justmermp

Hi John, I agree with the above poster. Research, research! Your doctor knows your history and struggle with losing/maintaining and he offered you a option. Now it's your turn to read and find out all you can about the lap band and see if it's the right thing for you. I, like many here could lose weight but ended up packing it and more pounds back on. Vicious cycle. I feel like my lap band is my lifesaver. I feel so much better and I know I have my tool to help me go forward for the rest of my life. Good luck with your decision John. If you have any other questions ask away. Everyone here is open and will give you their honest feelings or opinions. Good luck to you!

Thank you Cindy! I haven't learned all the slang here yet

:lol: Thats cute Erika!! Because I relate!! I'm so much more gassy after the lap band. I use Gas-X. Ususally 2 strips at a time.

Happy for you!! What does NSV stand for? LOL

Just wanted to share something I found while at my local Wal Mart Supercenter in the grocery section. They are called Grilled Essentials. Low calorie and low in fat. I absolutely love how easy these are to prepare! Just pop them in the microwave for 60 seconds and walla! They are fantastic. Flavorful and absolutely delicious. Garlic & Herb chicken Breast: Calories 120 per breast, 1.5 grams of fat, 19 grams of Protein Grilled Chicken Breast: Calories 120 per breast, 2 grams of fat, 19 grams of protein Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast: Calories 120 per breast, 2 grams of fat, 19 grams of protein Italian Style Chicken Breast: Calories 120 per breast, 1.5 grams of fat, 19 grams of protein I am in no way affiliated with Hillshire Farm or Wal Mart. I'm just a banded individual that thinks she found something super awesome and wanted to share with her banded friends.

Really? Wow, whats it called. I know what you mean about the 'from scratch' thing. It is healthier and less sodium for sure but I just can't cook every night and I don't have to (no kids and hubby is easy) so these work great for me. I would like to hear more about that chocolate peanut butter!!

I read these post here yesterday and commented myself about how no one at work had really said anything about my weight loss. Today I wore something a size smaller (pants and top) and my boss said 'wow, you're really slimming down' and then one of the men in the office said 'your hair looks really nice' I said thank you and he then replied 'as a matter of fact you are glowing, whats going on with you?". So I told him I have lost 67 pounds and he said he had noticed but was afraid to say anything. So, I guess some of you previous poster are correct. Some people, for whatever reason are afraid to say anything. I don't like a lot of attention on me but it's nice to hear this because it shows me other poeple are noticing my weight loss. It's encouraging to me. What a good day today is!!

I was 366 pounds when I got started. My doctor told me to stick to 1200 calories a day. I try not to go over 1000 and usually I am under that. I eat chicken at least 4 days a week and occassionally I will have a turkey burger and fish (usually shrimp or crab). The rest that I eat are veggies, lots of salads and fruit. I track my calorie intake at www.myfitnesspal.com (it's free) and I excercise 5 days a week. Every 2 weeks my husband and I have a cheat night and we will go out and have dinner and I eat whatever I want. Usually I stick to healthy but I have been known to eat a Taco salad and Double Decker taco from Taco Bell.

Here's another one to share. They aren't that new but these are great. I used them for wraps but I have seen people make pizzas out of them. They are called Flatout. I add a tablespoon of mayo, mustard, lunch meat, lettuce, onions and tomato and have a 270 calorie meal. They come in several flavors. I found these in my deli at the grocery store (Krogers).

I love these! I use Isotonix OPC-3, Multi Vitamin w Iron, Vitamin D with K (im deficient in D) and Vitamin B - I'm not good with pills so these are perfect for me.

Me too!!

So very true!!

Not sure where they will be at your local store but they were near the lunch meat at my store

Wendell, first let me thank you for your post. I was going in for fill after fill thinking am I the abnormal one. Your post helped me better understand the process. Since being a member here I have shared your post here with several people. Some personal friends who have the band and here in the forum in different areas. Always a link to revert back to your original post. Thank you very, very much!

This is cute and y'all have come up with some good names. I'm going to have to ponder this one. Maybe Portland

Hello neighbor!! I live in the DFW area. I was banded 7/26/2011 and don't notice anything. During my surgery I had a pretty bad hiatal hernia that he reparied and at the time I thought the pain I was experiencing was from the lap band being too tight but it was actually the hernia repair. The only thing I notice now is the port. Who's doing your surgery if you don't mind my asking?

My comeback would be. "Has that worked for me before? Did I keep it off? (no and no). I need help, I can't do it alone and this is a good tool to help me."

You made me laugh I was on a liquid diet 7 days before my surgery and I remember the day before the surgery I was sucking on lays potato chips and spitting them out. I only did it on 3-4 chips but damn it was good!! I told my surgeon the next day and he said "I don't want to hear this". He was cool about it. Anyway, yes, you probably will be hungry after surgery. I wasn't until I got to the mushies stages. Thats when the mental strain came to me. But, I pulled through (you will too) and it prepared my tummy for less food. (stomach shrink?). Just try to do something else or think of something else. Good luck!!

I know what you mean. I have dropped 67 pounds and my husband has noticed and commented. He even keeps a little dry erase board on the fridge and leaves me cute, sweet and funny messages on it about how impressed he is with my progress. His parents even comment on it saying how much they can tell I have lost. No one at work has said a word. On lady said to me "what is different about you, did you get your haircut"? Hopefully they will say something because the more praise I get the more it motivates me.

Is anyone else concerned with the 500 to 700 calories a day? Seems awful low to me. I was told 1200 but I try to stay under 1000 each day.

This is so very true. The time I was at home recooperating was really a brain trip (for lack of a better description). I had heard people say hunger 'was all in your mind' but while recouperating I really noticed ALOT of it is. You have to train yourself to think positive so if you get hungry get your mind off it by doing something else, thinking of something else. Yes, I know there will still be times you can't stand it and need to it. When you are able to and if you like it, eat salad. Anytime I get hungry I chop up some lettuce, onion and a bit of tomato and salt and pepper it and thats my snack. Also, I go for a walk which seems to make me feel full. I hop on the treadmill for as long as I can and it takes my mind off it and makes my tummy fill full.

I barely remember the one in the hospital. All I remember is being in pain and they made me get up and walk to the room where that was done and I still felt so out of it. I didn't get to see anything....just wanted to get back in bed. Wish I could get one though. I hear everyone say how cool they are

Here's my info: Surgery Date: July 26, 2011 (received a small fill) 1st fill - 4 weeks later - no restriction 2nd fill - 3 weeks later - no restriction 3rd fill - 2 weeks later - still no restriction (I think I'm at 5 cc's) Next Fill 10/26 (4 weeks later) - feeling a bit restricted. Think I may be close to the green zone As you can see, I went 4 weeks, 3 weeks, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. I go back in 6 weeks next time and hopefully I will be in the green zone! I'm sure all doctors are different though

Hi Steph. I've have had the same thoughts here. My goal is to lose 216 pounds so you see, I have alot, alot to lose. This is my journey, that I guide and I'm going to do it. Just have a positive attitude that you can do it and you WILL do it. It's not Impossible, it's Ispossible!!

This is great Lizzy! Wish I had a friend like you when I was banded. I also use myfitnesspal.com - A VERY useful tool to help me along the way. Holds me accountable!!