txsonicguy

Really great points. Thanks!

I was banded at TR Richardson in June of 2013. I have LOVED my Aftercare - with one exception. There is one PA that is a small Asian gal. She is super sweet, but the two fills she gave me hurt like hell! I simply asked and they put a note in my file and I don't get her anymore. The other PA fills have been almost pain free. In one year I've lost 178 pounds. They are always easy to get an appointment that fits my schedule. I would highly recommend their office. If you have any other questions - let me know.

My one year anniversary is coming up on 12 June. I'm down 178 pounds. I want to post pictures on Facebook (something I NEVER do of myself) but am torn about telling people about the surgery. There are literally only about a dozen people that know I've had surgery. My own mother and siblings don't know. I don't lie about it, I tell the truth if asked directly (which I have been ). What are y'all's thoughts? Do you "fly the flag" or are you discreet about it? I'm not ashamed - it's one of the smartest things I've ever done. It's just that I have worked VERY hard and I see how people act about weight loss surgery as it's some form of cheating or taking the "easy way out". I don't want that diminished. I just want to really Celebrate on the 12th and wondering if it's time to "come out of the closet". Thoughts?

It's really made a huge difference for me. My 5 year old likes to run the timer for me at restaurants.

I chose 2:00 because it's safest for me. Sometimes I wait even longer depending on how it's feeling. Softer foods (like eggs) are usually good at 1:00.

I just use the timer function on my phone. As soon as I swallow I start a 2:00 timer. That forces me to take time between bites. My meal isn't always hot by the time I'm done, but if I stick to the timer I really can eat whatever I want.

I loved your comment about the band not being wrapped around your brain or mouth! I was banded in June of this year and learning to eat small bites and eat slowly has been a challenge. I've had two really bad stuck incidents that led to vomiting (one embarrassingly public) and both times were from allowing myself to get too hungry and then snarfing down food. I literally now use my iphone timer at every meal (even at restaurants) and I can pretty much eat anything I want in very small quantities (except bread or tortillas). I'm now in the green zone and down 105 pounds since May. It does get better!

I such I could get excited as my wife does. I still have days when I tell myself "so what you've lost 100 pounds. You're still 160 pounds overweight!" But then I realize that I just need to do it again (lose 100#). I've done it once - I can do it again, right?

I just hit the green zone this week after another 1 cc fill. Took me to 10.3 cc on a 14cc band. It's amazing how just that one additional cc made cc difference.

Traveling has always been such a nightmare. It's got to be a great feeling to not worry about it.

Congrats!

As I've been losing the wright since my June surgery, I haven't been purchasing smaller clothes. I've just been tightening my belt and tucking my shirts in a little further. This morning when I weighed in I was down a total of 100.1 pounds! Took the day off and HAD to buy new pants as my old ones were more like clown pants. On my June 11 surgery day my pants were size 60 waist ( can't believe I just posted that in public!). Today I bought all new pants size 50 waist! They feel so much better than my clown pants. Even better I realized I'm finally in the green zone! It's a happy day!

Isn't it funny how used to asking for a table you get. We went out to dinner for DD's birthday tonight and forgot to ask. It was busy and they seated us at a booth. I panicked and then remembered I've lost almost 100 pounds. I fit right in. What a great feeling.

Went for another fill this week and they changed the protocol back to 2 days liquids 2 days mushies. I asked why the two changes and they said that the protocol was developed by their director in Australia, and it worked fine there. However, it apparently was not working for the American patients. Not sure what that says about us as Americans.

It's just a card for registering your band.

Right now I'm having great results on the scale - and know that it comes and goes. Just try to remember these good days on the non-loss or gain days. Started at 475 on May 24. Weighed in at 387 today. 88 pounds in 18 weeks! As good as that feels, I had an ever better feeling experience this week. I flew out to San Diego this week and didn't have to use a seat belt extender (so used to it I own my own). Granted it was a first-class seat and maybe the belts are a bit bigger, but none the less it clicked! Was pretty damn excited! This last fill took me to 9.3 in a 14 cc band, but it's the first fill I really can feel. I'm still eating too fast and have gotten myself into trouble including a very embarrassing projectile vomit situation at a trade show in San Diego, but I may actually be close to GREEN. I would tell any newbies to learn NOW the importance of eating slowly, taking small bites, and learning to make good food choices. Learn it now so that when you get near the green zone and you HAVE to do those things you don't do what I did at the trade show. Pretty sure I'm not allowed back to the San Diego Convention Center anytime soon!

I sent mine in June 13 and just got it last week.

Why they ease us into fills. I've been frustrated that, while I've been losing weight, I've had to do it all by willpower. Pre lap-band I'm at the point where my will power loses out to Dunkin Donuts. I had my 4th fill Friday since my June12th surgery. He gave me 2 cc's which took me to 7.8 in my 14 cc band. I definitely could feel a difference and looking at My Fitness Pal, I only had 600 calories Friday and Saturday (supposed to be at 1800) but didnt feel hungry. Tonight I had my first really bad "stuck" episode. I was 1/3 of the way through a fat free turkey hot dog (which I eat almost every day) and I realized something was wrong. I got a stressed feeling in my chest and then this weird foamy stuff started to come back up. It lasted over an hour with a ton of that weird stuff coming up. What I've realized is that the time leading up to this point is when I was supposed to teach myself the basics: eating SLOWLY, using a child's fork to control bite sizes, chewing up the bite well, etc. Lesson learned. Just wish I didn't have to go through what I did tonight to figure it out.

I'm with Dr Benavides as well. His office staff is great. As far as calories, each person is different and you should only take the recommendation of the doctor. I ended up setting an appointment with the True Results nutritionist (cost me just my copay) . It was one of the best hours I've put into this whole journey so far. We worked out a calorie count and Protein intake goal (1800 calories and 90 grams protein). I've lost 73 pounds since May 27. Highly recommend meeting with the nutritionist. She was awesome - TR Richardson office.

Big bags of Skinny Pop come home from Costco with me each week. I budget for and eat one serving each night. No issues at all.

I wonder why the protocol changes.

I wonder why the protocol changes.

Had another fill Friday, and they told me that they changed away from the two days of liquids and two days of mushies after a fill. They now wanted me to eat my regular diet. I. Was just curious if anyone else's provider had changed the protocol recently.

That's where I got mine. You should attend the support group. Second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm.