gowalking

Not sure if your friend ate on the plane but my dr. said no food 1 hour prior, no eating in the air, and no food 1 hour after landing. liquids are OK. I've flown several times since being banded and have never had a problem. It's hard sometimes to say no when they offer you a snack, but I'd rather be hungry than get sick. Check with your dr. to confirm his/her recommendation and don't stress about flying.

Good Luck!! See you on the other side.

yeah...I was banded at NYU

I grew up in Brooklyn, raised the kids in Jersey and once they were out, I moved to the West Village. There are lots of NYC folks and the surrounding boroughs/suburbs on this forum.

I live in the city Connie but there are a number of LI'ers on this forum.

I must apologize for a response I made to a poster last night. I was not very sympathetic when she noted a struggle she lost with a poor food choice and the amount eaten. I find myself thinking uncharitable thoughts lately when I read things like that. I even read a post the other day where someone said they got stuck because they ate a Big Mac too fast. Excuse me?? Why are you even eating a Big Mac? I hear Missy and Carolinagirl in my head all the time saying make better food choices and stick to band size portions. It’s become my mantra and it runs through my head all the time so thank you ladies. And every night when I go to bed, I feel good for sticking to the rules. I don’t feel that awful self hatred for once again, losing control. This feeling is so much better than the fleeting good feeling from eating a big old bowl of spaghetti. I really find myself wondering what people are thinking when the get banded. So many of them seem to think the weight will come off magically and that the band will just stop them from overeating. Is this our fault or the doctor's fault? I wonder how many people go into this with no understanding of the changes we must must must make in order to be successful. So again, I apologize if I was unsympathetic and I will try to do better….no one should be blasted for admitting they made a mistake especially if you use it as a learning experience.

Is your husband also newly banded? I ask because I know how much food there is in a take out portion of chicken parm. It should have been more than enough for you two to share. And it's concerning that he basically remarked that he needed more food than the meal you two were supposed to be sharing. Because the both of you are banded, I would think there would be support and you could pick each other up if one of you starts to make bad choices. Almost sounded like he was trying to sabotage you. Forget about the pizza you ate....what's done is done...just don't do it again. I'd focus more on having a discussion with the hubby on how you two should be motivated to think and act positively rather than enabling each other when poor food decisions are being made.

I was banded mid January. I saw Dr. Ren every month starting in February and only now am seeing her every two months since I'm not getting fills. She didn't really tell me what or how to eat. Despina (one of the nutritionists) told me to eat 3 oz protein, 1/2 cup of veggies, 1/4 cup carbs. that's what I do and I use the myfitnesspal app to track what I eat. I stay around 1,000 calories a day and that's about it. I eat out plenty....being in the city, I hardly cook. I also pick up prepared food at Citarella's mostly and portion it out and freeze the meals. It's working for me...I've lost 67 lbs.

I never met him and like you, I never met the other surgeon's either. I'm happy with her and have had no issues or complications. I haven't needed any fills so I don't know how that goes..I don't even know if the doctor does them or if someone else does them.

I was banded at NYU. Who was your surgeon? I had Dr. Ren-Fielding.

Oh I love your post! My boobs have totally deflated. Like balloons that were stuck with pins. I was a 46D and am now a 42C....and I have to move the boobs around so they fill the cups correctly...LOL. I've been saving up money to redo my kitchen one of these days and that money is now going to a boob job fund I think. Now..to answer your question...it was definitely my face. I noticed my face was thinner probably before anything else..

Hi Yes. I know that you are trying to anticipate as much as possible, what your future holds once you are banded. I tried to do the same...I trolled this forum all the time, reading everything I could including the bad stuff. I just wanted to know what to expect. All I can tell you as a person banded five months now is that everyone really and truly experiences this journey individually. I have not had any fills and have lost 67 lbs. I can eat anything...there's no Fluid in my band. I must must must measure out my food so I can stop before eating too much. I tend to under-eat when at restaurants because I can't measure my food. I know some people bring measuring devices to restaurants...but not me. I would be horrified to bring that kind of attention to myself. I'm getting better at eyeballing the portions, but I'm not always right. Last week I thought I ate well portion wise during a lunch out at work, and I did not. I was full...uncomfortably about a half hour after eating and did not eat anything else the rest of the day. I've read enough posts that I know some people cannot tolerate rice, or meat, or shellfish, or pasta or bread. I had steak yesterday at a Father's Day BBQ. First time attempting it but I figured I'd be OK and I was. Again...I just ate a little of it...same with the salmon, veggies, potato, shrimp and tuna. I even had a few spoonfuls of panna cotta for dessert. The only foods I stay away from are very chewy items such as calamari or even clams/mussels. I still chew well and it's no fun chewing and chewing those foods. Good luck with your surgery.

I have arthritis and I told people I was having surgery to help my knee. It was a stretch but not an outright lie in that the weight loss will help my knee. I've since told some people about the lapband because I find it difficult to not be truthful and especially when I'm one on one with someone and they really seem interested in how I've lost the weight (it's coming off pretty fast and I think that has alot to do with it), I usually 'fess up. I do have to say that I haven't gotten any negative reaction so far.

Boy do I understand that once the decision is made and we've had the surgery, we want to see those pounds melt off...but try to remember none of us got fat overnight and we won't lose it overnight either. Work the plan and I know you will be successful. Good luck.

The first place I lost weight was in my face. I'm still pretty bottom heavy and have started to see saggy skin after losing 67 lbs. but I noticed the other day that my behind has absolutely gotten smaller and my boobies have literally deflated. I was starting to overflow in a D cup and now I fit easily into a C cup. I can clearly see my collar bones again and while I still have a double chin, it's considerably smaller. Not sure how old you are but I am soon to be 55 and I know and accept that after two children and yo yo-ing as much as 80 lbs up and down, I look better in clothes than out of them....which is OK with me. I'm on this journey to get healthier, not prettier.

Now that is one heck of a NSV. Way to go!!

That statement sounds to me like a big old rationalization for bad behavior. Now, having said that, no one is perfect and we'll all have our moments when we do make those not so good choices. Of course less of bad food is still better than more of it but you will have better success eating healthy instead of eating poorly. And so you are aware, I am not a restrictive food person...I eat sweets once in a while, I eat carbs regularly...albeit in small portions, I don't eat food that has no taste. But..I don't eat fast food anymore..I don't eat fried foods anymore, I watch my sodium carefully...so easy on the sauces and other foods sodium laden. No ice cream, no chips, etc. I think what's the point of eating that stuff after having made such a drastic step as WLS. Just do your best to make healthy and reasonable choices and you will do well. Good luck!

fish is always a good option when eating out. make it simple...grilled and avoid sauces...they can be loaded with calories. steamed veggies...even a 1/4 of a baked potato is good. the only type of items to avoid are carb heavy. meaning...stay away from Pasta dishes...cream sauces, fried foods, etc. I live in NYC so I don't do chain restaurants but you can usually find calorie counts for the chains. since I can't do that, I eat what I know is relatively healthy and stay away from what I know can be a problem. soup is high in sodium, salad dressings are high in calories. again...presume you will bring home at least 2/3rds of your meal and you should be good. I eat out once or twice a week usually and I am still losing steadily as I pay very close attention to what I'm eating in a restaurant. I'm sure you know what are better choices than others. if you follow that thinking, eating out will not sabotage you.

Wow...what an interesting thread. And I realized that I have a prejudice against those who are obese based on BMI, but not obese as in 'I have to lose at least 100 or more pounds.' I didn't even recognize this until reading these posts. Part of me thinks if you need to lose 50 lbs. or less, there's no need for WLS but I think it's just because I'm one of those people needing to lose so much weight. I was 267 lbs. and my BMI was over 50. I'm down to 199 and in order to move to 'overweight' from 'obese', I need to be 150 lbs. Now I'm thinking who am I to judge someone else's journey? Why should my needing to lose over 100 lbs. be more critical than someone who has to lose a lot less. Fat is fat...doesn't matter how fat. Or...maybe not. Fred has a point about surgery being a drastic step. It is. Should someone consider surgery if they don't have a ton of weight to lose? I certainly don't have the answer...I don't know if there is an answer. The insurance companies often determine the criteria...which is so convoluted yet as the payer, I guess they have the right to do so. Anyway, debate is good as long as it doesn't get personal and I enjoy reading differing opinions on topics surrounding weight loss.

So sorry for your troubles JoJo. Wishing you an easy procedure and a quick recovery.

One seminar, one visit with the surgeon, one visit with the nutritionist, one psych eval, 3 months documented weight recording by the PCP, bloodwork, cardiac stress test, documented history of weight loss attempts, surgery postponed due to hospital closing from Hurricane Sandy. Start to finish...6 months from seminar to surgery. Totally worth the hassle and wait. Am 5 months banded and have lost nearly 68 lbs. including two week pre-surg. diet.

Yup. food is an addiction like any other addiction. That's why I hate the attitude of those not addicted who say, oh just shut your pie hole and you'll lose the weight. OK then, just stop drinking and you'll be OK, or just stop shooting up and you'll be OK. Our addiction is the hardest one to overcome. You can stop drinking, you can stop drugs, you can stop gambling. You can't stop eating. Every day, every moment, we are faced with our addiction and forced to make a choice as to whether or not to give in to that addiction. I'm so proud of everyone on this forum and even those who are not. Kudos to all the people who struggle daily to get healthier and overcome this addiction.

I know it's just a number, and I know I still have a ways to go...but I got on the scale this morning and it said 199.2. I am under 200 lbs. Wow...I never though I'd see it. Thank you lapband, and thank you to all the great folks on this forum who have supported me on this journey. I know we're only connected virtually but the first thing I wanted to do after seeing that number was to let you all know that I reached a significant milestone. Have a great day everyone!

Oh Arlene...four small cookies? You were not bad. You had a salad and a few cookies. Don't be so hard on yourself. Sounds like this could have been a disaster had you eaten much of that fatty food. You did good girl. Congrats.

I'm reading responses and just as an FYI, I wore paper panties they gave me before surgery. They barely fit..which was even more of a reason for the lapband. Just wanted you to know as not all hospitals have the same protocol.