relaxme

Hi I'm new here and just trying to figure out if a lap band is something I should be seeking. I've found a lot of good info here but there is one thing I am not sure about that maybe someone can help me figure out. As I am understanding it, once the band is in place the person basically ends up eating low calorie. This is just reading here and maybe I am misunderstanding. Anyway, over the years of dieting, starving, low carbing, you name it I have completely messed up my metabolism. Add in developing hypoglycemia, menopause (HRT), and now an underactive thyroid, the one thing that seems true for me now is when I don't eat, I gain weight. With low carbing the theory is you have to eat quite a bit so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and that seems to make sense to me. My biggest issue with it is I can never eat enough to get it going for very long. Really, I can go all day without eating and often eat less than other people and still gain. Since the hormonal stuff started I've gained 100 lbs and with what I already had going, am now morbidly obese and can't get it to stop. The long and short of it is it doesn't seem to matter what tactic I take, I gain weight or can't stick with it because it's too much food (like low carbing). As a last ditch attempt to get some control I've actually gone almost 100% Protein type drinks to see how that will go but after 3 weeks, still gaining. So I am wondering if anyone else felt this way and if the band helped. I'm trying to figure out if it's the smaller pouch releasing smaller amounts of food more slowly or something that could be the trick. What I can't resolve is what happens when a body used to going into starvation mode with less food does when eating so little does with the band that makes it different. So are my theories off? What do I need to know to sort this out because if what I have been reading is right, it seems to work for a nearly everyone who has it done and I need to find something because normal diets/ways of eating don't seem to be working at all for me and I am stumped.

Thanks for the info. My doctor is frustrating me and I have an appt with a new one in Nov. Both are MD's of the holistic bent which I tend to like but I also need to find one who knows something about the lap band and whether it would be an option. The dr I have been seeing only likes Atkins, no other low carb, no other way of eating will be considered as far as I can tell and it's been about 4 years he's been trying to figure me out and he's a specialist in nutrition. Trying to explain how strange my metabolism is and all that we've tried would just be confusing. Part of it is genetic (some of my family are really thrown by stress which sets us off on gaining no matter what) part is (I believe) the result of too many years of diets etc. My suspicion is my entire endocrine system is out of whack and that all that is going to help is some sort of jump start like losing 100lbs by whatever means necessary and so far any conventional methods aren't working.

Hi. I just found the forum tonight and have been doing some reading but wondered if maybe you can help me find the info I need (if it's already here somewhere) or can fill me in. I won't bore you with the endless details of the weight problem as I am sure many of you have been through it. Leave it to say I've totally and completely had it. I am at a loss and wondering if surgery is the only option left for me so I am trying to figure it out. What I am not sure of is how to even begin that process. I'm in Calgary and noticed some other posters from here. I've also noticed different methods of payment (through health care and paying personally) so I am not sure what is what there. My doctor is myopic and won't hear of anything but Atkins which is fine if it works for you, but it doesn't for me so he's no help on info. I am looking for a new doctor so am open to suggestions there if anyone knows someone who is up on the surgical or any other options to weight loss. For the most part, I wonder if there is info re: the process here I can read. How do you start determining if this is the answer? What is involved in being accepted? What types of surgery do they offer here (I've heard of lapbands but until tonight didn't think you could get them here. Also heard of staples and other more involved procedures)? How long does it take from the time you decide to go this route until it's done? Are there any restrictions (age, size, whatever)? Why do I see some people travel to other places to have their surgery? So if anyone can fill me in or point me to some threads I would sure appreciate it.

Thanks for the info and giving me a starting point. I'll be in touch.

There are a few sugar free syrups in Canada. If you don't have a specialty shop like Diabetic Depot around (low carbers love the syrups so anywhere that has low carb foods probably has them...as do their websites), try the coffee shops. Starbucks and other independents often sell the bottles or can get them from their suppliers if you ask them to. I have also been able to buy single bottles from coffee supply houses (wholesalers to coffee shops). You can find them in the yellow pages, give them a call and see if they have them and sell to the public (or they can tell you who in your area they supply where you can buy them). Torani, DeVinci, and ... oh argh I can't remember their name (they are actually from BC) have great websites that have recipes and lists of suppliers. The other strange place you can get them is at home shows. Those booths that have those mini hand mixers they make coffees with often sell the bottles of syrups.