btrieger

Congrats!!!

I start mine in about 9 hours. It's an all Opti-fast diet for 3 weeks, yes 3 weeks. exactly 800 calories a day. * Reshee and I have the same surgeon. It's not fair that she only has 2 weeks.

Welcome aboard! I am just wrapping up my wait and it was great. I gave me plenty of time to soul search and make sure that the lapband was for me. Use the time wisely and read as much as you can here and elsewhere. Read the success stories, the failures, the good and the bad. Good luck!

Congrats!!! Maintenance shmaintenance. I plan on just losing until I can weigh myself on a kitchen scale.

Welcome aboard and congratulations on the weight loss!! As far as I am concerned, it is all due to you making smart decisions. The lapband is a great tool but if you weren't using it right, you wouldn't lose a thing.

Congrats on your will power!! Around here they have real food in the movie theaters; burgers, nachos, pizza, etc... and they will bring it right to you. I don't dare go near a theater unless I eat at home first and am near full.

Be sure to check these forums as well and ask questions. That way you are getting informed from both sides of the fence: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery (VSG) Forum

I don't want to let the cat out of the bag but Heidi already did. You are exercising more than you realize by just walking around the house; the supermarket or the office. Every time you get out of bed or stroll to the bathroom is exercise.

My sole reason for choosing the lapband over the sleeve or bypass is the reversible aspect. Also, my insurance doesn't cover the sleeve and the sleeve is still fairly new. The lapband requires a lot of aftercare which is a very good thing. It is always adjustable and issues can be caught before they spiral out of control. The sleeve on the other hand is just the removal of a bunch of your stomach and as time goes on and you overeat; it may stretch back to its original size.

Surgeons are all different and we have to trust their experience and judgment unless it sounds too far off. You made it through surgery and are off and running. Congrats!!

#9. You don't eat and get in trouble while exercising #10. Exercise warms you up on a cold day.

If it gives you any comfort, you aren't alone. I start 3 weeks of nothing but Optifast tomorrow. Good luck and hang in there. A few days of discomfort is a good trade for a healthy lifetime.

I've had a total of 8 visits to my surgeons office including nutritionist and behavioral meetings. With a $20 co-pay each time. That's $160. $20 co-pay for psych. $20 co-pay each for 2 sleep studies. Up to $220 now. $300 for 3 weeks worth of Optifast. I guess the grand total is $520 so far and I am not banded yet.

Doug, I think there are laws against being upset with yourself after losing 99 pounds. You're doing great and you got sidetracked a little. You know what needs to be done to fix it. Go for it!

You're braver than I am. What is on the agenda next? Snowboarding or water skiing? :thumbup:

Welcome aboard!! You catch on quick and will probably do well. The wait is also a great time to research and learn everything you can about the band. Great goals and very achievable. Drinking only water is easier than you think unless you are a soda junkie. If you need something sweet, throw a packet of 5 cal Crystal Light into it.

I finally have a date!! February 30th (March 2nd) I start my 3 week Opti-crap diet on Monday. It won't be a breeze but if anyone catches me whining about it online, please feel free to lambaste me like I want to do every time I see somebody whine here. A lifetime of health is worth a few weeks of inconvenience or discomfort. My roommate is going to stick around an extra week so I don't have to bum a ride from anyone else. Hopefully he won't change his mind because I am not cooking for him for the next 3 weeks. He'll have to live on stir-fry and tuna sandwiches.

Shame and guilt do NOT serve any constructive purpose. Get over it and climb back on the wagon. It is never too late to start again. If you are having difficulty replacing bad foods with good ones just take it one at a time. There is a book called "Eat This Not That" which will give you a lot of ideas. It is not WLS specific but is there really a need for that? If so, there is a web site with plenty of recipes for WLS patients. BariatricEating.com - BE, Inc. The number one bariatric website for Protein, Vitamins, and success.

If you need this post so much just sit back, relax and don't try to get the last word in.

You weren't mistaken. She was extremely rude and it is the first time we have "gone rounds." You don't owe her any kind of apology and you weren't wrong.

Thread's not done until I say it is done.

I contemplated replying back in the same manner but then figured, ah she's frustrated. When your weight loss starts up again, you may look back on this and think, "Wow! I was just hurrying things." BTW: Your quandary is not about using a tool that you HAVE and I don't yet. It's about losing weight and experiencing plateaus. I HAVE been doing that since before you were born. Good luck!

How long has the plateau been? Weight loss can happen in spurts meaning you can eat the same for a month and some weeks you lose nothing and others 5 pounds. You may just be being impatient. relax and give it a chance.

No, I'm Bob and I'm having surgery March 2nd. Pick up the phone and give your surgeon's office a quick call. I doubt they would mind.

Half of the contacts in my phone were take out and delivery joints.