aubrie

I have what I think is called a VG band? It's 10cc and my doc says it's a low pressure band. He switched to these as he said they have less chance of leaking because the pressure is reduced. I don't know about other bands. But from my sketchy memory of science, It seems to me that a difference in pressure like what happens when you fly and your ears pop, may very well affect the pressure in your band. Your ears pop and sometimes hurt because of unequal pressure in the inner ear. When it pops, the pressure is equalized. that's why so many people chew gum on an airplane. It aids in the equalization of pressure. I have to assume that the pressure inside our body would be different from the outside in an airplane. It makes sense to me.

There are high pressure bands and low pressure band. I would suspect that high pressure band would be affected. I flew to DC and Nevada myself and I couldn't eat hardly anything in flight or for about 8 hours after landing. It didn't last though. It kind of wore off. when I first heard this, I was skeptical, but after experiencing it firsthand, I beleive there is some truth to it for some people (depending on what type of band you have).

This really ticks me off. I had this exact thing happen to me. I was religiously sticking to my plan. My husband took me to a meditterranean restaurant for dinner and I blew it all to hell. I stuffed myself. I was so upset. I get on the scale next morning and I'm down 2 1/2 pounds!!! I was like WTF? Then it happened again a few weeks later. I couldn't beleive it. I email my support group counselor and he gives me a really hard time about it, asking what the hell was i thinking, and basically says it was just a coincidence and that I need to come see him for counseling.....?????? I didni't go but it pissed me off. Now you all are sayiing that there is some truth to this. I wasn't imaginining it. I guess I need to really analyze my caloric intake and how much fat I'm eating. this is really wierd.

My doc said to use the 3-1-1 formula. 3 bites protein, 1 bite veggie, 1 bite carb until you're full, or eat your 4 oz. or protein, then veggie, then carb. 1/2 cup protein, 1/4 cup veggie, 1/4 cup carb. A carb can be brown rice, sweet potato, corn, etc. OR since fruit is high in carbs, you can eat the fruit with your meal instead. This seems to work for me except on the mornings when I eat yogurt or oatmeal or cream of wheat. It doesn't quite come out that way. I buy Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal and add half a scoop of unflavored protein powder. If I do that I usually have like 3 strawberries or 3 - 4 peeled sections of grapefruit or a narrow slice of melon. If I don't eat fruit, I don't have a BM. Period. I personally couldn't go without eating it.

I've eaten it several times. Some places have stickier rice than others. while I like the really sticky rice, my band is not fond of it. So now I'm a bit more choosy about where I go to eat it.

I rmember a day when going back for seconds was common place. I didn't even think about it. I had to laugh at myself. this past weekend I had just finished my salad plate of food, and my husband had eaten a full plate and when back for seconds. He came and sat down and started eating , and I thought, "EEEeeeewwww. That is so gross. How can he eat all that crap?" Then it dawned on me, that it was just 5 months ago that I ate the very same way. Times they are a changin!!!

Maybe you get on top initially? His weight on your port area may be a little sore. Believe me, he won't argue. I waited about 10 days or so. the improvements in the bedroom as you lose weight are immeasurable. Trust me. You have something to look forward to.... LOL

When romance is new, you have stars in your eyes, everything is wonderful, and you can't imagine being disillusioned by your love. You could live off of love and tater pie. Nothing else matters. But reality and life settle in, and you begin to take things for granted. that intense love is still there, but instead of being on the front burner 24/7, it waffles back and forthe as other things take your attention. A career? Children? Sick parents? That's as it should be. But remember, that love is still there. Then by some miracle, something happens that makes you feel that way all over again. It may not last long, but it's recharged. This could be an emergency situation, a long overdue conversation and purging of feelings, a sexy vacation together. Whatever, but the point is, it happens. Maybe it's that way with the band to. Recharge it!! Do something totally different, unexpected, not really like you.... Take ballroom dancing, sign up for a cooking class and learn how to make gourmet bandster meals, be a coach for one of your kids' sports and work out with them, learn something new (besides graduate school stuff) like pottery, photography, oil painting, Eskimo art, organic gardening.... I don't know you at all, but spice it up and dedicate it to your special friendship with your band. Do it with a band theme like "transformation, metamorphisis, etc." It's all dedicated to that purpose. Am I even making any sense at all? Shit, I hope I remember this when I'm a year or two out.... LOL We're all here for you. That to me is a beauty in and of itself. I dont know what I would do without all of you. Here's to a re-empowerment of you and your band. You GO girl!!

My mind clicked on the exercise. Done. Good job. I'm committed and I'm doing it regulary, faithfully every week. I feel better when I go.But...... My mind just hasn't gotten there yet on the diet thing. I have to say I'm good 90% of the time. But I still have a glass of wine a couple times a week when I come home stressed out. I have a weakness for chips WAY more often that I care to admit, and I haven't been diligent switching out my white rice for brown, my white potato for red and sticking to whole grain choices. My water is good. My protein is good. I only eat FRESH veggies, and eat a wonderful variety. So I have strong areas of committment and strength/resolve and weak areas. I don't weigh or measure my food. I just use a small plate. so am I a bad bandster? Probably. But I have faith that as time passes it will get easier and become more like second nature. Did you learn to read and write overnight? I didn't, so I think there is a learning curve involved for some of us. When I look back at where I came from, I've made terrific progress, and I have to focus on that. If I don't, I'll give up, and I'm not ready to do that. I don't know everything about the band yet. YOu all out there help me to see things, understand, educate, support, direct, understand and yes even love. I'm not on this journey alone, and I thank God for the technology to be able to touch base with you when I need it. With your help I'll get there. I have no doubt.

Becca, Your story of the seminar attendees lining up to touch your port is classic. I've had a bunch of people want to feel it. It doesn't bother me so I let them. I'm a bit of a rarity at our local support group. almost all of the people there are bypass, so when someone comes in wanting a band, you bet I step up and tell them all about it, including letting them feel it. My rhuemetologist hadn't had a lap band patient yet, so she wanted to see my scars and feel my port. So did my PCP. My massuese was curious about it when he saw my scars, a couple of friends who know about my band have touched it. Even my mom touched it. But my husband and sons? NO WAY!!!!

I don't know why this puzzles me so much. No one in my family will touch my port. I've asked my husband to feel mine because I thought there might be some fluid around it. It felt different to me. He shuddered and flat refused. So did both my sons. It gave all of them the total willies. My son calls it my "Alien thing". Like I'm now something from outer space. These are full grown adult men who have no problem gutting a hunting animal or cleaning a fish, picking up a mouse trap, squashing a spider etc. what is up with that?

Denise, I'm just like you. I have long plateaus and then WHAM 4 pounds down all at once. Then another plateau. I just want to scream. I usually go three weeks with NOTHING. I exercise, watch what I eat, tend to manage portions, drink my water, don't snack. My weakness is chips while I'm preparing dinner at night. That's my only vise. Actually my doctor says I'm an average to a fast loser, but I don't feel like it. I hate those dreaded plateaus.

I had terrible constipation problems the first two weeks after surgery, and then got caught in a two week cycle of bad to normal. The BMs were very small and I was always straining. The doc said 4 oz. of prune juice at bed time, and once I was on regular food, he put me on 3 - 4 PEELED grapefruit sections a day. this has worked best for me. I can't take metamucil or any of that crap, I double over with gas pain. Stool softeners are also an option. I don't recommend ex-lax or anything. If you get stuck in an emergency situation, Milk of Magnesia is another thing the doc suggested.

We waited a couple weeks. I just avoided his weight on top of me for a while. I have to say though, after a loss of 50 pounds, this whole thing gets WAY better!!! *wink*

I'm putting all my nicer clothes off to the side as I shrink, just for this purpose, but I'm in Corpus Christi. I would LOVE to swap clothes. I started out in a size 24 and am now in a 16 so I have an assortment of clothes.

My doctor reported the BMI and wieght to my insurance when I FIRST went to see him. It took 11 months to get approval, and I did lose a little int that time, but what he initially reported is what they considered.

Lost 50 pounds in 5 months. 3rd fill coming on Friday.

I was told no salad for 6 weeks, but I was afraid so I waited a little over two months and had no problem. I was terrified of eating bread as well. I've eaten three times now. Twice with no problem and a third time with "regrets". It just depends.

Be thankful that your surgeon is prudent instead of aggressive. From everything I've read, the victims of an aggressive doctor are MISERABLE. You don't have to be miserable and vomit all the time to lose weight. Be patient. The fills that come slowly have less problems associated with them, and it's better for you in the long run. Remember, you have to help that band along. You can't excpect it to do it all for you.

I got three shots of heparin. One pre-op, one post-op that evening and then the third before I left the hospital the next morning. It didnt hurt at all but I had three lovely green bruises on my belly for a week or so. I also had those air puffed things on my legs. They felt great!! I asked to leave them on. Even improved the circulation in my arthritic knees and made them feel better!

I read an article recently that a whopping 25% of our corn production is going to the production of biofuel. This fuel is only releiving 1% of our demand for petroleum. Is it REALLY worth that? Many third world nations depend on corn as a staple food, and now the poor in these countries are starving. Some have seen rioting in competition for the corn. Also....What do livestock eat? Corn... So expect that nice rib eye, pork roast and lamb chop to double soon as well. I'm already paying $8.50 a pound for steak and $3.29 a pound for lean hamburger. think of all the foods that utilize corn products. As bandsters we are well aware of all the foods that contain corn syrup! Not to mention Corn flakes and MANY breakfast cereals, tortillas, corn meal, corn oil, cornbread.... We're making really bad world decisions......We have wind and solar power readily available, and the technology for water power and electric vehicles, why mess with a food source?

I like what phyl808 and Devotion had to say. It's not what you're doing TO your body it's what you're doing FOR your body. If you're tryiing to save your own life, prolong it or improve its quality, don't waste any more time!! How can anyone make a judgement like that if they haven't walked in your shoes. My family gave me a hard time. So I told them I changed my mind and wasn't going to do it just so they would leave me alone. I showed up for Christmas banded, with a 21 pound weight loss, in perfect health and HAPPY. they all changed their minds and now support me. They were just afraid, and I spared them the fret and worry.

A snowman???? Bubble boobs, bubble belly and bubble butt!!!!

4 days after surgery I was encouraged to walk regularly. I could start regular exercise at 4 weeks and water aerobics at 6 weeks.

I love all kinds of nuts, but am especially fond of almonds. Remember, peanut butter is good in a shake!!