B-52

We have been on many cruises since I was banded....I look at it as just another day as far as eating goes...with the band controlling my appetite and inability to over eat.... Life with my band is a NEW LIFESTYLE...that I have accepted and want to continue for the rest of my life....for me, I do not want to look at it as something I can turn on, turn off...decide to use as well as decide not to use...that is how I always got into trouble with dieting in the past...I had too much control...it always started with a little rationalization...I'll cheat today and make up for it tomorrow, etc...pretty soon the whole thing would go to pot....I would get completely off track, and I would once again be a big failure.... For me...WLS is permanent....day in and day out....a physical change as well as mental.....I do not want to control it, I want it to control me... But then, everyone's approach to Weight Loss is different I suppose....

Last night went out to dinner with my Wife.....sat down, ordered drinks, then ordered our food.... They brought out the fresh bread.....it looked very soft, warm....but I should know better...I do not eat bread.... But it happens, you just don't think sometimes. Cut a small slice, took a small bite, chewed and swallowed....BAM...it just sat there! I could feel it. Not quite stuck, but I knew if I took one more swallow of ANYTHING it would be a disaster..... Now I'm in trouble...they have not even started to bring out our food yet, and I am unable to eat or drink another thing..... I excused myself to go to the men's room.....I guess just from getting up and walking, the lump of bread finally passed....when I returned, I took a few sips of my drink to be sure all was clear.....it was! This has happened to me a few times when I was still learning..the hard way...I may have had to bring my entire dinner home and not eat anything there....very embarrassing to say the least. Once you learn your lessons, I should not think things will change over time.....I cannot go backwards with this surgery.... Close call !

I never heard of people never loosing weight...there are many stories where people initially lost, only to gain it back...sometimes it takes years in the process.... Sounds like me with the traditional diets I have been on, always lost, only to gain it back..plus some! But the band is different...WLS in itself is for those who have tried and failed time after time at traditional dieting....a "Last Resort"....and it DOES WORK....and IMO, the only way it can fail is if WE get in the way and decide to not let the band do what it was designed to do....it is adjustable, and can be set to just about any degree of function you find you want to be.... My band is set right where I want it, have lost all my excess body weight and fat...have returned to a good, healthy normal weight with a very low body fat %...has been that way for over 2 years now.....all because of where and how the band is adjusted.... I can go to my Dr. and ask to have some Fluid taken out...( I have no reason to do so)...and if I did, I'm am certain I will start to gain weight back....would the gain continue to the point where I first started??? I do not want to find out. But THIS DOES WORK!!!!!!

I learned the hard way....I will not eat anything within hours of going to bed...if dinner is late, then I won't eat...simple as that... Reason? Eating before going to bed, for me, will most certainly result in Acid Reflux, and once or twice has resulted in regurgitation while asleep.... I do not see how this could result in stretching the pouch....that happens from attempting to overeat, and or adding more volume to the pouch at one time than it will allow...if I attempt to do this it will most certainly result in pain, and will also come right back up having no where else to go.....

Are you saying, because of your addictions....I'm assuming food/eating addictions....you had to have your band unfilled, and now fear you may have done some damage??? If that is the scenario, I can certainly understand it....trying to fight your band, trying to do what it was designed to prevent us from doing....in my case overeating, can definitely cause damage.... I have attempted to overeat, and the result are not pretty..usually accompanied by pain...so I learned not to try...behavior modification, no longer can, or will over eat.... I can imagine if my addictions were that severe,,,,I would perhaps ignore the pain, etc,.....

I have been banded for 3 years, have been in the Green for over 2 years...after that time, I have come to expect just how much the band will allow to me to eat at any one sitting...I have grown accustomed to the portion sizes the band allows me to consume....because of experiencing it once or twice a day, day after day after day.... Having said that.....there comes a time, every now and then, that I realize I am eating more than usual, with little to no problems...larger portions than usual.... When that happens, I go full liquids for a few days, to let everything return to normal....after which, when I begin to eat reg. food again all is behaving as I am accustomed to.... Some people call this the "5 Day Pouch Test"...why a test, I don't know....but for me it does work...so much so that I do it on a regular basis about every 5-6 weeks, just for maintenance....have not had a fill in over 2-1/2 years, yet doing this keeps things as good as the day I had my last fill.... Plus gives everything a "Time out" from over use....

I have no idea what the difference is, although I have heard people explain it so I'm sure someone whi knows will share their knowledge... I have had the "realize" brand for 3 years now....never had any problems... The most common complaint I read here is from people who say their ports have flipped....I know mine is anchored to the abdominal muscle wall making it highly impossible to move at all.... Is the realize band the only one that has this feature? Also, my port...even though it sticks out like a golf ball under my skin, is the low profile port, that come with the Realize brand.... (BTW, I have my theory as to why ports flip, not the users fault but something else)

I am not going to tell you what you should or should not be doing....listen to your Dr.... I will say what I do and I believe.... Early on, one of the most liberating steps I took was to stop monitoring, and calculating everything I ate, everything I did in the way of exercise, etc....stopped using those apps....they were driving me crazy.... I also stopped counting calories, although I have a good idea of where I am at just by common scenes.... I am OLD SCHOOL....in other words, I believe the less I eat, the more I will loose....and make sure I get my Water, Protein and Vitamins everyday...that is my only concern.... There are people here that track everything, and there are people here that will say you need to eat more to loose more... Hey, if they believe it and it works for them...then I will applaud and encourage anyone's successful experience... But for me, it has been the opposite mantra....I eat only when I am hungry...which is not very often...I stop when the band says stop, which are very small portions....I concentrate on high protein, nutritious foods.... I exercised on a empty stomach first thing in the morning to "Burn Fat" more efficiently, and it worked! I now need to take a shot of protein before working out because I have no more excess body fat.... Again, that is me.....and I'm happy with the results....other people have their avenues to their success, and I will not interfere with what works for them.... My surgeon looks at me, is pleased with my successful weight loss journey, states as long as I am not hurting myself, and that I am obviously healthy and fit....to continue doing whatever it is I'm doing, don't stop!.. he understands no 2 people are alike with his thing....that's obvious. I have a friendly confrontation with the Nutritionist at my Surgeons office.....I jokingly and lovingly tell her what she can do with her charts and logs, etc....and she always comes back at me....

The # of fills is not the issue...how much is actually in your band is.... I knew someone who had 12 fills over the span of a year...one per month...the Dr. only gave her LESS than .5cc per fill.....she was convinced the office was soaking her for office visit $$ by spreading it out, and NOT so concerned about her progress.... What she got in a year, some people get on their first adjustment....the entire support group was moving forward and she was not getting anywhere...... She did dump him and got a new Dr......last time I checked she was very pleased with her progress.... NOT saying this is your case...it's just that when people talk about the # of fills they have had, it does not give a clear picture.

75 gm of Protein per day? I don't think you meant 75gm protein per shake.... I read somewhere the body cannot process more than 55 gm at one time, the rest gets flushed AND can overload your kidneys...35 may be high, but that is what I have every morning... I have been taking a morning high protein smoothie ever since being banded...not to loose weight, but for nutritional value...plus my band is tonight every morning and it is a challenge to get anything solid down.... The amount of protein and nutrients I get from a single shake....try to match that with solid food and it would be impossible. especially for someone whose food intake and portion sizes are restricted due to weight loss surgery... Protein drinks are the craze right now...all my friends are doing it for Breakfast, and they have not had WLS, nor are they fat...just health and fitness minded....you can make your own, and also find them for sale just about anywhere...I buy a brand called "Naked" in the produce section of our grocery store, and always have a few in the fridge for those days I'm on the run.... It's none of my business....but you say you have 9 cc in a 10cc band....with all respect, something does not sound right...did they actually verify that last time at the Dr.'s? I would insist they do, NOT by reading the chart, but by actually pulling it all out, measuring it in the syringe, then replacing it with fresh clean saline....My Dr. used to do this every visit...you would be surprised at the discrepancy's they found from time to time... Also, do you not feel ANYTHING when you swallow? Can you tell the band is even there? My band speaks to me with every swallow,...even straight Water if I drink too fast too much at one gulp....the band does keep my eating techniques in check...I have to do it correctly or else... Like I said, 9cc's....something is not adding up somewhere. Get back to a Dr. ASAP....

Few things have happened to me since being banded.....one, I have very little interest in food, and eating for that matter...it's not physical, but mental...it is as though my brain is saying I am full, satisfied, whatever, even though I have not eaten anything...and food is just not important anymore... Some people only experience it after eating, and then only for a few hours...I have this all day long. 2nd...my "Taste Buds" have changed...a lot of foods just don't taste that great anymore...I'll order a meal, take a bite or two and just don't feel like continuing...does not appeal to me, and has little or no taste....a do-nut can taste like a piece of cardboard..in other words, no taste. I'm like the 7 year old boy that sits there and plays with his food....it's weird, but definitely has to do with the band....before surgery I could eat anything, anytime...could not stop, and LOVED IT.....that was my problem...out of control eating.

I've lost over 100lbs, and have very little loose skin..... I do not have a definitive answer as to why, but it is probably a combination of things... Lots of Water...good for skin tone...I go through 32 ozs during my workout alone Plenty of Cardio exercise...45 minutes in the zone, 5 days a week.....also good for skin tone... Protein...daily requirements met every single day since surgery.. Sauna....I sit in a 160 - 170 degree sauna 30 minutes, 5 days a week at the gym, and drink water while doing so...opens and cleans the pores while ridding the body of toxins....THEN an ice plunge (when available), if not then a brief cold shower to tighten up the skin and close the pores......the swedes knew the secret..jumped in the snow afterward... And last, I use a moisturizer every day head to toe...( I do see a dermatologist for skin issues, although non-existant since loosing weight) My Wife buys Facial treatments in packages of 5 at the Spa, and I will use one from time to time...but that has nothing to do with loose skin throughout the body...just the face...

I have had people tell me once, when I was speaking at a support group and this topic came up.....they carry "Zip-loc Baggies" in their purses for stuck episodes.... NOW THAT'S GROSS !!!

Pre-op diet.....I was told, starting on a certain day, I would have to loose XX amount of weight (can't remember the amount) in order for him to perform hr surgery....or else he would postpone it. He did not care how I did it, as long as I did....so I could eat anything I wanted, as long as I lost the weight.... It just so happens, that a full liquid regime is the quickest and easiest way of dropping the weight.... But I did have regular food from time to time...there was no falling off the wagon, so to speak...other than Loose it, or no surgery...so it was in my best interest to do the best I could..... I had my final "weigh-in" on a Friday, for a Monday Morning Surgery....I lost more than I needed..... Saturday, we all went to a Restaurant I knew I would never set foot in again, for my "Last Meal" Sunday I fasted, and Monday Morning I was good to go.....had the surgery, was home late Monday afternoon. Everything came down to those final days...and after everything I had to go through to get there, I was not going to blow it then....

I told people at work NOTHING! I simply took a week's vacation time....had my surgery early on a Monday morning, was back at work the following Monday...

I have not, but I have many friends who won't leave home without it......they swear it works. I like to eat fresh papaya....it is good for the digestive system.....

First and foremost....Listen and follow your Dr.'s directions, advice...most important of all.... Having said that disclaimer.... I'm having a "Samuel Adams Winter Lager" as I am reading these posts....it's friday, been a long, hard week.... and My Dr. knows I do....

I could not wait to get released to get back to the gym..... I had a post-op appointment with my Surgeon exactly one week after surgery, to check incisions, etc.... It was then he cleared me to go back to the gym and "Knock myself Out".....as I was walking out the door he shouted..."Don't over do it on the heavy lifting for another few weeks" But I went right back and did my Cardio workout.... BTW, I was also cleared after one week to soak, and/or swim....including the whirl pool...

B-52...I knew I liked you for some reason. I love fasted runs for burning fat. My wife runs half marathons fasted with no problem. I don't always do it fasted but I might eat some nuts and a boiled egg. The fats and protein sustain me....I absolutely do not carb load and I try to stay in a fat burning mode while exercising so that I never bonk. And I do not bonk ever. But question...you said you always run on an empty stomach...then you seem to be saying you drink a protein shake before hand...which is it? Just curious. +1 for the energy squares from Nuts.com But fiddle....don't alot of crossfitters also eat Paleo? If so, they manage without carb loading right? Just curious. Hi Niki. Obviously, there are alot of differing opinions on this. I've done alot of cycling and running. I hate gu's and gels and I cannot eat solid food on a long run or ride. I'm fine for anything less than 2 hours but after that I need something. My absolute favorite thing is pocket fuel.... http://www.pocketfuelnaturals.com/products/chocolate-haze/ They are almond butter based little packets. The flavors are good. The ingredients are all natural. The are dairy free and gluten free. They are the one thing that does agree with my sleeve on a long run or ride. I did cardio every morning to BURN FAT...which in my case worked very well....had a protein shake AFTER my workout.... But now, that my body fat % is very low - "Athletic", I have to take at least one shot of protein before heading to the gym.... It is controversial, here is one of many articles about it...remember, I'm talking about BURNING FAT as in weight loss.... \ http://www.livestrong.com/article/530586-does-running-on-an-empty-stomach-burn-fat/

And the hit's just keep on coming....this thing DOES WORK!!! Congratulations....

My first fill was 4 cc's in a 10cc band....4 weeks after that for my 2nd fill...in between I GAINED weight.... 2nd fill...things were 50-50...did not gain, but did not really loose either...was ok between meals, but no restriction on how much I could eat. 3rd fill was the charm for me....portions limited, hunger non-exisitant...that was over 2-1/2 years ago, no fills since then...have same amount of restriction now as I did then.... Everyone is different, not a good idea to compare fills wit another...some do fine with no fills, others are different...

Three years in and I have yet to ever have that feeling of Fullness" so many others talk about...... For me it is all mental....the band giving my mind signals of hunger, need to eat, or not.

It is a fine line between proper band adjustment, Goidelic food choices, and self behavior....was very hard for me to juggle all three till I found that perfect balance.... That was 2 -1/2 years ago, have not needed an adjustment one way or the other since then, and now that I have found it I do not want to do anything to disrupt it..... But it can be difficult to get it just right..... This topic came up before, but many dr.'s are advocating surgeries other than the band because of the wide variables with adjustability....resulting in low success rates.....least that's the discussion I had with my Dr. And staff once.

If you have been banded since 2006, then you should know when the slightest thing is abnormal....I have only been banded since 2011 and know my band very well....and can select the slightest differences...in other words when to contact my Dr. that something has changed after all this time..... Reflux is common, but to suddenly pop up after 7-8 years?? No offense, but being banded since 2006...this is a question you should be giving the answer to others....

Not to get off topic, but is your ticker correct? You have lost 132.6 lbs, with 6 to go and NOW you are contemplating surgery? Just trying to understand.....