Band_Groupie

I ate and drank a LOT before my first weigh in (I know, sounds counterintuitive, but I was also a long term yo-yo dieter and needed a permanent solution too...also had comorbidities like hypertension, now gone). I was told to lose about 5-10 pounds, so I just made sure I had more than that at the beginning to keep myself in the safe zone. You're expected to be a 'failure' at the diet as the 6 months is really more about your committment time and having the time to research and find out if this is for you. Don't gain (I saw one person dienied for gaining a single pound...over the entire 6 months, not by month), but don't lose much either. I won't sugar coat it, for us yo-yoers, this is a long frustrating 6 months as we know how to diet...looking back though, all the research time is what helped me be successful after the band as the plan is something new to us...NO MORE DIETING! Let me know if I can help, and you can check out my pre-banding days here (under blogs), or at my new blogging site on Blogger (link below).

As long as you have a 35 BMI or above and the comorbidity(s) needed by your insurance you should be covered. You need to stay above the 35 BMI until you have your formal approval from insurance (so don't lose too much pre-op). Best wishes! -BG

150...Happy Memorial Day all!

Cathy, This is the 2009 April group, but here's the link to the 2010 group (they ended up picking the same 'Bunnies' name so it gets confusing): April 10 Bandsters - LAP-BAND At the top of any thread you click thread tools and then subscribe (updates will show up on your user CP page). For groups, you look under 'forum' at the top and then 'group' and you can join a group there. Have a great LB journey and I hope we run into each other again! -BG

Kelsey- Awesome news that you have some restriction already!!! When I felt restriction it was always an immediate change with liquids too. My Doc doesn't give any 'primer' fill at surgery did yours? If you'd like to, I can meet you at the AGH support group sometime? Enjoy that restriction! -BG

Well, statistically speaking, most Banders need fills to get restriction. Is flying there really cheaper than finding a place to fill here though?

Yep, Bandster Hell sucks...took me until fill 3 to really get good restriction and fill 4 made it perfect. During Bandster Hell it's better to eat more small meals than 3 larger ones (as it's the time you're most likely to cause a slip or other complication). I'm a pro-dieter (yo-yo queen), so I just watched my intake until some until restriction came...and get this...I FINALLY STOPPED DIETING! I started post-band with the same plan I have now...I eat what my family is having, stressing more of the protein, and I just eat a lot less of it (1-1.5C per meal). You'll get there, just keep getting those fills!!! Had my gallbladder out about a month ago (had about 20 stones)...he was able to do a single incision surgery through the belly button (and I've had no problems since). Could you have both surgeries together (my LB Surgeon also did my GB one), and if you have two different surgeons they can do them back to back in the same OR (I had two different surgeries with two docs for incontinence; hysterectomy and bladder sling)...just a thought.

Funny you should ask, as I just looked up the support group info. last night...I haven't been to one yet. Do you go to the one's at your hospital? I started a blog here when I started my 6 mo. diet (I kept the old posts here in the Blog section, just click on the 'Blog Entries' number under my avatar to the left). I had so much support from it that it was like my own support group. I moved it over to Blogger in Jan. and after a year and a half of getting emails and comments encouraging me to write a book (which I always laughed off), I'm now giving it a try (found out there aren't any LB books from strictly a Banders perspective)...never thought I'd be writing a LB book LOL! We'l see what happens!

Hey there, just wanted to see how your fill went? Oh, and I got a letter this week stating that Dr. Uchal (my doc at AGH) and Dr. Urbandt are now in a bariatric team (they will only be doing pre/post op care at AGH, no WLS)...interesting.

Where did everyone go? 151 this week.

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

152.5 Happy Weekend (the kids talked me into having a garage sale...akkk...guess who's the only one awake).

Water intake (and protein) have really had a correlation with my WL. My Doc says any liquid counts, so drink that milk. Have you tried a hot or room temp liquid (hot ones go down easily when I'm tight)...if you don't want the caffeine, there are lots of decaf teas, coffee, and SF hot chocolates even.

Congrats JT! I am in awe of you doing this! I need to set a better exercise goal.

Here are some blog updates. Remember, anyone can read these and you can comment under the 'anonymous' choice if you don't have a Google account (just keep pushing the button after you post and it will give you a word verification. As you know, I'm now working on trying to write a LB book (after a year of messages from all of you suggesting it LOL). I would really appreciate it if you could send me some information (you can do this here, or with a PM, comment on the blog, or via my email) as I go along...I routinely ask questions so I can gather input for the book as I want this to represent all our journies as much as possible. The two blogs marked with * below, are where I need some input currently. THANK YOU! -BG Blog here: THE SWEET SPOT 5/7/10 Lock Me Up...I'm a Smuggler! (Patio projects) *5/5/10 Pre-Op Process (Dr. Clearance & Testing) *5/4/10 Pre-Op Process (Self-Pay or Covered) 5/3/10 Of Mice and Men (and Brother, Sisters...and Parents) (Helping Parents get ready to sell their home 4/27/10 Happy Birthday! 4/24/10 Don't Have any Wild Parties...(going home)

Here are some blog updates. Remember, anyone can read these and you can comment under the 'anonymous' choice if you don't have a Google account (just keep pushing the button after you post and it will give you a word verification. As you know, I'm now working on trying to write a LB book (after a year of messages from all of you suggesting it LOL). I would really appreciate it if you could send me some information (you can do this here, or with a PM, comment on the blog, or via my email) as I go along...I routinely ask questions so I can gather input for the book as I want this to represent all our journies as much as possible. The two blogs marked with * below, are where I need some input currently. THANK YOU! -BG Blog here: THE SWEET SPOT 5/7/10 Lock Me Up...I'm a Smuggler! (Patio projects) *5/5/10 Pre-Op Process (Dr. Clearance & Testing) *5/4/10 Pre-Op Process (Self-Pay or Covered) 5/3/10 Of Mice and Men (and Brother, Sisters...and Parents) (Helping Parents get ready to sell their home 4/27/10 Happy Birthday! 4/24/10 Don't Have any Wild Parties...(going home)

Here are some blog updates. Remember, anyone can read these and you can comment under the 'anonymous' choice if you don't have a Google account (just keep pushing the button after you post and it will give you a word verification. As you know, I'm now working on trying to write a LB book (after a year of messages from all of you suggesting it LOL). I would really appreciate it if you could send me some information (you can do this here, or with a PM, comment on the blog, or via my email) as I go along...I routinely ask questions so I can gather input for the book as I want this to represent all our journies as much as possible. The two blogs marked with * below, are where I need some input currently. THANK YOU! -BG Blog here: THE SWEET SPOT 5/7/10 Lock Me Up...I'm a Smuggler! (Patio projects) *5/5/10 Pre-Op Process (Dr. Clearance & Testing) *5/4/10 Pre-Op Process (Self-Pay or Covered) 5/3/10 Of Mice and Men (and Brother, Sisters...and Parents) (Helping Parents get ready to sell their home 4/27/10 Happy Birthday! 4/24/10 Don't Have any Wild Parties...(going home)

Here are some blog updates. Remember, anyone can read these and you can comment under the 'anonymous' choice if you don't have a Google account (just keep pushing the button after you post and it will give you a word verification. As you know, I'm now working on trying to write a LB book (after a year of messages from all of you suggesting it LOL). I would really appreciate it if you could send me some information (you can do this here, or with a PM, comment on the blog, or via my email) as I go along...I routinely ask questions so I can gather input for the book as I want this to represent all our journies as much as possible. The two blogs marked with * below, are where I need some input currently. THANK YOU! -BG Blog here: THE SWEET SPOT 5/7/10 Lock Me Up...I'm a Smuggler! (Patio projects) *5/5/10 Pre-Op Process *5/4/10 Pre-Op Process 5/3/10 Of Mice and Men (and Brother, Sisters...and Parents) (Helping Parents get ready to sell their home 4/27/10 Happy Birthday! 4/24/10 Don't Have any Wild Parties...(going home)

My BMI was 37.7 and I lost 90 lbs. in almost exactly 10 months...I'm now at 152 and I haven't seen that for over 20 years. I eat about 1200 cals. a day, but I don't track it daily.

Lost the gain I had..152.5 today...good to be home and back in good habits. Happy weekend all!

JGirl- CONGRATULATIONS on Onederland!!! Awesome milestone!! I've been at the folks again for 9 days helping finish up for the house sale. I got into old bad habits and bad choices and gained 2 pounds. Glad to be home and away from all the goodies! Happy Monday all!

Why only one fill...especially because you know you're still hungry between meals? It took me four fills to get to my sweet spot. -BG

Cold feet is VERY normal! I was working on it almost a year from the day I decided to look into WLS and I still had some nervousness. Come read my blog (I'm a year from banding yesterday) and get yourself into the right frame of mind...it's the best thing I've ever done. Trust me, I tried EVERY diet and I did great at a lot of them...save yourself the heartache and the lost time, get the band and STOP dieting! -BG I had my blog here for over a year and just moved it, but anyone can view it; blog here (take a peak at my first vlog on 4/22/10): 4/22/10 Happy Bandiversary! ~ THE SWEET SPOT

Joy- I don't usually react this way, but I know how important it is to keep the journey positive. I'm a reach for the sky long-term goal person too, but that's over 2 pounds a week. I don't want to be a 'Debbie Downer', but I don't want you to set yourself up for a disappointment either. Maybe set a size for your goal or take it one month at a time? I just know that when you get about 25-30 pounds from goal you enter what we call 'Goal Limbo' and the WL usually slows way down as you don't have that much excess weight anymore. I'm here to support you, so let me know how I can help and I'll support whatever you're trying to attain! I'm a slow loser too, so I get it...for me being at my Sweet Spot made all the difference in WL. Best wishes! -BG

Google 'globus sensation'...you need to make sure it isn't reflux (sometimes the only symptom is a lump in the throat feeling). If it sounds like it, just ask your doc for an Rx (I take Nexium). If you have any continuing problems during the night then you're too tight (but I'm not sure if you've even had a fill yet). Best wishes. -BG