atgoalgal

If you are experiencing serious pain you really should check in with your doctor. Most of us on these boards are patients with a tremendous amount of useful experience, but we are not a substitute for your doctor. Please keep me posted.

From a long-term member of the banded living community and frequent traveler. DON'T DO IT, please! You should be able to go on the crusie, have a great time, enjoy a leaner and healthier you, and enjoy smaller portions of the foods you love most on the cruise. Why not instead, use the cruise as an opportunity to give yourself permission to maintain the weight you lose between now and then, instead of trying to lose. You can use this opportunity to learn to dine, by eating slowly and savoring the foods you love, instead of eating too fast, not tasting what you eat and feeling crappy afterwards. Just think how great you'll feel if you prove to yourself you can do this.

Great idea for a thread! I've seen most of you on other boards. Just wanted to check in and say hi!

Great suggestions on this thread. First and foremost, your doctors instruction must supercede anything we post, so share what u learn here with your surgeon. You may want to also check out my blog at: http://www.bandedliving.com and download the 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lap-Band surgery (below my before and after picture). You can also look at the "preparing" section for a list of things you may want to stock up on before surgery. Good luck on your journey. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

I wanted to share the best birthday present ever on this intro board - today I tuned 49 and I’m in the best shape of my life - I've been maintaining at goal for over 2 years! You can find my story and my before and after on my blog at http://www.gloriasbandedliving.com I think I’ll start telling people I’m 38 (LOL). My birthday gift - still maintaing, loving banded living and I have this strong, healthy body to live the rest of my life in, and I have an incredible support team who's helped me very step of the way. Before my band, I never thought this would be possible for me.

LOTS OF BLESSINGS. HUGS TOO! Good for you. Great picture! What is your plan for the info session and your consult - What do you want to learn?

Hey Greg, I've been thinking about your post. First let me say, I've been on weight watchers (many times, sound familiar), and it can be a good program. From my persepctive WW is about support and nutrition, although unless something has changed, I don't think they have anything specifically tailored to get the most out of our bands. I'm also wondering if your doctor has a band only support group and what else is available as part of your aftercare. It really helps me to be around other succesful members of the banded living community. My other question to you, is how did you use your tool? I'd be happy to try to help as well as see if I can help with the motivation. Feel free to PM me. Also lots of people are telling me that my blog has been motivational. If you haven't checked it out, it's at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story . You can sign up (below my before and after to get email updates - hopefully a dose of inspiration delivered to your inbox . I hope to hear from you.

Hi Friend. Congrats! It sounds like you have hit the sweet spot. As you say, this takes some getting used to but the frustrating phase wondering why you got this tool, or is it going to work, is hopefully over. Just one word of caution - as you are getting accustomed to this new filll level, and learning how to chew, chew, chew...slowing down and finding that some foods that used be to be easy don't work anymore, keep in mind that if you are getting stuck a lot, you can get yourself very irriitated. Check with your doctor, but after getting stuck, my doctor recommends taking it easy - stop eating, consider liquids for then next meal. If you remember, I was one of those people who took a lot of fills to get to my sweet spot, and here I am sitting at goal for over 2 years. I think you've been to my blog site, but for others who want to learn about how different the fill experience can be (in this case with 2 women with the same size band, and the same doctor), you can go to my blog at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story, and download our interview the 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lapband Surgery. We talk about this in Tip 3 - Don't Underestimate the Adjustable Nature of the Band. Let me know if it helps.

I'm in compelete agreement with cocobean, what were your doctors instructions for your post op diet. Now, while you are in the recovering phase is a really good time, to work on following your doctor's instructions to allow yourself to heal and learn how to use this tool. Welcome to banded living! We're here to help!

You have gotten a great result. Congrats! You've clearly found an approach that works for you. We are all differnt, and I honestly don't think "I eat what I want, when I want" would have worked very well for me." You do talk about "it takes portion control and a calorie deficit which is what the band is for." I see lots of folks struggling and frustrated on these boards, trying to learn to use their bands to create the calorie deficit they need to reach their goals. Any suggestions for those folks about exactly how to use the tool to achieve portion control and the calorie deficit?

Thanks Betsy. It's the first time I heard that. Thanks for sharing. And for everyone who reads this thread, and anything on these boards, please always check with your doctor and make sure you are following his or her instuctions.

I'll be thinking of you next Tuesday. Glad to help. When I was banded there weren't a lot of places to go to get useful information, or learn from people who had long-term experience with the band. I'm hoping to make the journey easier for people like you. You may also want to check out my blog - lot's of real life expderiences posted there and also download the interview 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lap-Band surgery. Stay in touch.

I'm in my 4th year, maintaining a normal weight for the first time in my life, and trying to pay if forward. I've posted this list before, but wanted to make it easier to find for newcomers. Here's a list of Things to Stock Up on Before the Day of Surgery. But please be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, your doctor may have specific items to include or exclude. Protein shakes, and protein powders (taste–test and find the ones you like best before stocking up). Water broth and other clear Soups Clear, no-sugar added juices sugar-free non caloric beverages (NO carbonated beverages) Light sports drinks Sugar-free popsicles Sugar-free Jello Creamy soups Applesauce of sugar-free pudding cups (if, and ONLY if your doctor permits you to take your medications with a spoonful of these) Sugar-free hot cocoa Decaf and herbal teas Decaf coffee Chewable Vitamins Small 2-4 oz plastic cups A strainer (for removing chunks from creamy soups) BTW, I intentionally didn't include anything about prescription or non-prescription meds, since you need to work that out with your doctor. It's also not a bad idea to have adult liquid tylenol - but talk to your doctor; you don't want to be taking tylenol with your prescription pain meds. Also on your way on the day of surgery, bring your own pillow (for comfort if you are staying over night, and to hold on the way home), and slip on shoes if you can. If you find this useful, you can find more on my blog at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story. Good luck on your journey!

Hey March 2010 folks. You are almost there. Welcome. I'm in my 4th year and very grateful, loving Banded Living. I'm really into paying it forward. Learned a lot on my journey. I posted a link to a list of things to stock up on before surgery that people that the February group found very helpful. Here' s the link from my blog: Preparing #001: Things to Stock Up on Before the Day of Gastric Banding Surgery Please let me know if you find it useful.

Thanks for sharing Betsy. I think I'm going to put your post up over my desk! Even in my fourth year, I still look for inspiration on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing. You gave me a gift!

great news! Thanks for sharing

Like so many have said here, they shouldn't be vomiting frequently. The truth of the matter is, if we don't chew really well, learn to slow down, and learn not to overstuff ourselves, our bands will tell us - in the form of discomfort or bringing food back up (notviolent like normal vomiting). You can't overeat (can you say: stuff our faces with solid foods when you have a band) The key is to learn to work this tool so that you can dine, enjoy your food, and not overstuff yourself. I've learned to do that and it's a blessing. I travel, go our for busness dinners, enjoy the holidays and the great food, and I get to wear cute clothes! Does that help?

I'm in my 4th year. I wouldn't describe myself a foodie, but I'm married to one - he's also an expert on imported wines and has never had a weight problem. My experience is that I now have a healthy relationship with food. I dine. I enjoy great food. I finally taste my food, not that I've slowed down. For me what has changed is the volume. I cook more now, and no longer feel guilty about enjoying food. I love banded living.

You started at a lower BMI, so the closer you get to a normal weight, the harder it ususally gets. I'm in my fourht year. My doctor predicted where I would stall out and he was right (unfortunately). I did get to my goal, but I had to double up my efforts. I blogged about it recently at http://www.gloriasbandedliving.com/transforming-002-maintaining-002-my-lap-band®-journey-results-not-typical/. Let me know if it helps. Feel free to PM me also.

Please, please don't go back to liquids unless your deoctor recommends it. You may lose weight over the short-term, but as soon as you start eating solids again, you may gain. The band only restricts solid foods, so you are bypassing the tool. To me going back to basics, means the basics of when you progressed to solids: journaling, getting your minimum grams of protein and eating your protein first with no food lube, no liquids with meals, no grazing...basically giving your band a chance to work. also check in with your doctor, maybe a fill or "head adjustment" from your doctor will help. Don't be afraid to see your doctor if you've gained some weigh, this is just when u need hom or her most. I go back to basics periodically. Please also check out my blog, lots of folks say it's giving them some ideas and inspiration when they need it, you can find it at Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story. You can sign up for email updates, hoepfully a bit of inspiration delivered to your email on a regular basis. Also, if any of you struggling want to PM me, I'm happy to help!

Each practice is different (I know you hear that all the time on these boards, but..). Plan to be on liquids, so have Protein drinks with you for the day; that seems to be the most common. Congratulations, even if you are one of the lucky ones who has lost weight during the recovery phase - you are progress from the recovering phase to the weight loss (transforming phase)!

I would guess that you are coughing because you are still irritated. That being said, I would recommend that you call your doctor. You may be instructed to stay on liquids for a day or 2. You shouldn't be worried about calling your doctor. That's what he or she is there for. Better to call during the week than to have to call over the weekend.

I agree that the right question is "Do you break *your* doctor's rules?" Thanks for that!:wink: The manufacturers of the Lap-Band and REALIZE band have different rules posted on their sites. I also have found that there are a few rules that most practices follow like: don't drink with meals, get enough protein(usually setting a target number of grams), eat good quality meals and don't graze, don't drink your calories, take small bites and chew thoroughly, learn what foods are difficult for you to tolerate, take your vitamins. There is definitely variation from practice to practice and I totally agree that the most important thing is to work with your doctor to find what works for you. I have tremendous respect for my surgeon; he acts as my head coach on this banded living journey, and I work very closely with him and his practice to get the most from this life-changing tool. My doctor really helped me to undestand the meaning of the lap-band as a tool, and the need to learn how to work the tool to get the most out of it (if you are interested in more on that topic, you can read my blog entry Maintaining #002, Exploring #005: Is Gastric Banding a Surgery or A Tool? 10/10/2009). I also think it's critically important that we all remain accountable for our decisions and honest with ourselves. It sounds like you do too!

Hey Sandi. You've always had great advice. I love the way you put it... "So I went on to start investigating the second thing I said I would NEVER do in my life – plastic surgery. The first thing I said I would never do was weight loss surgery " Both as my friend and as my mentor on this Banded Living journey I loved reading this post on your blog. The tips are great!

Love your honesty and candor. It sounds like you are working really hard to work your tool! :wink: