GayleTX

If I'm going to eat solid food for supper, I try not to eat too late because it sometimes causes me to have acid reflux now that I have good restriction,

There is a long thread very near this one for Bandster over 60. Lots of good responses there.

I've had many experiences in both and I much prefer the surgical centers. They are smaller, they have the same staff every day, they know your name, they are specialists in their field, and the equipment is there for the types of surgeries they specialize in. JMO>

You need to find a fill doctor who knows what he's doing. I never even feel it when I get a fill and the dr uses a flouro every time. You don't have to use your surgeon for fills.....shop around!

My PCP is the same way. He didn't know a thing about wls and was not supportive at all. I go to him every 3 mo for blood work up because of past serious health issues.....every time it seems he's almost disappointed because I'm still losing and because my blood work is perfect and I've quit taking all my diabetes/b.p./heart etc. meds!! He just shakes his head and mutters something about "I read that one man out of 5 dies after gastric bypass" (says that every time!!). I feel like I should apologize for being successful!!

You can do it now in your thirties and have a chance at at a normal life. Or you can do as I did.....gain and lose and gain and lose then develop co-morbidities then gain and lose and screw up your metabolism so that you gain...but don't lose...and then gain some more. And then you can have surgery when you are old and sick and willing to try anything to regain some hope of a future. If you've seriously already tried everything else, why would you wait?

You can order a good sampler package from Bariatric Eating - Protein, Vitamins, Gastric Bypass & Lap Band Info, Post-op Recipes, and Help. If there's any flavor in particular you want or dont want, they are good about accomodating. The website has great recipes and the message board is very helpful.

There is an OA group here in my small community.....it's been active for many years and many people feel it's been very helpful to them.

I don't understand her logic at all. The band is good for life (as long as the person uses it right). Gastric Bypass has a 'window of opportunity' that lasts 18-24 months in most patients then the body/instestines begin to adjust and adapts and most patients no longer dump on sugar/fat. The hope is that by that time that happens they have retrained their eating habits and changed their lifestyle so they can keep the weight off. A big percentage dont. That's why I chose the band.

Somebody would have to tie me down to take mine away! I recently had to have it temporarily emptied to have surgery and got a real good reminder of what life without restriction is like. It was miserable and I had to struggle to maintain my weight those 5 weeks. I am sooo happy to have it back. Can't image why anyone would do that to themselves.

I had to do it for a month recently when my band was emptied for PS surgery. I had forgotten what a wonderful tool my band was.....couldn't wait to get it filled again. I didn't lose any weight that month but didn't gain any....just stayed on my food plan (100 gr protein, no white carbs, etc.). It was hard but I lived thru it. And I've lost 4 lbs since getting my fill again recently. Don't go backwards!! You can do it!!

:clap2:YEA!! As the old song says 'I FEEL GOOD!" :whoo: I'm down almost 160 in 16 month and have a whole new outlook on life. :clap2:

zengirl.....I have a 10cc band and I have 4.6 cc right now. I have had more but it was too much and caused acid reflux. But I've got good restriction for right now. But as you lose more weight, you need to have your band tightened. Everybody is made differently so everybody responds to different levels of restriction. Too bad it's not a perfect science yet. That's why we have to keep experimenting and working at it. Doctors and infomercials who say that with the band you can eat whatever you want, just in smaller amounts are not being realistic. Maybe some people can but I personally cannot and I don't know many people who can. My band has not been the reason I've lost weight.....but the band has made it possible for me to make the lifestyle changes that losing weight requires but not feel deprived of normal food or a normal life. It has been a miracle for me. I use fitday.com to record my intake. If something goes in my mouth it goes on fitday! I get about 80-100 grams of Protein every day (about half of it is from supplements because our little pouches can't hold that much dense protein). I limit my carbs to less than 50 grams/day and those are all good carbs - NO white carbs at all (potatoes, rice, Pasta, flour products, corn) and no sugar. No bread. No carbonated drinks. No drinking with meals or for one hour afterward. Actually, I am eating by the same food plan that people with Gastric Bypass need to use. (The lack of starches helps eliminate cravings.) I walk about a mile a day on a treadmill and I work out at Curves 3X/week. I need to do more but I have arthritis and altho the weight loss has helped it tremendously, I still have to limit myself. I am off all my diabetic and blood pressure meds. My blood work is perfect. I am aware that many people can lose wieght with a much less stringent food plan. But I can't. And I had a lot to lose and needed to lose it as quickly as possibly. It has worked well for me. I also know that the band is not the answer for everyone. Sweet addicts probably benefit more from Gastric Bypass because they cannot tolerate the sugar. Volume eaters do better with the band usually. However, Gastric Bypass is only effective for about 18-24 months (your 'window of opportunity'); after that your intestines begin to adjust and most people are then on their own to keep their weight down - the goal is to have changed your lifestyle and eating habits by that time. That's why so many people begin to gain their weight back after that 'window' is passed. And that's why I chose the band....it's there ready to work for you when you are ready to work with it. But it is a team effort - the band can't work by itself. I hope you find your way to a healthier life, sweetie. Best wishes....

I've been very happy with my Hamilton Beach Personal Blender....$12-14. I've used it 2-3xday for 18 mo now and it's still going strong. Crushes ice nicely, doesn't take up much space on the counter.

Glad you are doing so well.....it gets you off to a good start when you don't have a lot of difficulties right away. Just have to comment.....Flinstones??? You really need to invest in good quality grown-up Vitamins. They make some for wls patients that many people declare have helped them stay healthy and maintain good health.

Most of my clothes I gave to the battred women's shelter. Most of those women have left home with very little....many had little to start with...when you leave in the middle of the night by police escrot yiu can't pack much. These women need nice clothes to improve their self-esteem and to wear when they get out and start looking for a job or enrolling in training courses so they can become self-supporting.

Looks like you've lost the weight so far mainly on will power....you've had such a small amount of fill in your band that you probably haven't had much restriction yet. Hope things work out well for you!

Yep, that was one of the hardest things I had to learn. I usually drink water before a meal and then put a little piece of ice in my mouth if I get thirsty during the meal.....it helps. But when my band is tight, I know better than to drink a lot of ice water....it tightens the band even more and makes it hard for food to go down.

My friend had one.....past tense. She threw up for 12 weeks then the doctor removed it. He didn't blame it on the band, just on her particular reaction. She may try again in about 6 months.

I've always loved food.....Southern food, Mexican food, home cooking, eating out - that was my family's focus and our entertainment and our social events. I lived mainly on carbohydrates, altho I didn't realize it until I changed my focus to Protein (I use 100 grams/day). I didn't have any idea what a difference having a band would make! Now I have very little interest in food...it is almost aggravating that I have to stop what I'm doing and put food in my body. That sounds crazy to a pre-banded person, but for me it's true. It's not a diet....it's just a new way of planning my 'intake.' I really like my protein products so they take care of a lot of my nutritional needs although not all - it's not a diet, it's just a plan for keeping myself fed. One thing I am having to work on is replacing the time/socialization/entertainment that NOT focusing on food has given me. I've never had any hobbies (except cooking, maybe) and I no longer work (the SMO life forced me to retire early). I realize it's important to replace one thing you are losing with another.....I haven't found it yet but I'm doing good and I'm happy. The right thing will come along as I regain my health and my life. Best wishes to you..........

Sounds like yu must be doing something right if you haven't had a fill and are still losing at a good steady pace. A very simple plan to follow is always eat Proteins first and eliminate most white foods. Drink at least 64 oz of Water but don't drink during or for 1 hr after a meal. No soda's. How's that for simple?

Give up Mexican food? Never!! Refried beans and guacamole are good choices, and I eat the middles out of beef taco's and burritos's with cheese dip drizzled over them. Flautas are crispy enough they go down okay with cheese dip on them.

After you lose more weight and the fat around your stomach is melting away, you will need to get another fill more than likely.....it may be a few months. It was about 7 mo. between my 2nd and 3rd fill and I was SMO also.

Very good question and one that we all need to think seriuously about. I haven't replaced my 'food time' yet....cooking, eating, reading recipes, eating, sampling, discussing food, restaurants, eating. So far I guess I've replaced that time with hanging out on the wls boards. But I know I must find something more productive (altho the boards have been a godsend to me) and have more body movement to it (typing doesn't urn many calories, does it.) I've never had hobbies, I've always worked....now I'm home 24/7 taking care of my mother. I did buy an exercise DVD that I need to make friends with.

GasX, walking and heating pads are what seem to work for most people....and time.