sara7venus

That pretty much says it all! Reading it was a great way for me to remind myself why I'm doing this (although it sits in my mind, always). Great essay.

Hi Val! Feel free to PM me here at LBT if you ever need to chat or need advice about anything. I have a cell phone, too, if you're ever in need of a more lengthy conversation! I'm very motivated by my weight loss, and just continue to be amazed by the Lap Band's assistance with this whole process! Yay! You're doing great, by the way - awesome job!

One more thought - even if someone is eating 100 grams of protein per day, that's still only 400 calories worth of energy. Relatively speaking, that's not a lot - if you're eating the rest of your calories as fat (9 calories / gram) and carbs (4 calories / gram), that leaves a lot of room to have a pretty diverse diet.

MacMadame, that is a great point, considering that you are a bypasser. Regarding lean muscle mass, everyone should be worried about losing muscle during weight loss. The nutritional requirement for adult women is approximately 46g of whole Protein per day to avoid a deficiency. I don't think any of us posting on this board eat whatever we want to, whenever - we all have guidelines we use to control our eating, whether it's intuitive, counting calories, logging our food intake, etc. Part of however we lose weight or maintain our weight is to keep track of ourselves somehow - this likely includes making sure that we are healthy, along with the benefits of actual weight loss. Here's an example. On a *typical* day, I eat 30% or less of my calories as fat (about 470 calories). 20% - 30% of my calories come from lean protein (about 200 calories), and about 30% of my calories come from complex carbs (another 550 calories). I eat roughly 1200 calories per day, depending on my activity level. While it isn't considered "low carb", it is low-calorie, low-fat, and generally HIGH in protein (slightly more than 46g per day). I work out and am very physically active, so my personal protein requirement is increased. This is true for anyone who is very physically active. I have known people who have suffered horrible consequences as a result of losing weight quickly without paying attention to consuming enough protein. Protein deficiency leads to nitrogen deficiency, which can have disastrous effects on the body. I had a good friend with hair loss, immune deficiency issues, and tooth loss because she failed to eat enough protein. She lost weight, yes, but was extremely unhealthy in the long-term. Just my humble opinion, which I've formed from past experience. Be well, everyone!

I love the compliment from your husband!!! Any type of unsolicited (and positive) comments like that are good for the heart AND soul. That's awesome that he's noticing, and actually telling you so. Regarding the band, I know *exactly* what you mean. On the days when I am really busy and not THINKING about food, I can go a really long time without eating. One thing I've started to pay attention to is the TYPE of hunger I'm feeling. "Head hunger" is real, but the physical hunger is not. I try to pay attention to whether my stomach is actually *growling*, or if I'm just bored or something. Also, sometimes I have an *emotional* need that isn't being met. I pay attention to that, too. I tend to eat when I'm stressed, overwhelmed, sad, angry ... It is at those times when I know that I need to be especially cautious of "head hunger". I hope this helps! You're doing great - awesome job!!! -Sarah H.

MacMadame, Great informed response! I know what you mean about not being interested in food very much. I can't believe how the focus of my life has shifted since I had this surgery ... I tend to eat low-carb, because I feel better when I eat less sugar. I have an occasional piece of bread here and there, and once-in-a-while I eat something with, say, barbecue sauce on it (that's not exactly low carb...). I know that there are those out there who claim that low carb is just a "quick fix", and that as soon as one introduces carbs back into one's diet that the weight will just come right back on. As someone who has been living a relatively consistent low-carb *lifestyle* (it isn't a "diet") for several years, I can honestly say that I have more energy, am less hungry, and can concentrate a lot better when I make low-carb food choices. Also, if I choose to introduce *one serving* of something with a lot of carbs, I don't feel the negative effects like I would if I had been eating a "high-carb, low-fat diet". Low-carb, lean-Protein works the best for me, so far, and I only feel the negative effects of high-carb foods if I keep eating them for more than a couple of days. Otherwise, it's all good. I also believe that different people have different nutritional needs, so some people may not do well on lean-protein and low-carb. It's just my take on something that has been working for me for many years. Happy new year, everyone! -Sarah H.

It isn't just "Oprah bashing" going on here. She has every right to voice her thoughts and opinions, but so do we! She uses her position to influence people. I have a band, but it isn't like I don't work very hard to lose this weight! It's still a daily struggle (that I don't always win!). She has pretty much judged everyone who's been banded, by saying that WLS is a cop-out. If she has the guts to judge all of us :tounge_smile:, then I think we deserve to speak our minds as well !

Oprah is about the best example of narcissism in our society as I have ever observed. She tries to make up for her self-perceived "flaws" by over-compensating. She shows off her "generosity" as much as possible, yet has no real connection to actual REAL LIFE. I live in Chicago; I have been watching her for years. It's all an act, and she does it to make herself more money. The issue with her weight is HER issue. She has to deal with it the same as the rest of us. The biggest difference is that she somehow thinks that she's SO wonderful that if she "speaks out" about her issues, that it will somehow "help" all of us poor, unfortunate souls, who have nothing to live for. I haven't watched Oprah since I was in college 10 years ago. She is a hypocrite and is out for herself.

Thanks, Heather. I think you're right, and I'm glad that there are some people using this message board to be positive.

Jacqui - More argumentative blather to cheer everyone up - thanks for that. As my previous posts will evidence, I never mentioned once that "my doctor told me he was putting me into some magical weight loss mode". I also never suggested that staying on Opti Fast long-term was a healthy choice. If you're here to put words in others' mouths, then I graciously ask you to please keep it to yourself. Thanks, but no thanks for the suggestions. I'm all about having constructive conversation; when I start to feel insulted, that's where I draw the line.

Ummm ... Yeah ... You do sound argumentative. The idea, as described to me by my *surgeon* is to get the liver to shrink, and to get the body into a weight-loss cycle. Whatever your surgeon has described to you may be different; I'm just communicating what has been told to me by the various healthcare providers in my life. It is your opinion, and your opinion alone, when you say that eating low-carbs/opti-fast before surgery "is in no way good for you". Having a fatty liver is, in fact, bad. Look it up in Wikipedia if you don't believe me. I'm pretty sure this isn't a good place to be arguing opinions of various doctors on different continents. That discussion could likely be had in a different forum.

First and foremost, people have to *want* to lose weight in order to lose weight. The band has helped, but it doesn't keep me from being hungry 100% of the time. Most of it is up to me. Tracking calories takes time and commitment. Weighing and measuring food all the time takes a lot of dedication. Using the band as a *tool* for weight loss does take practice, but the person has to be dedicated. Joiful, I can understand that you want to have a sweet once per week. I also enjoy a "treat" every now and again. But maybe it's this idea of loving the treat more than yourself. Enjoying 1/2 cup of ice cream is not that big of a deal, once in a while. Taking control of food and not letting food control us is the true battle here. We all contend with this *constantly* everyday, don't we?

Joiful, I hate to sound like a nag or a negative person, but if food is getting stuck in the band, then it's working ... Emotional eating isn't just a made-up thing ... It's real, and it sounds like you might be having quite a bit of that going on.

Hello everyone, I'm 31 and married with a child :grouphug:) I'm available as a buddy if anyone needs me! I have been losing a lot faster since my 4th fill, and I feel like I finally have a handle on how to use this band to lose *lots* of weight, and stay healthy at the same time. It's both exciting and scary! I'm available to chat, e-mail, eat lunch/dinner together ... I'm a very social person and I like to get up and go! If anyone is in need, let me know. Best, Sarah H.