Makulafamy

Well congrats and welcome! You will find some great information here and hopefully make some friends that you can share your journey with. I have never heard the rule about getting protein shakes with MORE than 200 calories. But everyone's docs and rules are different. Have you tried Muscle Milk? Not sure of the calorie content, but I know lots of people like them. The biggest selection of protein shakes I have found were at one of our big chain vitamin shops (sort of like GNC). Amy

Yes, thanks for sharing! That is some good info!

I agree. I dont think it will hurt anything at all, but it is not the "best use" of the band. It is better to get your protein from a solid form, and that will keep you fuller longer... but if this is just a little short term jumpstart....whatever works for you!

hey neener! I can say that those who are not hungry while waiting for their first fill are in the minority! If you have a chance to look at some of the blogs out there and read peoples journeys, you will see what I am talking about! And yes, it is known as bandster hell and I think most people arent prepared for the hunger. For example, my nutritionist led me to believe that I would only be able to eat small amounts of food from the moment after surgery on. Tisk Tisk...she lied! About 5-6 days after surgery I started to get hungry and once I was healed, I was very hungry. I didnt give in though, bc I didnt want to move backwards...so during the time before you first fill...you have to rely on your WILLPOWER! I didnt get any restriction after my first fill, so I kept going back in until finally after my 3rd fill in as many weeks I had restriction! Then you have to deal with the head hunger...if only they made a band for the brain! But you will get through bandster hell and come out on the other side! Good luck! Amy

I think she is dumb (don't I sound intelligent?) We have 2 docs at our Bariatric Clinic (one of the first 5 in the nation to be a Bariatric Center of Excellence). The older doc will push and push patients towards bypass. he doesnt think banding works for really obese patients, tries to talk about the hassles of fills, et. My doc, younger and wonderful, tells us the pros and cons of both and then lets us decide. He did tell me straight up, his biggest fear with the band is that it does not work for some people. It is possible to lose no weight. It depends on the person, what you invest, and how you use it as a tool. I am not hungry all the time. I have a coworker that had bypass a week before me and she has only lost 15 more pounds then me. Not bad considering I still have my stomach in tact, still absorb all my nutrients, and can eat in moderation almost any type of food I want. i dont dump when I eat sugar, etc. My doc let me set my fill schedule, so I saw him pretty frequently in the beginning until I had restriction. I am only 29, so I didnt want my insided altered forever. Stay positive! There are good and bad with both, complications with any kind of surgery. But I think there are great gains (not on the scale) with either as well. Hope some of that helps! Amy

Hi Louise, I would agree with the others. I get to "know" a lot of the other girls who have been banded through bloggin, and so many of them have struggled with "to fill or not to fill", and there seems to be a pretty clear pattern of when they are on the fence, and go ahead and get the fill...they have to go back in to get an unfill bc they are too tight. If you are still satisfied with 1 cup of food, it sounds like your restriction is pretty good. Sometimes we just talk ourselves into thinking a little tweak might not hurt.

Well dont get depressed. It doesnt make any sense to me, but did you ask why? It will take several fills before you feel a difference, but you will get there and this wasnt all for nothing. It is HARD during this period where you are playing the waiting game. Just hang in there, make more good choices than bad, drink water, get your Protein, move... You can do this!

This is such a good question BECAUSE... right after surgery I started taking flintstone chewables. I was told to take 2. they taste gross and I hated them So I switched to Flinstone Gummies. Not bad at all. However, I noticed that they did not provide 100% on some of the vitamins, so I took four at once not realizing or thinking (special I am) that this was going to give me WAY to much of some of the other vitamins and nutrients like Iron, etc. Have mercy I got so constipated and it took me like 3-4 WEEKS to realize that the vitamins were the culprit. now I just do a nature made liquid soft gel and swallow the sucker :sneaky:

No way jose! I just posted a pic of my incisions 2 days after surgery and yesteday (6 months and a few days after surgery) if you want to take a look. Here is the link Once Upon A Time...In the Land of cheese and Sunkist: Incisions

Another thing to remember...and this is an important one...YOU CAN DO THIS!

That's not cool. Did you guys talk about your choice before the surgery? If so, what did he say then? Its one thing if he likes his girl with some meat on her, but it is another thing if he would prefer you to be fat and on the verge of death just so he feels secure that you won't leave him. With that said, yes...I would wager at the root of his issues is insecurity. He probably feels that with your confidence now...what are you going to be like when you lose 100 pounds? My boyfriend is small too, loved me before and loves me now. He didnt see me as fat, and he has made mention of what will happen if I get skinny, etc...but we talked A LOT about everything as soon as I decided and its been smooth since then.

For some of us, I wonder if this will ever happen. I asked my boyfriend months ago (all 140 pounds of him), if he thinks about food all day long...like what meal is next, what should I have for a snack, etc). He couldnt believe that I think about food constantly. He says he only thinks about it when he is hungry. I am almost 6 months out and still battle head hunger daily. But if i decide to feed it, I have learned to feed it something healthy (most of the time). I think that just maybe...things are slowly starting to change for me. Sometimes I am hungry, and just dont feel like eating. Its kinda like...eh...no...I think in those situations though its bc I am craving naughty food and since I wont eat that, I would rather eat nothing...hahah.. I dont know.

I like posts like these! My blog is in my signature! Enjoy!

Oh I agree with you. That's why I said I think they just say that so we dont go nuts with beer and pop! The liquid in my band goes straight through...it couldnt sit in my pouch long enough to stretch it out. I just try and stay away from it but I still enjoy a diet sunkist every great once in awhile.

Here is a longer one...kinda makes my head hurt. IS STARVATION MODE A MYTH? NO! STARVATION MODE IS VERY REAL AND HERE’S THE SCIENTIFIC PROOF QUESTION: Tom, I was wondering if you had seen the 6 part e-mail series sent out by [name deleted] from [website deleted]. if you look at the last part, he basically states that “starvation mode” is a bunch of crap made up in order to sell diet programs. He didn’t mention you, but it almost sounds like he’s talking about you specifically. How do you feel about this? ANSWER: Yes, I saw that article/email and the author is mistaken about starvation mode. In his article, he accused those of us who use the term “starvation mode” as being unscientific and he even says “dont buy diet books if they mention the starvation mode.” I’ll make it clear in a moment, that in this case, he is the one who doesn’t appear very well read in the scientific literature on the effects of starvation and low calorie diets. I do have to point out first that the effects of starvation mode are indeed sometimes overblown. There are also myths about the starvation mode, like it will completely “shut down” your metabolism (doesn’t happen), or that if you miss one meal your metabolism will crash (doesn’t happen that fast, although your blood sugar and energy levels may dip and hunger may rise). Another myth about starvation mode is that adaptive reduction in metabolic rate (where metabolism slows down in response to decrease calorie intake) is enough to cause a plateau. That is also not true. it will cause a SLOW DOWN in progress but not a total cessation of fat loss. As a result of these myths, I have even clarified and refined my own messages about starvation mode in the past few years because I don’t want to see people panic merely because they miss a meal or they’re using an aggressive caloric deficit at times. I find that people tend to worry about this far too much. However, starvation response is real, it is extremely well documented and is not just a metabolic adaptation - it is also a series of changes in the brain, mediated by the hypothalamus as well as hormonal changes which induce food seeking behaviors. Here is just a handful of the research and the explanations that I have handy: Ancel Key’s Minnesota starvation study is the classic work in this area, which dates back to 1950 and is still referenced to this day. In this study, there was a 40% decrease in metabolism due to 6 months of “semi-starvation” at 50% deficit. Much or most of the decrease was due to loss of body mass, (which was much more pronounced because the subjects were not weight training), but not all of the metabolic decline could be explained simply by the loss of body weight, thus “metabolic adaptation” to starvation was proposed as the explanation for the difference. Abdul Dulloo of the University of Geneva did a series of studies that revisited the 1300 pages of data that keys collected from this landmark study, which will not ever be repeated due to ethical considerations. (it’s not easy to do longitudinal studies that starve people, as you can imagine) Here’s one of those follow up studies: “Adaptive reduction in basal metabolic rate in response to food deprivation in humans: a role for feedback signals from fat stores. Dulloo, Jaquet 1998. American journal of clinical nutrition. Quote: “It is well established from longitudinal studies of human starvation and semistarvation that weight loss is accompanied by a decrease in basal metabolicrate (BMR) greater than can be accounted for by the change in body weight or body composition” “the survival value of such an energy-regulatory process that limits tissue depletion during food scarcity is obvious.” Also, starvation mode is a series of intense food seeking behaviors and other psychological symptoms and if you do any research on the minnesota study and other more recent studies, you will find out that starvation mode as a spontaneous increase in food seeking behavior is very, very real. Do you think sex is the most primal urge? Think again! Hunger is the most primal of all human urges and when starved, interest in everything else including reproduction, falls by the wayside until you have been re-fed. There are even changes in the reproductive system linked to starvation mode: It makes total sense too because if you cannot feed yourself, how can you have offspring and feed them - when you starve and or when body fat drops to extremely low levels, testosterone decreases in men, and menstrual cycle stops in women. Starvation mode is not just adaptive reduction metabolic rate - it is much more. There IS a controversy over how much of the decrease in metabolism with weight loss is caused by starvation mode, but the case is extremely strong: For example, this study DIRECTLY addresses the controversy over HOW MUCH of a decrease in metabolism really occurs with starvation due to adaptive thermogenesis and how much is very simply due to a loss in total body mass. Doucet, et al 2001. British journal of nutrition. “Evidence for the existence of adaptive thermogenesis during weight loss.” quote: “It should be expected that the decrease in resting energy expenditure that occurs during weightloss would be proportional to the decrease in body substance. However, in the case of underfeeding studies, acute energy restriction can also lead to reductions in resting energy expenditure which are not entirely explained by changes in body composition.” Starvation response is even a scientific term that is used in obesity science textbooks - word for word - CONTRARY to the claim made by the expert mentioned earlier who thinks the phrase, starvation mode is “unscientific.” Handbook of Obesity Treatment, by wadden and stunkard (two of the top obesity scientists and researchers in the world ) quote: “The starvation response - which is an increase in food seeking behavior - is most likely mediated by the decrease in leptin associated with caloric deprivation.” Textbooks on nutritional biochemistry also acknowledge the decrease in metabolism and distinguish it as an adaptive mechanism, distinct from the decrease in energy expenditure that would be expected with weight loss. In this case, the author also mentions another downside of very low calorie diets: spontaneous reduction in physical activity. Biochemical And Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition by SM. Stipanauk, professor of nutritional sciences, Cornell University (WB Saunders company, 2000) Quote: “During food restriction, thermic effect of food and energy expenditure decrease, as would be expected from reduced food intake and a reduction in total body mass. Resting metabolic rate, however declines more rapidly than would be expected from the loss of body mass and from the decline in spontaneous physical activity due to general fatigue. This adaptive reduction in resting metabolic rate may be a defense against further loss of body energy stores.” Granted, it is more often referred to as “metabolic adaptation” or “adaptive reduction in metabolic rate.” However, starvation mode and starvation response are both terms found in the scientific literature, and they are more easily understood by the layperson, which is why I choose to use them. Another effect of starvation mode is what happens after the diet: A sustained increase in appetite and a sustained reduction of metabolic rate that persists after the diet is over. Although controversial, this too is documented in the literature: American Journal clinical nutrition 1997. Dulloo “post starvation hyperphagia and body fat overshooting in humans.” American Journal Clin Nutrition 1989, Elliot et al. “Sustained depression of the resting metabolic rate after massive weight loss” quote: “Resting metabolic rate of our obese subjects remained depressed after massive weight loss despite increased caloric consumption to a level that allowed body weight stabilization.” and Dulloo 1998: “The reduction in thermogenesis during semistarvation persists after 12 weeks of restricted refeeding, with its size being inversely proportional to the degree of fat recovery but unrelated to the degree of fat free mass recovery.” By the way, this explains what some people refer to as “metabolic damage” and although this is not a scientific phrase, you can see that it too is a reality. It is the lag time between when a diet ends and when your metabolism and appetite regulating mechanisms get back to normal. Last, but certainly not least, and perhaps the best indicator of starvation mode is the hormone LEPTIN. you could spend weeks studying leptin and still not cover all the data that has been amassed on this subject. Leptin IS the anti starvation hormone. Some people say leptin IS the starvation mode itself because it regulates many of the negative effects that occur during starvation. leptin is secreted mostly from fat cells and it signals your brain about your fat stores. If your fat stores diminish (danger of starvation), your leptin decreases. If your calorie intake decreases, your leptin level decreases. When leptin decreases, it essentially sounds the starvation alarm. In response, your brain (hypothalamus) sends out signals for other hormones to be released which decrease metabolic rate and increase appetite. In summary and conclusion: There is no debate whatsoever about the existence of starvation mode - IT EXISTS and is well documented. There is also no debate whatsoever that metabolic rate decreases with weight loss. It happens and is well documented, and it is a reason for plateuas. There’s really only ONE debate about starvation mode that is — HOW MUCH of the starvation mode is comprised of adaptive reduction in metabolic rate and how much is due to loss of total body mass and increased feeding behaviors? Researchers are still debating these questions, in fact just earlier this year another study was releasd by Major and Doucet in the international journal of obesity called, “clinical significance of adaptive thermogenesis.” Here’s a quote from this latest (2007) study: “Adaptive thermogenesis is described as the decrease in energy expenditure beyond what could be predicted from the changes in fat mass or fat free mass under conditions of standardized physical activity in response to a decreased energy intake, and could represent in some individuals another factor that impedes weight loss and compromises the maintenance of a reduced body weight.” I respect the work that other fitness professionals are trying to do to debunk diet and fitness myths, but this fellow didn’t seem to do his homework and totally missed the boat on this article about starvation mode. What’s really odd is that he didn’t quote a single study in his article, despite his repeated reference to “scientific research.” If he wanted to argue against adaptive reduction in metabolic rate and chalk starvation mode up purely to increase in food seeking behaviors… and if he wanted to attribute the decreased metabolism with weight loss purely to lost body mass, he easily could have done that. But he didn’t cite ANY studies. He just expects us to take his word for it that “starvation mode is a myth,” and people like me who use the phrase starvation mode are “unscientific” Either way you argue it - and whatever you choose to call it - “starvation response” is a scientific fact and that’s why prolonged low calorie diets are risky business and mostly just quick fixes. The rapid weight loss in the beginning is an illusion: Starvation diets catch up with you eventually… just like other habits such as smoking appear to do no harm at first, but sooner or later the damage is done. For years I’ve considered it so important to understand the consequences of starvation diets that my entire burn the fat program is built around helping you recover from metabolic damage from past diet mistakes, to avoid the starvation mode, or to at least keep the effects of the starvation mode to a minimum so you can lose the fat and keep the muscle. Sincerely, Your friend and “Burn The fat coach” Tom Venuto, CSCS, NSCA-CPT www.BurnTheFat.com PS. For more information on getting lean without starving yourself or harming your metabolism, visit my website at www.BurnTheFat.com.

i just looked at your username! Are you dating my boyfriend. hahahah.... his initials are TCB and my old username on Myspace used to be TCBsGirl. hahaha....

Try to remember that just bc something has calories doesnt mean it is bad (this is hard for those of us who have been on so many diets). I try and eat about a cup of meat Protein for lunch and dinner. Today it is pulled bbq chicken i made in the pressure cooker. Try hamburger patties with a piece of cheese on it, or a chicken breast, fish, etc. Protein shakes (although not for me) might help. Some fruit like a banana, pineapple, etc can have around 90 calories. You can add 100 calorie packs of Snacks to your meal. We have skinny cow ice cream snacks a couple times a week after dinner. Yogurt. Fiber bars... Just some ideas!

My doc doesnt want me drinking carbonated beverages bc he says it could stretch your pouch AND/OR, help you eat more. I personally think they tell us this just so we stay away from pop and soda..bc it has no health benefit for us. I did a lot of research on the apsertame that is in diet pop...and that keeps me away from it for the most part. I have no idea about sunflower seeds, but would like to hear what your nutritionist says. As for hard candy, I've never heard this one, but I assume it is along the same lines as gum. If you were to swallow it by accident, it could get lodged or clog up your funnel...that would not be good. Hope that helps, Amy

Basically it is like a mini pre-op diet. It's designed to jump start your weight loss again and to help you find your restriction. You should be able to find several threads under food & nutrition, or just google 5 day pouch test. here is the website. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

I think what you are describing is pretty common. Most of us go from eat whatever we want whenever we want, to all of a sudden trying to change our lifestyle. We do this by going a little nutso in the opposite direction. For me, as the months have passed, you find your groove...you don't have to obsess (as much) over the nutrition labels bc you already know.

What you are is "full", not stuck. You probably ate just a little too much or too big of bite. When you are stuck, have mercy...you will know. When I am stuck, I get the pain you are talking about, but...it progressively gets worse and all my slobber starts to back up in my thoat, pool in my mouth, and then the PB happens. The pain you feel is your band saying STOP...You've gone to far! The food is sitting on top of your band. Hope that helps, Amy

You know, I could tell in pictures after about 40 pounds as well (I started at 327). BUT, it wasnt until about 65 pounds down when I caught my reflection in a glass door that I said DANG! I can tell!

without knowing what your food intake or exercise routine is...it's kinda hard to say. One of my bandster buddies (LESSJESS is her username) just did the 5 day pouch test and she lost 9 pounds. I have not tried it yet.

okay dokey, I am just going by your sample menu...so I know it may not be a good reflection of what you eat weekly but here are some thoughts. Why a Protein Shake in the morning? Is it bc you are too tight? If not, maybe replacing it with a solid food (with protein). Also, you listed salad twice. Salad is a slider food, and not very nutritionally beneficial. It won't keep you full or give you much energy. I agree though that maybe you are not eating enough calories. Have you tried tracking with the daily plate or other websites? A lot of people say they need somewhere around 1200 to keep their weight loss steady. Also, what does your exercise look like? If you are exercising regularly, maybe you are losing inches but not pounds? If you aren't exercising, maybe if you started it would help jump start things again? Those are just some thoughts. What weight did you start at?

I thought this would be hard also. But really, it's not. I do miss things like a glass of cold milk when I am eating chili, but otherwise.... If we go out to eat, I just drink tons of Water right up until they bring the food. then I tell them no more please. if I am at home, I just dont bring anything to drink to the table. If it's not there...I am less tempted. Also, once I got good and restricted, drinking with my food usually makes me PB. That helped a lot...lol