Pizzaman

Not at all.

IMHO, BMI is bunk for many people. I intended to reduce my weight to about 190ish (I'm 6'1") and even at that weight, my BMI would show me a little overweight (25.1 BMI). People who know me say I shouldn't lose that much weight because I'd be too scrawny because I am somewhat muscular (it's become more evident once I shed much of the fat that was around my upper body :frown: ). In fact, at my present weight of about 240 pounds, most people say I should lose about another 20 pounds and I'd be perfect. 6'1" and 220 pounds would leave me at a 29 BMI. Another argument not to rely on BMI's alone. You'll know when you're at weight that you feel good with.

I've lost about 50 lbs since my January 2008 surgery (i'll update my ticker after my next dr. appt). I don't have any loose skin or hair loss. Am I the lucky exception? I should add that I do exercise heavily throughout the week and have lost a very signicant number of inches (8" waist, 6" chest, etc.) rather than huge amounts weight. My doc says it's becoming muscle.

As obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., so might our acceptance of those who are overweight. But a new study from Yale University suggests the converse trend: rather than feeling tolerance in our society, the overweight and obese say they feel more heavily discriminated against now than they did a decade ago. <!-- Begin Article Side Bar --> <!-- End Article Side Bar --> Led by Tatiana Andreyeva, a postdoctoral research associate at Yale's Rudd Center for food Policy and Obesity, a team of researchers questioned 1,100 subjects, aged 35 to 74, twice over a 10-year span (once between 1995 and 1996, and again between 2004 and 2006). The respondents answered 11 questions about whether they had been discriminated against in the context of common life experiences — including applying to college or for a scholarship, renting or buying a home in a neighborhood they desired, applying for a bank loan or dealing with police. Participants answered nine additional questions about everyday experiences, such as how they were treated in restaurants, and whether they had encountered name-calling, harassment or threats. The subjects were asked to indicate the reasons they felt they had been discriminated against (facing police harassment, for example, or being denied bank loans), whether it was because of age, gender, race, height or weight, physical disability, sexual orientation or religion. Between the two survey periods, the rate of discrimination due to height or weight increased from 7% of respondents to 12% of respondents. (The scientists determined separately that the people who reported discrimination due to height or weight were also more likely than other participants to be overweight or obese.) The study is one of the first to track patterns of discrimination based on weight. It's worth noting, however, that the survey relied on people's own perception of discrimination — the authors did not require the subjects to document bias in any way. In addition, the authors found that rates of discrimination by age and gender also increased in the same time period, suggesting that several forms of bias — or perhaps sensitivity to perceived bias — is on the rise overall, not just against the overweight. Nevertheless, the study did track the same population over time, and Andreyeva says that an increase even in people's perceived sense of maltreatment is an important measure of our society's attitudes. In this report, weight ranked third behind age and race as the most common form of prejudice. "If a person perceives he is being discriminated against," Andreyeva says, "it might have significant consequences for his or her health and mental health. Even the perception of discrimination can be important because it is self-perpetuating." And if rates of weight discrimination are indeed on the rise, say the authors, then it's up to society to mandate legal protections for those who are overweight, just as laws protect people from discrimination by race, gender, disability and age.

It should very quick ... a matter of a few days.

Jack hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't have even considered gastric bypass.

Well gee, let's not forget ...

I almost in the same boat as you. I lost about 40 lbs and my pants are down to a 40 from a 44. I too like to have a little snack at night and occasionally during the day. I'll also have a handful of peanuts or some other snack in the afternoon. My snack in the evening is usually a chocolate Pure Protein Bar. Where we are a bit different is that I don't feel guilty. Why? Think about how much you ate and snacked pre-surgery and what you are taking in now - much less. IMO, as long as you/we are continuing to lose weight, small snack(s) are not really a major problem.

Nope. Had one fill and unfortunately, I can still eat almost anything - if I eat slowly enough.

I ate enchiladas on a business trip (one of each, chicken, cheese, and beef). I ate slowly and was able to easily get it down. It probably wasn't an optimal meal in terms of nutrition, but I didn't put on any measurable weight as a result of it either. I wouldn't eat it too regularly.

I've had one fill and I still can eat anything (including bread) as long as I don't eat too quickly. Pizzaman can still down an occasional slice. :wink:

This may not be the breakfast your doctor would want you to have, but I have coffee with a good dose of skim milk and a Pure Protein bar. Mid-morning, I may have a Medifast shake (yeah I know they're not great tasting, but I have a bunch of 'em left over).

Try this The Calorie Counter

Chili's "Guiltless Grill" has nothing under 480 calories.

Dr. Geiss and his staff are terrific.

For what it's worth, I ate those foods very slowly and carefully because I've read the horror stories behind them.

I was banded on 1/10/08 but have not yet had a fill. This past week, I went on a business trip to a very small town where I had to do a lot of improvising with what I ate. While I tried to "be good," to my surprise, I was able to eat small quantities (at different meals) of eggs, bread, Pasta, beef, and Beans - foods that most banders can't tolerate. Did I eat these foods to cheat? No, I ate them as small parts of meals because that was all that was available, so please don't skewer me because of it. Of course, I did bring Protein Bars, but that wasn't enough. I'm guessing that after my first fill, these type of foods will not go down - am I right?

GIANTS!!! (18-1 ain't so bad :eek:)

Call Dr. Geiss' office and ask them to fax you the list of what is required for your insurance company to approve the surgery. His staff are very helpful.

I heard that whole wheat pasta may be tolerable.

Done! The proof is in the picture! :biggrin:

I know your pain. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/my-first-blood-pressure-sliming-51009/

Fanny, even though I am banded, there is no restriction, so quite frankly I really am losing weight via a low carb/fat, high Protein diet and exercise. I do get hungry at times, but that's when my willpower (and lots of water) has been kicking in. Also, unlike some others with a band, I was never heavy my whole life. I just put on a lot of pounds the past few years and my friends and relatives have seen me thin, so my losing weight by diet/exercise doesn't seem so unusual to them. Everyone has to evaluate their own circumstances about discussing their private business.

Only my wife knows. As far as everyone else is concerned, "I'm on a strict diet." Everyone understands and doesn't question it.

In a strange way I'm glad it happened. Before that, I never felt like I derived any benefit from the surgery. Now I know there's "safety net."