bambam31

Initial process is conducive to hair loss not only because of Protein reduction but also due to stress imposed in the body from big changes. Stay focused and it will improve!

Brad

Yep have had Quinoa without issues. It's a very healthy food choice.

Brad

Watch ingredient lists very carefully on Protein bars... A lot of them are just processed crap that amount to nothing more than a glorified candy bar.

Brad

Cycling is excellent low impact exercise that burns a good amount of calories! Swimming too...

Brad

Most docs will green light crunches but focus on full body activities for your main source of exercise because you'll burn far more calories. Your quads are the biggest muscles in your body so be certain they are getting a workload. You can't lose belly fat by doing spot exercises anyway but crunches will help firm those mid section muscles.

Brad

There is success in that you know how to correct it - but also have been warned what happens when you revert to the old bad habits. Consider it a valuable lessen learned. One good thing is that initially when you have a rapid gain a lot of it is Fluid so get back in track and drink lots of Water. After a few days weigh yourself and you'll see that you shed a good percentage of that scale reading already...

Brad

Congrats to you! The confidence boost is huge isn't it?!?!

Obesity is the end result of many factors - most of which are the result of bad decisions and correctable with lifestyle change. That's also why a calorie is a calorie is a calorie is not an honest statement. The chemical response to a Protein is not the same as a carb and a simple carb not the same as a complex one. Carbs and calories are not the enemy - we are. And we can be our worst enemy in many cases. I like the heroin analogy pertaining to sugar. That is so accurate for many people. But ultimately it comes down to personal decisions... Some people can drink alcohol and have no issues - other should avoid it because they don't know when to say when - same applies to simple carbs. If you can't keep control then avoid it in the first place.

While I think it's dismissive to blame a school lunch program for anyone's weight problem, it's also an area that the educational system is missing the boat. There is no good reason why learning about the human body and its use and application of nutrients is not mandated as part of the science curriculum. Eating and lifestyle habits are learned early in life and bad habits in that area are very hard to correct. Almost every 5th grader has had to dissect a frog yet how many of them know that carbs and Proteins have 4 calories per gram, alcohol 7, and fat 9??? Why not???

They should focus on educating kids on their bodies and fuel sources as a starting point - it affects every aspect of a students life and performance. And also stop pushing processed crap for the sake of a buck...

Brad

Just discuss with your surgeon. Mine told me that there wasn't any exercise I could do that would injure the band.

Braf

Your band starts out with very little Fluid so as the surgery swelling subsides you lose that restriction. And with that loss the hunger will return with a vengeance. It's best to know what to expect so that you can be confident that its' normal and have a strategy to deal with it. You have to get into the mindset of staying focused and determined. The rewards are soooo worth it.

Brad

Very very very common.... Focus on healing... You may be many fills from sufficient restriction and the real fat loss period may be months away... Focus on fundamentals right now and increasing activity and exercise levels as soon as your doc releases you too... The Water intake is great... Keep it up... Don't get frustrated. When the surgery swelling subsides the hunger comes screaming back and it will take shear will power to remain in a calorie deficit... Long term success requires lifestyle change and now is a good time to commit to that!

Brad

"I totally agree but over-promises from the bariatric medical industry can be partially blamed.imo I don't recall much advice or guidance on how difficult this could be and the glossy videos and seminars certainly make it look like a cake-walk?"

....So true! Marketing medicine for the buck... Frankly, I'm appalled at the lack of true information and strategic aftercare... That's one of the keys why the success rate is not higher. People have to do their own research from people who have been successful and take matters into their own hands...

I've done so myself many times, however, don't fret over a scale reading. It's a poor measurement of success anyway. As previously mentioned, strive for a better body composition by improving your body fat percentage.

If after several weeks you have no progress on the scale or with NSV's, then it's time to make an assessment because you've likely reached your energy balance equilibrium and are stalled out.

Don't get too hung up on the “muscle weighs more than fat” rationality though either. Yes, gram for gram that's true, however, most bandsters trying lose weight have a prolonged calorie deficit – and the odds of adding muscle while in a prolonged deficit is nil.

I too have a bowflex that I use as one tool in my exercise routine!

Brad

I went through periods of tracking with FitDay... It helped me stay focused. Overall though high value calories are the best fuel and exercise is a must long term.

Brad

ps... Shout out to Lellow, my fellow Aug. 2008 bandster!

Thanks, Brad. Everything you said is what I've read in so many books (pre banded). It was so confusing when I read a lapband book that said do not eat more than 3 times a day and 2 times is even better. That will obviously equate to well under 1000 cals. That philosophy goes against everything I read.

And what's so frustrating is that there doesn't seem to be any consensus amongst surgeons... Their opinions are all over the map... If they can't figure out what the most common strategies should be then hth are we supposed to? Comes down to individual trial and error and throw the rest out the window...

I didn't lose massive amounts of excess fat and increase muscle mass by eating 800 calories a day and walking at a brisk pace. The average success rate for a lap band patient the last I knew was 60% loss of excess fat. Well the last I knew 60% yields a letter grade of D- …. If you want extraordinary results – you have to educate yourself about your body and literally work your butt off.

This is a topic that is by no means simple. There are so many variables in play. There is no single answer that will effectively yield optimal results for every person. You have to learn how YOUR body uses nutrients and make adjustments to achieve the desired result. That being said, every human body is an amazing adaptive machine, yet survival is the ultimate goal. It will trick and cheat YOU far more times than you will it.

We desire to lose fat – not weight. Fat is simply stored energy. We were banded because we have too much fat – not because we are retaining too much Water or have too much muscle. So we have to create and manipulate the equation to convince our body it doesn't need that fat. That comes easier for some more than others. We have to eat – but - eat too much – especially at one time - and your body will store the energy for future needs. How many of us in our pre banding years ate once or twice a day and went LONG periods between meals? Shouldn't be a mystery now why your body was hanging on to as many calories as possible – because it wasn't certain which was around the corner – feast or famine. So it slooooowed the metabolism down to conserve energy (which made us lazy and tired) and then stored as much as possible. For many of us, a variation of this continued post banding. We couldn't physically eat as much and didn't eat very often so our body, as a means of survival, slowed our metabolism down and prevented us from losing the desired fat. Or we intentionally ate a very low calorie diet (that I despise!) which allowed us to lose a lot of fat initially – but that came to a screeching halt once our body adjusted.

Remember, every pound lost is a ratio of fat, muscle tissue, and fluids. We want to tip that ratio toward fat loss as much as possible. But in order to do that we have to create an environment that convinces our body to keep our metabolism high and operate at peak performance. We do that by eating MORE frequently and with high value calories (fuel). Calories are like fuel grades. Sure your car will run on 85 octane. But it will likely perform better on 93. But 93 is more expensive, and we are creatures of convenience and desire, so we normally settle for the less efficient fuel – and our food choices are all too frequently the same.

Certainly nearly everyone has heard that if you are retaining Water – then the best thing for you to do is increase your Fluid intake. That signals to your body that the Fluid it is retaining is not really needed in storage because there is no shortage in supply.

Bottom line... if you are having problems losing FAT, then try to eat small amounts of high value calories FREQUENTLY. I can't say necessarily how many “meals” a day, because I eat small amounts all day long in lieu of dedicated “meals.” As a quick rule of thumb, however, try to eat a food choice every 3 – 4 daytime hours that includes, at least in part, a complete Protein. By complete I mean a Protein choice that contains all of the essential amino acids. Add to that sufficient exercise and water, both of which promote a healthy metabolism. The increased metabolic activity from eating MORE (which in turn gives us the energy to be more active) actually creates a larger calorie deficit in the long term than eating less. It worked for me and it may be the key to getting that excess fat off for you too.

Brad

Fat loss comes down to the energy balance, but as previously stated, quality of the calories matters in keeping optimal performance and results.

Brad

There are a lot of good materials to learn about energy balance... I really prefer an ebook from Tom Venuto called "Burn the Fat... Feed the Muscle"... It's an easy read and very educational...

IMHO stay away from fruit juices. They have too many concentrated sugars and are counter productive to fat loss potential. Fruit is good but if you are trying to lose fat eat it in its' whole form.

No two people are identical in energy needs. We all must learn and navigate our individual energy balance. Sure we all have micro issues, however, the band does not alter the physics of the macro issue which is calories in Vs calories out... Eat too much and you won't lose or worse gain - eat too little and you'll crash your metabolism and get the same result...

Everyone's journey to sufficient restriction is different - mine was 5 fills. Until you reach that spot its' pure will power and determination that drives the bus. Even after restriction it takes an extraordinary amount of determination to stay on track. Do not allow yourself to eat a big plate of food! Eat a small amount and walk away. I gave up eating "meals." Instead, I literally eat all day long - just small amounts. Effectively, I've become a "grazer" which has its pros and cons dependent on your lifestyle and schedule. Evenly spreading your calories out rather than clumping them together is superior for your metabolism, bodily chemical balances, etc. Be patient, determined, energetic, and you'll be in the driver's seat soon.

Brad

IMO rest is a macro requirement, however, unless you're extremely physically exhausted and having significant muscle discomfort from the activity then I wouldn't take a rest day from walking alone. When you build enough endurance and engage in more strenuous activities that are pushing muscles to the point of failure then absolutely you want to incorporate rest days to allow for sufficient recovery.

Brad

One important thing I think people need to remember regarding Protein powders. They are not a miracle of any sort - they are only liquid food - nothing more - nothing less. food is best eaten in its' whole form. But sometimes - especially in the morning (unfortunately when our bodies are quite catabolic) - we have a hard time getting all of the nutrition we need through solid food - and that's where Protein powders can make up the difference.

Brad

I read what Brad had to say, and I agree. I am brand new to the band, still on soft foods. However the calorie content is down to about 800 a day. That said…this last week since moving over to soft foods and away from the liquids I have not lost weight and have gained a pound.

I know it's true and our bodies adapt to the deprivation to survive. Mine has and is now fighting off an infection, one of my incisions was brewing under the surface that erupted this Sunday. It was gross and painful and now healing starts again. It's in a bad spot right at the waist so movement there is unavoidable. Like a cut on your knuckle or you knee it takes time but it eventually heals.

I know my body pretty well and even in the past as I would eat right and cut down the calories and pump up the work outs my body would not only adapt but rebel and fight against me often attacking itself and starting and immune system response that holds on and causes inflammation. Ultimately bringing me down, and making me sick.

So what do you? What is your advice to someone newly banded on soft foods, to modify their diet and step up their weight loss while still trying to heal?

I would discuss the best diet and exercise routine with your surgeon and follow that plan. However, to achieve your maximum potential you will have to get sufficient exercise. I just wouldn't want to push much while healing. Let your body focus on that first and foremost. Nonetheless, I'm wholeheartedly in the camp that low calorie diets are an awful way to treat your body and down right self destructive.

Brad