Greetings all. Newbie here, so here we go. 5'11"/460 and trying to get this damn thing done.

I am trying to get the band implanted sometime during mid April. My doctor (who I just met today) tells me I have to lose 40 pounds before surgery. This won't be a big deal, but I have a timing constraint.

This summer, my family and I are taking a cruise in early July. I want to be healed up and ready to go before we leave on the cruise. Looking at my book and from others, it looks like the "life back to normal" timeframe is about four to six weeks (when I say normal, I mean being able to lift kids/bags and run around after my kids like a normal dad and swim in the ocean). This means I have to have the surgery completed by mid-May. I can't wait until after the cruise because of a work blackout for timeoff. That lifts sometime in Sept/Oct depends on negotiations. This is also my first time under the knife and I have no idea how I'll heal (normally fast for small stuff...)

I'm self-paying for the Op (insurance excludes coverage) and I don't want to spend six weeks of shakes/etc if there's no way I'm going to make the "forty pounds in six weeks" timeline. The doc also wants to now keep me overnight which almost doubles the price.

I don't want to put this off, but I also don't want to throw cash at a pipe dream (especially since I know can live at 1200-1500 cal/day and have lost 17 pounds without really trying since my initial visit in January).

I want to get this done (tomorrow if possible) but I also want to take a practical approach to it.

Sorry if this question has been asked before.

Also, do all doctors take the magic BMI spinning wheel as "word from God"? I had the head of our fitness department at the local university do a BMI check on my and it was around 42. According to the "magic wheel", it's around 65. Up until last year I was doing twice-weekly Tang Soo Do lessons and can run around like any normal dad.

Thanks,

Brian

Yeah, April works out perfect. My fear is May, especially mid-May. By May 15th, that puts me at six weeks post-op for the cruise. By then I'm supposed to have my first fill, which means most likely all liquids for two weeks. Hauling around a week plus of Protein shakes, plus the problem if the bag gets lost/whatever puts additional strain on the whole thing.

Two weeks of liquids after a fill? I don't think any Dr. has us do that. Mine is two days of full liquids in case of swelling and two days of soft food. The whole point (after the post op phases) is to eat SOLID protein, that's what keeps our pouch full. Just time the fill right, I would not get one during the two weeks before the cruise.

You'll find lots of solid protein choices (and salad) on a cruise, but you better watch the margaritas!!

Go for it and start your new life. Eventually, you'll have to learn how to handle eating in all kinds of situations anyway, Vacations, holidays etc.

why not make a second ticker of the count down to the forty pounds. We want to see how you're doing and maybe kick your butt a little, if we need to.

And maybe one for the dog, I hope she doesn't lose too much weight.

By then I'm supposed to have my first fill, which means most likely all liquids for two weeks.

Is that what your doctor's office says? Because most recommend doing on liquids for only a day or two after a fill and some people don't even do that. How can you tell if the fill worked if you don't eat solid food?

ETA. Looks like shortgal and I were posting at the same time.

The two weeks was from my mom and from the office as a "area of concern". She had her lapband last year and is within 20 pounds of her target weight.

I'm talking to her nurse from the place she had her surgery done today. Maybe he can reset some of my expectations. I tend to prepare for the worst/work for the best, especially when it's something like this.

The two weeks was from my mom and from the office as a "area of concern". She had her lapband last year and is within 20 pounds of her target weight.

I'm talking to her nurse from the place she had her surgery done today. Maybe he can reset some of my expectations. I tend to prepare for the worst/work for the best, especially when it's something like this.

I'm in a similiar situation. We are going on a cruise on june 20th. My surgery is April 16 - about 8 weeks before our cruise. Should I wait to gety my first fill until after our cruise?

I'm in a similiar situation. We are going on a cruise on june 20th. My surgery is April 16 - about 8 weeks before our cruise. Should I wait to gety my first fill until after our cruise?

Making the decision about a fill, might have to wait until after the surgery. Some people have some restriction for awhile after surgery, some don't. I would not recommend a fill closer than 2 weeks before the cruise.

I would agree (and I'm not a lapband patient yet). Hold off on the fill, or get it as soon as possible. There are too many things that are easy to respond to at home, but impossible on a cruise ship out in the middle of the Atlantic.

BTW, which cruise are you going on? We're going on the Carnival Glory July 5th.

Well boys and girls, it looks like I'm going to hold off until post-cruise (Late Summer/Fall 08).

Talked to my mom's nurse today (super-nurse Tony) and he told me to get below 400 before I do the surgery. Best case, he says I'm going to lose 100-150 with the band. If my target is 290, his target would be 250. He made some great points about what I should expect and I ordered a book "The LapBand Solution Book" on his recommendation.

I probably will change to have the procedure done in Chicago as opposed to out here in Fort Wayne, but we'll see what how things go over the next few weeks. Since the rush is now off, I can just continue doing what I have over the past two weeks and hopefully make some good progress.

Sorry guys, but I'm grinning ear to ear today.

#1. Delayed surgery until August. Timing and six weeks of all liquid just turned my resolve into pudding (not the good kind of pudding, the kind your grandmother made in the old country and smelled like burnt bat).

#2. Lost seven pounds.

#3. Totally off caffeine!!!!!

To Celebrate, I'm off to walk off dinner!

Sorry guys, but I'm grinning ear to ear today.

#1. Delayed surgery until August. Timing and six weeks of all liquid just turned my resolve into pudding (not the good kind of pudding, the kind your grandmother made in the old country and smelled like burnt bat).

#2. Lost seven pounds.

#3. Totally off caffeine!!!!!

To celebrate, I'm off to walk off dinner!

Great job getting off the caffeine! It's smart to work on habits we'll need after banding, before we get banded. If you haven't started yet, Try practicing small bites and chewing well, that one will come in handy later, too.