Giby97

Enjoyed your update, as mine is similiar to yours. Steady as she goes, averaging a small amount of #s per month but at a comfortable pace. Exercise is important and i schall begin that when I return from my trip to the states. Lapband was it for me also, it helps one stay in control. Also it felt great on my first flight since the surgery, seatbelt (A+) no extenders, and the food choices were amazingly set for my lapband diet. Just watched my intake and stopped when full. And no drinking any fluids for 30 minutes. But this is about you so I think your progressing moderately like me. Great Job! In a year we will look amazing. Wish you continued success. Ken

Friends and Fellow bandsters, oh what enjoyment it was using my seat belt on the airplane since my surgery.:smile2: MY BELT FIT WITH 2 INCHES TO SPARE. :thumbup: I will share the pic later after my trip- a Stewardess took my pic. And upon not eating anything from 0215 that Saturday morn unitill the meals on the air plance--what fantastic feelings- food was Great and of the correct menu for a bandster, first meal baked fish, pots and carrots; I drank water for the first two thirds of a 13 hour flight.:thumbup: Second meal was rice and baked chicken; finally the last meal was a slice of pizza. I ate it slowly without drinking during the meals--NO PROBLEMs. After 17 hours of traveling and getting set for my school class this week, I purchased my normal frozen meals high in protein for dinner's, lunch will be tuna salad and crackers, and breakfast will either be a shake or an ham and egg microwavabel omelet. Lots of water to drink. Will not weigh my self for one week:biggrin:, waiting untill I get to my sisters or a two week vacation. In three weeks will be back in South Korea with my family and ready for another FILL, my sixth- to go hard on the next few months to loose prior to my anniversary date. Feeling great about myself today and hoping to do well. Have a great day fellow bandsters.:thumbup:

Friend no need to re-edit, you said it. I am proud of you too. Desire, positive attitude, and the aggressiveness in seeing it through is all spelled out. Great success story. Happy it's working for you and other lapbandsters can mentor from this. Thanks for sharing. Your friend Ken

Rhonda, yes your not suppose to drink fluids when eating, but I do some, sip, that is. I am like you I need something to help alittle. I now know my limits so if you being to drink, you will also find out what you can tolerate, that is how much you can drink. (Use the word sip, like one small mouth full and swallow slowly. It's been working for me, but I do try not to drink anything some of the time. Control is the Key. Hope this helps. Drinking water washes the food through the passage. The longer the food stays there in your upper stomach, the longer you will feel no hunger. Feeling full is the way one should feel like.

Hi I have been banded for 8 months now. Averaging 5#s a month loss. I am like you, I like those food items. I still eat them but very little. I basically stick to the lapband diet, but every now and then hit the carbs, spaghetti. I do have toast with my eggs in the morning. The thing is to eat your limit, unitll you fill full--keeping in mind to fill up on protein items first. That's what I do. Before you commit yourself to the lapband procedure, I would like to suggest that you take the lapband diet and try it for a few weeks. If your weight comes off your in luck and just continue, and might I add at our expense-cause the lapband procedure is expensive. I would do liquids for a week, then mushies for a week- you may even want to do it for two week intervals, and start exercising 30 minutes a day. (walk) for a few miles. This way it won't be hard on your finances and you can see if you can adapt. Good Luck. Oh if you do choose the lapband procedure, it's a long term weight loss program not short term, so expect a year to a year and a half for true results. Other lapbander's are looking great after a year, so it depends on the individual. Hope this helps you.

Try some mashed potatoes and pork and beans. 3/4 cup pots and 1/2 cup p&b. Try macaroni and cheese and pork and beans boiled chicken or baked fish and mashed pots filling and they all work for me.

See You Are Amazing and Looking Great. Cool I like that and what a mentorship piece for all of us. Can't wait untill I loose my #s. Thanks Janet.

I have had 4 fills, but my first one was like this: After 3.5 hrs of traveling, enter the doc's office, get weighted and follow the staff into a room with a table, and special x-ray machine. I sat up on the table, pulled my shirt up and laid down, head was on a little pillow. The nurse rubbed my port spot and the doc viewed it in the x-ray machine, I could see it also. Next the doc prepared and injection with 2 cc's and boy what a needle on that injector-6 inches. Scarry Huh, no not really, then he jabbed it in the port, and it felt like a small bee sting, and five seconds later it was over. Went to the lobby to sit for a while and drink some water. Don't leave the doc's without being able to drink water. All of my other three visists took 5 minutes or less, 15 min total, nothing to it---no pain, nothing.

Can you share your eating habits...you have great weight loss progress. Would like to know.

Fills, Anyone needing more fills...I had 4 already-nothing to them. Less than five minutes with the doc and 15 minutes in the lobby to drink water--whalla done. But that's after a 4.5 hour bus and subway ride. Then it's time to head back yep, an all day event for 5 minutes. I did this 4 times already. First two fills, two weeks apart, then the third one month and the fourth well about 7months out. Each of the first three fills were 2.0 cc and the last a 1.0 cc. Upon returning from my trip I will head to the doc's once more in Oct and get another. I have a 10 cc band. There is nothing to worry about, it's like getting a flu shot. I watched the doc the last three times, very interesting and did not feel a thing. I love my fills. Drinking water is a must after getting a fill. So if you can't drink water--let the doc know. Good Luck

It's truely exciting getting the first one, but after that it's so easy. Here's what happens, you lay on your back on the table, while the doc prepares the fluid for your band. Then the staff finds the port spot and dabs you with a fluid prior to you receiving the injection. The doc then locates the exact place where the port is and gives you a shot, yes that's all it is, a pin prick of the skin that's all, like getting a flue shot. Feels like a small bee sting. Then your done. 5 minutes and that's it. Then you wait in the lobby and drink water. Always after an injection try to drink water before leaving the doc's You must be able to drink fluids. I do this all the time. 4fills for me already, nothing too it. Be Patient with your wt loss, it could be fast or slow, but you will loose. Be positive all the time. I have had a few times I was constant with no wt loss, but that is part of the journey. You will begin to loose so never worry. Follow the diet. Liquids, mushies, solids after your fills. Don't drink with your meals, wait 30 min after. If you have to sip. You will need to learn your limits in eating. Yes there are limits, eat so much and then it can come up again. Everyone has there moments and I have had mine. I pretty much challenge my limits of eating on occasion and i pay the consequences. This is part of changing your behavior about eating habits. You will succeed so don't worry. Rem to be positive. Good Luck.

Hi, take multivitamins, and oh by the way I never stopped drinking my coffee. My doc has not told me anything about my coffee. Pure black coffee, it's not affecting my wt loss. I am averaging 7 pounds a month loss. Positive results every time at the doc appts.

Great success. Glad you shared it. Our goals are reacheable and in sight. Thanks.

WoW. That's alot of cc's but I am like you, I have 7 cc's in a 10 cc band. Don't get too discouraged cause I know there is a limit when eating, so with that said, yes I do feel more hungry at times. It's self control that plays a key here, the band works, but slowly. Yes for some its more but for the ones like me it's moderate to slow, be patient and follow the diet plan. You will see results. Good luck on your journey.

Happy for you. Your on track and will succeed. Thanks for the tips on the carbs and look forward to your new receipe's. Ken

Hello All Bandsters, I am solicitating any advice on traveling-mainly meal choices. What did you do on your trip? I will fly to Florida next month and return Oct. Going to feel nice sitting in my seat and being able to buckle up EASILY, hehehehe. Any advice on eating while flying, and once at your destination, what choices are recommended. Would like to know how you adjusted to this situation. Thanks Ken.

I am a retiree. I was covered by TRICARE. See your representative, and get the required documentation and submit it. You need your receipts for actual costs. TRICARE pays nearly 75%. I paid about 6,800.00 and received 4,500.00 back, so actual cost was less than 2,000 for me. I saw my representative, and he gave me my paperwork to submit, I mailed it. Hope this helps

Calories is it, and multivitamins. Really patience is our virtue. Relax and take a deep breath. Take one day at a time and one task at a time, I do, cause I have the same feelings, of lots to do and no time to do it in, and my patience is low when it concerns time. Anyway being a lapbander, it's patience that counts, our weight loss is gradual and for some they are lucky to see more than a few #s each week and month. Protein is the key and calories--eat enough to get your metabolism going. I read that vitamins will help in the loss of hair department. Your just fine, just relax, and readjust your schedule to the new you.

OK First I am down 43#s and I like you had doubts at first, not now. But, with all of the posts on this site, one can take that advice, begin a diet program that's been working for lapbanders for free. Yes follow the advice of the bandsters and diet yourself. Liquids the first week, mushies the second week, and so on. Try it to get your system used to being a true bandster. You can learn from all of us and not spend $$$$$. Why not give it a try? Then decide to get your band. The ball is in your court.

Mine lasted 5-8 days. Try V8 juice as I did. Soups. Then mushies: mash pot's, pork and beans. Good luck on your journey.

Hi, I am going on my 8th month now since surgery in Jan 10. I first began using V8 Juice right after surgery. Then some shakes like Ensure and now SlimFast with a multivitamin in the mornings when I don't have time to fix breakfast. I have eaten cheese omelet, two eggs over easy with a toast, or oat meal. I don't like smoothies, as I read one pack and it was high in sugar, very little protein. I recently bought and am using Whey Protein, Professional Strenght 52g Protein. I like this product. I have lots of energy and usually get up at 3 am in the mornings. I usually plan my protein by eating chicken, fish, or beef with a veggie. Love the fish. Baked chicken is a plus as I boil it first the bake in oven for two hours. Sometimes I try a tuna salad sandwhich. Of course water is a must throughout the day too. Good luck on your journey

Hi, for the road I usually have a SlimFast shake and multivitamin, or Ensure drink, or other Protein drink, high in protein. Another option is an omelet with cheese. I usually cook two eggs over easy and have one toast. This holds me over till lunch which is 4.5 hours away. Then it's a microwave meal hight in protein with veggies. or a bowl of chili beans or a bowl of mac and cheese, or some tuna salad and six crackers. After that it's water for 4 hours, then at home its, baked chicken, baked pot, small helping of pork and beans. Very filling. I like baked fish. Also I try some soups with a few crackers. Hope this helps you. It's working for me.

I was banded 4 Jan 10, and I don't think I could have went through an eval like you all. Of course I am in South Korea and all I was concerned was, how much and how long does it take and finally when can we do it. Yep those were my only questions. Only pre surgery was cholesteral level was high-he prescribed some meds on 4 Dec and by 4 Jan my surgery date, my level was ok. My wife and her sister coordinated my surgery due to language barrier, but the doc's and staff do speak English-yes. One Great Doc and fabulous staff too I might add. Recently had my 4th fill, and I expected to pay but guess what--it was free, love my doc's and staff. Oh I was allowed to eat up untill 1200 mid-night the night prior to my surgery. I went with the family to OUTBACK'S and had steak and salad. MY LAST GOOD MEAL! So I thought. Even banded, one can enjoy some dining, but at a much smaller scale-like a cup here and there of one or two items. Still not bad. The band helps curb the appetitie and when restriction is evident, you know it. At one point in my journey I tested the limits and not surprized, the band won-my bad. I am now enjoying my band, I love my band, and I do weight myself every morning. If I splurge some on eating, I don't get discouraged and resort back to the basics-soups, mushies, and solids. It's all control, willingness, and determination. One Key word discribes all Journey's= PATIENCE. Be patient and don't become discouraged if weight loss does not happen-it will happen, so don't worry. Best of luck on your journey and have fun, enjoy and be happy. Your on the right track to living a fuller life. ken

Nothing to worry about...you will loose the #s. Patience and following the rules will allow you to succeed. It was a great move for me. Since the 90's I was overweight and struggled. Now at a moderate pace with my band, I am seeing results, sometimes not as fast but be prepared to average a 1.5 to 2 # loss a week, maybe even more. Set small milestones (goals) and your ultimate goal. Work in small steps to achieve them. I see that once the goals are achieved, maintenance kicks in. You will still be able to indulge some but at limited levels of intake. It's been a very pleasant and enjoyable journey for me and will be for you. Just stay the course and be positive. Have fun.