B-52

There is always the exception, and I guess I'm it.... To me, it is a lifestyle.....NOT a diet. I have plenty of friends who are skinny, and probably never been overweight in their life. I follow their lead....you will never see them eating like a pig...always small portions. At parties, you hardly see them eating at all but engaged in conversation..... They do it out of good lifestyle, I do it because the band will not let me be a pig..CANNOT overat.... 2nd, what food they do eat is HEALTHY....you will never see them counting calories. They simply know what is good and what is not good for their bodies.....it's not rocket science and I don't need MFP to tell me. That is what I do...since myl food portions are so small, thanks to the band, I have educated myself to be a Health Nut.....I only eat the best foods, stay away from junk, choose organis when possible.. I have not eaten red meat in 18 months.....no flour products, no sugar, no salt, soda, milk, etc. to some that may be a diet, to me that's a healthy lifestyle. 3rd, my skinny friends are all active, involved in something like running clubs, cross country biking, etc. I too have elected to to be the same way.....even after having one heart attack with cardiac surgery, I am more active now than I was 30 years younger....which included 2 tours of Vietnam.... So, I do not think about calories, just eating healthy... Being banded, my portions are totally in control, cannot overeat even if I wanted to..and I have tried and learned my lessons well.... Most days, I do not even think about being banded at all....it is as though I had surgery once, I'm healed and cured, and life goes on..... However it goes on with a NEW NORMAL.... I have not gained, nor lost any significant weight in over a year. I see my bariatric surgeon every 3 months....he cannot be more pleasd because I make him look good....has had me at a few of his seminars..... He once said he wished all his patients had my attitude towards living a new life...... These forums are a place where no one is right, and no one is wrong....but it is a place where people who have been banded share their personal stories. I am shocked at what some people tell other people what they should or should not do.... I have been in the profession for over 30 years and , well, I'll leave it at that..... I have reached my goal, completed the journey....this is now my NEW NORMAL LIFE! Set free from dieting, calorie counting, etc.....and it is all easy and normal behavior for me.

Very well written, and I respect your "opinion" And people need to hear everyone's opinion. In my case, this has not been hard at all! After the first 6 months were out of the way, it became very simple and easy , for me. I too have lost all my weight, and I wake every morning thanking God I can face he day the same way any other skinny person can, not afraid of eating wrong, and not afraid of gaining weight..... I can't wait to face the day, with no fear....what can possibly happen? Like I said, everyone has their opinion, and that is mine....and that is what these boards are all about....people being banded and sharing their personal experiences....and people need to hear it all. You are correct to say people should not be so judgemental. People should only respond by sharing what their experiences have been.....period. Thank You

The little victories / accomplishments make you feel so good you only want more....then more..... Before you know it your hooked! Doing things you never thought possible and loving every minute of it because of the great awards and good feelings it brings. Self esteem...confidence....mental and physical health....and don't forget those endorphins !!!! Pretty soon you cannot get enough of it and only feel bad - depressed when you DON'T get your workout in.....

I drink coffee everyday, plus other things many may not. BUT my Dr. Is fully aware of what I do, and I see him regularly, plus my PCP, Cardiologist, etc,.

I often wondered this also.....with the band I am not sure how I can go back to my old habits.... I have been on vacations, cruises, where food was available 24/7, and even if I tried, there was so much I could tolerate.....last cruise I enjoyed myself and still lost weight. In my opinion, I would imagine it could be true for people whose band is not that tight and depend upon self discipline and will power more than the band itself.

I used to get reflux all the time, in the beginning, until I learned I can no longer eat hot-spicey foods. Food will accumulate in the pouch where it is more concentrated in a small area before passing into the stomach where normal digestive process takes over. I have also been advise not to lie flat ( go to bed) just after eating, but to stay upright and active. But it also affected by how much restriction one has. As far as vomiting, I'm not sure what you mean by that......vomiting and the band related regurgitation can be two different things.

Pretty much what I do...eat when I'm hungry...and then make wise food choices.... Sometimes that means Snacks all day and no meals....sometimes one meal and a few snacks....all depends....sometimes no meals at all, and very few snacks..but I DO get my Protein in EVERY DAY.... As far as metabolism, choosing the right foods helps me there......and I run 5 miles per day, 5 days a week.....then work 10 hours a day seeing patients. And starvation mode....asked my surgeon early on...he looked at me and laughed and said I had no fear of that, meaning I had enough stored away as fat to survive.... as long as I get my Water, protein, and vitamins...... Loosing weight is, and always has, been about consuming less calories than we can burn.....eating more to loose weight has never worked for me....but the opposite has.

Not to split hairs....but in my experience, I have never felt "Full" after being banded. Feeling full was something that only happened when my stomach took on a lot of food....I'm dealing with my pouch now, not my stomach. What I do get is "lack of hunger" I'm sitting here, 4:30am, having my coffee before heading to the gym. I have not eaten in 10 hours, and I am not hungry, nor do I desire food in the least. That is how the band works fo me.....I'm sure it is different for other people. Also, it took me 6-7 months after surgery to get to that point where my band starting giving me that feedback. And even then, I had to learn how to listen to the band.... I'll take my Vitamins, a shot of liquid Protein, and then have my protein smoothie when I return from the gym.... That will hold me till lunch, providing I get enough Water in..... That is, and has been my morning routine for quite some time now....

Boy do you ever sound like me......after my surgery I was told I needed to count calories, measure/weigh all my food, keep a journal, etc, etc....I WAS PI***D! ANOTHER DIET??? I did not need surgery for this....I could do this at WW, Jenny Craig, etc, etc.... However, I did eventually learn what it is all about.....for me anyway, everyone has a different experience..... Having the band surgery is nothing more than having this device installed....that's all, it is not really activated yet....first stage is post op healing, eating the right foods so as not to damage the tender post surgery area, etc. In my case it took 30 days. THEN the adjustments started - Fills! This is a step by step process, adjusting the band, to get to that point where the band really starts to do what it is supposed to do.... It took me 6 months from surgery to get to that point.... That 6 month period from surgery, was also for me a time to learn the lessons that I would need later in order to survive with a tight band.... I called it "Bandster Bootcamp" or "Basic Training"....it is also called "Bandster Hell" because everything you do during this time is mostly will power, self discipline....white knuckling all the way....very frustrating.... But once I hit that groove, where the band takes over...it has been all a piece of cake....I began loosing weight without trying....my appetite disappeared, lost interest in food. Only ate when I felt like I needed to.....beats dieting hands down. Critics say it is the easy way out...I say SO WHAT...I LIKE EASY, and I LIKE BEING SKINNY!!! That was 2 years ago, and the feeling has not gone.....having this surgery was the best thing I could ever have done...only regret is that I did not do it a lot sooner..... But there was a big learning curve in the beginning.....now it is normal day to day life....never have to diet again!

Very good story..... There is no such thing as a "Normal" Lab band person.....(or patient) This Forum is, and should be, a place where people come and share their own personal experiences.....all different! All good and bad..... It bothers me when people here promote themselves as "Experts" and come right out and say "This is how it is" and "This is what you should or should not be doing" when the next person may have a entirley different experience. People should only share what THEY have found to be true for THEM.... I have been working with patients for over 30 years, and that approach would only invite lawsuits..... Everything should be based on "Probable" Outcomes, taking into consideration case studies covering a wide range of patients, all with different stories to tell......and experiences with other patients..... I will admit, there are some some people here that I have blocked.....better to not hear what they say.... I don't know if they can read my posts, but I sure cannot read thiers......

Bingo!!! I was surprised when I told someone, who obviously could use the surgery herself, that the band is not for everyone..... I see paitients everyday, and there are those who are responsible, and those that make you want to pull your hair out.....

Congratulations......the first year is all about gettingb there!!!! Now the REAL fun begins....as you learn to live a new and entirley different lifestyle never worrying about gaining weight or being fat again........

No one should tell you what you should and should not do...only share their own personal experiences.... When I was 2.5 months out from surgery, it was still more me and my will power as though I was still dieting and part of the "White Knuckle" club....., I could eat a lot of things........ as opposed to the band doing it's job which did not start to happen until 6 months out..... In my case, my band will not me eat 2 fish tacos, no matter how hard I try, unless they were small.

I make my own smoothie in the blender......100% whey, with fruit of your choice, Peanut Butter, etc. I also add 15gm of pure liquid Protein.....total of 40 gm before starting my day.... I find this satisfies me for the whole day, plenty of energy to go to the gym at 5am and run 5 miles every morning...... I am not hungry at all during the day...wether it is the smoothie, the band, or probably both! I cannot, and have not eaten any solid breakfast for well over 18 months now.....everyday I do the above with great results.....

Happens all the time....we learn.... That's the beauty of the Band...no matter what we may try to do, overeat or eat the wrong foods, the band is there to slap us back into reality and prevents us from being the gluttons we once were. After a while, new habits...new lifestyle is formed. I still find myself picking up a dough-nut, lets say, but one bite and the new reality slaps me in the face and I throw the entire thing away..... Lessons learned....you don't see skinny people grabbing dough-nuts on a whim....either do banded people.

A good audio program will time everything for you....tell you when you should walk, tell you when to start running. The C25K program I had was 9 weeks long, 3 sessions per week. Started by walking 5 minutes, running 2 minutes, alternating. It then picked up from there. Also, a 9 week program took me 12-14 weeks to complete...I hit many road blocks and would go back and repeat the weeks until I got it right, then moved on. I belong to another lab band group, and there were people there that started the C25K program and quit after the first 2-3 weeks. I have to say, I did not just decide to jump in a do it out of the blue....I was going to a gym for years, and using the elliptical with an audio program called "Cardio Coach" After a year of that, monitoring my heart rate and working in a level 3-4, I felt it was time to step it up a notch, and was ready to start running....also I lost a lot a weight. I simply could not run when I was heavy...all that fat rising and falling with every stride was too high impact, and annoying........

I can eat anything I wanted....but some items are just not worth the effort and very risky...like walking through a mine field....so I found it easier to just write them off. That includes red meat, rice, bread and pasta. I can eat a slice of pizza for instance, but it would take me 30 minutes to do so and I can feel the warning signs all the way of getting stuck...so I don't bother with it. For me it is just too risky. I learned very early on, once I had a few fills, for me the trick was learning to "Listen" to my band, and obey the signals. Once I did that, it was all a "Piece of Cake" Also, if I stop and look at the things I no longer eat, there are not many that were good for me in the first place.

There are many good ones through the App Store..... I have done the C 2 5K and the C 2 10K. Don't be afraid to spend a few dollars....you get what you pay for.... My C25k cost a little less than $5 and it was excellent.....My 10K was free and STUNK! So I downloaded another one that cost a few bucks and it was worth it. Incidentally, I cannot run without MY favorite music, that means GOOD noise canceling earbuds, so it is just me and my music, oblivious to anyone and everything around me.... And the music cannot be "Calm, gentle and smoothing"....I HAVE to have hard driving, loud rock and roll.... Also, I will not use my phone....last thing I want is text messages, e-mails or calls beeping in the background. Plus it will get dropped, wet, and just take a lot of abuse.

I remember reading an article where it was said that people who run regularly will never gain weight. I know that is a stretch, and probably someone's opinion ( there's a lot of that going around)..... But I do "Get it". I am not afraid to enjoy ice cream, beer, etc, without gaining any weight. I know that running will cover a multitude of sins.....

First,let me say, I have been at my goal weight for a year now, thanks entirely to the band and nothing I did on my own. Believe me, I have been on many diets over the past 30 years and was never successful at any of them. But I have not lost any weight since meeting my goal, I fluctuate the same 5 lbs up and down, and always land back to my "Normal Weight" However,: I started a running program last spring.....first starting out with the C to 5K program,(struggles all the way) then the C to 10K program. I now run 5 miles per day, 5 days a week, along with 3-5 sprints to finish it off. I have always felt that my body has been continuously changing somehow, even though I have not lost any weight. Long story short...I have dropped 2 clothing sizes since starting to run for exercise, even though I have not lost any weight. I have also noticed that a lot of the loose hanging skin, especially around my waist and inner thighs has tightened up and is starting to vanish... What they say about running is true...it will tone up your entire body, tighten up your skin, from head to toe, and change the way your body looks altogether..... Just FYI.....

The days I just donot want to go to the gym, usually turn out to be the best workouts..... I get down when I miss a gym day..... I go to the gym 5 days a week, at 5-6am.....after my morning coffee, Vitamins and a shot of Protein..... Then off to work all day seeing patients in clinic...so I am always on my feet. Calories in versus calories burned!!!

I am one of those...and there are many of us, (I belong to other groups) who has NEVER counted calories...... I also eat whenever I want, snack all day if need to.....If i snack, I don't have meals. Bottom line is, as a whole, I don't eat that much anymore.....and I am very rarley hungry....... So when I do eat, I concentrate on Protein..... This is my NEW Lifstyle with the Band! Counting calories sounds too much like dieting, which I will never do again! I now eat the way normal people eat.....seldom and very little, combined with lot's of exercise. I've shared this with my Dr.(s), and their response is "Hey...it is obvious working, you'r heathy and fit, so don't change it..."

I'm 2 years out alo, and for me It WAS, and IS a piece of cake...because I have a tight band with good restriction....very little commitment on my part, other than not keeping up with my Dr visits....if I did not have good restriction, then it would be a struggle because then I would have to diet and count calories...which I have never done......I let the band do it all.... You say you have 8.5cc in a 10 cc band.....have you ever had good restriction to the point where it is IMPOSSIBLE to overeat? You say you can eat everything and anything.....sounds as though you don't have a band at all! But if you have 8.5cc as you say, then there is something wrong.....a leak? A herniated pouch? A slipped band? Are you a diabetic? Diabetics have high pain threshold due to nerve issues, and possible problems with the band can go undetected. I had a heart attack and never felt anything because I am / was a diabetc. I have 7.5cc in a 10cc band, and 2 years out I still find it impossible to overeat.....and my hunger and cravings are non-existant....all characteristics of being in th "Green Zone" 8.5cc in a 10cc band, you must feel something.....

I read here and other groups I belong to about people who are "FAILURES" AND YOU"RE NOT ONE OF THEM..... You're just getting your new life in order, setting up a stronger foundation.... As far as comparing oneself to others, I do it all the time....since last year I have been observing the eating habits and behaviours of "Skinny" people....what they eat and drink.....and that is now MY lifestyle as well.... So we learn by others examples.....and you are not a example of some loosers (and I don't mean weight) you read about...... 6 months...you'll be fine....

Keep in mind, you have to burn more calories than you take in...so if you consume 1000 calories per day, you would need to burn app. 1500 calories the same day. And that formula is for a weight loss of 1 lb per week....multiply the calories burned per day for more..... If you have trouble burning calories (lack of exercise, etc) then consume less..... I NEVER counted calories, let the band dictate portion sizes and I made wise food choices.......and paid very close attention to my protein and water intake to sustain my metabolism and vital organ functions............ I have studied the "Starvation" mode very closely when I was first banded, and from a Physiology standpoint it makes perfect sense...for a NORMAL WEIGHT person.... It does not take into effect overweight people have a lot of fat stored to get through many famines.....as a matter of fact I WANT my body to rely on that stored energy source........just get your protein so your body does not turn on other important things you don't want to loose. That's always been my philosopy, and my body fat % is now very, very low.....as far as metabolism, I have more than enough energy with some to spare... I read somewhere....If you need to eat to loose weight...then none of us would be fat... It's all about burning calories versus calories consumed...always has, always will be. And the band is there to stop us from consuming to many calories...