A New Woman

Thanks everyone. For me, I will not do pop again. I honestly thought since I asked my surgeon's advice before I tried it, and since I was well past the 6-month waiting period he recommended, I was okay. But for me, no, pop/soda is not worth the pain, discomfort and potential damage to my band. This is my first bad experience with my band and I'm glad I can say it was a learning experience but one I don't care to repeat. I did call my surgeon's office this morning and she advised me to do liquids for a few days and to treat my tummy very gently. I think it is trapped gas from the carbonation and 2 days later it is still there. She said by Thursday I should be feeling better and if not to come in and she'll take a little Fluid out to relieve some pressure. Live and learn....

Sorry, one more thing about mental attitude. I still struggle with the fact that I THINK I can eat way more than I actually can and take too much food. It's like I still think I'm that fat eater that is going to eat a ton of food. But am getting better. Yesterday I was in a rush doing Christmas shopping on my lunch hour and I hit McDonald's to take back to work. I went in and knew I was going to order the Chicken Selects. The girl at the counter asked me if I wanted the 5-piece or the 3-piece. I had to really think about it because in one second you think the 5-piece isn't really that big if you're only eating that and nothing else. Well, I reminded myself that I don't eat very much any more and I'd probably waste most of it. So I ordered the 3-piece and guess what I still wasted most of that since I only ate 1 piece. But with trying to change my mental attitude I'm glad I didn't try and convince myself that I should still keep eating. This has really been a journey of self discovery.

Great topic and lots of helpful things to consider if your weight loss slows down or stops. My doc said from the beginning it is calories in/calories out. The band will help us with portion control but it is up to us what we put in our stomach. That being said, I can tell you that like an alcoholic who takes it "one day at a time", I literally take it "one meal at a time." I basically eat what I want in moderation. Some meals I make really good choices, other meals not so much. The other day I went to Mongolian Bar-b-que for lunch which I think is a healthy choice. Pre-band days I would have had one bowl and gone back and made a second bowl. The other day I made one bowl and ate maybe a 1/4 of what I made and took the rest home. For dinner though I had a couple swedish meatballs with some mashed potatoes -- not such a good choice. Am I 100% perfect?? Not even in my wildest dreams. But I AM 100% better than I was 9 months ago. I don't say I am obsessive about what I eat, but I am conscious of what I eat and I do try and analyze what I could have done differently. For example, as an obese person I think my mentality was to eat until you're stuffed and I unconsciously was eating with my band with the mentality of "how much can I eat to be satisified?" I am trying to change that mental attitude to say "how little can I eat and be satisified?" I'm trying to tell myself that it's okay to not finish all the food on my plate regardless of how much or how little there is on there. The band is a huge tool to help us lose weight but the biggest battle I think is not with our stomachs but with our heads.

I think you are both right on certain points. I totally agree with Effiepoo that the patient knows their body best. I went in last week for an adjustment as I was frustrated to have only lost 2 lbs in a month. My doctor and nurse were both reluctant to tighten me since they said I was still losing, albeit slowly. I, however, knew that my restriction had lessened and made my case to be tightened. My doc gave me a 1/2 cc. and it's done the trick very well. I think he was convinced that I was going to need to come in for an unfill but so far so good. I personally like to be tighter because the tool helps me so much more. However, I also agree with SooCal that when the fills start out a little slow it teaches you some very important behavior modifications. This whole band thing is a learning experience. If I had gotten to the restriction I'm at right now very early on, in other words gone from zero to sixty, it would have mentally not been a good thing for me. I would have probably been very confused and concerned by the signals and would have PB'd more. This has taught me to eat slowly, chew, chew, chew, and I've learned more when to stop eating before things get too uncomfortable. This way I've learned to slowly detach from my relationship with food. This is just my opinion, and not necessarily the same as others. In any event, I think we put our trust in our surgeons to have the surgery that we have to put a certain amount of trust in them with our after care. However, if at any time we are not satisified or don't feel like our surgeon is open to what we are telling them, then we need to look elsewhere. I'm lucky that although my surgeon was reluctant last week, he listened to me. There may be times when I go in and I have to listen to him even if I don't agree. Being openminded on both ends is truly the key to having a good patient/doctor experience.

I love my bullet and use it daily for my Muscle Milk shake. My only complaint is that the cups have these little notches that fit into the bullet and lock it in place and allow the bullet to turn on. Sometimes my machine wasn't working and I realized some of the notches have broken off so I have to make sure what cup I use. I think if I replace it I'll go with the cheaper Hamilton Beach version.

I know you don't want to cut back on your exercise, but please keep in mind that exercise lowers blood sugar. My daughter is a Type 1 diabetic and they highly encourage exercise for that simple fact. However, if you are already a little hypoglycemic all that added exercise may be pushing you over the edge. Try drinking a small juice box or sucking on some glucose tabs before exercise to give you a little boost. Exercise can lower your sugar up to 12 hours later. I know you are an avid exercise fan and I'd hate to see you have to give it up. Just be careful because low blood sugar (assuming that's what it is) can be very dangerous.

I have the Realize band. My surgeon also would not recommend one over the other. He let me look at both and see how they are constructed and the Realize is softer and more pliable and the Lap Band has what I would call little pillows. He said that the port was easier to put in for the Realize band but the band itself a little more difficult, whereas the lap band is easier to put on but the port a little more difficult for the surgeon. And he said that some studies suggest that since the Realize band is wider there is supposedly less chance of a slip. But overall he did not recommend one over the other. Sometimes I wish I did get the lap band because it has taken me several fills to get good restriction (I'm at 8.5 cc's) and surprisingly certain foods like bread do not bother me very much. But then I remember that we always seem to want what we don't have. If I would have had the Lap Band I probably would have thought I'd do better withthe Realize. Bottomline it is just a tool, and they both work equally, it's up to you to work your tool. P.S. What made my decision for me is that although the Realize hasn't been in the US as long as lap band it has been used the longest in Europe and I believe was the first band on the market (used to be called the Swedish band). Good luck.

Very classy! You obviously wear your heart on your sleave and aren't afraid to stand up for your convictions or be open to constructive criticism. A sign of a true class act. You go girl!

My surgeon said for at least the first six months I couldn't have pop (Michigan slang for soda). I was a Diet Pepsi freak and had one with me at all times -- morning til night. I stopped drinking pop in February -- 2 weeks before my surgery and I'm past my six month mark. Honestly I'm afraid to ask my surgeon if I can drink any now because I don't want to go back to wanting it all the time. I'm afraid that if I had one pop I'd be right back where I used to be and I'd ruin my band. So for me no pop is better than trying to drink it in moderation.

Thank you! It looks like a Maltese to me. I have two Maltese babies at home (Romeo & Juliet). They are my walking buddies.

I got banded on 3/12/09. It has been a very slow weight loss for me and at times frustrating as h3LL. But at the same time it has been the single best thing I have ever done for myself. If I am not at my sweet spot I am pretty darn close. It has taken a long time to get here and yes there were times that I struggled with hunger. But that was an indication that I wasn't restricted enough. It is a journey and a learning process -- not only learning about how to eat and what to eat, but also about yourself and what triggers you to eat. I'm learning to really question whether I'm truly hungry or if it is head hunger. Honestly, for years I ate based on head hunger. I hadn't felt hunger pangs in years, but now I know when I'm truly hungry. Do I slide sometimes and fall back into my head hunger? Sure, sometimes. But I am so much more aware of it now. My surgeon was also very clear that the band is not a magic bullet to lose weight but a tool to help you. If I wanted to not exercise and still eat ice cream, cookies, mashed potatoes, chips, etc. I could because those things go down really easy. It's still up to me to decide if I want to exercise and eat healthier choices. That's why it's a tool. Unfortunately, there is no dumping to make you sick when you eat bad things so it is still something you have to work at. I would like to be farther along than I am -- my home scale says 45 lbs down -- but I am committed to making lifestyle changes and that's what you need to realize. You won't "diet" no more, but you will need to make a commitment to eat differently in so many ways and if you add exercise to the plan you will help it along. Good luck to you. It's not for everyone but for me it has been life changing. If you decide to go this route you'll need to continually remind yourself that it is a slow journey but with time you will get there.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am very surprised you are Type 1 and obese enough to get a band. Most Type 1's tend to be very thin or in a normal weight range, whereas Type 2's tend to be obese. My daughter has Type 1 diabetes and is also on a pump so I am very familar with the disease. I agree with the other poster who said to keep a tube of glucose with you at all times. But in addition to staying in contact with your PCP consult with your endrocinologist as well on a frequent basis. As you lose weight you may need to reduce your basal readings in your pump so that you are not getting as much insulin and also be sure to always set a temp basal when you exercise. Don't forget about the "sun down" syndrome of getting lows in the middle of the night. Weight loss is probably slower with the band for pump patients because insulin in a fat storing hormone and you will probably have to drink fruit juice or regular pop on a frequent basis to combat the low's. Good luck to you. It's a huge challenge to deal with Type 1, let alone have to adjust to life as a bandster too.

Can't say that I've tried these almonds, but I have found a snack I really enjoy. The True North Pistaschio Crisps. 140 calories per serving, 7 grams of fat (6 grams that are unsaturated) and 5 grams of protein. Very nice crunch and satisfying.

Another Diet Pepsi pop addict here too! Drank it morning, noon, night. (Yes, where I come from -- Michigan -- it's pop, not soda!) I weaned myself off it before I started my pre-op diet in February. The fact that I've been able to stay away from it is something I am probably most proud of, even more so than the weight loss, because it was truly an addiction for me. However, when I made up my mind that I wanted the band more than I wanted my pop, it went really smooth. On occasion I crave one, like today because it is SO hot here in the Detroit area, and I think of that cold feeling in the throat, but I'm not willing to go back to my addiction. I made sure I had Diet Pepsi in the house like others made sure they had cigarettes. I'm glad I have that monkey off my back.

Can some folks explain to me when they absolutely knew they were at their sweet spot? I really don't think I'm there for several reasons. I have some restriction but I can still eat way more than I should be able to. What is the real difference between some restriction and the sweet spot? Will you instinctively know when you are there? Are you truly satisified with a small amount of food or is it still willpower? I know it sounds silly but do people push past their sweet spot with additional fills, thinking they are not there only to find out they are way too tight? Or it is that in the process of the doc tightening you that you realize just that little bit puts you over the edge. I don't ever want to end up too tight but I want to make sure I'll be able to read my band enough to know that enough is enough. I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for the replies. Your answers have helped and I think I have found the answer within myself as well. I had my 4th adjustment on 7/21 and after the liquid stage I am finally noticing consistent restriction. It is gradual and pretty elusive because in past fills I thought I was there but wasn't really sure. When you hit the sweet spot you know it for sure, you don't have to wonder. I can say that I am there -- for now, because as many say it can slide away as you lose more weight. But at least now I can say my body is telling me when to stop eating with a small amount of food and I am not looking for food for several hours later. This is what I've been looking for. I guess it just takes patience to get there.