A New New Dawn

I agree... once in a while it sure beats getting take out or canned foods. Also, one thing that works well for me is I bought several rubbermaid 1.2 cup containers. When I make a meal, I will often make extra so I divide them into my 1 cup servings/containers and put them in the freezer. For those nights I don't want to cook or for quick lunch I can grab for work it helps a lot. I get a healthy and tasty meal ~ made by ME! Thanks for sharing your tip as well.

Diane, you are a remarkable woman! Your blog brought tears to my eyes and was very moving for me. I choose to be an optimist as well. I appreciate you sharing your personal story as we all can learn a lot from your strength in one way or another and apply it in our own lives. Enjoy your lemonade today and your time with Mom. Hugs to you, my friend.

I agree w/ Madds. I would think it is just regular food put through the blender. I would double ck w/ your nutritionist if in doubt or if they gave you papers during the preop. I made things like chicken pureed w/ salsa, refried beans, etc. ground meat w/ a little bit of liquid and in the blender... it doesn't look the most appetizing but it sure tasted good.

Great job!!!

It sounds like you have a great attitude. Best wishes on your journey!

I will think happy thoughts for you and you have a great attitude!

That is great!!! Keep up the FABULOUS work!

I am glad you are asking so you know better what to expect and aren't shell shocked later... First, I will preface this with everyone being different. Some people are able to eat anything, others have difficulty eating certain foods. It also depends on how tight each person's band is. Also, this is based on my experience and others I have talked to.. I am not a medical professional. After surgery, they will give you instructions that you should drink xx ounces of liquids. Many people get frustrated or worried as they cannot get all of it in immediately after surgery. The key is making sure you are sipping often throughout the day. Your tummy will be inflamed and you will not be able to gulp large quantities of liquids. Make sure you are staying hydrated and you will be able to increase the volume gradually each day. Second, once the swelling subsides, your hunger may come back w/ a vengeance. This is normal and we refer to it as "bandster hell". Stay strong and stick to the plan. It will get better. Some doctors do a slight fill at the time of surgery, others do not. Once the swelling subsides, you may not even feel like you have been banded as you may be able to eat as you did before. It may take several fills to get you to that sweet spot, which is different for everyone. My dr. did the first fill 6 weeks out and then waited 4 weeks for each one after that. It took me a few fills to "get there". In the meanwhile, I stuck to the plan and was able to lose consistently. After I was "detoxed" from the pre and post-op diet, I didn't miss the junk food at all and don't crave it. chips, Cookies, and ice cream break down and pretty much dissolve in your mouth so they go down very easy for most of us. YOU will have to stay strong as to not go there and not have it accessible to you. The band will not stop those for most of us. What it will stop is your desire to eat a big mac, or a overeating. For me, and several bandsters, bread gets stuck very easily. So my days of eating a big sandwich are over. Bread is a fattening weakness for me, so I don't even crave it anymore as it doesn't feel good going down. Occasionally, I can have a piece of heavy/hearty bread (multigrain, high fiber) as the doughy breads don't like me or my band. I also have difficulty eating scrambled eggs or boiled eggs (if eating alone). Instead, I eat eggs over easy or in tuna salad, etc. Since I have to eat much slower w/ the band (small bites, pause, than another small bite, etc) over the course of about 20 min. I get full so I can't eat a big meal if I wanted to. As for pizza, one piece for me is about all I can do and it isn't often. It also has to be thin crust. It is very filling, and a very heavy food. A couple months after surgery, I was craving pizza but didn't want to eat unhealthy food. I bought little 7" premade thin pizza crusts at my local Meijer, put sauce, lowfat cheese and lots of veggies... It was yummy and low cal/fat and satisfied my craving. As you go through this journey, you will find healthier ways to enjoy the unhealthy foods you used to like. So, the band IS a great tool; however, you have to still make the choice to eat well and avoid the slider foods. It will aid you to not overeat and to keep you satiated for 4-5 hours between meals. I just wanted to help you understand that it won't be fully effective right out of the gate and that you will have to do a lot of the work too. If you have any questions or want to elaborate on anything, feel free to PM me or ask here too. I am not a 'perfect' bander but have 8 months experience. Sorry for the novel.

I am sorry you felt she was harsh. I don't believe she meant it that way and was just speaking truthfully without sugar coating. I am concerned by your perception that when you can only swallow a few tbsp of food the cheating will subside. The band will not keep you from cheating. Some of the most unhealthy foods are the easiest to get down, even with a tight band... chips, Cookies, icecream go down like a charm and are considered "slider" foods. Changing our relationship with food and the idea that cheating is harmless is extremely important. None of us are perfect but we would be remissed to say "it's ok" because the reality is you are potentially hurting yourself. The band will not do all the work. It will help you stay satiated for longer periods but will not prevent you from "cheating". My reply is not meant as harsh either, just trying to be realistic and also to let other newbies understand the reality as well. Best wishes to you on your upcoming surgeries.

Yes, I like the costco premier Protein (chocolate) drinks. They taste good (really cold) and sometimes I put them in the blender w/ some ice and 1/2 a banana or fruit to switch them up a little. Today I added a couple strawberries to the blender too. I have a "magic bullet" blender and it is a breeze and easy cleanup to use. I have heard many say they like the

Again, not being a medical professional but knowing how the band works for me, it makes no sense to me why they would unfill you 1.0 cc and it seems your reflux was gone and then fill you with 2.0 cc surpassing how much you had when you had the initial onset of reflux. Also, not to be Debbie Downer, but if you are seeking another doctor you may have to call several in the area to find one that will see you. Often another surgeon doesn't want to take on someone when he/she didn't do the surgery. Also, while it may not be out of pocket for you, if he is billing the insurance that may be an incentive (for a dishonest dr) to have you come back more often. Lastly, it may be time for a crucial conversation with your dr (respectfully) as to what the plan is, etc. You need to be comfortable and have every right to speak up. Best wishes to you and for success!

best wishes to you, please heed your doctor's orders along the way and you will do GREAT! If you haven't already, try out your post op foods (protein drinks, etc) now so you find things you like and have those on hand during your recovery. Keep us posted!

Certainly, this is a personal decision you will have to make; however, what is the success rate of doing nothing? Even if it was a "cop out", does it really matter what method you chose to lose weight and get healthier as long as you do it? Having the lap band is not a magic bullet. It does still require us to make good choices. However, for me 7 mos out and down 75 lbs, it is the best decision I have made. If it were just a matter of diet and exercise and a snap of a finger we wouldn't have opted for the surgery. We chose this to help us in the process and for many of us it has worked. I was not sick or miserable after surgery and my recovery went well. I have had moments where I was frustrated with the band, but it wasn't the band, it was me changing my relationship with food and my eating habits. This is an emotional and physical journey. It is not an easy fix but it sure has helped me when I wasn't doing anything but GAINING on my own. Best thing to do is attend the seminar and also support groups and meet with people that have been through this. Talk to people here and read their stories and do your homework and research so you know what you are potentially getting yourself into. Best wishes on your journey to a healthier you!

Best wishes to you. Glad you have answers now.

Sorry to hear of your struggles. Did you ask this last time how much is in your band? I know it isn't relevant in the big picture and it is about how you feel but just so you can have a mental note of where you were, were you are, etc. Not to compare with others but to know your own progress. I say this because, I recently had to get an "unfill" and I know where I was at before and now am working my way back up to my comfort level. My doctor doesn't like to tell me how many cc I have as he feels it is irrelevant too and doesn't want me getting fixated on that. So, the good news is you don't have a slip (it sounds like) from the scan. I was concerned as that could've happened and esp. from the vomiting. They should have been able to see how restricted you were though by how fast the Fluid was going down. My dr. showed me this on the scan as the barium "funneled" through. Lastly, as earlier mentioned by TMF I believe, are you focusing on your eating? For me it makes a HUGE difference if I follow the "rules" and eat my SOLID Protein first, then veggies.... For example, I can eat salad like a slider food and not fill up. I can eat Soup, etc. same thing. However, if I eat 3-4 ounces of chicken or fish first, then veggies.. I do get "full" and am satiated on that. Whereas the other foods, I will keep grazing and not feel full. In the a.m. I have an egg white omelet I like to make w/ veggies, ham, etc. that is lowfat/cal and keeps me full all morning and also a low/fat and cal oatmeal w/ eggwhites (sounds gross but is YUMMY) and filling. Perhaps, if you try to change some of your eating habits it will help. Can you call their office and speak w/ the nurse to get your questions/concerns answered rather than having to go in each time? Explain that as a self-pay patient it is very difficult to make several trips in. If you do have questions or concerns of your dr. it is also your right to speak up and address those with him/her (respectfully, of course). Sometimes just having a frank "crucial" conversation will help. Best wishes to you!

also this is where you need to really focus to understand head hunger vs. true physical hunger. If you are really craving something, ie. chocolate then I would suggest either finding a healthy alternative (ie. a 90 calorie Fiber one brownie) or having a SMALL quantity of it, such as 1 or 2 hershey kisses and savor them or Missy has a yummy mocha drink that's low on cal/fat. SO there are ways to satisfy the craving or really focus on if you are truly hungry.

I love bananas too, even in my protein drink too Though I have been sharing 1/2 one w/ my daughter.

http://dailyhealthpost.com/are-bananas-as-bad-for-you-as-cookies/?utm_source=taboola#axzz2NXmpdREq

Gosh, I watch pathetic shows... I love all the stupid housewives of ___ shows. I'm with Floridays on Sister Wives (and no clue why), I also love NatGeo programs (cuz I LOVE animals), and I love watching cooking shows like Chopped, and singing competitions (American Idol, and The Voice...) Best of all, I love having the DVR so I can forward through them and skip commercials. Most of these shows are not on all the time so I actually don't watch that much tv.

Uh huh... just as we suspected. one week can be a stalemate, then wham... Congrats on your success thus far!!

I agree. I was too tight and kept thinking it was just me and not eating slow enough or small enough bites. I was delaying going to the doc as I kept thinking I just needed to do better with my eating. Well, after 2 weeks of struggling and many visits to the porcelain god, I went in and got an unfill. I could barely get Water down my tummy was a mess. I just found out yesterday from my doc that I had a slight slippage. He wasn't concerned as it was slight; however, it sure was upsetting and knowing for me it was self-inflicted. He is hopeful that since I was unfilled and had no issues since then that it may have corrected itself but to watch out for any symptoms (reflux or band feeling way too loose). After 6 wks I was able to get a small fill again yesterday. I hope all goes well for you and this resolves itself for you as well. Hang in there!!! CG, this is what I was explaining a little yesterday.

Well, I hope it goes through easily for you!

I have bcbs of IL and it was approved pretty quickly on my first try. I do have a couple comorbidities (sleep apnea and blood pressure). Good luck to you getting approved. Are you in the Chicago area?

I cannot speak about the surgeon as I had mine done here; however, please keep a few things in mind if you go to MX to have it done - inquire what size band they are using (make sure it isn't the "old" 4cc bands), ask if they use the newer "low profile" port (thinner than the former models), and also make sure you have a doctor lined up locally that will take you and see you upon having the surgery. Not all surgeons will take you if they didn't do the surgery. Also, aside from getting fills afterwards, in case there are any issues post op, you want to have someone accessible right away. Best wishes on your journey and with whatever decision you choose.