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Hey Rman and Gunner I too freaked out when I was finally approved for the band. I was really trying hard to be good, but then I would convince myself to go ahead and eat cause I won't be able to do it later. I lost 2 lbs in four weeks. But once I had surgery I was good as gold and didn't cheat once. I'm now down 19 lbs since my 2 day pre op diet. Gunner - Back in 2005 I was approved for Gastric Bypass but not the lap band. I was really disappointed and decided I wasn't going to let a denial get me down. I lost 40 lbs, took me about 9 months and kept it off for about a year. Slowly started gaining it back until I had gained all but 10 lbs back. I have never had a difficult time losing weight, just keeping it off.

I had my second fill and I don't feel Any restriction. I got a 6 in subway and I know I was not supposed to be able to eat that entire sandwich . I feel like calling for an appt before the 24th but going to hold out . My first time she pit in 1.0 cc and my 2nd she only did .5 cc . It's still discipline that keeps everything in check . I'm still exercising but want to kick it up. I know it took some ppl time to get to the green zone. I haven't weighed myself in over 10 days . Which is big for me because I was doing it everyday . I'm just going to keep it moving and do the right thing . I'm scarred that I'm able to eat certain things . Anybody else feels like this ?

after 10 days of liquid diet what is next .what can I eat ? what do you graduate to? on wednesday I'll find out I'm on my seventh day but if anybody has any ideas for food after the 10 days please let me know

I lost 55lbs prior to surgery......then at 3 weeks I had my bp meds cut in half. Now.....at 10 months.....I have zero meds for bp.

Hi all!! So I will be a yr out on jan 24th 2012. It has been a crazy, happy, sad, exhausting, mind blowing yr! I've made mistakes, went a little too crazy, but came back and I love my freaking sleeve. I started this journey at 304 at a size tight 24. As of today I am 158 and a size 7-10 depending on the clothrd and m/l shirt. I only have 8 lbs til I am a healthy bmi and 18 lbs til goal (which I might even lower!!) I am still losing about a lb a week with some stalls. This is amazing to me! I don't ever remember being this small. I still have a lot of toning to do and am planning on getting ps. I don't think of myself as small or beautiful but I've noticed the way people treat me. Guys check me out! And not the ones I usually had. You know what I'm saying? When ur big u settle. I'm talking hottt guys that those skinny perfect b*****s get!! And its surreal. Women give me dirty looks. This one pisses me off. But they are nicer to my face. When I was obese thin women were for the most part very rude. I still can't wrap my mind around it. I see pics of thr old me and I can't believe it. I have so much more confidence now and it shows!! My sister who I love dearly but can be quite mean is jealous!! She used to be very thin bodering on an eating disorder. A couple months ago she let me go through some clothes that she had. There was a box thst didn't fit her anymore she was saving. She let me borrow some and they fit!! She was irrate!! She didn't think I was smaller than her!! Now they are a little too baggy (not the shirts yet becaise my arms and tummy are still a little too big. She used to make fun of me and call me fat and now I weigh less!! I shouldn't be happy about this but I feel likes its karma. I never go out of my way to make her feel bad and now when we talk about weight she gets mad and says ur not big its just extra skin. If u didn't have that ud be skinny. Has anyone else experienced this?

Good Luck! I was sleeved on 10/3/12 and absolutely NO REGRETS! Down 30 pounds since. Feel awesome! I too had thoughts racing through my head and stressed out but miracously as I walked through the hospital doors that morning I felt a sense of calm come over me. I did great! No complications. Best gift I ever gave myself. Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress! If you have any questions to help settle your mind, ask away....

@soccermomkerry i am happy that gorecki is your surgeon also. I got sleeved on 10/18. He is the best. Have you started with your appointments & testing?

I am two years post op and reached my current weight at 11 months post op. I really never had a "goal" for myself and I think it helped. I understood going in that some people lose more than others and really just tried to roll with the punches. In the end I lost more than I imagined I would, but I am fine with it. I understand that statistically I will gain 10-15 pounds within five years so I don't worry about being too skinny now. I have a current BMI of 20, which is smack in the middle of being normal. I don't really think about food at all. I eat when I am hungry and although I eat pretty healthy overall, I don't deprive myself. I can eat almost anything in moderation. The VOLUME of food I can consume at once is still small and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Now that I am "approved" for surgery and this is becoming a reality, I figured NOW is the time to post my story so far. I am 49, 5'7 and 235 at my highest weight. (Can't believe I actually wrote that down for public consumption!) That made me a BMI of 36.8. I had considered weight loss surgery off and on throughout the years of yo-yo dieting. My last good weight loss was about 30 pounds back in 2009 and I was lighter then. So that means I have put on about 40 pounds in four years. (Less than a pound a month, not too bad, right??!! Ha!) I have some lung problems, high blood pressure (if you would only lose weight, you wouldn't have to take these pills anymore....) and hypothyroidism. Too much for someone my age I decided and started considering the lap-band. I am a nurse and considered that to be "least invasive" and "easiest" to have done surgically. On November 28, 2012, I signed the hubby and I up for an informational seminar. While hubby wasn't interested (I'm hoping to change that), I listened to the doctor present the band, sleeve and RNY options. To his credit, he didn't try to sway anyone to any one procedure, but I had changed my thinking from lap-band to sleeve. I submitted my "insurance verification" form and left. In lateDecember/early January, I was contacted by the doctor's office and told that my insurance (CIGNA) did provide WLS benefits. I had started a post-holiday "kind of" diet about mid-January with Weight Watchers. I saw my surgeon for the first time on January 28, 2013. We discussed all the usual things and agreed that the sleeve was a good procedure for me. My only beef with the process was that the coordinator told me "All your insurance needs is the evaluation and 3 months of diet history. Just print out Weight Watchers and it will be ok." More on that in a minute.... From there, I had: EGD (endoscopy) on 2-4 and found to have a small hiatal hernia. Psych eval and nutrition eval on 2-13. In the mean time, I had researched CIGNA's bariatric policy and found out that I needed a lot more than "Just 3 months of Weight Watcher history." Rather than chance it, I went and got clearance from my PMD and met with a nutritionist for 3 months of a supervised diet. (2-20, 3-16 and 4-20...boy am I glad I started that "kind of diet" back in January!) Am now at 222 (fluctuating pounds.) My coordinator submitted my packet on about May 10th with a comment of "everything looks great...should be no problem." On May 17th, I was notified of denial...based on two points. My physician had failed to state that he BOTH recommended me for the surgery AND cleared me (he only recommended me....despite the fact I had asked him to do both.) The nutritionist did a summary report that detailed all three visits, with all of the components required, but CIGNA wanted it in three separate notes. At least it wasnt because of medical criteria! So...my coordinator got all that together and on May 21st, she submitted again, stating it could take up to 90 days, but probably not that long. The waiting is the hardest part!!! Well, today I got the news I was waiting for...APPROVED! It took 7 business days for the appeal. Now we are in fast-forward mode: 6-10: Pre-op meeting with surgeon to sign consents, etc... 6-15: Start of pre-op diet! (Not looking forward to it....) 6-17: Pre-op lab/x-ray work at hospital 6-25: Surgery I travel for my work (I am a healthcare consultant) and will be out of town three weeks between now and then, so it will fly by! I am so excited. I think now that it's a reality, my husband is concerned. I got the "If it makes you happy, it makes me happy" but I am not convinced. I know he is supportive of my decisions, but probably a bit insecure at the same time. food has always been a big part of our life and I have been slowly withdrawing from that over the last few months. Thanks for listening! I am so darn excited I just needed to share it with someone. I have told very few people. I will update after the surgery.

I had my surgery 4-19-08; have lost 43 pounds; am struggling right now with keeping food down and same as you just seem to handle the chicken salad better than anything. Eggs come right back up no matter how they are cooked or made. I have a sinus infection right now, tons of drainage and we think that is what is making everything come right back up - not being gross - but mucus looks to be the main thing coming up in huge bulk amounts. Sorry to be gross. Also, I am battling an issue of needing root canal and the pain is awful, so the pain meds are not helpful to eating right. I am just stuck and so down mentally. My weight loss has been on stand-still mode and now these issues don't help. I love my smoothies more than anything but was told to get more food down as my body is in starvation mode. Anyone else going through anything like this?

I'm being sleeved Monday by Dr Goerki 2013 is my year....SD 11/19 Methodist Hosp in NY

Hi how's your weight loss and recovery? 2013 is my year....SD 11/19 Methodist Hosp in NY

I'm 52 and was sleeved on 2/19/13. I am now down 116lbs and happy for the sleeve. I've had two neurosurgeries in the last 14 months which limited my activity and still lost weight. My neighbor who had Lapband three years ago and lost 100lbs but regained 110 lbs due to complications. He underwent a revision to the sleeve after seeing my success with the sleeve. Good luck whatever you decide. This has been one of my best decisions ever, as I am now the lightest I've been in 36 years.

A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

hi everyone, i also have ibs.............years ago i would go between constipation and diarrhea...........but the last 10 years it has been all diarrhea, there is not a day goes bye that i do not go anywhere from 5 to 10 times daily. (SHOULD BE SKINNY LOL). i was banded april 20th and have seen very little difference in my diarrhea, if anything it has gotten a little better, but not much. my doctors tell me i am one of the worse cases they have ever seen. i always thought it was things i ate, but now that i eat very little it is still there........... anyway good luck everyone.

BMI was 38.5 about 2 months ago when I first saw Dr. Spivak, but having just finished a cruise, I have gained 5 pounds and would have about 10 to go. I hate feeling this additional weight already and gaining more would put me at the highest weight I have ever been. Not sure what to do.

You're not alone. I have only lost about 15 lbs in the last 10 months. I also started off great, then slowed way down. Now I have just stopped. I am eating too much, and need a fill. Things keep coming up that take my PTO time. They want to see me for a Dr's appt. before I get a fill, so i need time off for both. I can't manage it just now. Wish I had more will power. I guess if I did, I wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. I'll just keep trying. I am really happy with what I have lost so far, I just want to lose more.

I actually had correspondence with Dr. Sauceda and got a quote for various procedures. After many emails and questions I had I found out why Mexico docs are willing to perform MANY procedures at one time. I was told by the doc that he would do a full body lift, a thigh lift,and a boob lift with new implants all in one operation for $16k. I then went to 3 stateside doc consults and 2 of them would only do one area at a time and the third would do 2 at one time. This made no sense to me so I emailed Dr. Sauceda back and asked how is it that in the states docs don't want to do more than one or two at a time because of the time you will be under general anesthesia but he is willing to do everything at once which will keep me under for 10-12 hours??? He emailed me back and told me they don't put you under general anestesia!!!!!! They give you a local twighlight that puts you in a twilight sleep so you are NOT completely out and you CAN wake up in the middle of it. I'm sorry but I'm just not willing to take that chance! I've heard alot of good about Dr. Sauceda though if someone is brave enough!

Even more effective: high salt, high carb meal the night before. Stuff in your pockets, heavy clothes, and your bladder don't weigh much, but just a little change in your fluid balance makes a huge difference. At my highest weight, I could easily swing 10 pounds heavier just by getting a Chinese takeaway .

I had revision from sleeve to RNY on 12/17/19. I flew back home on the 23rd. I was either in the air or waiting in the airport for over 7 hours. I had no problems what so ever. I was exhausted by the time we actually got home. It was a long day. My biggest day of pain was the actual day of surgery. I had the surgery around 9AM and was up and walking later that afternoon. I was lucky in that I really had no gas pains and only took pain meds the first day. I was inpatient for 2 days and then discharged to a nearby hotel until we flew back home. I'm not a big fan of pain meds and I told my surgeon no need to write a prescription. I only took Tylenol as I needed it. I haven't taken anything since Christmas day. I'm not in any pain, but just feel uncomfortable in the tummy area. Good news is no more Reflux. I'm allowed pureed food now and everything has been great with the exception of sugar free Popsicle and refried beans. The fat free refried beans were the pits. They basically got stuck in my chest and hours after eating, I still feel uncomfortable. The doctor said that I would experience things like that and when I do I need to back away from that food and attempt to try it at a later date. Good luck on your procedure. I'm sure you are going to do well!

Thanks Lellow! Your good wishes must have made it to the scale's ears! LOL!! I was actually expecting a gain and I lost! Last week: 189.1 This week: 188.7 Total Loss: -0.4 I'll take it! :tt2: I'm a little confused by some of you who have had great losses of a lb or more and you're disappointed but "taking it anyway." Those are GREAT losses! Average is supposed to be 1-2lbs a week. So you are right there with your weekly loss. This is NOT bypass where you lose 10-20lbs a week and have most of your weight gone in 6 months. It's really self-defeating to be speaking of a great loss like it's nothing and you feel you should have done better for yourself. You need to be positive with your losses. How many of us couldn't lose at all or very little before surgery? Or keep it off? How many of us would have started gaining at the holidays and would STILL be gaining? Probably most of us. I keep hearing how people did gain during the holidays but now they've lost that plus some since! That would never have happened before surgery! We've GOT to stop beating ourselves up! We've got to start celebrating ourselves and our achievements, not beating our heads against the wall b/c we didn't lose as much as we wanted too. Or calling ourselves losers or lazy for only managing to get on the treadmill 2x in a week instead of 7x. I bet 2x is way more than we'd done before surgery! We've got to stop talking down to ourselves and start talking ourselves up! Just my opinion! :crying:

In my line of work, I often meet potential clients at Starbucks for the first time. Because we've never seen each other, it's always been my habit to describe myself as "short and round with big curly brown hair" and no one has ever missed me. I can always tell if the person I am meeting is a chubster, too, because they giggle at my comment. Today, I was the only female in the place when a heavier lady walked in who was obviously looking for me. I waved her over to the table and she looked at me and said, "I thought you said you were round. Were you trying to be funny? Making fun of fat people isn't a joke.' EHRMAHGHERRRRRRRD!!! I never even thought about it. I'm still short, I still have big, curly hair, but I'm no longer round. Last year at this time, I was a snug 20/XXL and now I'm a comfy size 10 in skinny pants/medium top. It took me a minute to even figure out what the heck she was referring to when she made the comment. I was so stunned at what happened, I stuttered over my explanation. I tried to explain that I've lost a bunch of weight, yada, yada, yada, but from the look on her face and her response back, I'm pretty sure I offended her and I won't be hearing from her again. Whooooops! There's a habit I'll have to break.

By the time you're 4-5 months out, 8-10 pounds/month is pretty normal. It's certainly not bad. Remember, your weight loss period is 12-18 months generally.

@Soccermomkerry u will okay. Gods speed. When i first seen gorecki in sept 2011 it took me more than a year to get sleeved on 10/18. So everything will be okay. Just try not to miss any appt with your PCP

You bet from my mom. I took her out to lunch and told her what i was doing and all was fine. She was excited for me. Then she had her physical therapist tell her that i was doing what i perseive she thought was a gastric bypass and all went down hill. We have not talked since as she just said to many wrong things and got really ugly. Ignorance is not bliss, i tell ya. And as for your husband! Mine supported me 100% and boy is he happy! I have lost 30#s and have 30# to go! I now am in a size 10 from a 14 and can wear sexy things that he dreamed about me wearing. My confidence is on the roof and my spirit is healing from my insecurities from the past. You are young it sounds like to make this decision. If you have tried faithfully other avenues and failed and you are a volume eater then this will probably be sucessful. But realize and be sure that if you are consuming your calories from liquids (includes chocolate, liquor) then to be careful in choosing the lapband. In closing! Do what is right for you. I am turning 50 next year and thankful that i found this before i loose all my elatisity. If i had known about this back 6 to 8 years ago i would have done it in a heart beat. :clap2: