Betsyjane

Hi Lynn. I've hear and average of 1-2 pounds a week is right where we want to be...so the skin can catch up and so we don't go into starvation mode. For me it's in fits and starts....lose nothing, then lose a chunk,,,then nothing, but it averages out to be on target.

The way I figure it, I'd much rather obsess about how to lose MORE than to just obsess about eating, like in the old days. Besides, I think the whole thing is just darned interesting. Speaking of bread...I tired so hard on high protein low carb diets, and actually felt better with them than with other kinds. Not being able to eat bread easily is a real plus as I see it, and not a disappointment at all. I'm happy about it. I guess I'm not surprised that bread came as a surprise to her. I found that I was frequently surprised at first, even though looking back, I had actually read stuff before. It's different once you step though the looking glass. The funniest one for me is that when I think I'm not losing and falling behind in my weight loss, I go back and average across all the weeks since my band, and I'm right on target. I'm usually surprised about that.

Barbara-I want to congratulate you. I know the challenges you've had with fills, etc. And yet overall, you're averaging 1.3 pounds lost per week. You're right on target, my dear.

Well, here's the other thing that keeps nagging at me. I hear so many research Drs. saying that the average loss with lap band over time is 50% of th excess weight. I want to beat the average. I don't want to be a perfectionist about it, but I'd like to do better than 50%.

I can eat anything corn-based...tortillas, corn bread. But I'd rather not do carbs....

Well, Lana, you know another thing that seems to be different is the amount of fill. Although they hadn't had much, one gal said she liked a hint of restriction and the other said she liked it REALLY tight. So if you wanted more restrictiona nd that's where you feel best, go for it! We're too late to be the gals who get NO fills! Ha! Odd to be quoting him, but Donald Trump's style of eating appeals to me. An extremely healthy "diet" at home, and then eat anything but with portion control when eating out. He also never drinks alcohol....not sure that appeals to me, but I haven't had a drink since I was banded and haven't even thought about it. I really need to hear ALL this stuff over and over. I learn bits at a time and don't retain the rest. I guess it's taking awhile to undo the bads of a lifetime.... I need to stop snacking. I know I'm OK now with it, but it's dangerous for me in the long run. AND stopping it will bring up my emotional issues, I guess, since it's the thing I keep hanging onto. I know it will bring up issues related to eating while bored. I used to live a very busy hectic life. Since I got Lupus, I have to be slower and I can't multitask, and I get bored and eat.

Well, I definitely did not learn all of that without ever needing a fill. In fact, my first 2 fills seemed to do nothing. My third fill worked, and I began the learning curve of a bandster in earnest. I find that I am still a grazer, although in miniscule amounts. I really want to attack that behavior next...for me, it will be dangerous over time. I also don 't chew my food as well as I should, although I do it 10 times better than before. I think for me, these messages are good. I am not perfect and need reminders of where I'm headed. I thought I had all the concepts down before the surgery, but for me, it is an interesting journey of little "ahas", being kind to myself when I'm imperfect, and being open to learning...sometimes learning the same lesson over and over. I'm really quite satisfied with the band, but unlearning the lessons of a lifetime takes time. I am so happy for people who get it from day 1. I'm not one of them. On the plus side, I currently have the meal thing down well. I'm getting the exercise part. Now it's time to tackle the snacking. I suspect since that's the part I was hanging onto, that's the part that will bring up the emotional issues....although I think alot of it is just about eating when bored, and I get bored when I sit still. sigh. I also think that a bitg difference for me has been in eating quietly and mindfully, in a meditative way. It's different for everyone. Congrats on your surgery date, Terry. Let us know how it goes.

Yeah. I want to improve wherever I can, but I can't complain about the weight loss so far...other than the normal impatience. I gotta quit snacking! I'm snacking on extremely low calorie foods, but I know I'm doing it out of habit and not hunger.....

I just heard a radio show today with a lap band Dr. being interviewed. He said that the people who "get it" (meaning lose a lot and consistently) are the ones who use the band for one thing----to realize they don't feel hungry anymore. Consequently they limit themselves to 3 solid low fat ,high protein, high fiber meals with no snacking....and then spend their time dealing with the emotional issues of losing food as a companion. Period. That's his summary. He said that those people who "get it" from the beginning may not even need any fills. Everybody else has to learn it somewhere along the way. He said the Atkins diet works best, and said eating mushy foods (and sliders) is as bad as eating liquids: Food should have to be a big effort to chew chew chew until liquid. Period. "No fat person has ever chewed their food well enough...They couldn't and still get all those calories in in a meal." "One reason for the mushy diet at first is to get people used to chewing food well enough." What do you think?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I just heard a radio show today with a lap band Dr. being interviewed. He said that the people who "get it" (meaning lose a lot and consistently) are the ones who use the band for one thing----to realize they don't feel hungry anymore. Consequently they limit themselves to 3 solid low fat ,high Protein, high Fiber meals with no snacking....and then spend their time dealing with the emotional issues of losing food as a companion. Period. That's his summary. He said that those people who "get it" from the beginning may not even need any fills. Everybody else has to learn it somewhere along the way. He said the Atkins diet works best, and said eating mushy foods (and sliders) is as bad as eating liquids: Food should have to be a big effort to chew chew chew until liquid. Period. "No fat person has ever chewed their food well enough...They couldn't and still get all those calories in in a meal." "One reason for the mushy diet at first is to get people used to chewing food well enough." What do you think?

Oh, we are all so good at the self loathing thing related to food, ain't we? This time around, think of it as your body you are advocating for and don't hesitate to get those Drs. involved as your aprtners in this. (Or maybe some cheaper ones.....!!!!)

I just heard a radio show today with a lap band Dr. being interviewed. He said that the people who "get it" (meaning lose a lot and consistently) are the ones who use the band for one thing----to realize they don't feel hungry anymore. Consequently they limit themselves to 3 solid low fat ,high protein, high fiber meals with no snacking....and then spend their time dealing with the emotional issues of losing food as a companion. Period. That's his summary. He said that those people who "get it" from the beginning may not even need any fills. Everybody else has to learn it somewhere along the way. He said the Atkins diet works best, and said eating mushy foods (and sliders) is as bad as eating liquids: Food should have to be a big effort to chew chew chew until liquid. Period. "No fat person has ever chewed their food well enough...They couldn't and still get all those calories in in a meal." "One reason for the mushy diet at first is to get people used to chewing food well enough." What do you think?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Lana: Sorry you're feeling puny, especially with company! I just heard a radio show today with a lap band Dr. being interviewed. He said that the people who "get it" (meaning lose a lot and consistently) are the ones who use the band for one thing----to realize they don't feel hungry anymore. Consequently they limit themselves to 3 solid low fat ,high protein, high fiber meals with no snacking....and then spend their time dealing with the emotional issues of losing food as a companion. Period. That's his summary. He said that those people who "get it" from the beginning may not even need any fills. Everybody else has to learn it somewhere along the way. He said the Atkins diet works best, and said eating mushy foods (and sliders) is as bad as eating liquids: Food should have to be a big effort to chew chew chew until liquid. Period. "No fat person has ever chewed their food well enough...They couldn't and still get all those calories in in a meal." "One reason for the mushy diet at first is to get people used to chewing food well enough." What do you think?

OK. I took it to heart that these big losers of Spivak's were doing 600 calories a day and eating like birds. Birds, I tell you! I had to decide what's right for me, and that seems to change frequently. The best I've ever felt before the band was on a diet of protein and fruit for breakfast, a salad for lunch and protein and veges for dinner. So I did it. But I added in my protein bar or diluted shake as a snack....Gotta have my chocolate. Did it for 3 days and lost a pound. Counted the calories and I went from around 1100 a day to around 950 a day. That's where I'm gonna hold 'em for now. But I'm slacking off on exercise! Gotta get back to it. If it isn't one thing it's another........ Ah, the life of a bandster.

Yeah, He definitely is the easiest. I wonder what the research will eventually show is the right way to approach it. All I know is that I'm slowly and sporadically losing wieght and I'm happy with that!

Ha! I was planning to eat at least one of everything before surgery. Sort of saying goodbye.... And then Spivak looked me in the eye during our consultation and said "It's a very bad sign if you gain weight just prior to surgery." He did it so intently, it just blew my "Last Supper"!

Bikergrammy, you're fun! Glad you've joined us.

I was self pay. Went to my first meeting, scheduled suergery, and got it done. No muss no fuss.

I don't see much difference between the ab lounge and getting a regular big exercise ball.....

Glad you're doing well, Barbara!

Teacher, dear. You wil probably experience it. Something gets stuck, and your body does this miraculous adaptation to try to move the offender on through. You product very very thick mucousy saliva.

Mixing a liquid with a solide should be a no-no, don't you think? Trying to get a full feeling while adding liquids should be counterproductive. Do you eat soups and cereals? Problems or no?

Did she ever remove her band?

Hi Brooksie. I missed you. What's up with the unfill? You OK?

I take care of my 90 year old mother, and no matter how much I love her, it is stressful. Under stress I eat wrong and PB. I have found that I have to make eating sacred and prayerful. Before I eat, I have to sit up straight, with the TV off, and take two very deep breaths. Then I have to eat slowly and mindfully, cherishing the time as the only private time I sometimes get with just me..... I need to be in a focused trance....different than the trance I used to go in to eat nonstop binging and grazing. Soemday, I may be able to eat more automatically, but I kind of hope not. I like the time getting centered.