So, I just posted on the Fill forum that my first fill went very well. I had a real interesting conversation with the doctor, however, and want everyone's take on it.

I know all of our doctors put us on varying food plans following our surgeries, and I realize that these food plans are meant to be permanent. While lamenting to the doctor that I am 4 pounds heavier than I thought, he asked me a series of questions, including:

Am I certain I am consuming no more than 7-800 calories a day(I don't count my calories, just estimate)?

Am I completely abstaining from bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes at all times (all but potatoes, yes, and I eat them last)

Am I only eating 1/2 cup of food 3 times a day (pre-fill and he was serious-my answer was no)

Am I exercising 1 hour+ 5 times a week (with a 70 hour work week and a 1 year old, I get more like 30 minutes 3 times a week)

SOOOOOO....... I got a lecture. I am to adhere to all of the above rules FOREVER if I want my weight loss to be successful. Don't get me wrong, I want this and I consider myself to be a very disciplined person. But frankly, if I adhered to these rules to the letter I would not have needed the band in the first place. ANYONE who eliminates starch and carbs, exercises 5 times a week, and eats 1 1/2 cups of food per day is going to lose weight, right?

One of the things I love about this board is how much I have learned from all of you, and how different your doctors are. I know that none (almost none) of you are doctors, but I am counting on you to advise me. I feel like these rules are a little unrealistic for me, but I want to have success in my weight loss.

Thoughts?

I think your dr. is nuts! I am a gastric bypass patient, 7 months post op, and I am suppose to eat 1000-1200 calories a day! I would consult another dr. if I were you.

Your doc sounds like he wants patients with quick weightloss and the inability to keep it off. With 7-800 calories a day, I'm willing to bet you're forcing your body into starvation mode so your metabolism is slowing down. When we do that we HAVE to keep up the 7-800 calories/day in order to keep from gaining weight (unless you can get your metabolism up again). I think you're doing wonderfully. If anything, eating more could help jumpstart that metabolism again.

Hi there,

I wouldn't say he's a crackhead, but he's most certainly misinformed regarding your daily food intake, calories and the unrealistic ideals of never again eating starchy foods. He's also incorrect in believing and advising patients that if they do not adhere to his unrealistic instructions, they can't lose weight or keep it off.

Having a lapband is about learning limits and living as normal a life as one who has an eating disorder can. If your a person who tends to go off track if you have the high carb foods, then most certainly they should be avoided and only endulge on occasions. But there is no reason to limit yourself completely.

If you have good restriction, your eating no more than 1200 calories a day, your exercising 5 times a week at 1 hr or more per session, and drinking your water, there is no reason why you can't and won't lose weight. If your doing all this and being truthful with yourself on calories ingested and exercise and still not losing, have your thyroid checked.

It is also unrealistic as well as unhealthy to try and live on 1 1/2 cups of food a day. This 1/2 cup mentality that some of these surgeons have is due to the RNY surgeries. After surgery, RNY patients typically cannot hold more than 1/2 cup of food. I don't know why it is some surgeons are bent on comparing these two surgeries but they are far different and comparing them and thinking that lapband patients should follow the RNY guidelines is irresponsible on their part. With RNY they eat less in the beginning just after surgery due to their newly formed much smaller stomach. Lapband patients can eat more and gradually go to eating less due to restriction. Your surgeon is being totally unrealistic and he's either uninformed OR is purposely misleading you hoping you'll drop weight quicker. But what he's actually doing is expecting you to starve your body.

My surgeon says that if I can eat more than 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food and not feel satisfied or full, it's time for an adjustment. He recommends 1200 calories a day, eating starchy foods last, drink plenty of water and EXERCISE everyday for 1 hr.

In attending a recent weight loss seminar I found that this is pretty much the same protocol recommended by the surgeons that we're in attendance and also what others said their surgeon's recommended.

Best of luck to you

Kay

252/172/145 goal

Thanks, Kay! Your post (as well as many other on this thread) was very informative.

I am following all of the bandster rules MOST of the time (that's me being honest). There is room for improvement of course, but I am losing weight at a reasonable rate and I don't seem to be suffering from any adverse health issues other than a little hair loss. I am trying to combat that by adhering to a high protein intake and flaxseed oil capsules.

I am so very grateful for the support of the people on this board. I have learned so much about my band and all of the highs and lows related to it. I am glad to be going through this with such an amazing group of people!!

I am not a member of the black and white club, hardly anything is all or nothing. I hope you are drinking enough water, that is critical to get toxins our of your system, I wonder if you could do juicing for breakfasts? If you juice organic fruits and drink them asap then you will get the Phytonutrients, the living part of nutrition that helps move out waste, you colen can hold up to 20 pounds of matter. I also encourage you to take baby steps. eg, maybe one day a week you can pick to do 3 of the four most important things or maybe just one or two, whatever to help your focus. I also belive that exercize is a gift to yourself. I know how hard it is, but maybe one day a week you can take a walk with the baby in the stroller, the idea is to get oxygen to the muscles as they need this to burn calories, think of a fire, it cant burn w/o oxygen. I agree with the others here, he is looking for perfection perhaps, but this is your body and it needs care not just whipping a tired horse. If your energy level is down try a few of these things. I hope your body says thank you. Best wishes dear, and I wish I could love on you and that sweet baby. (((0)))

Doctors get very little training in nutrition, so they really have no idea. I'd ask for a nutritionist consult and have a lot more faith in what they say than most doctors...unless they've made a point of studying nutrition in addition to their regular training.

Emily

Bensmum.....geez, I keep missing your posts!! Yes, I can confirm your dr is a crackhead.

I also got the same lecture from Dr C.

Hell, I just went to him for a bit of an unfill and GOT A LECTURE about how I'd only lost six pounds in the previous month. I mean....I'm pretty HAPPY about a six pound loss in a month!! Sheesh!

I TOTALLY don't do 800 calories a day, I do around 1200. I went to see the nutritionist they have on staff there at LapSF and when she told me that 800 was the cap on food, I was like "don't you think it's a lot to ask a 300 lb woman to live on that?" And she just smirked at me.

You know what, YOU have to decide what works for you. Eat the right foods, don't overstuff your pouch and EFF those dum doctors at LapSF!!!! They are great surgeons but their bedside manner suuuuuuuuuucks.

Um, I think you mean CRACK-POT!

I read that if you eat less than 1,200 calories a day, consuming your own muscle tissue is unavoidable. This was in a book called "The Idiots guide to body sculpting."

Conversely, I read, I think on the Australian banding study site, that successful long term weight loss on the band appears to require an average of 1,200 calories a day.

Conversely, again, I added up the fat, carb and protein requirements suggested by the "Idiots guide to body sculpting" for my weight and physical activity level, and I could not get below 1,500 calories a day, just by adding up the caloric requirements.

It appears that the most evil thing which always creeps up, by the way, is fat consumption, moreso that caloric consumption.

So my gut says "1,500 calories a day, low fat, exercise 30 minutes a day" and to hell with the other guidelines, and it'll probably work.

Now, don't ask me on a week that weight didn't go down. Those days, I can only shrug my shoulders and say "I haven't a clue."

One last thing - I think the nurses that adjust the bands day in and day out, and hear and discuss bandster experiences may be more adept, tuned in, understanding, sensitive, and their advice is likely more actionable than that of the Doctors. After all, the Doctors do the cutting, and the fill nurses do the filling and track progress and give long term care. Who really has the most ongoing long-term experience with the Bandsters actually losing weight? Many of the fill nurses are also band patients, who succeeded.

FWIW, and good luck, Brad

I eat 1500-1800 calories most days... never more, but sometimes less and I'm still loosing (well, not this week but most weeks). The first couple of weeks when I was on liquids I did have to push to get in 800 calories and with the mushies 1000 or so, but since I've been eating real foods again I consume more.

Maybe I should try cutting back a bit.. but 500 cals is waaaaay to low in my opinion.

I am trying to combat that by adhering to a high Protein intake and flaxseed oil capsules.

What does flaxseed oil do for you?

yes I think is a crackhead too, also a moron. I say this because this is a life changing process. It is not a race to be sprinted towards but a marithon to be jogged and sometimes walked. If you sit and rest it will be okay. Change your habits and it will change your life. 800 calories....lol what the hell is he smokin

Well, Karen has the same group of surgeons as I do, so as you can see she knows what we go through with them.

I have great restriction with my fill, my clothes are getting looser and even though I spent the last week in Disneyland and Vegas, I still lost 4 more pounds!! I have also noticed my thighs and butt feel firmer.

I think I will just keep doing what I am doing :-) Seems to be working!!

And Daisybelle, flaxseed oil is supposed to combat hair loss. That seems to be the only problem I have really been having lately other than a few pbs and golfballs. No complaints here!!!

And Daisybelle, flaxseed oil is supposed to combat hair loss. That seems to be the only problem I have really been having lately other than a few pbs and golfballs. No complaints here!!!

Ah, me too! Thanks, I'll have to get some.

I have not been banded yet,but would kill to lose 3.5 pnds a week!One reason I opted for lapband instead of other bariatric surgury was because of the slower,safer weight loss.Sounds like your doing it the right way.Good for you!Can't wait to join you!

Sonjia

Hey can you guys take the flaxseed oil capsule whole. I have been taking it put peircing the capsule and putting it in liquid and drinking it. It tastes pretty much like #$@t! I would love to just take the capsule but I thought it would get caught. Also, I have been taking this stuff for like three weeks and do not see a bit of difference. How long does it usually take? Everyone keeps saying that this is normal and it will go away. I have literally lost over half of my hair. I had super thick hair to begin with and that is why a lot of people have not noticed. It is really bad and my doctor told me to see an endocrinologist. I did that and did a million in one tests and they were all prefectly normal. My hair was like the only thing that I felt was beautiful about before I lost weight, now I am starting to feel good about me as a person and BAM my hair is falling out. I guess some would say it is a even trade. But I sure hope it stops and comes back I would like the best of both worlds :>