minimeme

I saw my doctor for the first time since banding. I didn't ask for her recommendation prior to doing it, I didn't even tell her. She was very cautionary and said she has never seen anyone be successful in the long run of the patients she sees with the lap band. And she stressed making good habits as they will be what determines how success you are in the long run. I have got to get off the protein shakes. When I told her about relying on them, she said "listen to yourself. You know what you need to do, so why aren't you doing it?" It was a rhetorical question, but what popped in my head was LAZINESS. Laziness is the only thing keeping me from eating correctly. I got to do better. I have to concentrate on making permanent changes instead of just watching the scale go down.

I saw my doctor for the first time since banding. I didn't ask for her recommendation prior to doing it, I didn't even tell her. She was very cautionary and said she has never seen anyone be successful in the long run of the patients she sees with the lap band. And she stressed making good habits as they will be what determines how success you are in the long run. I have got to get off the protein shakes. When I told her about relying on them, she said "listen to yourself. You know what you need to do, so why aren't you doing it?" It was a rhetorical question, but what popped in my head was LAZINESS. Laziness is the only thing keeping me from eating correctly. I got to do better. I have to concentrate on making permanent changes instead of just watching the scale go down.

Breakfast is usually a Protein shake, yogurt or cottage cheese. lunch is usually another protein shake or some yogurt or cottage cheese or some sliced cheese with sliced lunchmeat. dinner is usually grilled chicken or fish with lightly cooked/sauted veggies. On a bad day it will be half a can of spinach or half a can of Soup. Snacks are fruit with cottage cheese, yogurt or cheese. I know I rely to heavily on Protein drinks and they defeat the purpose of the band. I also don't cook and eat out too much.

I heard the commercial on these, thought briefly about it then worried about my band. The premise is you eat one of these and drink a glass of water with it, it then expands to fill your stomach. Is expanding food and water really good for your band/pouch?

Im 5'11", but I had a girlfriend who was fairly close in height and scale who wore a 32.

The band has a whoooole lot of aftercare. Constant fills and even some unfills. food getting stuck. Being able to eat more than you should of some foods, and intolerant of some you would like to eat. A friend has the sleeve and they do not have the issues I have with the band. They claim they do not have the issues with hunger I do because the stomach produces hormones which regulate hunger and when you remove so much of it, you cut down on it. Having said that, I chose the band because I didnt want my insides messed with. It would be my luck, they would cut out 80 percent of my stomach then I would wind up with some medical condition/disease affecting what is left of it. The band is as invasive as I would agree too. If something happens and I cannot tolerate it, I wont do anything else. Just wanted to add: If you cannot afford aftercare, you should stay away from the band. We have had a few people post here who cant afford fills and it isnt working for them.

My boyfriend always says, "loosing weight is 80% what you put in your mouth. How good you look afterwards is 80% exercise". He looks damned good. So I am gonna go with what he says. (not trying to say anything about what was posted, just adding on)

I do regret it, but it was necessary for me. I wasnt trying to be skinny. I had serious health issues. If it werent for those, I was content with myself, size and all. I know, the horrors how could someone actually be happy at a size 22.:thumbup:

Or maybe he is saying (without saying it) that he was lucky to get you and only got you because you were overweight. Once you are no longer overweight, you will be too good for him. One of the things that has always served me well in relationships is to remember if there are two ways of looking at something rather than see is the most negative, give your partner the benefit of the doubt and take it the best way possible. Just my opinion, but he is worried out of his own self esteem issues, you see it as negative towards you because of your own self esteem issues. Give him a kiss and tell him you are lucky to have him and if that dont work, tell him to think of all the new sexual positions you will be able to do better. Give him something to look forward to.

My thin sister who has never been even close to having any extra pounds obsesses over food. I had always assumed it was not an issue with her because she has always been so thin. Then when I got the band, we spoke and she said, "dont you think I am hungry? I am hungry all the time, I just dont eat". I have noticed, even though I am not at goal that I no longer obsess over what I am going to get to eat each day. It use to start a couple hours after Breakfast, I would sit and plan which cafes I could go get lunch at and then which place to have dinner. My whole life was planned around eating. All the waitstaff around town knew me by name and when I do out out to eat now, they all comment on why they never see me anymore. I think they miss my tips. Also had a funny thing happen the other day. Saw someone I hadnt seen in several months and he said, "you look so good girl. Lost all that weight, you have to let me take you out to eat". My reward to loosing weight? Food. LOL

Knowledge is power. Knowing what your body is doing is important. I weight each morning after I get up. What it does for me is lets me know what is going on and if I need to make corrections. My weight fluctuates. I also have a cheapo set of ring sizers and measure my fingers to get an idea of how much Water I may be carrying. My weight has gone up as much as 16 lbs in 2 days, but I knew it was water. If I go up a couple days in a row, I will evaluate what I am eating. For me, waiting a week wouldnt work. Daily keeps me reassessing my meals and exercise.

Bread is hit or miss with me. Dont eat it often, but I have sat and ate it at a restraunt without issues. Just not the first couple of weeks post fill.

112 lbs. Havent hit a plateau yet. Loosing much faster than I expected.

I remember the first time I stepped on the scale and it read 2xx. Wonderful feeling.

Chronic pedal edema will eventually cause your tissues to become waterlogged and break down. Your tendons, ligaments and nerves will start to break down on you if it is truly edema and unchecked. I have heart failure and have had to deal with edema. Mine comes on when I rest, which is opposite of most people whos is worse at the end of the day. When it first started breaking down the nerves in my feet, it was really painful. I could step into a tub of warm Water and it felt boiling, like me feet were on fire. Now my feet are mostly numb, which leads to walking difficulty. You need to really stress to your doctor this issue.

I dont think throwing up is an indication of the sweet spot, throwing up is not healthy for you band. Talk to your doctors office and hear what they have to say. They may want you to go full liquids for a few more days or he may want you to come in for a slight defill.

There is a lot of aftercare with the band. You probably would have been better served with the sleeve due to your lack of funds after surgery. You havent really mentioned any type of malpractice or fraud on the doctors part, cant see a lawyer taking your case for free so you will be out money you could use for fills. Why not just pay for a fill or two and in the mean time, read the materials they gave you and work the program. It has only been a few months. Whatever you decide, wish you nothing but the best.

I am down 108 lbs, just havent updated my ticker (forgot my password). :thumbup:

Good luck, but you are starting with a huge misconception. The lapband only helps when you follow the rules and do your part.

Same as above, fill up on lean meats, chicken and fish, then veggies and dairy. Try to avoid breads, pasta, rice, and processed foods as they will have a dramatic affect on your blood sugar/hunger.

All calories are not equal. Your body does not handle Protein calories and carbohydrate calories the same. It is easier to store carbohydrate calories than it is to store protein. I am eating 1500 calories a day with 20% being carbohydrates. If I were to do the same 1500 calories in low fat/high carb intake, I would not have the same results.

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What causes issues is confusing and aggravating at times. I ate my first steak the other day no problems, but when I ate half a sandwich, I came right back up. I guess the steak doesnt gum up like the bread when chewed. I normally dont PB (productive burps), rarely if ever. And I have only thrown up 3 times. I am really not that tight, but on the rare occasion sometimes I have even be careful how fast I drink Water.

If you want to kick start your weight loss, you could try eating low carb. Or doing lots of exercising. Or you could just do things in moderation and be patient. I hate to answer some of these because the minute you say what is working for you, someone will come along to call you out and let you know you dont know anything. LOL I am 4 months out and have lost over 100 lbs., but I had a lot to loose to begin with. I eat low carb and exercise daily. I eat more than most, 5-6 meals a day because my hunger is just aweful. Of coarse, maybe that is why my weight is coming off so fast, my metabolism is causing both the hunger and the weight loss. I dunno.

County hospital treats everyone regardless of money. Private hospitals might turn you away if it isnt an emergency. Find your county hospital and go there.