Dave_NW

Close enough. Where are you getting banded?

I was banded eight months ago today at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, and I've lost 109 pounds so far - awesome!! Dr. Ross McMahon was great to work with. I have Tricare Prime, and after a few false starts with other clinics who I learned didn't accept my insurance, I was referred to him. The experience was amazing, and I have no regrets.

I have a coworker who was banded at UW about 18 months ago. He says they were great to work with, too. I think you're in good hands.

Good luck with your surgery!

Dave

Ellen, I'm in Skagit County. Close enough?

Dave

The hospital where my surgery was done has robots available, and my surgeon offered to let them do my surgery that way if I wanted them to. I politely declined. Given the effort and artistry involved of moving organs around inside my body in order to install the band I wanted to make sure a living, breathing human was doing the work. The last thing I wanted to be worried about was a robot slicing into some vital organ or whatever, and leaving me in a mess. I had enough other things to be worried about. My surgery went off without a hitch, and I was really happy with the results. I don't know whether they used robots during the surgery for anything - they didn't tell me if they did.

Dave

Amanda, I'd say if you're feeling full for several hours on that amount of food, then you're right on target. The purpose of the band is not restriction (as in, preventing you from eating) it's about dimming your appetite so you feel satisfied with less food per meal. I've posted this link many times, but Dr. Terry Simpson's page about the purpose of the lap band is appropriate. You should read this page: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Dave

Shortly after I got my band and was back on solids, I had all sorts of trouble with broccoli. Even if I ate small bites, something about broccoli tended to get stuck, or at least feel like it. So while I have no idea what caused you to get sick (it's called "productive burping" or PB, because you're vomiting from above the band, not below it) I'd think it may have been something about the broccoli. Next time, make sure all the parts are very small, chew anything of substance very well, and eat slowly. Give each bite a chance to move through the band before adding to it. Eating with a band is an acquired skill.

I'd call your doctor, and ask for a professional opinion.

Dave

I was wondering if anyone had the choice would you get the Lap Band done again?

Yes. In a New York minute!

Dave

Anybody can get injections for weight loss. And keep getting them. And then try Weight Watchers. And Atkins. And South Beach. And Stillman. And Whoever-Else-Is-On-Good-Morning-America-and-Oprah-Touting-Their-Diet-Book-This-Week. And try fad diets. And buy stupid or useless exercise machines on late night TV that end up being clothes racks in a dark corner of the bedroom.

I know about that sort of thing because I did it. All of it. And absolutely NONE of it worked. Sure, I lost weight for awhile, but over time it came back - every single pound of it. Time and again. I've lost the same 20 pounds about ten times.

What has worked for me is being banded. My weight is lower now than it was 15 years ago. I feel better. I look better. And I have my life back in my own control. I will never go back.

So my opinion: Yes, you need a weight loss center. If you didn't, you wouldn't be on this Forum asking for assistance. Give the band a shot, and if it doesn't work, you can have it removed and go get those shots.

(BTW, if those shots worked, everyone would have done it. My Mom was getting "diet shots" back in the 1960's. And she still died of obesity-related issues at age 67.)

Good luck!

Dave

I was told that once I had lap band surgery I could no longer drink pop, or any carbonated drink. I am almost 1 year post op, and have not drank any, however, I've seen some Protein shake recipes that call for Diet Coke. Do you guys drink pop? Will it hurt anything if I do? The ONLY thing I actually miss since my surgery is Diet Mt. Dew!!!

My surgeon and NUT both say no carbonation. I've heard others say to leave it sitting for a bit so some of the bubbles go out of it. (I personally dislike "flat" soda, so wouldn't be likely to drink it that way.)

A co-worker who was banded a year before me drinks Diet Coke ALL DAY LONG - like six or more cans just during work hours, and I'd wager he drinks more at night. But then, he also hasn't lost nearly as much weight as he says he wants to, and he blames it on the band not working as advertised. (Nevermind the several fists full of candy I see him eating every day, and all the chips, and the many Desserts, and all that soda...) So consider the source, I guess.

I personally have chosen not to drink sodas, and in fact, haven't had any since the end of last November. I blame sodas as part of the junk food that helped to get me fat in the first place, and my weight loss without that sort of thing has been pretty rewarding. So I'll stay away.

At the end of the day, I think it's your choice. I don't think in moderation it would be likely to hurt you or your band. Given how much I burp from non-carbonated food and drinks, I can't imagine how much worse it'd be to deal with bubbles from carbonated drinks, too. But that's just how I see it.

Dave

Thanks guys for the great information... I went to the DR today because I wasnt feeling any better. They did an upper GI and said everything looks PERFECT. Said it might be my gal bladder and to go to ER if I had any more pain or call them in a couple days if nausea doesnt go away.. then jokingly said "you sure your not pregnant?" Of course after going through fertility treatments for 8 years and 15 years of trying, and adopting my son being newly married and hadnt had any luck, pregnancy seemed impossible. But because of my crazy obsessed mind when someone says that to me, I normally take a test, see that its negative so I wont obsess about it anymore... so thats what i did.. .come to find out I am PREGNANT! 6 weeks pregant actually which means I went through surgery pregnant.... Im in complete and total shock.... I have appt tomorrow with OBGYN and phone call waiting to talk to surgeon already in.. Guess my weightloss is on hold... WOW.. im in shock.

Oh, wow! That's great! And sure explains a lot. Good luck to you!

Dave

Why don't you go find a different doctor? Surely the investment you spent to get the band would make it worth trying everything possible to figure out why it's not working. If the port is leaking, then it needs to be fixed. Your partner is unfairly keeping you from getting this issue resolved. The band will work really well, if it's working as advertised, and is properly adjusted.

Good luck!

Dave

Rachel! You look awesome!!! You're doing so well, and I'm really happy for you! Keep up the great work!

Dave

Nice post. Congratulations on your progress! Good luck with your fill tomorrow.

Dave

I go to the gym four or five days a week, on my way home from work. (I know if I get home first, I'm not likely to go back out, so I beat myself at my own game. ) I spend about an hour doing different things, mainly burning fat on a recumbent bike. I have an iPod containing my favorite up-tempo music for keeping me motivated, and I watch the overhead TVs in the workout room while I pedal. It's not overly strenuous, but leaves me in a solid sweat every time. I can't swear it's helped me to lose weight, but I know it hasn't hurt. I know it's helped with my cardio health.

Dave

Your doctor is the only one who can help diagnose whether you're having a problem with your band, and what to do about it. Good luck on that score.

I wanted to let you know about your weight loss right now. You are NOT on a plateau. When you're in the first few weeks post-op, and on a mostly liquid diet, your system is flushing Water weight. The large weight loss you've experienced is totally normal. But when you start eating "real" food again, your metabolism slows down, and processes that food in a different way than it does a liquid diet. When you're back fully on solids, your weight loss will be even slower - for a few weeks. But if you stick to your daily diet regimen and exercise plan, and let each day look like the day before, after a time your body will reset the metabolism set point, and your weight loss will continue. it isn't a plateau, it's your body adjusting to the changes in diet you're giving it.

A big thing you'll want to know and fully understand as you move forward on this journey: Weight loss is rarely linear or constant. Instead of picturing your weight loss as the side of a loading ramp, that slants downward steadily and smoothly, picture the side view of a staircase instead. You'll go along on the horizontal step for a bit, then suddenly drop down to the next lower step. You go along on that step for a bit, then drop down to the next lower step. The length of time on one step will vary, as will the height of the drop to the next lower step.

I have my diet and exercise plan set to lose two pounds a week, but that doesn't mean I lose a pound every three and a half days. It means on average, I'm losing two pounds a week. I've been losing about ten pounds a month, but I may go a couple of weeks without losing anything on the scale, then suddenly drop a pound a day for three or four days. It's not consistent, other than to continue moving downward.

So as you move forward in your journey, don't get frustrated if you go a week or two without losing anything on the scale. Keep focused and doing what you know you should, and the weight will drop off when it's ready. The biggest issue I've seen is people getting freaked out and start changing up their routine, without giving their bodies a chance to catch up to the steady changes we're pushing on it.

Good luck with your journey, and hope your doctor will tell you everything is okay with your band!

Dave

I was wondering if anybody else has had the same experience as I have. Most days, I can manage most foods if I eat in the right proportion and chew properly. Other days, Soup will almost give me a hard stop!

I was wondering if anybody else has had days like this, and what causes it.

I am absolutely thrilled with my lap band. Even though the days I describe can be a bit annoying, I am so glad to have this tool to assist me in my weight loss.

It happens to me sometimes. I'm tighter in the morning, but if I've had coffee, things seem to loosen up a bit. If I go a long time between meals, or try to eat something really dense (grilled chicken breast, for example) I may have a harder time. But then, some days I feel like I could eat a horse, and nothing would get stuck. it's weird.

Dave

Hey all...quick intro of myself. Born and raised in Oregon. Love the outdoors. I was banded on 6/6/11. Thanks for looking.

Hey Monte,

Welcome to the party! Congratulations on your band! Lots of folks here from the West Coast - I'm north of Seattle, but visit Oregon regularly. Wishing you tremendous success on your journey!!

Dave

A lot of people tend to lump all bariatric surgeries together. To the uneducated, all such surgeries equal RNY-type radical surgery, and therefore (to them) must be avoided at all cost. I usually just explained the logic behind lap band surgery, how it's reversible, nothing gets cut up, and so forth. My friends who remained hesitant were told to "wait and see how I am in six months. If I have issues, we can talk about it then." I've had no issues, and have had tremendous weight loss, so every single nay-sayer has come along to my side of the fence. I've even had some ask me where to start their own journey down this road.

So consider the source, and don't be offended. People who care about us want the best for us, and tend to express their opinion from an uneducated point of view. Given enough time, they'll come around. We just have to take the high road with them until they learn.

Good luck!

Dave

The main reason for the liquid diet after surgery is to give your stomach time for the band stitches to heal. Digesting food is rough on your stomach - acids are sloshing around down there, and it can negatively affect the band. In this case you ate something modest, and had no side effects, but you'll want to be doubly careful until your surgeon advises you it's safe to move on to other food types. After you're healed, it's a different thing. But for now, you're well advised to take it easy.

All told, congratulations on your band! It's a huge life change, and you're doing great to be so aware of how you're doing.

Good luck!

Dave

When people compliment me on my appearance these days, it's compared to how I used to look. After more than a hundred pound weight loss, I know I look much better than I did. So I sincerely thank them for the compliment, because I know they mean it. If I know them well enough to get personal, I may add that it's been a hard road, but I'm working my ass off - literally! Then we have a chuckle over it, and I thank them again for their kind words, and for noticing the change. (How they COULDN'T notice is beyond me. I've lost a third of my former body weight.)

I know a few pounds up or down aren't going to mean anything to them, compared to the overall weight loss. So there is no sense wasting energy on feeling like a fraud, or even being uncomfortable if I'm up a few pounds. Give me a few days and I'll be back down again. It's all relative, and the general weight direction is downward.

Dave

I used Muscle Mil Lite ready-to-drink shakes for awhile, until I found Premier Protein ready-to-drink shakes. (premiernutrition.com) I switched because I much preferred the taste of the Premier Nutrition shakes. I had severe gastric issues with powdered shake mixes, and found the ready-to-drink shakes got the job done without any side effects. I still drink a Premier Nutrition chocolate shake in the car on my way to work every morning. (They sell them at costco, in addition to other locations, and their website.)

Dave

I'm really sorry you're having such an issue with your band. I won't apologize for calling the band a tool, because that's what it is. It isn't going to work magic, or instantly fix anything. But you already know that.

My band is working just exactly like I'd expect any TOOL to work. But like any tool, it needs to be worked properly to do its job. If you're having these outrageous side effects, you need to talk to somebody about adjustments to get it in line. That's why it's called an adjustable gastric band - so it can be tuned up. It will only work as well as it's set up to work.

So even though I won't criticize, I do have to say, after four years of suffering as you have, I'd sure as hell be making a lot of noise to my doctor about it. Or I'd find myself another doctor. There is no reason to suffer with having a band, if it's properly adjusted.

Good luck!

Dave

Spendorphin rush....I love it! I am so stealing that!!!

Feel free. I swiped it too, but it sure fits sometimes!!

Dave

It may be different with women than for men, but I found as I lost weight and my smaller clothes fit me again, I didn't care for the style, or the item felt "old" to me. It was easier (and more fun) to go out and get new stuff that actually fit.

Of course, as I continued to lose weight, even those replaced items soon were too big, so I had to go shopping again. And again. And again. I've replaced everything in my closet three times now, and I'm looking ahead to Round Four.

Expensive? Yes. But totally worth it, because I feel good wearing nice, new clothes that fit right. People compliment me on my appearance now, and I can wear styles or colors I'd never have dared to wear before. And I figure the money I'm NOT spending on food can go into the clothes budget. I'm spending a WHOLE LOT less on clothes than I used to spend on food. And I love having that "spendorphin" rush. (Don't you love rationalization? )

Dave

Great stuff! Thanks for breaking down the nutritional info! And congrats on your wonderful weight loss!

Thanks! Glad to help. I eat out in restaurants a lot, (even though I love to eat, I'm not much of a cook), so I'm always looking for something that works for me and my band. I can usually find a great option in most restaurants. The printed restaurant menu is not the last word in how the meal has to be served to you, and it never hurts to ask to substitute one item for something that works better. Knowing I don't have to eat everything on the plate, and asking to substitute steamed vegetables for a potato or rice side dish helps a lot. I can usually put together a band-friendly meal that lets me share the social time with my family or friends, and still stay reasonably close to my eating plan.

I'm following a modified South Beach Diet kind of eating plan, (higher Protein, lower glycemic carbs, avoiding excess surgar and fats), but I realize and accepted early on that I live in the real world, and I eat real world food. (Diet food is only useful as long as it's available - but what happens when it's meal time and diet food is NOT there?) I refuse to be a slave to a super-strict diet that forces me to live on rabbit food while life goes on around me. I spent too many years as an obese spectator in my life, and I don't intend to do that anymore. Meal quantity may be smaller now, but nothing says it has to be boring food. I think eating boring food leads to cheating, grazing, binge eating, and diet failure. Eating a variety of tasty food keeps me interested in mealtimes, and prevents me from having cravings for something I shouldn't be eating.

If I eat over my plan one time, I can usually compensate and get back on track later on. And if the whole day goes to hell, eating-wise, I know tomorrow I can re-focus and start over again. It's about getting back on the horse, not beating myself up over one meal. Given how little I eat as a bandster, I will not feel bad if one meal doesn't fit the larger plan I'm following. It was MUCH worse before I was banded. Instead of a few hundred extra calories now, it would have been a few thousand extra calories back then. These days it's much easier to stay on track, or get back to it if things go astray now and then. In the larger picture, it's a non-event, and not worth causing myself any emotional anxiety.

As to the nutritional content in food, I spend time browsing the websites of fast food places and sit-down restaurants in my area. Most of them have a Nutritional page that lists the content of their menus. By checking things ahead of time for the foods I enjoy eating, I have an idea of what works for me, and what sort of things to avoid. And even if the restaurant doesn't have a formal nutritional menu page, I find if I Google the restaurant name and the word "nutrition" there is often a page that lists the popular items. Livestrong has a lot of that sort of thing. It's not always dead-on, but it's close enough to get an idea of what's up.

And sometimes it's just a matter of common sense. I know cream sauces, breading, and sweet foods tend to have crazy calories attached. Steamed, grilled, or baked items are usually easier to work with. Eating a protein source that's closer to what it started out as is a good choice. (A grilled steak or chicken breast is probably going to have fewer calories than meatloaf or a chicken salad made with mayo.) In Mexican restaurants I like to order a taco salad made with chicken, with the sour cream and guacamole on the side. Add a splash of salsa, and it's an awesome meal. Usually more than I can eat, so that to-go box comes home with me, and I have lunch the next day.

I keep saying we need to work the band so it works for us, and the same goes for eating. With a bit of imagination, it's easy to come up with choices that work well. And at the end of the day, our weight loss is a journey, and the band is very forgiving. It's a great tool.

Dave

Wendy's is a personal favorite of mine. Two of my favorite items on their menu is their chili (small cup is 210 calories, 21g of carbs, and 17g protein) and their new berry Almond chicken salad. (The half-size portion is 270 calories, 23g carbs, and 21g Protein.)

Applebees has an Asiago Peppercorn Steak that's excellent. Order it with steamed vegetables instead of the potatoes. 380 calories, 25g carbs, and 44g Protein. I split it into two meals.

Olive Garden has a Steak Toscano. Order it with steamed vegetables instead of the potatoes. It's a 12 ounce steak that has 400 calories, 15g carbs and 20g protein. I split that one into three meals.

Dave