B-52

I learned a long time ago, when it comes to responding to posts or giving any advice on WLS, all I can ever truthfully do is give my own experiences within a certain area....if I have no experience, then I have nothing to say. I had the Lap Band procedure...I don't respond to threads concerning other procedures...How can I? I haver no earthly idea who the people on this forum are, their personalities, medical conditions, mental and emotional state. Nor do people know me.... So don't take anything I say as Gospel, but with a grain of salt, and remember what I say is only what I do or have done, and that does not make it right. If you don't agree with I say or do, that's fine...I never expect it. But it's also no reason to throw stones... Listen to what everyone says, then draw your own conclusions, and pass it by your Dr. If there is one pet-peeve I have about this forum, is when people will take the authority and proclaim "Thou shall not do BLah Blah Blah.." If you do you will never be successful, you will surely fail. If they started their proclamation with "this is my opinion" or "This is what I was taught" then that lightens it up a bit. When I read one of these threads, I want so bad to jump in and say "I do that all the time...daily...and I consider myself one of the most successful people on this forum" !!!! But I don't, at least not until counting to 100. Every "opinion" has a "Alter Opinion" That's what makes it interesting.

What is the purpose of the 6-month pre-op diet???? I had to do it, and have my beliefs as to why I needed to do it...just curious what others believe...

Mistake?? As opposed to what...staying Morbidly Obese? Bariatric surgery criteria...(at least when I had it done) You must be morbidly obese, and you must show that you have tried and failed at other options over the years in terms of traditional non surgical dieting. In other words, a last resort. So it was THE last resort for me, and I am glad to say after 5-1/2 years I am still 100% successful, being of normal weight and very low body fat %. No fear of ever gaining any weight back, live a normal day to day life enjoying the foods and drink that I choose. Diet will forever be a 4 letter word!!! Mistake?

I started to take the survey, then stopped. The majority of questions are in respect to those who are overweight, obese. I had surgery over 5 years ago, I have not been overweight / obese, and at a normal weight for 4 years now so I can't answer questions that ask how my obesity affects my daily life. I kept answering "Not at all" which would not be accurate, as it is not coming from an obese/overweight person.

Many people say the band is just a "Tool" I have always found it to be the other way around.... A tool is something I can choose to use...or not. Hang it on the shelf when I'm finished with it... For me, the band is in charge and directs my lifestyle....it forced me to change and adapt, and once I learned to adapt and obey, it all became the easiest, most effortless thing possible. And the longer it goes, the easier it got to the point I don't think about it all that much. Of course, I can get fluid taken out, and do things the way I choose....but then....

I cannot drink while eating...I know some believe it because it washes food down...for me, it is because the food is sitting there passing through the band slowly, and if I add Water it increases the volume instantly and has nowhere to go but up and out. BTW, this was a trick I used when I would get stuck...sip some water. Also to this day, I cannot gulp water down...sometimes I forget this especially while at the gym.

We go to Cancun every Feb. and need a passport.... BTW, since this is a weight loss forum, I needed to renew mine years before the expiration date because of all thew weight I lost. Got tired of being scrutinized, having the supervisor called over, getting cross-examined. There is nothing they have not heard or seen, but still ask a lot of questions to be certain. It always ends in a "Congratulations, good for you" I travel out of the country several times a year.

Absolutely agree with jenn1....we become obsessed with weight and BMI's...when in reality it is about Body fat % You can have a normal BMI, and still be very unhealthy because what weight you have is highly body fat...the leading cause of many ailments including diabetes, coronary artery disease, high Blood pressure, etc. On the flipside, you can have a high BMI, be considered overweight and possibly Obese, but have a very low, athletic body fat % as is the case with many professional athletes like football players. There are scales that have become very common that will tell you your body fat %, as well as other parameters such as Water %, Muscle and bone mass, etc. I read here all the time about weight that is related to muscle...it does not matter! What does matter is how much of your weight is made up of fat..... I am considered over weight, but I have a very low body fat %...if anyone tells me I need to loose another 10-15lbs, it would be impossible without doing serious harm to myself because I would not be loosing fat....

I found the complete opposite to be true....both in business and personal relationships, I am more openly accepted and people just seem more friendly. Let's face it, like it or not, Obese people are pariah's to a large extent. It was only when I became skinny and fit did I realize the difference, and often catch myself scrutinizing the obese. (some anyway)

I spent 10 grand to get my uppers done...for that money, don't hold back!

As a person with the Lap Band procedure, the hardest part was the 2-3 months following surgery where the band was not doing anything, and I was forced to adhere to the traditional diet techniques (been there done that and failed) Then after the band was properly adjusted, I had to learn how to live a new way, and let go of the old. Big learning curve, most by trial and error with not to pleasant results

OMG, Please don't let it be true, you don't have cancer, do you?

I took a weeks vacation...that's all I needed to tell anyone, just some time off.

I have next to nothing body fat %...very low, considered in the "Athletic" range. Once upon a time my triglycerides, cholesterol, etc, were through the roof so much so I suffered from coronary artery disease (clogged arteries) resulting in heart surgery. Not to mention type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure all directly related to body fat. After surgery, I made it a passion to loose body fat...forget BMI's, they tell me very little. Yes I was in a hurry, it was a sprint...my LIFE depended on it... Anyway, my approach was this.... As hunter-gatherers, we store fat as an energy source during times of plenty, to use during times of famine. Problem is, we keep on storing it and never use it. With that in mind, I set out to use the stored fat for energy...I would go to the gym every morning. on an empty stomach. (other than ample water) and do a rigorous workout on the elliptical or treadmill. After my workout, I would have a high Protein recovery shake. If I ate before a workout, then that would have been my energy source for that workout. If I ate right after a workout, then I would brake even, replacing what I just used. It definitely worked for me. I googled this once and found it is a popular practice. Should add, all my bloodwork is normal, no more diabetes, and my cardiologist is always amazed when he sees me....and I know he talks to other Dr.'s about me. And it all started with Weight Loss Surgery.

To those just starting out, THIS is exactly why I never told no one....that was 5-1/2 years ago. Now, all the weight has been gone for years, the fact that I used to be fat-obese is old news, hardly anyone remembers. Personally, so what if it is the easy way out??? People do things everyday as part of their daily lives to make life easier...most inventions in history were aimed at completing some task easier.... Accusing someone for doing something that will make their life easier, improve overall well-being and health, is totally illogical. It's all about finding an easier way...and I can't be more glad I did it... I'm glad I avoided it....

My first fill was 4 weeks after surgery, 4cc's...the 4 weeks prior to that I lost weight mainly due to the post-op diet of liquids, mushies, etc.......2nd fill was 4 weeks after the first, 2cc's...in between the first and 2nd fil I started to GAIN WEIGHT.... Talk about being frustrated, jumped through all those hoops with all that anxiety for NOTHING...I brought this up to some people at the surgeon's office and was lectured about counting calories, measuring portions, keeping journals, etc etc.... WHAT ??????? I didn't need surgery to do all that....That is exactly what I was doing, and failing at, all those years with traditional diets! I will say after that 2nd fil, I at least quit gaining...really didn't lose either though. Came back 4 weeks later, 12 weeks since surgery, for my 3rd fil...only 1 cc....and WHAM!!! Talk about restriction. I had to call my Dr. and state I felt I was too tight...he told me to hang in there, and remember all the "Rules" about eating with the band...now is the time I needed to put them into practice... Sure enough, it took some adjusting on my part to cope with the band. Learned to apply new ways of eating, smaller bites, chew thoroughly, no drinking while eating, and so forth. Was forced to give up certain food types altogether... After 3 fils, and slowly learning to live with the band, things began to get easier and easier...the only hard part was ME...I had to change after a lifetime of doing things all wrong...but eventually I was sailing along in the Green zone enjoying life more than ever. The more I learned, the easier it got....the weight started to come off consistently by the week. That was almost 6 years ago...things still cannot be any better. Lost ALL my excess body fat, regained my health, and changed my life forever. It's got to be so day to day I don't even think about it that much anymore...just go about my business living this new lifestyle I have learned, all because of the band....

For years, way before my surgery, my Dr.'s kept telling me to cut down, if not stop red meat altogether. Especially my cardiologist. eating meat can cause serious complications. I was told once a week, another said once a month... Plus there is the argument about added growth hormones, anti-biotics, etc etc. I read an interesting article about the difference in HS Kids today as opposed to 30-50 years ago in terms of growth, facial hair in males, etc etc... the story was in a medical journal and had much facts and statistics...all linked to the latest generations constant intake, perhaps daily, of red meat and ties to what artificial additives we are putting in our bodies unaware. Not to forget dairy products. You can get into the humane aspect in regards to how livestock is bred and raised for the sole purpose to be slaughtered. Red meat was one of the earliest things I had trouble with. My Dr. said it was to be expected... So, for myself, it was the perfect opportunity to simply abstain from it 100% Now it all fell into line with my approach to weight loss....I do not count calories, but instead, concentrate on eating healthy, nutritious foods....and giving up red meat worked out well for me. As well as cutting way back on dairy products. There are many other things WLS has made me give up also, and as it turns out none of them are that good for me in the first place...so it's all good. That was over 5-1/2 years ago. I have never felt better. Eating healthy, loosing all excess weight and body fat, becoming more active and exercising regularly....and living a life not worrying about gaining or losing weight . So when WLS forces you to make lifestyle changes, take advantage of it instead of dreading about it.

For me, being in the Green Zone also means my portions are controlled....early on, when I got an uncontrolled craving or hunger, I would give in only to find after one or two bites I really did not want it, or care to eat it anyway... Example would be, every morning I would stop for a coffee and get tempted to buy a doughnut....which I would do, only to throw it in the garbage after taking that first bite and spitting it out. Eventually, as cravings came, I became more and more aware how meaningless they really were and less and less I gave them any real thought knowing it would be wasting my time (and money) giving in to them. Now, the thoughts are dismissed as fast as they come. That's what I like about the band...

Protein is protein no matter how I get it.... BTW, I am not, and never have been a calorie counter.

Just one thing??? Cured my insatiable appetite - hunger, reversed 99% of all my co-morbidities, returned me to the weight I was in high school (45 years ago), became very active - athletic, raised my self-esteem and self-image, more successful in business, Should I go on??? I could..... Bottom Line, turned my life around, saved my life, at a point where it was all seriously going downhill due to obesity, too much fat in my system. I'm 64-1/2 years old and I feel and act like I'm 35-40. Was banded Jan 2011, never had a problem (other than me getting in the way)

I have been banded over 5 years, been 100% successful and have no fear of ever gaining any weight back.... I stopped counting calories around 3-4 months after surgery, about the same time my band, after a few adjustments, began to control my hunger and portion sizes....at that time, since I was eating so little and less often, it became apparent that when I do eat, I need to take advantage of it and choose the best, healthiest foods I can...and not blow those opportunities on something worthless. It is still that way for me, and it has become a new lifestyle that will last me for the rest of my life...not another diet. But that is my approach, not others, and I cannot be more happier.

Are you trying to drink while eating? I cannot...the food is passing slowly through the band, and adding Water increases what is already there. Having nowhere to go it comes right back up. I drink liquids right up to when I start to eat....and I sometimes have to wait 20-30 minutes after I eat. Also, I cannot gulp water. sometimes I forget like when at the gym... Incidentally, when stuck, sipping water is one way to get un-stuck. Unpleasant, but effective.

I'm a gym rat...have been for years. And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers. So people are not judging!!