FLORIDAYS

As you may have seen Someone posted that to me today.... Stop preaching. I really thought about it and decided that if my preaching about.... be good to the band and it will be good to you....helps one person out... Its worth having someone tell me to stop preaching. So I am not stopping. I will shout it from the rooftops... I love my band and my band loves me because I treat it with respect and dedication... If it chooses to fail me down the road it won't be from my doing...and I will just deal with it when the time comes. In the meantime the band and my effort gave me a thin healthy outlook on life and I plan on singing it's praises forever....

I made my own and also bought a sodium free brand Cottage Inn...wasn't too bad

Best wishes for success in losing weight however you chose to do it.

I just had mine in dec... Originally I wasn't goig. To get implants but after careful discussions and thought I opted not to be a A cup and went for a full B. I am thrilled with the results. I have a thread posted In this section and also have pics on my gallery if you want to look. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/161780-tummy-tuck-and-breast-left-on-tuesday-1218/ Love love my new body and the extra skin on my arms and legs just doesn't look quite as bad anymore.

I was 50 when I was banded 2 yrs ago. I am 5'9" and I lost 220 lbs in 23 months. I am maintaining at 157 and would like to lose 10 more lbs so i have some wiggle room. I went from 77" hips to 37". Part of my plan was to visit my dr monthly. I stuck to 1000 calories a day and weighed, measured and tracked everything I put in my mouth. I had an average loss of 10 lbs per month. My decision to get the band over other WLS was because I didn't want my anatomy changed. That's not to say other types of WLS doesn't work... I just didn't feel it was the choice for me. So far I haven't had any issues I hear other discuss. I listen to my band and I don't test it's limits very often and so far it hasn't failed me.

My dr told me that as you lose the fat around the stomach decreases and loosens the band... So while you may have the same amount of fluid it's not enough the more you lose.

Pre op I was very restricted for me as I was allowed 5 Optifast shakes a day, sodium free broth, 2 popsicles and Water for 2 weeks. Post op was Clear Liquids the first week so lots of sodium free broth, apple juice (I diluted it w/ water) and water. The 2nd week I was allowed skim milk, creamy soups (pick out the veggies and meat or blend until smooth) , sodium free V-8 juice, yogurt w/ no fruit and 2 protien shakes a day. By the time I started mushies on week three I had been to the grocery store.

I was a major diet coke consumer... and no doubt addicted to the caffine. I had my last diet coke on the night before I started my pre op liquid. It was 4 days of headaches for me... but once day 5 rolled around I was fine and I find I do not miss it.. the caffine that is... I miss diet coke a whole lot!!!!

I agree completely.... I would just hope people identify this before they get banded.

I am embarking on my 3Rd year and I hope that I continue to stay in the green zone.... but appreciate the knowledge that things my change. You can bet I will be the first one at the Dr's office when and if they do!

I respect and agree with some of your comments but obviously I can only speak from what I know. Personally, I have proven over and over I cannot stay on track losing all the weight or even if after I lost the weight... so I turned to the band for a permanant solution. My point of the thread was that the band is ever present and if you listen to it and feed it accordingly it will not fail you. I am not a medical professional... just a person who isnt fat anymore because of my dedication to the band. As far as the one answer fits all syndrome... I actually believe it does. The band works. Its an individual's decision whether or not to work with it or not. Since we didnt get our heads banded.... people may need to address other issues about their eating habits but in theory it is my experience that the band does its job .... the question is are we willing to do ours?

Welcome. You will be banded on my birthday so that's some pretty good luck. Curious... You said you will be fasting... Are you only allowed to drink Water?

I read a lot of posts from people who say they got off track because of one reason or another... And I just want to say that you get off track for one reason and one reason only. You choose to. Now i am sure i will be called out for being insensative but i am as sympathetic as the next person for just cause......but I just do not get the mentality of getting off track because the dog dies, its raining, money is tight, your kids get sick or your job is stressful. I could list a hundred other reasons I have seen posted which covers just about every life situation. And you know what.... While it stinks and you may have got dealt a bad hand....it has nothing to do with your band. The only excuse I might think is valid is if there is a medical reason you shouldn't or cannot lose for a period of time...and even that is pretty rare I would think. The band is ever present. It is with you 24/7 to govern your eating. If fed properly it will help you lose weight. If not you will fail it. We are responsible for our own actions and believe me I was the queen of excuses why I chose not to lose weight.... Until I fully committed myself to my band. During my journey life got in the way all the time.... Adult daughter moved home with her newborn which created all kinds of stress in the home...we moved, we rented our other house, I worked 60 hrs a week in a high profile management capacity, my father in law had a heart attack, my 401k suffered, my hubby changed jobs, my other daughter moved back home after college, I hosted partied, baby showers, held my best friends hand while her mother suffered a long illness..... I think you get the point. It's just life. But never during that time did I ignore my band...and it didn't let me down. Please take my point in the spirit in which it's intended... If you want to lose weight you will. If you want to gain weight you will. If you want to maintain..... You will do that too....because its all about the choices you make. I wish you all success on your journeys!!!

Thank you very much

You can eat and drink before. Depending on your dr he may require liquids for 24 hrs. Mine does... A fill is a piece of cake...no worries...it doesn't hurt.

Someone to clean your house.

I have no idea how you would make that decision as my dr never asked me how much to put in.... He just seems to know. Maybe call you surgeon before you visit the local doc for advice.

My dr put me on Benefiber for the time I was on liquids which took care of the diarrhea...might be worth asking the dr about

Just stick to your guns and remember you catch more bees with honey.....

Always check with your dr. Mine allowed the required shakes, sodium free broth only if needed, 2 sugar free Popsicles and decaf coffee and tea. And of course water.

I used a whole wheat tortilla to make pizza....it was yummy

Ok I googled it and ....nope I don't have it. But I am sorry you do. I would ask you surgeon how this might affect your weight loss. Good luck with your journey.

I haven't a clue what pcos is.....off to google.

I read your post ...twice actually because I was trying to figure out where the band bashing was..... I still don't find it but no matter.... I wish you future success and and good results with your band.

Gotta love the green..... We all find it eventually with regular drs visits, sticking to our portion size and listening to our band. Congratulations!!!