MamaMichelle

Here's the first page of text so you know it's worth a look: MORBID OBESITY AND THE LAP-BAND SYSTEM In America, obesity is a leading cause of preventable death. As such, it is a major public health challenge. Millions of adults are overweight or obese. Because they are, they have a greater risk for health problems, such as: ° high blood pressure ° heart disease ° type 2 diabetes ° sleep apnea ° respiratory problems The BioEnterics LAP-BAND System can help you achieve your goal of sustained weight loss. Combined with diet and a behavior modification program, it offers a chance to reduce your weight and the health risks associated with obesity. The LAP-BAND System is not a miracle cure. It is a tool to lose weight. Not everyone will lose weight or keep it off. To get the long-lasting weight-loss results you want, you will need to work at it. The purpose of this booklet is to give you the following information about the LAP-BAND System: ° how it works ° what its benefits are ° what its potential risks and complications might be This booklet also covers topics such as ° obesity ° related health risks ° surgical and non-surgical options to treat obesity ° eating habits ° frequently asked questions about the LAP-BAND System

This is a great handbook for those interested in educating themselves on the lap band. It looks like this was something that surgeons used to give out after (or possibly before) surgery, it's basically like an owner's manual.. lol It's in PDF format and only 21pages so you can print it off and pass it along to any friends or family members who want to learn more about the lapband... Or just read it yourself if you're like me and you want to learn everything you can about the band!! Here's a link to the file: http://mamamichellelv.files.wordpress.com/...patientbook.pdf Enjoy!

So I was a little bored the other night and a little bummed about my past week’s blunders (I'm back on the treadmill and am watching my diet more closely now) but at that time I decided to create some goal images using my virtual model (http://www.myvirtualmodel.com) you do have to register (it’s free) but you can put in your weight, body type, bust size and a few other things to see how you would look at various weights! The purpose of the site is to find clothes that look good on your shape but as for now I am using it to give me an idea of what I used to look like compared to how I’m looking now and of course how I will look once I get to my various weight loss goals! Try it out it’s a great motivation and actually pretty fun! Here are the thumbnails of my pictures, you can see the full size pics by clicking on each image!

Thanks for all the info m-c!! Bethany let us know how you like it and if it is on sale in the actual stores or if it only on sale online!

Great post Gina, It's especially nice that you're a nurse and can help explain the meds you're given before surgery, since most of us just watched them being added to the IV, lol. Best of luck with your recovery!

Hey Denise, I am so excited for you, I know how much anticipation goes into those last few days... Are you going to take any "before" pictures so you'll have a record of how far you make it on that "downward trend" lol love that line! Best of luck sweetie, let us know how things go!

So great to hear from you guys! Glad you are all doing so well... Here's pic of those paper panties she mentioned for those yet to be banded courtesy of Hanna:

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllll- That's not entirely true Cathy... Ice Cream is one of those foods that the band isn't created to restrict. It's called "eating around the band" since Ice Cream becomes a liquid when melted it will slip past the band with no issues!!

Thanks you are so sweet, a great website that I use to help track my daily calorie intake is http://www.fitday.com it's free to register and they have a huge list of foods that already have the calories, protein and carbs figured out for you or you can add a custom food just using the info from the nutrition panel on the back of the package...

You know what the problem could be, while you were on the liquid diet you weren't getting ENOUGH calories and your body was in starvation mode holding on to every calorie you took in... My weight loss stalled around the end of week 2 also and I was only eating 800 calories a day, I bumped that up to 1000-1200 calories a day and lost 3lbs that week. Don't be too hard on yourself yet, I bet now that you are eating real foods and getting more calories your body will break out of starvation mode and by this time next week you will be telling us about your great weight loss!

Good luck Girls!! Did you take some "Before" pictures to help track your progress??

Hi Helen, Check out this post about how to install a ticker: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5317

One of the mysteries of the band is you never know what will and will not pass through until you try it, we used to have filet mignon every other week and I miss it so but I haven't yet tested it with the band because I am afraid I will never going to be able to eat it again!! The tips I have heard about eating steak, or even dry chicken is to start with a tiny bite, think the size of a pencil eraser... not much bigger than this > lol and yes chew chew chew!! I am getting my first fill in 10 days so I'm sure I will try it before then, I'll let you know how it goes Cathy!

There are 8 available beds for recovery (6 private, 2 semi-private) so 8 surgeries a day is the max. Somedays there may only be 4 or 5 and many times you will meet people there who don't know about the message board and won't start posting till after surgery.. But you will NOT be alone, Dr. Ortiz is far too in demand for that, lol.

I'm from the south also (born in GA raised in TX) so I am a mashed potato junkie too. And it doesn't mean you can NEVER have them again, Dr. Miranda's advice is to eat your protein first (steak, chicken, fish) then eat your veggies and only after you have finished those (and only if you are still hungry) can you move on to the starches (rice, potatoes, pastas). So all hope isn't lost, lol!

Everyone is going to lose weight at various speeds, I know you haven't had your first fill yet and many people don't lose ANY weight and some even GAIN weight this is why it's called bandster hell!! Everyone struggles, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Can you tell us more about what you're eating right now?? Have you started any kind of exercise program? Maybe we can make some suggestions to help get you on the losing track again before you get your first fill!!

The band is designed to restrict SOLIDS, eating around the band means someone is consuming foods that are high in fat and calories that can slip though the band. Examples are Mashed potatoes, Milkshakes, chocolate bars and other unhealthy foods of a similar consistency

Thanks for the compliments, I've been working the band as much as I can!! As for your question the only thing I have heard about lower BMI patients is that they may not lose weight AS FAST, and it can seem that their losses are smaller.. But if someone is 300lbs it is possible for them to lose 10% of their weight (30lbs) in the first few months, now if someone is only 180lbs if they lose the same 10% of their weight in the first few months it would only be a loss of 18lbs but their percentages are the same...

Hey Wendy!! You are going to do great girl!! > Big Hugs from all of your Bandster Family!! I'm sure you're all packed up but have you taken any "Before" pictures?? I felt like crying when I saw mine, but then I reminded myself I WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE THIS AGAIN so I put them away until I took my 1 month post op pictures and when I saw the difference I was so happy I took those before pics!! Good luck tomorrow, keep in touch!

Hi Paula- I know that was a hard experience for you but that's exactly what makes the band so great, I mean how many of us used to plow through an Extra Value Meal (super-sized of course) in less than 5 min while in the car.. I know I did!! Lessons like that suck, not to mention hurt but you can see how after that ONE episode you are already ready to change your behavior!!! That's the power of the band!! If I were you I would do liquids (i.e. soup) for tonight and let your esophagus heal! As for early morning protein I too was never a breakfast person so I have been doing a shake for breakfast (like I did during the pre-op)... Now Dr. Miranda says No Shakes once you move to solid foods (since the band, even with a fill, won't restrict liquids and they go right through the band making many people hungry an hour or so after the shake at which point they eat real food which means they have the equivalent of 2 breakfasts) but for me who's NEVER hungry in the morning I drink it only so I can get my metabolism going and so I am not STARVING at lunch! If you ARE hungry in the mornings they I would try egg whites or Egg Beaters both give you 9g of protein and are low in cholesterol, you can find both in the refrigerated section near the real eggs and yogurt, speaking of yogurt that's another good option for the morning hunger!

If you do end up being self pay there are ways to deduct some or all of your surgery costs on your taxes, that's what I will be doing!

I thought about it last night... I have heard of some surgeons doing a quick fluro check before releasing a patient after surgery- obviously after surgery the band is unfilled then so no barrium needed. So maybe having fluro alone is something similar to an x-ray, just to check the band placement to make sure there is no slippage or issues. So during a fill they could do only fluro to check the band, but without the barrium the tech (and you) won't be able to view how liquid is able to flow through the band. CindyTerry just posted about her fill here: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5499 that should help explain how the barrium is used WITH the fluro to get the best fill possible!

I was in a big depressed funk last week too... I posted about it in my blog: NOT THE BEST WEEK I really had to pull myself up by the proverbial bootstraps and get myself back on track both with my diet and my exercise and I have been doing much better!

That's one of the wonderful things about the band, even when you feel stressed and still want to turn to food the band will be your safety net to prevent you from over eating and messing up your progress!!

I have been wondering this too... I have never been a sip, sip, sipper! I try to drink 8 to 10 of my 10oz bottles of waters that I drink in 3-4 gulps, I think that will stop when I get filled. Cindy- Have you noticed any difference with how much water you CAN drink after your fill?