mtnman428

I have tried many, many different protein shakes, and the one I like the best is Muscle Milk Lite Chocolate. I buy them at Costco in a 24 pack of 8 oz. ready to drink shakes. I use these as meal replacements for breakfast and lunch (with a midmorning snack of 2 oz of raw almonds). They keep me full and are satisfying. I have found that by not eating much solid food during the day gives me much better control at night. I have lost 115 lbs, and I am 5 lbs below my goal weight.

I went back to TJ for my first fill. $279 plus cost of the flight. There is a local Dr that does fills that I will be seeing for my next one. (around 180/fill) (He has since stopped accepting patients) There is a local group that meets and the clinic internet forum for fellowship and support. Otherwise we're pretty much on our own.

I overnighted at the clinic, then one more night at the hotel. I was up and walking around without much pain. Actually went shopping the next day. Remember to pack light and have some loose fitting clothes for the trip back and you should be okay. You are not supposed to lift anything, so pack really light - a toothbrush and a change of socks. Actually, maybe skip the toothbrush. lol Good luck

Hi! I live in RI. I was banded on July 24, 2008. After doing RI Dr. research, I was going to go with Dr. Pohl. I went to his seminar, and also learned that he was 1 of the best. He also has the F.A.C.S. after his name-meaning Fellow American College of Surgeons. Before I could schedule my surgery date, I lost my job (of 10 years), and health benefits. I couldn't afford the $14,000-30,000 US price, and I didn't want to give up. So I started researching Lap Band in Mexico; which is what I ended up doing. I went to Dr. Ortiz. I have since had 1 fill back in Mexico, but I cannot afford to keep flying back there for fills, so I will be staying in RI for my next fill. I will most likely go to Dr. Pohl for my next fill. I just have to call and see if they have any openings for next week. Good luck with your journey, and let me know if you have any questions.

Mine is real similar. A protein shake for breakfast, one for lunch, and a Lean Cuisine for dinner. I am also allowed any green vegatable with zero calorie dressing or seasoning to stave off hunger. Sugar free jello is also allowed. I have been on this for 1 week, and have 1 more to go. I get banded on November 14th. Thus far, I have lost 1.5 to 2 lbs per day on this diet, but I had lost 14 lbs prior to starting the pre-op doing high protein/low carb diet. The pre-op diet in pretty tough the 1st couple of days, but it gets easier if you hang with it. Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you :tt2:.

I am a Service Manager for a new car dealership. Lot's of stress, and stuck at a desk most of the day. I am getting banded in 10 days. Started at 312 lbs in August, I have lost 31 lbs as of today in preparation for banding. I can't wait to join the club!!:w00t:

Have you tried Pro-cal 100 shakes? The strawberry is my favorite, they are very filling and stick with you for quite a while. The price isn't too bad either. You might want to give them a try. Good luck!:girl_hug:

I quit caffeine 4 months ago, and I feel great! To get my energy level up, a few minutes of brisk excersise does the trick, plus burns some calories. Isn't the reason we are doing lapbands is to change our lives and become healthier? Keep up the good work and hang there. You'll do great! :rolleyes2:

Sorry to jump in. I was searching something when I found this. I think you may of been mistaken about the theme of that nights baseball game. At a "Private School Night" function, I would expect the naughty school girl look to be everywhere. Thats what you where to a 'Private School Night" party. The ladies are naughty school girl and guys as the headmaster or the guys dressed as nerds and the lady as the stern headmistress. I personally would not take a child to such an event, but I guess I'm more convervative than you.:biggrin:

Hey! Sorry I haven't posted. I went away for my fill, and a little vacation at the same time. It was weird because I did not have any emails from LBT when I got back on my computer, and I asked, "how can nobody have made a new post in a week?" I logged into LBT, then got an email that there was a new post here, and came to read, but it was about 5 pages of new posts!!! I skimmed through most of them. JANET, this is soooo cool, but I couldn't find the info on exactly what you're doing!!! Is it for a TV commercial (that was what I assumed from the posts)? I loved your fashion pics! Keep em' coming. I'm a Libra so decisions are not my strong suit, but I like the pant outfits best, and the black and white. White pants look fabulous on you...I hope I can say that about myself 1 day! Just remember with white pants panty-lines will show more (if you didn't already consider that). So is it this Wednesday (today) or next Wednesday? Please fill me in about it! Good Luck! So, below I just copy and pasted my post to the July Butterflies thread. I had my first fill on 9/11-Thursday, then I could only have liquids until Monday (Dr.'s orders). So I have been back on normal food for 2 days. So far it seems practically the same as before. Meaning not too much restriction, and I'm still counting my calories, as to not go overboard. They put 1.8ccs in my 4cc band. I hope that I will feel a bit more restriction with my next fill, and enough before I reach the max of 4cc! After I eat it's not really a full feeling, but more of a "I swallowed a horse-pill feeling and it got a bit stuck", so I do stop eating, but this is weird to me. That is normal, right? It is still after quite a bit of food though. My Dr. said that it is fine for me to begin weights now, but to still NOT do abdominal work until 3 full months after my surgery (7/24-10/24). Doing them too soon could cause problems with the port; which, is sutured to the abdominal wall. I'm slowly losing. I thought it would be a bit faster, but at least the scale is going down. It's been 13 pre-op and 19 post-op. Continued success to everyone. _________________

I will be 2 weeks behind you. Mine is scheduled for October 14th. We are both in for a big change in life. Best of luck.

I am getting a lapband on October 14th. It has been really interesting reading everyones experiences in preparation for the surgery. I am excited to take this step toward a healthier future!!

lap band is the generic term. I think all lap bands are called ...lap bands. Just like this forum is lapbandtalk. Realize is a brand name of a lap-band. Inamed is another brand. Both are considered lap-bands. At least, I thats my understanding. There are discussions on this board about the merits of the various brands of bands that you can search. I would suggest you gain confidence in the surgeon and use what he suggests.

How did it go, Madison? Hope to see you at the Calgary meetings.

I'd suggest Lap-band for Life by Dr. Ortiz. I think you can get it on Amazon. Very simple and straight forward with lots of good information.

I agree with BJean and JoJoBananas! Many abortions are done early term, and I'm pretty sure, are not as gruesome as that video made it out to look. I watched the video and it did not change my mind to be pro-choice. There are laws against when it is too late to abort, so an "alive baby" was already taken into consideration for the time limit within the law. Let's not go backwards with our rights (and freedoms)here people. Everyone should worry about themselves and stop trying to interfere in other people's right to choose what is best for themselves. There are much worse things happening in this world to be concentrating on than reversing a law that has already been made, or more importantly, reversing the right for woman to make their own decision about their body!

Hi Carrie_Nah I'm two weeks post op from being banded by Dr Ortiz. I had no problems medically or otherwise with my trip. Medical Do your research on Dr Ortiz. His clinic was newer and cleaner than most medical establishments I've seen here in Canada. Non-medical Some people hear TJ or Mexico and have visions of some lawless place. From my experience, you can be as safe as you want. The Clinic picks you up at the airport, takes you directly to the clinic. They take you directly to the hotel, they pick you up and take you back to the airport. If you're adventurous, you can take a cab to the tourist area. I wouldn't travel alone but I would say the same about New York City. We walked around outside the hotel a bit in daylight but wouldn't at night. Just take reasonable precautions. People at the clinic, the hotel and Revolution Ave (the tourist zone) pretty much spoke english and were very nice. We also went to the local mall - walked there in daylight, cabbed back that evening. Grabbed a starbucks and caught a movie. No one spoke english but it was fun. My wife has had three trips to TJ this year (her band, her 1st fill and she came with me for my band) and had no troubles on any trip. Everyone's experience is different but I would not hesitate to recommend TJ and Dr Ortiz. Good luck.

I had glue too, but what (I think) some people are talking about with "stitches" are the stitches on the insides (also). Some people do still get stitches on the outside too though. The band (mine) is stitched, in one spot to the stomach, and the port is also stitched to the abdominal wall (or muscle?). So I assume that they mean it depends on how many stitches the Dr. used for those things because some doctors vary in their technique. I wish you good luck tomorrow Jo Ann!

Anwa, I had the same question awhile ago...I can't really describe how (I had to follow directions), but I can tell you where to find the directions! Go to the search box and type in "How do I insert a ticker?" and the how-to thread will come up (originally posted by haffdime). Good luck!:crying:

Wow, way to go Josh! Eyespy, I almost feel the same way. I have not had a fill yet, and did have some restriction in the beginning, but not anymore. Now I could probably almost eat whatever I wanted to. I have just been on my own calorie-counting diet and exercise to lose weight. I was doing fine and still losing, but now I just hit the "dieter's roadblock" I went to a wedding over the weekend and I'm still in that mode!!! So today the scale said that I was 2#s up!!!! I have not exercised since Friday. I do know that I must get back on track, and tomorrow I will go to the gym! I hope that when I do get a fill that will help. :crying:

Kathy, so far, please do NOT be afraid/scared of the Lap Band! I was too for so long before I decided to get it. Now that I do have it (only 31 days since), and the few days after I got it, I said "Piece of cake"! It really wasn't that bad at all. I had hardly any pain and my incisions seem to be healing nicely (knock on wood!). My weight loss is starting to taper off, but I will be getting a fill soon. Good luck to all!:biggrin:

If you are thinking of Mexico, consider Dr Ortiz at the Obesity Control Centre in TJ. That who did mine and my wife's and we had great experience.

Hey Rufus Not sure how OHIP in works in Ontario but in Alberta there is some Health Care zero cost available but you need high BMI (40+) plus co-morbidities plus a multi-year qualification program. The Toronto clinics are supposed to be good but I think they are all private so you would be self-pay.

I bet you used the computer at the nurses station didn't you?:wink2: LOL How did it go?

OMG! I hear ya...I lost about 90 LBs. in 2002-2003 on my own (for about the 2nd time in my life), then I gained it all back +++some by 2006! I had even told myself that I wasn't going to let that happen to me again! It's like an alien just took over my body/mind while I regained it all. :cursing: Anyways, now I have my band and I really hope that I'm successful with it for good!:wink2: I can't wait to be thinner again! Good luck to you and your success too. Keep us posted.:tt2: