PJ Geeser

Good Luck! I've lost almost 30lbs ( and I couldn't lose a thing on my own!) The band is the best thing I ever did, but I realize now that I was slightly delusional about what "it" would do and what "I had to do."
Anyone who thinks this is a cop out or taking the easy way has NO CLUE!! We are health warriors!

RUN, SPOT, RUN!
The phrase "sweet spot" pushes me into my swirling stream of consciousness, where I hear: Sore spot, hot spot, weak spot, sweet spot. Spot the dog.
Run, Spot, run!
That's what the bandster sweet spot does. It runs ahead of us, wagging its tail, taunting us, "When you catch me, you're gonna lose weight like never before! But first you gotta catch me!" And off it goes again, dangling that precious weight loss carrot just out of reach while we follow, huffing and puffing and worrying that we may never catch our errant Sweet Spot. What if we don't? Will our weight loss surgery be a waste of time and money?
Sweet spot. Just two words. Short words, endearing words, simple words, but loaded words. For such a little phrase, the sweet spot is a very big deal. But is it real? Is it even possible? I can think of other little phrases that are also big deals, and after several decades as a voting citizen of the United States of America, I have to wonder if they're just a dream. World peace. Cancer cure. Justice for all. Sweet spot.
THE ELUSIVE SWEET SPOT
The concept of a sweet spot was unknown to me until I shortly after my Lap-Band® surgery. It's not a term exclusive to bandsters. In tennis, baseball, or cricket, a swing will result in a more powerful hit if the ball strikes the racquet or bat on its "sweet spot". In the world of music recording, the sweet spot is the focal point between two speakers, where a listener is fully capable of hearing the stereo audio mix the way it was intended to be heard by the mixer.
In general terms (that might make more sense to those of us who are athletically or musically challenged), a sweet spot is a place where a combination of factors results in a maximum response for a given amount of effort. That's exactly what we're hoping for when we have weight loss surgery, isn't it? After years of useless struggle and unsuccessful dieting, we want to expend the least possible effort for maximum weight loss results.
Unfortunately, there's a trick phrase hidden in the paragraph above: a given amount of effort. It's not “no effort”. A given amount of effort…but an undefined amount. How much effort? How long, how often? Does making the sweet spot work for us take an hour a month, a week, a day?
In Bandwagon, I wrote that the sweet spot is a myth that does bandsters a great disservice because it's a mistake to think of restriction as a single point (or sweet spot) on a line. Let's pretend that you've found your sweet spot. It looks like the diagram above. Can you balance on it indefinitely, like the green triangle poised on one precarious corner? I couldn't. All it would take to knock me off that little spot is a strong breeze, and if I had to devote all my attention to keeping my balance, I wouldn’t be able to make good use of the imperfect but quite useful areas to the left and right of my sweet spot.
It’s more useful (and balanced) to think of restriction as a range, not a single point, with the sub-optimal yellow zone (not enough restriction) to the left and the sub-optimal red zone (too much restriction) to the right. According to Allergan, the band's optimal performance is in the middle “green zone,” where to greater or lesser degrees you experience early and prolonged satiety and reduced appetite and hunger.
Now let’s try thinking of restriction as a river or stream that flows along, sometimes slowly, sometimes fast, and sometimes it's quite still. If you try to catch that river Water in your hands, crying, "This is it! My sweet spot!" the water will run through your fingers. If you step into the stream, your restriction is with you all the time, sometimes optimal, sometimes sub-optimal, but always there.
DOWNSTREAM WITH JEAN
Does my stream analogy sound too much like something Yoda would tell Luke Skywalker? I'll climb out of the stream now, shake off the water, and tell you about my own "sweet spot" experience.
The #1 thing I want you to know is that you can lose weight without ever catching hold of your sweet spot. I lost 100% of my excess weight (90 pounds) in my first year post-op, with far less restriction than I had later on. Except at the very beginning, when everything about banded life was a mystery to me (including the Green Zone poster at my surgeon's office), I didn't have a lot of anxiety about whether or not I'd found my sweet spot because I was losing weight without even knowing what my sweet spot looked like. I didn't have to starve myself or take diet pills or any of my rarely effective pre-op weight loss techniques. My band was most definitely helping me even though sometimes I felt as if I didn't have a band at all. As time went on, I sometimes took my band for granted, and only when I had to have unfills to treat symptoms of careless eating or overeating did I realize how much my band had in fact been doing for me. After each unfill, my appetite and my physical hunger immediately increased, which both scared and pleased me. As in many things, it was a matter of perspective. One day I whined about getting hungry 3 hours after eating and being able to eat 1 cup of food. The next day (after the unfill) I whined because I got hungry 1 hour after eating and was able to eat 2 cups of food. There's a popular saying that claims you never appreciate what you have until it's gone, and that's certainly true for me.
Hearing my story, you might want to argue that before those unfills, I had reached my sweet spot and just didn't know it. That's entirely possible. After all, how would I know what the weight loss sweet spot looked or felt like? I'd never been there, never held it in my hot little hands - I probably wouldn't recognize it any more than I'd recognize the mayor of Kansas City or the invisible line where the Eastern time zone ends and the Central time zone begins.
Of course, one of the reasons we choose WLS is to make losing weight easier. When people criticize WLS patients for "taking the easy way out", I want to laugh and then scream. Of course I chose the easier way, that's the whole danged point! But at the same time, it's not as easy as you might imagine. It's not magic! Losing weight "the hard way" hadn't worked for me, so it wasn't unreasonable of me to want my band to work perfectly right from the start. If it didn't work that way, I really can't complain (much). After all, I didn't learn how to ride a bike, multiply 9 x 7, or play the piano on my first try either. And if I'm completely honest, I'm not sure I would have been able to handle it if I arrived at my so-called sweet spot the day after my surgery or even after my first fill. One of the reasons most surgeons administer fills in small amounts over a period of weeks or months is so the patient can gradually become accustomed to the change in their body and eating, and thereby avoid unpleasant side effects and complications. If I had walked out of the hospital on September 20, 2007 with as much restriction as I had 3 years later, and with virtually no practice of band eating skills, I would've been calling my surgeon the next day, crying, "Take this thing out of me!"
Since I'm an extremely stubborn person, I needed plenty of time to adjust to everything going on in my life after surgery. In the year it took me to reach my weight goal, I learned perhaps 50% of what I needed to know to manage my weight for the rest of my life. I hadn't once heard the Sweet Spot bells chiming, but I was mighty happy with myself and my band. I had changed a lot, in my mind, heart and body. Just standing in that river of restriction, going with the flow, was such an enormous improvement over my pre-op life, all I could feel was gratitude.

I am 5 months out and it is hell yet...only lost 35 lbs as of now which am thankful for.
It is all will power yet but hoping my next fill will do something. I do think it is better since my last fill but not there yet. Am satisfied longer...eat well...but still have no loss to speak of. It seems the less I eat...I actually gain? I have had no problems what so ever...thank god...but it also is not what I envisioned it to be and do either despite all the research I did the whole year prior to surgery. Would I take it back?....no...cause I really dont know its there and have lost some weight due to pure will power and am hoping I am just one of the slow ones to find that "sweet spot". I guess I dont really know what I am going to feel yet at this point as nothing has changed for me personally since the band but am very hopeful it is going to do something soon.
In the mean time...I do what everyone on here says...hang with it and it will pay off and to be patient. I am scared too that I am "one" that is just wont work for. I am following drs. orders very well in fact probably not eating enuf if anything. I am determined to stay the course. I am finding it hard pressed if I will even hit 60 lbs my first year at this rate....only 9 lbs since xmas which is so discouraging but it is something despite being a small amt.
Research, research, and research some more and get as much information as you can to understand how it really works. It is very hard and yes a "diet the rest of your life" no matter what anyone says.
Best wishes to us all as we are all striving for the same thing...to be healthier

Wow! You look great ! Thanks for posting!

you go girl...you have a great attitude and you look fantastic.
Strut your stuff in front of her and kill her with kindness

Okay so I returned back to work today and found that one of my co-workers was saying really nasty things about me because she failed her Lap-Band 3 Years Ago and I Look Great!!
I Heard she said that some really Nasty Things about me and my weight Loss, I Stopped for a Second and figured what should I do?
Should I be Mad, Upset, Angry, Then I stopped and went to the bathroom to gather my emotions and I looked in the mirror and smiled!!!
It Hit Me!!! I Look so Good!! Why Not Talk About Me!!! I Hope she does it some more tomorrow, beI realized that I am a Topic and I Love When People Talk About Me!!! Keep Talking!!! I Look Good!!!!!! Laughing, Smiling!!!

OMGosh...that is fantastic. Congrats to you and thank you for the advice you have given me...I appreciate all you share on here daily. I hope your hospital stay is not serious and yes..would love to see pictures when you can. Keep up the great work.

Sounds to my like you may be too tight and in doing so have changed your eating habits to adjust for the band tightening..hence the softer foods...chili, mac and cheese, grilled cheese all which wouldnt shouldnt be eaten often. If you cant get down any of the real meats, such as chicken, hamburger, pork or steak which should be your first thing you eat which makes you feel satisfied the quickest and sticks with you the longest. I just had this very talk with my dr on my last appt because I "think" i need another fill and she is not so sure to do one as she thinks I am getting close where as I dont think I am close at all to the "sweet spot".
Just something to think about and ask your dr about it when you go next ...good luck to you.
I am surely not one to give advice and I admit it as i am still learning alot about how this band works...just wanted to pass on my conversation as it may help you out to know a different angle.

so jealous .......but happy for you. I was a week earlier than you and am just at 38 lbs.....bummer but am happy for any loss. YOu are doing fantastic...keep up what ever you are doing and share it with me....LOL
Wishing you continued success

My wife isn't very supportive I think she's tied alot of her identity to being the physically active one in our relationship.
I think she's also afraid that if I'm physically attractive (since I'm already have such a captivating mind and irascible charm dwarfed only by my modesty) I won't be able to resist the waves of women she imagines throwing themselves at me.

Wow good job. I get banded 2/21 and if I can lose 50 in 4 months I will be ecstatic!!
Keep up the good work you look great!

he wanted me to "aggressively move to solids" yeah i thought i was supposed to be on mushy stuff for the second week atleast. i went straght from liquids the first week to solids. they didnt want me having any liquid calories after a week. including yogurt!! i've been fine no real pain or anything i dont think anything has gotten stuck. no puking or anything either.
my diet is meats cheeses nuts peanutbutter ect. not supposed to really eat fruits or veggies cuz of the carbs.. idk he doesnt give great detailed instructions and i'm a shy person especially when it comes to talking to drs. so i feel kinna lacking in instructions. i mean hes good hes been doing this for 11 or so years and has awards and several practices, i just feel like i'm the only one on here on this diet.

yep...me too. I had everything required done right away and had to just wait for the 6 months to pass...time went so slow.
I agree with Maddy....READ UP and learn as much as you possibly can. I would suggest waiting to go the dietician closer to surgery time so all is fresh in your mind. These forums are very helpful too.
It is not easy and still is not. I am a fresh bandster yet...not yet 3 months and the weightloss is very very slow. While I am happy with the 32 lbs I have lost...it is slow and I am hungry all the time...YET anyway. hoping some help when my next fill comes around. I knew this was going to be hard but I guess I was picturing it would be different than it is and was also expecting some help from the band by this time which as of yet I have none what so ever... but it will come...hopefully soon!
Good Luck to you...time will go faster than you think!

Surgury date June 18th 2012, as of 1/11/13 I was officially at 80 pounds lost. Yesterday I took pictures because I was having trouble seeing any difference in myself lately, and taking those pictures completely made my week. I went into them thinking there wouldn't be much of a difference between my 50 pound pictures and these, but I was shocked at how wrong I was. It really put the confidence back in me and it makes me want to work even harder!
     

definitely the drinking for me also. I can drink until i have my meal. that does help me.

Ive had 2 fills so far and have noticed not one thing yet. Now I know it will come eventually but so far still willpower and it is hard every day but determined to stay the course god willing . I havent done as well as most...I mean I am doing all I am supposed to and eating the right amts but just not the fast results like some on here are experiencing. I am happy I have had a 30 lb loss so far but still I myself was hoping for more by this time (surgery 10-22-12). My dr is very pleased in fact didnt really want to give me a fill on 1-2-13 but told him I was so hungry all the time.
We are all different but still cant help but get frustrated when you read someone who has had surgery 4 weeks ago and has lost more weight in less than half the time?!! But it is what it is and we are all different. Hoping for the next fill to do a little something

I'm so sorry you're going through all this.
I think the best place to start is to start over. See your surgeon, have them check your band, and make sure everything is in order. Next, see a nutritionist, one that specializes in bariatric patients. A good nutritionist is just as key to successful weight loss as a good surgeon is because they will help you establish food guidelines that fit your specific lifestyle.
The beauty of the band is the fact you can start over. It's an amazing tool but you have to use it correctly for it to work. I kinda like to compare it to a carpenter. When he has a screw tightened, he uses a screw driver. This works well but if he needs a nail hammered in and tries to use the screw driver, it doesn't work at all. The same thing happens with our tool, the band, if we don't use correctly.
This is a great link for re-educating yourself as to what to expect from your band: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html
You should hang around these forums more- you'll get a lot of support here.
Best wishes to you.

FOREVER....WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FRAME AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED

50 lbs is 50 lbs. That is something to be proud of. Was this person alot heavier than you????duh...the heavier you are..the faster is seems to come off. Everyone loses at different rates...you cant compare ( I need to take my own words to heart) your weight loss to anyone elses. Im thinking you may need to mention this to this person how hurtful the comments are and the fact that she shouldnt compare the 2 of you. Keep up what you are doing and dont mind what others say. You are doing fabulous!

yes...THE SAME.
Did well for one week losing 11 lbs and then over the next 4 weeks..only 5 lbs. Had a fill Friday...cant really tell much difference. I will say i stay full a little longer but thats if.
yes...irritated kind of..was so hoping for more. I have not cheated...eat my cup of food and thats it.

50 lbs is 50 lbs. That is something to be proud of. Was this person alot heavier than you????duh...the heavier you are..the faster is seems to come off. Everyone loses at different rates...you cant compare ( I need to take my own words to heart) your weight loss to anyone elses. Im thinking you may need to mention this to this person how hurtful the comments are and the fact that she shouldnt compare the 2 of you. Keep up what you are doing and dont mind what others say. You are doing fabulous!

Dont feel guilty. Think about it as helping yourself first so you can help your daughter next?!

Dont feel guilty. Think about it as helping yourself first so you can help your daughter next?!

Me too...Paula Geistfeld @ prgeeser@redred.com
Awesome list...making me hungry now
Thanks