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I just ate some rice -- you don't have to give it up! I can't eat doughy bread (unless it is toasted) b/c it gums up in my stomach and tends to get stuck, but other than that, I haven't given up any foods. One thing I did that I found very helpful when I was making my decision about the surgery was to make a pro/con list. I put it up on my blog not too long ago -- maybe it will help you to make your own list (here is a link: Chronicles from Band Land: May 2009) I was really worried about feeling deprived, what I'd have to give up, etc. In all honesty, it has not at all been a big deal. I still eat what I like -- I just eat less of it and I am full faster. I am so happy that I had this surgery -- it has made a big difference and, for the first time in many years, I finally feel good about my weight and how I am doing on that front. Good luck with your decision! Best wishes, Catherine

I felt the same way at first. As time goes on you lose the desire for carbs. It is your bodies natural reaction to go back to the way things used to be. Carbs are a waste for your body, if you have the choice of having a piece of bread that has little value to you or some chicken that will fill you up and help you lose weight, it is an obvious choice. You put that thing in you to change your life..... Why would you eat what you ate before and got you the way you are. Not trying to preach but I went through the same thing. It will pass and if you are strong enough won't come back

Hi Neanie, I'm so sorry your BP wants to act up right now!! Gah!! I didn't necessarily have an issue with it, but my BP was right around what yours is now when I had surgery. Sometimes when you are going through stressful times, (like surgery) our BP can go up. I'm surprised they haven't taken that into account. Regardless I'm sure they are just looking out for you. I really hope for your sake that you can get your BP controlled in time for them to give you the surgery. It's a catch 22 for you if not... you can't lose weight so it raises your blood pressure and you cant exercise properly due to the joint pain... and because you can't exercise you can't lose weight. It's awful! I can tell you this, my surgery saved my life. I used to be on 4 max doses of HBP medications for years. I got off 2 of them with my band and just recently I have been released from ALL!! Also, my joint pain has been non existent. I've been able to RUN on my treadmill... what a blessing!!

I hate to hear that this is happening to you as well! My insurance did the exact same thing to me even though my BMI is above 60 :/ I just finished the 6 month weight loss study, didn't lose any, maybe 3 lbs overall, but still up 8lbs from my initial surgeon consultation.... So I'm kind of in limbo. Mine should get submitted from pcp to surgeon then to insurance sometime next week. I sincerely hope that you don't have any more roadblocks in your journey! Sent from my LG-H901 using the BariatricPal App

I am considering going on the pill and wondering if anybody has experienced any slowing down of their weight loss or any weight gain????

Those of you with the lower bmi's how has weight loss been for you?

I don't see how you could possibly get enough calories in if you are only eating 2-3 times a day. With my restriction, I think the absolute MOST I could possibly eat in one sitting, assuming I went for calorie-dense foods, is 300-400 calories. Usually it's closer to 250. You would starve or completely wreck your metabolisim on that few calories over the long term. I personally now eat 7-8 times a day! I'm training for a marathon and burning 2500-3000 calories a day. I have to eat as much as I can as often as I can to not keep losing weight. But even before I was training and back when I was still losing weight, I was eating 5-6 times a day... usually around 1400 calories a day.

I still snore, but I think maybe the apnea is gone. I no longer wake up tired or with headaches. I don't use a CPAC although I was supposed to get one before the surgery and I didn't, and now I've lost 55 lbs, when I get down a little further, maybe 160 or so if I'm still snoring, or if I find that I'm in a stall for too much longer, I'll see if I can get another sleep study to see if I still have the apnea. I know not enough sleep can affect weight loss and if I need to get the CPAP I will.

Since you're ambivalent about telling the family, you don't have to until you've given it more thought. If anyone seemed opposed to your aunt's surgery before she actually had it, hold off on revealing your decision. Maybe you'd feel more confident telling them after the fact and your weight loss begins to show?

Ok, listen... I know I know I know... it makes your liver shrink, easier surgery, blah blah! I guess right now it is the fact that my stomach is still the normal size, afterward I would expect not to be as hungry as now, and the surgery will force behavior modification. It would still be a good thing for some sort of "class" on the new behaviors that are going to be needed. Like what about spending 30 minutes eating a meal instead of gobbbling it down. Showing what a portion of food is, these are the things that I am doing for myself so that it will not be such a shock. Anyway, I appreciate the support, we all need it! But at the moment I am starving, I just jogged a half mile, did a circuit of weight training, then cardio for 20 minutes. Let me go get my shake!:blushing: I am kinda excited about it though... I am doing EAS AdvantEDGE and all I had at first was choc (which is not bad)... but I finally found the strawberry... so it will be a treat - I HOPE! ~Real

I do think this is a very good question. I am 5'2 at 220 and dont have a regular period. I think because my weight is so high. But anyhow someday I would like to get pregnant so I was so happy to hear you could get pregnat after having the Lap Band. Kitty ( Healthnet HMO)

It is a challenge for sure. I knew that I liked food but had no idea how addicted I was. The eating less part is easy - if you eat too much you will get sick or be very uncomfortable. It is the wanting something and not being able to have it in the quantity you want. Or knowing that it isn't something healthy to be eating. It does really help when the scale goes down, clothes fit better, "old" smaller clothes fit again ... and when someone notices. My husband has been very good at noticing the changes. I also cut my hair a bit today and he said I looked 6 years younger! LOL uh, ok ... 6 years? Why not 5 or 7?? For me, I don't feel it is bad enough for counseling at this point. It seems more like a bad habit to break. I am smart enough to know that I shouldn't be eating in such large amounts - just have to get mentally used to it. I am finally starting to feel more like exercising also; hopefully I will be released from my back dr soon for something besides walking. If you recognize ahead of time that you have an issue with food mentally, you may be able to deal with it on your own. If not, I would try to find a counselor who deals with addictions and understands weight issues. I have seen counselors a few times over the years and you want someone you can easily connect with. Good Luck!

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I just don't want to get sick. Ive been to nutritionist on one other diet and gained weight. I think with banding I will learn portion control. Another thing that worrys me is I take medicine at night I have to eat with will they let me know how to handle that

I am pre-op and will be done with my insurance requirements Sept. 5th. I don't have a good relationship with food either. I do OK with the quality of the food I eat (balanced meals w Protein, low fat, decent portions). I start eating chocolate, and it goes out the window. I beginning to think that, if it takes so much control to not gain weight back, maybe getting sleeved is not such a good idea. Maybe I'm not ready for it now, if ever!

A newbie here! Hi I was wondering...I have no serious health problems to date. My last physical- last yr 2006 in August I had high blood pressure, but that day the temp was like 103 in NY. So the doctor said it could be the weather and me hustling to get to the appt on time. Other than that the only issue I have is the weight..what is the chance that the insurance will approve me?!? :cry

Hi... I just want to share a good resource to help anyone who has had bariatric surgery or anyone considering it. You may already be aware of The book authored by Alex Brecher and Natalie Stein, "The BIG Book on Bariatric Surgery: Living Your Best Life After Weight Loss Surgery." It is now available as an Audiobook. As the narrator, I have a handful of promotional codes I can share with you, entitling you to a free copy of the Audiobook from www.audible.com. If you'd like one, please email me directly at dseawel@seawel.com. When they are gone... they are gone. You can see the Audiobook at: http://goo.gl/ZbQ6hl If you purchase the book and find it helpful, I would really appreciate you posting a positive review at Audible.com about the book. Thanks! and best wishes on your weight loss journey! Dave "McCormick" Seawel PS: I am a Gastric Sleeve surgery veteran myself. I had my surgery 4 months ago. I lost 25 pounds prior to surgery and another 60 pounds since! What a great feeling!

Hear hear!! It somewhat annoys me when people say they are slow losers and losing 3,4,5 or more pounds a week. I am 7 weeks out and 17.5 lbs down. I am thrilled it is coming off and don't think that's slow. Almost 20 lbs in two months is a lot of weight. Pick up a twenty lb barbell and tell me differently. Off soapbox now ..

The dramatic change in your eating is probably what made you late. Losing weight rapidly can also make your periods come closer together, since estrogen is stored in body fat, and as you burn it off, that estrogen is released into your bloodstream. I've only had my band four weeks, and have a Mirena so I don't get periods anyway. But the last time I lost a large amount of weight and wasn't on hormonal birth control was about 12 years ago, and I was getting my period every three weeks. Now that SUCKED.

Thanks for all the advice and input. I really appreciate it. I am going to try to cut back a bit on carbs, but after reading about ketosis, I don't want to go crazy in that area. I guess I just need to wait it out and increase my exercise. I am seeing my NUT for the first time since surgery this coming Friday, so I'll see what she says. I just want to be one of those people who lose enough to reach goal and I expected the lbs. to just melt off. I had two friends who said they felt like crayons just melting away. I'm not feeling that. I was in tight size 24 pants before and I am in tight size 22 pants now. I carry most of my weight in the mid-section. Wish I could choose where it comes off first. My face is looking slimmer and I have lost everywhere to a lesser extent. I am afraid to put the scale away. I think I handle the slow loss better when I weigh daily. If I went a full week and didn't see a loss, I think I'd cry. Thanks again for the support. It means a lot.

WELL, IM CONVINCED THAT EITHER I AM RETARDED OR MAYBE JUST DUMB.. Its been 8 weeks since my surgery and I still make these dumb mistakes: 1. I still drink and eat at the same time, causing stomach pain and vomiting most times.. its like i just forget that I cant drink for 30 minutes 2. I still try to "chug" Water from the kitchen faucet when I come in from outside, especially if it is hot.. I used to love to stand at the sink with the water running, drinking water from a glass and letting it get all over my shirt like a kid.. well, cant "chug" water anymore.. doesnt matter if i havent eaten at all that day.. it gets "stuck" in my chest thingy and it hurts like heck 3. In the past 8 weeks, I have had a Twix candy bar twice knowing full well that I shouldnt 4. I make it home late from work (round 9pm) and I go in the kitchen and eat something.. even though its not much, I shouldnt be eating anything at 9pm.. 5. Im still of the impression, or maybe it is just wishful thinking, that exercise isnt necessary because so many other people (like Paul Wall) have had sleeve surgery, lost weight and never exercised..wishful thinking 6. I dont follow any particular post surgical diet other than no sugar/limited surgar, no sodas and no bread.. i live by these rules, but hell these are the only rules I enforce 7. I know I need a nutritionalist, but I havent taken the time to find one Im sure there are more things I can name, but I dont want to upset anyone..Anyone else here know they are doing the wrong thing?

Your weight loss is excellent. There's no problem here. You have to be realistic; you won't lose 20 lbs every month until you hit goal. Some months will be better than others.

I would suggest you research the relationship between gallbladder complications and weight loss so that you can make an informed decision. I'm not exactly sure what the relationship is but I know that gallbladder complications almost always follow rapid or large amounts of weight loss. If memory serves me correctly my aunt who had gastric bypass several years ago said that the removal of her gallbladder was automatically a part of the procedure. At any rate, it let's you know there's a definite correlation. I was able to lose 70 pounds on my own a few years ago and sure enough, "BAM" out of nowhere I started having gallblladder attacks. It is excrutiatingly painful. I think I'd rather have a baby. I had to have an emergency gallbladder removal. I was one of the lucky ones, I didn't have any stones lodged in my common bile duct. That would have been a whole other additional surgical procedure. Check the web for info. and stats and also consult with your surgeon. If your surgeon is offering to do it at the same time as your band, it may not be a bad idea. Let us know what you find out and what you decide.

Wow. We sound alike height and weight. I'm 5'5 and 232. Seeing your results makes me so anxious to have my surgery. Although I have a few months I still can't wait. @goplay94124 thank you for posting your story. It gives me hope. You look amazing Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thought it was about time for an update! Long rant...Heads up! Completed ins requirements Dec 2014 & approved by ins the first week of January. Wooo hoooo! NOT! Surgeon changed hospitals so he is currently doing ZERO surgeries. My luck, right?! I waited and waited.. Now, 2.5 months after approval still no surgery. I went to another surgeon. Their office submitted all of my documents again under their name. Insurance cannot just change their info over to another DR.. They have to open an entirely new case. Its okay.. The first go around only took approx 3-4 days to get approved- cross your fingers that its the same this time too! In the mean time, I got started on buying Protein drinks. I tried some powder stuff. GROSS! I am sooooooo bad with textures of foods / drinks. I tried mixing it with greek yogurt. Nope. Gross. Tried super cold Water. Nope. Tastes like old milk-literally. Thats a sure way for me to lose weight though-- I will throw that crap up with a quickness. I did find Isopure through GNC. At our local store it was $5.50 per 20oz bottle (zero carbs, 40G protein) OR $40 a 12 pack. There are a few different flavors to choose from too. I poured half of the bottle into a water bottle and mixed it up. To me it tasted like kool-aid without sugar & super watered down. I can actually stomach it. I suggest trying a single bottle if you are afraid of spending $$ and not liking the product. I wasted $$ on powered stuff and I'm glad I found this Isopure stuff! Oh! I have also read a few posts lately about commodities (or lack of) and weight gain during supervised diet. Let me give you my advice as I should have listened to other people when they were telling me the same thing.. Every insurance is different. Call and speak to a rep from the insurance company. I found that sometimes they are very vague with requirements though. But your DR knows what will and will not work to get you approved (typically). My insurance normally denies people if they gain so much as 1/2 lb. HOWEVER, per somebody here's suggestion, I found a loop-hole. If your Dr documents a reason for a small gain you should be okay. For instance, I could not exercise at a normal rate for awhile due to my foot pain. Then my GYNO put me on the Depo Shot for my endometriosis. Gained weight then too. Documented. Then I had a hysterectomy and was out of commission for exercising all together. Documented. I gained 6lbs roughly during the 6 month period. Still approved.. But like I said I made sure the DR noted it all on the surgery paperwork. As far as commodities go... Some insurance companies have OTHER comorbs aside from sleep apnea, high bp, diabetes, high collest, etc. I fact, there could be as many as 30+ that could qualify you. I dont have ANY of those typical commodities. I was just pre-diabetic with a few other medical probs but not the typical that qualify for surgery. I only just recently ( after 1st ins approval ) was diagnosed with having edema. Aside from that, I am perfectly healthy for being so over weight. When I spoke to my ins company I specifically asked if those typical conditions were the ONLY ones they accepted and they said yes.. However, I did have those and still got approved. Anyway.................. Hope this has helped some of you!