B-52

Back on point about Insurance issues....people should be aware of another fact, something that Insurance companies, and notably medicare pulls all the time.... They will say they will approve and cover a procedure...Obamacare boasts about this all the time, a big selling point......BUT actually paying or covering the cost is another thing entirely.... I see it everyday...patients happy that they wee told their insurance will cover/approve something, but the fine print states there is no guarantee they will cover the cost... Medicare will cover all sorts of things, but only pay for the absolute lowest rock bottom, cheapest, inexpensive, a Chinese knock offs (ie; pacemakers, artificial knees, hips) that they can find.... Just be aware...we shall see...

Yes, and No....depends upon many things...but is very risky...especially for those just starting out..there are more important things to learn before experimenting with carbonated drinks... I drink beer, 2-3 times a week, and sometimes 2-3 in a row...and I have my Dr.'s approval...but I have been banded almost 3 years now and learned a thing or two... When I spoke with my Dr. about this he asked me some pointed questions to be sure I was not being reckless and irresponsible... and paying attention to the things I have learned about co-existing with the band......

As our bands get tighter, carbonated drinks, such as Beer becomes a greater risk...so be careful of that as your band is prone to be irritated, swollen from surgery still....you have to learn to "Listen" to you band with all things consumed... Have you had the surgery yet???? Two months, let alone 2 weeks after surgery I was nervous about doing anything risky....it was only after being a veteran and knowing my band on speaking terms that I can do certain things.... Alcohol can really irritate the band in a big way, I have found from experience...causing reflux at times, a true sign of irritation...I tend not to drink anything too harsh, and rarely straight....But I am also at the point that with anything I swallow, I get a certain feedback from the band and I know immediately to slow it down, and/or put it down entirely...

Not saying what is right, but speaking for myself....when I was working to get that Green Zone, I got stuck and PB'ing more times than I can remember.....it was trial and error for me untill I got it through my thick head exactly what I could and could not, and how to do it....everything had to change! Again, speaking for myself, if I ran back to the Dr after one stuck episode, this whole thing would have been a big waste of time and I would have never reached my goal... BTW, once I learned my lessons, everything became very easy and simple....I have not been stuck in over 2 years now, knowing how to live this new lifestyle. Again, it's your band and your life....work it the way it works for you the best!

Curious....did you have any similar problems prior to Lap Band Surgery???

Here's a different NSV for you.... About 7-10 yeas ago I attended a seminar for Lasik Refractive Eye Surgery....after which I went through the pre-op testing to see if I was a candidate or not.... I was considered to be a candidate, but was talked out of it by the surgeons because I was a out of control diabetic, taking both daily injections and oral meds.....and all of the vision problems associated with diabetics was explained to me, and was told they were all coming my way....making the Lasik Surgery a waste of time and money.... Fast forward...I have lost ALL my excess weight and body fat%....my Diabetes has been totally reversed for 2 years now, no longer taking any med's....as are all my other past medical issues...(co-morbidities) I completed all of the pre-op testing yesterday, Phase 1,which took about a weeek.... and have entered Phase 2 this morning which is the 30 day pre-op protocol I need to follow....within these 30 days, a surgery date will be set... Making it no longer a need for Rx eye glasses or contacts!!! So, along with my new body I am now getting new "Eyes" I wish I had this weight loss surgery a long time ago...it has changed so many things in my life...this is yet another one added to my list!! I am almost 62 years old....going on 40 !!!

I have told no one about my surgery, other than the closest people in my life....at first it was awkward because everyone gave compliments and wanted to know how I was doing it....I simply said I don't eat nearly as much as I used to, gave up certain foods and food types entirely, focus on Protein and drink plenty of Water, and go to the gym everyday....all of which is true!!!! Only thing I held back is I used to be incapable of such a lifestyle and it is the band that now forces me to adhere to it now, without a struggle...making it easy and effortless.... That was over 2-1/2 years ago, coming up on 3......now, people who knew me before my surgery take it for granted I have always been skinny and fit...all of this is old news and I am accepted for what I am now....new people I have met over the last few years never knew I was ever fat in the first place...... So I do not have to explain myself to anyone, anymore....I guess that is the ultimate NSV....a successful journey....

That is but one of the things I experience everyday....no matter what is offered, and no matter how much I put on my plate....I can only eat so much and I have to stop... One of the attributes is "Good Portion Control" and that is what I get...because of this, I stopped counting calories as well as portion sizes...since I know my intake is going to be limited, all I need to do is choose to eat smart...make good choices...if I started with the mashed potatoes for instance, 3-4 swallows and I would be finished with my entire meal, never getting to the important stuff...so I always start with the good high Protein foods, then not really get the chance for the bad... Also, as you said, I don't mind or miss not being able to "Over eat" because I'm not feeling hungry or have any food cravings to begin with....another attribute of the Green Zone - no hunger. When you've got these things working for you, then the weight stat to melt away naturally....sprinkle in some exercise and burn away that stored fat deposits and tone up the skin/body..... Also, these things can come and go, but once you know what it is like then the chore is to get back to that magical place...I use different little maintenance techniques to maintain it, not requiring any more fills.... Does not get any better than that!!!!

People should read this NBC News report to get an idea where this is heading....very scary. / http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/28/21213547-obama-admin-knew-millions-could-not-keep-their-health-insurance?lite

All we can do is wait and see....but one thing is happening, people are starting to see what others have been saying all along....

My intent was and is not to debate whether the plan has merit or not....simply to inform people that your insurance WILL be changing, if it will be good or bad remains to be seen..... But as it is going, only the wealthy and those lawmakers who gave themselves an exemption, will be able to afford standard traditional health insurance....

In my profession, we rely on billing people's health insurance for services..... The word going around the last few days is that 50% of all Americans will loose their present health insurance coverage within the upcoming year......the number can go as high as 80% Primary reason is that the Federal Government has mandated that all Insurance companies must meet new federal mandates,,,,financially, the Insurance companies cannot meet all these mandate and stay in business....without raising premiums way through the roof....they will simply stop underwriting policies leaving people with no option other than sign up for the federal program... What bothers me is that when all this was being debated, people were told they would be able to keep their present Dr.'s and Insurance policies....unless congress makes some changes, that is not going to happen.....

I can't stand any of the ready made brands...I make my own with the ingredients I choose to make it delicious and enjoyable... It's 4am, and I'm having my breakfast drink right now before I head out to the gym....made from fresh Mango, Orange, banana and apple...blended with whey and soy milk...about 30-35 grams of protein....not to mention the Vitamins A, C, E and potassium... Have no idea of calories, I stopped obsessing about them....

Not sure how a fill will make you feel better...my health and overall general feeling did not occur until the weight started to come off....and for me that did not begin to happen until 2-3 months after surgery....

I have a problem eating ground beef....Dr. says that is very common....things like ground turkey, tofu, etc...may be an excellent alternative to red meat for nutritional value, but they go to great lengths to make it the same consistency as ground beef...therefore keeping it difficult for me to swallow. It's not What something is, but texture, fiber it is that matters with me and my band....

Your band moved? Or your port moved making it hard to get a fill....I read may posts about ports flipping, etc...don't understand how it happens but evidently it does.

PLEASE do not do anything because of me....one of my pet peeves is people on this forum telling other people what they should or should not do...and there are plenty of the pseudo experts to go around....first and foremost all is between you and your Dr..... Everyone else should simply shre their own experiences.

I start my day with a smoothie made in the blender = 35-40gms of protein... Then there's chicken/turkey, fish, tofu, cheese, beans..etc, etc...sometimes yogurt but I tend to avoid too much dairy products...cheese is enough. Can also have a protein snack - met-rx chocolate bars for example...there is plenty of things out there high in protein...

In the beginning, I had no choice but to follow a standard diet plan....count calories, measure portions, just as I did before the surgery....because the band was simply installed...not doing anything for me, yet. As the band gets adjusted, (along with adjusting my own psychie) the band then began to take control and then I had to determine for myself what is tolerable or not to eat..... Once that happened...Green Zone....and portions were controlled and held to a minimum automatically, and my eating has become so little per day, it was my best interest to choose the healthiest foods I can, not wasting the limited food intake on garbage.... Also, when that phase began, I totally stopped worrying about calories...other than what I burned at the gym...and concentrated on nutritious foods.... Some people do not like the term "Deprivation"...to me, it has everything to do with being deprived. It's funny, all of the foods my band deprives me of, are not all that good for me in the first place...so why force it.... I used to eat an entire large pizza all by myself, with numerous toppings, every friday night...used to have a salad along with it to say I was eating healthy...and wash it all down with a beer or two....NOW, the band deprives me of doing such things...overeating, setting portion sizes and eliminating certain troublesome foods...so I can no longer get through a single slice....so I gave up pizza altogether....I've been deprived...too bad? The band has Deprived me of doing many other stupid things I used to do.... Could eat a dozen do-nuts - now cannot eat 2 bites = deprivation Entire box of Cookies - now 2-3 and I'm done! = deprivation Entire container of ice cream - now, a scoop, maybe 2 = deprivation ( and this is a slider?) Anything in the house in the way of food was not safe, I would finish it off.... The list goes on and on...that is what the band has done for me....taken away all the bad habits, overeating of the bad foods, and FORCED me to eat less, a LOT less, and to eat healthy....add to that the fact my hunger is held in check 24 hours a day, and I add exercise on top of it to burn stored fat/calories, and you have my recipe for success. You can also see why I will not call my band a tool....I have no control over it or my weight loss, I have been surgically altered...only control I have is to determine to get a fill or some taken out....but even then I have to convince my Dr...and once he talked me out of getting Fluid taken out...thank God he did or I would have regretted it... Oh well, it's 5 am...off to the gym....

Had my protein smoothie after my morning workout, for breakfast.... Around lunch I grazed on tuna salad with crackers, some cheese, olives peppers tomatoes etc. with garlic in olive oil, while watching College football on TV...later had a beer. We went out to dinner...Carrabba's...had 2 bloody mary's, picked at my wife's appetizer, then had the wood fired grilled shrimp and scallops coated with olive oil and bread crumbs....Spiedino Di Mare did not finish it, brought 1/2 of it home....

For me....I have no interest in food, and no interest in eating most of the time...in other words, no hunger...I know may people say no hunger between meals, but remember the band is adjustable and no 2 people are the same....so for everyone it is their choice... Also, I can eat just so much, then I have to stop....making my portion sizes automatically set...AND making it impossible to over eat.... When I have those 2 things going for me, then I have good steady weight loss, which equals complete patient satisfaction.... It was hard work for me to get to that perfect balancing point, took a good 4-6 months after surgery with aggressive fills....there were a few times I wanted to give up and go and get some Fluid taken out to make things easier...but in my case, I'm glad I did not because things did settle down and I found that "Groove" I believe many people choose not to pursue it but fall short..which is OK because that is one of the good things about this surgery is YOU finding YOUR comfort level...and where YOU choose to be is not right or wrong, and should not be considered the ONLY avenue as some here believe...(Their way is the only way) But once I did get through that difficult struggling period (Bandster hell)...it has been all an effortless coasting downhill ever since!!! Another perk I enjoy being in the Green Zone....for over 2 years now, consistently with no problems what so ever... But again, it is important to know that everyone is different....there is no right or wrong, just examples of how everyone has found their success and happiness.....or lack thereof...and it is up to you and your Dr. how you want to proceed wit tis journey...no one Else's.

That is EXACTLY what the band has done for me...it has changed everything there is wen it comes to eating.... NO Hunger...no interest in food, no cravings, tastes for foods have changed 180 degrees...many foods do not appeal to me anymore. SMALL portions....cannot overeat - impossible...can only eat so much and then I am done.... NO Fear of ever gaining weight or being fat again...I hear many people say this, but for now, I cannot imagine how that can happen to me as long as the band is there doing it's job...if I am never hungry, and it is impossible to over eat??? STEADY Weight loss....with very little struggle...easiest thing I have ever done...if you read the above, what is so hard??? FREEDOM from Diets, Counting Calories, etc, etc...This is a new lifestyle...NOT another diet! I eat very little, and very seldom...all I need to do is make wise intelligent food choices and I'm set. Speaking for myself, I refuse to call the band a tool....a tool is something I Use...like a hammer, I am in control and can choose when to use it or not at all.. if I had that type of control, I would have failed at this a long time ago.... In my case, I want and HAVE the band to be in complete control of me...making it impossible for me to ever cheat, and ultimately fail.... Having said all that, I have lost all the possible excess weight that is healthy to loose...eating "Normally" again, my body simply and gradually returned to a a healthy state of balance, weight and fat%...and as long as the band is in control..(not me)..I will continue to live a effortless life style having created new habits where i do not even have to remind myself anymore of what is needed to be done. This is obviously not the way everyone follows the band...it IS ADJUSTABLE enabling it to suit the path you choose to follow with it. There is no right or wrong.....it is how YOU choose to live with it along with you Dr.'s guidance for your success, and no one Else's...that is what it is all about after all...your decision and your health/weight loss.... For me..it IS a Miracle Device! Nothing could have been better or easier...granted, I could have the band adjusted differently, changing the ground rules for me...but I am extremely happy with this point of perfect balance....and when people say it is difficult...it is difficult for them..and should not say it has to be difficult for everybody! So much for my rant, off to the gym at 5am....

I have a machine capable of making juices...and I do occasionally have one made fresh at the juice bar at my health club...my son buys all the ingrediants and makes a juice every day with my machine.... My problem is this...since being banded, my focus is always on Protein....protein, protein protein....every restaurant, menu, etc, I'm always focused on it... I Don't see it it with juicing....tell me a recipe that will give me 35gm as I get with a smoothie and I will be converted because I love the thought of a nutritional home made juice.....as a possible Meal Replacement, it has to have high protein....otherwise my body would waste away.... As far as juice being slider, I don't have that problem because my hunger is under control whether I eat or not...the band is always there, so my hunger is also under control, and the magic is there 24 hrs a day.......and because my hunger / appetite is always checked, I stopped worrying about calories or carbs a long time ago.... I do need to stay away from fatty foods because of my history with clogged arteries and subsequent heart surgery. I have lost all the excess weight my body has to give up, with very little body fat% left....without protein, bad things would start to happen. A TRUE starvation mode...not the pseudo one newbies fear all the time....So it is even more important to me now than ever before.

I no longer have sugar cravings anymore since being banded....but sometimes I;ll eat a hershey's bar or whatever....and I have ice cream often... I don't sweat the small stuff, or worry about the calories, I'm no longer dieting........I look at the big picture...what did I eat the entire day, as compared to what I USED to eat in a entire day....and the answer is VERY LITTLE.... Those days lead to weeks, that lead to months, and eventually leads to a lifetime...a new lifestyle with a new way of eating, and less of it....never having to worry about dieting or gaining weight again. At least that's my story and experience....many others have a different approach....as long as you're successful, what does it matter.

Sounds familiar....after a few times trying to eat one, and after a few times getting stuck trying, the urge - craving totally goes away for the rest of your life!!! there are dozen's of things that no longer tempt, or appeal to e anymore for just that reason. Cupcakes, do-nuts, pastries, bagels, muffins, cake..anything made from from flour/dough...including pizza crust. Love the band...and the behavior modification it brings....