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Kimmiecheelle, Sorry your feeling uncomfortable. When did you have your surgery? I had mine on 10/4/06 and I drink Water but not enough and I am also the big C. I did however get my staples out and wow that is a relief. Jules

Well, here it is my most desperate attempt to be thin. Last summer I convinced my (thin) husband to do the "Master Cleanse" with me. For those of you who are not familiar with the madness of the cleanse, you basically don't eat any food, and only drink a concoction of warm water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and grade B maple syrup. It is truly the vilest thing I have ever put in my body. The whole idea is that you do drink this, and don't eat for some ridiculous amount of time (40 or 70 days I think) and when you're done, your colon is clean, all of the toxins are out of your body, and you have lost tons of weight. I lasted 2 days. I will NEVER forget the smell of that drink, and the warm temperature of the water mixed with the spiciness of the cayenne....yuck! The most weight I ever lost was at age 19 doing fen-phen. I tried to eat pretty healthy food, and I worked out a ton! I went from 230 to 197. Right now 230 isn't looking bad to me.

I've been diagnosed with PCOS since I was 14; I am almost 26 now. I have only had 1 period that wasn't started with medication in my life. Since I had surgery 5 months ago, I still have to take my medicine, but now instead of taking all 10 days worth, I only take 5 days worth -- I am getting there! Never had the acne issue. My H1AC was always on the higher end, but normal. Those are now squarely in the middle. I am only 5 months out, but 50% of my excess weight is gone -- I am hoping for even better results! jayme

I have it- I have done really well with the weight loss. PCOS doctor didn't think I would do as well as I have. I have been able to cut my metformin in half- I tried cutting it all out- but I lost my cycle again. I will say or warn you- I had a period ever 13-16 days for the first 9 months of my banding. Doctor felt it was due to the losing weight then "dumping" the estrogen stored in that fat therefore causing the hormone spike that starts your cycle. But after 10 months I am finally back to normal (well as normal as I could be) I occasionally still have spikes- my acne is slightly better- but I think the met did more of that and I still have hair in weird places- but it isn't falling out (however could be do to Protein intake) I also had a baby before banding- 13 years of trying then two adoptions baby out of blue then another adoption. SO I am up to four. If we get pregnant again I will be happy- because I really want to look pregnant- I never looked pregnant just fatter! (I actually lost 50 lbs when pregnant- but 330 to 279 didn't make that much difference) Good luck!

I know someone just posted that people should essentially quit thier bitching, but I don't care if I'm bitching b/c I have EARNED that right too! I have been at basically a 10-11 week plataeu, I'm eating under 1200 calories per day, I'm tracking my everything at fitday.com, I'm exersizing 20 minutes per day (I know I need to make it more but from someone who NEVER exersized pre-band I'm doing pretty damn good. Anyways, to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you eat. I am convinced those 250 calories an Isopure shake with skim milk is what is making me maintain. I'm thru with them! I will just eat meat everyday and hope that is enough protein. Now without that shake I can cut my calories by 250 per day.

I totally understand, I'm in the same situation. I lost 10 lbs on liquids the month after banding, which I put back on over the next 5 weeks. Then I got my first fill and nothing was different. I've had 3 fills now and just have a little restriction; ugh, time to schedule the 4th. It seems like it takes forever to get started losing, but it will be worth it in the end!

Hey fellow May bansters! I just started the Optifast liquid diet yesterday and I am finding it extremely hard to stick to it. I have to be on it 10 days and I am wondering if I can make it. I have also begun to have an array of doubts. I am wondering if I find the pre-op diet to be so hard, how will I survive post-op. I am also beginning to wonder if I am making the right decision by having the surgery. Anyone else having these doubts? I am hoping that it is just nerves b/c I am getting so close to my surgery date.

I used to have a 4cc band , but my pouch dilated and I had to have a revision. My doc put in a 10 cc band. Now I have 10.4cc's in my band and can still eat more than when I was at my sweet spot with my previous band. I'm getting worried. How much can they overfill this thing? I gained 22 lbs from when I had my surgery till now. I've got to get to the sweet spot and start losing again. I'm getting desperate.

I am a bariatric physician practicing in Sacramento who has been trained to do band fills. My charge is around $400 for an initial consult and fill, and we are getting some insurance coverage. Follow-up fills are $110. In my opinion, having a lower priced option will encourage band patients to use their band as it was designed. I see many patients who had only one or two fills, then stopped because of the expense. Here is the page on my BestBand program: http://www.keepitoff.com/our-programs/best-bariatrics-weight-loss/best-band-postoperative-weight-loss-program/ Also, I want to invite you (and any other band patient) to a monthly band only support group. It is held at Sutter General Hospital the third Saturday of the month from 10:30-12:30. Sincerely, John Hernried, MD The Hernried Center for Medical Weight Loss www.keepitoff.com View my Bandster Profile! Help!!! Just moved to CA and need a new Dr. permalink I just moved from WA to CA. I live 1 hour from Modesto and 2 from Sacremento. Most facility's are not accepting patients from other doctors. And when they are I am quote $1800 for an intial visit and fill. I don't currently have insurance until the begining of the year. Does anyone do where I can get fills for a reasonable cost?? Or is there an insurance company that I can pay for to help with the cost of seeing a new doctor? Join Date: Nov 2009 Age: 24 Posts: 2 City: Walla Walla State: WA View my Bandster Profile! Help!!! Just moved to CA and need a new Dr. permalink I just moved from WA to CA. I live 1 hour from Modesto and 2 from Sacremento. Most facility's are not accepting patients from other doctors. And when they are I am quote $1800 for an intial visit and fill. I don't currently have insurance until the begining of the year. Does anyone do where I can get fills for a reasonable cost?? Or is there an insurance company that I can pay for to help with the cost of seeing a new doctor? I just moved to the Sonora area and have been shocked at the prices I have been quoted for a new patient. $1800 for first visit and fill (no payments allowed). I currently do not have insurance and can. Does anyone have ideas on a doctor that I could go to for a more reasonable cost. Or know of any insurance that I could get that would cover the intial fees for a new patient?

Have you tried tracking calories? That's what I do to keep myself in check. I was banded Jan30 and have lost about 30 lbs since then, but it has not been bc of the band! It has been self control and fear of eating too much...so I guess some of it is the band, then I have had one fill of 3 cc in a 10 cc band...looking forward to my next one for sure!

hope it's ok for me to jump in here too? I was sleeved December 2011 loosing 10 lbs a month is average/normal/good some people et al will loose more weight, or less. Never, ever, ever or ever compare yourself to other OP. Won't hep you, and might make you sad or disappointed try eating 6 small meals daily - ie shake, yogurt, etc. You MUST measure all food/liquids!! whatever your NUT tells you to eat any time period (2-3 ounces etc.) follow her directions ONLY.. if you are ge tting full, s top ea ting. my doc told me "to eat til i'm full, then stop 2 bites earlier80% refers to eating less calories, and about 20% exercise. Exercise is great for your spirits and metabolism (msp) tracking ALL your food is great/important (most OP use MFP) My Fitness Pal. you work with the sleeve, and it will work with you!! good luck to all i know you can do it kathy

:hungry: OK bandsters...help me out. I am 15 days out (still on mushies) and I can't seem to get enough food in me to stay satisfied for more than 2 or 3 hours. I know that once I get my fill I will stay satisfied longer but this is driving me nuts!! I want to keep my caloric intake down to 1200 but I'm not doing a very good job of it right now. I lost 10 lbs the first week on liquids but I don't think I've lost anything since then, because I eat so often. Is it possible that my doc would do my first fill before the 4 weeks is up? Does anybody have any suggestions for mushies that stay with you longer??? Thanks

So far it seems mine is any where from 10 to 12 pounds. I was wondering the same thing how much weight lost between needing fills?

They may consider this an outpatient surgery even though we spend the night. My mother recently had a mastectomy which I would never have considered an outpatient surgery but they kept her overnight in a bed near the recovery area and called it outpatient. Your guess is as good as mine. It will be great to compare notes. When I started this I couldn't find anyone on any of the boards that would even answer a question about Kaiser. Hopefully with all the Kaiser patients keeping in touch others will find out that they do it and what the process is. I almost changed my insurance because I couldn't find out if Kaiser even did the lapband and I was told by one doctor that I had to be a "lot bigger" before they would even consider me. My BMI is 42.6. If I hadn't kept pushing, I would have changed insurance companies in the fall and had the surgery done early next year. I would have also paid around $4K to get it done. I very happy I found out Kaiser does them. Since they haven't officially weighed me in for the weight loss stuff I haven't started on loosing the weight. I don't want to loose that lovely Water weight too soon. LOL According to Kim they might not make us loose a full 10% and it depends on how we carry our weight. I'm preparing myself to loose the whole 10% so I won't be disappointed. It'll be just my luck they will require the whole thing.

Hey warrior - Welcome! Well I'm just starting the Kaiser journey but I will update you as to what I have found out. I started my journey in early April. I had to get my PCP to refer me to the bariactric surgery department. That is located in San Francisco. I believe I received my letter confirming the referral around the 23rd. Within about 10 days I received my appointment for orientation which will be on June 5th. When you receive your letter for the orientation appointment you will also receive directions to get a chest x-ray and EKG if you have not had them within 6 months. They will also send you a lab slip for blood and urine tests. These must be done prior to going to the orientation in San Francisco. The x-ray, EKG and labs can be done at your normal Kaiser. One of our fellow Kaiser patients just went to the orientation this last Tuesday and came out feeling that things would take around 3 months from orientation to surgery. Following your orientation they will set you up a psych and dietitian appointment. You will also have to go through their lifestyle classes once a month until your surgery. They expect you to loose weight in between orientation and surgery and the amount will be determined according to how you carry your weight (i.e. in the stomach or hips). This is a pretty normal thing. Some places make you go on a 6 month supervised diet. So Kaiser isn't too bad. You will be weighed everytime you go to an appointment. Kim felt that the orientation was very good. I have heard from some people that the lifestyle classes are also very good. Oh yeah, you'll have to stay in the hospital overnight. I talked to the bariactric surgery center coordinator and she told me that the process usually takes from 3 to 6 months. I hope this helped. Let me know if you have anyother questions. It seems that Kaiser is a pretty good place to have it done. They've only been covering the lap band for a little while. They used to only do the gastric bypass. The cost will be determined by your plan, naturally. Mine will be $10 or less and my daughter's will be $250. I say that it's not only going to be great getting the band but we also get it for the best price in town.

Hi! I can't believe I missed this thread... I'm even mentioned in it! (I'm Kim, oh, and hi Vicki!) :-) I went to orientation on May 22nd, and I've been to 3 appointments since then... my meeting with the director of bariatrics, my meeting with the dietician, and my psych consult. So far, all three have gone very well. My next appointment will be the lifestyle class, and that's next friday, the 22nd. After that, I have a meeting scheduled with the surgeon on July 13th. I've been following the pre-op meal plan for the most part, with a few slip-ups here and there... but so far, in the 3 1/2 weeks since orientation, I've lost 13 lbs.!!! I'm not required to lose 10%, but I was told to lose about 10 -15 pounds and to make sure I exercise. (I never thought I'd say this, but I can credit being a "pear" to that! I carry MOST of my weight in my butt and hips). Anyway, it's strange how there were no Kaiser patients on here before, and now we're starting to come out of the woodwork! haha It's great! Glad to meet you all, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! :-)

Thanks for all the great information Vicki. I started this adventure about a month ago and I just got my PCP officially to refer me. The Santa Rosa site has a few extra steps built in for success. I will likely go to the Richmond facillity, if they accept me as a surgical candidate. I already got weighed in and am working off my 10% the nurse suggested. I didn't know that I needed an EKG, but all my other labs are up to date. I also thought this was outpatient surgery, like just about everything else at Kaiser. I'm not complaining though, many on this forum pay big bucks for the procedure. Best of luck at your appointment. I would love to keep in touch and hear how the process goes for you. By this time next year we'll both be wearing skimpy shorts and a big smile! Be well!

Hi Warrior, Yes, things are moving pretty quickly for me, however, I'm not sure that that's necessarily the norm. I had orientation on May 22nd, and it was two weeks after that when I still hadn't heard anything. I called on a Monday and did the old innocent "I was at orientation two weeks ago and haven't received any appointments yet, I was just checking to see if I was supposed to call and make them myself?" Well, they of course weren't amused and replied with "you'll receive an appointment card in the mail in 1-2 months." I was totally bummed about that, and low and behold, THAT AFTERNOON they called me and said that the director of the program (Dr. Stiles) had a cancellation and could I come in on Wednesday? I jumped on that faster than you can imagine! When I went in, it was more of a meet and greet, she went over basic medical history, and at that point gave me my individual weight loss requirement. I only have to lose 10-15 pounds because I'm very pear shaped... I don't have a lot of abdominal fat at all, however, I'm VERY bottom heavy. She also told me that I need to start taking an Iron supplement because my iron levels from my bloodwork were on the low side, I'm not anemic, but I need to get it up to a normal range in order to even be considered for surgery. When I was finished with Dr. Stiles, she sent me to the receptionist and they worked with me to schedule all of the required appointments. There weren't a lot of openings, so in order to get in fairly quickly, I had to be a little flexible. Here is a list of appointments I've completed: 1. orientation 2. meeting with director of bariatrics (in the South San Francisco facility) 3. appointment with dietician 4. psych consultation These are the upcoming appointments I currently have scheduled: 1. friday morning lifestyle class (this friday) 2. appointment with surgeon (July 13th) I asked Dr. Stiles how long after I meet with the surgeon it would be before surgery, and she said it's usually about 2 months after that. It could be sooner if I'm flexible and someone else cancels, but unfortunately, my work has about 0 flexibility. So if all goes well, I'm thinking I may be having surgery around September? I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has... I mean, I'm not a know-it-all by any means, but as you said warrior, I seem to be the one that is the furthest along in the process. Guess that's it for now. Great to meet all of you!!! :-) -Kim

It's been a while since I've posted an update. I went for my 1st of 3 visits to the nutritionist before my lapband surgery. I am down 8 1/2 lbs. I've decided to go ahead with the surgery instead of waiting. I've also found another job that I don't like. Its as a cashier for a national discount chain. I'm not used to standing all day long. I've sat on my butt for 10 years and standing, turning and twisting to sack stuff is hard on my lower back. The physical therapist gave me some stretching exercises to do and they've helped a little but I really don't like this job. I told my ex husband that what I want is to be a stay at home mom. If I can maintain my health insurance until my surgery I can drop it afterwards, the fills cost $150 each and that is more do-able than $600 a month. As for the stay at home mom thing, I will only be able to do that if he moves back in here...That's up in the air at the moment. He has a list of "demands" before he decides for sure. Until then I can't really make any plans. I will still qualify for COBRA insurance because the new job doesn't have full benefits. Anyway, this is my update. Everyone have a wonderful day!

Hi there! I was put on mushies on Day 11 after my surgery and it was a welcome relief. I could eat things that were really soft and mushy and didn't really require much in the way of chewing. . .like refried Beans, soft scrambled egg, Peanut Butter, cottage cheese, yogurt etc. I went home from the hospital (after 3 days) on pureed foods so was only on Clear Liquids just in the hospital. So I was pureeing lots of Soups etc just to get some decent tastes going. It gets so much easier as time goes on. Alot of people told me that but when I was in my first two weeks I thought I would never make it through! But I promise, it really does get better. The most important thing now is to get your liquids in and maybe use some non-flavored Protein powder with everything that you consume to get in the extra protein. One of my favorites now is the Kellogg's K2O drink mix that has 5 grams of protein. I drink 2 of those every day so that takes care of part of my Water intake and also 10 grams of protein. What was the date of your surgery and what diet plan do they have you on? (it seems like every surgeon is a little different with the diet plans)

I know exactly how you girls feel!!! I am going through a divorce right now. After 18 years of marriage my husband decided he did not love me and wanted out. I too feel like I don't know who I am anymore because I basically gave up my identity to beciome his wife and the mother of our children. One day at a time is all I can do also. It is VERY scary to be alone after all these years. And Jodi, Teen age love is just as important as senior citizen love. It is giving of yourself, emotionally, to someone else who you expect to give as much back and when they don't it is devistating!! All I can hope for is that one day I will meet a man who really appreciates me and loves me just because I am me. And that may take a month or it may take 10 years. I do not know how long it will take, but in the mean time I am focusing on me and my children and making sure they know that I love them. By the way Jodi, My son is also the same age as you. Keep your chin up and host the party yourself next time instead of waiting for some snob to invite you to one. Have your real friends there and make your own kind of fun and have your own "in" crowd. 20 years form now all those mean chicks , you know who they are, the skinny pretty girls, will come to your high schol reunion and will be fat and not so attractive and will have bald husbands with pop bellies who only wanted them because they were the "pretty" girl and you will have a man who loves you because you are you! It is really fun then

It was very easy, but for some reason I was absolutely terrified going into surgery. I've only ever had elective surgery before, a rhinoplasty for a deviated septum, heel spurs removed, a broken hand pinned, wisdom teeth removed. So I know I handle general anaesthetics well and recover quickly. But this operation seemed much more "unecessary" in many ways - it wasnt done to relieve an immediately painful physical problem. I have 3 kids and I barely slept the night before, after we left them to sleep at mum and dad's house. I kept thinking I might never see them again. Anyhow, I got there, sat for ages waiting in the reception at the hospital, but once admitted, I was told to get straight in the shower and I was barely out before they were coming to get me. I was wheeled in and the usual happened, they couldnt find any veins to put the needles in, and had to insert a tiny tiny needle. I dont know what it is with my veins, apparently I dont have any. I was given a pre-med which I never have been before so I vaguely remember hopping across to the operating table myself, but I dont even recall being anaesthetised. I woke up in recovery and had a huge thumping ACHE in my stomach, right below my breastbone and I was shivering like mad. They immediately gave me some morphine and I got them to put a pillow under my knees which helped a lot, and they covered me with hot blankets. After a while I was taken to my room and got across to the bed myself, and as you do, I just slept on and off all day. I spoke on the phone a few times, my surgeon came to see me and in the afternoon (I went into theatre at 8.30 am) I was asked to get out bed and was wheeled off to have the barium swallow. I had visitors that night. I had a bad night after that. I was given painkillers regularly but I'd laid on my back in that bed all day and I just couldnt get comfortable and I couldnt sleep because I'd been asleep all day. I kept pulling myself out of bed, walking around, trying to get comfortable on my side etc. In the end I was going nuts becuase there was nothing on television at 3 am so I asked for some sleeping pills. I did get to sleep till about 7.30 am, at which point the surgeon came back to see me, check my tummy etc. I felt good the next day, they were just giving me paracetamol every 4 hours by this stage. Doug and the kids came in at 10 am to collect me, I walked out to the car, and came home, and we went for a short walk later that day. I never took any more painkillers once I left the hospital. I went home pretty much to normal light activity. I had a little discomfort from gas, not much though, just a stitch like pain above my hip every now and them. The main problem I had was passing out on the liquid diet, I had to thin down heartier Soups with some meat and carbs in them and I was fine once I did that. I stuck to the rules, never had any pb's or discomfort and went back to the surgeon at 6 weeks, by which time I'd lost 9kg.

I've read so many times in various threads about people eating super low calories, and it always worries me. And also high fat, high Protein, low carb diets... I wanted to post about the dangers of very low calorie diets and of high fat/protein low carb diets, so here is some info and the sources it comes from: "When you want to lose weight, a very low-calorie diet can seem attractive. After all, the sooner you lose weight the better, right? Well...no, that's not right. Eating fewer than 1000 calories a day can, at best be a short-lived attempt at dieting, at worst it could be a recipe for long term health problems. Your body is not designed to function well on a very low calorie diet. In fact, it goes into starvation or famine mode and tries to preserve essential functions at the expense of the less essential ones. So what happens to your body on fewer than 1000 calories a day? Your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Your body uses blood sugar, made from carbohydrates, for fuel just as a car uses gas (petrol). Without blood sugar, the brain and central nervous system, as well as other bodily systems, will cease to work efficiently. To try to counteract the lack of blood sugar from carbohydrates in the diet, your body will break down fat, which is what you want, but it will also breakdown muscle and other lean body tissue. Losing lean body tissue can be very dangerous. Even organs can be broken down to use as fuel. Losing lean body tissue can also be counter-productive. Muscle tissue increases the resting metabolic rate. With reduced amounts of muscle, your metabolism will slow. When you come off the diet, increased fat cells will form because your metabolism is slow and so your body needs less blood sugar for fuel. It is also a survival mechanism in case of another 'famine'. With very low calorie diets, an imbalance in minerals and electrolytes can occur, which can be dangerous. These govern the balance of fluids in the body allowing nerves and muscles to function. Osteoporosis can be another danger, especially for women. Often dairy products like eggs, milk and cheese are cut out of a very low calorie diet so cutting out a major source of Calcium leading to loss of bone mass. Anaemia (a lack of Iron in the blood) can also be another risk. If taken to extremes, women can find that menstruation (periods) becomes irregular or stops altogether. A lack of serotonin in the brain can be another problem which leads to clinical depression. You might find that the lack of essential nutrients on a very low calorie diet leads to a deterioration in the condition of your hair and nails. One of the great dangers of this kind of dieting is that you can become acclimatised to it. As your body reduces some of its functions, including those of the brain and nerves, and as depression takes hold due to a lack of serotonin, you can slip into anorexia nervosa - a truly life threatening condition. As mentioned above, when you finally come off this diet, you will almost certainly regain all the weight you have lost plus more leading to yoyo dieting, now believed to be dangerous. Altogether, very low calorie diets are a danger to physical and mental health. They are counter-productive and can lead to long term problems as well as a lifetime of yoyo dieting. It is far better to lose weight safely and slowly on a sensible diet." (source reference: http://www.allinfoaboutdietsnutrition.com/index.php?page=21 ) "Low-carb/high-fat diets pose dangerous health risks and may increase the risk of contracting serious chronic diseases. Studies have linked extreme low-carb/high-fat diets to an increased risk of developing certain disease states, including: • Alzheimer disease • blindness and macular degeneration • some forms of cancer • cardiovascular and heart disease • c-reactive protein/inflammation • metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance • osteoporosis • kidney stones This is due to increased levels of saturated fat and dietary protein in the diet, with inadequate nutrition coming from plant-based phyto-chemicals. [/url]Low-carb diets may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Bread, Pasta, Breakfast cereals and orange juice — foods that are “off-limits” in a low-carb diet — are fortified with folic acid, a micronutrient essential to the neurological development of fetuses. The U.S. food and Drug Administration currently requires that enriched grain products be fortified with the essential Vitamin folic acid (the synthetic form of naturally occurring folate, or vitamin B-9, found in many leafy green vegetables, fruits and legumes). Since the fortification of grain-based foods with higher levels of folic acid, beginning in 1999, there has been a remarkable 19 percent drop in neural tube birth defects in the United States. Followers of a low-carb diet do not receive the benefits of folic acid fortification. Low-carb/high-fat diets are not more effective for weight loss. According to studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are no significant differences in weight loss between low-carbohydrate diets and conventional weight-loss plans. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 9, 2003) reviewed studies of low-fat diets conducted between 1966 and 2003, and found that weight loss from low-carbohydrate diets was associated with length of diet, pre-diet weight, and the number of calories consumed, but not reduced carbohydrate content. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 22, 2003) found greater weight loss with a low-carbohydrate diet than a conventional diet during the first six months, but no significant differences in weight were observed after one year.1 Low-carb diets are perceived to be effective because of the rapid, initial weight loss. However, the weight loss is primarily due to the loss of muscle glycogen and Water — not body fat. Loss of muscle glycogen can result in lethargy and fatigue.1 Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, are generally more filling — more “bulky” — than foods high in fat, and less prone to overeating. Foods high in fat can increase energy intake (calories) because they are more energy dense, not as “bulky,” and taste good, leaving eaters desiring more and making it easy to over-consume them. A lifestyle that is high in high-fat foods and low in exercise can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates, such as pasta, do not make you fat. Consistently overeating calories— whether they’re from carbohydrates, fat, or protein — will make you fat. The only genuine, time-tested principle of healthy, long-term weight loss is to take in fewer calories than your body burns. Low-carb diets may cause cognitive difficulties. Carbohydrates are the only source of fuel that the human brain — the most energy-demanding organ in the body — can use. Muscle cells can burn both fat and carbohydrates, but the brain does not have the “machinery” to burn fat. Depriving the brain of carbs means depriving it of energy — and the shortfall can affect intellectual performance, such as memory and cognitive processing.1 Once the body’s glycogen reserve is exhausted, the brain ends up using ketones, a by-product of the breakdown of fat. Ketones are not the optimal energy source for the brain, and their increase in the body has been shown to impair mental judgment.2 Low-carb diets can make people — especially women — short-tempered. A new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the brain produces serotonin — which regulates moods and emotions — only after a person consumes sweet or starchy carbohydrates, in combination with very little or no protein. A shortage of serotonin can lead to mood swings and depression. Eating a healthy pasta meal encourages the brain to make serotonin; eating a steak actually stops it from being produced.3 A Healthier Choice According to the American Dietetic Association, the voice of nutrition in America, there are no good or bad foods — only good or bad diets. At “Healthy Pasta Meals,” a recent Barilla-sponsored conference in Rome, Italy, a team of 38 nutrition scientists from around the world concluded that the “Mediterranean diet” is an excellent choice for maintaining overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant plant foods (such as vegetables and pasta); olive oil; dairy products; fewer than four eggs weekly; fish and poultry in low-to-moderate amounts; red meat in low amounts; and wine with meals, in low-to-moderate amounts. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.4" Low-carb/high-fat diets pose dangerous health risks and may increase the risk of contracting serious chronic diseases. Studies have linked extreme low-carb/high-fat diets to an increased risk of developing certain disease states, including: • Alzheimer disease • blindness and macular degeneration • some forms of cancer • cardiovascular and heart disease • c-reactive protein/inflammation • metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance • osteoporosis • kidney stones This is due to increased levels of saturated fat and dietary protein in the diet, with inadequate nutrition coming from plant-based phyto-chemicals. Low-carb diets may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals and orange juice — foods that are “off-limits” in a low-carb diet — are fortified with folic acid, a micronutrient essential to the neurological development of fetuses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently requires that enriched grain products be fortified with the essential vitamin folic acid (the synthetic form of naturally occurring folate, or vitamin B-9, found in many leafy green vegetables, fruits and legumes). Since the fortification of grain-based foods with higher levels of folic acid, beginning in 1999, there has been a remarkable 19 percent drop in neural tube birth defects in the United States. Followers of a low-carb diet do not receive the benefits of folic acid fortification. Low-carb/high-fat diets are not more effective for weight loss. According to studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, there are no significant differences in weight loss between low-carbohydrate diets and conventional weight-loss plans. The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 9, 2003) reviewed studies of low-fat diets conducted between 1966 and 2003, and found that weight loss from low-carbohydrate diets was associated with length of diet, pre-diet weight, and the number of calories consumed, but not reduced carbohydrate content. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (May 22, 2003) found greater weight loss with a low-carbohydrate diet than a conventional diet during the first six months, but no significant differences in weight were observed after one year.1 Low-carb diets are perceived to be effective because of the rapid, initial weight loss. However, the weight loss is primarily due to the loss of muscle glycogen and water — not body fat. Loss of muscle glycogen can result in lethargy and fatigue.1 Foods high in carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, are generally more filling — more “bulky” — than foods high in fat, and less prone to overeating. Foods high in fat can increase energy intake (calories) because they are more energy dense, not as “bulky,” and taste good, leaving eaters desiring more and making it easy to over-consume them. A lifestyle that is high in high-fat foods and low in exercise can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates, such as pasta, do not make you fat. Consistently overeating calories— whether they’re from carbohydrates, fat, or protein — will make you fat. The only genuine, time-tested principle of healthy, long-term weight loss is to take in fewer calories than your body burns. Low-carb diets may cause cognitive difficulties. Carbohydrates are the only source of fuel that the human brain — the most energy-demanding organ in the body — can use. Muscle cells can burn both fat and carbohydrates, but the brain does not have the “machinery” to burn fat. Depriving the brain of carbs means depriving it of energy — and the shortfall can affect intellectual performance, such as memory and cognitive processing.1 Once the body’s glycogen reserve is exhausted, the brain ends up using ketones, a by-product of the breakdown of fat. Ketones are not the optimal energy source for the brain, and their increase in the body has been shown to impair mental judgment.2 Low-carb diets can make people — especially women — short-tempered. A new study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the brain produces serotonin — which regulates moods and emotions — only after a person consumes sweet or starchy carbohydrates, in combination with very little or no protein. A shortage of serotonin can lead to mood swings and depression. Eating a healthy pasta meal encourages the brain to make serotonin; eating a steak actually stops it from being produced.3 A Healthier Choice According to the American Dietetic Association, the voice of nutrition in America, there are no good or bad foods — only good or bad diets. At “Healthy Pasta Meals,” a recent Barilla-sponsored conference in Rome, Italy, a team of 38 nutrition scientists from around the world concluded that the “Mediterranean diet” is an excellent choice for maintaining overall health. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant plant foods (such as vegetables and pasta); olive oil; dairy products; fewer than four eggs weekly; fish and poultry in low-to-moderate amounts; red meat in low amounts; and wine with meals, in low-to-moderate amounts. A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.4" (source: http://www.barillaus.com/Dangers_of_LowCarb_Diets.aspx ) Take care of yourselves! and research the effects of your choices!!! XO Leila

Dear you are being selfish if you don't have the surgery. The wall of weight that you have built will only get bigger harder to carry as time goes on. You may have good health now but I can tell you in 2 5 10 years it won't be. It will slowly eat at you with a joint pain here, a type II borderline there, problems breathing and no energy. I have 3 boys one has autism. I got he light last year that I cannot die right now. I am 49 not really old but not so young. In the last 4 1/2 months I have lost 90 lbs and got back to a place I thought I could never return. If you need this tool, run don't walk towards it. If you feel that you can lose the weight the regular way I have your back. But if you feel that you have gone down that road and it hasn't worked, come to the sleeved side. In the long run when you are playing with your kids and have all the energy and health in the world you will thank god that he put you on this road to a better quality of life. Remember you could get hit by a bus tomorrow so using your children as an excuse will get you know where and all alone behind your wall. Come out to the daylight, we will be waiting for you with a great sunscreen!

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