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Picking one that fits with your personal preferences I think is best. One that frequently works well for bandsters is atkins because we already tend to cut out bread, rice, and pasta. South Beach and Mediterranean diets are also good low carb ones to try. If you're not into low carb then there's calorie counting like weight watchers or some people just like journaling and going low-fat. The lapband generally makes dieting easier so feel free to try some out and see what you like. I think the important thing is to stick with one and not try to combine them. If you're doing a low-carb diet like atkins and then decide to try doing low-fat by having a subway sub then you're in trouble because you just downed about 10 times the allowable carbs in a day. Lol.

This does not sound normal to me. Usually you are tight in the first few days (from swelling, etc) and loosen as time goes on. I'm not an expert since only having one fill (getting my 2nd tomorrow) but from what i read that's how is works. Your doc is to be working for you not the other way around. Is there another doc you can go to since she seems to be all about the money??? P.S. Way to go on the weight loss despite not having restriction!!!

I put it in my shakes in the blender in the beginning. It really improved the flavor!! I eat it often now on a spoon especially if my weight loss slows down because I'm not consuming enough calories.

That's interesting about no milk my surgeon tells 16oz of milk each day and that is supposed to be our only liquid calories. I choose yogurt instead though and only have one, I'm such a rebel, lol. And yes shakes are super high in sugar, but I was told that during the first 2 weeks I could have anything that I could suck through a straw and that while he didn't want me to have a shake a day that I could have one if I wanted because I wa in the healing phase. He wasn't concerned about weight loss yet. If worse comes to worse they can always bring you some herbal tea, they might even have broth.

First and foremost is to not get fat in the first place, and second would be to get better parents - it's primarily a genetic thing. There are lots of potions and creams out there that purport to tighten loose skin, and some might actually do something in minor cases. The problem is, beyond the nature of the industry for cosmetics, nutritional supplements and other miracle cures, is that it is very difficult to validate the claims with any kind of double blind control testing. With all the personal variables involved, it's virtually impossible to get two groups of effectively identical people together to test the value of these products (assuming the manufacturers were so inclined, which they rarely are.) So, yes, we will find people who used this or that product and report a certain result. The problem is that they have no idea whether that product did anything at all versus having done nothing. Give it your best shot, use what seems to be the best product, and see how it goes. Losing more slowly has some merit, though the major difference would be in losing your weight over five years versus six months. The difference between getting to goal in ten months versus eight months would be insignificant. Some are naturally slower losers than others due to their metabolism; however, the danger in trying to lose more slowly by consuming more while losing is that you may never get all the weight off that you want to get off. Our overall metabolism (resting plus activities) will trend lower as we lose since we have progressively less weight to move around (the main exception being those who seriously ramp up their exercise as they progress - as in marathon training levels,) We go into weight maintenance when our consumption meets that declining metabolic burn, so we can end up short on our loss if we consume too much.

Hi there, I had my surgery in May also. I am going to try to do better with water and exercise. I think that I could've lost more weight besides 38-40 so far.

Hello Everyone, I am new to this website and wanted to tell everyone about my weight loss and fills. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. I am a female 5'9" tall and my highest weight was 302 lbs. I weighed 298 lbs. the day of the surgery (5/28/04) I have had 3 fills: 7/9/04 - 2.0cc 8/9/04 - 1.0cc (total 3.0cc) 9/30/04 - 0.5cc (total 3.5cc) The 3rd fill made my band too tight. I was so restricted I couldn't drink Water or swallow my own saliva without spitting up. 10/2/04 - removed 0.25cc (total now is 3.25cc) I currently weigh 270 lbs. (11/10/04). I have lost a total of 28 lbs. in 5 1/2 months.

I'm getting banded next month, and I have reservations about telling friends, coworkers and even some family members about my decision. They've all seen me lose weight on some diet/program, only to put it all back on again. I've had to tell my supervisors at work because of scheduling and sick leave concerns, but no one else at work--I don't want people watching my weight on a daily basis, checking out what I put in my mouth, etc...and I don't need their "supportive" remarks. My partner and one other close friend knows, and that's IT as far as my personal relationships go. I've yet to tell my parents (who live out of state) mainly because I hope to surprise them with the new, improved, fabulous me.... Am I being paranoid or unreasonable? Inquiring minds need to know! Dana

I totally understand why you don't want to tell anybody. I'm right there with ya! I will be banded tomorrow. I told the people who I eat out with... close friends and family. Friends I see every other month, none of their business. As for work, I told my supervisor for the same reasons, and 3 others at work who have been struggling with weight loss as well. They know it's secret. Only tell who you want to tell. I am going to say, "I cut down on my portions, calories and alcohol" ~ the rest is up to their imagination... ! haha... Dana

Keep us updated on how everything goes! It is hard to find a Dr. that knows a lot about PCOS. I have the same problem. And tell your friend congrats! I too am banded to get healthy with problems associated with PCOS such as high bp. I had to take fertility drugs to have my 2 year old daughter and luckily it only took a few tries of doing the IUI procedure. I am hoping after losing weight for a year I can become pregnant again more easily! Thanks for the post op diet tips. I am 1 week out and was wondering if my diet should be a little different.

Hi Tanya, Congratulations on your decision. I'm sure you won't regret it. I just found this site myself and am scheduled to have my surgery on Wednesday (the 19th). I'm a little nervous - it IS surgery after all- but excited too. How much weight do you want to lose? Welcome. Barbara url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wHhZnhr/] [/url]

How wonderful to see you all reply to me... Formerlyfluffy~~~~ Thank you and welcome to you too, hope we both have a great journey Crecia1975~!~~~ We do have lots in common. God has sent us both in the right direction sounds like BJLS~~~~~ I want to lose 120 ( I am 5'4') seems mind boggling on my own but hopeful with the band. I will say a prayer for you on Wednesday. isaviolinist~~~~ Smart idea, I am trying to work on my relationship with food, thanks babygurl-20~~~~ Wow, so young and youv'e been through so much. Take care and thanks for your story. Reminds me that God will not put us through more than we can handle. thsisme~~~~ Thanks, I agree.........great info here and congrats on your weight lose so far I just started a blog of my journey if anyone is interested in following. Its a great way for me to journal my experience. www.tanyasweightisover.blogspot.com Hope you all have a great week! Tanya

Hey fellow bandsters. I got my band in June 2008 and need your support and encouragement. I am in the process of starting over and have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday to get a fill and see whats going on. I havent been to get a fill since October 2008 and was very discouraged from a discrepancy between me and my surgeon as to whether the band was filled enough. Every since I have been able to eat anything without many problems, and of course have not lost any weight. I am motivated and have started a workout plan, and will be going back to the things i used to eat post band when i get my fill on Wed. I will gladly accept any suggestions or thoughts on what worked and didnt work for you all. I read that the best results are within a year of surgery and im clearly past that. Is there anything else I can do?? Thanks everyone! I look forward to your replies

Hey i was banded jun 10th also. your weight loss is doing great. how many calories are you consuming? you should be aiming for 800-1000 any less and then yes you can go in starvation mode. but for a couple weeks its temporary. are you still on mushies? once you start normal food you can start making sure you get adaquate calories. ive exercised in the pool because its in the back yard... but i need to start walking myself. but i just now got to eating better... i found myself in 300-400 calories during liquids and it took me 2 weeks to recover..i was in starvation mode with out feeling hungry. hope you are doing good

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that until you have a fill (or several), the band isn't doing anything for you. So right now, you're losing weight due to dieting, not due to the band. When the fills make the band work for you, then things should happen.

Hey everyone, I was banded on June 10 and am trying not to get to concerned about it but my weight is at a complete stand still. I have in total lost 28 pounds, thats 18 during pre-op and 10 since surgery. I will get my first fill on July 21 and can't wait. I don't feel much restriction but am still trying to eat small meals and I'm not snacking. Is it possible to still be in starvation mode and the body is holding on to what it has? I still have not started exercising which I'm sure will help. Any advice to help me move this along will help.:biggrin2:

After my 2nd fill last week, lots of people have asked what happened and what my nurse said. K, here it goes, hope I remember everything...... I went into the office 20 min early, I drive 2 hrs to get there, and tina actually called my back right after that. Weird! Good thing too because i kept her there for 45 min. answering my questions. 1. snacks, some docs say no, some yes, she said by all means, if it keep you from eating the paint of the wait do so. I was just having fruit, or sf jello, things like that. I thought that was good. She said NO! for your snack, eat protein. She said some crackers with peanut butter. I was stunned. I asked how many, she smiled and said 2 crackers with just a smear of peanut butter.... lots of fat! 2. Why do you only put 1 cc in at a time when others use a floriscope and get the right amount in the first time? She said that if she did that, which they used to do, people end up throwing up and getting blocked all the time. It's a learning curve and this way, you listen more to your body. TOTALLY MAKES SENSE TO ME! But it still sucks! I still have no restriction. 3. Why do some people loose 60 lbs in 3 months and some don't lose any weight in a year? She said that she doesn't want me to lose that much weight that fast. It's not healthy, yes people (men) loose faster than others, but 2 lbs is healthy. Think about this, my brother did the math. In 1 yr at 2 lbs a week that is 104 in one year! I'd be thrilled with that, so I need to look at the big picture, not the 1 or 2 lbs a week. Anyway, she said that some people loose more because they actually have the food, head hunger, water, everything under their belt. Some people just GET IT. Sooooooo not me! 4. My dietitian wanted me to eat only 2 oz of protein at a meal. Tina smiled and said that this is where they differ. She AND Dr. Pitt agree that 2 oz is just not that much. 3 oz will make you more full and last longer. So I have been doing more protein and it works! I am feeling so much better. 5. Give me some ideas for snacks (going back to 3) She said that the perfect snack is string cheese wrapped with lunch meat. I did that with 5 raspberries. I actually had 2 cheese sticks, but who's counting. 6. Why am i not loosing? I haven't lost weight in 2 wks. I've been very discouraged. Therefore, eating the wrong things. She said this first little while you need to have will-power. Hmmmmm......WILL-POWER, WHAT A CONCEPT! She smiled and said she understood, but she suggested this..... measure your meal out. Eat ONLY that, and get up from the table. That's a hard one for me because that where my family talks about their day. So, I did it. I ate super slow, which also helped, because I didn't want to leave before my kids did. I wanted to hear about their day and their concerns or triumphs. I have 2 teenagers and a 10 and 8 yr old. Yes, I am crazy, but no one told me I was crazy when they came out looking so damn cute...... and huge! 10 pounders for me! Ok, back on topic.....I ended up listening more than eating! I found that when everyone was done, you know what I was good! 6. I think that's 6 anyway. hmmm... dang it! I had another one that was really important, but can't remember. Oh well, I'll move on to the next one. She made a comment about food. That there was a man who was busting his butt exercising and he didn't lose any weight. She finally realized that he needed to up his calorie intake. I thought about this for a while. I am chasing puppies all day long, then I work out sometimes. I thought to myself, maybe I need to up my calories just a bit. I tried this new site that someone on here recommended for me. It's www.myfitnesspal.com I only use it to record my food. Genius by the way! I log my food and my exercise. Anyway, it's been telling my I need 1400 calories a day, which we all know with the lap band, there is no way we can do that. But I have upped it amazingly, I say amazingly because I haven't been keeping track of calories, just food. But this one does calories. Anywho..... Amazingly, I upped it to about 1100-1200 calories and wam bam thank you mam, I lost 2 lbs without blinking my eyes!!!!! I don't do that every day, I just do it when I exercise, which lately hasn't been all that great, what with nightmere puppies here. If you don't know what I mean, read my blog..... you will see the little devils. Oh, I also have a story about them, again, today. 7. Tina also said that weight loss would not happen if I didn't exercise. I have zero co-morbities. I don't have high blood pressure, no diabities, no arthritis, nothing. Therefore, when I exercise I needed to really be kicking my butt and profusely sweating! She said to kick it into high gear. No meander walking, no midioker exercising for me! I should be dead at the end of my workout. That's why I came home from the docs and ran! Felt great! It's kind of funny, but was talking to my friend, Rhonda, who is on here and she had blood work done and her ketones were high. When I actually did the atkins diet, I was in ketosis all the time. IE: lots of meat! I laugh now because I feel like I'm sort of back on the atkins diet. I eat lots of mean, though lean meats now, so yeah, my ketones probably are high too. I can't remember what else she said, if I remember I will back up. Now...... on to todays nightmere puppy story. I get up at 7 because my 2 puppies that I bought are screaming and crying. They are in the cage downstairs. I go down there and their 2 little heads are sticking out of the cage! Hmmmm.... what happened? Well, this cage was an old one that one of our um, shall we say, loner dog for breeding, we put him in. He freaked out and actually chewed through the metal cage and bottom tray. Stuck his paw out and ruined my carpet. Yup, bad one. Anyway, I didn't think the hole was that big. Well obviously it was. They just looked at me and yelped. I couldn't help laughing. Think about this. You come around the corner and all you see in the corner, because the couch is in the way, are 2 little husky heads looking out at you! pretty funny! Anyway, I actually had to cut the cage to get their heads out, little devils! So we went outside. hmmmm 2 out of 3 puppies are gone and so is one of the moms. I found yet another hole where they dug under the fence. Isn't it amazing at the small holes they can get out of???? So I went searching and searching. Nothing! I finally went out and got another cage for my 2 pups and went grocery shopping. So I get home and I go out back to play with my only lone pup and my 2. We are playing and i hear whinning. hmmmm.... out backyard is adjacent to a small forest. I got out there and low and behold, there is Spirit, the mom, and her to pups running full scale right at me looking like they saw a ghost. Well, they get to me and start jumping at me. All I see are black puppies, they are pure white, and a very black mom. And the smell! OH MY GOSH! SERIOUSLY BAD! They rolled in something dead!!!!! So, now I'm covered it um....well black dead stuff and I carry the puppies home while Spirit follows. So I get them in our only kennel and start spraying them off. No I have no sympathy for them at this moment. They are screaming obviously I'm inhumane and mean, muahahahahaha! Ok, yes, I did take great delight in their moment of horror! Ok, so I finally get them somewhat cleaned off. I'm about ready to come inside when my husband gets home from work. I told him my horror story and he is furious! We all are! Anyway, he looks at me and says you are so not coming in the house yet. Why? I ask. Because you are covered in seed ticks and burs and bigger ticks! THAT DAMN FOREST! So, we spend the next hour, yes you heard me, hour taking burs and ticks off me! Kevin at this point smiles mischieviously at me and asks........ "So, are you going to exercise now?" WHAT THE HELL?! I jsut about shot him! Uh, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO I said. I think I got enough exercise chasing and bending and carrying puppies! 2 more! I only have 2 more to sell!!!!! I CAN AND WILL survive till then! Anyway, hope this helps, well not my nightmere.... well, maybe it will...... don't buy siberian huskies! lol. love to all! OHHHHHHH I do remember one more point the nurse told me. She told me that, "you know when you go out to dinner, they bring you an appetizer, soup, salad, and at that point before your meal is brought to you, you lean over to whoever you are with and say, I am actually good, I dont think I can eat my food" THAT'S what you want to feel like. She used to tell patients to eat till you are full. Not anymore. She said eat till you are satisfied! Ouch! Now that is a hard one! Eating slow and listening to your body she said are the key to this!

Hi Antliz, Well I am only 7 months post-op but I have lost 65 pounds since being banded and so it is very possible that I will hit the 100 pounds loss mark by my first band-aversary. I am only 4' 10" tall. My pre-op weight was 248 pounds. I have had a wonderful experience with the lap band and I hope you do also. Best of luck to you.

I don't want to scare you and even with the worst case scenario it is worth it for your health, but hold on tight. The last 2 years for me have been a relationship roller coaster the likes of which I don't think one can be prepared. Any insecurities that where there will be magnified as you become more attractive and get attention that you never have before. In addition to the insecurities, keep in mind that he is coming along for this ride, if he signed up for it or not he will be awash in the WLS life. Add to this the extra layer of difficulty if he happens to be struggling with his weight too. If he is and manages to loose his weight "the old fashioned way", his success will be over shadowed by the rate and degree of success which you are likely to see. Be very aware and always keep communication open, that is about the best you can do. I fully now believe that WLS makes strong relationships stronger and weak relationships more exposed. Best of luck to you.

This this post showed up on the main forum, I am going to chime in. Check this out: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Diamond+Dallas+Page+Yoga&&view=detail&mid=9A007E586E2E404BBA299A007E586E2E404BBA29&FORM=VRDGAR Diamond Dallas Page is a retired wrestler who says he has never done a crunch in his life. He promotes the concept that Yoga is sufficient for body-weight strength training. He says, "This is not your Momma's Yoga!" It is definitely a "manly man" work-out. There are several routines posted on You Tube.

I just had my first fill, and my appetite is down.. but I haven't just yet began solid foods seeing how my Surgeon recommended a 48hr gap after my fill. So I understand that my weight-loss will be gradual, but how do I know if it's successful? I just have this false hope that maybe I won't lose weight, or I haven't changed my diet enough...I know I have tried to change my diet and eat less, but I'm not so sure that I've figured out the key of losing my weight. What's the best diet ideas? Does anyone have a failed banding experience? Or, has anyone gone through the same thing? Thanks for reading, Belle

I was wondering how much weight you lost when you started to add walking /running. I am going to start doing cardio and just need some encouragement that people have seen great results when they added exercise.

Well Happy Birthday Ms Cafe!!! Okay I'm glad to know that Im not the only one on a short liquid diet... Im glad mine is this way though, because even though we don't get a jump start, I HATE the feeling of being hungry, and I mean really hungry, where you get the hunger pangs etc... THATS why I can't seem to successfully lose weight in the first place. I'm just ready to get this show on the road. Tomorrow is my first day or clear liquids. I have my sugar-free jello ready to go, along with my crystal light, and my chicken broth!

Iggy, how are things? I know that you are still around and posting, just wondering how the claw is holding and how are the stages of eating working out for you? Hope your little boy is happy to have his mommy home and that you are indeed looking forward to the holidays, decorating and being alive!! Hopefully you will give us an update, there are a few of us that really care and loved to banter with you! I haven't updated my ticker but I am 100 pounds down now in just over a year including pre-op weight loss. I feel so much better, and I am used to my sleeve now, it feels normal. I know my fullness cues and try not to cheat (much) but a small piece of dark chocky makes me swoon and a glass of red wine now and then helps me make it thru my busy days. I take care of my 9 year old grandson and life is deliciously good with my little guy around to make me laugh! Sending you good thoughts Iggychick!!

Saturday I walked down the aisle at my son's wedding in a dress that made me feel FABULOUS--one I never dreamed I'd be able to wear. I never even made it to the buffet--couldn't tell you what was on it because I was too busy dancing.....for four and a half hours to be exact. Six years ago I would have made a beeline to the food and pretty much camped out near that table. The caterer allowed me to take my meal from the rehearsal dinner home with me in spite of it being a buffet, since I knew the stress of hostessing the party would probably keep me from being able to get much through the band. I assured her that I would fill my plate only once with a reasonable amount of food.....I got THREE meals off of it! Six years ago I would have eaten every bite and gone back for more. I am constantly amazed at how much food I was able to consume in one meal before the band compared to the actually nutritional needs of my body. Yesterday I celebrated my 55th birthday and because of the gift that Dr. Michael King gave to me in the Lap Band, I felt like it could have been my 21rst! I was banded in April of 2007. I remember feeling so fearful that, like so many things I had already tried, it was not going to work, I was simply destined to be obese for the rest of what would be a very shortened life due to the extra weight and the effect it was having on my body. My weight loss has been VERY slow and steady, but because of that, I have not had the issues of sagging skin and sunken eyes and it has truly become a change in my attitude towards food instead of simply a "diet" to lose the weight. I have gone from almost a size 26 to an 18. It is a really awesome problem to have to buy new clothes because you can't find yourself in the old ones anymore! This last shopping trip actually found me in the "regular" sized clothes for the first time in...well, since I can remember. I have exercised since before the lapband and because of the weight loss I am now able to walk 4 miles 2-3 times a week. I do a circuit workout with weights at a local wellness center 1-2 times a week. Before the weight loss, I struggled to walk a mile. Now, I look forward to the walking and the workouts because they make me feel so good. When I began walking 4 miles instead of doing the stairmaster for an hour, the inches began to fall off. Not sure what the difference is, but for me the walking has been much more effective. I had to ask myself....how badly do you REALLY want this? Bad enough to make the exercise a new habit? Bad enough to get off the couch; put down the potato chips and Cookies and get moving, even if it means waking up a bit earlier or getting out and walking after a long day? My answer, a resounding "YES". I have found that keeping my hands busy is one of the ways I have learned to overcome the temptation to graze in the kitchen. Reading a book, which is an activity I enjoy, is not effective since I can still hold the book and manage to hold whatever food is the binge-of-the-day. I do needlework, sew, knit, crochet, work a jigsaw puzzle, do a scrapbook page or a number of other activities when I am tempted to mindlessly eat. Some days I have to just put on my tennis shoes and take a walk to put as much distance between me and the kitchen as possible. I hope this encourages you. The lapband has not been a magic fix, rather a tool that has helped me in re-learning how to nourish my body the way it was meant to be. I still have days when I find myself falling into the behavior that caused me to become obese in the first place. It is very easy to sabotage my own efforts and "outeat" the band, but now that I have come this far and have experienced the "high" of feeling normal again, I am able to use that as my motivation to stop the mindless eating. I pray that you will find that "high" as well.