LeighaMason

Hey Rachel, Congratulations on your band! I'm glad your feeling well. Just a quick word of encouragement, I was hungry after the surgery too. I gained weight before my first fill but (here is the good part) I have lost an average of 2 pounds a week since my first fill. So don't gauge your overall success by the time between your surgery and your first fill.

I decided against Mexico, for me it was too much risk. I found a Dr in Dallas who did the surgery for $10,200 with fills included. When everything was factored in travel, fills, etc. it wasn't that much more expensive in the long run. I was also under the impression that the Dr's in Mexico used the older style bands. (This was 6 months ago, and things change quickly so you might want to check this out to see if it is still the case) But I wanted the newest technology available.

Hi Michele, I didn't have any restriction after my first fill either, as a matter of fact I gained weight during that time. But after I started getting fills I started losing an average of 2 pounds a week. It gets easier. I have a hard time with water too. I never even think to get a drink until its time to eat and then its too late. If I drink with my meals it hurts, because of the restriction. So I try and have a water bottle sitting out in front of me at all times, then I will mindlessly sip on it. Then I put it up before I eat and don't get it out until 1 hour later. This has been the hardest thing for me. I also like to have a glass of wine with dinner and that is over as well.

She means repeatedly, you know, lose 20 gain 30, lose 25 gain 35, etc.

We are glad you decided to stop looking in the windows and came on in! Congratulations on the band and the weight loss.

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. Proverbs 11:12

I made my first consultation appointment with a surgeon who asked for a $200 fee and then before I hung up they told me "Oh, by the way, we don't take checks or credit cards for the fee". After I hung up, my brain kicked in and I realized if this place is run like that what is the surgeon like? I called back and canceled.

I am happy to hear that you are a "portion control" girl, I believe this group of people have the best result from the band. The great news on the Dr goal vs your goal, you are in control. If you get to 100 pounds lost and thats all you want to lose, you just eat the number of calories that you need to to stay at that weight. You get to pick. I will tell you this though, I told myself that my goal was to be 150 pounds, "I will be happy at 150!" but now that I am 154 I am thinking that the doctor's goal of 135 is reasonable. I just couldn't accept it from the beginning because it seemed un-do-able. I haven't been below 150 in 15 years, but now I see it as a possibility. Good luck with the process, take the advice given by Bob (btrieger) to heart, it is all good, especially the part about the food journaling.

Heidi, You said you were 3 days from surgery, I don't know for sure if you meant today or tomorrow. I hope you are feeling confident about it. I wanted to share my experience as well. I only had 65 pounds to lose, but I had been trying to lose it for 15 years. I have done so many times only to regain it. I feel like you don't have to give up your favorite foods permanently, you just have to give up eating the large volume of them. (My one exception to this rule is beer, I think carbonation stretches the stomach so I gave it up permanently.) Sometimes now, when I am eating something that is really good and my band tells me to stop because my pouch is full, I get sad because I was enjoying it, but my pride in my new body shape will take over and I feel better soon. (Sometimes when I get this "I can't eat what I want sadness", I actually go in my room and look at myself in the full length mirror. How vain is that? Vain but effective!) I lost pre-term twins 17 years ago, I understand how that is affecting you, unfortunately some people who have not been around this think its different than losing a child because you were only pregnant, but it is the same. I hope you have allowed yourself to grieve. Remember there are risks for everything, we just have to decide if the risks are worth the potential gain. I was willing to bet my life (with an experienced surgeon who I could trust) to lose the weight and gain my health back. I hope some of this helps you decide if its right for you.

It's OK, I actually gained weight between my surgery and first fill since then I have lost 2 pounds a week steadily don't beat yourself up for not losing weight during this time. Once you start getting fills it will be easier. I know a lady who has the lap band and it hasn't worked for her, so first she tried to talk me out of getting it then she told me how terrible it was to have it filled. I was terrified when I went for the first fill. It was a small stick just like a flu shot, and then it was over. I was so pissed at her for making me think it was a big deal when it wasn't. Relax, if you have had a flu shot or any other shot you already know what it feels like.

BOTH SIDES! (I thought maybe if I screamed it you would hear me this time) All information from BOTH SIDES has to be discarded if it is not collected by a non-biased method, its called non-scientific for a reason. Short story to prove my point: I previously owned a flower shop, one valentines day I went home and told my husband, "Everyone is ordering pink roses this year" its so strange. After valentines when I was tallying up the orders, I realized I had taken every single order for pink roses, this gave me the impression that everyone wanted pink roses when in reality we sold almost the same amount of pink roses as normal. This happens with quick polls only people who are biased in one way or the other answers so the poll can be skewed, hence it being called "non-scientific".

Included at the bottom of the poll: NOTE: This is not a scientific poll. The results above are for information purposes only, and should not be confused with the results of the scientific polls conducted by CBS News. Anything with a disclaimer has to be discarded, from both sides.

dontgoggilme--We haven't heard from you in a couple of days, hows it going?

Oh thats great. I have had my band for 4.5 months now and loving it. If you have any questions let me know I will be happy to help if I can.

Betsy, Its good to hear from you. My good friend (I reserve the term best friend for my husband but this friend is #2 behind him) had a heart transplant 10 years ago, it made such a difference in his quality of life, people will think this is weird but I hope your husband gets his done soon and starts to feel better. Cocco--How's your new protein stuff? Bob--Sore this morning? Liz--OMG! Look how pretty you are! I cant believe you waited so long to post your picture. (Your son is a doll.) Nothing much going on here today, I guess my drama with being to tight is over. My new motto "too loose is better than too tight any day!"

What? I didn't hear what you said, I was in the bathroom weighing myself, again.

Congratulations! Uneventful + Surgery = a beautiful thing. Good for you!

I had a .7 fill on Feb 18th for a total of 5.1. I struggled for 10 days barely being able to eat and going down hill the whole time. By the time I called the nurse I was down to 200 calories a day, I could barely even drink shakes from trying to force it. My nurse met me at the hospital on Sunday morning and took out .3, then she told me to stand up so I could try and drink some water, when I stood up I felt the protein shake that I had forced down 2 hours earlier (that took 2 hours to drink) drain out of my pouch. I cant tell you the relief. Today is the first day since 02/18 that I have been able to eat solid food and boy was it good! I was happy with my small meal and still felt full for 3 hours after I ate it. I still have my restriction. During that 12 days I lost 6 pounds, however, I had been losing 2 pounds a week anyway. So I couldn't eat for 12 days and I only lost 2 extra pounds, NOT worth it. If you are too tight, you could be risking your band by staying that way for very little advantage. Will your doctor give you a small unfill like mine did?

I don't work up at sweat when I exercise to lose weight. My stepson (the coach with a masters degree in athletics) said to burn fat work out at 65% of your resting heart rate. This is best done on the treadmill or sitting bike. You need to do an hour straight at the 65% heart rate ( 117 beats per minute for me). If you do more, you start sweating and go into cardio. Cardio uses glucose out of your blood stream for energy and is used for preventing weight gain. The 65% heart rate method is using your slow twitch muscle fibers and breaks down fat already stored and uses that for fuel. Be careful to keep an eye on your heart rate, if it goes about 70% even for 1 minute, it means you transfered into the cardio range and you aren't going to get the fat burn effect.

ROFLMAO! :thumbup: HOLY CRAP! :thumbup: MAKE IT STOP! :mad2: IT HURTS!

My personal opinion (no scientific basis) is that we don't have a genetic set point weight but genetics gives us a large stomach that holds a lot of food, like our parents have. I would love to see a study about that.

Oh good for you! When is your surgery?

Hey LoserBob, When is your band date? Did you have to delay it because of the kidneys?

Liz, WTG on the 290! (Why wouldn't you record it?) How about some pictures? Betsy finally came across with some. illuminationlady--I live too far from my surgeon to go to any classes, have you thought about a summary post or blog on what your psychologist's tips were? I would be interested. (If you don't have time I understand.) BrianBob--Never underestimate the power of the written word. (OK I have milked the brian thing for all its worth, I will just call you Bob now.) Congratulations on joining the land of the banded. Betsy--I am thinking of you and your family. Jen & J'smom--Hi y'all! I got to start eating food today! Yea me! After too tight for 10 days and then 2 days of liquids after the unfill, I was more than ready. For those of you who think too tight is the way to go, I spent 10 miserable days not eating and getting 500 calories a day then 2 days on liquids and I still only lost 6 pounds in 12 days. I usually lose 2 a week so I would have lost 4 anyway. So, the moral of the story is, too tight=1 extra pound a week, not worth it!

Betsy--I have no idea what to say other than my thoughts will be with you and your family today..You are probably one of the most thoughtful people I have ever ran into, your husband is at the hospital and you reassuring BrianBob. I am hoping that the hospital can get your husband back into the metabolic shape he needs to be in and the process is as easy on you and your kids as possible. So I am officially declaring today to be positive thoughts (or prayers, whichever you prefer) for BrianBob and Betsy day.