Dreamjeans

You know what I am still on the six month gnarly long pre op diet just to turn around and submit papers and hope that I somehow qualify. If I could self pay I would! Think of the huge jump start you have and I wonder if your insurance will cover it if you ever need a resurgery? That is a bit of a bummer but be glad you are on the way down :biggrin: YOu could still be gaining weight!

SO I am now down 15 pounds and am now half way, YAY! I messed around with trying to change my diets up. First low carb which is a Biotch to be on then tried this stupid lemonade diet cleanse that nearly made me go in my shorts! Cleanse, please. Right now I'm doing Weight Watchers. I go to the meetings and I el oh vee ee my leader, she is amazing. Sometimes in class they talk about the dangers of lapband and it makes me feel a little weak or stupid for that matter but then I realize that its my decision and if I think it will help then that is all that matters, right? I'm still not convinced that this surgery is right for me because I am worried about regaining the weight or just sucking down chocolate all day but I seem to be doing pretty darn good on WW so we will see. I have so much to lose. Thinking of losing only 1 to 2 pounds a week sounds so daunting. Ive seen people lose that much weight in six months but I guess they don't get to eat the same things I do. I'm acutally amazed at how many good quality foods I can eat now that I have cut out desserts. I think we can compromise a lot. OH, on another note I did find out that the doctors office will take my first weigh in and IF I had the thirty pounds off I could have submitted my information to the insurance on July 3rd. What do you think the chances are that I could lose five pounds a week for three weeks in a row? I'd say pretty low :tt1: At least if you do it the right way. :thumbup:

SO I am now down 15 pounds and am now half way, YAY! I messed around with trying to change my diets up. First low carb which is a Biotch to be on then tried this stupid lemonade diet cleanse that nearly made me go in my shorts! Cleanse, please. Right now I'm doing Weight Watchers. I go to the meetings and I el oh vee ee my leader, she is amazing. Sometimes in class they talk about the dangers of lapband and it makes me feel a little weak or stupid for that matter but then I realize that its my decision and if I think it will help then that is all that matters, right? I'm still not convinced that this surgery is right for me because I am worried about regaining the weight or just sucking down chocolate all day but I seem to be doing pretty darn good on WW so we will see. I have so much to lose. Thinking of losing only 1 to 2 pounds a week sounds so daunting. Ive seen people lose that much weight in six months but I guess they don't get to eat the same things I do. I'm acutally amazed at how many good quality foods I can eat now that I have cut out desserts. I think we can compromise a lot. OH, on another note I did find out that the doctors office will take my first weigh in and IF I had the thirty pounds off I could have submitted my information to the insurance on July 3rd. What do you think the chances are that I could lose five pounds a week for three weeks in a row? I'd say pretty low At least if you do it the right way.

OH man I so know how you feel! Im doing the six month diet too and Ive messed around with all of these different cleanses and diets its stupid and I"m only down 15 pounds and I'm suppose to be down 30. SIGH. Do you have to lose weight before surgery like me? We have to lose 10% of body weight.

I'm trying to work on mine right now and I feel so frustrated because I have been having a problem staying on track. I thought to myself that I had all the time in the world to lose 28 pounds (10% of my body weight) since I couldn't submit my claim for six months. I lose weight and then slip and gain it. NOw I'm only one month from it and haven't lost near what I should. I would have to lose five pounds a week at this point to hit my mark. I am doing Weight Watchers which I love but its not a fast wl program. What would you all suggest? Take my time and just do it slower at 1-2 pounds a week or do something a little more drastic to hit my mark quicker? Once I am approved they won't schedule my surgery for another six weeks after that so its a super long process and I don't want my insurance to change and lose that benefit or something like that. Thanks for any advice!

I'm so fascinated with anyone who has lost a lot of weight because I've wanted to for so long.. right now its hard to fathom how I would feel when I get there. For those who are there, how do you feel? Are you comfortable in your own skin? Do you have access skin? Is it hard to buy clothes in a size that small? How do people treat you? Do you surprise yourself when you walk by a mirror at the store and realize its your small body in the mirror?

It is sweetened with Stevia which is actually a herb. I am growing some in my backyard and if you bite one of the leaves it taste so sweet like sugar! Its so cool because artificial sweeteners are really not that great for us and its nice to have an alternative. The only thing you can't do with Stevia is bake with it but making drinks is perfect. Its my favorite drink!

Oooo I hate negative Nancy's that act like that. SHE does not know anything about that and its silly for her to have said anything because WHEN you get approved she will have to eat her words... and I'm sure it will be fattening :redface:

That is exciting!! What great news!! I'm so jealous! You are so close what is going through your mind right now?

Misty, Thank you so much for taking the time to pick apart that article, for some reason your comments made me feel a lot better. After I read it I realized that there were a lot of truths to it and that if its what people decide to do the "party of emotional eating is over." Its not a quick fix and it's not a guarantee like I thought it was going to be. I've been researching the band for THREE YEARS and I just finally got it. I felt silly posting this after I reread my post but then I realized something. Instead of going to food to deal with my emotion I came here. Feeling silly or not I did the right thing! I love my Mom so much! I guess that's why it burns a little that she doesn't want me to get it. She has lost a lot of weight on her plan and its a wonderful plan. Especially for learning how to eat long term. I am proud of her. I know I need to make my own choices and she will just have to deal with what I decide and then I will have to deal with her dealing with me haha! Right now I want to cry out for a Peanut Butter sandwich on white bread but I had an egg and veggie scramble instead. This weight has to come off whether my lap band insurance is approved or not. Thank you for listening to me. I'm sorry I sounded so whiney.. I'm still learning :thumbup:

So, my mom sent this article to me from her diet website. After I reading it I'm really frustrated by the way they portrayed everything. I guess I think that some of this is true and sometimes the truth hurts. My Mom means well, she is being polite about the surgery but I know she does not want me to get it at all. I'm sad because I really don't think she understands me and I"m sure she feels like I don't understand her. She won't even talk to me about it, probably because it hits a nerve every time we do. Anyway do you guys really think that eventually everyone regains in the long run? I really feel like crying now, maybe I shouldn't have told her and found someone else to take the kids when I get my surgery. Is Weight Loss Surgery For You? You've been trying to lose weight for years. Every time you think you think you've got a handle on eating -- you blow it. If only there was something -- anything -- that would prevent overeating and force you to stick with smart food choices. Are gastric sleeve, Roux-en-Y, stomach stapling or Lapband your best answer to lifelong obesity? You're tired of dieting. You're tired of falling off the wagon. You desperately want something that will guarantee weight loss for good. So you figure weight loss surgery (WLS) will give you automatic portion control? Don't bet on it. People considering WLS have a distorted impression of what WLS can and can't accomplish. WLS can limit portions of certain (not all) foods. WLS cannot solve why you overeat. Those are important facts. If you're considering WLS you should know there's plenty of high carb high calorie foods that are easily chewed to a liquid and slide right through your new 1" stomach opening: potato chips, mashed potatoes & gravy, chocolate, Cereal & milk, cheesy nachos, candy, milkshakes, rum-wine-beer, ice cream, cheesy grits -- you get the picture. Unlimited high calorie choices. If you love these foods now, you'll still love them after WLS. If you have a problem with portion control with those foods, after WLS you'll still have a problem. WLS won't stop you from putting junk food in your shopping cart. You need a coping strategy. Expectations from family and friends can be enough to stay strict (you do know you can still cheat after WLS, right?) Or, will the guaranteed inquiries from family and coworkers, "So, how much have you lost this week?" be bothersome (especially if it's less than expected)? Will your stress levels increase and trigger stress eating? Are you OK being the center of attention? PRELIMINARY STEPS TO TAKE * Go to a few internet WLS support forums. See the posts about "stalled weight loss" (wow, so many!) * See how many WLS patients are using Alli and diet pills (what was the surgery for?) * Notice how many have regained after WLS. How will you feel if this happens to you? * Read the posts by people who had medical complications after WLS. * Do a Google search for "Lapband failed" or "WLS didn't work" (there's lots). Before you make a decision you should definitely talk to WLS patients -- especially those who have had problems. Ask your surgeon for a list of patients who lost weight initially and then stalled. Talk to them and ask why. PITFALLS After WLS your "new life" probably won't be exactly as you imagined it. Here's a few highlights: Don't expect the "full feeling" from eating 1 oz of food to be like the pleasantly full feeling you have after eating a sandwich -- it's not. It's more like a heaviness in the middle of your chest. Food need to be fairly liquid to pass through the new 1" stomach opening. Some favorite foods will be hard to eat and cause blockage. This is painful and triggers vomiting. Before WLS food was held at the bottom of your stomach in the middle of your torso. After WLS 1 oz stomach is closer to your heart in the middle of your chest. When you don't chew well enough and there's a blockage, it can feel like angina until the food finally passes or is vomited. Actual "bypass" patients report eating fried, greasy or high sugar foods trigger "dumping syndrome". Gastric bypass is a procedure where a section of the intestine is removed and the remaining intestine is attached to the small stomach. Stomach stapling, Y en Roux and banding are often referred to as "gastric bypass", but aren't. Foods WLS patients report as problematic: beef, chicken, Pasta, bread, rolls, rice, fiberous veggies like asparagus & celery and fruit with skin or membrane (apples, grapes, oranges, grapefruit). See for yourself: For the next 72 hours chew everything until it's a liquid. See which foods don't break apart easily. See how quickly you get tired of chew, chew, chew. See how different the food tastes after chewing it to death. See how less enjoyable "labor intensive" food becomes. Ahhh, so you think that might be a good thing? You'll be forced to eat less? Not necessarily. Human nature dictates we avoid discomfort if there's a alternative. Remember the high calorie yummies that go down fast and easy. This is why some WLS patients regain. If you haven't solved your food demons, you'll fall back on old eating patterns when your personal triggers flare -- a fight with a spouse, loss of a loved one or job stress. Do you eat when you're bored? That won't change with WLS. WEIGHT REGAIN AFTER WLS Every diet has success stories. Every diet has regains. It's no different for WLS. Al Roker and Carnie Wilson admit to falling back on high calorie still-easy-eat-with-a-stapled-stomach favorite foods. There's plenty of WLS/Lapband success stories so it works for some people -- but not all. Here's a quote from a WLS patient who regrets the decision: "Bottom line is it wasn't what I thought it would be. I already wasn't a big eater. I was a grazer who picked the wrong food when I was stressed, forgot to go shopping or felt nervous at a social event. I was eating a lot of calories -- but only a few ounces at a time throughout the day. Mini meals took me to 288 pounds. Weight loss stopped because I was tired of chewing a million times. I started eating what was easy and even though I lost 100 pounds it all came back eventually." Kimkins has many Lapband patients who join when weight loss stalls after surgery. Regaining after WLS and needing support to continue their journey are primary reasons for choosing Kimkins. Rarely does overeating have to do with true hunger and WLS doesn't fix psychological hunger. If you're reaching for easy-to-eat foods when stressed, bored or during PMS, you'll still be reaching for them after WLS. Weight regain happens because the underlying lifestyle change that's needed for permanent weight control still needs reinforcement and structure. Until you discover why you overeat and resolve it, weight regain is practically guaranteed -- even with WLS.

Sarah! YAY! You got your band. I read your profile last week and I'm glad the surgery went well. Thanks for answering! btw, what is a blended porcupine? LOL :smile:

Right now I'm on a high Protein diet/low carb and sometimes I feel like not eating and other times I get a full sensation. Is there a difference pre and post banding of what "full" feels like? Do you just go about your day or do you think about sweets or Snacks too? I have a stomach that can always eat more even when I know I've eaten too much so I'm just wondering how you all do with that feeling after the band. Thanks! :smile:

Before my insurance will approve me I have to go on a six month doctor supervised diet and lose 10% of my body weight. I just found out that they will let me use my doctors appointment in February as the starting point but I gained 10 pounds in March because of stress so I have lost that but I still need to be down 10% of what I was in his office. The soonest I can submit my papers in July 3rd which is exciting but that also means that I can't mess around, I have to lose an average of five pounds a week to hit that goal. No one really understands what I am going through right now. I keep hearing the "you'll never lose that much" and "its just not safe." I know more about all of that than anyone but in the long run it will help me out so I'm willing to try it. Right now I'm doing the Master Cleanse for three days. Its only the afternoon of the first day and I'm already starving for Cheerios but Ihave to keep reminding myself that it's not going to be a picnic on the liquid diet either and at least I'm priming myself for what is up ahead. I just pray that I don't have another melt down like I did a few days ago LOL.:redface:

Does your mom still feel restriction? Do you think her tummy stretched out or is she choosing not that great of foods? Is it possible for her to be banded after a gastric?

Kelin- You know, that is probably my problem, waiting too long to eat and then wanting to eat a deep fried shetland pony! LOL Lynell I would love to come and see your you tube, thanks!

Stephanie- How is your mom doing with her gastric bypass compared to your band? Is she still in the losing phase? Thats funny that she thought you were stuck for life LOL. That just goes to show that most people just don't understand the band yet.

So, I'm trying to do my pre pre op diet (six month diet) and have to lose 30 pounds in six weeks. The past two days I've tried to do a liquid diet and it's been harder than I anticipated. I was trying to do yard work yesterday and I was so crabby and light headed that I was yelling at my kids and it made me feel really bad. They were being pretty rambunctious but I made a totall @ss of myself to my sweet neighbors. Things like: "STOP THAT! KNOCK IT OFF! GROW A BRAIN!" :eek: I hate that out of control crabby feeling! I have never in my life talked to my kids like that let alone shout at them. They didn't seem to notice which is good but it still made me feel bad and I started to worry about life after the band :sad: When you have the band and have good restriction do you still feel light headed and grumpy bear? Or do you just not feel hungry and go about your day like normal? I do feel defeated because I totally cheated today and had fish sticks and my left over birthday cake. Needless to say I'm a pretty happy momma right now but I'm spinning my wheels if I don't get back on track. Thanks for listening

Very informative, thank you very much :eek:

In case something goes wrong and they have to go in a fix it? Does it just depend on the insurance or do most of them do it? I don't think mine does.

What does PB, NUT, and sliming mean? Thanks!

Which one should I choose? My doctor said that they are both the same but that the other doctor in the office doesn't like the realize bands because he has had more problems with them. What do you guys think? It would nice to have the tools but I just want to darn thing to last so I really don't want to use that as a determining factor, ya know? How many CC's does the lap hold and how many does Realize hold. DOes it make a difference? Thanks!

Those are great ideas, thank you! WIsh me luck! It's going to be a long seven weeks :laugh: Hope you don't mind if I come on here and complain. jk

Thanks for the tips! Keep them coming RestlessMonkey- what was your pre op diet like? Was it hard or did it get easier? Libby Jane what Protein shakes did you use?

So, I am excited because for those who know me I have to do a six month diet and lose 10% of my weight before my insurance will approve me. I went to see the surgeon on March 25th so that means I should put my papers in on Sept 25th as long as I have lost 30 pounds. Well, I just found out that they will let me use my original doctors appointment on February 3rd as my start date putting me at July 3rd instead WAHOO!!! THe problem you ask? I gained 10 pounds in February but then I have lost it so now I'm back to square one but that means I have to get off 30 pounds by July 3rd. I want this sooo badly! My question is- How can you lose 30 pounds in seven weeks? I know it sounds crazy and if I were reading this from someone else I would think that is not the brightest thing in the world but now that I'm on the other side of it I want to get approved as soon as possible just in case my insurance changes and I'm not covered anymore, that just happened to one of my friends and it is a worry in this economy. The surgeon also waits to schedule you out six weeks AFTER the approval letter so I'm look at sometime in August for surgery, which is fine by me, it will give me more time to get some weight off and it's a heck of a lot better than October like I originally thought. I figure I weigh a lot so if I lose fast it would probably be fine in the beginning. Ive thought about a liquid diet or Master Cleanse. Does anyone have any experience with these?