B-52

In my case, the band is forcing me to change my eating habits. It has become 2nd nature because of lessons learned over and over again. Example: Today, all I have eaten so far is a Protein shake for breakfast, then went to the gym. After noon, as we are getting ready to sit down and watch some football on TV, my son says he is going out for Chinese take out, and do I want anything. I said sure, get me a small Lo-Mein, and some Spare Ribs. Now before being banded, I could have gulped down the entire thing, along with a Coke. Well I had ONE RIB, and maybe 2 swallows of Lo-Mein. My band started screaming at me! I am finished with lunch. dinner won't be so bad, as long as I choose the correct foods to eat. I cannot over eat if I wanted to. It is physically impossible because of this thing wrapped around my stomach! I am not sure how I could fail. I have tried dozens and dozens of diets and failed because I have no will power and discipline to see them through. With those I failed every one! The band took care of that. Lets face it, surgical option is for people who cannot loose weight by standard diets alone. I believe everyone here is a failure when it comes to dieting with will power alone. It is the EASIEST way to loose weight!

For me, I find that there are times I don't feel like eating and I just have a shake and Snacks. Sometimes for a few days. When this happens, I also find my band gets tighter for some reason. But as I begin to eat more it improves. The opposite is true. When I feel I'm eating too much (or frequently more exact) and feel no or less restriction, I'll go liquids for a day or two to get the restriction back. I also have trouble with meats and breads, I just don't think about them that much anymore. And, like you, I love soups!

My insurance would not accept Weight Watchers or anything similar. They insisted it be a "Medically Supervised" program by a MD. Weekly weigh ins, and progress notes must be provided by the weight Loss Dr. At first, my PCP said to use someone like weight watchers, bring him the the file and he will sign off on it. My Surgeon said NO! Won't work.

The nuclear stress test is the most accurate, but most insurance co. Will not pay for it unless you have a Hx. They inject a radioactive isotope into your bloodstream and then have you lay on your back while the machine takes photo's of your heart from different angles. The isotope shows up as a bright red/orange in your cardiac arteries showing the blood flow to the heart. Then you get on the treadmill and the goal is to get you 85% of your max heart rate for 5 minutes. They immediately give you a 2nd dose of the isotope and take a 2nd set of pictures. Before and after, the after is with your heart under stress. They compare the 2 sets and can determine any cardiac arterial blockages, and what %. I have had cardiac surgery (angioplasty) to insert a stent in one of my arteries based upon my stress test results. A severe blockage would have meant cardiac bypass surgery. (open heart) A cardiac arterial blockage will most likely result in a infarct if gone unattended. I now have a stress test every year. This was before being banded, and all a result of being obese. The Anesthesiologist is the one who is most paranoid about cardiac clearance before putting someone under.

I never experienced any hair loss, But I do get all of my daily protein.

Are you getting enough fiber? I was taking Metamucil for high cholesterol but stopped after my surgery because it is too hard for me to drink with a tight band. (have to drink it fast) Noticed a big difference. I started taking it again every evening before bed. 3 smaller doses spread apart,

As part of my learning curve, living with the band and learning new foods and eating techniques, I have been stuck many times. If I don't feel like waiting, then drinking some Water will take care of it. And I don't mean washing it down either!

In the beginning I was crushing them, only for a few days post-op, because I was told along with a lot of other silly things, that I have to. I was taking (and still am) one that is a fish oil (Lovaza) that cannot be crushed, and is very large. I take 4 every day. I have found that I do not have to crush my pills at all. I take them every morning with no problem, large and small. And my band is very tight. I prefer it that way. And just like my eating habits, I take my time, taking one pill at a time just as I do with small bites, swallows.

I can understand the "sigh". Sometimes I loose interest in eating. I feel that way between meals. That is my lack of appetite because I'm in the green zone. When the hiccups start it usually means I have already crossed that threshold. First sign of being stuck. With me it is usually a feeling of discomfort, like the food is just sitting there, which it probably is, accumulating in the upper pouch. May have a little tinge of pain. At that point I will wait a little and then continue eating slowly. If the feeling comes right back, them I'm finished with that meal.

I'm a true believer in a "tight band" with restriction - Living in the Green Zone. I'm beginning to think that the first few months, AKA "Bandster Hell" is like "Hell Week" for USA Special forces. Kind of a "Basic Training / Boot Camp" A period of time for "Indoctrination" in the proper eating habits, food recognition, excercise, (PT) before the day comes when you graduate into the "Green Zone" and you are turned loose! Where would we all be if we were in the green zone the day after surgery?? Me and my Dr get along pretty well. I'm going to pass that by him and see what response I get.

Careful!!!! Once you start you'll get addicted and won't be able to stop! Just kidding....enjoy yourself and your new life!!

I by no means meant to label "people" as negative. I have been there, in the first few weeks if not months bewildered and confused also. Wondering what I got myself into. What got to me is that this board had nothing but people stating their problems, concerns, and worries post after post. I KNOW there are many people, like myself, that are experiencing success and a changed life because of this surgery but for whatever reason were not speaking up! I want everyone to know, especially the newbies, that we are out there!

I like your attitude. You're gonna get there and you are not going to believe the change.........IN EVERYTHING!!!!!!

You're gonna do just fine! Plus you have a nice smile.....when you put the 2 together, Watch Out!

AMEN! and AMEN! Dam the torpedo's, full steam ahead. Ain't nothin' going to get in my way.

I was getting a "Burning, Painful" discomfort in my lungs that was hampering me. Spoke with my PCP who said he gets the same thing when he runs marathons. It is called "Exercise Induced Asthma" (google it) Very common with runners. Does not mean you have asthma or any other problems for that matter. It's just something that happens. He gave me a script for a inhaler that asthma patients use. Instructed me to use it 20 minutes prior. Never had a symptom since, greatly enhanced my endurance.

Can only speak from my own personal experience........ Given a certain amount of restriction, there is just so much food (or total volume) that will fit in my pouch while eating. It will pass to the stomach eventually, but slowly. If I drink while eating, then the liquid will take the place of food and I will be finished with my meal sooner than I had hoped. (not to mention pain!) Don't want the Water to take the place of what small portion of food I can take in at any one sitting. Also, if I eat first then drink on top of that too soon, I will overfill my pouch and since it cannot pass downwards, it has to go somewhere.......and that's back up. Some people will say that drinking while eating will wash it down. I have never found that to be the case with me. Either way, I have learned the hard way not to drink while eating, or too soon after eating. I have found that drinking right before a meal, with a empty pouch and stomach, is not a problem at all. But once the food arrives, then that's it or else. So for me, I CAN'T drink anything while eating no matter how much I may want to. There are many little lessons that they taught me, like drinking with meals, etc, that at first were things that I felt I had to do because I was told to do it once I had the surgery. But it never made much practical sense. But once my band got tight, and I am now in the green zone, all these little lessons happen naturally and then I remember "So that's why they said that" and "Now I understand why"

I wear a necklace / dog tag alert. But that is mainly because I have had Cardiac Surgery, Diabetes (completely reversed) and I added the Lap Band. We travel a lot, and I want something if I should pass out on a beach in the Caribbean or something.

I don't like comparing amounts of cc's from one person to another, everyone is different. That's why the band is adjustable. Having said that, it took me 3 fills to get to the point where I felt the band was doing it's job. That's 3 months after surgery! I have not had a fill since the first week of May. I am in the Green Zone, and the Dr. agrees. Said I am at the point that any future fills will be only 1/2 cc plus or minus for maintenance reasons. But like I said, it took me 3 fills = 3 months.

I have "MyNetDiary" on my I-phone. Tracks everything I want, has a large database for foods, can also scan barcodes for things I eat. MyNetDiary.com

Final 15 pounds to goal!

I'm head hungry all the time....but bottom line is, I'm just not interested in eating, if that makes any sense. Got home from work today. The only thing I ate all day was a Breakfast shake (protein) and my supplements. I kept looking for something to eat in the fridge, then pantry, then back to the fridge etc etc. NOTHING interested me although there was plenty to choose from. I should have been hungry enough to eat everything in sight, and I would have before being banded, but I just wasn't interested. I did go out a little while ago and picked up a chicken burrito to bring home. (Chipotle) Ate 1/2 of it, and that was tough with the restriction I have. Rice, Beans and corn, plus I can't eat tortillas at all, not to mention any bread products for that matter. But that's just me. Now I'm heading out the door to a football game, and I'm already thinking about the home made chili they always have (Head Hungry) but I know I won't be interested, and if I do buy it out of habit, I won't eat it. After a taste or 2 I'll throw it away.

I've seen that website before and I do not agree with it. From my own personal experience, not what others tell me how I feel, it is ALL ABOUT RESTRICTION. From the smaller portion sizes I am forced to eat due to the pouch size, to the feeling of being full 24/7.

I don't take much stock in this "Starvation" mode either. I have enough fat stored away to take care of such things as being stranded on a deserted island, etc. As long as I get my Protein and essential Vitamins, etc, I know my BMR is fine. I have plenty of energy to work out everyday and go to work 8-10 hrs. I read on another website about "Starvation" and someone said fat people, like alcoholics, will find any excuse to eat more.

Your Dr.'s office should have a list they recommend. That's what mine did. I just had to call those on the list to find one who would accept my insurance.