Bandster Brad

Hi, down 59 pounds in 8 months. Down 8 pant sizes so far. Life is great and getting greater!

Hi, 11.3 CC's in my 10 cc vanguard band. I understand I have 1.7 left to go, since the tubing accounts for 3 cc's.

Hi, I recommend you ask the following:

How many bands have you installed? (stats show that competency begins at 100 surgeries. The more they do (some have done thousands) directly relates to the probability that YOUR surgery will be a success.

Ask about thier support group. How often, who, do they have a dietician on staff? Monthly support groups for a year is probably the optimal standard.

What about getting fills? Is it free? Should/could be. For a year. Ask.

good luck!!

Welcome to lap-band-land! I am sure you will enjoy your journey once you get to the resort! In preparing for your trip, please be sure to carefully search all of the relevant information on this site. It will help you anticipate how it will go, and may provide some critical information about who you select to help you on your way!

Hi All, thanks for your added narrative updates. It helps make sense of the data. But realistically, since the poll only accomodates one criteria, it gets REALLY unscientific, really fast. Nonetheless, it is possible to peruse the data, compare it to the results, and make some correlations. Once this poll closes, I will put it in excel and play around with it and see if we can derive anything meaningful from it. There are some definite trends, though.

Also, I have noticed that my weight will often plateau for up to two weeks, then when I am totally down in the dumps over it, something will shift (like maybe extra exercise or less salt... or who knows?) and all of a sudden, my weight will drop 5 pounds in about 3 days, never to return.

I would appreciate any comments that add some context to the poll results, along with any comments that shed light on the above phenomenon, so we can determine if its common, and what causes it. Anyone else plateau, then drop a bunch?

Cheers!!

Mini-challenge weight - 256

Todays Weight - 247.5

Weight loss so far 06 - 8.5 pounds!

NSV - walking past a Starbucks without buying a green tea frappucinno!

Have a great week!

Intereseting observation, as of this morning, the poll showed 54 people responded, of which 22 didn't respond with an average weekly weight loss. This suggests that I should have included a line for "less than one pound a week" or even "zero." Maybe that would explain where the missing posters went. If you respond to the poll and have a value which is outside of the poll range, (ie less than a pound a week weight loss, or perhaps if you haven't lost any weight yet, if you are pre-banded) it would be beneficial if you could share a posted comment to explain where you are at with your weight loss.

Thanks for participating in this poll!

Tasty Green Tea Protein shake

1 cup Tazo Matcha Green Tea (liquid)

1 cup 1% organic milk

1 cup ice

1 cup Water

2 scoops vanilla whey Isolate

1 shot Starbucks Melon Syrup

Throw it all in a blender until smooth.

This gives you around 350 calories, is very soothing, and tastes as close as I can get it to a Starbucks Green Tea Frappucinno. The volume is enough that you can carry it with you all day, and get at least 1/2 of your day's required Water.< /p>

Enjoy!!

Hi, its been a very frustrating new year. In December, I was losing so much weight, I replaced my avatar with a rocket shooting earthward. That's what it felt like. So far this year, I have lost "0" - (as of Jan 15)

However, I started preband at a size 46 man's waist. Last week, for grins, I bought a pair of size 36 levis at costco. I figured some day I would get into them. (I have been at a 38 for the last month, which in and of itself is nothing short of miraculous)

So, for grins today, I thought I would pull them on to see how far up they would go on my thigh before getting stuck.

I pulled them on, and they actually FIT! I buttoned them with no problem. IT WAS A MIRACLE!

My wife responded with: "You need to not get any smaller than you are!" :wow2:

(I don't recall ever hearing that in my life).

I responded by telling her that I am looking forward to getting into some 34's one day, since that was my size in high school.

And to know that its possible, since it is only one size away, well, that is truly amazing.

Thank you, bandland!! :rockon:

Congratulations to you both! The memory of the pain will become indistinct, and the fun of getting your life back will continue on and on!

The port pain is the worst, and it gets less every few days. Eventually, you won't even know its there. (But sometimes I rub mine like its the remnant of a buddah belly good-luck charm)!

Glad to hear you're OK, and you are still "with the band!"

That was wonderful! I really liked the part about building an addition.

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

That's a great idea! Nothing to get really excited about, but maybe it will chase away the night time munchies! A little Jello might just do the trick. Thanks!

Hi Harley Nana and DeLarla, good points! I can stick around to maybe 1000 until right at or before dinner, but its that staying up in the night from dinner until 9-10 PM that kills me. Just hanging around with MDW and kiddies, makes me want to scrounge something else up. And that's where those naughty calories come from!

I read something confusing in a "body sculpting" book. It said that we should focus on carbs, and minimize Protein, and of course, do away with as much fat as possible. This seems counter to the bandster diet. Anyone have any insights into this seeming contradiction?

Higher Protein seems more comfortable than higher carbs.

Lots of good expertise on this board. I sure appreciate the opinions!

Best, Brad

I was just reminded that you CANNOT CHUG Water anymore.

Not even a 1/2 cup!

Funny, I was dreaming last night that I hurt my band by working out vigorously and drinking too much Water. Well, it happened today.

Sip it!

Twelve fiddy fixed cost, first year's fills for free. 10 fills so far this year. What a great doc!

Total cost: $25,000.

(you're including the cost of a new wardrobe every 60 days, right?)

:peace:

Hi, thanks for your very straight-forward factor! I like simple! Part of why I started this poll is it seems like when I eat 1200 - 1500 (not as often as I would like) I lose weight. The more often I am "near" but still below, 2000, I tend to stop losing weight. (like the last month).

Using your formula, lessee -:decision: 225 x 13 - 15 = 2925 to 3375. I can only answer: "I WISH!"

I wonder if those numbers are more for weight maintenance?!

Cheers!

It's sometimes hard to know if each of us are really eating right. The band does a great job of controlling portions, but sometimes, don't you wonder if you are really maintaining the correct caloric intake and mix of protein/fats/carbs in order to lose weight? Since I wonder all the time, this is my first try at creating a poll. I would like to know how you, my fellow bandsters actually eat. Perhaps we can all get an idea of how we can do better ourselves!

Here are my poll questions - In order to normalize the data, it would be mathematically easier to understand if answered only by people that have been banded over 30 days; answers should be based on daily values, and it should use your estimates for the last 90 days average. This will help people anticipating getting banded have an idea of what to expect. If this makes sense, we could do some other ones for the rest of our peers in their various stages!

THANK YOU!

Hi, Sushi *was* my favorite thing. I kinda laughed after banding, because every time I checked, it was like "A-OK, rice is still going down, I am blessed." Then, almost 7 months and 50 pounds lost after banding, I was at a client christmas party, and THAT SUSHI RICE DID NOT GO DOWN! It sent me scurrying for a bathroom. I have checked twice since, and have conceded that "Sashimi" is now my favorite thing. It goes down fine....

Cheers!!

:chinese

I self-paid. I think it was $12,500, full boat, no extra's. Even included a year's fills and complete, I MEAN COMPLETE, care for a year. During the first 7 months or so, I have had 10 fills. Based on the idea of paying for fills, that means I would have already been at $15,000 had I gone somewhere else that charges $250 a fill.

I feel like a got a great surgeon, a great support staff, and a great deal. In short, "a low-cost, high quality, new lease on life"

Check out Dr. O. Layton Alldredge in Sandy, UT if you want a low cost, ultra high quality alternative to Mexico. SLC is a Delta hub, and I imagine that at $12,500, its competitive with Mexico. That way, you also get state-side FDA oversight, and Dr's covered by US malpractice insurance, and domestic flight expense if you are not close enough to drive.

Cheers!

OK, I think I've got it now.

Starting weight - 256

(what I weighed a couple of days ago when this challenge was issued, and I accepted -)

Goal Weight on March 1, 2006 - 244 pounds

= 12 pounds down or 1.5 pounds for almost 8 weeks - (Barely enough to keep me from being disqualified as a bunny, and just enough to avoid qualification to join the turtle club)

Recent GIANT NSV -

In Winter of 2004, I went skiing with my CEO. I was in such bad shape that I had to make up excuses when I could only last two runs. (knees, goggles fogging up, can't see, boots hurt, etc.)

Yesterday, (one year later) I did over 15 runs with him, kept up, and would have loved to continued skiing, except the lift closed! My, what an amazingly beautiful day, and wonderful experience to be able to ski again!

What's more, I looked up the caloric consumption of a day's skiing. Figuring half the time was on the lift and half the time was spent skiing, I still burned 2,200 calories. BURN IT, BABY!!! :banana

See you all on the other side of the scale on March 1, and GOOD LUCK!!!!

Breakfast:

Green Tea Frozen whey Protein Shake

1 cup ice, 1 cup lowfat milk, 1 cup macha green tea, 1/2 shot Starbucks melon Syrup, 2 scoops whey isolate. Put in blender.

1 cup oatmeal with 5-6 small pieces of nuts in it and a half a cup lowfat milk.

Lunch:

Smoked Salmon Caesar salad with dressing on the side.

Includes about 4 oz salmon, and some romaine lettuce

Snack:

a can of chicken noodle Soup, usually "bachellor style" (Cold, drank directly out of the can)

Dinner:

Small portion of beef, chicken, or fish. Maybe 4 oz.

Small serving Pasta

A couple of brocolli florets

Snack:

If I am evil, somewhere I snag some ice cream. Those Klondike lowfat chocolate covered vanilla ice cream bars are pretty outrageous.

Observations:

If I stick to the above diet without the ice cream, I end up around 1350 - 1500 calories a day, which is perfect for consistent weight loss.

If I suck, and go for the ice-cream, what's the old saying from this site? "Bad food loves the hole"? You can get started on an ice-cream craze and down a half a pint really ease. Even with low-fat Haggen Dazs, that wrecks two days of weight loss in a hurry. Really, really, best left alone. This could easily add between 200 - 600 calories for the day. Maybe its wrong, but if I am way low on calories that day, like around 900, logically, maybe it won't hurt. But the scale seems to consistently feel differently...

Wish I could come up with a good ice-cream replacement. Methodone?? Any suggestions???!

Cheers!!

I travelled (from the West Coast to the East Coast) 3 business days following my surgery. Boy, was THAT a mistake! I didn't actually feel human until about 10 days following surgery, and within a couple days after that felt great. The only real downside was a sensation of absolute discomfort, and not being able to eat anything, and nausea. I figured, I will not be feeling well, anyway, so I may as well be productive!

Not smart!

But with you being 2-3 weeks out, you will likely be fine. Individual mileage will vary, see your dealer for details.....

Cheers!

I'm not sure how to do this, having never entered a challenge before, but the idea intrigues me. Last year - let's see- down 51 pounds since being banded in May 05, and I lost 19 pounds over the holidays, counting from Halloween through New Years. That's gotta be a first for me!

What do we do next? Set a goal? OK, how's this - 1.5 pounds a week for the next quarter. Hmm. :guess That's about 18 pounds or so by end of March. That would be well worth it!

Cheers, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! :banana

As far as I am concerned, if I can die with this band in me (a very long time from now) I will be very happy, indeed.

If it works and makes life better, why would we want to do anything else?

If they come up with gene therapy or some lesser surgery, or a pill, why change, as "new" technologies and approaches always have only a certain percentage of efficacy. If we have succeeded with this particular approach, why not leave it in and be happy, and turn our minds to something OTHER than food?

As to the idea of removing the band and hoping to maintain weight loss, I think I read a story on another board where a man lost his band, and had agreed (with himself) that should he hit X added weight, he would take some other action. As I recall, he regained 60% of his former weight in about a year. This may be on smartbandsters, a yahoo site.

In any event, my vote is to stay banded, and healthy, and I hope to be lucky enough to do that.

Cheers, Brad