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I think that Jack is right. Well, I guess, OBVIOUSLY, looking at his weight loss, Jack knows how the band works. BUT WHAT I wanted from (my bloody cat keeps on pressing his paw on the shift key!) the band was a gentle break applied most of the time, and a hard break applied when I was going too fast. And that's what I have now. I assume that as I lose weight, or as my stomach becomes accustomed to this, I might start eating more - at THAT point I'll get the fill.

I go for my 6 month follow-up and nutritionist appointment this afternoon. Other than asking about how to stop the weight loss, and about a maintenance plan, is there anything else I should be asking? A couple other things I was considering: asking his opinion on the medical alert bracelets I've seen debated on here at length, and the restaurant card that some people's doctors give them enabling them to order off the children's menu or smaller portions at certain restaurants. Any other ideas?

Hi all, my surgery is in less than 2 weeks and my doctor gave me the option to decide between the lap band and the realize band. I'm really stuck between the two. Any advice based on experience? Also, I feel like the lap band's port looked like it would stick out more, which I have read on some of the other boards...It seems like the realize band is flatter which does make me lean more towards realize...so for the realize banders- do you feel/see your port right away sticking out? How about after you've lost the majority of your weight? Thanks in advance...

Hey there Dawn, and welcome. Your surgeon should of given you a post-op diet regimen, and it's advised to stick to that and progress only when you are supposed to do so. As for weight loss, every person is different. There are many factors that contribute to initial weight loss i.e. your starting weight (people with higher BMIs typically lose faster, men lose faster, lower BMI patients may lose it a little slower), what type of post-op diet your surgeon has you on, how much you start walking, and light working out you do early on will all help decide how much weight you will lose. Every person is different so try to not compare yourself to others. Good food happens when you can tolerate it. I was on 2 weeks of clears, a week of full liquid then progressed to mushies. I stayed on mushies for nearly a month, and only incorporated solids once a week or so after that, and even then I went back to mushies a few times. Early on, you may experience some fatigue because of the lack of calories you are consuming. But, as your post-op diet progresses, your energy level will bounce back. There is an entire forum dedicated to Post-op questions and concerns. You may find other answers here at these links. Feel free to post any questions or concerns you may have, or you can scroll through the threads, and read any that may pique your interest. POST-Operation Vertical Sleeve Gastric Surgery (VSG) Questions & Answers - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery (VSG) Forum Here is a link for "Tell your story", you can post your experience, and your history. Tell Your Story - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery (VSG) Forum Here's a good thread for different Protein supplement options: Protein Drinks/Powders - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery (VSG) Forum Here's a Recipe sharing thread, there's many recipes in here for different stages of the post-op diet: Recipe Sharing - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery (VSG) Forum Here is a thread dedicated to December sleeve patients. You can find other members who had their surgeries around the same time, and y'all can share experiences, and tips and tricks. http://verticalsleevetalk.com/2009-sleevers/1620-december-sleevers.html If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to post or if you would like you can message me on here. You just click my name on a thread, and it will show you several different options. You can send me a private message anytime, and I'll respond ASAP.

Dawn - Welcome to VST and congratulations on your recent surgery. First off, follow your surgeons instructions especially these first 6 weeks. Let your knew little tummy heal properly. Don't worry about what you can't eat right now, it's not forever. It's not that you can't have it, you just can't have it now. Just 6-8 weeks. You will again be able to eat things you shouldn't occasionally, but your sleeve will help control how much. Walk - get in some exercise and get the blood moving. Sip - stay hydrated. Weight loss rate depends on how much you have to lose. I lost a little every day until the 3 week stall. Then during week 4, weight loss started up again. I seem to lose weight in a stair step pattern (if you plot on a graph), nothing for several days/week than a bunch of pounds over a couple of days, then nothing for several days, etc. You can browse through the forum and see different people's tickers and see their weight loss progression. Good luck on your journey and feel free to ask questions. I have found incredibly supportive and knowledgeable people here - we are all in this together.

I do a daily run of 5K on the tread mill and weight work after, but that is not something everyone would enjoy. I would suggest perhaps something like some light cross fit training. Most of us have some abdominal or core issues due to the weight we have shed so I would say that would be a good place to start.

A few days with no loss does not a stall make. My weight loss since surgery has averaged out at about 8-10 pounds a month at three months out, so while 20 is an awesome thing to hope for, do not get upset if it's not reality. Congrats on your awesome success so far! You are doing fantastic.

Unless you qualify for medicaid the only other option would be self pay! In the US it can range from $9-25k. You can pay cash or take out a loan, some providers offer payment plans through companies such as care credit. You can apply online for them & find out if you're approved in minutes. The credit line is given based on your credit score (I know they use experian as their source). If you know you have a few dings you may still be approved but maybe not for the full amount. A co-signer would help increase your credit line in that case. Be warned though that unless you pay in 18mts or less for their promotional offer their interest rates run high but again this varies based on your credit. So you can visit their website & search for local approved providers & go directly through your surgeon or you can first find a surgeon you're comfortable with & then find out if he accepts finance plans such as this. With a 5yr plan (in cali they offer only up to 60mts but I've heard other states are longer plans) your payments for an average priced sef pay procedure of say 16k could be about $300/mt. For me when I added up the cost of meds, gyms & jenny craig not to mention the dining out & other weight related bills I would no longer have it seemed like nothing!! There's also the route of having it done in a diff country such as Mexico for as little as $4500- I honestly couldn't tell you what, if any, payment plans they use. Some say ofcourse foreign countries offer lower quality & can have more complications but that's something you'd have to research. With the band though you're required to have follow up care for life & many US surgeons want nothing to do with a foreign placed band- liability! Without the fills your band is useless so if you go that route locate a local fill doc that's willing to work with you first! Also my surgeon told me the company that produces the lap band in the states (Allargan) does not sell its product to places like mexico because they are not certified so the band many people receive there is a swedish band that's an older, cheaper model of less quality subject to leaks & erosion. Ofcourse these are unresearched statements from my bias surgeon. So take them with a grain of salt! It is true the mexico did perform the first lap band & austrialia & europe have also been doing it for years longer than the US who didn't approve it until 2001. So something can be said for their experience. But again in a foreign country you have no recourse if something goes wrong. =/ As a self payer you'd just want to keep in mind that your insurance typically will not cover any part of the wls -in some cases this includes any complications related to it. And remember the cost of follow up/fills that in yr 1 are every 4-6wks or as needed & can vary from $50-350/ visit depending on your provider so shop around for the best program package! Many include 6mts to a yr of follow ups & some practices also offer revision insurance for a yr which cover leaks, slips, erosions & port flips. Be diligent in your price comparisons & research! There's a thread in self payers forum here where ppl have listed what they paid in diff states you could inquire there also! Best of luck!

I have a few questions guys. How many calories do you eat daily? I've only been eating about 800 a day and I've stopped losing again. Should I up my calories a little to see if that would help? The last diet I did was Weight Watchers about a year ago. I consumed 1200 calories a day and lost 2 pounds a week every week. What kind of meats do you buy? I bought lean ground beef, lean pork, boneless skinless chicken breast, etc but I'm finding those cuts cook up drier and can be hard to get down. Since I'm not able to eat much anyway should I buy fattier cuts so they will be more tender? Also I'm always thirsty and I can still drink a glass of Water pretty fast with no issues but my bariatric coach says I should only sip and not take big drinks. Why is that?? Thanks!!

I have limited resources (Iraq, army cob), can anyone recommend a resistance band workout that doesn't rely on a videotape? I want something that will strengthen and tone and I want to do it in my room until my confidence is high enough to get me to the public gym. Plus I'm concerned with maintaining/increasing muscle tone as I lose weight. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Well, I just had my third fill. At 6.1 now. I have been told it might be 4 5 or even 6. So with three, I am currently feeling a difference, though day one is hard to say if it will stick. Just hang in and don't worry. The "sweet spot" will most likely change as you lose weight anyway.

I've had my lab band for approximately 2 years I went from a size 1x to a size 10 and was still losing. I went in for an adjustment and was informed that my band had dilated. My band was emptied and I will be consulting with my doctor on the 25th. He mentioned gastric bypass or repairing the band. I 've gained 13 lbs since my band was emptied. I'm very distrught over this and I'm not sure which direction to take. Gastric bypass seem so extreme with the cutting and re-routing of this and that. I've observed several co-workers with the gastric bypass they lose the weight quick and look great. But again I'm concerned about drastic procedure.:tongue_smilie: Can someone share a similar experience or just their opinion on the matter. Terry.

I would agree that an eight week stall at five months out would be a good reason to contact your medical team. And though it sounds like a cliché, weight loss or gain is usually directly related to calorie intake. Are you logging your food? If not, My Fitness Pal is a fantastic app that is free and highly recommended by many (myself included). It's easy to use and has a huge food database that has just about anything you can imagine. It also has a bar code scanner that makes scanning in packaged foods a snap. Research has repeatedly shown that folks who log their food are more successful at losing weight and at maintaining their goal weight. Stay focused on following the protocol as closely as you possibly can, stay active, and stay away from the scales for at least a week and two would be even better. You're gonna love the new you!!

I don't have wifi at home, so I will be in and out sporadically. I am just starting my journey...well the journey to get healthy. The journey to my 289 lb. self started 20 years ago. A lot of factors. I am thinking about gastric bypass as the amount to my goal is so great. (149 lbs) I also tend to lean toward sugar and with this procedure your body reacts in a not so positive manner which I'm hoping that will help me make better choices. I am going to the weight loss information meeting tomorrow (May 1st) and then there is a support group they want you to go to that evening. After that I guess I make an appointment with the surgeon. I have sleep apnea (untreated as I can't seem to keep the mask on), high blood pressure, depression, my knees hurt, I have no energy and just feel like crap most days.

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!!

@@bikrchk, thank you for your response. I started this process in Dec and was told the co-morbidities I have were enough, but when my dr's office submitted the documents to my insurance BC/BS they denied the surgery. Granted I have spoken to the insurance company and they have the incorrect BMI so hopefully that will help my case. I had just been wondering since I am so close to having a BMI of 40, will the insurance company say I need additional NUT visits if I gain weight? This process sucks because you seem to be damned if you do and damned if you don't.

@@scoutmom, the insurance doesn't require any weight loss on the "supervised diet", however they really don't expect you to gain weight since you are suppose to be showing them you can control your eating habits prior to the surgery. If you have a BMI of 40, you automatically meet the requirements so should be approved without a problem. @ taweedeegirl, I started at a BMI of 37-38 and thought I definitely had sleep apnea, however never was professionally tested for it. After the sleep study test, it came back I had some sleep abnormalities but did not have sleep apnea, so there went my major co-morbidity. I had gained some weight in February because I was eating everything in sight "thinking" I might as well eat it now before I have the surgery, but then the nutritionist told me I should lose it in case the insurance denied me because I don't have control of my eating. I lost the weight by my March nutritionist visit, however I was back at a BMI of 38.73. The insurance is saying because my BMI is below 40 and I have no major co-morbidities I don't qualify for surgery. I called my surgeons office Monday as well as the insurance company and we are appealing their decision. I received an email from BC/BS yesterday saying they would have a decision for me by 3/24 the latest and that my case is being reviewed again. Fingers crossed I hear something before then since I need to start the pre op diet next week on 3/17-3/18 and if they deny it, at least I would still have 2 weeks time to schedule a peer to peer review. I work in the medical field and "usually" if a doctor speaks to the insurance companies doctors, procedures get approved. I have yet to hear of a procedure a doctor recommends being denied after the doctor speaks to someone in charge of the case at the insurance company.

Hello, I understand the reason for shrinking the liver. I actually gained weight from when I first went to the dr so now I have 18 pounds to lose instead of ten so I started a little over a week ago trying to lose instead of waiting until the two weeks before as I was told by my doctor. So I am doing slimfast or herbalife for Breakfast and dinner and eating one meal a day with two Snacks. I am doing healthy snacks like yogart, Jello, etc. I am slowly moving away from soda and I have already cut my coffee to half/half and when this container runs out will switch to decaf. I am not perfect and have cheated some but am trying to get used to eating this way. I am also at the gym 3-4 days a week with 30 minutes of cardio and some light weight training. Doing this, I have lost 3 pounds in about two 1/2 weeks. So my question is, will this shrink my liver if I keep at it or is there something special I should be doing that I am not yet doing? I am a sweetaholic and my therapist told me that if I can make it 15 days straight without sugar, I can "probably" kick the habit for good so that will start on Saturday because I want to eat a little bit of candy tomorrow. Not much because I don't want to gain anymore weight. Is this the right path? I think so but wanted to get the opinions here since we are all going through it or have gone through it already. Thanks for all the help!:biggrin::smile2::thumbup::smile2:

Paula... You know what... I thought about this more today and guess what... time has already changed things. I used to worry constantly that I would do something to "wreck" my banding... make my band slip... etc... now I rarely think about that. I used to think about every bite I put in my mouth and have to really focus on chewing well... now it's just a habit. I used to manage one bit too much ALOT and end up with pain because I couldn't seem to heed the warning signs... now I just stop and throw what's left away. So... time is changing the way I relate to my band. I guess it's like being a diabetic... you can't forget, but tools to control the disease become part of your life. Miss Vera... I think Miss Nicci is feeling much better. SHe was still having problems after her surgery but I think that she is now on the mend. She looks absolutely awesome... I told her that she looks like she should be on the cover of ELLE. She really has had a tough time of it... I pray that her rough times have come to an end. My sister reached her weight-loss goal in less than six months after her surgery. Her recovery was awful and that helped me opt for the banding! She does have the dumping syndrome but has learned to eat around it a bit... she's coming up on her 2 year post-op anniversary and has gained back about 20% of her excess weight. Needless to say she is freaked about that and is trying to make the changes to stop the gain. She does say that she would still opt for the bypass but she is encouraging her hubby to go the banding route if he decides to have WLS.

My surgeon had me on a total liquid diet 10 days prior to surgery. Protein shakes, cream Soups, etc. I dropped a lot of weight right before the surgery.

OK- when I say "there" I don't mean my final goal- but I do mean ONEDERLAND! Weighed in today at 204....I have been trying so hard to stay on track and push this extra weight off...I'm about 1/2 way to my actual goal- and saying as it's only been 9 1/2 weeks, I'm pretty proud to report that I'm excited to go through my summer stuff- and toss/donate all the old clothes from fall/winter that are now way too big, and dig out the summer clothes that I've been storing for years (that used to be too small), telling myself that "eventually these WILL fit again". I'm down 3 sizes since my surgery- which is a great feeling...and even if it was an XL, I bought a new summer dress for myself in the juniors section the other day (little victories make this so much more fun!) I'm a little worried that those that knew me best were right, that I've become so hyper-critical of myself that I'm still not pleased with what I see. I feel better- don't get me wrong, but I'm already mentally planning to get pretty much a full-body makeover when I'm at my goal. A plastic surgeon in the area does what he calls a "Mommy Makeover"...tummy, arms, thighs, boobs...SIGN ME UP. Anyone else feel that way? Anyone else a little worried that you'll NEVER look in the mirror and just be happy with what you see??

I lost weight really fast at first, I had a BMI of 35, but overall, although Im within my healthy weight range now, its taken me a good 18 months to lose 80lb. After the initial 9 weeks or so, in which I lost about 30lb (which is a lot when you're only 80lb overweight), my weight loss has been slowish compared to others. But then again, I havent had to lose 100lb before every few lb makes a difference iykwim. Like even when Iw as still 90kg, even 3kg made a visible difference on me, whereas you wouldnt even notice it on someone much bigger. So there's a trade off to the slower loss. I felt I was blessed becuase I was still light enough and fit enough to plunge straight into running after my surgery and was able to exercise intensely from quite early on. Also, I was banded right before Christmas 05, I had a champagne or two over the Christmas period. I'd avoid it for a week or two after surgery but after that, in moderation, alcohol is fine for a special occasion.

Hi Jen So far my weight lost have been great!! My highest weight was 256 lbs and the day of surgery I weighed 230 lbs. It's over two month since my surgery and I now weigh 204 lbs (93 kilos)!!! I work out 5 days a week and I try to watch what I eat. So far I really didn't need to contact BBC. Also I visited a lapband clinic in NC (USA) just for a quick check up when I visited the States. Sorry for the bad experience but I would be a little upset also if they didn't return my emails. How have your weight lost been going?

I'm also right around 70 pounds lost, so maybe I'm no help. But I have two on the outside of my thigh, and I haven't really noticed any difference in them. They're not more prominent or less prominent. I do notice that after a long, hard workout or a day spent traipsing around in high heels they'll ache/burn more than I'm used to feeling, but I used to sit on my rear ALL DAY LONG, so I can't attribute it to the weight loss. ~Cheri