thetxdiva

For everyone that stated true results over charged their insurance, please understand that there is difference between "billed" charges and a "negotiated" rate. Meaning true results may bill for any amount, but your carrier will only pay what has been negotiated . For example true results bills $32,000 but their negotiated rate with your insurance carrier is $ 8,000.....they are only going to receive the
$ 8,000 and can not balance bill the patient.

having a band is way different from (dieting)
its all up to choices. its all up to our mental thinking.
if i want a cookie like you described, i am gonna have it. just one. not the whole box or bag (that is how i got obese in the first place).
i dont mourn anything. i dont (miss) anything. i ate enough junk/high fat foods in my past that i really dont need to have them right now. but since i am not in that diet thinking, i will eat what i know is better for my body and my health. food is not the enemy. overeating is. (i was a huge binger/purger).
my hub and son love junk food. i have it in the house. yep i do. do i want to eat them? heck yeah but i am stronger then a bag of chips or Cookies. those high fat/junk items cannot make me eat them. if we choose to eat that, then we do. if you do, eat it and get on with it.
far be it from me to lecture anyone, but def think we need to eat to live and not focus on (what you cant have) because you can eat whatever you want. (the band makes it in smaller amounts)
i wish you and anyone who reads this, the best always

I completely agree with Carolinagirl. I can and still do eat whatever I want. There is nothing I can't eat and I wouldn't want it any other way. I just know that when I do want to indulge it has to be occasionally and in moderation. For instance, about once a month I order pizza for my kids and I, but I only have 2 pieces rather than a half a pizza like I used to. A couple days ago I was really craving a Peanut Butter cup, so bought one pack, had one and gave the other to my son, rather than eating two entire packs alone like I used to.
I go by the 90/10 rule. 90% of the time I eat healthy, 10% of the time I eat what I want. But I don't mourn any foods. I just enjoy them in moderation.

I was banded with True Results on April 24th with Dr. Wilkenfeld. Great surgeon. Great doctors office. True Results is a great kick board to get you started, very informative and definitely helped me in many positive ways. Although always listen to your surgeon, his information might vary in some ways compared to what true results gives you. I have to say I have lost 70 pounds to date, and I just had my first fill last Wednesday! Been an awesome experience!

Dr. Spivak performed my surgery and he was great. His staff is wonderful as well. It is very easy to get in for fills with Dr. Spivak. I was also self-pay. I highly recommend Dr. Spivak. bandmd.com
Other Houston surgeons to check out:
Dr. Garth Davis
Dr. Robert Davis
Dr. Wilkenfeld
Dr. Ponce DeLeon
Dr. St. Laurent

A popsicle actually sounds really intriguing! I like the sugar free dreyers fruit bars.... Mmmm :-)

@minimoo I feel your pain! I has one yesterday as I was standing right over a patient... she had a horrified look like I had jus burped right in her face. SMH I wish mine would just come from the "belly" area so I could pretend they were regular stomach growling noises but nope... they come right out of my mouth! And if Im fortunate enough to predict ones arrival and shut my mouth it sounds off in my throat like fireworks. :ph34r: I've learned to live with it tho... beats that 100lbs which was much more embarrassing. I tend to talk about my band like it's its own entity with a personality and voice of its own... helps kill the awkwardness since she refuses to stay my own little secret!

A popsicle actually sounds really intriguing! I like the sugar free dreyers fruit bars.... Mmmm :-)

A popsicle actually sounds really intriguing! I like the sugar free dreyers fruit bars.... Mmmm :-)

You need to return to the basics of the bandster diet; what were your surgeon's instructions to you?
Bandsters are more successful with weight loss if they measure their portions. You also have to consistently make good food choices...and stay with basic healthy choices...lean Proteins and Fiber carbs for meals.
It would help for you to keep a food journal so that you have a better awareness of everything you eat. Consulting with a dietitian would be helpful also; they can assist you to modify your diet plan for better success.
Just because you can eat larger portions does not mean that you should. I"ve had to learn strategies to manage my hunger between meals; and try to drink the necessary FF/SF fluids and stay busy so that my thoughts do not stay focused on food.
It would help for you to understand the difference between "head hunger" and authentic hunger. It's entirely possible that some of your hunger is based on inaccurate thinking as it relates to your pre band eating patterns. Only you can change this...and for weight loss it has to change.
Set some realistic goals for yourself...and make exercise a priority.
Best wishes for your success...

Cooper123. I would your popsicle any day. And afterwards we could even maybe have some Jello.

I think that there is a place and time for everything, and when it comes to religion or politics it's always better to be respectful and cautious when voicing your opinion on a public forum. This doesn't mean that you don't have the right to voice your opinion but to realize that you might make others uncomfortable or even offend them by doing so. and that's a very thin line that we should all be careful not to cross.
Keep in mind that bringing religion or politics to a Lap band forum is not exactly expected but if you do it, it would be better to do it on the appropiate section of the forum, that way you can send your message to a better target audience and respect the ones that do not share your beliefs.
About personal attacks to each other on this forum I think they're absolutley unnecessary and go against the idea of a place like this.
Banderama, I do agree you should have a sugar free popsicle, would you like to have it with me

I think it's a very personal decision. But you should feel very proud of taking control of your life so early on and not wait until you get older and have developed several weight related illnesses. Just for that, you should have no trouble facing the negative comments. Congratulations!

I love hearing everyones methods. I was very open about my surgery. I was ecstatic that I had made this powerful decision to change my life around. Although it was spontaneous for me, I did A TON of research on all the different types of surgery available for weight loss. If someone was against my decision to have surgery, or was even skeptical, I explained it thoroughly. I wanted everyone to know I had made my decision with research and the proper tools.
It has paid off tremendously! I go in for my first fill today, after being banded on April 24. I LOVE MY LAP BAND, AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IT CHANGED MY LIFE! Yay for all of us for taking control over the food! That food no longer controls me!

I love hearing everyones methods. I was very open about my surgery. I was ecstatic that I had made this powerful decision to change my life around. Although it was spontaneous for me, I did A TON of research on all the different types of surgery available for weight loss. If someone was against my decision to have surgery, or was even skeptical, I explained it thoroughly. I wanted everyone to know I had made my decision with research and the proper tools.
It has paid off tremendously! I go in for my first fill today, after being banded on April 24. I LOVE MY LAP BAND, AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IT CHANGED MY LIFE! Yay for all of us for taking control over the food! That food no longer controls me!

I may as well have taken an ad in the paper! I told everybody I know, made no secret of it at work, and even posted it on my Facebook. Everybody I know has been very supportive. They do ask a ton of questions, but I'm an attention-***** so I don't mind the questions. Plus, since this is such a huge part of my life, I love talking about it anyway

I told everyone and really had few who were less than fabulous. A 5'6 and 295 I loved the few that said 'but why, you're not that big!!!'

I needed this desperately! My mirrors are my worst nightmares at times, they have been known to defeat me and make me feel less than beautiful. It is a constant struggle.
Daily I tell myself, ” Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is ”the present.” What happened yesterday cannot affect my outcome for tomorrow. I have to keep trying. Keep my goal in my head. Those numbers are haunting me. Again thank you so much! Inspiration is always beneficial.

There is nothing the matter with you that you can continue to eat foods without negative consequences. Each of us are individuals, and as such some will have difficulties tolerating questionable foods, while others will not. No two bandsters will have identical experiences through their weight loss journey.
Some people want their bands too tight believing that a tighter band will facilitate their waiting longer between meals to become hungry.
I have only 3.5cc of Fluid in my band, and really need to remain aware of what I'm doing as I eat, otherwise it would be easy for food to get stuck. From what I've read, that's a relatively small amount of Fluid in a band, but I don't realistically believe that I should have more fluid added.
The important understanding to maintain is that just because you can eat those foods (i.e. bread) does not mean that you should. The bandster diet rules still apply.

ok just needed to tell SOMEONE who "gets" it...I weighed in at 199.5 this morning. Wow, finally under 200!

Surgery in any form is scary.
You need to look at the lap band as a tool. It is not the easy way out by any means. I started out my journey at 342 pounds. I am now down to 279. That big number was a hell of a lot scarier than the thoughts of having surgery to help me correct it.
Having a support system, such as this website is a necessity to work through your issues and concerns. It makes you aware that things can happen, but it is also a place where EVERY SINGLE PERSON relates to your situation.
The lap band has its pros and cons, just as everything in life does. Just know that in the end, all of the pain and struggles you will endure, are so with it. You're worth it. There will be hurdles. You will overcome them. And when you hit your goal weight, nothing will bring you down. You at that point in time will know, how worth it your life changing decision really was!
Good luck!

Surgery in any form is scary.
You need to look at the lap band as a tool. It is not the easy way out by any means. I started out my journey at 342 pounds. I am now down to 279. That big number was a hell of a lot scarier than the thoughts of having surgery to help me correct it.
Having a support system, such as this website is a necessity to work through your issues and concerns. It makes you aware that things can happen, but it is also a place where EVERY SINGLE PERSON relates to your situation.
The lap band has its pros and cons, just as everything in life does. Just know that in the end, all of the pain and struggles you will endure, are so with it. You're worth it. There will be hurdles. You will overcome them. And when you hit your goal weight, nothing will bring you down. You at that point in time will know, how worth it your life changing decision really was!
Good luck!

I am saying this to be honest and I say it with all sincerity: It DOES take a lot of hard work. You DO have to eat healthy. In fact, you have to change your eating habits for lifetime not just temporarily for a diet. It will NOT give you will power, that has to come from inside you. The band can help you to feel satisfied with less food for longer periods of time, but it's not magic. It won't do the work or make the lifestyle changes for you.
I'm not saying this sway you from getting the surgery. I personally think the band is the greatest thing ever- I love mine. However, I'd rather you know the truth and make a good decision than to go into this rose colored glasses. You don't need to set yourself up for failure.
If you get the band and want to be successful, it most certainly is going to be hard work. If you think you can do that, wonderful. You'll do great. But be honest with yourself before being banded and if you honestly don't think you can, then don't do it.
Best wishes to you, whatever you decide

No no no I don't think it's ridiculous at all. And trust me I've had the thought as well before. You just have to realize the Band isn't gonna just make you lose the weight. Think about it this way the Band isn't the ONLY help your getting for your weight loss. You have the doctor that can help the nurses and support groups to answer any question you have. And you have this Lap Band Forum that has people just like you on it! It's not just getting skinny it's a whole weight loss experience. And trust me I wish I could lose weight on my own and eat healthy. But I love food so much it's shortening my life. It's all about seeking help when you need it. Don't get discouraged or doubt yourself. But don't not get the band and regret it years later :/