LaMonica

I try to keep a jug of Water with me, and give myself small goals throughout the day. Sometimes I'll say I won't talk to my coworkers unless I drink __ sips of water first or I can't get up from my desk to make copies/see a PT (I'm a counselor) until half of my water is done. Little competitions like that, because it's motivating to me. At first it was hard because I used to only like cold water, but once you get it in, it's like your body craves it. I can drink room temp water now, and usually "hunger" is really thirst. Good luck!!

My surgeon told me the first 30-45 days are more about healing than losing weight, and any weight lost is a bonus. Make sure to check with your doc to specify the proper amount of calories you are to eat, if it's too low then you may not lose weight due to starvation mode. Try not to pay as much attention to the scale at first. Just come up with routines that incorporate exercise, plenty of Water, and learning how to eat properly. One day you'll wake up and your clothes will fit MUCH different. Hang in there!!

Oh, I have a LOT to say about this!
I was a WW devotee....I kept all my enrollment booklets over the years and I believe I have 12 of them. I was obviously very good about losing weight for each iteration, but horrible (and human) about regaining.
I finally surrendered to the obvious when, last September, I was reenrolling in WW for the 13th time (lucky 13) and, standing in line shaking my head, I walked away. I had had it. I started deep and extensive research on WLS, met with my surgeon on Dec 11th, and was banded on March 20th, 2013.
Being banded and being a WW are polar opposites in terms of my mindset. With WW, I was on a diet "until I lost my weight". I was always hungry, looking for bulky foods, Water, free fruits, whatever, to fill me up. That never worked. I gamed my points, looking to "save" a few so I could have a "treat" each night. Vacation, wedding, birthday, weekend coming up? I'd veer WAY OFF program, crash and burn, feel like a failure and try to cram in as much off-program foods as I could until my next weigh-in, when I'd start anew. At least for that week.
With my lapband, this is the way I live. I am satisfied on a small portion, so I don't need to save my points for more food, or "tastier" food to "reward" myself with. I never feel deprived, or like I'm sacrificing something really tasty because if I eat it, it will bring on a binge. My lapband is automatic Portion Control for me. I cannot possibly overeat. It also guides me to choose the best option (in terms of healthy eating) because with limited space in my tummy, I won't fill it with fake Skinny Cows or light candy or all the other BS foods I'd work into my WW points.
I don't count the hours until I can eat again, I don't save up points so I can splurge, I don't try and exercise away a bad day of eating, and most importantly, I'm not doing this "just until I lose weight."
There is no "on my diet"/"off my diet" mentality with my lapband. This is for me one of the greatest benefits of my lapband. The way I eat now is so....calm is the word that comes to mind. Clean, calm, delicious and satisfying.

I try to keep a jug of Water with me, and give myself small goals throughout the day. Sometimes I'll say I won't talk to my coworkers unless I drink __ sips of water first or I can't get up from my desk to make copies/see a PT (I'm a counselor) until half of my water is done. Little competitions like that, because it's motivating to me. At first it was hard because I used to only like cold water, but once you get it in, it's like your body craves it. I can drink room temp water now, and usually "hunger" is really thirst. Good luck!!

I am sorry that your experience was a bad one. I was banded by Dr. Felts May 2008 and he also called me from his cell phone the day after surgery and also the next week although he was out of town on vacation. Dr. Felts is no longer with True Results which would be the reason why they turned you away, and like the other poster said most surgeons will not just "assume" or take over another surgeon's client, especially when the original surgeon is still local and still practicing.
I was very educated not only by Dr. Felts' staff but by him as well during each one of my fill visits that were all done by him personally. If I had any questions, he would answer and not just some nurse. He would never rush through any appointments and was always prompt. I haven't had a fill in over a year but to date I have lost 130lbs. I was featured on his website after 1.5 years for a success story so I know these stories are real:
http://drfrankfelts.com/patient-results-weight-loss-surgery-dallas-texas/lamonica-lap-band-results.html
Maybe if you visit him in his new office you can get some of your issues resolved. Also nobody I know personally or researched had any complications. Thanks,

Georgegirl - good for you! I thought it was restriction at first too but with the throwing up and stuff I knew it had to be something more. Luckily most of the time it is a quick fix with a little unfill...I haven't had any other problems since and it's been 3 weeks. Maybe in another month or so I will go back to get fluoro to see what my size looks like to see if maybe I should get a little Fluid put back in. Restriction is only restriction when it's healthy and doesn't hurt...so good luck!!!

Thanks Bama! Trust me I understand just how you feel...the first time I had the unfill I gained about 10 pounds back but now looking back it was a slight hiccup! I am a little sad now that he took SO MUCH out but he basically had to because of how severe my swelling was...and thinking back on it, must have been that way for several months! So I can eat more of course, and unfortunately my appetite has slightly increased so I'm back to drinking 1/2 gallon water/day and am going to try to start the Couch 2 5K program to combat the increase in calories. I am thinking maybe in 2 months or so to go back to get SOME Fluid put back in, but not all of it because I don't want this problem to creep up on me again, plus I really just want to build muscle and maintain my weight, not lose anymore. Congrats to everyone on their weight loss so far and keep up the good work!!!

I am sorry that your experience was a bad one. I was banded by Dr. Felts May 2008 and he also called me from his cell phone the day after surgery and also the next week although he was out of town on vacation. Dr. Felts is no longer with True Results which would be the reason why they turned you away, and like the other poster said most surgeons will not just "assume" or take over another surgeon's client, especially when the original surgeon is still local and still practicing.
I was very educated not only by Dr. Felts' staff but by him as well during each one of my fill visits that were all done by him personally. If I had any questions, he would answer and not just some nurse. He would never rush through any appointments and was always prompt. I haven't had a fill in over a year but to date I have lost 130lbs. I was featured on his website after 1.5 years for a success story so I know these stories are real:
http://drfrankfelts.com/patient-results-weight-loss-surgery-dallas-texas/lamonica-lap-band-results.html
Maybe if you visit him in his new office you can get some of your issues resolved. Also nobody I know personally or researched had any complications. Thanks,

Hi guys....I introduced myself in the intro thread but wanted to stop by here!! I'm LaMonica, just got my surgery date of May 23rd.....I'm 24 and live in McKinney TX. Gonna be banded by Dr. Felts
How do I make a banner with my pic?? Good luck to all of us!!