B-52

This is a lifestyle!!!! I know plenty of thin-fit people who eat ice cream, along with other things dieters cringe at.....I have sundaes all the time, just not every day, or numerous times a day...had a large cherry vanilla with crushed nuts, coconut, and whipped cream last night.... I wasn't struck by lightning or the earth didn't swallow me up.... Once my body reached It's goal, I have not lost or gained any additional weight for 2 years now....other than the up and down variations within the same 5 lbs.....and I am no longer bound by all those dieter's rules...just the rules needed to live with the band. But then...this is just about me and my life, not everyone elses....people have different needs..

If your Dr. cleared you, then it is up to you when you're ready....After 3 days I was climbing the walls....I did do a lot of walking, then Dr. cleared me 7 days after surgery....

I have not eaten bread, or Pizza crust, do-nuts, rolls, certain cakes, pastas, etc. in almost 3 years now...and probably never will for the rest of my life, or as long as I have my band. But I do not miss it either....

It is not a question as to whether I want to or not...I simply CANNOT drink while eating....and I need to take small sips afterward until I can FEEL it is safe... I have personally experienced problems as far out as 30 minutes after eating.... I can drink all I want right up to the point I start eating.... It all depends upon you and your band....

If your Surgeon is not supporting you, then I am sorry....not to be offensive, but I cannot possibly know the truth...sounds like a He said, She said..... The things he said are correct though, but perhaps with a poor bedside manner in your case.... Loosing weight is all about burning more calories than we eat....physical activity makes that process easier and allows us to eat a little more freely... If we want to loos weight and not burn off the calories, then we have to eat even less... 2+3=5....if you're not getting the 5, then you have to examine what is wrong with the 2 or the 3.... Also, people will experience problems if they do not learn to eat differently...and I can say from first hand experience, that after 58 years of bad eating habits, it was very tough changing in just 4 months after surgery...very hard 4 months, felt like backing down and quitting many times....fortunately my Dr is tough and when I called him he would always tell me to wait another week, and examine my eating habits...suck it up!....I'm sure he tells other patients things a little differently... I deal with patients and their families all day long on clinic days, and learn to approach each case a little differently....have to be very diplomatic at times, and sometimes joke that I didn't go to school to be a "Priest"....and other times have to be very direct because my patience wears thin at times....it is a 2 way street...some people don't understand we are working very hard for them, and in many cases going way out of our way to meet their needs....but then I do expect something in return...maybe a little cooperation and perhaps some gratitude....I like to go home and say I had a good day......but some people are part of the system and expect everything to be handed to them....sorry, I can't do anything for them but go through the motions......you can lead a horse to water.... NOT SAYING YOU.....but I read story after story on this forum over the years, where people run back to their Dr. to get fluid taken out because they can't keep food down, etc.......then I read other posts from the same person, weeks later, complaining they are always hungry, not loosing weight, and the band is not working.... Same person will post comments at later times talking about different dinners/recipes (???) But they're LOW CAL and nutritious!!!! they say.... Sorry, has nothing to do with the band, and everything to do with dieting I'm sorry to say...not in terms of keeping food down, cooperating with the band and changing your eating habits....Forever! I'm a man...and I need a swift kick in the Butt at times, I don't mind "Hard Love"...and realize I deserved it although maybe not at that moment... Young Senior ,,,new term for me, I'm 62...have to think about that one... Again, I am not saying this has ANYTHING to do with your case....just another viewpoint from a different perspective....and it's 5 am and tend to ramble on this time of day while having my coffee..... It's off to the gym for me, then a full day of work....

I would be extremely worried about my Metabolic Syndrome, and what are going to do to treat it...ASAP....they should be on high alert...when someone says Metabolic Disorders", they get my attention.... The band can wait.... By chance, are you a diabetic? High BP? Cholesterol?

ANYTHING is better than nothing.....when I first started I could barley get 20 minutes at minimum resistance on the elliptical.... Bottom line....you have to do something, anything.....and go from there....

There is a website that will trouble shoot treadmill problems....I have had one for quite some time, it is a very expensive one....I need to change the belt about every 2 years, and the drive belts on the motor about every 2 years.... It's not easy to do....and there are service people who will come to your home and do it....they can also check out all the electronics, and the motor strength......calibrate everything... Also, more simple, there is an adjustment to tighten the belt....it will stretch over time and slip, before it actually wears out... The first treadmill I ever owned was a inexpensive, cheap one...when it came time to be serviced, and I realized how involved it was and what the $$ would be, I put it out at the curb.... I now have the same treadmill and elliptical in my house, that they have at my gym....there are outlet stores throughout the country, and they sell "refurbished" used equipment, with full service warranties....as an example, I paid 3 thousand for my elliptical...used and refurbished, and that was over 1/2 the price of a new one....

When you, and others, say "Cardio", are you actually doing an "Aerobic" exercise....where you are actually doing 85% of your maximum heart rate for the most efficient way to burn fat.... Everything I do, running, elliptical, stationary bike, I wear a heart rate monitor and adjust the machines speed, resistance, incline, until I get to that "Level 3" heart rate....and it can take me 5-10 minutes to work up to that.... Reason I say this...in my case...if my total time for a cardio Workout is 30 minutes.... First I do a 5 minute warm up...starting with a walk and speeding it up....then it takes me another 5-10 minutes to get my heart rate up to 85% of Max HR, THEN my true Cardio actually begins.....I only count the time I am within that aerobic level....after which you need to do a 5 minute cool down.... So for me...30 minutes would mean I actually did only 15 minutes of true Cardio, at best...the rest was warm up, working up to the 85%, and cool down.... So, the way I approach it, for me to get 30 minutes of a true aerobic workout, I would have to spend at least 45 minutes on any machine...at that point I say screw it...I came this far, might as well go for 60 minutes. Also, many talk about "Distance"...I understand, I do it also....I say I run 5 miles a day...but in reality I'm always looking for the actual "Time" spent within that Level 3 heart rate zone....distance is a side benefit....and is used for competition...

Do you REALLY THINK I'm giving other people medical advice? And worse yet, telling others what to do? There's enough of that going on around here and I'm not one of them...lot's of self proclaimed EXPERTS who can talk the talk, but have never walked the walk.....telling others HOW to do this, yet have not actually done it themselves.....I'm simply sharing MY experiences...that's all anyone can and should ever do..... PLUS anyone who actually listens to other peoples advice on this forum (the world wide web filled with strangers) should have their head examined.... I take issue with your offensive comments....but then maybe you're one of those EXPERTS?

Can't wait...that day is the unofficial day we start outdoor practices for the spring summer softball leagues.... I'm 62, and play short stop in a 50's league, not the 60's league.

Not to get off topic, but I had my Heart Attack and subsequent angioplasty and stents prior to this surgery, so I am also taking blood thinners for life (?) All I needed to do was stop the meds a few weeks prior to this, and any other surgical procedures including dental work, then resume a few weeks after...no big deal.... My Daughter is a PA in Cardiology, and she tells me new studies have shown that blood thinners are not needed for life for people with my condition.......not to mention that my overall health has reversed 180 degree since loosing weight, I'm going to talk to my Cardiologist about this in a few weeks when I have my annual stress test....

I was at a serious stall, early on,.....then I got rid of My FitnessPal and started loosing consistently after that.....followed my band instead. just my opinion, I do not have much faith in those apps, at least not for people with WLS....it's probably good for people long to follow traditional diets....I guess.....butt we are a different breed...traditional diets and such did not work for us before.... At lest that is my experience....I'm sure other people swear by them....

Congratulations....if everyone had the ability to manage their own weight, then there would not be a need for this surgery, and none of us would be here.... There are many things I am strong enough to do....but controlling my eating, (I love food) and the ability to diet and loose it myself, is not one of them.....I needed surgery.... And the surgery did for me what I was incapable of doing...and it did work, I have lost all my excess weight/body fat..... I'm 62 years old and as active and fit as if I am 30 years younger....whereas a few years ago I had one foot in the grave... (it's 4:30am, and I'm off to the gym at 5 as soon as I finish my coffee...something I do everyday now)

The Term "Restriction" can get very confusing at times....yes every one wants it, but understanding what exactly to achieve is another... Not saying you, or many other people for that matter, but sometimes I read people using the term and I wonder if they really understand what it is they are looking for.... the term has been thrown around so much, it is becoming generic ... It's 4am, have not even finished my first cup of coffee yet, I'm just rambling....

Pain killers!!!!!! A electric blanket, comforter, lazy-boy recliner, and the TV remote....and more pain killers.... Oh, and some broth and endless supply of Water.... I don't remembering moving for almost 24hours.....a well deserved rest!

If that is the way they did it, adjusting it till they feel it is perfect.... then be very careful and mindful of possible swelling irritation...that will make it seem like a lot more than 1cc putting you way over the top.......if so, stay with soups, etc for a few days and ease into mushies.... My feeling is, if it was perfect when you left the office, no matter what happens in the next few days it can/will return to that same perfect place....so long as you don not continue to irritate it....(if it happens at all)

I'm a Bander...not the sleeve as you all are.....so for me it is a little different...I feel the meals are very nutritious, and a good quick meal, portion size....ate them al the time when I was dieting....of course I failed at every diet so Surgery was the final option..... HOWEVER, as a Bander., I cannot eat them because 99% of them are made up with rice or Pasta and sometimes potatoes...things I can no longer eat...

I have a friend who has had 10!!! And is still gaining weight....and each one was 1/2 cc or less, one month apart! It's NOT about how many.... I have only had three....but my Dr. was very aggressive, and he knows I am aggressive also so we went full speed ahead....got that Green Zone in 4 months, then took another 2-3 months of a roller coaster ride getting things (Me and my attitudes Actually) under control and a "Groove" found.... I also do not like to compare how much I have to others...everyone is a little different...some people have not had a fill...(very rare, a lot of self discipline) And my band does things for me that it does not do for many other people....does not make any of it right or wrong, it's simply the way it is....

I believe you just had surgery? And have yet to get the band adjusted? When I was at that point, the band WAS NOT WORKING...Not yet anyway....I found it extremely frustrating...4 weeks after surgery, I started to gain the weight I lost during the 2 weeks pre surgery and the post op diet....because at 4 weeks I was allowed to stop the diet and start back up on solid, regular foods.... What has changed today from before you had the surgery? (trick Question) It's like someone buying you a new car and now you're upset because you should be at the mall or picking up friends by now....but you have to learn how to drive first! And before you can drive the car, the Dr. needs to put some gas in it first to get it started....THEN you can start taking driving lessons...and in my case, 6 months later everything was running just fine, and has been ever since.... When do you go back to the Dr.? Above is just a analogy...everyone DOES have different experiences, as yours will be also....

I don't measure....but as an example, I do not think I can get through a can of tuna...I'll take a can, mix it up with chopped celery, onion, etc.....maybe get through 1/2 of it, along with a few crackers or cucumber slices.... And it's not me...the pouch simply will not let me over eat....I suppose I could force myself, but that would result in pain, probably from stretch out the pouch or similar....so I know to stop.... But it does not bother me because I do not have any hunger either.... Last night we went for diner....I started with a cup of clam chowder, had 1/2 of it (maybe)...then had shrimp with lobster sauce, plus mashed potatoes....had 3 ( medium) shrimp, and maybe 2-3 small swallows of mashed potatoes....that was it, finished...could not possible eat any more....plus I could not drink any Water, or after dinner coffee until we got home....

My Dr., would refer to this poster he has hanging on the wall, and ask me EXACTLY where I felt I was...not one of three, but on a sliding scale from left to right.... Then after a few more questions, he would also consider my weight loss since the last visit (if any) then give me a fill or not, and how much.... My Final fill, I was borderline Green-Red, in and out, then finally settled down in the Green....

You have not been able to get solids down, FOR WEEKS???? That is not normal.... My last fill, which was the worst, was very problematic for about 2 weeks, but at least I was able to eat SOMETHING...just very carefully....then it did get better... It was not because the band was too tight, it was because I had some hard lessons to learn.... But if you have not been able to eat for weeks....

My Dr. did not care what I ate. or what diet I followed.... He simply said "You will loose X # of lbs by such and such a date, or no surgery" My surgery was a Monday early morning, had my final weight in on the Friday before.... Having said that, if one wants to loose the most amount of weight in the least amount of time, then it would be the straight full liquid (shakes) routine....and the nut gave me all the resources as to where to buy the product, etc......which I did because it made the most sense...but if I strayed, I don't think I would have been struck down by lightning....just so I lost the needed weight, or else! But...Bottom Line...follow your Dr.'s instructions whatever they may be....don't want to blow it now....

Forget CIGNA...we elected to have surgery because we cannot control our weight...so until we actually have the surgery, and for those with the lap band..get it adjusted, how are we going to control our weight? has anything changed? I gained weight after surgery, after my first fill....it took me a few fills untill the band actually started to do anything....