B-52

DITTO......it's amazing how people can make excuses for their behavior....everyone knows why someone is obese..... Also, I do not see how a band, once adjusted to it's maximum efficiency, can stop being a band! When I hear stories like that, there is usually something not being told.

Amen....why push it....... And for possibly getting dizzy, can always go for the Protein.... Overweight people have plenty of energy...glycogen, etc. Stored away as fat for those rainy days....well, those rainy days are here!

Remember, because we eat so little as compared to before, our normal stomachs begin to shrink.....and occasionaly I will eat some foods I normally do not anymore, or overeat with a slider food like a ice cream sundae or large milkshake, I will get a good old fashioned tummy ache.... Also, with such small portions, the strength of the food is intensified.......I used to eat a entire bag of chips....now, just a small snack will give me reflux! Incidently, even when I find a way to eat around the band, the fact that my smaller shrunk stomach cannot handle it saves me every time!

If I am not in the mood (or interested) to eat, I don't......sometimes I snack all day and never have a full meal..... Only thing I do worry about is getting my Protein in. If busy, I have gone full 24 hr days without a meal.... To loose weight it is all about calories in verseus calories burned.... The band is designed to prevent us from overeating....so yes, most times I have to remind myslf I MUST eat.....

I'm 2 years out and never crused my meds....and some of them are the large gell caps that cannot be crushed......

I started the C to 5k program last april....9 week program.....took me about 15 weeks to complete because if I hit a roadblock during a given week, I would go back and start the entire week over. I then moved on to the C to 10k.... Now, I run 5 miles, 5 days per week...... I had hit my weight loss goal months ago, but running has caused me to continue to drop clothing sizes.....changes your body, for sure! Did I mention I'm 61 years old and had one heart attack? resulting in coronary surgery? Because of the Lap band, loosing weight and starting a rigorous exercise routine, my cardiologist and other Dr.'s say I am their most remarkable patient! Thank You LAB BAND!!!!

WHOA!!! Don't go that far.... Very glad to see you're still here doing so well, and most of all telling it like it is and inspiring others.....

I have been away also, so fill me in on your details..... How much weight did you initially loose? How many cc's in what size band? Would you say you once had good restriction? I am only 2 years out......I can understand how easy it can be to eat bad foods....I have ice cream all the time...plus unhealthy Snacks, etc. But for me, I depend upon a TIGHT band.....it prevents me from over indulging...I may grab a donut, but one bite/swallow and I can feel that lump, a pre-cursor to getting stuck. so I HAVE to throw it away OR ELSE! as a rule, I have always gone to 2-3 days periodically of straight liquids just to keep my pouch from over expanding....that's the only "True" maintenance I do...I believe I need to give it a rest from time to time. I believe our pouches will stretch allowing me to eat larger portions.....I will notice that I am eating more than usual, and taking longer than usual to feel restriction. It is then I will go with all liquids, shakes, Soups, etc, to give my pouch a rest, letting it return to normal size. I have seen x-rays of over sized pouches, and it is not pretty. Some refer to this a the 5-day pouch test...but it's just giving it a time out for a few days, letting things settle down. Another thing I have found, is because our food intake is so small for so long, our lower (actual) stomachs shrink! So, even if I partake in "Slider" foods such as ice cream, or have more than one beer, I can feel that traditional "Stuffed" unbuckle my pants feeling very quickly.....before being banded it would take a lot to get that feeling, now it happens very quickly with food that passes through the band easily. Another thing, for me, having the band adjusted as it is, I am very seldom hungry.....a characteristic of the "Green Zone".....does not mean I won't crave something like ice cream, but in actuality I am not hungry.... If I am occupied with some activity for the day, I can forget about eating at all....I have to remind myself to stop and eat something. Plus, like I said, eating less keeps my band tight. But it is important to me to keep busy also. And lastly, daily exercising is key!!! Aside from life with the band...exercising can cover a myriad of sins! The same way skinny people eat bad things and get away with it! Loosing weight is, and always will be, all about burning more calories than you consume.....we are banded to restrict our calorie intake because we could not do it on our own by willpower......but we still need to take the initiative to burn off more than we take in. 3500 calories burned more than consumed will equal 1 lb of fat....

20 months post surgery...normal weight, fit and in good health..... To walk your daughter down the aisle a new man....!! Hey Men...this is what you can look forward to! And who says this surgery isn't worth it! \ \ \ \

Hve not been around here in a while......good to see so many people with positive outcomes to share....... As for myself, coming up on 2 years soon. I have not lost any significant weight in over 6 months. My Surgeon (and I) agree I have lost all the weight I am going to loose which is just fine with me. At this point, having nsuccessfully completed the journey, it is now back to life as usual, being it is a NEW LIFE. I have gone from XXL shirts to Mediums, and 46" stretch waits band pants to normal 34".... You learn all the lessons, learn new habits to a point you don't think twice about it anymore. Most days I do not even think about being banded...it is as though I had surgery once upon a time and now it is behind me. I don't get stuck, or slimed anymore......that only happened to me when I was still learning, the hard way. But once you learn to "Listen" to your band, it is business as usual. My band is still tight...the way I like it, and have all the characteristics of living in that "Green Zone"....no hunger, automatic portin control, and most of all.... PATIENT SATISFACTION! I do know the band is there...I feel it with every swallow...."Speaking" to me, giving me constant feedback. I USED to be a (out of control) Diabetic with numerous oral meds and daly injections......that has all been reversed. No more meds. Not to mention all my other blood work that was off the scales! ALL NORMAL NOW! I have had one heart Attack, resulting in Cardiac Surgery (Catheterization with stents). I now run 5 miles per day, 5 times a week! My cardiologist cannot believe the transformatom...and he was one who questioned my surgery over good old fashioned dieting....I made him a believer. My PCP is the one who suggested this surgery....it was either that or DIE! And I have the family history to back it up both my brother and Sister passing away after a very ugly medical trip all due to obesity. VERY UGLY. I no longer care, or need to, worry about dieting...counting calories, etc....Just let the band do what it is supposed to do and go about my life. No offense, but dieting is for overweight people!! I don't worry about being faced with parties, large family dinners, buffets, etc...the band is not going to let me over eat so what is there to fear? Does not matter what is put before me....a few bites of this and that, here and there and I am finished....same way skinny people do it! Since I know my food intake is limited, all I need to do is make wise food choices. That does not mean I don't induldge and spoil myself from time to time with dessets and Snacks....nbot to mention drinking beer.....what normal skinny person does not? Plus I feel my exercising wipes that away.... Early on, when I was still learning, red meat was one of the foods that gave me trouble....so I gave up eating red meat altogether. My Dr.'s have been preaching this for years, along with some of my health concious friends, so it was as good as time as any to make that decision. I'm not fanatical about it, I'll have chili and such things with meat in them, just won't see me ordeing a steak or hamburgr ever again. Don't eat breads, rice, pizza, Pasta, and other things anymore either. I suppose I could learn techniques to do so but why bother? The way i have always looked at it is I was fat because my eating was out of control, so I had surgery to correct that...so why should I worry about not eating like a pig anymore? I really do not miss it. It is more rewarding to be slim and fit. When I was in that learning curve, getting stuck very ffrequently, I did not blame the band as being to tight, but blamed myself for not regulating the way I was eating...and for me it worked. The first 6 months were the hardest...Bandster Hell.....a time where even though you have had surgery, it is a time to get the band properly adjusted, and a time to lear how to re-learn to eat properly. After that, it has been the easiest thing I have ever done.....very little effort on my part. After all, what could I possibly do to make it better? All that was needed was to learn to let he band take control and do what it is designed to do.....and not to fight it!

First, Congratulations.... I like your attitude, healthy and realistic..... Many people cannot see the Forrest because of the trees.....this is a lifestyle change, not a diet plan.... I am coming up on 2 years.....the first 6 months was all about getting the band adjusted properly. The 2nd 6 months was about learning the new rules I need to live by, and making them my new habits, forgetting the old. The 2 nd year has been all about living the new life. Never felt so free and unburdened. I have made it a habit if observing normal, thin people, how they eat and behave, and I realized my new lifestyle is no different. Not obsessed with food or overheating, yet still enjoying the good things in life. Everything you said I could not agree with more.....look forward to your 2 nd year!

Don't come around here much anymore.... But things could not be better....coming up on 2 years banded soon.....met my goal of 100 lbs in about 13 months. I have stopped loosing...the body will do that, stop on it's own when it reaches what it considers normal. (provided you get your Protein in) The band has been the easiest thing I have ever done for weight loss.....I now eat like a skinny person does. Never count calories, or measure food....just let the band do it's thing. I have become a gym rat...not because I have to, but because it is a now a thing of pleasure to be able to achieve things that normal, healthy people do. Below is a pic of the treadmill at the gym...I am now running over 7 miles in about 70 minutes!!! And this is from a 60 year old guy who has had one heart attack, resulting in cardiac catheterization.....not to mention my out of control diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol..all of which are now non existent. The other pic is me at my Daughter's Wedding, a few weeks ago. If I can give any words of encouragement, I would say that this thing REALLY DOES WORK....you just have to get out of the way and let it do what it was designed to do....it's tough in the beginning.."Bandster Hell"...but once you get it properly adjusted, and learn how to eat all over again....it's all easy!!! Loosing weight is all about "Calories In versus Calories Burned" Always has been! The band controls the calories in part, we just need to get up and burn more than consumed. Simple! / / / DON"T GET DISCOURAGED!!!! AND DON"T LISTEN TO THE NEGATIVITIES!!!

AND......My Daughter's wedding is 4 weeks away...Today I went to get measured for my Tux.... Joseph Abboud "SLIM FIT" collection......I'm Psych'd!!!!! / / /

PERSONAL INVENTORY....... I'm 60 years old, soon to be 61 I have been banded for 20 months. My PCP days according to his records, I have lost 100 lbs. All of the medical problems that were slowly (quickly) killing me have all been reversed or eradicated altogether. I am now running for 50 minutes, with a goal to get to 60. Plus the weight training. I eat what I CHOOSE when I CHOOSE with little or no fear of ever gaining any weight back. I eat, drink, work, play and exercise the same was as my slim / fit friends do everyday who are not banded. Difference between them and me is that IF I should ever fall off the wagon and attempt to overeat, I have the band as a "Secret" safety net that will make it physically impossible to do so. Clothes, everything fits well no matter the style, all size mediums, and if I can say so, everything feels and looks good! I have never felt to positive, upbeat and happy, and the confidence to do whatever I feel like I want to so.....Mental health as well as physical. ALL THIS is a direct result to having the Lap Band Surgery, nothing else....and learning to not be afraid of the band and letting it do everything I knew it could do...In other words, "Listening to the Band" and let it be in charge.

Thank You....then you would agree what people here need to know is that you need to start simple, and then build upon one accomplishment after another. Every time I start out I say "I can't do this, today is not the day...maybe another day" But then I tell myself I've done this before, there is no reason I can't do it again.....then again...then again...and so on, and so on...pretty soon there are no excuses....then you step it up to another level and repeat the process......

Endorphins....didn't think of that....but one thing is for sure....you want more!!! It's addictive. Someone asked me if it "Gets easier"....the answer is yes, and NO! I don't think Serena Williams will tell you winning tournaments is "Easy", but if you do it enough and you get used to it.....and live for the rewards....

Had the best day at the gym today....EVER!!!! After completing the C2-5K program, I now start each workout with a 30 minute run. But I wanted more than just 30 minutes. So i decided, after the 30 minutes are up, I would then repeat the entire C2-5K program again and see where it leads. Today, I started with a 40 minute run...then jumped into the C2-5K, Week #3, day-2. I did not feel challenged, so I boosted the speed and incline to maintain a good BPM. Better, but still did not feel it was enough. At the end of the C2-5K program, they have you do a 5 minute cool down walk...but I was not yet satisfied....even though I was past the 60 minute mark. So for 3 minutes I did a all out SPRINT!!!! It was both exhilarating and scary....scary because I felt if I slipped I would fly across the room!!! But I was flying on the treadmill, so fast it was like my feet hardly touched the belt! Now I know this a freak occurrence...like seeing a low number on the scale, I know it won't be there tomorrow...But I did see it! And that is enough to encourage me to see it again, and again.... This is not about me...this is about the band...something everyone can achieve....especially those here who are 1/2 my age!!! 3 years ago something like this would not even be something I could imagine myself doing... If anything, being 60 years old and in bad health, including one Heart attack resulting in heart surgery, I felt I was on the down slide of life, not the other way around where things keep improving! And it is all because I decided to have Lap-band surgery, loosing all the excess weight and fat which I could never have done on my own....and obtaining a new life!! And that...is what it's all about!!

Like I previously mentioned, I run 30 continuous minutes every morning...... Just last week, after my 30 minutes are up, I immediately without any pause, go to the C to 5k program.... I'm on week #2. Gonna see if it will enable me to run for 60 continuous minutes, or about 12K I was going straight to the elliptical after running for another 30, but decided to stay on the treadmill for the full hour. We'll see . Also, I used to work out to loose fat....I now work out for increased fitness and endurance.....there is a difference.

I lost weight after my surgery because of the post-op diet...then I got my first fill...after that I GAINED weight!! No restriction....nothing was different from what it was before I had surgery. After the 2nd fill things began to take hold, third fill was, and still is the charm.

Used to eat it all the time...right up till my last fill.....No mas! can't handle rice, can only eat 1/4th of a bowl and then I'm finished.

Thank You.....I have no complaints.....and in the end that's what matters the most....

Had my cardiologist appointment today........I am very pleased with myself! A little background.... A few years back I had cardiac issues.....one artery was over 60% blocked in 2 places, and instead of 2 stents, they inserted 1 long stent. During that surgery, they found another artery that was 100% occluded. But I have walked around with it for so long that the artery grew branches around the blockage to restore blood flow. It did result in a infarct however, with signs of scar tissue. I SHOULD BE DEAD! They asked me when did I have my heart attack, which I replied I don't remember ever having one. They said that was not unusual at all for Diabetics, to have "Silent" MI's. Plus, when you're over 100 lbs overweight, and have to catch your breath carrying groceries into the house, how can you tell the difference??? I go to the gym 5 days a week. Up until last week I was running on the treadmill for 30minutes immediately followed by 30 minutes on the elliptical, maintaining a level 3 cardio workout for 60 minutes. Last week the gym was crowded, no ellipticals available, so I stayed on the treadmill for the full 60 minutes. Stretched my 30 minutes of running to 40, the alternated walking and running for the remaining 20 minutes, again not letting my BPM fall too low. This is my new routine, with my new goal to run for 60 straight minutes. Because of my weight related health issues, I see on a regular basis my PCP, Bariatric Surgeon, Cardiologist, Endocrinologist, Dermatologist, and even a Podiatrist! All from being overweight! I have met my weight loss goal 12 months after my surgery, and ALL my Dr's are thrilled and applaud my success...(even the one's who though it was not a good idea) Do I have any regrets? You Kidding? What is the alternative, St. Mary's Cemetery? Am I upset over the sacrifices I had to do? Like never being able to eat some of my favorite foods again? Not at all....I would give up more in a instant if needed!!!! Was / is it easy??? Once I got through that adjustment phase, Bandster Hell, to where my band was sufficiently adjusted to do it's thing....I can say it has been the EASIEST weight loss program I have or could ever do.....the band controls my hunger and portion sizes...all I have to do is choose the right foods, low fat, low cholesterol, low sugar, etc, all the things any diabetic / cardiac patient knows already. Do I occasionally eat cake, Cookies, have a beer, etc? Sure...all normal weight people do...just not in excess.... I don't get stuck anymore, that happened the majority of the time during the adjustment phase.....most days I don't even think about having the band, untill I take a big gulp of Water or a large swallow....and then, Oh Yes!...There it is! Almost forgot. Typing this I just though about all the self proclaimed experts that are going to have their opinions on my success....one of the reasons I don't come around here all that often, and have joined other smaller groups... But you know what? It does not matter what other people think.....it's all about you and I taking care of ourselves and our own....when it's time to pay the piper, these self experts will be nowhere to be found! I'm happy, My Dr.'s are happy., and so is my Family.....and that is all that matters.

Funny thing is, is how everyone stood around and shook their heads with the understanding he was not taking care of himself....almost as though he got what he deserved (cold, I know) People have to understand that all this is really about life and death....which is why I don't come around here all that much anymore. Too many people giving opinions with little experience themselves.....very dangerous..... I have blocked one or 2 of them because I choose not to hear anything they say.... people should tell their stories only and keep opinions to themselves.

Good morning....this morning at the gym I learned from a friend of the passing of a mutual friend of ours last week. We served together for 10 years as executive board members for the local Football Conference, I as secretary and he as treasurer. Although I have not seen him for years, I was and am saddened and did say a prayer or 2. Then, as I was working out, I could not stop thinking about him. A few years older than me....morbidly obese, a cigarette always in his mouth, cardiac issues, fatigued from climbing even 3-5 stairs, wheezing, a mouth breather! My friend told me he was currently undergoing dialysis 3 times a week. Yes..a Diabetic also. Then I realized, I was describing MYSELF,... 2-3 years ago! We were 2 peas in the pod! Aside from the dialysis...but when my sister passed away she was also victim to kidney failure, and I knew I was headed in the same direction. And my Dr. never let me forget it! Then I thought about the comparison between me and Larry. There I was...95 lbs down since being banded...running on the treadmill for 35 minutes then on to the elliptical for another 25. Weights afterward if I'm up to it, everyday! I can no longer tolerate red meat and have given it up entirely...much to the pleasure of all my Dr.'s and many other people...gave up things like breaded/fried foods, Pasta, globs of melted cheese, rice, breads, donuts, and the list goes on and on. I can't over eat even if I wanted to...impossible! Are any of those things good for me in the first place?? Ironically, the last time I met my friend, we bumped into each other standing in line at McDonalds loading up on egg McMuffins and hash browns. I will never be able to eat one of them again, and have absolutely no reason to ever step foot inside a McDonalds or similar places ever again!! To each their own...but I am glad I have this artificial thing wrapped around my guts forever preventing me from doing the things that would only kill me!! And for that I have to Thank God Everyday!!!

My first fill was 4 weeks after surgey, 4 cc's. 2nd fill was 2 cc's 4 weeks after that. In between the 2 fills I GAINED weight, because I had no self control,and I was never good at dieting. 3 rd fill was 4 weeks after the 2nd, 1 cc for a total of 7cc. That one did the trick, did not need anymore fills for over a year. Steadily lost weight, hunger and cravings under control. Green Zone Hit my goal 12 months after surgery, still loosing although more slowly now., maybe 1 lb a month