Corrigan

Just Because a clinic is in Beverly Hills doesn't mean that it is reputable. There is a clinic there that has had 2 deaths and many botched WLS. I went to Cedar-Sinai which is one of the best, also in Beverly Hills, so location doesn't mean much. The American College of Surgeons has a web site with a locator that gives the location of all the ACS Bariatric Centers of Excellence in California. I'd use that as a guide. There are other accrediting bodies that call themselves CoEs, but don't seem to have as high standards. I hope you find a good surgeon, do a lot of research, it pays.

Good for you, we're getting there!

Girls used to put adhesive tape on the back of the ring, if that's too simple, most jewelry stores sell sizing devices that fit inside a ring to make it smaller.

To tell you the truth I think, with all the knowledge I've gained over the past 3 months, I could easily lose 60 lbs or more. I've done it several times in my life. The only problem is that slowly, but surely It'd just creep back on when I wasn't looking. That's where the band comes in. By itself, it won't take off a pound, that's up to you. This is not much easier to lose than any good diet, the only advantage you have now, is that the band helps keep it off. I haven't had a fill yet, the band has reduced my hunger to a very manageable state. That's what it does. Some people have fills so they can only eat a small amount and some have a reduced level of hunger. Without the band, I'd still have diabetes (my A1C was 6.1 yesterday) for a 20 year diabetic, that's remarkable. Weight loss aside, the health benefits make the band worth it. Don't let anyone talk you out of it if you really want it. They'll come around when they see the new you w/o many health problems you had or may have had in the future. Best of luck.

Lots of chicken breasts, ground turkey (for chili), EarthSmart margarine, Cream of Wheat, 5 min oatmeal, yogurt, Wheat bread (toast it) eggs. Look in the food section on this site for a lot of good ideas. Check Google for WLS recipies. Don't forget low fat cottage cheese, great source of protein.

It sounds like you're doing great. Walk a lot and don't forget your 64oz a day. Nothing over 10 lbs for at least two weeks. Enjoy your diet.

Jean, I use an immersion Blender by Braun. We've had it for years. It's perfect for making mushies and mixing protein shakes. It works like a blender, but is really easy to clean. They're on ebay for $20. Mushies were suppose to go through a straw, but I haven't seen that discussed in quite a while. I still think it's not a bad idea, it gives your surgery time to heal. There are a bunch of good ideas on this site, try Google, there are a lot of sites dedicated to WLS foods.

There are slim differences between them. I asked a doctor that taught WLS, and he said "flip a coin, there is no practical difference". The Reliant band has two thicknesses of ports and that is only important if a person has their fat under the abdominal muscle instead of above. Most people let the doctor make the decision based on their experience.

Take a pair of PJs or sweat pants and good luck.

There is a test developed by a doctor that uses cottage cheese and water, to measure the volume of your pouch, but the chances of you actually stretching it are very slim. If it's a real concern for you, see your doctor. Actually the stomach wall is pretty tough and I don't know how you would go about stretching it. With the band surgery, that is probably the least of your worries. Following you surgical team's instructions will be your most important job, and it's not as easy as it sounds for most people. You'll need a lot of will power and sticktoitness. Some folks don't have any problems and let's hope you don't.

Jamie, put you feet up, get your ipod, watch TV, read a book, but just give yourself time to heal. You just had major surgery, you're not supposed to lift more than 10 lbs for 6 weeks. OK, so maybe that's not possible, but still, take it easy. Any house cleaning will still be there next week. You can take liquid Tylenol if the hydrocodone doesn't work, drink lots of tea and sip, don't gulp water. It's really important to get as much water down as possible, up to 64 oz and everything counts, even the water in yogurt. Take it easy, don't stress over small stuff, a little depression is normal, and be sure to take a bunch of time for yourself. The pain is normal, most people go through it. Try to keep your attitude positive and I'll guarantee you'll be over this part in just a few weeks.

Jamie, put you feet up, get your ipod, watch TV, read a book, but just give yourself time to heal. You just had major surgery, you're not supposed to lift more than 10 lbs for 6 weeks. OK, so maybe that's not possible, but still, take it easy. Any house cleaning will still be there next week. You can take liquid Tylenol if the hydrocodone doesn't work, drink lots of tea and sip, don't gulp water. It's really important to get as much water down as possible, up to 64 oz and everything counts, even the water in yogurt. Take it easy, don't stress over small stuff, a little depression is normal, and be sure to take a bunch of time for yourself. All the pain is normal, most people go through it. I hate this editor!! See below!

It's probably just muscle pain, but keep a close eye on it and if it gets much worse, follow your surgeons instructions. It's fairly common and usually not a problem.

I spoke to a registered dietitian yesterday and she said the starvation mode is exaggerated. It does happen, but only briefly, think of the WWII prisoners. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you'll begin to burn fat, and if you eat more calories than you burn you'll add fat. There's a lot more to it than that, but that's it simplified. Normally the fewer calories you eat, the more weight you lose. We want that weight to be fat, not muscle, so try not to lose more than 2 to3 pounds a week. That will go up and down with glycogen supplies, but that's another story. Probably the most important thing is to make sure what you do eat makes up a balanced diet. You could probably eat an extra piece of wheat bread a day, without hurting your weight loss, but it sounds like you're doing great.

Way to go, Rosy. We love to hear these success stories.

Welcome Karie, come back often. It took me about two months from consultation to surgery, mostly due to insurance requirements.

I went to Cedars-Sinai and they have a similar program. The whole process is governed by your insurance co. Mine was CHP Blue cross and it took about 2 months from seminar to surgery. From your initial consult to seminar will depend on when they have one scheduled.

It's a simple procedure and you may not notice a thing. Restriction for some doesn't come for a few fills. Everyone seems different. I'm one of the fortunate ones that haven't had a fill and still have little hunger. You may be too.

In a few weeks, you'll be able to eat almost everything. This will be your real test. Until you start getting fills, your hunger may run rampant. some people have a hard time with it, some not. I hope you get lucky with it.

Most people who have that type of pain think it's muscle pain, but if it's severe and she's really worried, give her doctor a call, just to be sure.

Your object is to lose weight. There are always going to be temptations everywhere. this is the hard part, it takes time, but someday in the far, far future, you'll be able to look a pizza straight in the eye and not even be tempted. I know it seems impossible, but it will happen. In the meantime you are going to have to grit your teeth and just work yourself through it. We (my wife and I) seem to be food hoarders, we have two freezers, a large pantry and a triple door refrigerator, all full-- for two people! We can eat for years on what we have, but I just ignore it and drink my little shake and try not to think about the good 'ol days. Right now, I dwell on the diabetes i've beat, and the sleep apnea I used to have and all the clothes I've given to Goodwill, and the newfound energy I have and figure maybe it wasn't such a bad trade, after all. I hope you get to this point, too.

It'll probably be a few weeks before it's comfortable. You need to heal a bit before you begin to put much pressure on your port site. You might be able to put enough pillows around to be almost able to sleep on your stomach, but be careful.

I'm happy you found a surgeon you're happy with. Your band will probably be empty when you're discharged. Some surgeons put enough saline in to check everything, but then remove it so you can heal normally. Best of luck.

Walmart sells tubes of protien liquid, called,oddly enough, Protein shots that give you about 1/2 daily amount of protein. They also sell bars w/ 8-10 grams. you can go to any health food store and find quick protein sources.

How nice to hear from someone without any complaints! I wish you all the success you can have. Good surgeons and a proper attitude make all the difference.