Eat2Live

I'm a little over a year since surgery (and 120lbs gone ; ) )and I'm embarking on one of my weigh-loss goals which is scuba diving. My girlfriend and I are headed to Hawaii in June and have our first scuba certification class in a week or so. Has anyone been scuba diving with a lapband, know anyone who has, or knows of any side-effects considering pressure changes under Water. My band is empty as I never needed a fill so I'm not anticipating any problems. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

On March 28, I began my pre-op diet at 319lb, 474-triglycrides, 230-chol. level, high blood pressure, severe gout. I had surgery on April 11... Its now September 11 and I weigh 219lbs, 77-triglycrides, 130-chol. level, normal blood pressure and my gout meds have been reduced by 75%! Those of you considering lapband AS A TOOL TO ASSIST YOU in weight loss should give it serious consideration. It has been the greatest experience in my life. I have 50lbs to go but I'm snowballing downhill towards that goal. Something you guys might find interesting, my "sweet spot" was simply the band...I haven't had a fill! Good luck to everyone and keep working toward your goals!

Steel Cut Oats...processed less than any other form of oats makes them a power food! Wild Salmon and a good Foodsavor vacuum sealing machine! Psyllium Seed Husk for Fiber.

I know it sounds odd but I tried numerous protien powders and typically, the cheaper you go, the worse they taste. They also save money by using low-quality proteins. I use Myoplex myslef. Musclemilk taste great but too much sugar.

At the end of the day, the fact remains, proteins are the building blocks of the human body. It comes in many different forms which is good for bandsters. But judge for yourself based on that fact how important overall protein intake is...

I've drank a protein drink almost everyday since my surgery 5 months ago. Calories are high but eating meat or cheese to attain the same amount protein and you'll intake more calories than the protein drink. I take in less 1300 calories a day and get over 110g of protein with 60g and 400cal. coming from my protein drink. I've lost 103lbs since my surgery 5 months ago.

This is one of the medical issues which I don't buy into. I'm not convinced that the negatives of caffeine outweigh the benefits. Maybe its a person by person basis but neither my PCP or my lapband surgeon had much issue with my caffeine intake.

Congrats...keep up the good fight!

I want in! I've lost 102lbs! :embaressed_smile:

Its not conventional but I took a post-it note, wrote down 5 things I will love about my new life when I've lost the weight and keep it in my wallet. When I'm experiencing head hunger I read them...and I think to myself "Will eating now get me closer to these 5 goals..." Don't be scared to play mind games with your mind...

I post it when I get home from work as I don't remember the name. I buy it at wal-mart and its actually for woman to use after pregnacy. My doctor recommended it and Vitamin E lotion for my surgery scars...they've almost disappeared!

Just to answer some of the questions: My doctor is Dr. Frank Felts in Dallas. My daily regime M-F consists of 2 or 3 options at each meal so I don't get burnt out on one thing: Morning: Steel Cut Oats, ground cinnamon, frozen blueberrries and vanilla extract (appr. 255cals) or Atkins protien bar (200cals) Lunch: 3oz can of albacore tuna, chicken breast, pink salmon with a small canned (8oz) vegtables (lima Beans, green beans, mixed veg), almonds or walnuts. (200-400cal) Dinner: 12oz fat-free milk, Myoplex Lite powder shake on cardio only days/Myoplex Orginal powder shake on cardio and weight lifting days, one scoop whey protien (390-450 cal.). Psyllium seed husk mixed with Water for Fiber. I eat 10-15 fat free triscuits throughout the day for Snacks I keep an excel file by day and meal to ensure I consume at least 110 grams of Protein on days I work-out and 100 grams on days I just do cardio. Fiber intake always above 25 grams (pysillium seed husk helps). Total calories stay below 1300 during the week and 1500 on weekends. You have to enjoy life for any of this work so I still go out to eat and drink wine occasionally. When I do, I eat as healthy as I can and I'll withhold calories and protien from one day to another to even things out. I've learned with my own body that I can cheat for a couple of days as long as i hit it my regime hard for 4 or 5 days following. You body loves the shock for weight-loss purposes. As for saggy skin, I use stretch-mark reducing lotion twice a day but I haven't really seen any dramatic effects of saggy skin so to speak.

Ironically, I reached the 100lb mark just yesterday in about 5.5 months. Feeling good will become as addictive as gorging on food...trust me! There will little things that your weight as allowed you to become extremely accustom to that you don't realize will be affected. Example: chairs fit better, you'll move your driver's seat closer to the steering wheel, you'll look and feel taller! If you'll allow yourself to be truely open to the concept that you're not meant to be overweight, you'll suddenly realize that your body wants to be healthy. Be open to the thought that certain days or weeks you won't lose weight but don't let it deter you from your goal of being healthier. Ask yourself this question: I ate a healthy Breakfast, lunch and dinner while spending 30 minutes walking but I didn't lose a pound...is this a better day than if I overate badly, never left the couch and didn't gain a pound. If you can truely see how much better the first scenerio is than the second scenerio then you'll have great success.

My band is completely empty...I've never had a fill! Stay the course and you'll be rewarded!

Yes, I'm a male so I guess that plays into my weight loss rate. Thanks everyone...I'm extremely proud today! Also, I realize that everyones situation is different but I want to stress MY OPINION that if one does what is intended with the band, not only will you lose weight but you'll lose large amounts. Its not rocket science...when you consume less calories than you burn, you lose weight and exercise accelerates the process. Those of you reading this board to determine whether or not the surgery is right for you need to realize the simplicity of the band and the concept. If you do your part, the band will have your back...if you don't do your part, it will be your enemy...you decide! Take the posts where someone says they're doing everything right and not losing weight with a grain of salt.

I should probably know the answers to these two questions but I don't. All I know is I eat healthy, allow myself a small (amount wise) cheat item (usually red wine) twice a week, do cardio 4 times a weeks, and lift weights 3 times a week...doing that and following the rules of the band make weight loss very doable for me!

Obviously, your body will feed off its own muscle during different stages of a diet if you simply reduce your diet to calories based on carbs. Couple of things to remember: First and foremost, weight training doesn't mean, you're a grunting goon in a gym surrounded by meatheads beating their chest. A simple circuit 6-8 of nautilus exercises at a weight that fatigues your muscle at 8-12 reps (couldn't do the last rep=fatigue) will improve muscle mass. This work-out takes less than 20 minutes per session if you move briskly in the circuit. Increased muscle mass translates to increased metabolism. Eating the correct amount of Protein will provide a source of protien to your body in place of your current muscle. Weight training provides caloric burn much longer than cardio. Saggy skin is often remedied by placing muscle under that skin. Lactic acid produced during muscle breakdown creates soreness. Simply doing cardio can cause this while incorporating weight training to disapate lactic acid as a remedy and vice versa (ever wondered why picthers do enormous amounts of running after pitching a game...theres your answer). Different Proteins are absorbed at different rates by the body. Consuming the correct protein before, during, and after a workout is important. Being a football player in HS, I've lifted weight before but I didn't understand the nutrition side. I have a very close friend who was a Navy Seal and since surgery, I've spent countless hours learning from him. My workout is extremely simple and covers cardio and weights in less than an hour/4 times a week. I've been banded for 4 months and begun exercising 3 months ago. Every lift type on the circuits I do (upper and lower body) have increased in weight by at least 15% most to 20%+. I've lost 91lbs since March 28 with over half of it coming prior to being able to weight training. That drastic loss was because my body was feeding on its own muscle and very little of my diet came from protein during the mushy phase. Once I was able to weight train, my weight loss (per the scale) has slowed but my body composition has changed drastically. Before weight training post surgery, weight loss = loss in current muscle + loss in fat After being allowed to start weight training, weight loss = loss in fat + loss in muscle - gain in muscle...therfore, loss and gain in muscle theortically offset yeilding weight loss = loss in fat. I have no doubt that very little of that loss was muscle once I was able to start weight training couple with proper diet and correct protein consumption. I'll be at goal weight (with 139lbs lost) within 7 months of surgery and I'll tell anyone, the key is protein over carb and weight training. JMHO

My mother had bypass and my cousin had lap-band and both pointed me towards lap-band. I'm a 30 year old male who is caught up in corporate lifestyle with friends with families living life fuller than I. I was more concerned with my feelings of regret at the age 40 for not doing something when I was 30. Now, I'm smaller and in better shape that I was in high school and I'm kicking myself for not getting the band sooner. My life is forever changed!

Sometimes I think too little emphasis is put on the healthly lifestyle potential of weight loss. Yesterday was my 4 month anniversary and I've lost 88lbs. Looking back, there were 3 and 4 days strectches where I lost 7lbs and 3 and 4 days stretches where I lost none. During the tough stretches, I reminded myself how well I've eaten (healthy) and losing weight isn't the sole reason for joy considering I no longer expose my body to bad things. Knowing that I only put good things in my body is a success in and of itself. Losing 4lbs in week because all you had was two choc. shakes a day isn't as rewarding to me as losing 2lbs while eating Protein, veg/fruits...

I weighed 319 when I started my pre-op diet on March 28. I weighed 296 on surgery day, April 11 (23lbs in two weeks). Yesterday, I weighed 232 which is 118 days/just shy of 4 months since I began my pre-op diet (87lbs) and 104 days/just shy of 3.5 months since my surgery (64lb). I do cardio 4 days a week and weight train 3 days a week. I also haven't had a fill. I want to be at 90lbs lost in 4 months so I need to lose 3 lbs by Sunday...probably not going to happen but I'll live with 89lbs by Sunday LOL! Good Luck everyone!

First, premade shakes are all terrible. I guess whatever the have to do to the liquid for it to have shelf life is makes them taste so awful. I tried 4 on your list and a couple of others in either premade or powder or both in some instances. Myoplex powder was the winner with Musclemilk powder as close second (after that, a signficant drop-off). I chose Myoplex over MuscleMilk because Myoplex has a lower sugar count. I've ordered the Syntax nectar and I expect it to be good considering the googled reviews.

I can't believe I haven't seen this thread before. Its fantastic. I'm down 83lbs in about 3.5 months and I set my goal at 100lbs in 5 months. I have no doubt I'll reach it and threads like this help. My next goal is be at my goal weight of 170 at the 8 month mark so 67lbs to go! The band is only as strong as you can be...give it your best effort and it will do the same! Good Luck everyone!

I've gone on 3 vacations of 4 days or so since my surgery and definitely didn't adhere to my post-surgery regime but I also didn't revert to old lifestyle. I lost weight everytime. I think your body needs those vacations. The best of 3 was when I went to Puerto Rico for 4 days and came home to 5lb loss...don't shy away from changing up your bodies routine!

If you do your part, the band will do its part. The band will not do it alone. I've lost 83lbs in 111 days with about 60lbs to go and I haven't had a fill so far. Good Luck to everyone!

All situations are different. I'm three months out of surgery and haven't had fill at my doctor's request because of the rate at which I'm losing. I also don't go back to see him for 9 months and will be at my target weight much sooner. I can get a fill if I want one but he doesn't think I'll ever need more than .5cc in my band. Patience is important for both parties in these situations. Trust your doctor within reason and you'll be fine.