B-52

First, BMI's are not accurate.....they are Ok to a point, but that's it.... Body Fat % is the accurate thing to do....and that takes a special scale, very expensive.... I use one at the gym, and my Dr.s office has one...you stand on it in your bare feet, and grip metal handles with both hands....a small current runs throughyour body, measures impedence, etc, then gives a few different results....Lean Muscle mass, Body Fat %, Body Water content, etc..... Every year at ths time, (superbowl) there will be a running back for one tof the teams, that will be the same height as me....but weigh 15-25pounds more than me....BMI's will put him as Obese... But I doubt he has a oz. of fat on him, and I would not call hime fat, let alone Obese, to his face....and yet you will not find a better fit, healthy person - athlete.... Oh, back on topic....My Surgeon NEVER talked about goal weights....he focused on Permanent Lifestyle changes, and the body will adjust and balance out where it wants to be....with the band, your body will steadily loose weight, and there is nothing you can do to stop it since the band is running the show.... According to BMI's I am overweight...and yet..I have no excess body fat, and at my last appointment my Surgeon agreed and said there is nothing left for me to loose....but I am overweight, healthy and fit....

LUMPY...you can't miss it, everyone asks me what is that lump??

There are days I cannot eat anything...and then there are days thing are back to normal...I don't have days I can eat anything...that would mean a fill... It changes throughout the day, everyday.....very tight in the morning, gets better as the day goes on.... Spoke with My Dr about this...he said (aside form the pouch) the band is a constant....it is our bodies that are always changing....

My insurance Co. insisted that I go through a 6 month Medically Supervised Diet, just so they can officially have in my record, that I am a "Bonafide Failure" when it comes to diets and dieting....therefore WLS is the only option left for me.....

I FAILED at EVERY diet I have ever been on....and they were many....that's why I was referred to a surgeon to have WLS....as a last resort...because I could not do it.... In other words, I may not have faith in myself, and fear failure, but the band did not fail me....as long as I got out of the way and let it do what it was designed to do... Many time I have tried to "Cheat", as I would with diets...but the band would not let me....unless I'm a glutton for some not too pretty results.... You're having surgery....Why? It must be because you are expecting the band to do something...correct? So how can YOU be the failure.......

I was banded on 1/31 also....a good omen? It's been good for me.....by June I was definitely telling the difference.....

Sorry double post....I-Pad syndrome

Is still eat Chinese food (and Thai) regularly....as long as it is NOT deep fried, and I also don't eat meat anymore.... When I bring it home, I pick out the things I want to eat (protein) and are band friendly then usually throw the rest away... Very wasteful I know, I will only eat about a 1/3.....and even then, MAYBE.... This is also one of the few times I eat rice....I will mix about one spoonful in to a point you can hardly tell there is any there at all.... BTW...I'm not a calorie counter...just a Protein seeker....

In a blender....I start with 100% whey...25gm, then I add "Pro-Stat 64" a sugar free pure liquid Protein, 30ml (shot glass) for 15gm..... Mixed with 8oz Water or skim milk if you prefer, add your favorite fresh fruit, Peanut Butter, banana, just about anything you can imagine...even coffee....summertime add a ice cube...can also add yogurt or ice cream....and also non thickening Fiber powder.....always below 300 calories total......no solid Breakfast can match it....and I feel,the advantages all day, can tell when I miss one... I've been doing this for some time...and it was not because of the band...it was recommended by my cardiologist to name just one... When I got banded, it became a daily practice since post-op....

Wearing a heart monitor and staying within zone 3-4 is the only workouts I will do....all cardio, 85% of max. heart rate..based upon your age.... I have found that running is the most efficient way to get there, but cycling and elliptical worked well also....but you have to increase the resistance to get your heart rate up....

Don't know if your Dr. ever showed you this, but the "Green Zone" is where you will want to be, eventually..... You just had surgery...there is not much you can do but count your calories, diet, etc.... It took me 4-5 months and a few band adjustments to get to where my hunger was brought under control.... / /

The drugs were pretty helpful too!

I was banded on 1/31....one of the best days of my life.....maybe it's a good omen!!

To his day my Wife still orders Cheeseburgers, steak, Pasta dishes...all those things I never eat anymore....eventually I learned my new lifestyle and it does not bother me anymore....food and hunger for that matter are no longer issues..... Hang in there....it takes time.....but the band does work!

Congratulations on your success!!! Myself...I have had, and supassed 3 goals....once the band is working as it should and I found myself in that "Groove"...that "New Lifestyle" , there was nothing I could do to change it and my body stopped loosing-burning fat...when it felt it wanted to... In other words everything eventually returned to normal far exceeding my expectations....

I start the day...everyday for about 18 months now...with about 40gm of protein in a "Custom Smoothie" I make in the blender....

I can't remember the last tiime I tried to eat a pancake....yes I can and it was not pleasant....But I know I'm strange and different (I've been told) when ot comes to food and eating ever since being banded.....

Not everyone follows this approach, does not make one right or wrong....the band is adjustable to your comfort level and desire.... I was 58 when I was banded, and had serious medical issues so I did not want to take it slow and easy....time was wasting.... So when in came to the band, I was "ALL IN" and fortunately my Dr. Was/ is willing to be as aggressive as I want to be, as long as no problems arise...and so far, none have....

As things are now, I cannot see how I can ever gain again....the band prevents me from overeating.....I know, I have tried and each time the results are not pleasant.... I am aware that medical problems may arise, causing me to have the band un filled, in which case the basic function of the band would change..... I am aware of my pouch stretching, allowing larger portions...but that is something I can detect and go full liquids from time to time for maintenance. I have also noticed, that eating such small portions over a period of time, my normal stomach has also shrunk....in that case I get the classic "full" feeling very quickly....or a good old fashioned belly ache! I can eat around the band by grazing all day...the band limits my portion sizes but it does not dictate how many times I can eat those portions per day.....but the band does take away my hunger cravings and interest in eating so that is something I just have to learn to live with..... Obesity is a chronic condition, eating disorder for whatever reasons, no self control, no self dicipline, which is why I needed the surgery..as a last resort......to stop me, prohibit me, from overeating..... And in my casebthatbis exactly the way it works.....hope it never changes....

Just my opinion.... But most PA's are demi-Gods....they feel they need to express their authority to show you how important they are..... I'm not saying all, but the new grads.....I work with them all the time....all I need to do is give them "The Look" (Stare) which usually brings them back to reality and focus on what's important and get back with the team....

I could have slept in my bed that very same night.... BUT... When I got home from surgery, I was happy to sit in my lazy boy in front of the big scrren with a warm comforter, some chicken broth, Water...and my PAIN KILLERS ..... I was not going anywhere! You could not get me up to go to to bed.....

I agree totally.....all one should ever do here is share their own personal experiences, both good and bad....and let the reader digest all the info and how it may relate People. will say "This is how it works, and there is no other way" when in reality, it is really only their opinion.... And yet, there are people, like me, scratching their heads saying that's not what I have found.....I believe something 180 degrees out and have been doing it so for quite some time.....even cleared it with my Dr. But because it is not their belief, it cannot possibly be correct, let alone work.... Whenever someone posts a question, I will only answer by saying "in my experience, this is what I have found to be true for me...." I will also try to remember to mention that the band is adjustable...everyone is unique and different, and may or may not apply to you.... Just by reading the posts on this forum it is plain too see there are many different approaches that apply to many different people...... As long as they are loosing weight, and happy, then that is all that matters.

The band will change your life...breaking the bad habits of the old.

Frustration? After my first fill I GAINED weight....I felt this was all a big waste of time and effort........2nd fill was 50-50, 3rd was a charm.... But don't worry...it does work....like 2muchfun said it is called "Bandster Hell" That time period between surgery and finally getting the band adjusted to you comfort level....

I wear the strap around my chest...it is what comes with the monitors I own, and it works with all the fitness machines in the gym....never tried the other