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I just ordered this too. I am about 6 weeks out now with no hair loss, but I want to be proactive. Was wondering if anyone has used it?

Thanks for all the good wishes ...it is now day 3 and im doing fine ....i have to pick up my Optifast tonight on the way home ....who knows wy it took so long , maybe it was on the slow train ....Great ideas for making the optifast taste better... Im going to go and get the syrups that you mentioned Andrew any recomendations on what flavor??? Ive used the salad spritzers and must say they are a godsend. I am also a pickle lover and saw Andrew mention them as a good part of your veggies or when you just need something crunchie...so they are on my list !!! I also liked the idea of blending it with coffee for an ice cap ...maybe ill try that tonight. I weighed myself yesterday and was just about where I thought so I am pretty motivated ...It would be nice to loose 10lbs or so just to get a boost on the journey. every one here is so helpfull ..it is great to see how everyone is doing, its a real motivator. I am feeling good ...not too hungry...and am determined to do my best on this pre op adventure... thanks, and all the best to everyone on their weight loss, you guys are an amazing group its realy nice to know that every one is supporting each other ......susan

I chose to even though my doc didn't require it for me, because I figured it'd give me a jump start on my weight loss that I would probably not gain back like I always have before. And since my ultimate goal is to get rid of these extra pounds, I went for it. I started off with Optifast + my 5-a-day of fresh veggies & fruit (no dressings or anything on them, just raw or steamed veggies and raw fruit). Optifast made my eczema flare up on my face, so I switched to Glucerna weight loss shakes and those worked just fine. I admit to having a couple "last supper" meals of my favorite things during those two weeks, but not large portions. I dropped 8 lbs prior to and 4 lbs since surgery. Now I'm almost a week post op and frankly the liquid phase isn't bothering me at all. I'm probably still swollen and just not hungry. Plus my pre-op liquids were the Optifast or Glucerna and my post-op liquids are completely different -- Jello, cream Soups, chicken broth, SF fudgecicles and popsicles, a nice latte with SF flavored syrup, etc. I'm actually enjoying it, probably becaues I'm still swollen and not hungry all the time, but when the swelling goes down I'll spend those last few liquid days on the Glucerna again which keeps your blood sugar stabilized. Sorry, I wrote a whole book... sheesh... Good luck on both pre-op and the surgery!!

I have stalled with my weight loss, and am wondering if anyone has tried Xenical with their band. And if so, what was the result? Thanks in advance

I was on a plateau since April I tried just forgetting about weight loss not stressing about it, not getting on the scale..it works for me to just let go..I have lost 2 lbs not even trying. For me it seems when I exercise I do not see a movement in the scale but when the next week comes and I do not exercise the scale moves. GO figure. I do not worry so much any more about the sclae and it's numbers, if it take me another year to get these last 5-10 lbs off then I'm content as long as I'm not gaining. I have so many other possitive thing to be grateful for since my band. Try letting go, take a step back from the scale for a couple of weeks . You may see a difference when you do get back on it in. It works for me.

Brenda, I too have been on a plateau for all summer. 2 entire pounds since June, and now we are looking at September. I got so pissed off I almost quit everything, but came to my senses. My thanks to everyone for their encoragement on that. 7 pounds in 8 weeks is not a plateau, it just bearly is below the 1-2 pounds a week. That is still within the realm of reasonable weight loss. Sure, it isn't the amazing rappid loss many of us got used to, but it is still within the expected rate. I undestand your frustration, espcially when we see how amazing some people are doing. We are so excited for our fast loosers, even when we feel a stab of envy because of our own slow loss. I have stopped tracking my weight. I know it is unreasonable on some level, but I have stopped. I stopped for my sanity. I am now solely focused on my NSVs. It really makes this part of the journey tolerable. Today, I bought a size LARGE skirt. Not a 2X but a large. So, I suppose right now, the fact that I've only lost 2 pounds all summer is irrelevent. What are your NSVs? Are you tracking your inches lost?

I took diet pills a bunch of times. Always lost weight on the prescription ones and then gained back more. Never lost weight on the OTC ones. I figure getting the band frees me from following every new ad on TV promising weight loss. The band gives me portion control and I give me healthy food.

Anyone else dealing with weight loss slow down? I am only loosing about 3 lbs a month and that is with strict calorie counting and daily exercise. Anyone have a good way to jump start my weight loss again. Only have a month until my bandiversary

No regrets. I think it's ironic that I learned of the lap band while watching a commercial during the Dr Phil show (yea, read his weight loss book 3 times. great book, too bad it didn't work for me). I am amazed every day how food has lost its grip on me. Maybe they did some brain-surgery when they had me under! It is a relief to go to the grocery store and not be tempted (really) by the candy display at the check-out. Best of all, I've lost some weight and I feel like losing some more (not plotting on having a yummy "cheat". I love my band.

Thanks everyone! I had to cut the post short this morning because I was running late, but now that I'm back I can post more. My husband is doing weight loss surgery with me, but he's getting a band instead of a sleeve. I'm glad I have support and while I do wish he'd do the sleeve with me, I'm not going to make him do something that he's not comfortable doing.

Hey y'all I have a serious problem. So I'm supposed to start my 1 week pre op diet today. So yesterday I go to Wal-Mart and pick up the Whey Protein shake and choose the vanilla flavored. Well today as I'm looking at the sheet my nutritionist gave me apparently I was supposed to get a non flavored protein shake UGH ! My question is how bad is it if I just used the vanilla flavored? Had anyone else made this same mistake or do I just take it as a loss and go buy another shake and keep this one for later?? Help please thanks everyone

I lost almost 30 lbs pre-surgery (I put myself on a strict Atkins-like low carb presurgical diet for a month and a half). I have lost 50 since surgery, which was 4 months ago, so that's a total of 80+ lost. No one really noticed I was losing weight until I was down 60 from my high, but I noticed as soon as my clothes started fitting differently at about 20 down. Keep in mind that I am a "lucky" one and I know a lot of people who had surgery the same time I did, who have had more fills, and have not lost anywhere close to what I have. One of the biggest depressing downers is when you compare your weight loss to the one or two people who do phenomenal, assume that is the norm, and then are completed crushed that you're not losing at the same rate. Resist doing that-- as long as you are following doctor's orders, the chances that you will lose weight eventually are very very good. 1-2 lbs a week is healthy and normal, but I've seen lots of people who are losing 1 lb week upset because they are losing slow-- they aren't, they are losing at the expected rate (that's 4-5 lbs a month). It's the super-losers who are doing something strange and unusual but because we all want to be the super fast losers, we set them up in our minds as the norm when they are not at all.

She is doing well, but the weight loss has slowed right down... dont think she's lost this month, which is fine... My concern is, I think now, she's going to have to be more careful with the choices she makes. Up until now, she really hasn't had to. Having said that, she really doesnt seem to have the sweet tooth she once had... some of the things she loved, she doesnt anymore.... she eats small amounts often, and I find it seems like alot of carbs... Like I said its worked for her up until now... I do wish she could exercise a bit and be a bit more aware of what she's eating... I think its just because she's much younger then most who have the surgery... which was one of the reasons I was hesitant about allowing her to have the surgery, wondering if she was mature enough to "get it", that the surgery was just a tool, that she had to do the work... it still concerns me. Dont get me wrong, I'm very happy for her, but I worry she will gain it back, because she seems to eat what she pleases... and not gain, so far...

I had my surgery 7 months ago and have just started taking diet tablets. I find that my band is finally getting some restriction which makes it harder to get some things down (and up), but once I find something I can eat I can eat quite alot of it. I'm taking Reductil which is a mild anti-depressant used for weight loss. I'm not planning on it being a long-term thing, but I didn't want to get too discouraged either. It's having the desired effect. I hope it all works out for you, Rachel.

Medical Clearence appt. and pre-admin. testing went well. I was on a high yesterday and I'm psyched up for surgery! I'm not nervous right now, but it might settle in the night before I'm guessing. This will be my first time in the OR. I'm not disappointed in myself and I don't think any of us should be. Society has made us to believe that you can be a normal weight as long as you have a "healthy diet and exercise". Guess what? My best friend eats and eats and eats and doesn't exercise and is still skinny as a stick. I can sit down and eat the same amount as some of my friends and I will gain weight and they won't. That's just how it is. So much goes into what determines our weight like metabolism, heredity and our genetic makeup. I'm not excusing our bad eating habits and food choices, it's just not the end all be all of why we're so overweight. And it's not like we didn't try to lose weight, we all did. As a personal example, I'm guessing you all noticed that I've lost a lot of weight pre-band. Yes, I'm on Atkins and it's working for me and I feel great. I could trick myself right now to think "hey, look how well I'm doing with my weight loss, I'm at the lowest I've ever been in my adult life, who needs a lapband!" But as soon as I get tired of it and I go back to eating carbs like a normal person, I will gain it all back and then some. The cravings will come back and up my weight will go again. I know that's going to happen, because it happened the last time I did it. We deserve this! We deserve to have a healthy life and to not worry that our weight is going to kill us one day. No one should make us feel like we're taking the "easy way out". Surgery in itself is not an easy decision to make. The band isn't going to cure everything, it's going to help us. We're going to struggle with changing the way we view food and eating We're going to struggle with "that's what a normal portion of food is?" We're going to struggle realizing that we need to exercise becase it's healthy. I sure wouldn't call that the easy way out! If this is what we need to do to get ourselves healthy, so be it. So kudos to everyone who decided to have this surgery to improve their lives for the better! Okay, I've said my piece for the day.

50lbs in 4 months is a lot consider you started at a lower weight to begin with. If you want to make a change, stop eating "pretty much anything in small amounts" and just eat Protein and green veggies and see if that helps speed your weight loss. Also replacing one meal a day with a Protein Drink doesn't hurt.

Awesome loss Ryan! I hope the fill is just what the Dr ordered!

I am wondering about calories and the breakdown of such and weight loss. I was banded July 22. I have lost about 28 lbs plus 10 before for a total of 38 lbs or so. Great,.....not complaining about that. Probably due to 2 weeks of liquids. Since I went on food I have not lost a single thing. I am playing with the same 5 lbs, either up or down. It has been so damn muggy here I may have some fluid retention some days, but not really too bad. I logged my food onto fitday.com and I am in the 700 to 850 calories a day. Some time I wonder if my fat content is too high due to cheese. I drink all my water every day and do exercise to an exercise tape or do 1 hour of walking at varied speeds. I am so frustrated. I am getting a fill next week. Hopefully this helps. What is your calorie count for the day. I am following amounts of 3 oz meat..some fat free milk, etc... Would 2 tbs of regular cream cheese on 4 fat free triscuits sabotage my day.....Your thoughts

Thank you both Banded_for_life and Renebean for the warm welcome... Although Rene , I know if I don't then all of my problems I've got now will only worsen over time. Not to mention I am tired of bein' sluggish when I want to go out there and play softball or volleyball then realize I really can't because of my back goin' numb and my knees bucklin' on me.. Also if I ever plan to have kids in the feature then I've got to find my energy somewhere as well as get my PCOS under control...I'm just in really high hopes that my husbands insurance won't give me a fight but as far as my DR said in a past conversation with all of my health issues right now that can be better with a significant weight loss then she doesn't forsee it a problem gettin' the procedure done. So we'll cross fingers and I'll keep readin' up on things as my husband and I are waiting until the beginning of the year to have this done so my xmas dinner this year will be the last time I'll be able to "indulge" myself 'cuz I'm sure we all know what MY new years resolution will be .. lol

Congratulations on your loss and upcoming surgery!

I read on here a LOT that if someone has a higher BMI to start, that he or she will almost automatically lose more quickly than someone with a lower BMI. This has actually made me feel a little bit worse about my relatively low rate of loss because I started (and am still at) a higher BMI. Anyhow, I am wondering if anyone who has made this observation can point to any scientific studies showing that this is the case? I asked my RD about it, and she said with her patients, the ONLY time she has sometimes seen this theory hold true is in a bigger guy who has lots of muscle mass (in addition to fat). She said it's not even always true in this type of patient. I'm not being critical of anyone who has made this statement about high BMIers automatically losing more quickly, but usually it seems like those who are referencing it have lower BMIs and are talking about their own weight loss being slower than they would like. Obviously my heart goes out to anyone, high or low BMI, who is losing more slowly than we would like or more slowly than others seem to be. On a completely different topic, another thing that I've wondered about with people who lose really quickly--sometimes it seems like that happens at times in people who didn't have a really healthy diet before surgery--like those who drank a 1,000 or more calories/day in sugar soda alone or ate lots of processed stuff. Obviously no one here, including me, had a perfect diet before surgery, or we wouldn't have needed surgery--but I think some of us just tend to gain more easily (especially if hypothyroid) even on a fairly healthful diet, and that's part of how we ended up being overweight or obese. So those who had a super-unhealthy diets who cut out sugar, processed carbs, increase Water and Protein dramatically due to surgery--they may see a more dramatic fast weight loss, especially right after surgery. They are shocking their bodies more than someone who comes from a baseline that is somewhat closer to a healthy eating plan, if that makes sense. No science behind this btw--just anecdotal in having read a lot of posts and blogs. I would love to hear from low BMIers who have had fairly rapid weight loss and high BMIers who feel their weight loss has been slower than average. My surgery was on Feb 5, so about 7 weeks out. I have lost about 20 lbs post op and 18-20 lbs in a 6-month medically supervised diet before that. Though my loss is slower than others, I am going in the right direction! And 7 weeks vs 6 months to lose 20 lbs is a vast improvement. Even if I go at my own pace, I know that I am headed in the right direction and my goals are attainable. Again, I want to emphasize that I'm not trying to start a low vs high BMI war here or something--I think we all have the same types of struggles and successes. I want everyone to succeed and be happy! The goal here is to increase a sharing of information so that if there are some myths floating about we can understand others' situations better and not necessarily make assumptions/generlizations. Or maybe the assumptions are true and I'm the exception. Would love to hear others' perspectives and observations on this topic. Thanks!

Oh, dear, if I could only count the number of times I have lost 20 or 30 lb through dieting. Yet I was on my way back up to my highest weight of 255 when I had lap band surgery last October. I was pre diabetic, hypertensive, and had some bad knee pain. Now my blood sugar is 88, my blood pressure is 110/65, and I'm riding my bike 15 miles a day with no knee pain. I felt sore for a week or two after surgery, but managed the flight and two hour drive home the third day after the operation with no problem. Yes, I occasionally pb when I eat too fast or the wrong things. This is not a complication; it's the band stopping me from eating badly. I followed my doctor's pre op diet and lost 19 lb before surgery, but that certainly didn't make me feel I could lose what I needed to just by dieting, because without the surgery the loss wouldn't last. I followed all my doctor's post op diet recommendations and stuck to liquids for 3 weeks. I have had no complications and feel the band has been a total success for me. You could not pay me $160,000 to go back to the way I was before this surgery. I know you are worried about your wife's embarking on elective surgery, but please be very sure you are not letting your fears of how she may be able to beat obesity and become a new, happier person, intrude on your opinion of the surgery. The risks she runs from continuing to harm her body through her obesity are much greater than the risks she runs from the surgery itself. By the way, my husband and I were banded the same day. I wouldn't have it any other way, as we support each other, share our meals, commiserate (with a smile on our faces) about our bands, and understand each other's roadblocks and victories better than anyone else could. My daughter is banded too. This is the best thing that could have ever happened to our family.

who actually determines if you can benefit from weight loss surgery, your primary care dr or the surgeon? Do i need to see a surgeon right off or talk to my pcp first?

Hi...You say you haven't lost much...how much is not that much? Also, you should add some exercise, a little goes a long way at first. That will get your weight loss moving. The band is just a "tool", it is not a miracle cure...I have had my band for 4 yrs as of March 27th. It has been a journey and will continue to be. I have gone over a year without a fill and had it wide open...gained ten pounds and started over several times...It has only been 4 months for you...if you lost at least 15 lbs in 4 months, I would say it is not a mistake. If you know that you are really truely not eating the way you should (honestly) then rethink your stratagies...you will find out what works and what doesn't. I was drinking grande white choco mochas and when I wasn't losing, it was a sad realization of what I had to do...as soon as I quit drinking them I dropped 15lbs in a month....changing nothing else. Watching what you eat is important, just as important if not more is WHAT you drink. Without knowing what you are in fact eating or drinking it is hard to tell...Lattes and Mochas super high calories and fat...carbonated drinks...and Protein drinks with xtra carbs or milk. Read the labels, on foods as if you didn't have the band...I stick with as much straight up protien foods as possible, low low carbs, low low sugar...Lots of Water...Green Tea...I kinda follow an Atkins type diet, and quit eating before you feel full. You want to eat foods that can sit in your pouch a little longer. ...and you will stay fuller longer, so you don't want to snack between meals. You will find that your body will tell you when you are done, before your brain will tell you.. With the band you may have little hiccups or subtle little twinges...if you quit eating for 15minutes you will find you are full and don't need another bite. Do you have support groups in your area? Definitely go...you can address all your concerns and meet people with the same concerns and issues and get good ideas... I think you made the right decision if you are in the same boat in a year...then I would worry..it is all trial and error right now...Good Luck!!

First let's address the notion that you cannot shower for ten days, I was able to shower in the hospital prior to discharge after my surgery. I did get my hair cut and highlighted the week of my surgery. A girl has to look good. Also did the pedicure and manicure. I have an emulsion blender that I used for Soups and Protein drinks. 100% fruit juice that you dilute 1:1 are great to have also. sugar free popsicles, pudding and Jello are must haves. (you will also need to have the same type of items on hand after a fill). I also pureed a nice roast chicken with some chicken broth for the mushy stage, you want to have something onhand that tastes good so you are not tempted to grab whatever when you decide to take the plunge from liquids to mushy. Make sure that the shoes that you have to wear home are comfortable, you will gain weight in the OR from fluids that they give you and it pools in your feet. Slippers and a robe if you have one are also good things to have with you. I took a puzzle book to pass some of the time when you are waiting to be discharged or you cannot sleep in the middle of the night. Best of luck!!