B-52

Ok, for those who do not know me, a little background.

Was banded Jan 2011....met my goal weight within 12 months. Have been 100% successful and as happy as can be ever since, the band did everything I had expected to. I will also add I never had a single problem. If you call getting stuck, regurgitating a problem, well good luck with that.......I call that a learning curve. Stop doing what caused those issues.

Toughest Part?? Letting the band make the rules, and me changing, adapting to get along with what the bands demands. That meant giving up a lot of things I used to enjoy.

Goal Weight? I let my body decide, reach an equilibrium-balance, settled where it wants to be.

Today...went back to my surgeon (and office staff) who I have not seen in a few years......Reason? To discuss having the band removed. Why? Not that there are problems, not that it does not work, but because it did work...for years. I figure by now I have learned new habits....eating small portions, abstaining form certain foods such as meat, flour based products, etc....learning Protein and Water is a daily given. I feel I can survive with out the band. So they removed ALL the Fluid from my band, 8cc's. Will go back in December and start planning the pre-surgery clearances and decide on a surgery date. probably Jan-Feb.

It's been a very rewarding experience. Best decision I ever made. Literally saved my life.

Now for the fun part.....My surgeon and the weight loss center, stopped doing bands altogether.

I asked why, and was told, with a few exceptions such as myself, there is a high failure rate. Now I know this has been a topic here, and I did not have an opinion, until today. I trust these people whole heartily. I asked if the band was no good? Answer was the band is just fine...it's the patients who get the band who are the problem. The staff just could not "Babysit" anymore.

Sorry, many did not want to hear that...but take it from me who is successful..there is nothing wrong with the band.

I do not come around here that much....today I cruised all the topics, and they are all the same as they ever were.....Sorry, but veterans can answer the same question over and over just so many times. And I can read between the lines from the questions being asked, that many just don't get it...they are asking old traditional questions other than the new way of thinking questions.

Ok, for those who do not know me, a little background.

Was banded Jan 2011....met my goal weight within 12 months. Have been 100% successful and as happy as can be ever since, the band did everything I had expected to. I will also add I never had a single problem. If you call getting stuck, regurgitating a problem, well good luck with that.......I call that a learning curve. Stop doing what caused those issues.

Toughest Part?? Letting the band make the rules, and me changing, adapting to get along with what the bands demands. That meant giving up a lot of things I used to enjoy.

Today...went back to my surgeon (and office staff) who I have not seen in a few years......Reason? To discuss having the band removed. Why? Not that there are problems, not that it does not work, but because it did work...for years. I figure by now I have learned new habits....eating small portions, abstaining form certain foods such as meat, flour based products, etc....learning Protein and Water is a daily given. I feel I can survive with out the band. So they removed ALL the Fluid from my band, 8cc's. Will go back in December and start planning the pre-surgery clearances and decide on a surgery date. probably Jan-Feb.

It's been a very rewarding experience. Best decision I ever made. Literally saved my life.

Now for the fun part.....My surgeon and the weight loss center, stopped doing bands altogether.

I asked why, and was told, with a few exceptions such as myself, there is a high failure rate. Now I know this has been a topic here, and I did not have an opinion, until today. I trust these people whole heartily. I asked if the band was no good? Answer was the band is just fine...it's the patients who get the band who are the problem. The staff just could not "Babysit" anymore.

Sorry, many did not want to hear that...but take it from me who is successful..there is nothing wrong with the band.

Haven't been here in a while...today out of the blue I get an e-mail from a member asking me questions (?)

How (or why) they found me I don't have a clue.

For you newbies, I was banded Jan 2011. Met my goal weight (100lbs down) in one year. Band did everything I had hoped it would. Suppressed appetite, cravings, limited portion sizes. blah blah blah. Because of this I was forced to develop a new lifestyle, new foods, new eating methods, throw in some exercise and presto...a new me. Got my life back. Now, every day is just like any other day...I don't worry all that much about what I eat or how much (thanks to the band) it all comes natural now. I'm not worried, or have been since a few months after surgery about gaining any weight back...how can I? Over eating is impossible....and certain foods are just as impossible....It all comes very natural and effortless.

I know, I probably already pushed a few buttons but I am only speaking for myself and my experiences.

Prior to surgery I was a insulin diabetic, plus I had all the other ailments you read on this forum associated with obesity...could not get anything under control no matter how Dr. s regulated all the drugs they were prescribing. I also had coronary artery disease resulting in heart surgery. While they were in there they noticed I had had a Heart Attack, although I never knew it which is common for diabetics ( and women) but I am fortunate to be here. All that is behind me, and at age 65 my Dr.'s still are amazed...My cardiologist said I am getting younger, not older.

I am going to make an appointment with my surgeon.....I am contemplating having the band removed...not because I am having issues..I have never had problems with the band. It's just after years of forming new habits, perhaps I can continue without the aid of something foreign in my body. Besides, one of the selling points was that it is reversible. At the least I will ask him to take out all the Fluid and see how that goes for a while.

Ok, so where have all the veterans gone? Are they still out there? Successful? The answer is yes..we are out here. No Offense, but there is not much happening here for us. When I logged in today, which hasn't been in a while, I looked down the list of trending topics and they are all the same as they were 6 years ago. The same hot topics also. And after a while, after you're thru the early stages, you start to realize things. I used to get roasted for saying some of the things I did from someone who just went thru the surgery whereas I after years, had a different take on things. The majority of people here are new to this, and sorry, just don't have that much in common with veterans.

Ok, that should make up for years of not posting. But to all my fellow banders out there, remember this...THIS THING DOES WORK !! Don't sweat the small stuff...give it chance, it is adjustable and takes a little time to get it just right. After that it is all easy-peasy.

See ya!

With the Band...there are some foods that are difficult if not impossible to eat.

Just so happens that the majority of these foods are also high in carbs....so it all works together well, don't need to count or be mindful of carbs.

Did not your Dr give you something for pain????

If not I would call for an Rx

Out of compassion they were concerned that you may have a health issue.

I told people who asked about my weight loss that I had WLS. Many people were glad to see me lose weight but since it was so rapidly, they were genuinely concerned about my health.

Same here for me....a lot of people said that to me, most concerned and in confidence.

And I can understand...there have been too many people I and my peers know (knew)

I get concerned also.

I'll be 6 years in a few weeks....110% successful, never had any problems.

Good restriction, portion sizes limited. Hunger and cravings next to nonexistent.

Certain foods I cannot eat, others I gave up intentionally...so it's all good.

Exercise regularly, struggle at first to be motivated but after seeing results it became more and more of a habit.

I do not believe in Maintenance, I do today what I did last year, and the year before that and the year before that.

It is a new way of living that has developed...not a diet.

I have no fear of gaining any weight back as long as my band remains constant.

It has gotten to the point that WLS is old news, most people don't remember when I was obese, and new people will never know.

Don't think about it all that much anymore, go about my daily routine. Same as it ever was.

I enjoy things that people here turn into hot topics....

So you see, being successful makes me an odd ball...someone who does not fit in on this forum. And people have been critical of my success even though it is first-hand life experience. Can't possibly be true...it's only a tool! A concept I do not belive in...wait for it,...see what I mean???

They are all newbies and we are worlds apart.

There is simply nothing for me here...I come around just for the reading entertainment and every now and then, like now, I put my 2 cents in for whats it worth.

There were many, many people who were here when I first came..it was called the "Lapband Forum" then.

I followed their success, and they too, like me, found nothing here for them anymore so they moved on.

Imagine this was a website for people just getting started driving a car...lots of good discussion on how to get started, hints and tricks to get it right, and some frustrations and fear of failure...

Parallel parking can be tough....and yes people have car accidents. Even veterans.

But after you have been driving for a few years...whats the point of staying here? Time to move on.

Everyone is different....for me, dieting and trying to lose weight and continuing to fail time after time...now that was hard.

WLS was a last resort, and I can say that after the first few months that were very frustrating with thoughts of failure and it all being a big waste of time and money, it has been easy as it can be ever since...don't even think about it that much anymore, and the word "Diet" is not something I do not consider or will probably ever do anymore.

It's not how many fills you get, but how much saline is put in your band...

I had three fills, but they were generous ones and I have been great for 6 six yesrs now, good restictions and lack of hunger.

I know someone whose Dr. would only put .5 to 1 cc of Fluid in at a time...after a full year, 1 fill per month, she was only where I was in the first few months.

Also it is important to know, as you get band adjustments, you need to slowly adjust yourself to match what the band is doing. You cannot contine with the old mindset when the band is trying to do it's job.

You will be unhappy, get Fluid taken out to match what YOU want to do, then turn around and say the band does not work.

I need to add, people react differently...there are people on this forum who are perfectly pleased with their bands and never had a fill.

before surgery I could not control my appetite, eating. I could eat enough for 3 people.

Now, after lap band surgery, I am unable to eat like that anymore. I eat like a bird.

I was fat because I ate too much. Now I am thin because I eat normally the way other thin/fit people eat.

Example...on a Friday night I could eat an entire large pizza with toppings by myself...then come back for dessert or something more to eat an hour or two later.

Now, I have a hard time getting through one slice...unable to overeat as before, and with that no fear of regaining any weight.

BTW, I stopped eating pizza because since I eat so little, I did not see the nutritional value in it and would rather eat something good since I'm eating so little now.

Add to all that plenty of exercise, etc, and I am a new person!!!!

My relationship with alcohol since surgery has not changed, although I am not a heavy drinker...just socially, parties, dinner, etc.

With the band however, I have to be careful when drinking beer...don't over do it, and never with food in the stomach - pouch.

I hear a lot of people talk about your tolerance changing...I have not experienced that at all.

I wonder if the majority of people are experiencing this or like most things on this forum, just repeating what others have said.

But bottom line, listen to your Dr.

Get used to it...it's all part of the learning curve.

This and other lessons to learn will "Change your life"

That's what it is all about. Forced to eat the way a skinny -thin person does so you will become one also.

BTW, over the years I've read posts where a person will get stuck (probably from eating the wrong foods the wrong way) But will panic, blame the band, and get Fluid taken out so they can eat the way they want to.

What's the point??? Why have surgery???

Oh, and wait till it happens in a restaurant.

I was fat - Obese becausaeI ate all the wrong foods, and ate the wrong way.

Diets never helped, tried and failed 100 times.

Lap Band surgery changed all that. It FORCED me to change what I eat, and how I eat.

I once ate like a glutton, now I eat like a bird.

Not going to guess what your episode was, but be ready. The lap band will change your life.

Why else did we have this surgery if we do not want it to do something???

I am 6 years out. What and how I eat has become routine. But in the beginning while I was learning my lessons (the hard way) I sometimes got stuck a few times a day until I finally broke!

Even today, every now and then without thinking I will take too large a bite - swallow, or gulp a drink and immediately I will be strongly reminded I did have surgery once.

People who get stuck, have food - slime come back up immediately think there is something wrong....(Maybe there is but not with the band)

I say seize the moment, think about what you did to cause the episode, and learn from it....eventually you will break all those habits you never knew you had and change your life for good.

For me it was about 2 , 2-1/2 years after surgery

By then, I had lost all the excess weight I was going to loose...I go to the gym every day I can, not because I'm a Weight Loss patient, but because I like it and what it does for me.

After surgery, I began to learn to eat differently, eat different foods, etc. Gave up certain foods like all red meat, breads and other flour based foods, plus other food types.

I still do today, 6 years after surgery...NOT because I am a weight loss patient, but again, I like the benefits.

It all may have started out as something I learned as a weight loss patient, but it turned into something that became part of me...a lifestyle. And it is a very healthy lifestyle with positive outcomes I can see.

Friends of mine who are NOT weight loss patients, follow the same lifestyle, and we learn from each other.

After my first fill (4cc's) I started to GAIN weight

Went I went for my second fill I was apprehensive.

My Dr. laughed at me....said I really did not understand the "process"

That was 6 years ago

All I can say is "Look at me now"

Everyone is different....

My first fil was 5 weeks after surgery, for 4cc's....2nd fill was 4 weeks after that.

After my first and before my second, I gained most of the weight from pre-surgery back.

I was frustrated, fortunately my Dr. laughed and again explained to me the process.

It took me a 3 good fil's until I hit the Green Zone, and then the weight started to consistently come off.

I know people who have not had a fil for over a year and was successful losing weight. Just the mere presence of the band was all that was needed.

I have experienced the reflux during sleeping...it is not very pleasant.

I have learned not to eat anything near bedtime.

In my own rules, I'm done eating for the day by 7:00pm.

Decent meal???

That is very subjective.

The band has forced me to change what I eat, When I eat, and How Much I eat.

It has changed my life(style)...my old lifestyle was the cause of me being Obese and slowly killing me.

This new lifestyle has made me slim and fit, with near perfect health.

My Decent meals are nowhere's near what other's may call Decent.

Occasionally everyone from my office will go out for dinner and drinks.

I'm fine just having an appetizer, maybe along with a cup of Soup.

Everyone else will question this, but I am in better shape and health than any of them, and I am twice the age of many of them.

Stop eating g when your full. I have it on good authority that it's what THIN PEOPLE do!

I have it on good authority Thin people are not even interested in eating.....

@@trekker954 I stop when im full and i eat when im hungry. I try everyday to get in as much Protein as possible. Some days were/are better than others. I was never one to log in anything either... i followed the rules as much as i could and when i didn't i lived with the consequences.

Also when i was first starting out i drank liquid shots of protein.. i bought the ones from GNC... Most will have around 40-50gms each shot... Kept them in fridge and chugged one each am.... the rest was easy to get it... for the most part.

@@B-52 What B said..... We both have the band.

I like the liquid shots when I travel, small and easy to bring with me.

It's hard to predict what you're going to eat day to day when away.

I was Navy also...did 2 tours in Vietnam...(just gave away my age)

Enjoy the honeymoon....everyone loses weight post surgery, simply because of the restricted diet.

Eventually, you will be eating normal foods again

I lost weight post op, had my first fill 5 weeks after surgery ...then proceeded to gain weight.

When I showed up for my 2nd fil, 9 weeks after surgery, I had gained back EVERYTHING I lost pre and post op.

It was not until after my 3rd (and final) fil did I start to shed the lbs. - consistently.

Hang in there, you are in for some hard learned lessons.

But know this, IT DOES WORK!

I can tell you first hand, I am Living proof of that. As are many others here.

No different from any other thanksgiving, or large meals, etc.

My portion sizes are limited, so when I do eat I make sure to start with the Protein items first, then enjoy ALL the other things as a side. But again, very small.

Years past I ate so much I had to unbuckle my pants....No mas!

Probably come back for pie and coffee later during football.

That's one of the things I like about my Band...I can't push on. It is impossible for me to eat too much, impossible to overeat. My portion sizes are set, very minimal.

As far as Protein, I invested in a quality blender, and every morning to start the day I make a smoothie starting with 40gms of Protein, fresh fruit etc, mixed with almond milk.

Getting the rest of my daily requirement is easy after that. I might even have another one that evening, adding some ice cubes to thicken like a milk shake...great dessert - treat.

And I don't have to worry about putting too much stress on my band.

I'm still the same person I was before surgery, and enjoy many of the same things in life as before...

The big difference, before surgery I could eat anything and as much as I wanted, unable to control myself...

So surgery has solved that.

Now I behave as many skinny, physically fit people do who never did have WLS.

Before surgery, I had a number in mind I thought would be incredible to obtain... after surgery, as the weight started to come off, I met that goal and kept on losing.

I came up with another number, which I reached and kept on losing beyond that.

Bottom line...prior to surgery I was fat-obese because I ate way too much of the wrong things...after surgery I adapted a new lifestyle of eating only the best, healthiest things, and way less than what I used to eat...

I naturally went up in weight because I ate wrong, and I naturally returned to a good healthy state because now I eat and exercise normally.

It was not me who set that final goal, it was my body that leveled out to where it should be based on muscle, bone mass, etc.

I know I am at the "Perfect" weight not because of the scale, but because of my body fat %...and it is right where it should be.

When my body reached that "equilibrium" , I did not change anything...(how can I eat more or differently with the band?) I still eat and exercise the same as always, and will for the rest of my life.

No diets, not counting calories, just a "new normal"

BTW, BMI's are not very accurate - scientific....if I followed BMI's, I would still be considered "Overweight" and would need to lose an additional 10-15 lbs...but with my current body fat %,being what it is, where would those 10-15lbs come from? Certainly not fat..there is no excess to lose....so trying to lose any more weight would be down right harmful.