bigsexy

Hey guys whats the deal - No one post here anymore? I am on day 4 of the 10 day liquid diet. I have been exercising and drinking my meals to the tune of 10.5lbs of weight loss!!!!!! The other 6 came from before i started the liquids. I hope to lose the remaining 10 lbs so i can be under 300 going under the knife. Hope everyone is doing well. Keep posting guys PS anyone know how to post two editable tickers- I can post 2 but can never edit the second? Exercise update - 5.7 miles to go to reach 40 miles this month

Thanks bigsexy! But help me too, my TSH was .005 Which is that? Hypo or hyper? If I remember correctly that is low TSH so therefore you have HYPER - or overactive thyroid. MY TSH was somewhere like 15 for reference. I don't remember what the normal range of TSH was but for some reason the numbers 5-8 are sticking out in my head. EDIT: Sorry just realized i put hypo rather than HYPER

<p> </p> I have Hypothyroidism (Hashimotos Thyroiditis) and this is what my dr explained to me. TSH is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. TSH is produced when the hypothalamus releases a substance called thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then triggers the pituitary glandto release TSH. TSH causes the thyroid gland to produce two hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). T3 and T4 help control your body's metabolism.He said the Hypothalamus makes up for the Thyroid not producing enough T3 -T4 by over comensating with the TRH. This over compensation causes increased levels of TSH and makes your thyroid gland produce the T3 and T4 more often to make up for the fact that your thyroid is not functioning correctly. If you have a low TSH then your thyroid may be overworking. I trust what your dr is saying is correct

Another board I frequent has a forum called Sex Before and After Weight Loss Surgery. There are people there who have had lapband, GB etc and all of ladies there say they haven't had any ill effects from swallowing. A couple women however confessed that the taste puts them off now. It isn't going to hurt you, it is basically protien and sugar. From a guys perspective - I applaud all you wonderful ladies that venture down there!!!!!! I can't remember the last time i had a ...... (TMI). Anyway keep up the good work and make sure your loved one spends equal time going down on you!!!! Hope that wasn't to forward for this board

Hey guys - Sunday was my offical first day of the 10 day complete liquid diet. So far so good. On a different note I am curious to find out how many people have applied for life insurance and have been accepted of denied. I am refering to any policy other than group policies that your company may offer). Term or whole life. I started the process 6 months ago and have been denied by 8 vendors. All have said build (weight) was the issue although one said because it was because i was a smoker (which I am not nor have I ever). Even though the risk of dying in surgery is small I wanted to protect my wife and son in the unfortunate event that something did happen. So this last attempt I had was a 99.9999% guarentee that they would accept me because this company is the last ditch resort for people who cannot get insurance elsewhere. By this time my medical records have been updated with all my preop work and it is plastered all over the place that I am scheduled for surgery next week. I got a call from my agent saying that this company will only cover me starting the day after my surgery. How f'ed up is that? One would think that they would clearly see I am trying to take control of my life and ultimately they would not have to pay out the policy for health related issues. I am so fed up with these companies that rake in billions of dollars in profits a year and then deny people coverage when what they are there for is to provide security for those who pay for it. What a crock!!!! Sorry for the rant but I am just pissed

Wow that is an incredible amount of water. there have been cases of people actually drowning from drinking too much water. It is called water intoxication & hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is where you dilute the amout of sodium in yor blood essentialy causing your kidneys to work over time and eventually fail. Noone knows what the limit is but 8 16 oz bottles seems to be a little excessive.</p>

You are right - there are some healthy nutritional liquid supliments out there. That being said the intension of the surgery is not to force us to remain on those supliments for the remainder of our lives. It should also be noted that people often use the wrong kind of suppliment or abuse them by adding things to them. because you are not just adding flavor. if you are adding fruit and Peanut Butter, you are also adding carbohydrates (which can slow down weight loss, particularly early on) you are also adding a potential of a dependency on getting a certain amount of satisfaction from something that is just supposed to be for nutrition. I guess for each person it is different, but in my life leading to where i am, i have depended on food for comfort, emotional needs etc. This will most assuredly fall over into my life post op. So I am taking steps to eliminate dependencies on food. One of those steps is to only take in non caloric beverges after i have transitioned into the solid food stage. I believe that by continuing to consume liquid calories you run the risk of over induldging and eating your way through the opperation. Will i have an occasional glass of wine or beer - sure but I wont be doing it as frequently as i did in the past. The intent of my message was to express how easily it is to consume calories empty or not via liquid not to suggest that all liquid calories are bad.

my doc says the same thing however there is no metabolic reason for it. Your doc, like mine probably doesn't want you to consume useless calories. He is also betting that if you go a whole year chances are you might never drink again - therefore you would eliminateone source of calories from your diet. IF you choose to drink - drink non carbonated, non mixed drinks. Drink wine, or a distilled spirit straight, always in moderation. Beers, wines, and liquors all contain different amounts of alcohol. In general, a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor have about the same amount of alcohol and the same number of calories. This would not hold true if you were drinking fortified wines, or other spirits like kaluha etc. So if you want to have a shot and know that you've spent 150 of your 800-1000 cals a day, it really isnt going to hurt you. Just subtract from your daily balance and you will be fine. Finally anything that can be consumed in liquid form should be considered an empty calorie. Ice Cream (yes ice cream is a liquid), shakes, smooties, soda, fruit joice etc are all empty calories that can easily be consumed since there is nothing to stop you from eating these. The band only allows for restriction, and since there is no solid food everything will just slide right through.

For the first couple days after surgery my dr requires a clear protien drink for my meals. He and the nutritionist recommend Isopure. I see there are all sorts of flavors out there and have read some other posts that indicate that they are nasty. Can anyone suggest a flavor worth trying? Are there alternative clear protien drinks available made from as high quality of protien as isopure?

The band has no effect on the way your body metabolizes alcohol. With Bypass however you can become impaired with very little alcohol because your body simply does not have the plumbing it used to. Just be concerned with the liquid calories and you will be fine. You should avoid carbonated beverages for at least a year because you could stretch the pouch. Some people have said they can no longer tollerate carbonated beverages because it just comes back up on them. What it comes down to is drinking responsibily.

During a support group meeting one member brought up the very same issue. Her response to the people how did you lose all that weight- was...."I decided to take control of my life and my habits" that was it. She said it works well everytime.

DBAGuy - Congrats - 50 lbs in a month,that is incredible. You are well on your way to being a slimmer trimmer you. Keep up the good work.

Okay gents- no longer being a puss. Got my sh*t together, got out and exercised, now i cannot wait for the 27th. I did a full day of liquid yesterday w/o issue. Gave up my massive amt of diet coke cold turkey too. Asside from a bit of a caffiene headache I haven't been too bad. Hope you all are doing well - i'm taking a much needed break tonight and going to fenway to watch the game. Take it easy

Hey guys - just checkin in to see how everyone is doing. it is funny one day i will be totally geeked about the surgery the next day is spent wondering if i am going to leave my son fatherless. I sware to god i am just being a f'ing pussy these days. What the hell. Sorry for the vent - on a different note - got another 36 holes walking done this weekend. Played a Gary Player and a Trent Jones course. The player one was rediculously hilly. Normally they require a cart but it was not crowded so they let me walk - Even 100lbs thinner and that would have sucked.

Brewha - thanks for the words of encouragement. I am committed at least I believe I am. There is nothing in the world more important to me than being around for my son in the future. Weight is the only thing that is keeping me from that. I just need to focus and get my sh*t together here. I do know that it is not just a magic pill or a quick sprint to the finish line and this is a major sacrifice. I am motivated but I guess i just need more support that i ever expected. Probably why I am here so much. I have never relied on others before for much of anything so this is all new too. My wife doesn't really get what is going to be involved with the lifestyle change, despite me giving her all the readings and support information. So I don't expect to count on her for much of my support. I'm looking forward to my new life and I hope that I will have as much success as the rest of you guys. I welcome others comments as well and will provide feedback when I can as well keep up the good work

what ball are you refering too?

Guys - so I had my preop appointment and everything was fine - now i have this sinking feeling like "what the F*%K are you doing man?" Im not scared of the surgery but all of a sudden any hesitation i had before that has long since passed from my thoughts is back. I suspect that this is normal but I am really starting to feel aprehensive about all of this. I think it stems from me lurking on other threads in this board about people who fail at the band, have complications etc. I have to keep telling my self that these naysayers and neardowells are a result of not following the rules etc. </p> <p>so i have some questions for you guys 1. how many times have you puked (pb and the chicas like to call it) 2. is it a common occurance? 3. logic tells me that if it happens once you know what caused it, so why are these people continuously puking/sliming etc. Please share your experiences good and bad. Let me know if you would ever have the sugery again etc. On a different note - Got another 2 miles in doing a half-a-loop on the course. Shot a 39!!!! Sure hope losing weight only improves my swing!!!

Faith MD - thanks a bunch for responding in my absence about the AP band. Sorry to the others who asked and I didn'e reply. One thing to note about the AP band. According to my dr, it is simply the next generation of the lap band. It does have the inflatable tube 360 degrees around where as the VG band is something like 320 and the original,still in us, is 280. The premise of this new design is to allow for protiens to pass more easy through the stoma, lower the risk of scar tissue, erosion and slippage. Obviously they cannot design out human error. Its other major design charactoristics are intended to make the surgeons life easier, however my DR claims that he liked the process of installing the older versions better. I suppose given time he will say the same thing about the next generation of bands.

Just got back from my preop appointment. I also found out that my dr is one of 20 in the country currently using the AP band. I am also going to be part of a 5 year study of the new band. I think that will definitely help keep me motivated as I wouldnt want to have to report back that i am not able to lose (through fault of my own). Good luck to those getting banded today.

Hi folks - Just want to introduce myself as I will become banded in the month of June. I have my preop appointment today but the surgery is not scheduled until June 27th. I would like to hear progress on anyone who is being banded in the month of June. so please keep writing back.

By the way guys - Despite that my dr saying golf isnt really exercise. Walking 18 holes saturday in 85 degree weather w/ 95% humidity, that was a workout. Hope you all are getting out and exercising!!!!

BigJake - EAS Carb Control is 110 calories and is high in protien 17gr. I think it tastes great (chocolate). I have tried numerous protien drinks that are just plain nasty. It is available at almost any megamart, costco, or bj's. You can also try UNJURY. Tastes good but only available online so not super convenient. Also you have to mix it and not all the flavors are good. Chris in NJ - 600 calories - man you are staving yourself. Be really carefull. 800 calories is the absolute min a nutritionist will tell you to eat. You should also be striving for 60gr of protien a day as well. Despite increasing your caloric intake - you are probably causing your body to think it is starving and subsequently it isnt burning off the calories like it should. My nutritionist requires that i eat between 1100-1200 cals a day with 60 gr of protien for just that reason. On less than 800 calories you will begin to lose hair, muscle tissue before fat and your skin will start to look like leather. be careful

so i do happen to have a hiatal hernia - not a substantial one, though it will have to be repaired in surgery. They physically are not cutting you or altering anatomy in anyway when repariring the hernia. They will only be repositioning it and putting some stitches in. You won't know the difference.</p>

Cool guys lets - get it started