Mandy.S

I know you already have the band but sounds like you need to go back and research about how and why and when the band is effective .why would you think the weight would just fall off with out changing your eating habits?!? Did a Doctor say this ?!?
Sounds like you are in "bandster hell" and people can be here for 6-9 months until they reach their " green zone" if you don't know these two terms start your research there.
Also 6 weeks is still healing phase.if no body told you let me be the first.This is a long process,it is not magic, you have to work at it.this is a tool to help you but u have to do your part.
If u eat the right things the band should help u eat less.
Most bad stuff goes right through the band and the band can't help.
Band rules
My advice would be to make sure you follow the basic band rules.
1.no more than 1 cup of food
2. Protein FIRST then veggie then carb if there is room.
3.no drinking with meals.
4. Small bites chew chew chew
5. 30 min or less to eat.what ever is left after 30 min.stays on the plate
Good luck to you !!:-)

Love it! Just add a splash of color with jewelry & shoes and you're good!

Check out Spark People.....I know you can customize & print off weekly meal plans.< /p>

I'm 4.5 yrs post LB ---I'm a lot older than you --- and I'm a researcher so I can answer your question about 5 and 10 yrs from now.
Mis 73 is right --- lots of success on this board. The other place you should look for outcomes is on Pub Med where you will find the medical research abstracts of all the published studied on obesity and weight loss methods. WLS is the only method with long-term success. It is possible that within 10 yrs -- they will discover another WL method that works as well as WLS but there is no guarantee of that. In addtion, I'd be very worried about any medication method they might find because they often find very serious medical problems with WL medications. According to the reserach, If you get the WLS and follow all the post-op instructions -- you will lose a lot of weight and you are likley to keep at least a large percentage of whatever you lose off. You will feel better both physically and mentally. You will do better in work and in relationships. You will reverse most, or all, of any developing medical problems. If you don't get the surg, it is very likely that you will be considerably heavier than you are now in 10 yrs. It is likely that you will be on medications for weight-related problems. You'll stretch your skin out a lot more. You will be less fertile if you want to get pregnant. If you have a baby in 5 or 10 yrs --that baby is more likely to be born heavier than what is healthy. Babies that are born overweight or children who are overweight by the age of 6 are almost always obese teens and adults. They will be more likely to get very sick at a young age -- have a harder time socially and in school. If you have kids in 5 -10 yrs -- you will have a harder time keeping up with them and you will be less able to help them learn healthy eating habits. As you get older -- you will have a much harder time getting a good night sleep. That will make you tried and depressed. I not only know these things from research ----- I actually lived them -- and I know many other women who have too. Every once in a while I read about some woman who managed to lose a lot of weight and maintain that long-term but I never actually met any woman who did that. All the older women I know were like me. They just yo-yoed or kept right on gaining until we were were all older and sicker.
All I can tell you is --- I have thrown away the meds and I no longer have sleep apnea so I don't sleep with a mask on anymore. In fact, I sleep great. I went from a size 20 to an 8 and it feels great. I'm the oldest one in my office and I look the youngest. I can do things (like walking for miles on the beach or ride a bike) that I haven't done in 25 yrs. I'm still 15lbs overweight but I never gained back anything I lost. Men of all ages, sizes and types smile and open doors for me now. People are friendlier. My bosses now come to me with ideas, opportunities, and offers of promotions because they have a more positive preception of me. They think I'm smarter now even though I have the same brain I had when I was heavy.
I also want to add that you will find some very sad cases on this board from people who have gotten the LB. In some of those cases -- those people didn't do anything wrong. The LB has some risks and sometimes bad things happen even when someone is doing it right. In many cases bad things happen or it doesn't work well because people didn't follow post-operation instructions. That happens a lot. So the bottom line is --- if you get the LB -- you have to follow instructions and even if you do, something still might go wrong. (LB is no different than driving a car. You do take a chance whenever you get behind the wheel but chances are excellent that you will be fine as long as you follow the rules of good driving.) On the other hand -- if you don't get WLS --- you can BET on a LOT going wrong. One good thing about the LB is -- it is reversible if something better is invented --- or if you don't like it --- or something goes wrong.
Hope this helps you on your journey. I thought it over about a yr and a a half before I did it. Keep learning about it and talking to people. You will do what feels right for you. I wish you the very best.

Sharon..... i hope everything works out this time....
Or you can quit your job, be a lazy ass, drain on the economy and get medicare and medicaid and let the gov. pay for it.... like some.

Hi folks,
I want to start off by saying congradulations to everyone who has either made the choice or considering it!
I had my proceedure done in 2006 and since then I have lost 160 lbs. so I thought I would share some of my discoveries with everyone, maybe this can help you out or someone else you know who is having issues. As many of you may or may not know is that Weather does and will effect your band. I found the more hot and humid the air is the less i can eat. I found that consuming something hot before you eat helps, and i did confirm with Dr. Kurian, Hot liquids will make your essopogus relaxed and allow an eaider flow, also helps to drink hot liquids while eating if you are experiencing that clogged sensation, BUT BE CAREFUL!!!
too much can also cause you to throw up. so take small sips! Alcahol is also another that will have same effect but don't recomend drinking carbonated beverages(BEER) that will only end up as a disaster! Another tip for those who love salads , very important, wich i'm sure your nutricianists must have warned you of is Greens will cause bloackage! Cucumbers, celery, roman, iceburge all are killers! for me! Now again this is not to say this will happen to everyone, Each person has similar experences some can eat foods others can't do'nt be a hater just find a alternative of that food you can't eat and make it work for you!
An example I still love pizza!!!!! but to keep a slice down was impossible, so i put my evil genius to work, also helps that i'm a cook too! but what i came up with is this take a ordinary flour tortilla, for those who have one place the tortilla on a pizza stone preheat oven to highest setting, brush light extra virgin olive oil on tortilla , helps makes crispy, palce tortilla on stone if have one if not a baking sheet works as well, let the tortilla bake for about 3-4 minuets take out of oven, let cool for minuet, next add sauce (if you desire) place back in oven and let cook for another 2-3 minuets on highest setting, remove tortilla from oven now you will add your cheese, go easy on cheese! too much will make you throw up. If anyone is from NY and is Familiar with Lombardi's Pizza they were the 1st to introduce us to Pizza there style is slighty different but damn good insread of shredded mozzerella cheese they put grated Parmasian cheese, same as Frank's pizza too . But this is just an alternative worth trying once! ok so obviously the next step would be to put cheese and toppings of your choice again be careful think with your brain not your stomach! I personaly prefer my pizza extra crunchy! and this a good portion size depending on tortilla size of course i usually use a 5 or 8 in, If anyone has any feedback or tips they would like to share please feel free! Again I want to tell everyone CONGRATS! be proud of yourself, yes its a difficult journey, you will get frustrared, you will think you can't do it, but the truth is you can! I am just one of many who are living proof and are here to help all of you who are feeling those feelings. I was so worried i was going to fail when i started i had nobody to help me, but it was either sink or swim, so with alot of hard trials and errors i discovered what i can eat, but more importantly what I loved to eat! I was never a good eater never one for fish or veggies, lived on fast food live by the dog die by the dog, I found that no matter what you do those suckers are never gonna stay down so they are ancient history in my diet, Pasta, instead of heavy noodles i found pastina, or starts, or even alphabets are great replacement, and i can practice my spelling while i eat too LOL! but again folks just some tips that may work for you! Keep the Faith and if anyone needs more help .. all ya gotta do is ask! and my only fee is that i ask you all pass it forward!, meaning were all on this planet together, no mater color or creed we are al in this for the same thing to better ourselves and make this place a better so help someone who needs it because someday you may be the one in need of that help! just something to think about....

The band is only a tool, and like other tools if you do not learn how to use it properly it will not work for you. This is not a "magic bullet"...if it was, I'm certain every overweight or obese individual would be on a wait list for the surgery.

The band does not stop hunger...but there are ways to learn how to manage your hunger. It requires a change of lifestyle to a healthier one which includes regular exercise. Your relationship with food needs to change also; you will no longer be able to seek solace with food to cope with stress, unhappiness or boredom in your life. Head hunger needs to be recognized for what it is, and skills learned to neutralize it. Diet compliance is part compliance and also a "head game" to better understand the psychology behind the reasons you are overweight. Not impossible to accomplish, but not a walk in the park, either. That's just a part of the reality of the weight loss journey with a band.

Drinking Water and keeping yourself properly hydrated helps to trip the "hunger sensors" in your stomach/pouch. And until you are in what is commonly referred to as the "green zone" with fills in your band, you will need to rely on sheer will power and determination to remain compliant with your diet and loose weight.

I encourage you to do additional research into the band to make an informed choice to determine if it is the right decision for you. This forum has many supportive individuals with an impressive amount of knowledge to share of the topics related to the band. It's an excellent resource to learn more...

Best wishes...

Please make the commitment to YOU! You can do this, you can be successful but you have to take care of yourself, all the time.
Life is still going to happen. Bad things come into our lives all the time. We have to stop using food as a "FIX" for pain. Trust me I am including myself too.
The biggest change I made just before surgery was taking a class at church. It was a class where we looked back at who we were and who we have believed we were. We forgave ourselves for all the "junk" and believe that God forgives us. I ceremoniously burned the past and all the lies I believed about myself. It was so rewarding.I am sorry if I am getting too religious, it just helped me so much. I have disliked ME for so long, I didn't put myself first as far as health and wellness was concerned.
i don't know if I would have been able to succeed with a gastric band if I hadn't "fallen" into this class!!!!
Life still happens. Recently my son basically told me he hates me. this is extremely painful but, he needs to feel this stuff and move on. I have to believe I have been forgiven. I've told him I am sorry for past wrongs, I can't do anymore. He will come around when he has worked out all his feelings & that's alright.
This was huge for me. Luckily, I now have a support group from church. I talked to someone, cried and felt better. I can only take care of me and pray that he will forgive. I will be nothing if I do not take care of my health, I am not crumbling & bingeing.
This is the first time I have even talked about this! Whew, not easy to do!!!

Question..... What is this plication that keep reading about?

Well, in a matter of a year's time...
I divorced the world's biggest idiot, quit smoking, bought a house, and had Lap-Band surgery.
So really, my entire life is a huge radical change from this time last year

I went for my free seminar this morning. Found out my ins. Will pay up to 80%, BUT because I don't have sleep ap, high bp, or diabetes they won't pay anything. I was so upset. But, I'm gonna call my ins. Monday morn & talk to someone personally. Wish me luck!

Mandy,
Contact BCBS of IL directly.. I just had lap band surgery on 7/3 and it was covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL My BMI was 41 and i had no comorbids. It might be the policy that your employer has but it's worth double checking.
I contacted them directly serveral times and they were always very helpful.
Good Luck...

Hello! I am living in BandLand now!! Yahoo!!! I was banded by Dr. Sass at Memorial Hospital August 24th. I came home the same day, and have had no vomiting, or nausea. I did have a reaction the the stitches, and they had to be removed yesterday, which made me a VERY unhappy camper...since I told them I was allergic to stitches, and they were not supposed to be used.
Everyone can make mistakes, and I'm not letting this one rain on my parade. I"m ready to kick some booty!!
Good luck to everyone.

I am in my early 20s and just got the band. I was similarly concerned about how it would change my social life. I am only a few days into being banded, but I think the real changes for me on this topic came about a month ago, before I had the band. The truth is, you can have fun in moderation. I am a big drinker and social eater and often plan outings surrounding these things. The thing I have found out from being on my preop diet and being restricted in eating and not drinking is that people don't really care if I am eating fatty foods or drinking alcohol with them. As long as they can do those things, and I am not making my not-participation the focus of what is going on, then no one really minds. The bigger change will not come from your friends, but from you. You will have to learn to be fun and jolly and entertain yourself without the food/alcohol. No one is going to care if you order a Soup instead of a Pasta dish, or if you have a cranberry juice instead of a vodka tonic if you are still being fun and normal. Your friends like you for you, not for how much you can drink or eat.
It is a hard transition though. I have added other things to my social life too, like doing-non drinking activities, like seeing a movie or going kayaking with a friend or going shopping, as a replacement to some of drinking/eating related things. I also went to a BBQ at my friends house where people could bring food but I provided food that I knew I would be able to eat without feeling deprived (I brough lots of grilled veggies, veggie burger and crab stuffed mushrooms and propel zero-- no one cared what I was eating or that I wasn't drinking and it was a ton of fun. I enjoyed myself way more not feeling guilty about over eating or worrying if someone counted how many chips I had had and was judging me and I felt the need to drink less). It will be different for every person though.
These life changes are good ones. The sooner you start the sooner you get the band you will be able to have control of your life, feel good about yourself, and show other people how confident you are. Being able to have fun without alcohol is an awesome skill, and being able to having conversations and socialize without using food as a crutch will only make you a better friend. I just work hard not to make my new eating habits or band anyone else's problem. It requires planning and has changed my life, but for the better. I have had to really look at what is available on menus before getting to a restaurant and I always carry something that will curb my appetite in a pinch (although there are some fast food options that aren't awful, just look at nutrition and do your best to stay high, Protein and low carb). These things aren't hard though.
I think it is good you are asking these questions and if you aren't ready to make some changes inside yourself with how you cope with social situations (not drinking or eating your way through them) then it probably isn't the time for you to get banded. It would be worse, in my opinion, to get banded now and feel like you are failing then to wait until you are mentally ready to give up some of the social comfort and let your friends still have it. The band won't be a cure for any of your bad habits or mental reasons for eating, so those changes need to either come first or you need to be prepared enough to fight them when the cravings come. Doing the 6 month preop nutritionist consults, meeting fellow bariatric surgery patients, being on this site, watching youtube videos, reading blogs and meeting with a therapist have all helped me realize that I don't use food in a normal way and in some ways that hinders my social life more than it helps. This is all just me though. I don't know if it relates to you, but as a young 20 something, the sooner you are happy, the better. It just might take more work mentally if you don't want to change your lifestyle 180 degrees, because the triggers and reasons to eat will still be there after the band.
Good luck deciding and feel free to message if you have more questions.

I'm borrowing the title of Jen Lancaster's book for my topic title, it's a great summer read btw.
All my life I've heard, "Awww, you've got such a pretty face" at first it feels like a compliment, then, wait, no, not so much.
So now that I'm banded as of July 5th, the people who told me, "Oh my God, don't do it, you don't need it, you've got such a pretty face."
can stop with the nonsense.
I tell them, pretty face, okay, but unhealthy body, heart, mind and this is me finally doing something for myself and getting a tool that is going to help me be... such a pretty woman. Well, shoot, let's blow "pretty" out of the Water, I'm going for gorgeous, mmmm-kay??!
People say, well you did so well on such and such diet and when you were exercising more, you should do that again.
Wow. Thank you, friend, I'm not sure why I didn't think of that.
Since my surgery, the NaySayers, the folks who discouraged me about the lapband, have asked how I'm feeling, since I haven't showered since yesterday morning, my hair is greasy and my eye make up is jacked, clearly I'm not back to 100%, I'm pretty sure they feel vindicated. See, we told you it was not good for you. I didn't have the energy to argue but the proof is in the sugar free pudding my friends, tomorrow I'll be feeling much better, a shower is in my future and some fake diva eyelashes. We'll see how quickly they change their minds and start to tell people, "oh my friend/neighbor/relative had lapband surgery done and she looks fantastic!"

I hate to say it but "If it sounds to good to be true, it isn't "
For me, I do not want to diet. I want to learn to respect food, look good and be healthy. Thus far, the band has helped me do just that.

Yes it is gas. keep walking it will help. Have you taken "gas x?" Yep you are and should stay on a liquid diet. I enjoyed Vegetable, beef and chicken broth. Jello Tea and Water. Etc. YOu will do fine and I congratulate you on your surgery and your trip to a healthy life style. I would imagine that your Dr's office provided you with a week by week menu. Many times, we don't think they do so we do not look at the paper work given to us. Since you have not eatten in a while. Please becareful and don't over do the pain pills. You will become constipated. You will be very unhappy if you do. You might want to purchase stool softners. Sooner than later. At this time you have to be KIND to your area. Take your time and think about how you want to exercise and get ready to learn how to eat again the lapband way. I am hoping that you will not dwell on food all the time. Think about other things as you go foward in your journey. Make friends, read books, measure your body, do not eat that bread. You might want to buy a book for your low carb and high Protein program. remember to chew your food slowly. hugs.

Hello I am new to the forum, but am on the path to getthing the lap band. Any new people advice to the lapband. Things people dont tell you. i promise this will not scare me away I just want all the facts

That's awesome thank u I was nervous about waiting the 6 months