Ohm

Hi Poconomum, I have to ask, do you exercise regularly and strenuously?

I have a query for anyone who might be motivated to answer. I have read a lot about lap bands and their effectiveness, both before and after I was banded (I was banded in December 2007) and there seems to be a bit of a discrepancy between experience and report. Before I was banded, and since, I have read a lot of articles and information which stated that banded individuals usually only lose around 60% of their excess weight although there are a couple of sites which seem to say that lapbanders tend to lose “around 100 lbs” – which seems daft as some bandsters may have more than twice that amount to lose and some may not have so much to lose. My own surgeon gave me literature which implied that, if I followed his dietary instructions to the letter (which I have) and undertook regular vigorous exercise (which I do) I could expect weight loss of around 60-80% of my excess weight – and he was very pleased with me when I reached a BMI of 25 which meant, I presume, that I had lost 100% of my excess weight (my BMI is now 24.1). So what I am wondering is what expectations were for others and have you managed to reach or exceed those expectations? Perhaps I have gained a wrong impression, or maybe I only read messages from successful bandsters, but it would appear that most of the people with bands seem to have managed to reach a BMI of 25 (and hence have lost 100% - all – of their excess). Or am I the exception? BTW, my PS, who did my inverted T Abdominoplasty a month ago is now using me as an example of possible success in a bid to get all of my necessary plastic work done instead of just the 2 procedures to which my PCT usually limits weight loss surgery patient – hope she gets the go ahead.

GhostDog, if you are insane then so are a large percentage of the adult population of the developed world. Nearly everybody, statistically speaking, struggles with their weight these days. In fact, it is fast reaching the point where it is abnormal to have a normal weight. You are not abnormal. You are not insane. Well, hang on a minute, maybe I should rephrase that along the lines of "you may well be insaane, but your struggle with your weight does not have any bearing on your sanity status". Come on, cut yourself some slack. You lost 40 lbs in a year and you kept it off. I know a number of people who would have to have a limb amputated in order to lose that much weight and maintain the loss. We think of weight in stones here in the UK. There are 14 pounds in a stone. And you lost nearly three of them. Your rockery is much reduced! OK, so it isn't coming off fast enough for you, but about the only way to drop 40 lbs overnight is to have an amputation or a baby!!! Obviously, you are doing something right or you could not have lost 40lb. Maybe you need to do a bit more ofthe same. I know that an awful lot of us are able to embrace the food philosophy wholeheartedly but balk at the exercise bit! I don't know you - I did take a quick look back at some of your posts, but I didn't have time to read everything so all I really know is your age, whenyou were banded and howmuch you used to weigh (way back when). Maybe you need to take up a bit more exercise. Statistically speaking, from NHANES data, the people who lose 30lb or more and keep it off for 10 yrs or more are the ones who build exercise into their lives on a permanent basis. On average, it seems to be an hour every day of vigorous exercise with walking and jogging being the most popular pursuits. Then there is the settling point theory, which describes a weight point at which your body becomes comfortable and will do whatever is necessary to defend that point. It is possible to lower that weight point (many, many of us have done it) but it isn't easy. Having said that, it isn't rocket science either. Tough love my dear. Take a look at what you did when you first managed to acheive a significant loss. Are you doing all that now? Honestly? Remember, even if you are doing the same exercise, you will need to either up the intensity or the duration to keep on burning the same number of calories because a body which is 40 lbs lighter (yay) doesn't burn up as many calories as a body which is 40lbs heavier when they are doing the same job of work. And maybe you should drop in and see your physician - check that Fluid retention isn't masking a weight loss. Ensure that your bowels are working at optimum - you would be surprised how much extra weight a few days constipation can result in. Once you know that your body is functional then the only other factors you can influence are your diet and exercise regime. Even witha gastric bypass, which is harder to cheat onthan a band, your loss is related to what you put in your mouth and in what quantities and tempered by the amount of effort you put into maintaining an exercise regime of suitable and effective level. Good luck. YOU CAN DO IT.

Well, hello there, And apologies for my absence (I do have an excuse note). Life has been ongoing and has rather overtaken my need to post. Anyway, I have to admit that a lot has been taking place but the reason I am back online posting on this thread is that I have to let you know that, here I am, six weeks post op and there are still consequences to overdoing it. I have the green light to going running next Friday – seven days from today I shall be out there endangering the safe paving policy of our local council. Owever, I decided that, as all my scabs had healed and dropped of (it’s rarely a good thing when things drop off) err, as things were healed up I decided I wouldjump the gun and ttake my teeny tiny terrorists swimming! Bad call guys! Not a good idea. This was a thoroughly unproductive activity and I had to leave my poor husband with the boys while I went and showered and changed a quarter of an hour before everyone else. I was in PAIN! Dear LORD! I was in pain. I only did a couple of lengths – just to warm myself up, but boy oh boy did I suffer. Guys (and gals) I hit the wall. Next week I have the all clear – I should have waited for it. I thought that standing around in cold water was no big deal – well, I should have though harder. DON’T DO IT GUYS. FOLLOW YOUR SURGEONS INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER. Having said that, after I was showered and changed and was waiting for the rest of us to get out of the pool I checked out the flyer rack and I found a flyer for a race in exactly 4 weeks. 10k – no biggy – so am no brow beating my poor hubby (that’s what we call husbands in the UK – affectionate term). Am certain I can make it 3 weeks "post surgeon OK" but can my poor husband? It would be good for him to try and I am sure he can do it with a little extra love from me. But can I, 3 weeks post surgical running OK?

:smile2:There you go, Bigpops, good old BetsyB agrees with me - and that particular lady knows her onions (and her lap bands).

Can I just make the point, before I comment, that I am NOT a medical doctor, and anything I say should be checked out with your physician. Having said that, I was given literature prior to banding which specified that the reason for the liver shrinking diet immediately prior to surgery was to ensure that the band could be fitted laporoscopically (via keyhole surgery) and the warning ws very clear - if you don't stick to this diet and your liver stays large you might not be able to have laporoscopic surgery cos the liver might get in the way. Bigger skin cuts and more/larger muscle cuts= more chance of infection and possibly slower rehab. Having said that, the liver is a major storage organ for glycogen which is a major source of our energy. Many, indeed some researchers say MOST obese people have enlarged livers - they have become enlarged due to the amount of glycogen stored there in response to regular large caloric intake. Sometimes, this can led to a form of disease commonly referred to as non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which has similar consequences to alcoholism but completely different behavioural origins. When you have less glycogen stored in your liver it will necessarily shrink down. Indeed, I would see this condition as an indication ofthe extant need for bariatric modification rather than a contra-indication. Chin up, try not to worry. I had a humungous liver myself and now it is completely normal and a lovely pinky colour, according to the photographs my surgeon showed me. I'm sure yours will soon be just as "attractive" (heh, heh!). All the best

Hi everyone. I am really interested in what you all have to say about Protein. From reading many of the threads it seems clear that a lot of us think that protein is of primary importance and I have read, again and again, that people lose more weight the more protein they can consume. I have also read that doctors are recommending that their patients consume 60-80g of protein daily (and a couple have said that they aim to eat 100mg a day). Many people consume their protein inthe form of "shakes", mainly because it is easier to get them down, I think, than protein in other forms. I'm not making any judgements. Protein consumption is important: we all know that. Too low an intake of this important nutrient can cause hair loss, poor nails and skin condition and fatigue. However, excessive protein consumption can also cause dangerous health consequences (not least kidney problems, Calcium loss and bone damage). The ADA recommend that ATHLETES only consume 1-1.5g of protein per kg of body weight (1kg = 2.2 lbs), whilst their recommendations for more sedentary people (read normal activity levels) is 0.8g per kg (0.36g per lb). Now, we all want to lose weight (or maintain our weight loss) but are we ready to do this at the potential cost of our helath or are we trying to lose weight in order to improve ourhealth and prolong our lives? Has anyone else considered the possible damaging consequences of encouraging a very high protein intake in sedentary individuals? Has anyone tackled their doctor on this point? I run - therefore I am. In a normal week I will usually run about 50 miles or so, sometimes more. I have 4 kids, 2 dogs and a very busy life, and i count myself as a very active person - but I don't think I am an athlete and I would be worried about damaging my kidneys if I were to consume as much protein as some forum members advocate. Once again, I don't want to judge anyone else. It is clearly an individual decision. I am really interested in what others think about this, though.

Stagnated? You've lost 16 bs and 17 inches in about 6 weeks. I'm sorry, but I can't see any stgnation there. You are doing fabulously and should be patting yourself onthe back! Don't foroget that as you lose weight your ability to lose weight and burn excess calories will be slowed down basically because the heavier you are the more calorie you need to maintain your weight and the more calories you will burn when you exercise. Well done on your weight loss. Exercise wasa one thing that didn't halt for me when i was banded. I'm a runner, and although i slowed my pace, I didn't stop running when I ws banded - but I have never been a one for ab specific exercises. Running keeps all the muscles toned up in a functional manner - and I couldn't do specific ab exercises because I had been so obese that my tummy muscles had parted all down the front. Having said that, I have just had that problem fixed and I have been banned from running or any exercise except walking for 6 weeks - and that 6 weeks is up next Friday!!! I can't wait. Keep up the fabulous weight loss!

:w00t:Sorry for double posting but I forgot to mention - I decided that I would take a look at increasing my own Protein intake and have bought some soya Protein powder (I'm a carrot, as my kids call me). Anyway, I am usually shattered tired - which isn't surprising since I have 4 kids, 2 psychotic dogs and a husband who thinks that a womans work is never done (God love him). I also run around 50 miles a week - err, to clarify when I say I run around 50 miles you could translate that as I run ABOUT 50 miles a week, sometimes slightly more - not that I run around in circles for 50 miles - although sometimes that is probably the case! I'm rambling, aren't I? Anwaym my reason for double posting is to let you know that I have upped my protein intake to include a soy shake containing 24g of protein, effectively doubling my protein intake (which was shockingly low, Ihave to admit). I shall be happy to share the results with anyone who is interested. I presume that at my activity levels (crazily active), my height (5ft 9), my weight (72kg) and my age (42) this level would not be a dangerous level and I am watching for benefits - namely the ability to stay awake after 7pm:w00t:. Lets hope!

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply, Betsy. I am so glad to hear that your doctor monitors your kidney function. That certainly seems to be a respnsible thing to do. I am not trying to influence anyone at all, just interested to know if people are aware of the risks. Further, I wonder if people are perhaps focusing on the Protein intake and thereby not acheiving a BALANCE of nutrients, which is really where the risk comes in. Perhaps I am wrong to presume that many (but not all) people who had a lapband fitted, or any other briatric surgery for that matter, have done it on health grounds and even you say: What risk to health concerns you, with increased protein intake? A body with healthy kidneys is able to deal with any potential protein overload. I guess the worst thing (for me), apart from the kidney failure induced by ketone elimination would be the hepatic encephalopathy. Bu then again, this is my personal opinion. I did lose my hair and it was traumatic, I have to say, but it is a hell of lot quicker in the shower now:thumbup:. And once it grew back I kept it short. I always had it long before because I felt it was the one feminine thing about me - but now I have it short and sassy.:cursing: Here in the Uk our protein recommendations are a little lower than in the US, and of course, protein recommendations issued by the WHO have dropped considerably since the 1970s - but then a lot has changed since the 1970s. Why the 1970s? No reason. Just a ref point. I'm just interested, that is all. I'm really and honesty not trying to influence anyone and would NEVER tell anyone to ignore the advice given to them by their doctor - if you don't follow their advice you can't sue them if anything goes wrong!!!!

Way back at the start of my weight loss journey I was told, by my surgeon, that I had to lose weight before he would consider me for surgery. He told me to change my lifestyle and diet because if I didn'tdo it right away then I would never do it after any surgery. I took him seriously and I decided to start out with the 10000 step thing. My first 10000 step walk took me six hours!!! When the weather got really bad I moved inside and walked on the treadmill. I used to find that I was lking faster than the slowest joggers and eventually, after many weeks, I decided to try to jog. The first time I managed it I was grinning like a loony and there I was, on my phone in the gym, phoning all my friends and family and wheezing "I'm jogging, I'm running" down the line. They all thought I had flipped. I managed my first 10k about 18 months ago and I have done 2 marathons since (as well as a heck of a lot of training). Sso, yes, I went from couch potato to hot potato - ah well, maybe I'm not so hot, but I'm definintely not vegetative any more. I now run about 7 miles a day, which can take me anywhere from 45 to 65 minutes - depending on how badly my dog misbehaves while we are out!:cursing: I'm not an athlete but I AM very active. Apart from running I have 4 kids (20, 18, nearly 6 and 3) and I have to do the teach to ride bike, teach to swim, etc, sort of thing. Plus, I have 2 canine delinquents who require lots of exercise. So I must burn shed-loads of calories inmy exercise - and boy do I sleep well!! So, I do understand where you have come from - and my advice would be that if you want to get more from your running get a psychotic dog who will drive you completely mad if she doesn't get enough exercise. You WILL find that you run faster and further - and you will improve. Good luck.

Mimi, you are a trooper! Keep it up!

Post its are good. They can be helpful, but try to make them positive rather than negative. Just a few suggestions. I think "good feelings don't require snacks" is better than "no snacking". "I'm worth treating myself better" "SOLID GOLD" is a good one. "I can do it" "Worth the effort" "The best of everything" Good luck

Try not to put yourself down. YOu didn't let yourself slack off - you have been an overeater for a long time (I wsa one all my life). It was the habit of a lifetime to eat if you could. There are few things harder to break than habits. We have all been there. Some of us struggle with this on a daily basis (guilty as charged) - which is where the band comes in. The band doesn't stop me eating - I could still scoff everything in sight - boy would I regret it afterwards (I'd be in agony) but I could still do it. You ahve taken the important step. It's not easy getting a band. It has BIG costs in terms of time and convincing the doctor (and the insurance company) that you need it. In order to get a band you have to go through the pre-op diet regimes and follow doctors orders and jum p through hoops. It isn't easy just GETTING a band. Well, you got through that. And now the hard bit is still to come. BUT YOU CAN DO IT. Lots of us here have done it. None of us are natural skinnies - even now I'm not a skinny, but I'm a healthy size and a normal size - and you can get there too. We are all here for you. Every one of us has an individual experience and while our experience may vary a bit, they are all much of a muchness. There will be someone in this forum who has had exactly the same experience as you. And we all want to support you. You are worth the effort. Hold on to that. xx

Sadly, rice isn't something I can take down at all:frown:. Noodles likewise. I have considered the courgette option though. I'm gonna give it a try. Tonight, just cos I'm sick of cooking seperate things for my family and me I have made a savoury crumble. I haven't tried it before so I will report back to let you all know how it goes.:scared2:

Hello everyone. I really would be grateful if a few of you could make some suggestions food-wise. I was banded in December 2007 and I am now in the maintenance phase, having decided that I don't want or need to lose any more weight. The problem is that I am so bored bored bored with all the foods that I can eat and I can't eat the foods that I can't eat. Like many people I can't manage bread, rice, Pasta or potatoes in any form. I can only manage carrots in very small portions and very well cooked (or, alternatively raw and in minute quantities). I don't tolerate quorn and I am vegetarian so I don't eat meat. I get most of my Protein from Beans,lentils and pulses, which I have to chew really well. I eat things like ratatouille, vegetarian mousaka (made with soya mince and vegan cheese), chick pea curry, veggie korma (without rice and made with soya yoghurt). I can manage small amounts of couscous. I try not to snack - with "try" being the operative word. But, guys, I am soooooooooooooooo bored. It's getting really tedious. My band doesn't restrict my ability to eat biscuits and chocolates. Cakes and pastries are a bit hit and miss - some I can eat, some I can't but all fall into the "I shouldn't" category. I don't want to gan weight, but this boredom is driving me to eat things that I know I shouldn't. Please, does anybody have any good suggestions? I'm not a bad cook (according to my friends and family).

OK, so I hear what you are saying - you aren't experiencing restriction and you are disappointed and I can truly empathise and sympathise with you. But.... There are lots of things what we can do but choose not to do. Before you were banded your surgeon probably told you to lose some weight, and almost certainly required you to follow a set restrictive or even liquid diet for anything from 10 days to 3 weeks before surgery. To follow that regime took will-power and dedication - and you did it. You CAN do it. you can resist the possibililty of excesssive consumption. The band will not do the weight loss thing for you. You know that, right? Those of us who have lost significant amou nts of weight and kept it off through judicious use of the band will all tell you that there are ways around the bands restriction - even the most restricted people can still scoff ice cream and chocolate and stuff like that cos it passes through the restriction so easily. Even those of us who have lost more than half of our body weight still have to exercise our most functional organ in order to keep our new, slim figures - and by that I mean use our brains. Exercise will power. The band is a fantastic tool but it can only help - it can't do the work for you. You have to make it work for you AND YOU CAN DO IT. I truly believe that you have it within your ability to make the band work for you. You have lived a good life. There have been times when it would have been easier to take the easy way out and by doing that allow people to be hurt, but you didn't. You can exercise strength of character and will power to look after the feelings of others. This time, my dear, you are the one who needs your own consideration. Just for once put yourself first. Give yourself the right to put your own health and beauty and appearance first. Decide that you will not do what you can do (i.e. eat the whole house) just because you can. There are lots of things we could do but most of us don't. We could take drugs. We could steal. We could be violent. We could be selfish. We could allow others to suffer rather than exert ourselves to prevent suffering. You don't have to do something just because you are able to do it. Look after yourself. Think of yourself first, just for once. Decide to put yourself first and eat the right food in the right amounts. See your doctor, get the restriction right and et all the help you need. Take some exercise, get out of the house, see friends, socialise - get away from food. You are worth the effort. Good luck.

Do I miss food? This is a difficult question for me, and the answer is both yes and no. No, when I look at my new body and my new clothes. When I walk into a boutique and pick up a pair of jeans or a new top and know that it will fit - at those moments I dont miss food. When I walk down a street and feel other peoples admring glances, when I see other ladies and children and gentlemen strugglling with exactly the conditions oof overweight and physical immobility I was so familiar with just a few short years ago - at those times if someone offered me a loaf of fresh bread I would gladly feed it to the birds. But when we get together with people who don't know me so well, of when there is a family feast gathering (Christmas day, Easter, Sunday lunch, dashein, divali, tij, etc) those are the times when I feel the loss of food as keenly as a best friend. When my family is sitting enjoying my best efforts foodwise, that is when I feel deprived. When everyone is sitting round with heaped plates, that's when I feel something missing. When we are sitting enjoying a movie with a bowl of Snacks - even healthy ones - and I can't partake, that makes me feel a bit of an outsider. But is it worth it? Yes. If I was allergic to soya and it made me break out in hives, I would avoid it and in so doing avoid the allergic reaction. The way I see it is that I am allergic to "food-in-quantity" - it makes me break out in fat.:scared2:

Cheeseburger? Fries??? Mimi, I am almost envious. Keep us posted! ATB x

Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die. This poem has been attributed to more than one author, but whoever wrote it caught the gist. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Hello Angel and welcome. I was banded a little over 2 years ago and am now maintaining a healthy weight. I think the idea of changing your diet and lifestyle now, before the surgery is an excellent idea. It is exactly what I did. My surgeon told me that if I couldn't change my lifestyle before surgery I would never do it afterwards either, and he was probably right. By the time the band was fitted I had lost 75 lbs and was ona roll. I didn't have to deal with the forbidden fruit of choccies and cakies and bikkies because I had already dealt with those demons and the band helps me not to do the backsliding thing. I've lost weight before but I always managed to put it all back on again - plus a bit more for good measure. The and stops that happening to me now and I no longer live in fear of a binge or splurge. The only thing I would say is try to ditch the "diet" idea. A diet mentality usually includes an end date - what you need to do is change your lifestyle for life, including what you eat and what you do (exercise is the dirty word I'm trying to avoid using). Change the way you live and you will change the way you look and feel. The band won't do it for you but it's a fantastic tool when used properly. Good luck with your 6 month diet/lifestyle change and enjoy your band when you get it.

Mimi, well done you - you got through it! As nosy as I am I won't inundate you with questions save the important ones: Are you OK? How is the discomfort? Would you do it again? Keep us all posted. I am, as I said, interminably nosy and I do care terribly how you are. Stay well, grow strong - and at least you aren't whingeing about not being able to go running! Chin up, you got there. Well done. Can't wait to see the photos. xxxxxxxxx

Spaghetti squash? What a fabulous idea. Thanx for that Leigha - I will definitely give it a go. Keep the suggestions coming guys - I really appreciate them.

I am an NHS bandster, here in the UK. The way it works withthe NHS is that you are referred to a bariatric specialist who makes the decision for you...so I was given a band. I have obviously made contact with various other patients under the same specialist and the way it seems to work (I think) is that if your problem is just large portions you get the band, if you just eat junk, you get the bypass (malabsorptive and restrictive, but more of a focus on malabsorption), if you eat large portions of junk you get the sleeve. Having said that, I have to say this is just my observation and I could be entirely wrong - my job means that I have to stay away from asking too many questions of the people I encounter who have had bariatric surgery.:thumbup:

Thankx Mimi, chili is something I hadn't considered - and should be entirely ahceiveable using soya mince. Anything others do with meat I can usually copy using soya mince. I've even tried meatloaf (err, soya loaf) but that was the only one that didn't work so well. Aquarius, scrambled, eggypeggies sounds wonderful, but I can't manage eggs. The problem with so many forms of animal origin Proteins is one of the reasons I went vegan. I can't even manage vegan cheese in anything like significant quantities. Jacqui, even spag bol is out for me (although my family love it made with soya mince) cos I can't manage Pasta - not even spaghetti. I'm getting so bored with soya mince. I can't manage quorn even if I chew it for hours. Mushrooms can be nice filled with a garlicky creamed tofu (just a like a cream sheese type thingy) and topped with a couple of sweet, red jalapeno slices, but I can't eat that all the time. I have experimented with humous, but it's what to to eat with it. Pepper slices and celery get old really quick! Aren't I a boring old fart?