B-52

It is definitely a learning curve, and many lessons learned the hard way. I have been stuck more times than I can count...so times 2-3 times a day. I had some very bad eating habits that the band was going to change!!! And that was mostly in the first 12-18 months. I do not get stuck anymore, I've finally learned and changed my ways. Now you've had an unpleasant experience...you have to ask yourself, am I too tight? Or am I eating bad and need to learn some lessons. Did I do something wrong. Also, after an experience like that, you can irritate the band, cause inflammation, and not be able to keep anything down. And trying to eat only prolongs it...like walking on an ankle after you sprained it. You need to give it a rest. I'm amazed at how many people will immediately say they're too tight, and go get Fluid taken out so they can eat whatever they want more easily.....kind of defeats the purpose IMO...... But this is where banded people begin to go separate ways, have their different philosophies, comfort levels....etc. Not going to say who's right or wrong...as long as it works for them and find success, then that's all that matters. There are many things I have learned not to eat....most the hard way....and it's interesting that the majority of them are not that good for me in the first place..high carbs, etc. such as breads, Pasta, rice, to name a few.....also red meat is on my list, along with anything breaded and deep fried. I eat when and what I want, but my food choices have changed (thanks to the band)...180 degrees.....and when I do eat, it is very healthy foods...and very little when I do. A lifestyle change, not a diet, brought about by the band.. Before WLS, there was nothing to stop me from overeating...except perhaps my own discipline, and I know how ineffective that was.... That's why I was fat....could not stop eating anything and everything as much as I wanted, whenever I wanted. But now, the band is there. And if I step out of bounds, it is quick to let me know...Or Else. It sets the rules, not me. It is in control. That's why I will not refer to it as a tool....as if I can turn it on or off... A pet peeve of mine is when people say "They failed the band" They are a failure.....WAIT a minute...it's a 2 way street...what about the band? Did it fail you? Is it doing anything? There is a reason we needed to have WLS after all, and for me it was not so I can go on another diet...but that';s my take.

Definitely going to the gym...the rewards are incredible.....and keep getting better!!! I'm 63 years old, and there is nothing better than getting on the treadmill and start running, and keep up with and not stop till those around me who are 1/2 my age or younger, quit with exhaustion! There was a time I could not carry groceries into the house with getting short of breath and exhausted.

At first I noticed my tolerance had changed, but then after a very short time, it returned to the way it was before... So I drink alcohol, and not just wine. Unless you are a calorie counter...(which I am not)...that would make a big difference to some. Both my wife and I like to have one glass of red wine a day.

I'm a Bander, so I cannot talk about other surgeries, and that is why I'm posting this under the lap band section... A lot of people talk about the fear of overeating by going with too much "Slider Food" The theory is, at least the way I understand it, is that no matter how much restriction you have, these type of foods will pass right through easily, thereby cheating the band, and eating around the benefits of having the surgery in the first place. Yes, I get it...makes perfect sense to me....but there is something people fail to mention, and I remembered it the other day when I sat down in front of the TV with a pint of Ben and Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" Ice cream.... Over time, we loose all the weight, loose all the belly fat, exercise and get those rock hard ab muscles back, and in the process, from eating so little food for so long, our actual stomachs shrink in size!!! So sitting there with the pint of ice cream, I would have polished off the entire pint, but I couldn't....just as the band prohibits me from overeating regular solid food, the fact that my stomach has gotten so small makes it impossible to overeat slider foods that get past the band with no problem....... 1/3rd of the way in, and I started to get a good old fashioned "belly ache!" I HAD TO STOP! As a matter of fact I felt a little miserable for a hour or two afterward.... And just like lessons learned with the band, I've learned another lesson, and unless I like like pain and feeling miserable, I won't attempt that anytime soon....behavior modification!! I've noticed this with a few other things also, like beer....,Yes, I drink beer, my Dr knows it, I know how to do it, and I AM NOT saying you should do so either...follow your Dr.'s directions!!!! (you also can't do it if you're tight) Anyway, back in the day I could drink beer all day...and I had the stomach size to prove it! Now, one beer and I'm finished....just don't have the stomach for it anymore....... So it's a Win-Win situation....the band will help you (force you) to adapt a new lifestyle, and in return with that new lifestyle, many other benefits will follow. Things will develop into a NEW NORMAL.....no more eating like a pig....first because the band won't let you, and then, if you attempt to cheat and eat around the band, your improved smaller stomach won't let you!!!! It does not get any better than this!!!! I love my band!! And I quess I should say, if you are just starting out, it will take some time of eating very little food before your stomach shrinks....and you get that additional safety net.

Ok, a comment like that is just plain stupid..... HOWEVER... There are some before and after pic's here....the transformations are just unbelievable and those posting the pic's know it!!

Your story does not sound any different than any others....welcome to the club. I'm 63 years old, and over the years have been on every diet you can think of...started out good with all of them, then failed miserably!!! That was because with every diet, it too self discipline, self motivation and will power to make it work. And when it came to food, I had none of that. I needed surgical intervention...something to be altered physically to do what I could not do on my own. Ask your self this.....WHY lap band surgery? WHAT do you expect to happen with the band? (and don't say to loose weight...that's a given) HOW do you expect the band to make you loose weight and fix those addictions? These are questions I was asking the staff leading up to my surgery.... There is a reason we have to resort to surgery. It is because of all those things you mentioned....hopeless cases. And only surgical intervention can fix it.....least that's my story. I went into this with expectations....and my Dr. concurred....so I would not settle for anything less... Today, I have no head hunger, no cravings....it is impossible for me to over eat, but it does not matter because most of the time I have no hunger and very little interest in food or eating in the first place If I try to eat more than the band will allow, it results in unpleasant things...so eventually I stopped thinking about overeating..... If you burn your hand every time you put it in the fire, eventually it becomes second nature not to put your hand in the fire. So yes... for me, the band did take care of all that you mention, for me....But in the beginning, first year at least, it was not easy...a lot to learn, much of it the hard way.....a very trying time...but I stuck with it, and learned I had to change in order for the band to do it's job.

I counted calories and measured portions in the beginning....(what else can you do?)...when the band finally started doing it's job after a few fills, I stopped counting, about 3-4 months after surgery....so for me, I don't have the slightest idea....but I know it's low on some days, and on other days it's probably very high... As far as carbs, etc, I simply know what's good and what's bad....I try to eat as healthy as I can, and let the band do the rest.... But for beginners just starting to get their band s adjusted and find that "Groove"...you have no choice. The best advice anyone can give is to listen to your Dr.'s advice and follow the centers protocol as we are getting the band adjusted...then we move into another phase.

Varies from person to person...most banders I know talked about their love of sushi when first starting out, and eventually learned it was a food they could no longer even think about eating...some have the same with salads...... But, people approach this differently....you may be one who can eat anything and everything, and has to tell yourself when to stop.....not one who has to give up certain foods as they get that restriction Good luck and congratulations....

Depends upon what you're eating....snacking is not always a bad thing. However, I have to watch what I eat too close to going to bed, or I will have problems.

Just wait till he sees the "After" effects....his attitude should change and you'll be the one in control.

There was much discussion here not too long ago about how Surgeons are recommending the lap band less and less.... I brought this up to my Dr and the staff and I was told that they too are not performing as many procedures as before. Not that the lap band is less effective than other procedures, quite the contrary....but that the patient has too much control over the outcome. The band is adjustable. And with that adjusting comes much compliance and behavior modification from the patient...and peoples perceptions and comfort levels can be very broad. Some people will fight change and have their bands adjusted to where they can keep some of the old ways. Then there are those who come in to get Fluid taken out because they are going on vacation, or the holidays are coming up...kind of defeats the purpose. What one person ay say is perfect, the next person will say it's too tight. I cannot tolerate red meat, rice, breads and flour products, and a few other things. So I have given them up. (Much to the delight of my cardiologist and PCP) The next person will say I'm too tight, and they feel they should be able to eat anything and everything they want....who's right and who's wrong is not the issue. I've read posts here where people get food stuck and regurgitate.....They immediately say they're too tight and go and get fluid taken out.....maybe, just maybe, it was because of what and how they were eating that was the problem, and not the band?? It was because of our bad habits that made us obese, and those habits cannot continue after WLS...but with the band, it can be adjusted so you can hold onto some of those things. The issue is there are too many variables. Too much adjusting for both the patient and the band to achieve that perfect balance and ultimate success, or not ever finding it, accepting frustration and self failure.. And ultimately, too much for the Dr. and staff to contend with. Other WLS are more cut and dried....here it is, no adjusting. Everyone's perception is the same. Now you have to learn to live with it, and cannot be adjusted to fit the patients comfort level.

Been banded over 4 years....never vomited in all that time.... What the OP asks is my biggest fear..... I travel a lot, some places 3rd world countries where hospitals are scarce let alone people familiar with the lap band..... And in these countries I have to be very cautious about what I eat or drink! I am prepared if I should get food poisoning....speak with your Dr about it if traveling.

That in itself is reason enough to learn an important lesson....the pain!Have you imagined what that pain might be? Read enough posts here and you can get a good idea. I now stop with earlier signs, before it gets to any pain. Again, the band controlling my eating, from overeating. As to how much to eat, and how often, it differs from person to person. I eat not because I'm hungry, but because I know I need to.....as far as how much, all I can say I s very little. If I somehow knew just how little food I can get by on, and still be as healthy and fit as I am, I would have said it was impossible and that they were just trying to sell me on the idea of surgery.....but yet it's true.

I have a Protein shake/smoothie everyday for my Breakfast....done so for over 4 years...recently I bought a new Vitamix that will also make soups! Anyway, as far as recipes, I make just about anything my imagination can come up with....right now I am having a combination of a few strawberries, 1/2 banana, some Peanut Butter, and almond milk....everything I do always has a scoop of whey protein for 35 grams.... When I say anything, I mean anything from fresh fruit, berries, coconut, oranges, pineapples, chocolate, coffee, peanut butter....just about anything you can think of. Sometimes I will go the veggie way with combinations of spinach, kale, carrots, apples, etc, etc.... I should add, I don't care about calories....stopped worrying about them a long time ago....Now, I just eat less, and when I do eat I make the healthiest choices I can. No more dieting for me!

Part of my circuit when at the gym....they are excellent for "Core" strengthening. I only need to use one.

Question to all you "Veterans" out there, who have finished loosing the weight......talking Lap Band......Am I missing something??? I read from time to time where people say they are now on "Maintenance"....I'm curious, what does that mean to you??? I know, with all the diets I have tried,Maintenance started when after a period of extreme low calorie weight loss, say for 12 weeks, you move to the next, possibly the 3rd stage and increase your calories and foods you eat....start eating normally again? Like a re-entry phase. But with the band, what do you do??? get Fluid taken out of your band in order to start eating more??? Does your food choices, portion sizes change??? For me, this was never a diet...this was from the start, a learning experience...learning to eat differently, learning to give up some foods, take in new healthier foods,...high Protein, plenty of Water....etc, etc...all the things I needed to do to let the band work. Sprinkle that with increased physical activity and Presto! I changed my lifestyle.....and because of it my body reversed the weight gain and went in the opposite direction....it did not (and could not) stop when I said so, the weight loss continued until everything reached an "Equilibrium" Don't like the term, but everything returned to "Normal" Normal Eating, not in excess, and Normal weight...right where my body should be...and Normal exercise. This learning experience, this life change, is something I will keep for the rest of my life...it will not change (unless the band changes)... so therefore, where is the "Maintenance"? I don't see where or what I can do differently...or want to....(except explore better, healthier foods) Only thing I do for good band health is go full liquids for a few days, about every 6-8 weeks....but that's another issue I'm curious what others have done when they are finished loosing weight....

I am a Lap bander.....,this is MY day to day experience...NOT what I have been told or read A.) The lap band restricts what I eat and how much I eat...that's why I need to start with Protein. If I started with the mashed potatoes for instance, I may not get to the protein....it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to overeat.... B.) The lap band has diminished all my hunger and cravings...not just between meals, but 24/7...I can skip meals, or go all day without eating and it does not bother me in the slightest....and because of this, point A. does not matter. C.) I do not have to measure my portions, I do not count calories...since the band lets me eat so little, all I need to do is make the best, healthiest food choices I can...and not waste my portion on something stupid and useless. D.) I don't believe in maintenance...this is a new lifestyle I have adapted since my day of surgery that will follow me for the rest of my life....what can I do for maintenance? get Fluid taken out so I can eat more? Then struggle not to gain weight? No Thanks, I'll stay right where I'm at and not think about it. For me, this is not a diet.....it is a life altering event. I failed at diets before and I'm finished with them. So, having said that....where is the Hard Part??? I have to make sure I get my Water in....I have to make sure of my protein intake, and I have to be sure to exercise regularly.....I do not find any of that particularly hard. Now I will say the first 6 months were extremely difficult....that was the phase getting my band properly adjusted, learning to eat all over again as the band dictated me to....and all the while I was hungry as hell and all I could do was count calories and stick with traditional dieting....,I even gained weight between fills....but eventually I did get there, changed my attitude and eating to comply with what the band was forcing to do.... And since then it has been HEAVEN...EASIEST thing I could ever do. I get the feeling that some people do not take this to the extent I did, but stop somewhere in between....but I am not one to judge, can only think what it would bee like if I did not get that last fill, or had it removed. For me, it was all about how my band is adjusted, and as it got adjusted I had to adjust myself....at any one point I could have stopped, or I could have some fluid taken out.....but if I did, I'm sure it would result in everything becoming more harder for me...more me, and less band doing the work. When you've been around these boards for a while, you soon learn that everyone here has different views...everyone's Dr. is a little different..... I've learned there is not a right or wrong way...and it would not be proper to tell anyone else what is right or wrong....I just share with everyone what I have done to find my ultimate success, and that's all!! Take it or leave it, does not matter to me...although I pray everyone finds their success, freedom from fear of ever being fat again. In spite of all the different views and ways people approach the band, these same people still find 100% success...PERMANENT weight loss...and that's all that matters and should not be judged. If someone like myself, finds this to be easy, which I do....and if that offends anyone...too bad...I used to be obese, I am now at a "Normal" weight and loving it....my health issues have all been reversed...no more meds or insulin injections... I am one who has had one heart Attack resulting in surgery because I was fat, but now run 5 miles a day much to the amazement of my cardiologist and other Dr.'s I still see..... So why should I feel guilty about changing, and saving my life??? Not A Chance!!!! Misery loves company and I want nothing to do with it! I am not a survivor, but a Winner! There have been many veterans on this forum before me who I used to follow, and felt the same way I do today....and for obvious reasons they chose to move on and leave.....I can understand why, and left myself for a year....and will probably move on again when it all gets tiring....and sometimes it does. 80% of the members on this forum are just starting out...and have absolutely no Idea what I'm talking about, or simply feel it is all too good to be true...that there is actually a life after lap band.... That is a main reason veterans move on....there is simply no longer that much in common.

food scares You? It scares me too! So does a lot of other things. If something scares you, then that means you have to be extra careful, and not careless.....I am always careful when it comes to food.

That's how it's done.... First, they are confident your insurance will approve, and they know how much they'll pay....based upon current fee schedules and past experience with that carrier. They just need to approve You, not the surgery. (are you a candidate?) Once they know that, they need to schedule the OR otherwise they will be waiting till September.

No Problems here...I feel my weight loss permanent as long as the band is permanent. I live day to day and don't really think about it all that much...(except when I come here.) I eat and drink things that dieters would never dream possible. That's because, whatever I do eat, it is not all that much within any 24hr period...just like my skinny friends do who did not have WLS... And I do make the best food choices I can...I've become a heath nut, and a gym rat! I feel normal weight is when one has a healthy body fat %...You can have a high BMI and still be healthy and fit, just like a football player or other athletes. I have a very low body fat 5, but according to my BMI I still need to loose 20lbs. Yea, Right! I feel my band is properly adjusted, and it is impossible for me to overeat. (I've tried) There is just so much then I MUST stop, or pay the consequences. Call it behavior modification, but it worked. There are foods that will pass quicker, and that is the only way to "Cheat" the band. I could eat ice cream all day if I wanted to, but I don't want to. There are also foods I, or my band I should say, will not tolerate. These include, but not limited to, red meat, rice, Pasta, and most things flour based like cakes. I believe exercise is essential if you want to loose weight. You must burn off that fat we hunters and gatherers have been storing away for those days of famine.

Just to jump in.....I read the previous posts, and could not agree more... However I did see the term "Expert" used a few times.... No One on this forum should call themselves, or be looked upon as an expert....everyone here is a just another person who has undergone something as drastic as surgical intervention to loose weight. All anyone can do is share their own personal experiences with this, good and bad....there is no right or wrong, just different people who have different first hand knowledge based upon what they have gone through, not what they heard someone else say or what is the popular opinion..... People just starting out and have just discovered this forum will quickly see how different some topics can be, and it can get confusing.... Just be wary of those who speak with authority and give definitive answers. It's also amusing to see that many of these "Experts" are just starting out themselves, and feel they know all the answers. So in that regard, nothing is repetitive....tell your story as much as you want.

How many days is your pre-op diet for??? I was given 2 weeks to loose X amount of weight, lbs.... My Dr. did not care how I did it, as long as I did. So I did not try to force anything, or worry about what I was eating or not....just worried I would loose the weight so I could have the surgery on the scheduled date. Otherwise he would postpone it.

I'm 63 years old...Over the years, believe me when I say I have tried every diet under the sun....you name it, I tried it. NOTHING WORKED....because, bottom line, I simply did not have the self discipline, self control, and I probably had an eating disorder,(but never saw a Psych about it.) Finally, my health and age began to catch up to me....problems too long to list, many life threatening.... My PCP suggested Weight Loss Surgery as a LAST RESORT.....and I did not want to do it...I felt is was the "Cowards" way out. For people who are weak. Now, over 4 years later, I've got my life back, better than before! Best decision I ever made.... Easy Way out? SO WHAT!!!!! It worked and that's all that matters to me!! Weight loss surgery did for me what I could not do...took care of my hunger and cravings, curing me of that disorder I probably had because eating is no longer a priority. Diet is now just a 4 letter word.... To not do something because it's easy is ridiculous! People drive cars instead of walking....take elevators instead of the stairs...our entire society is built around innovations to make things "easier" and more efficient....so why shouldn't weight loss be easy??? If someone came up with an "Easy" way to stop smoking, quit drinking, kick drug addiction, cure cancer....just because it's easy should it be avoided??? Of course not! It should be applauded.... I'm old enough to remember when the Polio Vaccine was introduced.....at the time, just take a sugar cube and you're immune! EASY! And parents with their children in tow lined up around the block! I can still see it! In the end, it does not matter what other people think...these critical people are not going to be there when it all hits the fan because of your obesity. It's another reason why I never told anyone...it's none of their business...this is all about me and my own.... Sorry to rant, but this hits a nerve with me....I quess people want us to remain fat....what else is their motive...

Ok, copied another one from my Bariatric centers website....again, a re-print from a memebr's contribution...(slightly edited) 10 Things not to say to someone who has lost weight!!! 1. How much more do you have to go? Um, I just lost 50 pounds, pal. I think I'm just about there. 2. Wow, you look so pretty/handsome now. Oh, so that explains why children broke out in expressions of terror at the sight of my former fatness, clinging to their mommy's skirt hems for dear life. It's as though a person who loses weight magically morphs from Frankenstein to Fabulous, and it's crucial that people point this out. Hey, whatever happened to all that "it's on the inside that counts" stuff? 3. So, what size are you? I know that these days, people are pretty comfortable telling strangers everything from what romantic bedroom positions float their boat to how they have a thing for collecting toenail clippings. But really, is anything sacred anymore? Not that our clothing size is on par with revealing salaries or some horrible childhood memory, but I'm sure all of our lives will go on just fine with people not knowing whether I'm a small, medium or large or whether I went from a D or C cup to B or an A. 4. I bet you have so many admirers now! Why yes, I say, as I toss the latest love letter from Brad Pitt and David Beckham into my stash of marriage proposals and naughty notes. (Some letters are more boring: "Jen, you look so pretty now. What size are you, anyway? XOXO, David B"). This one gets me because well, it's somewhat true. And like most humans, sometimes the truth hurts (some say it hurts, I say it often pisses me off). Because in reality, yes, people do treat me differently. No, not in that admirers-lined-up-at-the-door kind of way, but in daily interactions. Both men and women tend to be more receptive to ideas and interested in general conversation, doors are held open from longer-than-normal distances and restaurant checks with a missing side order will be dismissed with a smile. Inside, I'm the same person I always was, just tinier. And it's that latter part that seems to make people a tad friendlier. Some people I mention this to become angered, saying that such niceness was really around all along. They maintain that it was me -- grumpy, fat, miserable "the world is against plus-size me" me -- who refused to see it. Perhaps they are right. 5. Do you have stretch marks? Thanks for your, um, concern. 6. Are you dying? Seeing another's weight loss transformation can be shocking, especially if they lost a significant amount. But sometimes the questions people ask are very rude. "Are you dying?" "Are you sick?" "Do you have an eating disorder?" I mean, who asks such questions? Thinking them is one thing, but outright asking is another. Sigh. 7. I liked you fatter. Great, and I liked you quieter. I'm happier being able to tie my shoes without four rolls of belly bulge beating me to the punch, thank you very much. And what's that supposed to mean anyway? Are people losing out on "I think she'll eat another slice in an hour" bets with friends? Am I suddenly void of all things jovial (because, as we all know, rotund folks are always super-duper jolly)? 8. Oh, c'mon. You can have another dish of ice cream. I can. But I won't. That's what landed me in this whole situation in the first place. This is by far the most terrorizing thing for those who lost weight. When you've just shed any amount of weight, a dinner out with friends is on par with driving in New Jersey traffic during rush hour: scary. (I can say that; I lived there for over 20 years and survived Garden State Parkway commutes. Bonus: While downing jelly donuts.) Let us be! 9. What was it like? Sometimes this question is asked meekly, as if people sense that I might break out in cheesecake-withdrawal spasms or screams. Or both. Oh, weight loss is a feat to be proud of whether two or 402 pounds were dropped. Still, I'm not 1) a saver and protector of the world's bad eaters or 2) a sad soul who lost my way along with my weight. Yes, I've seen people make mean puffer fish "fat" faces in reference to my heft. Yes, I've become infuriated at the limited clothing styles that many plus-sizes carry. I've cried while consuming an entire box of crackers, I've laughed while eating a tub of family sized popcorn at the theater. I've rolled my eyes at suggestions to lower my weight. Blah. Blah. And now, I'm not in that world. I'm happy to not be there anymore, so sometimes, questions that force me to go back to a place and time I'd rather forget doesn't give me a case of warm and fuzzies. I'm a green smoothie-making, kale-eating woman now. I eat hemp seeds, enjoy muesli and drink almond milk. Enough of the candy bar memories. Next question? 10. You're so pulled together now. Akin to the "you're pretty now" comment, this one makes me feel like I must have looked as if I was roaming the Earth in a state of bleary eyed nothingness. But now, I've lost weight. So you see, I'm all toss-my-hat-in-the-air Mary Tyler Moore with my confident self. Funny how people view me because I've changed physically. I was always a hard worker, talking in perfectly-timed "close the loop," "make it happen," and "I'm on it" corporate speak. Hmmm. Perhaps saying it with a thinner body makes people think I mean it more. So there you have it. I'm thrilled to have kept 70 pounds off for several years, and I truly enjoy my healthier lifestyle. I'm not dying. I'm not a miracle story. And no, I'm still not revealing my new bra size.

Sitting here having my morning coffee(s), and after reading the latest posts, this thought popped into my head....I'm glad this is the internet and I do not have to meet some of these people face to face....and if the opportunity did arise, as in some big members convention, I doubt I'd want to go. Not to mention local chapter meet and greets... I can't stand it when people pass judgement on everything you say and do.... Ok, you're superior to everyone else...feel better? And that's me...a tough old man of 63 years who has seen just about everything in this world...maybe that's why I have become so tolerant and understanding. And what about the poor young newbie, perhaps from the sticks who never finished High School, or a poor third world country, and maybe English is not their primary language......(they're here, I can tell) They have a serious weight issue and are looking for help and guidance.....and not be suppressed to pass a "Literacy Test" I'd just hate to be locked in a room with some of you...you may feel the same....and that's fine with me. Now I'm off for work, have to see patients in clinic today....maybe, instead of focusing on their needs and why they came, I'll sit and judge their educational, cultural and economic background, instead of what their actual needs are and how I can help.