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This is a catch 22. I know that with Kaiser they insisted on losing 10% of your weight. I did not lose 10% of my weight and I still got a referral to my wl surgeon. however, I did lose enough weight where the surgeon's office was questioning and was going to deny my surgeon because I was under the BMI. If it wasn't for my comorbidity of DB, I wouldn't have been sleeved. Another person went through the program too and she didn't lose her weight either. Both of us had surgery.

Welcome to the ''hood! Your story could have been mine! I had my sleeve surgery on May 3rd of this year and I have not regretted it at all. I don't think I would be considered a fast loser, but I am really happy with the results. I, too, only lost a total if 10 lbs over the 5 years that I had the band. So, losing 38 lbs and passing my lowest band weight has really been wonderful! You will do great! Just follow the rules Abd enjoy being able to eat like a normal person. It is amazing to live without constant barfing!!! I have only thrown up once since the surgery and that from s girl that used to throw up 2-3 times a day! Success! I love it!!! Good luck and keep us posted! Cheers- Barb

I am having a band to sleeve revision on 8/9/11. The band has never really worked for me. I could never get to the "sweet spot" that everyone talks about. I have been banded since 2007 and have lost maybe 10 lbs. I still vomit if when I eat some healthy foods, but boy, I can down a bag of cookies or chips. I felt like I had two stomachs. One on top that hurt and where things got stuck and then one on the bottom that was starving all of the time. I felt so guilty because I've known other people who were banded and have had moderate to good success. My PCP told me one time that I was "eating around the band". Maybe I was, but I feel like I gave it my best shot. I still worry about the sleeve because I know it is another restrictive procedure. I just hope that I don't feel that horrible pain that I did with the band.

Wait!!!! Don't throw the scale out!!!! Continue to get on it every day so you KNOW where you're at!!! No matter what my mama said, 'Ignorance is NOT bliss!!!!' You will go up and down....but if you are logging your food and if you will weigh and measure your food.....you will know if you're doing what you want to be doing. If you are, then you'll see the scale to start back the other way, I promise! I'd go up and down for a week, and one time 10 days, before it went down and stayed down. Then on to the next lb or two!!! I am almost three yrs out and I still log my food and weigh and measure my food. It's my life, it's habit and to me, it's fun. I am obsessive about knowing my caloric intake, even at three years out!! I know that if I go over 1200 calories for a few days, I'm going to see the scale go up two or three lbs. Don't worry, you'll be fine!!! Are you logging and weighing/measuring your food? You're early out, so did you just start adding regular food in?

Good morning! So my surgery date is 3/28/19 and I started my 2 week liquid diet yesterday. I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes last year in June before I started pursuing bariatric surgery and this diagnosis actually pushed me to go through with it so I decided to not go on insulin since this surgery has such a high rate of success in putting diabetes into remission. I'm getting nervous though since my fasting glucose result just came back and it was really high, 170 to be exact, and I'm worried my surgery might be delayed because of this?

It took about 10 days for my swelling to go down and for me to start feeling like myself. Im still bruised, seen doc friday he said some just take longer to heal from them.

I have a 10 cc band and only have 3 cc's and I am plenty tight enough at that amount everyone is different as to the amount they can tolerate. If I went any tighter I would not be able to eat at all.

I was on a two week liquids/lean and green diet. I had a Protein shake for breakfast/lunch, then a salad for dinner with chicken, shrimp or pork. Large salads with lots of other stuff, too. Artichoke hearts, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli ... everything. Large restuarant size. Lost 10 pounds and the Dr said my liver looked great and was easy to work with. BTW, I did not eat anything the day before surgery as I didn't want to be sitting in the bathroom a couple hours after surgery ... if you know what I mean.

Yep, great advice here. I didn't feel real restriction until mushies. I also didn't lose any weight in the first few weeks - I gained from the IV and long flights. It took a while to lose that. If you haven't heard it by now, make sure you're on a PPI that works well for you. It comes up so often because SO many of us experienced those hunger feelings and didn't realize it was acid until much later. It feels exactly like hunger and a lot of us have a freak out when it starts to be an issue. I thought my sleeve didn't work but in reality my Nexium wasn't cutting it and I needed to switch to Prilosec. The "hunger" disappeared two days later. I'm a slow loser. There are other folks on these boards that are super slow losers. Guess what? We're still losing. The fact is that this isn't a race and there's no prize for getting to goal faster than anyone else. Unless you give up completely, you're going to lose weight with this surgery. I'm learning that it doesn't really matter if you do it in 9 months or 19 months...you're going to love life at goal. The early weeks are the hardest. Hang in there. ~Cheri

Missy is right I'm afraid. I honestly don't think I'm in the green zone yet and I'm 10 months post op, not sure how much I have in my band, sorry but some days I can eat chicken and some days I can't, some days I can eat eggs and some days I can't, same thing with toast. 2 days ago I tried eating pulled pork BBQ and either ate too big of a bite, didn't chew enough or the stringy mess just slid down but I got stuck BIG time and ended up sliming, and then vomiting up everything I ate, a forceful vomit, not PB'ing which was not good for me at all. Am I afraid of trying BBQ that I have left in the frige, no, I will try it again but will be mindful of cutting it up into tiny pieces and chewing, what has really helped me is what someone else posted on here not too long ago, chew and say the alphabet. Most of my food intake is healthy choices like chicken, fish, oatmeal, cereal, tuna, cheese quesadilla grilled in a nonstick skillet with low fat cheese and for dessert greek yogurt with fruit on bottom or fresh fruits. It just so happen the other day I was craving pork BBQ and got some and well that night it didn't agree with me. I try to stay away from chips because I can't stop at one, however I'm a popcorn freak and I will eat that once a month as a treat but only a little. Be a little more creative in your food choices. Chili is good, loaded with protein, actually I love Wendy's chili, I get their small and eat it and its all I can do to eat that amount. However with that said when I go to Cracker Barrel and order a bowl of beef stew I can pretty much eat the whole bowl, go figure, I'm sure that is more than a cup worth which is what we are suppose to go by, eating 1 cup of food at each meal or at least by my surgeon's directions. I wish you well and good luck, you can do this.

Your only at 4cc? What size band do you have? Unless its a 4cc band I doubt your too tight. I have yet to read on here that someone was too tight at 4cc with a 10 or 14cc band. If your not eating correctly then your probably not chewing correctly either, thus regurgitating your food. I currently have 4.5cc and I still need another fill or two. I know everyone is different but...

I'm of the school of thought that "everything in moderation". I don't count carbs. Last year, I was on Atkins for 4 weeks. I was miserable. Woulda killed my mom for a cookie. Lost 12 lbs but gained them back as soon as I started eating carbs again (I think thats what happens when u restrict ur carbs that much. U gain when u have very little carbs). My husband is a total model of that: He uses Atkins Induction often. He aims for as close to 0 as he can get. It gets a little ridiculous when he counts the 1/16th of a carb in the pepper he uses on his food. Anyway, if he goes off his "diet", he will eat a whole package of Cookies, a 1/2 gallon of ice cream, a sandwich, 3-4 beers, etc in 1 day. A couple days later he will see a 5-6 lbs gain (which he loses rather quickly with Atkins but thats beside the point!). It's just my theory but I've seen it alot with people who restrict their carbs alot (like under 20 gms a day - as per Atkins induction) who then eat carbs gain quicker. Not sure what u deem as "low carb" ( I think the technical term "low carb" is under 60 or 70 a day, which I agree is pretty healthy, but lower than that and u get tired easily.) Carbs are what give u quick energy. It's why marathon runners carb load before a marathon. So I've lost 100 lbs without counting carbs (except for the 4 weeks last year). I eat everything but only small amts of it. It's why I had wls in the first place - so I'd never have to diet, count anything, or weigh anything. I listen to my tiny tummy and stop when it tells me to. Usually it's about 10-12 bites (about double of what it was at 3 mths!) but occasionally (maybe 3-4 days a month), I find I can eat much more. I will eat 50% of a portion (which scares me a little but I'm right back to eating about 1/4 of a portion the next day) Low carbing it works. Not gunna argue with that. I've read the scientfic facts behind it and the reason u lose (insulin resistance) and I can't argue with it. Hubby lost 80 lbs with Atkins. It works for him. Doesn't work for me. I don't like it. I will argue with anyone out there that what works for me is small portions of everything. I never feel deprived, I don't count anything, I don't feel like I'm dieting. I believe it's cuz I'm lowering my calories. Off my soapbox now. Good luck to u with ur upcoming surgery. Do whats best for u, but follow ur drs instructions.

that there is a forum dedicated to lap-band participants. I will be banded this Friday at 10 a.m. I've been reading several post prior to finally deciding to go forth with this surgery. I have learned from alot from those members who have recently been banded and those who have been banded for a while. Much of my decision was based on the members candid discussions of the benefits as well as the difficulties with the band. I look forward to participating in healthy and motivating discussions on how to continue this journey to weight loss.

This is one of the harder adjustments to make for me as I am transitioning back to food. I always drank a lot of Water when I ate in my pre band life. I am finding that this is especially true at Breakfast when I just have to get my morning coffee (usually half a cup if I am lucky now) plus eat breakfast. For now I have decided on a liquid breakfast (coffee and a Protein shake) since I have such limited time in the morning and don't have the 20 - 30 minutes before and after eating to delay drinking. It gets easier as the day goes on. When I get to work I get myself a 16 oz cup of water and sip regularly. This keeps me satisfied until around 10 am or so when I have something small to eat like a small container of mixed fruit in light syrup. Then for lunch I force myself to eat slowly taking at least 30 minutes to eat lunch. Then once the hour is over I can resume the water again and try to get in at least 32 oz at work. Then after work I try to relax with some more water or V-8 before dinner then take my time eating (like lunch) and "forcing" myself to wait at least 20 - 30 minutes to drink again. Its tough and I have to admit that if my mouth is dry I do take a tiny sip within the time frame. So far I am not feeling hungry that much at all. In fact I have to remind myself (with wife's help) to get in my 80 grams of protein daily. This is usually topped off by a high protein snack about an hour before bed. I found South Beach Cereal Bars while shopping the other day. Only 140 calories and 10 grams of protein. Delicious and satisfying way to get added protein.

:confused:I just wanted to say that I went to the doctor today. I was way overfilled. He said that the tightness in my throat and all the acid I have been getting were classic symptoms of too much in my band. So he took out half of my fill. I guess that has me at about 3 cc's or so in my 10 cc band. I was sort of bummed that he had to do this, but it is a lot better already. I still have some tightness in my throat, but nothing like I did. I imagine since this is the same day he did my unfill it may take a few days. But I feel so much better already. He said I should come back in a month and we will reevaluate how much more of a fill I can have at that time. Sounds reasonable to me. Again, thanks to you who responded to my post. Pam

Hiya - just wondering how long before/after meals you guys drink. I usually do 10 minutes before and 30 minutes after. I need to drink lots of water so I can't really wait an hour or so (I've heard it being recommended and thought it was completely nuts)

Take it easy don't rush things Sent from my HTC 10 using the BariatricPal App

I just posted this new weight loss surgery magazine article on the new Gastric Balloon: The gastric balloon is a newer approach to weight loss. It is an alternative to Weight Loss Surgery for obese patients whose BMI’s may be too low to qualify them for Weight Loss Surgery. It can also be an option for you if you do not want surgery because of its risks or because you want a completely irreversible treatment. How It Works The gastric balloon is placed in your stomach to partially fill it. This helps make you feel full so you are inclined to eat less and lose weight. The program depends on your readiness to make changes in your eating behaviors, and you are likely to be more successful if your doctor works closely with you during the time you have the balloon inflated to establish healthier nutritional habits. Like weight loss surgery, the gastric balloon is a tool for weight loss that depends on behavior change. Patients are supposed to have nutritional counseling and learn new eating habits during the months they have the balloon in place. Orbera also promotes establishing a sustainable exercise routine, managing your appetite, and learning how to keep yourself motivated. The Procedures for Implanting and Removing the Balloon It usually takes less than 30 minutes to get a gastric balloon implanted. The procedure is endoscopic, not surgical. You receive an anesthetic for your throat, and then swallow a deflated balloon attached to a catheter or small tube. The surgeon places the balloon using endoscopic instruments, such as a probe with a camera, and then inflates the catheter with saline solution or air. You can go home within hours after your balloon is filled. For 1 to 3 days, you follow a liquid or soft foods diet. You may have multiple balloons inserted over the course of your treatment. For example, Obalon’s 12-week program includes up to three balloons, each with a size of 250 cc (about 1 cup), for a possible total of 750 cc. Other company’s balloons may be larger, such as 400 cc. To remove the balloon, the surgeon gives you a sedative. The process takes only a few minutes, and you will be sedated for only about 30 minutes. Differences from Weight Loss Surgery In general, the gastric balloon is an obesity treatment designed for lower-BMI patients than weight loss surgery. In general, you are eligible for the gastric balloon starting at a BMI of 27. In contrast, health insurance plans that include weight loss surgery set eligibility for reimbursement at a BMI of 40, or a BMI of 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension. A BMI of 27 is not even considered “obese,” but rather categorizes you as “overweight.” Unlike Weight Loss Surgery, the gastric balloon is not intended to be permanent. The Orbera intragastric balloon can be used for up to 6 months, while the ReShape Duo may be used for up to 12 months. Manufacturers of the gastric balloon claim it can help you lose about 10 to 15 kg (20 to 35 lbs), at the rate of about 1 kg (2 lbs) per week. In comparison, Weight Loss Surgery patients may lose about 80 to 100 lbs. (35 to 45 kg) in their first year after surgery, which is also a rate of about 1 kg/week. They have continued effects of the surgery (e.g., restriction from a smaller pouch/sleeve) after that time, since surgery is permanent. Effectiveness and Safety The gastric balloon can help you lose weight at a steady rate for the months or year you have it in place. It can also help encourage you to establish healthy eating patterns. Some research studies have also found reductions in visceral (or abdominal or belly) fat (that’s the unhealthiest kind of body fat). Patients who are most compliant and lose the most weight are also likely to see improvements in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver. The gastric balloon has fewer risks than surgery. It can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Nausea and vomiting are among the more common side effects. Pregnant women, individuals with psychological disorders, and individuals who are misusing drugs should not get a gastric balloon. A Few Different Versions Multiple companies make versions of the gastric balloon. For example, Apollo Endosurgery, makers of the lap-band, make the Orbera gastric balloon. Obalon sells its gastric balloon in Europe and Mexico. A smaller medical device manufacturing company, ReShape Medical, makes the Reshape Duo balloon, which was approved by the FDA yesterday!

For me they used the starting weight. What took it so long was someone trying to use the weight loss as going under BMI. My surgeons office fought for me stating the whole goal is to go under BMI and it was me being good on the diet they put me on that made that happen. Finally they gave in! That and my height difference. I have my pre op visit on Monday 12-19-16 but have no idea what will happen with that and the liver shrink diet. Hoping it's not a long process of waiting for the surgery and weeks of liquids. Ugh Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was just banded on August 26, 2011. My insurance paid for everything and required the 6 months of pre op therapy. I have never had any type of surgery before so i'm healing very quickly but my appetite is also coming back fast. I'm not due for my first fill till sept. 20th. I'm not eating very much when i eat, i'm just eating more frequently. Is that normal? I've been eating pudding, cream of wheat, yogurt, soup and protein drinks. Today i'm allowed to start having bananas and strawberries. I'm craving something more solid but am afraid to try anything in fear of being miserable or throwing up. I haven't thrown up even once, but people have told me that happens sometimes when you first start out on solids. Is this true? I've lost 20 pounds and am so happy to finally have my band.

I am 3 wks into a sinus infection I just can't kick mine either. I just finished my 10 days of antiotics and I still have it. Guess I have to go back to the doc Tuesday. I haven't been banded yet but I too have always kicked mine without any Rx medicine...this one is just nasty!! I even have a nasty cough to go along w/ mine :thumbdown:. Hope you feel better

I love the dvd,walk from home fat burning, with Leslie sansom. Its at Walmart $10,u can walk up to 5 miles, if u want its easy and I don't dread doing it.

I had been told if I ever got to 250 pounds (highest 497) I might be able to have back surgery on my 4 herniated discs and spinal stenosis. After seeing the back Doctor (at 250 pounds) he told me I had to have all my excess skin removed and be at 180 before he would do anything. After I got to 220 I had a consultation with a PS he said he would do a Breast reduction which he did in June and he will be doing a Brachioplast March 19. The PS wants me to get closer to 180 before he does the lower part of my body. At this rate I am not sure when I will get to 180. However sometime in May I do plan to see another Back doctor and see if he might do something for my back before I get all the excess skin removed and get to 180. I truly feel my limited ability to walk is preventing me from getting closer to my 180 goal.

Carrot Cake Protein Bars Calories: 94
 Fats: 1.25 grams
 Carbs: 10 grams 
Protein: 10 grams Ingredients: 1 cup oat flour (I puree old fashion oats in the processor, it's cheaper and more easily available) 2 scoops vanilla whey protein 2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp allspice 1/8 tsp nutmeg 4 egg whites 3/4 cup Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal 8 oz baby food carrots (or if you're feeling ambitious, steam baby carrots till soft and puree with a little water) 4 oz Water Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, whey protein, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Mix egg whites, Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal, baby food carrots and water (optional) in a bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together. Spray glass pyrex dish with non-stick butter spray. Pour ingredients into dish. Bake 20-30 minutes. Makes 16 squares, 2 squares per serving. You can sub canned pumpkin for the carrots and use 3 tsp of pumpkin spice.

I was sleeved 9/10/12. Down 70 lbs from size 20/22 to a size 12 jeans this week!!!!! Sooo happy to have done this.