2muchfun

I see bandsters comment often that they're caloric intake is very low but they don't lose weight. I'd be careful that your body doesn't go into a starvation mode and your metabolism slows down so much you're losing very little. Here's one from just a few hours ago: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/164823-depressed/ I would recommend kicking it up to 1000-1200 to evade slowing down your metabolism. Mix it up too. Maybe 1200/day for a week and when your body's metabolism increases, hit it with 800 again. Good luck. tmf

Bingo!

I'm going to stop responding to these posts and just click on "Like" whenever Missy posts. Nothing left to say. tmf

If you're not getting enough calories or the right nutrition, your bady will tell you and it sounds like it's speaking loud and clear. tmf

Only you will know if you can continue to lose without the band? Most of us have lost and gained dozens of times and know for a fact that we need more help than just willpower. tmf

Polar H7(bluetooth version) is awesome. I use it with my Iphone. I downloaded the polar app but I find the cyclemeter app to be much easier to read. They're both cheap to free. Yes, knowing your heart rate is critical if you want to push your limits and get the best workout possible.

You might want to mix up your diet. Try eating 1400 a day for a few days and then 800 for a few days. Sometimes our bodies go into a starvation mode and slows down the metabolism. You need to trick the body out of that mode and eating more calories might do that. Change up your exercise routine too. Maybe try elliptical, stair climbers or recumbent bikes instead of walking a few days a week. Walking is good but if you can work your muscles more you might ramp up your metabolism. tmf

This is a topic heavily discussed on this forum. I sometimes sip but I got used to eating without drinking so I usually stick to the original script given to me in 2011. Since then a study or two have come out and claim it's OK as Dr O'Brien suggests. Some doctors are picking up on this trend but for the most part, most doctors still stick to the no drinking while eating. I think the no drinking rule is a good one. Even for me it's difficult to wait an entire minute before drinking. If I don't wait I risk washing my food down with the Water and compromise the efficacy of the band. tmf

I doubt you'll find a doctor who would accept the liability of doing both? Unless they're laparoscopic trained as well as trained in plastic surgery. You're talking about two very different types of doctors and surgeries. tmf

Why Denver? Seems like you would want a doc near where you live? Post surgery support is very important!!

I never went through the liver shrinkage routine and if you've lost weight you may not have to either. I think patients who have gained back much of their weight might have to follow the pre-op diet if that's the doctors usual routine?

I can eat steak but I rarely do. I do eat hamburger but mostly mixed with salsa or brown rice. I made up some stuffed peppers that each have about 2 ozs of very lean humburger in them so I get that red meat flavor but it's close to a slider food since it's got a little parmesan and marinara sauce mixed with it.

Doubt the slip. Most likely just an exaggerated display of "Bandster Hell".

A significant stuck episode can strain the pouch and cause some swelling in the band area so you might be feeling the edema from some minor damage. You might want to go to liquids, Soups, broth until the swelling goes down? tmf

I don't think it's the fat they're concerned with? It's that your body stores a lot of water if you're eating lots of carbs and fatty foods. They want the liver to shred the excess fluids the liver is retaining.

I don't get it?

Missy, why don't you provide her with that Dr Simpson link? Here's some helpful video's for Whitney and a link to a bariatrics manual. But you really should see a nutritionist? Why did you not go back to your doctor? I've never heard of a doc who just did surgery and let you loose with no guidance? Can't you go back to him and ask for help? Try this: http://www.peachtreebariatrics.com/docs/Gastric-Band-Patient-Manual.pdf And these videos: Part 1 part 2 Part 3 Part 4

What you are feeling is one of the signals you need to watch for. This is the signal you've eaten too quickly, too much or too big. Slow down and let the band work it's magic. Learning to eat the right way with the band is one of the hardest for obese people to conquer. Years of gorging, eating fast and not chewing can take another lifetime to unlearn. Take small bites, put your fork down and chew chew chew. Swallow, then pick up your fork again to start the process all over again. BTW-This feeling is also a signal to stop, put your fork down, package up the remainder or your food and wait till your next meal to eat again. tmf

I once belonged to weight watchers and left only because I was the only guy and got tired of watching Oprah videos But I think it's good to lean on WW as a nutrition tool. It's a great reminder that we sometimes don't eat as healthy as we should. I know each visit with my nut is about $50 so WW is a bargain. Just keep in mind that for the tool to work properly we should eat our Protein first. And I know back when I used to go to WW, processed foods weren't crossed off the list as much as they are now. Processed flour, sugar & meats should be avoided in favor of fresh fruit, veggies and meats. imo tmf

One more thing. Very few of us can eat a bagel without some difficulty. Very very small bites with breads, especially soft doughy bagel type breads. Dry meats are always an issue unless, you take very small bites. Adding more Fluid to your band doesn't seem like a logical step to me but that's for your doc to decide? tmf

You might want to venture over to the http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/ site and ask the question? You won't find any sleevers revising to band but you will find some bandsters who revised to the sleeve. I would imagine some may not have nice things to say about the band as some people cannot adapt to the banded life. It is a lot of work and requires a lot of discipline. But lurking on both sites would be recommended if you're up in the air over which one to choose. tmf

^5

If you come here early this month there are some support groups you can tap into for support or help? Parker is a ways away for me to help you. Who is your surgeon and who is your nutritionist? BTW-You most likely won't need a nurse and definitely not a clinic to help you post surgery. It would be nice for the first 24-48 hours to have a friend bring you Water, broth etc but this surgery is not debilitating enough to require a full time nursemaid. Local support group agenda for Feb from Mark Elliot elliotmark100@gmail.com Hello everyone! Thanks everyone who listened to my plea for acting on Pants Across SkyRidge! What a success it was and congrats to the 4 make over winners....Mary, Michelle, Lisa and Richard! You all looked amazing! Reminder...I no longer run the Swedish Hospital support group. They decided to keep it "in house. It is hard to not get the chance to tell some of you goodbye. You are all welcome to come to Sky Ridge or North Suburban Medical Center or St. Joes group! Feb 7th (remember it is moved up one week) SKYRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER ....topic...show and tell....bring your favorite food product that helps you to stay on track. Feb 11th TENTATIVE START DATE FOR St. Joes group 6pm to 730 pm...room to be announced! Topic...bring your favorite food product that helps you stay on track! Feb 20th NORTH SUBURBAN MEDICAL CENTER 6pm to 730 pm Aspen room in basement. Topic...bring your favorite food product to show the group. Bring the healthy food that helps you stay on track! Hope to see ALL of you this month and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

I see posts like yours every week. If you can eat soft foods and don't throw up, you should also be able to eat solids too. I say this because, if you eat slowly, eat very small and chew very much, the food becomes a soft food by the time it reaches your pouch. It's mush and not much different than soup, or oatmeal. If you can make a big effort to eat this way, see if it might solve the problem. A visit with your doc and nut is the first or next step. A small unfill might be necessary but it's difficult to wrap my mind around your band getting tighter all on it's own? A slip is always a possibility and your doc will know? But, before you go in, try the small eats, big chews and slow down? tmf

You seem to be stuck. Just walk around and let gravity do it's job. Raise your arms above your head a few times too. Rethink taking those meds all at once or find smaller meds to take? I have to break some of mine in half. If it continues and you can't drink fluids, call your doc in the morning tmf