Re: If I was a failure at the lapband would I be successful with the sleeve?

April 5, 2011

This is alllllll about a lifestyle change. You seriously need to change your eating behaviors and it IS totally possible. If you eat chocolate all day you will likely lose and regain.The thing about weight loss is that you have to want it bad enough to go for it. A sleeve is a tool just like a band. It doesn't make your food choices for you, YOU do. You can choose Chocolate or weight loss. It's your choice.

There is no WLS that fixes white carbs. None. Bypass doesn't malabsorb white carbs and neither does DS. White carbs (flour, sugar, rice, potatoes) is completely and totally, 100%, up to us. So you need to decide, what do you want? Chocolate or weight loss?

On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 7:49 AM, <nicki_8875@...> wrote:

I originally lost 60 lbs with the lapband and gained it all back. I had to have my band removed about a year ago. I opted not to do the sleeve at that time b/c I didn't think it would help if the band didn't.

Let me be honest- I am a snacker. Im not a healthy eater and it scares me to pay so much for another surgery that I may sabatoge myself at. I like chips and chocolate and rarely eat fruits or veggies.

I WANT to lose. I NEED to lose. I know I am slowly killing myself with my weight and am afraid everyday about that.

Was anyone else successful with the sleeve that wasn't with the band? I will say my body completely rejected my band so I spent so much time trying to eat anything I could when it would open that I couldn't make healthy choices. There was no way brocolli or something like that would make it down. It was a terrible experience for me.

April 5, 2011

I think the biggest part of my problem now is preparing food. It is just so

much easier to grab a bag of chips and go then to actually prepare something. I

have been working on me right now and have been making healthier choices. I

think I want to see if I can do it and then consider the surgery. My neighbor

had the sleeve surgery and has lost 100 lbs. That is so great and she looks so

great and I am a little jealous but have to make sure my head is in the right

place!

>

> >

> > I originally lost 60 lbs with the lapband and gained it all back. I had to

> > have my band removed about a year ago. I opted not to do the sleeve at that

> > time b/c I didn't think it would help if the band didn't.

> >

> > Let me be honest- I am a snacker. Im not a healthy eater and it scares me

> > to pay so much for another surgery that I may sabatoge myself at. I like

> > chips and chocolate and rarely eat fruits or veggies.

> >

> > I WANT to lose. I NEED to lose. I know I am slowly killing myself with my

> > weight and am afraid everyday about that.

> >

> > Was anyone else successful with the sleeve that wasn't with the band? I

> > will say my body completely rejected my band so I spent so much time trying

> > to eat anything I could when it would open that I couldn't make healthy

> > choices. There was no way brocolli or something like that would make it

> > down. It was a terrible experience for me.

> >

>

April 5, 2011

What you might want to do is meet with a nutritionist, and maybe a therapist to

talk about your food issues.

I did OA (Overeaters Anonymous) for a number of years and it was immensely

helpful in understanding food addictions and how my own overeating was tied very

closely to depression.

I'm still fat because I have a disease called obesity. As many people have said

- if it was just eating right and exercising we'd all be thin. I am at a place

now where I am very conscious about what I eat. I try to be as aware as I can of

where my food comes from with a view to both health and food source ethics.

I'm no nutritionist - just another over " norm " BMI - but I'd worry first about

*what* you're eating, and think about how much you're eating later. It is far

better to snack all day on nuts and dried cranberries than Doritos.

Instead of eating a fast food burger for dinner get one of the fancy new chicken

salads at 's. They are delish.

I could give a hundred tips, as I'm sure many other people on this group could.

In the end, it's your decision and only you can make the changes necessary to

get the results you want and need. I feel pretty safe in saying you absolutely,

positively must have a different relationship with food to make any surgical

intervention work in the long term.

>

> I originally lost 60 lbs with the lapband and gained it all back. I had to

have my band removed about a year ago. I opted not to do the sleeve at that

time b/c I didn't think it would help if the band didn't.

>

> Let me be honest- I am a snacker. Im not a healthy eater and it scares me to

pay so much for another surgery that I may sabatoge myself at. I like chips and

chocolate and rarely eat fruits or veggies.

>

> I WANT to lose. I NEED to lose. I know I am slowly killing myself with my

weight and am afraid everyday about that.

>

> Was anyone else successful with the sleeve that wasn't with the band? I will

say my body completely rejected my band so I spent so much time trying to eat

anything I could when it would open that I couldn't make healthy choices. There

was no way brocolli or something like that would make it down. It was a

terrible experience for me.

>

April 6, 2011

Nicki,

I got sleeved on March 11 of this year. To be completely honest, this has probably been one of the toughest months of my life. However, I used the time to do a mental reset. Things that I used to crave, I just don't anymore. I LOVED candy...to the tune of a bag a day sometimes. I ate a Starburst the other day and it was absolutely disgusting. So the month that you are on a restricted diet, perhaps you can use that time to readjust your habits and your brain as well. I know that I did. You know what I'm dying to have after a month of not too much at all? A caesar salad. Not a twinkie. Not a bag of chips. A salad. My month is almost up and I think that the time has served me well.

You can email me if you'd like Good luck. Think long term. I want to be here another 40 years and I thank God for Dr. Aceves and what his team was able to help me do!

Daphne

From: <nicki_8875@...> Sent: Tue, April 5, 2011 1:35:45 PMSubject: Re: If I was a failure at the lapband would I be successful with the sleeve?

I think the biggest part of my problem now is preparing food. It is just so much easier to grab a bag of chips and go then to actually prepare something. I have been working on me right now and have been making healthier choices. I think I want to see if I can do it and then consider the surgery. My neighbor had the sleeve surgery and has lost 100 lbs. That is so great and she looks so great and I am a little jealous but have to make sure my head is in the right place!> > >> >> > I originally lost 60 lbs with the lapband and gained it all back. I had to> > have my band removed about a year ago. I opted not to do the sleeve at that> > time b/c I didn't think it would help if the band didn't.> >> > Let me be honest- I am a snacker. Im not a healthy

eater and it scares me> > to pay so much for another surgery that I may sabatoge myself at. I like> > chips and chocolate and rarely eat fruits or veggies.> >> > I WANT to lose. I NEED to lose. I know I am slowly killing myself with my> > weight and am afraid everyday about that.> >> > Was anyone else successful with the sleeve that wasn't with the band? I> > will say my body completely rejected my band so I spent so much time trying> > to eat anything I could when it would open that I couldn't make healthy> > choices. There was no way brocolli or something like that would make it> > down. It was a terrible experience for me.> >> > > >>

April 6, 2011

I had an experimental procedure called TOGA that was similar to the band. I lost about 60 lbs and have gained some back. I needed to lose 150 lbs, so 60 was nice, but not nearly enough. I am also concerned that I wont be successful with additional surgery. That is why I want the gastric bypass, because it is most restrictive and has a long history of being most effective for long term weight loss. So don't feel alone!!

I think the sleeve or gastric bypass would be worth a try. You will definitely lose a lot more weight at first, enough to exercise without pain or shame, then you're on the right track. Remember the bands are medical devices that are pushed relentlessly by corporations with big advertising budgets. Makes you think only an idiot could screw up losing all your weight with a band. But the reality is (IMO) MOST people fail to lose enough weight then they give up and gain it back. The band manufacturers do a good job of hiding the FAILURE rate.

Oh, sorry, I'm ranting. Bottom line, give it a try, don't give up.

Anita

On Apr 5, 2011 11:41 AM, " " <nicki_8875@...> wrote:

April 6, 2011

I'd have to disagree with you here. The sleeve and bypass are pretty much the same for long term weight loss and DS is the most effective surgery type of all four major surgery types. (bands, sleeve, bypass, DS).

Bands provide the least weight loss, sleeves are the safest surgery type long term, bypass is fantastic for those that have chronic reflux not related to a hiatal hernia or obesity, and DS has the best weight loss stats long term. DS is probably the best for BMIs of 50 or greater.

On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 6:46 AM, <@...> wrote:

I had an experimental procedure called TOGA that was similar to the band. I lost about 60 lbs and have gained some back. I needed to lose 150 lbs, so 60 was nice, but not nearly enough. I am also concerned that I wont be successful with additional surgery. That is why I want the gastric bypass, because it is most restrictive and has a long history of being most effective for long term weight loss. So don't feel alone!!

I think the sleeve or gastric bypass would be worth a try. You will definitely lose a lot more weight at first, enough to exercise without pain or shame, then you're on the right track. Remember the bands are medical devices that are pushed relentlessly by corporations with big advertising budgets. Makes you think only an idiot could screw up losing all your weight with a band. But the reality is (IMO) MOST people fail to lose enough weight then they give up and gain it back. The band manufacturers do a good job of hiding the FAILURE rate.

Oh, sorry, I'm ranting. Bottom line, give it a try, don't give up.

Anita

On Apr 5, 2011 11:41 AM, " " <nicki_8875@...> wrote:

April 6, 2011

Sorry to speak up here, but I personally know two people who had gastric bypass

who have regained almost all of their 100 lb. loss, so I don't think that's the

greatest procedure vs. the sleeve. I lost 133 pounds with the VSG and have kept

it all off after 20 mos. post-op. My GBP friends have regained. Just sayin'

>

April 6, 2011

My husband's version of that is a bowl of cornflakes.

I don't know if you've got a Trader Joe's near you, but if not there's probably

a Whole Foods or a good grocery store deli. On your way home from work pick up a

small container of chicken salad or pasta salad. I'll get 1/4 pound of ham and

1/4 of cheese sometimes when I just want a quick dinner.

The other trick is to stay busy. We have a list of house stuff that needs to be

done so although we don't have television we do have computers and we work very

hard to NOT get online when we get home, but rather pick a house chore and get

that done. Or play Scrabble or something. Now that the weather's nice I spend a

lot more time outside with the dogs in the evening. I've also recently taken up

knitting again and that keeps my hands busy.

Sounds like you're already taking great steps - yay you!

> >

> > >

> > > I originally lost 60 lbs with the lapband and gained it all back. I had to

> > > have my band removed about a year ago. I opted not to do the sleeve at

that

> > > time b/c I didn't think it would help if the band didn't.

> > >

> > > Let me be honest- I am a snacker. Im not a healthy eater and it scares me

> > > to pay so much for another surgery that I may sabatoge myself at. I like

> > > chips and chocolate and rarely eat fruits or veggies.

> > >

> > > I WANT to lose. I NEED to lose. I know I am slowly killing myself with my

> > > weight and am afraid everyday about that.

> > >

> > > Was anyone else successful with the sleeve that wasn't with the band? I

> > > will say my body completely rejected my band so I spent so much time

trying

> > > to eat anything I could when it would open that I couldn't make healthy

> > > choices. There was no way brocolli or something like that would make it

> > > down. It was a terrible experience for me.

> > >

> >

>

April 6, 2011

I too have a friend who lost 150 lbs after gastric bypass and has gained back 100 lbs so far ( after 5 yrs). Its soooooo depressing. But I know many many others who have not gained it back! I want to be in that group. Trying to do what I can to help myself get there.

On Apr 6, 2011 4:14 PM, " Bipley " <Bipley@...> wrote:> I'd have to disagree with you here. The sleeve and bypass are pretty much

> the same for long term weight loss and DS is the most effective surgery type> of all four major surgery types. (bands, sleeve, bypass, DS).> > Bands provide the least weight loss, sleeves are the safest surgery type

> long term, bypass is fantastic for those that have chronic reflux not> related to a hiatal hernia or obesity, and DS has the best weight loss stats> long term. DS is probably the best for BMIs of 50 or greater.

> > On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 6:46 AM, <@...> wrote:> >>>>>> I had an experimental procedure called TOGA that was similar to the band.

>> I lost about 60 lbs and have gained some back. I needed to lose 150 lbs, so>> 60 was nice, but not nearly enough. I am also concerned that I wont be>> successful with additional surgery. That is why I want the gastric bypass,

>> because it is most restrictive and has a long history of being most>> effective for long term weight loss. So don't feel alone!!>>>> I think the sleeve or gastric bypass would be worth a try. You will

>> definitely lose a lot more weight at first, enough to exercise without pain>> or shame, then you're on the right track. Remember the bands are medical>> devices that are pushed relentlessly by corporations with big advertising

>> budgets. Makes you think only an idiot could screw up losing all your>> weight with a band. But the reality is (IMO) MOST people fail to lose>> enough weight then they give up and gain it back. The band manufacturers do

>> a good job of hiding the FAILURE rate.>>>> Oh, sorry, I'm ranting. Bottom line, give it a try, don't give up.>>>> Anita>> On Apr 5, 2011 11:41 AM, " " <nicki_8875@...> wrote:

>>>> >>

April 6, 2011

I have not had the band, but had concerns that I would fail with the sleeve as well. I wasn't a huge snacker (spending so much time at work and being too busy to even think about food) and I couldn't even come close to winning a food eating championship when it came to volume so I really was concerned with being successful. After really taking a look at my intake, I realized that it was WHAT I was eating. Like you, it is easier to grab a bag of chips then to cook a meal, or go by a fast-food place on the way home, etc. Like you, I worried about my ability to stay away from these crappy foods that I love so much!I had surgery on 8/27/10 and am down about 110lbs. Here are some of my observations in the last 7 months that have been a shocking change from my pre-surgery "norm" that changed with little to no effort on my part, it was just a natural occurrance for me. Not sure about how

this has affected others....1) It is amazing how motivated I am by results. In every other diet I've done, I'm so good until the stall and then I fall off the wagon. With the sleeve, it is easy to stay motivated when the results are steady. 2) I have found that I don't feel "alone". It is like my sleeve is a seperate entity who is always with me, helping me out and supporting me ---- I know that sounds silly, but like it is easier to go to the gym with a friend...that is how I feel about my sleeve!3) I have found that my excuse that grabbing a bag of chips or a fast food meal is more convenient for my busy schedule was just that - an excuse. An "out" to sit and be lazy when I got home from work knowing good and well that I had the time. Now, 110lbs lighter, I have the energy to make that meal and don't have to turn into a vegetable when I get

home.4) I have found that if I really am in a hurry to get a meal, a handfull of nuts or a string cheese does me just fine. I don't put the bad stuff in my house and because I can only eat a small amount of anything, it doesn't matter what it is that I decide to eat. I'm totally fine with the cheese/nuts. The chips, cookies, junk would actually be more of an inconvenience and because I can't stuff my face full with the entire thing, it simply isn't worth my time! By the time I'm almost done with my string cheese and thinking about how good a "bad food" would be, I'm already full! Oh well...5) The mind really does play tricks! There have been times that I REALLY want some chocolate. I have some no sugar added fudge pops in the freezer and think "nope, that isn't going to do it, I need REAL chocolate!!!" Then I think of the hassle of going out to get it to only eat 2 bites and I

settle on the fudge pop only to discover that it was just fine.6) If I do splurge on some carbs, my sleeve keeps me in check. I can't binge like I used to do. I can eat it in moderation and that's okay with me. I allow it every once in a while and I now have control because my tummy will only hold so much and I know that I look and feel so much better that eating all that junk isn't worth it.I was watching the show Heavy the other night and I heard a phrase that is so true - I can't remember it exactly but the jest of it was that the taste of those chips or candy isn't nearly as good as being thin. I would have heard that pre-surgery and thought "ain't that the truth" as I'm shoving chocolate in my mouth. Today, I truly, 100% get that statement. I'm living it. That junk food does not taste better then I feel and I have no desire to sabatage myself anymore. Now that I am 110lbs

lighter, I feel like I'm worth it. Before, I didn't care about myself anymore. I was already fat, what is another bag of chips? I have developed respect for myself. I am more motivated than ever. I have worth and deserve to be happy and all of that new found confidence and respect tastes WAY better than that junk food.My advice would be to go for it! Be mindful of your addiction and keep all temptations away until you can appreciate yourself again and have a healthy relationship with food.I've been lucky and it has come easily for me, but there are a ton of resources out there if you need them!Best of luck with your decision! Sent from my iPhoneOn Apr 5, 2011, at 4:49 PM, "morgan.skilling" <morgan.skilling@...> wrote:

What you might want to do is meet with a nutritionist, and maybe a therapist to talk about your food issues.

I did OA (Overeaters Anonymous) for a number of years and it was immensely helpful in understanding food addictions and how my own overeating was tied very closely to depression.

I'm still fat because I have a disease called obesity. As many people have said - if it was just eating right and exercising we'd all be thin. I am at a place now where I am very conscious about what I eat. I try to be as aware as I can of where my food comes from with a view to both health and food source ethics.

I'm no nutritionist - just another over "norm" BMI - but I'd worry first about *what* you're eating, and think about how much you're eating later. It is far better to snack all day on nuts and dried cranberries than Doritos.

Instead of eating a fast food burger for dinner get one of the fancy new chicken salads at 's. They are delish.

I could give a hundred tips, as I'm sure many other people on this group could. In the end, it's your decision and only you can make the changes necessary to get the results you want and need. I feel pretty safe in saying you absolutely, positively must have a different relationship with food to make any surgical intervention work in the long term.

>

> I originally lost 60 lbs with the lapband and gained it all back. I had to have my band removed about a year ago. I opted not to do the sleeve at that time b/c I didn't think it would help if the band didn't.

>

> Let me be honest- I am a snacker. Im not a healthy eater and it scares me to pay so much for another surgery that I may sabatoge myself at. I like chips and chocolate and rarely eat fruits or veggies.

>

> I WANT to lose. I NEED to lose. I know I am slowly killing myself with my weight and am afraid everyday about that.

>

> Was anyone else successful with the sleeve that wasn't with the band? I will say my body completely rejected my band so I spent so much time trying to eat anything I could when it would open that I couldn't make healthy choices. There was no way brocolli or something like that would make it down. It was a terrible experience for me.

>

April 7, 2011

I believe you can regain weight with EVERY surgery if you do not do your part. I have read about sleeve patients not even losing weight! they got a big sleeve or something and do not lose. Dr. A's patients seem to have the best results out there, if he does and effective sleeves I would think he does effective bypass too and you would have a great tool. I have seen sleeves converted to bypass too. All tools, use them as best you can and you should do fine. Personally I would never get a DS, stats or no stats DS was out for ME. From: <@...> Sent: Wed, April 6, 2011 2:56:08 PMSubject: Re: If I was a failure at the lapband would I be successful with the sleeve?

I too have a friend who lost 150 lbs after gastric bypass and has gained back 100 lbs so far ( after 5 yrs). Its soooooo depressing. But I know many many others who have not gained it back! I want to be in that group. Trying to do what I can to help myself get there.

On Apr 6, 2011 4:14 PM, "Bipley" <Bipley@...> wrote:> I'd have to disagree with you here. The sleeve and bypass are pretty much

> the same for long term weight loss and DS is the most effective surgery type> of all four major surgery types. (bands, sleeve, bypass, DS).> > Bands provide the least weight loss, sleeves are the safest surgery type

> long term, bypass is fantastic for those that have chronic reflux not> related to a hiatal hernia or obesity, and DS has the best weight loss stats> long term. DS is probably the best for BMIs of 50 or greater.

> > On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 6:46 AM, <@...> wrote:> >>>>>> I had an experimental procedure called TOGA that was similar to the band.

>> I lost about 60 lbs and have gained some back. I needed to lose 150 lbs, so>> 60 was nice, but not nearly enough. I am also concerned that I wont be>> successful with additional surgery. That is why I want the gastric bypass,

>> because it is most restrictive and has a long history of being most>> effective for long term weight loss. So don't feel alone!!>>>> I think the sleeve or gastric bypass would be worth a try. You will

>> definitely lose a lot more weight at first, enough to exercise without pain>> or shame, then you're on the right track. Remember the bands are medical>> devices that are pushed relentlessly by corporations with big advertising

>> budgets. Makes you think only an idiot could screw up losing all your>> weight with a band. But the reality is (IMO) MOST people fail to lose>> enough weight then they give up and gain it back. The band manufacturers do

>> a good job of hiding the FAILURE rate.>>>> Oh, sorry, I'm ranting. Bottom line, give it a try, don't give up.>>>> Anita>> On Apr 5, 2011 11:41 AM, "" <nicki_8875@...> wrote:

>>>> >>

April 7, 2011

May I ask why? Lots of misconceptions about DS out there.On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 12:08 PM, Sue Logg <sue.logg@...> wrote:

I believe you can regain weight with EVERY surgery if you do not do your part. I have read about sleeve patients not even losing weight! they got a big sleeve or something and do not lose. Dr. A's patients seem to have the best results out there, if he does and effective sleeves I would think he does effective bypass too and you would have a great tool. I have seen sleeves converted to bypass too. All tools, use them as best you can and you should do fine.

Personally I would never get a DS, stats or no stats DS was out for ME.

April 7, 2011

Hate is to judge, but doesn't sound like you know what you're talking

about.

Sleeve patients always lose unless they come up with a plan NOT to do

so, but why would they after spending the money and time. That's just

silly. Don't know where you're getting your info from? Sleeves converted

to by-pass? Huh? Never heard of that...........what on earth for would

someone do that. Please get your facts straight before misleading people

in the beginning of their own WL investigation.

> >>

>

April 7, 2011

Actually, Sue knows full well what she's talking about and this is also something Dr. Aceves explains before surgery. We can eat around ANY surgery type. ANY.Sleeve patients lose when their stomach is very small, but if they live on a diet of junk food and Chocolate they will absolutely regain.

EVERY WLS patient regardless of surgery type needs to have a plan of action to lose and maintain. It does not take a plan to regain, it takes a plan to MAINTAIN.Sleeves are converted to bypass all the time. Examples;

Maybe someone is too big for bypass or DS up front, let's say they have a 100BMI. Doing bypass or DS might be too risky so for that population they are still doing sleeves first so the person can get to a more manageable BMI before finishing the bypass/DS.

Some people find that they are seriously metabolically challenged and they need the hormonal chain reaction of bypass or DS to lose. These are people eating 600 calories a day and STILL not losing a pound. It's not their fault, it's the hormonal imbalance. It's not common, but it most certainly does happen.

For some people that have severe reflux not due to obesity or a hiatal hernia the sleeve can make their reflux worse and the only fix is bypass. I personally am in that category but not because of the sleeve, it was esophageal damage from the lap band. We had all hoped removing the band would be the fix, luck of the draw... it wasn't my lucky draw! HA! My options are to deal with it or revise to bypass. Since I am at goal Dr. Aceves would not bypass much intestine, just change the anatomy of my stomach. But that will never happen. I will NEVER get bypass. I'd rather have reflux.

I've been at goal over 3.5 years. i am here to tell you... surgery is the easy part. You lay there while everyone else does the work. Losing isn't bad, you have the tools and you have the knowledge, you get it done. Maintenance is when the work starts.

It does not take a plan to regain, it takes a plan and a lifestyle change to maintain. So with all due respect, April, Sue does know what she's writing about and she is giving accurate information.

On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 2:33 PM, ExtraordinaryB <april.white@...> wrote:

Hate is to judge, but doesn't sound like you know what you're talking

about.

Sleeve patients always lose unless they come up with a plan NOT to do

so, but why would they after spending the money and time. That's just

silly. Don't know where you're getting your info from? Sleeves converted

to by-pass? Huh? Never heard of that...........what on earth for would

someone do that. Please get your facts straight before misleading people

in the beginning of their own WL investigation.

April 7, 2011

Thank you bipley. Sorry I did not mean to mislead anyone. I am getting a sleeve myself and would also get the bypass if it were a better choice for me. Bipley I see you feel about the bypass the way I feel about the DS. It is a good thing that there are OPTIONS for all of us. From: Bipley <Bipley@...> Sent: Thu, April 7, 2011 2:47:47 PMSubject: Re: If I was a failure at the lapband would I be successful with the sleeve?