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Mcnaira44 I don't know if you use a tracking system or not but I find it very very useful. I use FatSecret.com only because it has a lot of other info, recipes etc that I like. I have a sleeve and used the tracking system to put my I days food intake in the morning. What I like is that it has almost every food, every food company and even will tally up your own recipe . I keep my carbs at 40 or under for the day, my calories at 750 or under, and my Protein at 70 or over. This way you can pretty much eat the food you want to eat but you know when you have reached your limit for the day. I often have to re-think my meal item and sometimes come up with a different plan. Today I wanted to include a desert apple into my evening snack. I had thought of apple dumplings but they have pie crust so I recalculated it and came up with a way to use diet soda boiled down to a syrup, peeled and cut up apples that I will cook in the diet soda syrup and add some pumpkin pie seasoning. I will eat a 1/2 cup full and I will still be within my limits and in fact a bit under . I couldn't have figured that out without the tracking system. I would always be over eating what I should by guessing. I also always include a muscle milk Protein shake either for breakfast or mid day. (20 g protein, 130 calories, 5 grams carbs and less than 1 gram sugar). I have gained about 20 lbs in the last couple years because I wasn't watching my intake...not tracking my food. Back at it and in just a couple days I am down 4 lbs.

WELL EVERYONE THE DAY HAS COME THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR...FOR ME I HAVE BEEN WANTING THIS HELP I HAVE TO SAY FOREVER..I HAVE A HUGE WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS NOT FROM GETTING A SURGERY DATE BUT NOW KNOWING ITS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY..I JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND JUST KNOW THAT SO MUCH GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN FROM THIS.....HOW ARE YOU FEELING??????? THERE IS NO LOOKING BACK NOW ITS OUR TIME TO SHINE

Hello, everyone! I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. I am in the process of getting my list checked off for approval for RNY. I will be having my surgery in Des Moines, Iowa at Mercy Hospital once I get through the process. I have done two NUT vists, a psych eval, met with my surgeon, and done most of my scheduled tests. It is a long story, but I actually don't know if I will need 3 months OR 12 months (!) of supervised diet for insurance approval. (Again, it is a long, curse word inducing story- I will post in insurance issues more about it maybe.) I am 5'8 and weigh about 280 lbs at present. I was always UNDER weight as a kid and until my first child. People actually used to tease me for being too thin. (I feel like I have somehow conquered that particular issue though- probably by eating it. Lol!!!!) After doing the diet -lose it -regain it and more thing for 20 years I guess I was just plain ready to get real about sh*t. Obviously, what I had been doing wasn't working. That notion led me to doing better research than the FBI for the past year or so on weight loss surgery and its options. After much soul searching, nail biting and head scratching I made the decision that the only worse things I could do was: 1. do nothing at all and 2. ignore the problem. So here I am. I want to thank you all for letting me stalk a bit before saying hello and I look forward to getting to know you!

My hubby currently has a lap band and will be sleeved this summer. He is a truck driver as well. Your going to LOVE the sleeve! My hubby gained all his weight when he was OTR, fortunately he's local and home every night now.

How was your recovery? And how much weight have you lost so far?

MoonSiren giving yourself the jump start by doing the liquids is a step in the right direction you know the drill - Protein, Water, small portions, watch the carbs you (we) need to stay strong, stick to what we are supposed to on plan for the rest of our longer healthier, happier life that being said......i know you can get back on the right track - the fact that you are here now, shows that you want to get back on the road, working with the sleeve to help lose weight you are most definitely NOT A FAILURE - you slipped up, goofed up abit - but you are back - stand tall!!! for me, reading the boards doing MFP, helps keep me accountable - keeps me on the straight and narrow Get back to business - this takes some work - but we all knew that coming in to the sleeve good luck bud only look ahead

Hi all, I had my sleeve surgery March 5th 2014 with zero complications and lost 130 lbs my first year. I got pregnant 1.5 years out and gained 20 lbs during the pregnancy, and that weight came off very quickly after delivery. But unfortunately during the pregnancy my hunger came back full force, and I stretched my sleeve no doubt. My baby is 13 months old now and I feel like even though I still can't eat as much as I was once able, I am able to eat more than I am supposed to, also I am slipping calorie-wise. I was doing so well the first couple years, I had fought the head hunger to where it wasn't a problem, and now it is back. Making unhealthy eating choices, etc. I have not gained back much, 10 lbs or less, but it is noticeable (clothes are snug and overall feeling sluggish and terrible.) Those who are years out, how do you keep focused? This is a lifetime commitment and I should NOT be struggling at only 3 years out!! I feel like I need to start from square one, with Protein shakes and all that. Please any advice is much appreciated.

Ok so i dont know my offical surgery date weight bc they didnt take it but i dod have the pre registration weight whit was a week and a half b4 surgery so my numbers are BW 450 SW 430 CW 401 down 49lb altogather The Losers Bench

The 2nd is my last apt. I'm a bit worried because 1 of my 6 apt with GP didnt mention weight loss. But my 6 nutritionist apt. do. I hope they count it. I should have my surgery date early April. I hope to have my Rny asap so can have my life back. I want so desperately to be average size. Ride my motorcycle and not see that huge shadow on the road beside me anymore. I want to run and live a life my kids will have me in. Make memories that don't include me in a wheelchair at Disney. Desperate to get to living again.

KATIE!! CONGRATS!!! Now - TAKE A DEEP BREATH... 1. It sounds like all of your ducks are in a row - the only ??? is your weight. 2. Instead of stressing about whether or not you've gained, start TODAY with some healthy eating. You KNOW you're NOT saying goodbye to anything forever, so you don't need to do the last supper thing this week and a half. 3. I know all of this is a huge surprise now that all is approved and happening so fast - BUT - you have waited TWO YEARS for this!! YOU ARE READY!!! Breathe, breathe, breathe... You are SO ready. You are going to do great. Your dream is coming true - embrace it! And Kathy is right on the money - have a friend whisk you off to a hotel for overnight. ((hugs))

I just went for my seminar and they said I have to be on a liquid diet for 10 days prior to surgery. The insurnace lady said that if you have gained any weight they cancell the surgery on the spot. But she said that 90% of the patients lose 8-10 lbs on the liquid diet. Are you going to have to do the same? That would be a great way to lose the weight and shrink your liver at the same time, maybe call and ask the surgical nurse her thoughts on this. Best of luck to you and congrats on the approval.~Mandy

That's funny, I always heard people make fun of the 'cookie diet' and I thought it was a joke.. just making fun of all the crazy diets out there.. then the other day in Publix.. there it was.. the cookie diet. I started laughing right in the middle of the store. The pictures of the cookies look good, but I'm with Kat.. you could eat nothing but 1 thing for a while and lose weight, but it's not teaching you good habits or helping you maintain. I had a relatively 'chubby' girl friend in highschool, and over the summer break she became skinny. I asked her what she did, she said she ate a reese cup pack every day and nothing else. 1 cup in the morning, 1 cup at night. She lost about 35lbs in 3 months. Eureka!

I saw a friend a few days ago whom I hadn't seen in a couple of months. She was going on about how much weight I've lost. When we were leaving, she said, "You need new pants, yours look loose." I was laughing, because all of my slacks had been falling off so I had just gone and bought 2 pairs of new ones the day before and I was wearing one of them. I guess I should have gone down another size? LOL. I'm going to exchange the second pair for the next size down instead of wearing them. Actually I don't think they would fit quite yet, but hopefully soon!! I'm down 4 pants sizes since surgery in Feb! Down in tops and undergarments also.

It is so hard to advise someone on what fill is right for them...like for me, I asked about a 2nd fill, and hesitated quite a while, even after others encouraged me to go ahead. I think my head wasn't "banded" enough, then, I decided to go for it. That was only 3 days ago...I don't know if it is possible for fills to give us restriction in our heads...we are still going to have to take charge of it and work the band. Your weight loss looks really good...so maybe just learn to work the fill you have now for a little while, and rethink it in a couple of weeks? It is just so personal to your own experience, I'm not sure what kind of advice to give...or maybe I'm too new, too! Good luck, Cindy

I was courious to know how many people have lost a significant amout of weight and gained it back. I have never lost more than 20 pounds before I gained it all back, so I was surprised at this sight how many people have had great weight loss success prior to getting the lapband.

My highest was 355 in 1998. I got all the way down to 245 in 2002 and just as that happened I got pregnant. I did settle at around 260 which is when I decided to get the lapband surgery. I always seemed to gain and lose the same 20 lbs. I did get my act in shape and I actuallly was down to 231 for surgery. So far so good. I am now at my lowest that I know for my adult life. Now if the scale would just start moving =)

I am a single mother of two wonderful boys. I have been divorced for 2 1/2 years now. I have battled my weight my entire life. FINALLY, there is a way out!! I have tried just about ever diet out there: slimfast, weight watchers (4xs), cutting calories, metabolife, trim spa, hermal remidies, ect.... I have also bought so many exercise programs - i could make my own : the firm; walking off the pounds; turbo jam; windsor pilates, gazelle, billy blanks circut training, jazzercise, ect..... so this is my last resort! I have to do something now or i know i will just continue on this distructive path and end up so large ~ my health will suffer much more than it already is. I attended the SCOR Lap-Band Seminar April 18, 2006. My weight is 210 and i'm 5'3. I had researched online and spoke to family before even committing to attending. Luckily my family was behind me 100%. I was excited before i ever got there. I had looked into my insurance policy before even going also ~ it's not excluded however i've been on plenty of diets but none of them have been medically supervised. So, that was my biggest fear of not getting approved. There just is NO possible way i can self-pay. I made my inital consult w/Dr. Powells office for April 26th, 2006. My insurance pre-determination said i needed 3 years of physician supervised weight loss attempts. I told them there way no way that was plan specific ~ so we continued with the consult anyway. I was told i was a good candidate for the surgery and i had to get my psych and nutritional evaluations done and then we could sumbit to insurance. I had already gotten all of my medical files for the past 5 years before coming to this appointment~ i didn't want any delays My psych exam was May 5th ~ seemed easy enough, just a bunch of questions and a computer test. May 10th met w/ psychologist for review of my psych results ~ it was a student and she told me she was going to suggest my surgery be placed on hold until i seek Pyschiatric help to re-evaluate my current depression meds and further counseling. I was OUT RAGED!! What did she think has been causing my depression all of these years? OH well, i called Myra (Dr. Powells nurse) and we decided for a second opinion. However, the nutritionist did clear me and said she saw the medical neccessity needed for the surgery and her report. May 17th~ I went to Dr.Howard Smith - a psychiatrist - and he cleared me on the spot after 30 minutes of talking to me. Thank Goodness~~i was getting worried. Friday May 26th ~ my paperwork has been mailed to my insurance company~~it was too large to fax - LOL. June 1st ~ insurance has received my paperwork! I am gonna call every other day until i hear something probably. I'm just afraid that it will just sit on someones desk. Not likely w/my insurance - they are pretty on top of things. However they said it could take up to 28 days for review..uuuugggghhhh! June 19th ~ WWWHHHHOOOOO HHHOOOOOO!! I just called insurance and i am APPROVED! I am blessed to have such a great insurance company. I was afraid i would have some of the same issues as i have read about here and other boards. I am glad that i didn't. I talked to Myra(Dr Powells nurse)- and she was very excited for me and said as soon as she gets the letter she will call me and we can get set up to see Dr. Powell and get a surgery date :Dancing_biggrin: So, i called the office responsible for sending out the approval letter and she's not in..but the secretary said she'll e-mail her and try to get it printed and faxed to Dr. Powell's office by Wednesday :confused_smile: I am SO excited it seems sureal. I know it's not a quick fix ~ but a very valuable tool to help me get back to a healthy lifestyle. June 22, 2006 ~ met Dr. Powell today and got my lovely Myocel and surgery date :behindsofa: It is July 6th, 2006 @ 7:30am. I am SOOOOOOOOO excited. I'm sure i may be nervous the morning of, but right now it is a wonderful feeling knowing it's really gonna happen! June 25th, 2006 ~ OMG, that Myocel (vanilla) is AWFUL. I thought since i am used to drinking Slimfast that it would be alright. Well, after adding chocolate pudding mix (sugar free) it wasn't so bad. Tolerable atleast. I know i have to do it~ so i will. Went to Beth Moore Living Proof conference in OKC this weekend..it was SO awesome. All i could do was praise our God b/c he is GOOD. I prayed so much that this surgery would be his will and i could get approval. Well, obviously~~ it was and its great! June 26, 2006 ~ My surgery is ONLY 10 days away...i have to go get blood work done today-ewwww. OH well, just a means to an end :rolleyes2: June 28th, 2006 ~ atleast i'm getting used to drinking the protein shakes, but i'm pretty sure i will get the cholocate myocel next time! Kinda afraid to weigh myself ~ it's that time of the month...and it's probably better if i don't anyway. I'm still excited about surgery date ~ just trying to stay realistic though and not expect results too fast :lightbulb: Well, only 6 days left until surgery! I can hardly believe it's actually gonna happen. By no means am i expecting any miracles. I know this will be work ~ i am just gaining a very effective tool to help me. I am ready to be healthy! I want to be able to play with my kids as they grow up and grandkids when the time comes! God willing ~ i will be able to make this work. Better hit the sack :rolleyes5: :notagree June 30, 2006~~Ok guys, only 5 days until surgery! I have still been reading posts n this site and some others. There are some very unfortunate omplications that have risen from this band. I am trying to be optimistic, but not naive to this fact. So many people have lost weight in the first 6 weeks of healing, and some are having trouble losing even after fills. I know everyone is different. I also know its just a tool. I guess i'm just venting concern. I am still excited and wanting this surgery ~ just a little freaked out by what some have said here and there!!! Well, only 3 days left :rolleyes5: Yesterday i went to a family gathering and a friend of the family was there. She'd had the lap band back in May 2003. She almost died. She was following the post-op directions to the 'T' and lost 60lbs. Then all of a sudden she couldn't keep anything down. She got so ill~~~so many hospitals~~~ just awful. Fortunatly, God wasn't ready for her to come home yet. After removing the band and much rehab ~ she is alright now. I completly believe that the lapband is not for everyone. Don't quite know how to "know" who it is right for~~guess i'll find out. I belive in my heart that this is Gods will for me. Going to the store today to get post-op foods and such. Guess i'd better be going....update later :thumbsup: December 5th, 2006 I got banded July 6th, 2006 -so i have a new birthday! I haven't done so well with weight loss though. I am only down to 202 - so that's 10 lbs in 4 months!!! I now have a 2.4 cc in my band and i have major restriction. I'm really going to start trying to walk on the treadmill more - i have run out of excuses! I am not giving up ~ NO WAY~ never!!!! I will make this work!! I have to remember the band is just a TOOL... not a miracle worker by itself. So...i'll try to keep up - ttyl __________________ :)Jessica Stevens Dr. Powell 7-6-06 212/202/120

I am a single mother of two wonderful boys. I have been divorced for 2 1/2 years now. I have battled my weight my entire life. FINALLY, there is a way out!! I have tried just about ever diet out there: slimfast, weight watchers (4xs), cutting calories, metabolife, trim spa, hermal remidies, ect.... I have also bought so many exercise programs - i could make my own : the firm; walking off the pounds; turbo jam; windsor pilates, gazelle, billy blanks circut training, jazzercise, ect..... so this is my last resort! I have to do something now or i know i will just continue on this distructive path and end up so large ~ my health will suffer much more than it already is. I attended the SCOR Lap-Band Seminar April 18, 2006. My weight is 210 and i'm 5'3. I had researched online and spoke to family before even committing to attending. Luckily my family was behind me 100%. I was excited before i ever got there. I had looked into my insurance policy before even going also ~ it's not excluded however i've been on plenty of diets but none of them have been medically supervised. So, that was my biggest fear of not getting approved. There just is NO possible way i can self-pay. I made my inital consult w/Dr. Powells office for April 26th, 2006. My insurance pre-determination said i needed 3 years of physician supervised weight loss attempts. I told them there way no way that was plan specific ~ so we continued with the consult anyway. I was told i was a good candidate for the surgery and i had to get my psych and nutritional evaluations done and then we could sumbit to insurance. I had already gotten all of my medical files for the past 5 years before coming to this appointment~ i didn't want any delays My psych exam was May 5th ~ seemed easy enough, just a bunch of questions and a computer test. May 10th met w/ psychologist for review of my psych results ~ it was a student and she told me she was going to suggest my surgery be placed on hold until i seek Pyschiatric help to re-evaluate my current depression meds and further counseling. I was OUT RAGED!! What did she think has been causing my depression all of these years? OH well, i called Myra (Dr. Powells nurse) and we decided for a second opinion. However, the nutritionist did clear me and said she saw the medical neccessity needed for the surgery and her report. May 17th~ I went to Dr.Howard Smith - a psychiatrist - and he cleared me on the spot after 30 minutes of talking to me. Thank Goodness~~i was getting worried. Friday May 26th ~ my paperwork has been mailed to my insurance company~~it was too large to fax - LOL. June 1st ~ insurance has received my paperwork! I am gonna call every other day until i hear something probably. I'm just afraid that it will just sit on someones desk. Not likely w/my insurance - they are pretty on top of things. However they said it could take up to 28 days for review..uuuugggghhhh! June 19th ~ WWWHHHHOOOOO HHHOOOOOO!! I just called insurance and i am APPROVED! I am blessed to have such a great insurance company. I was afraid i would have some of the same issues as i have read about here and other boards. I am glad that i didn't. I talked to Myra(Dr Powells nurse)- and she was very excited for me and said as soon as she gets the letter she will call me and we can get set up to see Dr. Powell and get a surgery date So, i called the office responsible for sending out the approval letter and she's not in..but the secretary said she'll e-mail her and try to get it printed and faxed to Dr. Powell's office by Wednesday I am SO excited it seems sureal. I know it's not a quick fix ~ but a very valuable tool to help me get back to a healthy lifestyle. June 22, 2006 ~ met Dr. Powell today and got my lovely Myocel and surgery date It is July 6th, 2006 @ 7:30am. I am SOOOOOOOOO excited. I'm sure i may be nervous the morning of, but right now it is a wonderful feeling knowing it's really gonna happen! June 25th, 2006 ~ OMG, that Myocel (vanilla) is AWFUL. I thought since i am used to drinking Slimfast that it would be alright. Well, after adding chocolate pudding mix (sugar free) it wasn't so bad. Tolerable atleast. I know i have to do it~ so i will. Went to Beth Moore Living Proof conference in OKC this weekend..it was SO awesome. All i could do was praise our God b/c he is GOOD. I prayed so much that this surgery would be his will and i could get approval. Well, obviously~~ it was and its great! June 26, 2006 ~ My surgery is ONLY 10 days away...i have to go get blood work done today-ewwww. OH well, just a means to an end June 28th, 2006 ~ atleast i'm getting used to drinking the protein shakes, but i'm pretty sure i will get the cholocate myocel next time! Kinda afraid to weigh myself ~ it's that time of the month...and it's probably better if i don't anyway. I'm still excited about surgery date ~ just trying to stay realistic though and not expect results too fast Well, only 6 days left until surgery! I can hardly believe it's actually gonna happen. By no means am i expecting any miracles. I know this will be work ~ i am just gaining a very effective tool to help me. I am ready to be healthy! I want to be able to play with my kids as they grow up and grandkids when the time comes! God willing ~ i will be able to make this work. Better hit the sack :notagree June 30, 2006~~Ok guys, only 5 days until surgery! I have still been reading posts n this site and some others. There are some very unfortunate omplications that have risen from this band. I am trying to be optimistic, but not naive to this fact. So many people have lost weight in the first 6 weeks of healing, and some are having trouble losing even after fills. I know everyone is different. I also know its just a tool. I guess i'm just venting concern. I am still excited and wanting this surgery ~ just a little freaked out by what some have said here and there!!! Well, only 3 days left Yesterday i went to a family gathering and a friend of the family was there. She'd had the lap band back in May 2003. She almost died. She was following the post-op directions to the 'T' and lost 60lbs. Then all of a sudden she couldn't keep anything down. She got so ill~~~so many hospitals~~~ just awful. Fortunatly, God wasn't ready for her to come home yet. After removing the band and much rehab ~ she is alright now. I completly believe that the lapband is not for everyone. Don't quite know how to "know" who it is right for~~guess i'll find out. I belive in my heart that this is Gods will for me. Going to the store today to get post-op foods and such. Guess i'd better be going....update later December 5th, 2006 I got banded July 6th, 2006 -so i have a new birthday! I haven't done so well with weight loss though. I am only down to 202 - so that's 10 lbs in 4 months!!! I now have a 2.4 cc in my band and i have major restriction. I'm really going to start trying to walk on the treadmill more - i have run out of excuses! I am not giving up ~ NO WAY~ never!!!! I will make this work!! I have to remember the band is just a TOOL... not a miracle worker by itself. So...i'll try to keep up - ttyl __________________ :)Jessica Stevens Dr. Powell 7-6-06 212/202/120

I wouldn't. Making good decisions about food and drink is central to this journey. Don't start out making a decision that goes against the directions of your doctor. He/she has asked you to do this pre-op liquid diet for a reason. It isn't about weight loss. Good luck!

Haven't lost any weight this week...wasn't surprised after 9lbs last week figured my body might still be in shock. I have been walking and eating well but STILL I felt disappointed and in a moment of weakness I succumbed to some chips....felt bad as soon as I'd eaten them and they cost me my bonus on an almost perfect week with the Gone for Good club :phanvan Am really mad at myself now:mad: Oh well..lets start another week of trying! Going away for the weekend and so lots of swimming. I won't eat badly either cos if nothing else...Im determined! The one good from this "bad" moment is my attitude. Before my band I would have immediately thought...oh well diet blown now might as well eat...and now all I want to do is get back to feeling good! :clap2: So not a -complete- disaster then!?!?!??!

I just made chocolate cake so I can take cake balls (chocolate cake crumbled and mixed with Bailey's liqueor, rolled into balls and dipped in melted chocolate) and I did not ONCE lick the spoon. As soon as I was done with the mixer, I dumped the blades into my dish Water. Same with the spatula and the bowl. Let me tell you, that took willpower! Also yesterday I had several people tell me that I look like a completely different person from even a few weeks ago. Good to know that even though I am not seeing much movement on the scale, the inches are shifting around! Also, my best friend had a pair of sandals that I admired every time she wore them. She bought them in South America, so last year when she visited she brought me back a pair for my birthday. Only problem was, even though they were my size, my foot was too wide for them. Tried them on the other day and they FIT! Who knew you lost weight in your feet?

I have been losing since Jan of last year, 50 lbs before surgery and 25 since and tonight my husband says to me : " You are making me look big" I was like excuse me? I am making YOU look big???? No Sir I told him, YOU are making YOU look big by being big! and then I shut up. Then I got pissed! I was said in all this time of losing weight that was the closest thing you have ever said to a compliment and he responds to me with "I have never judged you for your size and I just don't notice your size now." I replied "You had better get to noticing before some other man does!

Thanks Ladies, I'm so hard on myself. I still need to lose more weight, my stomach is still super fat!

Marci, By your weight loss stats, it appears you are doing very well. This is a process and you will not lose the weight overnight. If that is your idea of success, you need to put that notion out of your head. Eat good, nutritious foods, exercise, and get your fills. You will lose the weight in time! And please don't rely on getting sick to make you stop eating. There are plenty of people on these boards who seem to do that and they're the same ones posting with complications down the road. I can eat bread, rice, and Pasta and I have good restriction. I just eat limited portions. You need to learn your soft stop. Puking is a hard stop. My soft stop is just a tad bit of pressure in my port. I know when I feel that I need to stop and that is actually before I am "full". Hope this will help you out some and best of luck in your journey!