Vivinthewoods

Hello all you beautiful 'Delights', my you are all doing so well. Two little W/L pluses I have notice lately: - I can now wrap a regular bath towel around me and tuck it in, haven't done that in a long time. Also, bras fit so much better, instead of feeling like a cracker on a fried egg! @ Mel - how are you Mel, after your surgery, sorry I have not asked before now, but you were in my thoughts. @ RBailey - Your doc really needs to up your fills, you have done well to keep 12 lbs off with so little restriction. Push for another fill to help you. Although my W/L is slow, I'm nervous about getting another fill because I am so tight in the mornings and can only have a shake for breakfast. I don't want to push it over the top. Exercise is going well, bike ride in the mornings (not every day as it is just so hot now) and treadmill in the afternoon. I just feel so healthy with the lbs I have loss gone for good. I posted a couple of 'six month post-op' photos in my album - I think you can see a difference from the other photo of me a year before surgery. Hugs to you all.

I agree with Nean. At my last fill a sweet little lady came into the waiting area, where I was sitting, she had forgot about her fill when she dressed that morning and put a dress and full slip on. She was embarrassed and even more concerned that she might make the doctor feel embarrassed too. I would do as Nean suggest, take some pants or shorts and slip into the bathroom to change.

I too lost a good amount of weight in the 6 months prior to surgery, but I decided not to tell anyone about my decision to have WLS. So to others it looks as if I have just been loosing weight steadily over the last year. I'm glad I did not tell.

Great! your insurance will cover your L/B surgery. They may require you to have monthly appointments with your PCP (most insurance companies do), to check your weight, diet, progress etc. Make sure your PCP keeps good records of these visits, as they will need to be submitted to the Ins. Co. Your Ins. Co. may also require a psychiatric evaluation and other tests. You can use this pre-op time to get these things done, follow a diet and learn more about what will be expected from you and how the band will work. The pre-op diet may be required by your surgeon, (I did not have to have do it). It is a liquid diet prior to surgery, to shrink your liver, which lies over your stomach, shrinking it will make the surgery easier. You could be on liquids for several weeks or a few days. I did lose weight before surgery, so not sure if you have to prove that you can do it. I hope this helps you.

I was approved in 4 days!

Hi Will, It is hard to give an exact answer to your question, there is not a set formula, as every body works so differently. After my first fill of 2cc's, my surgeon said to come back in a month or sooner if I was very hungry between meals and started eating an amount that caused me to gain weight. I never gained, so I would go in for a fill each month. I had 3 fills of 2cc and my last fill was just 1cc and I think I am either at my sweet spot or very close to it. I found my surgeon's direction of 'if you are eating enough to cause weight gain, then you need a fill' a good guide line.

Kroger's Carbmaster's yogurt has been my favorite for years; I prefer the taste over any of the big brand names.

I started walking on the treadmill a year ago. My PCP said she wanted an hour of rigorous exercise a day, well there was no way! I could only do a few minutes at a low speed and no incline. But I would add just five minutes every few days, it was not long before I was getting that 60 mins in, walking fast and at an incline. So please don't give up! Just go slowly and build up your walking time bit by bit. Stretch out your feet and ankles before you start and put some good up-beat music on. I also love to have a fan blowing close by. I hated exercising when I started and now I can't miss a day!

GREAT - the more the merrier! Look forward to meeting you and friend at Starbucks soon.

There is a group of bandsters here in the Woodlands, we usually meet once a month for coffee and camaraderie. I'll send you a PM with the phone # of the lady who organizes it.

Good luck and best wishes for tomorrow:thumbup:

I have only had 2 small sliming incidents, which happen while eating an egg white omelet, on both occasions, for breakfast. I now know to stick to having a protein shake in the morning, no problems since doing that. My surgeon recommends always having a shake for breakfast. When I did slime it felt as if I had swallowed golf ball!

I don't mean to be flippant, but if you get to the stage where you don't know how much you are eating or what you are eating, surly you will be having some kind of care! I know dementia can be hereditary and it can also hit anyone, but I feel I am warding it and other illnesses off by being healthier, eating healthy foods and exercising. Since losing the weight I have, I feel younger in body, mind and spirit! Good luck with your decision. Regards, Viv (age 61, but feeling 31!)

I had no symptoms and did not notice any change in the way I felt. I did have high blood pressure, (which is now normal) that may have been related to the lack of 'D' or it could have been related to my weight. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium (that is why milk is fortified with D), so you need it for your bones. It helps your immune system. A lack of 'D' can increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment in older adults and cancer. Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.

I too am Vitamin D deficient. I have taken 2400iu a day for the past year and my blood levels are normal on that dose. FYI - 'Nature's Bounty' make a small softgel capsule (1000iu per cap), which is easy to take when banded. My PCP recommended not to take all your Vitamin D in one go, but to spread it out - I take one cap morning, Multivitamin with D in the afternoon & last cap at night.

Please don't worry - I'm sure you will be fine and with your health issues I'm sure your L/B surgeon will certainly help you. When I had my surgery my BMI was 36, (although I had had a higher number). No one ever mentioned my BMI. Good luck and let us know how you got on.

61 and feeling 31!!!!! My blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure are now all in the normal range and I feel so well. I am walking 3 miles a day on the treadmill at the maximum incline. Although my weight loss seems to have stalled I still would not change a thing - I just wish I had been banded years ago.

I was banded by Dr. Felix Spiegel, he is an excellent surgeon with loads of experience. His office staff may be a bit sloppy, but I went for a good doctor and not the staff. I have had no problems at all and just wish I had done this years ago. Dr. Spiegel's Houston Office is near the Galleria. If you need more info just let me know. I wish you all the best.

Hi Ginny, There is a group of just LapBanders out here in the Woodlands, we are just a group of ladies that get together once a month for coffee and camaraderie. The ladies are at different stages of weight loss, some are at maintenance and I am the newbe in the group. I don't know if that would be any closer for you. I too am a Spiegel patient and have the same problem with the distance to his down town office for support groups - it is just not feasible for me to get there. Where do you have your fills? I go the his Woodlands office.

PJ bottoms - essential for walking after surgery Lip balm - you will be dehydrated after surgery and your lips will be dry. Warm drinks - I found these to be very smoothing after surgery. Tea, S/F hot apple cider, stock cubes in hot water, etc. - just a few of my favorite things! Good luck for the 12th

The Woodlands here. Banded by Dr. Felix Speigel 12/28/09. I have only loss 21lbs since my surgery, but loss 36lbs in the 6 months prior to surgery. I'm originally from England, but became a U.S. citizen last year. Wish y'al the best in your weight loss, y'hear!

I was 60 when I was banded. Neither my insurance or the surgeon required a stress test. I only had to be on a liquid diet for one day before surgery, so it was no big deal. Even at my age my PCP and surgeon thought I was a perfect candidate for WLS and gave me plenty of support. No one mentioned anything about being a higher risk for surgery. My only regret - I wish I had done this years ago! I wish you good luck with your weight loss.

I too am a slow loser - 18 lbs since being banded and like you I play with that same pound all week. Don't loose hope, it will happen for us, it may just take a few months longer. I have decided to accept a-pound-a-week lost as being OK and try not to get frustrated over it (hard to do I know). I go for my third fill this morning, so just hope to move closer to that elusive sweet spot. Hang in there - your not alone:rolleyes2::thumbup::rolleyes2::rolleyes2:

I have tried several food/exercise tracking sites and now use myfitnesspal.com for same reasons mentioned in previous post.