B-52

There is no rule that says you can or cannot eat certain things like breads.....it is between you and your band. You have to learn to listen to your band. (actually Dr.;s do have rules, but that's another story you'll learn with experience) I cannot eat breads...not because I was told not to, but because it is too risky to do so. In the bread/flour family you can add pizza, donuts, cakes/cookies....not to mention rice... Other people with the band can eat these items everyday with no problems Some people need to crush their meds/pills..I do not. Some people cannot drink carbonated beverages...I can Some people have no problems with red meats...I gave it up over 3 years ago. Some people can drink Water with meals...I cannot, (and better not) sometimes up to 1/2 hr afterwards. The differences between what people can and cannot do is vast...bottom line...are you happy and successful with your weight loss? That's all that matters.....

We are/were fat because of the way we eat, what we eat, and how much we eat. The lap band will change that by forcing us to learn new habits and following different rules. When someone fears they are too tight, they should first examine what and how they were eating when they had that episode. Instead of blaming the band, I always stopped and looked at that side first. And by doing so it did change me as a person...a thin, fit, and healthy person who will never eat the same as the old self did. If I'm not happy with the new me, I can always go and get some fluid taken out...then go back to eating like I did before... But then, why did I have WLS if that is what I really want to do?

It does sound stupid...but they want it officially on record that WLS is a last resort to traditional dieting.... I had to pay out of pocket....over $100 a week for the first 3 months, then every 2 weeks...by then we were scheduling surgery My insurance would not reimburse, but I did use it as a tax write off with other medical expenses...

This is exactly what my 6 month medically weight loss program was..... My insurance co. wanted, for the record, that I have attempted in good faith, traditional methods for loosing weight, and have failed...thus WLS being the last resort. I told the staff every diet I have ever tried, and failed at....but they said the insurance would not accept that, because it was only my word, and that was not good enough..it had to be medically supervised by a MD, with accurate progress reports, graphs, etc. etc. and signed off by him/her. So I had to sign up and do a 6 month program, supervised by a MD and staff....with weekly weigh-ins and counseling...it all had to be accurately documented and charted.... And just like every diet I have ever been on, I started out good, then leveled off when I started to cheat, then by the end of the 6 months I was gaining it all back again....voiding all the previous progress.... But there it was, in black and white...actually color graphs and pie charts....confirming that I sucked at dieting, and no matter what, I was a failure....THAT qualified me for WLS. I read here all the time about people taking the 6 month diet program and being told that if they fail, they would not qualify for the WLS...to me that is bass-ackwards....if one could loose weight, why in the world would they need surgery of all things???

So why get the band removed??? Now that you know what the problem was...it can be adjusted properly I had my Surgery in Freehold, where my Surgeon also has his Bariatic Practice....Centra-State Hospital

Go to the GYM!!!!

For me, I have found the band to be a constant, no matter where I am.... We usually cruise at least once a year, and every time I throw caution to the wind and let the band take over, put it to the test..... Last cruise I lost weight....

9cc in how big a band?? If it is a 10cc band which seems to be the common size, it's no wonder your life was hell.... BTW, where in NJ???

I just stop eating and let it run it's course...if the sliming begins, then I know it is not going away...I'm truly stuck! I will go into the bathroom and sip some warm Water...this will increase the volume, which has no where to go but up and out....instant relief. I've even returned to the table and continued eating on occasion.... Many people say they sip to wash it down...that has NEVER been my experience....just the opposite in fact. As a side note, I have not been stuck in years....but within that learning phase where I was getting re-programmed to be in the Green Zone, I sometimes have been stuck 2-3 times a day until I learned my lessons, and broke old habits once and for all....I was obviously hard headed, but then that's why I was Obese...could not control my eating. Some very bad and ingrained habits acquired over a lifetime.......of course I could have went in and had some Fluid taken out....that would put me back where I was before my last fill and my Dr. and I did not want that...so learn I did. Lap band took care of all that!! Have not had a fill in over 3 years either....

They want you to loose weight continuously for the next 9-12 months? I'm not sure about others her, but in my case, it was the fact I could not get my eating under control, the primary reason I needed this surgery... Believe me, I wish I did not need to do this, but there was no other choice. It was last resort after everything else failed. BTW, Lap Band surgery did cure me of binge eating, emotional eating, and just plain overeating in general....

I have not had a breakfast consisting of solid food in years..too tight in the morning. I take my blender, start with a scoop of Protein, add my choice of fruit, berries, whatever I wish to add, 8 oz's almond milk and I get the best tasting smoothie I can imagine, plus 40 gm of protein....I'm good for the entire day with plenty of energy. And if I am on the run, the convenience stores are now selling high Protein drinks off the shelf... Try to beat that with eggs, oatmeal or anything solid without overeating.

Only your imagination is your limit....I have been making my own smoothies fir breakfast every day for almost 4 years now.... I start with 1 scoop of protein, then add just about anything...fresh or frozen fruit, berries are my favorite...coffee combinations are great...peanut butter..pineapple...mango...chocolate...bananas..anything and everything!!! Almond milk is always good to use as a mix... Plus it's 40gms of protein to start my day...try to match that with eggs, oatmeal or anything else!

I would ask your Dr., and be very clear, what happens after I have this surgery? What is your Dr.'s treatment plan? What are His/Her's expectations? And over how long a period of time? Does your Dr. have a set protocol in mind for you, and what is His/Her estimate of success...and why or why not? And how exactly does your Dr. expect you to get to that place? My Dr. did not hold back, a bit aggressive perhaps. He explained just having the surgery is nothing...it is after that the real process begins. He told me exactly what his expectations where for me. First with the series of adjustments to the band (fills) explaining the Yelllow-Green-Red chart and what it means to get there and how we were going to get there.... I knew right up front what was going to happen within that first year, no doubt... I was to come in every 4 weeks where progress will be reported, questions asked, and adjustments made if needed. He left no doubt what he wanted the band to do, and where he wanted me to be at the 6 month mark, and then the 1 year mark.... You are having this surgery for a reason...what is that reason? And don't say it is because you want to loose weight..everyone wants that.....but how is the lap band going to do it? Ask Your Dr....How s this going to make a difference? I dieted all my life with no success...what is this going to do? And I guess, make sure your Dr. believes it also... I read posts here everyday, and judging by the questions I wonder if their Dr.'s explained anything to them? They act as though they don't have a clue? WHY did some people have this surgery...what were they expecting to happen??? Didn't anybody explain anything??? People are always asking "What is the Green Zone?"...my Dr. had that chart on the wall staring me in the face from visit one, and he would point to it and say THAT is where I want you to be....before 12 months. There was no doubt, and he explained how he was going to do it. If I'm going to have something foreign put inside my body, wrapped around my stomach, it better be for a good reason and it better make a difference.

You're banded in 2009...so I can only guess your weight loss... Early on I started to experience sever sharp pains around my port...(I go to the gym and do crunches a lot) I spoke with my Dr. and he explained it to me this way..... At surgery, my port was stitched - anchored to my abdominal muscle wall, to prevent it from flipping, etc.... As I loose weight, and as my stomach shrinks and gets tighter, it will pull and tear withing those muscles....but I should not worry, it will heal and be fine.... That was all within the first 2 years, after I have lost all my weight and continued sit ups, etc, getting my stomach rock hard. Since then it's been OK.... But you have been banded in 2009...so I could not guess what it is now....unless you just started to exercise and your weight loss has been very slow..... Also I read so many posts about flipping ports, I wonder if my Dr. is unique in this procedure....

From a guys POV, What does it matter??? Could probably be a good thing.... In your words..."Tiny and Sexy" ????

Rice for me was one of the the first thing to go....I love Thai and Chinese food, but I have to take one or two spoons of rice and mix it in as though it was not even there.... I bring home take out, and pick through it for the things I want to eat...and throw the rest away...1/2 of it....and then I can't finish that. Also, in my case only, one of the most liberating thing for me, about 6 months in, was to stop counting calories and get rid of things like Myfitness Pal....and rely on the band to do it's job....My last fill was at the 4 month mark.

For me, in my case, it had to do with the band and how it is adjusted. Even if I wanted to binge, I could'nt. Eventually when the temptation would come, I would dismiss it because i knew what the outcome would be. Now I don't think about it or care to...call it behavior modification. But like a previous poster said, and by reading the response given, everyone is different and has their own approach that works for them.

I lost a little over 100lbs....and have no loose skin. At least not what is talked about here... I work out at least 5 times a week, usually between 5-6am. My workout routine is this: First, when I get to the club, I sit in the whirlpool for about 20-30 minutes...I can also stretch while in there. Then I get dressed and go out and run 3-5 miles. After which I will do some lifting. Not much, just go through the circuit at least once, doing 2 sets of 12 at each. I also spend some time with the kettlebells for some core work. After that, I may run some more, maybe just a few sprints. Then I will go to the locker room, get out of my sweaty clothes, and sit in the sauna for at least 30 minutes. I like to do a ice plunge right after (when it's working) or at least a cold shower. Then back in the whirlpool for 5-10 minutes, then a hot shower, shave, fresh clothes, a recovery shake form the "juice Bar" and off to work. During this entire time I go though 20-32 oz's of Water. And I have the Lap band so I cannot gulp water at all.... I also use moisturizer creams. Don't know which, or maybe a combination of all...but no loose skin. I do not worry about my weight as much as I do my body fat % which I can measure at the gym, and if I want I can pay $10 and get a full body analysis. I have a very low body fat index, about 15%. I should add as a footnote, I am 3 months short of my 63rd birthday, I had lap band surgery about 4 years ago, before which I had one heart attack resulting in surgery, I was a diabetic, high BP, Cholesterol, you name it, I had it....I would get short of breath carrying groceries into the house... so I don't have much patience for excuses.

It is a fine line between restriction, and he foods and how we eat them.... My last fill, many years ago, I felt I was too tight and battled the same issues as you....when I called and asked my Dr. to come in to get some taken out, he talked me out of it...convinced me if I get that small amount taken out, I would be where I was before...in other words it was clear I needed that last small fill...I could not be going back and forth over the fence so to speak. There had to be another element and my Dr. knowing me, knew what that was.... So if it wasn't the band being too tight, then the answer had to be it was the food and how I was eating...and once again I HAD TO CHANGE...I was forced to alleviate yet again more foods, I had to yet again start applying more of the rules taught early on such as drinking while eating, etc, That was over three years ago...everything has been as smooth as glass since, EASY as can be..a new and NORMAL life......and I am a different person in terms of how much I eat, and what I eat, and junk I will never eat again.... If someone showed me how little I would eat daily, and the types of foods I'll eat when I do....I would have said they were crazy, no one can survive that way. Yet here I am as healthy as can be, being at my optimum weight, going to the gym everyday, even taking up running? It's now 5am , I am having my coffee before heading out to the gym....what's everyone else doing this time on a Saturday morning???? They say the band will change your life...it's not cliche....and not in terms of being skinnier and happier (only)...it TOTALLY transformed me in ways I never thought imaginable....there was much of my old self I had to let get go of...if I was to have the band do it's thing. But that' MY EXPERIENCE...people have complications for different reasons, and you need to seee people face to face to accurately know what's going on...like your Dr..... One should never do what people on the internet do, of all places....

I too had to do the6 month diet thing....I was told the insurance co. wanted it on record, before approving the surgery, that I did indeed with every good intent, make attempts to loose weight and FAILED! I told them every diet I have tried over the last 30 years, and none of them worked. they said they understood but it's only my word...the insurance co. wants something official....with weekly progress note, charts, etc, and all signed off by a MD. So I did it, and had to pay out of pocket, and gave it my all.......and just like any other diet I did great for the first 3 months or so...plenty of compliments,etc....then just like ay other diet I started to cheat here and there, started to loathe the regiment and foods I had to eat along with shakes, keeping journals, counting calories, etc....and would fast just to get past the weigh ins like they were some kid of pass/fail test....and by the end of the 6 months, although I had a weight loss, it all started to come back rapidly.... No one blinked an eye over this...they just wanted something on record.... I read posts here all the time about this, and that people are told if you are not successful with this 6 month diet, then you will not qualify for WLS.....my thinking is, if I could be successful with traditional dieting, then I would not want to have WLS... I do not enjoy the fact I had WLS, but it was the only way for me...the last resort...and the 6 month program proves it...with a MD. attesting to it in writing... So you see, dieting for me was hard work, and I failed every time...WLS was a last resort, and for me the EASY way out....and I don't care. It Worked and that is all that matters. Bottom line...one ALWAYS has to follow their Dr.'s advice and direction...and if they say loose weight for 6 months, then do it and give it your best shot....

Before Banding, I could not control my eating....no self control. After being banded, I not only obtained my goals, but went onto a weight I thought never possible...my body determined what was optimum = very little body fat. It has been almost 4 years. Last summer, I was feeling pretty good about myself. It had all become second nature, just another day....in other words, I started to take my band for granted. So, when I saw my surgeon on a routine visit, I asked to have 1/2cc removed. He asked me why, and I had no good reason other than I felt perhaps I was doing good and the band may not be that important. He tried to talk me out of it. Basically said why try to fix what's not broken. I had no complaints, no complications, why change anything? Long story short, he took out 1/2 cc....and guess what...my hunger returned, my portion sizes increased, I started to have cravings and head hunger...and most importantly, I started to gain weight. Not much, but the scale was moving. two weeks later, I was back getting that 1/2cc put back in...My Dr. had a big grin on his face and said things like "Are we done experimenting?" and "Don't say I didn't tell you so" So you see, for me, I need the band. Perhaps 4 years was not enough. Perhaps the rest of my life will not be enough.... Like my Dr said, why fix something that is not broken? (in my case that is) So I am back to normal...the NEW Normal...and I'm happy.

No...don't feel the band at all...

Coming up on 4 years, I drink alcohol as I did before the band...even Beer (but you have to know what you're doing and how to do it) I don't worry about calories, stopped counting them a few weeks after surgery but that's another story. Only side effect I need to be careful about is I have to have my Bloody Mary's on the mild side....I learned to give up ALL things hot and spicy due to reflux....also anything straight and harsh is not good....I stay with mixed drinks and beer. This has always been a hot topic on this forum......let's face it everyone here should be focused on loosing weight. And drinking may not fit into their plan.....but then everyone has a slightly different approach to WLS.... You need to do what works for you...too many people are worried about giving up things from their past...the very things that made them fat in the first place.

It took me a few fills....one fill every 4 weeks after surgery, for a total of 3....hit the Green Zone after 3rd fill, 12 weeks after surgery. And just like many here have said things got very crazy after that and it took me a while to adjust to it and find that "Groove" and how to live within that Zone....a full year later I was still learning some important lessons...but after that it all became very after of fact and easy.

You speak nothing about your band, how many fills, has it effected your eating/appetite... I know for me, I was fat because I could not control my eating....I ate waaaayyy too much. So I had surgery to fix all that, which it did....why else would I go through all this??? I'm old school....I believe less calories, more weight lost......