PEvette

I teach 5th grade....ten year olds have no filter...I know someone will call me out on the first day of school....lol

I had a lapband for 7 years before revising to the sleeve this year.... What they dont tell you about the band is that there is a 40% success rate, and there are some foods you will be unable to eat anymore, doesn't matter how far out you are, if you eat them they will make you sick, and some of those foods are actually healthy for you... Once your doctor does your band, you are stuck getting fills and unfills, to find your sweet spot....my fills were covered unlimited for the first year....after the first year he charged me $150 per visit...that can add up... My cousin wanted the lapband and I begged and begged her not to do it, but she just couldn't get over having part of her stomach removed, so she went ahead and got it...and now she is living the life I warned her about... The lapband is the worst thing created, and eventually doctors are not going to do the procedure...well any doctor worth anything

My doctor here in Houston does spider procedure...dont know how much though...

or goto http://www.meetup.com and find a group in your area you can join....I'm a member of a Houston Area group for WLS people, we get together and talk, its great.....I'm a member of that group along with 18 other groups that do various activities around the city...the group I've been a member with the longest is my women's group...they have been so supportive and great! luv them!

I wished I'd done my pre-op diet for a month before the surgery....I did it for 3 weeks instead of the 2.... But wished I'd done it for a month...I know crazy, but I am hard on myself....

Its all depends on what you want...I had my lapband done at a surgical center as a day procedure...it was cheaper (I was self pay) and I slept in my own bed at the end of the day.... For my revision I had to pay for 2 nights in the hospital, actually all I needed was one, my surgoen was ready to release me the next day I was doing so good....but I stayed (I had to self pay again) and since I'd already wrote the check I was going to stay there....

I record my food in my fitness pal....I measure using my old weight watcher measuring spoons and measuring cups....and I bought a small digital "Biggest Loser" scale to measure meat and other stuff... Got my scale from Bed Bath and Beyond

I know the gas pains can be horrible and make you want to burp, but be very careful with that gum....

I dont think he will think you have cheated....some people lose more than others on the pre-op diet.... When I had WLS the first time around (I had lapband) I did two weeks of liquids, eventually doing only clears the last two days before surgery and only lost 5 pounds... This time around, I lost 15 pounds, go figure.... Just try not to eat too many popsciles for these last couple of days and follow the diet to the letter... You will do fine...

Hey, money is my motivator too...LOL COngrats on your loss...

I'm a 5th g rade teacher in Houston, Texas, I've told my boss and 2 close colleagues/friends....no one else knows....at the end of the school year I'd already lost 15 pounds...I had surgery on June 11th... My goal is to return 60 pounds lighter by the time we report back in August....I saw my boss last week (we live close to each other) and she was amazed on how different I look....I've really havent really been going places to be seen, alot of my friends haven't seen me yet, they know I've lost weight but I will start being seen soon....

I agree with OTR, check with your doctor...

I think food tolerations vary by person...no one really know what he or she can tolerate until you try it again after the procedure... We can tell you what we can or cannot tolerate, but that's us.... Like chocolate...I loved chocolate before the procedure...now, ugh, don't want it, have 10 chocolate pudding cups in my frig that hasnt been touched since June (I was sleeved June 11)

I refused to subject myself to pureeing meat...I just went without it until soft foods....

My district has a total exclusion on any WLS procedure....even going to see a WLS surgoen....so I was self-pay....$17,700 thankfuly my surgoen includes post op appts for the first year in that price...after next year $100 a visit

Well I started my pre op diet a week early...so instead of the typical 2 weeks, I was on it for 3 weeks....I did it because I'd started therapy and noticed that towards the end of the school year i'd started stress eating and gained 19 pounds since I saw my doc in Feb....I went to my last pre-op appt and he saw I'd gain, but I told him I was going to try to get it off before my date.... with the 3 week pre-op I managed to get 15 pounds off before the procedure....

Well my weigh in at 6wks is tomorrow...have to post again to let you know....so far 41 pounds...lost 15 on the pre-op diet

Try tofu dogs yall...you may think I'm crazy, but they are good...and a good source of protien...

Are you making sure that you are eating protien rich foods, like soft meats, cheeses, and eggs? One thing my NUT told me to buy was unflavored protien...I usually add it to some low fat pudding or yogurt and it turns my yogurt from being 13g of protien to 23 grams of protien.... It was a good investment....also I like Injury strawberry sorbet protien powder and if I see I'm not going to meet my Protein numbers (which is 60 too) I mix a scoop of that with 8oz of crystal light lemonade and have a 8oz strawberry lemonade drink that I really like... the lastest thing I have been experimenting with is with Jerky...I have to eat it slow of course (6 wks out) but I found one that's 80 cal and 14g of protien.... What Vitamin do you take?? I take the Celebrate chewables and like them....they are expensive, but I'm worth it!

They are located on the same floor they take you after surgery, I forgot, I think 5th floor...the nurses didnt come by to talk to you about them....both instructors visited me while I was there to talk to me about things to do when I got home, what to ask him, and wanted my email to send me a reminder about the meetings....they are fairly good number turn out....every month there's a topic this month was emotional eating, but I missed it....it was raining cats and dogs on that day and refuse to drive in the rain unless I have to...

I attended that class around the time the two of you were being sleeved, I think July 5th....I do attend the monthly support group mtgs at Park Plaza...maybe our paths will cross there...

aaww the time will fly by....

Most docs release you to normal activities at 6 wks out....but I would ask your doctor

Hot dogs are fine...she probably wants you to stay away from processed stuff (which hot dogs are) But I dont see anything wrong with you eating like tofu hot dogs or turkey franks (lower in fat)

you can click on my name and see my stats and my doctor...