sadie11

I had my gall bladder out a couple of years ago and it took 2 weeks to feel good and stop the pain meds. My lap band took 2 weeks also. I worked from home the 2nd week but still got pretty tired. sleeping was hard because I like to sleep on my stomach. I took pain meds to help me stay asleep otherwise I woke up every time i moved. My partner had the same experience. Take the 2 weeks off and enjoy the break! Sadie

Article in the Wall St Journal today made me feel sooo much better about my previous diet "failures". Waddya think? I knew that there was a biological reason for how hard it is to keep weight off. I also believe that the more times you diet the quicker and stronger this response is. So obviously those of us who started dieting in 6th grade have an impossible task by the time we are 30. It's hard to defeat Mother Nature! Can't Keep the Weight Off? Maybe Leptin Is the Culprit July 8, 2008; Page D1<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> So, you ate less and exercised more and lost weight. But now the pounds are piling back on. You're hungrier than ever, and you can't seem to resist food. Once again, it's all your fault, right? Wrong. Blame evolution, and the fact that for the vast majority of human history, famine was a bigger threat than flab. Even your seeming lack of will power is part of a complex biological system that drives humans who have lost weight to regain it, according to new brain-scan research by scientists at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Columbia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Medical</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. "Loosely put, after you've lost weight, you have more of an emotional response to food and less ability to control that response," says Michael Rosenbaum, lead author of the study in this month's Journal of Clinical Investigation. The key driver of this system is leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells. When humans (and rodents) lose 10% or more of their body weight, leptin falls rapidly and sets off a cascade of physiological changes that act to put weight back on. Skeletal muscles work more efficiently, thyroid and other hormones are reduced -- all so the body burns 15% to 20% fewer calories, enough to put back 25 pounds or more a year. This mechanism kicks in whether people are obese or relatively lean before losing weight -- and researchers believe the effect can last for years. In previous studies, giving subjects replacement leptin reversed the metabolic changes, in effect tricking the body into ignoring the weight loss. The latest study shows that these metabolic changes are mirrored in altered brain activity when people lose weight. The Columbia researchers put six obese subjects on liquid diets and reduced their weight by 10%, then gave them replacement leptin or a placebo. At each stage, researchers observed their brain activity using functional MRIs when they were shown food and non-food items. The scans showed that in the weight-reduced state, the subjects had more blood flow in areas of the brain that govern emotional and sensory responses to food and less in areas involving control of food intake. When the subjects were given replacement leptin, brain activity returned to what it had been before they lost weight. There are still many unknowns about how blood flow in the brain corresponds to behavior. "I can't look at these scans and say, in 30 seconds, you're going to eat a banana," says Rudolph Leibel, a co-author of the <st1:City w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City> study who helped discover leptin in the 1990s at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Rockefeller</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Still, he says, the brain images provide further evidence of the powerful biological forces that send humans into survival mode, mentally and physically, when food is scarce and fat stores decline. "These people act as if they are hungrier, and combined with reduced energy expenditure, that's the 'perfect storm' for gaining weight." Dr. Leibel also says that people should understand that regaining lost weight "is not free will. It's biologically determined and the species that didn't have this are the ones you see in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Natural History</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>." It's only been in recent decades that this mechanism is contributing more to obesity than survival. "Now, anyone can summon an unlimited amount of food just with a cellphone," he says. Scientists originally thought leptin might be harnessed as a weight-loss drug. Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. continues to research that possibility and is in Phase 2 trials of a combination of leptin and pramlintide, a diabetes drug. But leptin may hold more promise in helping to keep weight off, an area that the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> researchers say deserves more attention. How do some people manage to overcome the leptin effect and keep weight off? Generally by watching their food intake very carefully and continuing to increase their physical activity. "Anybody who has lost weight and kept it off will tell you that they have to keep battling," says Dr. Rosenbaum. "They have essentially reinvented themselves, and they are worthy of the utmost admiration and respect." I think I am in love with Dr. Rosenbaum! He gets it! Sadie

Hi Folks; I have noticed that food just doesn't taste as good as it used since I have been banded. I no longer get that "OMG this is delicious" feeling when I eat my favorite foods. the taste is just not the same. I'm not complaining but I do sometimes miss eating a delicious meal that is just soooo satisfying. How about you? Sadie

Okay - I ate a bunch over the 4th of July-- so I'm back on track today-- shooting for onederland by Labor Day! Keep going everyone- we can do it! Sadie

Oh I just read the directions! Maybe 20 lbs is alot in 2 months but I'll try. Sadie NAME ____________weight now____ goal___ lbs lost *****:cool2:********** **********:thumbup:******:tt2:***** aJoneen............230.........220.......1....... Babs0101...........185.........170.......0....... blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4.......:thumbup: BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......0....... Bunkey1965.........212.........205.......0....... Chocolate_Snaps....260.........240.......0....... FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0....... HeatherO...........172.........155.......0....... KarenG.............166.........158.......0....... KathyStrick........305.........290.......0....... Leslie2Lose........224.........209.......0....... Lunabeane..........221.........200.......0....... Luu2008............219.........189.......7....... Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0....... luvinke............206.........190.......0....... mamato3............199.........184.......0....... mcgreen............189.........175.......0....... MSnika3............229.........204.......0....... NANAbanded.........225.........199.......0....... Ollie..............242.........210.......0....... Redtulips..........194.........180.......0....... Renewedhope........178.........155.......1....... ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0....... slgandera..........185.........173.......0....... StartingOver.......220.........205.......0....... want_so_bad........170.........155.......0....... Sadie..............220.........199.......0.......:tt2:

Okay- me too Current 220 goal 199 lost 0 Sadie

The band taught me patience. Lots of patience. If you keep doing the right things, everything works out. Even now I go a week or so with a gain on the scale and then bamm a couple of pounds come off. Stay away from sugar and your weight loss will be smoother. The scale NEVER does what I want it to do! It's always slower than I want it to be! Sadie

Ohh baby I love those meatballs! They are my favorite meal. I make them with 93% lean hamburger, Italian breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, onion and green pepper. Then I use Old World Ragu sauce. Yum! Oh and put some parmesan cheese on them. So I get meat Protein, Vit b12, dairy, eggs, vegies and a bit of bread. Seems pretty balanced to me! I only eat 2-3 at a time and they really fill me up. Sadie

I joined Weight watchers 2 months ago. I found that having to go in to be weighed every week really helped me stay on track. I was kind of floundering around going up 2 lbs and then down 2 lbs and not getting anywhere. Now I really concentrate on what I am eating and working harder at losing. Helps me focus my motivation. I have been very happy with my new system. I haven't told them I am banded and usually don't stay for the meetings. Weighing in is all I need from them. But when I get to Lifetime, I'll take it! Success on your journey! Sadie

Longto2bthin and Indigo/Janet; Coming out of the closet is always a little scary. I have been surprised at some of my friend's reactions. One or two have been critical but mostly they have been supportive. And screw them if they aren't! Indigo- you look great and congratulations on your 100 lbs! Way to go! Determination works! My goal is 100 lbs at my one year bandivesary too. I just got tickets to Mexico for Feb 2009 and a week at a fabulous resort to Celebrate. Gonna do it! Sadie

My food does get cold! It is annoying to me so when I'm home I have very small portions like 2 meatballs with sauce. Usually that's all I eat. And I wait between each bite but it's still warm. I don't wait 1-2 minutes however unless it is a "hard" Protein like chicken. Eating out is just not the same with the band. I can eat queso with chips but that is the only thing I can eat a whole order of. Other stuff I usually can only eat 1/4 and bring the rest home. I am so thrilled to be full with 2 meatballs! But sometimes I miss chomping into a big ole hamburger! Sadie

Long2bethin; You rock! I have attended lots of WW meetings and no one ever got a 5lb, 10 lb, etc etc awards in one meeting. That is great! I feel like I am going to confession when I go weigh in every week and the meeting is like Sunday mass. I guess the experience makes me face my transgressions from the previous week. I always do better the 2 days before and the day after I weigh in. Which leaves only 4 days to manage my eating and I can do that! So I'm gonna keep on until I hit goal (which has never happened before!) and I'm gonna get that lifetime membership no matter what! I think you get a little gold star (?) for your keychain at Lifetime and by God, I'm gonna get it. Love and Success to everyone's journey! Sadie

Hi Long2bethin- I'm in Boulder and go to the Boulder WW. Maybe you should wait a bit and start with new start weight with WW. Or go and blow them away! I also go to different meetings during the week especially if I have lost a lot. Stealth attendance at WW! I haven't told them I was banded. I have heard the members don't treat you so well if they think you are "cheating". I have found weighing in at WW to be the most valuable thing I do other than exercising. It keeps me working and the structure of having to weigh in really helps me pass up that cupcake! I never want a week where I gain. I paid $10,000 for this for goodness sake! Losing weight with the band is still hard but not AS hard so I feel okay about going to WW. I have to keep to my diet and exercise- I just lose a bit more per week than the average member and much better than I did before the band. I keep it pretty low key when I go to a meeting. I'm close to my 10% ( I started WW a few weeks after getting the band when I wasn't losing ANYTHING! so I haven't lost as much with them as when I started fasting for my surgery). Getting to goal is critical to me and I don't want to let up my efforts. WW helps me do that so it's worth the $40 a month to me. Good luck to you! And welcome to the Band! I love my Band! Sadie

I t really helps me to go out for a walk when I am eating like that. Even a short walk at lunch. You need to find strategies to cope with eating less. It feels like i have lost an old friend sometimes and I feel ill at ease and just want to eat. I had to find something else to do with my jicky feelings. Exercise really helps. And remember nothing changes if nothing changes. Success on your journey. Sadie

Hi all; Just checking in- I have been doing great and losing about 1.5 to 2 lbs a week. I spent a couple of weeks screwing around with the band- ya know eating ice cream and sugar but have now gotten down to work. Ice cream slides right down unfortuantely. I cannot lose unless I exercise EVERYDAY! i have to walk at least 2 miles and then I have consistent weight loss. My very skinny friend is walking with me once a week up this huge mountain - about 3 miles - really exhausting but I'm getting stronger and every week is a bit easier. there are whole catagories of food I just don't eat anymore and I'm fine with it. My cravings are much less after the band. My goal is 57 lbs gone by August 27th- my Maine vacation and then only 36 lbs to go for goal at weight watchers. I hope to lose 102 lb total at my one year Band anniversary March 2009. Best to all and success on your journey! Sadie

Hi all you 3/3'ers! Glad everyone is learning to cope with this thing in us. I struggled a few weeks and was just going up 2 lbs and down 2 lbs and not getting anywhere. It was frustrating. So I joined Weight Watchers and even though I don't count points or anything, the weighing in each week REALLY helps me. I get my fanny in gear a few days before weigh in because I never want to gain. So far it has worked really well for me. I lose about 1.5 to 2 lbs a week now pretty easily. But I have to walk every day even though I am not eating much. I guess it's my age or something. My mini goal is 50 lbs by the end of August and I think I can make it. I haven't told anyone at WW that I have a band and I try to minimize my success. I remember struggling with .2 lb weight loss at WW before the band - I don't want any of those very kind ladies to feel bad. So I play it down. It's fine - i just want them to weight me in each week. That is so motivating to me! Best to all! Sadie

The Wii console and the Wii Fit are hard to find. I got my console through Ebay used and ordered the Wii Fit months before it came out. Either they can't make them fast enough or they are deliberately creating a shortage. Wii Fit is fun and great when I don't feel like venturing outside for a walk. In the summer, the heat can be brutal in Colorado (even though it is a DRY heat- yuk yuk).

Aw shucks ladies- thanks for all the kind words. It weren't nothin' And yes I love my Townie 8 - now I am working on being able to ride to the Reservior and back - 6 miles with a bunch of small hills - I have NO bike muscles at all! I did when I was 8 years old but not now - 50 years later! I get jelly legs after 1/2 hour! BTW I just got a Wii Fit Board- they are terrific and fun. A good indoor workout. Wii are great - the exercises are not too hard but good for you - I like the yoga and running. I really worked up a sweat. And yes I love video games too- I am trying to remain perpetually immature! Sadie

Becky- thanks for the kind words. I think I'll keep the post and put it on MY refrig too. It is so easy for me to "forget" the truth and curse about not losing weight. Or maybe I should put a mirror on the refrigerator! A full length one! Waddya think? Wouldn't that cut the obesity rate in the US??? Yuk yuk --I'm gonna write to Frigadare and Kenmore. The anti-obesity refrig! Sadie

One more thing. 14. Change is hard. It is hard to change how you are eating after 50 odd years. Changing your immediate response to life events and your attitude towards food is hard. It takes time to learn new ways. Give yourself a break and don't expect perfection right away. Expect to struggle but resolve to win the war and be different. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Sadie

After 3 months on the band, here is what I have learned (and sometimes re-learned! several times): 1. You have to diet to lose weight. Eating randomly does NOT work. 2. Going to Weight Watchers to weigh in makes me accountable and I start losing weight again. The WW structure works for me. No I didn't tell them I was banded. 3. Ice cream and chocolate go down REAL easy even If I have restriction. 4. I can't eat sugar. Period. I won't lose weight. It makes me want more sugar just like before the band (although my level of craving is less) 5. I can resist sugar better because of the band. I don't have the cravings I used to have. Thank goodness! 6. When I am not losing weight, it's because I am underestimating how many calories I am really eating. Just like before the band. 7. I don't lose weight unless I exercise. Walking for 45 minutes does it. Just like before the band. 8. Eating Medifast high protein bars works well for me. Eating Snickers bars does not. 9. I miss chomping into a big Red Robin hamburger sometimes. Those days are over and I grieve a bit for them. But then I look at my big jeans and feel better. 10. When I am feeling uneasy, I go look for food but going for a walk makes me feel better. 11. The band has made it easier for me to make good choices and decide to exercise instead of eating when I am feeling jicky and upset. 12. The band has saved my life but I need to do my part. There are no magic cures in this world. I am responsible for myself. 13. I bought a new "comfort bike" with my Stimulus check from the government. It is beautiful and very comfortable indeed! Electra Townie 8 in baby blue! That's all- I'd love to hear others ideas on what they have learned since joining the BAND! Love and success on all your journeys. Sadie

Hi Folks; Well it's been 3 months and yesterday I was coming down the stairs and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had to sit down on the stairs. My lap band, in spite of all the adjustments I have had to make eating wise, has finally given me my dream. My dream was to finally not be fixated on food. I suddenly realized how much time and energy I have expended over the years thinking about food and diet- being on a diet, going on a diet, screwing up my diet, fighting overwhelming cravings. When I was walking down the stairs, I realized I was hungry and hadn't eaten much yet. I was floored by how normal that seemed. I could go to the kitchen and eat a bit, not being afraid I'd gobble everything in sight. Yes I'm still on a diet and going to Weight Watchers and walk daily but it such a joy to just follow the diet and not have the constant struggle with myself and cravings. I lose 2 lbs a week pretty consistently. Some days I am hungry and I eat little more --then the next day I'm usually not hungry so I eat less. What joy! I'm not totally sure but I think this is how regular people are. I asked my friend who has never been on a diet (Yikes!) and she said yes that's how she eats. She does not know the calories in any foods and does not care. I know the Band is a pain to get used to but once it works and you accept the limitations and eat healthfully most of the time, it is a blessing. For the first time in my life, I know I will lose my excess weight and keep it off. I thought I'd post this because there are lots of posts about problems with the Band. Here is a success story. Love and success on all our journeys- Sadie

Dr Tom Brown, DEnver $9,900 and Dr Kishbaum, Denver $9,900. DEnver is pretty reasonable comapred to other parts of the country

I understand your situation. If I eat mashed potatoes, ice cream and candy- they go right down my band with no problem. If I eat chicken and other good foods that have some bulk to them, the band works as it should. I can eat a whole order of Qodoba's queso dip and chips with no problem but give me chicken with BBQ sauce and I can eat 1/2 cup. I wasn't losing weight and realized I was sabtoaging myself. So I went back to the basics and just give myself a FEW chips and I am exercising regularly. And I'm losing weight again. I also joined weight Watchers and weighing in every week REALLY helps! I didn't tell them anything about the band cause I feel like I am working pretty hard at this. So try laying off the easy foods and use the band as it is supposed to be used.

Jim- you're being too hard on yourself. I don't believe that the current problem in America with obesity is a matter of self control. It is obvious to me as a scientist that there are other significant factors going on. A 98% failure rate is a statistical impossiblity if the operating factor is just self control. I suspect that there are significant physiological changes in our bodies when we eat high fructose corn syrup or white flour or white sugar. Something happens to make losing weight so impossible.It is not just will power. If it was more people would be successful at losing and keeping weight off. The recent discovery that cutting into an area of the small intestine cures diabetes immediately after surgery without weight loss tells us that a lot of the knowledge about obesity and the resulting problems are probably wrong. Reminds me of the theory of ulcers- that stress caused ulcers and the dr's put you on milk etc when it was a bacteria all along. Oops. I think "diets" will be viewed the same way in the future. So forgive yourself and wait for science to catch up to us. Be glad that you could afford to self pay (and I am thankful for that also in my case). Love and success to all on our journey. Sadie