Dixieland

I'm also eating more than I should. I am going in for a refill. I was banded on 11/18/09. I can eat anything, and hardly ever feel that I am restricted. I am loosing about 2 pounds each week. Sometimes it fluctuates back and forth, according to what type of foods I'm eating, but it always goes back down, with an average of 2 pounds a week. I find that eating chicken or meats, that I do feel the restriction, but eating soups, salads, and vegetables, I do not. I'm ok with this though. I was told by my doctor, that loosing 2 pounds a week is excellent. You do not want to loose too quickly or you will have more loose flab. If you lose it slowly, it will tend to shrink with the weight loss. I have not lost enough for me to know this yet, but I'm hoping. Most the time I eat what I know is good for me, but there are times when I eat things that I know that I should not, and I'm still loosing. Between meals I eat nuts (pecans, peanuts, walnuts, etc) to tide me over. These are good fats and proteins. I was on the atkins diet before doing the surgery, and it worked great for me. I just could not keep loosing on the diet. My body would get to a stand-still and not loose any more, and of course, I would gain it all back. I found out a lot of good information from being on it though. Eating Good fats with Proteins will burn themselves up and not put fat on the body. That is what makes the atkins diet so great. Nuts have the good fat and protein. Beef jerky also helps me. I also agree that you should not think of it as a snack, but just something to tide you over. Just a small amount, eaten very slowly will make a world of difference. Good luck.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! On Dec. 16th I had my first fill after my surgery on Nov. 11th. I have lost 18 lbs. since my surgery. A total of 38 lbs. in all. I feel great and my fill is working wonderful right now.

I had my surgery on November the 18th, and I can eat anything! I also eat very slow and chew my food very well. If I start to feel like I'm going to belch, I know that I'm full and stop eating. Certain things I do not eat because I know that they are not good for my diet, but so far, I have had no problems with food. I know that most people do not drink when eating (you are not suppose to), but I find that taking a sip every once in a while, helps me when eating dryer items, like chicken. To me, it's the same as eating soup. You have your liquid with the dry portion of the meat. I know that you should not drink too much because it fills you up and you won't be able to eat your food, but a little sip through the meal is a big help to me.

I'm not sure if what I felt was the band or not. What does the pain feel like? Mine felt like a pin prick? Is that what the pain of the port is? I thought maybe mine might have slipped, but I did not do anything that could have caused it to slip. The pain only lasted the one day, and I have not felt it since. The pain was right under my left breast, which is where I had my surgery on November the 18th. I always thought it would be down on my stomach, near my navel, but all surgery was done right under my breast? Any information would be helpful.

How do I go about using the TickerFactory for showing my weight loss? I cannot find any information showing how to find it? :thumbup:

How do I go about using the TickerFactory for showing my weight loss? I cannot find any information showing how to find it? :cursing:

I was also banded on Nov. 18th. I lost more on my pre-op diet than I did from my after surgery dieting. I really believe that when it does start coming off, it will come off fast. Hope so anyway. Good luck to you.

I would like to be added to your list. Surgery Date: 11/18/09 Start Weight: 248 Current Weight: 212 Height 5'3"

Hi! I just got banded yesterday. I'm soooo... glad I did. I have had some gas pains in my shoulders and neck area, but the doctor said I did great! The good thing is that you are not hungry for the first couple of days after surgery. I'm on my second day and I really just eat because I need to, not because I want anything. Anyway....Good luck to you!

I just had my LAP-BAND® surgery yesterday. I chose to go on a longer liquid diet, because I was not sure when I was to get the surgery and I wanted to make sure when I got the call that I was on my way and would not have to wait because of the liquid diet. I was on it for 4 weeks. I bought the whey protein mix from Wal-mart. Make sure it has 20 grams of protein, and very little fat or carbs. It cost about $14.00 for a large container. I mixed strawberries with mine. I had 2 protein shakes a day, and 1 meal consisting of baked turkey or chicken breast. 1/2 apple sliced up and some greens. (spinach is the best). I lost almost 20 lbs, and I did cheat 1 day. After a while I really did enjoy my little meal. I found that the taste of all the items together was good. I was never hungry. If I did get a little hungry, then I would eat a small amount of beef jerky (about 1/2 of a piece only). To play it safe, just take the small amount with you, but DO NOT TAKE THE WHOLE PACKAGE. From experience, it is easier if you do not see the package. Always eat very slow! And chew, chew, chew. Hope this will help you. In the end, it is worth it!!! This is what I did, but you might want to check with your doctor first. I know the diet is to decrease the size of your liver. To keep it out of the way when the doctor does the LAP-BAND® surgery. :confused: Hope this helps some.

I was told that the dieting will shrink the liver and make it easier to put the band on without the liver getting in the way. It usually just takes about 2 weeks of the dieting to do this, but I think it is very important that you do it.

I have also lost lots of weight on diets before, but have always gained it all back. Before deciding to get the lap band, I had been on a diet and I had lost 55 pounds in about 4 months, but I came to a standstill and could not loose any more. After a while, I just started gaining it all back. When you stop loosing, you get frustrated and start eating again. You know that you are not going to live forever, on just eating to maintain a diet. In time you are going to sneak in all those foods that got you in trouble before. And the more you eat,....the more you want to eat....! Then, ...there goes the diet....! I have never had a problem loosing weight, but I cannot keep it off. I can never loose enough to get to my goal weight. For the lap band, I have gone on a 3 months diet for the insurance to cover me. But I am not going to let myself loose very much because I'm afraid my insurance will not cover me if I do. I know that I can do it with the lap band, but I cannot lose enough without it. I think you lost so much weight, because you were excited about getting the lap band, and you were anxious to get started with the loosing. You had a goal that was within reach, and you felt positive about it. I had felt like this, but my nurse, (almost) told me not to loose too much. Therefore, I've made a diet plan as requested, but balanced my weight to what I felt I could loose and still not jeopardize my lap band with the insurance. If you are still loosing, then maybe you CAN make it without the band. I hope so. Your reward with youself would be soooo...much better. Good luck to you!

Does anyone here have Dr. Hollis as their lap band doctor? I really do like his staff, especially Cindy, although all of them have been very nice and informative. Any information about him as a doctor, would be appreciated. :thumbup:

You've done Great! I'm so glad for you, (and jealous). I have not had my surgery yet, but I feel the same way that you do. I know without a doubt, that I can loose the weight. Just knowing that every pound you take off, will stay off. Not like all the diets that are so depressing, because you know that it will never end. Even if you do loose, you will put it back on because you are never able to stay with the diet long enough to loose the amount of weight that you need to. With the lap band you can attain your goal. From there you just have to maintain, which most people can do. I am so anxious to get mine done. Good luck with your future!

I know that right after surgery, I will be on soft foods required because of the lap band. After I level out with my eating different types of foods, are we required to use a certain diet plan, or can we use our own? Myself, I like the atkins diet plan. It works for me and my family. I have not heard anyone say anything about using this diet plan. Just wondering if you are told not to use it for some reason, or most people just don't like it? Just wondering?

Thanks. I'll ask my nutritionist what she thinks.

I know that right after surgery, I will be on soft foods required because of the lap band. After I level out with my eating different types of foods, are we required to use a certain diet plan, or can we use our own? Myself, I like the atkins diet plan. It works for me and my family. I have not heard anyone say anything about using this diet plan. Just wondering if you are told not to use it for some reason, or most people just don't like it? Just wondering?:sneaky:

Yes! Thanks for the information. I had heard he was a good Doctor, but nothing else. I have to do the 90 day diet before I can schedule my surgery. It helps to know of someone else that has had him. I take it that you have had your surgery? Hope you are doing ok. Can't wait to get mine done. Hope you do great and loose lots of weight! You must be from the Houston area? I'm from Alvin. Thank God I was able to get a doctor this close. Thanks again...you put my mind at rest. lol

I assume that you have had your surgery by now with Dr. Hollis. He is also my doctor. I have not seen him yet, but have heard that he is a good doctor. Did you like him? :biggrin:

What is a magic bullet? Where do you get them? It sounds like some type of blender. :biggrin:

Does anyone here have Dr. Hollis as their lap band doctor? I really do like his staff, especially Cindy, although all of them have been very nice and informative. Any information about him as a doctor, would be appreciated. :smile:

I have the aetna ppo. I had my first real visit today and it looks as though I am going to get the surgery. I'm so excited. I was almost too low on my bmi. I was given a strict diet but was told not to loose any weight? I have to record all my meals for 90 days. I will do whatever it takes to get the surgery though. You said you are using the Dewitts clinic. We have a Dewitts Clinic here in Alvin, Texas too. Hope everything goes well for you. Let me know.