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This isnt really right. Tricking your body into satiety like a band does doesnt negate the fact that you're underfeeding it. It still has to learn to be VERY efficient with what it is fed. Starvation mode is a contentious issue, and not everyone agrees it exits, but for some people super duper low calories dont result in much weight lost - although over time it HAS to. But the sad fact is for ALL of us who have lost weight, they dont remove the band at the end because in the process of losing we have all taught our bodies to become remarkably efficient and most of us can probably never again eat the calories that a person of our weight who had never been fat could eat. We will always have to undereat to maintain our losses. It may not be by much, but even an excess of 100 calories a day does result in a lot of weight over say a decade. Moderate calories and slower weight loss is better. Most women cant really achieve adequate nutrition under 1000 calories a day and honestly, a band that restricts you to 700 or so is probably too tight (apart from in the post op phase). If you eat too little, you will lose a lot of lean body tissue as well as fat and that compounds the metabolism slowing problem doubly - since muscle is metabolically active and the more of it you have, the more you can eat. I had a good example of this the other day. As a 5ft 10 150lb woman, who is very fit, I can eat quite normally - about 1800 calories a day to maintain my weight. That's fantastic. But to do that, I have to run for an hour most days and do some good honest heavy strength training on a regular basis. My pals at uni were incredulous, being 20 somethings who had never been fat - most of them ate much more calories than me - because being that age, there was a fair bit of alcohol and fast food in there - and never exercised. They stay THINNER than I am and were generally much smaller too (I'm very tall) so the calorie disparity is really obvious. I dont care, 1800 a day to me is generous, satisfying and allows for a very normal diet. But it illustrates a point.

Here are 11 ways to help break a plateau: 1. Keep a food Diary As you get comfortable with your diet, it's easy to stop paying attention and fall back into old habits. A nibble here, a slightly larger snack, an extra glass of wine… It's usually the little things that make all the difference. Starting a food diary will help you become more aware of what you're actually eating. Most people underestimate amounts by up to 20 percent. "I think journaling is a good idea," says Karen Sullivan, a health coach and AFPA Certified Personal Trainer. "It helps you stay honest with yourself […]. As long as you are in denial you will never reach your goals. Seeing it in black and white is the best way to break that plateau." To keep a food diary, start with a blank notebook and for a week, record everything you eat (down to a piece of gum or cup of coffee), when you ate it, how much, and how hungry you were before and after. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a food diary must contain not only the food you ate, but also what were you doing and who you were with when you ate. "It will make you aware of any negative patterns," says Hudson. It's important to be truthful to yourself and not change your eating habits while keeping the diary. Also, remember to be specific --A baked potato is not the same as a baked potato with gravy and butter. 2. Break Up Your Meals If you're eating three times a day, eat five. If you're already eating five times, upgrade to six or seven. This doesn't necessarily mean you'll be eating more food; you'd just be breaking it into more meals. Eating frequently stabilizes your blood sugar, controls appetite, and keeps your energy up. Ideally, you shouldn't go more than three or four hours without eating something. Doing so slows down your metabolism and makes your body burn fat at a slower rate. Instead of going for a second serving, stick to one plate and then eat a small snack two hours later. Always eat before you're hungry. A feeling of hunger indicates your blood sugar is going down, which makes you prone to craving simple sugars. "Your body has no idea that there is plenty of food around, only what is coming in," says Susan Lee Ottevanger, a motivational speaker and the author of Running On Premium Fuel. "You need to reach a sense of well being for your body to feel free to burn up some storage." 3. Eat More A big mistake many people make is to cut down on calories so much that they starve their bodies. "When you eat too little, your metabolism goes down," says Ottevanger. "The body goes yikes, metabolism drops, frustration rises, moods drop, motivation dies. You start overeating and gain weight. Every time you go thru this cycle, the less success." If you're consuming less than 1,200 calories a day (1,500 for a man), your body may react by slowing down as a self-preservation measure. This means you'll be actually storing fat even if you're working out consistently. 4. Rely on a Friend If you're having a hard time finding the motivation to step up your program, find a like-minded buddy, either real or virtual. Join a support group, find an appropriate chat room, or sign up with a motivational website. A recent study by the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences of The University of Vermont found that web-based support programs are as effective as traditional face-to-face meetings when it comes to helping people maintain weight loss. The study followed 250 overweight adults through an initial six-month weight loss program, and then set them up with either in-person or internet support. Surprisingly, both groups did remarkably well. "The internet can be a very effective weight-loss tool if used well," says Hudson. "Many people can't or don't want to attend face-to-face meetings. Having access to virtual support, while no substitute for one-on-one counseling, it's still a step-up from going at it alone." 5. Watch Your Carbs You don't have to go on a low carb diet (in fact, low-carb and exercise don’t mix well), but do watch out for the extra refined carbohydrates that tend to slip into everybody's diet –Be mindful not only of white flour and sugars, but also look for hidden carbs in foods such as ketchup, salad dressings, dairy products, and even Soups. Read labels –Many low-fat products, including fruit juices and energy bars, are high in sugars. Avoid carbs at dinnertime, and opt for a larger salad as a side dish. When you do eat carbs, stick to whole grains. Plateaus are sometimes due to Water retention. Restricting salt intake and reducing carbs can give you the jumpstart and the motivation to keep going. 6. Move More Be more active outside the gym. The FDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week to maintain health, and at least 60 minutes to help manage body weight. If you're going to the gym four times a week, that leaves you with three days where you still need to be active. Walking is the best exercise for those "off" days. It's gentle enough to allow your body to recuperate from the heavy workouts at the gym, but still raises your metabolism to carry on the weight loss. Get a pedometer and aim for at least 8,000 steps a day. You'd be surprised to learn most people barely make 4,000. Office workers sometimes stay under 3,000. "Activity is the key," says Sullivan. "You can walk at a brisk pace, ride a bike (but be sure you are working at this little bike ride), swimming, tennis, even golf (forget the cart) are all ways to keep your body moving and increase the energy you are burning." 7. shake Up Your Workout It takes your body only four weeks to get used to a workout. Once something becomes a routine for your metabolism, plateaus are likely. Are you doing the treadmill for an hour every day? Give it up and enroll in a kickboxing class instead. Doing the stationary bike? Switch to the Stairmaster. Or try playing with the intensity of the workout. Add one minute intervals at a high speed or incline (not both) followed by three or four minutes at a lower intensity. If you've been working alone, it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a workout buddy or even pay for a few sessions with a personal trainer. "Whenever you change a workout routine your body will respond by dropping fat/weight," says Sullivan. Many people do not work hard enough. "You need to understand it isn't only the kind of activity you are doing but the frequency, the duration of each exercise session, and the intensity during your session," says Sullivan. "A little walk in the park is not exercise necessary to drop weight. People come to me and say, 'I ride my bike every night with my 4-year-old and I am not seeing any changes in my body.' They need to keep the 4-year-old home while they ride hard for an hour and then come back for a cool down with their child." If you need help planning an exercise routine but can't afford a personal trainer, try Free Trainers, an online program that offers pre-designed workouts to fit any goal and level. Learn exercise routines, track your progress, calculate your caloric intake, and interact with other members following the same program. 8. Pump It Up A common mistake women make is skipping weights because of the fear they would look "bulky." True is, women lack the testosterone needed to develop large muscles. Done appropriately, weight training can break a plateau faster than any other method. According to Wikipedia, "The body's basal metabolic rate increases with increases in muscle mass, which promotes long-term fat loss and helps dieters avoid yo-yo dieting. Moreover, intense workouts elevate the metabolism for several hours following the workout, which also promotes fat loss." The increase in metabolism rate is immediate and it can be as significant as 10 percent. "It takes more energy to maintain healthy muscle than fat," says Sullivan. "This way you are burning calories while you sleep! Also, if all you are doing is doing cardio and dieting you will be flabby. Skinny flab is just as unattractive as fat flab." If you've never tried weights before, start slow and light, mixing machines and free weights. Weights should be done three times a week, alternating muscle groups. 9. Drink Plenty of Water Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Every time you feel the urge to snack, drink a glass of water first and see if the urge goes away. Decaf teas, calorie-free drinks, and seltzer water count towards your eight glasses of water a day, but add an extra glass for each cup of coffee you drink, as caffeine dehydrates. A recent study by the Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center in Germany showed a basal metabolic rate (the amount of calories your body burns at rest) increase of up to 30 percent after participants drank 16 ounces of cold water. Researchers estimate that drinking an additional 16 ounces of water over the required 60 ounces (eight glasses) a day can result in an annual weight loss of almost two pounds. 10. Cut Down Your Alcohol Intake The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 stress the fact thatwhile alcoholic beverages supply excess calories, they do not supply any essential nutrients, making it difficult even for moderate drinkers to maintain a healthy weight. Alcohol is, in fact, very dense in calories. 7kcal/gram compared to only 4 for Proteins and carbs, and that's without taking into consideration that many alcoholic drinks (such as cocktails) are high in sugars and fat. Alcohol consumption slows down the fat burning capabilities of the body, as the body focuses on using the alcohol (a toxin) as fuel, rather than burning fat for energy. Alcohol also dehydrates, which, in turn, can make you hungry. 11. Keep Your Chin Up Finally, it's important to keep your eyes on the large picture. "Focus on health, not fat," says Ottevanger. "[Focus on] feeling good – looking good is just a side effect of feeling good. Forget the notion that some excess just got there by accident, that you are going to get it fixed, and go back to normal. You change your notions and thus your behavior today, for the rest of your longer, happier life. No six weeks of torture will get you anywhere you want to go."

Well I now know what restriction is but unfortunately way too much. I have been disappointed with my progress and am really wishing for this tool to help. I am back in the gym and doing great there, but eating way too much and then also drinking on weekends. I realize that is an issue I need to deal with as restriction would not prevent the wasted calories of alcohol but I really want some help on the food side. Anyway, my wife and I returned from a great Caribbean cruise on May 2 and I was able to get an appointment for this past Friday to get a fill. I told the doctor I really wanted to get aggressive and we added. He is a good doctor and is conservative. I was not totally confident the water was going down well during the fill but told him we were good. I have had the weekend from hell. Went out deep sea fishing with son on a head boat Saturday, I barely got down 20oz of water. All day yesterday I take 1 ounce in and 3 come out. I go today at 3PM for adjustment. Bottom line is that this is defiantly a learning experience for me. I now have an unbelievable appreciation in the ability to hydrate yourself. I also have a new respect for this implanted devise and look forward to a new partnership.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your replies! This website is hard to find your way around on. I know it will be tough but some of it won't be that bad for me. I'm a tea drinkers only and I don't drink alcohol or carbonated beverages. I'm definitely someone who drinks with a meal so this will be a big change but once I know what I can and can't, I will be fine. I think once I make some friends who instant message me or email me all the time I'll be fine... I have no other support structure from this end so I'm all on my own.. but I'm so interested in doing this. I fully intend to adhere to the rules and regs. I've been trying to find threads saying if baby food is good to keep in the kitchen once I have the surgery... from that point on. I'd think that would be great food to eat once off the liquids. How long did it take till you had the surgery once your insurance approved you?

Thing is... we all have food issues or we wouldn't have gotten fat. So while it is true that some target groups will try harder and put forth more effort, I don't think anyone goes into this thinking that they aren't going to put some effort into it. Most people I have seen fail any WLS type goes into this determined to change their eating habits and food choices just to discover that maybe they can't do it afterall. The band or sleeve or any other WLS type doesn't do a thing to fix your head. It seems so easy on some levels, get surgery and darn well just change head stuff. It doesn't work that way. You really don't discover just how many food issues you have until AFTER surgery and then you also discover the severity of these food issues. Before my surgery I kinda didn't believe it was going to work. I knew I was going to try very hard to do it but I really didn't think I could change my food choices and habits. I shocked myself when I did it. Today I prefer healthy foods and getting back to basics. I won't eat a burger from Mickey D's, you couldn't pay me to do it. I never thought I could give up fast food but I did. I'm lucky, a lot of people try their best and have the best of intentions and they discover they just can't do it. So you can't really take just those that are able to change food habits and use that as a target group for average bandsters because they aren't average, they are above average. The average bandster will lose about 55% of their excess weight (considering loss and the well known regain for all procedures) by 5 years time. That includes people like me that really seriously changed diets, added exercise, etc. AND it includes those that just can't hack it. Then there are issues of another nature. One problem with banding is that each time you have a complication the fill is removed and you are put on liquids for a time and then solids but with no fill. Esophageal dilation, pouch dilation, slip, etc., it's an unfill. That puts a dead stop to weight loss and actually turns into weight gain for most. Then the problem is resolved and you are back to getting fills again and finding a sweet spot. This is one reason banded folks have slower weight loss on average. Then you have mechanical failure. Leaks in the tubing, port, or band itself. You lose restriction and quite frankly if we could do this without restriction we wouldn't have had surgery to begin with. Without restriction weight gain happens again until surgical repair. I guess my point is that you can't just take successful bandsters and use that target group as the average WLS person. They aren't average, not in the least. We all make all sorts of plans and promises to ourselves that we will do this or that but the true test is when it's time to do it. Then we discover it wasn't as easy as we thought. My guess is 100%. Nobody is perfect with food issues all the time. Some do a better job than others. LOL! You are in for a big surprise. Banded and sleeved people make cheap dates too. ;o) It's also a matter of less food in your body to slow down absorption of alcohol.

I had surgery starting weight 220lbs april 29th with a bmi of 32. I am 5'10 so I had to go to mexico to have it done. Dr. Ortiz with the OCC and had the best experience, I think they took better care of me after the surger staying in a surgery suite than surgeries I have had in the us where wham bam get out man. I did not tell anyone either. I have been in social situations and just told people i am on a diet that i am not straying from and it is protein shakes, since i am in the liquid phase and no alcohol and that is it. No one other than my parents and husband know and I have been to two dinner parties and a mothers day luncheon and not a problem if you just explain the diet thing and move on.

You must always be cognizant of the population over which statistics were gathered. One counter-example does not invalidate statistics. Nor even a forum full of examples. From what I can tell, many people go into WLS with expectations that it's magic, and that they can go willy-nilly at the Krispy Kreme and have perfect figures every time. Many of those same people don't have any sort of support or accountability structure. The folks here do. We know we have to change, and that it really isn't some magic wand, and I haven't even had my surgery yet. There's a strong selection bias if you try to poll any focussed group: people here are more concerned with being knowledgable about the procedure and how to succeed with it. Are more apt to confess their weight loss sins, and are more apt to repent and get back together. Those that fall off the wagon tend to fall off the forums. I finally had my orientation class yesterday (required by my bariatric program, as is the year-long nutritional counselling). We had a former bariatric patient as guest speaker, who declared that she didn't go to support group meetings anymore. Reason: sheer frustration at the number of people gloating that they ate an entire cheeseburger, and the equally large number of people whining that they had an adverse reacting attempting to do so. She, on the other hand, was eating healthily, and had lost 160#. She had the same good attitude you can associate with other successful patients here and elsewhere. With the dramatic increase in surgeries, how many patients getting the procedure are *not* following the rules? That's where the statistics are getting pulled toward. But back to the OP's question: Based on my surgeon's experience, lap band produces the least complications in the short term, but about the same rate of re-operations as bypass. It produces somewhat less weight loss, and is somewhat easier to cheat although, as he points out, the bypass can also be cheated (insert anecdote about the bypass patient feeling so proud she had worked up piece-by-piece to an entire chocolate bar). If you get the bypass, you will probably become a cheap drunk -- the alcohol goes right to the intestine, since the pylorus is no longer in the way. For this reason, if you have any alcohol issues, you *MUST* have a long, meaningful conversation with your surgeon. I would probably opt for the band in that case. Dumping, as described by the guest speaker, nurse, and surgeon, is different for everybody -- sometimes they vomit, sometimes they get diahrrea, sometimes they just have to lie down and be miserable for half an hour. The guest speaker cannot have milk for this reason. Banding has similar vomit-producing issues, but for different reasons. If you were diabetic, my surgeon would recommend a bypass. Of that I'm certain: the statistics he's gathered show a dramatically higher incidence of remission from diabetes than with the band. Still less than duodenal switch, but he doesn't perform those. (Nor will he convert a band surgery from laporascopic to open -- he doesn't feel comfortable compounding the risk of band infection with the risk of an open procedure. He will simply back out in that case unless instructions to convert to a bypass were filed.) Overall, my surgeon, is more *comfortable* with the bypass, but he's also performed about 10x as many bypasses as bands over the past 15 years. However, he doesn't exhibit any strong, long-term preference between the two for the non-diabetic case.

No issues. Some people think it hits them faster but it really is psychological. It DOES hit bypass patients more quickly because their digestive system is rerouted, but alcohol isn't any more or less dangerous for bandsters than for people without WLS, and you'll "process" it pretty much the same. I know that when I was younger and drank often I could drink A LOT and now I can't; so maybe some people who drink regularly stop for a few months while banding and then they are kind of out of the habit...but otherwise no issues. This is interesting, I think: I didn't read it through but believe it's a fairly accurate depiction of what happens when you drink: http://www.oregoncounseling.org/ArticlesPapers/Documents/ETOHBIOFx.htm

To be honest i havent heard any medical problems with drinking and i have done a ton of research. And i mite be different than others but i had surgery on feb 25 2009 and have recently started experimenting with alcohol and my tolerance hasnt changed a bit!! i was hoping to feel it quicker so it would be cheaper to go out but no such luck! lol

Ok so obviously if you drink it must be in moderation, and the tolerance for it goes way down after surgery. I also know about empty calories and that alcohol should be avoided if possible for this and many other health related reasons. I know all of this. My question is specifically, after lap-band surgery, are there any harms that come from drinking alcohol that you wouldn't have had before hand (besides lower tolerance)? Such as "LB does such and such and therefore the liver blah blah". Any good medical reasons are what I'm looking for. I don't plan to have any yet, I'm really just curious. TIA!!!

When I first began my journey toward having a LapBand, I was told an odd fact: a fair percentage of bandsters often end up with other issues such as alcoholism. I thought that rather odd, and considered myself very well-adjusted. I couldn't imagine developing such a horrible problem back then. I can now. What's more, I now understand why. I'm a stress eater. When I get under stress, I run to the refrigerator, not a bottle. That is, I did until I was banded. While I can still swallow those naughty treats, I don't keep many around anymore. Even ice cream, which slides past my band like it wasn't even there isn't available as much anymore, long as I avoid temptation while in the grocery store. But where does that leave me when under stress? I don't smoke. I can't eat sweets and junk because I don't keep them around the house. Booze? Yes, it's here. I keep a small stock for cooking. Now I can see how some bandsters, deprived of their usual comforts when under stress, turn to booze. Oh, yeah. I have to admit, thanks to recent events here at home, I've had a few glasses of wine and actually considered going for the (yuk!) bourbon. I hate bourbon. But I was desperate for any tranquilizing feel-good effects. Okay, so clearly that's why my doctor has a shrink on staff. She may spot potential issues like OCD, or stress management issues long before they become irrepairable. I can see that now. Scary. Very scary. The trick has been to find new methods of calming down. Walking has worked. Working, like cleaning house, helped. Doing my crafts rather obsessively has helped. Finding a job that got me out of the house has helped. It's the little things.

When I first began my journey toward having a LapBand, I was told an odd fact: a fair percentage of bandsters often end up with other issues such as alcoholism. I thought that rather odd, and considered myself very well-adjusted. I couldn't imagine developing such a horrible problem back then. I can now. What's more, I now understand why. I'm a stress eater. When I get under stress, I run to the refrigerator, not a bottle. That is, I did until I was banded. While I can still swallow those naughty treats, I don't keep many around anymore. Even ice cream, which slides past my band like it wasn't even there isn't available as much anymore, long as I avoid temptation while in the grocery store. But where does that leave me when under stress? I don't smoke. I can't eat sweets and junk because I don't keep them around the house. Booze? Yes, it's here. I keep a small stock for cooking. Now I can see how some bandsters, deprived of their usual comforts when under stress, turn to booze. Oh, yeah. I have to admit, thanks to recent events here at home, I've had a few glasses of wine and actually considered going for the (yuk!) bourbon. I hate bourbon. But I was desperate for any tranquilizing feel-good effects. Okay, so clearly that's why my doctor has a shrink on staff. She may spot potential issues like OCD, or stress management issues long before they become irrepairable. I can see that now. Scary. Very scary. The trick has been to find new methods of calming down. Walking has worked. Working, like cleaning house, helped. Doing my crafts rather obsessively has helped. Finding a job that got me out of the house has helped. It's the little things.

Hi everyone, Just stopping in to wish everyone a happy anniversary. Although I didn't reach my ulitimate goal as of yet, I, as of yesterday(which is actually my 2 yr anniv), weigh less than I can EVER remember weighing...and that was in grade school and I was under 5'!!!! I have more exciting news. I have met the man that I have waited for all my long life. We are engaged and will be married Feb 14th, 2010. His last name is Valentine I had totally given up on finding the right man for me after marrying the wrong ones 4X(alcoholics) and was devoting myself to my career and family....it is true, when you stop looking, there they are! Anyway, again, happy anniversary to one and all!

Good luck to you...all your fears are normal. I'm surprised he's offering you all the choices at the very end (I knew from the initial seminar). If you're worried about him messing up the port placement, just ask one of the nurses to mark the spot on you with a Sharpie "Port Here" (it's alcohol based, so it's sterile...and they mark people for different surgeries all the time). Or if you're crazy like me, you draw a 'porthole' on your tummy. If it helps, I did a lot of research and chose the LB (but I know you'll find people on both sides of this debate). One of the docs on here who has been in trials for the new Realize 'C' (which most docs don't have access to yet) says he prefers the LB to the old Realize...the new Realize 'C' makes them more equal, but I still would have picked the LB (and the LB site is in the process of being updated so it will eventually be more like the Realize support site). Stay overnight if you can...even though I didn't get much sleep, all my (minor) things happened the 2nd day and I would have had bigger problems at home (like when my blood sugar spiked...I'm not a diabetic so I would have had no way to deal with this). Try to get some sleep tonight, and good luck tomorrow! -BG

There's a lot of evidence that regular moderate wine consumption (particularly red) is good for your cardiovascular health. This question always comes up at the info evenings and my doctors stats indicate that regular moderate wine drinkers lose more weight. He doesnt pretend to offer an explanation for that. However, I'd rather relax after dinner with a glass of wine than with a bowl of ice cream or some chocolate. Perhaps that's a reason? Lol. As far as alcoholic drinks go, dry wine isnt particularly fattening, so its a better 'treat' than a lot of other things. Pure carbs of course though. But then, I dont low carb it so I dont care.

I was really worried about this too! I like Gin and Tonic, Beer and Wine and was freaked out that I wouldnt be able to drink any again!! (sounds bad! haha) anyway, the long and the short of it is this: Two issues 1) alcohol 2) carbonated drinks 1) The same level of alcohol that you had pre-band will get you twice as tipsy post band. No idea why but it does. 2) Carbonated drinks. Yes they "could" stretch your pouch - but only if you gulp down enough so that your pouch is full and the bubbles make it expand before it can "drain" so take smaller sips. To be honest I had a few glasses of champagne and didn't tell any difference! Just try it and see - but take small sips, there is a lot of "Scaremongering" I think re: things that can cause slippage -eg don't use straws as too much air etc. You have to explore for yourself

Ok - I hate to be technical, but as a nurse - I must. Please bare with me :thumbsup: First clear is not the term you want to be using - everyone should have 'clear' pee dehydrated or hydrated - cloudy would be the alternative which would signal a possible infection. The terms you want to use are dilute (weak in color or next to no color) or concentrated / dark in color. But to answer the question - the degree of concentration or lack there of absolutely has to do with whether you are getting enough Water in. Other things that affect your 'bodies water balance' that would cause you to be more dehydrated: excessive peeing (diuretic use), sweating - either from exercise or heat, increased alcohol or caffeine consumption (they act as diuretics), diarrhea, vomiting, increased sodium intake among other things - but these are the biggest, I will now step off of my miniscule soap box and attempt not to trip over my feet. Have a blessed day!

some people like to approach banded life with a set of rules and a ban on alcohol because of the empty calories often tops that list. But a band is a tool to help you manage a lifestyle change that will see you reach a normal weight. And within that, I personally believe, there is room to be a normal person once in a while. You've got to face facts - if you go out and have 3 or 4 drinks four times a week, that's going to affect or negate your weight loss. Alchohol IS empty calories and you cant down too many empty calories. However, going out for a drink once or twice a week if you stick to 2 or 3 drinks and dont do the usual burger/hotdog/kebab thing at 2 am need not really be ap problem for a young person who is otherwise active and healthy in their habits. Decide before you go how you're going to tackle it, some occasions are honesty not worth wasting the alcohol calories on - others, like dinner with the in-laws, you need all the help you can get! One thing that really struck me in my decision making though was the fear of having to change habits like this. I love my cup of coffee, packet of Cookies and a good book sit ins on the couch. It was my relaxation time. I really feared what life would be like without it. then it hit me like a bolt from the blue - IF I WANTED TO BE THIN, I COULDNT EAT LIKE THAT ANYMORE, EVER AGAIN, BAND OR NO BAND. It wasnt the band I was afraid of, it was changing the habit. D'oh! So obvious. But so true. Likewise with social drinking. The band doesnt make you stop that. But if you ever want to get thin and stay that way, something must change, no?

Let be the old woman to chime in. If you think you can't cut back on drinking or don't want to cut back on drinking you have a bigger problem than your weight. You might want to look at alcoholism. I'm over shooting it I'm sure, but it's something to consider. But like others said, you'll not be drinking beer, but a few mixed drinks and you'll be good to go. Things to consider with the band: you can't chug anything, so you'll be sipping. If you're sipping you won't drink as much over time. You're tolerance will go way down shortly after surgery. Carbonation kind of hurts so you'll only do it once or twice. The old lady will leave now.

Hey! I haven't been banded yet. I can tell you that as hard as given up drinking may be for you its totally worth it when it comes to your health. Alcohol has a ton of empty calories the importnat thing is that if you do get the surgery you do it for you.

Plain I found this on line written by a Kathy Labriola and after reading this I doubt you'll have any more questions. WHAT IS BISEXUALITY? Many people are 100% gay or lesbian, and are drawn sexually and emotionally only to partners of the same sex. Others are completely heterosexual, bonding in sexual and intimate relationships only with people of another sex. But what about everybody else? A significant percentage of people do not fit neatly into either of these categories, because they experience sexual and emotional attractions and feelings for people of different genders at some point during their lives. For lack of a better term, they are called bisexuals, although many people prefer to call themselves "pansexual," "non-preferential," "sexually Fluid," "ambisexual," or "omni-sexual." The Kinsey scale of zero to six was developed by sex researchers to describe sexual orientation as a continuum. Heterosexual people are at zero on the scale, gay and Lesbian people are at six at the other end of the scale, and everyone in between, from one to five, is bisexual. People who fall at one or two on the scale have primarily heterosexual sexual and affectional relationships and desires, but have some attraction and experiences with same -sex partners as well. People at three on the scale are approximately equally attracted to both men and women. People at four and five on the Kinsey scale choose primarily same-sex partners, but are not completely gay or lesbian and have some heterosexual tendencies and relationships as well. WHO IS BISEXUAL? As you can see, there is no simple definition of bisexuality, and bisexual people are a very diverse group. There are several theories about different models of bisexual behavior. J. R. Little identifies at least 13 types of bisexuality, as defined by sexual desires and experiences. They are: Alternating bisexuals: may have a relationship with a man, and then after that relationship ends, may choose a female partner for a subsequent relationship, and many go back to a male partner next. Circumstantial bisexuals: primarily heterosexual, but will choose same sex partners only in situations where they have no access to other-sex partners, such as when in jail, in the military, or in a gender-segregated school. Concurrent relationship bisexuals: have primary relationship with one gender only but have other casual or secondary relationships with people of another gender at the same time. Conditional bisexuals: either straight or gay/lesbian, but will switch to a relationship with another gender for financial or career gain or for a specific purpose, such as young straight males who become gay prostitutes or lesbians who get married to men in order to gain acceptance from family members or to have children. Emotional bisexuals: have intimate emotional relationships with both men and women, but only have sexual relationships with one gender. Integrated bisexuals: have more than one primary relationship at the same time, one with a man and one with a woman. Exploratory bisexuals: either straight or gay/lesbian, but have sex with another gender just to satisfy curiosity or "see what it's like." Hedonistic bisexuals: primarily straight or gay/lesbian but will sometimes have sex with another gender primarily for fun or purely sexual satisfaction. Recreational bisexuals: primarily heterosexual but engage in gay or lesbian sex only when under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Isolated bisexuals: 100% straight or gay/lesbian now but has had at one or more sexual experience with another gender in the past. Latent bisexuals: completely straight or gay lesbian in behavior but have strong desire for sex with another gender, but have never acted on it. Motivational bisexuals: straight women who have sex with other women only because a male partner insists on it to titillate him. Transitional bisexuals: temporarily identify as bisexual while in the process of moving from being straight to being gay or lesbian, or going from being gay or lesbian to being heterosexual. Many of these people might not call themselves bisexual, but because they are attracted to and have relationships with both men and women, they are in fact bisexual. While literally millions of people are bisexual, most keep their sexual orientation secret, so bisexual people as a group are nearly invisible in society. Gay men and lesbian women have long recognized the need to join together, create community, and to organize politically. Long years of hard work have led to significant gains in political and human rights, as well as a visible and thriving gay and lesbian community. Bisexual people have been much slower to come out of the closet, create community, and form political and social networks to gain visibility and political clout. Many bisexual people have spent decades working in gay and lesbian organizations, and in recent years, bisexuals have become more accepted as part of the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender community. However, the rigid dichotomy between gay and straight has caused many bisexuals to feel alienated and rejected by gay men and lesbian women, and in recent years many independent bisexual political and social groups have sprung up. Many bisexual people complain that they feel like outsiders in both the straight and gay/lesbian worlds, and that they can't fit in anywhere, feeling isolated and confused. Studies have shown that bisexual people suffer from social isolation even more than gay men or lesbians because they lack any community where they can find acceptance and role models. Many gay men feel that bisexual men are really gay, that they are just in denial about being Gay, and that they should "just get over it." Many straight men are homophobic and hate and fear both bisexual and gay men, often victimizing them with harassment and physical violence. Many straight women reject bisexual men out of misguided fears that they have AIDS, and admonish them to "stop sitting on the fence and make up their minds." Bisexual women are often distrusted by lesbians for "sleeping with the enemy," hanging onto heterosexual privileges through relationships with men, and betraying their allegiance to women and feminism. Straight women often reject bisexual women out of fear they will make sexual overtures and try to "convert" them to being bisexual. Both the straight and gay/lesbian communities seem to have only two possible models of bisexuality, neither of which represents bisexual people accurately. The first is the "transitional model" of bisexuality, believing that all bisexuals are actually gay or lesbian but are just on the way to eventually coming out as gay. The other is the "pathological model", that bisexuals are neurotic or mentally unstable because they are in conflict trying to decide whether they are straight or gay/lesbian, and that they just can't make a decision. Both models see bisexuality as a temporary experience or a "phase" born out of confusion rather than an authentic sexual orientation equally as valid as heterosexuality or homosexuality. Some people see bisexuality as inherently subversive because it blurs the boundaries, confronting both heterosexuals and gay men and lesbian women with sexual ambiguity. As a result, bisexuality challenges concepts of sexuality, traditional relationship and family structures, monogamy, gender, and identity. Bisexuals cannot conform to the ethics of either the gay or straight world or they would not be bisexual. Instead they must re-invent personal ethics and values for themselves, and create responsible lifestyles and relationships that serve their needs even though they don't fit anyone else's rules. Some researchers have note that being bisexual is in some ways similar to being bi-racial. Mixed-race persons generally don't feel comfortable or accepted by people of either ethnic group, feeling that they don't belong or fit in anywhere, as their existence challenges the very concept of race. Like bisexual people, they spend most of their lives moving between two communities that don't really understand or accept them. Like biracial people, bisexual people must struggle to invent their own identities to correspond to their own experience. Forming a bisexual identity helps bisexual people to structure, to make sense of , and to give meaning and definition to their reality.

Drhodes, Do you live near a military installation? If so, you could contact the Drug and Alcohol Program. I believe they would be more than willing to write up a statement for Tricare to indicate you are not an abuser. They may want to do a brief assessment, but having worked with these folks for many years they might enjoy helping you. It's just a thought. Take care

I've decided that it's time to tell you a story. One that may only be interesting to me, but so be it. You know that I've been overweight (fat) my whole life. You know that I haven't always been happy about that, but that my efforts to lose the weight were always short-term successes followed by long-term failures. It's not something I'm proud of, in fact, I'm down-right ashamed. It's partly due to the shame that I think I've stayed this way for so long. In my mind, I've felt, deep down, that maybe I didn't deserve to be thin. I had convinced myself that this was just the way it was supposed to be. If I was meant to be skinny, wouldn't I be? If that's really what I wanted, then why did I have that double cheeseburger with large fries? Why did I have six pieces of pizza (or more) when two would have been just fine? It wasn't because I was addicted to food. It was simply because I could. Not only did I feel like I could, I felt like because I could, that I should. I should keep going until I felt full. The problem I have is that I never feel full - until I feel too full. Full to the point that I'm nauseous because I haven't stopped. I take very large bites of food, and I eat extremely too quickly for what is healthy. This causes me to consume more food than is good for me, and I'm able to justify it in my head because I don't feel full. This leads to feelings of guilt, because I know what I'm doing wrong, but I haven't been able to stop myself. I've tried and failed more times than I care to count. My willpower and determination is undermined by my inherent desire for instant gratification. If I can't have it now, why bother? I get what I want, and you know what they say about getting what you want - sometimes you get exactly that. So in my mind, because I'm getting what I want, I'm also getting what I deserve. It's a vicious cycle that has consumed my life for years. It's caused feelings of self-loathing, created very low self-esteem, and prohibited me from exploring my full potential. Every decision that I've made in the past 25+ years has been consciously or subconsciously guided by my weight, or my perception of myself due to the weight, and this has factored into establishing who I think I am. Knowing all of this, and yet still feeling unable to do anything about it on my own, has created within me a sense of my deserving to be this way. Knowing that this is harmful, fallacious thinking, but still locked into this pattern, regardless, has led to the shame. And the cycle of shame, guilt, etc., continues. During the past three years, I have lost 60 pounds, only to regain 75. I have lost 20 to gain 10. The up and down, back and forth, yo-yo weight issues have been more detrimental to my health than if I had not lost the weight at all. To compound my problems, add to this story a family history that would make any physician shudder. My father, although not overweight, smoked almost every day of his life. He had his first heart attack by the time he was 43, and his last, at age 66. In between, he had two more attacks and quadruple bypass surgery. My mother's side of the family is what really has it in for me, though. Both her parents were gone by the age of 53, one from a heart attack, the other due to complications from a stroke. My mother herself has heart disease (one attack, one angioplasty), type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and a host of other ailments, all which are hereditary. Although I don't smoke, rarely consume alcohol, and am reasonably active, the combination of poor eating habits and family history have me earmarked for an early meeting with the man in the hooded, black cloak and his scythe. For years, this has seemed not only inevitable, but unalterable. However, as the great Bob Wills said, “Time changes everything.” As I've grown older, it has become more important to me to continue to grow older. The first blush of youth has passed, and on to adulthood I must go. And with that journey comes the realization that I live for more than just me. My wife, kids, family, friends – all have more meaning to me than I ever gave credit when I was younger. Knowing that I can't change on my own has been tough. Admitting that it will take help was one of the hardest things I've ever had to face. But knowing that the alternative is an early death is not something I can simply accept any longer. I feel like I must do everything I can to be around for as long as I can. To that end, I've decided to break the silence on something that I've talked to only a select few about. On Thursday, May 7th, 2009, I will be having laparoscopic banding surgery, commonly known as lapband. This is a weight loss surgery that has helped millions world wide, and most importantly, I am hoping can help me. The lapband procedure consists of the doctors placing a small, adjustable silicone band around the top of my stomach. This band restricts the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, and is also designed to produce a faster sensation of fullness, the two things that have been the biggest challenge to me when dealing with my weight loss issues. It's done laparoscopicly, meaning that it requires no cutting, is done in less than an hour, and the rate of recovery is days, not weeks. Lapband is something that I've been considering for a few years. In fact, I wanted to have it done about three years ago, but insurance companies were not hip to the idea at that point, and I could not afford the cash outlay. Instead of doing what I should have done, which is fight with the insurance company to have it done, I took the easy way out and “accepted” that it just wasn't meant to be for me to lose weight. Regrets, yes, I have a few. The lapband should be a safe, long-term solution to helping me with my weight. It is not, I repeat, NOT, the silver bullet. The lapband in and of itself will not cause me to lose weight. It is the combination of the help it provides with my newfound desire to live longer (and better) that will enable me to succeed. Failure is not an option. Failure equals remaining on the path that I have been on my whole life, and that is too short a journey to contemplate. I have not undertaken this lightly. Via the Internet, I've consulted with hundreds of people who have had this procedure, and taken their experiences, both good and bad into my decision. I have close, personal friends that have had the surgery, and are able to give me not only first hand accounts of pre- and post-op procedures, but can guide me weeks, months, and even years ahead. I wrote this to help me put some thoughts down about where I've been and where I hope to be going, but I also wrote it to help put the pressure on me to succeed. If this was something I was doing under the radar, no one would know until it was too late if I succeeded or failed. I hope that soon you are able to start seeing the results of my success, and will be able to Celebrate with me.

Hi all, I have spent about a month now researching and doing all the necessary steps to get the lapband. Found out today that I need proof of not being a drug addict or alcoholic. Has anyone else faced that problem, and if so how do I prove something like that. Even my doctors office were confused by that question. I am a nurse and have to have periodic drug checks, do you think that would be sufficient for Tricare? Never done drugs, and have about 4 glasses of wine a month. Would love to hear from someone who went through the same stuff.

When I was bigger, I had to take medication for bladder control. I took Detrol or something similar. I did for years. The OB/GYN told me that the weight definitely puts pressure on the bladder and that the condition would probably improve after I lost weight. He was correct. I am no longer on medication and have only had a very few "accidents", which I have noticed is only when I've drunk alcohol. So YES it gets better. It is so nice to pitch some of the meds you used to take once you've shed a significant amount of weight. I don't take celebrex or anti-depressants anymore either. I don't get injections in my knees and I have cut the doses of thyroid and blood pressure meds in half. It's amazing.