♕ajtexas♕

My nutritionist likes to say there are no "bad" foods, just foods you shouldn't eat as often as others. I tend to agree. I also like to look at this as a lifestyle change and not a diet- I do track calories as well, but just so I know I'm getting enough Protein and sticking to lower calorie.
I was also told to have some calorie wiggle room, such as 1000-1200 a day instead of a set number like 1000. Some days you are physically hungrier and need more food than others. Yesterday I was physically experiencing the painful hunger pains even though I had already eaten dinner. I chose to have a yogurt and my hunger was gone.

Mis73 I couldn't agree more.
Remember Protein first!

The complication forums are under forums someplace? Yes, many have had complications. More have not. Just be aware that most bandsters never come here to post on this forum. Some bandsters have legitimate reasons to complain about their band but mostly I've seen that the majority of complaints come from people who could not follow the guidelines. And the guidelines are fairly easy. But remember, we're all fat or X-fat for a reason. We like to eat don't we?
"Does it help u not over eat like it says it does"
I believe you're asking if the band will stop you from eating toomuch? Actually no. That will still be up to you. If you follow the rules, the band helps you to feel satiated(full, satisfied) much sooner. There are some who eat around the band. That means that there are some foods that pass through the band just as they did in your stomach prior to banding. Ice cream, Soups, chips, quacamole, shakes, hamburger helper type meals, many italian dishes and anything loaded with sauce.
You can ramp up the band so that very little food can pass through the band. This is toomuch restriction for most and is not advised. Don't expect instant results. It may take several months to get to the point where you are losing weight. And with the band it's slower. Maybe 3-6 lbs a month avg.
My BMI was around 37 and I too was an overeater. I always wanted to feel like I've eaten a Thanksgiving dinner. I ate the wrong foods but I never really binged. I wasn't hung up on cola's, candy, cake. I just always ate toomuch. I love my band. But I went into this with rose colored glasses and I see so many others do the same. They post here every day. Keep reading and asking questions.
tmf

Are you tracking your food? I wasn't losing then I started tracking my food on myfitnesspal.com and started loosing. Probably because what I was eating was there in black and white. It got me making better choices. More Protein, less carbs. My user name on myfitnesspal is ajtexas0 if you want a friend.

Anyone who can only consume 4-5 bites per meal is experiencing a temporary phase of being overly tight. Most bandsters will outgrow this phase or return to their doctor for an unfill.
I've also seen where some people only consume 500 calories a day. Let me say that although we can survive on such a small amount of food it's not recommended and I doubt those folks keep that slow pace up for months on end. Also, I think some people underestimate how much they consume and are simply unaware of how many calories they are actually consuming.
And even though we sometimes can only eat 4-5 bites of food, we almost always can drink or eat slider foods well in excess of 4-5 bites.
tmf

Oh, need2lose2.......how awful is that? I had a similar experience except it was the first time anything like that had happened to me and I had no idea what was about to happen......so I just threw up in front of everyone sitting around me in the restaurant....on Mother's Day! It was awful......lol I went to see a movie last Saturday night and everyone in my party was eating popcorn and one of my friends asked me if I wanted some and I said "No thank you. I haven't tried popcorn yet and I'm sure not going to try it in public!" She laughed and agreed with me but said she felt bad sitting there snarfing it all down and I just said "It smells heavenly, but you would be surprised how much of a detterent public vomiting is." Then she really laughed.....put her arm around me and hugged me. I definitely go for the soft foods and just figure I will drink a Protein Shake when I get home or make up for it the next day.

My husband is my biggest cheerleader. I will say that our sex life is improving greatly.....50 pounds lighter makes a big difference. I was big when we met and he has always said that he loves everything about me, not just the physical appearance. I could not of done this without his support and I know he will be beside me all the way.

I make an egg cassarole of egg/egg whites, turkey bacon, low fat cheese and pour into a muffin tin, bake it and then I freeze them. Grab, zap in micro and go.

My husband is my biggest cheerleader. I will say that our sex life is improving greatly.....50 pounds lighter makes a big difference. I was big when we met and he has always said that he loves everything about me, not just the physical appearance. I could not of done this without his support and I know he will be beside me all the way.

Thank you for sharing the information and your experience with band erosion...I've never read any posts to discount the reality of that situation. It's information which may be helpful to others...

There are so many "if's" in the series of events you describe that you did not convey. At what point did you first notify your surgeon that you were having the complications you listed? Were you ignored, or did you make efforts to "tough it out" in the hope that the situation would improve or resolve? Did you not believe that something serious was wrong when you returned to a liquid diet?

My concern is that we all go into this surgery with the understanding that there are risks...both in the surgical process and the history which follows on. Your surgeon is limited in the scope of what they can do to assist a patient if there is no communication. Was your surgeon affiliated with a "Center for Excellence"? Centers of Excellence have a history of positive outcomes; they stress patient education and encourage communication 24/7 if the patient experiences anything which they have a concern about. Did you not have that type of support post op?

I'm truly sorry you have had to endure this painful series of events...and I also understand that we are all unique individuals. No two of us will have identical experiences.

For every individual who has a negative experience, there will be many more who will not have to cope with band erosion. And though I also have a high tolerance for pain, I know myself well enough to recognize the difference between something that is a dip in the road versus a real problem. Toughing things out, especially when one is deteriorating and in genuine distress is not a good choice.

Yes, I have had some complications with my band, and so far have been hospitalized 2 times since my surgery. I have also maintained a dialogue with my surgeon's office and my PCP. I have an appointment for a surgical consult on Monday...for a situation which is band related. I would never have allowed my situation to deteriorate to the degree which you describe.

I'm not trying to be, as you phrased it "snarky"... but this is an open forum for sharing information and emotional support among individuals who have chosen or are contemplating band surgery. The information you shared does have merit, but it is your individual situation, unique to you as an individual and the choices you made, or did not make along the way.
I hope that others can recognize that, and continue to be informed consumers as they make their own decisions about what is the right direction for them to choose.

Best wishes...

The issue w/ meat can be potentially resolved by dipping it in a light ranch dressing 1st. What you'll find in the months after, when you're not as restricted as the wks after surgery, is that your band will tell you what works for you. They say avoid broccoli, but if steamed soft enough it can be ok. Depends on the person. Everyone is different. They say no drinking at meals, some do (successful ppl), but it can fill you up & you need "nutritional calories". Its up to you. The fail rate, I believe, is folks not wrapping their minds around how "mental" this process is. So much is in our heads, why we eat, how much, what we choose, under what circumstances... If you don't face that stuff, you may lose, but you'll gain it back. What I love about my band is it gives me consequences when I don't chew well enough. It tells me when I've eaten too much and provides consequences for that as well. Sure, if I don't adapt my stomach could stretch, but I do make the change. I love my band. It is helping me a lot. Good luck to those of you preparing!

There is so much information out there about living with the lapband and some of it is contradictory. Take advantage of the advice you will get on here but remember that your medical team should be your primary source of information.
With that disclaimer in place....

Eat slowly
Chew lots
Take very small bites
Follow your doctor's dietary rules both pre-op and post-op. They are there for a reason
Just because you can eat something, (anything, everything!) doesn't mean that you should
Experiment to learn what foods you can tolerate. It is different for everyone. For me, I can't eat red meats and most breads.
Plan to exercise. Not only will it aid your weight loss, it also becomes fun!
Have a real life champion. My husband is my biggest cheer leader and my hero. Without him by my side, on my side, I doubt I could have been as successful as I have.
Plan on making this a lifelong journey. It's not an overnight fix.
It's not always easy but it is definitely worth it.
Look out for, enjoy and Celebrate NSVs (Non-scale Victories)
Stay in touch with your medical team. Follow up visits are a major key to your long term success.

Good luck!

If this was the "easy way out" i wouldnt still have 80 lbs to lose 4 yrs out. Its a tool not a quick fix!
As for any decision you make in life there will always be haters.This isnt for them its for you. So follow your instinct and not thier opinion.
For me personally id be lookin for a new bf just sayin...

This boyfriend of yours had better have some other amazing qualities going for him because this whole "I can fix you" routine is nothing but controlling and insecure behavior on his part. How dare he or anyone else call you lazy !! You are doing something extremely brave that requires hard work and commitment that no "lazy" person could even comprehend. Do not let your boyfriend or anyone else keep you from taking care of yourself.
Taking steps to take care of yourself will empower you to not depend on your boyfriend or anyone else to define your worth. I'm pretty sure that's what he is so insecure about. He's also afraid that as you begin to look and feel better you will also be looking good to other guys. Again with the insecurity. Just make sure you do what's best for you, because I can tell you, boyfriend aint gonna. Just telling it like I see it.