Jann

Lap Band Blueprint Everyone has high hopes of reaching of their sweet spot. I hear this all the time “I just want to be tight”. Lap Band Patients feel like if the band is tight it will stop them from overeating. With this mindset all the responsibility is placed on the band; and it will only lead to frustration. The band is tricky; there is definitely a learning curve. The band was designed to eat a normal meal. A normal meal means you eat a smaller meal without side effects. If you are properly adjusted you can eat without experiencing Productive Burping or much sliming. Learn to chew your food to liquid form. Chewing your food to liquid form will reduce the amount of productive burps; this will also help reduce the sliming effect as well. Avoid Soft Food Syndrome. If you are eating softer foods because it is easier, you have no way of knowing if you are properly adjusted. Eating softer foods allows you to eat more and can halt your weight loss altogether. Eat your protein first. Eating protein first ensures you are getting enough protein to keep your energy levels up. Don’t be so dependent on the band. Some patients are expecting the band to be their “Food Police”. Taking responsibility for what you are eating and how you are eating will take away the disappointed feeling. The band is tighter in the morning. There is no scientific reason why the band is tighter in the morning. Just because the band is tight in the morning is no excuse to skip a meal. Mix up a protein shake to start your day. Being too tight serves no good purpose. If the band is too tight and you are experiencing PB after PB this will not aid in the weight loss efforts. Also having a band that is too tight could result in a slip; which could result in another surgery. The band is not properly adjusted. You are wide open and can eat anything you want, this is a sign you are not properly adjusted. Make an appointment with your surgeon to have another fill. Tweaking your band. It could be as simple as .01 CC to get you to your sweet spot. Don’t think you have to have a full 1.0 CC to be properly adjusted Don’t compare yourself to others. Just because someone has reached their sweet spot with 2.50 CC’s doesn’t mean you are going to reach your sweet spot with the same amount of fill. There are too many different size bands on the market and the person you are comparing your fill to might not even have the same band as you do. Don’t deprive yourself. Eat what you like in moderation. The more processed the food the easier it is to eat with the band; it also means more calories. Read your labels if a serving size is 15 chips then only eat 15 chips not the whole bag. Keep in touch with your surgeon so he/she knows what is going on. If you are not following up with your surgeon they can’t get you to your sweet spot. Don’t feel bad if you have not lost any weight since your last visit; your surgeon will not yell at you. Especially if you keep a food diary and exercise diary; this will aid your surgeon to help you stay on track. If you are newly post-op take advantage of this time to really learn how to chew your food; trust me you will “Thank” yourself down the road. If you are properly adjusted; you will have to chew your food to liquid form; otherwise you will be experiencing productive burping and sliming. This leads to frustration and could possibly lead you to soft food syndrome which will halt your weight loss efforts. You have worked so hard to have the surgery and expected to have amazing results. It is possible if you work with your band as opposed to working against it. Don’t think of this as being another diet; think of this as being a “Lifestyle”. If you watch skinny fit people eat you will see they still allow themselves treats; you should be no different. Remember you had surgery on your stomach not your brain. It will be hard at times and you might make poor choices. Getting back on the band-wagon is easy to do. Go back to the band basics and you will see the results you want and deserve. __________________ Cher Ewing, CC

My heart breaks for you and your family. God bless.

NOT FOR LONG!

YAY! (WHISTLING AND TOSSING CONFETTI) Good for you! =D>

You look AMAZING!!!!! WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is where I am going as well! Julie over at Calgary LapBanders on Yahoo would probably know this? I think I heard $100 and he follows the Calgary guidelines on fills.

Seriously, I don't think the creamies will hurt your pouch. Liquids, as I understand it go through the stoma into pouch with ease. I'm sure creamies back up because they're thicker but they should still move through pretty quickly. This is a healing time not a losing time so anything lost is a bonus. <She said as she wags her finger at the scale! MOVE DAMN IT!> 1,200 calories per day seems to be the magic number to continue losing weight so I see everywhere. I seem to have trouble getting up to 800 calories per day. I've started upping my protein drinks to make up some. We can always hope, eh?

Good for you! This is one impulse you won't forget. Just be diligent in following the guidelines and the program and you can't fail! =D>

I would so love to watch these videos and it's awesome that you posted them but I have a weak stomach for surgery vids and I'm not sure I wouldn't faint! Hubby watches the medical channel ALL the time. I have to leave the room.

How's that for major AWESOME?!! =D> My hubby was feeling me out about him ordering a pizza tonight. He's been wickedly good for the last week or whatever eating pretty healthy so I gave my blessings. (not that he needed them) He said, "I only ordered a small" I thought "GOOD ON YA!" I went to go upstairs from my office and the door was closed. That like NEVER happens. Opened the door and saw him with this pizza. A LARGE!!! I yelled, "YER BUSTED!!" He floundered and said, "They sent the wrong size". I looked at the bill on the island and it was indeed a large. The really good news is he only ate three or four pieces. Before it would have been the whole thing and he'd still be hungry! I grabbed my protein drink and beetled it back down to the office before temptation could set in for me! I have major hope for that boy! hehe My weakness is cheese with bread, pizza with double cheese and Wendy's burgers with double cheese. Sensing a theme here? Never was a fries fan or pop drinker and I don't like frosty's.

YIKES! <hiding>

Guess I'll just have to adjust my obsession to scrambled! hehe --

Yup, just relax, follow your doctor's guidelines, lose 5% or close to prior to surgery, do what you're told to the letter, expect the unexpected and go with it. Start retraining your brain as early as possible to the bandster way. Trust me, it will save you a ton of grief after the fact! Walk, walk and walk, and when you're tired and bored WALK some more! GRATZ on your decision!

Say it isn't so! My first bite of solid food is slated to be that damned boiled egg! Yikes!

YAY for you! I'm still five days from solids but aside from being bored with anything creamy and milk like I'm still on the critical path. Remember bandster thinking -- restriction or not follow the portion sizes and food order, protein, veg, fruit, carbs, so you retrain your brain! HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENJOY!!!!!

I would think that swimming works all major muscles including abs? I'd double check that one with OCC.

You haven't aggravated anybody. It's a learning process and your questions will pave the way for others that follow! I'm excited for you. Take a deep breath and enjoy your journey. Next we see you, you will be a banded sista! Major hugs!

That is unbelievably shocking to me. I guess what's transparently obvious is if they truly believed that the surgery in Mexico was that aggregiously irresponsible and dishonest and they are still taking those patients, why would they not just do flouro right off the hop and ensure that the mechanism was complete and in place rather than messing around and charging $1,500 for something that potentially doesn't exist? I know that we have four doctors here that work right out of the hospitals that accept fill patients done in Mexico and in fact some refer via third party because the budget will not allow more surgeries than have been allocated. This year the number is 25 because of budget cuts. Last year it was 100. It's a FOUR year process to get banded here. YIKES! If this kind of dishonesty was rampant in Mexico they certainly would know and would warn people. No doubt there are some disreputable surgeons doing this surgery without proper qualifications or care all over the world but the lapband community is a tight one and they would be outted in about five seconds and hence no patients over time. I would be very uncomfortable with the lack of integrity and carelessness of your fill organization and ask for a refund but that's just me.

Wow, what a difference your pictures make! Congratulations to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two words for you -- EMPTY CALORIES!

They actually do some kind of individual calculation. I know for me it was 78 grams of protein a day.

They apparently do not use hollow point needles that normally would poke a hole in the materials to reduce any risk of punctures.

Holy Smokes Cathy -- we used to be within a couple of ounces of each other. I've been stalled for about four days -- look at you go girl! This would be a good time for my whoosh effect to kick in. Hehe I swear I have not cheated once, not licked a chip, not anything. Just drank my damned creamed soups, LF pudding once a day, Breyer's LF fuggies, tea, coffee and water. How's that for incentive for you, eh? I think you are down almost six pounds in that span of time!! :lb10: :lb13:

I haven't had a fill yet and I am no authority but according to EVERY book I've read (I think I'm up to six now) some air gets trapped in there and the difference in cc's between then and your next visit is usually attributible to the air dissipating.

Wah, I wanna burp like all the other kids!