kromi

@@Red bird What a great question.
"Restriction" that everyone talks about is really a misnomer. Since it is not restriction we are looking for at all. We are looking for a feeling of satiation. The word restriction was being used by medical professionals to describe the amount of time it would take for food particles to pass through the stoma where the band is placed and into the lower chamber of the stomach when the band was first being used. Many Dr.'s will still refer to this with their patients but the best word to use is satiation.
You want to feel satisfied when you eat. Not restricted.
To expand on this feeling of "restriction" or satiation the feeling you are looking for is that proverbial "green zone" or "sweet spot" you will also see around the boards for lapband. It is the place or point of fill that you reach in your band where you are satisfied with a small amount of food and no longer hungry and your hunger is kept at bay for 3-4 hours before returning. When you hit this point you have reached that "green zone" "sweet spot" and/or "restriction" level that you are looking for.
How does it feel...well the reason I say that is different for everyone is that some like to have that band pretty tight, and they chose to eat only very tiny amounts of very soft food. They would never think of eating a steak, or a well cooked piece of pork. They would stick closer to what for me would be slider foods, like eggs, and flaky fishes.
Then there are those who chose to keep the band loose and Portion Control their meals, they eat their portion and this satisfies them and they are done. They don't feel any push back from their band, and they don't need to. It works for them because they are not hungry.
Then there are those who have a mid-line amount of fill, where the band is there they eat some solid foods like chicken, hamburger, fish or just about anything solid and the band is stimulated by the chewing and swallowing and after a small portion it signals to the brain that enough has been eaten and you are no longer hungry.
So yes that level of restriction can vary for everyone, and you may bounce around the fill levels a bit until you find that spot that is just right for you.

At the risk of sounding a bit brash...f**k your "friend". She sounds as if she's dealing with her own "fat acceptance" issues. You don't need those kind of people in your life. She's selfish. She created a whole blog post about YOUR surgery and made it about HER feelings. She doesn't care about you. She was never a friend. Cut that dead weight loose now. You'll feel much lighter when you do.

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Good day to everyone!
In two and a half years of being on this amazing site (thank you @@Alex Brecher), this is my first post in Rants and Raves. And it really isn't a rant or a rave. It's more of a request. I recently read a post that essentially said "Tell me your WLS story from pre-op to goal weight." Really?
There are so many knowledgeable and caring folks on this site. We are so anxious to help others who are facing many of the same challenges we have faced. We want to share our experiences and offer suggestions and support and encouragement. We really do! And we really have a lot to offer. But we can't do that unless you do your part. So here are a few ideas to help us help you.
Avoid impossibly broad questions (like the example above). Most of us don't have to the time to type it. And you probably don't have the time to read it. Ask any question you want - but be as specific as possible. What have you tried to solve the problem or concern? What was the result? Have you discussed it with your doctor/nutritionist/physician's assistant? If yes, what was their response or suggestion? You gain nothing from well-meaning suggestions that you've already tried and that failed to address the concern. Please, at the very least, complete the surgery type in your profile. Members of the forum can see that information whenever you post. The answers to some questions are surgery specific. Knowing the surgery you had or are planning to have allows other members to judge if they have the experience needed to answer your question in the context of the surgery you've had or are planning. If you're post-op, completing surgery date, starting weight and current weight in your profile is invaluable. I recently read a thread where the member was very frustrated with his/her results. Another member noted in their response that his/her weight loss to date was truly excellent. There simply was no cause for concern! Post your questions or ideas to the correct forum. One of the great strengths of Bariatric Pal is the availability of forums for virtually every aspect of the WLS journey. It only takes a minute or two to select the best option. You'll be rewarded with more responses and responses that are more focused on your specific question. Always acknowledge responses to your question. In many cases a simple "Thanks so much!" is fine. Failure to acknowledge other's attempts to help you succeed is inexcusable. Familiarize yourself with the Search function on the forum and use it. We get it - every single one of us was new to WLS at some point. But many questions have been answered dozens, if not hundreds of times. A quick search for one or two keywords will return a virtual library of responses on many, many topics. You'll get tons of answers from many different perspectives. You'll be amazed at how much and how quickly you can learn from the experience of other members. If you don't find the answer to your question, type away! You guys have a great day and always remember - you're gonna love the new you!!

Shame on your doctor for not explaining this process thoroughly. You should go back to him/her and have a detailed conversation regarding how to optimize the band in order for you to be successful. Your questions are concerning considering you are banded two years. Please let us know how you fared when you see the doctor.

Yeah, we need more info?
Daily diet routine? What are you eating? Slider foods? Stuck episodes?
Do you track calories?
Do you have any restriction and how many fills?
How many times to your surgeon?
Nutritionist?
Who and where is your surgeon? Mexico, U.S. Abroad?
Have you ever lost any weight?
Can you eat anything? Does your band dictate what foods it likes or dislikes?
tmf

I'm several months out from Lapband removal surgery now and realizing that I've been grieving the loss of my tool. To see my history, just read some of my activity over the last few months on here.
1. Denial and Isolation: in the months leading up to my removal surgery I struggled between being ready to give up my tool because it was causing me so much pain, anxiety and fear and trying desperately to keep my tool because I was unwilling to risk regaining the weight I'd worked so hard to lose. I stayed away from surgery forums, for the most part...I couldn't read about others doing great, struggling, being overjoyed at approval without feeling like I'd just been a fool for thinking I'd ever attain a BMI under 30, my realistic goal. I was undergoing test after test trying to understand what was going on inside my body. I felt like crap at the lowest weight I'd seen in over 15 years. I felt cheated out of the chance to enjoy the smaller clothes, but I desperately wanted the doctors to tell me the band was ok, it was easy to fix whatever was wrong or that I could revise.
After removal, I was overjoyed at being able to eat again, not bring up absolutely everything that went down. In the first 3 months, I gained 3 lb, no biggie. I felt good, normal again. I was in denial about regain.
2. Anger and Depression: a few months ago, the regain started in earnest. I had always suffered from depression in the fall my entire adult life. Relocation to the northwest doesn't help that. With my band I didn't worry about my fall depression, it was still there, but with my tool, the eating was under control, I was in control. I used a blue light and it helped. This last fall, I felt like my emotional world was crashing down and the pounds were piling on...25 of them. I was totally pi**ed off! I've lost my tool, I can't revise, my surgeon f'd up my band by placing it too high...I felt angry, betrayed and miserable. I was so angry I'd allowed myself to become emotionally vulnerable and feel more normal. I coped with obesity by compartmentalizing my emotions...the self loathing, blaming, excusing had been gone. I'd allowed myself to let go of that part of my psyche, set it free...now it's back.
3. Bargaining: as Fall turned to Winter and Winter to spring, I devised different plans to deal with my regain. No carbs, low carbs, DASH diet, blood type diet, no diet, etc. I'm struggling in every sense of the word, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I'm so disappointed in myself, I feel stupid for not recognizing my symptoms for what they were earlier, despite my surgeon and PA telling me everything was fine. Every morning and night when I take my meds (8 total, 2 new) I tell myself I'm going to get control, lose what I regained and follow my wls eating plan. I've done great some days, most days...eating 1200-1400 calories, getting a bit of walking in (I'm disabled, so this is limited), logging my food, etc...still I gain. I'm out of options, but I keep thinking maybe I can still revise...my husband has been so supportive, but he's scared I will try to revise. My bargaining days are over...
Acceptance: I'm still struggling, but I'm becoming more resolved to find a long term solution for my problem. I've lost a lot of time on this endeavor. I've got to figure out how to make it meaningful, not a waste of time and resources. I'm going to see a naturopathic physician and I'm considering counseling too. I've got to get a handle on the situation, because in 6 months, it's going to be the dark season again...wish me luck!!

Weight loss surgery is difficult, to say the least. The operation takes place after years or a lifetime of being obese and after months of research and preparation. Recovery can be anywhere from “not too bad” to riddled with complications. Nearly every aspect of your lifestyle changes, from your diet to the way you look to your relationships to your mental state. The entire experience is long and challenging, no matter how rewarding.


BariatricPal recognizes the challenges of being in the weight loss surgery community. You need every bit of support and information you can get to choose the best surgery for yourself, prepare for surgery, lose weight, and get healthy for the long term. The peer-to-peer support that BariatricPal members provide can be among the most powerful tools you have to help you achieve your goals. So please, help build the community up instead of tearing it down.
Potential for a Powerful, Unified Community
Our weight loss surgery communities began as WLSBoards, with four separate forums: LapBandTalk, VerticalSleeveTalk, RNYTalk, and SleevePlicationTalk. Each forum was dedicated to a single type of weight loss surgery. Members could discuss surgeons, diets, complications, and anything else related to weight loss surgery in general or the specific type of weight loss surgery in particular.
Then we merged the four WLSBoards to create BariatricPal, which is geared toward all types of weight loss surgery. This decision was based on the following beliefs.
We are all in this together. We have the same goal of fighting obesity through weight loss surgery.
The surgery types share many common characteristics and BariatricPal members can therefore benefit from having more input on topics such as the post-surgery diet progression, choosing a surgeon, ways to get more Protein, and dealing with head hunger.
As a single community, we have greater potential to be a unified and strong voice for weight loss surgery than we did as separate communities.
Some topics are surgery-specific, and there is a need for surgery-specific subforums for certain topics such as fills for lap-band patients, experience with Protein Shakes for sleeve patients who may not be able to eat enough on a regular basis, and dumping syndrome for gastric bypass patients.

Has BariatricPal Become a Divisive Arena?
Unfortunately, BariatricPal members have had some regrettable experiences that contradict these principles. Rather than being supported, encouraged, and assisted, some members have felt attacked or belittled by other members who do not believe in their choices, whether in regards to type of surgery, food choices, or other lifestyle choices. Rude behavior, while unacceptable in any circumstance, is especially damaging in our community.
It weakens our collective voice.
It prevents some weight loss surgery patients and potential patients from getting the information they need.
It discourages WLS patients from pursuing their healthy lifestyles.

Avoid Destructive Posts
Most BariatricPal members are polite, helpful, and encourage. Occasionally, though, members post inappropriate and potentially hurtful posts that put down one type of weight loss surgery or another individual’s choice. In general, a poor post is one that makes a person feel bad and does not offer any useful information. These are examples of unacceptable posts.
“I didn’t even know they offered the lap-band surgery anymore because it’s so dangerous.”
“Weight loss is easy with the gastric bypass surgery. The rest of us have to work harder.”
“You shouldn’t be asking if you can eat that. If you even are thinking about it, you shouldn’t have gotten WLS.”

It’s okay to offer your opinion, but do it kindly. If you’re not sure if your post is okay, think about it before your post. The rule of thumb is to always err on the side of caution. Think how you would act if you were face-to-face with a good friend who had an opinion with which you disagree. You would listen to his or her position, then acknowledge the reasoning for that opinion. Then you would state your opinion and explain why you feel that way. Remember that feelings are harder to convey in written online conversations, and gentle words of advice can be interpreted harshly.
What We Have to Gain (or Lose)
When we all support each other, regardless of type of weight loss surgery, we have a lot to gain.
Positive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, so those who need it feel comfortable to come and ask questions
Unbelievable wealth of experience and knowledge…among people who are kind enough to share it
A place where open discussions can lead to brainstorming and generation of ideas and strategies for success
A sense of pride that we are all here, with the same goal through the same means. Let us celebrate!

When rudeness and disrespect take over, we have just as much to lose. Just think about what would happen if you had a question, asked it, and got told that your question is dumb or that you are doing something wrong in your weight loss journey. Maybe you would leave BariatricPal or, worse, you would be afraid to ask your question anywhere else because you didn’t feel comfortable anymore. Nobody deserves to be treated like that.
Take a moment when you are on BariatricPal to appreciate the warm community, and think about what it means to you. The next time you post, ask yourself: are you helping to build a stronger weight loss surgery community, or are you tearing it down?

Here in NYC, the local PBS station is showing a documentary on Independent Lens called 'All of Me: A story of Love, loss, and Last Resorts'. it's about two longtime friends facing the impact of WLS on their lives.
Unlike those 600 lb. life shows on TLC, this is PBS and likely not exploitive. I'm going to watch tonight. I just thought some of you might also be interested.

You've made a big mistake by not following up with your surgeon. Then again, I don't know your surgeon and maybe you never got the support you needed?
I know going back just 3 years ago surgeons were selling the band as a tool that would stop us from eating less, but that's not what it does. It can help us to feel satisfied with less food. Unfortunately, about 34% of people who are banded never hear, see or feel that satiety signal and continue to eat beyond any signal and make mistakes such as eating too big and too fast.
The band was oversold, imo.
But, if you want it to work, you'll have to follow up with your doctor and bite the bullet for making a few trips. Or, have it removed? Here's a survey taken that addresses patient follow up success ratios.
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/300825-washington-state-survey-fyi/

I think sometimes they get tired of those that get the lap band but are not prepared to follow the steps to make sure it works and they are constantly having to work with them more, than someone who is following and loosing.

Love the term "foodgasm"

Thank you all so very much. I had my lap band put in yesterday.
Had I not found this forum, and had so much friendly and ACURATE advice, I would have been lost.
I knew what to expect, I had a good idea of how I would feel, I know lots more about taking care of myself, I know that I belong to a community, and I know that this surgery was absolutely right for me.
You give in great ways - by offering words of comfort, by advice (which often times is call the doctor), by support.
Truly I'm grateful
Thanks

Sleeve, Band, Bypass...OH MY!! Seriously can't we all just get along? Who cares about what surgery? Support me and I sure as hell will support you and I don't care what surgery you had. Questions is what you chose...is IT working for you?

In an ever increasing lower income environment for all physicians who are being squeezed by Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare and of course Insurance companies, the phrase "follow the money" is appropriate. Lab Bands are profitable but not as profitable as other surgical techniques. Aftercare with the band can be a heavy financial burden on those physicians who don't charge an arm and leg for it.
It's understandable that patients will be steered into more profitable and of course, more effective surgeries now and in the future. The band is a complicated physical and mental procedure and more scrutiny should be applied to candidates who seek this solution.
However, it is a viable and effective tool for most who undergo GB as are the sleeve and Bypass.
tmf

This keeps happening. I'm so glad it was LB Talk I found last summer when I was doing my research. If it had been Bariatric Pal back then with all this kind of strife I would have fled and then missed the benefit of all those who have helped me figure out my new banded life. I'm happy for those who choose the sleeve. I think we have more in common than not and I enjoy comparing notes with others in the WLS community about exercise, etc. Not about the band, though, not unless you have one. I am concerned about a trend in putting out information about one surgery being better than another to all the desperate people who are coming here to find help.

I don't want to get into a pissing match, but what TMF is saying is spot on! When you posted this what kind of response did you expect to get? You have to realize this is a shared support forum for all WLS, so when you go bashing one over the other, that's what's uncalled for and you have to expect people are going to speak up.
We're all here to support one another regardless of what surgery we chose, we ALL came from the same place, OBESITY. What works for you is great, but that doesn't mean it's the right decision for EVERYONE. You're giving newbies or those thinking about surgery a bias opionion and yes that's all it is an opinion and you know what they say about those! I'm not going to defend my surgery and/or bash other surgeries, There's no need for that, if people want to research for answers let them, let them go through this site and research the results of band vs. sleeve vs. by-pass the results are all here for everyone to see and they can make their own assumptions/decisions.

You know that you will never hit your goal weight if you intentionally try to cheat on your diet by sneaking bites or deciding not to log certain foods. But what if you think you are doing everything right and are still not losing the weight you expect? Hidden calories may be to blame. Figure out the sources of hidden calories in your diet, and you just may have a weight loss breakthrough!


Overeating is Possible after WLS

You got WLS so that you could lose weight, but it is important to remember that WLS is only a tool. To lose weight, you need to use that tool properly. If you fall into the trap of thinking that WLS automatically leads to weight loss, you might never hit goal weight. As a reminder, these are how the lap-band, vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), and gastric bypass can help you lose weight.
Lap-band: The lap-band creates a small pouch, or stoma, to help you fill up faster so that you eat less.
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG): The surgery removes most of your stomach and creates a small sleeve out of the remaining portion. The gastric sleeve restricts the volume of food you can eat and it reduces hunger by reducing the amount of ghrelin, which is a hunger hormone.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: The surgery restricts food intake by creating a small pouch, and reduces nutrient absorption by having food from your stomach bypass much of your small intestine.

Your weight loss surgery will not work for you if you cheat in these ways.
You eat more frequently – and take in more calories – than your surgeon suggests without feeling the restrictive effects of the adjustable gastric band.
You eat sugary, fatty high-calorie foods. The lap-band, especially, is unlikely to cause you to develop dumping syndrome. That is good because you will not get the unpleasant symptoms, but it is bad because it does not prevent you from eating sugar, starch or fat. Even with a stoma size of just 4 ounces, or a meager 1/2 cup, you could fit in 400 calories’ worth of M&M’s in with room to spare.
You drink fluids when you are eating solids so that you are able to consume more at a single meal or snack. Drinking fluids while eating solid foods can also cause your stomach, sleeve or pouch to empty faster so that you get hungrier sooner.
You sip on beverages that provide calories but do not fill you up.

How Hidden Calories Might Be Throwing You Off

What if you think you are following your weight loss surgery diet diligently? You measure your food whenever you can, you use your dietitian’s food list when you go grocery shopping, and you order chicken and vegetables when you go out to eat. You get Protein at every meal, and you drink plenty of Water each day.

Hidden calories are the ones that creep into your diet. You might not know you are eating them, or you might think that you eat so few “extra” calories that they don’t matter in your diet. But, they do impact your weight loss. An extra 20, 50, or 100 calories here or there really affects your weight loss. Remember that a pound of body fat equals 3,500 calories. That’s an average of 500 calories per day to lose a pound a week. If you are getting hundreds of hidden calories a day, that could easily be a pound a week that you’re not losing.

Where Are the Hidden Calories?

Good question! They can be almost anywhere.
Starches are not necessarily unhealthy, but they should only be part of your meal after you eat your protein and vegetable or fruit.< /span>
Protein is the first thing you should eat at each meal and snack, but it is also a source of calories. Fatty meats and poultry with the skin can have 100 or more extra calories per 3-ounce portion compared to lean meats and chicken or turkey breast.
Healthy foods can be high-calorie. A handful of nuts or dried fruit or a big spoonful of Peanut Butter can have 200 to 300 calories.
Condiments can wreck your diet. A tablespoon of Mayonnaise has 100 calories, a tablespoon of jam has 50 calories, and a tablespoon of Salad Dressing has 80 calories. ketchup, teriyaki sauce, and marinades can have 15 to 20 calories per tablespoon.
Restaurant foods can be tricky. Vegetables that you think are steamed can have butter in them, and chicken, fish and other Proteins that you think are good choices can come in sauces with 100 or 200 calories per serving. Portion sizes can be several times what you need: a 12-ounce steak is 4 to 6 WLS-sized portions, and a 3-cup plate of Pasta is 6 to 8 WLS-sized portions.

o Examples of each of the below. Carbs: toast, crackers. Eat celery. Smaller pasta, more protein meatballs.
o Protein. It’s a nutrient, but it’s also a source of calories. Esp. if with sugar/carbs in supplements, or hi-fat protein foods. Bacon
o Healthy hi-cal foods: nuts, pb, dried fruit (fresh). Portion sizes. Avocado.
o Condiments. Fatty dressings (choose low-fat), use less (use herbs), sugary
o Portion sizes. MEASURE. Nibbling without measuring, eyeballing. You get 60 extra calories every time you take a piece of cheese that is the size of your thumb (1.5 ounces) instead of weighing it to make sure that it is only 1 ounce.
o beverages
o Restaurants: salads, fat added to “grilled” foods or steamed vegetables, beverages, “healthy” bagel instead of low-cal doughnut
o Eating too frequently. Tips for if you’re starving (protein, no Fluid with meal); tips to make meal smaller (if you’re eating so many meals, don’t need to be big)

The Good News
The good news is that small changes add up to big calorie savings.
Have an ounce of low-fat cheese instead of full-fat, and save 50 calories.
Have a quart of regular or sparkling water instead of a quart of a sports drink, and save 200 calories.
Skip the bite of cookie dough after you finish baking for your children, and save 100 calories.
Have 3 ounces of 95% lean ground beef instead of 85% lean ground beef, and save 70 calories.
Rinse the spoon instead of licking it after you serve yourself peanut butter, and save 30 calories.
Spread peanut butter or tuna on 3 large celery stalks instead of 6 triscuit crackers, and save 90 calories.
Have one-third of a cup of pasta with your meatballs instead of a full cup, and save 120 calories.

This works for exercise, too. Every little bit helps. When you walk for just an extra half-mile, or about 10 minutes, you burn 50 extra calories.
Start to think about where extra calories may be coming into your diet, and see what you can do to limit them. You’ll be happier with your weight loss results!

A while back some one put up a list of what things weigh and I realized then that I had three 33-pound cinder blocks to lose. I guess I latched on to this because at various times I've had to move cinder blocks around our little farm and they are so damn heavy. The thought of carrying three of them around with me all the time is just crazy. Well, I'm happy to report that I have lost one of them now. That one was on my belly, I think. Quite the chunk! Now two more to put down -- can't wait.

Losing weight with the band is not fast. Some do lose fast in the beginning but that is rare. Normal weight loss is 1 to 2lbs a week. There isn't any sense in getting upset, discouraged, or want to give up because you are a month post op or a few weeks and you haven't lost 70lbs. You didn't gain weight over night. It was a period of years of bad eating habits that caused you to gain 100 to 200lbs so getting it off in a short amount of time unless you are starving yourself is not going to happen. If there are those who lost weight quickly then good for them but it took me 3 years and of absolutely no cheating to get all my weight off. If you are a smoker and quit smoking it is even going to take you longer. Yes I know that from personal experience. You can't drop weight rapidly with the band unless you are some circus freak that lost 200lbs in a month. It's not a fast process but it works if you just allow it. 52lbs weight loss in a year is better then 52lbs of weight gain. A loss is a loss no matter how you lose it or how long it takes you to lose it. Be patient it will come. Rome wasn't built over night and neither is the road work here in Jacksonville done over night. More like a period of years. Stop weighing yourself everyday. If you can't wrap your head around the scale that your weight can fluctuate up to 9lbs because of Water weight then stop being a scale monger. Weigh yourself at your doctors office. The more you weigh yourself and get discouraged the more likely you are setting yourself up for failure. It's not a race and you don't have to be the first one to the finish line. Stop letting the scale wreck your day or month. Just do what you are supposed to and it will happen.

I just want to say this to those who are newly banded. If you are weighing yourself every single day and get disappointed that it's not moving every day, then you need to stop weighing yourself every day or know that the scale will fluctuate anywhere from 3 to 9lbs per day. You retain Water and it will go up. Our bodies fluctuate weight every day. What I weigh today may not be what I weigh tomorrow. This is the very same thing that like any other diet will make you fail. If you can't adjust your mind to the numbers on the scale without being disappointed or sad then you need to get rid of your scale. When I weigh myself and I see the scale go up a few pounds its okay. I might be retaining water or need to move my bowels tmi I know but its true or maybe I did not sleep good the night before. If you are doing everything right then stop worrying when the scale doesn't move. Some people go for months and don't lose weight. Normal weight loss for lapband patients is 1 to 2 pounds PER WEEK. Yes that is right 1 to 2lbs a week. Anything more then that is a plus. Put your scales away and concentrate on healing. The first six weeks you probably will not lose one pound and might even gain a few. Your body has to catch up now since it went from 3 to 4, 000 calories a day to maybe not even 500 on Clear liquids. It's holding on to every bit of fat it can right now. Did you gain all your weight in two weeks? No so you wont lose it in two weeks either. If you are disappointed this soon in the game, then what will you really do when you don't lose for six months because it happens. Be patient and know that it will happen.

Each day there are more and more newly banded people here who are questioning their weight loss. You think you should have lost more or be losing more then you have. A loss is a loss whether it be pounds or inches. You are not going to lose weight every day, every week or even every month in some cases. No one that is obese ever gained 100lbs over night or some even over a year. It was a gradual weight gain that will take time to get rid of. You're questioning what am I doing wrong. If you are following the plan that your doctor put in place for you to the T then you are doing nothing wrong. As the body loses weight it has to catch up if you initially lose a lot in the beginning. People have went months with no weight loss but as long as you are not gaining you will get there. 1 to 2lbs a week is normal for a lapband patient. If it's more then you're that much more ahead of the game. Be patient, stay off the scale. Weigh yourself once a week or every other so you won't suffer disappointment and question if you made the right decision. If you can't stop weighing yourself then you have to stop being disappointed every time you don't lose. Just hang in there it will happen if you are doing exactly what you are suppose to be doing. You can't eat ice cream, cake, Cookies, potato chips and all the other junk food and wonder why the scale is not moving. Drink your Water, eat your portion size and make sure most of that is Protein, make sure you get 8 hours of sleep at night because you lose weight when you are sleeping, make sure you are moving your bowels every day and stop stressing. You will get there.

I’ve noticed a number of posts lately from bandsters who are non compliant due to stressful situations in their lives. I am very sympathetic to anyone dealing with difficult situations but not so sympathetic with those who deal by eating too much, or eating poorly. I can’t help but think it’s just an excuse to self sabotage. If you were an alcoholic, you would avoid drinking during stressful times. Otherwise, you would be back to drinking uncontrollably again. Same for us foodaholics...and yes, I'm a foodaholic. If stress makes you reach for a cookie or a taco, what makes you think you won’t eat a box of Cookies or a ton of tacos?
We must must must find better outlets for our stress. It’s bad enough when things are not going well, but to risk your success on top of that to me is just completely destructive. I’m not saying I have the answers, I just think this is a topic worth discussing.

i watch it.....as a reminder of how close i was to becoming just like that...
that first step is truly the hardest.........and the second and the third ones.........

People attack what they don't know. They have no investment in being informed, or prepared, like you do, so they won't understand, so their reaction will be of disbelief and horror. Invite them to do their research, but should they choose not to, then maybe gently suggest that until they do, they may wish not to comment.