kromi

Soy Latte. I often make my own by heating a cup of soy milk and mixing in a packet of Starbucks Via Decaf Italian
Lunchmeat rolled around low fat string cheese
Veggies with dip made from greek yogurt and Ranch Dressing mix
Apple slices with PB2 (defatted Peanut Butter powder that I buy online from Amazon)
Frozen grapes
Sugarfree Hot Apple Cider Mix
Lynda

Her story made us look bad! Frustration watching.. Yes. Compassion for her .. No and feel guilty but this works only if you are willing to do the work! She clearly was not! Poor son and husband?

I could have written that also. I look at everyone, not just grocery shopping. I was once at a Bette Midler concert with my oldest brother, his wife and my husband. During the intermission my brother and I criticized every person's clothes. Our spouses don't give a shit about what's around them.
When I see overweight people and the unhealthy foods they buy, I feel like saying something. When I see obese children, I want to really speak my mind. I have an obese son since he was little. I took him to every program, doctor etc. in Boston. He is now 35 and slowly losing on his own. Still over 300 but it is less than 400 when he was 17. My other son is under 200, same house, same parents. Same height, 6'2".
So to get back to the subject, I look at what i buy for my husband and I think , this is so wrong.

"But you carry your weight so well!" This one always drove me nuts -- I wanted to say, "well, you carry it!" And just for the record I didn't carry my weight well. There is photo documentation. I looked and felt like hell. I am almost thirty pounds down, seventy to go, but already I feel so much better. Oh, and I had to gain to meet the insurance requirements. Just wasn't fat enough for 'em! Good grief.

At the end of the day you are the one walking around in those shoes. How do you feel about it? That is the most important question of all. People can either get on board or just step off. If those naysayers really care enough about you then they're going to get behind you on this. If they don't then at least you'll know where these people stand and perhaps they're not worth having in your life. I got the support and encouragement from my Wife and Parents and that was good enough for me. My Sister does not have a weight problem and actually she works part time for Weight Watchers. She was not a fan of the surgery but she's never said anything negative (at least to me directly). On the flip side she's never really asked me questions about it.
Of course, I do not know of your situation so this is coming from a guy who 44 years old and 488lbs didn't give a **** much about anything and that includes peoples opinions. It was a life choice for me and at the end of the day it is about me and no one else.
Good Luck!

Well...it depends on the level of stuckness...haha is that a word
If I just have some minor discomfort and feel like food is sitting in my chest -- I will chew some papaya enzymes and this will break the food up.....
If I have really goofed, and took a bite too big --- IT'S TOO LATE for papaya enzymes because at this point my mouth is watering and I just let the SLIME BEGAN.... ...some people have bad gag reflex and will vomit....I DO NOT VOMIT I've trained myself enough to NOT put pressure on my band and prevent Pbing.. there is a special technique I use, once the slimming began that I use,
I take a deep breath, and start spitting in the toilet or sink, I allow the slime to come out and sometimes I can SLIME for 10 minutes! And during my slimming sometimes it HURTS because the food is trying to go down and sometimes messaging the middle of my chest right between my breast push the food on down and I don't PB or vomit...I have NOT vomited once since I had my new band....but I have slimmed a few times and my lap band is TIGHT....
With my old band, I have been stuck to the point of obstruction, I made a mistake and swallowed a pill and sipped a very cold Protein drink on my way to work....to make a long story short, that pill got caught in my chest and I ended up in the ER because it was cutting off my breath..I ended up vomited about 10 times before the pill came up...very scary!
With my old band, I have been so hosed up to the point of being stuck for HOURS!! vomiting several times...horrible situations....
When you are hosed up to the point of obstruction, papaya pills are no good, when the band is extremely tight papaya pills are no good because the only thing you can do is vomit your food back up to relieve the pressure...and this is why keeping a too tight band is dangerous because eventually after all the frequent vomiting...you can damage the band and cause pouch dilation and slippage....

this is 5 pounds of muscle and 5 pounds of fat......
in the picture..the 5 lbs. of fat is much bulkier than the 5 lbs. of muscle, but five pounds is still five pounds.
Muscle does not weigh more than fat.
Fat is bulky and lumpy so if you carry an extra five pounds of fat, you'll be lumpier than with five pounds more muscle.
A five pound pile of fat will take up more space (volume) than a five pound pile of muscle; but five pounds is still five pounds.


and your loss so far is amazing
a loss is a loss no matter how big or small....as long as you are losing.

It's like a love/hate relationship I have with my band -- UGH! Damn if I do (with restriction) and Damn if I don't (a looser band).
I will tell you, after having a restrictive band year in and year out...sometimes it get OLD...at least for me.
With my old band, I had kiss a@@ restriction and lived with that for years, until I had saline removed and I honestly (welcomed it) because I was sick and tired of getting food stuck, slimming, etc. chewing, etc.
When my surgeon removed some saline back in 2012 due to a hiatal hernia and back pain when it was filled optimally-- I felt FREE.. a release from (lap band jail)...LOL....
I felt so free, I went wild....I ate a Five Guys burger, with melted cheese and fries without getting that ( Deer in the Headlights) Look...you know what I am talking about .
Then I had a delicious philly cheese steak sandwich with toasted bun, onions the whole nine yards....I was on a roll....
I continued my FREEDOM...Until my pants started to get tight...and then I had to go shopping again for a new size....
At this time, my band was still pretty empty, I could not fill it properly because I had back and chest pains from my hernia, so I continued on a downward spiral of FREEDOM....forget about ice cream and candy...you know the sliders we sneak and eat with a very tight band....I wanted REAL food...and I got it...
Well...50 pounds later and finding myself in a size tight 16-18 pants...something that I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN WITH A LAP BAND INSTALLED....HAPPENED TO ME...ME? I was the person that was obsessed with the scale, someone who walked at 5 each morning, in 20-30 degree temperatures for 6 straight years...because I HAD CHANGED MY LIFESTYLE FOREVER? EVER ...EVER?
Once I found a surgeon to HELP me repair my hernia, give me a second chance to get my "grove back" I was humbled and grateful..
THE MORAL OF MY POST IS...NEVER THINK YOU GOT THIS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS....BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN COME AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU ....
When the lap band is UNFILLED AFTER YEARS OF EATING HARDLY NOTHING...your metabolism gets SHOT...and if you EVER have to get unfilled....THE WEIGHT CAN COME BACK QUICKLY...I GAINED 20 pounds in ONE month....
And oh yea....after I had ..had my feel of Burgers and Cheese Steaks....it was too late to eat Broccoli and baked chicken....no matter what I'd done with a LOOSE band...I could NOT get the weight off UNTIL I got my lap band properly restricted again.....
It took over 14 months JUST TO LOSE the 50 pound weight gain, I was FINALLY BACK to my old lap band fighting weight ...it sure was not easy like it was when I was first banded...
So while my lap band (SuzieQ) is working NOW in full over load.....I still want to stuff my face and I can't, I just can't do it.....and you know what? I glad.... ...
Please respect your band and cherish with love, because one day...you may find yourself IN FREEDOM with an unfilled band and that is a very SCARY place to be!

I will play devils advocate here, I read the article in depth and the way it sounds like she has "tried" to get thin, and has not been successful in "keeping" her weight down, so she has decided come to terms with being "thick" and "love" herself.
Contrary to belief -- THERE ARE MANY HEALTHY OBESE PEOPLE....I WAS ONE OF THEM.....
I have friends that have never been fat a day in their life and now they are in their late 40's early 50's and have to take a boat load of medications for high blood pressure, some are even borderline diabetics....
Heck me and my niece grew up together and she has always weighed 120 pounds from high school, college and marriage, I was always envious because she wore a size 4-6 when we younger and growing up and I was constantly fighting my weight and she seemed to keep it down with little or no effort....
HOWEVER --- when you dig deep into her slim life along with my other girlfriends they had HEALTH problems that was keeping them THIN....so sometimes everyone who is THIN is not HEALTHY.....
Sure there are many obese people that sweat, high blood pressure, have breathing problems, have problems with hygiene due to being obese....have MANY health issues...BUT MANY obese people do NOT HAVE ANY OF THOSE ISSUES...I DID NOT.
Some women are probably HAPPY being a little THICK, since they don't have to kill themselves starving themselves, and being hateful to others because they are STARVING....to stay thin...
There are MANY UNHAPPY THIN women, I have met many men who say they are sick and tired of "Bitchy" thin women who are obsessed with the scale and won't cook dinner or who have disgusting eating disorders.. and the end up leaving these UNHAPPY scale obsessed women for THICKER women who are happy and will cook a good meal...LOL....
So I can UNDERSTAND this woman's point of view, however in her picture she seems to be THICK...perhaps her view of being HAPPY AND BIG would change if she became severely obese with severe health problems.
Heck the AVERAGE size woman in the US is a size 14, MEN have been polled to ask what is their IDEAL size woman and a size 6 was NOT THEIR ANSWER...
Here is an article on the subject many men PREFER women healthy size 14..http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2029680/What-men-REALLY-want-brown-haired-blue-eyed-size-14-woman.html
So...the moral of my post is -- maybe she IS REALLY HAPPY that she can still eat all the foods she love, don't have to kill herself at the gym and still wear nice clothes and is happily married, despite not being a size 6 she IS still happy.
Also based on her picture she seemed a bit THICK, but not severely obese, perhaps that is why she says she's "Happy".
Edit to add: My reasoning for getting the Lap Band was not really based on health reason....I just wanted to get thinner to wear cute clothes...LOL...I know vain but that's my truth and deal with the professional world...however it was much harder to move around at 300 pounds than now...but overall I did not have any ill health effects when I was obese.

I was on the phone the other day with the pre-op nurse. I'm having a procedure on Monday and she needed to go over some things with me. While discussing my medical history, she was basically confirming what was already on her records...which included my last weigh-in which was oh..maybe 3 or 4 lbs. more than my current weight. But I heard her loud and clear when she noted that I was obese.
OK, I thought...yes, technically I still am obese based on my BMI...but this obese woman is wearing a size 12 slacks and tops anywhere from small to XL depending on the manufacturer. This obese woman fits into tight spaces, airplane seats, restaurant booths, suway and bus seats, and pretty much anywhere at this point I suspect.
This obese woman doesn't get stared at anymore, doesn't get dirty looks when she is out and about with her cane...because now this obese woman didn't do this to herself...oh no...she probably is recuperating from some kind of surgery or injury. Now folks treat me kinder...sad but true. Plus I don't feel as self conscious either...
This obese woman shops in regular clothing stores..no more Avenue for me. This obese woman is not ashamed to wear a bathing suit anymore...even with all the saggy skin, I wear the suits with a skirt to hide some of that. This obese woman got her legs up on the shower seat today to shave. Such an ordinary thing unless you can't do it...
This obese woman hopes to lose a few more pounds just so she is no longer clinically obese, but I'll take this kind of obesity any day compared to a year ago when I carried 100 more pounds than I do now and couldn't move because of the knee and hip pain.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...one day at a time, one pound at a time...and watch how your life will transform as you do. Happy Saturday all! I got out today...walked slowly and carefully but made it out. It's cold but not like yesterday...it's a balmy 22 degrees currently.

Restriction is a myth, and it’s time to stop believing in it. The adjustable gastric band isn’t all about restriction after all. It’s all about satiety.


I tend to talk about satiety a lot. Why? Because recognizing satiety is absolutely crucial to our weight loss success and good health, no matter what bariatric surgery we have. Satiety is the sensation of having eaten enough food.< /em> Understanding satiety is so important to weight loss success that I’m dividing up what I have to say into three Satiety 101 articles. This is the first of the three.

Let’s start by asking an important question: do you think that your properly-adjusted band will restrict how much you can eat, so you take in fewer calories and lose weight? I realize that someone – perhaps more than one person (perhaps even your very own bariatric surgeon) may have told you that the adjustable gastric band works by creating a small stomach pouch that restricts how much you can eat. But I’m here to tell you, it’s a lot more complicated than that, and to go on thinking of the band as a “restrictive” method does bariatric patients a disservice.

The notion of restriction is a myth, a holdover from earlier times, before the band’s function and effects were fully understood. Now, after nearly 30 years of clinical use and studies, band manufacturers and bariatric surgeons are beginning to see that the old idea of the band’s “restrictive” mechanism is not only incorrect, but can cause a host of unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects and complications (such as band slips, esophageal dilation and achalasia, pouch dilation, and disappointing weight loss), and some of those complications can cause permanent damage.

If you swallow a few bites of barium-coated food (doesn’t that sound yummy?), fluoroscopy will show that food passes through the upper stomach pouch, right past the band, and into the lower stomach pouch within in minutes of each swallow you take, so that you can go on eating just like you did as a pre-op: fast and furious (when food doesn’t make that trip a quick one, it may mean that the band is too tight and needs Fluid removed from it). That quick trip also means that you can eat far more food than you need, just like you did as a pre-op. Finally, the bariatric medical community is beginning to see that instead of being restrictive, the band works by reducing physical hunger (the need to eat) and appetite (the desire to eat), and by creating early and prolonged satiety, so that the patient, not the band, can reduce her/his food intake.

Now, let me re-state that from the point of view of someone who lived with a Lap-Band® for five wonderful years. It’s up to you, not your band, to make the band work for you. Your band is an inert, expensive piece of plastic that doesn’t limit how much you eat. It doesn’t know your name or that you hate broccoli. It’s not going to leap out of your mouth and throw your forkful of food on the floor when it’s time for you to stop eating. It’s not going to sound an alarm or start flashing red lights. It’s not going to shout, “Jean McMillan! Stop eating right this minute!” (Yeesh! In that last scenario, the band sounded an awful lot like my mom!)

Seriously, though. One of your jobs as a successful bandster is to learn when and how to stop eating, all by yourself. The “how” to stop is a big topic, not just for WLS patients but for every human trying to lose weight and avoid wasting precious resources like food, and far beyond the scope of this article. So for now, let’s concentrate on the “when” to stop eating part. We’ll do that in the second article in the Satiety 101 series: Satiated vs Stuffed, so stay tuned!

This is the first in the Satiety 101 series of articles.

I get so tired of all the bandbashing that is going on. I am happy with my choice with the band. Every surgery has its benefits and risks. You have to decide which surgery is best for you. I am a proud bandster and will defend my decision. There are programs that don't have proper followup after surgery. That is what gives the band a bad name. I wish everyone the best of luck in their journey. Mona

It really depends on your state. You need to check your state health insurance marketplace to see if there are plans that cover weight loss surgery. Certain states offer them and certain states offer them at a premium.

Twenty-two states chose benchmark plans that cover bariatric surgery:
Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming Five states chose benchmark plans that cover weight loss programs:
California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico Twenty-eight states chose benchmark plans that cover neither bariatric surgery nor weight loss programs:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin One state covers weight loss programs but not bariatric surgery:
District of Columbia

I don't understand how you think that eating pizza and three slices at that is on the list of what you can eat foods. Nothing on your diet that you have listed is healthy. Especially all the soda you are drinking. Soda causes weight gain and hinders weight loss. I think the real problem here is you are eating with the same mentality you did before you got the band. I am not sayin a slice of pizza now and then is bad but no way can I now or before any fills could eat three slices of pizza. If you are just trying to make our hair stand up then you have done your job. If you seriously are eating like you stated then no way would any of us lose weight. I don't see why if you have good cuts of meat that are tenderly cooked that you can not eat them. Some days for me its hit and miss but the days that I can eat meat I take advantage of it. The days I cant eat meat I find other things that are healthy and not pizza and soda. You have to know that those things are what got you over weight to begin with. Why not some cottage cheese instead of meat with some fruit on it. Why not some nicely cooked seasoned Beans. Your choice of foods is why you did not do well with the band so it probably is a good idea for you to get it out. If you don't change your eating habits once the band is in place then it will not help you do its job. You have to help. Point blank.

Sounds like you also need to speak with your dietitian. Some changes in your diet are in order. Some of the things you are eating along with the carbonated drinks might be causing your issues. I'm 6 months banded and have had 3 fills so far. I notice with each fill I have to make more changes with my diet and what and how I eat. I don't have a problem with that. I understand I'm still in early days but you also have to understand this is a learning process. You have to learn to listen to your band in order for it to work. When you go see the dr you need to be totally honest and tell them exactly what you are eating and what you are experiencing. You can't just quit. I knew when I decided to have wls that it was going to be a journey. Not a quick fix by any means, and my surgical team made that crystal clear at each visit and even went over it again in pre-anesthesia. So, I'm not sure if you didn't do enough research prior to surgery or if you think you can keep your old eating habits and still lose weight. It just doesn't work. I wish you all the best, changing old habits is never easy, but if you work with your band and not against it I fell you would be much happier in the end.

Sunnygirl,
I can see that you are having issues with your band. If you want the band out then you should by all means start looking into that. If you want to work with your band you are going to have to go back to the basics reset and start again.
What you listed in your meal plan for the day is a lot of food to be eating banded or not banded and the choices of the food are very poor. I understand that part of your condition is making poor choices and texture aversion, and I get that you like to eat meat like chicken and pork and there should be no reason why you are unable to eat the things that work for you.
If you want to be successful with the band you are going to have to work on your choices and aversions and that means getting counseling and working with your psychologist and nutritionist to do that.
Some of the reasons you are getting stuck and are uncomfortable right now could be that you are filling up and stretching out with carbonated beverages which are a TOTAL NO NO with the band.
If you are eating and drinking at the same time you may be pushing the food down so fast it doesn't have time to filter through your band and instead is piling up on top in the pouch and then causing you to have that stuck feeling and causing it to come back up.
The more things come back up the more trauma you are causing to your stomach, and your band which could have now since you last saw your Dr. in April have caused erosion or slip in the band which is giving you even more discomfort when eating solid foods.
We are not doctors here and this is only speculations based on our individual observations and experiences. The best thing for you to do is to go back to basics and stick to Protein shakes and mushy foods until you can get yourself to your doctor to find out what's going on with you and your band.

Sorry you feel this way, it is challenging for many people to live with a restrictive lap band, you have to mindful of every thing that goes into your mouth.
I am a bit surprised that you want the band OUT rather than removing saline, for many people getting saline removed equals the same thing as no lap band.
Remember the band IS adjustable for reasons like this, if your surgeon installed a band too small for your anatomy then you got problems, but if your band FITS your anatomy and you don't have band slippage, then why on earth would you want your band removed?
Sometimes many people have to adjust to the band, if I were you, I would not get the band removed because TRUST ME, one day you will regret getting the band out especially if you are not having complications, and one day you will WANT the restriction and NEED IT.
Most people who get the lap band removed gain all their weight back, I know you are frustrated by having the band too restrictive, also it sounds like you are a bit too tight if you can't eat moist meat, and when the band is too tight it can be a challenge to live with it day to day and cause misery.
I have seen many in the past get angry and frustrated when their bands are very tight and they want it out, but the good news is all you have to do is go to your surgeon talk to him/her and tell them your band is too tight and they will gladly remove some saline where you can eat healthy food, it just that simple.
Once your band is looser to allow you to eat healthy food, then you can re-evaulate whether you want to spend a lot of money of getting your band removed (band removal without insurance can cost between $12-20 thousand dollars), also MOST insurance companies WILL NOT pay to remove a band just because you don't like it, they will only remove a band if there are complications involved.
I agree with B-52 most insurance companies require wls candidates to pass a psych evaluation to make SURE they are ready for this lifestyle change.
Good luck

Sorry you got things mixed up and confused, perhaps misinformed before you had your surgery....most people are fat because we eat too much, AND the wrong foods....I know that was my problem...
I could eat an entire large pizza all by myself...and wash it down with a few beers...I have the t-shirts to prove it....
But now, thanks to the surgery...I cannot get through a single slice...so I gave it up entirely....and that is the way I like it....I am unable to over eat...no matter how hard I try...my portion sizes are automatically set by the band, not me or what I want to do.....
And yes...it has also limited some of the foods I eat...but I have noticed that the foods I no longer eat are foods that were not that good for me in the first place...
Such as breads, flour products such as donuts, pastries, pies, etc....rice...pasta, to name just a few....and what is nutritional about pizza? ??
I no longer eat red meat...much to the delight of all my Dr.'s including my cardiologist. They all have been preaching to me for years that I should cut back on meat...if I cannot quit it entirely, then consume it just one day a week they said.....that was years before I had this surgery, after my first heart attack......all because it was good health advice....so when the band gave me trouble, I quit meat altogether and I don't miss it, and I can tell the health improvement......everyone is happy including me...never felt better.
I'm a little surprised you got through the initial evaluation and approved for this surgery...., since over eating was never your problem for being fat....generally that is the first thing talked about....inability to control our food consumption and portion sizes.....therefore failing at traditional diets and everything dieting entails........
When I talk to people about this surgery at support groups and first time orientations, etc., I am sure to mention it is NOT for everyone...not everyone can deal with what they're asking for.....(I see it on this forum everyday)
In any event, that is one good thing about the band....you can easily have it removed....it is reversible....allowing us to eat whatever and whenever we want...just like before the surgery.
Good Luck to you in the future...hope all works out for you.....

Alex...there is not an option in the poll for me. Because I do like it. But it does affect me negatively...my health care costs have gone up (but what else is new....they go up every year anyway). However, I'm willing to pay the extra costs because I know on the whole it's going to have a positive affect on the country.

I just signed up for a new health insurance plan on the New York state health exchange. I'm saving over $300 per month. Have a $0 deductible (I had a $2000 deductible previously). My new plan includes full dental and vision coverage (which I never had previously). My new co-pays are almost non-existent (I had high co-pays previously). All in all I have much better coverage for a lot less than I was previously receiving. The only caveat with my new plan is that I can't go out of their network. They offer zip, zero, zilch if I go to a doc out of network. Thankfully every single doc I use happens to be a member of my new plan. I'm willing to stay in-network if this is the tradeoff. All in all, I'm very very pleased with the new Healthcare coverage!

A WLS friend of mine, Tom B., posted a great article on his blog yesterday: 10 Cold Hard Facts about Weight Loss Surgery. I highly recommend reading the article no matter where you are in your WLS journey. Tom states those 10 facts quite plainly, but not in an accusatory manner - more like a good friend who's answering you honestly when you've asked, "What's it really like?"
Here's a link to the article:
http://beariatric.com/2013/12/16/10-cold-hard-facts-about-weight-loss-surgery/
Jean

are you serious??
let me tell you a story......i was leader to TOPS, a WL group once...and had 12 people bring in a scale......serious and true...i got on EACH one..and let me tell you i weighed higher on some...less on others.....
if you are losing inches, you are losing weight..
please do not let the scale (or scales) rule your life or your thinking..
if you are eating great foods, exercising and doing what you are doing, you are doing OUTSTANDING in my eyes...
i wish you saw yourself as i see you..

Hello...
Here is where the lap band gets tricky and get MOST people in trouble.
Remember the band IS A TOOL. Remember those 3 words and repeat them to yourself as long as you have your band.
We get a bit spoiled once we see the scale moving and we also get "addicted" to saline.
You are RIGHT NOW in the green zone, but you are not using it properly, if you don't pay attention to your GREEN ZONE SIGNS you will miss them and go right into RED and start having issues.
You MUST pay attention to your band right now, it is SCREAMING AT YOU...you also most slow down when eating....listen to subtle signs, like hiccups, burps, runny nose, even a sigh, to stop eating, measure out your food, only eat dense foods, slowly and stop at about 1 cup of food, remember the band does not start to control our appetite until about 2 hours after EACH meal, remember the band is about appetite suppression instead of restriction and vomiting.
You can choose to use your band however you want, the restriction and vomiting approach does not work long term, only cause complications and band removal.
Here are the signs that YOUR BAND IS WORKING:
1. You wake up NOT hungry -- this IS your tool to NOT eat and lose weight.
2. You say that you don't get hungry for 4 hours between meals - Your band IS doing its job right now. The lap band is designed to ONLY DIM your appetite for about 4 hours between meals, NOT stop you from eating. Remember, those who get the band so tight to restrict them to only liquids -- well they don't keep a lap band very long.
3. If you are struggling and not losing weight, it could be head hunger, remember the tighter the band, the LESS healthy foods you can eat, unless you learn how to puree, and live on Protein shakes, and this approach can still backfire, with a slipped band, it's not easy live with a very tight lap band with all the misery it comes along with.
4. If you are slimming and throwing up frequently -- YOU SHOULD NOT GET more saline added to your band -- the misery will get worse and even create reflux, you need to REALLY learn how to live with your band BEFORE getting more saline. If you are throwing up because you are eating too fast, always eat in a tiny bowl, take pea size bites, allow your food to go down before taking another bite, make sure most of your food is moist and band friendly, if you are still throwing up, you need saline removed instead of adding more.
5. Everyone that I've KNOWN to heavily depend on the band to stop them from eating and they could only get down liquids no longer have a lap band.
6. If your weight has stopped, you need to figure out why, are you being honest with yourself? Remember it's a 50/50 deal, are you truly doing your part? Are you exercising? Are you eating mostly Proteins? Are you counting your calories? No one said it's not easy, losing weight and KEEPING it off with ANY weight loss surgery requires work, and diligence.
Wishing you good luck and I hope you can find an easy safe middle ground to your journey.

"They" also say that President Obama was born in Kenya.
"They" also say that President Obama is a secret Muslim.
"They" also say that President Obama is a socialist.
"They" also say that the world is flat.
Bovine Feces. Show me one credible source that says that 100+ million people will have their health care canceled because of the ACA next year.

I read many posts here from day to day...and every so often I feel I need to get my story out there...if anything, a declaration for my own edification...
Before this WLS, I literally had one foot in the grave, there were so many medical issues and my prognosis was very bad...I'll not get ino it now, but I have in the past...in the 3-5 years prior, I had to bury my Sister, and my Brother...both who died too young from complications from being Obese...and I was walking right in their footsteps...
My PCP seriously talked to me, more as a friend, to be sure I had some funeral plans in the way of expenses, and also asked me if my family would be Ok and taken care of....
ANY type of WLS, (in my case it was Lap band), was a LAST RESORT....DO OR DIE (maybe that explains my aggressiveness...no fooling around, dam the torpedoes)
That was 3 years ago, I am now 100% successful with my body determining what my weight should be....very low body fat %, in the "Athletic" range...I simply have no more excess weight of fat to loose...any more would be unhealthy...a true starvation mode not unlike the psuedo one everyone talks about.
ALL my medical conditions have completely reversed, (other than the permanent damage to my heart muscle from a heart attack), no more Med's, all bloodwork #'s perfect right down the middle....
I am a Poster Child at my Bariatric center, often asked to talk at support and first time introduction meetings...(I'm careful to explain ALL people are different and choose their different weight loss paths)
I'm 61 soon to be 62, run 5 miles a day...go to the gym 5 days a week...I feel like I am 30 years younger...
I have NEVER had a single complication....I DO NOT consider this a "TOOL"...I consider this corrective surgery...I cannot over eat no matter how hard I may try...I am never hungry 24 hrs a day with no cravings and actually, have very little interest in food altogether....It's a mental thing for me because of the placement of the band....
A "TOOL" is something I can control...I cannot control this, it has complete control of me....If I was in control, and can "Use" this as a tool, I would surely screw it up and fail....

I DO NOT count calories, measure portions, keep logs, etc...in other words, I have been set free from DIETS!! I now live a Normal LIfestyle, I eat, work and play the way a person is supposed to do, not the abnormal gluttonous lifestyle I once used to live that made me sick and fat...
But now, I find this the easiest thing there is..absolutely No work or struggle....
of course, during the first post-op phase, which took me 4-6 months of adjusting, was pure hell and frustrating to say the least...but I did not back down, and fought through it...it was that important to me......it has now become day to day, a way of life I do not think about that much anymore...as if I had my gall Bladder taken out 3 years ago...
Of course there are things I need to know and certain rules I must follow...but they are new habits...no longer a list....I don't have to think about what foods I can or cannot eat...I just know...I don't have to remind myself how to chew and take my time...I just know..and if I should forget, the band is there to immediately warn and remind me...
IF I should ever encounter any complications, I will deal with them when and if they come.....better than being dead!
One thing I have noticed to be a truth...the lap band is adjustable, and it seems all people have different levels as to where they want to be with this...for me, nothing less than maximum "Green Zone" life will do...and my Dr. understands....IMO that does not mean one person is right or wrong...as long as you're successful in your path, that's all that matters....I HATE IT when someone says the way they are doing it is the ONLY WAY, then goes and instructs people just starting out...doing more harm than good...no matter there are so many confused people....all anyone should ever do is give their own personal experience in any given situation...if they have none, then keep quiet and let someone who has experience speak...I love it when someone who has been banded for 6 weeks is going to tell me how I should be doing things...
Anyway, It's 5am, I'm off to the gym soon when they open at 6 on Saturdays.
ALL THIS because I chose to have the Lap Band Surgery....it could have been one of the other procedures, I don't know...this is he only one I have any experience with....so this is the only procedure I can talk about....