Jaffa

I think it is the doctors, telling them all of the reasons that things can go wrong are mostly the patients fault. Then they think, "well I'm going to do exactly what I'm supposed to do, and I won't have a problem". Well that is simply not true, but it is what they want you to believe. What is the most profitable sugery per hour? Especially, if you add up all of the mainenance costs down the road? The doctors love the band, because it is the most profitable, and more people are willing to do it. Heck, here in Iowa, if you aren't using Insurance to pay for lapband, they aren't all that interested in you. Why? Because they can't get people to pay 30,000 for a lapband, but they can get the insurance company to pay that much. They all push GB with insurance, becuase they have plenty of business with just these people. They don't need anyone else. Some are now getting into lapband, only because it is so popular now, and there is so much demand, but they still really want the insurance paid people. Most if not all of them, don't even have a cash pay price.

I assume you are in your 20s, since you posted here, but let me tell you, most guys in there 20's are shallow. I know, I used to be one of them. The grass is always greener on the other side. So be ready for some disappointment, when they are hitting on you just for your looks. You are only going to start attracting even shallower guys, so it is going to get annoying.

You can see in my signiture what my fills and one unfill have been. The unfill happened after eating a grilled hamburger patty. I got stuck on the drier outside portion. It went down but hurt as it went. I have been stuck before, but never did it hurt as it went down. Then I started having trouble getting stuck on all sorts of things the next day. I thought it would get better but it didn't and after it only getting worse for 5 days, I decided to get unfilled. It took care of all my problems, and I'm back to normal now and doing well. The hamburger must have caused some scratching and or swelling, that just didn't want to go away after. Be careful!!! Especially, on very dry meat.

Just be careful of putting too much value in any weight loss or gain within a weeks time. Your Water weight can change your total weight by more then what you are losing. I found this to be very frustrating, until I started logging all of my food and how many calories I was burning each day. That way I know I'm losing, it just doesn't show on the scale because of my water weight changes. Eventually, it does show up, and I bounce up and down in a new lower range. Over a months time, my calorie calculations show that I should lose 8lbs, and I almost always have, but each day or week doesn't mean as much.

Do you ever get stuck, because you are eating too fast, too big of bites, or not chewing well enough? If you don't then yes you need a fill.

4 fills and it has been more then a year? That is not a lot in my opinion. I have had four in four months. I think you need to find a good fill doctor and get some restriction. If you can eat without chewing your food really well, or you can eat big bites chewed well, then you are not correctly restricted. The food is falling right through and the band is really doing almost nothing. Don't go just by how much fluid is in the band, because everyone is different on the amount it takes to get proper restriction.

It really just depends on the basis of the eating problems for a lot of people. If you choose to eat sugar on the band, you won't lose either. GB has a dumping syndrome to try and discourage you from this, but some just deal with the dumping and keep eating the sugar. The band takes good aftercare and more will power. Some are able to do it and others are not. Same with GB.

I just hate sales ploys. And it really is just a ploy. If the day comes and it gives you problems, you aren't going to be relieved that it can be removed, you are going to be pissed that it didn't work. I can understand the argument when comparing it to GB, but not when comparing it to GS. Why would you ever want to reverse the band, unless it wasn't working. It is like saying, "I like that car, because if it breaks down I can go buy another, or I can just walk everywhere". Well, that really kind of misses the point. But, it does help people with the fear factor, and that I can understand.

Oh I have had it with the hole "It's reversible" thing. That is NOTHING but a sales pitch. Sure you can have it removed, but why would you want to? And if you do, it is because of a problem, that problem is still there, so who cares.

You do realize this thread is over a year old? But, there is another thread about getting to the point of completely filling the band....I'm not sure, but I don't think it has ever happened with the new band. But, it does seem to take a lot of people more fill to get the needed restriction.

I also hate weights. But, developing more muscle really will help with your overall metabolism/BMR. The best way to develop muscle is to concentrate on doing it in one area at a time. Like one day, just do core muscles, then the next day, do just the arms, the next day work on just legs. It is always better to do the muscle building before cardio. This way everything is available to get the most out of your muscle building. One week I do weights with lots of reps to get the fat burn right where I want it, and the next week I do fewer reps, but try to increase the weight by 10lbs. I started out a couple of months ago, only being able to do about 40lbs at 100 reps on the ab machine. Now I can do 80lbs at 100 reps. This is a good example of doing more reps and less weight to mainly work on burning the fat where I want it to burn from. While the next week, I do the same ab machine with 100lbs for 10 reps and try to make it through 3 cycles. I can't make it on the third try, so I will just keep trying until I make it. If you can make it through all 3 cycles, you need to move up 10lbs next time. If you can't make it to 8 reps on any cycle, you have to move back 10lbs. Try to get 30 grams of Protein in during or right after your weight lifting, and it will make quicker results. I know, you hate weights, but a lot of studies have shown that weight training in conjunction with cardio, will make your cardio much more successful, and it will make the most effect on BMR. Keep your body guessing what it is going to do today by varying things up and it will overall be more effective. Do these things, and you have just learned everything I have learned from having a trainer work with me. It costs a lot to learn something so basic???

There is an entire section, just for people who have lost their bands. Read through it, and you will learn all of the complications and things that can go wrong. Weight regain? With RNY, for sure, but Lapband? I'm sure it is similar, but for completely different reasons. In my opinion you are focusing on the wrong decision, you should be evaluating the Gastric Sleeve versus Lapband. Both have different positives and negatives. Learn them all and really think about which one is best for you. RNY? Probably not as good as the modern sleeve, but most insurance companies won't pay for it. I personally, would rather self pay for a sleeve then have insurance pay for RNY. Do the research on both.

I like the sleeve section here? It makes it one stop shopping for information for me. Of course most are not in the same situation at me.

I make a point out of drinking a big glass of Water, between 45 minutes prior to eating and up to 15 minutes before. I also make a point to drink a big glass of water at 1 hour after eating. Keeping hydrated is crucial and you need to plan your drinking every day.

I eat strawberries sometimes....not as much as I would like. I have also eaten bananas. Strawberries are about the best fruit for low carbs per serving size.

I chose the band. 1. Because it was approved for me to do it, and I have restrictions that don't allow me to do anything else at this time. 2. I knew my main problem was portion control, and it seemed like it would do a good job of helping me with this. (it has) 3. I was more then willing to do the things necessary to lose the weight according to the band rules. I just didn't want to yo yo diet anymore. 4. I could have it done quickly and be back to work quickly 5. I could afford it, and was desperate. My wife on the other hand will be getting gastric sleeve. 1. Because her eating issues are strong cravings and bad decisions. Hopefully, the sleeve will better help with this, as the band really doesn't do anything for this. 2. She also has trouble with portion control. 3. She would never do well, with the stuck episodes and would revert to soft foods to avoid them. (she wouldn't follow band rules) 4. She also wouldn't do well with fills and aftercare. She is really good about doing things she is told for a couple of months, but then will get frustrated and quit. The sleeve post op diet is very strict, but she will follow it to the T. 5. Aftercare costs are much less with the sleeve. 6. Bypass, is totally not going to happen. It just doesn't get rid of the hormone producing part of hunger which is why most of us are overweight. It also has too many aftercare issues that can happen from malnutrition.

Frankly, I would rather hear from someone who has actual experience with the band and another surgery. If I was trying to decide which surgery to have. These people can give me a better comparison and have an insight that isn't possible for someone who has just had one. Purely from a decision point, I just think it is better. From a support after surgery point, maybe having a mix isn't as valuable, but it certainly doesn't hurt, especially if one day, you are told you need a revision. I see value in everyone's experiences. In fact some of the best information I have found is from people who aren't banded any more. Long term banded people don't really hang around. Why? Because they go on with their lives, or they revise. It seems to be one or the other. There are just so few longterm banders around. Why, is not really relevant to this question, but it is a factor. Getting hung up on the title of a forum as the end all, and means all to what the forum should be, is an eventual death sentance for a forum. You know some people got a Realize Band over an AP lapband just for the "better" website support. Oh please, you can get everything and more from other places like this. Why would we want to limit ourselves like realize has done to promote a product? The only difference is we would be promoting just the lapband. I really can't believe it would bother anyone to hear about anything other then lapband, and if it does, then don't read it, or ignore it.

Well, I'm all caught up on my yard work for the spring, and I actually have a little bit lighter work week coming up. So I'm hoping to get 15 hours of, stationary bike, walking, and weights in this week. I am also wanting to do a marathon on the threadmill. So the first time I get an entire day off, and don't have anything I have to do, I'm going to hop on the treadmill and walk. I figure I can walk at about 3 miles per hour for 10 hours straight and be done. I was inspired by by the biggest loser and the old RNY guy making it with a bad knee and shoulder. I have a bad knee also, but not as bad as his. I know I can do it!!!!! I think it will be fun, but I will report my findings when I get done doing it.

Well, I'm all caught up on my yard work for the spring, and I actually have a little bit lighter work week coming up. So I'm hoping to get 15 hours of, stationary bike, walking, and weights in this week. I am also wanting to do a marathon on the threadmill. So the first time I get an entire day off, and don't have anything I have to do, I'm going to hop on the treadmill and walk. I figure I can walk at about 3 miles per hour for 10 hours straight and be done. I was inspired by by the biggest loser and the old RNY guy making it with a bad knee and shoulder. I have a bad knee also, but not as bad as his. I know I can do it!!!!! I think it will be fun, but I will report my findings when I get done doing it.

Ooops, it should have read 199.5

Well, I finally, broke my Plateau, and went to 195.5. WOW, being at 202 then 203 for two weeks was a terrible time for a plateau. It seemed like I was just waiting and waiting to go below 200. Now I can quit obsessing about the scale again.

I just refer to it as my symbiote. It is a Stargate SG1 thing. That is also why I am JAFFA!!!! I want to lose weight KREEEEE

I voted yes. The only reason not to is because you don't want to hear about anything other then lapband. In reality, it is good to hear about other things. You never know when you may need to revise. Also, it may help people in making the right choice for them. It is just a form of selfishness if I wanted to have nothing but lapband people. I equate it to the having a Realize Board, and having an Alergan Board. You could make all of the same arguments about seperating people this way, that you make about seperating people by type of surgery. It is all about surgery for weight loss not what type. This board is very well organized, it really isn't a problem at all, unless your not a very tolerant person, or you are a zealot for the band. If you are either, then you need to take a step back and realize that it is really about helping people. All good forums evolve with the people and seek to provide as much information to everyone as possible.

I have a dumb question. Do you go to get the toradol locally while in Mexico, and do you have a certain amount your allowed to bring back in the US? Sorry, this isn't really related, other then we are going to be in the same place.

Ok, I have for the last 3 months been using Cosmetyn. Surprisingly, it has actually worked. I have lost weight in the past, in fact more then I have now, and the strech marks never really got better. The always had deep ridges and redness. I bought the Cosmetyn, in desperation, but frankly figured it was just a scam. It is expensive. On little bottle is 90 dollars!!!! But, you should use it only in tiny tiny amount each day, so it will last a month. This is my fourth and last month, because it is dimenished the marks to my safisfaction and the ridges are non existant. I just can't believe it worked? I also used Bio Oil some, and it worked, but didn't seem to work as well, and while it is cheaper, it seems to not last any longer for the same kind of money. The key, use it only a little at a time, and rub it in very well. They say the rubbing action is half of the reason it works, the other half is just really good moisturizer and the Vitamins.