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Is your weight loss history standing between you and your current success after weight loss surgery? If you’re not getting the results you want, there’s a good chance it is. In Part 1 of the series, we brought up the idea of learning from your past, not running from it. Now, we take a look at a few more ways your past might have brought you down, and what you might be able to about it. Problem: Depending on Others This one’s not always so obvious, but it may be keeping you from reaching your full potential in weight loss and, frankly, in life. Of course, it’s normal and healthy to depend on others for some things. Maybe you rely on your spouse to pick up the kids from school, and you depend on your parents to parents to take care of your house when you’re on vacation. But what about the important things? What about your health? Do you take full responsibility for it? Or do you do what you did as a kid – depend on someone to make sure you had the food you needed and expect your parents or the doctor would make you better if you got sick or hurt? You’re still living in the past if you have not taken control of your health. You are the one who needs to purchase and prepare healthy food; set aside time to work out; eat the right foods to avoid complications from surgery. Others can help, but you need to be in charge. Problem: Looking for the Quick Fix If you look for a quick fix, you’ll probably find one. You can lose weight quickly using any number of strategies, and you’ve probably used them all from juicing to low-carb to low-fat. The problem with quick fixes is they’re quick to break, as you’ve found out when you went off the diets and gained the weight back. After WLS, don’t look for the quick fix. Be patient, and know you’re in it for the long haul. Looking for the quick fix can be something obvious that you recognize in yourself, but it is not always. Looking for the quick fix can be as subtle as subconsciously thinking of what and how much you eat as a temporary diet or thinking of your exercise program as something with a start and finish. You may be subconsciously looking for the quick fix if you’re unwilling to sign up for a long-term gym membership, or to invest in a kitchen scale or bariatric surgery recipe book. If you feel these things aren’t worthwhile, think about why. Is it because you don’t honestly see yourself needing them for long because you’re not really invested long-term into weight loss surgery success? Problem: Not Building Your Support System Many obese people struggle with late-night eating. Even if they are able to make it through the rest of the day eating reasonably healthy, night-time binges can strike furiously. If you weren’t able to overcome them previously, it may have been because you did not build enough of a support system. This time, don’t underestimate the power of your support system. Include people, such as friends and family, as well as alternate plans. You can set up many layers of protection against late-night overeating. Don’t store junk food at home, and don’t drive home past trigger spots like drive-through burger joints. Have two or three friends or family members whom you can call or talk to if you’re about to make a bad choice, and choose a pre-determined activity to do before eating, whether you decide to blog, sew, or take a walk. Also, have plenty of ready-to-eat healthy food around so it’s easier to grab than any junk. Problem: Lack of Self-Confidence Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? You think something will happen a certain way, so you act as though it will happen that way, and then it does. For weight loss, that can be a bad thing if you let it. “I know my diet’s going to fail, so I’m not going to bother weighing my food.” Then, guess what – you don’t lose weight! “I knew I wouldn’t lose weight.” But self-fulfilling prophecies can be just as positive as they can negative, especially if you have self-confidence. “I know WLS will work for me, so I’m going to hit my protein goals and weigh my portions every meal.” When you don’t even let doubt creep in, you can be more empowered to follow the behaviors that lead to success. Weight loss surgery can be a fantastic tool for weight loss, but it’s only as good as you make it. To make it more powerful, don’t run from your personal history. Recognize your past, identify what went wrong, and fix it. Make sure this time really is different.

Hey All! Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the support. Just spent about 8 hours in the ER. I went to my HMO after hours care center first and they had an ambulance transport me to the ER due to the severity of my dehydration. They had a really difficult time finding a vein to administer the I.V. It took five sticks to finally get one. Once I was transported to the ER, they were not much help. They spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to do with me. Did a barium (however you spell it) swallow and I was restricted about 99%. I was shocked the barium stuff didn't come back up. One thing I found out was the amount of vomiting I did over the last two days caused me to swell really badly. Currently, I'm open enough to drink liquid. I'm too scared to try solid food. May try some Soup later tonight. Long story short ... the ER had no one experienced with bariatric surgery. Thank God I was able to speak w/Dr. Martinez. He told me to tell them what to do - have the radiologist remove some of the fill under flouro. Unfortunately, they had no radiologist on staff. So, I didn't really get anything resolved. But, since some of the swelling has gone down I can at least drink something. So I spent all day lying in a room w/an I.V. connected to my arm. I felt a lot better getting some fluids, so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I still won't have anything resolved until next week but I feel a lot better. Again, thank you all. I am doing much better than I was when I first posted this morning.:thumbup:

I was banded October 15, 2013. My heaviest weight was 222 & when I started the Lap Band process I was 206. Since surgery I've lost 21 lbs. (I gained a few and lost a few.) But I feel like I don't have a support system (that is suitable for me) from my doctor. Most of you had doctors that had you on a pre-surgery diet, mine didn't. I had the WORST GAS PAINS EVER after surger for about a week. My band was not filled during the surgery and I went in for my first fill December 2nd & was filled with 5 cc's. Second fill February 3rd with 1.5 cc's, and I just had my 3rd fill on March 31st with 1.8 cc's. I now have a total of 8.3 in my size 11 Realize band. Next appointment is in THREE months! So far my protocol has been "stay away from breads and pastas". No meal plan, no monthly visits, no nothing. I have been relying on Bariatric Pal for my protocol, support, and advice. I feel like an abandoned child. In the begining, I do very well when I have someone to report to and a meal plan to follow. Um yes, I'm needy in the beginning then I'm ok after that. But this 3rd fill has me feeling some type of way. I'm totally lost and don't know what to eat. I'm at the point where I'm putting myself on a DIET. I made an appointment with my nutritionist and have signed up with My Fitness Pal (user name vlwx31). I have no idea how many calories I should be consuming. But I'll figure it out. I just needed to vent.

I am really started to get excited about this process now! I passed my psych eval a couple of weeks ago and now have a nutrition seminar to attend the week after Thanksgiving. I start back at the gym soon, I have an appointment next week in order to help get me back on track. Its a small, personalized gym, so accountability will be a big issue......something that I completely need! And I feel really lucky b/c I just found out today that the insurance coverage that I will have next year is one that will cover the procedure. I called the Bariatric center to make sure that it is not one of the "problematic" insurance companies. Things are slowly falling into place. I love reading these message boards, the questions, advice and encouragement are so wonderful!

Yes there are 3! My insurance wanted me to use one of them b/c they are all "in network". Amy Elizabeth Martin Great Falls (406) 455-2821 More InfoRNY, LAP-BAND® Benefis Bariatric Institute 37Dale Mortenson Great Falls (406) 452-0877 More InfoRNY, LAP-BAND®, Revision Benefis Bariatric Institute 12David Rohrer Great Falls (406) 771-8411 More InfoRNY, LAP-BAND®, Revision Benefis Bariatric Institute 96

The long-term complications of the Lap Band have been one of my top concerns. I cannot get satisfactory answers from my bariatric program. What they have said to me is, "Do the research." So I did, in peer-reviewed medical journals. And what I'm finding is downright scary, so scary that I'm at the point now where I'm probably not going to have this surgery.

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy New Year! BariatricPal wishes each of our members a happy and healthy year. We hope 2016 is a year you meet all your goals, whether they include getting weight loss surgery, hitting goal weight, or maintaining your loss. Here’s what we have in this newsletter to get you motivated and ready to go. A New Year’s Message from BariatricPal Time to Buckle Down: Here’s How Make Those Resolutions Last All Year! So take a look through the newsletter, then spend a few minutes to set your resolutions. It may help to come to the forums to talk about your goals and whatever else is on your mind! Then you may want to head out the door for a quick walk for a great start to the New Year. Happy New Year! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal A New Year’s Message from BariatricPal We want to wish all our members a happy and healthy New Year! We hope 2016 will be a year that sees you come closer to achieving your dreams. We hope BariatricPal will be an important part of your weight loss surgery support system as you work towards your goals, whether they are to look into weight loss surgery, lose weight, or maintain goal weight. A Quick Look Back at 2015 2015 was a busy year for BariatricPal! The forums have been blossoming. We have a weekly VIP Member Challenge going on. As a community, we hit a total weight loss of 3 million pounds! We also opened The BariatricPal Store! This had been in the works for a while, and it is a thrill to be able to support the weight loss surgery community through supplying healthy foods and supplements. Check the store often to see what’s on sale, and see our blog for the latest store news, recipes, and discounts. More to Come in 2016! We always have more projects up our sleeve. We expect 2016 to be filled with growth and exciting new developments for BariatricPal, so stay tuned! We know none of this is possible without your support, so a huge Thank You to all our members! Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. Unjury and Opurity BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month. Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, Chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished. Launched in 2007, Opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages: First, each multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China. Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable calcium, vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.” Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership! *You still need calcium and sublingual B-12. Time to Buckle Down: Here’s How It’s the New Year! That means the parties stop, the holiday treats disappear, and the stores advertise healthy foods for weight loss. Breathe a sigh of relief as the holiday food goes away! Easier to Focus There’s a good chance you slipped up a little during the holidays and need to get back on track. Even if you were perfectly disciplined, you may appreciate going back to your regular life. It’s easier stick to your everyday routine when there aren’t as many distractions. Go with a Sensible Plan For most WLS patients, a detox or fad diet isn’t the way to go. The most effective is to go back to the basics, cliché as that sounds. Focus on lean proteins and fill up on vegetables. Drink a lot of water. Eat slowly. Plan ahead. Measure your portions and log every bite. Make a Few Resolutions Remember to make them controllable, feasible, and clear. Here are some examples of better and less good resolutions. Controllable: “I will log every bite of food and stick to my 1,200 calories a day.” Not controllable: “I will lose 2 pounds every week.” You can’t control what the scale says, but you can control what and how much you eat. Feasible: “I will work out 5 days a week, leaving myself 2 days to recharge.” Not feasible: “I will work out every day.” What happens if you get sick, need a little extra sleep, or need to take a friend to the doctor? Did you fail at your resolution? Clear: “I will have fish three times a week.” Not clear: “I will eat more fish.” How do you know if you’re following your resolution if your goal is to eat “more” fish? How much is “more?” Set the Stage for Success Regardless of your specific resolutions, you’ll make more progress in your weight loss surgery journey if you set up your environment to help you succeed. Clear out your kitchen – pumpkin pie, egg nog, and Christmas cookies should be nowhere to be found. Restock it with nutritious foods you need. It should be packed with lean proteins, such as chicken, fat-free dairy products, tuna, eggs, and beans. There should be fresh vegetables and fruit, plus frozen and canned ones to do in a pinch. Round it out with some whole grains such as oatmeal, and healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil. Get your kitchen scale and measuring cups out of storage and put them in a prominent place. Check the gym schedule, get out your workout clothes, and lace up your walking shoes so you’re ready to get out the door for some exercise. There are some extra steps you can take to make progress easier this year. For example, if you’re still gathering information on weight loss surgery and trying to choose a surgeon, make a list of surgeons’ phone numbers and questions so you’re ready at a moment’s notice to make the necessary calls. Make Those Resolutions Last All Year! This year, make it easier to keep your New Year’s Resolutions with a subscription to your weight loss products from The BariatricPal Store. Choose your favorite protein bars, shakes, and smoothies, bariatric vitamins, instant meals, and great-tasting snacks. You’ll be reminded to focus on your goals every time you receive a delicious delivery from The BariatricPal Store! Just select “Subscribe and Save” on eligible products. Receive your products every 1, 2, or 3 months (your choice). Choose the quantity you want to receive. Get an automatic 10% discount on your subscription items. When your healthy meals are delivered year-round, there’s no need to go off your meal plan. You save time and can be confident of being nourished while you lose weight. That’s what we have for this newsletter. We wish you the best in your weight loss surgery journey in 2016, and hope you’ll keep sharing your goals and progress with us on the forums. Again, Happy New Year!

I had surgery on Tuesday the 19th in Las Vegas and had to stay in town for 2 days after surgery just in case since my town has no bariatric Dr's. for the first 2 days after surgery everything I drank be~it Water, crystal light beef broth I threw it all up Wednesday I only threw up 5 times but yesterday I threw up about 30. went and saw my surgeon and he told me it was mostly from anxiety which make sense It is very hard for me to have people do things for me and it was horrible staying in the hotel room and ive been feeling bad. My surgeon told us to throw out everything I know and just use anything I can keep down for the moment. We are home now and I feel better havent thrown up at all. My hubby and daughter went out and bought me some SF Popsicles, SF Snapple tea, and poweraide. I have tried the popsicles and snapple and been doing ok. tonight he made me some chicken Soup and strained out the noodles and it felt awesome. Then I made a cup of warm orange constant comment tea and it felt good too. My ? for you all did you have better luck with warm things or cool things? I normally like everything cold but would love to hear from you all and hear your suggestions. Please any help would be awesome. Thank you in advance :} Katrina

Note also that the maximum follow-up was 9 years. Chances are things go awry for traditional interventions much sooner than that, and I've read studies that say 90% of people put every pound back on within 3 years. These are grim statistics, and I would hope it would only cause more insurance to cover bariatric surgery, and above all, I hope that in time the "eat less and lose more" rhetoric becomes as backwards as racism and gender discrimination.

OMGosh, a remote control adjustable band?!!!!!!! You have GOT to be kidding?! How exciting is that??? WOW! Okay, here's the basic US info in regards to banding. If you have private insurance and WLS is a covered benefit, a local bariatric surgeon can do your banding. If you don't have insurance, or if your insurance does not provide such benefits, you have to pay cash for your band (like me) and if it's too expensive, you can go to Mexico (like me) and have it done for a bit less cash. Some Americans will travel to Europe or other places to get banded. The only US FDA (Federal Drug Administration) approved band is the Inamed. So even if Americans get banded in another country, many times they will be sure to get an Inamed band so that local aftercare can be found. Many many bariatric surgeons will not provide fills or other band care for bands that are not FDA approved. However, we do have a few folks here with the Swedish Band, or the French Mid-Band, although I am still unsure about the differences. For the most part, the folks on this board have one of the Inamed bands. As for hospitals, it seems banding is taking a turn and being done more and more in outpatient surgery centers. In the past, they have been done in hospitals with 1-2 overnight stays. hmmmm, does that begin to answer your questions? Wow, a remote control band...that is soooooooooo cool!

I had several upper endoscopy scopes that diagnosed a "Gaping Hiatal Hernia". The last one was about a week before surgery to double check how involved my surgery was going to be. I had also had a Bravo monitor done about 3 months before I started the Bariatric program. (A Bravo monitor is where they sew a small device high up in the esophogus and and you wear a monitor around your waist and it measures how much acid reflux is flowing up your esophogus. Mine was quite high, and was one of the reasons that I decided that if I needed a hiatal hernia repair, then I might as well go full bore and get the VSG as well....)

Welcome!! Sorry you had such a rough time in the hospital. I was lucky to be at a hospital with a bariatric program and all the nurses and CNA's were understanding. I was sleeved on the 9th and I also had a hiatal hernia repaired. I wish I could move to full liquids now...the Isopure is killing me and I can't move to full liquids until after my post-op appt on Friday. Anyway, welcome!!...there is a lot of great info and support here!!

[quote name=Lisa ' timestamp='1321242758' post='228876] Welcome!! Sorry you had such a rough time in the hospital. I was lucky to be at a hospital with a bariatric program and all the nurses and CNA's were understanding. I was sleeved on the 9th and I also had a hiatal hernia repaired. I wish I could move to full liquids now...the Isopure is killing me and I can't move to full liquids until after my post-op appt on Friday. Anyway, welcome!!...there is a lot of great info and support here!! The Hospital I was at DOES have a bariatric program!! They were full and I was overflowed onto the onocology floor

Boy oh boy, I know this one -- the whole taking up of time and space, being "too big" in a way. So, when we were bigger we were taking up less of that kind of space -- offing ourselves? And the getting too personal, feeling judged. I find myself worrying over offending two different people this week. As I come further into my own this will be inevitable, I suppose. If I stand up for myself or elect what I want instead of meeting others' needs first, then there will be times when things don't line up. Yikes, disappointing some one? Well, I disappointed myself for years instead -- no more. And no tamping down those feelings with food so there they are, front and present. It's great that you were able to really tune in and notice that you weren't getting a stop signal -- and that you chose healthy food to eat. As for the Wham Bam Thank You Mam, maybe the doctor felt like he got too personal and he pulled back for some reason of his own -- thoughts of Italy might have swept him away for a moment and he felt uncomfortable. The last two times I saw my Bariatric surgeon I found myself to be quite effusive -- I'm so excited, and being in that setting is a reminder of how far I've come. I think I blow them all away a bit, that I am an unusual person anyway, artist type, etc. Shy but then spurts of Not Shy. I look forward to being in situations where people are not comparing me to what I was like before, seeing me as a size change, etc. I want to be taken as I am. Your posts are wonderful -- yes, lucky us for being on the sidelines.

I happen to like the chocolate. But everyone's taste is different. Some people swear by the Bariatric advantage I wanted to vomit drinking them. I don't think the premeir protein tastes like chocolate milk though. I also lime unjury and I think their chocolate tastes like chocolate milk when made with milk

Hello everyone, I'm new here. I'm getting lap band next month at bariatric solutions on Decatur TX, anyone have some good advise for me? I've talked to a few people that have had it, but just want some great advise from some other people. Thanks!

I think that people can be a bit insensitive when discussing the issue of bariatric surgery. I dont think its a person's duty to wear a t-shirt that says "Hey i've had bariatric surgery" but when people ask about the weight loss i think the banded person should be honest because if you lie then you are giving someone false hope....and if you tell the truth you can inspire someone. That person may have been thinking they were doomed to remain overweight. Alot of obese people feel that surgery is for the super obese, that surgery isnt N option for them...which isnt true. So i guess the army's slogan in regards to homosexuality also applies to surgery...dont ask dont tell.

nyteacher125: I thought the same thing. All being medical professionals, I was hoping for a little more understanding in scheduling with the Bariatric Center office. My chief/boss seems happy for me, which I'm grateful for his understanding and willingness to work with me. But I work in Anesthesia, and we are require to have so many CRNA's during certain hours of the day. So leaving early and/or coming in late is really hard to accomplish. Valentina: Thank you so much for the info! I feel a bit better knowing that maybe I can figure out doubling up (or more) my one on ones on the same day. No hernia or ulcer to complicate scheduling further. I'll definitely ask about multiple surgery dates, that's a great idea. The Bariatric Center near me is a Center of Excellence, but it does not offer on-line seminars. I'm hoping to find someone in their office who is willing to work with me. The ladies I talked to at the info session were less than helpful. I'm trying to remain hopeful that I can find just one person at the center willing to understand my scheduling issues. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hmmmmmmm, I've always said Never take financial advice from broke people Never trust a skinny chef Now I can add........ Never trust an obese bariatric surgeon.

You lost 55 pounds in six weeks (down 125 pounds total) and you’re questioning your decision? That’s an amazing weight loss already! Remember, the less you weigh, the slower the weight comes off. I definitely understand being obsessed with the scale but I encourage you to focus on NSVs also. And think about long-term goals. I know it’s going to take me about a year to lose 115 pounds, so I am taking it day by day. I recommend working with a bariatric therapist or seeking behavioral strategies from Overeaters Anonymous or a mindful eating program to learn to stop eating when full. It can be really tough especially when you love the food you’re eating. But, this is a journey and a battle and we have so many resources to help us. Good luck!

Hi, My lapband surgery is today, so I'm not a bariatric expert but, I have the same problem and I found if I chew on a plastic drinking straw, it helped satisfy my oral fixation for awhile. Hope it helps.

Wow sounds delicious!! Will try thanks have been racking my brain just bought a bariatric cookbook for kindle so if i find anything good will post. Congrats on the weight loss feels great doesnt it....

I'm about 4 months post-op. I ran out of bariatric Vitamins for a period during the holidays and some extensive travel. I noticed during that time despite generally complying with the diet recommendations that my rate of loss slowed to a crawl. I recently got my bariatric vitamins replenished and have been taking them for about a week and have noticed the rate of loss seems to have picked back up. Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm wondering if this is just a coincidence, if I was just in a stall, or if proper Vitamin supplementation really has an impact on the rate of weight loss.

I am fortunate as the surgical team that did my reversal is the same team that will do the sleeve. When they did the reversal they had to remove a portion of the fundus was already removed. Sounds like similar rules... My biggest fear is that i won't feel the restriction. I am in Canada and because the reversal was deemed medically necessary and because sleeving me was part of the entire plan at the time of reversal, the sleeve will be covered here. I have been considering going self pay to re-RNY me (since undoing the rny did not resolve the issues, I could conceivably re-RNY with no additional impact) but if there is a chance I can achieve my 35-40 lb re-lose to goal with just a sleeve, then I (and my body) would be ok with the less drastic. I think the RNY was great and it did help me lose well over 120 lbs. I see that a lot of people also go from a sleeve to an RNY so its likely an option, if I need the stricter controls of the RNY, that this is something that could be explored later but I would really like whatever option I go with in June to be the last step. I went so far as to start looking into RNY surgeons as self pay last week but I think I need to get more feedback from the bariatric community (to be honest I was happy with the RNY being the only step and it makes me sick to my poor overly abused tummy that it was reversed...)

I am scheduled for surgery on 1/30 and my Doctors office requires purchasing Bariatric Advantage Protein powders. They gave me a bunch of samples to see what flavors I like. I still have the unflavored packet because I'm not quite sure what to do with it. I will be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks and I am sure I will be looking for variety. How did you use your unflavored Protein powder during the liquid stage and beyond? What else did you do for the liquid stage beyond the Protein shakes? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App