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"Good" carbs were defined by my nutritionist as things that are high-Fiber and not highly processed. Beans, vegetables, whole grains--with the bran and the germ left intact--unprocessed/unsugared fruits, milk; these are preferable carbohydrates. "Bad" carbs are easier to quantify. Is it processed? (Ex: white flour, white rice) Does it have added sugars? (Ex: Check out the label on a loaf of Wonder Bread. Sugar is the second ingredient after processed flour.) Be cautious of foods where an added sugar, like high fructose corn syrup, is in the first three ingredients listed on the label. Another generic rule of thumb for plain old healthy eating that i learned many moons ago (but didn't always follow, of course) is to count how many layers of packaging are between you and your food. It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but the foods which are least processed are also closest to their naturally farmed/fished state when you eat them.

[ That is the hardest thing for me. I still eat too fast and get that "one bite too many" feeling....I am a work in progress.

Cant wait to hear from all of you! You are all in my prayers for a smooth surgery & fast recovery.

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you, if you haven't found a way to finance please look up the care credit. I wouldn't say its the lowest finance you could get - i do have a great credit score but I wanted it fast and it was the fastest route- I knew i would be able to pay it off in a year. Don't let lack of credit detour you from trying though. If you call them they will answer your questions about how much your monthly payment will be and so forth. It took me matters of minutes to be approved. Airfare is not included. I live in Michigan about 4 hours away from detroit. Did I loose fast? ok I'm in constant loss of weight but in the beginning it was a struggle because I didn't have the restriction so its not like you wake up and pounds just drop off. When I finally got restriction.......wow they fell off. Now my body is totally different therefore my mind is different (I feel so much better about myself) and I do sooooo many different activities (exercise does not mean u have to b at a gym it can be riding bikes, play ball ect.) but I want to do those things. I started out at 264 and I am now 182 (and still losing its been a year 2mo.) I'm 5'5" tall and am not a skinny minnie but I feel great about the skin I'm in now. I can go into a store and try 10 outfits on and they all fit-now its trying to decide what one to buy instead of just hoping one will fit right! If there is one point of advice I can give you is please get your fill every 6weeks until you reach your sweet spot. I didn't and I could've been further along a lot quicker. We are what some may call lap band orphans I've learned throughout the journey and a lot of my info comes from this site. I've fought my whole life with my weight losing many times each time gaining more than when I'd started. I would keep it off for 2-3 years then balloon up. You are so young I believe you would be so happy! I wish I had done it sooner. I researched it for 2 years b4 I made the commitment. Same reasons as you the finance. My husband and I stayed at the " hospital motel" I want to say it costs something like $14 or $17 under 20 anyway. I wish you the very best in this journey!!!!

Thank you for everything...now u said u did self pay and I'm just curious I'm 19 and my credits not too high. Did you have to have good credit for that carecrdit? I think that sounds like a great option for me I just need to know what hoops I have to jump through for each option. Are payments pretty high up there? Did that include airfare? Also about the procedure did you loose pretty fast ? Thank youcomfortable and full faster but able to swallow w/o vomiting- when u reach it that is when It all begins life changes as u know it! This has truly changed my life.... No more tv for me..... now I love to play basketball with the family, ride bikes, go to the beach , live life without being afraid b/c of my size. No more back pain either!!!!!! And also since I was self pay I didn't have to do any pre surgery visits I just called and 2 weeks later I was having the surgery.

I went through a two week stall after week two...I can drink two gulps of water without pain...I'm down 43 lbs in 9 weeks. Your body has gone through huge change, also some lose slower than others, which can be a good thing. Losing weight super fast can cause stones.

Yep I had Dr. Nick - he rocks. Make sure you WALK as often as humanly possible in the hospital. I was the only person walking on the whole floor (which is dedicated to weight loss surgery people), and my recovery time was amazingly fast. You can read my whole story here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13287-step-by-step-guide-to-the-vsg-experience/

Drinking too much/too fast can lead to some wicked bad reflux. As long as that's not a problem and your doc doesn't have a concern with it (and of course, you're not in pain/vomiting), I wouldn't worry too much about going a little over.

I don't weigh my food any longer as I did when I first began this journey. I find that I now know how much it will take to make me full and still lose weight. You definitely shouldn't feel any type of uneasiness or discomfort with your fill. The restriction as most people call it is that feeling of fullness without overeating. I however do feel somewhat of a stop warning when I am full as opposed to before I was banded when I felt nothing and ate and ate until I was miserable. But, I rarely get stuck or PB and it is always because I eat too fast or take too big of bites. I am finding as my fills increase, of course my ability to take bigger bites decreases and I have to slow down, chew better and take smaller bites. It makes a huge difference and I find I get full faster. I am one of those people who has lost interest in a lot of different foods but still have my favorites.

Today I'm 3 weeks post off which means I am now eating soft foods. Every time that I eat beans, I get a pain in my back right underneath my shoulder blade. I've also noticed this pain if I have eaten too fast. What is it? Gas? Thanks!

Hey Franny, congrats on your weight loss to date. It sounds like you have the same problem as me and I gurantee you're probably eating too fast. This is such a hard habit to break (easier said than done, I know!) One thing that has kinda helped me is to cut a small bite and when I put the food in my mouth I put my fork/spoon down! I kinda hinders the urge from wanting to put more food in my mouth while trying to get the existing down. Also make sure your bites are small! My doctor said that size should be about the size of your thumbnail and naturally chew, chew, chew. If you have tried all of that and are still having problems getting food down, then I would call your doctor. Good luck to you and keep in touch!

Good luck on yor first day back to work. I am a nurse in the ER. I took one week off and hen went back. I also work over night. Make sure you have a glass or bottle of water and every time you get a chance drink a few sips. Make sure you keep yourself hydrated. Also remember you can not eat as fast as you use to. Those were a few things that I ran into when I went back to work full time. Hope your shift ones well.

After almost 10 years of battling with insurance companies and a long growing list of medical problems, the day has finally arrived. I'm 31 years old and take more mediations than both of my parents combined (and they take a lot). The process is moving so fast that it's all surreal. I'm super nervous and excited. I can't sleep just counting down the days. :-) Thank you ladies for all your success stories, they have been very inspirational and have kept my spirits up not to quit trying. I will continue to check in as I'm sure I will need a lot of guidance through the journey of my new life.

You can drink. It is your choice. people with gastric bypass get drunk fast, because the liquer goes directly into the small intestine. Lap banders are not the same (see clubsters post) ...also, it does take away inhabitions, so you may drink more, eat more, what ever you did before the band is what you will probably do...a few glasses of wine is not going to kill ya, that is my opinion , and experience. hope it helps.

Thanks to everyone that are telling me how they truly feel about this. I am pretty sure I am too young to do so. I am also afraid because I know that my body is growing and maybe if I extend my exercises, I will lose weight slowly and hopefully, I won't gain it back in a fast way. But if I can ask you guys, can anyone tell me a good way to excersice because diets are not working for me that much. Do you guys recommend getting a trainer, like a doctor, or do you guys just recommand something else. Once again, I want to lose weight the "healthy" way, I don't want to take pills or anything. &&Thank you again for all your help. I appreciate it all

Hi! I will be banded on the 29th of this month. So I don't have a hands on experience to share; however I was at my surgeon's office yesterday for the pre-surgery visit and he told me that typically he sees that patients take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks to be back to work after the surgery. He tells everyone to take at least one week to heal. He also told me that if I eat too fast or too much or don't chew enough I will most likely vomit. I think it's important that once you have found a surgeon to really ask them what they normally see, find etc with their patients and that might give you a better idea.

@@RJrocks On that TLC show Skin Tight, they have people that have lost weight slowly without surgery taking years 3-5 years and they still have loose skin. The speed that you lose doesn't matter. People just associate loose skin with fast surgery weight loss because most people will never lose a large amount of weight and keep it off without surgery. I have lost over 160 pounds in 15 months. I have loose skin. It sucks I won't even lie, but the loose skin is still way better than carrying all that extra weight around. I feel and look great. No one sees the skin really but me. I am going to have it removed in a year or 2 so I can deal till then.

carriecat You didn't hurt yourself, but i wouldn't recommend throwing up in the future. i admit that i did that once too - same situation. i ate my meal too fast. I know it was just "sitting" in my stomach making me miserable and i was feeling sick, yes i did what you did cuz i felt I had no choice. Never did that again eat slower and you'll be fine and chew a million of times so that bad feeling never happens to your stomach again best of luck in sleeveland Kathy

I believe not. I read an article by a surgeon to where she was saying that the pouch should be of 15cc. She was saying that most surgeons will not make the pouch this small because it's too meticulous and takes way too much of their time. When I mentioned it in my last seminar, the surgeon's advisor told me the surgeon will only make it size 30cc. That's the smallest he is willing to go. I was a bit disappointed but I got over it fast. My biggest concern is just like yours: not enough restriction and bigger chance of the pouch stretching over time.

Hi there, I am also getting the lapband on April 13!!! I was surprised how fast the process was because I went to my first appointment was Jan 25 and all preops in February and then Scheduled For april. Lucky for you, you dont have to do a liver reduction diet which is only Protein shakes and liquids. So good luck to you! FeFeButterfly

Hello! I am new to this forum. I have decided that I can’t win this weight battle on my own. I need help as I am convinced that I am doing great harm to my health. A few months ago, I knew nothing about banding. I’d heard about gastric bypass but I never really thought of myself as “that overweight” (by the way, I am) and focused on being a failed dieter. I gave up dieting. I only gained the weight back after killing myself to lose it. No more WW, Nutrisystem, Atkins, South Beach, and so on. I’d lose weight with a great deal of effort and gain it back the minute I felt a modicum of success. I learned that I was pre-diabetic about three years ago. Blood fasting sugars about 120 each day. Pre-diabetic – well heck..that’s not so bad. I mean, I am not truly diabetic I told myself. Of course today, that number has jumped to 182 some days. But still under 200! I am not REALLY diabetic! Right? Wrong! I was seeing the gastro doc because I have developed “fatty liver disease”. Isn’t that a pretty name for a disease? Hey folks, I have fatty liver disease (but remember, I am not diabetic, only pre-diabetic!). So now let’s count my co-morbidities – pre-diabetes (just had my Metformin dose increased to 4 tabs), high cholesterol, high blood pressure (just doubled that dose) and fatty liver (my daily martini has changed to an occasional glass of wine but I haven’t stopped eating like a Viking. (no offense to any Vikings out there). What a mess I’ve become. And every visit to the doctors – PCP or specialist, ends with “if you could just lose 10 lbs…” Incidentally, my BMI is 41 and I am 5’7. I wear a 20 to 22 and 1X to 2X. I am a big girl and have been for most of my 58 years though never as big as I am right now. My husband loves me no matter what size I happen to be thank goodness but I know that he wants me to live a long time and that he is worried I will not. My gastro doc mentioned that if by the next time I saw him, I did not lose some weight, I should consider surgery. I think that was the dose of reality I have been waiting for since hearing I was “pre-diabetic” a couple of years ago. This time the words were not as softened as the word “pre” softened diabetes. It was just out there. You are obese and are unable to lose weight and you will die if you don’t change things. After feeling totally shocked that he recognized that I could not fight this battle without help, I began to research my options and found myself here on this website lurking every evening and reading all of your thoughts, prayers, concerns, and successes. When I read between the lines of what you all write however, I see HOPE. You all share hope that things will be better and can be better with a little help. I’d reached the point that there was no hope anymore but now, thanks to you and my gastro doctor, I can see that even at my age, there can be a future without obesity. So, I have taken control of my health and have decided to be banded. I attended the Weight Loss Information Session at Brigham’s and Women’s in early Dec. I scheduled my consultation with Dr Ali Tavakkolizadeh for Jan 21 along with the Nutritionist that day. I have an appt with Dr. Cynthia Worth end of Jan for my weight management behavioral evaluation. I have called Aetna and learned that I am covered for 80% and that there is a 3 month and a 6 month program. I am not sure yet what the difference is between the two programs but most certainly would prefer the 3 month one. I saw my PCP last week and asked for my medical records. All of these appointments were scheduled within one day with little effort. I take it as a sign that success is in my future. Thanks for reading my story. If anyone has experience with Dr Tav, Dr Worth or Faulkner Hospital which is where Dr Tav does this surgery, please write. My thoughts are with all of you fighting this fight.

I read stuff like this and think whoa!!! Either there is something wrong with me or you are losing really fast. You lost 39 lbs since you were banded in august and say you are a slow loser??!! Give yourself credit. To many of us you are not losing slow. I was probably banded more than a month earlier than you and only 5 lbs ahead of you. If you are slow, Im a turtle and I walk daily, without fail at least 3.5 miles. Im 58 btw, so I dont think being 40 sounds old to me if that's what you meant. There are a lot of people losing slower than you. I guess slow is relative and we all wish we could lose it overnight? i sure wouldnt call you a slow loser based on your ticker. You are doing great.

i' m sure there are a lot of people here going thru the same things. I was wondering if anyone else at 7 weeks post op can pretty tolerate anything, i have been staying on course and have lost 40 lbs give or take 2 lbs fluctuation but it seems slow in general maybe my expectations are to high for to much to fast. I go to the gym 4 times a week i walk two miles and have started working on some toning machines. i noticed my hunger is starting to come back and though i cant tolerate the amount of food i was eating i fear 5-6 ounces i can tolerate now at times sometimes 2-4 ounces will eventually grow. i stop myself and follow the program . i am getting my Protein as i should as well as Water requirements. i just don't want to have done this for nothing. I feel frustrated i am not losing more rapidly sometimes not at all. Anyone else had this problem? One thing i don't much care for are all the judgey people i have met so far along this journey. its all a learning experience.

I'm from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Thankfully I was able to move fast! My husband and I went in all prepared to finance the whole surgery because we didn't think insurance covered it. We tried in 2008 and were denied. We were told that not only did they cover it, but the only prerequisite was a physical!!! Super blessed. So now we're both on schedule for Feb 1st!

LOL! I have this exact same problem. If I start off eating too fast, I feel somewhat stuck and will sneeze several times in a row.