Alex Brecher

Sounds most unpleasant to be dehydrated to the point of being completely drained on two counts. Welcome back to being fully operational. Have you had any significant unfills before this? If so, care to share the reasons? I'm beginning to do some research regarding my band and the likelihood of keeping it. "Reputation system" has a medieval sound. It's to my benefit that it's been dropped or I might be in point debt or on the rack. I had one unfill a few years back to due reflux. I changed my lifestyle and went on meds for reflux and things got back to normal after that.

I didn't get a fill for a few years but just recently had a complete unfill when I was sick and dehydrated. I just had it filled back to normal last week. Love the adjustability factor a lot. Hope it keeps on working for me. There are many other great options if not Those #'s are from an old reputation system we used. They don't really mean much today.

13+ years and still going strong.

The adjustable gastric band, such as the LAP-BAND or Realize Band, is a band that goes around the top portion of your stomach to create a small pouch, or stoma. The pouch fills up faster than your regular stomach, so you feel full on less food. That’s how you lose weight. A lot of lap-band rumors have been swirling around, but many of them are just that: rumors. There’s a good chance that a lot of these rumors have been started by surgeons who prefer to perform gastric sleeve or gastric bypass operations. Here are five common lap-band myths, where they came from, and what the truth really is. 1. The LAP-BAND Doesn’t Work It is true that you are unlikely to lose as much weight in the first year after getting your LAP-BAND as you are in the first year after getting gastric bypass or the gastric sleeve. It also doesn’t interfere with nutrient absorption the way the gastric bypass does. However, long-term success rates are far more important, and the data on the lap-band is positive. In one study, patients lost an average of 70% of excess weight by 2 years post-op (Michaelson et al, 2013). After 5 years, another study found an average of (Ponce et al, 2014). And, after a long 15 years post-op, a different study noted an average excess weight loss of 47.1% (O’Brien et al, 2013). The lap-band works for patients who follow the prescribed diet – just like the sleeve, bypass, and other WLS options work if you eat right. 2. All Bands Are Being Removed This simply isn’t true. The band is intended to be a permanent weight control solution, and is removed only in cases where complications occur. This can usually be prevented with proper placement and adjustment, and high patient compliance. In one study, less than one out of five bands were removed in an average follow-up of 3 years (Yildiz et al, 2012). Long-term satisfaction and weight loss are very possible with the lap-band. 3. Nobody Is Putting in Bands Anymore It’s true that the surgeon closest to you may not be offering lap-bands, and you may be seeing a lot more ads for the sleeve. Still, Apollo Health reports that 245 U.S. surgeons offered LAP-BANDS last year, and 40,000 patients opted for an adjustable gastric band. If you are considering the LAP-BAND, it’s important to make sure you know where you can get it adjusted. You’ll need the initial fill a few weeks after you get your band inserted, and you may need to get it adjusted a few times over the next several weeks or months. You should also be sure you know where you would go in an emergency situation when you needed an unfill. This is good practice whether you are at home or planning a vacation. 4. The Sleeve Is the Best Procedure The “best” procedure is the one that’s right for you. That may be a different procedure than the one that’s best for someone else. The sleeve may be best for rapid weight loss, but an overwhelming majority of potential weight loss surgery patients favor the band. In fact, a study this year found that 13 times as many patients had a favorable opinion towards the band compared to the bypass (Obesity Today). These are some of the reasons why you might prefer the gastric band over other procedures. You have a lower BMI. You may want to become pregnant in the future. You do not like the idea of having your digestive tract rearranged or your stomach permanently removed. You do not want a high risk of nutritional deficiencies and the resulting health problems, such as anemia and osteoporosis. 5. The LAP-BAND Will Not Fix My Diabetes It is true that the lap-band does not have the same reputation for resolving diabetes as the gastric bypass. It also does not work as quickly, since it does not affect hormones as much. Still, it is considered to be effective. Patients who lose weight with the gastric band are likely to see improvements in diabetes, including lower blood sugar levels. They are often able to reduce their doses or stop using their diabetes medication. One study of gastric band patients found a 73% decrease in diabetes at the 2-year post-op mark, and a significant decrease in diabetes medications after 3 years, with one-third of patients going off medications. Almost one-third of patients achieved long-term resolution by 5 years post-op (Courcolas et al, 2015). The Conclusion: Do Your Homework Weight loss surgery is a big deal. It’s not just a question of whether to get it, but of which one to get. When you’re making a decision that will affect the rest of your life, it’s best to do your homework. Don’t just depend on what you may read on the internet or hear from people who may not know all the facts. Check them out, and make the decision that’s best for you. It may be the lap-band, and it may not. -- Yildiz BD, et al. 2012. Adv Clin Ex Med. Long-term efficacy of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding--retrospective analysis. O’Brien et al. “Long-Term Outcomes After Bariatric Surgery: Fifteen Year Follow-Up of Adjustable Gastric Banding and a Systematic Review of the Bariatric Surgical Literature.” January, 2013. Ponce, et al. “Efficacy and Safety of the Adjustable Gastric Band – Pooled Interim Analysis of the Apex and HERO studies at 48 weeks.” Current Medical Research and Opinion, 2014. Michelson et al. “LAP-BAND for Lower-BMI: 2-Year Results from the Multicenter Pivotal Study.” Obesity Journal, 2013. Data on File, Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. Austin, TX. Tan, Anna. Obesity News Today, July 7, 2015. Survey Reveals That While Weight Loss Surgery Still Not Common, Gastric Bands Are Most Favored Option. Courcoulas et al. “Three-Year Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery vs Lifestyle Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment.” JAMA, 2015.

A lot of WLS patients find their tastes change after WLS. Sometimes it’s too bad, like not liking healthy foods like chicken or salad anymore. Sometimes it’s a good thing, like when you don’t like greasy foods anymore. Sometimes it’s a direct result of surgery, like being intolerant to super sweet foods after gastric bypass or not liking the taste of Water anymore after the sleeve. Sometimes it’s the result of getting used to a new set of foods that you first FORCE yourself to eat, and later actually enjoy more than the junk food you used to eat. Like many lap-band patients, I didn’t notice any immediate changes in my tastes post-op, but my tastes have definitely changed in the years since surgery! Now, I like healthy foods, and don’t automatically prefer high-calorie sugary or fried foods. I like yogurt, and oatmeal, and fruit, and vegetables, and prefer unprocessed foods. What about you? Have your tastes changed since surgery? In which ways?

Online forums and even in-person support groups can help a lot with pre-op and post-op support, including advice and encouragement. But what can be even more inspiring and helpful is knowing someone in person who got the surgery and lost a lot of weight, and can walk you through everything. For me, that person was my friend. He didn’t hold my hand so much through the process, but what he did to was provide a living, breathing example that the lap-band COULD work. And it did. I knew if he could do it, I could. So I’m wondering, do you have a weight loss surgery role model, maybe a friend or family member, who inspires and helps you?

Miss_Sleeve_Bound, The liquid diet is super tough, and like the others said, humans make mistakes. You said you’re worried by the fact that you know people who were expecting “successful surgery only to find out that the surgeon scrapped the procedure cause the liver was still too fatty.” That’s definitely one reason to be on the liquid diet (although any low-calorie weight loss diet will still help with the fatty diet) and be concerned about “cheating on it.” I would worry about the longer-term concerns, though. If you’re having trouble staying on a strict diet now, do you think you will be able to stay on one post-op? The answer may be “yes” because you think the sleeve will keep you from wanting these foods, and it might. Or the answer might be “no” because some people still crave junk food and overeating after WLS, and you might fall into that category. That can be super dangerous if you go off your diet too soon after the sleeve because it can prevent healing and lead to complications, not to mention of course that long-term you wouldn’t maintain your weight loss. So it’s important to think honestly about why you can’t stay on this diet. Is it emotional eating? Then you need to figure out (possibly with professional help) why and how to avoid it. Is it for other reasons? Everyone’s different, and you need to figure out how to manage your eating challenges. You can! You got a lot of good advice here already, with finding ways to deal with stressors, avoiding emotional eating, finding alternatives to going to McD’s, and maybe even just understanding the WHY of the difficult diet you’re on so you’re more motivated. Good luck! You can do it!

Elizabeth, Thanks for this series! You gave us a lot of interesting and useful information. I’m always so intrigued by the question of whether a calorie is always a calorie. I think there’s some evidence that says it is – didn’t some researcher somewhere lose weight by eating Twinkies, just making sure to keep his calories below a certain limit? On the other hand, in terms of health, a calorie isn’t always the same – just this week, there was that study in the news about sugar. I think when they replaced some starch in kids’ diets with sugar, their health indicators like blood sugar went wacky within weeks! In terms of practical, real-life messages…you are absolutely right, and I hope people pay attention! You need to eat real foods and healthy ones. You can lose weight eating 1,000 calories of potato chips, pizza, and candy bars, but you’re not going to be able to keep that up for life. The sustainable plan is exactly what you said: healthy foods, small portions, slow eating, paying attention to hunger. Thanks very much for your great advice!

Thanks for posting that link, Inner Surfer Girl. That is interesting! What I love about eggs is how easy they are to make, plus tasty, plus healthy…not too many foods are so ideal! I like the fact that eggs provide at least a small amount of all essential nutrients (except Vitamin C) if you eat the whole egg. If you skip the yolk, you miss a bunch of Vitamins and minerals, but of course you skip the fat and a bunch of calories!

Also, what do you look for in a vegan supplement? Do you prefer pea powder? Hemp protein? All-natural flavorings? And do you find it easy to get these powders at your local supermarket, or do you go online? Thanks for your answers!

We offer variety or Sampler packs at http://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/variety-packs .

I feel myself waking up with panic attacks. Is that normal? No. I'd talk to a therapist and your surgeon about this.

We've looked at organizing conferences for our members and it's definitely something we hope to do in the future.

Alex thank you for that link but I still have the book on my kindle. I was asking if I needed to re-register to purchase from the new store. Based on what you wrote I do need to register. Have done so and placed my first order. The exact same items I use to get from another source you have for less. Would rather support you and this website. Just curious have you ever thought about getting together a conference for all those who post on your site? I know another similar site just had one but I didn't go as I have yet to have my surgery. Yup, you need to register separately for a store account. We're working on changing that, but it's going to take a few months until we have things integrated a bit better. We really appreciate your biz!! Please let us know if there are any products you'd like to order that we don't have in stock.

WOW! Amazeballs!!! You guys look awesome. Very appropriate costume ha ha haha

PM me next time you're ready to place an order and I'll send you a discount code you can use that'll save you a few $. We appreciate your business! Thank you! Are these your kiddos and is that you all the way on the right?

Yes…tons of restrictions! But first, congrats on being cleared for regular food. That sure feels and tastes good! The first thing is to listen to your body. Only try one new food at a time, and only have a little at a time, and see how your sleeve reacts. Since you have the sleeve and likely can’t eat too much at one time, the most important thing to do first is eat your Protein, like tuna, chicken, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and fat-free cheese. Then there are fruits and veggies – go for easier ones first, like cooked veggies and super ripe (soft) melon. You can add in healthy starches like oatmeal. Restrictions: of course, the foods that may have been problems in the first place…high-calorie foods like sweets and fatty foods…pizza, brownies, Pasta, chips…you may be able to have tiny amounts later on, but you’re safest not having them now. Also, even some healthy foods are a little harder to handle at the beginning. Raw veggies are tough, especially fibrous ones like asparagus. Nuts and seeds, and fruit with peel or seeds, are hard. Also, acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes may rub you the wrong way. Congrats again, and good luck! Let us know how you’re doing!

Yes! Cowgirljane, you and other WLS veterans are so relevant on BariatricPal! You are wonderful examples of how to make WLS work not just for a few months, but in the long term! You know how to get to goal weight and stay there. You know how to hang in there when things get long and boring, and you’re not seeing the pounds fly off anymore. And we need to see that it can be done, and how. And you and veterans like you can show and tell us. That said…I think there are a few things here that you hit on. One is the unfortunate fact that some veterans have lost their empathy for newbies. Maybe it’s because they forget exactly how hard the journey is. It’s hard to remember every agonizing minute when choosing a surgeon, recovering from surgery, figuring out what you can and should eat, and which pains are worth panicking over. When you’ve been living the WLS lifestyle for years, it’s normal. When you’re just starting it, you don’t know what to expect. It can also be an attitude of, “If I did it, you can. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” I think there’s also the problem that veterans can come off as overly harsh, even if they don’t intend to be. It’s easy to think something is obvious when you’ve gone through it, or to just speak quickly when you’re answering something you think is an easy question. The next problem is that these few (or many) less-than-empathetic veterans can lead to newbies grouping them into a single class: the “mean veterans.” And that’s just sad, because so many veterans, just like you, Cowgirljane, are hanging around in order to pay it forward. Another problem that I suspect is that some newbies don’t really like the answers they get. For example, “Can I eat pizza post-op?” “No.” “You’re just being mean!” Okay, maybe not quite that obvious, but in some cases, it’s pretty close. So you and the other veterans who are trying to help are very relevant. I hope you will keep posting your wisdom and keep being supportive to those who need it – there are a lot of members who do, and who appreciate it, too.

Regarding getting mad and being upset…I try hard to keep these forums civil. I want everyone to be able to express their opinions, ask questions, and disagree in a way that is not offensive to anyone. I think we can all benefit by remembering to take a few breaths before answering any post, and also to remember that what you type might not be read exactly as you meant to say it. Regarding bariatric vitamins…the ones you need to take and how much you need to take depend largely on your surgery type. Like some have mentioned, the gastric band doesn’t interfere with nutrient absorption from food, so you won’t need as many supplements with the lap-band as you would with the bypass or sleeve. The supplements you need also depend on your diet. Right after and maybe for months or years after WLS, your diet will be pretty restricted – you won’t be eating much food, and you might not be eating a huge variety. That means it’ll be hard, if not impossible, to meet your nutrient needs from food – so you need supplements! Yes, it is good to have your doctor monitor your levels for life to see which supplements you need to start or continue to take, and/or if you need to change your doses. It’s also important to remember that calcium doesn’t show up on any easy test. You can get blood calcium tests done, but they don’t show how good your calcium levels are in your bones.

Happy Halloween from BariatricPal!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Halloween! It’s a fun time and the beginning of the holiday season. We’re celebrating a lot here at BariatricPal, and we’re super excited to share it with you! Here’s what’s in this newsletter. The BariatricPal Store: Grand Opening! Your Ready for the Holidays? Thanks for your support and for making it possible for BariatricPal continue to grow. There’s no way we could do it without you. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Grand Opening of The BariatricPal Store! We are so excited to announce the grand opening of The BariatricPal Store! We know, The BariatricPal Store doesn’t fit into a Halloween newsletter because it’s anything but spooky, but we just can’t stop talking about it! That’s why we’re offering 10% off all orders with coupon code SPOOKY10 just for you! Your Source for Bariatric Protein, Meals, Snacks, and supplements Weight loss surgery changes everything, especially your diet. You need to get enough protein without too many calories; eat a nutritious diet while keeping portions in check; and get your Vitamins and minerals without fail. It can be overwhelming and time-consuming…unless you have help. The BariatricPal Store can give you the help you need. We have the protein supplements, meals, snacks, and vitamins to help you lose weight and get healthy. Protein bars, shakes, and powders. Low-calorie, high-protein snacks, Entrees and breakfasts. Bariatric vitamins and Fiber supplements. Make Weight Loss Shopping Easy We know you need the top products, and they need to be healthy, nutritionist-approved, and convenient. We have all that! We also have: Tons of BariatricPal brand products. Product packages so you can pick up a bundle at once for a discounted price. meal plans for the pre-op and post-op diets, plus maintenance and back-on-track diets, so you can easily pick up the foods you need to stay on track. Sampler packs of different items so you can try different varieties to see which you like best. Other Reasons to Shop The BariatricPal Store We truly believe we’re number one. Here are just a few more reasons why. Subscribe and Save options on every product so you can get automatic re-delivery, 5% discounts, and free shipping on each order. Lowest prices – guaranteed. Free shipping on orders over $69. Save money with sales and discounts plus our Refer-A-Friend program. For help, you can look at the FAQs, give us a call at 855 WLS-BPAL (855 957-725), or use our live chat with a customer service specialist during business hours. Visit store.bariatricpal.com often to see current specials, and check out our blog for updates on promotions and new products. We can’t wait to take this next step in helping you reach your weight loss and health goals! Your Healthy Halloween Plan Halloween is about costumes, haunted houses, and scares. Unfortunately, some of the “scares” are the ones that show up on the scale if you eat too many Halloween treats, or the “scares” that come from feeling sick from too much sugar. You don’t have to experience the bad scares this Halloween, though. The trick? Plan ahead! Here are a few things to think about as Halloween approaches. Trick-Or-Treating Almost everyone is affected by trick-or-treating. If you have kids, you’ll probably find one or several big bags of Halloween candy showing up at your home when they come back from trick-or-treating. Your best defense here is to have a healthy dinner before taking them out. Then, focus on anything other than candy – you might fix your children’s costumes, be the flashlight holder, or designate yourself as the neighborhood crossing guard to keep kids safe. If you don’t have children, you may be the one handing out candy to the neighborhood children, which probably means buying a bunch of candy to give out. If that’s the case, you’re best off choosing candy that you don’t like that much, so you’re less tempted to eat it. Again, have a healthy dinner, and focus on other things besides candy for the evening. You might work on answering the door in a scary way, or taking photos of the cute costumes you see to share with the kids’ parents tomorrow. The Aftermath No matter what happens on your weight loss surgery journey, there’s always tomorrow. After Halloween, “tomorrow” is November 1. Take inventory. See what’s in your home that shouldn’t be there. Get rid of the extra candy. If you must keep some candy in your house because of your kids, make sure it’s not tempting you. You can always ask them to hide it away in their rooms. You can also make a game out of it: have them label each piece so they and you will both know if you “steal” some. Go for a walk. There’s nothing like a walk to clear your head and get you ready to go back to healthy eating patterns. Halloween’s scary, but it shouldn’t be scary because of the weight gain. It should be scary because of the fun things you get to do. With a little planning, that’s exactly how your Halloween can be. Healthy Halloween Tips Did you know there are tons of fun things you can do to get into the Halloween spirit without touching a piece of candy? Here are a few ideas! Go for a Walk It’s true…walking is really quite a good answer to most questions. How to burn off a few extra calories before Halloween? Go for a walk. How to enjoy the Halloween decorations in your neighborhood? Go for a walk. How to let your kids show off their Halloween costumes to all the neighbors? Go for a walk. Get the point? Get moving! Volunteer That’s right. You may think that volunteering is just asking for trouble, since you may be faced with a lot of candy. In truth, it’s a chance to be surrounded by the Halloween spirit while being so busy you don’t have time to grab a treat. Volunteering at a local school, homeless shelter, or retirement home can be the perfect way to immerse yourself in Halloween. Help decorate for a party, serve treats, clean up afterwards, or help make costumes. You’ll be appreciated, and you’ll get to be a part of the holiday in a way that’s healthy for your body and soul. Make Healthy Treats It’s true…treats make Halloween so much better. But you can do better than chocolate, candy corn, and decorated Cookies and cupcakes. Here are a few ideas. Greek yogurt popsicles: Use a little sweetener and keep them white for ghosts, or add some pumpkin and cinnamon and shape them into pumpkin shapes. Then you can decorate them like jack-o-lanterns! Jack-o-lantern orange protein cups: hollow out oranges to leave the peel mostly intact. You can “carve” a face in the peel shell to make it look like a jack-o-lantern, and fill it with cottage cheese or fruit. Greek yogurt “eyes:” freeze circular spoonfuls of Greek yogurt with blueberries for eyes. A happy, safe, and healthy Halloween however you choose to Celebrate it. Don’t forget to come talk about yours on the boards at BariatricPal! See you there!

We plan on updating our iOS and Android apps shortly which should resolve these issues.

Amanda, you can access the book you purchased at http://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?app=nexus&module=clients&section=purchases&do=view&id=618 . At the moment, the Store doesn't share the same login as the site. We're working on that at the moment.

Ouch! I had no idea this many members were having issues with the website. Thanks for taking your time to let us know. We are going to troubleshoot this issue ASAP! Any and all information and details you can provide that occurs when your browser crashes would be very helpful.

Thanks for the responses! We've received quite a bit of interest in when and soy free items in our BariatricPal Store. How about vegan Protein bars and other vegan protein foods?

Sure! You can order it from us at http://www.bariatricpal.com/page/books/the_big_book_on_the_gastric_bypass.html or from the new store http://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/weight-loss-book or via Amazon.