B-52

And there is nothing better than Victories!! Sometimes WE are our own worse enemies, and WE need to get out of the way.....die to those old ways of thinking and flesh (especially obese people) and accept to live in the new.......all else will follow. I see it here everyday...people want to loose weight, have a new life....but they insist on holding onto the old...the things that failed them before.....and then wonder why they are not loosing weight....

Agreed....I stopped eating red meat after being banded, had trouble with it and figured it was a good thing to give up...everyone kept telling me so anyway... So when eating out, that's 1/2 the menu..... Then take away breaded, fried foods....get stuck on those....... Take away breads and doughy things, rice, globby melted cheese products, all those things on my "Do Not Eat" list because of getting stuck, and what's left on a menu?? Very limited...... Now eat off a menu 24/7 for a week, and that is why I always LOOSE weight when traveling... (also, I never stop exercising)

Just remember...to loose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume...daily. Everything we do burns calories...breathing burns calories, staying warm, etc,. However, the less calories you burn, the less you're going to have to eat to loose weight........the more you exercise, the more you can eat. And ideally...burn more calories than you eat.....eat less...... The band is there to help us from over eating...less calories per day, something I could never do on my own.... But It is up to me to burn the calories, however I choose to....that is one thing the band will not do for me.... Myself, I want to burn as many calories per day as I can....much more than I eat, forcing my body to turn to stored fat...I've been saving it for something...

1200 calories per day to survive..... I'm curious, who is telling you this? Not saying it is incorrect, but is this figure based upon studies conducted with a wide range of patients? Or is is a figure based upon overweight / obese patients? I work with Nutritionists everyday as part of the medical team at the different clinics I attend.....and, with ALL DUE RESPECT, I know where they are coming from.....and they are absolutely correct.... in a perfect world.... But being morbidly Obese is not a perfect world and 2+2 does not always = 4, at least not right away....it does make a good starting point, but then as with any treatment plan, it has to be modified to fit the individual...... I'll leave it at this...if we consume 1200 calories per/day to sustain ourselves, WHEN do we get to burn up that fat/energy we have been storing away for that rainy day? Just my morning thoughts.....

Agreed.....the food I eat, and do not (cannot) eat, 24/7 does not change because I am on vacation or traveling for business.....if anything, the options become less when I'm away....

I would ask what their policies are regarding visits, band adjustments, nutrition after the surgery...... It may be hard for you to understand right now, but I would ask how aggressive He/she is with their adjustments (fills) It is very subjective what is acceptable.....but I know people from another, smaller group I belong to that had to change Dr's after their surgery because their policy was not to administer more than .25 cc per visit, per month. (12 visits per year) ...that's no more than 3 cc's per year.... The people I know were convinced the Dr. was more concerned about the # of visits to bill the Insurance Co. ($$) rather than any results..... But like I said, that all may seem confusing to you, just starting out.....but I would ask about post surgery visits, etc....

I have been unable to eat anything solid first thing in the morning for quite some time now.....gets better as the day goes on.... So, for about 18 months, I make a high Protein smoothie every morning.... Starting with 100% whey, for 25gm protein.... To this I had 15gm pure liquid Protein.....(medical grade) For flavor I add anything from mixed berries, pineapple, mango, banana, Peanut Butter, chocolate, coffee, just about anything you imagination can conjure... Mix it all in a blender with either Water or skim milk, and a ice cube or two.... I also add a non-thickening Fiber supplement....... So I start the day with 40gm protein, manageable calories, etc.....and ENERGY and NO HUNGER throughout the day.... I cannot imagine food I could eat to match that...IF I were able to eat i the morning.... The gym I go to 5 days a week also has a "juice Bar" where they make recovery shakes - smoothies.....

Every time I travel, I actually loose weight!!! And I travel a lot both on business and pleasure.... That's because I have to eat in restaurants all the time, which limits my already limited food choices.... At home I can at least plan and shop for the foods that are band friendly.....It is very hard to find enough food choices when out....and when away from home it is worse.... And, I never let up on my daily exercising ....no matter where I am.....no excuses!.....so I am always burning my daily calories requirements, even exceeding them........

In my personal experience, it is ALWAYS been about Calories consumed versus Calories Burned....You need to burn off more calories per day than you eat.....500 more per day for 1 lb per week..... If one chooses to eat more, then you need to exercise even more....... Speaking only for myself....I was most successful when I ate less and exercised more....being absolutely sure I got my daily Protein ( for energy and metabolism), Vitamins, supplements and Water....

Good Morning and a Good New Year to ALL! I was on a few other sites this morning, and all I can say is I am SO GLAD that I no longer have to make myself promises or resolutions concerning dieting and loosing weight...EVER AGAIN! Seems that is all I read about...people making "Empty" resolutions, which I have done many times and failed at every one.... I will head to the gym when they open today, and like every New Year, the place will be packed with new people vowing to loose weight with new gym memberships.... I know firsthand the staff there have an inside joke about these people....how long will they last?? I also know they will push hard "Private One on One Training" to make their $$ while the going is good..... Today, as was the last few days, the TV commercials will be all about this and that weight loss scheme.....summer is 6 months away...sign up today!! The morning news on TV has already run segments about "Cooking" and "Exercising" I cannot express enough how happy I am to have been set free from all that culture! I have a NEW LIFESTYLE.....I can think about other things rather than my weight and immediate health issues......words cannot describe what true freedom and release feels like!

As I was loosing weight I too often pondered this question, what happens when I reach the goal..... And the answer for me is nothing! This is a lifestyle change....a permanent change, forever....the band remains as it is..... I have learned to live with the band, meaning I have learned to eat a new way, learned to choose good healthy foods, and have become very active and physically fit....and will NEVER be able to overeat.... It has become a new lifestyle, no longer dieting, no longer counting calories...... I have NO FEAR of gaining weight...... I have many normal weight, healthy and fit friends....and I now live a regular life the same as they do....enjoying the things I choose to..... It has become a lifestyle, not a weight loss program.......so as far as maintenance, why would I want to change my new lifestyle? And dieting is no longer part of that life.... The only thing I do to care for the band, is go full liquids for 2-3 days,, from time to time to give it a rest and let things tighten up back to "My New Normal" As a matter of fact, I'm going to to do it soon due to all the partying I've been doing because of the holidays.... BUT I DID NOT GAIN 1 LB!!!

I have absolutely NO willpower when it comes to weight loss..... I have dieted, AND FAILED on every diet under the sun fro the last 30 years...... That is why I needed surgical intervention to FORCE me to learn new habits, and loose the old habits, OR ELSE I pay the consequences...... BTW, after learning my new lessons, I have not slimed or gotten stuck in over a year.....but early on, while learning to "listen" to the band it was a different story and not always pleasant......

This has been a topic I have been interested in also.... For myself...I am not afraid of ever gaining my weight back...the band is, and has been my stop button after getting it properly adjusted to suit me.......the fact that it restricts me from eating certain foods, and prohibits me from ever overeating, is the primary reason I lost all my weight..... If these barriers were removed, then what would prohibit me from then gaining weight? As far as loosing too much weight, I have learned as long as I get the needed Protein to protect and not loose what's essential, my body will loose what is not essential (fat) and settle out and stop all on it's own...I have not gained, or lost weight in over 12 months...having reached that point of equilibrium...which is vastly different from what my goal was..... But like I said, I too am interested in what the future may bring.... But for now, my Dr. says that THIS PHASE of the weight loss treatment - procedure is complete, no longer being overweight....and to learn to live and behave the same way normal weight people do.....and that's just being smart about what I put in my body, and stay very active.... I see him again in Jan., and I am going to mention what the long term plans are, if they change at all..... But I would be concerned about doing anything that would let me get fat again....I like the way I am right now....

Could not agree with you more....I stayed away from this website for a while because it was getting to me.... I have some people blocked and can not read their posts anymore...not sure if they can read mine or not.... This should be a place for people to share their stories and experiences, good and bad....successes and failures.... There are way too many people who consider themselves "Experts" and will tell other people "THIS IS THE WAY IT IS" and "THIS IS WHAT YOU MUST DO" where as I and other people I know may do something entirely different, and have the personal experience and success to back it up.... I often wonder what some people's credentials are to give such direct medical advice...I have creds and know better because of it..(unless you like lawsuits).....and all the more reason NOT to publicize it... People should always reply to posts with "This is what I have found to be true in my experiences" I belong to other sites also, but mostly smaller "Private" support groups where people have more of a common interest....

Nothing stops me from having a beer or 2, a mixed drink or a glass of wine....drank more than usual with all the Christmas parties last week or so..... Basic rules....I NEVER drink while eating,(learned the hard way) or shortly thereafter, and when I drink beer, I hardly eat at all..... And of course, if you are still dieting and counting calories, then you have to be aware of that also.....but I have not counted calories in a long time....

Someone shared this on another (private) Lap Band website.... Interesting, try it and see how you do.... http://health.yahoo....dicts-longevity

Glad the holidays are past.... Christmas Eve is the big event for our family....we all get together, everyone brings food....and booze... I filled a plate with a taste of everything....I was hardly able to do even that..all that good food, but there was nothing that was band friendly...I started to feel stuck very early on.... What I did do was graze all evening...all those appetizers sitting around...everything from Cookies to delicious Italian Deli Trays...ALL NIGHT! Sugars, salt, oils and fat! And I must have finished at least one bottle of wine myself, at least one bottle..... Not to mention, everyone got in the mood to have toasts with bottles of Scotch and Tenn. Whiskey! Everyone who received a bottle as a gift (including me) felt they needed to open it and pour everyone a glass and have a toast!! Just when you think it's time to go home to bed, eight of us went to the movies for a 11pm showing of Les Miserables! What a LONG movie, I'm NOT a young and crazy guy anymore! After that it was Christmas Morning, be it 4am, and it shortly started all over again with a HUGE Breakfast with EVERYTHING! And I have not eaten breakfast in 18 months! Just the way it is for me due to the band.... But that's another story... I don't fear gaining weight anymore...(and I did not) .....that's all behind me because I have had corrective surgery.......I now live and act the same as a regular weight person does... It's just that I ate CRAP for 36 straight hours..POISON....I can feel it deep in my core....almost a trembling.... NEED to get to the gym and sweat all these toxins out of my system......but good Going to do my 5 miles of running, and then some...with plenty, and I mean plenty... of Water.... So, it is 5 am and I am walking out the door and heading to the gym as soon as I finish this......

I have had many goals...when I met the first, I kept on loosing so I set a second....and then surpassed that... What I have learned, PROVIDING YOUR BAND IS FUNCTIONING AT PEAK AND NOT YOUR OWN EFFORTS..... is that your body will stop loosing when it feels it does not need to anymore. In other words, your body will eventually adjust to where it should be, a normal FAT %, not a normal BMI. (although it could be) I have often wondered what I would do, when the weight loss is finished....do I get a un fil? the answer is no, this is a new life style, with new eating habits, and you will return to "Normal", then continue there....forever! Just like we all got fat from a lifestyle of eating too much, and steadily growing heavier, this is a new lifestyle of eating "Normally", thanks to the band, and will steadily return to "NORMAL, then stop....all on it's own. So setting goals may be fun, but it will continue providing you're living a life with the band and not by traditional dieting....

Like she said, it's all about the timing.....she say's one minute...I think everyone is different....it is much longer for me. This I know from experience....drink Water while food is still in your pouch, and it will all come right up, overfilling your pouch. This has happened to me more times that I can remember...enough for me to say it is safer than to try it at all....to risky BTW, if your stuck, this is a sure fire way to get unstuck, immediately....a very common trick. Also, I NEVER believed it washes food down, don't know where that was started but since I was banded 2 years agoI was never led to believe that...only the over filing which I experienced first hand.

We can enjoy the foods we want...well, the foods that are band friendly.... But no matter what, It's nice to know the band will not let me be stupid and over eat and make a pig of myself.... Unless I want to get sick and regurgitate..... So it does not matter how much food is offered, the band will allow just so much and then that's it....only choice I need to make is what food type will I consume to make up that small portion? Protein or cookies? That is the choice I need to make......

Very wise and practical approach...no need to punish ourselves... I enjoy things such as cake, ice cream sundaes, beer, etc....if the band will allow, it does hold me in check... Difference is, I'm not a gluttonous pig like I used to be..I'm not doing it all day, every day......it is also not a diet...but a new life changing lifestyle, no different from what normal weight people do... Of course, for people just starting out, the sacrifices are more drastic...

3500 calories = 1lb of fat...... Divide that by 7 days, that would = 500 calories per day....ABOVE what you consume..... So, if you consume 1000 calories per day, you need to burn 1500 calories per day to loose 1 lb per week..... Normal body functions, breathing...maintaining body temp. (burn more in winter) your heart beating....etc, ..burns calories....so it is hard to calculate what one actually burns per day although there is a given fudge factor...... Loosing weight has always been about burning more calories that you consume...always has, always will be....whether it's accomplished by dieting, surgery, and in many cases a combination of both...... You can eat more and exercise more...eat less and exercise less...or better yet...eat less and exercise more! Early on, in the first 6 months, I drove myself nuts trying to keep track of everything I ate, and every activity I did....had all the fancy app's...download to my computer..printed graphs to show my Dr....he was not impressed, he wanted to SEE results, not paperwork... So, with the aid of the band...I eat little but make wise nutritious food choices with everything I do eat...., and remain as active as I can possibly be....and pay special attention to my daily Protein intake, (that I do count) if not with food, then supplements....my daily Water intake to maintain metabolism and other body functions, and Vitamins, omegas, etc....my Dr. does not question my techniques, what I eat and how much...what he is pleased with is the results, and my overall health and fitness...which has never been better.... Also, it is said the more you have to loose, the more you will loose in #'s......but it is all about %'s ....loosing 100 lbs for one person is no different than loosing 50 lbs for the next person....depends... The important thing is that we all loose!

I had 2 stents......it's not the end of the world.....as a matter of fact it was part of my wake-up call...and now, I have never felt better, healthier and more fit in over 30 years...... However, I have a friend who has also undergone the same procedure, and he keeps telling me we "Have to take it easy", "we have had heart attacks" Granted, everyone has to follow the advice of their cardiologists, but my attitude is 100% opposite.....just watch me!!!! It is NOT a death sentence..... As for you, hang in there.....this thing DOES WORK...if YOU LET IT! The first 4-6 months were the toughest for me, but once I got everything adjusted properly, the band, and most importantly...ME....it has all been a very easy experience........(for me)...others find it hard work.....

I enjoyed the drugs most of all.....was happy to become one with my Lazy Boy recliner for 48 hrs.....with a warm comforter.... Then I had to get up and run off the gas......

I'm soon to be 61 years old, and I get strange pains all the time.....they come and (most importantly) they go... As long as they don't feel like an elephant sitting on my chest, radiating down my left arm,,,I'm fine.... If your Dr. is not worried, I wouldn't be either..... take an aspirin and call him in the morning....just kidding (BTW, it sounds like Intercostal Muscle Strain...but that's just my opinion....very painful when you breath) Off subject, I am curious about your screen name...boilerguy.....if it is what i think it is, I may have a strong connection.....