ElfiePoo

So...I had my early morning visit with my primary care...who I love to death because she actually listens to me. I can print things off on the internet, take them in and say, "Look...this is what they have to say about dealing with..." and she'll actually take it and do some more research and either call me on the phone or talk to me about it at my next appointment. I was telling her this morning that I was having one of my whiney days where I resented the fact that I can't have my fruit. Ok...it's hard, but I really can live without the grains and starches...but c'mon...fruit!? Anyway, we were talking about whether or not my insulin resistance will ever reverse itself to where my body can tolerate these things and she said most likely...over time, but still only in much more limited quantities than a person without this metabolic disorder. The she said, "But I can tell you how you can resolve your insulin resistance much more quickly and it only involves one small change." Happily and hopefully I queried, "Yes??" She gets this smug little grin on her face and says, "Exercise." (cuz I've been fighting her on starting a regular exercise program. On the way out, she said, "You just have to ask yourself...how bad do you want that fruit?" Most days I really like her. Today wasn't the day. .

Yeahhhh! Do you ever have those days when you kind of 'understand' why an anorexic does what they do? Seriously...when the rest of life seems to be spiraling 'out of control', this is one area where we can have absolute control if we choose.

Some days I'll have 2 scrambled eggs, other days 1 egg. Some mornings just a Protein shake. Have you decided what your long-term plan of eating will be (e.g. Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc.?). If so, I'd go by that. If you have trouble eating in the mornings due to band tightness, try starting with a hot cup of tea or coffee. I've even started with just a cup of hot Water. It seemed to help loosen the band a bit. If all else fails and you just can't eat in the morning, make your breakfast a slider...just pick something that is higher in protein because that's what's going to help stave off the hunger.

You guys do know this thread is over 3 years old and the OP hasn't posted in what looks like forever so may not even be here? .

Don't beat yourself up...just get back on the horse. This is a lifechanging experience and very few of us are going to immediately 'fix' what got us here in the first place...but we keep *trying*. Your doctor's response doesn't surprise me. The intelligent ones know the band isn't a quick or easy fix. It is, in fact, a learning experience in itself because the band works differently for everyone. So decide on a WOE that you can live with long-term and then 'just do it' as the Nike commercials say...and when you fall (and I guarantee you will because we all do), pick yourself right back up and take the next step forward. Your discovery that you need this forum is dead on. I honestly believe that the only reason I've been as successful as I have and not given up through all my trials with the band, is because of the support system I have here. So, I look forward to seeing you around. .

Sorry...I'm still not understanding. If you are talking about the postop diet, you'll have to be specific about what yours is because they vary all over the map so I don't know what 'Phase 2" is. Some surgeons put their patients on a month long postop liquid diet, others go through various stages until finally at the end of a month they're back on solids and many of us were back on solids after 2 weeks. If you're back on solid foods, then the vegies you eat will depend on the WOE you've chosen (e.g. weight watchers, Atkins, South Beach, etc.). Hope this helps. .

My intent is not to offend, but I think you may find that, while technically not an alcoholic, you do have a drinking problem...and are on your way. Even you admit that you are not a 'light drinker'. For what it's worth, here's a standard test that asks 22 short questions to help you determine at what level you are. Just FYI. Now, that said, alcohol creates another problem (besides the incredibly high pointless calories) with many people and that is that it gives 'em the munchies. If not that night, then the next day. So now you get to white knuckle through the physical cravings. Another reason to give it up or at least make it a very infrequent occurrence...and, if you can't, that's a *big red flag*. For many of us, our relationship with food is the pivotal point which all other relationships revolve and, many times, in order to be successful at changing our relationship with the food...those other relationships have to change as well. It's a complete lifestyle change and it is *HARD*. I'd start with the 3-5 nights at the bars. Go ahead and go if that's what you enjoy...but pass on the alcohol and stick to carbonated Water or diet drinks. After all, it's not necessary to drink to have fun, yes? Then again, that's one of the reasons I gave up bar hopping when I was younger. I was never much of a drinker and found that drunks are never funny unless you're buzzed or drunk too. If you find it's no fun if you aren't drinking...find another way of entertaining yourself. Saves on the calories and any physical cravings the alcohol causes. Invite your friends to do other activities instead of going to the bars. Maybe take up a new interest together - Zumba, for example. Fun *and* exercise. Then pass up those fast food places! If you plan ahead and make sure you have some ready made foods that fit into whatever WOE you're following, then all you have to do is get home and dive into your own refrigerator. I always have cheese, cut up celery and hard boiled eggs in my refrigerator so that if I do find myself so hungry I know I'm not going to make it until dinner is ready, I have something there to nibble on to keep the food demons at bay. If you don't have a problem with carbs and can eat fruit, then carry around an apple or something similar so when you get those munchies on the way home, you can munch on your fruit instead of hitting that fast food place. My favorite phrase these days is 'living intentionally' so I avoid the pitfalls with preplanning rather than falling into an 'oops' moment of eating that is filled with regret and guilt. You can do this. You obviously want to or you would not have gotten banded. We're here for you. Now *you* be there for you. Edit: My apologies if this appears a bit rambling. It's 4:30 a.m. and I can't sleep but I'm also not fully awake. Insomnia...gotta love it.

Welcome to my world (although I'm not confined to just 'lean' meat). My diet in order to keep from being hungry and to be insulin free is Protein and low carb vegies (all vegies have carbs by the way) like broccoli, green Beans, salad. No grains, fruit or starches. Yeah, I miss them (particularly the fruit) but I don't miss taking insulin more so I have a different motivation. Anyway...if you don't have a metabolic disorder (e.g. hypoglycemia, diabetes) that is immediately impacted by these types of carbs, then it's certainly less harmful to 'cheat' with a piece of fruit than some kind of junk food. So, and obviously only my .02, have that piece of fruit if it keeps you from the junk.

I would agree with you about the band being 80% willpower and 20% band for those the band works for (it didn't for me so it's still 100% willpower ). I would also agree with your 80/20 for bypass patients...initially. When they're about a year or so out, the honeymoon is over. Bypass patients are expected to lose about 2/3 of their excess weight just by virtue of the surgery. After that, whether or not they lose any more...or keep themselves from gaining it all back...is up to willpower. While their bypass may keep them from stuffing themselves at one go...it won't stop them from grazing their way through the calories. Also, many bypass patients find that they don't get dumping syndrome from the sugar (so, no deterrent there)...or after enough episodes of dumping, their body learns to deal with it and they no longer get the dumping syndrome. All I'm saying is that even if someone gets the bypass (this is for those who think it'd be 'easier'), at some point it will require them to make good choices and put the fork down. There is no free ride. By the way...congratulations on your 100 lb loss! .

The preop and postop diet will vary and seems to be based on whatever that particular surgeon's opinion of what a good preop and postop diet is. I've talked with a number of people on this forum and others, and there were people with only 50 pounds to lose who had to do a 4 week liquid preop diet and some who had 200+ pounds to lose who only had, like me, to do Clear liquids the day before surgery. I couldn't find any pre-existing medical conditions that made any more sense out of it. That said, everyone should do the best they can to follow their surgeon's rules...or find a surgeon who has rules they can follow. .

Connie, I hope this makes sense...but I was banded 17 months ago. The band never did work for me and I finally had it out 2 weeks ago (mainly due to the phrenic nerve pain it was causing). It never consistently controlled my hunger and it certainly didn't control my quantities *BUT* I don't regret it at all because what it did do was make me work harder at trying to find out exactly why I eat and how to fix it...and I did. What I discovered is that I don't need the band...but that's not the point. I may not have worked quite so diligently and reached that point if it hadn't been for getting banded! Ok, so the band will not stop you from grazing all day if you like *BUT* you might, because of going through the process, be more mindful of how you're eating and not thoughtlessly (as you put it) eat all day. It might be what you need to make your head finally commit to getting control of your eating and create new, better eating habits. That would be worth the money, and not half as expensive as hiring someone to act as food police for you (which would do the same thing) yes? .

Phase 2 of 'what'?

Agreeing sorrowfully as I look down at wrinkly legs, bat flaps on the arms and we won't discuss the 'girls' who, if they continue to droop will be on talking terms with my knees. .

No, I'll either have a salad or the vegies although since the vegies are so low carb, you could have both if you could really eat that much and/or felt that hungry. Lately I've been having 2 scrambled eggs for Breakfast and a large salad for lunch with 3 oz of Protein (partly cheese, partly rotisserie chicken cut up and maybe a chopped hard boiled egg) and blue cheese dressing. Then dinner is 3 oz of meat with a cup of vegies like green Beans, broccoli, asparagus, etc. .

Definitely find a new doc! There are some really good ones out there. .

Oh well, at least if you're stalking me, you're one of the nice ones.

I don't care if they have 50 pounds to lose or 250 pounds...I'm not in a position to judge whether or not they should get the band. Statistically, the ones who do best long term seem to be the ones who have less to lose so if that's the case, by all means do it early before the really horrible eating habits set in. Let's face it...at one time we all were *only* 50 pounds overweight...and look where dieting got us. Wouldn't it have been nice if we'd had help early on? .

Depends on the insurance company. I had my band out 2 weeks ago due to constant phrenic nerve pain. However, it never did anything to restrict how much I could eat and was not consistent about controlling the hunger and this was documented in my monthly visits to my surgeon's office. As a result, the insurance company sees this as band failure (even if there had been no phrenic pain) and is willing to do the revision to the sleeve. When I went to the seminar I knew the band would not last for life and that there were a high percentage of complications where the the band had to be removed/replaced. So I asked the surgeon whether insurance would pay for it. Obviously, he said he couldn't give a definite answer, but the insurance person sitting in on the seminar said they'd never had a refusal by the insurance company to replace a band due to complications since this wasn't considered a second surgery, but rather a continuation/correction of the first. They also never had a refusal to pay for a revision to sleeve or bypass from band as long as it was documented that the person put forth effort into working the band and it was more band failure than the person's refusal to make changes. .

If you truly are 'binge eating' (which is different than just overeating) then, like anorexia, it is a mental illness and needs to be treated with therapy. The best thing you can do is see a therapist because it doesn't get better on its own. I wish you well.

Pam, There are pros and cons to every issue and its best to be informed on both, so don't get too discouraged at the negatives. Just look at it as part of the overall picture. Pros Least invasive of all WLS Reversible Adjustable Much shorter recovery period and return to normal activities More likely you will be able to eat in a 'normal' fashion (depending on how tight you set your band) .

According to my surgeon, it would take a lot of long-term, consistent overeating to stretch the pouch. Liquids won't do it because they slide through relatively quickly. Even when my band was overfilled I had no trouble glugging down a full glass of water. I don't understand the reasoning of going on liquids for 2 weeks prior to a fill, although you might find that after the fill that's all you can do for a day or two. Again, that was never my problem. My fills never kicked in for almost 2 weeks and then I'd wake up one morning barely able to get shakes down for a day or two. Just listen to your band. .

Hey there, Vicky, I've been following your posts on the other threads (no I'm not stalking you ). Glad to see you posting here! .

Why is he now making you wait the full 6 weeks? If it's just because he can't be bothered, I'd be tempted to ask him how he'd like to be bothered with a lawsuit when you lose your job because of his ineptness . Only half serious here. If I ran my business the way some of these people ran their practices, I would've been out of business years ago. I'd just be perfectly honest with your employer about the physician's ineptness and apologize profusely for making the mistake of taking him at his word. Sorry you have to have this additional stress. .

Yep, normal. .

I tried Zumba because it looked like fun, but it just made me feel so uncoordinated and awkward. Then again, I'm still struggling to stay in step with Richard Simmons. Rhythm is *not* my strong point. Tae Bo is another one of my favorites but, again, can't keep up at his pace but I still get my heart working. .