nayttap

This is crazy! BOTH PBing AND reflux can be caused by what and how you eat so you cant automatically say you are too tight! This is just a band holiday and since I look at this as a lifestlye for life (I dont diet and Ireally dont work out) I am completely against unfilling for a holiday pig out!
I would expect a good doc to give you a similar lecture...snap out of it!

Im sorry to hear that hope all gets better. Thats exactly why I dont understand people when they say my doctor said not to drink soda but can I. He said to not drink alcohol can I? He said not to do this or that can I? If he said not to do it then dont test your band. Its for a reason people. No one realizes also when you over eat you are forcing the band into the wall of the stomach which equals erosion. If he tells you drink decaf then do it. I dont miss coffee, alcohol, or soda. You have to learn its not about what you want but what is best for you. We all need to take a lesson from this and do what the doctor says to do and not ask everyone if its okay to do this or that when your doctor told you not tooooooooooooooo

I dont understand why people have surgery to lose weight but then want a break? If your diabetic do you take a break from your diet or medication? If you have high blood pressure do you take a break from your medication? If you cant eat meat then your too tight and especially if your having acid reflux. You should be able to eat normal with the band just less it shouldnt be a burden. But a vacation from it why would you want to go back to eating like that? The thought of pigging out makes me sick and I hate to see people eat like that.

"I'm having a minor outpatient procedure tomorrow and cannot eat"................not a lie, not the details...........................

Been away from my computer for few days. Opened my e-mail and down came a long list of new posts from this website, and ALL were NEGATIVE!
WHAT A DRAG!
Then I find a post from a person who is considering the surgery but having 2nd thoughts because of all the info he/she is reading here. THAT got to me!

So I need to vent.

First, I have to give disclosure that what I say is only from my own personal experiences, and of course, everyone should follow what their Dr. says, not a stranger.

I LOVE my band. It is the best thing I have ever done, and without a doubt has changed my life and probably saved it too.
It is doing everything that I had hoped and imagined it would do! And I can honestly say I do not have one single complaint or problem!

People say it is a "Tool" that you use and with a little hard work and determination you can make it work. Well, sorry, I have been on more diets that I can remember and this is the EASIEST weight loss
experience I have ever imagined. I have undergone major bariatric surgery and had a foreign object put inside me to change my eating habits...and that is exactly what it is doing. The main discipline for
me is making wise food choices. And for that there is a learning curve!

First, it has controlled and curbed my hunger. There are times when I know it's time to eat and I just don't feel like it.
Second, when I do eat, the amount of food I can eat is very, very small! I could not overeat if I wanted to!
Recently people here have stated they dread the thought of Thanksgiving and not overeating and ruining their progress. My only anxiety is that I WON"T be able to eat my favorite foods! I've thought this through and think I am going to at least have a "Taste" of everything on the table. But I will have to save the stuffing for last because that's not going to work at all.

I still go out to my favorite restaurants. I drink coffee all hours of the day. I enjoy an alcohol drink now and then. I don't measure/weigh my food. There is just so much that will fit in my pouch. If I did weigh/measure what I ate I am sure I would find it to be proportional to what I should be allowed. In other words I can't overeat no matter how much I may want to!
My Diabetes is completely reversed! At one point I was taking 60 units of Lantus at bedtime, plus oral meds during the day with meals. NO MORE! GONE!
I now go to the gym and workout like a madman. Not because I have to, but because the things I can now do are amazing (to me) and I can't wait to get back and do it again!
I wear clothes that are "Normal" sized. Bought 2 winter coats that are MEDIUMS!

I have not had a fill since May. I tell my Dr. everything I am doing. He says I am in a good place, exactly where I should be, in the Green Zone. Go and enjoy your life and I will see you in 3 months.
I have to say it continues to get better every week as more old habits die away and new habits are learned and become second nature.

I get up and go to work and come home everyday. There are days I do not even think about being banded. (like having bridgework)

I need to say it took me 4 months from surgery to get to this place, where things started to fall in place. THAT was when my weight loss journey began. NOT when I had the surgery.
And like I said, it keeps on getting better.

There. I'll get off my soapbox now.

Why are you eating French dip & chips at all?!!! No band will work if you don't change your eating habits dear. I understand your concern & how you feel but I'm worried your miss using the band as it's not there for the purpose of continuing to eat poorly. If you change the type of food your eating you may not get reflux or have ANY problems at all. I'm sorry if this sounds aggressive, it's not meant to be but seriously chips?

Quit acting like I took a butter knife and carved out the band. My goodness ya'll are harsh and nit picky. Pringles are just mashed up potato flakes and my schedule says stage two includes mashed potatoes. So chill. I'm not looking for approval from anyone. Most of the posts are people having problems with their band. I wondered if I was alone in having none. If I am losing weight and doing fine why should you rail on me? I'm not failing; I'm sailing through just fine. Big Mac? I'll be happy with a Happy Meal, pun intended. That's a far cry from a super sized #1 with a shake for a drink and a Quarter pounder with cheese chaser. Wow, are you the rookie police officer that gives a speeding ticket for doing 56 mph in a 55 mph zone?

You have already identified your problem and you already know the answer. Stop eating sliders and go for the correct foods which will fill you up properly and allow you to lose the weight.
It is hard. No one said that it would be easy. You have done wonderfully so far and would be considered to be more successful than the "AVERAGE" bandster. Remember the band is only designed to help you lose 60 - 70% of your excess weight.
Maybe you should give yourself a break for a couple of weeks and by that I don't mean eat anything and everything in sight. Enjoy what you have achieved so far, work at maintaining that and then refocus on losing when you feel you have the energy and committment. It isn't like it is a race. There is no fixed date by when you have to lose the weight, this is for life.

Yes Corrigan, I have read the other posts and wonder why people get this surgery and not follow the instructions. I work in the medical field and I also know that some people are different and the treatment that helps one person does not affect another. I have put alot into this. I made sure to make my own broths so that I would be eating health after surgery. I stocked up on sugar free popsicles, sugar free jello, sugar free cool whip, diet drink mixes and petty of bottles of water. I have cut out caffiene and acidic foods that may irritate my stomach. I crush my pills to fine powder and buy the more expensive liquid option for medications. I am losing weigh even though my band is still empty. I had a cup of orange tomato soup, less acidic than red, this morning and I haven't even though about lunch. I am not complaining about anything. I just wanted to know if there where people out there having less problems than others. I know this is a tool and I have to know how to best use it to make it work for me.

I guess I'll be the bad guy... Pringles?? Two days after surgery? Are you kidding me? I don't care how chewed the Pringles are - it's not a good choice.
My thought is that if you can't resist Pringles two days after surgery with a newly sutured band then how are you going to resist cake on Day 6, a plate of lasagna on Day 46, two
big Macs on Day 96?
Get it together! You can do this and do it right. You deserve a happy and healthy life. You didn't go through all this to fail. My nutritional plan allows for "cheat meals" but no freaking way would I eat Pringles two days after surgery.
I apologize for being harsh, blunt, and mean but I'm not going to sit here and say that's it ok and then not offer any encouragement towards healthier habits.
YOU CAN DO IT!

I THINK YOUR CALORIE INTAKE IS TOO LOW. I WAS BANDED 7/11/11 AND I EAT 1000-1200 CALORIES A DAY.EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN LOSING OK, I STILL HAVE HUNGER PAINS FROM TIME TO TIME. TODAY WAS MY 4TH FILL I NOW HAVE 8CC'S IN A 14CC BAND. TRUST ME I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE... SO TELL YOUR DOCTOR'S ASSISTANT TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM OR REQUEST TO SEE THE ACTUAL DR. HIMSELF. HE WAS PAID OVER $17,000 SO HE NEED TO HIS JOB!!!!

I made my appt for my first fill and it lands only 4 weeks out after my surgery. Is that ok or too early? The next appt time I could get is 2 months postop and I dont know which is better. Any advice?

He may have missed the port OR you may have a leak. Next time have him take out the fluid and see what's in there. If you have insurance I would insist on a fluro fill-absolutely. Something just doesn'r seem right. Before you give up make sure you don't have a leak and if all in fine then you just need a ltlle more-you're almost there girl-don't give up yet-you CAN do this! I simply cannot overeat-can't do it withthe fill I have now or I will get sick. Sometimes I really want to eat a lot, but I can't. Good luck to you-I wish you the best! Be an advocate for your band!

Do you want it to work? If you do you have to stop now eating all that stuff. You have to know WE still want some of those things but you just have to say NO. It does not matter if you were filled to the top if you want to eat you will find a way. We all know how.

The choice is yours. Put in the time and do it right and It will work. Heck if you just follow the diet and do not workout you will still lose maybe slowly, So many people would like the opportunuity to be in your shoes Banded. Sometime you have to mature and say I am gonna do it and then struggle through it and it does get easier. But your in control not the Band.

If I was you I would be on the phone tomorrow finding myself a therapist that deals with eating disorders and find out whats going on? Something is you have to know that. Don't give up just ask for some help and then do it. Nothing wrong with seeing a therapist everybody could benefit from it. Then I would find me a support group meeting and go to every meeting. We need support from people who are going through what we are going through. You are no different from all of us, you want to lose weight or you would not have done this right? food is just food and living is living you have a fork in(sorry)the road which way are you going?

You can do this. Are you married? Do you have kids? Do you have parents? Do you have loving friends? Somebody loves you and wants you to live. Do you want to live? The step in the right direction is what you took when you decided and went through the surgery

Your weight is still pretty high, do you want to have a heart attack! Spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair? Do this for yourself go see that therapist and work out your problems just think you could be getting healthly on the outside while you are get healthly mentally.

Please don't give up on yourself you already have the tool just start doing your part. So many people here can help you but you have to stop that kind of eating otherwise nobody can help you. Help yourself first. I have lost 84 lbs and it was not easy but easier with the band. I wanted to eat some things I shouldn't but you have to decide what rules your life

Even if you could eat a whole chicken does not mean you have to, Stop

Cheri

You just gave him thirty thousand dollars, You have every right to disturb him if you think you need
to. I'd go back to liquids for a day or so, until you can get in touch with some one. If it goes away in a
day of so, you're probably OK, but don't let it go. The pain in your back is probably referred pain
from somewhere else. Hopefully your doctor can tell you where.

White chicken Chili


3 # chicken breasts—cooked & cubed
1 lg onion diced & sautéed in chix broth
2 # navy beans—cooked about 1+ hours
2 cans white shoepeg corn
2 cans (4.5 oz) green chilis, diced
2 T + chili powder
1 T + cumin or taco seasoning
Salt & Pepper
Garlic
Large can of chicken broth—use to cover other ingredients as simmering 30 minutes or more

This is a learning process-keyword is process. You don't really know for sure what's going on under the postings that are worried about weight loss. Maybe they had a horrible day that day-eating the wrong foods-who knows? Maybe they have lost 50 pounds but are still wearing the same pants or maybe no one has even noticed. This forum is a place to seek support, encouragement, and advice. In my opinion-some whining is okay and even excepted. You may call it whining- but i really view it as fear. Aren't you whining about people whining? lol

No i didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed..... just tired of some people coming on here posting that they are not losing weight even though it has only been a short time that they had LB surgery......
I also had great pre-band education.... but I also did a lot of research and talked to people at support groups and i listen when they talked.
This kind of statement gets under my skin:........(this is just made up, but you get were im coming from) I had my surgery 3 months ago and i have only lost 50lbs....... REALLY! only 50 pounds... could you have lost it if you had not had LB surgery.... probably, but not in three months and could you keep it off... probably not...
so i guess what i'm really getting at is .......... be grateful and stop whining..... if your not losing weight, do some self reevaluation......look at what your eating or not eating.... look at the exercise your doing or not doing....... look with in, don't just count on the band to do it all.
There are people out there who would give anything to have the opportunity that we have had. To have this surgery was a complete God send to me. And some people have the surgery and never use it the way it was intended. Or think they will wake up thin....

I come on here at least once a day or every couple days....... and i keep reading the same thing..... I HAD THE SURGERY __ MONTHS AGO AND I'M STILL FAT. What did some of you think that you wold have WLS and the next day wake up THIN.....
NEWS FLASH....!!!!! It doesn't work that way... you have to still watch EVERY THING you eat (even more now), you still have to get up off your rear end and exercise..... LB surgery is not a SURE THING.... You have to work at it, and it takes time.
So the next time you start to post ...... i've only lost.__ pounds, remember you still have LOST WEIGHT... be happy and grateful. Work your tool and be grateful that you were able to have this procedure done in the first place.... Think of all the people who can't because of one reason or the other......
I means it one thing to complain about hitting a plateau when you are near the end.... but right at the beginning is when you are learning HOW TO EAT.... so give it time... one of the reasons that the dr. fills the band slow is so you can learn how to "re-eat".
Remember to follow the rules and do your part and the tool will help you succeed.....
Thanks and have wonderful.... Lapband day.

z

z

Hi Melinda!
To know me is to know I am incredibly positive, happy, driven, successful and RELENTLESS. I hold a law degree and have been an executive at 4 Fortune 500 companies. I have an awesome husband and live in paradise.
Since my first post on the site today, I found not one but TWO doctors who specialize in revisions of all kinds. It is covered by my insurance AND I have learned it is more complicated and I am VERY OK with that. I weigh risk and reward...and take it seriously. It could indeed be a life and death decision...
My weight was off for six years before i tore my PCL....and then endured multiple knee surgeries. And, so long as I am putting a lot out there, I can tell you I was in therapy and my therapist said I really didn't need to be there. I'm blessed. Also, I'm at that menopausal age....so I got that goin' for me too!
Anyway, I appreciate honest, positive, informed input. Thank you all so much.
APR

Jack,
Thx for your input. I am learning a lot and being reminded of issues I have not thought about in years.
Because I have an MBA and a JD, I am used to discussing money, financial models, etc. with colleagues. That said, I don't think a heart surgeon would talk to a patient about how little he is getting paid for a bypass, stint, etc. Why are bariatric patients different? IMHO, I think the obese are still discriminated against by doctors and insurers....many of whom are also obese.
I know from complexity. I just know something is not right with the gastric bypass I had too. I haven't mentioned this before but a couple years ago, I was gulping (I know, it was stupid) Water and I felt a pop....In my head I wondered if the staple or surgical glue came undone. I didn't go to the doctor.
Further, before my knee injury and multiple knee surgeries, I was able to run 5 mile a day.....my current amt of activity because of all that has been greatly reduced. And I LOVE to work out!
I have no doubt that I will find a solution but genuinely appreciate the input. Thank you.

I haven't been really good about getting proteins in and waiting before drinking anything. Today I decided to make some changes and see how it works.
I usually have yogurt with fruit when I wake up. This is a "slider" type food. So today I loaded up with solid proteins. I had an egg beater veggie omlette with melted string cheese (I watched Hungry Girl and she suggested using string chees in dishes because it's pre-measured and low calories). I also had 2 turkey sauages-(70 calories for 2). That was at 12:30 - I didn't drink afterwards. I am thinking that should last me until 3:30-4:30 at which time I'll have a protein shake-BUT since the shake is a liquid and not a solid protein,,,I wonder if that will give me the "Full" feeling until dinner time? My NUT said to have a shake as a snack-not as a meal replacement so that would fit in.
I'll let you know how eating solid - nonslider foods first works!

First things first-this IS a learning process so I don't know where you get off with your high than mighty attitude.
You don't know the first thing about me or the changes I have made in my lifestyle.
I am not sure if you have been banded yet or if you have lost any weight-but it is a struggle and frustrating when you are in "bandster hell." Having proper restriction with help with hunger and help "food to rub against your nerves" without that kind of restriction it isn't any different than before the band-that's why fills are important.
I do have Protein in the mornings but not solid protein-as many successful bandsters have yogurt or shakes in the mornings.
I don't know how long you have been on this forum but we offer advice without judgement and we are supportive of each other on this process. I don'tthink anyone of us expects perfection-it is definitely a learning process.
If we are were perfect at following rules we would never have been overweight in the first place. How many diets have YOU been on? How many rules have YOU broken while on them?
So get on your pedestal and if you can't offer nonjudgemental, supportive advice then don't offer any!