Lapbandster

Its kind of like throwing up, except the foods have not gotten to your stomach yet so the vomit isn't acidic, just very gooey from the saliva

Wow everyone answered so eloquently and thouroughly, so i guess there's not much more for me to say! But, just remember, this is all part of the journey. Don't let the hiccups get you down, force them to bring you higher! You got this, girl!!

The first doctor that i met with to consult about the Lap Band with had a disgusting NP. She was just downright nasty and I knew that she'd be assisting with my fills/aftercare and runs the support groups. She immediately started criutisizing me for choosing the LB over gastric bypass because "it simply doesn't work" and "MOST patients come back crying begging for revision surgery" and "most foods can go down, like donuts which are filled with calories" (BTW, now that i am banded I wanna laugh at her. DONUTS are the one food that DOES give trouble because the dough can become very sticky and tough when mixed with saliva and can get stuck, but whatever). She was so nasty about the surgery that I just walked out and never returned. (BTW, the doctor is very nice, and supposedly has "hands of gold" when it comes to laporascopic surgeries, but I just really felt uncomfortable with his nurse practitioner especially since she's the one giving fills and running the support groups). The next doctor I saw ONLY does lapbands, and is a big believer in gastric banding over VSG and GB. He was the one who explained why there is so much negativity towards the lapband (which i posted above) I'm so glad I have a doctor that has faith in this surgery, but this experience has shown me that getting a second opinion REALLY is important. I am so great-full that my surgery is adjustable/reversible to accommodate me for the rest of my life

I remember being just as nervous before my first fill. but just take it slowly and tell your doc you wanna be conservative with the fills. Remember you can always be unfiilled if needed

I couldn't agree more!! Everyone has different experiences with WLS's and sometimes peoples bodies cannot tolerate it altogether. At least with LB its adjustable/reversable

Do you mean to say that you can eat cookies, cake, ice cream, and chips (slider foods) but you cannot eat cottage cheese, watery fruits (melons grapes etc.), soups, yogurts, cereal with milk, protein shakes, because they do not digest decently? Btw this post is not to sound critical, I just wanna understand why junk foods go down, but light healthy foods do not.

I will tell you why people are so negative about the lapband. Its because the doctor's themselves spew bitterness about LB 50% or more of a lapband surgeons practice is the followup care/fills/nutritional guidance/having a real relationship with patients. These appointments don't make the big bucks, its the surgeries that are the cash cows, so many surgeons will push patients to do gastric bypass or VSG because they do the surgery, make the cash and then never have to see the patient again. Doctor's don't all INTENTIONALLY mean to mislead patients, but when they know where they're bread is buttered they will surely steer you towards it. BTW, insurance pays 2.5 times the amount for VSG/GB than they pay for LB (not sure why) Not all surgeons are like this, but I have seen way to many surgeons on youtube spewing forth negative propaganda and falsities about the Lapband while glorifying all other WLS's I hope i'm wrong but I don't think I am

I'm so disappointed that i didnt reach my goal this month (wanted to be in onederland, but ended off the month being 201.6) Oh well, at least I did lose

Thanks Lisa for doing this!! Name, real or screen~ Lapbanster Goal weight for January 29th~ 190 Weight on January 1st~ 201.6 Age~ 23 Dietary goal for January~ To continue eating 5 small meals/day and keeping my carbs and calories low Exercise goal for January~ gym 3-4 times per week Personal goal for January~ Date banded~ 8/17/2012 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 43 lbs What is your favorite New Year Activity?~ Looking forward to vacation!!

This is an old post but very informative! Glad I stumbled upon it Thanks op!

I see nothing wrong with using this diet plan for a week or two to break out of a plateau, even if it is a "fad diet". But i totally hear where you're coming from!

I have lost weight doing this. day to day sometimes my weight fluctuates (sometimes by as much at 2 lbs!!!) but the overall trend is downward How do live your life on only 35g of carbs/day? lol In would go nuts doing that long term

Take teeeency bites I know it's tough but try your best to just concentrate on chewing. This is hard in the begining because were not used to it, but it gets easier over time Btw, how often do you get stuck? A few times a day? a few times a week?

I didn't ports can move deeper! I'm very worried that my port is starting to stick out.... Any way to get it deeper without having a trainer beat the crap out of me?

I don't think that I get tight after exercising, but then again I never really chow down after the gym... interesting thread!

Thanks for posting You're so brave for continuing with a good attitude despite your problems that you've went through much luck to you!!!!

Does anyone know, when chris says to eat 5 meals a day, can they be light snacks spaced out every 3 hours instead? (example: small light yogurt, light string cheese etc) Thanks in advance

YOU GO GIRL!!! You are so brave that you're able to b honest with yourself. Thats the #1 thing to do when trying to get back on track Thanks for posting this, it gives us all encouragement

Thanks for the update Jim! Glad things are goin well

I'm taking the target generic chewable once-a-day vitamins, but they're SO GROSS!! literally i gag from them I would take a swallow pill, but i noticed some brands are massive. Are there any brands that have not such humongous pills?

I agree with everyone's insights Just to add, I think its somewhat normal for your band to need tightening while you're in the losing stages (you lose fat around your esophagus too, so the band can feel looser). So either way, ask your doc and see if you need a fill. good luck!

wow I feel exactly the same way! I used to go shopping with my sisters and while they got cool clothes in normal stores/normal departments, I had to slink away to the large size departments. It used to suck big time having to be the only one unable to fit into normal sizes. Now I suddenly feel awkward and strangely out of place in the regular departments. (but that may also be because I barely fit into the normal size clothes, and i'm sort of teetering on the edge of both depts) Give it time girl! You'll stop feeling bizarre and you'l truly enjoy it!

Thanks everyone, I will measure exactly 8 ounces of food next meal and see how full I feel and for how long

Hey everyone! I was banded on August 17th and have lost about 40 lbs (I couldn't be happier!!) My first fill was a while ago and went smoothly, although no restriction was achieved My second fill was about 3 weeks ago and I don't think I have restriction yet, but I do rarely get stuck (Usually because I ate too fast. It's a learning process and I'm just trying to be patient with myself). My 2nd fill was extremely painful, although I have no idea why. I'm not the type of person who freaks out from needles or anything but this was insane! So now i'm a bit apprehensive of another fill 1) because i'm afraid of the pain 2) what if my stuck episodes are much worse/frequent?

like!!! Also, he mentions that its really easy to cook foods in bulk and then just store in a portion sized container. For me that's a great idea becuase otherwise i'm way to busy to cook healthy foods and i wind up eating awful things. Any ideas of whats a good low carb meal? I don't eat fish, but I have made grilled chicken breast and those sorts of things. I also cut up fruit (for high carb days) and have little packets of nuts prepared Any other ideas?