleeve is different then bypass, but I am still very scared. Any advice would be so appreciated.

So this was humiliating, I know I am overweight but I have always been looking out for my mom who had always been overweight and older of course. Back track one year and she had her gastric sleeve surgery, I went with her to Mexicali and she had her sleeve done by Dr. Aceves. I went with her but at the time was not convinced this was something I needed to do. Ha! As she lost weight, got more active and looked and felt much better I started debating more and more about it. Even my husband was on board before I was, a little stubborn I am , I know. A month and a half ago I had surgery with Dr. Wilhelmy in Mexicali too. I had already been there once and knew this was the place I was to have my surgery done too. I am only a month and half out of surgery and have already lost 34.5 lbs. I still have a lot to go but feel great and really feel I will get to my goal of losing 140 lbs. So this weekend I am with my mom and we had to either climb 3 floors up or take the elevator. Feeling energized and motivated by my weightloss I am all for the stairs. Well, I guess I need to try them again in a month or two. Let me just say that I do walk 2-3 times a week and it is not the same to walk around the track and to climb stairs. By the 2nd flight I am out of breath and feeling dizzy, my mom??? doing great, ready to continue. I could not take the elevator at this point, a pride thing, so I sucked it up and kept climbing LOL I can't believe what my pride made me do! I was lucky I did not faint, I felt that bad. Felt really prod of her, she has lost over 100 lbs and deserves all she has accomplished but still felt pretty bad. if I look at the bright side I did make it which I am sure 34 lbs ago would not have been possible. Still have a long way to go and catching up to my mom will help me keep on track!

FYI.. found this on the following site, and thought it was a great comparison. Gastric Band Institute - Chattanooga, Tennessee - The LAPBAND® ProcedureGastric Band Approved by the FDA September 28, 2007 The Realize™ Adjustable Gastric Band has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe and morbid obesity. Ethicon news release Dr. Ponce has used this band during the U.S. FDA trial study since 2003. He was one of twelve Investigator surgeons that participated in the study. Also, for a couple of years in Mexico between 1997-1999, he placed more than 400 of them, making him one of the most experienced in the country with this band. Dr. Ponce’s thoughts are that both bands (LAP-BAND® and REALIZE™ ) will be similar in effectiveness. The minor details between the two are outlined below. If you prefer one band over the other, please tell me before the day of your surgery. I personally don’t think one band is significantly better than the other one. <TABLE borderColor=#000000 width=550 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top width=167>BAND NAME </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top width=194>Allergan Medical LAP-BAND® System </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top width=167>Ethicon Endo-Surgery Realize™ Adjustable Gastric Band </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Worldwide usage (Laparoscopic surgery) </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Since 1993 </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Since 1996 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>U.S. approved usage </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Approved by FDA in 2001 </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Approved by FDA in 2007 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Dr. Ponce's usage </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Began using 1998 in Mexico/ U.S. FDA trial use since 2000 </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Began using 1997 in Mexico/ U.S. FDA trial use since 2003 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Made of </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Silicone </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Silicone </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Sizes </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Two: AP Standard and AP Large </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>One universal size </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Adjustable </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Yes </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Yes </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Circumferential balloons </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Yes </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Yes </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Band Balloon </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Low pressure </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Low pressure </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Weight Loss at 2-3 years </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>50% </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>50% </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Slippage </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Low rate <3-5% </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Low rate <2-3% </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Erosion </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>< 1% </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>< 1% </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Adjustment by port </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Yes </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Yes </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Band balloon capacity </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>10cc AP Standard / 14cc AP Large </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>9 cc </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Adjustment port </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Anchored by sutures </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Anchored by special clasps </TD></TR><TR><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>Approximate adjustments first 2 years </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>8 </TD><TD class=style21 vAlign=top>8 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

That is so wonderful to hear! Thank you for the encouraging words. You are absolutely right. Also I would have to ask myself is it fair to myself not to give it a try? It is not that I have no faith in myself, it is just that I know how diets go. They don't work and if this like another diet, I don't want to go down this road once again and set myself up to fail. I can not believe how many emotions I have been feeling with this surgery coming up. I had no idea it would be like this. Excellent on the weight loss! Please keep us updated and I will do the same....

Thank you for the replies and kind words! I guess it's last minute nerves and I was frustrated that my weight wasn't stopping but this morning I'm down .9kg! That's almost two pounds! woohoo! I saw my therapist yesterday and she helped calm my nerves and put things in perspective. mechele8 -OMG! I don't know if I'd want to do this alone. You sound like a strong person. Do you have a therapist? I got one on my own and I must say it's one of the best things I've done to help me through this. I don't feel looked down on or analyzed. She's more like an older, wiser aunt and I feel lucky to have found her. I can discuss anything with her. Let's keep in touch. Good luck with your surgery. xo