GoingforGoal

I was BMI 40 and had no preop diet. My husband did however. Dr will assess your body/fat% and determine if it's necessary. However it never hurts to go on a healthy diet in the interim to give yourself a head start.

Had PCOS when I was heavier. It's hormonal and as you lose weight your body becomes more sensitive. It is why pcos gals like us who had to take meds etc to get pregnant suddenly find themselves pregnant (Like me again) 1 year after getting banded by surprise (no meds). Careful careful

Noki, Sorry to say but depending on who your provider is 2 months time may be inadequate time to qualify for the procedure. A for instance, some insurance providers require a 3-6 month supervised diet for example. However, if you are fortunate enough to not have to deal with that stickler, let your dr know on your very first meeting the urgency to get through all your education, tests etc and allot enough time for approval. This means you need to be prepared to commit to a open schedule so you can get labs, nutrition counseling, and tests (ranging from sleep studies, psych consult, cardiac test etc whatever your insur. and dr. requires). I hope this helps. Unfortunately your dr has to take the lead because every dr and insur. provider require different results so it would be unfair to advise you to get a, b, and c tests ahead of time.

I'm sure the doctor is use to this request so express your desires to him so that he can draft a discreet letter. He'll probably make mention that you are a post-operative patient that will require an estimate of 10-18 days of leave for proper recovery and is unable to work at this time under doctor's orders. Something like that. I didn't tell anyone other than a handful of trusted family/friends. I didn't want to be bothered with having to educate everyone on the LB time and time again, especially for those whom I couldn't trust would be understanding or supportive. If asked what you are doing to lose weight...say high Protein and low fat LMAO

Congrats...just in time for the summer You look great!!!!

Hello, Well my peers summed it up pretty well. Failure is a state of permanency. Don't disillusion yourself into believing that you have reach goal by 'x' date. There are ideals, and than there's practicality. Simply give yourself permission to believe that you will attain the goal. I was banded 11-09. Lost 50-60 lbs instantly. Got pregnant (surprise!) and gained 20 but lost it instantly. Than I suffered a tragic car accident that set me back another 8 months. I didn't gain any weight because I consider my band to be in 'maintenance mode' (that is how the band can work for you when you are in a weak moment). So in Feb of this year I started again and from 195 (size 16) from the holidays, I am 165 (sz 10). I feel great and in no way feel like I've failed. I think once you get back on track and the pounds melt off you'll regain that sense of accomplishment again and will begin to reinstate positive thinking. You can do it. PS I know many people who state that they are embarrassed to face their doctors. I'm a realist, I say..he's just a resource. He's there to support you so use him as the resource he is. He is not the face of judgement so let that go to.

Welcome and congrats on your decision to be banded. May you ride that roller coaster by year's end

Obviously it's different for everyone. My husband travels very frequently. In fact, he's in Africa as we speak. He does notice more restriction when traveling, but not excessive constriction that you can't eat or drink. Similar to what alot of bandsters experience w/ their first drink in the morning. I think there are multiple factors that contribute, not just altitude, but our tendency to not consume enough fluids, dry cabin etc leading to dehydration. Stay hydrated and maybe try some Hot drinks to keep the band loose. PS Not sure where you are coming from, but if you are coming to CO for the first time or from low elevation be forewarned that the altitude may make you feel a little whoozy. Drink tons of fluids, we dehydrate quicker here and bring sun screen..there are days I feel like I can reach out and touch the sun!

I know you are excited, but take the incentive to reschedule. Your immune system is on overdrive combating your illness. You truly need to be in the best health possible so you can sustain a surgery and address recovery (ie wound healing) without being further susceptible to infection. If you think postponing the band is bad, try being sick WITH postop pain AND a potential to not get adequate nutrition to combat the initial issue-the cold.

Good luck. All will go well. Come back and post in a few days.

More protein. Maybe your old green is not your new? How long since a fill..maybe you need transition for stomach to shrink etc

Hi Ken and Welcome to LBT. Congrats on your current WL and best of luck w/ the future WL

Sounds like a cheat night to me Del Frisco's makes a great Oscar lol

What size band do you have?

Why an unfill opposed to a maintenance fill. Have them take a little out to give you more liberty w/ food choices, but not an open chute to risk gaining weight.

The only negative experience I had was early on a mere few months post surg. I went in for my 3rd fill. I was so excited because fill #3 is the average 'green fill' Anyway, previously, my surgeon did my fills and this time his PA did. He made an aggressive choice and overfilled me (this is one of the primary reasons I insist on having only one person doing my cares/fills so that it's consistent). Well I went home, things were going slow..and that was just on liquids. Second day I tried yogurt..nope...fluids..nope. Nothing would go down AT ALL. I called in, they said to rest it for the rest of the day d/t inflammation. Next day I felt so dehyrated/weak, tried fluids-nope. Went in for an unfill. I hope any newbies reading this does not chalk this up as a 'negative', or a reason to not choose the band. there is alot of experimentation w/ the band (what you can and cannot eat, what is the green zone)..patience is paramount and don't expect all positives and all forward momentum. The positive to this experience was I knew what too tight was (ahhah) and I also know to no longer wait 2.5 days for an unfill regardless of what the PA says lol

Age is only one factor...how about 1) How long you were over weight 2) What was your heaviest weight 3) Where did you gain most of your weight 4) How did you lose weight (calories only, exercise), fast/slow? 5) Plain genetics Don't put too much hope in another person's achievements, they will not define your own

Ive been banded for 3.5 years. I appreciate having the oldies around because I feel our issues are different now that we've settled into the lifestyle. I am also appreciative of how you took responsibility for the gain. So many people think that if you get a band that you magically lose weight- no operator participation necessary. I got offtrack when I got pregnant and than suffered a severe car accident. However, my band was in the green. I maintained and never gained. Ironically this is what probably kept me 'off track', had I gained it would be back to the dr for certain. My band worked for me even when I didn't but I hear so many stories of people getting offtrack and keeping the band lose..thus gaining 10, 25, even 60+ lbs back HOW???? We started this knowing the band is a tool not the solution....there has to be personal accountability and a commitment on our end if we actually want to lose and reach goal. During the holidays I was 195, now I am 165. You can start over any time

WOOT WOOT congrats

Fabulous, what a tremendous accomplishment!

I like 100 cal bags of cookies for when I need a sweet fix that is more than just a bite. Pudding is also a great option.

::sniff sniff:: Do I smell jealousy or is that a competition roar I hear? Listen, you gf hasn't achieved her goal. Thus, it's easy to tell you it's not possible. Makes her feel good about her 'attempt' and excuse her 'failure'. I am a firm believer, you can make excuses or you can obtain results. Choose now! Friends like that WILL sabotage your efforts. Time to shut if off now so you don't accept it as your own truth (aka excuse)

Daily, multiple times, every hour...just kidding. I do weigh daily in the a.m. for numerous reasons: 1) to reap an easy positive reward when I do lose (even 0.2 lbs) 2) to directly correlate my previous days diet/habits with a potential gain/loss and know to continue or modify those practices 3) to intervene as early as possible if I see an upward trend 4) to keep me accountable on a daily basis opposed to weekly or monthly

Big decisions are always accompanied by anxiety. But let us reassure you, this is going to be the best decision. Trust the band!

Let's not forget the sheer exhaustion mentally and physically. With all the pre-op anxiety, post-op transition, the obsessive focus on what to get/what to do etc it's fatiguing. Take some time each day to focus on non band related things...