Leaderboard

I think you have unrealistic expectations of the band, and what it does. At the end of the day, all the band is intended to do is dim your appetite, so you can use your willpower and common sense to achieve the weight loss you're after. To expect the band to do more than that is inviting frustration and weight loss failure. It's true - the band doesn't do anything you can't do for yourself. Technically. So you're right - you possibly could do this with diet and exercise. I did that. And I lost the same 20 pounds a dozen times. For me, the band helps keep the hunger monsters at bay, so I can focus on the rest of my life, and NOT focus on the next meal, or mindless snacking, or finding junk food, or finding the nearest drive-thru. It's liberating for me to be able to NOT constantly have to worry about where I'll find my next meal. I don't diet, in the traditional sense. I eat healthier food, compared to how I used to eat, but I eat "real world" food, focusing on higher Protein, lower glycemic carbs, and avoiding fried, fatty, or overly-sweet foods. (Note I said "avoiding" not eliminating - I still eat some of those kinds of things, just not a lot.) And I find I'm very satisfied with a smaller portion of food, because my band is properly adjusted. The balance of calories in vs. calories out is up to me, and I take responsibility for my weight loss. I work my band, and in return, it works for me. When you make statements like "I am a very picky eater. I do not like foods that would be better for me to eat. The foods I do eat, I cannot get down. They get stuck and I wind up purging or just in a lot of discomfort for a while." it shows you're doing something wrong. If you eat in proper bandster methods (small bites, taken slowly, chewed thoroughly, and not rushed), there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to eat anything you want. The rest is all about the food decisions you're making. I suggest you evaluate what you're taking in every day, compared with what you're burning off every day. See your doctor to discuss your situation, and what you can do about it. Find out if your band is properly adjusted, and if there is a medical reason you're having such trouble. There is no reason to have to suffer with a band. For me, it has been a Godsend, and I'm grateful every single day that I have my life back in control. Good luck! Dave

Just want to let everyone know that if you are looking for a cheap and easy alternative to the gym resistance bands are great! I just picked some up off of Amazon for $30 and boy am I sore. So far they are just as good as freeweights for me and much more convenient than driving to a gym. Here are the ones that I bought and thoroughly enjoy: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mountain-Products-Resistance-Exercise/dp/7245456313/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1312767004&sr=1-3 Just thought I'd pass along the tip! Gaither

Everyone on here has been part of this journey for me - AND THANK YOU AND LOVE YOU ALL. Just wanted to share my news.... I've hit my personal goal of 160 lbs. Lost 126 lbs in just a little more than a year. SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY and feel so good. Take a look at my blog if you have a moment: http://aleadsinger.blogspot.com/ Here's my picture for the WALL OF FAME at my surgeon's office:

I'm looking for opinions on the main things that really worked for you, or what you would go back and do differently if given the chance. I am pre-op, and I've read tons of great information all over these forums. But I wanted to start a single thread for post-op people to express "This really worked for me..." or "I wish I had NOT done this!" about things like nutrition/food choices, cardio, weight training, who you told, friends/family support, etc. based on individual experience at any stage during your journey. I do realize everyone's experience is a little different, and everything doesn't always work for everyone. But so far everything I've read in these forums has been helpful to me in some way. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and stories. I wouldn't have made the decision to move forward with this surgery had it not been for some of the posts on here. :-)

You know, I imagine what I say is not going to sound super sensitive and supportive, etc. However, after reading so many posts like yours, I have to get this off my chest. My husband, when I met him, couldnt be PAID to eat vegetables. Now he is on the Atkins diet and has lost a lot of weight, largely due to the fact that though he doesnt LIKE vegetables and he is PICKY, he sucked it up and ate them because it is and was more important to him to eat healthy (even if he didnt like the way it tasted at the beginning) than to be fat, unhealthy, not be able to enjoy our children and possibly die at a younger age from weight related medical issues. He is still experimenting to find ways to make them as tasty as possible for him and he SUCKS IT UP. Sure, we would all prefer that healthy foods taste like chocolate and cookies, but the fact is, they don't. So if you went to the trouble to get banded, you must have realized that you were not having a magical weight loss machine put into you which would suddenly make the weight melt off you without any work. You don't mention at all about how you exercise at least 3 times a week and have limited your portions. All you say is that you are the same weight now as you were 3 years ago. That tells me that you think the band will do all the work for you. You need to go back to your doctor (I imagine you havent been to him/her in a long time) and work as a team to make the band work WITH you, not FOR you. You need to get in your kitchen with those foods that are good for you and a bunch of cookbooks and experiment until you find a way to eat those foods prepared in a healthy way that you can tolerate. You need to drop the self pity and realize that obesity is a disease and you carry inside yourself a GIFT. Don't squander it just because it hasn't lived up to your expectations. Make it work for you and your future.

200 lbs gone in 2 years. No, the band doesn't work. I work the band.

I just had my surgery on April 14th.. Get some Adtkins protein drinks and carry them in a cooler.. Little individual microwave mash potatoes, grits, oatmeal, sugar free pudding and jello, sugar free popcicles.. You can try those Campbell soups that you drink..

Startingover, I would be amazed if ANY Doctor out there would do a Gastric Bypass on someone that is only 26 lbs. overweight!!!! There is certain criteria that you must meet in order to be a candidate for Gastric Bypass surgery. I may not be a doctor but I'm pretty sure that you DO NOT meet that criteria. It seems that you were doing just fine with the Lap Band, so why on God's green earth would you have it removed??? Maybe your plan is to go down to Mexico where they will do a Gastric Bypass on ANYONE for the right amount of money!!!! I am appalled to hear that you are trying to get a quick fix for your weight loss instead of eating healthy and exercising. After all, that is how you lost your weight to begin with, correct??? I have a disease that has taken over my entire body since 2005. I was unable to exercise due to the enourmous amount of pain that I endure each and every day 24/7. After two years or so of sitting in a wheelchair I had gained a lot of weight. I discussed things with all of my doctors and I decided to have the Lap Band put on in Dec. 2007. After having fills put in monthly until there was no more room, I was only able to lose 12 pounds. Yes, I followed the program to a "T". I continued to get more and more depressed over my weight. I spoke to my surgeon along with all of my other doctors to see what they thought about me having the Lap Band removed and converting me over to a Gastric Bypass. They all agreed that it would probably be more benefisical not only to lose weight but to also help with my high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and depression. I had my lap band removed and converted over to a GB on January 12 of this year. After almost 4 months now, I have lost 52 lbs. I still have another 68 lbs. or so to go. I had all of this done because I NEEDED to do so for the sake of my health. After all, that is the biggest reason why people have a Gastric Bypass to begin with. Can you honestly say the same thing about your situation???

By accident I overheated my corn tortilla. I broke off a piece and voilla! a baked tortilla chip. 1 Corn Tortilla (Mission lo fat) Microwave on high for 1.5 to 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't overbrown. Allow to cool and break into "baked" tortilla chips Spray with no cal butter spray and season to taste before microwaving if you like. Made a great "cracker" for my mexican salad (lettuce, 1/4 C refried Beans, 1 T lite sour cream, pinch of shredded cheese and salsa). I think I found a new lunch:hungry: :hungry: Where have I been? I'll bet lots of people know this trick!!!

I think you are hopeless and should give up. Mimi