How does it work? Insights please.

[relaxme 0]

Hi

I'm new here and just trying to figure out if a lap band is something I should be seeking. I've found a lot of good info here but there is one thing I am not sure about that maybe someone can help me figure out.

As I am understanding it, once the band is in place the person basically ends up eating low calorie. This is just reading here and maybe I am misunderstanding. Anyway, over the years of dieting, starving, low carbing, you name it I have completely messed up my metabolism. Add in developing hypoglycemia, menopause (HRT), and now an underactive thyroid, the one thing that seems true for me now is when I don't eat, I gain weight. With low carbing the theory is you have to eat quite a bit so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and that seems to make sense to me. My biggest issue with it is I can never eat enough to get it going for very long. Really, I can go all day without eating and often eat less than other people and still gain. Since the hormonal stuff started I've gained 100 lbs and with what I already had going, am now morbidly obese and can't get it to stop.

The long and short of it is it doesn't seem to matter what tactic I take, I gain weight or can't stick with it because it's too much food (like low carbing). As a last ditch attempt to get some control I've actually gone almost 100% Protein type drinks to see how that will go but after 3 weeks, still gaining. So I am wondering if anyone else felt this way and if the band helped. I'm trying to figure out if it's the smaller pouch releasing smaller amounts of food more slowly or something that could be the trick. What I can't resolve is what happens when a body used to going into starvation mode with less food does when eating so little does with the band that makes it different.

So are my theories off? What do I need to know to sort this out because if what I have been reading is right, it seems to work for a nearly everyone who has it done and I need to find something because normal diets/ways of eating don't seem to be working at all for me and I am stumped.

[Wheetsin 714]

Answers below in blue. All just IMO.

As I am understanding it, once the band is in place the person basically ends up eating low calorie. This isn't really accurate. The band, when properly filled to give adequate restriction, creates the sensation of being full faster, and can mechanically limit the amount of food you're able to eat. It can also trigger behavioral changes by negatively reinforcing bad eating habits. PERIOD. The band does nothing to control your caloric intake. Anything calorie is 100% up to you. You can eat as high or low calorie as you want with the band, which is why people with motivation/compliance issues, etc. are not necessarily good candidates. [...] . With low carbing the theory is you have to eat quite a bit so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and that seems to make sense to me. Actually with low carb, the theory is that you limit your carb intake and (long story short) enter into a fat burning state. Starvation mode is a debatable idea at best. If it does exist, it's not something you're going to hit in a week, it's going to be something that takes a lot of time and radical dietary restrictions to hit. Probably 50% of less of the caloric mass your body requires at BMR. Low carb diets NEVER = low calorie diets. It's the nature of ketosis. My biggest issue with it is I can never eat enough to get it going for very long. Really, I can go all day without eating and often eat less than other people and still gain. Since the hormonal stuff started I've gained 100 lbs and with what I already had going, am now morbidly obese and can't get it to stop. Weight gain is very, very rarely 100% medical. Or even 75% medical. If you believe that in your case it is, you should consult your doctor immediately. If you have a medical condition that is causing your gain, then you likely have other medical maladies that need treatment, e.g. weight gain is not the diagnosis, it's a symptom.

The long and short of it is [...] I'm trying to figure out if it's the smaller pouch releasing smaller amounts of food more slowly or something that could be the trick. What I can't resolve is what happens when a body used to going into starvation mode with less food does when eating so little does with the band that makes it different. I'm skeptical that you're actually experiencing starvation mode. People who have been classified as in starvation mode in medical studies DID experience reduced metabolism, but did not stop fat loss until there was virtually no fat to lose (something like 3% - 8% fat). Why do you think you're entering into starvation mode -- because you're making dietary changes, but not losing fat? Honestly, I wouldn't even worry about "starvation mode."

So are my theories off? I think so. What do I need to know to sort this out because if what I have been reading is right, it seems to work for a nearly everyone who has it done and I need to find something because normal diets/ways of eating don't seem to be working at all for me and I am stumped. Lots of reasons could be behind your not losing weight with past attempts. As for what you need to know -- just understand that the band usually limits the quantity of food that can be eaten. Sometimes the type. It does nothing to limit the number of calories, fat, carbs, or anything else you can eat.

From what you've described, I would recommend a check-in with your doctor. If you eat under your BMR, exercise, eat good quality foods, and still *gain* significant weight - beyond what you can account for in Fluid retention, muscle mass, etc., something's not right. I can see not losing, but you should not gain.

[Daisalana 33]

I don't have enough information to give you any answers, but my general practitioner said people with thyroid problems don't benefit from weight loss surgery. He said it in passing, because it doesn't apply to me, but have you asked your doctor about weight loss surgery?

[lap-band-me 0]

The best thing always is consult with your Dr. We know that weight loss surgery is mostly safe and lifelong but as usual is not suitable for all.

[relaxme 0]

Thanks for the info. My doctor is frustrating me and I have an appt with a new one in Nov. Both are MD's of the holistic bent which I tend to like but I also need to find one who knows something about the lap band and whether it would be an option. The dr I have been seeing only likes Atkins, no other low carb, no other way of eating will be considered as far as I can tell and it's been about 4 years he's been trying to figure me out and he's a specialist in nutrition.

Trying to explain how strange my metabolism is and all that we've tried would just be confusing. Part of it is genetic (some of my family are really thrown by stress which sets us off on gaining no matter what) part is (I believe) the result of too many years of diets etc. My suspicion is my entire endocrine system is out of whack and that all that is going to help is some sort of jump start like losing 100lbs by whatever means necessary and so far any conventional methods aren't working.

[Daisalana 33]

Doctors can do bloodwork and get to the root of this, and let you know if it's in fact medical or not as to why you're gaining weight.

Good luck with your new doctor, and ask them if they think Weight loss surgery would be beneficial for you

[lessnless 1]

I was banded 4 weeks ago. I've lost 11 pounds post-op.

I have a completely nonfunctioning thyroid. I'm also insulin resistant (pre-diabetic). Both of which make weight loss challenging.

Caloric intake is only half the weight-loss equation--the other half is metabolic rate. Most people lose weight by either lowering they intake or increasing their output. People who suffer from metabolic syndromes need to do BOTH to lose weight.

It doesn't matter whether you decrease intake by traditional dieting or by having WLS.

I have found that the only way to improve my metabolic rate is with the proper level of thyroid replacement therapy and EXERCISE. If my T3/T4 levels are too low, I don't lose weight. If I don't exercise, I don't lose weight. It's that simple.

The GREAT thing about exercising regularly is how much ENERGY it gives you--like a double espresso speedball.

[Lynn_Marie 0]

Oh Laura!!! I hope that isn't true because I have had hypothyroidism since 1987 due to Hashimoto's disease, and here I sit with a lapband that I paid almos $8,000 for out of my own pocket!

:faint:

[Daisalana 33]

If your doctor gave you the lap-band, he obviously didn't think it was a problem!

That's why I think she should ask her doctor.. my doctor tested me for thyroid problems (my whole life I've been tested for that).. and said if I had thyroid problems, WLS isn't effective means of controlling it.

[OH Juli 15]

Hi

So are my theories off? What do I need to know to sort this out because if what I have been reading is right, it seems to work for a nearly everyone who has it done and I need to find something because normal diets/ways of eating don't seem to be working at all for me and I am stumped.

Just to point out, there are as many people for whom this surgery works as for whom it doesn't work.

Lapbanded people hit the bell curve like any group of people the majority are average losers, some are better and some are worse.

If you're sampling only the people here you're going to find more successes than not, because the people here are tuned into their band and work hard with it to lose the weight. (WE ROCK!)

Just so you know. Don't let LBT skew the reality of how well the band works.

[lessnless 1]

...my general practitioner said people with thyroid problems don't benefit from weight loss surgery.

Maybe he meant that WLS won't help hypothyroidism? I agree--it requires supplementing/replacing the thyroid hormones to correct. Thyroid function can't be controlled or improved by diet.

Hashimoto's is an auto-immune disorder, where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland.

[Daisalana 33]

Yeah, maybe that's what it was.. I don't have whatever it is, so I'm not really educated in it.. just know something about thyroid not working right.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Hi

I'm new here and just trying to figure out if a lap band is something I should be seeking. I've found a lot of good info here but there is one thing I am not sure about that maybe someone can help me figure out.

As I am understanding it, once the band is in place the person basically ends up eating low calorie. This is just reading here and maybe I am misunderstanding. Anyway, over the years of dieting, starving, low carbing, you name it I have completely messed up my metabolism. Add in developing hypoglycemia, menopause (HRT), and now an underactive thyroid, the one thing that seems true for me now is when I don't eat, I gain weight. With low carbing the theory is you have to eat quite a bit so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and that seems to make sense to me. My biggest issue with it is I can never eat enough to get it going for very long. Really, I can go all day without eating and often eat less than other people and still gain. Since the hormonal stuff started I've gained 100 lbs and with what I already had going, am now morbidly obese and can't get it to stop.

The long and short of it is it doesn't seem to matter what tactic I take, I gain weight or can't stick with it because it's too much food (like low carbing). As a last ditch attempt to get some control I've actually gone almost 100% Protein type drinks to see how that will go but after 3 weeks, still gaining. So I am wondering if anyone else felt this way and if the band helped. I'm trying to figure out if it's the smaller pouch releasing smaller amounts of food more slowly or something that could be the trick. What I can't resolve is what happens when a body used to going into starvation mode with less food does when eating so little does with the band that makes it different.

So are my theories off? What do I need to know to sort this out because if what I have been reading is right, it seems to work for a nearly everyone who has it done and I need to find something because normal diets/ways of eating don't seem to be working at all for me and I am stumped.

My first suggestion for you would be to really focus on the science of morbid obesity and weight loss. There are many myths that seem to have come out of the 70s and people still believe them. For example:

Destroying your metabolism with dieting. Not possible. Your metabolism will naturally slow down with age, weight loss, and thyroid issues. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and I haven't had any problem at all losing weight. If you are not getting any results treating your hypothyroidism then you need to find a different method even if that means traditional medicine.

There is a great forum on Welcome to About.com for thyroid issues. The ladies there are amazing at reading labs, they are up to date on all the latest studies and treatments and they know their stuff well. I would grab a copy of your latest labs and post the numbers on that forum and see what they have to say. I'm not sure holistic methods of treatment are going to work because plain and simple, you need to replace the hormone your body is lacking in. Until you do, you will not get better. But if you want to keep trying the holistic route just know you are going to be doing this for a long while. In the meantime you are at risk for heart problems, joint problems, arthritis, and kidney damage just to name a few. Then there is the issue of no weight loss and that brings up issues of weight related issues such as more heart disease, more joint deterioration, diabetes, hypertension, etc. So to be really blunt I think you need to take a look at the holistic approaches you have been doing and ask yourself... how's this working for me?

Not eating and gaining weight. Actually, that's impossible. It might SEEM like that but if there are no calories going in there is nothing to gain weight with. You could be gaining Water weight but with no calories you cannot gain weight. It's impossible. It's like filling a balloon with air and saying it's being filled with Water. It isn't, there is no water to fill the balloon.

Starvation mode... that's another myth. The bottom line is that it comes down to calories in/calories out. You might have a slower metabolism and lose slower for various reasons but the reality is that calories in/calories out. If you eat more calories you need to burn more calories or you will gain weight. Starvation mode is when you are consuming about 100 calories every few days and your body draws Fluid from your arms and legs and brings them to the abdomen to protect vital organs. You know those little children in Africa that have bloated stomachs and sticks for arms and legs? THAT is starvation mode. Your body doesn't "think" and it is unable to say, "Oh my, I have fewer calories coming in so I am going to hold on to what I have." It just can't do that. It works by a chain of chemical reactions.

We are built to hold on to fat. The human body is exceedingly efficient at storing energy for later use. Consider this, it takes 3500 excess calories to create a pound of fat. Who can't do that in a day? Who of us can't eat an extra 3500 calories in fast food, greasy food, chocolate, ice cream, etc. in a day? Yet it would take about 20 hours of running to burn that one pound. So we are very good at creating and storing fat.

There was a study done at the Phoenix Indian Hospital a few years ago and they were trying to figure out why American Indians have such a high rate of diabetes. The end result was that 200+ years ago life was hard in various parts of the US. There was plenty of food in the summer but winters were hard. Indians would eat like crazy when food was available and they would gain a great deal of weight. Then winter would come, food was scarce, and they lived off the fat they accumulated during the summer. This is exactly how the body is designed. It's great at storing fat for times when food is not readily available.

All in all, the starvation mode is a myth. Oh, people will swear their docs tell them it is real, they will justify more calories in any way possible (that's part of why we are all fat, we ALL justify more calories) but the reality is that fat people don't experience starvation mode. You will NOT lose weight if you eat more calories, you will lose weight slower.

Low carbing doesn't mean eating more. It means limiting carbs, that's all. When you low carb the whole idea is that carbs create blood sugar spikes and that is a chain reaction that tells your body you are hungry. When you eat Protein you don't have the blood sugar spikes and you aren't hungry so you don't eat as much. It puts your body in a fat burning mode and causes ketosis.

My guess is that your hypoglycemia is caused by your diet. When you eat carbs it turns to glucose. The glucose causes your blood sugar to rise. When your blood sugar rises your pancreas kicks out more insulin. When your body kicks out more insulin your blood sugar drops and sometimes it drops lower than it was to begin with and low blood sugar signals your body that you are hungry. It's a cycle that is easily broken by cutting out all white carbs and increasing protein. This also happens to be a great bandster diet. No white carbs and increased protein.

What Protein Drinks are you consuming? What is the calorie/protein count? How many are you drinking daily? What is your exercise routine? How many minutes/hours are you exercising daily? In order to increase your metabolism you MUST increase muscle mass, without exercise you are not going to increase muscle mass and you aren't going to change your metabolism.

The band will help you with some food choices, it will help with portion size, but the rest is up to you. You have to exercise and especially in your case.

You say that you are on HRT, what kind of HRT are you taking? Premarin type drugs? If so, you aren't doing yourself any favors. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is going to likely work better for you. Premarin type drugs are a waste of money. Consider what Premarin actually is:

Pre = Pregnant

Mar = Mare

In = Urine

Premarin IS pregnant horse urine. Horses do not have the same hormones as we do so taking their hormones isn't going to work for us in the long term. It's the best that was available for a long time but today we have hormones available that are identical to what WE make, not what a horse makes.

For the above reasons if I were you I would seriously focus on the science of weight loss and morbid obesity issues. There is soooo much to learn and so many ways of thinking that are outdated and simply wrong. We fatties are always attracted to the diets that allow us to eat more and lose weight anyway. The reality is that doesn't work. :confused: Perhaps consider researching obesity issues somewhere such as this site:

Obesity News & Weight Loss News & Fitness News from Medical News Today

It is updated daily with new studies.

Good luck to you!

[Daisalana 33]

Wasa- Wowsa. Mine hero :confused: