Terry Poperszky

I didn't think it was a matter of opinion. I thought there were studies showing the body can only absorb so much in a certain amount if time. (Oh how I wish I kept a log of things I had looked up) "Regarding how much Protein can be digested and absorbed in the intestine at one time, there really is no maximum amount. However, the body will only use what it needs – 0.75 grams per pound of weight for a body builder." http://answers.webmd.com/answers/2018665/how-many-grams-of-protein-can-the-body-digest-and-use-at-a-time

There is a lot of variance on the accuracy of this. Especially on the body building site. They get as worked up over whether this is a true statement as we do over the best type of WLS.

One thing about the band that I haven't seen mentioned. For many of us, it is tighter in the morning. Eating solid food when I first get up is an impossibility.

Great thread, and not just from the content, but also the tone. Been banded almost 11 months now, lost about 60% percent of my excess weight, but that doesn't really tell the picture. I am 6 feet and down from a 46" waist to a 36" now, and I feel great. I did a large amount of research before choosing WLS, and I found that the band had the lowest weight loss result, but also the lowest surgery complication rate. I examined not only the national stats, but also the complication stats of my particular surgeon. Because I was adamantly opposed to WLS for the majority of my life, the band was a giant step for me and I simply couldn't see doing anything more radical. With that said, if the band ever fails me, I would seriously consider revising to the sleeve. As far as the band failure rate be mostly from non-compliance? I can believe that, I have seen people show up on this site that have almost no after care from their surgeon, who routinely ignore their doctors orders from the week of surgery on. Let me be clear though, the band DOES fail, but then again, all the WLS have their risks. At this point in my life and health, the band was the correct decision for me, your mileage may vary (YMMV).

If you have a Costco near you, I have been using their Premier Protein Chocolate shakes for almost a year now and have not grown tired of them. Which protein shake you like will be very individual though, I tasted their vanilla and could barely swallow it.

Just googled it, and darned if you aren't right, RNY patients have a higher incident of alcohol abuse than banders. http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20121015/addiction-risk-weight-loss-surgery

Well, since the psychologist was speaking to a group of banders, and was banded herself I have to believe that it wasn't specific to a particular WLS. Besides, she listed several addictive behaviors, including sex addiction, which unless you are doing it wrong, won't be affected by a particular WLS

Interesting, while my surgeon made no mention of alcohol, the psychologist that conducts the monthly group meetings once told us that people who have had WLS are at higher risk of addiction, she specifically mentioned sex and alcohol. It makes sense if you think about it, most of us are addicted to food, WLS interrupts that addiction, but it doesn't deal with the root issues that caused the addictive behavior in the first place. So, many of us simply replace one addiction with another. Or as I have heard many times on this board, the band works on the stomach, not the brain.

I think this may be a correlation/causation type of problem. Do people lose weight better, because they drink wine with their dinner (Causation), or does some other factor in their life (i.e. attitude) that allows them to lose weight easier, also make it more likely that they will drink wine with their meals (Correlation). Personally, I can't stand the taste of wine, and I don't like the carbonation of beer, but I do keep a bottle of vodka in the freezer and I am really fond of scratch margaritas. But you need to be careful, alcohol is extremely high in calories

It wasn't any thing for me, but more the process of grabbing a bite here and there as I cooked the meal. I am coming to understand that the band regulates the process of eating, not just the quantity. To many times I get stuck because I am in a hurry.

JMHO, but you need to stop thinking diets, you need to start thinking lifestyle. If you are like most of us, you have lost the weight a hundred times, only to gain it back again. Medifast is not going to teach you how to listen to your band, because it is liquid will will not give you the satiety signals that solid food eventually will. Even if you loose weight with Medifast, you won't be any farther along in your changed lifestyle. I know it is hard to hear this, but slow and steady is what will win this race. Learn to use the band, learn to be the band.

So the question is, "Is it Ok to ignore my Dr's orders"? The answer: Only if you know more about the band than the person who installed it. Think it through. The Dr. didn't give you those instructions because he is a killjoy who wants to punish you. He gave you those instructions because they will give you the optimal outcome for your surgery, and reduce the risk of you ending up on his table again to have a slip (or worse) fixed.

Like B-52 said, varies from person to person, and in my case day to day. Some days if I go slow enough I can get through a piece or two, other days it is a guaranteed clog. To the point now where it simply isn't worth the trouble.

Same here. I have to roll up the sleeves on my bathrobe now.

If your seat is hitting on your sit bones, then you are doing it right. Too many times people think the more cushioning is the answer and in reality is what is causing the problem. I started on hybrid, had a gel seat and wore biking shorts, no matter how much I would ride my butt would be in agony after 10 miles. I eventually graduated to a true road bike, with a rock hard seat, and after a month of riding that I could easily put 20 - 30 miles on with no discomfort. I just recently picked my my first mountain bike and it has the same type of seat, very little padding. I did a 9 mile circuit yesterday with a 1,000 foot climb and while my sit bones were a little tender from being pounded as I was going over rocks, it was the least of my aches.

Better yet, fix you and the hubbie some fish for dinner

Not really, but after 1000 ft of climbing on my bike, it sure felt like it. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/408835795

My pet peeve is the exercise forum is not part of the "general" WLS forum and not the LB forum, view new content only show me LB posts which I like, but doesn't show me new exercise posts. I see the value in having a common exercise forum, but I have been posting my exercise threads under differing topics in the LB forum since I am mainly interested in sharing with the friends that I have made in LBT. So to try and put it more clearly, if "new content" showed me LB forums, as well as general, but not forums specific to other surgeries that would be my druthers. Also while you are at it Alex, can you please settle the conflict in the Middle East? I was going to ask for "World Peace", but felt that was just silly.

Way to go CF, sometimes I feel that I should have lost more than I have after 10 months, but for me it isn't the scale that is telling, it is my quality of life. (I am jealous of the running though ) But your story puts my mind back on track...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/408513215 There is a certain sense of exhilaration as you are riding through a series of large boulders when you feel your rear wheel lifting up over your head and you see a rock coming towards your face

It's not you CG, the link keeps changing after I put it in. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/408513215 Ok, it appears to be staying this time. I stopped using the link button and just pasted the URL in. Weird.

Nope, I did. I fixed the link.

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/11/juice_cleanses_not_healthy_not_virtuous_just_expensive.html

Tell them it is the fist step in your gender re-assignment surgery. Why lie? But if you are, make it WHOPPER!

FISH SMOOTHIE!!!! Can't wait to try it!