BetsyB

At the beginning, it's definitely primarily the mind. As you work toward, and ultimately achieve, restriction, the game changes quite a bit.

Early on, it's really hard to meet our nutritional requirements. Luckily, our bodies have reserves---and the short term lack of nutrients really doesn't pose a risk. You will build up to being able to get what you need. It's really worth finding a Protein that isn't gross, though. I'm 9 months out, and still rely on protein supplements. I love the Inspire protein from bariatriceating.com in Dutch chocolate Cake; I mix it with almond milk. Another favorite is the PURE unflavored protein (also from bariatriceating.com). Also make sure you have a good-quality bariatric Multivitamin designed to meet the needs of people with bands.

Ouch! The blood is a bit worrisome; you're probably right that it's due to mechanical injury (sharp chips)---but keep an eye on it in case you've got an ulcer brewing. (Might be worth a call to the doc, IMO.)

I was told that if I didn't swallow solid food larger than a pencil eraser, I'd be a-okay. This has been a great rule of thumb for me.

Great! You're on your way :sneaky:

It's understandable that you're concerned. Just keep in mind that people tend to post when they're having difficulties---so the boards are kind of biased toward the negative. Most of us really have pretty uneventful recoveries and lives post-banding. Yes, I feel like I lead a normal life. It's different than before, but that's a very good thing. For the first time in my life, my thoughts and actions are not consumed by food (planning, dieting, counting, worrying, self-blaming, etc.) It's been tremendously freeing. I eat out regularly. I throw dinner parties often. I eat "regular" foods. Even though I do follow a low-carb regimen and have to stick to a low calorie intake (my own weird body; yours may do fine with a less conservative approach), I really don't think I"m missing out on anything. To the contrary, I am finally really enjoying my life. Being rid of the excess weight and all of the baggage it carried is enormously liberating. (I didn't have any comorbidities, either; but really, it was just a matter of time.)

Labrada Rock 'n Roll nutty peanut bars are good--and pack a good Protein punch (20 g/bar, I think; I can only eat half a bar at a time) Nuts are a good choice--low carb, though more of a fat than a protein I think you'll probably find it pretty easy to find "safe" Snacks on the go---I'd pack a pouch of PURE unflavored protein to stir into things like yogurt, which you can pick up in any concession place or corner store.

Yep. And my lifestyle change doesn't include ice cream. It's not extreme thinking, for me. It's what I need to do to be successful. Your mileage may vary.

I would so love to see Molly of "Mike and Molly" cancel her Marie Claire subscription in an episode of the show. That would be quite amusing.

PURE unflavored whey protein isolate from bariatriceating.com is awesome.

What guidelines did your doctor provide? Most have a protocol they want you to follow. Mine had me eating 1.5 Tbs of Protein puree 3x/day a week out from surgery. That was gradually increased to 3 Tbs per meal, and at 10 days, I moved to soft, moist Proteins (1-2 ounces). But many doctors have their patients on liquids in that timeframe. It'd be a good idea to doublecheck with yours if you have questions.

Cleo's Mom, I get that it's inconsiderate of doctors to overbook. And yes, telling the doctor sometimes results in change. As an RN, I will tell you that it more often results in a platitude, and then an eyeroll behind the back. Overbooking is a sad consequence of managed care. But what good comes from growing irritated? This is a poster who's currently irritated by everything. Blowing things out of proportion is unnecessary when, with subtle shifts in thinking, she might find herself in a much better place, emotionally. She needs to be in a better place emotionally. Would a "There, there, you poor thing" have been more suitable? The reality is that doctors overbook. In most cases, that will not change. She has a choice: to go off the rails each time it happens (and when you've signed on for banding, and your insurance requires a referral, it will happen quite a bit), or she can accept it for what it is, and find ways to make it less taxing. I personally opt for the latter. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time.

I'm 9 months out, and I still haven't reached the point where I'm comfortable incorporating ice cream. We all have different approaches (and needs), but for me it's a slippery slope. I really do find myself physically satisfied with the foods my body requires, so I'm steering clear of the foods that just don't do anything for me, health-wise, during the weight loss phase. Ice cream has never done me any favors. And it's one of those foods for which the band offers no constraint whatsoever.

Congratulations! I'm aiming for 100 lost by the end of the year, too.

I know you're very, very frustrated with your postop course right now, so please take what I am about to say with the kindness with which it is intended. I am not criticizing, but making a gentle suggestion. Your mindset has been quite negative. And while that is understandable, to an extent, during bandster hell, there's something to be said for letting some of the things in life, over which we have no control, roll off our backs. The banded life involves a fair amount of aftercare. There will be lots of doctor's office waits. This is something you signed up for; it's just part of the deal. It would be nice if the office staff were more efficient. It would be nice if there weren't communication snafus. And I'm sure that you were really pleasant in the office, and are just venting here, because it's irritating. But you have a choice to make, vis-a-vis what irritates you--and how much. An hour in a doctor's office is a PITA---I don't know about you, though, but it also can be a time to just sit and relax and ...whatever. I read four magazines in a surgery center today. The wait was longer than the surgical procedure I had done! But I don't often get the opportunity to sit still and read four magazines! There's usually something else vying for my attention. But there I was, with my phone turned off (so no students texting me, neither of my kids calling or texting..no one asking me for anything), able to read magazines. It was almost pleasant. The unavoidable stuff that we can't change is just that---stuff we have no control over. Try not to let it color your life negatively. It's just not worth it.

The therapist who did my psych eval told me that, while he'd "approve" me, he thought I'd fare worse than the "average" band patient. I asked him why, and he first told me that the "empirical testing" he'd done demonstrated this; when I asked which test, he then said that he just felt I was "too confident," and was not well-prepared for the realities. This just demonstrated, to me, that he (a) was biased against the procedure, and (:laugh: hadn't listened to a word I'd said. My surgeon, when he read the 14-page report this shrink prepared, rolled his eyes and said, "So that psychologist you saw---a bit 'special,' isn't he?" LOL Look, not all therapists know what they're talking about. Only you can decide if banding is right for you. It's not appropriate for your therapist to tell you her opinion of whether banding is the appropriate procedure; it is outside the scope of her practice. Your surgeon will help you weigh surgical options. And you will have to weigh, for yourself, whether any surgical procedure is what will do the trick for you. I know that for me, it was exactly what I needed. I have ridiculously low caloric needs, and without a band, it was near-impossible to live within those constraints. Banding represents freedom for me. For you, the solution may be different. Indecision is very common---and it's okay. You don't have to make a decision today, or tomorrow, or even this year. You can research, prepare, think, try to lose weight without surgery--there is no race to the operating room. One thing: you say you're not morbidly obese. Morbidly obese is not defined by clothing size or weight; it's determined by BMI. Yes, it's an imperfect measure---but I know I was morbidly obese at size 18. Your insurance policy can help you decide whether surgery is something that, statistically, can be expected to be beneficial. I know we tend to think of their guidelines as being terribly restrictive (and therefore out to kind of ...well, screw us)--but in reality, their requirements are based in statistical analyses of the risks of obesity and benefits of weight loss via surgical means. Typically (though there is some variation), insurers require a BMI of 40, or one of 35 with two comorbidities. If you fall within these ranges, then you can be comfortable with the knowledge that losing weight will be beneficial to your health, that it's not an unnecessary indulgence, but something that your insurer is willing to pay for as a medical necessity. There are so many things to consider as you make this decision---but one you really needn't give any real weight to is your therapist's opinion. Unless she's simply noting your own indecision and recommending measures to cope with the uncertainty and anxiety, or has identified psychiatric pathology that rules bariatric surgery out, she's overstepping her bounds.

I know it seems as though they have you do a lot of jumping through hoops, but it's not just for the sake of it; these tests help ensure that surgery is safe for you. They're a PITA, but ultimately can help identify conditions that will protect your safety.

Can you get ahold of your insurance policy? There is so, so much variation from policy to policy, even with the same insurer. Your policy will spell out the specific conditions you must meet in order to get coverage. For what it's worth, your comorbidities would qualify for approval under the terms of my policy; I needed a BMI of 40 (at first visit with the surgeon; I was expected to lose during a 3-month supervision) or one of 35-40 with 2 comorbidities. Reflux, sleep apnea, and reflux all "counted."

Nah, probably not a leak. It's not uncommon for less than was added to be withdrawn; it seems the band and tubing "hold on" to some of the saline. It just takes a while for most of us to reach good restriction. Once the swelling from the fill itself goes down, it's not unusual to feel as though nothing was done. Even though it's discouraging, you're closer to where you need to be :laugh: The discomfort at the port site isn't unusual, either. It takes a while for the port to really situate itself in the muscle; weird sensations, including tugging and pain, are pretty typical. I'm sorry you didn't get more reassurance when you were in the office---what you are experiencing is perfectly normal.

Awesome--congratulations! You look fantastic!

Well, there are a few things that jump out at me. First is your surgeon's policy of limiting fills unless "absolutely necessary." In my book, if you're not comfortable for a reasonable period of time after meals, and are white-knuckling to lose (or not losing well), then it's absolutely necessary, and there should be no quibbling about whether a fill is in order. If my doctor did not take my subjective experience into account, I would switch doctors. Secondly, exercise---it's CRUCIAL. I cannot lose without it, and wouldn't want to if I could. It has been instrumental in redefining my relationship with my body, and I would not trade that for anything. Third, are you journaling your intake someplace like fitday.com? It can be really eye-opening to see how many calories you're taking in. The 2-3 cups of milk a day strike me as something you might find extraneous, if your nutrient needs are being met otherwise. That's where journaling comes in. Re: Weight Watchers. I am a freak of nature, but WW involved too much food for me to lose weight. Strict adherence to the plan---really meticulous following--added the last 50 pounds to my body. I couldn't begin to eat the amount of food required by WW at this point. Volume-wise, it just wouldn't work with the band. Calorie-wise, it would push me into rapid gain territory. Everyone's body is different. You may lose efficiently with a plan like that. But the first step, really, is to honestly assess what you are now taking in. It might be that a few simple changes bump up your satiety and also rev up your loss. Drinking milk between meals would rev up my appetite. It's a good food, rich in nutrients, but it also is relatively carb-rich, and causes a spike in blood sugar for me. It works far better for me in the context of a meal that also contains Protein and fat. Since we can't drink with our meals, that narrows possibilities down; I'd add a good-quality Protein powder to it to avoid that spike and resulting hunger. You may not be similarly affected by carbs--as I said, everyone is different. But it's something to think about, when you are pondering changes to make. I lose best when I limit my calories to 800-900 day, aim for 80+ grams of protein, limit carbs to <50 grams (net)/day (and get them only from veg, fruit, and legume sources), and EXERCISE EACH AND EVERY DAY AT LEAST ONCE, WITHOUT FAIL. It's very frustrating when you're working toward restriction, and I imagine it's even more so when you are concerned that another adjustment might not be in the cards for you. But there are so many things you can do in the interim to boost your weight loss. ETA: Once you start exercising (or even before), I'd recommend the BodyBugg. Fitday does a very good job of approximating your calorie output for various activities, but having actual feedback specific to YOU is so, so helpful.

Every morning--keeps me focused. It no longer governs my mood, though, which is huge progress.

Ditto this recommendation.