LappingItUp

My husband lives on PB&J....so do our kids. We take them to every sporting event because usually we have to go from one field to another and as we are driving I am making the sandwiches!!!

One time my husband was on a business trip and he was flagged at the airport so they had to search all of his belongings and in the carry on was his gladware with 2 pb&j's for when he got to the hotel room. He said I looked pretty pathetic with my business suit and my sandwiches. the screener got a big laugh...at least they didn't confiscate them!!!

The smuckers 1/2 the sugar jelly tastes good and the natural Peanut Butter without all the sugar works well also.

Maureen

Thanks for your humorous story. I take PBJ's on airplanes too. They are the perfect snack when you have one of those unforeseen delays on the runway.

I've been craving a PB&J sammich ever since reading this thread a few days ago ... not wanting to spoil my weight loss by adding bread to my meal, I've found myself snacking on just the PB alone. A spoonful of PB makes a great snack, unfortunately it's close to 200 calories

(Skippy Creamy PB, 2T = 190 Cals, 7 Carbs, 7 Protein)

... Still I can't help myself

Sorry I created such a craving for you. I just don't know if I could live without my daily PBJ. I'm 44 years old and I still eat one every day.

I can usually eat a half of a sandwich, no crust because its too dry!

The thinner light bread is okay and a thin layer of Peanut Butter. Not the 2 pound sandwich I used to eat!!!

I actually like a thin layer anyway, so that won't be a problem. Thanks for the encouraging words!

I love Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches. I'd like to know if you are still able to eat like a half of a PBJ after you have your band on. I've read so man posts from banders who don't seem to be able to tolerate bread. I would think if you chewed it enough, it should go down. Any thoughts from you experienced banders?

Thanks!:hungry:

Has anyone ever had a complication in a surgery center that required a 911 call or a trip to a hospital?

That doesn't sound right to me. All the research I've done indicates that a lap-band is called for when BMI is between 40 and 50 (or above 35 with co-morbidities). I think you should go to the consult and stick with the lap-band. Gastric bypass has 10x the morbidity and is irreversible. A friend pointed out to me the advantage of having a reversible procedure, namely, that if medical science advances in your lifetime and alternatives are developed, you have the option of removing the lap-band. No such option exists with the Gastric bypass.

Thanks for your responses. Those were the points that the surgeon was making, but my primary care physician (who also happens to be my best friend) is someone who I really trust and who I think is looking out for my best interests. So I'm kind of torn, but leaning toward the hospital setting.

I went to see a lap-band surgeon (Dr. Davtyan) who was pushing for me to have my surgery in his "state of the art" surgical center where he has the latest and greatest tools and a "$70,000 surgical table." My primary care physician believes that having surgery outside of a hospital setting is asking for trouble in the unlikely event that something goes wrong. Any advice?

You ask whether you really want to go through with it, and that is a question we have all asked ourselves. I guess the answer to that question depends on what the alternatives are. Most of us with high BMIs have never been able lose weight using "conventional" methods like diet, exercise, or even "pills." With a BMI of 40.3 my guess is that you would say the same about yourself. So, what is the alternative to getting the band? We know diet and exercise won't work. So, if you don't get the band I think it is fair to say that the alternative is steadily increasing BMI and ever expanding serious heath problems. I think it is fair to say that if you don't do something drastic, the medical problems you already have have will "increase and multiply" as the saying goes. If you keep gaining weight you'll decrease your quality of life substantially and it will probably cause you to die much younger than you otherwise might.

I also asked myself if I really wanted to put myself through the band. When I looked at the alternatives I eventually decided that it was the right thing to do. I've been losing more slowly than I would have liked, but I'm losing steadily again now. My BMI has dropped from 44.5 to 39. And if I had not gotten the band I would probably have continued gaining, so you have to count that too. So, I'm glad I did this. Is it a magic answer? No. It's not easy and it takes work. But what is the alternative?

Hi Mark:

That is what I've been thinking, but the idea of giving up my mistress (food) is very scary. Of course, so is dying (I don't even believe in Spinoza's God). Thanks for providing a bit of clarity.

Daren

I was just advised by my sleep doctor to consider getting the lap band. I have my first appointment next week with the bariatric surgeon (Dr. Davtyan in Glendale, CA). I've been reading posts on this site since the referral last week and the posts have me wondering whether I really want to go through with this surgery. Any thoughts or comments? I currently have a BMI of 40.3 and have been diagnosed with hypertension, sleep apnea, and fatty liver. :help: