WASaBubbleButt

DAMN! I wrote this post almost a year ago... 10 months or so. Today I went shopping for new jeans, I'm in a size 4 now. I was trying on various styles of jeans and for the FIRST time I saw it, I'm thin. I think for the first time I saw what I really look like. I had a plastics consult last week. Keep in mind, this is before today's revelation. I was standing there nek'ed with a gown draped over my shoulders while the plastics guy was peering at each hanging saggy piece of my body and I asked him how much weight I need to lose before he'll operate. He kinda stopped dead in his tracks, looked me in the eye with a funny expression and asked how much *I* thought I needed to lose. I said I didn't know, when I look at the scale (119#) my brain tells me I am done but when I look at my body I see another 35-40lbs. He carefully explained to me that he won't even consider operating on me until I gain at least 10#. He went on to explain that he wants to build a butt for me via fat injections but he has to take 500cc (1/4 of a 2 liter bottle of soda) from another part of my body and inject it into each butt cheek and I don't have 500cc of fat for one let alone two. So he will have to use implants instead. I didn't know whether to hug him or smack him for not seeing all the fat that I see. Yet today, I finally saw it. I am a thin person. I'm not seeing the "too thin" thing yet, but thin... yep. I am finally there. BTW... I had my revision surgery 3.5 weeks ago. Had my band removed and a sleeve done to replace my band and life is good once again!

The head stuff is the hardest part of banding IMHO. Binging, head hunger, boredom. Once you start really focusing on that and finding what works for you, you can then begin to work with the band. There is a set of stages most folks seem to go through and one is fighting their band. When you get to the point that you realize this the WLS journey becomes a lot easier. It is a thing most of us go through. The band can work but it won't work if you don't get the fills and follow up care. It won't work if you don't deal with head issues including head hunger. I still have days where I open the frig 20x and I still have to stop and think... am I really hungry or do I just want to eat? If I want to binge, I do. But today those days are few and far between and I binge on things I can eat as much of as I want. Veggies. Steamed veggies to be exact. But that is something that comes with time and a lifestyle change. I used to binge on chocolate and burgers. It takes time but really, it does happen.

You aren't a girl! You are a Froggi!

Sounds yummy! Matter of fact, sounds better than the photo of Chocolate covered bacon I saw a few days ago! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Yes, anything with protein is healthy. I'm pretty sure the butter will just make it absorb well.

It hurts me to laugh as well, after I crammed those last two hams in I'm pretty sure I busted out my staples but that's okay, I can eat more now. On to ham #3!

Through my band journey I realized that it is possible not to have a sweet spot for some people. I just don't want you to feel like this is your fault if that is the case for you.

Who said anyone had to do it a specific way? Nobody. The bottom line is that you have to burn more calories than you consume, how you do it is completely up to you. As I TRIED to explain already, there are two extremes posting here and nobody is really finding a balance here. The balance is not head patting for someone that does not want to watch what she eats and does not want to exercise. What is anyone to say? Every suggestion was knocked down and finally the admission of she just doesn't want to. So what is left to say? Draw those claws back in, I was pointing out both extremes and how it doesn't help the person in the least.

I didn't read this thread, just the last couple of pages, but from what I read here and on the other thread, this is my take. Right or wrong, this is what I see. Those who are not doing well, not watching well what is going in their mouths, not exercising or not exercising enough, they seem to be the folks that are all about head patting and supporting negative behaviors. Those that busted their butts and did the job have the attitude that they did it, anyone can. Seems to me this is where the conflict, nasty undertones, and P&A posting is coming from. We've already chased away one member (Laurend), perhaps it is time to let this die a big bad sorry death.

The human body is amazing at storing calories. Simply amazing, you can eat 500 calories easily in one sitting but do you know what you have to do to burn that 500 calories? ;o) Get a photo of a person at your goal size, then get a photo of that ice cream. Which do you want more? The ice cream will make you happy for a few minutes, thin will make you happy for a lifetime. It's all perspective. You can do this, if you have to go dump salt all over that ice cream and then pitch it! It's just not worth it in the end. It's hard living as an obese person, it's pretty nice living as a thin person. Hang in there, you can do this!

Darl'en... I have news for you. You have only been banded for two months! I'll bet you didn't know that! ;o) Dealing with food issues does not happen overnight, it takes months. All you can do is take it one day at a time. It will happen, just let your mind catch up with your new lifestyle.

I can relate to what you are talking about. One day I could eat anything and the next day I couldn't swallow my own saliva with an unfilled band. It makes no sense. Have you tried cutting out all white carbs, alcohol, and anything else fun? Just long enough to get to goal?

As long as you make SURE to do the exlax chaser, you will be fine. My doctor said so.

Are you referring to my thread? There was a reason for that. I used to respond to people that were cheating on the post op diet. That is sooooo dangerous! I would explain time and time again and explain WHY it is soooo dangerous to cheat on the post op diet. Others who cheated on their post op diets would come in and tell everyone it was FINE to cheat, it doesn't hurt anything, go ahead and do it! This made my head spin and I'd spew split pea Soup in frustration because I know what can happen if you don't do things well. I finally gave up and quit responding to posts about cheating on the post op diet. So when I had a revision surgery and was on a post op diet it was a dare to go to a newbie section and post that I was cheating. I exaggerated the heck out of it so it was clear I was kidding but there is history behind that and thus, the reason for the thread. ;o) If you haven't been posting here for a year or so you wouldn't know the history behind that one.

Some do have complications with the band and they are doing all the right things. I was one of them and that is why I had it removed 3 weeks ago. Unfilled I was barfing and sliming on Protein shakes made with Water and not milk (thin). The band is great for some people, it's not so great for others. Same holds true with any WLS type. I busted my butt to lose all but the last 15 pounds, I did barf and slime my way down the last 15, but I was already at goal before the problems hit hard and heavy. So it can be done, it takes effort. With the band or WLS in general it's totally possible. The surgery is a heck of a lot lower risk than obesity, honestly... I understand the fear but it's really a simple procedure.

Here are some of B's comments throughout this thread: Right, exercising is bad because she doesn't lose weight in the places she wants to. Hello??? Banding is all about chew chew chew. And there we have it. Is there A/C inside? On her treadmill? The band isn't shot, it's not filled well because she doesn't want to chew as much. I'm not suggesting that barfing her own saliva for 10 hours was a good thing but a 2cc unfill so she can eat bad foods wasn't the answer. Look, I am not one of those people that believe the sun rises and sets on lap bands. I had my own band removed in favor of another procedure. But you know as well as I do that some effort has to be put into any WLS type. I don't want to diet, I don't want a life style change, I don't want to exercise... what are we to say? It's okay, it's the band's fault? Nope, not me. I HATE exercising, hate it with a passion. I'd rather poke my eye out with a rusty nail than to do weight training but the bottom line is that you do what you have to do to get the pounds off. I don't like weight resistance, I don't like running, I don't like cleaning the toilet, I don't like going to the dentist, I don't like lots of things in life. Sometimes we have to do things we don't like.

A complete and total load. JB... you are one of my favorite posters but I honestly think you called this one wrong. Maybe you relate to her too much/not enough, not sure. But you are wrong on this one. You are doing no favors when you pat someone on the head because they say, "I don't wanna exercise," or "I don't wanna cut back on shit food." Sometimes tough love is a good thing, it's a far cry from patting them on the head and pretending they are doing a good thing with crappy habits and socially unacceptable behaviors. We can relate to someone or point out what isn't working, it's a choice.

Totally agree, fat content does not matter, danger of chemicals does not matter, nothing matters. Eat as you wish, it's alllllll good!

What posts? I don't see any of your posts. Are you posting?

Health reasons? I can think of lots of reasons.

Can I have a gallon of Soup in a bread bowl since I'm in the full liquids stage? I'll chew really well, swear!

I responded!!!!

Excellent post! Hear hear! Well written, accurate, can't say enough good things about it!

There is a thread called, "Wasabubblebutt is in recovery" and that explains it in detail. ETA: Here is a link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/wasabubblebutt-recovery-65353/

I absolutely LOVE it! I am totally sold on this procedure. Keeping in mind that I have control of head hunger at this stage of the game, I honestly forget to eat. I've been trying to increase Protein for reasons other than the obvious so I need to get four Protein shakes in a day. The other day I forgot until about 7pm. Grehlin is removed and there is no hunger, none. I am still on liquids but most do not slime, barf, or foam unless they eat too much but there are no getting stuck episodes. I guess my bottom line is that I could have lost weight either way equally well (band or sleeve) but I think the sleeve would have been a drastically easier journey. And NO aftercare! YEEHAW!