ElfiePoo

Glad to hear everything is going well! Yes I saw on FB that you saw Riverdance <so jealous>. I saw it a few years back and I would love to see it again! Personally, after seeing Lord of the Dance and Riverdance...I liked Riverdance more. .

High protein diets do not cause damage to healthy kidneys. From the Oxford Medical Journal's Nephrology papers. Here are a few excerpts: There is certainly no scientific evidence that the high-protein diets are hazardous for healthy kidneys. Furthermore, real world examples support this contention since protein-related kidney problems are essentially non-existent in the body-building community in which extremely high-protein intake has been the norm for over half a century. Thus, Walser concluded that it is clear that protein restriction does not prevent decline in renal function with age, and, in fact, is the major cause of that decline. According to Walser, a better way to prevent the decline would be to increase protein intake. The authors concluded that high protein intake does not seem to be associated with renal function decline in women with normal renal function. In summary, for individuals with normal renal function, the risks of high-protein weight loss diets are minimal and must be balanced against the real and established risk of continued obesity. And I've also lost over 100 pounds on Atkins with no help from the band. What all of this proves is that there's more than one way to skin a cat. Oh...and I should mention that Atkins is not high protein either. It is moderate protein. I eat 60 grams per day of protein. .

Interesting...I never eat pork rinds. I do eat bacon...*maybe* an ounce per day. I also eat full fat dressings on my salad, butter on my vegies and cream in my coffee. My fats usually come in about 50-60% depending on whether I have bacon and cream or whether I forego them...which depends on my mood. My lab work is within normal range and I've lost a substantial amount of weight. My experience is similar to other *successful* long-term Atkins followers. One new pilot study from Harvard found that when people on a low-fat regimen ate exactly the same number of calories as those on an Atkins-type diet, the latter group lost more weight. An additional low-carb group who ate 300 more calories per day still lost more than the low-fat dieters. Just something to consider. If someone is happy on a low fat, low carb diet...more power to them, but there's just no evidence that the South Beach diet or any other lower fat diet is any healthier than Atkins. Fat has gotten a bad rap. There's little difference between 50% fat on Atkins and the 30% that is considered 'normal'. People don't get fat from eating fat. They get fat from eating sugar and refined carbs. Some of us got fat eating the 'good for you carbs' (brown rice, etc.) because our metabolic systems couldn't handle it. Lots of references, but my favorites: "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes and "The Diabetes Solution" by Dr. Bernstein. Another book some might find interesting is "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Dr. Malcolm Kendrik. It's a bit horrifying to learn how much of our physician's advice is given based on less than scientific studies. Bottom line - Atkins is no less healthy than South Beach except in the minds of those who believe that low fat is the only truth. .

<sigh> Please read Atkins before judging it. It is not 'super high' in fat, nor is it extreme, nor does he ever say that you can eat a pound of bacon a week. Which is not to say that there are people who do eat a pound or more of bacon a week and 'claim' they're doing Atkins. They've obviously never read the book either. .

I suppose, to be fair to the docs, most people aren't 'in tune' with their own body so they've kind of learned to just ignore the patient and rely on what they can see with their own eyes. Recipe for a disaster, in my opinion. Fortunately, my regular doctor does listen. I never mind waiting an hour past my appointment time (doesn't happen too often anyway) because I know I'll get the same thoughtful treatment. She comes into the room, sets her computer on the counter, sits down, looks at me and says, "So...talk to me."...and then (more importantly) listens. I'll be interested to hear what she has to say after she gets all the results from the testing they did. I'm still having episodes of shortness of breath, although they're lessening, and woke up in the middle of the night with one, so it's not just on exertion. I discovered accidentally yesterday that if I bend over slightly, it's almost like I can take a deeper breath...and I can feel my back sort of 'expanding' (although that's not quite the right word) and allowing the lungs to inflate. I so can't wait to be back to normal!! Elcee: Are you out there? How'd your son's surgery go? .

Most days, I could. On a few rare occasions it would rebound and come right back up and out my nose. .

I wouldn't call any WLS the easy way out. Personally, I find it easier without the band (now that I've discovered how to get rid of the hunger) because I'm not struggling with stuck episodes, intermittent band tightening and loosening, fills, unfills, etc. However, I think your post is dead on. Even if it was easy...so what?!

There's no reason you can't drink right up until you take that first bite of your meal. The Water is going to go right on through. I always waited 30 minutes after a meal and only then because if I drank with my meal, I'd get stuck. Any effect the meal in your pouch is going to have on your band/vagus nerve will happen in that 30 minutes. Sometimes I don't think these people actually think out the logical progression of how to accomplish all their interesting rules. .

I'm not sure why someone who had a bypass would think a band was the 'easy way out' since many would consider bypass far easier than the band. Bypass patients start losing from the day of surgery and are expected to lose about 2/3 of their excess weight just from the surgery. We all know the band does not work nearly that 'easily'. Sounds more like she takes some kind of personal pride in her accomplishment because she had so much to lose. I'd just ignore her. .

I'm not going to get into any arguments over the 'myth' of cholesterol but you might want to check out a book called "The Great Cholesterol Con". The link is actually a review written by Dr. Michael Eades who pulls out some of the basics. Anyway, that's all I'm going to say. Use it (or not) as you see fit. .

Good afternoon bandsters! For those not on Facebook, I spent Monday (keep thinking it was Sunday) in the hospital for 'observation'. I woke up at around 1 a.m. on Sunday morning having difficulty breathing. Then through Sunday, any little exertion would have me sitting down, short of breath again. I was finally convinced to go to the ER to make sure it wasn't a post surgery blood clot. After taking serious advantage of my insurance with a CT scan, echo of the heart, several EKG's and a ton of blood work, I was given a 'cautious' bill of health. Cautious since they still don't know why I suddenly had problems breathing. I think maybe it was because I was exerting myself too much too soon after surgery. The cardiologist wanted to put me on all sorts of blood pressure and cholesterol meds...not because I necessarily have a problem, but as 'preventative' because diabetics are at greater risk for yada yada. I don't think he was too surprised when I refused since we'd already had a go round about his 'ordering' a restricted diabetic diet of 1800 calories, 15% fat and 160gm carbs. I told him if I ate 1800 calories, I'd gain weight and if I ate 160gm of carbs I'd be back on insulin. His response, "well that's why they make medication." I think that was where I told him he could either take the restrictions off the diet, or my husband would be bringing my meals in. Then again, I don't think I ate even half of each meal because the food was so horrible! How can you screw up scrambled eggs, baked (they lied...it tasted poached) chicken or a freakin' salad?? <shudder> The were horrified at blood pressure readings of 190/80 and wanted to give me medication. Refused that too. I know what it is normally and told them their BP would be going through the roof if someone woke them from a dead sleep with a rough shake to the shoulder and then immediately took their BP. Dumbasses. Sooooo glad to be home!

Elcee: Your son's surgery is today, yes? Give us an update when you can. Good thoughts and well wishes winging your way!

Well we know the band tightens and loosens on its own, so it may be time. Isn't it nice though to only want to lose a few pounds instead of *many*? .

Our insurance company doesn't even have our social security numbers. When they first asked for them because they said they *had* to have them for identification purposes, my husband calmly handed them the pamphlet from the SS administration that said nobody can require you to give out your social security number (unless it has a government connection - opening bank accounts, driver's license, etc. etc.). They made up number for us. We didn't even give our children's numbers to the school. Personally, I'd refuse to allow them to give it out.

See...so we do think alike. I'm appalled by by idea of allowing a child to illogically refuse to eat something when they haven't even tried it. .

ROFL...love it. .

I did the in-depth research on the various weight loss surgeries. I asked the questions. Did more research. Asked more questions. I lurked on this forum and other band forums for months. Despite that, I discovered some things post band that I wish I had known before surgery. Would it have made a difference in whether or not I had it...or whether I had chosen another method than band...I don't know. When I was lurking in the forums, trying to make up my mind, there were very few negative posts about the band. When someone did post that the band wasn't working for them or they were having difficulties, other posters told them 'the band didn't fail you. You failed the band." It left the impression that the band works for everyone who works the band...and that's just not true. I wish I had known... That the band would not restrict the quantity of food I can eat. I got the band because I thought it would make me feel full or make me stop eating...which is how it was advertised at the time and what people were saying it did on the forums. Perhaps it works that way for some but it has never worked that way for me. Even at my sweet spot I can eat as much as I could pre-band *if I choose*. That the band is not consistent, even at the sweet spot, at controlling hunger. Since the band tightens and loosens even a bit on its own, there are days where the hunger is intense and days where it's controlled. On the hungry days, all I can do is white knuckle it. Sometimes I'm successful, but sometimes it goes on for enough days that I lose it. That the band can cause phrenic nerve pain that may or may not go away and which may be persistent enough and painful enough to affect my sleep, whether I can sit in a car or plane long enough to go anywhere and my range of motion and general health related to trying to prevent that pain. That eating would become a daily challenge. Foods that were fine one day, would not be fine the next depending on whether my band tightened or loosened a fraction. That, despite taking small bites and chewing well, I might still find myself in a restaurant unable to eat the meal I had just paid for because my band had tightened. I'm not trying to convince people to not get the band, or to do vertical sleeve or bypass instead. I just think it's important, and wish the surgeons would be more up front about these problems, so we can make more informed decisions about something so important. For many people, these forums are where they get the information they need when trying to make that decision, so it's important that we be just as honest about the difficulties we've faced with the band. Not to scare them off but so they have *all* the information and not just one side of it. After 16 months I am in the process of getting my band removed due to the pain it is causing me. Bypass is not an option. There are worse things in life than being fat and, in my opinion, bypass is one of them. At this point in time, I can't bring myself to do the vertical sleeve either. It's just far more invasive than I'm prepared to go at this point. I've kept journals since I was a teenager. My husband suggested I pull the journals from the period when I lost 70 pounds without the band...and kept it off for almost a decade now. When I look back at my journals from that time, some days were good days...some were bad and I had to whiteknuckle it. Much like I do now except I didn't have to deal with the pain in my arm, stuck and sliming episodes or wondering whether I was going to have to excuse myself from the dinner table. So, I've pretty much decided to give it a go on my own. One thing the band has done for me is make me far more aware of my eating habits and create new ones that make me more successful at putting down that fork and choosing the right foods. As a result, I no longer take insulin and my diabetes is under control with diet alone. So it's not an experience I regret. It's just life. We make the best choices we can with the information available to us and, if it's not successful, we regroup and revise. Just my .02. .

Ahhh ok...gotcha. .

I'm not sure why everyone thinks it's only ok to eat a hamburger 'occasionally', but I suppose it depends on what type of diet you're on. I eat a 3 oz burger at least twice a week. I'd probably eat them more but I try to vary my Protein just to keep from being bored. The only problem I had with them was when my band was too tight. A slight unfill solved the problem. .

The answer to the OP's original question is: "It depends on the individual." I was never much of a junk food person and never a sweet eater. People would look at what I ate and say there was no way I could weigh over 300 pounds eating what I did. Most of these people ate far more than I did and had no weight problem. I once saw a woman on Oprah who was about my same height and build and weighed roughly what I did. The covered a tabletop with what this woman ate in a day. If I had eaten like that, I would've weighed 600 lbs or more. Heck, I gained 12 pounds in a month on WW and told them it was no surprise since it was far more than I ever ate in a day. I understand now my body does not process carbs like a normal person. For me, it's not just 'how much' but 'what'. I always knew low carb worked best for me as far as losing weight, regulating blood sugar and better lab results but didn't realize that the whole grains and fruit I continued to eat were still the reason I was still not in optimum range on any of these and why I eventually became a diabetic. Then I read Dr. Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution" and it was an eye opener. As you can see from the variety of responses in this thread, everyone has an opinion of the best way to lose weight and be healthy...but keep in mind that applies only to that person. If I ate the type of diet recommended by many on this thread, I'd still be taking insulin and struggling to lose even a pound a week (if that) on a 1200 calorie diet...gaining on an 1800 calorie diet. If you believe just eating less will work, try it. Just for your own information, you might want to use something like Fitday.com to record what you're eating so you have something to look back at if it doesn't work. .

Good morning bandsters...I think. I think I might be having a relapse of what I had prior to surgery. I thought my sinuses were just giving me problems because the nasal cannula dried them out but now I'm having a bit off difficulty breathing although no chest congestion. I actually had to use my inhaler last night (which helped). What a PITA. I've been up for about 2 hours and I'm ready to go back to bed and crash. So I think I will. Have a good one! .

According to my surgeon, if you're following the rules (toddler sized bites, chew well, eat slowly, no drinking with meals) and you're getting stuck on the 'good' choices, it's most likely time for a slight unfill. The bad stuff will always go down. Don't expect the band to give you physical restriction. It doesn't work that way for everyone. Just look for a cessation of hunger after a reasonable meal (3 oz protein, 1/2-1 cup vegies) for about 4 hours. *That* is the sweet spot. .

I do Atkins (low carb (<30), moderate Protein (30%), high fat (60%)). I'm not sure what the food Addict's percentages are, but wouldn't be at all surprised to find they're also low fat...which is really not necessary, but I won't go there in this post. After reading Dr. Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution" and Gary Taubes "Why We Get Fat", I became more convinced that it wasn't just enough to go low carb...I needed to rid myself of those carbs that cause an immediate glycemic reaction (which causes hunger and cravings for more of those carbs). So that's exactly what I did. I cut out all grains, fruit and starchy vegetables. The only dairy I eat is cheese. There are no nutrients in these missing foods that I don't get in my vegetables. The first week was the hardest because I was withdrawing from the carbs...but after that week. Wow. I've been doing this consistently (meaning no little mistakes or cheats) for several months now and I'm never hungry or craving. Where I used to struggle to eat no more than 1200 calories, now I'm eating about 900 just because that's what makes me content. I can walk past a vending machine, fast food place or even pass by the forbidden dish if I'm eating at someone's home because the *desire* to eat is gone. Both Bernstein and Taubes talk about this inability to process these carbs as a metabolic disorder. Our bodies don't process these carbohydrates in the way it should. So we should avoid them. Just as the alcoholic must avoid alcohol. Not everyone has this problem. Some people get fat because they're emotional eaters. Some because they love their sweets and goodies. Some just because they're so darned sedentary that even 1800 calories is way over what their body is using. Others get fat doing all the right things (according to the traditional thinking) because it means eating a diet that is high (50% or more) in carbs...which creates physical cravings and hunger and a demand for even more of these carbs. So in answer to your question, can someone eat this way for life? Yes, just as some alcoholics can avoid alcohol their entire lives so we (the people who do not correctly metabolize certain carbs) can avoid our carbs. Taubes and Bernstein believe this is a healthy way of eating for everyone. I agree with them *BUT* do not believe everyone needs to eat this way. If their body can process the grains, fruit and starchy vegies...more power to them. I wish mine could...but it can't. I eat scrambled eggs in a bit of butter for Breakfast every morning, but I like eggs. There are other options. lunch is either a chef's salad with a chopped up hardboiled egg, 1/2 oz crumbled bacon, 1/2 oz shredded cheese and 2 Tbs of homemade full fat blue cheese dressing or chicken/tuna salad made with mayo and celery on half a tomato or bed of lettuce or just 3 oz of protein (pan fried, grilled, roasted, etc.) and a cup of vegies with a bit of butter or sprinkling of parmesan cheese. dinner is the same as lunch. Oh...my new daughter-in-law's stepmother has been following something called a 'Grey Sheet' from Overeater's Anonymous for the last 20+ years. She *never* strays, just as an alcoholic can never stray. She started at 450 pounds and has maintained a weight of 125 pounds for 20 years. So it can be done long term. The question you need to answer is...why do *you* eat? If I can help further, I'd be more than happy to. .

^^THIS^^. You also have to keep in mind that you've just delivered your body a big shock. You've lowered your calories *and* fat *and* you're exercising. Be patient and just keep doing what you're doing. You aren't going to lose every week. You may not even lose for a month. Just be patient. .

It's not a conversion. There is no reversal/conversion of bypass. What they're doing is placing a band *in addition to* in order to help the person deal with the hunger. There is a honeymoon phase with bypass (and sleeve) where the ghrelin is shut off so there's no hunger. After awhile though, the body figures out how to produce it again so a number of sleeve and bypass patients are getting the band in addition to their previous surgery which cannot be reversed. .