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Hot, Halfway, Honest, Happy and Homeward Bound -Bandpal's Periodic Update- Hi Nymphs, Hot It's 40 degrees celsius with a hot desert wind howling down the valley and kicking up clouds of sand. My three year-old and I are riding out the weather inside while the big kids are out with DW bowling and ice skating down in the city by the sea. He just scored a thumping victory over the old man at Candyland, thanks to a little clever card manipulation on my part, and after celebrating with a round of drinks (pink grapefruit juice for him, chicken broth for me), he's settled down on the couch for the latest adventures of Sammy the Fireman on TV. Meanwhile, I'd like to share a little bit of what's going on with this old bandster dad. Halfway I've lost 61.5 pounds since being banded on 21.11.07, putting me at 224.5 pounds, or 102 kilo. I haven't been under 100 kilo since you could take in the view of Manhattan from the observation deck of the World Trade Center, so that'll be a pretty significant milestone (kilometerstone?) for me. I'm more or less at the halfway point of the weight I want to lose. Meanwhile, it's Passover now, prime eating season for us Jews, yet I've actually lost weight during the holiday. Now, that's definitely a first. Honest My second fill, two weeks ago, is keeping me honest. Unless I eat or drink very slowly and in exceedingly small quantities, I can expect to see whatever I've eaten or drunk again, often in vivid projectile displays that would not embarrass the special effects crew of The Exorcist. Only yesterday, in fact, I narrowly missed covering my 14 year-old son, sitting across from me in one of our premier local seafood establisments, in a mighty stream of masticated scallops in cream sauce (leaving him, for once, entirely speechless). Finding the point at which I am full, before the food starts to back up, has been very challenging for me. I'm usually hungry when I sit down to eat, and it's hard to remember how important it is to eat slowly. Any tips would be appreciated - how do you know when you've had enough? This evening I managed to keep down two slices of steamed zucchini, each about an inch thick and two inches in diameter, each slice cut into 16 sections, four across and four down (I know this sounds really anal retentive, but I need to describe where I'm at). I ate the sections one at a time with a toothpick over 45 minutes. Besides that, the only thing that stays down are liquids, mostly clear and some full, and only if I drink them slowly. Happy Don't get me wrong – for all of this I am grateful. My appetite is much, much smaller, my stomach is shrinking, I am literally being forced to learn new and healthier eating habits, I am learning how to navigate various social and emotional situations without overeating... "je ne regrette rien", as they say in French. I can't believe what's happening to me. I have broken a pattern that was totally out of control, that was making me miserable, ruining my life and which I was convinced was going to kill me.I'm so glad that I was willing to take the risk, and that I had people around to support me. In the space of five months – hey, I just realized, five month banding anniversary was the day before yesterday, congratulations on month number 5, everyone – my life has changed. That's what I tried to tell my surgeon in the space of the two minutes it took to give me my fill, and he just nodded his head and smiled. He probably hears the same thing twenty times a day. Homeward Bound Next up for me is a three week trip back to the States for a family wedding. I'll be with my parents and siblings in the greater New York area for most of the time, and then we'll all travel down to San Antonio, Texas to watch my cousin tie the knot. Accompanying me will be my six year-old daughter, and I am looking forward to visits to the ballet, the zoo, toy stores and the rowboat lake in Central Park. I am hoping for a binge-free visit, one in which the people I am with and the things I am doing won't be overshadowed by my relationship with food. Wishing you all sure steps forward on the road we are all walking together, Bandpal P.S. Next day's breakfast: 1/2 hard boiled egg, 1 cherry tomato and two depitted olives, eaten slowly with toothpick. Am now sipping fruit juice through a straw. I have to be aware enough to see what I need, and resourceful enough in order to get it.

I'm just very sad that I gained some weight. I work really hard, I jog two to three miles aday and walk one mile. For me to gain back eight pounds is hurtful. I don't understand what is going on, it's not like I eat much.

I'm so frustrated I could scream. It's been almost 4 weeks now and I'm down between 2 and 3 pounds depending on the day. I'm doing everything right and it's not working. I'm not overeating, I'm not making bad food choices. Yes I'm thrilled to be down as much as I am, but I hoped at this point I'd be down at least 10-15 more than I am. My one cheat has been yesterday we went to Rainforest Cafe to celebrate some birthdays. I had fish and chips and ate less than a third of it, maybe 4 tortilla chips with queso, plus a itty bitty portion of brownie and ice cream (maybe 5 tiny bites). My breakfast and my dinner were each about 150 calories of almost pure protein to allow for my overindulgence at lunch so I came out fine on my daily totals, yet today, that flucuating pound is back. Even after going through all I have to get help, I'm failing. It makes no sense at all. I've gotten used to the 20-something pounds being gone and lost that feeling of being smaller and I just feel like a cow again. I guess after getting adjusted thursday it will be better, but honestly I don't see how I could eat much less than I am right now.

You need to be kinder to yourself and appreciate how much you have lost. The first six weeks is for healing and I would not worry! You are doing great! We have all been through the bandster hell! Try to weigh yourself only once a week. This will ease your stress and you will see the results better. Good Luck with your fill! Talk to your Dr about how you feel. Maybe he will be a little aggressive with your fill.

So I had my lap band surgery on Monday 2/27 and I was on liquid diet the first week. This week I am supposed to be doing pureed, and the mushies for the following 2 weeks and then solids week 5 as my first fill is week 6. Problem is, I have no idea what to do for the puree diet and I am starving. Since I don't know what to do i have just stuck to liquids. The suggestions from the Dr say I can eat anything, just pureed to the consistency of a liquid. Anyone have any ideas for this so that I can feel a little more satisfied without eating totally gross nasty stuff? Or is it smarter just to stay on liquids and do lots of Protein shakes? Man I am so looking forward to mushies, there is al least hope with that phase!

Hi everyone, just wondering if there was anyone near me who fancied getting together to just have a laugh and gove support. I am in need of a buddy to keep me going and feel a bit lonesome!! Xmas was tough but I didn't put on anything but my weight loss has slowed right down. Going for another fill next week hopefully I will find that sweet spot! If anyone else want a buddy get in touch!!

i just got 4 cc in my 1o cc band. i dont feel restriction such as not being able to eat certain foods. everything goes down ok for me. I dont get full after 3-4 tiny bits, i tend to get full around 3 oz i had a taco salad for lunch and right now am just starting to get hungry again so i would say that is good. Is this the restriction others have? I dunno. i believe i have it because when i drink water it sits in the bottom of my throast for a bit and then it feels like a funnel effect. my doc also said i wont hit my sweet spot until around three fills. I feel good tho now. IM glad i dont have any sliming with certain foods. i do take small bites of everything.

When I had my band, it was in conjunction with about 8 of my co-workers. My weight loss was slow and steady, for others it was faster and they had greater loss in the first couple of weeks. When I would hit a plateau, then I would have a fill. I reached my goal weight 2-1/2 years later. You already have the band, let it work for you.

One thing that might help if you think they might hesitate to adjust your band due to good loss is to take in your food log. Either write it out by hand or if you log it online, you may be able to print it from the site. I take in about a weeks worth of my food diary every time. This way the nurses and I can go over what I eat and when; good choices vs bad choices; etc. I recently turned down a fill because I even though I can still eat lots & lots at night (yes, I know.. just because I can doesn't mean I should...), lunch time is a bit difficult to eat solid dense protein. It's a balancing act. My next appt is in June.. not sure I can make it that long till my next fill, but maybe?

Kayford, I know this is an old msg, I was wondering how you are doing? I started Byetta a week ago, not banded yet. Are you still banded and on Byetta.

Hello my fellow banders, I had my surgery on the 27th of August at Rhode Island Hospital. My surgeon is Dr. Dean Roye with University Surgical Associates. They are located across the street from RI Hospital. I just finished my first week on clear liquids and I move to full liquids this week. I am finding it very difficult to drink the protein drinks. It is not that they are not tasty enough, but I am not hungry. Wow did I ever think I would say that? But remarkably, I have no appetite. I have all I can do to drink. I did very well the first four days but now I am back to work and it is hard to remember to drink constantly. I did come home from the hospital with a cold (which I went in with) and I have been feeling crappy from that. The pain was not very difficult, even the first day on a scale of 1 to 10 I was about an eight and that was immediately after the surgery. all of my incisions (with the exception of the one the equipment entered through) are healing wonderfully and there is no pain at all at the site. I am still swollen from the surgery but the tenderness is 50% less than my first day. I have lost 10.8 pounds since last Thursday. Looking forward to this journey.:blushing:

I use the under lined principles of low carb/ high Protein and have had what I consider a good result. I try to keep carbs at around 35-40. I eat mostly lean Proteins ( at least 70g), followed by low cab veggies with the ocassional fruit. I keep calories to about 900. And while I do try to keep moving, I realy don't push it. about a 30 min walk or eliptical daily at a leisurely pace. (If I exercise too much more, I have found my appeite increases substanially and I want to eat more....probably more than I burn.---I do allow myself a few days each month to increase my carbs and calories. One, this lets my eat those carbs that I might be missing like fruit, english muffin, oatmeal..., but I also think it confuses my body and keeps it from getting to comfortable. I have lost 42 pounds in 17 weeks,,,thats about an average of2.5 pounds a week. But the biggest difference is the way I feel!! Wow what a difference!! My energy level is 3 times what it used to be. Now that I am under 195 pounds....I have noticed a slight decline in the weight loss department. Maybe more like a 1-1.5 pound loss weekly, so its my plan (starting next week) to shake things up. Start adding a few more calories and bumoing up the exercise a little....I might also lower my carbs to nothing for a couple of days in hopes of entering ketosis. Hopefully this will get the scale back up there to the 2 pound a week mark again. If this is something you decide to try, I love exchanging low carb food ideas and recipes.---just let me know.

I had lapband surgery in 2009 in Phoenix with Dr Terry Simpson. Fast forward to now, where I am happily married, pregnant and suffering miserably from the lap-band! I did not feel comfortable going back to Dr Simpson with my issues...his office turned into a 'cattle call' with too many patients and little to no time for questions. You virtually lined up to be seen. I was also offended on two occasions, once by a fellow patient who snickered at me and said 'why the hell are you here?' and a staff member that told me that my minimal weight loss (from 200 to 185) was probably because my body was comfortable there...huh? The last straw was my attempt to go in two weeks ago for the pain, reflux, rapid weight loss....and they said sorry, he's on a family vacation...you were self pay years ago so you should find someone else to help with your 'issues'. After a week and a half of an inability to swallow food or Water, I was desperate and was referred to Dr Jason Reynoso at Scottsdale Health Care. Wow! Talk about a caring, compassionate guy that knew I was in trouble and wanted to help me ASAP. Losing 25lbs when you are 5 months pregnant is not normal and he started the process immediately. An Upper GI indicated a slipped band and little to no liquid or food able to pass through. I was scheduled for surgery and had it done yesterday. There was a lot of scar tissue that had to be removed and it appears the band wasn't originally installed correctly as the buckle essentially disintegrated. Obviously being pregnant and having surgery is the last thing you would ever think about but I knew it was becoming a matter of life and death for myself and my unborn child. I am sore but home and can eat like a human again! I decided to write this to encourage anyone pregnant with a band and suffering to reach out to your Dr as soon as possible. I have cried many tears...mad at myself for ever putting myself and my child in this position and 'waiting it out' over the past couple of years when I was obviously having issues. Sorry for the rambling rant but I needed to get it out! Best of luck to you all!

Watch the fine print on all loans for your surgery!!!! I had the option of a refinance, home equity loan or capitalonehealthcare. My doc. gave me info on capitalone......you go online and select "cosmetic" to apply. They offer (through some doctors) a temporary 0% = 18 months are 0% if paid off...you have 48 months to pay BUT...if you are not paid off in the first 18 months...you owe 19.99% for ALL/EVERY BIT of the original loan amount!!!!!!! A home equity (if you have a home and equity) is a higher intest rate than a refinance--but usually is shorter term. I hope to pay off the 0% interst loan in the first 18 months...and if I think I can't.......before the 18 months, I'll then do home equityloan to pay the rest of it off!!! That means...I get ZERO INTEREST for probably 17 months, and then pay off anything left from that first loan, with home equity at less than 10% for however much longer I need (don't cut the 18 month deadline too close or it may cost you a bundle). I would rather pay another 18 -19 months at 10%, than all a full 36 months at 19.99% if it takes three years to pay!! YOU may be able to pay it sooner or later than my example?????? If it will take a long time for you to pay, and you don't want the hassel-capitalone also offers a plain " low" interest plan.........they can let you know in minutes if you are accepted. These are only a few ideas...the possibilities are endless...depending on your circumstances.

Thanks for your great encouragement! The Obesity Law Firm appealed Cigna's denied and I got approved within the month! I'm scheduled for October 7th - just a week and a half after I received my approval.

I was sleeved on the 29th of July and am on pureed foods for one more week. I was eating until I got the tell tale cramp but the doc told me not to or I would stretch the sleeve. I measure amounts but hit the cramp long before by designated three ounces are in there. How do you know when to stop?

I am five months out and I have been dizzy, however tonight when I got up to go to the bathroom. I had to hold on to the wall and I believe I actually fainted. I felt my legs start to wobble and kinda slid down the wall. I am at my goal as of last week and I am having a hard time eating enough food to maintain rather than lose.

megsy, a body lift is also called a belt lipectomy - it's when they excise a 'belt' of skin right round your lower body so you end up with a scar that goes right the way round. They then pull the skin down and suture it all up, so that all the 'slack' of excess skin from your stomache, back and hips end up getting tightened. In my case, I'm also having a upside down conical vertical incision (from pubic area to belly button) to remove excess skin from my upper tummy area, and my belly button will be repositioned. I will be having some body contouring and the fascia underneath my upper tummy will be 'knitted' together, to get that 'flat stomache' look. My PS will also do some lipo on my mons area to ensure that everything's 'flat' all the way down. All in all, after Medicare rebates and health insurance rebates, and inclusive of my PS's fee, anaethetists fees, autology and hospital fees, it will cost me around $16 000. I will be in hospital 4-7 days, and will be expected to recover at home for at least 4 weeks before returning to a desk job. If I were doing something more active, like working as nurse, I would be expected to take at least 6 weeks off for recovery.

krtork - Also, look at the Splenda and other artificial sweetners. I have learned to use them sparingly because they will make me retain Fluid. I sure to miss my Lipton Citrus Teas. I didn't make it out here last week because we were out of town. I have been sick and not really wanting to eat much so I am down. 210 was my bandiversay goal for this week and I made it. If I make the rest of them, I will get to onederland just in time. I had been running every day training for a marathon in December but I started having extremely bad heel pain and have found that I have heel spurs. My doctor says do anything I want as long as it doesn't hurt. Anything more than a brisk walk is still hurting. I would love to hear if anyone has any suggestions.

I am 6 mths out on 10/04 and have lost 111 with 30 to go. I also have followed my Dr rules. I do eat 6 small meals a day and it works for me. I also do not drink protein shakes because I was told they were like slider foods and I would rather eat something anyway. I go to curves 5 days a week and walk 6 to 7 times a week. I think I am going to have to go to a regular gym before long, I feel like this last 30 pounds is going to take even harder work! As for what I eat let's start with what I do not eat. Rice, pasta, bread, soda and sugary deserts. I love yogurt mixed with fruit and kashi in the morning.( I do also drink a home made latte when I first get up) during the day I eat chili (homemade low cal) salad with meat and eggs and veggie, whatever meat I cook for dinner and veggies, snacks are laughing cow cheese on a wasu cracker, 100 cal snack, fruit, protein bar (I only eat half) I do watch my protein and drink lots of water.

I lost 127 pounds my first year. I counted calories and my protien to make sure I was getting enough. I never drank a protien shake after the first two weeks. I was pretty much a rule follower 1200- 1400 calories a day 64 oz of Water everyday (or more) never drank soda never drank caffinated coffee (I do now) Never Ever drank with my meals Exercised regularly (but not obsessivly) Ate what I wanted but really made healthy choices. However, if I wanted something that was a "treat", I had it. After that first year (it's been a year and 3 months) i got a little more lax. And my weight loss has shown that. I have only lost 5 pounds in the last 3 months. I think I need to get back to the basic rules and see if I can kick it back in to high gear. Good Luck to you!

I am 9 1/2 months out.... I have lost 124 lbs thius far and have 60-80 to go.... I just followed my Dr's advice and eat 1000 calories each day. I eat 1-2 Snacks and 3 meals. For each of the 3 meals I have 4 oz meat / protien, 1/2c veggies / 1/4c starch. Typicaly my day looks like this: weekday B-fast - Carnation Instant Bfast sugar free / skim milk weekend bfast- 1 egg scrambled, 1 slice wheat toast w/ suga free jelly / 1 slice bacon week day snack - fruit Lunch- 4oz tuna, cup of lettuce / onion, cucumbers/ fat free dressing / 3 triscuts dinner 4 oz meat (broiled, grilled or baked), veggie or salad and 1/2 small baked potato Snack - Skinny cow 100 calorie ice cream bar / mini box of raisins 64 oz Water Its not exciting...but it works!

The waiting was horrible but I'm glad that part of waiting is over. On to waiting for a surgery date and waiting for the surgery day to get here. But if I can wait 28 years for just the promise of something better then a few more weeks won't hurt.

Hi guys, I was just banded three days ago and have about 65 pounds to lose. Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I look forward to getting to know all of you and sharing tips and frustrations. :smile:

I was banded july 13 as well. its been a long long week. much harder that pre- op