Astrasmom

I spent alot of time and money on the so called 'yo yo' diets in my life. Yes I did lose the weight but I gained it all back again. Lapband surgery actually DID save my life. I am a heart patient. Hence I owe it all to the doctor that put this thing inside of me that has been used as a tool but has helped me to lose more weight then I ever have, and keep the weight off so far. I do not beleive in following every single rule that the doctor says I should. Like eating all your veggies, or all your fruit, etc. Following every single rule is like being on a diet. This is not a diet, it's a life style change. You have to reward yourself once and awhile. What I won't do is NOT follow certain things that I have been told could do harm to me. Which include soda, coffee, and drinking from a straw. Soda and drinking from a straw could cause my band to slip. This didn't come from my surgeon. This came from my nutrionist. I see a nutrionist everytime that I go into the office to see the doctor (whether I get a fill or not). My nutrionist told me that we can have alcoholic beverages once and awhile. Red wine is the best because it doesn't have as many open calories and sugar that the other stuff does. I was told that you shouldn't drink that much because you can get drunk very fast. Occasionally I will have a wine cooler also. I do not drink beer anymore. I will on occasion have a hard drink once and awhile too. The key words being "ONCE AND AWHILE". So my point is, we are here to help each other. We aren't here to judge and we aren't here to criticize each other. You know the saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink"? Everyone is different. Some of us choose to follow the plan that was given to us. Some of us follow the plan that we want to follow. Either way, if it's working then let it be. I got 'FAT' for a reason. I am NOT going to be 'FAT' again. So my choice is to follow most of what I am supposed to follow. When the word danger comes in the same sentence as soda, caffine and straws, I choose to listen to those warnings. Caffine by the way is a natural Diuretic. It takes 2 glasses of water to replace the fluids that you lose from drinking one cup of coffee. THAT is why I choose to give up coffee 2 months before having surgery. And trust me I was a heavy coffee drinker.

I have an 8oz Protein shake when I first get up. 9:30am - 1/2 cup of Protein plus total Cereal with a tiny bit of skim plus milk. 11:30am - 1 cheese stick 12:45 - 4-5 oz white chicken in a can with FF mayo 5:00pm - 5-6 oz chick or fish with veggies sugar free Ice pops in between meals and after dinner. I only do ice cream once a month. To many calories for me.

Congrats. Are you self pay?

Thats from the gas that they pump into you during surgery. It takes a few days for that to be gone. Try some Gas-X strips if you aren't already and walk as much as you possibly can. Right now you are in the healing process. It will take probably a good 2 weeks before you feel 'normal' again. Just try your best to get the fluids down. Did you get a fill during surgery? Also a heating pad might help you. By the way CONGRATULATIONS!! It does get better. Hang in there. And if you gotta let the air out..GO FOR IT!!

Hi Mark. I'm Dawn. Congratulations on the start of your journey. Which is asking questions. I also had to wait the 6 months before my surgery. It felt like eternity. I was nervous as heck the closer the day got. I'm the mother of 2 wonderful adult men and married to an awesome husband for 7 years now. My oldest son was born with Down Syndrome. I was also borderline everything (sugar, highblood pressure, fatty liver, cholesterol) and had sleep Apnea and had to sleep with a CPAP machine for 5 years. I also had open heart surgery in 2001 to repair an aortic anuerysm and had a valve replacement at the same time. At the time I had a pigs valve put in and they only last for about 10 years. Reason is because I didn't fancy taking blood thinners for the rest of my life. I was at the time 34 years old. So it's coming up on the years that I will need another open heart surgery. But this time I will get the mechanical valve and take the blood thinner. My eyes were opened when my cardiologist told me that I could die on the table if I didn't lose the weight. All I could think about was my oldest son with Down Syndrome and what would happen to him if I were to die. Of course I was thinking about my other son and my husband as well but the one that stood out the most was my son Matt. Anyway needless to say after much research and soul searching I had the lapband surgery done. And honestly let me tell you the only regret that I have is not getting it done sooner. I am a totally changed person. I am no longer borderline anything, and 3 weeks ago I was able to give up my CPAP machine. I no longer have sleep apnea. I go in July to my cardiologist for another echo-cardiogram to see how things are going there. Hopefully I have even prolonged my open heart surgery. I do know that my cardiologist is extremely happy. Please don't be worried about the PBing and the food getting stuck. It doesn't happen that often. My theory about that is it's good that it happens to you at least once (even though you might think that is an awful thing to say) because THEN you will know how to deal with it, and how NOT to have it happen to you again. As you go along you will find that there are certain foods that don't agree with you. You may get a little stuck. It doesn't happen to everyone. And it usually doesn't last that long. It doesn't feel like your having a heart attack. It doesn't feel like you are choking. It's just a bit of discomfort. If you slime, it doesn't keep going it's just a one time deal. You will have to learn to chew your food at least 25-30 times before swallowing. You will also have to learn to cut your food into small portions. If you do that you should be fine. Most of the stuck is because of old habits. As I said it doesn't happen to everyone and if it does it's not something that you feel like you need to be put into the hospital over. You find ways to get the food moving. Usually mine is I just stand up or a walk around a little. The longest that I've had something stuck was maybe 5 minutes. There is a mix of Realize and Lapband on this site. I have the Lapband. I do hope that this information has helped you. Check out my blog it has alot of information on it that may help. Good luck with your doctors visit. Use your 6 months to research and ask questions. Looking forward to hearing about your progress. Feel free to add me as a friend and ask question if you like. Good luck.

Hi Julie, I'm Dawn. Congratulations on your surgery. Please feel free to ask questions. We look forward to hearing about your progress. I also had a hiatal hernia repair with my lapband. If your having alot of pain try Gas-X strips and heating pad. make sure you walk as much as you can but don't over do it. Keep up the great work.

Hi Jess. I'm Dawn. Congratulations on the start of your journey. I wish you much success. Try Gas-X strips and a heating pad if you haven't heard about that secret already. They help most people. Make sure you walk as much as you can. We look forward to hearing about your progress.

Congratulations!!!! And you have a great attitude starting out with this. You will do awesome if you keep following your own advice. Make sure you are getting all of your fluids in. It will also help with your hunger and your weightloss. As for food. When I first started out and went back to work I was on the liquid. So I would take my shaker and milk to work with me and have my protein shakes. I did have a battery powered blender that I got from The Vitamin Store. When I went mushie and regular foods I generally made my food at home and pack it in tupperware containers. I measure everything out at home it's alot easier. I am down to one protein shake a day which I have in the morning before I got to work. I get my protein from food sources now. My fluids I have a 36oz container which I fill with Crystal Light and I drink that throughout the day at work. When I come home I refill it and finish that up until I go to bed at night. That helps with the 64ozs. When you make dinner at night make a little extra and then just pack for the next day. It's easier for me if I make my lunches the day before so then I am not rushing around the next morning and I won't forget the things that I need. You can also make meals and freeze them. When you get on the mushies, stage 1 baby food is ok also. At least some of it is. Alot of the stuff i couldn't get by the texture phase so I had to make my own mushie food. Which I have a mini food processor that I made my food with. Good luck and I hope that this helps you.

Make sure that you are drinking all of your liquids. Try increasing your walking a little if you are able too. Are you drinking Protein supplements?

CONGRATULATIONS. Try Gas-X strips and a heating pad if you haven't already been doing so. And make sure that you get up and walk as much as possible.

Understand that this is a tool and just because you have the band placed inside doesn't mean that you can sit back and watch the pounds fall off of you. Although it's not diet, it's also not a miracle cure. Your old habits still follow you. The secret is to follow the plan that your doctor gives to you, listen to your body, and reward yourself for your success (something other than food). And most importantly try and find a support group in your area. This website is awesome but it's even better when you have actual people infront of you. Remember you can't do this alone. You need support. Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake, just get back up and try again. Don't get discouraged because the weight doesn't come off as fast as you would like it to, or as fast as others does. And the biggest secret, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor. If you need a unfill as you go along. GET IT. Being too tight is just as bad as having no restriction at all. And don't be afraid to try new foods. Make sure you chew chew chew and take at least 20-30 minutes to finish your meals. Use a small plate and a baby spoon it helps to take smaller portions.

The Lapband is pretty much for life also. You really don't want to have it removed because you will probably gain your weight back again. You can have it removed in an emergency situation or of course if there are complications with the band. It's safer than the Gastric Bypass and they don't redirect your stomach like the bypass. With the band you are supposed to take vitamins also. We don't have dumping syndrome like the bypass does. There are certain foods that you may not be able to eat as well. For me it's bread, Pasta, rice and certain red meats. Everyone is different. I chose the band over the bypass because of a few reasons. I have heard that the gastric bypass stops working after 2 years because they can't adjust you anymore. Also I know someone that almost died because of the bypass. And also I just didn't feel safe with my stomach being permanentaly redirected. I have only one regret with the band and that is that I didn't get it done sooner. I have had no complications so far. The band has changed my life. It is a tool and it's definately NOT the easy way out. You have to work hard. The band does help you to keep the weight off but you still have to work to lose the weight. It's not a diet. It's a lifestyle change. Diets are boring and don't work. With the band you can eat anything in moderation as long as you can tolerate it. Good luck and I hope this information helps you.

You really shouldn't vomit everyday. If the band is too tight you aren't getting your proper nutrients and it could cause big problems in the future. It doesn't mean you have to go and have all of your fluid removed. Maybe just a tiny amount. But honestly I can see maybe 'slimming' once because you didn't chew your food well enough, but everyday? Not good.

I have 1 slice of pie at least once a week. I do have to cut it into very small pieces and eat really slow. I have had 5 fills already and I won't give up my pizza. If you do eat it. Make sure that the pieces are VERY small and you eat very very slow.

Try Gas-X strips and a heating pad will also help with the pain. CONGRATULATIONS!! Make sure you walk too. It helps to get that gas moving.

Hi there. My names Dawn. I was banded on Oct 23, 2009. I would be happy to a buddy or a mentor if you like. Congratulations on your journey. The day will be here before you know it. Please feel free to email me with questions, add me as a friend... ask away. cc-dmtermini@comcast.net I'm also on Myspace and you can check out my blog which might help you also. :cursing: Good luck to you.

As with any surgery there are complications. That doesn't mean they happen to everyone. These are all questions that you need to ask your surgeon about. If you do get the surgery. I will promise you will be feeling sexy again in no time. And you will be out socializing again. Good luck to you.

It's very normal to be afraid of surgery even if you have had it before. If I could go back in time I would do it all over again without a doubt. The Lapband surgery has changed my life. I was a dietaholic. I tried all of them. Yes I lost weight but only to gain it back again plus. I was also one that thought that lapband surgery was the 'easy way out.' BOY was I wrong. There is nothing easy about this procedure at all. It's a definite lifestyle change and a daily learning process. But I can not complain. Ok there are a few times that it might get on my nerves and I'd like to be able to eat some of the things that I used to eat. But after I think about it for a few minutes I realize that the choices that I made in the past are the ones that got my into trouble in the first place. The lapband is a tool. And you just because you have it placed inside doesn't mean that you don't have to work on it. Your old habits follow you even after the band. It's not a miracle cure. I had no complications at all. Things are running pretty smoothly for me. I'm 7 1/2 months out and I've lost 94lbs already. I've went from a size 26 to a size 14. I haven't been in a size 14 since 1989. I was borderline everything and had sleep apnea. I used a CPAP machine for 5 years. Now all of my blood work is normal and 3 weeks ago I was able to give up my CPAP machine. I no longer have sleep apnea. I make smarter choices now. I do enjoy ice cream, a small piece of cake, an alcoholic beverage..once and awhile. I just don't do it all of the time. The only regret that I have is not getting it done sooner. I wish you luck in your journey and if there is anything I can help you with along the way, please feel free to ask. And check out my blog. It might help you a little.

As everyone else stated. Your doctor should have given you guidelines. You really shouldn't be eating more than 3 oz of food.

Congratulations on the start of your journey Amber. What you are feeling is perfectly normal. I wish you much success. Don't give up because this is the best thing that could happen to you. If I had to do it over again I would do it in a heartbeat. Lapband has defiantly changed my life.

So sorry that your surgery was pushed back. But it will be here faster then you can imagine. As for the goal of 85lbs in the first year. My doctor said that they want you to lose at least 50% of your body weight in the first year. I think I have made the exception. I'm already 75%, at 7 1/2 months (94lbs). So yes it can be done if you stick to the plan. But it's better to set small goals for yourself. If your goals are to high you set yourself up to fail. So think of smaller goals. Your long term goal can be 85lbs in the first year BUT try 1-2 lbs a week as a goal. Good luck to you. I hope you DO reach that goal in your year but as I said if you don't, keep going. You will get there. Good luck with your surgery. Please keep us posted.

Congratulations on your successful weightloss. You must be so proud of yourself. Keep up the great work. And feel free to ask any questions that you like. Keep us posted. :tt2:

If you stick to the plan that your doctor gave to you. And understand that the band is a tool and won't do the work for you, you WILL be successful. Everyone loses at different paces so don't get discouraged if you don't lose as fast as others. I started at 304. Although not as much as you, I have lost 94 lbs so far. I am now 210. I'm not an exercise fanatic. When I have time I exercise. I do stick to the plan. And I do reward myself once and awhile. Yes I still fall into my old habits once and awhile of grazing. However I can not graze anywhere near as much as I could before. I have went from a size 26 to a 14. The surgery has definitely changed my life. The only regret that I have is that I didn't get it done sooner. CONGRATULATIONS on your surgery. I would love to be your pen pal if you like. You can add me as a friend or email me. cc-dmtermini@comcast.net My name is Dawn.

Sugarfree Ice cream is loaded with calories. I would suggest broth, Riccotta or cottage cheese, sugar free ice pops (also help with the swelling). Oh and CONGRATULATIONS!!

CONGRATULATIONS on your surgery. I wish you much success. Please keep us posted on your progress. Make sure that you walk as much as possible. Use Gas-X strips and a heating pad for your pain. And remember take it one day at a time. Don't push yourself.