Dave_NW

I can't believe I'm posting this so soon after getting banded. It's just a few days past seven months banded for me, but I'm getting close to the next phase of my journey. It's exciting, but feels a little weird...

When I was asked to choose a goal weight pre-op, I picked 175, the weight where I felt at my best, and what I thought I'd want to get down to. In reality, it's been so long since I weighed 175, I'm not sure my older frame would support being that slim. They were telling me it was unlikely I'd be able to lose more than 50% of my excess weight, but I've lost almost all of it. Looking at how I appear in the mirror right now, and knowing the sizes of clothes I'm buying that fit me these days, I can see something more like 190 to 200 would be a better goal weight for me. And if that's the case, I'm close. As of today I'm at 215, down 105 pounds since being banded last December. Based on recent losses, it could be as little as another four to six weeks, and I'll be under 200. I'm excited like crazy for that, but a little overwhwelmed on what to do next.

I've learned how to lose weight with a band, but how do I maintain a goal weight with a band? Do I get a slight unfill, increase my carbs, eat more empty calories -- what do you suggest? I'm unsure how to move into the next step with things.

Anyone have suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Dave

Alex, it might be helpful to offer some info for male vs. female band patients. What to expect, and why men tend to lose faster than women. Seems a lot of women here feel a bit lost when they don't lose as easily or quickly as they might have. Maybe an article about why some weight training with exercise helps with muscle tone, to reduce sagging skin, and to prevent muscle loss.

The link to Dr. Simpsons' "It's not about restriction" article would help, if it was pinned somewhere. A lot of people think restriction is the goal, rather than dimming the appetite, and feeling satisfied with a smaller food portion. That article tends to explain things a lot of people have never heard. http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

Also, an article about reasonable weight loss expectations. My surgeon's team told me I should expect to lose only about 50% of my exccess weight, and it'd be hard to lose more than that. That info made me feel like a lap band was a second choice, since bypass patients tend to lose more - at least initially. When I had well over 100 pounds to lose, it seemed like a huge obstacle. I blew past 50% months ago, and I didn't even notice it. And now that I'm over 100 pounds lost, that 50% prediction of theirs seemed excessively low.

Thanks again for keeping LBT alive. This place has helped me immensely. And for the record, I'm at 9cc in a 14cc band.

Dave

Even though you don't have restriction, you still have a narrowing of the pathway food has to get through. What you experienced is classic of being stuck, based on my own experience. My first time was in a Mexican Restaurant (salsa and chips) while I was talking and laughing and eating. Next thing I know, I had knife pains in the center of my chest, and I knew it was time to hit the Men's Room. It eventually passed, but not till after I slimed like a mad dog for several minutes. I was able to go back to the table and finish my meal, but I was eating slower than a snail after that. I've since only gotten stuck to the point of sliming a few times, and each time was in public. Broccoli is the worst, for some reason. I've never gotten stuck at home. Luckily I've been able to make it to the restroom each time it's happened. But I take each bite carefully now, believe me! It doesn't take too many of those kinds of episodes to educate a bandster really quickly!

If your throat is still sore, try liquids for a day or two and let things settle down. You'll be fine.

Dave

I have been losing about 1/2 lb. per day when I let the band work for me (took me a couple fills and several weeks). I'm down about 30 since my initial consult weigh in which was early April of 2011. I want to keep up the 1/2 lb. weight loss rate many more months and I've got a couple of weapons to bust out when I fall off of that pace, low carbs and cardio. With just limited food, I can keep up the pace for the next 20-30 lbs. probably. Once I get to within 70 lbs. of goal weight, I'll probably need to cut carbs and walk a lot to keep it dropping. Whenever a day goes by where I stall or even bump up a lb. or two, I walk for about an hour and really restrict what I take in and that lb. or two drops right back off. It is so hard to wait for the next 6 months to get lived so my excess weight will be gone.

In your first post in this thread you asked if anyone banded had lost 40% of their body weight in 8 months. I may be close. I'm 3 days past 7 months banded, and I've lost 33% of my starting body weight so far. I started this at 320, and I'm down to 215 as of today. Despite posts to the contrary, I'm NOT living at the gym or doing anything extreme that will be hard to maintain over the long term. I'm eating a nutritionally-sound diet that makes sense, that is not "fad" foods, and I'm changing my lifestyle, not just my food intake. I'm physically more active throughout the day, by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking on the far side of the parking lot, and taking the long way around whenever possible. I spend 45 mins to an hour at the gym 4 to 5 days a week doing reasonable cardio, either riding a recumbent bike or walking on a treadmill, and occasionally doing dome free weight work. Nothing extreme, but manageable for me. (I'm 57 and have severe arthritis in both knees - makes it rough to do anything too outrageous at the gym.) My surgeon's team says I'm doing great, and to keep it up. At this point I have no intention of stopping, and I fully expect to be able to maintain my new weight once I get to my goal. We'll see where I am at 8 months post-op.

If you're doing a half pound a day, you're doing awesome! Good luck with things.

Dave

I drink with my meals. Not a lot, just sips as needed to keep things moving. If I don't do that, it's hard to swallow. My nutritionist and surgeon both know, and neither has a problem with it. They say as long as my hunger is controlled, drinking with meals makes no difference. I can't guzzle liquids any more, and don't even try. But they taught me to sip my liquids all the time after surgery, so that's what I do - including during meals. I've had zero problems.

If the point of not drinking is to keep from flushing food through your band too fast, and therefore causing yourself to get hungry sooner, which may cause you to ultimately overeat, the fix is to limit your food portions. If I know I have X amount of food on my plate, and when that's gone I'm done eating, then whether or not I drink along with that food is a non-issue. When I've finished eating that meal, I know it'll be so many hours till my next meal, and that's that. Overeating or snacking or eating the wrong food just isn't going to happen.

Whether this is right or wrong doesn't seem to be a factor. it's about weight loss results, right? It's working for me.

Dave

Lots of good advice, Dave. My diet is very similar to yours in terms of Protein, carbs, calories, etc. I'm still working on the exercise part of that but I'm getting better . I just ordered a Bodybugg SP (it is supposed to be delivered today) and am looking forward to using it to further my weight loss...I saw that you said your tracks your sleep quality - how difficult is it to sleep with?

Thanks, Vicky. I found the more weight I lose, the easier it is to exercise. And the hardest part was making it part of my daily routine. I go directly from work to the gym, so it's like an extension of my workday. When I'm done, THEN I can get on with my after work activities. It works really well for me. (I can't motivate myself to work out in the morning.)

I have the Bodymedia FIT bluetooth version, that syncs to my Droid phone. I usually just sync it with a USB cable to my PC instead. The bluetooth thing is cumbersome, although it does work well. I don't even notice the armband anymore. It hides under my shirt sleeve on my upper left arm, and is usually out of sight. It's very light, and the elastic band that holds it on is very comfortable. It's velcro-adjustable, so is never too tight. I often forget I'm wearing it, and have nearly climbed into the shower or hot tub while wearing it. Whoops! It's not waterproof... Good luck with yours. It's pretty cool.

Dave

I had both a hiatal hernia and a ventral hernia repaired during my surgery, and I experienced nothing like what you describe. Have you called your surgeon and asked about that?

Dave

Down 12 pounds in 11 days. I encourage everyone to look in to south beach. It's tough until you get used to it then it gets easier. And the food you can eat is what bandsters are supposed to be eating anyway. The spinach quiche are very good. I am feeling more encouraged and motivated each day. Removing the carbs and sugars has given me renewed energy and I have started being more active again. For anyone else in my situation, don't give up, do the pouch test and try south beach. Get greedy for the compliments. I am looking forward to people telling me how thin I'm looking and asking me how much I've lost again.

Bob, wishng you success getting back on track. If you need a guy's perspective or support, let me know. I'm happy to try and help.

Dave

Dave, I have found your posts truly inspiring! I like to challenge myself, and I am hoping that my intensive exercise plan will continue to pay off over time to help me lose faster. Reading what you do each day gives me some great ideas!!

Thank you very much! Glad to be able to help. I'm a "pay it forward" kind of guy, and willing to offer any and all help possible to those walking this path with me. There is a lot of surgeon-speak buzzwords and rhetoric tossed around before folks get banded, but not a lot of experienced support after the fact. My surgeon and his team are great folks, but none of them are band patients, so they can only tell me what it's supposed to be like, not how it IS. LBT and forums like it are a wealth of information for those who can use it, but it seems a lot of posts are about problems. Being able to share what "normal" is like for me may help others a bit, who may not be having problems, but who want some ideas of how to make the most of their banding experience. Once the parts are figured out, your day to day routine can be very easy and predictable.

One thing I don't talk about too much is the Bodymedia.com armband I wear. It's made by the same company that makes the BodyBugg worn by contestants on The Biggest Loser. This thing is amazing, and does all the hard work for me. Calories in and out, exercise, other activity levels, food eaten, steps taken, sleep quality, and weight gained or lost - it's keeping track so I don't have to. Highly recommend this gadget!

Wishing everyone good luck!

Dave

I went to see my surgeon today and I have restarted my process today and I am waiting to find out if all the testing I did last year will be good and I should be scheduled for my surgery with in the next month. I felt good today not nervous like I was last year. By starting my exercise plan and staying focused on my diet now this time it is easier, I am still nervous of the life change, but I am looking at the band strictly as a tool. I will loose the weight and I will use the band as a tool to help monitor my intake and to keep me focused. As much as this website can be good it can also be bad at times when you hear the negative, but the one thing we all have in common is our weight and that is what brings us together. as we loos the weight we are all on the journey together and here to support one another. I welcome all conversations so please feel free to email me anytime.

Congratulations on getting back on track. Obviously, you weren't ready for this last year. But by this time next year you'll be a whole new man. Good luck!

One thing to keep in mind about this forum, and those like it, is that the people who have questions or issues are the ones who post. Those people who aren't having any trouble rarely post, so we never see those folks. Take all these issues you see here with a grain of salt, and think of all those unknown invisible bandsters out living their lives with no problems. Chances are very good you won't have any problems at all.

Wishing you the best going forward.

Dave

Tracie, one thing about the band is that it's pretty forgiving. If you get home and find you're not where you want to be, focus again on your routine, and get back at it. Any weight you gained during vacation will quickly be shed, and you'll start losing again. Like the old saying goes, "If you fall off the horse, get back in the saddle and start riding again."

Good luck!

Dave

Dave: I want to thank you for posting your typical day for us to read. I'm newly banded and reading about someone who is successful without being obsessive was exactly what I needed! Congratulations on your success!

Thanks, Lizzy. One thing I've learned is that there is no "perfect" way to be banded. What works great for one person may not work as well for someone else. So everyone needs to figure out how their body works with their band. I see you're off to a great start. Best of luck on your journey as well!

Dave

Pretty awesome, huh? http://www.tmz.com/2...istory-channel/

Go Corey!!! It's great that he's realized he needed help, and did something about it. He's in is mid-20's, and he'll have the best of his life in front of him.

Corey, if you're lurking around here, congratulations!

Dave

Dave I am in rethink mode...lol I have caused this on myself by not changing fully in my eating habits. My thought process was I can have little and it will be ok but I see their is not truth to that in my results. I really want to be sucessful in this and I think I want it more now than I did when I got the band. Congrats to you ..You have done Awesome!!

Thanks for the kind words. It's great feeling like I finally have control over my weight. Banding was the best decision I've ever made.

As others have suggested, set the goal, and give it your best shot. You have nothing to lose but excess weight, right?

Your comments about your eating habits are well taken - I've also had periods when I've gotten off track, and eaten a bit of this and that, only to find I stopped losing. For me, carbs are the enemy. If I eat too many of them, my weight loss stalls, and even stops. When I go back to eating my proper way, things resume within a day or two. So I allow myself occasional periods of not keeping track. (I took the July 4th weekend off, and I attended several parties. I ate what I wanted, without worrying about it. On July 5th I got back to my routine. No problem.)

I try to follow a high Protein, low glycemic carb kind of eating plan, patterned loosely after the South Beach Diet way of eating. Being banded, I can't eat as much as SBD would have me eat, so I've taken it down my own road, and figured out how it works for me. It's important for me to keep my blood sugar as stable as possible, not because I'm diabetic, (I'm not even pre-diabetic), but I have a hypoglycemia thing that causes crashes and shaking if I don't maintain steady nutrition. I try to get roughly 10% of my daily calories from Protein, and I try to limit my carbs to about half of that. So if I eat 1000 calories a day, I try to get in 100g of protein, and 50g of carbs. It's not exact, and isn't perfect, but it seems to be working well for me.

I don't cook much, because for me, it's more hassle to make something I'm only going to eat a small amount of, than it is to just grab something out that fits my eating plan. I work full time and am on-call after hours, so I'm on the go quite a bit, and am not always near my refrigerator. I've learned how to live and eat in the real world, rather than being super-vigilant about weighing or measuring things.

A typical work day for me starts with a ready-to-drink Protein shake in the car on my way to work. I like the Premier Nutrition brand, sold at costco and elsewhere, including their website, www.premiernutrition.com. 11 ounces, 30g protein, 5g carbs, 3g fat, and 160 calories. An hour or so later I'll eat something like a "naked" breakfast sandwich - a fried egg, sausage patty, and slice of cheese. (Think "breakfast sandwich" without any bread.) About 300 calories, 20g protein, 1g carb, 25g fat. For lunch, I might have a small cup of chili, like the one they serve at Wendy's. 220 calories, 17g protein, 23g carbs, 6g fat. For dinner, since I'm usually heading home from the gym, I'll often grab a salad, like the new berry Almond chicken salad they're serving at Wendy's. The half-sized serving they sell has 270 calories, 12g fat, 23g carbs, and 21g protein. I drink lots of Water, Lipton Pure Leaf Unsweetened iced tea (that I sweeten with Splenda), and a cup or two of coffee daily. If I need a snack, I'll eat part of a Premier Nutrion Protein Bar, or some trail mix, or a cheese stick. I don't graze, I don't eat junk food, I don't eat most Desserts, and I avoid fried and sugary foods. At the end of the day, based on the above numbers, I'm looking at roughly 950 calories, 88g protein, 52g carbs, and 45g fat. Some days are higher, some lower, but overall I try to get in as much protein as possible, and keep the carbs down. Everything else is relative.

Because I have a desk job, (IT computer support for a busy hospital and medical center), I try to move as much during the day as I can. Instead of the elevator, I take the stairs at work. I park on the far side of the parking lot. When I'm heading off to see someone at work, I take the long way around, so I walk further than necessary. It all adds up. At the end of my workday, I go to the gym on my way home, because I know if I don't make it part of the routine, there is no way I'll make it back once I've gotten home. SO I make things as easy on myself as possible. None of this is written in stone, and everything is flexible. I keep my eyes on the prize, and work daily toward getting there. Life goes on, and I want to be an active participant in mine.

Hope this info helps a bit. I'm not an expert, by any means, but it's working for me. I hope you reach your goal, and that come November, you'll be where you want to be. Good luck!

Dave

Why not? That's only ten pounds a month, or a shade over two pounds a week. I've lost over 100 pounds in seven months. That's a bit more than 14.25 pounds a month, on average. If you work your band consistently, eat right, stay focused, and exercise your butt off, there is no reason to think you can't do it.

Good luck!

Dave

had surgery on 01/27/2011 as of 07/04/2011, i have gone from 314lbs to 206lbs 108lbs in about 5 months. gone gone gone!!!!

Go Cliff! Man, that's awesome! I'm running right behind you, but it's taken me seven months to get there.

Dave

I had my surgery a few weeks before Christmas. i attended any number of parties, and was able to stay on track regardless of the occasion. It was MUCH more important to me to be included in the festivities than worrying about what I put on my plate.

If you're worried about anyone feeling weird eating while you aren't, just have your meal before the family eats. Tell them you've finished already, but you'll sit and talk with them while they're having their meal. Change the subject, and make it a non-issue. You should be fine.

Dave

sounds like a plan. if they give me any guff i'll just say show me the instruction (er, uh i mean, show me in writing :-) ) I dont do well at all with this wishy washy stuff and just want a clear cut/ black and white list. I know based on the current weight guidelines that I just by the hair of my chin qualify, and with the new rules coming soon I well fall into that too. I look forward to the appt with them to get it all submitted. By the way, does Tricare want all of the labs and such done before approval or just have it done before surgery?

I don't know if Tricare requires labs to be done before approving you for surgery. I think that's more likely a surgeon's thing. Depending on your weight history, the surgeon may require things like a sleep study or an endoscopy to be done before he/she will submit a request for surgery to Tricare. But as for Tricare themselves, I think they only want your surgeon to ask for approval because they feel you are a good candidate for surgery.

To help you out, here is the calendar of events I went through:

Referral from PCM to WL Surgeon 19-Aug-10

Attended Mandatory WL Seminar 25-Aug-10

1st Consult - Dr. McMahon/Staff 29-Sep-10

Lab Work Completed 1-Oct-10

Endoscopy 14-Oct-10

Surgery Request Submitted to Insurance 15-Oct-10

Surgery Approval Received from Insurance 20-Oct-10

Consult - Dr. Kaufman (Ventral Hernia Repair) 16-Nov-10

2nd Consult/Sign Surgery Papers - Dr. McMahon/Staff 16-Nov-10

Surgery Day 6-Dec-10

101 Pounds Lost 6-Jul-11

Hope this helps,

Dave

I appreciate the replies that I have gotten so far, but I know that no other region expects this. My concern is stricktly related to the North Region. I have found that they all pay for it, but that they (the North region) may have different criteria in order to get it approved. I will be meeting with my surgeon in a couple of weeks so I guess we will find out when we actually submit papers for auth.

I can appreciate the confusion and frustration. The deal with Tricare Prime is they have very specific rules about what they will and won't pay for. They do not require a 6 month diet, period. All they require is that you fit the eligibility requirements listed on the Tricare website, regardless of the region you live in. But the surgeon you go to MAY require a managed weight loss program, and may insist you go through that before they will agree to give you a lap band. That was why I said you should find a surgeon who doesn't require it.

When you meet with your surgeon again, if they say you need a supervised diet, ask them why, since your insurance carrier doesn't ask for that, and won't pay for nutritional counseling. It could be that your surgeon may want everyone to go through that process, since some insurance carriers DO require it. The surgeon may just want all their patients to go through it, as a matter of course. And it may also be the surgeon's insurance coordinator may not know Tricare Prime doesn't require a supervised diet, and may be askig for something that isn't required. So this could be your chance to educate them.

If you spend time on the Tricare website, and print out the specific pages that apply, you can show your surgeon why you don't want to have to go through a 6 month prescribed diet.

Good luck!

Dave

9 days out? I'm surprised you are permitted to exercise so soon after surgery. Generally the first six weeks after surgery are about healing. Exercise and weight loss come later. As for fills, once your swelling goes down and you have no restriction, you'll understand why they're important.

Dave

Am I the only one that is driven nuts by the contraindications in what we are suppose to do. How are sugar free drinks any different from sugar free Jello, pudding, popsicles, yogurt ect. Artifical sweetners are artificial sweetners, how does it matter in which form they come in. I do not drink them all day long and I try and keep my Water up. I drink a galon of liquids a day. I have one packet a day and it is only for 20 0z but I fill my nalgreen bottle all the way.

Just my tirade for the day.

I think part of the deal with the band is that it works differently for different people. Different surgeons have different plans for pre-op and post-op diets, and no two people have the same experience, even though they do the same kinds of things. I agree there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Why did my surgeon keep me on liquids only for three weeks post-op, and others are on solid foods within a week? There is no real answer, because everyone has a different set of rules to follow.

I decided early on that I was going to have to take it all in, and made decisions for how I was going to live with my band. I manage my band in the best way that works for me, I make food choices based on living in the real world. and I'm having very good weight loss so far. I avoid sugary foods as a rule, but I do use artificial sweeteners in my coffee and iced tea. I don't use sugar free jello and such, but then, I don't eat much jello of any kind. You'll need to decide how you're going to live with your band as well.

Good luck!

Dave

I posted earlier about my food yesterday and now I feel like I ate even more today. Tonight I kept waiting for that "full" feeling and I was surprised at how much I ate. For being only ONE week out, I wonder if I'm doing alright?

Today I had 1 cup of blended potato Soup, then about 1/2 cup of refriend Beans whipped up with a little sourcream and a pinch of cheese, 1/4 cup of yogurt, and another 1 cup of blended potato soup. Then about a tsp. of Peanut Butter and a couple bites of runny oatmeal. About 3 bites. Why am I seeming to being able to get down so much? I'm not feeling sick from being overly full. I know I need more Protein, and need to add in Protein drinks. I need to get them tomorrow when I have a ride. (I had to have an incision instead of doing my surgery laproscopic so I can't drive yet). When I read that people are only eating a couple bites or 1/4 cup I feel like something is wrong with me since I can get in anywhere from 1/2 to 1 cup...esp. if it's soup. Just feeling a little down that I'm over doing something.

You won't begin to feel restriction until you have several fills to put Fluid in your band. Basically, right now all you have is an empty band around your upper stomach, but it's not "turned on" yet. Talk to your surgeon about what to expect post-op. I was on a liquid diet for three weeks post-op. If you're eating all this food only a week out, you need to make sure it's what your doctor said to do.

Good luck!

Dave

Went to cardiologist appt for clearance, and could not believe how she was. Asking me how much the surgery is? Asking me do I know anyone that had it done, cause you have trouble swallowing & regurgitating. I don't know if she was just curios or just don't like the idea. But all I know is that she made me uncomfortable. The worst part is that I have to go back to see her again:(

You'll find there are a lot of armchair experts in surgeries they've never had. People will go on and on and on about someone they heard about who knows somebody they saw who had talked about somebody they used to know who may have had a surgery of some kind... Then they instantly translate that hearsay and rumor and misinformation into the exact surgery you're planning to have. It's weird, and completely unsettling. They can be so convincing! But when you pin them down for facts in the case, the whole thing falls apart.

The worst offender of this sort of behavior I've come up against was a night nurse in the laboratory at the hospital where I had my surgery. I stayed two nights in the hospital following my band surgery, and she was called in to change the IV from one arm to the other, due to complications. While she was working, she asked why I was in the hospital. I told her I'd just had lap band surgery. She went off on a tirade about how that's a waste of time and money because it never works and how I should have hypnosis like she did, (she was immensely obese), and on and on. Um, can you SEE how much pain I'm in having just HAD this surgery? Your stupid comments are just a tad late, ya know? I finally told her to please stop talking because I didn't want to hear it, and I reported her to the regular staff. Talk about inconsiderate! Jeez...

Consider the source, and stand your ground. Don't let them waste your time or energy. If you're having the surgery because you want and need to have it, then it's none of their business. When you see this person again, if they start grilling you about stuff, offer to give them the name of your surgeon, so they can get the facts directly from someone who knows best how to treat them. Then look at your watch and tell them you're in a bit of a hurry, and say, "Can we please deal with why I'm here?"

Good luck!

Dave

Your bank will loan you money to buy a new car, but they wont pay to fix it if you have problems or need to sell it. Does that mean you shouldn't buy that car?

Same deal. Given the huge numbers of people who have zero band issues (compared with the much lower number of people who do have band issues), the odds are in your favor that you won't have a problem. So what's more important to you; Losing the weight, or worrying about the "what if" stuff? Get your band first, and cross the other bridges if and when you ever get there. Chances are you won't ever have those issues.

Dave

Jacqui, you've had such a hard time these last few years. It's great that you're back on track. And knowing you, you'll figure out a way to get everything you need. Continued good luck with things!

Dave