B-52

Congratulations!!!! I hit my one year in Jan. and had the same success.... IT REALLY DOES WORK!!!! Doesn't it..... What a coincidence...like you, I lost 80 lbs in one year also....

I have been in the Green Zone for some time now. And I have NEVER FELT FULL. Maybe it's a play on words, but feeling full is the same thing as it was after a Thanksgiving dinner, or a trip to the Buffet. it is the "I'm Stuffed" feeling. If that is what everyone is looking for, you're not going to find it. Under the definition of "Green Zone" it never says anything about feeling full. What it does say is you will be "Satisfied" It is more behaviour, a mental thing. Since being banded, have you ever sat down at a meal, taken 2-3 bites and said "I'm finished, I have no desire to continue"? Well, that's what your band does. It sends a signal to your brain that "You are satisfied" Finished...no reason or desire to continue. When this happens, don't force it. Listen to your band! Don't get hung up on "Am I getting enough Calories in?" When the band say stop, you don't want or need to eat, then don't! This is also the signal that takes away your hunger cravings, etc, if you start practicing to listen. It is as though the band sends the signal to you brain that you are full, and you do not need to continue, but physically you're not full. You may not have had anything to eat at all! But your brain says you have.

What you are experienceing is Bandster Hell. You don't have any restriction yet, so your band is probably doing very little, if anything at all. That means everything you are doing is purely on willpower. Same as though you never had the surgery. If you were so good using will power and dieting, you would not have needed the surgery in the first place. So, I know it's frustrating, but know that once you band is adjusted properly, it will start taking over your bad eating habits, if YOU let it. Some people refuse to change with the band, hold onto their old ways, and it is they that generally do not do well. Ask yourself....Whay Did I Choose to Have this Surgery?? To motivate me to be better at Dieting?

You're newly banded....unfortunately you have to eat, make choices, as though you are on any other diet.

I have been in the Green Zone for some time now. And I have NEVER FELT FULL. Maybe it's a play on words, but feeling full is the same thing as it was after a Thanksgiving dinner, or a trip to the Buffet. it is the "I'm Stuffed" feeling. If that is what everyone is looking for, you're not going to find it. Under the definition of "Green Zone" it never says anything about feeling full. What it does say is you will be "Satisfied" It is more behaviour, a mental thing. Since being banded, have you ever sat down at a meal, taken 2-3 bites and said "I finished, I have no desire to continue"? Well, that's what your band does. It sends a signal to your brain that "You are satisfied" Finished...no reason or desire to continue. When this happens, don't force it. Listen to your band! Don't get hung up on "Am I getting enough Calories in?" When the band say stop, you don't want or need to eat, then don't! This is also the signal that takes away your hunger cravings, etc, if you start practicing to listen. It is as though the band sends the signal to you brain that you are full, and you do not need to continue, but physically you're not full. You may not have had anything to eat at all! But your brain says you have.

I have no idea what it is. Just glad I have them. I like to think that since my digestive tract is always empty, when I feed it it gobbles it up like some kind of beast! Hogwash I know.

Who do you see? I go to Centre State in Freehold, but my insurance has changed and I now pay out of pocket. But if I should need surgery that would be too large a cost.

Sorry for not getting back sooner. I'll be honest, the first few months were hell. I stink at counting calories/dieting. It was only after my 3rd fill did I have any permanent restriction. It was then I had to learn to listen to the band, change MY ways and not try to fight the band. If the band won't let me eat, or eat what I want, then I don't. Thre are other things also. Plus I go to the gym as much as possible to burn off more calories than take in.

You're not giving enough detail...when where you banded? Any fills? How Much? Have you ever been in the green zone? makes a big difference.

Wait till your throat gurgles as liquids pass through your band like a drain emptying. Cool!

For now, the best thing you can do is follow your Dr.'s instructions, and remember, the first 4 weeks is all about you healing and getting back to normal after having major surgery. It is NOT about loosing weight. Aslo, I would not take everything you read here too seriously, being a Newbie. It can make your head swim and only add to the confusion. Have the surgery, and listen to your Dr.

I had to do the liver shrinking diet pre-surgery. My Dr. told me if I did not loose the weight, He would postpone the surgery to another date. My surgery was a monday morning. My final appoinment / weigh in was the friday before. So, guess what I did Saturday?? Had my final meal. I went somewhere I knew I would never set foot in again...a Chinese "All You Can Eat" Buffet. Savored every minute. The Sunday, I went on a 24 hr fast for mondays surgery. I had heard stories where people where under full anesthesia in the OR, and the Dr. stopped the surgery because the liver was too enlarged and he did not want to risk it. Also, I take exception to you saying you're a poor candidate for lap band surgery. If you, and we for that matter were so good at controlling our hunger, we wouldn't need this surgery. You're trying to act like someone who has been banded a year and you haven't had the surgery yet. Lighten up on yourself.

Ok, My Sunday Morning Rant..... First let me start with this...My brother died at the age of 60. My sister at 64. Both confined to a Nursing Home at a early age. So, there I was, 58, sitting in my Dr's office. Diabetes, cholesterol, triglycerides all off the chart. Already had one Heart Attack resulting in Cardiac Surgery. My Dr. looked me right in the eye and said the Dominoes have already started to fall, and unless I loose 50-70 lbs I will surely die soon. When I had my first consult for lap band surgery, it was looked upon as a "Aggressive, radical, last resort option" So when I was informed it would force me to give up foods I like, make me sick/vomit if I don't follow the rules, etc..what choice did I have?? I informed all 3 of my Dr.s, PCP, cardiologist and Surgeon, that I was not going to be a "namby pampy" and I wanted to be as aggressive as I could be. No backing down! BTW, it is these same Dr.'s that either want to put me on display and/or write me up in their journals, all of which I declined. I have noticed since then that this surgery has become more acceptable, almost fashionable. People's motives are not so much life or death, but how they will look in that new summer dress. Which is fine, the more eye-candy the better. There are many roads people take, with many different viewpoints. I will NEVER tell anyone they're wrong, so as to deter their motivation. But there are still some out there, like me, who feel they have one foot in the grave and are thinking about funeral expenses. It is for THESE people that I still hang around these websites. I want THESE people to know that I am here...I took this thing as far and hard as I could, and I am standing out here on the edge....successful in 13 months. And it can save your life. I want THESE people to know that IF you choose the same road as I did, I will be there. I WILL dance at my Daughters wedding this October, and God Willing, I WILL spoil my grand kids to no end! I exercise like a person possessed. When I first started, I use to look at the young 21 y/o staff member and think to myself "I sure hope she knows CPR!" But I feel I'm now past that. If it was going to happen, it would have then. I always say I'm running FOR something when in effect, perhaps I'm running FROM something always keeping a few steps ahead. OK that's it. So much for ranting, wanted to get it off my chest. Sorry If I offended anyone, that was not my intention. So Adios, have a good day, springtime is just around the corner.

It was not until 6-7 months after the surgery, having 3 fills, etc, finding my "groove" and being in the Green Zone, did I honestly say "I am NOW OFFICIALLY a bandster and can now truley start my weight loss journey. Everything leading up to that point was just post-op healing, then a time of adjusting and learning. You have recently just had the surgery. I'm not trying to discourage you, but to be brutally honest, and something all newbies need to know, is that you still have a way to go. All you can do now ids folow your Dr,'s directions, and continue to diet the old fashion way untill that day comes. Hang in there. Take it from someone who succeded and met their goal in 12 months....IT WILL COME.

Watching food commercials is the same as watching people eat at a resturant......REPULSIVE! I won't say I hate food, but I put it way down on my list as things I need to concern myself with.

How much restriction do you have? Not saying this is for everybody, but I have not counted calories or carbs in over 8-9 months. And I am loosing, met my goal,and still loosing. My band is adjusted to the point where my portions are very limited in size, automatically. So all I have to Do is make wise food choices, and I don't feel I need to look at a chart to tell me what's good and what isn't. But that's how it works for me.

Agreed. If it is very tender, like prime rib, it would be better. But would you take hat chance at a resturant?

I start the day with my homemade smoothie concoction for 40 gm of Protein to start the day. After that it is not hard to make up the difference. Today I had black bean chili for lunch, and stir fried chicken and veggies for dinner. I also carry a Protein Bar with me for Snacks. I may have yogurt before bedtime if I have a craving. So getting my daily protein is never a problem at all. Also I should clarify something for newbies...when I say I cannot eat something, like pizza, I is not entirely accurate. I could eat a slice, but it would take me 20 minutes, each swallow being a risk like walking through a minefield. So what's the use. I just don't boher with it anymore. Same with a shrimp I love shrimp. But I have to take a bite, chew then swallow as much as 4 times to get through one shrimp.

When we're you banded.? When I was within my first few months, my bowels went through some change that were not very pleasant. But never had to run immediately after eating.

For me, the very first thing was bread, and any doughy products. Then came melted cheeses. they are globs and no matter how well you chew, it's still a glob. Sticky foods like Peanut Butter. Shrimp and lobster are a big problem. Again, no matter how well you chew, it does not brake down into a mush very well. I have become a incidental vegetarian...ANY red meat, including pork, is a very big problem with me so it is no longer as entre of choice. This include fake meats such as turkey meatballs and such. Same consistancy. I mentioned this to my Dr. and he said that is not surprising at all. Then added it's not really bad thing either, right? There are many other foods I stay away from. ANYTHING breaded and deep fried is another one that stands out.

IMO pick a surgeon that's aggressive, that is one that makes the point that getting you to the green zone is the goal, as soon as possible. I read about people only getting 1/2 cc fills at a time, 6 weeks apart. That would take entirely too long. Many feel they are soaking you for $ adding more appointments than the next person. But that's my opinion.

People get upset when they realize they will have to give up. Ertain favorite foods. What did they think they were signing up for? Exaggeration, but I would go bread and water if it meant me reaching normal weight.

IMO if you can eat as much as you want, then you have no/little restriction. No matter what I eat, even Soup, there is a point I have to stop. The fact that you have gotten stuck before could be entirely based upon the types of food you eat, and the way you eat them. The trick for me, was to be as tight as possible, and at the same time learning to eat all over again, and give up certain foods. Once I figured that out, I found my "Groove" and it has been EASY ever since!

You will be sucessful if you want to be. Having the lap band surgery is all about life style changes. Letting go of your old habits and giving up to some of the foods you may enjoy. But the rewards of being trim and fit far outweigh that porterhouse steak! But sadly, there are peole who refuse to let go, refuse to learn new ways, and will never acheive the thing they say they want! I quess it's human behaviour.

Unfortunatley, I am convinced there are people who will never be successful with the band, and it is NOT the band's fault. I read posts everyday from people who on one hand wnat to loose weight and be skinny, and then on the other hand do not want to change their old lifestyles. You have to let go!! Otherwise you will alsways remain the same as before.