B-52

I am one who has a suppressed appetite, (or none at all)...I have no interest in food and sometimes, when I am busy or traveling, will forget to eat entirely. People describe it as "Feeling Full"...I have never felt that since my Lap band surgery....however, my brain tells me I am full and have no need to eat, even if I have not eaten in over 12 hours.(or more) And if my brain senses it, then I simply don't think about it.... And the miracle is, I am one who could not stop eating...like a machine, all day long. And when I do eat, it is very little...very small portions. Waste and throw away more than I eat. So because of that, knowing my portions will be small, I concentrate on eating the healthiest I can...make the best of it and not waste that small window with something with no nutritional value.... After 5 years, I don't worry about measuring portions, or counting calories...I did in the beginning...but now, it's all about eating healthy and eating less...along with plenty of exercise.

I just replied to a post, where the person stated she would need to get new friends after surgery...this bothered me. I found the opposite to be true.... Following is the reply I posted: I never told anyone other than immediate family.... I go out with my friends, people from work all the time...while they are devouring greasy burgers, etc, I am very picky about what I eat, and go for the healthiest choices I can. Plus I eat like a bird. If the menu has nothing but junk like a lot of chains do, then I eat nothing...and I will tell the people I'm with why I am not eating and why the food on the menu is not good......I also stopped eating meat after lap band surgery. And I am one who would eat an entire large pizza at a sitting...now I wouldn't (couldn't) touch it... You will be surprised at the respect you will get from people...you will be one of the unique ones..admired for taking control of your life, being health conscious, more active with an exercise routine, looking at life from a different angle. And, when the weight starts to come off, it only multiplies. The lap band forced me to change my lifestyle, but no one needs to know that...I am after all the one getting educated and making the healthy choices. As far as alcohol, well that's a hot topic around here....listen to your Dr.

True story, well just see and wait with me, I have a close bound with my friends is just me assuming , since I like my caribbean food a whole lot Jerk chicken is a good source of Protein....

I never told anyone other than immediate family.... I go out with my friends, people from work all the time...while they are devouring greasy burgers, etc, I am very picky about what I eat, and go for the healthiest choices I can. Plus I eat like a bird. If the menu has nothing but junk like a lot of chains do, then I eat nothing...and I will tell the people I'm with why the menu is not good......I also stopped eating meat after lap band surgery. And I am one who would eat an entire large pizza at a sitting...now I wouldn't (couldn't) touch it... You will be surprised at the respect you will get from people...you will be one of the unique ones..admired for taking control of your life, being health conscious, more active with a exercise routine, looking at life from a different angle. And, when the weight starts to come off, it only multiplies. The lap band forced me to change my lifestyle, but no one needs to know that...I am after all the one getting educated and making the healthy choices. As far as alcohol, well that's a hot topic around here....listen to your Dr.

I gurgle all the time...I think it's neat. Especially first thing in the morning when everything is quiet and I am having my first cup of coffee... I have not been able to eat a Breakfast in over 4 years...my band is very tight in the morning, loosens as the day goes on...so I have a high Protein smoothie every morning, made in my blender, with fresh fruit, almond milk, etc. About 35-40gms of protein to start the day...try to match that with eggs, oatmeal, etc.... (BTW, I do not believe the band actually tightens and loosens, but it is the best way to describe it. I believe it is something else but that's another story)

Congratulations.....everyone gets nervous, I certainly was right up to the last second when I was wheeled into the OR. This is something that will change your life forever in more ways than you can imagine. Just keep in mind, that this DOES WORK! And unfortunately, in my opinion after being here for 5 years, those who are successful no longer seek help, advice and move on from this forum. But I know they are out there. And the majority of those who post here are just the opposite. So do not get discouraged by everything you may read...

Scientific - accurate and BMI is an oxymoron.

Won't elaborate,...but for health reasons I no longer drink milk, and avoid most dairy products....except in my coffee but that's about it. (and it's not because I'm lactose intolerant) Almond milk in my smoothies. Since surgery 5 years ago, I have become more and more conscious of what I consume. I'm not on any calorie counting diet, just eat less, and eat the healthiest I can.

Just returned from our vacation, 10 days including 7 days on a cruise.... Best news is, I let my band be the boss just as any other day...limited my food intake and controlled my hunger. I did not deny all the pleasures available to me, just did not make a pig of myself. I went on a Volcano climb, 3,800 feet straight up rocks and mud through a rain forrest...there was a couple there that were 42 years old, then everyone else was in their 30's and 20's....I'm 63 !!!! Our guide said not only was that a first, but also the fact I was one of 4-5 leaders way out in front setting the pace where everyone had to keep up with. On another stop, I jumped off a 45+ foot cliff into the Caribbean ocean....there is a bar at the top of the cliff where people sit and watch the cliff jumpers...NO ONE jumped that day but me !!!! Back on the ship I ran into a family from Holland that were sitting at that bar...they wouldn't stop complimenting me. And when I told them my age, that really put them over the top. Bottom line....I lost 3 lbs !!! And to think it was just a few years ago I could not carry groceries into the house without having to sit down to catch my breath....not to mention my cardiac issues, diabetes, etc, etc...... Am I bragging?? YOU BET!!! It just doesn't get any better than this...and I have to give all the credit to my Lap Band Surgery....without it, I'd probably be dead....no exaggeration. Only thing is, with all the booze I consumed over the last 10 days, I need to go on a "Cleanse" including extra time in the sauna to sweat it out of my system.

It took me 3 good fills before my band started to work...my first fill was 4cc's, 4 weeks after surgery....after that fill and before my 2nd fill, I started to re-gain all the weight that I lost pre and post op....2nd fill things leveled out, 3rd fill was the charm, 12 weeks from surgery. Have not had a fill in over 4 years now.

Same here....I had to undergo a 6 month medically supervised diet, complete with weekly progress notes, charts, graphs, etc. I told the weight loss center that I have done diets time and time again....why another one? They said the insurance co. wants it OFFICIALLY on file, signed off from a Dr., showig I did a sincere diet, and FAILED. They will not simply take my word for it. So yes, I took the 6-month program, at great expense to me out of pocket. And just like every other diet I started out good, lost significant weight, then started to cheat and rationalize, then start to gain it all back...in other words, I failed miserably....but this time it was official, on record for the insurance co. I have read here over the years about people saying the insurance co. demands they be successful with this diet or they would not approve surgery.... To me that's confusing...if I could be successful at diets, then why would I need - want Weight loss surgery?

Where is your Breast Bone? You say left side...sternum is center... Are you saying under the left side under your ribs up near your breast? Does it hurt when you take a deep breath? When you press on it? Or is is constant. Is there anything that alieves the pain?

Sounds to me the band is doing nothing...never was properly adjusted and you're doing most of the work... If it was up to us to do the majority of the work, why have surgery? For me it's the other way around..the band does most of the work and I just needed to learn to live with it... In return it has taken away my hunger, most cravings, and automatically sets my portion sizes making it difficult to overeat....I don't even think about food or eating... And because I feel so good, I just want to be more active...... Just My opinion....My Experience

Gaining it all back? As long as my band continues to perform as it has for the last 5 years, I do not see how that would even be possible.

I cannot eat meat because of the texture, does not work well with my band....things like chicken-turkey sausage may be more healthy than red meat, but it is made to be as close to red meat as possible in terms of texture, etc., so I can't eat those items also. chicken has to be very tender, which unless I'm cooking it myself is hard to find in restaurants. Free graze chicken seems to be the best. Same goes with breads and pastas, and rice.....have not eaten such things in 5 years. Bottom line I feel I'm the better for it...

If I could have done it the old fashion way, then I would not have gone through surgery....Surgery did for me what I was unable to do on my own...control my hunger and the inability to overeat. I really wish I didn't have surgery, but I had no choice...my health was failing fast, and it was literally "Do or Die" And now I am as good, if not better, than most others....I laugh everytime I hear people constantly talk about "Dieting" and how they need to loose to look good in a swimsuit....summers coming, right? Everyday you hear it at least once...someone is carrying on about this diet or that, and how they "Put on a few pounds"...because of the holidays.... I'm glad I can put all that behind me, and I don't need to apologize to anyone for what I have done for myself and what I have become. I really think people say stupid things because they're jealous and are envious....Too Bad!!! So what if it was easy...easy is good, right? Everything in society is aimed at making life easier...so why should this be so bad? I go to the gym and "work hard" to achieve the benefits...if there was an easier way and still reap the same results, would I do it? Of course I would....and so would others.

Really wasn't anything I needed to bring....checked in at 7am, prepped and waiting for surgery by 8,...took me in by 9am...woke up in recovery around noon (I Think),....stayed there and watched TV till they took me to X-ray to check everything out....then home by 6pm, zonked out on my lazy Boy recliner with a warm comforter, ...just me and me and my pain meds.

I still live by a very simple one...."ALL things in moderation" I enjoy life and all it has to offer.

The question is, how many calories per day will you burn? Above and beyond your daily intake whatever it may be.... You may consume 2000 calories a day, but to lose weight you have to burn off more, making it harder. Not impossible, professional athletes do it all the time. But for us mortals it's easier to start with low-calorie intake. I don't count calories, but it was low when I was still losing weight. Low calories for me told my body I was in a famine stage, turning to the "Fat Stores" for energy, which as hunter=gathereres are there for times of famine. For that reason I always work out first thing in the morning on an empty stomach...relying on stored energy in terms of fat. But now that the fat is gone, I need a little something before a workout.

My first fill was 4 weeks after surgery, then another one 4 weeks after that, and the 3rd and last 4 weeks after that. Took me 3 good fills, one month apart, to reach my Green Zone. But I would say my Dr was aggressive with me, knowing I was aggressive also....and probably not so with other patients.

Get a good pair of noise cancelling headphones, some really good music, and you will forget you're even on a machine but your mind will go someplace else.....eventually, with continuous practice, you will get a runners High...then you are not even aware you are running and can go all day.

It took me 3 months with 3 good fills before my band started to perform as I had anticipated, and then I started to lose weight consistently, on a weekly basis and continued to do so until my body reached what it considered to be optimal. I even gained weight within those first few months because the best I could do was standard dieting practices like counting calories, measuring portions, etc. And that was something I am not good at, having failed countless times...if I was good at that, then I would not have needed surgery.

5 years and nothing but the best for me...lost all possible excess weight resulting in a low body fat %, reversed my Type 2 diabetes, no more cholesterol, BP, and other medications, no complications whatsoever....best thing I could have ever done, only regret is that I did not do it sooner but it was not recommended to me until it became a last resort in regards to my failing health.... I'm 64 years old and can keep pace with people half my age.

I've lost over 100lbs and have no noticeable loose skin... Why is that..can't say for sure, but these are some things I have been doing during my weight loss... Exercised like crazy...primarily aerobic activity....good for muscle and skin tone Sat in sauna 30 minutes after every workout, and could easily drink as much as 32 ozs of Water while sitting there, and took a cold shower immediately afterward tightening the skin. (think of the swedes jumping in the snow) Drank water all day, stayed loyal to taking Vitamins and other supplements. Protein... I did not do this as a goal to fight loose skin, but I believe it did contribute.

Surgery 5 years ago....aside from the usual 10lb swings, 5 lbs up and down....everything has been fine since reaching maximum weight loss 4 years ago. I don't diet, but I do exercise regularly and eat healthy.... I am extremely confident for the next 5 years, my lifetime as a matter of fact., providing I do not encounter andy medical complications.