dietpeach

Since the topic's been revived, I do have one more thing to add LOL. It really, really bothers me that she claims to be against "weight loss surgery" but has clearly had liposuction done on her face. When she gained the weight back she no longer had body shots on her magazine cover - just face shots. How else could she have gained 40 or 60 pounds, but still have a face that's super skinny? Just take a look at picturees of her from years ago - she had a real double chin before, and now she's back to the same weight but no double chin? Please. I guess in her mind liposuction doesn't count as weight loss surgery because it's just cosmetic? Well, it is weight loss surgery, but it only addresses the symptom of the problem, but not the problem itself. I sympathize with her weight struggles, and I sympathize that she has to struggle in front of millions of people - but I think that if she wants to practice what she preaches and be TRULY honest, she would see that having a lap band would be a bigger help than having lipo, because it gets to the root of the problem. At any rate I wish her well losing weight - and us, too! P.S. She has also probably had plastic surgery done - I could be wrong, but her nose isn't quite what it once. How is that better than having a surgery that can really help her health? It did bother me that she was so clearly against teens having the band. She's welcome to her opinion, but she shouldn't judge people for having a surgery that tremendously improves their happiness, all the while having plastic surgery and lipo on the side.

I agree 100%. Jacqui's posts are very balanced, informative, and helpful - and her amazing success support her words. I always learn from and appreciate her comments. :thumbup:

Teresa, congratulations on the big loss since surgery! I'm glad your fill wasn't painful. Thanks for sharing!

"Guilty" as charged - since the surgery I've been exercising faithfully and sticking to a diet (except for a fitful few days during the holidays when good food and great company to share it with abounded, and I gained a few pounds.) Why am I suddenly able to do it? I know for me it's a combination of factors: (1) The surgery itself. As someone mentioned above, surgery is intense. It was painful. (For me anyway - I know some people breeze through it though). I was determined to stick to every rule for the 3 week post-op diet, and I did - if only to avoid needing further surgery. I didn't want to have surgery twice! And, having invested that much pain, I was determined to make it work. (2) The surgery amplified for me the seriousness of my situation. For years now I've dieted off and on, and in the back of my mind I had the possibility of surgery. Now that I have had surgery, there are no more life lines. This is it. Either I make it work, or I'm finished. Yes, there's always gastric bypass, but if I fail at the band, what makes me think I will succeed at that? In both cases you have to stick to a set of rules - either you can, or you can't. (3) HOPE. For the first time, I have hope that I really can succeed. So many other times I tried and failed, but this time I have help. I have my band. I don't have to battle raging hunger, only nagging hunger. (And hopefully, once I get restriction, niggling hunger.) I'm willing and able to make that effort, but more than that I can't do. Will I occasionally fall off the wagon? Probably! Until I get restriction I'm sure I will fall off and on, but I will keep trying because I know that eventually the band will take most of the burden off me. Right now I'm in the baby steps stage (post-op), but I have a feeling this will be it for me. And every day brings me closer to my goal. I hope! ETA: I don't mean to make this sound like success of the band is psychological - it isn't! It's truly physical. Less hunger = success. But being willing to exercise, or being willing to eat healthier foods - this comes from the feeling of success and hope that the band gives. I've started to exercise in the past, but the scale never moved because I couldn't stick to a diet for very long due to overwhelming hunger, so I felt hopeless and gave up. With the number on my scale dropping, and knowing that I will soon have restriction and will therefore succeed, I'm super motivated. In other words, the band gives me a huge psychological boost because I know it will give me physical help, for years to come, in dealing with my hunger. Get it? :thumbup:

First of all, congratulations on your amazing progress. Well done! Sometimes it's hard to accept a compliment about our looks because we're used to getting negative feedback, or no feedback at all. Also, it's possible that the compliment might be hard for you because while she's praising your progress from where you once were, you're critical of yourself for being so far from where you wish you were. At any rate, you're working out with a trainer, so I don't think you have to worry about being unhappy with your appearance when you get to goal. I think you'll look awesome and fit.

I know may doctors like to fill slowly because if you fill too much at once, sometimes the band slips. Also, the patient might not be able to get even water down. I'm gearing up for my first fill in two weeks, and I was wondering, how much fill is normal at each fill?

No, you guys, I meant how much can be put in at one time - not what is a fill level that gives restriction. I have read that putting in too much at once can cause slippage, and I want to go into my first fill knowing, for example, that most doctors agree that you shouldn't put more than 3 at a time, or more than 2 at a time, or whatever. I heard stories of people going in and getting 3 cc's at once, and then having problems and vomiting. I just want to have a picture of a good fill amount per fill, that's all. And I know that what's good for you might not be good for me, I just wanted a general picture of what other doctors do. JRFAN88 and gentylwind, thank you. The information was helpful. I also have an APS band, prefilled. I go in 2 weeks from now for my first fill. I think if they offer more than 2 I'll ask them to put in only 2. I'd rather come back for more fills and go slowly and carefully. By the way, gentylwind, I remember you fondly from a low carb site we both belonged to a few years ago. I guess we both found our way to getting a lap band, right about the same time. PM me if you want to know who I am. :thumbs_up:

Okay, I wasn't so clear in my 1st post - sorry. I'm wondering what your doctor said was a good amount per fill (i.e., not more than 2 cc). If many people respond with their doctor's max, I can get a picture of what is clearly too much (more than what anyone lists) or I can see what advice is given most often. Mainly, I would like to be armed with enough information that if my doctor offers to put in what most doctors say is too much, I can ask that he put in less and let me come back in a few weeks' time for more. I do believe in trusting your own doctor, but not blind trust - I believe patients need to do their homework and be proactive regarding their health. I consider this post part of my "homework." :thumbs_up: Thanks.

My opinion is like this. If you went for the bypass, you would likely lose a lot of weight the first year. That's because the part of the stomach they cut away produces the hunger hormones which drive you to eat - basically you'll have no hunger that year. However, the body is tricky and figures out a way to make you hungry again. That's why bypass patients regain 20-30% of what they lost at that point. In your case, you might gain it all back because you're unable to make the dietary changes. (By the way, it's great that you're honest about it, because that's how you can get the help you need.) If you're not planning to have children, and if you accept the nutritional risks involved, you could consider the Duodenal Switch. This is a surgery that lets you eat much more because so little gets absorbed - I've heard you can eat what you want. However, you have to work hard to get all your nutrients, and you cannot get pregnant because you can't absorb enough nutrients to support a fetus. It's worth looking into. Other than that, you could do the bypass and take a risk that maybe if you can get it off you'll keep it off - but you have to have a serious plan, like you'll get into serious fitness like running once you've lost enough not to have to worry about injuries. Without a backup plan like that, you're likely to regain the weight Good luck, and I hope you find the help you need!

I agree 1000% Jacqui - celebrities bring the lifestyle on themselves, and suffer the consequences of the lifestyle they chose. But, like most people, they either didn't think it through beforehand, or couldn't say no to the glitz and glamour - or decided it's a price they're willing to pay and went into the lifestyle with open eyes. Even if they're happy being celebrities, I still sympathize with the fact that they can't live normal lives. As for them bringing it on themselves - well, I've made many a mistake in my life - I'm no better. Hence why I'm on these boards! LOL I guess that's why I sympathize so much. The only thing worse than suffering is knowing that you brought it on yourself, KWIM?

I've always felt really sorry for Oprah. Not in a pitying way of course! What I mean is, it must be really hard to be Oprah. For example, I could always find myself a walking partner and meet up for a walk wherever I want to go, whenever I want to go. There would be no expectations placed on me by the world at large, and my partner could be a friend or could be just a walking partner - a relaxed relationship. Oprah, on the other hand, can't have casual relationships like that. She can't be friends with "just anyone" because (A) most people can't see passed her name, which would NOT be a comfortable relationship for her, and (:thumbup: she's probably paranoid that everyone wants a piece of her (and she's probably right). The only "friends" she can have, then, are other celebrities like herself - and they are a bit competitive with each other, and can't always be trusted. And she can't just put on her shoes and go for a walk by herself because she'd attract a crowd (except on her ranch, but that's lonely!). So, if Oprah wants someone to work out with, she needs to hire trainers. But for her to hire a trainer is not like for us to hire a trainer. Whoever she hires has to be discreet, because you never know if they're not going to go blab their mouths off to the tabloids, spilling all of Oprah's weaknesses and "secrets." So she can't open up too much to them, and she can never completely trust them. I'm sure she has cooks to cook for her, and that would be very convenient for helping someone like me to stay on a diet - but if you were Oprah, wouldn't you be paranoid that they're not going to go spill your Beans? She probably has to wonder if they're not going to go tell the tabloids, "Oprah started Weight Watchers, and you'd never believe how many zero point recipes she asks me to make in one day..." Her life is an open book! She has all the comforts of life, but it can be a lonely life. Why else do you think she admits to being clinically depressed? Heck, she won't even get married! Probably she's afraid that whoever wants to marry her is after her fortune - not many men make more than her, after all. So she continues this relationship with Stedman or whoever he is, but she never marries, and she has said she plans to never marry. Anyway, that's why my sympathy and respect for her go hand in hand, inseparable. I know this is a bit long, but it just so happens to be that I gave Oprah a bit of thought today in the car when they announced on the radio that she's clinically depressed. See what I mean? This is a classic illustration of what I wrote above. Oprah says she's clinically depressed, and suddenly it's broadcast about in all the news. How uncomfortable for her. I wish her only success in her weight loss and in her personal life, and I hoep she finds the happiness she's seeking. P.S. Anyway, part of me thinks she announced her weight gain and depression as a PR tactic to soften her public image - rumors had begun to spread that she's trying to start a religion around herself, so these announcements help humanize her. Sadly, the need for such announcements and PR is yet another consequence of living under a microscope.

I'm freaking out a little. I was banded about a month ago, and I have zero restriction at all. I can eat whatever I want, as much as I want: pizza, rice, Pasta, chicken, bread, diet soda, etc. I don't even have to chew all that well. Only one time did I get a twinge of pain, and I had eaten more than I should have (holiday dinner). TMI alert: I burped and felt better right away. My band is in the right position - I had it checked by esophogram. Is this normal? I get a fill in 2 weeks. Will that help? Is my ability to eat anything and everything a sign that I could fail on the band? :Yawn:

Thanks so much. I will call my doctor tomorrow to find out if I can come in for a fill earlier than 5/6 weeks. I hope he agrees! By the way, the good news is that the scale started moving down again. I think this is due to exercise. Either way, I'll take it lol.

Minxz, I'll tell you my take on it, and why I got the band. My PCP told me that 98% of people who lose 100 pounds or more gain it all back or more within 5 years. That means only 2% are able to keep off the weight. With the band, 80% of patients lose at least half of their excess weight and keep it off for 5 years (and more). The other 20% with the band who "fail" might not have lost 50% of their excess weight, but may have lost weight - but "only" 30% or 40% of their excess weight - still better than the 98% of traditional dieters who gain it all back! Very few don't lose any weight at all with the band, or gain. I figure that even if I don't lose with the band, I know I would certainly gain without it! My point is, what's the different betwen the two groups? Both started out with 100 pounds to lose, so they started out the same. The only difference, then, is the band, because people who are 100 pounds overweight will eventually find a way to eat around any diet or plan and continue the pattern of overeating. So, the band must be doing something to take the same types of people and increase their success from 2% to over 80%. That's why I got banded. If, and only if, I could have guaranteed my safety and health, I would have preferred RNY/gastric bypass, which has faster success in the short run, and somewhat greater success in the long run, but the risk of severe life-long complications and the much higher rate of death led me to make the safer choice of a band. I'm only about 1 month out so I have no restriction yet, but I think that this tool will change my life. I hope so!

My heart is just melting. What a dad! Keep up the amazing work, and thanks for teh beautiful post.

Please share your story, I need some encouragement. I had been doing fabulous on Weight Watchers, but after staying perfectly on plan a whole week only to GAIN 1.4, I lost it mentally and gave up the plan. I've regained at least 5 pounds. Did anyone else gain weight before their first fill? And did you still have success with the band?

I asked if it's normal to have so little restriction, or to be able to eat so much. I was looking for answers along the line of "No, it's not normal - you should feel some restriction - call your doctor" or "Yes, it's normal, try to eat as healthfully as possible until you get filled." Your answer was a little more judgemental than I was looking for, especially considering I posted this in "Lap Band SUPPORT." If you're able to eat right without restriction, then why did you get the band in the first place, and not just "do it on your own" by diet and exercise? How did you get to qualify for the band in the first place? I was never able to succeed on a diet for very long, which is why I got banded. At present I feel no different than before the surgery, which freaks me out. My surgeon (Dr. Fielding at NYU, who has the band himself) told me at the consult that there's nothing wrong with eating pizza. He eats half a slice and feels full for hours, while his wife (his partner Dr. Ren, who is naturally slim) will eat 2 or 3 slices. Also, I'm not eating "so much" - it's just that at each meal I'm able to eat a lot more than I thought I would, and the foods I was told might cause trouble haven't. So, for instance, I have had rice and I have had Pasta and I have had pizza, but certainly not all at the same meal, or even the same day! I only ate the equivalent of one slice of pizza (half a slice plain, half a slice with mushrooms), but I also ate a salad with it, which adds up to well over a cup of food, and I though a cup was the band's max - my point was that I thought I would feel something after eating that much, or that I simply wouldn't be able to eat that much. True, before surgery I would have had 2 or even 3 slices plus regular soda, so this is an improvement, but I expected to feel at least some restriction and wondered if it's normal not to.

Thanks. :Yawn:)

Thank you, I feel more hopeful now. I'm just in a panic over the fact that I can eat so much. I try not to over do it, but I still think I shouldn't be able to eat grilled cheese and stuff. I hope the fills will help.

I'm on regular foods now. We did 10 days of liquids and 10 days of mushies, and I was spot-n perfect for all 20 days. But now I'm struggling with the regular food. The problem is, I have no symptoms of any trouble at all. I eat to satisfaction, and have no pain. I do obey the no drinking with food rule, but I know I'm eating too much. Shouldn't I have gotten stuck on pizza or something? I will take your advice and call my doctor. :Yawn: I went through so much to get this band, I really want it to work. I'm terrified to fail.

I also posted this on the Pos-Op board, but I thought I should share it with my December friends, too. :biggrin: It's been two weeks since my surgery, and I have updates. I lost 20 pounds on my 2 week pre-op diet, and since then I've lost 14 pounds more. I've been absolutely fanatical about following all the rules of each stage of the diet. I want to succeed, and I especially don't want complications (slips, erosions, etc.) I know sometimes that's unavoidable, but at least I won't have any guilt if it happens. liquid Phase: After reading on these boards that many people gain weight before their first fill, I was deeply concerned that I would lose my progress. So on my liquid phase, after the first few days where I could only get down broth and tea, I stuck pretty much to my pre-op diet, not eating the vegetables of course, but adding in more Protein shakes, for a total of 800-1200 calories a day. I did not drink diluted juice even though it was "permitted," sticking instead to Protein Shakes and, two times, fat-free milk. Mushy Phase: I knew from reading these boards that a major pitfall for many bandsters is the mushy phase. Being that we're hungry and mushies go down easily, the calories can easily add up - many people understandably gain weight during this stage. I didn't want that to happen, so I was afraid to move forward to mushies - but I knew I should leave the liquid diet behind already. I was trying to solve the problem, when I decided that I could do mushies but I would have to keep track of what I was eating and how much. So, I joined Weight Watchers. Diets never worked for me for very long in the past, but I figured the 3.5 week liquid diet should have shrunk my stomach a bit, and knowing I have a fill coming makes it mentally easier to hang on and not go off plan. Before surgery I didn't think I'd care if I gained a little before my fills, but now I do. I've lost 34 pounds in 4 weeks, and I just don't want to go back. I've been sticking like glue to the plan. I weigh and measure everything before I put it in the food prcessor, and I track it online as soon as I've eaten it. I eat mostly low point foods, but I've also splurged on higher point items - did you know you can process french fries? To make them mushy I mixed in some Soup, which I also have to count points for, but they still tasted like french fries, and were worth every point LOL! I've also pureed pizza with a little extra sauce - it doesn't taste like pizza by the time you add the sauce in, but it was fun. Mostly, though, I stick to low point foods: sugarfree pudding, fatfree yogurt, scrambled egg whites with fatfree salsa (pureed), boiled vegetables (pureed), unsweetened applesauce, etc. I also eat whatever my family is having for supper, measured out and pureed. All in all, I've lost 14 pounds since surgery. Anyway, that's where I'm holding now. I have my first fill next month, and I'm terrified. I hope it won't be too painful! Anyway, that's the update. Good luck to everyone on this journey!

Pete, you've been a great inspiration to me all along. I feel in many ways you're the driving force for the December bandsters! You're doing amazing, and please keep it up because I'm drawing strength and inspiration from you. Beth, I hear you about not ever, ever wanting another surgery! Those nightmare complication stories scare me, but I also feel bad when I read about people who had surgery and within a few hours were on their way home, not in pain, I really suffered post-op. I was in tremendous pain, and I'm left to wonder what's wrong with me that I suffered more. Well, it's behind us now - I hope we both never need more surgery! Keep up the great work. As for me, the swelling of my stomach must be going down, because I'm getting so much hungrier, I think I'm in bandster hell now. There's not much I can do about it but try to fill up on veggies and add in exercise. I started exercising last night, and it felt great. Hopefully it will help.

WOW!!!! That's awesome! What did you do?

Well, it's been two weeks since my surgery, and I have updates. I lost 20 pounds on my 2 week pre-op diet, and since then I've lost 14 pounds more. I've been absolutely fanatical about following all the rules of each stage of the diet. I want to succeed, and I especially don't want complications (slips, erosions, etc.) I know sometimes that's unavoidable, but at least I won't have any guilt if it happens. liquid Phase: After reading on these boards that many people gain weight before their first fill, I was deeply concerned that I would lose my progress. So on my liquid phase, after the first few days where I could only get down broth and tea, I stuck pretty much to my pre-op diet, not eating the vegetables of course, but adding in more Protein shakes, and geting to about 800-1200 calories a day. I did not drink diluted juice even though it was "permitted," sticking instead to Protein Shakes and, two times, fat-free milk. Mushy Phase: I knew from reading these boards that a major pitfall for many bandsters is the mushy phase. Being that we're hungry and mushies go down easily, the calories can easily add up - many people understandably gain weight during this stage. I didn't want that to happen, so I was afraid to move forward to mushies - but I knew I should leave the liquid diet behind already. I was trying to solve the problem, when I decided that I could do mushies but I would have to keep track of what I was eating and how much. So, I joined Weight Watchers. Diets never worked for me for very long in the past, but I figured the 3.5 week liquid diet should have shrunk my stomach a bit, and knowing I have a fill coming makes it mentally easier to hang on and not go off plan. Before surgery I didn't think I'd care if I gained a little before my fills, but now I do. I've lost 34 pounds in 4 weeks, and I just don't want to go back. I've been sticking like glue to the plan. I weigh and measure everything before I put it in the food prcessor, and I track it online as soon as I've eaten it. I eat mostly low point foods, but I've also splurged on higher point items - did you know you can process french fries? To make them mushy I mixed in some Soup, which I also have to count points for, but they still tasted like french fries, and were worth every point LOL! I've also pureed pizza with a little extra sauce - it doesn't taste like pizza by the time you add the sauce in, but it was fun. Mostly, though, I stick to low point foods: sugarfree pudding, fatfree yogurt, scrambled egg whites with fatfree salsa (pureed), boiled vegetables (pureed), unsweetened applesauce, etc. I also eat whatever my family is having for supper, measured out and pureed. All in all, I've lost 14 pounds since surgery. Anyway, that's where I'm holding now. I have my first fill next month, and I'm terrified. I hope it won't be too painful! Anyway, that's the update. Good luck to everyone on this journey!

Thank you. I'm sure my stomach is still swollen and giving me some restriction, which certainly helps, but I'm very proud of myself for not just deciding to eat whatever I wanted, only pureed (which had been my original plan LOL). I bought lowfat, organic eggnog, and I limit myself to half a cup a day, and of course I track it. My original plan had not been to limit myself since I "happen" to be on purees at holiday time (love those excuses lol). The further out from surgery I get, the harder it is, but I will try to stick to my plan. I look and feel so much better and I want to hang on to this. I hope that a year from now I will look and feel even better! Thanks again for your kind words and encouragement. :tongue_smilie: