starting over AGAIN!! and needs HELP

I'm going to rely on hard evidence provided by cardiologists (namely the one I'm related too) PLUS the fact that I know two people who were on the Atkins diet who are now on cholesterol medications.  Again, we are not referring to GOOD fats....but unhealthy fats such as margarine, lard, most oils, mayo (my personal favorite. I love the stuff), etc are not good for anyone who is 1. dieting 2. has hereditary heart disease issues 3. high cholesterol.  And before I responded to this post I did call my uncle who is a cardiologist and double check with him to make sure I just wasn't out of the loop. Since he reviews medical journals, sees patients, AND also eats a very low fat lifestyle I trust his PROFESSIONAL judgement.   (Of course, my uncle doesn't do salt, processed foods, or sugar either. You can guess what dinner at his house is like.)

Also, in reviewing my band surgeon's eating plan, it also stressed LOW FAT.  

Now that being said.....I revised to the DS because eating low fat myself was TORTURE. Nothing tasted right and low fat versions of most things had higher sugar content. But in my house my family eats LIMITED amounts of fatty things and they use 1% milk. I try to use evaporated skim milk in dishes that call for heavy cream.  Of course, none of my kids have weight or cholesterol issues yet. I just intend to keep it that way.  No one should have to end up on cholesterol medications.

 
Here is a really good article that references several studies.

www.lowfatdietplan.org/cholesterol-diet-plan/high-cholestero l-diets-do-not-cause-heart-disease

Lot of things affect cholesterol, fiber, genetics, vitamin intake, physical activity, lots of things.

Your doctor is an ass. You don't 'earn' fills. If you could do this without restriction you would have. NEVER forget, your doctor works for you, not the other way around.


If I haven't told you before WASa, let me tell you now: you have wonderful, well thought out post. You are such an advocate for us!

I actually agree with you for once. 

My Dr. won't tighten me because he thinks Im not trying hard enough

 I can't even go back to my nutrionist.. she will YELL and I am not in the mood for that!  lol

This is awful! First of all, if you are hungry all the time, then you need a fill. To say you can't have a fill because you are not trying hard seems really odd!  The whole point is to get fills until the band is tight enough to help you! Some unlucky people never get the level of restricition they need but it doesn't sound as if your doc is even trying to get you there! If we could cut down food without restricition, then we wouldn't have needed the band!

The usual criteria for getting a fill are twofold:

1. You can eat more than about a cup of food (starting with dense protein) at one sitting
2. You get hungry less than a few hours after a meal.

If you are in that situation, then you need a fill. I don't eat pizza but if i did, it would only be one slice - all that doughy base would fill me very quickly.

And for your nut to yell at you is unprofessional. She is there to HELP not to browbeat.

The band will not do all the work! Most of it is down to you - but it doesn't sound as if yours is giving any help at all.

Kate

First of all I suggest you hop on over to the lap-band forum.  You may get more support there.
Anyway, I am newly banded so I don't have a lot of experience behind me but what I do know is that you need to follow the rules.   You need to be eating measured out foods.  Protein first.
No drinking with your meals or after for an hour.  You need to eat that tiny bit of food very slowly so that everything kicks in that you have had enough to satisfy you.  I was told that basically I should never really feel full.  If I get that full feeling like pre-op then I have probably eaten too much. 
I would give it an honest try, going back to basics, write down everything that goes in your mouth, and then go back to your dr.
That feeling like crap feeling is not what you deserve.  You deserve to feel good about yourself. 

What is your fill level? You may be too loose and not feeling restriction. ??

I agree with previous posters though. It is a tool. You need to get your head in the game. I wasted almost 2 years with my head in the sand. Two years with a leak and constant fills. Too tight to too loose restriction. I finally have my "head" in the game and am excited to get to work.

I too expected my band to do most of the work. It doesn't. YOU decide what you put in your mouth. YOU decide the quality. The band only stops the bulk/binge eating.

As for the grumbly tummy. My stomach ALWAYS made noise when I used my band properly in the beginning. Sometimes I would be embarrassed it was so loud. It may or may not be hunger. I think the answer to that depends on your current fill level.

I am sorry your DR is refusing to fill you if that is what you need. A supportive Dr can make a HUGE difference. ((hugs))

Hi.....I am a revision from band to full bypass...I understand your frustration.  You are not alone.

My thoughts:  Your nutritionist should be there to help you, not yell at you.  If he/she is putting you down at your meetings find someone else!!!  Try to find a band support group in your area. 

Try getting back to the basics.  Start a food journal and see what you are eating and where you need improvement.  Go back to eating protein first.  Weigh and measure your food so you know exactly what you are taking in.  If you haven't started exercising start.....do whatever you like to do.
Exercise also helps with stress.

You need to get to the bottom of why you are eating the way you are....you can have the band at its tightest and still sabotage yourself.  Surgery does nothing to the mind. Therapy might help. 

Hope you can get yourself back on track, I totally undertand how you feel.

Hello

I have been where you are now.  I was losing very slowly or not at all.  I was getting frustrated.  But just like some of the people here are saying I decided to go at it with all I had.  I had this thought that I was going to get banded and the weight was going to fall off effortlessly and when that didn't happen I sat around *****ing about it.  The band didn't work as I thought it would.  It still helps...just not in the way I had wished. 

Don't give up.  I didn't.  I put myself on a very low carb diet.  Most days I get maybe 25-40 carbs a day.  I don't eat bread, pasta, cookies, candy or cakes.  I eat mostly lean protein and fruit.  I eat on average about 1000-1200 calories a day.  Then I started to work out in October.  That sent my weight loss through the roof.  I lost more that first month than I did on my preop and post op diet.  I now work out 90 minutes a day.  60 of that is on the treadmill...the rest is weight training and then about 10 minutes of stretching.  You need to combine cadio and weight training for maximum results.  The reason is muscle is the fat burning machine in your body.  The more lean muscle mass the more calories burned (so get on those weight machines).  Stretching is important too.  I also go on two 15 minute walks during the day at work.  The reason is that I sit at a desk all day in order to keep my metabolism going I get moving.  The first month I did this I lost 15 lbs.  I am now at almost 45 lbs.  I lose weight every week.  I am almost two years out and I am losing like a newbie.  I learned all of this info I wrote here by buying tons of books on fitness, weight lifting, vitamins, metabolism and stretching.   

This is a lot of hard work but it's so worth it.  I have gone down couple sizes.  I look and feel better.  The energy I have is awesome.  I sleep better at night.  If your doctor is refusing to help you take things in your own hands.  Believe me it's worth it. 
 

Hi Eiball,
We are in the same boat. I just recommitted with the new year. I was banded in March 2010. Initially, I did well because I dieted and exercised. I had no restriction until my 3rd fill and that was when I started to feel satisfied with my meals that consisted of mostly dense, lean protein. I knew that I would be where I wanted to be after another fill.......................... BUT, I started to neglect my band and eat slider foods that I could just eat and eat. The exercise stopped. I seriously acted as if I did not even have a band.......

After a few failed attempts since the new year (I have been AWESOME for 2 weeks now and feel so in the zone). I am back to lean, dense proteins, and low carbs. I am following the rules to a 't' except for the fact that 1 cup of food is not enough for me since I have no restriction. So, I am eating a huge egg white omelet, for example, with salmon, some cheese and salsa and the eat the whole thing if I need to. I do try to chew everything a million times, though it does not seem necessary at this point, and follow the drinking rules. Going to the gym and down 7 pounds!

I have not returned to my surgeon- mostly out of embarrassment. I made an appointment for an adjustment in one month. I have vowed to myself to be in onederland by my 1 year surgiversary. It's going to be tough, particularly without the restriction I signed up for.  But I knew going in that the band was not going to work itself... it needs me!!!!!!!!!

So, your surgeon won't fill you because he doubts your commitment to the band? OK, how about committing yourself to 4 weeks of dieting and some sort of physical activity. You do not need to do liquids.... just keep track of everything for 4 weeks. In the interim, call your surgeon tomorrow (or email, write a letter) and explain that you are serious. Make a deal that you will do your part for the next 4 weeks, if he agrees to be waiting at the end of this short journey of proving yourself with a syringe filled with saline. I am sure that if the surgeon sees an effort, he will be more than happy to help. If not, than I question his intentions. Obviously, if you could have done it all on your own, you would not have gotten WLS. My surgeon is really tough on us. Before and after surgery. He is known for canceling surgeries because of patients not following the liquid diet. He is known for turning people away who are not emotionally ready for the journey. While his personality is not that of someone I would EVER consider spending any leisurely time with, lol- hope he's not reading this, I would trust him with my life a million times (he actually literally SAVED my life 10 years ago from a gastric bypass gone wrong- when no one else could help me- i was in a hospital for over 3 months on a central line and feeding tube... it was bad). I digress. My point is, because he is so tough, he has a very high success rate with the surgeries he performs. Maybe your surgeon is of the same mentality???

At any rate, you need to decide what you are capable of doing. You did the pre-op diet so you know you can commit and you know your body is able to lose weight. If 4 weeks seems like an impossibility, try 3 weeks. Tell your doctor you will go in weekly for weigh ins before the next fill and explain your reasons for getting this surgery. I would bet he would realize just how serious you are and want to help you achieve your goals.

Let me know what happens and best of luck to you...... you should be so proud of yourself for getting yourself back on track.