I was on liquids for a week but then I just couldn't handle it anymore and started eating real food .. Im just 198LB and lost 10 pounds since the surgery .. am I harming my self by eating when i'm not suppose to ? because I thought since I'm not that obese I could eat until my next fill :thumbup: .. because I know if the thing doesn't get tighten I would never lose weight .. please help

I thought you had to be at least 100 pounds overweight to even qualify for the band. You say you already lost 10 and only need to lose 40, so that would only be 50. What was your BMI? Comorbidities? Your BMI needs to be less than 35 if you have medical conditions, less than 40 if you don't.

not true.

insurance qualifications vary - there is no set template. also a BMI over 30 puts you in the obese category - if 50lbs is all you have to lose to get to a normal weight, so what. because there are dr's that would like to prevent an obese person from getting MO or SMO, does not make him/her unethical in the least. he/she is trying to stop the bleeding before it gets worse in my opinion.

to the OP; w/only 40lbs to lose - expect it not to fall off overnight & yes you must work the band as best as possible - including following your post op instructions to a T. it is NOT easy, but i'm learning nothing worth while ever is.

i'd suggest a local support group or come to this site often to learn as much as possible, as it appears your surgical staff didn't provide adequate life after band installation guidelines...good luck!

not true.

insurance qualifications vary !

My insurance requires you to be a BMI of 35 or a BMI of 30 with weight related health issues. I was a BMI of around 36 with sleep apnea and hypertension.

If you want to feel that you are eating more "normal" food, then try strained creamed soups. These are liquids, but I had creamed tomato Soup yesterday and it tasted really good. I had a little too much this noon and I felt really full for hours.

I also have broth from a regular venison stew, which tastes more rich than juice or milk, but is still liquid (strained so the garlic, carrots and other solids are saved to be pureed for the next step).

Maybe this will help?

not true.

insurance qualifications vary - there is no set template. also a BMI over 30 puts you in the obese category - if 50lbs is all you have to lose to get to a normal weight, so what. because there are dr's that would like to prevent an obese person from getting MO or SMO, does not make him/her unethical in the least. he/she is trying to stop the bleeding before it gets worse in my opinion.

Thanks for clarifying. When I was researching the band, the information that I found always talked about the 100 lb overweight, BMI over 35 with comorbidities and over 40 without. I didn't know that different insurances had different requirements since mine followed this exact guideline. (Of course, I just realized in MY OP that I said "less than 35 or 40" instead of "greater than 35 or 40"...whoops). I do agree that insurances should do something before it gets this bad. However, for the original post of this thread, I'm still not sure his/her heart is into it and I'm not sure of their committment level...

I understand, but if I stay on liquids the whole month then start eating salads and what not the second month I'll probably lose the 40lbs .. then what's the point of the band ? I need to be restricted ..

I agree, what's the point of the band indeed???

If you are going to disregard the rules to allow it to settle properly during the healing phase, potentially have a slip and lose the band . . . you probably would have been better off eating salads and liquids to lose the weight. Even if you only have 5 pounds to lose, you still have a medical device in your body and healing has to occur for it to work properly.

Banding doesn't always work for everyone, eventhough it does work for most. There are some people who gain on the band, or never lose any weight. You are much more likely to fall into this category if you don't follow the rules or post-op instructions and make excuses for everything.

What is 2 weeks of liquids if it can help you take off the 40 pounds quickly and keep them off forever??? I am sure you can do 2 weeks for your own health - nobody else really matters. You are doing this for yourself.

Good luck.

I was on liquids for a week but then I just couldn't handle it anymore and started eating real food .. Im just 198LB and lost 10 pounds since the surgery .. am I harming my self by eating when i'm not suppose to ?

more than likely, yes.

I am hearing a lot of "but"'s from this poster, and I don't think we are telling her what she wants to hear. It sounds like 1- the band wasn't needed, 2- she doesn't care about the inside of her body as much as the outside, and 3- she is going to ignore our suggestions and continue eating solids.

Of all the people on here, most who oops to real food too soon freak out when they hear what can happen and go back to liquids right away. This poster is argueing with us about her weight and how it should be ok because...

This is rediculous guys, why are you even responding.

My reply is, poster, if you are going to be like that, please don't come here. We will support you if you are truely sorry you have hurt yourself with your mistake and are ready to correct and listen to our advice. If you are only looking for confirmation, look somewhere else.

OUCH als! Why is everyone so harsh on here. I thought this was a support forum. Makes me not want to post my questions, (stupid to you, but maybe not stupid to me) just so I can get thrashed. als, you say "why are you even responding?" - Well, YOU responded. Thats the purpose of this forum. Some responses on here are -yes- blunt. And that is OK! Sometimes we need the advice of those who have gone before us - in a truthful yet respectful way. Obviously the poster did not know she had made a mistake and was seeking advice. And maybe she will be "truly sorry" but she doesn't have to appologize to you or anyone else. Its her body. If she wants to ignore the advice, then thats up to her. But she did seek the advice, so my bet is she will follow it, at least somewhat. All patients are different. Some heal faster than others, some eat solid food faster than others, some have more problems with the band that others. Regardless, every one here is a real person and has real feelings. Support can be given, even if not accepted. Remember the old saying, "You can lead a horse to Water, but you can't make him drink." Therefore, my reply is, poster, please listen and take the advice of the knowledgable people in this forum. My reply to you, als, is- if you are going to be like that, please don't come here.

By the way, this is my very first post. I was banded on 5/10/2011, and am eating semi-solid foods already, and my doctor said that was fine as long as I could tolerate it.