PhotoNut

We all need a certain amount of carbs. Healthy carbs are found in fruits and veggies and whole grains. Empty carbs are usually the ones we find the hardest to eat - soft fluffy breads, gooey noodles and the like. These typically get stuck and cause PBs (productive burps) because no matter how much you chew, they still glom together in the stomach and form a ball of food too large to fit through the banded stomach. Many will say they can still eat breads but have to eat it very very slowly, giving each bit time to pass through before adding in more. And many also agree that because of the time it takes to eat it, along with the risk of it not going down, it's just not worth the effort. I am a dough freak. I still think about breads from time to time, but I plan on turning to a thin 1/2 piece of diet whole wheat toast when I can't stand it anymore. The drier stuff, like crackers and toast seem to be no problem for most folks. Hope that helped.

During the first few weeks of the post-op diet I was instructed to get about 600 calories a day. During the second phase I have been on 800 calories a day. (Getting in 60 grams of Protein during these phases can be tricky, but possible and important.) Tomorrow is my six week mark and I'll be slowly moving up to 1,200. And right now, 1,200 seems like so much food! I'm having a hard time eating enough to reach 800! Oh yes, I love my band too!

My mother was visiting us the day I found out there was a way to get the money to get banded. Within minutes she was on her cell phone chatting with a friend, and to my dismay I hear my dear mother telling her friend that I was going to have weight loss surgery. I fussed at her a bit, trying to be nice about it, but within minutes she was telling someone else! Ack! I can't complain too much though. I've been banded 6 weeks now, and last weekend I proudly told a complete stranger in the grocery store that I have the lapband. LOL

Hello 4MyFuture! Wow, you sound exactly like I did pre-surgery. Nervous, excited, depressed, elated, worried if I could do it, what if I failed, let's get this thing done!, but.. but.. my food! *cries* I just knew in my heart that I was doing the right thing for me. My problem is quantity eating. I was eating so much at one time that it makes me gag just to think about it now. The transition to eating small amounts has been easy for me so far. It's odd to prepare 1/2 cup of food and believe that it's really going to satisfy you, but it really does! I can eat more in the evenings, so I really have to watch myself not to overdo it. I can tell I'm full when I start to feel pressure behind my breastplate. Not the same overstuffed gut feeling I'm used to, so I have to eat slowly and be on the lookout for that new feeling. If I'm distracted by tv or the computer while I eat, it's easy to miss that feeling. I used to eat fast, and I often felt that uncomfortable feeling of too much food going down the pipe at once, but once it was down I kept eating. Now I have to stop when I feel that. So, it's been a change, but one that's not so very hard to do. I also fear PBs so I'm careful to chew, chew, chew till it's goo. This new way of eating has also allowed my head enough time to get the signal that it's time to stop, I'm no longer hungry. Something a lot of us other bandsters have been talking about recently is the importance of knowing that the band is not a cure all for eating disorders. Those who have serious disorders are not really good candidates for the band. It doesn't resolve emotional issues, it merely controls the quantity of food we eat. It won't change pizza and cake into health foods. In order to succeed with the band, you will need to be prepared to make some changes. Choosing healthy foods that agree with your band, exercising, taking your Vitamins, and drinking 64oz of Water per day. Yup, that sounds like dieting doesn't it? Well, actually it is a factual thing that we all face in order to be healthy. The band is a tool which helps us keep from falling completely to Point A when we do slip up, but it won't keep you from slipping up. If you think you're ready to make that kind of commitment to your health, then you'll do fine. And as for you concerned family members, perhaps providing them with more information will help them relax and become more supportive. I know that some of my family's instant reaction was fear, but that's because they didn't know the facts about the lapband and thought I was going for the extreme bypass surgery. Best of luck to you! Oh.. and get those appointments set up! Don't waste anymore time! *big smiles*

Welcome to LBT, Jen. There's a bunch of great bandsters in the DFW area that will have you feeling like one of the gang in no time. I admire their group. Best of luck to you and keep us all posted on how things are going for you!

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. Gosh that's never an easy thing to go through. My thoughts are with you. *hugs* I fully agree about getting a slight unfill. Even if it is the stress is causing the extra restriction, you need to be able to drink and get your nutrition. Don't wait around, go get some relief.

Ok, now that I've calmed down from my initial reaction.. *chuckle* I am currently going thru something similar, and am under the care of a burn care specialist. Be careful about what you put on the burned areas. Some creams and ointments actually dry out the skin and will make it more painful. I strongly suggest you get to a doctor. Hell, go the the ER. You're not paying for it. The passing out was most likely from dehydration over such a large area of your body. If you see any blisters forming, go see a burn care or wound care specialist. Burns with open blisters (indicating a second degree burn) are so easily infected, and I was told by medical professionals to put the wrong stuff on mine which made it more painful and took longer to heal. You were smart to take the pictures, keep doing that as things progress. And by all means, contact an attorney. You may not find one right away - so many aren't even interested in cases that don't promise a million bucks in their pockets - but you'll find one that will eventually. And it will be worth your time. I'm so mad at the magnitude of the negligence that goes on. They know you have a good case, that's why they were so quick to offer what they have. It's a drop in the bucket to what they know you could get for such a screwup. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Um.. you have a good case to sue that place! OMG you could have died. That is gross negligence on their part and I wouldn't hesitate to sue them. That's just inexcusable! And the title of this thread, Stupid Stupid Me - you should change that. You werent the one who was stupid!

First of all - *Hugs Lou* Secondly - Thank you for hearing and responding in such a gracious way. And last but not least - Shame on the people who misled you and NJChick and everyone else who was sold a pipe dream. Josygirl started a thread called "Never gain weight again" in which it was her hope of letting new people considering the band know that the band is not a miracle cure all to the eating disorders that many of us have. Perhaps we should all be stressing this more on this board. It is just unfair and cruel to make people believe that they can maintain the lifestyle that made them fat and miraculously lose the weight because of a stupid piece of silicone around their stomach. Some people recommend the RNY surgery to those people, however, I think that is far too extreme and it still doesn't change the root of the problem, so many of those who have had the RNY end up gaining all of the weight back again, and are then stuck with all of the associated problems for life - on top of the emotional problems. I would recommend finding someone who really understands your struggle, and begin working on behavior modification.. one small step at a time. Do not focus on the big picture of reaching any goals. Start with one very achievable goal - say, giving up one thing you know is harming you. Then when that is accomplished for some time, set another small achievable goal. Perhaps add in 10 minutes of some form of exercizing per day. As NJChick said, baby steps. And while you are doing this, really research all kinds of foods. Compare the calories, carbs, fat, and Proteins and you will be amazed at just how much you can eat by simply choosing foods that stick with you longer and help you lose weight (higher in Protein, lower in carbs). You have a huge family of support here. Nobody here wants to put guilt on anyone else. We are all trying -together- to beat this thing and when we talk together like we have on this thread, and really lay ourselves open for others to see and understand us, then we start getting somewhere. *smiles* You're going to be ok Lou. This is not an impossible thing to do, and while it may be extra hard for you (because of the negative you are battling in your mind) I believe that with lots of encouragement and support, you CAN do this. And prepare yourself, to me.. support doesn't mean accepting defeat and getting comfort for it. To me, being a support friend means being someone who will come back for you time and time again when you fall, offering you another hand up, and taking you along the road to success - not sitting down with you to feel bad about your fall and leaving you there. I want you and everyone else here, including me, to beat this thing. And together, I believe we will. Sincerely, Me

Heya Vines.. a very very happy birthday to a very very amazing woman! I hope you have a super day! *hugs*

Ok, I'm tired and I'm grumpy but something's been working on my mind and I have to get it said. Nobody ever said the band was going to cure emotional eating disorders. In fact, people with severe emotional problems that are manifested by their eating obsessions are not good candidates for the lapband. Whether we want to believe it or not.. whether it bothers people or not.. whether it sounds condescening or sugar coated or like a stupid guilt trip the fact remains - If we eat around our band, if we dont eat healthily, if we stuff our pouch, if we feed on carbs that are easy to get past that band.. if we fight the "banster rules" we are NOT going to reach the goals we had hoped the band would take us to. (By the way, why is it that when anyone speaks the truth around here, its called a guilt trip?) Everyone wants to thank others for being so honest. Well thank those who are being honest about the plain and simple facts too. If WE eat the foods that made US fat to begin with.. then WE are going to stay fat. The rules are not different for some than they are for anyone else. They are the same set of rules that we all have to face. Noone is being judgemental by saying so. Noone is living in a fantasy land by saying so. Noone is saying the next person is a failure for not 'working with the band'. There is nothing wrong with saying, 'If you dont do what you know you have to do to succeed, you wont succeed.' It is the truth. I have eating issues too. I began at 307 pounds for crying out loud. I'm going to be 50 this year and I've been fat all of my life. I have sad stories about my youth.. sexual abuse, rejection, suicidal mom.. Hell, we all bring issues to this place. We are all here for the same reaons. I'm sick of this US and THEM mentality. We are all fat damnit. All of us are battling this. When I say to this board, 'Why are we doing this or that??' I am asking myself too! And Im hoping to find answers alongside people who want the damn answers too. I'm sick of having to act like I can't be happy about my success, or the success of anyone here because somebody out there isnt having the same success. I'm sick of being accused of looking down my nose at those who are struggling. I do NOT do that. If I offer the truth in response to cries of "Why isnt this band working??" and if people jump up to claim that I'm just tossing guilt at the needy, then that's not my problem. If you can eat chocolate and cake and pizza and still lose weight, then hoorah for you! That's great. I have never seen anyone say that's something to feel guilty about. However, I have seen posts directed at those who talk about their frustrations with the band while stating that they are not following most of the basic requirements for success with the band. What is wrong with saying, 'Hey, I can see what you might not be seeing. If you do this, it will help.' No matter how much we wish it weren't so. The only one that's going to help us, is us. And no.. I'm not perfect by any means. And if anyone dares get on here and tell me that I'm going to fail.. well, you're in for a fight. I'm not here to fail.. but if I do, it will be because I faced the same choices as all of us here do, and I decided to give up. If that happens, I will die a fat and miserable person. Dear God, I don't want that.

My doc recommended Milk of Magnesia.. took a dose when I went to bed, and the next day I was able to go without being gassy or straining.

1 Cup of Fiber One cereal per day - tastes great, works great.

Well, I did some online research on lactose free whey Protein supplements and there seems to be a wide variety available. I would just apply the same standards when picking one. Make sure you're getting a high percentage of protein and not just crap. While I was reading one article, I came across this.. thought you all might find it interesting too. I might post it in a new thread.

Here is an excerpt from my post which quotes the Personal Trainer Certification studies that are accredited by NESTA (National Endurance & Sports Trainers Association): Because of the types of Protein contained in most if not all protein supplements (with the exception of Proto Whey or any other protein that is micro peptide protein complex from extreme hydrolyzed whey protein fraction), a maximum of 30% of its content can be absorbed by the duodenum or proximal bowel (where all protein is absorbed by the human body). The remainder goes on to the large intestine where it rots and creates gas and GI discomfort. If you are getting gas and discomfort from your protein supplement, you can be certain that it is a low quality protein that your body cannot break down and therefore cannot absorb.

Finding the right Protein for you is usually a hit and miss thing. Don't buy too much at a time until you find one you like. Many of them taste like nasty. Look for a whey or whey isolate that you can tolerate. Concentrates (powder form) have 20% to 80% purity, with the remaining consisting of fat and lactose. So it could be 20% protein, and 80% fat and lactose; usually the case when not specified in a product. If the concentrate consists of mostly protein, it usually states so in the label. Isolates have a purity of 90% and up—can only have 10% or less consisting of fat and lactose. Except for Soy Isolates – You should avoid Soy Isolates at all cost. I would say go with either of these as long as they are of a good quality.

Oh what a feeling! So happy for you Skye. Many more NSV's to come, isnt that awesome?! Woot!

Hi Daisy Grats on getting your band. Take it slow and easy, dont push yourself too hard ok? Be sure to eat all your protein and drink lots of water. Hope you recover quickly. Keep us posted on your progress!

Woohoo! Welcome to the start of your journey! Glad you found this place, its great.

Hey Senorita.. a PB is a productive burp. This occurs when we eat too fast, or dont chew a bite enough to make it small enough to easily pass through our stomachs where the band is, and the bite has no where to go but back up again. Much like a baby spitting up. A PB can be accompanied by "sliming" which is the body producing large amounts of saliva in an attempt to help the food pass. If food gets really stuck, it is possible that one might throw up as the body attempts to disoldge the food. Concentrating on your meal, chewing really well, and eating slowly will usually prevent PBs, however, the bands are fickle. Something you had no probleme with yesterday, might cause a PB today. So eat slowly and always be aware of what's going on. Hope this helped.

Bravo Mikey. This is exactly the attitude that we should all adopt. Not only has your post made me nod and say "That's exactly what I've been trying to say" but it has also made me take a breath, step back and see that I could be a bit more understanding of those that don't see things the same way I do. Thank you.

*stands up* Hello, my name is Susan and I'm an LBT addict.

It's growth! It's crazy! It's maddening! So many new people arriving each day. Woot! You know it's because we are all so wonderful.. word is spreading that LBT is -the- place to be if you want a wide variety of topics and fun people. We rock!

Im offended. *grins*

Hm.. interesting. It would seem to me that if the owner and moderators of LBT wanted the place to have topic/content restrictions, it would have been mentioned when we signed up to join the group. I can see how some of these topics mind offend new people that dont know what a bunch of joking goofballs we all are, but those of us who have been here long enough should be able to discern whether or not they wish to read a thread. I have started reading a thread that was mildly sexual and then turned extreme (for me) so I just stopped going into that thread. I dont think we need a locked area. As stated, we are all adults here and children can find much worse on the net - their parents should be monitoring them! I also watch the new posts come up at the top of the main page and that's where I do most of my activity. I'm not sure how much coding it would take, but perhaps there is a way to put the new posts thing inside the top of each forum, rather than one that shows posts from all forums? And then perhaps start a new forum for Adult Topics Only? Not locked, but clearly marked. That way new folks wont be faced with things which might offend them when they arrive.