B-52

Congratulations on your surgery and successes.... Just be aware, you are still on your "Honeymoon"....everyone looses weight during this period, how can one not with the pre and post op diets we need to follow... Eventually, soon, the Honeymoon will end, and everything will return to the way it was before surgery, eating normal food again... During this time I started to GAIN weight, and became very frustrated to say the least...people refer to this time as "Bandster Hell"...where the band is installed, but it is not doing anything yet....and it is all up to you just as it were if you had not had the surgery at all....... Not trying to rain on your parade, just be aware...you're not alone, everyone has gone through this also..... And know, the band does work...just not overnight, or even in a few weeks....

Going to the Gym...sometimes twice a day.... I should say though, as a bander, I am one of those who never experience hunger or cravings, and always feel as though I just had a large meal...so food no longer has any interest. Surgery has "Cured" me of my food addiction.....so I am not trying to find something to "Fix" a need....an itch I can't scratch...

This was in my local newspaper, as a letter to the editor in the "Opinion" section....thought I would share it.... / / / The Fountain of Youth is a pool of your exercise-induced perspiration. As a 91-year-old retired family physician, I rake leaves from the many trees on my property, and I did some shoveling of snow during this last storm. A few years ago, I painted most of my house. Like the doctors mentioned in the Asbury Park Press article, “Physicians heal themselves,” Jan. 28, I too was in terrible shape a few years after graduating from medical school. Like them, I returned to a sport in which I participated in high school and college — fencing — only to regain improved conditioning, never expecting to compete. However, I did start to enter tournaments on a local level and then nationally. What a great feeling to be in good condition again. I eventually became a volunteer high school coach for 14 years, played softball and ran in the Senior Olympics in my 60s and then became a tennis player and enjoyed the sport into my 80s. While I was practicing medicine, occasionally a young man in his 30s would want medication because he was out of shape. I would ask him if he exercised, and usually he would say no because he didn’t have any time. I would then ask him if he watched any sporting activities on TV, and usually he would say yes, and I would then tell him to suit up for the game in a sweat suit and exercise during the game. If he didn’t think I was crazy and followed through with exercises, he always improved his general conditioning.

AMEN! If I miss a day at the gym, I feel like crap all day..... At first it is a chore, until the rewards start to come, eventually....

First...where in NJ are you? I'm right at the shore also.... I would not begin to assume to know what is going on with your band....but I will say this for myself.... Being successful with the band depends upon a routine, adapting new habits...especially in the food depart...what to buy, what to eat everyday, what to avoid, etc etc.... Going through what you did, would have broken me out of my routine...forcing me to eat all the wrong foods...probably a lot of fast foods.....and that would not agree with my band and act as if my band was too tight, but actually did not change at all.... I have been banded for 3 years....the big learning curve was to find that "Groove" with the perfect balance of band adjustment, and the types of foods I eat...not to mention portion sizes...... Again, I can see how being displaced for 10 months would upset that balance tremendously.... People talk about stress, physical activity, etc, etc affecting their band, tighter? also talk about emotional eating?? ....I have always found my band to be a constant no matter what the external influences may be...(with the exception of little variations, like first thing in the morning)

There are so many variables there it is hard to dissect....not sure where to begin.... I'm not disagreeing with anything you are saying.... However...how do you know you're not getting enough calories to supplement your workouts? BTW...Your Dr...Morris Washington....he was my Surgeon when I first began all the initial seminars, evaluations and testing, etc....up here in Freehold NJ,.....3 weeks before my surgery he sold his practice, moved to SC....he was very good, and well liked by all... The surgeon who took his place did my surgery, he is very good also...

I remember sitting on the gurney, all prepped and ready to be wheeled in...and I still had 2nd thoughts right up to the point i went under...... But I also kept telling myself how much I worked for this, how long I waited and hoped for a miracle, and how much my life depended upon it....if I were to back out, what would I return to? What would be the alternative? I HAD to make the change....no matter the fears and concerns... I have not had one single complication....I have lost all my excess weight...every day is just another normal day now, completing the process, living a normal life at a normal weight....never having to be burdened with the thoughts of loosing weight and dieting.... fitting in proper size clothes, having a high self esteem and self image....and excellent health.... Best decision I could have ever made.... Again, what would have been the alternative???

My Dr. did not care what I ate. or what I did...AS LONG AS I LOST THE WEIGHT...otherwise he would postpone the surgery.... Having gone through so much preparation, waiting, anxiety....to have the surgery day within reach...I would have done ANYTHING so as not to ruin it at that point!!!! Too much to loose to sweat the little things....the biggest day of my life was approaching...or the first day of my new life was approaching, I should say..... Complain about the pre-op diet??? NO WAY....I would walk on broken glass barefoot if asked to at that point! HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?????? side note: My surgery was scheduled for a Monday morning...my final weigh in and pre-op office visit was Friday....so, after the office visit friday afternoon, we all went out and I had my Last Meal....a real pig out party at a 5 Star restaurant I knew I would never step into again...and ate like I knew I will never eat like again.... Then Saturday and Sunday I fasted with just Water and broth, and very little food......Monday morning all was fine and good to go.... I should also say...that was the LAST TIME I ever felt "Full" (still trying to figure that one out)

Everyone need to know THEIR band, and what THEY can and cannot do.... What I can do does not make it sp for the next banded person, and vice-verse....

When you read the characteristics of being within the Green Zone....the last thing mentioned is "Patient Satisfaction" Are you satisfied? Pleased? Happy with this surgery? Your weight loss? Hunger/cravings? Any complaints? Then that is all that matters..... If you're not happy, as many seem to be around here sometimes, then keep at it until you are...then you have arrived and don't need other people to tell you if you are pleased or not....

A year from now I'm hoping to stay right where I'm at...in other words I do not want to start regressing due to age.... I would not mind getting more fit, but I'm happy right where I'm at....I am in better shape, health and weight than I've been ion a long, long time....so it's all good....

Just be warned...it can come and then disappear....especially in the beginning....like a little tease.... Also, for myself, I have never felt "Full" since being banded.....and I am with no doubt in the Green Zone for 2-1/2 years, also my last fill... Feeling full is but a memory from those days before surgery where I would eat without stop.....

Chocolate and a banana....always good.....try adding a tablespoon of peanut butter....

Every diet I have ever been on...and there were many over the last 30 years or so.....I started out good, was determined to make it work...then eventually leveled out, then ultimately failed....gaining all the weight back, and then some....even my 6 month pre surgery diet was the same...started put good, then started to gain it back.....which only showed the insurance co., for the record, my experiences with dieting.... Let's face it, I just do not have the will power needed to see any of these weight loss programs though, and stay there... And the longer I stayed with a diet...the bigger the struggle became....first with little cheating here and there, until finally throwing the towel in altogether.... It was for that reason, and that reason alone that my PCP suggested Lap Band Surgery.....to do what I was unable to do on my own.... If I could have done it, no way would I go for surgery....but history had proved I could not...and my health was suffering because of it.... But I am not regretting my decision one bit.....and love every new day....

Almond milk is becoming very popular...the health club-gym I go to started offering it in their shakes.....I bought some and use it in my shakes...very smooth and flavorful....going to try it in my coffee...see what happens. I avoid dairy products when possible.....

We have a very nice crock pot...don't use it anymore...reason? I eat so little now that anything cooked in the crock pot will get thrown away...unless we freeze it but I don't care for doing that.... It's that way with a lot of our favorite recipes....just too much food.... I also stopped eating meat with this surgery, but there are still many things that can be cooked in the crock pot....

It's 5am, on my 2nd cup of coffee...along with my Vitamins...will head to the gym when they open at 6am.... reading these posts...all I can say is right now is, this minute...food is the last thing on my mind...and I have not eaten since 4pm yesterday...it's not that I can't..it's simply because I am not interested...I am not hungry... Today is Saturday, not sure what I'm doing today so I'm not sure when I will eat...other than my "Recovery" drink after my workout, probably not till late this afternoon....will probably go out for an early dinner.... I do not try to make it a bigger thing than it is, don't try to analyze the why...it just is, and I go with it... This is how it was taught/explained to me 4 years ago...and I simply accepted it.... People say this process takes a lot of hard work....I get it, and I applaud those who put forth the effort.... BUT...if I am not hungry and have no cravings, and my eating is limited to small portions, what is so hard about that? I'm speaking for my situation here...no one else's....all I need to do is choose good wholesome, nutritious foods, high in Protein...drink my Water and take my supplements.... I go to the gym, but just like the early days of this surgery, the hard part was in the adjusting...now it's a pleasure filled with rewards...not a chore... Everyone chooses their own different paths to follow with this weight loss, and that is none of my business...I just take objection when people post that the way I live this new life does not and cannot exist...it is not realistic......cause I will come right back and defend myself, and say, from experience, it does....and if people should say that this lifestyle will lead to poor health, lack of muscle, weakness, lethargy...well I am here to show them that is not necessarily true...I see 4 Dr.'s on a regular basis, and everyone tells me I'm one of the healthiest - fit 62 year old men they know... So it is what it is....and that's all there is to it...let the negative people be negative....not going let it bring me down...

I make my own...starting with 100% whey....35gm Protein...8oz's of almond milk...then add just about anything I'm in the mood for....all in a good blender.... This morning I kept it simple and just added 2 shots of espresso....but I usually get more creative than that... I do not like pre-flavored mixes, but rather add fresh fruits, berries, etc....

You say you continued to eat until you felt full...which did not happen right away so you overate... Just saying...I have been banded for 3 years and still have never felt full since surgery... I do hear a lot of people with the lap band surgery talk about it...I'm not sure if we're talking about the same thing or just getting word meanings mixed up...

Never had this or any other problems, but I am always interested when successful veterans develop these type of issues... So I'm just signing on to stay up with and updates.... Reading these posts for 3 years, it would seem there is a common issue that when people get a total un-fill, things behave differently after that...at least that is just my impression.... Please let us know what you find out....

I take it that because your band was too tight, you could not get anything down..or through your band I should say, resulting in dilation.... In other words, the problem was not dilation, but your band being too tight... There is always a 50-50 balance between a band being too tight, And/or we do not know the proper way to eat...we cannot eat like we used to...I gave up many foods, eat small, chew well, no drinking with meals, etc, etc...otherwise I would never be able to eat again....ad have to get Fluid taken out... I hate to think your Dr. said no more fills, primarily because you won't change your eating habits...harsh to say, but my Surgeon and staff share some whopping stories with me about (nameless) people who refuse to comply and fight change. My portion sizes are per-determined by my band, providing I stop when my band says stop...and sure enough, each time the portion size is generally the same.... I say that, because over time, I will begin to notice my portions sizes getting larger...OR simply realizing I have been eating more than usual....it is then I believe I have experienced some Dilation.....things just get too easy, eating and food types that is... I will then go all liquids, and very soft foods (same as your Dr. is prescribing) for 2-3 days...after which I find my band to be as good as new.... I have been doing this for a few years...I know when the slightest variations from normal day to day occur....I had my last fill 30 months ago...so I have learned to "Listen" to my band pretty well now.... I'm not saying this for everybody, only what I have learned for Myself....

I only know what I experience personally, everyday.... I checked your profile...I did not see you Weight Loss history there....please update.

Sorry...I am having a hard time following your timeline....first you say you had it removed? Then you say you had a fill, actually 2? Developed cysts size of grapefruits.....where? related to the band? What was done about them... I take it "Merina" is the name you fave your band? And you refer to it as that "Evil Device" which implies you hate it, and when you hate something often times we rebel against it, have no respect for it, and refuse to cooperate and work with it.... People often refer to the band as a "Tool"...I get it....but for me, the tool is the "Master" controlling my eating and behaviors...I do not, and cannot control the band...it controls me...that is not a tool.....step out of line, and try to fight it would only end up with me being miserable, and ultimately a failure... Learning to "Listen" to it, following the rules it demands, (not anyone elses) results in harmony and makes life, and this journey "Easy" The hardest part of this for me was learning what the heck was going on...and there are not many people around to explain it to me, or maybe there were too many opinions as to what to do that only confused the situation.......I had 3 fills...after my last one my world was turned upside down...it took me another 2-3 months to figure it all out and find that "Groove" And what I found out for myself, does not mean it is what everyone else had found that works best for them... I do not like to tell other people what to do...only what I have experienced for myself...I do know many people when trying to find their way, go back to step one and start to build up again...

I enjoy ice cream...cherry vanilla sundaes with crushed nuts, whipped cream..... I'm not afraid to indulge....all things in moderation, never pig out, never eat more than I should....keep up the exercise, stay active. In My case, I'm living the new life, no longer dieting.... But I can understand, people just starting out....you have to get down that road and reach your destination first....

The first few months after surgery are the toughest of all IMO....so much to learn, and even harder to learn when the band is not doing anything yet....you just go through the motions with pure will power.... It does get better....just takes a little time..until then...