georgebals

Your family history sounds like mine. Had to guit smoking for spine fusion surgery. Only 4 pack a day + a couple bottles of rum. The Caribbean Diet. I don't think you should wait for problems in health to add up. Morbid Obescity is right in the neighborhood of 36 BMI like dead center. I would beg insurance company to take my case. Make sure you are ready for the fastest changes of your life. It's all in your head, make your head better pre-op. Read, Learn, exercise . It's not really a diet but portion control you need to develop. Run to the dr. & tell him you'll do anything for a longer quality life. Hasta Pronto, George:shades_smile:

My weight goes up + down during the day. I used the Hospital for pre-op weight. I use the Surgical Weight Control Centers scales for Forums. I weigh in a least 1 time a week. Most of us at clinic weigh each meal 4 oz. or less 3 meals a day. Liquids count too! I think its important to be known at your local clinic. Your 3 times more successful at weight loss attending support groups. Measure inches every 6 months. I keep track of weight & inches at Realize. I only have 6 months with my Realize Band but I've seen a number of people scared of the scales. They are just a tool like the band. In the book it says "This is not rocket Science". Lost morbid obesity & 120 pounds since 1/15/08 & No going back. No Fills. To ignorant to put ticker on this page. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, :smile2: George :ohmy:

Post operation I returned to my position as a poker player. I would have returned sooner, but breakfast was late. Jello & broth start of my liquid diet. Liquids was the hardest part. I've played poker almost everyday since my arrival, here in Nevada, 3 1/2 years ago. This is my way to buy those little extras in life. Like electricity, gas & water. After a Morning swim I enroll in the Monte Carlo 9am tournament. My only accepted excuse for missing a day is surgery.The people at the Monte Carlo are one of my best support groups. There is no smoking in poker room. No eating or cheating at the tables. I was banded on 1/15/08. The roof of the MC caught fire on 1/25/08. Reopened2/15/08. Back to the grind,I love it ! It's best to stay away from speed, meth, crack & diet pills, unless you want weight loss of the brain.Before the fire I was the biggest player in the room, after,I just blend in. My life is now about a decade of re-hab & poker after surgerys. I do learn a lot about weight loss & life from friends that have strokes, cancer & in wheel chairs. No fills yet down 119 pounds. Losing LARGE in Vegas. Hasta Pronto, George :biggrin: Thanks Dr. Soong + Dr. Atkinson & Realize Band

I'm only a year or two late on this thread. About 7 months ago. My friend & his wife went to San Diego. She went Tijuana & got banded. This couple lives in Northern Nevada. She needed a fill. I told her to contact my clinic (SWCC). She couldn't find any one that would consider filling her. SWCC told her it would cost $3,000.00. This was the only place that would look at her. She did get a fill at another Doctors office in Reno area. She had her fill & has reached desired weight. I posted before that I've lived in Mexico & almost had WLS in Monterrey. I was banded 1/15/08 at SWCC. Lost 119 pounds- up one from last week. Last Week I asked Dr. Curry of Ohio about Realize band. He told me that he has several male banders at 6 months out like me without having fills. I think I will get my 1st fill 7/31/08.(Medicare & last chance without self pay) So Thank You very much Dr. Curry. Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Soong Thanks again. Check what kind of band track record it has. Good Luck!!! Hasta Pronto, George :thumbup:

The best thing about my band is losing morbid obesity! I Kinda miss drinking rum & cokes in Belize. I'll return to my little fishing shack on the mighty Sittee River some day. It keeps getting better, not worse. Think I'll get my 1st fill 7/31. It's hard to hike on these 110 degree days. My weight loss is slowing.6 months out 119 pounds lost. Like Yvonne72 gave up coke pre-op. One other thing pre-op, with Doctors O.K. here you can have last Supper. Mine was Prime Rib. I can still eat the prime, veggies & salad. At 4 ozs. a meal. I no longer eat spuds, rice, bread or pasta. Not really much to give up for a longer quality life. Good Luck to All. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Congratulations all. I've been exercising hiking & swimming. The more I hike up hill, the more pounds that melt. I haven't had any foods I couldn't handle. no hurling. Yesterday I got an answer to a question I asked when I 1st came to LapBandTalk.com. Dr.Curry sent me an e-mail rating the Realize band as good. Having several male patients that required no-fills. Ladies you get to live 7&1/2 years longer, fair enough. I just needed to see that for me. Banded 1/15/08 By Dr. Soong at SWCC, Las Vegas, Nevada. I was so fat that my Orthopedic Doctor Thalggot hurt his back rolling me over for 2 day spine fusion surgery. lost 120 pounds, no fills yet! hasta pronto, George:biggrin2:

I'm still taking Ambien C R. I been taking it a few years now. I guess they go thru easy. I don't have any restriction. I take B-complex & a multi seniors vitamin pill. Also a large neuro -ps pill. I'll have to change the way I do things if I ever get a fill. I have tried to go without ambien but cannot sleep. The hardest part of the band & ambien for me is staying away from food. Ambien alone will cause me to mindlessly eat. I try to be careful. Hope this helps. Sleep has a lot to do with weight loss, I'm just now learning. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbs_up:

Thank You Kathleen, But its over 120 pounds since 1/15/08. For guys its easy cause we eat so much more before band. Measure inches every 6 months. On Realize band site tells you how & where to measure . I might get my 1st fill 7/31. I'll wait here till you arrive in 2010. Hasta Pronto, George

Thanks for your post,it made my day. The book is a gold mine . It is Everything You Need to Know Before & After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully. I hope you review this book on this thread. Good luck on surgery. Your ready! Give a shout when your out. Kiss the pounds goodby. Hasta Pronto, George:shades_smile:

Hi, It's been a struggle every day for me! It's also been kinda easy. There are a lot of checks & balances. Hardest part post-op was 3 week liquids only. You must have your band set right. Easy parts for me was losing morbid handle. Losing clothing sizes. You will get more out of band than you put into it. It's not Rocket science. It's all in your head. Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric band is the book to buy at Borders. 6 months, 119 lost, no fills yet. Just make sure you are ready to change your life for the better. Every pound you lose takes 4 p.s.i. off your joints=tons per year. Good Luck. Tried & gained weight on the other diets. This here is eating properly, Not shoving crap down your face. i could only lose weight with band & keep it off. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

You've been around town a lot longer than me young lady. My band was installed by Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson. I've asked around about Dr. Fisher also Dr. Teng. I have not met either, both sound a lot alike & are very good. I retired from Alaska Laborers #942 Five years ago. Been on Social Security Disability & Medicare since then also. I would have been bedridden without medicare. I hope you can make a meeting at Dr. Soongs, SWCC, 7/22/08, 6PM. Six short months since surgery & lost 119 pounds. I spend about equal time on surgery tables, poker tables, hiking & swimming. I been real lucky with 1st class Doctors, Clinics & Support Groups. Good Luck with your band!! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbs_up::thumbup:

I promise I won't be big,morbid or fat. I'll be ready for plastic Surgery by:thumbup: then. So count on me as waiting for all of you to arrive. Banded 1/15/08. Lost 119 pounds. Dr. Soong, SWCC, Las Vegas, Nevada. Just 50 pounds to go. Am waiting. Hasta Pronto, George

I was banded 1/15/08. 119 pounds Lost. No fills yet. Realize band holds 9cc. Wonder how they choose which brand to install? I'm more than happy with results. Wish I could get some percentages of people with no fills? 7/31/08 is my last chance for fill part covered by medicare. I want to travel again & where I go there is not much in the way of Drs. & hospitals. I've asked these questions here, with the manufacture & local Doctors. The replys I do get have no substance.Been really Happy since I lost morbid handle. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I travel all over the place to meeting . Could a guy from the wild west side attend your meetings. Hasta Pronto, George I can't be part of secret Clandestine groups says my shirnk

My sister had by-pass surgery & good weight loss. She no longer uses machine. I was banded & have sleep apnea. i take ambien cr. I have lost 119 pounds in 6 months since band. Sleep is getting better with weight loss. I have not used machine. Some of goals are to lose 50 more pounds. Lose the sleep apnea. Get off the non-narcotics==narcotics,:cool2: that i been on too long. The band is giving me that chance. I'm learning that sleep has every thing to do with obesity. I try to get 8 hours sleep a day, it makes a difference. Hasta Pronto, George

Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. Mindless Eating. These 2 books are great. The more you learn, the more you learn what you have to learn. Weight loss goes everywhere into everything Like dental care, sleep, drugs & life modifications. Take or go with your friend to meetings. Buy her half an hour with weight loss shrink. Read 1st book yourself, it will tell you everything you need to know about successful weight loss. Good luck. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbs_up::eek:

rooms to rent/ roomates, page 6f of todays paper. be really careful when leasing a place, lots of scams. It's only a dry heat this is what everybody will tell you when it's 120 degrees & your brain is baking like inside a microwave oven. I drink my share of water but also drink FUZE it tastes good. I don't let the Doctors see me with my bottle of FUZE. I don't do very much in the mid-day heat but swim. I also don't travel on freeways during week, as not to cook in car. I was hoping you could come to 1 of our weight loss meetings on the 22nd at SWCC 6pm. I have not tried it but some people use their Danger card when eating out with good results. Tied you yesterday with 119 pounds lost. Good Luck. Hasta Pronto, George:cool2:

That was a great lunch & talk. Thank you for the pictures. August 16th is perfect, Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse. I will be there. Today is my 6 month birthday from being banded. Weighed in today at SWCC. I weigh 233 pounds. Lost 119 pounds. No fills yet! Yesterday I walked up on 6 big horn sheep in Red Rock Canyon. Am more use to wildlife on strip. I am going to start hiking Mt. Charleston area till temps drop a little. If anyone knows trails or wants to hike, let me know. I'm a little banged up (spine,shoulders, Knees & ankles). So I we don't go to far overboard on hikes. Also, are there good places to hike near Henderson? I still at Monte Carlo most mornings. Hasta Pronto, George:smile2::frown::smile2:

My general physician told me that I should get by-pass surgery. I told him I wanted the band. I have gotten very good results with the band. My Doctor is now on the band wagon. I have blood labs next month with him. He told me to go to weight loss meetings. It is a struggle every day. I'm running away from morbid obesity as fast as I can. I will not return to that world. This is one of the reasons I'm on the band (realize brand band). Restrictions = 0. Banded 1/15/08. By Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson at SWCC in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pre-op #352 pounds. Today at clinic # 233 pounds. #119 pounds lost. No fills yet. It was much more Difficult to carry around 119 extra pounds. That is equal to 3 five gallon jugs of water almost full that are impossible for me to lift today. hasta pronto, George :biggrin2:

I could have gone without the 6 month pre-op Doctor Diet. Where I gained weight. I was not ready for the band before spine fusion surgery. I would tell anybody to get head right before band. This is the fastest change to my life ever. The stuff I gave up (bad choices), is nothing compared to life quality now. Banded 1/15/08. Dr. Soong & Atkinson, Las Vegas, Nevada. No fills yet. Over 117 pounds Lost. Today I hiked 5 miles on Rocky Gap Road at Red Rock Canyon. I was 50 feet from 6 Big sheep, I think 4 of them weighed more then me. Hasta Pronto, George:cool2:

Each place & Doctor has a different twist on this em-tucky. My band Doctor says O.K. My psychologist = step or rule #4. Drink Water. no carbonation (soda) Alcohol calories caffine. Her main concerns are you would be way over level of intoxication with new smaller stomach. She is really supprized no one has pointed this out in court. Almost sounds like Carrie Nations the WCTLU Womens Christ Temperence Leauge Union. I dream of rum Belizian Casussa. Hasta Pronto, George

I was banded 1/15/08, 6 days later i got permission to use pool from my Doctor. Dove in and at 10 deep was reminded that I have a band around my stomach. I don't feel it any more. I swim every day & hike in mountains when not over 100 degrees. Meet a lot of people hiking or swimming that can read your scars. Like band, rotator cuff, ankle & spine surgery scars. Staying active is something I'm getting better at. Good Luck All! Hasta Pronto, George :biggrin:

Dear Greyhound, That was a joke. Lance Burton preforms where I play poker everyday. Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino. Please go to meetings. You will be 3 times more successful at weight loss attending support groups. The poker room is one of my support groups. There is no smoking or eating at the table. I go to 2 meetings a month at my band clinic. I attend 1 at a shrinks office open to everyone. It's $20 but far more help to me. Dr. Segara made sure I attend her meeting pre-op. This helped me get my head where it needed to be. What they don't tell you is there are more people getting the band & by-pass surgery than should. My Doctors, Support Groups & Lance Burton are World Class ("the nuts") That means Best in poker talk. Still no fills. Hasta Pronto, George:teeth_smile:

NO smoking, rum, bread, pasta, cocaine, rice, milk, morphine, sugar, honey plus am cutting back on butter & coconut oil when in Belize. Ice Cream, donuts & cakes & pies some of the fun stuff that got me fat. Big 1 I don't touch carbonation. Cheat at Caffine my shirnk will never catch me (her rule) Good Luck to all. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Out of all the meetings I've attended, This was the Best or Worst Meeting for what they Don't Tell you here in Las Vegas last Wednesday. 1st lady rants for a half hour about the promised her weight loss and it has not happened. The guy next to her said the Dr. told him he could eat anything & as much as he wanted for another half an hour. The P.A. tried to explain that if they came in the morning she would fill their bands. They didn't want to hear this & kept ranting. It was explained that the new band needs time to set properly (time & liquids). If they kept pie holes shut & came to meetings ( not just show up at 1st meeting 4 months out), they may have learned to properly place feed bags. The P.A. was only trying to save their life. Do people like this need permission to fail. I can't figure it out. No exercise, no diet. no meetings & magic band will make weight fall off. Anyhow Dr. Soong banded me 1/15/08 With a Realize band. I told him to put Lance Burton twist on it, So No Fills Down 117pounds Hasta Pronto, George