Hi guys!

O.K., here's the deal. Yesterday when I had my psych/nut/doc/pt/appts. everything made sense. Today my brain is jello!!!!

The psych himself has been banded so that is a real plus. He was able to answer questions up front. Now, the nutritionist showed me her plastic foods to eyeball portion size etc. While she doesn't condone any "diet" per se, if one is not losing weight they should then review what they have been eating by counting calories. I get that.

What I don't get is this business of "eating around the band" as I have heard it referred to. She said that things like ice-cream, milkshakes etc. go down really easy and are loaded with calories...is that what eating around the band means?

I have envisioned that with the band, you are limited with quantity no matter what it is. No? Obviously we need to change our relationship with food and make good food choices, but I also read about people losing 100 pounds with the band who ate small portions of crappy food.

I guess I'm just afraid of having the surgery and not being successful, or finding out something I didn't know afterwards that would have been a deal breaker for me.

Any feedback?

Marieze

The band does limit what you can eat, but liquid things pass through the band faster, making it possible for you to eat more. Eating around the band would be consuming things like milkshakes, which pass through the band easier than solid food and are packed with calories, or drinking while you eat, which helps the food to pass through the band faster as well. Both of these result in you being able to take in an increased amount of calories. Even with the band, if you're still eating the same number of calories, you won't lose weight. If you're eating solid protein and following the rules about waiting before and after a meal to drink, you should be fine. Of course, the better food choices you make, the faster you'll lose.

I have eaten around my band but just eating small amounts all day long. Not good and still not felt full. My dr told me 70% of the band is up to me it is not guarenteed to a weight loss.

That's what I mean........I DON'T GET IT!!!!

The doctor tells you that the band helps you 30% of the time. In what way? If it's by limiting the food you eat due to a small pouch, how does that not work 100% of the time. How does it not limit your intake EVERYTIME you eat?

Look, I'm not looking for magic here; just an understanding of something so that it makes sense. To me, it either restricts your food or it doesn't, no?

If I'm eating only a fraction of what I used to, how can I not lose weight?

Marieze

It acts as a funnel. Liquids can go through without difficulty. Solid foods sit in the pounch and digest. This makes you full longer and also limits the amount of food you can eat. If you add liquid to your meals then it mixes with the solid food helping it to go through the "funnel" more like a liquid. When used as directed by your doc the band should work 100% of the time. I think your doc is just making you aware that the band is a tool. You still have to do the work. In my mind, I think of it like swimming across the ocean. Why would I swim if there is a boat waiting on me at the shore. The boat(like the band) is my tool. I still must care for it and guide it to be successful.

This is just my understanding of how this all works. I was just banded today, so I don't have a lot of experience to share.

Hope this helps.

First, thanks to all who responded....I greatly appreciate it.

Renewed Hope,

That was a brilliant explanation and one that perfectly makes sense to me. So, in avoiding the liquides with our meals, we really should feel satisfied early on with our meals and stay satisfied for a longer period of time. I GET IT!

So you were banded today!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!! I would love to hear about it! How are you feeling? You're home already???? I figured I would be in the hospital barfing from the anesthesia!! I want the details!!!

Marieze

Here is a link to the thread I posted when I returned home. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/banded-today-43823/

Since then, I am doing ok. The gas pains are a little worse tonight. Laying flat is not comfortable. I am wired for some reason. THANKFULLY, I have had absolutely no nausea. They gave me some zofran post op, and I have phenergan at home, but haven't needed it. I even refused a phenergan shot before leaving the hospital because I have no nausea. They took me back for surgery at about 8:30 this morning. I went to the nursing floor at noon and came home at about 5p. I have only had Water, 1 popsicle and1/2 container of SF Jello, but I am not hungary at all. The gas pain is in my chest, back, and left shoulder. It is tolerable, not too bad. I have only taken 1000mg of tylenol since I got home. I am sore, but overall things went MUCH better than I had anticipated.

Best of luck to you. Keep me posted on your progress.