123crod

Great post. I will be 3 years in July. I have been very happy with my band as well! Cheri

Such sad news! She was always so supportive and welcoming to people here. Her family and friends are in my prayers! Cheri

I love it too! Cheri

Just my advice . . . I have had many questions about my meds and things my Doctor recommends and people just give you their advice and experiences. We decide for ourself what to do. We are all grownups and are suppose to think for ourselves. But the main thing I want to share with you is that Elcee is full of knowledge that she shares with us. She does not push her opinion on others. She is helpfull and kind. But she is also honest and doesn't sugarcoat stuff and I for one like that. If you don't talk to her or read her post it is your lost not hers. You are missing out!!! Sometimes the written word gets read with an attitude that was never there! Cheri

Welcome I am 2½ years out and love my band! Cheri

Wow I always wondered what that feels like. How different is it than the Bypass, probabbly too early to tell. Will you tell us your story about what happen with the bypass to cause you to need or want to add the band? I think it will help any of us who wonder what it would have been like if we did the Bypass instead of the Band? Tell us if you don't mind if you don't want to thats okay too. Welcome! Cheri

Just my opinion but I think we go through a grieving process as food was our friend and now it is not. It will not be our comfort anymore so we grieve. Sounds stupid but think about it . . . . Now we eat to stay alive . . .we have to watch what we eat and others do not so we tend to get a little resentful . . .or angry that we have to give up stuff others do not. It is not their fault and not our place to make others stop eating things because we over induldged for years. You have to have a new outlook on life and the role food now plays in it. It is a hard thing but we all have to do it if you want to be successful. Cheri

Okay I believe in always being honest. I talked about how I am up all night (even with sleep meds). Well . . . about 2:30 am I gave in and ate a bag of 100 calorie popcorn. I hate to be a bad example but I am adding another day of liquids for slipping up. The first 3 days of starting over are the hardest for me. Don't let my slip up mess you up . . . I had to confess as we are over and done with secretive eating! We can all do this! Today should be easier! Cheri

Day 2. Got all my shakes in and Water. Do have a headache. Trying a new Protein shake it is good it is premier, ready to drink, 30 grams protein 3 grams of fat, sugar 1 gram, carbs 5, 160 calories at sam's 18 for 17.99. Last night was hard for me as I eat at night good and bad stuff as I do not go to sleep till at least 3 or 4. But nothing last night but water. My husband is out ay 10 pm still have to work out tonight though Keep up the good work ladies!! Cheri

You look beautiful in your wedding picture too. Stop being so hard on yourself. Good job though on your weight loss. Cheri

Welcome always good to join in the conversation. You can find a lot of support and encouragement here. Cheri

Everyone is welcome to be a part. If we all get off to a good start we will have it made. cheri

Okay day one down: Water, protien shakes all day, now workout before bed! Hope you all had a good day too. Must admit back to liquids is hard day one. But did it!! Cheri

Okay we are all gonna wake up with a new mindset tomorrow! We WILL lose because we have each other to encourage and support! Thats the great thing about the band it is always there ready and willing to help us, if we do our part. Keep checking in, in the days to come! Cheri

Sounds like you would be in better hands with a different Dr. anyway. My surgeon moved a year after my surgery. He moved to take care of his parents who were very old. Can't blame him for that, but he was such a great Dr. But I have a new one who I have only had to see once as I was Banded in July 2009 and have not needed but one fill since he left. So maybe it will not be that bad. Have you checked to see if USA Fill has a location near you? Cheri

Great! I do so much better with support of people who know what we are going through!! Cheri

Cheaper in Houston. Worth the drive. I was self pay in Houston. Put it on a zero interest credit card so worth it! Cheri

As one who threw-up or spit up a lot when I was first banded. You have to put some t. paper in before you do it and it keeps the Water from splashing on you. Not a whole lot just a lttle bit. Works for me. Cheri

As one who threw-up or spit up a lot when I was first banded. You have to put some t. paper in before you do it and it keeps the Water from splashing on you. Not a whole lot just a lttle bit. Works for me. Cheri

Gonna sound stupid Jachut but how do you get your body to be ready to run. I can jog some and then walk and then jog some more but the problem is I do not know how to breath correctly. Can you recommend a book? Also is 170 lbs too fat to run or 51 years old too old cheri

Hope everything goes good for you!! Cheri

You need to go see your surgeon. He needs to do a fluoro and see if everything is alright. Also tell him you want someone who knows what they are doing to do your fills. I am 2½ years out and every fill I have every had was done by a surgeon and one poke and that is it. Also I think you have to workout. Most of us don't like it (some do) but you can't expect to lose weight with out uping you movement and burning some calories. You can do it just start out small and work your way up. I have always had to workout unless I go very, very low carb, then I seem to lose without much exercise but I can not stick with it long. But don't give up, hey I think you can't complain if you are not doing all you know you are suppose to. I tell myself that all the time. Please go see your Dr. and start a workout program, even just walking around the mall. Cheri

You may hear the term "slider food" if you're researching lapband surgery, and you may wonder what it means. Typically a slider food is one that can easily slip through the narrow stoma passage created by the band's restriction. It is important to avoid slider foods as much as possible, because they slide right through where they are supposed to be restricted for awhile. Slider foods don't help you feel full and can be full of calories, too, so they really defeat the purpose of your lapband. Milkshakes, malts and other ice cream treats - No matter how thick they are, they will melt by the time they hit your stomach and just slide right through your band. And they're high in calories. If you must have a milkshake, try a Protein shake instead. cheese - By the time most cheeses get to the band, they are also melted and can slide right through the band. Fortunately, they cheeses usually have a lot of protein, but be careful to not overdo it. Candy (especially chocolate) - Many lapband patients report that candies can slide through their band easily, which is unfortunate, because many lapband patients also have a sweet tooth. An occasional small piece of candy is okay, but be sure to have it after you have had a healthy meal so you won't be as tempted to eat as much. High-calorie liquids - Many of your favorite liquids are high in calories and can easily slide right through even a tight lapband restriction. Think twice before drinking sugary sodas, fruit juices and fancy coffee drinks. They may taste great, but they will do nothing to help you lose weight. Don't think, though, that slider foods are bad. They can actually serve a very good purpose when it comes to foods that are typically difficult for lapband patients to tolerate. Consider adding sauces, dressings or melted cheese to firm eggs, tuna, steak or other foods that tend to sit too long before passing through your stomach pouch. A little slider sauce can add flavor and help ease some more difficult foods back into your diet. Copied Cheri

I start out knowing I will get heat for this but here goes . . . .I have a hard time believeing ALL these people who have nothing good to say about the Band are real. They ALL have been banded for several years and the Band totally failed them or they never loss the weight or lost it and gained it all back plus some. When you read someone's posts look at who is posting it. If they just joined today and have only posted one post and never post again MAYBE they are just misleading you. In over 2½ years here I have seen it happen a lot. I am not saying everyone's is like that I know some people are being real cause I know some people the Band doesn't work for them or some don't work with their Band. I always try to give people advice anyway, but there have been a few that were just flat out rude and and sent people rude private messages all night including me, if you call them on what you suspect , , , you can tell what they are doing. Trying to scare people away from the Band. People get paid to do that. Newbies and people researching just saying I think we should help every body but take caution in what you are reading. Even mine!! Cheri