B-52

Is it YOU or the BAND that is doing the work to bring you this success..... I have no fear of ever gaining any weight back, because i know it is not me doing the work....I have tried and failed so many times, I know my failures, and I know if left up to to me this would not work.......but it is not me.... That is after all, why I needed surgery...to do what I tried and failed at several times... I'm done with dieting!!!!

You should see your Dr..... having said that, I cannot even think about eating an enchilada....well maybe, but it is too risky for me so I will not try... Just saying...there is a combination of things that must come into balance for the band to work successfully... The foods we eat, (some foods are just not band friendly) HOW we eat (fast-slow, big-small, chew, etc) and of course having the band adjusted optimally.... We are obese because we have very bad eating habits, picked up from years of doing them over and over... Getting WLS means we have to change those bad habits...or none of this is going to work.... And we cannot recognize what those bad habits are...part of being obese...DENIAL If someone explained to me, before I had this surgery...How little food I would be eating daily, and what foods I would no longer be eating...ever...I would say they were crazy...NO ONE can live like that...it isn't normal.... And in the beginning, those first few months, I was constantly learning my lessons the hard way, numerous stuck episodes, sometimes 2-3 a day...I was thick headed...I was in denial....FINALLY I started to learn...and the way I am today could not have even been imagined 3-4 years ago.... NOT SAYING THIS IS YOU.....like someone said, you're all over the place...GO SEE A DR.!

Well, see the band is different to different people...because it does stop me from eating...at least it stops me from overeating I should say......it is physically impossible...and I've tried... Like Catfish said...my problem has always been that I ate too much...could not stop...and I loved it.. I could eat an entire large pizza, with toppings all by myself, along with a few beers...NOW I cannot get through a single slice..so I gave it up entirely.... It does limit the amount of food I eat.... But is it restriction doing it? Or is the band, properly restricted, telling my brain I cannot eat...I know I walk around all day, with my brain telling me I'm full, I don't need to eat, therefore I have no desire or interest in eating...even though I have hardly eaten anything at all.... Example...today I had to go to work early, so no gym....all I had to eat all day was my Breakfast smoothie...at 5pm I went to the gym, ran 5 miles...STILL had nothing to eat all day...came home and FORCED myself to eat 5-6 chicken wings, and some veggies...but I was not hungry....and I still am not...it can go 24/7 for me... Now that is Mental, brought around by restriction....not a physical restriction....I had to overcome my brain telling me I did not have to, or want to eat....because I am full, without actually feeling full.... Sounds like physco-babble I know, but there is no way to explain it...

Lately I have been seeing many posts people stating they need more restriction.... I'm being general here, and wonder if people know what they are asking for? Or at least, exactly what it is they're hoping for? What is restriction supposed to feel like? How do you know you have enough,the right amount or too much? I'm just rambling...I see many posts, and it makes me wonder some times.

First, I'd like to know...why would you like to eat more? Just curious... Since being banded...I have never felt "Full" as many here describe they have..... I have been in the green zone for 2-1/2 years now... I do not measure portions, or count calories...but I know if I did they would be spot on.... For me...I will sit down to eat...and there will come a point that I simply cannot continue...have no interest in continuing, not at all hungry, fully satisfied...NEVER FULL....this to me is one of the attributes of the Green Zone...my portions are set by the band, not me.... I have learned to "Flow" with the band, letting it control my hunger, how much I eat, what I eat, and when. I eat when I'm hungry, or know I should eat because I am very seldom experience hunger...., and I stop when the band says stop, not forcing the issue.......since my portions are set automatically by the band, I make the best food choices I can...always starting with the Protein first knowing if I start with anything else, I may not get to the protein... I made this mistake in restaurants, ordering an appetizer then not being able to continue with my meal.... Again, I do not measure portions, nor do I worry about daily calories.... Because of everything above...one day is no different than the other...it does not matter if it's a holiday, I'm at a party, vacation, whatever...the band is consistent one day to the next.... I have not been stuck in I don't know how long....do not crush my meds/vitamins, drink carbonated beverages (carefully) and do many other things...so I do not consider my band to be tight....actually I feel it is in "Harmony" with my everyday life style.

My opinion....I do not rust these apps like MFP, etc...one the best things I ever did was stop using them...they do not take in consideration people with severe issues requiring WLS..... My Dr. did not hold me to any diet either...just eat ONLY when I'm hungry...which is rarely, and eat the best, most nutritious foods I possibly can...adapt to a new habit to last the rest of my life.... Three years in, and I still have no idea how many calories I eat per day....but I have zero complaints....

There is no magic #...there are people in the Green who have never had a fill....and then there are those who seem to never find it..(I won't speculate as to why right now) When I was going through this adjustment phase, I would see my Dr. once every month...after weigh-in, vital signs, etc, my Dr. would point to the chart below and ask me to point to exactly where I felt I was....he would then ask a few questions about the type of foods I am eating, any possible complications, my hunger ...compare my present weight to last months, THEN determine if I needed an adjustment, and how much...if any at all..... So, looking at the chart below...where do you see yourself ???? And how much weight did you loose since last fil? Was it a struggle to do so ??? (this is what he would ask me...among other things) And notice...the most important question of all...are you happy? Pleased? "Patient Satisfaction"? I have actually had him or the PA ask me if I wanted another fill...after 2-1/2 years...and I would say "NOPE...I'm happy right where I'm at" ! (I think they were really teasing me) \ \

I weigh myself everyday, most days twice....it is very common to fluctuate within the same 5 lbs....I have been doing it for years... I can be 3 lbs up today, down 2 tomorrow, up one the next, then down 4...etc, etc....it's peaks and valleys.... When you are still loosing, you still peak...it's just that the valleys gradually get a little lower.... The only time I get concerned is when I peak up at the 5 lb limit...and stay there are 2-3 days....but sure enough, without changing anything I do, it will drop....

MFB tells you to eat 1700 calories a day?? What does your Dr. and/or NUT say you should be consuming, being a WLS patient...

Loosing weight and getting healthy/fit is what it's all about...no matter how you do it...

So, would you say you gained the weight back because you had most of the fluid taken pout of the band?

If we could do it...then we would not need surgery.....I had the toughest time also...but I jumped through so many hoops to get there I was not going to blow it that last few days... Also, my Dr. did not insist on a liquid diet prior to surgery...just told me I had to loose a certain amount of weight..or else! Did not care how I did it...but all liquids is the fastest way to do it.

Here is my Latest "After" picture....living the NEW LIFE...3 years now. 62 years old and going stronger than ever...EASIEST and BEST thing I could have ever done for myself!!! \

I workout on an empty stomach..first thing in the morning, at 5-6am....afterwards I will have a "Recovery" shake... My theory is....we humans, hunters-gatherers....store excess food/energy away as fat, for those days of famine.... When I work out, I use that stored energy source, as opposed to something I recently ate...if I eat before, then it is that food I am using for my energy, and not efficiently burning the stored away fat.... I also feel lighter on my feet.... Just my theory, but I will say it has worked for me....and I have never had an issue with energy either...I run 5 miles every day, and do weights every other day....also attend "Advanced" Training classes (boot camp) on Monday mornings.... I should also add, I'm 62 years old, and have had one heart attack with consequent cardiac surgery (before banding) NOW, I have no excess body fat to burn....I take a Protein shot with my morning coffee before heading to the gym....

Interesting....one thing for sure....I FEEL 20 YEARS YOUNGER!!!! Also, I observe other men my age....(62)....well, all I can say it's sad....

When first staring out, I suppose ANY structured eating plan would be a asset.... But keep in mind....we WLS people are a different breed....the "traditional" thinking about calories, metabolism, etc...are different for people simply looking to loose weight than they are are people who are "Morbidly Obese" and have undergone something as drastic as Bariatric Surgery..... That is why I stopped using those popular exercise/calorie tracking app's...they do not take into WLS people...

When I had my surgery, I did sign into the Co.'s website...believe me, you're not missing much!!!!

First...i am 110% happy and pleased with the band...last ALL my excess weight, AND in my case, was the EASIEST thing I could have done...the band did all the work! All I needed to do was change my lifestyle to meet the bands demands.... I never counted calories or measured portions other than within the first 2-3 months.... Have not had a single complication, no complaints, and today live a day by day normal life without giving anything much of a second thought, it has all become 2nd nature... I am not afraid of ever gaining any weight back, and cannot understand how I can ever "Fall off the wagon"...as long as the band is still there, properly adjusted and doing what it is, and has been doing for 3 years now.... Having said all that, I often think that perhaps I should have had the sleeve....I am always careful of the possible complications such as erosion, slippage that many people talk about here... I'm also concerned about leakage? I have 0% belly fat...which means my port is right there under a thing layer of skin, pressed tightly against my abb's....you can see every nook and cranny, even the tubing as it snakes 2-3" before going deep....looks like a tumor or something...it's hard, being a man, to walk around topless at the beach, etc...(always have to hold my beer in front of it) I'm 62 years old, and have considered revision to the sleeve before I'm 65? I am also well aware that the problems associated with the band are mostly exaggerated, and there is a "Sky is falling" mentality....a few people have a legitimate problem, then suddenly everybody is worried they are having the same thing.... But like I said...I am completely happy, could not be more pleased with the results and the quality of my life right now....

It is a GREAT FEELING when, for the first time in long time, you begin to feel a difference.... I first noticed it at an airport, parked a long way from the terminal...and had to walk...I was also pressed for time....

Your Protein, whether fish, meat, whatever, should be no larger than your fist...that is the rule of thumb I leaned from dieting over the years.... Now, I let my band do it.... Also, I have been gaining and loosing within the same 5 lb range for over 2 years now...it's normal, and changes everyday...

Like I said, even though my morning readings continue to be high, overall things improved and I eventually got off all meds... I don't check my blood sugar all that much any more either...my A1C's have been good for 2 years now...

Are you saying your band all of a sudden started to act this way the same time you found dental problems? An infection? That's interesting...

I have been buying these at my local grocery Store and keep some in the fridge....they're great to throw one in my Briefcase to have during the day... I especially like the "Arabica Coffee" one...but they have many flavors and varieties...as well as different brands...it is becoming fashionable to drink health shakes - smoothies and Juices, instead of a heavy meal........with people who have not even WLS... \ \

I was Dx'd with Diabetes 6 years ago....subsequent to my surgery and weight loss, it has totally reversed....no more meds or injections!!! Having said that....my Glucose levels are always high first thing in the morning...always have been and still are today.. I get full lab work done every 4 months, and my fasting Glucose is always around 127 or so....but my A1C's are always good...and now, a little low which concerns my PCP a little.... He told me that some people just have high levels in the morning...just the way it is....

When was your surgery.... Which Doc put you on and took you off the med? Your Surgeon or your Primary? And did he say why? Was it immediately following surgery? or later..... And what was the reason you were taking it in the first place...for stiff joints? or was it related directly to your edema... I have had one heart Attack, and Cardiac Surgery...since then I have been on blood thinners along with low dose aspirin for over 3 years now...I simply stopped it 10 days before surgery, and was told to stay off it for 2 weeks following for bleeding issues...but since then it has been a daily ritual.... I have an appointment with My cardiologist in March, going to talk to him about getting off it since everything about my health has dramatically improved if not totally reversed.... And that is something you can look forward to also....an over whelming # of people have undergone WLS primarily due to poor health associated with Obesity.... There are many success stories here from people regaining their health after loosing the weight.... Speaking for myself, I had numerous health issues...and my Dr. had no reservations saying I would be lucky to live 2-3 more years....and then not a very good quality of life... But after WLS, and dropping the weight, I have totally regained my health, many issues no longer exist! I am off almost all my meds, and I have NO HEALTH COMPLAINTS.... I could go on about many other things, but you get the picture....