Desdemona

noahsmomm-- I have never liked exercise and I have a long history of not sticking to it but I'm hopeful that now things will be different. I'm walking pretty consistently and that is a minor miracle. First -- I just focused on losing some of the weight because every inch of my body hurt me. I couldn't walk a block without feeling really awful. After I lost 18 lbs I got an exercise cycle and put it in front of the TV. I managed to do about 5 mins for the first several times and then I worked up to 40 mins. It was boring. Then I got banded and lost another 20lb. I really felt a lot better (more energy ---more focus) just from losing the first 40lbs. I actually felt like moving more. I can walk 4 or 5 miles now and I didn't even have to work up to it. It just became easier because I was lighter. Heavy people have pretty good core muscles from hauling around so much weight and that strength comes in handy as you lose weight. I know a woman who lost a lot a weight 5 years ago on bypass and still at goal weight. She says that she hated exercise before and hates it now but she still consistently exercises because she loves the way she feels and looks. It can be difficult for people to decide between the band and bypass. My MD and nutritionist said that I would some weight but not a lot on the band if I didn't exercise. They said that if I didn't think I was going to exercise or watch my diet -- then I would be better off with bypass. I thought about it long and hard and decided that I would make the committment rather than do bypass. I don't think the band is for everyone.

I agree with the other suggestions re: exercise and fills but you may also want to first do the 5 Day Pouch Test to make sure your band is working well. Here is the website with the directions. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

Lunabeane-- I also teach and I understand how you feel. I think everyone is different. If I do less than 20 carbs I can barley think or move. I have spent months at less than 20 because I thought it would get better - but it never did. I find that if I just do a few more carbs --- 30 --then I'm fine. I don't do sticks because I know the stick won't turn at 30 for me. It's OK. I still get the benifits of low carb (maybe not quite as fast) but without feeling like a wet rag. There are different low carb diets. Atkins allows 20 carbs in the induction phase and requires ketosis during that time but there are other low carb diets that allow more carbs. Even Atkins allows more if you want to go to the 2nd phase. I have been off and on low carb for years. Now that I'm banded I am doing much better staying on it.

Ottilie-- I'm sorry you have a hard time. This sounds very frustrating. You don't give a lot of detail but I'm wondering if you have talked to your MD? What is the advise you have received? Do you go to any local support meetings? I'm thinking that there maybe several reason for what is happening. I think you need to talk to someone local who can really do a very good assessment of your situation. I hope you do not give up. Please see someone because I do feel that you need and deserve an answer and I think you can a solution. Good luck.

Congrats. I remember how happy I was too. In the first several weeks you will lose a lot and you will see results that will encourage you. The first few weeks can be challenging but if you do everything you are told by your MD you will be very happy.

Leah-- Sounds very normal to me. They pump you full of air to blow up your belly so they can put the band in. There are some people who seem to get through this stage fast -- but I don't think that is most people. I couldn't lie down in bed for 2 weeks. Sat up on the couch with my feet on an ottoman all night! Drink Water, take pain pills if they gave them to you --- or pain reliever. It will pass (sos to speak!). If you continue to worry or something really feels wrong --- call your MD. They SHOULD welcome your call and put you at ease. They get paid a lot of money and that includes aftercare. Good luck.

It seems like most people are saying that their MDs usually say 1 of 2 things about setting goals. They either tell them to set their own goal weight or they tell them that studies say the average weight loss is 50% of ideal weight. I'm with the ones who say set your own goal weight. It make sense. It is true that the average person loses 50% of ideal weight in published studies. I’m a researcher and I'd like to point that this statement is not that useful for us setting our goal weight. In any study there is a means. The mean (average) weight loss is 50%. That means that half the people in the study lost less than 50% and half the people in the study lost more than 50%. If there were 1000 people in the study there were people who did very well (at or near ideal weight) and there were also people who did lousy (didn't lose much or maybe even gained weight). All of that is added together to come up with the mean. Just because there are people who don't lose or gain weight or don't much is no reason why we can't set our sites on being one of the people who does better than 50%. We can be one of the ones who does better than 75% or 90%. We CAN set our own goals!

Tammy-- I also belched a LOT after surg. I also had the 10cc APS band and I was concerned about it. They put 2cc in at the time of surg to "prime" the band. I was told that belching a lot after surg was common. It did finally stop. I got my first fill 8 weeks after banding. The bottom line is -- I think it's still too soon for you to worry about. Just give it more time.

Marisol- At 234 at 4'11" is a 47.3 BMI. That qualifies you for banding. Anything over 40 BMI qualifies and 35 BMI qualifies if you have obesity related medical conditions (H B/P. sleep apnea, diabeties, etc.). However, your insurance co still has to approve it. Some companies don't pay for it --- some do. Even when they do pay for it - each insurance co/plan has it's own guidelines and policies. The best place to begin is to call your ins co and find out if your policy covers it. If so -- find out what their guidelines are. If that's a go-find an MD in your area that does the surg. Make sure you find someone who is certified in gastric banding becasue surgeons who are certified and have more practice at it -- have better outcomes. Good luck.

Good for you!!!! Go for it. If you are nervous -- go into Pub Med and look at the outcome studies for "gastric banding." You will see that this is a safe and effective way to lose weight.

I agree with what HeatherO said---and I'll add something. I am a researcher by profession. I researched the band -- the bypass---and non surgical weight loss methods for 1 year before I got the band. The bottom line for me was -- the thing that scared me LEAST was getting the band. The thing that scared me MOST was continuing on the sure path of death via obesity. I tried non-surgical methods for years --- I would lose some then gain it back. As the years went by I just got older and sicker. Bypass was too radical for me -- especially since I had "only" about 100lbs to loss. There is not a lot to be afraid of in the band. Nothing is a guarantee but it's been a very weight loss good tool for me so far. Good luck.

WOW!! And I'm complaining about my recent experience! You have me beat! First---I encourage you to hang in to see if this most recent adjustment does the trick. It sounds like the port surg was very recent? If so--I sure hope you find that the MD can do a fill soon. If he still has trouble----see someone else! I just got done reading some advise that says that they shouldn't keep trying after 3 misses because it increases the chance that they'll put a hole in the tubing. When they keep missing -- it probably means something is unusual about the port and they should be finding and filling it by X-ray. You don't give the details of your ordeal but from what I have seen -- most people with turned ports do NOT need resurg. Usually they can just locate the hole using a fluoroscope (x-ray machine). My MD couldn't get the needle in on my 2nd fill so he has scheduled me for a fill with a fluoroscope. I have to wait 4 weeks for access to the lab but at least they'll have a clear picture of what's what. Hang in there and keep us posted! Don't give up! If this doesn't work --- get someone else!

Sue-- Can I ask you something too? I'm in Westfield (Exit 3 on Turnpike in Western MA). I used to work at BU and still drive in to Beantown frequently. I was banded March 19 and need to lose a total of 100lbs. I lost 20 pre and 23 post surg. They gave me the 10cc APS band and put 2cc in at the time of surg. I was stalled for a number of weeks and now am at a CRAWL in losing. It's driving me nuts. My immediate problem concerns fills. I had my first post-op fill four and a half weeks ago. They put in an additional 2cc to make a total of 4. I returned last week for another. He tried about 10 times and said the port was turned. They will do it with a fluoroscope. I see that you had your first fill with a fluoroscope so they can locate the hole. I'm wondering if I should just ask them to keep using a fluoroscope from now on so I can get and stay at a sweet spot faster. Did you continue getting fills that way? If so -- do you think the fluoroscope helped you achieve your fast weight loss?

I agree with both of you about "training." I don't mean to be on a downer but to tell you the truth --- I find that we are living in a world where every field CLAIMS to have highly trained/professional people but quality is lacking all over the place. For the last week I have had a LOT of pain in my mouth. I began a root canal procedure in Boston (at a highly regarded dental center) and the dentist caused serious ulceration in my mouth. It seems that they use bleach (yes---that's right----bleach---as in Clorox!!) to flush out the canals. In this case, the bleach was mishandled. When I tried my best to "silently scream" with pain as the bleach proceeded to burn my mouth and throat --- the dentist minimized it and continued. I just saw my primary care who says it will take about another week before the ulcers and pain will clear. Even my sinuses and ears hurt! Now -- I ask you---if we can't even trust dentists at a world renowned research/teaching facility --- how can we trust personal trainers who get FAR less training and medical specialist. It seems that we are all just so darn busy and stressed out these days that no one really has the time anymore to LEARN well or slow down long enough to be thoughtful and careful. I guess the GOOD part of this story is that I can't eat much!! LOL!!

I'm updating on this pain so others that come after us will know what to expect and not get over worried about it. That particular type of pain is gone now for me. I have a NEW pain. I started at a gym and OOOOHHHHHH(!!!) my port area HURT!!! It started with strengths training and then got worse when I did cross training on a cycle. I wasn't even working that long. I talked with my MD. He said -- it's absolutely normal to feel that way because the port was anchored in a muscle wall and now I'm working on tightening that muscle. There's nothing wrong and he told me to keep training. He suggested support for a while---not becasue I had to have it for safety but only to ease the pain until the muscle firmed. I began using an old ace bandage I had around the house and it worked fine -- but after a week I went out and bought a firm cloth belt with Velcro on it to quickly fasten over my mid-section for $10. It works great.

Well ---so far so good. I have managed to do at least something every day even if it's only a little. The trainer at the gym told me something the other day that I have found helpful. She said having good days and bad days is part of being a human being and it's OK to be a human being. She said that there will be days that I won't feel so good ---that I'll be weaker---or tired. She said that she is a physical fitness nut and she still has plenty of days she isn't up to a full routine. On those days it's OK to cut back a little (but still do something). Yesterday was 1 of those days for me. I'm struggling with a very painful dental problem this week. I just feet tired. cranky and and very low energy. I had been at the gym the day before and I was embarrassed because I only had the strength to do 1 set (out of 2 sets) of the very light weight lifting routine that was set-up for me. I also could only do 20 mins of the 30 mins of cardio part of the program. For a minute, I thought ---"oh, I'll skip the gym." Then I thought about what the trainer said and I thought more about my "resistance" to going to the gym. I decided to do SOMETHING even though I felt like doing NOTHING. I decided to go out and just make sure my pedometer was set correctly. I measured out .5 miles with my car and then got out and walked up and back to my car (1 mile). It wasn't right so I walked another half miles to get it right. Other days I can walk 3 miles and feel fine but I gave myself permission to do the 1.5 I was still tired but I did notice that I sort of enjoyed it a little and I did feel proud of myself for not just blowing off exercise that day. As I'm thinking about all of this today -- I'm wonder if part of my tiredness and resistance to going to the gym yesterday was because I was embarrassed and a bit demoralized when I needed to quit in front of several younger and physically fit people who were around me at the gym. I ought to know better than that type of stinkin' thinkin' at my age! They are NOT concerned with me! They are there for there own health! If they even noticed they probably thought "look at that heavy older lady trying to take care of herself --- that's cool" And if any of them were looking down on me --- then why should I care about what someone like that would think in the first place. the gym is closed for the holiday today but I'll go back tomorrow. Now I'm heading up to a little local tourist town about a half hour drive from my home. I'm going to do a brisk walk around the town and stop at the local lake. I'll stop in at Subway and get a salad with tuna for lunch. Come on gang! Let' do this for US(!!!) because we want our lives back ----Because we are sick and tired of being sick and tired!!

Actually there is quite a significant body of research that does indeed demonstrate the health benefits of low carb. Anyone can just go to Pub Med on the internet -- a government site that contains research abstracts from thousands of major medical and health care journals -- and to read the abstracts. Just enter the terms "low carbohydrates" and whatever else you want (i.e. "health," "blood pressure," "cholesterol," "weight loss," "heart"). Most recently some studies are finding a relationship between lower rates of prostate cancer and low carbs. There are studies going on now to determine if it's also true for other types of cancer. The thing about science is that research can never prove something is true. Science can only prove that something is not true. It takes a lot of research over a long period to actually build a theory. There is also, unfortunately a political problem with research. Those with political influence to push their own agenda do tend to get the biggest share of research money. The best way to think about any research is to do an awful lot of reading about the different results and then watch for trends in the studies. That's how I decided to do the lap band versus getting a bypass. I just read it all and then weighed it out. We don't know any more about low fat or low carb than we do about bypass and lap band. We just have to do our reading, think about our own experience and then try to make the best decision for ourselves.

People are doing a lot of good posting to that I can really relate to. I'm glad we are talking about this. I started at the gym a couple of days ago. I can't quite believe it myself as I'm a TOTAL couch potato! I hope this works. The trainer has me starting with 2 sets of the following: 10 mins on the treadmill with a bit of an incline. She says great incline as opposed to fast speed is easier on the knee joints. After that I do 15 reps on several different machines and 2 exercises with free weights. She is making sure I'm not lifting anything over my head due to disc degeneration on 3 vertebrae. Then I end the set with 5 mins of interval training on an upright cycle. I do this every other day and I also do cardio on the opposite days. I have to say that it is enough for the moment. It's all I can handle and I definitely work up a sweat on this. My port area really hurts while I'm doing this but I'm thinking that it's probably normal. My MD said I could do the exercise. So far I'm not seeing a weight drop. I've been stuck for a month but it's only been a couple days now. We shall see.

Jachut----how far do you run? For how long? That's great! Wow surgbear!!! I'm glad you posted. I have degerative disc disease (and arthritis). I'm just now feeling good enough (41lbs lost) to start a good exercise plan. I know what you mean about younger trainers pushing too hard. When I went to my pre-op class -- some young atheletic trainer came from the local center to lecture a group of aging, very over weight, sick people who were going for bypass. I was the healthest and "skinniest" 1 of the lot!! I couldn't believe what she was telling them to do that to start off! I swear if they had done it -- it would have killed half of them! Those trainers ought to stop and think. I put a call into my neurosurgeons office today. I want to push myself to do as well as I can but I have to make sure I'm not shamed into doing things that will do more damage to my joints and spine (C5-6) and make me so tired that I get turned off to exercise. You are an inspiration to me and I'll bet that between my neurosurgeon and the PT I will be able to come up with a program that will be good. Thanks again.

Good! Isn't it a great feeling to know we can do it!

I was unmotivated but now I'm motivated and I have been trying to understand WHY I'm feeling different so I can do more of what works! I suppose everyone is different and what works for 1 person doesn't work for everyone. I guess sometimes - we do need a kick in the butt but I have to say that I don't find it helpful for me to call myself "lazy" or any other name. Picking on myself just makes me feel worse and more ashamed of myself. So I've been wondering why I drove myself to the gym this AM and enrolled in classes (something I have never done in my life before). I think there are several reasons. First, I lost 41 lbs pre/post op and I feel much better---more energetic--more inspired--more hopeful. Second, because although I'm still in pain (arthritis and degenerative disc disease) I'm not in the kind of pain I was 41lbs ago. I decided to get the band because I am 56 years old and could feel my health breaking down because of my weight. I didn't have energy--and couldn't do many of the things I once loved. I thought about all the dreams I had that weren't going to happen--not because I COULDN'T have more years to make them happen but because I was killing myself and ruining my health by my own behavior. I felt my life and the quality of my life slipping away. I have been struggling with all of this a lot the last several weeks because I haven't lost weight in the last 4 weeks. I knew I needed to do something or I was going to go back to that slow death. (I work hard. I'm too busy. I don't have the energy etc. --which was all true). But lecturing myself didn't work either. Finally, I had an idea that I thought just might work. ---- For the last 2 weekends --- I drove myself to a place on the ocean where I used to go when I was young. I walked and walked. I stared out to the sea. I felt the wind and listened to the waves as they crashed it. I felt such joy---not only because I was in that beautiful place again -- but becasue I was able to do something that I have not been able to do for YEARS. Becasue I was 41lbs lighter I was actually able to walk through the sand and along the ocean again. I had to give that up a long time ago. I felt like I was claiming my life again and I LOVED every precious second of it. On my drive back home yesterday -- I thought about all of this. I promised myself that I was going to join a gym --let someone else help me---work hard---and that 1 day a week --I'm going to take the long drive back to the ocean and treat myself to another long walk there. I intend to walk futher and futher as I get stronger and stronger. Then I'm going to treat myself to a fish and cole slaw dinner before I drive home. On that long walk I also started remembering things-----things that made me gain weight to make me feel safer. So I talked with someone about those memories today. It helped to "lighten" me emotionally and it helped me to be more determined to go to the gym. I'm still not really looking forward to going off to the gym everyday. I'm not looking forward to hurting joints or muscles. I have never liked sweating. I like working hard with my mind--not with my body. But now I KNOW I CAN do it and I have a vision of walking that ocean again in just a few more days. I know now that I can have my dreams and I CAN be safe in the world without killing myself with fat. Now I don't have a crystal ball so I don't know how this plan of mine will play out---but I have to say that so far -- I seem to be breaking through my tiredness and motivation problem. I'm saying all of this because I'm thinking that it might help someone else to really think carefullly about what is holding them back (physical pain? depression? fear? etc. What might be the personal little steps that YOU can take to get to the other side. I wish you the very best and I urge to love yourself and your life very very much.

I have to admit that the last thing I ever wanted to do was exercise! But -- I have lost and gained the same darn lb for the last 4 weeks. I have gotten in SOME walking but: 1) not nearly enough, and 2) walking won't raise my metabolism. I know I have to get myself on the move! Today I joined a gym (which is a sure sign of true desperation coming from ME). When I meet my new PT at the gym tomorrow I'm going to ask her to help me design a program that will give me the best possible metabolic increase and weight loss I can get over the summer. I know there's a link on the board for exercise but I thought perhaps other Shrinking Shamrocks would like to really chat about what we are doing --or want to do---or are having a hard time doing to raise our metabolic rate so we can get unstuck. What are other people doing? I guess I thought we could talk about what's working and what's not working to see that helps any of us.

I agree that it's a good thing to ask your MD. I was banded 3/19 and had the same thing happen. I was sure something was wrong but it ended up to be gas. Now -- when I get that I know what it is. It usually happens when I have not been drinking enough fluid.

My MD does stress solid Protein and low carb but not NO carbs. I am a medical researcher. I've read almost every piece of research on low carb diets. So far--there is no evidence that low carb diets are bad. In fact, the latest stream of research is full of surprising results that demonstrate that low carb dieters lose weight faster, end up with lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure, improved triglycerides, improved arthritis symptoms etc. There is, however, some evidence that too low of a carb count may bring on gout attacks. I have tried to follow a low carb diet for several years (and I also tried many other diets before banding as well). I lose weight but would always go back to bad eating habits and regain. That's why I got the band. Diet just wasn't enough for me. About 2 years ago --- I needed to see a neuro-endocrinological surgeon. He is very well known in his field and teaches at Harvard. I sheepishly told him that I was trying to do low carb because I found it worked best for me. I was afraid to tell him because I thought he might yell at me. I was quite surprised when he said "GOOD!!" That is EXACTLY what you SHOULD be doing! He continued to encourage me to follow low carb. He told me that I was insulin resistant and that low carb was the very best diet I could possibly follow. He said that it is a matter of genetics and I just happen to have the genes that lead to insulin resistance. As I read more and more research on this topic -- I began to understand why he was so encouraging of low carb. Most carbs we eat come from processed foods (sugar, Pasta, bread, Cookies, and newly engineered vegetable such as today's version of corn). Our genes have not changed in 80,000 years and this type of food is not proper fuel for the human body. Many natural vegetables have carbs but they tend to be far lower in carbs than processed foods and are packed with important nutrients. Those are good carbs. Those foods contain complex carbs as opposed to simple carbs (sugar, bread, pasta etc) which are absorbed at much slower rates in the body and that does not cause our blood sugar to skyrocket.

He put 2cc in a 10 AP (standard) band at surg. on 3/19. I had my first post-op fill 5/13/08 with another 2cc for a total of 4cc. I think I'm eating the amount I should be (a cup or less). I have lost a total of 41lbs.