B-52

It is a dilemma....friends have been telling me for some time now I can stop loosing...I look fine. My Dr.s don't say that at all. As a matter of fact they ask me if I think I can loose more or not. But this goes back to when I did not have the surgery at all, and we would talk about what my goal weight should be. No one had a good answer, and we would discuss certain things like how much did you weigh when you graduated HS, or when you got out of the service, etc, etc. No one knew for sure, because peoples body makeups are different. It's more than height and weight. BMI's at a point, mean absolutely nothing! Sure their OK when your way up there, but when you start getting within a few lbs here and there...it is more about your body composition than anything, as in "Muscle Mass" Last Years Super Bowl there was a running back for NE that is the same height as me, but actually weighs 10 lbs more!!!! I would not call him fat or overweight, and his BMI is higher than mine. I'm not saying I'm a NFL Athlete, just that there is something to be said optimal weight goals.

Ok, just to share this for some general info. Right now it is 5am, working on my 2nd cup of coffee. Will head to the gym in a hr, for a good 3 hr workout. I asked my self if I am hungry, and the answer is No, not in the least! Then I realized, the last thing I had to eat was 1-2 shrimp, 14 hours ago. This happens to me frequently. The Band completely takes care of my hunger and cravings so much, I have to remind myself most times that I NEED to eat. This is not new. This is how it has been for me since finding that "Groove" almost a year ago. If I'm busy doing something else, food is the last thing on my mind. Which does not bother me in the least. I should add, I never count calories, and never measure food portions. I'm in a place where the band controls that for me. Also, people are going to start to chime in about metabolisms, getting your minimal calories, starvation modes, etc, etc. I am not saying those things are not correct. I am just saying I have never worried about them. And to add to that...I'm 60 years old, work out at the gym 5-6 days a week, generally at 5:30am, and for 2-1/2 hours. THEN I go to work for 8-10 hours a day. I have NEVER had a problem with lack of energy, or metabolism problems, etc. I have more energy now than I ever had in the past 20 years! And not so much as a sniffle! The band is definitely the best decision I could have made....after years of dieting, fighting various illnesses, it is the EASIEST thing I could have done. I do not have to do anything! Except learn to "Listen" to my band, make wise food choices, and be sure I get all my Water and Protein. I would not call that a diet!!! I would not call that struggling. And for me...I do not call that a "Tool" (I take exception to that term) I have been at my goal for a few months now. I told myself if I never loose another pound, I would be completely happy and satisfied where I am at. The other day I got on the scale and saw a number that I have not seen on over 37 years! And today that number is there again telling me it was not a fluke. The only thing that changed in my routines, is that I mixed up my workout routine a little at the gym. That's all it took for 5 more lbs to drop off.

Treadmill Trainer...I'll look into it. But right now I'm set on completing the Couch to 5K. My goal is to be able to get out and run a few miles wherever I'm at, and whenever I want. At home, on vacation, etc. Thanks!

I'm 60 years old....I have been on more diets than I can count or remember over the past 35 years, and everyone of them failed. I just don't have the self dicipline and will power. The band does all that for me mow. I don't need to count calories, measure serving sizes, etc, anymore. The band controls what, when, and how much I eat for me. I do not have food cravings...let alone any real interest in food at all for that matter. All I need to do is "Listen" to the signals the band are sending me, and make the wise food choices, concentrate on Protein so I do not look a holocaust survivor, and drink my Water. VERY EASY!!!!! And IT"S NOT A DIET!!!!!!

Normal for me...has been that way for a year now. I have my coffee, then I make a home made high Protein smoothie with about 45gm of protein. Gives me more nutrients and energy throughout the day than anything I would be able to eat in small quantities.

Welcome....you have a interesting screen name. I have learned to watch out fr the hot, spices foods. Was giving me terrible reflux, heartburn that would go through to my shoulder blades. Since we eat so little, he spicy food is more intense.

All depends on how tight your band is, how much restriction you have. That's what makes everyone different. I have a hard time getting my shake down in the morning, and forget any food first thing in the AM.

Think of a funnel. The large top portion is your pouch. It slopes down to that small narrow passage which would be your band. How small that passage is depends upon how tight your band is. The concept is that food, Water, whatever has to pass through that small passage very slowly. Eat too fast and you get overfilled. Now thinking about the funnel, you can pour water through it slowly, as fast as it can pass through. Dump the whole container in, or put too much in there too fast.....Where do you think it's going to go??? That's why you cannot drink while eating. There is just so much room there, and you need to get the food in. Adding water will only add to the volume and over fill it too sudden. Trust me...been there, done that. Know all this from first hand experience. But it all depends upon how tight your band is. Someone else mentioned hot-spicy food, which I love. But I had to give that up because, food will accumulate in your pouch and pass through the band slowly. It is one thing to have hot-spicy food go directly into your stomach, washed down with water, but it is entirely a different thing to have hot-spicy food sit there in a small confined are like your pouch. I wa getting severe acid reflux - heartburn, had to tone it down the spicy stuff. I drink right up ti the time I begin to eat. As far as how soon after, I have learned to listen to my band and can tell when it is safe. Depends upon what I have just eaten most of the time.

The fact that you can gulp water at all.............that will change in time if you continue on this journey.

With no sarcasm intended, I have no idea because I quit counting calories about a year ago. Personally, for me, I have no good reason to. May be essential for others, but I am maintaining, if not still loosing slowly.

I have no problem with the B4, but during and after....given some decent restriction, you will be cured of your hesitation the first time it immediately comes right back up on your plate!

I do not have a ulcer, been checked and I'm good. However, I was getting that type of pain. Found out taking ant-acid's for heartburn cleared up the pain. Spoke with my Dr. about this and we both agreed, that since my band is so tight and I eat very little, I have to avoid the hot-spicy foods, which I have been and have not had any problems since. Yes, I would put hot sauce on everything. Used to be Ok, but not now with the band.

10cc in how large a band?? It is possible your pouch stretched a little, happens all the time from overuse, eating. When I begin to feel that I'm eating more than usual, I go on liquids for about 2 days to give it a rest. People call this the 5 Day Pouch Test. You can google it.

My first fill I felt nothing....2nd fill I had restriction, but it would come and go. 3rd fill was the charm for me. Now, if you are at a place where feeling good restriction is the norm, 24/7, in the Green Zone, your band can get loose from time to time. Not a accurate term, but people understand it. I get into periods where my band gets loose. I know it because suddenly I can eat more that normal, over a few days. When that happens, there are self techniques you can do to get it tight again. But I don't know where you are at with your fills.

Statistics......take the best number (those successful) and take the worst number (those who are failures) and come up with a average number in between. Means nothing!!!!! It is still up to you what you want!

I get the stomach noises right after I eat anything, or drink for that matter. Normally this is something we don't hear that much, but with our digestive systems empty the majority of the time, anything we introduce gets gobbled up. But, to the OP, "Gurgling" sounds in the throat after drinking something....like Water circling the drain. Actually I think it's pretty cool. In the wee hours of the morning when all is quiet and I'm having that first cup of coffee, if I leave my mouth open the sound carries across the room.

Depends upon the person...some are very good at dieting. I am not. That's why I needed the surgery to loose weight.

My Dr. Turned me loose after one week to do anything I wanted, but take it easy on lifting. I am in week three of couch to 5K. If it has been a while since you have done any running, invest in the best shoes you can afford. Go to a running store where people who know can fit you for the proper shoes. I'm not so much concerned about entering 5K's as much as I am wanting to get out and run a few miles every day whenever, and where ever I'm at. Home, vacation, where ever.

I understand what you're saying.....but for me, the lapband IS Magic, and it is not hard work at all. As a matter of fact, it is the EASIEST thing I have ever done i n terms of loosing weight and reaching my goal. It may have been hard in the early stages, bandster hell, but once that was out of the way it became very natural and automatic. But do I believe everyone will be successful??? My answer is NO! Not Everyone! And it is not because of the band, (except in a few medical cases) but because some individuals refuse to take that step and let the band do what it is designed to do. They want to hold onto their old habits, refusing to understand that is was these old habits that got them in trouble in the first place. They have been brain washed into believing you must "Diet" using your own will power and self discipline, the exact same thing I failed at time after time before I had the surgery. Maybe some people feel it's "Too Good To Be True" and cannot possibly be that way, so they refuse to accept it.

To be honest, I don't measure foods or count calories. Have not in over a year. I eat whenever I'm hungry..which isn't as often as before being banded, And I eat till I'm satisfied or the band prohibits me from continuing, which isn't much. One has to learn to listen to their band and know the signals.

Yes it's called the "lap band" My appetite is suppressed 24/7 because on the lap band. Today I had a Protein smoothie for Breakfast, a Wendy's chili for lunch, and that's it. I really don't feel like eating anymore today. But I know I need to so I will have a Protein Bar later for a snack. All because of the band. Also I see you joined 2 weeks ago. Was that when you had your surgery? Recently? Why not give the band a chance to do what it was designed to do.

When you get close to your goal, you can throw BMI's out the window. They are not accurate to begin with, just a approximation, good to get started. When I was getting within 10 lbs of my goal, I could not loose anything. I would loose, then gain back the same 3-5 lbs for at least 2 months. Some people say that is when you know you are indeed at your goal, because you just stop loosing. There is a professional football player, a running back for the NE Patriots who was in last years Super Bowl. He is the same height as me, and weighs 10lbs more. I do not think anyone would call him fat, or unfit in any sense of imagination. According to BMI's, I'm still 15-20 lbs overweight. I don't think so! Fortunately, I have access to a Body Fat % scale. You enter your age, height, gender,,,,then stand on it with bare feet and grip handles with both hands and each side. This will give you your weight, plus your body fat %, which is the most accurate way of telling if you are good or not. My Body Fat % is less than 15%, for someone my age that makes me "Fit" and "Athletic" I can live with that. If I wanted to loose more weight, I would have to cut back on the Protein, and start to loose muscle. I would loose weight, and look like a Holocaust Survivor.

There are no rules....this is not a diet, but a lifestyle. They do tell you all these little things you have to do, and they start telling you you have to practice them from day one. When I was first banded, these rules made no sense at all. And I have to laugh when when I read posts from newbies saying they are following these rules and still not loosing weight. It's NOT about the Rules...it's NOT about any diet plans. If it was nothing more than a diet, them no one here would have needed the surgery in the first place. It is all about the band, and what it does to you physically! Once your band begins to do what it was supposed to do, THEN you will be happy they taught you these rules because without them it could be disastrous. I can't remember how many times I have had a episode with the band only to have a "Ah-Ha" moment, as in "So this is why they told me I should do this or that. NOW it makes sense!" By that time you are loosing so much weight, so fast, you really don't care about these little things anymore.

I did not have one of those. I was all prepped and ready to go in the OR in 5 minutes when he came around, asked a few questions, and had me sign some releases. Idid have a pulmonary work up where things like sleep studies ans CPAP came up.

I take various pills every morning, including 4 LARGE gell caps - Lovaza . I was told to get a pill crusher, but the Lovaza canot be crushed so I continued taking them whole, one at a time, slowly. That was over a year ago and I have never crushed a single pill. BTW, i have 7.5cc in my band, and I am very tight eating most foods.