ElfiePoo

No. Listen to your doctor, do your own research and put no more faith in him than you would any other 'reference source' and then make your own determination because you are the one who has to live with the consequences. My husband's first wife followed the doctor's instructions. She's dead as a result and the insurance company was happy to settle the malpractice suit out of court and they were thankful that all he wanted were two small trust funds for the boys and coverage of all of her medical costs. .

Actually, that's not quite true. For those of us with an intolerance to the carbs found in fruits, grains and starches...the type of calories is just as important as how many. One 2 year study that just finished up this past summer showed that a person on a low cal, high fat diet could eat several hundred more calories per day than a person on a low carb, high fat diet. On a high carb diet, I gain weight. Not everyone gets fat by overeating. Some of us got fat while we dieted, eating the diet recommended by the ADA and others of their ilk. I gained weight on Weight Watchers. I think we should be a bit more supportive of each other and less condemning of the WOE they choose to follow...and that comment was not aimed at you Jachut. I know your feelings on low carb diets in general but you are always extremely generous and nonjudgmental (for the most part ) in your responses. . .

And I can cite just as many opposing view by experts who believe the current recommendations are the cause of obesity in this country and use the *exact* same medical studies that the traditionalist use, but come to a different conclusion. Now...if that's what you want to believe...no problem...but do we really need to trash another WOE just because it does not agree with our own opinion...or the opinions of so-called experts? Interesting...Atkins runs counter to evidence-based studies? Hmmm...I guess they missed the 5 year study done by Harvard (not to mention a number of other studies) that showed that a low carb, high fat diet did not result in all the problems they thought they would see. Bad cholesterol and blood sugars dropped more and more weight was lost on the low carb, high fat than the low carb, low fat. You might read "The Great Cholesterol Con" or "Why We Get Fat". You might be amazed at the questional 'studies' many of our medical communities nutritional beliefs are based on. No, I'm not a dietician...but I am an intelligent person who loves to read and when I read things that make no sense, I go find out why. I don't just believe what someone with lots of little letters after their name says. I'm not going to get into a peeing contest with people. Follow whatever WOE of eating you're happy with. You know, I don't go around the forum telling people that the way they're eating is wrong...but I find it highly amusing that when "Atkins" comes up, everyone crawls out of the woodwork to bash it...despite never having read his book. I have to wonder why people are so threatened by the idea that a low carb, high fat diet is actually healthy? .

Not 'personal' at all. You stated "So be careful and think about all aspects before beginning a new diet fad" as if to imply that Dukan, Atkins and/or South Beach (the diets brought up in this thread) are fad diets. I am merely clarifying that they are not fad diets, but if you wish to perceive it as personal there is not much I can do about that. .

Atkins is very flexible and the 1 cup of vegies is a recommendation and not a problem for most people...including those who have the band. If it is for you, then obviously eat less. My own surgeon's plan is pretty much the same thing (3 oz protein and 1/2 c. vegies) although he's into the whole low fat thing. Also, neither Atkins or Beach are fad diets as you seem to be implying. Fad diets are generally not nutritionally balanced and are not sustainable for more than short periods of time. Neither definition fits Atkins or South Beach. .

No, but it can help to loosen your band temporarily when it's too tight. That's actually one of my surgeon's recommendations in the morning.

Anyone who said that obviously has not read Atkins original 1972 version, which is the one I follow. He has *always* stressed adding vegetables after induction week *and* including 2 cups of salad type vegies during the first 2 induction weeks. Personally, I stay away from the Atkins site. The forum proudly announces that they only support the DANDR version (written after Atkins death). The biggest difference between his original book and later editions (most of which were written after he died by other people) is that in his original version it's about eating cleanly and you count all carbs. In later books they talk about deducting certain carbs that 'don't count' (which is erroneous because they do count for people with metabolic disorders) so you can eat their frankenfood 'health' bars that have 27gm of carbs...but oh wait...only 3 when you deduct these 'not important' carbs. Bull...but then how can you trust anything the Atkins corporation says when it is owned by the same people who own Cinnabon. I would recommend going to Amazon.com and getting Atkins 1972 book. My paperback finally fell apart after close to 40 years of use so I bought a hardback version for $25 and it looks like new!

Forgive my previous (in error thing) surly remark. I was having a bad day.

Figured I'd just link to my post in a similar thread.

That phrenic nerve pain is common and can sometimes be severe enough that band removal is the only option. That the band *does* fail. It does not always stop the hunger. That it's just not enough to 'cut back' and that even with traditional dieting, the weight loss is going to come off slowly. I would like to see them stress far more than they do that the band was never intended for life. Statistics show that 60% of banded have some type of complication that requires the band to be removed or replaced within the first 5 years. Even then, they don't expect the band to last beyond 10 years. I would like to see them stress far more than they do that they will still have to *choose* to eat the right foods and put the fork down. To stress that the band will not stop them from eating out of boredom or due to emotions. .

My surgeon said that if I can't eat the protein and vegies, it means I have too much fill in my band. The band never really controlled my hunger. It was only when I went to straight protein and low carb vegies (no fruits, grains or starches) that the hunger disappeared. Perhaps you could try that (after getting unfilled to the point where you can eat the foods you need to) and see if that helps with the hunger? If you do, give it a week since it takes that long to get the carbs out of your system. For Breakfast I eat 2 scrambled eggs...sometimes with cheese and mushrooms in them...cooked in .2 oz butter for breakfast and then lunch and dinner work out to 3 oz of protein and 1 cup of vegies (broccoli, asparagus, salads, etc.) with butter, olive oil or full fat salad dressing. My calories come in at around 900 and I am never hungry. I used to struggle with 1200 when I was still even occasionally including 1/4 c. brown rice or half a slice of whole grain bread or even a bite of fruit.

Sounds like they're just trying to scare you. My surgeon said they wouldn't know until they went in because it all depended on how much scar tissue there was...but even then he said it still wasn't considered more complicated...it was just a matter of whether they'd have to make a larger incision. In my case, they went through the previous laparoscopic incision *and* removed quite a bit of adhesions. Recovery time is much quicker because I didn't have all the food restrictions postop and none of the soreness with the port incision because there's no port. .

Pros and cons to both...the biggest pro to the band is that it can be reversed...sort of. I had my band out 2 weeks ago and it appears that some of it is not reverseable. For example, the band just by itself snugs in your stomach. Even though the band is out, I still have some of that due to scar tissue which means sometimes I'm still getting stuck. Not a huge downside since it's an ever present reminder to take smaller bites and eat more slowly. Also, the phrenic nerve pain that was the reason for the band removal...it's back. Not as bad and not as often but apparently the scar tissue (according to my surgeon) is causing the contact to my diaphragm. Hopefully, it will go away as I heal. So...not completely reverseable after all. With the sleeve, there is no reversing. What you see is what you get. I know a few people with a sleeve and all say they have to eat every 2 hours because they can't eat much at one sitting so they get hungrier sooner. I also read that many people end up with esophageal reflux. Sleeve patients tend to have a honeymoon phase during the first year where their hunger is gone and they lose weight quickly. The people I know have. My doctor's nurse lost almost 2/3 of her excess weight in the first year. Band patients typically lose more slowly because the hunger doesn't go away until they get the band to the right restriction and they aren't restricted to how much they can eat even if they are hungry. It just depends on what you're willing to put up with/risk and what your expectations are. When I had my band out, they wanted to do a sleeve revision. I turned them down...but that's just me.

Don't look for full. Look for cessation of hunger...and of course you can eat more than 1/4-1/2 cup of food. That's enough food for a toddler...not an adult. Try 3 oz of Protein and 1/2-1 cup of vegies at a meal and see if that holds you for 4 hours. If you get hungry sooner, it's time for a fill. .

Denise, You may not have much control over what's going on with your mother-in-law but you do have control when it comes to your husband. I know he's stressed, but so are you and you can't let him continue to take that out on you by policing your food. Next time he does it, put down whatever you're eating, look him straight in the eye and calmly say, "Stop". Perhaps acknowledging that you understand he's doing this because he feels so helpless about what's going on with his mom will help him understand it too. Hang in there, girl. Don't let those munchies overtake you! .

I just posted about this on another thread. Oz invites these people on and then sandbags them. He doesn't allow them to really go into any explanations and he makes what he says look very reasonable while using excess exaggeration to make his opponent look foolish. His producers say this is because "after all, this is just entertainment." I wouldn't get my hopes up that this will be any different. .

Don't get your hopes up. Oz gets people on his show and then sandbags them. I've seen a few and then went and read the blogs of the person who was blindsided. Oz doesn't let them explain and he also goes to great lengths to make his way look perfectly reasonable but exaggerating his opponents side to look unreasonable. His producers explanation to one who complained about this biased approach, "Well, this is just entertainment." Huh...and here I thought Oz was promoting it as a health show. Nice to know. .

You aren't alone. Read through enough of the threads and you'll find that you are *not* in the minority. It's just that those who are successful are more vocal. This is borne out by the statistics as well. One report I pulled up said that only 4 in 10 people are successful with the band...success wasn't even defined as losing all their excess weight. Success was if they lost 50% of their excess weight. I think if you look at those who are successful, you'll find they all have something in common. They took control. They chose to make the right food choices and chose to put the fork down. Some might say, "well hell, if that's all it takes, why bother with the band?"...and that might be a valid question depending on why you're obese...and may explain why the failure rate is so high for the band. In the end, success means changing they way we eat and, most likely, changing our lifestyle since (for most of us) everything seems to revolve around food...how we spend our spare time, what we enjoy doing and even our relationships. As our relationship to food changes, and it must, many of these other relationships will also change. Our success is going to depend on how willing we are to let them change. I just had my band out and none of my weight loss can be attributed to any help from the band. I don't regret it because it forced me to take a serious look at my eating habits and, along the way discovered that my 'hunger' and physical cravings were caused by my body's inability to deal with most carbs. Now, as long as I avoid grains, fruit and starchy vegies...no hunger or cravings. Oh sure, it sucks that I can't eat them and every so often I rant about how it's 'just not fair' but then I put aside my inner 'child' and pull up my big girl pants and 'deal with it'. So...stop 'wishing' and start 'doing'. Pick a plan - whether it's Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc. Pick something you can live with for life...and then just do it. .

Zen, The only suggestion I can offer (and you may have already done this), is to go complete Protein shakes for several days. The protein helps keep you from getting hungry and the liquids will help if there's any swelling around the bad due to stuck episodes. I found that even a couple episodes in a day and I'd be swollen for several days. When you try to go back to solids, drink something hot right before you eat. I found that helped tremendously. Then take teeny tiny bites and chew really well. I've heard from a number of people that the 4cc bands can be a real pain because even the tiniest fill can take you from not enough to too much. I hope you can get this resolved soon. .

My doctor didn't restrict me from alcohol or carbonated beverages after the first month although did warn that the carbonation might give me problems. However, I don't drink because (1) I'm a cheap date...one glass and I'm ready for bed, and (2) I physically crave carbs the next day. .

I use the EAS chocolate powder and mix it with unsweetened almond milk. It comes in at 160 calories and 4 gm of carb. I get it in a big bag at Sam's Club. .

I know people who've switched to Dukan from Atkins, but after a couple weeks on low fat, they switched back. Their weight loss actually slowed. A two year study (by Harvard, I think) showed that people on a low carb, low fat diet improved their cholesterol by 11%, but people on Atkins (low carb, high fat) improved by 23%...and lost more weight. So, personally, I don't see the point in torturing myself with low fat. The other *big* difference between Atkins and Dukan is that Atkins seems to stress the importance of vegetables. Even during the first 2 week, very low carb induction period, you're supposed to have 2 cups of salad every day. After the 2 weeks, you can increase it to whatever your critical carb level is. Most people try to stay under 45 carbs for faster weight loss. I eat a cup of vegetables with my lunch and another with my dinner. Dukan, in Stage 2, mixes Protein only days with protein and vegie days (e.g. 5 days of protein only alternated with 4 days of protein and vegie). Both work. It mainly comes down to what you can live with. Personally...I'd miss my vegies. They're the only thing that keeps me sane, although some would argue the sanity. .

Excellent advice. We don't need to be passive victims that have no control. We do have control. Yeah, it's a bitch that my body doesn't process certain carbs the way others do and, yeah, I have days where I get angry at how unfair it is that I can't eat fruit or grains...but it is what it is. I can bitch and moan and continue to eat the foods that are killing me because it's 'not fair' that I can't...or I can adjust and deal with it. At some point, we all need to just 'deal' with it. .

Wow...CA Hospice sucks then. I mean, 'cmon...if the person is to the point they need Hospice, then it's not likely they'll be able to actually go to the doctor and just because they're terminal, it doesn't mean you just stop all other medical care. Probably all part of 'cutting costs'. Very sad and so sorry it's another added stress on you. .

When I'd go in for my visits, they'd always ask whether I was coughing more for no apparent reason and said it's one of the signs of being too tight. .