jujuvee

Congratulations on the banding, I was banded March 24 and am loving every minute of it! I'm sure many will come along and give you suggestions all I can say is keep up on your protein, don't drink with meals and exercise. With the combination of your hard work and the band you will start to see major changes on and off the scale. Good luck and feel free to ask any questions.

I was banded on March 24th and have never slimed or pb'd.

thanks for the artichoke parmesean chicken recipe. I have already cooked it twice. I did add half a cup off those fried onions that come in the can for the last 5 minutes of the bake time.

Most doc's will have their own plan that they want you to use, mine pre op diet was this. Protein drink for Breakfast Protein Drink for lunch dinner was 3 oz of protein with a non starchy vegetable They also gave a list of 100 calorie items I could have if I was still hungry, the diet was for 2 weeks but I did it for 3 to be on the safe side and I lost 30 lbs. I used and still use a Protein Powder called body fortress, I get the vanilla because I can add fruit or sugar free pudding mix or Peanut Butter. I use milk and add crushed ice and my favorite tool ever, my immersion stick blender from cusinart. Good luck and feel free to ask any questions.

Welcome! There is lot's of great information on this site and support is here anytime you need it! Thumbs up to British Columbia, been to tofino twice, we stay at the wick and hope to get back soon. Feel free to ask any qustions, I am just a bit over 2 months out and loving every minute of it.

Hi Bio Teacher, I have been thinking about you!!!! We exchanged posts on the Indiana forum, we were banded at the same clinic. I have Mandelbaum and the Lapband brand though. I am so sorry that you are having a hard time and I am only 2 months out but I would love to be buddys! I'm going to send you my email in a private message. Julie

6 years ago I did the 3 day 60 mile in michigan. I did it at 320 lbs. My mom and my sister were crew members and my Mom was going through chemo at the time. My mom was at the work station about at the half way point of each day and seeing her beautiful bald head gave me the strength to finish each day. Come day 3 and the 60th mile I was hurtin, but my pain was nothing like those suffering with breast cancer...... Long story short.... You go girl, it's an amazing experience!!!!!

I use a brand called body fortress that I get from Walmart. I can't off hand remember the protein grams but pretty sure it's around 30 grams. I buy the vanilla because it's versatile, I make mine with 1 cup milk, 1.5 scoops of protein powder,1 tsp peanut butter, 1 tsp sugar free jell brand chocolate powder and crushed ice. I use my immersion (stick) blender and it's real yummy If you stick with vanilla protein powder you have more mixing options such as different pudding flavors and fruit.

I really don't have any words of wisdom in regards to your insurance company. I have United Health Care and they only paid 20,000 of my surgery and I am on the hook for the rest, so I am making payments on 11,000. I also am responsible for the cost of my fills.... Long story short... It's so worth it and It is changing my life. How much are they willing to pay and can you make payments on the remaining amount?

Well I can tell you that I am only 2 months into being banded but it's the best thing I have ever done for myself, I had a textbook surgery and recovery was quick, I have had so much energy and I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was 373 at pre op, did my pre op diet for 3 weeks instead of 2 just to be on the safe side. Lost 30 lbs. Weight at surgery day was 344 and I am now at 313.I have the lap band brand but I do not know what size, which is fine with me because that would just give me something else to obsess over. There was no saline put in on surgery day and I have not had a fill yet, my surgeon says I am doing great and we might do one in a month. Depending on what I eat I do have restriction but if I eat a slider food then I can eat endless amounts...not good! I am new to all of this but feel free to ask me any questions. Julie

Banded on March 24th. Surgery day weight 344. Weight on May 24th 313....... So 31 pounds. No fill yet.

I'm seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in years... Blush Blush...

I'm not in the medical field but if I am so bad that I need a tube down my throat then the last thing I want them to worry about is my band and I never really understood the reason for the lapband cards, I figure it was my choice to eat out, why take money out of a restaurants pocket... Again just my opinion, if it works for you great. Hope everyone is having a nice holiday.

Yes, I was thinking of replacing the beef with white meat ground turkey and the bacon could also be turkey, egg beaters to replace the whole eggs, reduced calorie cheese(because I will die before I use fat free cheese :thumbup: but I can't think of a mayo replacement. And to the original bander that offered up this great recipe please don't take offense that I just disected it.

I'm confused, where do yo work where you have to meet the above criteria in order to return?

yum, I will try this with ground turkey and turkey bacon. Thanks

Went in for my first fill May 14th and to my surprise my surgeon decided to hold off. After I mentioned to him that I am still satisfied for 4-5 hours on a cup and a half of food he was happy with my weight loss and says that we will consider it in a month. I do notice that it really all depends on what I am eating. If I am following the rules and eating protein first then I stay satisfied, but once I eat a slider food then I am ready to eat sooner and can eat more at a sitting. I have increased my walking to 2.5 miles at least 3 times a week and I can even go into a slow jog. My goal for this month is to continue my walking and to stay on track with eating healthy satisfying foods.

Went in for my first fill May 14th and to my surprise my surgeon decided to hold off. After I mentioned to him that I am still satisfied for 4-5 hours on a cup and a half of food he was happy with my weight loss and says that we will consider it in a month. I do notice that it really all depends on what I am eating. If I am following the rules and eating protein first then I stay satisfied, but once I eat a slider food then I am ready to eat sooner and can eat more at a sitting. I have increased my walking to 2.5 miles at least 3 times a week and I can even go into a slow jog. My goal for this month is to continue my walking and to stay on track with eating healthy satisfying foods.

Thanks Susanhol, it's been hard work but so worth it... I have spent too many years talking about how miserable I am, it's time to get off my couch and make a lifestyle change. Do your best to stay on track on the preop diet, not just for the shrinking of the liver but to get your body use to healthy foods, sugary,fried and large amounts will not be allowed while you are healing so prepare yourself now. After surgery you will be on a post op diet and once the swelling goes down you may have temptations...getting a head start never hurts. Good luck and feel free to write anytime, I look forward to your progress.

I can tell you that day 2 -14 I was on full liquids and it included scrambled eggs, re fried Beans which are yummy with salsa and sour cream, cream of wheat and oatmeal, now with that said before you take my or any others ideas please call your surgeon and get it approved because all docs are different and it only matters what yours want's you to do. Also you can add Protein powder to oatmeal,cream of wheat or pudding if you get tired of Protein drinks. Good luck.

I started my pre op diet at 373 and on surgery day March 24th, I was 344. I am now 317 and I was due for my first fill last week and my surgeon and I decided that I did not need a fill yet. I am eating small portions and staying satisfied up to 5hrs, I go in again in a month to re evaluate. So, it's just my opinion but I say go for it!!!!

My insurace has a limit of twenty thousand so anything after that I am considered self pay. So I just got all the bills in and I owe 10.000. But since day one after surgery I have felt like a new woman and that is priceless!!!!!!!!!!

By no means did I want you to feel ashamed and I am sorry if that's the way it sounded, but 2 weeks into this is pretty early to introduce chunky foods, but that's just my opinion and if your doc is ok with it then that's great. Something that really helped me was re-fried Beans with salsa and sour cream, also I took 2 chewable Centrums a day and did not skip the Protein shakes, the lack of protein is what causes fatigue.. keep us posted on what you find out and I hope you get to feeling better soon.

just because it goes down ok does not mean that it's ok to eat. There's a reason we are put on a specific diet. You just had surgery and the point of following the food phases is to allow for healing. If your stomach has to churn to digest you risk pulling stiches loose or even slipage. This is the hardest part off the process but talk to your dietition and get back on track. This is just my opinion but I know that getting approved for lapband took me 5 months and I can't imagine any setbacks because I didn't follow instructions this early into the process.

Oh I can soooo relate to this, I have only been banded 5 weeks but before being banded there were times that when I had to pee it hit me so quick that notthing I did was slowing it down so I could get to a bathroom, It as really getting frustrating because I could be anywhere when that went down. Now since being banded and loosing 50 pounds I have not had that problem.... So yes there's hope. And as far as skin I have alot, at one point in life I was 410 so I have yo-yo'd from that high weight all the way to 265 and back to my pre op weight 373, so this girl is not in denial that there will be skin... and lot's. I am going to have my doc document any skin conditions, rashes, back pain, you name it and if insurance cover it great but I will otherwise pay to get it removed. There's no way I will reach goal and continue to carry a skin apron around :thumbdown: