AmberLam

When I first heard about this "lap band thing" I was like, "wow, that's pretty cool." I had just finished losing about 100lbs via the "Atkins" thing, and never thought, "yeah I might wanna get that some day". I never saw myself as "the fat guy" even when I was. It took seeing myself in my sister's wedding photos to say, "wow, who is that guy?"....which lead to the Atkins diet mentioned above.

time passes, I get down to around 220lbs. I start getting dates again. Everything seems pretty cool....go through some major relationship problems, lost my job, had to move, and I get back up to 275lbs.

I go back on "the diet"....(I affectionately know as "the Devil")...get back down to around 240.

rinse repeat, with various other events, but the theme is generally the same.

So here I am back up to 325lbs. My joints kill, I can't work a job where I'm on my feet all day. I'm miserable, and can feel myself falling apart. (physically, not mentally)

It's especially hard for a male to reach out for help, whether it be through a friend, loved one, or medical device. I'm hoping that this is the cure for my ills. After seeing all the success stories, I'm quite confident that it is.

I really despise hospitals, the idea of being cut on, needles, foreign objects in my body.....it's a pretty big hurdle for me to get over. I often found myself in the pre-op area blocking things out and saying, "I'm going to sleep, and when I wake up, I'll have the tools to get my life back."

My first impression was (before all the research, and all the questions, and answers, and deep thought) "Yeah I'll just run down to Mexico, and get this surgery thing and it'll all be okay."....but knowing what I know now, it's not that simple. You have to focus on your goal, you have to have people to support your decision, and you have to want to succeed.

This all happens so fast, once you decide to do it. You're down there. You're cut open, your banded. Before you know it, you're back home, and everything's different.

It's a lot to absorb, it's a lot to digest (no pun intended), thankfully we can all get together and talk about things and gain strength from that.

Trav-

You are precisely in the right state of mind to make a band work for you. Best of luck and enjoy the ride!!

Amber

Hey Chicka! Just as a FYI....

Dr. Neil in Olympia has Floro. This is were I went for my first fill cause I too 'wanted to make sure everything was OK". Initial appointments are $300 something.

If you go back to the OCC, flight is $225, fill is free but the floro is $100. For around the same price you could stay here and go to the Portland get together!!!! You've probably already thought of this, but in case not, just throwin it out there

Good Luck!!

Amber

:angry:I am so bummed! I am a party girl, especially after that first 100 pounds! I love, love, love to go and shake my money maker, but will be in-flight to visit my husband in Scotland.

If the date ends up changing to anytime sooner (unlikely, I know), could someone PLEASE send me a email or PM?? Hope everyone has a GREAT time! Be SAFE and take LOTS of pictures!!!!

Amber

I agree with mlgpdx (Mindy) 100%.. even down to keeping shakes on hand for TOM!! I live alone and when I do go shopping (not very often) it's only around $25. YAY!!! more clothes spending $$$$

Sliding into my size 12 Levi's! Getting comments from my friends that I have I nice little booty (NEVER though I would hear that)! Getting hit on from the MENS when I go out....

Woot!!

I'm down 100 since surgery, 123 pounds from my heaviest weight. Working on loosing more.....

I totally agree with the majority. I had MAJOR issues with Dr. Miranda pre-op via emails and phone conversations. She told me I had to loose 30 lbs.. OK fine! But I only had 4 weeks to make it happen.... UGHHHH I was only 'penciled in' for my date and was NOT allowed to book air fare until she said it was ok.

Ended up booking the plane 2 or 3 days prior to surgery (had to pay out the keester for the tickets!!). When I met with her, she was ecstatic that I had lost 21 pounds. She made no mention of the issues before I got to the OCC.. I don't think she had read my file, recalled any of the issues/conversations and to be honest, I don't think she had any idea who I was. She was completely a different person.

Split personalities much??

Amber

Hello Kevin! Welcome!

I'm sorry but I cant offer any advice regarding vegetarians (I'm not one) or the shoulder/gas thing (this didn't happen to me). But something that YorkieMommy said really struck me...

"Think of where you would be a year from now if you got the surgery sooner!"

Wednesday, August 20th was my one year anniversary date. I have lost 100 pounds since being banded. I weighed 295 pounds the day of surgery.

I cant imagine what I would weigh had I not had this done. I cant imagine going back to not having ANY self-esteem. Cant imagine hating waking in the morning and already being tired, just from getting up. Waiting for Diabetes to set in.. Waiting for my heart to give out... Waiting for my knees to quit carrying me. Waiting for yet another doctor to tell me I was too heavy to have children..

This was more than just a weight loss surgery for me. It has given me life!

I wish that I could have had it done sooner. I'm sure that you will make the best decision that is right for you.

All the best,

Amber

What do you mix it with to make chicken salad?

I normally do just some Mayo, mustard and pepper. But sometimes I add cubed cheese or chopped celery or pickles.. All just depends on what you like!! I dont put it on bread thou *sad face*

Amber

Hi miss Kim!!

Something I've found that really helps me is canned chicken. I get 6 cans at Costco for $11.99 It is Kirkland Signature brand and each can is 12.5 oz. I can get 2 or 3 meals out of each can so that's kinda how I justify the cost. I just drain the water off as much as possible (and save this in tupperware for soups or whatever later, stored in the freezer) and dump the chicken in some tupperware. I like it plain, right out of the can, or sometimes I mix it up and do chicken salad.

Each serving is 2 oz. (3.5 servings per can, drained) and has 60 calories, 1g total fat, ZEROOOOOOO carbs (I'm a carb watcher, can you tell??? hahah) and 13 grams of protein.

A little chicken.. a little vegggg and I'm good to go!

Amber

Banded 8-20-07 so NEARLY one year ago

I have Lost 100 pounds as of today

That averages 8.3lbs per month

Michelle, remember if he (your significant other) doesn't support you on your procedure, we are all here for you.

When you become the bombshell you want to be, and ALL the men are lining up to talk to you, I'll bet he changes his tune.

AmberLam posted this on May 23 (under the thread entitled 'priceless')

Cost of Lap Band weight loss surgery: $8,000

Round trip air fare to San Diego to have Lap Band surgery: $500

Monthly follow-up visits for my local Fill Center USA doctor: $85

Seeing the look on my EX-fiance's (the one who dumped me 5 days before the wedding, when I was at my highest weight and after being together over 6 years!) face after loosing 105+ pounds........

PRICELESS

(my compliments to AmberLam once more for giving us this wonderful Kodak moment)

Thank you Will!! You are so kind

Vix- Thinking of you. Hope you are doing ok.

Amber

Thanks everyone SOoOoOoO much. The continued love and support here on this forum is truly amazing.. even for silly me who doesn't post very often!

Soon, very soon all of you will be here too (if you're not already!)

Jessica, I have the 4cc band.

It has arrived! Today, 199.4! Had to get on the scale 3 times just to be sure... Same EACH time

Haven't seen any one hundreds in about 13 to 14 years. I'm so excited!!

Amber

So as someone who has tracked fat, calories, protein and fiber for ages, I never once looked at how many grams of carbs I eat. I am just wondering if anyone has a gram range they shoot for? I've had almost 100 grams today. The only info I found that didn't sound wacky was on Wikipedia and they said if you are trying to lose, stick with around 150 a day (based on a 1600 cal-per-day diet). So about 100 sounds good in my (uninformed) opinion...

Anyone else looking at their carb intake??

Karen

p.s. I am staying away from packed food as much as poss, and trying to get carbs from fruits and veggies

I am a carb watcher, though I don't have a 'set' daily limit. Anything pre-packaged or processed cannot have more than 5 grams of carbs per serving. If it's got more... I don't eat it. With that being said, if it's fresh fruit and/or veggies I just go for it. It's healthy!! Our bodies need the good stuff

Amber

I have lost a hundred pounds 3 times, and each time, I would look in the mirror and still see the same ole me. Even when people gasped with surprise and delight, I kinda just thought they were exaggerating.

Obesity not only kills your body, but your self-confidence. I wish I could say that your perception will change, but you will have to trust the scale, measuring tape, and friends and family. This issue is really no different than a slim girl looking in a mirror and perceiving herself as fat... thus becoming anorexic.

Take a picture of yourself and tape it to your mirror. Pictures never lie or exaggerate.

Paula

I completely agree with Paula (she is soooo wise!). When I look in the mirror I see all the flaws and never any progress. Even knowing that I have lost over a hundred (since highest) pounds, I still just cant wrap my head around it. I have friends that make silly comments to me like "skinny minny" etc. and I actually get mad cause my mind weighs 318 pounds.

Because of my mindset, my cousin made a picture. She took a full body shot photo from April 2007, put it side-by-side with a full body shot taken April 2008. I was down 80 pounds since surgery (103lbs since highest). She printed it so that I could have something physically in my hand to show what progress I've made. I now keep this in my purse and take a peek now and then. I also show this to people that I haven't seen in a while or those that learn of my surgery and never knew how fat I was.

I have to admit, I struggle with this everyday. Receiving compliments on my physical appearance is just so hard. I hope they are not exaggerating and that some day my self-confidence (AND YOURS) will improve.

Thanks for posting the pic Donna. It is a great pic of all of us! We should do this every 3 months, and take pic's each time. Next time hopefully we'll have alot more bandsters joining us.

I agree!!! I would love to get together again and meet more fellow bandsters >

ps... Anita, the pics on your signature just DONT do you justice =D>

Does Crystal Light contain aspartame (artificial sweetener)?

Yes, it does (

It isn't possible for mere skin cells and adipocytes to keep up.

You'll pull in weeks after you've lost the 5/10/15 pounds. If you lost an ounce a month, for a zillion months, your skin would have time to shrink. If we plan it right, exercize it right, behave right, we'll lose 8 pounds a month.

And plateau.

Dammit.

But our bodies will continue to pull in just because it can't keep up.

That's why the Plastics won't take you until you've been at a constant weight for a few months. They'll pull skin, they'll tighten muscles...but your body has to stop doing exactly the same thing or the surgery will look botched...like you're Courtney Love or something.

It's why we can gain 4 pounds when Aunt Flo visits, lose it a week later and keep on going. We have some "play" in our bodies. We don't have 12 pounds of play.

Plateaus are your body's way of saying "TIME!!!" "I need to shrink. Just chill for a bit."

Then you're on your way again. With stretch marks. Dammit.

LOL I loved this post!!! Thanks Phoenix!!!

CONGRATS Mona... no matter what that damn monster scary scale says!!!!!!!!!

we all know how important protien is. well fiber is real important too. some do not have a problem in the poop department. i do. we should have 30 grams of fiber a day. for me that is hard. i found something that tastes great and has alot of fiber. fiber one 9 grams of fiber and kelloges fiber all bars 10 grams. they have different flavors like chocolate chip and peanut butter and granola. they taste great. they are a great choice to keep in your purse for emergencies. i am going to eat one for breakfast and maybe a snack sometimes. try them.

and... I found that Crystal Light now makes a "on the go" pack that has fiber too. It's Live Active Natural Raspberry Peach. Each packet has 3grams of fiber.

I have a 40oz water jug that I put 2 packets in.. so 6g fiber per jug. Every little bit helps!!!

Amber

In your opinion what was the best tasting protien shake for the preop diet? Did you use powder and water/milk or the ready to go shakes?

I like both pre-made (for convenience) and the powder (cause they taste better to me). For pre-made, I buy Premier Nutrition "Protein". I buy them at Costco and can handle the taste... as long as it's REALLY cold. Each shake has: 160 calories, 5 carbs, 3g fiber and 30 grams of protein.

For powder I get (like Mona and others) GNC 100% whey protein, Chocolate Caramel flavor. I too double the scoops but use non-fat milk. These shakes taste really yummy to me but I have to go easy.... gives me some bad, bad, bad gas!

Banded4life; You are correct. Dr. Miranda told me not to "drink" my meals post-op. But my band is tighter in the morning and it is the only option for breakfast. I try to take advantage of all the protein in the shakes so I can get all my daily grams in!

Amber

You betcha I'm all in for that one!!! I love dancing!!!

WOOOOoHHooooo!!!! GREAT!! I can show ya'll how I shake my groove thang ahahahaha

Amber.....I had no idea! You party animal!

hahahahh.. Maybe next NW bandsters meeting should be at a dance club!!!! LOL J/K

Michelle, You are doing fantastic!!!! You look Fabulous! Because of your monthly progress threads, you inspired me to get a goal dress a few months back. THANKS!!

Thanks for filling me in, I will be there for the next one for sure, glad you had a good time.

My son is banded as well so i always have someone to talk to, he is the only one that understands

when I say I've pb'd or is is quick to point out if I eat to quickly, so i understand how nice it is to

talk to fellow banders.

thanks again

That's great! Hanna said she would like to host something at her home so that we could all save $$ with the prices of gas and all.

Were you and your son banded the same day? Does he participate in this forum? I was banded the same day as my mom and although its great to talk with someone who knows the lingo and what I'm going through... its kinda hard to talk to her about my accomplishments. She had MUCH less to loose than I so her loss has been slower. I think it has also been easier for me since I live alone and control all food that comes in. She has to cook for dad and brother.

AnyWhooo.. Really hope you can make the next one!!!