B-52

Worked for me....first thing in the morning, between 5-6am on a empty stomach (other than my morning coffee and plenty of water)... Would run 3-5 miles 5 days a week....then weights afterwards, if I am in the mood, but concentrated more so on the running to keep my heart rate at 85% of max. I lift weights simply for muscle tone and body shaping. By doing so my body fat % went down to as low as one could ever expect.....cannot possibly go any lower without being unhealthy....also have no loose skin as many complain about. After my workout I would have a high Protein, high nutritional recovery smoothie....good to go the rest of the day. I continue to do this as a regular routine, even though I have completed any weight loss and fat burning years ago...

Coffee...all day all the time....cannot live without it..my first cup was about 18 hrs after surgery - Black!

Rules such as these, and many others are broad general rules given to everybody in the beginning...my Dr. actually had me following his drinking before and after rule BEFORE I had surgery...along with all the other rules. I asked why...and a few occasions, and the responses I got from him and everyone else was that once the band begins to function as it should, knowing these rules may be the only way to get through a day...and a new lifestyle...so begin to get them into your head now. There is no way to predict how everyone will respond once they get to that place either...so all rules are broad and general.... I'm coming up on 4 years banded....I still follow all the rules, but they have turned from broad general rules for everyone, to specific modified rules that only apply to me..... So back to drinking with meals...yes, I was taught 30 minutes before, and 30-45 minutes after.....NOW, that I know my band and how it interacts with food, etc, I find I can drink right up to I begin eating...then I have found, for myself, I CANNOT drink while eating without having everything come back up right there at the table.....and after eating, I take sips now and then and can tell when it is safe to drink again..sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes as long as 45 (rarely) so yes, I know food can still be there way after I'm finished eating...I had it come back up 20 minutes after....everyone is different, the band is adjustable! What one person finds true for them will not always be true for the next person.... It's all about personal experiences.... I tell my surgeon all these little variations I find different with me as opposed to what I was taught in the beginning, and he's fine with it...he had no way of knowing where I or any of his patients would be at this point. Same goes for carbonated drinks,( I do with caution) crushing meds, (I don't have to) and of course eating habits (very hard to learn)....and there are many, many others. Everyone is a little different, as you progress post surgery and begin living a new life, you find that new "Groove"...but in the beginning you have no choice but to follow the rules strictly, count calories and measure portions, and learn them...sooner or later there will come a time (hopefully) you will be glad you did.

I do a variation of the 5 day pouch test every 6-8 weeks or so, for general maintenance, or when I notice a difference in band performance... Going all liquids for a few days, for me, returns my band to that optimum place...it WILL NOT give you something you never had in the first place..... You never said how much you have in your band.... Also, when I read posts like this, I have to ask...when you were loosing weight, and eating was under control, would you say it was the band controlling your food intake, or was it more you determining how much, what and when to eat.... I'm one of those people who are more concerned on what the band is, or is not doing....that's why I had surgery in the first place after all, so I do expect something from it....something I could not achieve without surgical intervention.

In the beginning I tracked everything...carbs, calories, measured food portions....and it only added to my frustration(s) As I got my fills and approached the Green Zone, it was liberating to put all that behind me...forever.... My approach is this...since the band handles my hunger/appetite, and the amount of food i can eat at any on time, then it is up to me not to waste that small opportunity on junk...so all I need to do on my part is choose the best, healthiest foods available at the time.... Couple that with foods I no longer eat, such as rice, breads, red meat, etc etc...all the foods that are notoriously dangerous to the band. It's a new lifestyle for me, not a diet...I eat small, but eat wisely...and stay active....the same lifestyle normal weight people live, but I needed surgery to get there.....and I don't care. I should also say, I have been on so many diets over my life time, I quess I have it in my head as to what are good and bad foods, etc.....I can see how some people may have to through that learning phase.

coffee or no coffee is and has been controversial with Dr.'s and health care professionals for years....bariatric surgeons are no different and have their opinions also....so even if you did not have surgery, it would still be a topic in the medical field. The same can be said for red meat...I know Dr.'s who say it should be given up entirely, others say only once a week, and then some have no opinion at all.... I for one, have no desire to give up my coffee.....I have 2-3 up per day....my first cup after surgery was 12 hours after.

Back from my trip late last night....happy to say the band has come through and performed splendidly.... Yes there was food around all day long.... You could not avoid Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as it was part of the agenda were all expected to eat together and the speakers and presentations continued as you ate....plus in the evening were the big sponsored parties..... All I can say is, the band is the band is the band.....regardless of where I'm at, or what I'm doing....no change....did not gain or loose a pound.... I do feel that what I did eat was not all that healthy, at least not the type of foods I would normally eat on a daily basis, not to mention the constant flow of alcohol available....just need to purge my body of all these toxins and impurities

Today, I flying from NJ to Phoenix for a 4 day Medical Symposium.....Guest speakers, workshops, lectures, etc plus the chance to interact with my peers from all over the country..... What will also be there, are all the major manufacturers reps and sales people, exhibitors....with unlimited expense accounts....so these things can and will also include 4 days of unlimited non stop eating and drinking at every turn. Everyone will be wanting to take you out to lunch, dinner, or just drinks in the lounge....private receptions, hospitality suites, etc, all aimed to get you to use/recommend their products.... It actually starts with meetings over breakfast.....and does not stop all day and night.... In the past, these things were killers for someone like me who could and would eat with no limits, total indulgence!.... But now, things are different thanks to the Band! Once again, I'm walking into this with no reservations and will totally enjoy myself....., and will be putting the band to the test.....I'm not going to tell myself what I can and cannot do. What I am going to do is live my new lifestyle and let the band be the boss.....and just like any other day, no matter where I'm at or doing, I will simply listen to my band..... Throw caution to the wind and put the band to the test.... Will continue my daily early morning workouts....50-50 my weight will either stay the same, or I may even loose a pound or two being active all day and night.... We'll see...But I am not intimidated....

Lap Band Surgery for me....has done everything I tried, and could not do on my own....some people have the will power and determination to diet successfully....everytime I tried, I was successful for a while, then gain it all back, and then some.... Ok, so instead of doing it myself, I needed surgery.... EASY??? So What? I don't mind....What does it matter? As long as it works for me, and it did. That is all that matters. I don't care if it's easy...where would these people be if I chose to stay obese, facing multiple life threatening medical problems...Literally!....would that have made them happy? I did what I did to rectify a serious health issue....it was a last resort, but I have to say it was the best resort.....only wish I did it sooner. All around me at the office or in the Hospital, I hear people constantly talking about loosing a few pounds...have you heard about this new fad diet???....summer is coming after all.....got to look good in that new bathing suit....They're Obsessed!!! Every year it's the same thing over and over again. I just have to smile to myself....I've been set free from all that nonsense.....and that is something they will never have! Their life is a constant struggle, to a certain extent....like the Oral Surgery analogy, they do it several times a year...we only go through it once, and once it's done.....that's it.... I think (know) some people are critical out of spite, envy, or jealousy....they wish they had what we have.... Many people who were critical when I first had this surgery...I'm skinnier and healthier than they are.... So who's got the last laugh....easy? SO WHAT!

All I'm going to say is this...I had issues while sleeping, ans I had to re-learn one of the early rules my Dr. told me.... If I do not eat my evening dinner by a certain hour, then I don't eat till morning.... Took care of a lot of things I read people complaining of on this forum....

Be careful what you ask for....after a lifetime of bad habits that made us what we are, being asked to change an entire life in as little as 12 weeks was the hardest phase of this....it took a good year to finally start finding that Groove....and I never do stop learning....had a big lesson just a few weeks ago.... But change is what it is all about......Good luck to you, and know that others have done this before you, and it does work!

My Dr.'s protocol was every 4 weeks from the day of surgery....I GAINED weight between my first and second fill....but then I only needed 3 fills over 12 weeks....and that was over 3 years ago...still holding fast and steady ever since. A lot depends upon how much your Dr. gives per fill also....My Dr. was aggressive with me....and I've been told by some other of his patients he was not so aggressive....

For me...the Mantra (and secret to my success) is "Listen To Your Band" My Dr. has this poster hanging on one of the Exam room walls, printed by the Realize Co.... In other words, once your band gets properly adjusted, it will tell you when you are eating too much, too fast, when to stop, etc. The center where I had my surgery, they had me learning and practicing these rules weeks before I even had surgery...I asked them why more than once, and they said eventually, when the band starts to work, following these rules will be the only way you can live with the band....(or you can get less fills and eat anyway you want) After a lifetime living with the bad Rules that made me morbidly obese....the sooner I start adapting new rules for the new lifestyle to come, the better.... and this part was not easy for me, hard to break old habits....it can be a big learning curve... U can now say, coming up on 4 years, I do not need to remind myself anymore, it is now second nature, part of the new life...and if I should wander off the straight and narrow path, the band is always there to remind and warn me, keep me in check.......... Follow and learn your Dr,'s rules, get regular check-ups and band adjustments.....and come to this forum and see/read about others experiences....good and bad...and somewhere in the middle you will learn what is true for you......

There is a very fine line - a perfect balance, between how much your band is adjusted, the foods you eat, and your eating habits.... It can be very hard to find that perfect "Groove" where everything clicks. My last fill, was 4 months after surgery...it put me over the top...could not keep anything down, even Water was a struggle....I called my Dr. wanting to come back in to get a little taken out..,he talked me into holding out for a week or two....REMEMBER, ONLY YOUR DR KNOWS YOU... Sure enough, little by little thing got better.....it was not the band, it was me...I had to change a lifetime of bad habits, eating wrong.....it was hard to change that in 4 months....they know this, that is why they start preaching the "Rules" long before they actually apply to anything...they know we need to change ourselves to adjust to the band....I did adjust, and I did change my life and habits to suit the band.....there are foods I will never eat again, just too risky....when I do eat I know I have to take tiny bites, chew thoroughly and take my time....I cannot drink with my meals. It was 4 months after surgery I got my last fill, then another 6 months after that until I started to feel I was getting the hang of this.....remember there is a lifetime of bad eating that had to be broken....I'm still learning things... I have NOT been stuck in over 2 years.....I have no appetite and rarely experience hunger..not just between meals, but 24 hours a day. When I do eat, the band tells me when I have eaten enough, and not to continue.......the band also tells me what foods to avoid which incidentally turns out to be food that aren't that good in the first place. It is my new lifestyle....with new eating habits. And for it, I have lost all possible excess weight I can...my body has settled at it's optimum weight, with a very low body fat %....I am done loosing, and my weight has been rock steady for 2 years now....I have no fear of ever gaining weight....not intimidated by parties, buffets, vacations..etc, etc. The band is the same no matter where I am or what I am doing.... Head hunger and cravings have been defeated....I used to get it, would go out of my way to have that dough nut, etc, then after one bite I realize I cannot eat it and I'll spit the bite out and throw the dough-nut away....after doing this for a few months with different head hunger foods, eventually Behavior Modification finally wins over and I dismiss these cravings as fast as they appear, knowing the band will not allow me to indulge so I'm wasting my time.... Now I could get an un-fill, and that would allow me to eat more freely, larger portions of any foods I want.... last month I did get 1/2cc taken out to see what would happen...It's been over 3 years...BIG MISTAKE Realized just how important and what a big part the band is playing even though I don't actually feel as if it is even there.... Not everyone experiences what I do, nor do I expect others to be like me...everyone has to find their own comfort level to achieve success....but it is worth noting that different people work this band differently, and there are people out there who get upset if you don't do things the way they do it....whether it worked for them or not.... I'm not one of them...

From a man's point of view....I have always found to work hard, burning calories and fat, and eat less.... And when I say work hard, at the gym, I'm not satisfied unless the sweat is pouring off me and my shirt is soaked....and I'll go through 32oz of Water in the process.... The band took care of the eating part, it was up to me to get off my backside and work it.....

It is a NEW Life.....I''m 62 years old, but I feel so much reborn I run around and do things like I was 30.....I feel that good about myself.... Only regret is that I didn't do something like this when I was 30, instead of wasting my time and $$ on every diet gimmick that came along.... Newly banded people need to be assured this does work!

I love my new body and I love the new me.....so yes I concentrate on my grooming and dress more now than when I did 40 years ago. Not to mention I can now wear clothes that look and fit good I never dreamed I could again. I'm a 62 year old man, and yes I go the spa for facials.....my wife buys packages to save $$ and I will use a few.

I don't care what other people think.....I had to do what was right for me and mine.... I have attempted every diet under the sun, and failed miserably....and because of that my health was suffering and I am certain, as was my Dr.'s, I would probably be dead today..... Instead, I am at a normal weight, excellent health, and can run circles around people younger than me... I'm 62 years old, play on a softball team with guys 10 years younger, and I'm the fastest guy on the team! (and one of the better players) So, cheating??? What is that??? I just don't see how the term applies to something that can and will change their entire life for the better.... Was it easy? In my case, YES...it was the easiest thing I could have ever done, and still is today, wish I saved some time and did it a lot sooner.........for me dieting was difficult, an everyday "White Knuckle" struggle until I could not hold on any longer and would throw in the towel and totally fail, gaining all the weight back, and then some..... I'm not afraid to admit it....I suck at any self discipline and will power.....and I do not have what it takes.... So, I needed surgery to do what I could not do...to physically "Fix-alter"" something enabling me to regain my health, my self esteem, and my sanity and my life..... It is coming upon 4 years soon.....all those critics are long gone...most people, including myself sometimes, forget I was ever fat at one time.....so it all comes out good in the end when you finish this weight loss and get on with a normal life.... Cheating? That's insane......I had a heart attack a few years back, resulting in surgery to "Fix" a condition that would ultimately kill me.....and it did save and change my life....was that Cheating???? or should I have stuck it out and do what all heart healthy people do...diet and exercise, and sooner or later I will get there...(maybe.) I smoked 2 packs a day for 30 years...no question, I had to quit...tried and failed at everything same as in trying to loose weight....finally I went on a drug program to quit smoking...have not smoked in 10 years now.....Was That Cheating? Am I any less of a person for not doing it the hard way? Loosing weight, stop smoking....OK..I cheated and took the easy way out Guilty as Charged!! (last resort) ...WHO CARES!!!! LOOK AT ME NOW!!!!!! Where are those critics now??? I'm thinking of one in particular, and she does not say much...however, at a restaurant a few weeks back, we all went out to dinner, all she could say was "You're allowed to eat that?" or "That's allowed?" One thing these people will never understand...It's NOT A DIET!!!! BTW, her and her husband are dieting (again) to loose weight for the summer....in inside I'm smiling because I know they will fail...eventually...they do this (and fail) at least twice a year.....

I think everyone on this forum can tell the same story...tried every diet and gimmick under the sun....including hypnotism and acupuncture... I was was part of a very disciplined medically controlled weight loss program...weekly visits, very monitored with blood work, etc...a very well structured program...everyone in our group lost ....I lost about 80 lbs.....only to gain it all back, and then some.... But then that is why I had surgery...to do what I could not do.....I wish I did not have to do this, but I do not regret my decision one bit.....and also wish I did it a lot sooner.... I have been set free from all that marketing nonsense....never having to diet again....right now people are talking about getting in shape for summer, wanting to look good in that bathing suit....etc... The TV is full of advertisements for this and that new miracle weight loss product....that "magic" remedy.... I once had a Dr. tell me the "secret" to loosing weight...."Don't Eat so Much"! I just have to smile to myself.....I will NEVER fall into that mindset ever again....diet is a four letter word I do not wish to use! It is now a new - normal lifestyle.....for me....

It's just a stage everyone has to go through....eventually, they will stop, and people, who see you all the time, will start to accept and get used to the new you, and will forget you were ever fat in the first place....and will never talk about it anymore. And the new people you will meet never knew you when you were fat.... So, it all evens out n the end, eventually, and it all becomes part of the new life, the life AFTER Lap Band....when all this is finally over..... So, if it annoys you now, don't worry, it will pass......

My Dr. did not care what I ate on my pre-op diet...I simply had to loose X amount of weight or the surgery would be postponed.... just so happens the liquid shake route was the most efficient and fastest way to do....so if I ate, it was ok....but I better keep an eye on that scale.....

I have no loose skin....or very little that's noticeable.... Not sure exactly what did, or perhaps a combination of things..... I like to work out 5 times a week, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to burn stored fat as my energy source.... I have access to have a full body analysis done at my health club, and I have lost all possible body fat that is healthy.....(could care less about BMI's) I drink 32oz of Water from start to finish of my workouts....which consist of 3-5 mile runs, then weights and core training.... At then end of my workouts, I'll sit in the sauna (165 degrees) for 15 minutes, open the pores then take a soapy hot shower, then back in the sauna for another 15 minutes....after which I take a cold shower, or an ice plunge when available....to close the pores.... I also sit in a whirlpool, but I don't think that has anything to do with skin/muscle tone. I am also sure to always to use a good moisturizer....

Add ice cubes....

I started all my pre-op counseling, etc, over 5 years ago with Central Jersey Bariatrics....they had 2 locations, one in freehold, the other where your Dr.'s office is now on Beers street. I did all my testing, etc, at Bayshore Hospital, and was going to have my surgery there....but then they consolidated the 2 locations into one, Freehold, and eventually you current Dr. took over the location and that practice I suppose. I had my surgery at Centra State in Freehold, and that's where I go for all my follow up visits... Anyway, welcome to the club...there are many "Newbies" here to ready to give support to others going through the same early stages as you. There are many other NJ people here, and I believe there is a group started.....

How much weight (Body Fat) have you lost, and how much do you have to go..... I'm a Lap bander, Type 2, took daily injections plus oral meds....my blood levels where all over the place, totally out of control...as well as all my other blood values. everything was a mess.... As my weight went down, so did my need for insulin....presently I am at a normal weight and have a very low body fat%.. I get Lab work done every 4 months, and for over 2 years now everything is perfect right down the middle....I do not take any more insulin or meds for my Diabetes...I no longer see an Endo...just my PCP who orders the lab work.... Both my Brother and Sister died at a early age from the complications that come with diabetes....my sister was the worse, a textbook case as to what can go bad, Very Bad... with diabetes out of control...not very pretty. Sometimes when I don't feel like working out, I think of her....that gets me going.... BTW, they were both morbidly obese....and so was I...I started to develop signs of the the same complications...my PCP said loose weight or else!....I could not diet successfully, so as a last resort, I had this surgery.... I do not and never have counted calories, so I can't help you there...all I can say is because of my surgery, I eat very, very little...I exercise a lot, which together led me to 100% weight loss and very little body fat.... That is my experience with surgery and diabetes.