A thread for super-sized bandsters - starting BMI over 50?

[Wheetsin 714]

If you're gaining weight, you aren't going to starve. Esp. if you're eating 15 oz of food (heck, you aren't going to starve on 2 oz)

Fills are usually done at the surgeon's discretion, though I know people who have gone to other docs b/c they agreed to give fills sooner than the surgeon. 3 months is a long time IMO. My surgeon is aggressive with fills and does them 5 or 6 weeks post-op (of course you can request no fill at this time too), and generally goes for a 40% - 50% fill, depending on how you've been losing without.

I was fortunate in that the band itself gave me restriction, but that doesn't sound like it's your case. Long story short, if you don't have restriction from the band itself (doesn't sound like you do considering the quantities you caneat), then weightloss is going to be solo until you can get a fill. :confused:

You say you weren't stuffed after 15 oz. Maybe try to focus on "no longer hungry" vs. "stuffed"? It's a generally good practice, but if you're struggling to lose until you can get a fill (temporary), it really can help. I think a lot of people find that if they pay attention to this, and really chew well and swallow small bites, they're full sooner than they could have ever dreamed - even without restriction.

Good luck!

[Wheetsin 714]

Guys, you know what I just realized? I'm about 10 lbs away from no longer qualifying for lap-band. When I hit ~280 my BMI will be just a hair below 40, and I have no comorbidities.

Knowing how big I still am, and how far I still have to go, and how I will need my band just as much then as now... that's a little scary...

[mysteryclaw 0]

Thanks for your reply. I am not trying to go for stuffed, I was just really suprised I wasn't hurtin or even really full after eatting so much. I only ate 4 ounces for lunch today and I am doing ok. I hope to fill fuller when I get back on to more solid food.< /p>

As for not qualifying for surgery anymore after further weight loss, there were ladies in my surgery classes that were around 220, so I hope you don't have a problem. I am not sure if they had any comorbities though. Do you not have high cholesterol at least to help you get the surgery, that sounds bad. I don't wish high cholestrol on you, but most people now adays, over weight or not have it. Good luck. When do you find out from your insurance company? If you have already submitted for approval, they go by that weight not your current weight.

Wait now I am confused, am I reading this wrong? You said you already had the band in your reply to me, but then you said you are worried about qualifying for the surgery????

-Cheryl

[waterlily1072 5]

Cheryl,

Grats on getting the surgery! I know it is hard when we are used to eating till we are stuffed, but I try and focus on how little I can get by on rather than how much I can eat. Eat until your hunger pains are gone and that is enough. If you are experiencing a lot of hunger ask yourself how much Protein you are having. You are only 3 weeks out from surgery you should still be on mushies and they will never "fill" you up, especially with your band unfilled. You are healing, this isn't the time to worry about weight loss. Your weight gain could be Fluid retention or just your body adjusting to mushies after liquids. Many people gain when they switch to musihes, it is very normal.

[tinalondon 0]

THANK YOU!

None of us got here by accident!

[Wheetsin 714]

Wait now I am confused, am I reading this wrong? You said you already had the band in your reply to me, but then you said you are worried about qualifying for the surgery????

You misunderstood. :eek: I had my surgery about 5 months ago. The point to my posting being - I'm very close to having lost enough weight to make my BMI under 40, and I have no comorbs. BMI over 40, or under w/ significant comorbs, are the general qualifying factors. The scary part being, I'm still no where near done, still MO, still around size 24/26, and if I walked into the surgeon's office (in a few weeks) there's a chance I wouldn't qualify. That's what's scary -- to think of others in my position who maybe can't get the band... and knowing how much I still need it.

[mysteryclaw 0]

Hello Waterlily,

Thanks. I was hoping things would get better once I am eating more solid foods. I am not trying to get stuffed. I started measuring my food again today, so hopefully I will do better soon. I was hungry all day, but I guess that is normal and not too bad of a price to pay for future weight loss and a healthier life. Can't wait until I get off of the mushies.

It's just so frustrating to watch your calorie count stay very low, exercise and stay active everyday and watch the scale go up. Especially after getting such a life changing surgery. I guess I will have to learn to be more patient, although I don't know that I will be able to make it 3 more months to get filled. Maybe things will be better in a week or two and I will be like others who didn't need the fill right away. Just stressed and dissapointed at this point. Earlier in the week was hard. I had to meet with the nutriounist along with others who had bariatric surgery the same week as I did and they were all bypass patients complaing about being stuffed and bragging about losing a ton of weight already.

Thanks everyone,

Cheryl

[mysteryclaw 0]

How much protien do I need to make sure I don't lose my hair? I am currently getting 50 grams, but I read some where online about needing 60.

If you have had thinning hair and you are only getting 50, please let me know. I have really long hair and don't want to lose it.

TIA,

Cheryl

[waterlily1072 5]

Cheryl,

My surgeon has me on 56g of Protein per day (I round up to 60). So far no Hair loss at all. I know some who's doc's say 100 others who say 50. I think with that wide a range as long as you feel good and are getting at least the minimum in that range then you should be fine, just adjust that number as your body indicates. I know what you mean about not seeing the scale move. My first week, was less than 500 calories a day and I didn't lose. My advice would be to do what I did this month. Stay off the scale. I had my dh hide it from me. So many of us focus on what that stupid thing says, when we should be focusing on our choices and our activity and generaly how we feel. I think the standard is 6 weeks for a fill btw. Is the 3 mo thing his general policy or his personalized plan for you? I wouldn't go to another surgeon to get filled for your first one as this may upset him and his policies, but you may ask him about it and see if he will do it for you sooner it's worth a try, but who knows you may not need it :eek: Good luck

[mysteryclaw 0]

I am not sure if that is his personal policy or just for me. I know he is about to change the way fills are done and send thing to the hospital and having someone else do them, I think he might be pushing me back so that he doesn't have to do it. I think I will stay off the scale too. I made it a week, but now I probably need to wait even longer. What do you feel like when you aren't getting enough protien? I always feel about the same, unless I have a cold or didn't get enough sleep.< /p>

Thanks again,

Cheryl

[waterlily1072 5]

It's not something you would feel if you didn't get enough one day here or there, because that is gonna happen and it's ok. But if you are consistently not getting enough you will experience more hunger and fatigue. Not getting enough protien means your body will burn muscle thereby lowering your metabolism and we don't want that

[mysteryclaw 0]

Thanks Waterlily, I will definatly watch out for that. I don't want my metabolism to slow any further.

Thanks agian,

Cheryl

[waterlily1072 5]

Anytime

[skinnyme128 0]

Why do we have to eat mushies again?

[Goannabanda 0]

Hi all,

I'm fairly new around LBT - currently in "auditioning for the band" (i.e. pre-op tests). My starting BMI is 51.5, which is super obese according to my surgeon's scale (SEE BELOW). I weigh 134 kilos - which is about 315 pounds. I have a whole LARGE person to lose (70kg, or approx 160 lbs).

My surgeon's BMI obesity scale (without the lower ranges...):

30-40 - obese

40-50 - morbidly obese

50-60 - super obese

60+ - super super obese

I am really excited about being banded, although nervous as to the changes it will bring to my lifestyle. I don't know how I am going to deal with weight loss either - as I've never enjoyed much success losing weight before, nor have had any time in my adult life where I have not been obese / morbidly obese / super obese.

Looking forward to catching up with all that's in this thread, and to being part of this big (important) group! I hope that I can help lift each of us up with my support, as no doubt I will enjoy from you!