Search the Community

You need to talk to someone. You swapt out 1 addiction for another. This is very common. I new a guy that was over 400Lbs. , and lost the weight with the Band. Only to take on Alcohol, and Narcotics...

I am almost five months post op from having my Verticle Gastric Sleeve. I had my surgery at the INT hospital in Tijuana, Mexico. Right off the bat, I have to say, it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I feel SO much better, having lost 90 pounds so far. And I know that I look better! My family has had mixed reactions. But I am thrilled! I have always been heavy, fat, fluffy, large, obese, what ever you want to call it. Once, when I was pregnant with our second child, I was so nauseated, I lost about 30 pounds at the beginning of the pregnancy. My doctor told me to eat more. I told him how nauseated I was, how I just couldn't eat. He said "You have to force yourself to eat!" And I thought "Just my luck! THE ONLY TIME IN MY LIFE I AM SUPPOSED TO FORCE MYSELF TO EAT, AND I AM NAUSEATED!!!" Never before or since has anyone ever told me to force myself to eat!! I had my surgery the middle of June this year, and have lost a total of 90 pounds so far. I now wear a size 12, and am coming up fast on a size 10. (I tried on a pair of size ten slacks this morning, and they fit, but are tight. Didn't buy them. Just wanted to see if I could get them on!) But what a thrill. I know that as a child, I went straight from children's sizes to a women's size 16! Never, ever wore a size smaller than a 16. And gradually since my marriage (40 years ago!) I have gained a few pounds each year, taking me to an all time high of 260 lbs. I am a travel nurse. My specialty is Labor and Delivery. I love to work with laboring women! Don't so much care for delivered women or babies, but I love the laboring women! I have been working as a travel nurse for about 5 years now. A travel nurse contracts out, through an agency, to work for a hospital for a set number of weeks, usually 13 weeks at a time. At first I only worked contracts around Iowa, my home state. Then about three years ago, I took a contract in California, and have been working off and on in California ever since. I have been at my current contract for over a year. At the end of each contract here, they have just kept offering me extensions. So I have stayed here. I love it here in Merced, CA, but my current contract is over in a few weeks, and I have decided to go home,. My husband is lonely living alone, and it is of the highest importance to me is to keep him happy! When I initially started working in California, I thought I would use my time here to get thinner. I had an image of everyone in California being tan and thin and good looking. (The Hollywood Image I guess.) But it didn't work that way. I was lonely, living all by myself with no family or close friends, and I cooked and baked, and ATE! (Did I mention that I LOVE to cook and bake? Wish I had discovered this talent 40 years ago, I would have been a chef instead of a nurse!) I gained almost 40 pounds living in California by myself. So about a year ago, I started considering having bariatric surgery. My first cousin IS a bariatric surgeon, and I even went for a consultation with him. However, our insurance wouldn't cover it at all, and even though he offered to do the surgery free of charge, I would still have to pay the hospital and anesthesia charges out of my pocket. So I opted for going to Mexico and having the surgery there. I have previously expressed on this board my mixed feelings about my surgery in Mexico, so won't repeat it here. But the end result has me thrilled to death! I love the results I have gotten, and am so happy with my outcome. I couldn't ask for better results. No complications other than a persistant fatigue that hounded me for the first 4-6 weeks post op. But now am over that, and loving the way my life is now. I get so many compliments on how I look, and how much I have lost. Everyone has been so nice about it. I can't say enough about how my friends have supported me. It is going to be interesting to go home in a few weeks and see how my friends there react to me. When I first told my four children I was going to have the surgery, they all expressed displeasure and negativity about it. My son's mother-in-law had a Roux-N-Y surgery (another bariatric surgery) about 8 years ago, and she lost a huge amount of weight. But has gained it all back. She drinks quit a bit, and I think her alcohol consumption has contributed to her weight regain significantly. A good friend of mine who also has always been heavy had a Roux-N-Y procedure 9 or 10 years ago, and she too has gained most of her weight back. I look at them, and it re-doubles my determination not to gain my weight back. I want so strongly to maintain the loss I have achieved and continue on till I get to goal. (Also, I have given away ALL my fat clothes, so I HAVE to stay this thin, or go naked which would NOT be a pretty sight!) I told my husband at the outset, when he expressed his concerns about my having surgery, I am not doing this to look better, I am doing this to FEEL better. And I can say without a doubt, I feel SO good now. My joint aches and pains are gone. My chronic fatigue is gone, I have Loads of energy. I have been able to quit my arthritis medicine, my cholesterol medicine, my allergy medicine (who knows about that one!), my blood sugar medicine (I was a Pre-diabetic) and my blood pressure medicine. So I KNOW that my health has improved! What more could I ask for? My only regret is that this procedure wasn't available 30+ years ago!!!

here is a link I came across, about transferring addictions http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/crossingtotransferaddictions/ I copied and pasted the group's content below from a website called obesityhelp.com, maybe check it out. One good thing is, at least you are aware you may be giving up one addiction for another, but instead of trying for a self cure, see what resources are out there, you don't have to do this alone. Teresa About Welcome to CROSSING TO TRANSFER ADDICTIONS. This group discusses the issue of transfer addictions (also known as cross addictions) after weight loss surgery. There are millions of people who have undergone gastric bypass who are now dealing with issues of addiction transfer. For a number of people, giving up overeating leads to adoption of a new compulsion. Addiction transfer occurs when someone is unable or unwilling to rely on one compulsion (for us, it was food) and so switches to a new compulsion (alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, shopping, internet, porn, etc) due to not having dealt with the underlying issue behind the compulsion. ***Please feel free (and safe) to discuss any and all issues you have regarding Transfer Addiction. WE WILL SUPPORT EACH OTHER WITHOUT JUDGEMENT!***

Your liver sits on top of your stomach, and most doctors have you go on a special diet before your surgery to "shrink" your liver. This gets it out of the way as much as possible for your surgery. For my pre-surgery diet, I had to avoid carbs and sugars and alcohol. It was also high in Protein. Some surgeons have you do a completely liquid diet pre-op, but I was able to eat all the veggies I wanted, which was wonderful. It made the pre-op diet so much nicer.

Ive lost 13 pounds since preop. So three punds gone since surgery. Weightloss starts in boobs n face firsf. You will have load rumbling noises in belly. You will feel liquids going down and settling in the belly after surgery and you'll know when u r full. I'm on day 3. I've just stuck to clear chicken soup broth with no salt because it puffs up my face n shuts my eyes (i found this out from hospital soup). I had ricola cherry lozanges for throat. Vitamins (chewable) and pills to swallow are going down fine. Ive had no throwup or neausea at all today. I never threw up thank goodness. I am taking antibiotics for uti and anti neaseau meds when needed. I find I Still very much am needing pain meds mainly at night because there's more movement in day. It was fine to stroll around house today and stand up for a while organizing bedroom. It helped to elevate my legs on pillow in bed at night to take pressure off lower back. Neck might b sore so u might want to use rolled up towels to put in groove of neck when lying down. I did this even in hospital bed. Starting to clear my throat out and getting voice back. Forgot to mention car ride home... Used pillow on back and in front under seatbelt and water with bag incase of nausea. I was ok. Have driver drive very slow. I still have a uti and burns when urinate. It was caused by catheter and catheter was initially used because I was unable to apply the mildest pressure to urinate normally after surgery. Ladies, There is also a mid rash down there probably from all these meds. So drink a lot. I'm using breathing tester they sent me home with n lungs r getting stronger on day three. Headache is still here. Belly cramping started mildly for first time last night. But mainly when I talked too much. Hiccups and burps do hurt belly. Worst thing so far is intense burning with liquid pain killer, so try to get solid. It was litterally like alcohol on an open wound n I did cry out in pain. I learned to dilute it in h2o. I'll write more in several hours. Feel free to ask questions if u come across this thread.

The enlarged-fatty liver. I believe alcohol can enlarge your liver, so I am laying off. High bmi people also have enlarged liver due to high percent of body fat. Since my bmi was low, I had no preop diet, but have weened myself off of diet cokes, coffee, and wine. All my vices. What size are you now? I am a 12. But I am most comfortable in a six. Most people don't think of me as fat, but I am not doing this for anyone but me and I am use to being thin. Let me add that I also have BAD sleep apnea. It has become awful lately. I am hoping a weight loss will help it. Are you self paying? And where are you looking at doing your surgery?

We have all tested our bands from time to time and they do let us know what they will and will not tolerate. I have had two experiences with alcohol since banded a year ago and neither have ended well. I have no tolerance, if I drink I can't eat or I end up eating something while drinking that is not good for me. Now days I have an occassional glass of wine. I hate party's also, especially when people insist no there will be lots of things you can eat. New rule for me, eat before I go to a party, carry a protein bar. You may have gained the pounds from the dehydration from alcohol and should drop them quickly.

1) I have no regrets! Down 40lbs so far!! 2) Learning what our bodies and sleeves our capable of is a learning process. Taking the time to listen to them is important. Overeating by one bite is painful! 3) I do not miss soda...I thought I would. 4) Evreryone has their own journey. No one is the same and that is a good thing. 5) life changes after the sleeve. The way you think, feel, eat, everything. But it is all for the good. 6) I sometimes miss being able to eat a normal amount and miss drinking alcohol. Still worth it though. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!

Last night my fiance and I went out for my birthday dinner. I was a little nervous to see how me, alcohol, and my band would do...Also I havent drank anything in almost 2 years so I really had no tolerance to alcohol lol....The beggining of the night went well we had some drinks and everything seemed to be going good...Then we for some reason thought it would be a good idea to order some highly fattening appiteziers...After those were gone more drinks....I felt ok but major head ache when I left. Nothing really set in until I got home. As soon as I walked in the door I felt extremely ill....I tried my hardest not to get sick which made it even worse. I dont know if it was the alcohol or the crappy food choice that made me so ill but either way it was not worth it. I was down to 269 and today up to 271 so im not happy about that. Alcohol is wasted calories and then when you top it off with dip and many fried things it obviusly is not going to help with any weight loss. I am very excited for my fill next week and have been getting back on track today by having my protein shake for breakfast. Last night really made me realize that lapband wont do anything without your commitment to it...Feeling a little guilty...

I have never had the misfortune of experiencing that. I can eat sweet stuff and still feel fine. The only exception was after my daughters Deb which was alcohol free so we had to drink cordial, woke up the next morning with a headache worse than a hangover.

As of yesterday, I have lost 100 pounds. YEA! (cue happy music to start playing loudly) Now, to lose the last 18 pounds. My target is to be done in January of 2012. I started my preop diet on February 9th of this year, and had surgery February 22nd with Dr. Nicholson in Dallas, TX. My surgery went extremely well. I had no complications and went home after one night in the hospital. My recovery went smoothly. I had no trouble drinking fluids or finding a Protein I could tolerate. Didn't have any vomiting once I got home. Didn't need much pain medicine at all - took a total of two or three pills after I left the hospital. Went back to work three weeks after surgery - I had to wait for my three weeks check-up before I could get my doctor's clearance. I have a two hour drive to the office, and the doctor was concerned about me being in a car for that long that soon. I had to stop and walk around for 5 minutes or so after an hour - to help prevent the possibility of clots. Working a twelve hour day (8 hours work, 4 hours driving) was too long at first, so I would stay in a hotel close to the office for three nights a week until I was ready for the 12 hour days. This journey so far has been a major learning experience for me. I am a very organized (obsessive?) person. I had everything mapped out for each day - what I would eat. I tracked calories, protein, carbs and ounces of Fluid. In all my dieting history I had never tracked the grams of protein or carbs in my food - so this was brand new. The other major learning experience was how to deal with life without my old "frenemy" FOOD as my coping mechanism. There are addicts in my family tree (alcohol, recreational pharmaceuticals) and that tendency is within me. Not for drugs or alcohol - why go there when there was food available? (Cocaine couldn't be any more satisfying than brownies.) So I am having to build an entire new relationship with food, and build totally different coping skills for all of the triggers that previously resulted in me choosing to use food inappropriately. I am pleased to report that this effort is going well. But it really is "one day at a time" as the AA folks say. I have to stay 100% conscious of what I am doing. On a lighter note - I have had a blast rediscovering smaller clothes. I am now in 12's and some 14's - and they are petites! Still sounds strange to even say that! I started out is 24 Womens and 3X's. I say "thank God for clothes" as it hides all the sagging wrinkled skin from the weight loss. I am also WAY HEALTHIER than I was. My PCP was talking to me prior to me starting the 6 month preop (which actually took a year for me - insurance issues) about WHEN I would have a heart attack, not IF. My father dropped dead of a massive heart attack when he was about the age I was when I started my preop diet. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea (I hated my CPAP machine and wouldn't use it). My joints ached all the time. Now, I am off all blood pressure meds, all cholesterol meds and I no longer have sleep apnea. My last labs looked good - except for borderline anemia (even with iron). That doesn't have anything to do with the sleeve, I have been that way most of my life. The only meds I take now are Vitamins and minerals, acid reducing meds, and hormones. Didn't mean to natter on for so long. Thank all of you on this site for being such a wonderful support for me. You guys are my "AA" - and, believe me, I come here every day to help me stay focused. If I can be of help to anyone here, feel free to PM me - I am happy to return to favor. I posted some before and recent pictures. The picture with the giant guitar is at the Hard Rock in Albuquerque. That was last Thursday - I was on vacation with my 86 year old energizer-bunny mother and my two sisters.

The band stopping the amount of food you intake is a misconception and people need to realize it. Just because you can eat everything and as much as you want does not mean you are supposed too. Its not going to stop you from making bad food choices. You have to want this and do it. I have lost 70lbs and gving up all the things I love was worth it. Do I love to drink yes but I dont, do I love sweets more than anything but I love living even more. I could with the band sit down and eat a half gallon of ice cream and it wont stop me. I can sit and eat 10 hershey bars and it wont stop me, I can sit and eat as much food as I want and it wont stop me I have to stop myself. No one said it will be easy if they did who was it because it hasnt been easy and everyday is a daily struggle. For those who magically lost weight with no issues well yay for them because I think most people with the band struggle to maintain what they have lost and still reach for that goal. You have to want it you have to stop sabotaging yourself. Isnt the scale moving enough motivation for you. If you dont lose the weight it will eventually lose you. Your choice but make the right choice and healthy eating is not that bad it actually taste pretty darn good. As for the alcohol it wont kill you if you dont stop drinking it but it might if you dont.

The two main types of e-liquid are known as PG Propylene Glycol – used in food flavorings and also in fog machines at nightclubs to produce the smoke appearance and VG Vegetable Glycerin which is more syrupy and is derived from vegetables. Generally the PG has a better throat hit and flavor than VG while VG can produce a little more vapor. PG is the most common e-liquid on the market today. PG is the standard generic Fluid used in most mixes and is ~80% of a standard fluid mix . VG is sometimes used but not common. When some have an allergic reaction to PG (~3% of folks) VG is an option when buying fluid. In stock carto's however it isn't available in mass if at all (that I know of). VG is generally thinned down with a 5% alcohol base since it is thicker, but the advantage is it has an increased vapor over PG. It also is blamed for a softening of throat hit (as it's called dumb term, but..) and flavor. Because of that many don't like using VG, due to the softening , many mix match to get a balance and added vapor (say a 50/50% mix). VG is sweeter as well. VG is thinned with alcohol, but not in a large percentage (above). A 24 mix can be cut """but """ at the expense of flavor. So if you cut your 24mg in half with a 50% mix of (either)VG or PG, you of course get a 12mg but you also lose half the flavoring content. Best to buy a matching fluid in (say) 12mg and cut 50/50 , getting 18mg end product, with the same flavor. See the methodology ? Source: http://www.v2forum.com/discussion/869/pg-vs.-vg-and-other-questions-for-the-pros-/p1

I think I kidded myself in thinking that I was a good lap-band patient. I have unresolved food issues and without addressing them, I will never be successful. Had my surgery at the end of June and weighed 306. I think I am hovering around 295 right now and have been as low as 289. I drink too much alcohol and eat too much of the slider foods (chips, ice cream, Pasta, etc). So far I have had 4 fills and am around 7 ccs in a 11 cc band. I don't think I need anymore Fluid because I haven't "mastered" this current fill. A few times a week, I vomit from eating to quickly or not chewing well enough. However, tonight I had about 3/4 of an 11oz steak, some potato, some bread, and some appetizer. I didn't think I would be able to eat that much food, particularly that much steak. Thanks for letting me vent.

This whole process - from the studying about VSG to the 6 months prepwork, then the enormous changes after surgery are all very inward-focused. I have felt throughout the long-process that I have been very self-absorbed. I spend less time thinking about the concerns of the wider world and more time thinking about how to respond to the demands of daily life without the crutch of my old "frenemy" and crutch food. My conversations are now more likely to be about the latest interesting article I have read (concerning something to do with weight loss) than the latest scandal in the news. My joys I share are as likely to be about myself (surprising in itself) than the lastest accomplishment of my grandchildren. I feel like how I imagine an alcoholic must feel, learning to function after they have given up alcohol. I understand why they go to AA meetings every day - and why I feel compelled to come visit this site a couple of times a day. I worry I am about as annoying to be around as a college freshmen in their first psychology class, that comes home and wants to analyze all the family members and relationships. I hope my family doesn't cringe when they are around me from being tired of my focus. One of my new year resolutions is going to be to become more outwardly focused again - but not to the point I don't put myself high enough on the priority list to make sure I get what I need. Very interesting topic on conversation. I will think more on this!

Hi All, I wanted to share some of what I am going through and see if anyone else has had a similar experience. I am over 7 months out from surgery and my weight loss has ben fantastic. Let me start by saying my sleeve REALLY WORKS for me. I don't watch my carbs or cals or fat. I can eat about 5 bites of anything and then that's it. I always eat Protein first because I am afraid I will have bad nutritional repercussions if I don't. The following foods upset my stomach, so I don't eat them: bread, ice cream, alcohol. I rarely have room for any type of vegetable or fruit, but I do eat granola with my yogurt in the morning. I still eat 5 or 6 times a day. I have to or else I don't get enough calories in and I feel weird. I have never been on a workout regimen. Major problem because now I feel quite weak. I can walk at a normal pace for hours (much more than before). But, if I increase my heart rate, I can't do it for more than a couple of minutes. I know I need to work on it and I am slowly getting better. Feel like I am starting from zero... Here's my problem: I don't feel normal at all. If I exert myself, I get shaky. I have a lot of emotional weirdness about food - especially if I am out and about on my own and need to eat something. I can quickly stress out because nothing sounds good or I don't want to spend the money on something I will eat 1/4 of and then throw away. My hormone swings have been crazy too - last 2 months my libido disappeared AND my period changed again. Seems like every 2 months has a hormonal surprise in the form of sex drive or period or hair loss or bad temper. The overall affect is getting me down. Of course, life doesn't stop just because I am going through this. Work is laying people off next month, I am getting married in 3 weeks, the in-laws are already starting drama over Thanksgiving - you know, regular life stuff. I started lifting weights around the house. I figured I will work on one body part at a time and right now it is my arms. Easy to do in the living room. Anyone else feel a little "off"?

If you are losing weight, you do not need a fill. My doctor believes that you only fill when you need to jumpstart your weight loss. On the other hand, your idea that you want to enjoy the holidays is a little scary. We are like alcoholics in that when we had the surgery we mentally and physically committed to never and I mean NEVER binging again. NO MORE "ENJOYING" the holidays. Enjoyment comes from the faces of people who admire the new you, the one who doesn't need seconds or thirds anymore. I strongly encourage you to read my archived blogs at Michaelwasfat. blogspot.com I can help you if you need it and you can write to me at michaelwasfat1@gmail.com btw- I am 5 1/2 months post-op and have lost 91 pounds out of my target loss of 101. I can help

I have a very supportive husband who would gladly not bring any food I asked him not to into our home, he is also a recovering alcoholic (sober for 15yrs). Just as he never asked or expected me to never drink in front I him I never ask or expect him not to indulge in front of me. It sucks that we both have these addictions but the reality is that it is what it is & we both face it one day at a time. We find emotional support from each other, even if it is while he is having a cheeseburger & I am having a light beer lol!

Wow, I sure minded being the fat girl! Especially when it came to seats in the planes or not being able to ride horses. . . yup i sure did mind. . . have you thought about speaking to a councelor about your self esteem issues? I'm glad to see your health issues are clearing up. . . i'm 2 years out and can only eat 1/2 potatoe, and 1 ounce piece of brisket at dinner. . i never go to eat at buffets anymore because that is a waste of money for me since i eat much more normal now. i still go out to eat at restaurants, but always take back home. Those meals will usually last me 2 days or so. . . i still eat junk food, only in smaller amounts. . .i still drink alcohol only 1 glass verus 3-4 . Our grocery bill is basically non existent and that is good for me!!! it does get better, only now i eat like a lady and not like something else . . good luck

A dear friend found this and passed on to me, and I would like to share it with you! Print it! BAND AS A TOOL Find a good support system. I can't imagine going through my journey without Julie. I cannot stress that enough. Whether you join a support group or get involved with an online group or find a great banded friend, you need someone you can compare notes with. YOU WILL PLATEAU. You will get frustrated. You need someone to tell you "It happens." My husband and family have also been instrumental in the support process. They've cheered me on every step... and also made it clear that their love is not tied to my weight. 3) Get an attitude check. You can't expect the world. You cannot expect to consistently lose 2 pounds a week. You'll stop for a bit. But you cannot get discouraged. Keep doing the right things, and you'll be healthier for it. STOP DIETING. NOW. I really believe that choosing the band is choosing to free yourself from food obsession. Weighing meals and counting calories just transfers one obsession with weight loss, to another... a food scale. People in Australia and the UK, the ones who've had bands WAY longer than Americans have, have this perspective. The band is a tool to help you watch your portion control and helps you get rid of the hunger. If you're hungry all the time and feel like you need to weigh your food, YOU NEED A FILL. Period. Once you get to the right fill level, you'll know when to stop. You might not be able to eat much, but that will be ok. You won't be fixated on it. I ate 1/2 a taco for dinner last night. That's IT. But I wasn't disappointed: I got what I needed to eat. If I want a burger, I eat a burger. If I want some chocolate, I eat some. I don't eat the whole bag, because I DON'T WANT TO. I am not hungry for a whole bag. I just need a taste. You'll see as you go through the process, you'll start making healthier choices. I know I have. We eat as organic as possible. I am a total foodie, enjoying the good stuff, cause that's what I crave. If I were to sit down and add it up, I probably only eat 800-1000 calories a day. But I feel PERFECT eating that, so that is the right amount FOR ME. How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted Used with permission fromJessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P Author of "Laparoscopic Adjustable GastricBanding : Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery" You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2pounds per week: A. You may need an eatingadjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of "soft calorie syndrome" b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It's also a stomach irritant c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highlyprocessed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthydiet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner thanpeople who don't 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not thatgreat (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of dietmargarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzedfats from the body B. You may need a behavioradjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away,pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activityadjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 timesa week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physicalactivity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eatingand exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as "good" and "bad" e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a bandadjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriateportion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and largeportions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising andhaving a good mind set. F. You may need your bandloosened 1. There are times when you can't get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (6) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste (7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or isaccompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat ornausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you alsohave nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds.Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These aresymptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or othermedications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can alsomake the stool tarry.) e. If your pain is severe

Yes! Thank you for asking.. I will upload the GERD or acid reflux diet for anyone who is interested. I was very depressed about not having morning coffee or tea (I am not a morning person, so it was one thing I really looked forward to.) After a day of headaches, caffine withdrawl stopped. Since we are supposed to avoid cholocate, alcohol, fatty, oily, greasy foods, citrus, etc. acid and spicy things, this ruled out hot chocolate and spiced apple cider. However, I have found that I can drink SUISSE MOCHA (sugar free/decafinated) and it tastes really good.. my receipe is the following: 1/3 cup of lowfat hot milk, 1.5 tablespoons of sugar free Decafe Suisee Mocha and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar for around 70 calories. My doctor took me off of Prevacid, and I found it didn't do anything eitherway, diet is more important than the pills. I can take up to 2 Pepcid a day if I need to. Some times I do. But most of the time I don't. It seems like I can personally get away with a little bit of chocolate (like a chocolate chip cookie.) and maybe some very sweet or mild wine, but not the dark, strong reds. Some Sobe's or Chrystal Lite with acid (almost all have acid of some kind- but I hate Water and am trying to keep calories low) hurt for a few minutes and pass. All in all, giving up coffee and strong alcohol helped alot! Also found that I cannot egg full eggs, but egg whites alone are okay. It must be the fat in the yolk. Spicy food like pepperonis on a pizza can set it off, but not as bad as the coffee. Hopefully that helps anyone else out there reading!

Being over weight is a story millions of people can relate to in America. I can tell the "over weight saga" well. All my life I have been the "pretty face", and the "your so pretty but...." Growing up I have always been the chubby kid, and now at the age of 33 I have decided to take control of my weight for good! It is physically and emotionally exhausting being fat. The first thing I think of when I wake is either my weight or what I am going to eat for the day, and it's the same thing I think of before I go to bed every night. It's time to change. The breaking point for me is when I found out this year that I have osteoarthritis in my left knee, and 2 herniated discs in my lower back. I am way to young to have to go through this kind of pain, and it is all a by-product of being obese. I remember as a child my mom would always over feed me and my sisters. In hindsight I think it was because she grew up without, and she didn't want the same suffering for her children. It took me a long time to quit blaming my childhood for my life long battle with weight, and to take control. Of course, I was always picked on as a child being the heaviest one in my family and always felt alone. I won't go into to much cliche story telling of the typical childhood woews of being fat, but yes I went through all the traumatizing cruelness of other kids making fun of you because you are fat. Now, fast forward 15 years and countless unsuccessful diets & exercises later, here I am still fat. Unlike before, my weight loss is not about just looking good or being attractive, it is about having a better quality of life. Being able to go camping, hiking, biking and all the other fun stuff I should be doing without limitations. I want people to know who read this that just because you are over weight does not mean that you are lazy, or unmotivated, it means you have an unhealthy relationship with food that needs help. I have been very fortunate to have a great college education, MBA and other things that require hard work, which if I was "lazy" I wouldn't be able to have attained, but I do have a fatal addiction...FOOD! Of course those who have never struggled with weight cannot relate to this addiction, they simply think "well quit eating," "don't eat as much," "exercise," yes, those are obvious answers and if it was that easy for me don't you think I would have done it by now? Unfortunately unlike other addictions such as alcohol or drugs, your body cannot be without food -- it's a catch 22, if your problem is food, then you should quit, but if you quit you will starve yourself to death so you are at a loss either way. Taking this big step is big, very big for me. I am excited yet still nervous. I am on my 5th day of fasting on protein shakes before surgery and it isn't getting any easier, 9 days to go! I hope that people reading this will continue feeling motivated to stick to the lap band process, or decided to go through with it. You are not alone my friend.

Hi all- I am a ER nurse and I have access many ports in my career and hand sanitizer is not a normal standard of care- Every healthcare professional who is giving you a fill should use cloraprepp which is a clear soap (alot like rubbing alcohol) or iodine. The hand sanitizer is weird and puts you at risk for an infection in my opinion. So on that not I would tell you to speak up, if you think what they are doing is not right ask questions. Now I will get off that soap box, I haven't posted much since my surgery but I love reading everyones input, I feel great now, I too, struggle with my diet at times, I am just trying really hard to stay positive and active. I am running a half marathon next weekend and I haven't done that for a few years, I am having a great time training, and I love that my body doesn't hurt all the time. Thanks for all of your positive energy and GG thanks for your recipes, I'm excited to try the chile. I think my kids would love it. I have been eating a lot of beans and legumes for there protein power. I hope all is well- stay strong all you A11's

Hi to budapatti and jess- we have all been at a plateau so far and felt frustrated about that. what I've done to help myself is to realize that I was making healthy food choices following the program and celebrating the fact that I wasn't gaining either. I'll admit that a few times I chose to eat a DQ Blizzard for lunch instead of protien, but before the band it would have been lunch and LG blizzard after!!! So I know the band was working even if it didn't feel like it at the time and I didn't gain. I didn't tell anyone about my band except very specific people-I didn;t even tell my family cuz they all would have had opinions that wouldn't necessarily have supported me. However, my son spilled the Beans so had to do some explaining after the fact. Most of them have decided to support me. Try to remember that your "green zone" is coming-and you'll know when you hit it. I knew immediately with my second fill as the nurse added the 1cc-I felt the tightening around my stomach. You have to drink Water before you leave to make sure its not too tight. I was elated and have been dropping about a half a pound a day all this week. I'm assuming it will slow to 1-2 pounds per week like all the info says. I'm really focusing on the feeling in my stomach as I eat and stop as soon as I feel satisfied-not full-so my hunger is coming on about 3 and a half or 4 hours later. And its really true that protien stays with you longer so I try hard to get my 60-80 grams per day. GG how are you today? I think I am also one of the older individuals on this board and know that it's not as easy to lose at this age as when we were 20 or 30.I have been "dieting since I was 15 years old I am soooooo happy to have this band to help me achieve a healthy weight for the last time. I truly believe that the band was the best choice for me. Still pondering over this hand sanitizer issue on my tummy-does anyone know if it's the same cleansing power as the alcohol they used to swab us down with??? What do all your doc's do for the fill procedure. I have nothing to compare it to as the only person I know with a band went to this same doc. I haven't seen my doc since surgery day 8-18!!!!

I think the whole point of going through this, for me personally, is to cut out those things mentioned like alcohol, and fatty foods forever to be healthy....finally. ;0) I'm saying "never" to a lot of things.