Gina Cherry

I'm looking into the lap band and love this forum! So my question is: Do I need a referral from my doctor to see a surgeon about the lap band or can I find one myself directly?
Thanks in advance for ANY advice!!

I agree we need to concentrate on the ealth benefitds of this surgery not the small risks involved aftrer all we took a risk with our lives eating our way to obesity.

I grill chicken breasts and pork chops, then cut into 3 ounce portions. I also steam fish and other seafoods & vegetables and do same. I found that steamed crab legs were easier to chew up than say shrimp or lobster meat. For say Breakfast I have mixed egg whites with 1/2 ground pork and 1/2 sausage and seasoned and cooked in a mini cupcake pan and have little meatballs for breakfast.
The bags I use in the food saver are the ones that you can make two bags each time.

PROS:
Live Longer
Live to see your kids grow up
You've tried every other diet or trick known to mankind and none work
Fit into a size 10 or less
Fit into an airplance seat without rubbing shoulders with your neighbor
Go up 10 flights of stairs without keeling over
Hookup with a hot guy
Participate in physical activities like softball, tennis, cycling, hiking, long walks on the beach(with a hot guy)
No longer be a slave to your food addictions
Find a life outside of your love for food
Come on this forum and advise others because you want to give back
Did I mention "Find a hot guy"
nuf said
tmf

I can't believe surgery day is here tomorrow. I just have this pit in my stomach that I can't get rid of. I keep looking at my list of pros and cons about the band:
Pros:
Feel better about self
Take off weight
Minimally invasive
Reversible
Ok for pregnancy
Live healthier lifestyle

Cons:
Worried-slippage, erosion
Surgery
Regurgitate food
Gain weight back

But, I just don't know if this is the right decision. Is that wrong so soon to surgery time tomorrow. I have so many doubts and have come this far. I didn't cheat once on my 2 week liquid diet. I don't know if I'm strong enough for this change. I just don't know. Pray for me.

Going to my first seminar this Thursday. I am ready but scared at the same time. Food security blanket and all that. Doesn't help that I am a professional chef also so I have questions of how this will affect me professionally also because there truly is nothing I would rather do than cook. But I hate crawling up my stairs after a rough day running all over hell and back from my feet hurting, not knowing if my knee ( which I have wrecked a few times falling at work places) will buckle on me, or if my back will go out from my degenerative disks. And I have just hit early thirties. I just want to get off the painkillers and stop being exhausted all the time even on my days off.

Thanks guys, it was a good seminar, though it was about all the weight loss surgeries, not just the band. The doctor didn't really go into too much about the band, the over view on would say. He is a sleeve fan but he did say that he recommends getting just the band if you want kids because of nutritional concerns for the baby with the others. Which is fine because that is what I wanted any ways. It was a "positive" seminar so not a lot of negatives were really discussed, and I think I was the only one there out of like 30 people taking notes about all this stuff.and only about 4 of us were asking questions. What is nice is that the Dr. Is admit about seeing his patients for the rest of their lives ( or having them see a surgeon that he refers when he tires) "we will track you down and do follow ups" so that is nice. And he said that if we start down this path that we would be doing a lot of talking to each other, and that should clear up any questions. So I made my PCP appointment for next week for my referral and my letter of recommendation but might have to wait until August to see the dr because he is taking July off. I am ready, scared..nervous, but very ready. I am tired of being in pain. I am 32 and I have told many people that if I was a horse they would have put me down a long time ago because of how much of a wreck I am with my knees and back.

Aging my surgery on June 20! Nervous and excited! Scared that I won't have enough will power to deal with the pain and getting hungry! But I'm sure I made the right decision and I'm sure God got my back!

I have been using food saver bags and creating my meals. They help a lot because they are measured and I can have different meals ready to go or freeze until I plan on those meals for the week. I had the procedure 3/27/12. I weighed 330 and down to 270 now. Lots still to go.

Do you have to do opti fast shakes, or can you choose another brand? I would ask if there is another option.
My doc had me do slim fasts and I just got the cans so it made it easy.
Sometimes if they suggest it is for ease, but sometimes they have backup brands...

Eas adkins advantage taste best

Hi my name is Gina I go to my first seminar this Thursday night.
I am very excited I have struggled with my weight for a long time. I am starting back on the Atkins diet today so when I go to the doctor on the 21st of June he will be happy with me . I am looking forward to this journey and a healthier life. I look forward to chatting with everybody