Leaderboard

It sounds as though you were not educated about how the band works prior to surgery. Having a band is not a magical cure for obesity. The band is a tool that you have to use to achieve success. It will not choose the correct foods for you, it will not stop you putting chocolate and other low nutrition, fattening foods in your mouth, it will not force you to exercise. You are the only person that can do those things. I think you need to go back to basics. Eat what you should be ating in the recommended amounts and move more than you are currently.Having your band tighter will not necessarily help. If it is too tight you gain weight and set yourself up for all sorts of complications.

Sounds like your wife isn't very supportive. This isn't something that will change, so you need to learn to manage with things as they are. Maybe one cupboard totally dedicated to junk so that you never have to open it. Otherwise, I don't know what to advise. If she's not on board, it makes it a lot harder, but not impossible.

Contact your insurance first and try to go through whatever hoops they are going to require of you. Insurance has gotten so much better about allowing weight loss surgery than when I went through 3 years ago... I had to do self pay.. ouch!~ but I dont regret it at all.. I figure I saved that much money in the food I was consuming without the band... I would also attend all your local seminars and see what doctor's group you like the best, look at their certificaiton and how long they have been practicing.. all that! Take the time to do your research before you jump in!

I also think that a smaller plate will stop u piling the food up, i was brought up to eat what i was given and still find it hard to leave food and stop eating all the food on it, so i made it easier on myself and made my meals smaller in the first place. It does help. I used a teaspoon to eat with after cutting up things like meat.. i tended to put more on my fork if i used one. Takes a good while to get rid of long entrenched habits like not wasting food

I liked it too! The only thing I didn't like was the fact you had to drink it lukewarm, no higher the 120-30 degrees. {basically lukewarm} I like my food hot for the most part, especially soups. The reason being for the low temp is due to weakening the protein. Like waterchik said, it saved me actually postop. I always put fresh chopped parsley in it to give it a little more taste.

I've had 3 babies. I don't care who sees my "business" as long as it doesn't involve me taking home anymore bundles of joy.

Check out my blog post today showing how even though I weighed the same a year ago, I have changed my shape (smaller!) due to all the toning and resistance training I've done. The comparison pic is here: http://lapbandgalsjourney.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-enjoy-sharing-sweaty-shoes-with.html

Nearly seven years for me with no major problems - my pouch has stretched out a very little bit which my doctor says is a fairly natural adaptation over time, but that if i respect my band it will serve me gor a long time to come. The scars do fade well but my port has always been visible. I had my band unfilled for most of last year and it was hrd work maintaining my weight. I dont think i would become obese again (with work) but maintaining a bmi of 20 wouldnt be easy. I have no plans to unfill -but i dont need to be tight to maintain either. I run about an hour a day and thats key. Personally, i wouldnt swap a bmi of 20 to settle for 32 or even 25, i love having gotten truly "thin"

So tomorrow is my big day. The in the liquid diet I've lost 4 pounds . Super excited n nervous ...but oh well. It's like a get a second chance at life ...I love it . Wish me well guys.

OMG...I can't believe that the doctor and hospital did not have you meet with one before your banding. I had to meet with the dietitician prior to being approved for the surgery. Shelly64 has shared some good advice, and is similar to what my doctor's office has told me. The day of my pre-op appointment, I had to attend a 2 hour nutrition education class. Points which were stressed included eating your 3 oz of Protein first, limit carbs to Fiber choices, and nothing to drink until 1 hour after you finish eating. Every bite should be chewed 20 times, and a meal should take at least 20 minutes to complete. If you don't get enough protein nutrition from your food, suppliment with Protein shakes. Protein is priority one. There are also some bariatric nutrition web sites, however I have found that they mostly are for the by-pass procedure patients, and they have different nutrition requirements. I am not an expert in the field, I'm just sharing some of the information I was taught in the class I attended at the hospital this week. Don't get discouraged...stay focused! Good luck!