malouse

Hey I prefer the 'hire a hit man' option. Dang, it's too bad that your boss is making an already difficult time even harder for you. Isn't there anyone else who can go? I know if it was me I'd have a hard time turning the boss down though (not that you usually have an option, of course). I had a job where I traveled a lot and found it easier if I was mostly on my own than having to constantly go to lunch and dinner with whoever I was working with (too much pressure to indulge). I'd do what the others have said, take a variety of shakes with you and try not to indulge yourself, don't beat yourself up too much and if someone haggles you about how you're eating (or not), tell them you're infectious and they'll scatter for the hills.

I haven't been banded yet but I've been researching the subject a lot and didn't know what this was until two weeks ago. I've read about it here as well as other sites. Officially it's called productive burping (PB as you'll see it here and others). It's caused by the build up of mucus/saliva when you eat something that doesn't agree with your banding; usually something that's too big and can't fit through the opening. The body creates this slippery Fluid (which saliva is) which coats the food and the only way to get rid of the blockage is back up the way it came. When you burp it up (regurgitate) the food comes up with a thick slimy mucus. Learning to chew many, many times (so the food is almost mush by the time it's swallowed) is key but then you still need to learn what works for your body. Some people can eat foods that others can't and they don't get PB. It's trial and error. I'm sure the first time it happens it's very scary. Deborah

I too have a CPAP (since Aug 2006). The doctor who did my sleep test said that almost half of his patients are normal weight! So much for the theory that only fat people have sleep apnea. I'm 48 but don't know how long I've been snoring badly enough to be oxygen deprived. My lowest adult weight was 175 but that only last a few months. For the most part, I've never been below 200 since age 18 but the last two years I've gained 25 lbs and I'm thinking I need to do research, go to some seminars and talk to doctors about some sort of WLS. I have BMI of 42 and am 5'4". I'd like to get rid of the machine too and lose weight and see what it's like to have a normal, not food-obsessed life.

I can understand completely. My husband too is against the surgery for fear of me dying and/or future medical problems associated with altering my digestive system. I am 48 and have BMI of 42 and fat since age 12 but no health problems, no aches/pains either and minimally active. You know your body and your ability to control your eating and lose weight better than anyone. My husband still thinks I could lose weight on my own but then he's not a food addict like myself. I've dieted probably 50 times in my life, usually losing weight but never completely. I tell him I need a tool that forces me to restrict my eating instead of relying on my own will power. If you really think you've exhausted all other options and gave all past weight loss efforts your best try, then this probably is the only option. Please be realistic though that it's not a quick fix and you will have to learn new habits just like any 'diet'. At least with a band it is reversible so if you find it too hard to deal with, you can remove it (I'm sure different insurance companies have different rules for approving a removal for non-medical reasons). It is a risk, as is any surgery but there is a risk with obesity too as well as the limitations of being an obese mother and how that affects your children (especially daughters). It is a difficult decision, I completely sympathsize and agree that it's not a decision to take lightly. Deborah

I think the 50% weight loss is 'typical' and certainly if you stick to the food limits very well and add exercise you'll lose more. As with most things, the more effort you put into it, the more likely your results will be better than most. No matter what diet I've been on, I find I struggle more with the mental addiction than food addiction. I am concerned that when/if I get banded, that though my stomach won't accept more food that my mind will still be screaming at me to eat, eat, eat. I have read in several medical publications that the surgery plays tricks on the mind/nervous system such that those who think a lot about food tend to lose those thoughts. Hey if they could somehow do that mental re-wiring w/o surgery, that'd be perfect! Deborah

Only 4 days since surgery? Wow, you either must be feeling fantastic or you aren't able to take more time off of work. What post-op instructions have you been given and for how long do you have to follow them? Deborah

I agree, though I'm not yet scheduled for surgery, I've already thought about this. I'm a private person and it's no one's business is my opinion. Since my weight comes off slow and it takes me 20 lbs to even notice anything myself, I'll just wait until someone says something. I certainly have no plans to tell them I did surgery. I'll my usual answer of just eating better and avoiding fast food. Fortunately I tend to eat lunch at my desk so I don't have to worry about eating a few bites of food and being full in front of people. That would definitely make them suspicious. I hate it when they know I'm dieting and they watch every bite I eat like they're the food police. Deborah

My first posting after lurking... I've been thinking about this surgery for a while but just now starting to seriously do the research. I lurk on other related Yahoo groups and hear so many stories of bad post-surgery health, taking tons of pills to make up for the loss of nutrition of not being able to eat normal quantities of food, weight gain, and scary surgery complications. This is why I'm thinking more of LapB than the bypass surgeries. I haven't gone to any support groups yet but one is coming up that I'll go to. I live in the San Jose, CA area so am just starting to research doctors. The support group I found is for patients of LapBandSF (San Francisco). One issue I wrestle with is the thought that doing potentially life threatening surgery to lose weight is the coward's way out and that I should be able to discipline myself and ignore my food lust and lose the weight. I just turned 48 and first went to Weight Watchers at age 12 and have never been 'normal' weight since then (I always quit too soon). I get frustrated that I am unable (or is it unwilling?) to do what it takes to get the weight off and quit whining about giving up food and having to change my life (exercise more, lay off junk food, etc.). I should just toughen up and DO IT and not do surgery. Fortunately I'm fairly healthy considering being 100+ lbs overweight, no aches/pains just mental anguish and frustration. I know this surgery is a tool and not a quick fix (I wish it was, of course) but it's hard to admit I'm a failure at controlling my desire for food and that I need this drastic solution where I should instead pay the same $$$ to a sadistic personal trainer and a cook to come to my house and make to do 'the right thing.' Does this ring true for anyone else or am I too hard on myself? I've never been one of those obese people who have accepted their body and don't let it limit their lives. I wish I was but I obsess about it and fantasize about the day I can be normal weight (hey, even slightly fat would be wonderful) and do all those things I want to do. My life is on hold and I'm too stubborn to accept this is my life as a fatso and just "get over it." I think if I could experience what it's like to be thin for 1 week that I can use that as motivation of what life could be like. I've always been fat (passed 200 lbs at age 18 and never looked back), haven't worn a dress since age 14, no short sleeve shirts, no bathing suit, etc. I haven't discussed this with my husband, he's the opposite - skinny and not food obsessed. I casually mentioned surgery years ago and it freaks him out and doesn't want me to do it (scared that I'll die). I need to tell him I'll probably die of obesity related issues anyway since I have failed to get control. He says I just need to eat better but he's not obsessed like I am, it's an addiction just like alcohol or drugs (legal or otherwise) and it never really goes away. Ten years ago I did a medically supervised fasting program (500 cals per day) and I lost 3-4 lbs per week for 36 weeks. I ended up quitting early because I was traveling too much for work and couldn't attend the required weekly meetings. It worked great for me, was easy to follow, I wasn't hungry, and no medical problems came up. I was very committed to the program after hitting my max weight of 275lbs; it freaked me out and now I'm 30lbs away from that high point. :omg: I wasn't married at the time so having no food in the house was not a problem, it made it easy. I now have regained 80% of that weight so that's why I'm thinking of surgery. Deborah