BetsyB

I wouldn't leap to eating more just yet. Rebecca's right; the body takes time to regroup. If your stall lasts long-term, journaling your intake and tweaking it might be a good idea. It might not be that you need more calories, but rather that you need to focus on other aspects--more Protein, less refined carb, less sodium, whatever; if you have a journal, you can sort of systematically tackle different aspects until you hit on what works best for your body. Your loss so far has been really good. Be sure to keep your expectations aligned with what is realistic.

100 pounds is an amazing loss! Congratulations! Are you exercising? If not, now is the time to start. It will jumpstart your loss. If you are, try changing your routine a bit.

I'm of the opinion that motivation isn't required. We do a bazillion things every single day that we aren't motivated to do. We brush our teeth. We feed the dog. We empty the litterbox. We go to work. We do these things because we have to. I consider eating and exercising in a way that promotes weight loss (or maintenance, farther down the road) to be things I have to do, as well. If I relied on motivation, most days I'd find plenty of reasons not to do either. Waiting for motivation is not the answer. Getting your band properly adjusted and committing to make the changes you need to make, regardless of how you feel about them is the answer. Just do it.

I think it's important to note that, during the immediate postop phase when eating is so, so restricted, it is very common to feel obsessed with foods you cannot eat. With time, advancing diet, and restriction, this usually fades. I think it's wise to consider what you will do if it persists. A good therapist can be worth his/her weight in gold. But don't rush to judgment; your response is pretty typical for someone who has been placed on a very restricted diet.

I'm slowing down, too. I do log my food on fitday.com, and use a bodybugg to make sure I have a good deficit each day. I eat a low-carb diet, too. Still, it is slowing down---and the only thing that seems to effect much change is bumping up my exercise.

It's not just a matter of fills. The band, even when there's appropriate restriction, can be "eaten around." For your friends, food is more important, at this point, than weight loss. Maybe that will change for them one day. But there's nothing you can do to effect that change.

Liquid during meals does a couple of things. First, it makes it easier for food to move out of the pouch quickly. Secondly, when you have restriction, it takes up space---and reduces your ability to get the nutrients you need. (Once you reach restriction, it becomes really uncomfortable to drink while eating; I think it's less important earlier on, but it's a good time to establish the habit.) My doctor's rule is that it's ok to drink right up to the first bite--but then not for 90 minutes after eating. This really increases my satiety. I have restriction now, and have never had to take tiny sips--I still don't. I can gulp, but only about 4 ounces at a time. It doesn't take long for that to move through, though---I can guzzle a lot of Fluid with no problem at all. (I've never even been told to take tiny sips--just to listen to my body.)

I use PURE from Bariatric Eating. You can not heat it in food. You have to temper the Protein so it doesn't denature (clump). To do this, first stir in a bit of the liquid (or food) at room temp (or cold). Just enough to make a paste. Then, heat the liquid until it's warm (not hot). Stirring constantly, add a bit of the warm liquid to the protein. (The idea is to gradually warm it). Then heat the liquid (or food) until it's a bit hotter than the temp you want (because you're adding it to not-hot). Again, stirring constantly, add the hot liquid (or food) to the protein. You don't have to be as meticulous if you're adding it to foods you eat cold. But do sprinkle it on gradually and stir a lot.

You look wonderful!

What on earth gives you this idea?! There is no such entitlement! Can some people eat limitless crap without weight consequences? Yes, but not many. And it catches up with them, usually--either with eventual weight gain or health issues. Wrong. Most people who are lean and healthy make wise food choices. They balance their indulgences with little restrictions to compensate. They limit their indulgences. They do not compulsively eat. They listen to their bodies and stop eating when they are satisfied, not stuffed. You're simply NOT going to achieve a state in which you do not have to worry about what you eat. Unless that state is simple resignation to a life of unhealthy morbid obesity. I have to disagree with the previous poster who said you should explore revision to bypass. While it might ultimately be a good option for you, it's really important to get your mind aligned with the realities of life with a modified body. Bypass requires far more caution, food-wise, and if you have the attitude that you should not have to worry about what you eat, you're not ready for that.

Obesity it multifactorial. It is caused by a variety of things--and these differ from person to person. What is FACT is that it is manageable. Yes, fat cells remain. Those who are obese remain vulnerable to obesity. But it can be conquered. However, there is NO way to conquer it if you believe you can't. And sounddude, it sounds like you believe that there is simply no hope for you. You have given up your power. For some of us, it's a daily struggle. For others of us, it's not. Either way, plenty of us do, in fact, overcome our obesity. I guarantee that each and every one of us assumes FULL responsibility for our actions---not caring whether a virus triggered activation of a gene that predisposed us to obesity. Predisposition is not fate. Past history does not dictate the future. YOU CAN LOSE WEIGHT. Does that mean that what works for me would work for you? Not necessarily. I spent lots of time learning what worked for me. Before I even hit an OR, I knew that my body will not lose weight unless I eat around 800 calories a day. Does it suck? Sure--that's not very many calories. But no matter how hard I try to prove it wrong, it is what it is. If I eat more than 1000 calories, I gain. Period. Is it fair? What's fair? I do what I have to do to lose weight. I have a gastric band to make it easier to stick with 800-900 calories/day. I make very careful food choices, because it's hard to get the nutrients I need each day when eating that amount. I exercise religiously. Your body may need completely different things. It's your responsibility to find out what those things are, and do them. You have to knock off the self-destructive, self-defeating behaviors. It's really as simple (and as terrifyingly difficult) as that. It's not easy at all--but the formula IS simple: eat less than your body needs. Burn more calories than you put in. Excruciatingly difficult to do, at times---but those of us who do it do, in fact, get the results we want. We all have barriers to loss. Some of us have huge physical obstacles. Most of us have at least some emotional barriers. With hard work, we can get past them. You never will, though, if you just accept your, "it's not curable" stance. Look, you're not doing anything remotely supportive of weight loss. Why don't you give it the effort you're giving to defending the hopelessness of it all? You might be pleasantly surprised.

I don't think I could have wrestled into Spanx immediately postop, and abdominal tenderness would have made them very uncomfortable. But once you get past the immediate postop hurdle, there's no problem with them.

Day Four was my worst day. The sore throat is likely from being intubated. A saltwater gargle is a good idea; throwing salt down your gullet then drinking water ...not so much. I hope you feel better fast! For me, it was all smooth sailing after the fourth day.

Congratulations--you're on your way!

Endoscopy wasn't part of my preop screening, but it's no biggie. You will be given conscious sedation, most likely. It creates a not-quite-asleep-but-couldn't-care-less state that makes it easier for both you and the doctor :smile:

It does suck--you're right. But it's time-limited--and for a good cause. You'll get through it. It is hard, but worth it.

I've just been investigating this. In the past, Allergan has paid for replacement of defective Lap-Bands. I would imagine that Ethicon will do the same for Realize patients who are affected. I would also expect some sort of class action suit to be filed, if the problem turns out to be widespread. I have a Realize band and am not concerned; I guess this is one circumstance for which I am glad my doctor routinely uses fluoroscopy--he can assess the band at each visit.

salad stuff broccoli slaw other veggies that look good cabbage garlic fresh herbs, if my garden isn't producing them berries or other fruit that looks good ground chicken (for chili) shrimp lean beef pork fish turkey Italian sausage smoked salmon almond milk cheese-cheddar, parmesan fat-free cottage cheese Greek yogurt canned tomato puree (for sauces and soups) lots of beans--canned and dried (black, red, great northern, etc.) fat-free refried Beans boxes of chicken broth (if I'm making Soup and won't have bones to make stock) wine (for cooking) From Bariatric Eating, I order: Inspire Protein powder (Dutch chocolate and Pom Razz Sangria--very good mixed in a liter of Crystal Light lemonade) PURE unflavored whey Protein isolate Susan Maria's Cancun chili seasoning

Calorie needs vary so widely; I lose in the 800-900 range. I really don't like to drop below 800, because there's just no way to even approach meeting my nutritional needs if I do. That's where Protein shakes come in handy.

It's time to really educate yourself about the band, and what it will do for you. If you're considering bypass, really educate yourself about that, too. A good source of information regarding postop eating (for band and bypass) is bariatriceating.com. In your shoes, I'd start from scratch. You understandably have very negative feelings right now, because your experience has been terribly disappointing. But you also know that you have a band in your body--and that it's functional. (A hernia should not affect restriction.) Here's one simple fact, and it holds true whether you're banded or bypassed: you must eat the right foods in the right amounts if you want to lose weight. Just because you can eat something does not mean you should. And the band can't stop you--YOU have to stop you. Since you already have the band in place, why not really work it? Get in to the doctor for that fill you skipped. Work toward appropriate restriction. And in the meantime, really focus on doing all of the things you need to do to promote weight loss. Journal your food intake someplace like fitday.com to ensure you're in a calorie range that supports loss, getting enough Protein, and meeting your other nutrient needs. Exercise each day. Will you be hungry? Probably. Until you reach appropriate restriction, hunger is part of the game. We all experience it. What you're ultimately aiming for is a state in which you are satisfied (not"full") for a few hours after eating. Then, because you are easily satisfied, you have another small meal--and again are satisfied for a period of time. I know you've given up, and have reverted to old eating habits. These habits must be addressed for any weight loss surgery to be successful. I understand why you are considering bypass at this point--and really, it may ultimately be a better choice for you. But while you think about it (or even prepare for it), why not really work the band, and see if you can spare yourself another surgery? Bypass requires even more dietary restrictions than the band. Get to the doctor. See him/her routinely for fills. Overhaul the way you eat. Consider therapy to help you cope with the emotions that seem to be triggering overeating. See if you can't turn this disappointment into a real success story.

Time to find a new doctor. Surgery is not the answer. Fluoroscopy is. It's not hard to locate a port. (I'd report the doctor to the state licensing board.) Can your surgeon's office do the fills?

My doctor has a very similar approach. Protein + nonstarchy veggies, plus fruit (one a day) until 75 percent of excess body weight is lost. I've lost 75% of what he wants me to lose, so I'm "allowed" to add bread, rice, pasta, etc. Back in. But I don't miss them at all and feel a zillion times better without them. I am continuing with the original regimen because I love the way I feel. mdhannant, it doesn't suck at all--I promise, if you're already feeling better, you'll find, when you reach restriction, that you are completely satisfied without the starches. There's just no room, most of the time, for foods that aren't nutrient-dense. Gracie, hunger is normal at this stage of the game. I powered through by telling myself it was the last time I'd be hungry in the name of weight loss. I do aim for a little more protein/day than my doctor requires, so I add a Protein shake to my morning and my evening; this helps with hunger a lot. When I really couldn't take it, I called my doctor's office; they scheduled me for a fill a few weeks earlier than planned.

Heather, it doesn't matter how many calories other people need to lose. All that matters is that you've identified the range in which you lose. That said, if you've blown your knee out, you may find that you have to adjust your intake downward until you are able to exercise again. Do you journal your food intake? I ask, because it's really helpful, to me, to have a journal I can look back on to really examine my intake. I had a lot of faulty ideas about the range in which I lost until I had journaled long-term and got a better overall picture. It's not the case for everyone, but for me, what I eat is as important as how much. Journaling someplace like fitday.com can help you identify if you're focusing too much on starches, getting enough Protein, getting enough heart-healthy fat, etc.

Bree, I hope your fill does the trick. I am waffling about my scheduled fill for next week...

I don't remember. I didn't really count; I started feeling restriction with my third, then played around, fine tuning for a while. Maybe 5?