FLORIDAYS

For me it was day five before I stopped the shakes and headaches......and somewhere along the line I lost my desire for food ..... Hang in there...it gets better. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!!!

I spent the entire winter holidays ...thanksgiving to new years on liquid. Between the pre and post op liquids. It was no fun but I dealt with it.... And today I am attending my 3 rd super bowl party since being banded 25 months ago ......221 lbs lighter in my size 6 jeans. Hang in there..Keep your eye on the prize!!!! It is so worth it!

I have not had that experience but I cannot imagine why it would not work for you. If you follow all the portion rules and track your calories.... It will work. No different than any other diet you have been on. I know no one likes the DIET word but in my opinion you must follow a stict food plan to see a loss during the losing stage. I ate 3 oz protien, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 c starch three times a day for a total of 1000 calories. Check with your dr to see what your calorie count needs to be. Best of luck to you.

Hello Nathan .... Since everyone has said everything I would have I will just add this... Testing your limits for food intake is about the silliest thing I have ever heard. You obviously have no regard for your health to try to cram down the buffet of chicken fingers and cheese balls you outlined. As for the Soups.... They are liquid and go right through the band so they aren't a good measurement of tolerance. Either you are serious about losiing weight or you aren't. If you are then stick to eating no more than a cup of food and bide your time until your dr feels its time for a fill. If you aren't not serious please consider getting the band removed because at the rate you are eating you will have all kinds of problems in the future.

i dontk ow what your drs take is nor what type of pre op diet you were on but The best thing to do now is re commit yourself... Or reconsider. There is no harm is putting it off a week. Make sure you are ready because if you cheat on the post op diet it can be harmful to your band nor will you have the loss you desire.

For me in the begining it was a wonderful source of motivation and place to ask the unkown as thats the biggest hurdle when getting started. I still enjoy hanging out here because it's a constant reminder of my band. There is no one in my everyday who understands what it's like to live with a band...except one friend who I don't see on a regular basis. It's a nice source of accountability for me and now I can help newbies stay motivated, provide my experiences and enjoy talkiing to veterans who "get it"...

i had my last meal before i started the pre op diet. Yes the 2 week liquid diet was hell...and that is putting it mildly... it was the hardest thing I have done... But I didn't cheat because i wanted a successfull surgery and couldn't be prouder. Nothing worth having is easy. If I couldn't stick to a lousy 2 week liquid diet I wouldn't have been committed enough to have the surgery and live with the band. I am not judging...just telling you my experience. Best of luck!

It will be the best money you ever spend. It was for me!!! Congratulations!!!

It's time to learn to become one with your band. it is possible learn to live with your band instead of fighting it. I hope you chose to get back to basics, count your calories and track your food. Get back to monthly visits with your dr. They have seen it all and are there to help you not judge...even tho it might feel like it. Only you can decide to use your band as an effective tool. It's not a "set it and forget it " mode during the losing stage. That happens when you are maintaining. Best of luck in your decision.

I had my gall bladder out years ago. The pain from lap band surgery doesn't come close!!!! Both were laparoscopic so I don't know why but with GB I was down for 3 weeks... With the band I never took a pain pill!! And I was 22 yrs younger for the GB surgery As for the drinking with meals... It's hard..very hard. You just get used to it. I know that's a lame answer but it's the truth.

My mom has been gone since 2009.... I miss her just as much as i did the fist year...just differently.....so I get that. If you want to name your band Mom then go for it. It's kinda like... You were carried by her for 9 months and now you are carrying her with you always. Nothing wrong with that. My band doesn't have a name but I do refer to it as my permanant reminder of a temporary feeling.

I can eat it...but I won't be happy about an hour afterwards... It just doesn't digest well for me. You will have to try it and find out what works for you. I do find that the thin crust workers better... And I avoid anything on it but cheese. That seems to stay put better for me.

So did I....when I saw it on the statement of services on my drs receipt...... I never thought of myself in those terms. That's what people who cannot get out of bed are....certainly not me. So It was a reality check but I was on the right track to a healthy life ...it's sad but I used to describe myself as having a few extra pounds...the only person I was kidding was myself. Now I say.. Well when I was fat I ....blah blah blah. It's like I finally admitted the truth to myself.

i bet it does.... Well I learned someing new... I had no idea. I do know that it's not Completly free as I had to deal with all of it in my mothers final years....

what's upsetting about a funnel cake? You should be so proud of yourself for opting not to eat it since there is something like 700 calories in a slice.... Depending of course on the size. After the losing stage you can have a few bites and you will be fine. I suppose you could even have a few bites during the losing stage as long as you track your calories and count it as part of your daily intake. Personally I think it's a big chunk of your food for the day and I wasn't willing to not lose that day for a piece of cake. But that's just me. Some people go about losing much more slowly so it's an individual choice. I just wanted to throw out this advice... Nothing tastes as good as thin feels

Not all people who smoke have problems with surgery. Not that it matters but I smoke lightly... Maybe a pack every few days and while my lapband doctor preferred that I quit I was honest with him that I could not quit eating and smoking in the same year. LOL. He made sure the anesthologist knew because of the oxygen flow issues. I didn't have any problem. Now my plastic surgeon was different story. in December I had to quit 2 weeks before tummy tuck surgery or he wouldn't do it. The morning of surgery and they did an oxygen test.... If I had been smoking i would have failed it. I am not a medical professional nor a advocate for smokers... I am just telling you my personal experience. Make sure you are honest with your dr as I know there are some out there that won't operate on a smoker. And that is their choice.

Personally I wouldnt wait 2 wks to see the dr and get his opinion....in Two weeks you could do some damage to your band if you are throwing up. I would the office and ask some questions. In the meantime If you think you are taking too big of a bite then you may be so try taking smaller bites and checking everything to the consistency of applesauce .... But still ck with the dr.

I try to always preface my posts with.... This is only my personal experience...seek your drs advice. Thanks for the reminder to continue doing so

It is hard.... The next few weeks will be a true display of will power and perserverience but nothing worth having is easy. I promise it gets easier after the 5th day..... It did for me anyway. Just keep busy doing non food related tasks. Congratulations on making this wonderful decision!

Sorry Hel.... I cannot offer first hand knowledge because I had my last period 2 days before surgery. However....from what I remember about periods when not banded.... Losing blood effects energy levels and during your TOM you need to get a little more rest then normal, eating healthy during that time also helps. Now that you are banded if you are tighter during TOM just adjust your foods accordingly...maybe stick with lighter options and smaller portions more times each day... I mean don't change the calories...just space it out differently to accommodate the band. Hope it helps

I would want to know.. But that's me. Some people can't handle the truth. If you think she can then go for it. If not....take separate cars.

I too used the obese word.. I apologize if you are offended. It wasnt the intent. I was using it in accordance with the BMI chart. Certainly Obese looks different on everyone. See the pic on my profile? The one in the black dress on my avatar.... It was taken the first weekend in April last year. I was 205 and considered obsese.... But i was wearing a size 14 which i was thrilled over. But i was still in the danger zone according to my dr So I continued losing and now I am 50 lbs less. I am at the higher end of the chart for a healthy weight.... In 3 lbs I will be over weight again. and am wearing a pair of size six jeans. My measurement are 34/ 28/ 37... Go figure.

Why settle for still being obese? I do not understand the logic? A healthy BMI for your height is 100 to 125 according to the chart... While that may see insurmountable now it wont as you lose......and the whole idea is to get healthy. My doctor asked me what my realistic goal was. I said 160. He said it would be at the higher end of the chart so he would like to see 150 but let's reassess when I get there. Well I got to 159 on my last visit in November and he told be he thought I was there!!! Healthy BMI and look fabulous. The funny things is.... Now I want to get to 150.... No I don't have an eating disorder... I just want to do it for my own personal satisfaction. I am maintaining at 157.... And just not trying very hard but some day I will get there. By the way I am 5'9" so there is a whole lot more of me than you thus the weight difference ]

Or you could be a self pay like so many of us and do whatever you like... It's a big chunk of change but so worth it in the long run. Most hospitals have interest free payment plans or you can look into medical credit loans which also are often low interest. Just curious...how does one yet Medicare before they are 65?

From what I understand it depends on your genes, weight, skin elasticity and luck! There was no exercise or cream that would have helped mine... I was overweight for most of my adult life, bore a child and lost 220 lbs. and the fact that i was overr 50 added to the orry state of affairs.. Even heavy I wasn't ever large chested...I was only a C cup because of the fat.... So I was doomed. In December I had the girls lifted and since after all the skin was removed I would have been left with an A cup I added the augmentation. The results are picture perfect and I don't regret it at all.