How important are the rules really?

[SavvyCat 0]

Ok, so I admit to being hard-headed & needing to learn things the hard way. This being said, I have to admit to not following the surgeons instructions: I drink caffeinated diet soda & have had the occasional alcoholic beverage. Also, I have not followed the liquid, puree, soft then regular foods after fills regime. Because I have not had any adverse affects, I can't help but wonder why all the restrictions.... (I can see how it could be an issue for some)... I guess what I am wondering is, outside of the empty calories in alcohol, can any of this behavior hinder how effective the band is? If there is anyone who can offer some concrete info I would sure appreciate it!!

[elcee 3,340]

When your band slips in the future please don't post saying the band doesn't work etc etc. Remember the fact that you chose to ignore your Dr's instructions. Your Dr who has studied for many years and has medical qualifications.the rules especially the diet progression are there to help the band settle and not slip. The rules are not there just to make our lives difficult.

[lauragshsu 6]

I have to say, my Dr never said anything about not havign soda or alcohol after the "healing" phase, and also never told me to follow a specific diet after fills. He just said be careful of drinking your calories in any form.

[crsti41 0]

OMG my Dr said no soda or alcohol and it is in the book also that he gave me to read. All i can say is i am going to follow the Drs order to a tea and not do anything other than what he says i do not want my band to slip or have any complications. I worked at this to long to get my banding and i am not gonna mess it up now that i have it

[KathleenZ 0]

My doc and nurses were VERY adamant about the soda thing. They went so far as to say if you aren't ready to give up soda and alcohol, don't have the surgery. You may not have the right restriction and that is why you aren't suffering the consequences right now.

Consider this: You have allowed someone to cut into your body, had a foreign object inserted to help you lose weight. Either you or an insurance company paid a heck of a lot of money for this proceedure, and your surgeon and the nurses who are taking care of you are spending valuable time to help you. Why are you not following the rules? Do you REALLY want to lose weight or is this just a whim? Of course, this is your body, and you can do whatever you wish, but it took so much effort to get to this point, why throw it all away?

It is a life changing event. You need to change your life. I say this to myself as well who, while I haven't had any soda since Aug of 2009, I enjoy ice cream more often than I should.

You may suffer complications if you don't follow the directions. This is your life!!! This is your body!!! This is serious!!! Do your best. It's only soda...it isn't good for you, doesn't give you any nutrition, costs money you don't really need to spend, etc. The same goes for alcohol. Is soda and alcohol more important than your life? That may be a choice you need to make.

Again, not judging...I have my areas that need constant attention and am always learning the hard way -- they mean it when they say don't drink after eating!!!!

Best of luck to you! Get some good support people around you to help you make positive choices.

[vlp1968 83]

The reason for no carbonation is that it can stretch the pouch. Imagine shaking soda in a plastic bag- it expands. I think other posts are right- dr.s orders are there for a reason, I would reccomend following them.

[juliansmom2003 3]

I am not sure if there is concrete info on this, however, the proof is in the pudding. The ones that follow the rules lose the weight, the ones that don't will not. I have seen it a lot at support group.

Are you self pay or did your insurance pay? I can't imagine someone that paid for this surgery would disregard their surgeon's instructions and if your insurance paid, I would imagine there was some kind of waiting period, psych consult, dietary plan or something that you needed to go through to educate you about the band lifestyle before getting approved. Either way, I'm not sure what the point of having the surgery truly is if you're not following the program because the band will NOT do all the work. I have hated this band many times due to little restriction and relying solely on my willpower for losing weight, but if you work with it, it will help you.

When were you banded? How much have you lost?

[SavvyCat 0]

Perhaps I would take the guidelines more seriously if they didn't vary so much from doctor to doctor, practice to practice and manufacturer to manufacturer. It would also help if my doctor hadn't proved to be more of a lap band mill than a caring practitioner. I imagine those with a sheep mentality are the most successful being banded - you know, those folks who take direction without question. Unfortunately that is not who I am. I also think that for many of us, if following a diet were the issue we wouldn't be banded. food is my drug of choice, as I have to imagine is true for many. This takes long term behavior modification - with any luck the band is a tool that aides in that modification, not another obstacle. I have to admit to not being as prepared as perhaps I should have been. However, no matter the preparation, no one can tell you exactly how the band is going to feel in your body. I am not going to whine about a slip because I drank soda, any more than I would whine about a slip because I was vomiting meat that was apparently too tough. This is trial and error. There are many allowed foods/beverages that can be problematic and are patient specific. And... my banded dietician told the group that she never gave up her Diet Coke.... Mixed messages much?

If there are any folks that have been successful without being saints I would love to hear from you. I have found that this has been far more challenging & frustrating than I ever anticipated.

Thanks.

[LeighaMason 19]

"I imagine those with a sheep mentality are the most successful being banded"--

BAA BAA BAAAAAAA (sheep speak for I want to be thin! so I follow the rules.)

[Bree99 1]

Savvycat,

Yes, the "rules" vary somewhat doctor to doctor. Do you also question the rules about what and how often to eat? It is clear that we can flout the rules at will. A lot of people do. Five months in I can attest to the fact that I lose more weight and faster when I follow the rules. Here is another perspective: doing what you felt like doing left you obese and unhealthy. My doc allows diet soda after 6 weeks, but I gave it up as a sign of my commitment to the process. Why not look at following the rules as a measure of your self discipline? BTW, I'm with Leigh! Baaaa!

[beachcitygirl 5]

I agree with what has been posted. I am an recovering Diet Coke addict, and I used to loved a few beers on the wkend. I have decided to give these up completly b/c my Dr. said so but thats me. I have heard you can drink soda as long as it is flat, no bubbles. And I have also heard about ordering a Vodka and Water then adding the single on the go Crystal Light to that. No carbonation and only 30 calories! I don't know if all this is safe but it has to be better than what you are doing. I hope it helps and I wish you health and happiness:thumbup:

[NewYearNewMe2010 0]

My doctor said to stay away from carbonated drinks which includes beer but wine or other non-carbonated alcohol beverages are ok in moderation. My doctor doesn't have any regulations after fills. I have never gone to liquids after a fill. I realize some rules vary from doctor to doctor but if you go to the LapBand website it list rules for success with the band.

How successful have you been in your weight loss following your own rules?

[mercilessmarcy 1]

There's the million dollar question: How successful have you been losing the weight? I absolutely identify with food as my drug of choice. Lap-Band is my last option. In the past I would have rather eaten and died than to eat to live. I am only ten days post surgery. I've eaten more than the amount recommended, eaten foods I knew weren't on the diet....and the scale showed me that I had. Make no mistake, we're in the battle for our life. Compromising is the road I took to food addiction in the first place! Just today I'll treat myself....I had a great day, I'll celebrate!....I feel sad, I'll have a cookie, or the whole package, why stop at one?

I have to set myself up for success. I not only take one day at a time, but some days I take it one hour at a time! I'm an addict. I know my drug of choice. FOOD

Good luck to you. Don't beat yourself up or look for excuses, just make up your mind to succeed TODAY, this HOUR.

[monkeymama 0]

I am a newbie here but my doc is definitely a lot less strict than most and he does have a lot of successful patients. We can't drink carbonated beverage including beer for the pouch stretching reasons listed before- but we can have wine and liquor. I guess if I really wanted soda I could wait for it to flatten but I'm not much of a soda drinker anyhow so I haven't had it. As far as after fills I was told today- liquids for the rest of the day and then advance my diet tomorrow if I felt up to it (puree to soft etc etc)

I have questioned things myself... I think the rules are mostly to instill discipline- we need to learn to take the power back from the food. By having rules we are back in control. Are they all necessary? Probably not- at least not for everybody. Do I follow them- for the most part- I have "cheated" just like most everyone has. I think we learn what works for us- bread sucks for me couldn't eat it with NO fill... salad slides right down. My co worker (who has lost over 100lb) can't handle salads at all but a little bread is ok!

Anyhow I understand why you posted what you did and I give you credit for being brave enough to ask. Ultimately I think those who follow the rules will lose faster- but I think as long as you learn to take back the control from the food then you can be successful with the band.

[Humming Bird 275]

I do not follow "the rules" to a T and have lost much weight. That being said, I can not encourage you to break the rules. Some of the rules I do follow are the no carbonated drinks rule and no alcohol/ or in moderation rules. Since being banded I have had zero carbonated drinks, not even diet. They bothered my stomach even before being banded, so it was not hard to never drink them again. I am a big iced tea drinker. I use sweet-n-low in my tea. I have had about 4 glasses of wine in the past 11 months, but I was never much of a drinker. Maybe you could find a good replacement for your diet soda. Even diet soda is full of sodium and may keep your blood pressure up and cause you to hold Water weight. I do take it easy after fills. I go slow starting with liquids, then mushies, then solid. That being said, I have no choice because my restriction has been very tight. Another rule I do follow is the no swallowing pills rule my surgeon has. I only take things is chewable or liquid form. The band makes me follow many of the rules. I hope you make/ follow some rules for yourself and have great success with the band.

Edited June 10, 2010 by Humming Bird