coloradobanding

"last supper syndrome" is totally normal and probably most everyone pre-band had it. I personally decided to try the lifstyle without the band to prove to myself I was ready. I can tell you that by doing that took the power away from the food and gave it back to me!! It was the HARDEST thing I ever did, but one of the most rewarding. The band really is a tool, I had to prove to myself that I could do it without it. Was NOT easy, but very gratifying! Just my .02

I too have a late night chocolate addiction!!! I too "make deals" with myself to get through. If I exercise for 90 minutes, drink all my Water, and get my full Protein intake, I allow myself a little treat. However, I can ONLY have it before 6:00pm AND I only buy the little "trick or treat" sized packages, and allow myself only one. This kicks my craving and gets me motivated to do everything else during the day I need to. Hope it helps!

You have been doing fine-keep up the hard work!! I am sort of in the same boat as you as I have hit a "wall" and not losing. I started doing everything by-the-book and to the letter on Jan 1st (almost a year after banding). I had not lost a single pound until this weekend!! Then bam, 5lbs gone!! Just keep in mind that our bodies are strange and we cannot predict what they will do. If you do your part of diet and exercise, eventually you WILL lose....it's a matehmatical fact. Don't give up, FIGHT HARDER!! You're worth it!

EXCELLENT post!! I totally agree regarding eating healthy vs eating low or no carb!! Here is my "simple" diet. #1 I eat absolutely NOTHING ELSE but protein until my daily limit is reached! This helps me more than anything. I LOVE Muscle Milk light and have one or two handy at all times! It is MUCH better to grab 20g of protein in a shake than drive all over town trying to find something high protein & low carb. #2 I drink at LEAST 10 glasses of Water a day. I do not eat anything other than protein until this goal is also met. #3 Once #1 & #2 are met, I can eat/drink anything I want! It is a TOTAL mind game for me people! Because after I "check off" all my dietary tasks, I'm so full that I don't want anything else..lol. It TOTALLY WORKS!!! But on the rare occasion I want a "no-no" food, all the work I've put in prior to that occasion makes it OK. Here is the best explanation I've ever received regarding protein/carbs & diet. I'm sure it's been posted before, but for those who have never heard it...here goes. Your metabolism is like a fire. Protein is the "wood" that keeps the fire burning. Carbs is the "water" that puts the fire out. So when you wake up in the morning, you NEED to get that "fire" burning. Eat good protein (in any form). Then 2-3 hours later, "stoke" that fire by giving it more protein. Now your fire is burning big and tall. Then feed it again every 2-3 hours and your metabolism fire will be raging!! When you eat carbs (good grains, etc.) that will dampen the fire, but not put it out-that is OK and natural. Once that fire has been burning so long, it will burn the pounds like crazy and give you more energy than you've ever had. My daily routine is simple. I start the fire in the am, burn it until late afternoon, then eat sensibly once my "goals" are met. It's simple but fool-proof for me. HOpe if helps someone else!!!

Congratulations!!! Your "new" birthday is tomorrow! Please keep in mind that you will feel very sore and tired for a few days, and will likely have little to no weight loss until after your body has healed. Take it slow, and enjoy your new life!!!

Hi all pre-bandsters!! Those of us who are already banded have gone through probably the EXACT same anxiety and nervousness as every one of you! All medical procedures can be scary. I am "one of those" tough-as-nails kinda girls. Had a c-section, didn't even comment, just said, cut me open and give me my son..no biggie. I do not go to the doctor unless I'm just about on my death bed, my motto is "man-up buttercup" (all men in my house..lol). I say all this because the day I found out I was having surgery (3 weeks later) I was ELATED!! I didn't have a care in the world. Everyone would ask "aren't you scared?" And I said NOPE, not a bit (very true). I didn't experience ONE IOTA of angst until they put me in the hospital gown and gave me my happy juice (god love the person who invented happy juice..lol). It was then I looked at my husband and told him I was scared. That was the FIRST TIME EVER those words came out of my mouth. Thank GOD I married so well (LOL). He took my by the hand, and said, "I promise nothing will happen to you, I am your rock now, and I will be holding your hand when you wake up to your bright new life." Those words (and the happy juice of course) eased my mind and in I went. I had absolutely NO problems and was home in time for lunch (that I didn't eat). Moral of this story is, be strong, this is what you've all worked so hard for. Being scared is NORMAL and OK. Embrace it, then LOOK PAST it! Your new life without the weight is coming! Not to be Debbie Downer to everyone, but PLEASE don't expect significant weight loss within the first couple weeks after surgery!!!!! Please be prepared to HEAL first and LOSE later! It took me a GOOD 3-4 weeks to see ANY significant weight loss, but I was prepared and anticipated it. Have REALISTIC goals and you will succeed. Best of luck to you all!!!

Our bodies and these bands are unusual things, let me tell you! I have been working out like a fiend since January, and monitoring my diet closely (still eat no-no's every once in a while). But I mean like HEAVY workouts! 40mins of extreme cardio, then I do 15-20 mins on the rowing machine, then weights, abs, then swim laps for 20-25mins. I do this religiously 4X a week and have since Jan. 1st. The scale has gone up and down 4lbs both ways, but as of today, I am EXACTLY the same weight as I was January first. For those that plateau for a week or two, consider my sad situation..lol. I STILL keep doing just what I've been doing because I know my body will eventually "figure it out." I have not lost significant inches either and have kept track of that since day 1. What I did lose is MAJOR body fat My BMI has gone down by over 4pts since January first! My clothes fit looser (which I don't understand since no significant inches lost) and I feel STRONG and my body is noticeably more muscular. However, that DAM scale messes with my head daily!! Bottom line is, this process and our bodies act and react in unusual ways...just keep doing what you're suppose to, and eventually (I say this at 10 weeks waiting) it will give us the visual results we SO desire!! Congrats on your weight loss!!

I haven't been on here in awhile and wanted to check int. I've made it a year with this WONDERFUL band and am looking forward to more progress in 2010!!! I've chosen the keep my band very slightly filled (3cc in 10cc band) and it has worked EXACTLY as I had hoped!! I am down 60lbs over the year and couldn't be happier! My weight loss has slowed, but I am not discouraged at all! I keep eating my Protein first, working out and eating sensibly. I lose approx 3-4lbs per month, but I have NO stuck or PB episodes, have ZERO intolerable foods and do not have to chew my food a billion times. In fact, I feel like I don't even have the band most of the time. I am not hungry for about 5-7 hours at a time and am LOVING the lap band lifestyle!! I just wanted to let others know that there are other ways to live with the band and be happy. YES I'm not losing 6-10lbs per month, and YES I am hungry on occasion. But I will take ZERO side affects and living a COMPLETELY NORMAL life ANYDAY over throwing up, having stuck episodes, and feeling like I can't eat like a normal human being. I also (gasp) drink with my meals :biggrin: I hope someone or anyone who has any reservations about how they live with their band reads this and can be helped by any portion of it. I LOVE my band...thanks for all the support!!

Everyone has completely different experiences and are told things COMPLETELY opposite from one surgeon to the next. I personally have been able to eat anything and everything I want with just a few "hiccups" along the way. I can eat bread and red meat with no problems, but hamburgers generally make me feel uncomfortable (not always). I can eat pizza with thin crust, thick, you name it no problems at all ever! I drink carbonated soda (sugar free) several times a week with no side affects at all. Please keep in mind I only have 3cc in a 10cc band. As for stuck episides, they are no fun and can be scary for the first couple times you have them. After that, they are uncomfortable, but you know how to deal with them so that they are not scary. Everyone is different, and having pre-surgery jitters is normal. If you have major reservations, I would suggest doing more research before "taking the plunge" best of luck!!

I'm just like you, I was hoping for this result from the beginning. I never wanted to be so full it would hurt, or live in any way different from anyone else. It is an individual journey and different for everyone. I couldn't be happier!!

Basically when you're at your "sweet spot" you can basically eat normally but not be hungry for 5-7 hours. It can take a VERY long time to get there, but when you do..it's HEAVEN!!!

I just had to share an AMAZING food find that I think other bandsters would LOVE!! This weekend we were at Super Wal-Mart in the Deli section and saw a case of prepared meats from Hormel. There was pork, beef tips, roast, chicken & turkey. I chose the chicken in gravy. The food is fresh, not frozen. There are 3 breasts in each package. Including gravy, each serving is only 120 calories and 20+ grams of protein!!! It takes less than a minute to cook, and...get ready for this....it is SUPER INCREDIBLY MOIST and DELICIOUS!!! I went back and bought every last package of chicken breast they had!!! The price was only $4.98! I've never had a problem eating chicken, but for those that have, this is for you!! It is BY FAR the MOST TENDER and delicious chicken breast I've ever had! The gravy is delicious and could help those who have had problems getting chicken down without stuck episodes. I hope this helps someone, I'm THRILLED I've found something so quick, easy and Bandster friendly...just had to share!

I've been at my sweet spot for nearly 6 months and have had only 2 stuck episodes, both my fault. I will say that I have never subscribed to the "chewing your food to oblivion" suggestion. Once I found my sweet spot, that allowed me to eat all foods I need (chicken, carrots, broccoli) I eat and chew like I always have. That said, I ate chicken breast about a week ago, and ate WAY too fast to make a meeting and ended having it come back up. Prior to that it was a Triscuit. IMO, you shouldn't have many stuck episodes at your sweet spot.

You're welcome!! As an update, I've eaten one chicken breast about every 3 hours (so easy to do now) and I'm down nearly 5lbs in the last 2 weeks! I am NOT at ALL tired of the chicken, it truly is delicious! I bought 8 packages, and am off this weekend to find more (the date on mine is Jan 10 2010) so I need to stockpile! Enjoy!

This will be the hardest couple of months probably of your life. If you anticipate that and expect it, this will be much better for your mentally! That said, I can tell you that my entire palatte changed 1 month after surgery. The things I couldn't live without, I had absolutely NO craving for! Things I never liked, I craved. Your tastes and hunger will change for the better. But this time is HARD no easy way around it! I would HIGHLY suggest you don't get on the scale for at LEAST a MONTH!! Your body is healing from surgery and swollen. Even though you may feel (and actually BE) smaller, chances are the scale will NOT help you! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE resist the temptation of the scale for at least a month (2 if you can), it will make a HUGE difference for you! Hang in there, we've all been or will be where you are and we survived..YOU WILL TOO!!

Lisa, WOW is all I can say! You TRULY hit the nail on the head!!! I am so inspired by your words, and I am absolutely POSITIVE your post will help many, many more bandsters (pre and post op) with this journey. It truly is EVERY emotion that has ever been documented. It TRULY is the hardest and most rewarding thing I've ever done for myself, and it ABSOLUTELY changed my life!! How you explained it is how it happened with me! I was waiting for HUGE successes, all the while missing the little ones, which are SO much better than the big ones!! I hope everyone who reads your insightful post are inspired and ready for this journey. CONGRATULATIONS on your AMAZING weight loss (twice as much as I had lost in the same amount of time!) and thank you SO MUCH for such an EXCELLENT post!!!!

What an EXCELLENT post! Thank you for sharing! There were so many similarities in your post that I experienced. I was lucky though, that I had the correct knowledge beforehand. It truly makes a huge difference. I can tell you, hopefully it will help some, that you will hit your sweet spot. And when you do, this time, this "bandster hell," will be a distant memory. I don't know if you have kids, or been through child-birth, but those who have know that the whole pregnancy is a nightmare, the birth painful and draining, and you think "I will NEVER do this again." Those are the same people with like 5 kids..LMAO. What I'm saying is, that you forget as time goes on, at least I did! Bandster Hell SUCKS so bad!! It really does, but you have the EXACT mentality to plow through it and come out a HUGE success! Keep thinking exactly how you are thinking, it will be over before you know it. I know it's not easy to hear during the actual "hell" but one day, you will be dropping weight, and have to stop and think to even remember you have a band! Once you get to the sweet spot, life goes back to "normal" and your new lifestyle gives you so much energy and excitement, Bandster Hell is almost like a band of courage. You're doing GREAT, keep fighting, you WILL WIN!!!

Very well worded! It's so much easier to have someone else put in words exactly what you'd like to say!

Did you get the fill? Inquiring minds want to know :scared2:

In your 14 years of research, how many doctors have told you that exercise is essential to WLS success? I read the original post (excerpt below) and a few others (not the entire thread), which is the reason I posted what I did, and stand by it. What am I missing? "In fact, I expect to lose weight without exercising at all since (a) I will be eating a fraction of what I did to keep my body this size and (:scared2: recent reports show that while exercise is good for you, it's not necessary to lose weight..." "If these are unrealistic expectations, I'd like to know now and save myself the aggravation of the surgery and follow-up" Your expectations of a successful outcome after surgery without exercise IS unrealistic in my opinion.

This is DEFINITELY the place for support, advice and acceptance, no doubt about that! I didn't post my comments to be "tough love" or a "rah rah" as you put it. I put in my comments because someone did that for me, and, get ready..IT WORKS!!! I was complaining about this, discouraged about that, and got a whole lot of posts saying "it's ok, you're doing fine, etc" which is what I wanted. What I got was ONE poster who said what I needed to hear..THE TRUTH!! When I first read it, I was UPSET, APPALLED and SAD! I mean WHY would someone say such horrible things when I'm so down and need support?? BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH!!!! I cannot tell you how much reading that post changed me! It TRULY turned my entire life around for the better! There will ALWAYS be someone telling you what you want to hear..but getting the truth, no matter how direct or painful, is what you really NEED to hear although it wasn't what you wanted..

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You've done just SUPER amazing!! I am losing slower, but am THRILLED with my results so far, you look FANTASTIC!!! OT, I'm looking at a Body Bug at my gym (24 hr fitness), is it worth it? Do you like it? I never thought I could be addicted to EXERCISE..did I just say that?..LMAO

To be direct, you need to do much more research about all the different WLS's before you make a decision. It sounds as if you have made up your mind that you can have any WLS and NOT exercise and be successful. While it seems as if you are seeking advice, the only advice you quote or are agreeing with are those that have anything to do with no exercise. While these boards are a great resource for advice and opinions, it NEVER should replace the information given by your surgeon and/or surgery center. To that end, I defy you to find a surgeon who will tell you that you will be successful with Lap-Band surgery WITHOUT exercising. Irregardless of what you believe, have read, researched or any other persons experience, a HUGE part of this JOURNEY (not just surgery) is exercise and a healthy lifestyle. It sounds to me that you want this to work without exercising at all. You probably will lose weight with the band and no exercise at all. Your "idea" that by eating less and not exercising you will lose weight does have merit. But you are trying to convince yourself that you have the answer and are looking for others to support this notion. There is SO much more to this journey and surgery than diet and exercise alone. The KINDS of foods you eat, the QUALITY of the foods you eat, the TIME of DAY you choose to eat them, HOW you eat them..I could go on and on. You are trying to justify eating less to losing weight without taking in all the other CRUCIAL factors necessary to be truly successful on this journey. You do not need to spend 10 hours a week in the gym, or lift weights like Arnold Schwarzenegger to have it be considered exercise. Walking is GREAT, playing the WiiFit is GREAT!! But you can't sit on your butt 24/7 and expect to watch the weight fall off :scared2:) YES you will lose weight if you are eating less..that is just common sense. HOWEVER, people who are stuck in hospital beds with illness also lose weight. People who are bulimic lose weight. Drug addicts lose weight..is it losing weight? YES! Is it healthy? NO!!! In my opinion, you need to seriously re-evaluate this surgery (or any weight loss surgery) before going forward. There are many other factors to this journey apart from wanting to exercise or not. And trying to "alter" the rules before being fully educated about this "journey" is just not a good idea. Not intending to sound mean, just direct. I hope whatever you choose and the reasons you choose it work for you!!

Personally, I think everyone who loses a large amount of weight will have some loose skin somewhere. With that said, LBS vs RNY, LBS patients have much less excess sking than those with RNY. My doctor told me specific areas I needed to work on right away to keep the skin tight (under arm and inner thigh) and boy was he RIGHT!!! I've been working those nearly every day for a year and cannot imagine how bad it would be if I didn't do what I did. (it is still not "tight" but much better). Simple rule, IMO, slower weight loss, less chance of saggy skin. Hope my theory helps

Reading threads like these makes me happier than ever to have had my surgery where I did! I can understand all these questions and concerns you have AFTER surgery with no preparation for the road you are on. With that said, FIGHT!! I get that you feel "duped" or "misinformed" or even pissed. But now that you have the information you need (and were maybe never given), now that you've indicated you're mad, now that you are "where you are" quit being pissed and make the best of it. If you're hungry, up your Protein..simple fix. If it takes 5 Protein shakes a day, it takes 5 protein shakes a day..simple. If you're not losing, EVALUATE why you're not losing! Many of you are less than 2 months post-op. You don't lose much weight in the first months post-op..period. Focus on what you put in your mouth (every morsel), make good food choices, concentrate on getting your protein, and concentrate on exercise. If you do this, you will LOSE WEIGHT..PERIOD! You may not lose it in one week, or two, or even over a month, but you WILL LOSE IT..there is absolutely NO DOUBT about that fact! I had stalled weight loss for over 2 MONTHS!!! In fact, I even GAINED 3lbs! I was working out 5X a week (heavy-duty work outs, not 30 mins here or there, 90+ each time), swam 2X a week, walked the dog daily, and monitored my diet LIKE A HAWK..NO WEIGHT LOSS..NADA..NOTHING...ZILCH!! Then all of a sudden, in week 10 (IMAGINE..TEN WEEKS people) I lost 6lbs, then 3, then 2, then nothing. I didn't change my workout or diet, I did what I was suppose to do. I FOUGHT the hunger, I FOUGHT the urge to lay in bed instead of going to the gym, I FOUGHT the frustration of not losing as fast as I wanted, and I TRULY FOUGHT my own feelings of disappointment. Because I KNEW as long as I was FIGHTING, I would NOT LOSE!! And I didn't! This journey is NOT easy!! You will be HUNGRY, you will be PISSED, you will be SAD and many will feel REGRET. But this is a journey that will lead you to a better, richer, healthier and thinner life if your FIGHT for it! There is no miracle pill, there is a lifestyle that needs to be adopted LONG TERM to make this work. Quit complaining, playing the victim or feeling sorry for yourself...MAKE IT HAPPEN!! YES you may have been misinformed, YES you may be mad at your doctor for not preparing you properly for this journey/surgery, YES you may be discouraged. YOU are the only one who can make this successful.....so quit complaining and MAKE IT HAPPEN!!! ACCEPT that you will be hungry sometimes. ACCEPT that you cannot lose 100lbs in a few months. ACCEPT the fact that it could (and probably will) take YEARS for you to reach your ideal goal. ACCEPT that these feelings while fighting weight are NORMAL. ACCEPT THEM for what they are, ADDRESS the issues and what they cause and then...finally...FIGHT!!!