stateofzen

Totally normal-- you're going through a HUGE life change, which is incredibly stressful. Feeling down and/or angry is a normal part of the healing process in my opinion.

When people bring the terms "weak" and "easy" into their evaluation of a weight loss method, they usually have some morality based values or beliefs about obesity and the obese that I just don't identify with. So, I say this as someone who doesn't get what is "weak" about taking advantage of a medical procedure to treat a medical condition. The very mindset is baffling to me, so I'm not sure if my experience will be relevant to you but I will offer it anyway. The band is both easy and incredibly difficult. I lose weight the "old-fashioned" way by dieting (choosing my foods somewhat carefully for nutritional value and low calories) and by being more active. The band makes it easier to do long-term-- hopefully forever-- because it decreases my hunger and makes me feel satisfied with amounts of food that typically would leave me feeling very physically hungry and incredibly mentally deprived. The hunger, both psychological and physical, is what makes keeping weight off long term impossible for me. It's something I can tell you with absolute certainty because it's not like the lap-band was my first successful attempt at losing lots of weight (hahahaha-- I wish, I would have loved to spare my body and metabolism the abuse of years of yo-yo dieting). I've had my band over a year and have gone from 293 to 160'ish lbs. I have never vomitted, I take regular size pills, and I have been stuck a total of one time. It was unpleasant, but I got through it (a piece of raw broccoli that I didn't chew very well). I drink wine every night, though I don't recommend it as I've stalled on my weight loss since I added a daily glass of wine to my diet- I should save it for when I'm at goal and ready to maintain. There is nothing I CANNOT eat though there are a very few things I have to be careful with and make sure I chew adequately. Frankly, the speed of my eating and my manners are much better now because I have to be more mindful but it hasn't changed much other than my portion size. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I don't know what my future holds-- I hope to lose 15 more lbs but if I maintained my current weight, it would be so amazing and unlike any other experience I've ever had with weight loss in my life. I can even say that if I end up having complications down the line, I still can't imagine regretting this decision. I wish you the best in doing what's right for you.

Mine is probably wine. I don't (yet) have an addiction, at least physiologically, and there aren't any negative consequences associated with it BUT I look forward to my nightly glass of wine much like I used to look forward to dinner. I think I've had a glass of wine nearly every single day for the past 2-3 months (sometimes 2 glasses) and this is a significant change from pre-surgery when I'd drink wine 1-2x a week. I am to the point where it has occurred to me I should nip this in the bud before I start having problems or become physiologically addicted. It's amazing how subtly it creeps up, too, and then all of a sudden you realize you're transferring over-indulgence in one area to another.

Pookey, I second Lisa-- I hope your surgeon can come up with a better plan for you.

nevermind

Ladies, I just think some of it is out of our control. In fact, when I hear about how hard you all work with slow results, I know that it isn't a matter of what I did right that you're doing wrong-- no way! I lost 100 lbs and part of it was just plain old dumb luck. Many of you are way healthier in behavior than I am. I hate to say this because I don't want to be the cause of anyone's pain and I truly believe that it isn't fair-- but I don't exercise and haven't really done much in the way of sustained physical activity this entire time. I ate low carb for the first 6 months and have been more relaxed since then, so it isn't even some magical calorie or specific food-type eating plan that got me 100 lbs down. Honestly, I think it's that I actually have a relatively small build underneath all of the fat, and that I hadn't dieted or messed with my metabolism at all in 10 years before getting surgery, so my body was willing to cooperate if I just ate less and ate healthy most of the time. I only say all of this because I want you to know-- you are not a failure and most of you seem to be doing even more than I did but having slower results. It's frustrating and unfair, but as long as you stay honest with yourself and keep pushing, I have to believe that eventually you will see better results.

Yesterday I was a bad bandster. I had a Zone Perfect Protein bar for Breakfast, 5 meatballs with marinara for lunch, a low-sugar/non-fat grande salted caramel mocha frappachino, 1 oz of cheese, and tortilla chips with queso for dinner. Oh, and a couple of sliced pickled beets for dessert (what, they're sweet and low calorie!). Don't model yourself after me. I'm sort of maintaining by default right now, so this is not the diet of a a loser. Today will be more normal. Protein Bar for breakfast, bean and cheese wrap for lunch, and about 1/2 of a baked pork chop with a small romaine salad for dinner. I'll probably also have cheese for a late afternoon snack. My band is not tight and if I'm careful I can eat pretty much anything, just a much smaller portion of it than I used to. I like it this way.

I started at 46H and I'm now in a 34F (or triple D). They look horrible-- there is definitely plastic surgery in my future to fix these puppies. While I'm glad to be smaller and I do look proportional (with a bra on) believe it or not, I have the breasts of a 90-year-old woman under all the support. Moral of my story-- careful what you wish for I hope you have better luck.

The beauty of the band, ebeeze, is that it's endlessly adjustable-- not having success in the first year is very disappointing and frustrating, but you can absolutely start anew as you're planning and get it to the point where it is helping you. To me, that's what makes the band amazing. If you had the bypass, if you didn't lose the first year you are definitely not going to all of a sudden lose in year two. But the band can absolutely still work for you. Just don't give up.

You have our support betheboo-- I'm glad you're seeing someone. We can all use all the help we can get!

For the first six months I pretty strictly low-carbed. Then I mostly low-carbed with some occasional treats thrown in. Now I'm eating whatever. And I'm stuck But, for me, low carbing helped me kick the weight AND helped me do it without hunger and with three small fills over the course of the year.

Total truth. Here's the thing-- most people would not BELIEVE how different people treat you when you are thin(ner). And at least for me, it's total crap that I'm more confident now (that's the nice explanation I've seen used) -- I have always been confident and outgoing and the person I am has never changed. What has changed is that the hot girl (ha) that I've always felt like now matches my exterior. It's one thing to get more attention from strangers-- that's totally expected. But it is quite another to suddenly get attention from people who haven't given you the time of day in YEARS of knowing them. I have a few coworkers (male) who have regularly ignored my presence for a long time and who now want to talk to me every time we cross paths. I have gotten to that point where I'm just rude when they approach me, because you've got to be kidding me. The thing is, I don't even think it's a sexual thing, like they are coming on to me-- I just think they suddenly "see" me because they aren't trying so hard not to look.

I am sorry, but this attitude is really concerning to me. I know a lot of people on this site look up to you because of your success and experience, as they should, but this is extreme. Sure, people who don't eat a lot of food aren't fat. . . but they also aren't always healthy or even alive. You are right-- don't eat enough and you will in fact eventually starve to death.

It's both. Sure, if you starve yourself, eventually you will starve. But that doesn't mean that your body doesn't fight to keep what it can when it's clear you're not eating enough to sustain your health. If you are eating less than 600 calories everyday, then you're in eating disorder territory. I'm not saying you have an eating disorder, I'm just saying that with your exercise level and lack of calories, you are in the territory. It's probably time to have a really honest discussion with your doc about what you're doing and WHY (i.e., you eat 300 calories because you just aren't hungry vs you eat 300 calories because it makes you feel pride in your ability to control your food intake and/or it's related to extreme perfectionism). Good luck.

The diet industry has been selling us "fat free" and "low fat" for decades now, when it's the sugar that really matters. It is empty calories that get burned very quickly and lead to increased hunger/craving of more sugar. The nice thing is that now the sugar-free items are often made with sugar substitutes other than aspartame, so if you have a bad reaction to that, look for other sugar subs like stevia or splenda.

Looks great! Thanks for sharing.

I think it's fine. If someone doesn't want to give, or would prefer to help someone get a kidney transplant, then they have the right and ability to do so. It's not like WLS is frivolous-- I mean, sure if someone was trying to raise money for a boob job (even a post-WLS-boob job, lol), I'd think it in very poor taste. But obesity is a serious health condition just like kidney disease.

Hi folks-- I was at one year on Saturday and have lost 103 lbs since surgery day, 132 overall. I go in for my "one-year check up" this afternoon. It's been a good year. I'm in size M tops and size 10 pants (a few 8's too). I feel pretty great. There are definitely things I need to work on: DRINKING WATER. I also need to exercise. My body needs some work in terms of tone, lol. Let's just say that even with exercise, there is plastic surgery in my future. I'd like to lose 15-20 more lbs. I'm at 161, which is still "overweight" and mentally I really want to be in the "normal" BMI range. However, I haven't lost in a month because I'm eating more than usual. I don't think it's a fill thing-- I think it's a mental thing. I realize now what it must be like to keep up motivation when you aren't losing. When I was losing so consistently, I had a weekly motivation to keep going. It's harder when the scale isn't cooperating.

I don't know about you all, but I do adore vanity sizing. I don't care if it's not accurate. According to Ann Taylor, I am a size 8. It's too bad I'm too cheap to actually buy Ann Taylor pants, but that's what my thrift store is for So where else should I shop for my "size 8" pants?

I suspect that the person giving you trouble has had lots of people turn down the appointment and then, two weeks later, change their mind and harass her about why they have to wait several more weeks for an appointment because they NEED THAT FILL NOW! Her annoyance probably wasn't directed at you really, which makes it unfair that you had to deal with it but also not something you should take personally. Still, you are completely right that only you get to decide when you need one

You do have support here, but you need to see an eating disorders specialist. Admitting you have the problem is so important, so good for you, but now it's time to seek some help before it wrecks your health AND your relationship with your body and your nutritional needs.

Today I brought a single pack of frozen veggies (Green Giant makes several "just for one" varieties) and an all-beef sausage. I nuked them both, cut up the sausage (no bun), and got Protein and veggies for 250 calories. I always keep packs of instant oatmeal for days I forgot to bring anything else-- just add Water and nuke and it's filling enough for either Breakfast or lunch. I love leftovers the best-- recently I've brought left-over meatballs in tomato sauce and left-over barbecue chicken quesadilla. Both are easy enough to microwave and full of protein. Plus, knowing that I have to stretch a meal over at least dinner and lunch the next day makes me careful to not overeat at dinner so I have enough leftover for lunch. Cook only the right amount for two servings (don't overcook), and then you know exactly when you have to stop if you want to have a satisfying meal the next day too.

Our caf is the same (but luckily I'm not a student, so I don't have to eat there every meal). You have my sympathies. I don't have many suggestions on top of the others. Take advantage of any fresh fruit offered. f the salad bar has hummus, you can dip fresh veggies in it. If you have to get Protein on a bun/bread, just take it off the bread before you eat it. Frankly, if you watch your portion and eat a bandster-small serving you can eat almost anything. I think the main problem you'll run into is lack of variety and I'm sorry about that-- but it is temporary and won't be this way for the rest of your life. Try to keep that in mind.

I was banded one year ago, yesterday I started my 6 month diet at 293 and did low-carb. I found out after 5 months that even though my insurance company covers the band, my employer excluded it, so my surgery got put on hold until I could switch to my husband's plan. By the time I got approved, it was a year later and I returned from my August 2010 vacation at 286. Knowing that I had surgery in a month and completely determined to get my head in the game, I put myself on a strict Atkins low-carb diet for the entire month + between vacation and surgery (my doc only required liquids for a week). I lost 22 lbs and went into surgery at 264. I cannot stress enough how I believe that the pre-op diet I put myself on was the key to my success. I got a jump-start on everything, so that by the time I had surgery, my appetite/stomach was already shrunk and I was mentally used to having to control what I put in my mouth.I kept low-carbing (but less strictly) for the first 6 months of my banded life. In December 2010 I weighed 220, and I hit Onederland in March 2011. Today, one year after surgery, I weigh 161. I am thisclose to a normal BMI and I have every confidence I'll get there someday, even though my loss has really slowed down over the last month. I wear a medium in shirts and a 10 (almost 8) in pants. As suggested in this thread, some brands I am a size 8, lol! I keep my band on the "loose" side. I have had three fills, so I've got some in there, but my goal has always been to feel appetite suppression, NOT restriction. My band does not stop me from eating food, I stop me from eating food and I try to make healthy choices 70-80% of the time. Because of that, I have only gotten stuck and PB'ed (a non-lower-stomach type of vomitting) one time-- last month, actually, on a piece of raw broccoli I clearly didn't chew. I do have room for improvement. I don't really exercise and so my body is not in as good a shape as it could be if I did. I'd most likely be in a smaller size of clothing and of course, have better cardiovascular health. It has also been really difficult for me to remind myself to drink Water and I am HORRIBLE at getting in the amount of liquid I need to in a day. Anyway, there is my story-- good luck to you on your November surgery. Obviously, my number one piece of advice is to get your head straight now-- don't look at the next two months as your last chance to eat xyz-- it isn't your last chance, for one, and even if it were-- I promise, no single food or drink is worth the price in trying to hold onto it like it gives our lives some special meaning. Practice some of the behaviors you'll have to rely on later and that post-op "bandster hell" time won't be such hell.

Yay for you, Dave! Congratulations