Betsyjane

Lana: Sorry you're feeling puny, especially with company! I just heard a radio show today with a lap band Dr. being interviewed. He said that the people who "get it" (meaning lose a lot and consistently) are the ones who use the band for one thing----to realize they don't feel hungry anymore. Consequently they limit themselves to 3 solid low fat ,high protein, high fiber meals with no snacking....and then spend their time dealing with the emotional issues of losing food as a companion. Period. That's his summary. He said that those people who "get it" from the beginning may not even need any fills. Everybody else has to learn it somewhere along the way. He said the Atkins diet works best, and said eating mushy foods (and sliders) is as bad as eating liquids: Food should have to be a big effort to chew chew chew until liquid. Period. "No fat person has ever chewed their food well enough...They couldn't and still get all those calories in in a meal." "One reason for the mushy diet at first is to get people used to chewing food well enough." What do you think?

OK. I took it to heart that these big losers of Spivak's were doing 600 calories a day and eating like birds. Birds, I tell you! I had to decide what's right for me, and that seems to change frequently. The best I've ever felt before the band was on a diet of protein and fruit for breakfast, a salad for lunch and protein and veges for dinner. So I did it. But I added in my protein bar or diluted shake as a snack....Gotta have my chocolate. Did it for 3 days and lost a pound. Counted the calories and I went from around 1100 a day to around 950 a day. That's where I'm gonna hold 'em for now. But I'm slacking off on exercise! Gotta get back to it. If it isn't one thing it's another........ Ah, the life of a bandster.

Yeah, He definitely is the easiest. I wonder what the research will eventually show is the right way to approach it. All I know is that I'm slowly and sporadically losing wieght and I'm happy with that!

Ha! I was planning to eat at least one of everything before surgery. Sort of saying goodbye.... And then Spivak looked me in the eye during our consultation and said "It's a very bad sign if you gain weight just prior to surgery." He did it so intently, it just blew my "Last Supper"!

Bikergrammy, you're fun! Glad you've joined us.

I was self pay. Went to my first meeting, scheduled suergery, and got it done. No muss no fuss.

I don't see much difference between the ab lounge and getting a regular big exercise ball.....

Glad you're doing well, Barbara!

Teacher, dear. You wil probably experience it. Something gets stuck, and your body does this miraculous adaptation to try to move the offender on through. You product very very thick mucousy saliva.

Did she ever remove her band?

Hi Brooksie. I missed you. What's up with the unfill? You OK?

Mixing a liquid with a solide should be a no-no, don't you think? Trying to get a full feeling while adding liquids should be counterproductive. Do you eat soups and cereals? Problems or no?

I take care of my 90 year old mother, and no matter how much I love her, it is stressful. Under stress I eat wrong and PB. I have found that I have to make eating sacred and prayerful. Before I eat, I have to sit up straight, with the TV off, and take two very deep breaths. Then I have to eat slowly and mindfully, cherishing the time as the only private time I sometimes get with just me..... I need to be in a focused trance....different than the trance I used to go in to eat nonstop binging and grazing. Soemday, I may be able to eat more automatically, but I kind of hope not. I like the time getting centered.

As long as doc says you're OK, I'd be awfully proud, if I were you, for sticking to that rigid diet! You're off to an amazing start! Relax and enjoy it. Did you get any Better Than Boullion? Really hearty and satisfying.

I found a great fast Martha Stewart protein recipe! 3 cans of tuna, 1 egg slightly beaten, a very small handful of bread crumbs (I use Panko instead), 1/3C chopped cilantro or whatever herbs you like, a little jalapeno if you like it, a little lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of lite mayo...all stirred together. Make palm-sized little cakes/burgers. 1T of oil in a pan, or cooking spray...but very little oil anyway. Cook for a few minute on both sides. They are like crab cakes. Good hot or cold. I found that one makes a meal for me...well, actually 1.25, and I'm full. Dave eats them with his hands, like snacks. The combo of ingredients seems to go down smoothly for me, but not so smoothly that I lose that full feeling.

I looked into Thailand and India. Thailand was a bit cheaper and seemed to have more experience. I don't remember now how I found them, but it was something like Thaimedicalvacations.com...... I just like Bangkok alot, so I am probably not objective....wanted to recoup at the Oriental Hotel and their spa. All things considered, though, it is probably cheaper to go to Dr. Ortiz in Mexico and he has a great rep on this board....but the Thais are so good at those pampery medical vacations....

Here it is.... HowtoTellWhenYouArePerfectlyAdjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day? 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber? 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram.(It's also a stomach irritant). c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals? 6. Are you eating too much junk? a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. meat or fish (3 ounces the size of a deck of cards) b. Vegetables (½ cup the size of your fist) c. Starch (If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much - Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta) 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine. d. The body has no way to break down artificial fats). a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (Obsess about something else) b. Perfectionism (All or none, black and white thinking) c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables (6) Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (7) Peppermint (8) Baking soda toothpaste (9) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider

If you are losing an average of 1-2 pounds a week, you're fine. There's a great list about how to know when youy need a fill. I'll go find it....

I had no pre-op diet, and his post-op diet is lenient too, compared to others.

But those bid losers suuuurrre don't eat much! 600 calories a day!

I thought it was really a good meeting.....but it's an hour away...

I keep struggling with whether portion control is enough or whether a diet needs to also happen.....

Hey, Veronica! How are you feeling????

I understand from another person that Speigel has decided that if you get a fill and call back within 3 days to get a slight unfill, he'll do it. If it's longer than 3 days, he does a complete unfill. I'm getting it second hand, buit from someone I consider reliable.... It's a problem , if you aren't sure you're overfilled at first, or just reacting a bit to the fill....

Nope. They were bandsters not bypass. It's bothering me. I have a long way to go to get down to that number of calories and those partions.