Dave_NW

Thanks! In a few months you can be at the same place. it's all about knowing what works for you, then working the plan. Good luck! Dave

How large are your fills? As you can imagine, a .5cc fill will be less effective than a 2cc fill, right? I've had a total of seven fills now, but they were in various amounts. It's the total you have in your band, as compared to what you need, to experience the benefits. So the number of fills is less important than the results of those fills. Everyone has a different requirement, and shouldn't be compared to each other. I have 9.2cc in my 14cc band, and I'm right at my green zone. But right here on LBT there are people who have zero fill and who are doing fine. (I think they're amazing people, but that's just me... ) If you're feeling hungrier than ever, you may want to have your doctor comfirm how much you actually have in your band. They can do that by drawing out everything in your band, to confirm it's empty, then refilling it to the right level. If you have a leak, you may not be as filled as you think you are. Talk to your surgeon's team about what you're experiencing, and find some answers. No sense being frustrated. Good luck! Dave

Jenny, I'm glad to hear you're down more weight. You may not know this, but it's important to understand: Weight loss is rarely a direct linear thing. That is to say, for every 3500 calories you burn, you won't necessarily lose one pound at that exact moment. Your body hangs onto unneeded weight for a bit, then dumps it all at once. So you may go for a time at the same weight (and feel like you aren't losing anything), then your system drops a few pounds all at once. That's totally normal, and is what you should expect to experience as you go forward with this. The image I use when trying to get people to understand this concept is the side view of a loading ramp, when compared to the side view of a staircase. With a loading ramp, things slope smoothly and evenly at the same downward angle. This is how weight loss does NOT happen. The side view of a staircase is a more realistic image: You go along at the same weight for a time, then suddenly drop to the next lower step. Then you go along on that step for a time, and suddenly drop to the next lower step. Each step is your current weight. Weight loss works that way, with varied lengths of time on each step. As your metabolism adjusts to the changes you're forcing on it, it gives up hanging onto those extra pounds, and you drop down to the next step. Over time, the average will be a pound lost for each extra 3500 calories burned, but the actual pounds lost will come as periodic losses. The hardest part of the whole weight loss thing is developing the patience and perseverence to stick to your daily eating plan, exercising regularly, and allowing your body time to catch up to itself. As you go along you'll see how this works to your advantage, and how "slow and steady" wins that weight loss race. Good luck! Dave

Relax. The pre-op liquid diet is used by some surgeon's to try to shrink the size of your liver, which will make the band surgery a little easier to perform. In the bigger picture, your "cheats" are a non-issue. I had one DAY of pre-op liquid diet, and I did just fine during surgery. Post-op, cheating is more of an issue. but for now, don't worrry about it. and don't confess anything to anyone. This is none of their business, and you don't need anyone stressing you out right now. Good luck! Dave

Is there an independent fill center where you're located? I'm told these "over the counter" companies make it more affordable. (I have no direct knowledge, this is only what i've heard.) Good luck! Dave

A properly adjusted lap band will provide pressure on the vagus nerve, essentially dimming your appetite for several hours at a time, and will allow you to feel satiated with a smaller volume of food. Without the band, eating similar amounts of food results in undeniable hunger after a short period of time. So you may be able to eat like a bandster without the band, but how successful would you be doing that long-term? The band helps you in your weight loss - it won't do it for you, but it gives you an edge you don't have without the band. I know I wasn't able to maintain any sort of weight loss before being banded. I lost and regained the same 20 pounds about ten times. In eight months I've been able to get back to a weight I haven't seen in about fifteen years. I like having that sort of results, because at this point, I could eat this way forever. Keep in mind you were only recently banded, and you've only had one fill. It takes several fills till the band starts showing itself, by affecting how you eat, and how you feel after eating. So you're still in that gray area where the band is still being fine-tuned for your body. Give it time. One of the most important things a bandster needs to develop is patience. Dave

Good luck to you as well. I know this is an important choice, and you've done your research. I came to LBT after deciding against sleeve surgery. Proof that everyone needs to make the decision that's best for them. Wishing you a safe and successful surgery! Dave

I have some great compression shirts made by Powerbody, sold on the JC Penney website. www.jcpenney.com (search by the brand.) The shirts come in a couple of styles, basically a T-shirt design, with or without sleeves. Cotton blend, very comfortable. Sizing runs a bit small, so I recommend ordering one size up. I'm wearing size L shirts now, and find the XL Powerbody shirts fit great. Looks like a regular t-shirt under an outer shirt. Best part: These shirts are currently selling for $19.99 each, in either style. Highly recommended. Dave

I used to drink lots of Diet Pepsi. I haven't had a carbonated soft drink since last November, a few days before I was banded. I honestly don't miss it. I drink iced tea with Splenda now. Or Crystal Light. Or even plain ol' ice Water. Dave

People who are the most uninformed sometimes have the strongest opinions. Their ignorance and opinionated attitudes are classic. Don't take it personally, but do remember that this mistreatment is very typical. Step back, take a breath, and move on. And good luck on your journey! You have better friends here. Dave

One question I was asked while being interviewed for surgery was whether I was willing to commit to exercising daily. At the time, being around 320 pounds and grossly obese, I said, "Well, um, yeah... I guess so." When they presented me with the option of RNY surgery, the mere thought of cutting up my insides left me feeling sick to my ample stomach. So I looked at the lap band in a better light, and decided that was where I would go, even if it did "force" me to get off my lazy butt and get to the gym. I initially wanted the surgery to do all the work while I laid around and di nothing to assist. Now, only eight months after surgery, and 114 pounds lighter, I look forward to going to the gym four or five days a week. I'm working my no-longer-lazy butt off for this process, and the band, for me, has been absolutely AWESOME! I have ZERO regrets, and there is no way I'm going to ask to have it removed. It works if you make it work. if you don't, then it won't work. There's kind of a corollary there. If your surgeon is for real backing away from band surgeries because of issues his patients are having, I'd immediately quesiton how good he is at his job. Certainly i'd want to know about the quality of after care his band patients receive. Surgeons make a lot of money doing band surgeries, so it seems highly suspect that one would suddenly get the moral compass to decide not to do the surgery for the reason you're being told. And if it's true, then find another surgeon. Good luck! Dave

I have the Bodyedia Fit BT version as well. Love it a LOT! After you get yours, let me know if you have any questions. Dave

Agreed. But she had ABOUT four bites of seafood alfredo, ABOUT four bites of gnocchi soup, and ABOUT half a breadstick. That would fill up any bandster for awhile. Note that she doesn't say how BIG those four bites were, right? Dave

Jess, have you tried these links? I don't know your budget, but it may be worth checking out: (First two are not Bluetooth, but the third and fourth are.) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=CBC31739EA37CC9FA5B651662641174E.bbolsp-app01-01?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=8391147181257197764&id=pcat17071&type=page&st=bodymedia&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960 also http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11596707&search=bodymedia&topnav=&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search〈=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode%20matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=bodymedia&Ntt=bodymedia&No=0&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial BT version: http://www.amazon.com/BodyMedia-Armband-Weight-Management-System/dp/B0049POHK6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313785108&sr=8-2 And this one is the Bodymedia website itself. Includes a free Smart phone, too: http://www.bodymedia.com/Shop/Armband-Packages/Armband-BW-Activity-Manager Dave

Sounds like a plan. I only drink one shake a day, and it's first thing in the morning. I try not to drink my calories, too, which is why I eat solids about an hour after having the shake. My fill PA advised me to get something into my stomach as early as possible every day, so my body would have something to digest besides my own muscles. After not eating all night, it wanted something to digest first thing in the morning. I used to delay breakfast for several hours, and I was losing muscle too quickly, and having trouble getting my daily protein in. After balancing out my eating plan, things stabilized, and the morning shake seemed to fit in well. I can't see your doctor having trouble with you starting with a shake, if you were to have a solid food snack after your workout. Better than you working out without any nutrition in your system, IMHO. Dave

Congratulations! Sounds like you're off to a great start! Good luck going forward. Keep us posted! Dave

It's normal. Totally normal. Enjoy yourself, and watch what will happen: You'll get tired of the process within a few days, and you'll stop being so focused on eating everything in sight. Bandsters tend to mourn the foods they know they won't be eating much of post-op. Note that I said "much of." Once you're banded, you'll learn what you can eat, what you can't and won't want to eat, and you can focus on eating in a way that works for you. After you've achieved a bit of weight loss, you'll be ready for a bit of "good behavior" reward. If you want something "off limits," plan for it. Make it part of your day's eating plan, have some of it, and move on. The band can be pretty forgiving, in terms of what it allows you to eat. It's about moderation. And just for the record, I eat at Olive Garden a couple of times a month. I usually have their Steak Toscano with extra steamed vegetables substituted for the potatoes. A third of that 12 ounce steak and part of the steamed veggies makes a good meal. I take the rest home, and have two more meals from it. While I'm at it, I have part of a bowl of Zuppa Toscana Soup, and I also munch on a breadstick or two. If I take small bites of the breadstick, taking my time between bites, and chewing it thoroughly, it goes down for me just fine. Just because you're banded doesn't mean you can't enjoy a nice meal once in awhile. You just shouldn't overdo it every day. Good luck with your journey! Dave

I've been banded just over eight months. At first I was a bit obsessed with my food management, because I didn't know how to live with my band. There is a balance required to ensure you get enough proper nutrition to stay healthy, while allowing your body to lose the excess weight. That process makes it important to understand what you're putting into your body, and how much of it you're burning off. So yes, you'll need to count calories somewhat, track what you're eating, and keep up your exercise. Having said that, nowadays, I don't obsess. I *KNOW* when I'm eating something I shouldn't, and something I should. I have my daily portions sorted out to the point that I can generally tell how much is enough, and how much is too much. I don't weigh, measure, or fixate on calories. I use my weight loss as a way to track my daily intake, and activity. If I eat too much, or the wrong kind of food, my weight loss slows, and may even stop. I never let myself gain more than a few pounds without refocusing on what I'm doing. Those extra pounds go away within a few days, and I'm back on the weight loss track. As my weight loss continues, I'm aware of what I've been doing to lose that weight, and I keep doing it. Ultimately, I take COMPLETE responsibility for what happens with my band, and my weight loss. I do not expect my band to do all the work while I eat anything I want. Whether I obsess about counting calories (never my thing, so I don't, beyond a general idea of what I eat in a day), or how much I exercise (I try for at least an hour of physical activity every day - rapid walking, recumbent bike at the gym, treadmill work, or even light weight training), and I try to focus on living my life in a way that males me feel good about what I'm doing for myself. It takes a bit of planning to stay on track every day, but no way would I consider it an obsession. Certainly not in the sense of how WW turns you into a calorie fanatic. I just don't have time for that. If I want to eat something outrageous, I eat SOME of it. I don't need much, and my band reminds me that I don't need to eat a lot of something to enjoy it. And then I move on. If I blow my eating plan one day, I refocus and get back on track the next. It's all about moderation. As someone once told me, "The sin is not in falling, it's in not getting up." Good luck with your journey! Dave

I get hiccups when I'm done eating. When it starts, it's my soft stop. Even if I'm still hungry, if I stop eating at that point I'll feel satiated within a few minutes. I don't always get them, but when I do, I pay attention. Dave

Interesting side question to this thread: Now that you're thinner, do YOU treat obese people differently? I try not to, but I find myself paying more attention to other thinner people, and kind of not paying atention to those who are obese. How embarrassing is THAT to realize? I'm forcing myself to try and not be "that guy." I never liked him. Dave

Good idea to test as you, er, "go." If you find you don't care for the shakes, remember that Costco will take back the open box and give you a full refund. So you won't be stuck with them if you don't like them. (My own TMI) As for the fiber thing, Costco also sells Fiber Gummies. They taste (kind of) like Gummy Bears. I eat a few a day, and it keeps me sort of regular. My diet is higher Protein, lower glycemic carbs, and not a lot of volume, so bathroom visits for that reason are only a few times a week. The Fiber Gummies help the movement of such things when the need is there, if you catch my drift. Dave, who is chuckling over the personal things this forum gets me to admit...

I don't mind a bit. Hell, I've been called MUCH worse! Dave

Thanks Jess. You're doing great, too! Just need to figure out how to get past this little speed bump. I understand about the low carb not being a sustainable thing for you. I'm thnking if your'e exercising that much, the carbs may be adding to your sugar load, which is holding on the pounds. Cutting them back for a few days will be a good test. I get you about Protein shakes. I liked Unjury best of all that I tried pre-op, then I discovered post-op that I'm apparently lactose intolerant. I tried faking it with soy milk and whatever else, but it was just too much hassle. I went with rtd shakes, and it was a no-brainer. I've never looked back. (But I also only drink one shake a day max.) I buy Premier Nutrition shakes at costco. You can also get them (and other flavors) from the website www.premiernutrition.com. I used to drink rtd Muscle Milk LIght, but I found I like the taste of Premier Nutrition rtd chocolate shakes better. If it's served very cold, and shaken VERY well, and if you close your eyes, they pretty much taste like chocolate milk to me. Not a bad way to start the morning, and they're easy to drink. 11.5 ounces per shake is 30g protein, 5g carbs, 1g (or it may be 2g, I forget) of sugar. I get a box of 18 at Costco for about $24, (watch for Costco coupons - they do go on sale for less), and I stick them all in the fridge. On my way out the door in the morning I grab one, and a straw (yikes - I drink with a straw! I have from Day One, with no problems...) and I'm good to go. By the time I get to work it's done, and I drop the empty carton in the trash. This gives my metabolism something to work on first thing, until I give it some solid food to digest later on. I also like the Premier Nutrition Protein Bars Costco sells in their granola bar section. They come in a 24-bar, two-box pack, a mixture of three flavors: a Double Chocolate Crunch, a Yogurt Peanut Crunch, and a Chocolate Peanut Butter. They average about 260 calories or so, with 30g protein, 26g carbs, 9g sugar, and 6g fat. I keep a few in my desk drawer for emergency food, and only eat about a third of one at a time. They taste great, and are very filling. Perfect when you need a little something but don't want to go buy junk food. Hope you can sort things out. Good luck! Dave

As far as I know, and have ever heard, Tricare does not require a six month weight management. In fact, their website states they won't even pay for nutritional counseling. They certainly didn't require it when I had my surgery last year. They're considered one of the easiest insurance carriers to get a surgery approval from. I suggest you go back to the Tricare website and print out the requirements, so you can show the insurance coordinator at your surgeon's office. The more proactive you are, the smoother your process will be. Good luck! Dave

I think this is the crux of the problem. Carbs are not your friend. And if I read it right, 100g of carbs daily is waaaay too much, in my opinion. You don't say how much you're eating every day, so you may want to look at your daily calories, and what they're made from. I know if I eat too many carbs, my weight loss stalls, and sometimes even stops. If I drop the carbs, the weight also drops. The PA who does my fills says to try and get 10% of daily calories as protein grams. So if I'm eating 1200 calories a day, I shoot for 120g of protein. Carbs should be 50-60% of that. (So if it's 120g of protein, I try for 60-72g of carbs.) And as for you not eating breakfast, maybe try eating a more protein-based breakfast long enough before your workout that it has time to digest some. My morning routine is to have a cup of coffee while I'm getting ready for work. Then I drink a ready-to-drink Protein shake (Premiere Nutrition brand - 30g protein) in the car on the way to work. About an hour later I eat half of a "naked" breakfast sandwich. (That's a fried egg, a slice of breakfast sausage, and a slice of cheese, but no bread.) Then I'm good till lunch. My point is that by eating like this, I get about 40g of protein and only about 5g of carbs, and all before 9 AM. Hope this helps a bit! Dave