Re: bucking the band

[Guest guest]

Wednesday, August 10, 2005, 10:26:48 AM, you wrote:

m> This is for you new bandsters, I went to a support meeting on the 8th

m> of August, and there were some new people there that had been banded

m> only 4 to 10 day's earlier. What upsets me is....Why? Why? would you

m> spend the money to have the surgery done to better your quality of

m> life. Then you go and eat pizza not just a piece but the whole

m> family

m> size. And drank a 2 liter bottle of pop.. HMMMM........... Do you

m> think that this is the reason your diets etc... haven't worked ?

m> I also heard one of you say your insurance paid for it...Good for

m> you.

Well, they don't give IQ tests of " common sense tests " before you get

a band. Maybe they should. Sure those people are stupid, for multiple

reasons. First because I can't imagine any doc saying to eat pizza

and sodapop the first two weeks.

m> I paid outta pocket cash for the new and improved me. I was banded

m> on 9-9-04 and have lost 106 lbs. Advice: If you have come this far to

m> change your life why, sabotoge what you have already done.

Well, there are always people who WANT to fail....and that should

ideally be caught in the psych screening, but most aren't good enough

to do so in an hour or so.

m> stop being

m> a cry baby about why you haven't lost weight, and look at what your

m> eating. There's a reason they tell you not to eat like that. DID YOU

m> LISTEN?

There are plenty of people who let it go in one ear and out of the

other. And I'll bet that most of us have done that MANY TIMES. I

completely agree with you, but also don't have any dream that everyone

will " get it " . Remember, some think that the band is " magic " and that

it will " fix everything " without any work on their part.

dan

m> your

m>

[Guest guest]

No matter how hard we all try, there will always be people who think

that the band is a magic cure and that they will not have to put any

work into it.

they will learn the hard way, but they WILL learn, if they want to do

well. There are whole groups of people who moan and groan about not

doing well - some for years - and still are unable to take suggested

steps to improve.

Each to their own. But I also hate to see people pay for something

they are unwilling to work with. And sometimes this is even

dangerous - more than a few people have gotten into very serious

trouble and needed their bands removed on an emergency basis from not

following even the most basic rules.

We are all adults, and have the right to make poor choices, I'm

afraid.

Sure glad you are not one of them! You're doing great - and maybe at

future meetings, you can gently suggest to these people that their

band needs help and support to work and stay healthy, and show them

your good example of success. Sandy R---

In , " mossmegan " <russandmegan@m...>

wrote:

> This is for you new bandsters, I went to a support meeting on the

8th

> of August, and there were some new people there that had been banded

> only 4 to 10 day's earlier. What upsets me is....Why? Why? would

you

> spend the money to have the surgery done to better your quality of

> life. Then you go and eat pizza not just a piece but the whole

> family

> size. And drank a 2 liter bottle of pop.. HMMMM........... Do you

> think that this is the reason your diets etc... haven't worked ?

Advice: If you have come this far to

> change your life why, sabotoge what you have already done. stop

> being

> a cry baby about why you haven't lost weight, and look at what your

> eating. There's a reason they tell you not to eat like that. DID

YOU

> LISTEN? Moss

[Guest guest]

I agree. if you can't follow the diet, then you shouldn't have the surgery.

This is not an easy way out, it is just a tool to help those who have truly

tried to lose weight and just couldn't or lost and couldn't keep it off.

bucking the band

This is for you new bandsters, I went to a support meeting on the 8th

of August, and there were some new people there that had been banded

only 4 to 10 day's earlier. What upsets me is....Why? Why? would you

spend the money to have the surgery done to better your quality of

life. Then you go and eat pizza not just a piece but the whole

family

size. And drank a 2 liter bottle of pop.. HMMMM........... Do you

think that this is the reason your diets etc... haven't worked ?

I also heard one of you say your insurance paid for it...Good for

you.

I paid outta pocket cash for the new and improved me. I was banded

on

9-9-04 and have lost 106 lbs. Advice: If you have come this far to

change your life why, sabotoge what you have already done. stop

being

a cry baby about why you haven't lost weight, and look at what your

eating. There's a reason they tell you not to eat like that. DID YOU

LISTEN? Moss

your

[Guest guest]

Dan, I understand totally what you're saying. When I went to my

band seminar the first of this year, one woman actually asked, " Can

you still go to the all-you-can-eat buffet? " Jeeeeez.

Lacey

>

> m> This is for you new bandsters, I went to a support meeting on

the 8th

> m> of August, and there were some new people there that had been

banded

> m> only 4 to 10 day's earlier. What upsets me is....Why? Why?

would you

> m> spend the money to have the surgery done to better your quality

of

> m> life. Then you go and eat pizza not just a piece but the whole

> m> family

> m> size. And drank a 2 liter bottle of pop.. HMMMM........... Do

you

> m> think that this is the reason your diets etc... haven't worked ?

> m> I also heard one of you say your insurance paid for it...Good

for

> m> you.

>

> Well, they don't give IQ tests of " common sense tests " before you

get

> a band. Maybe they should. Sure those people are stupid, for

multiple

> reasons. First because I can't imagine any doc saying to eat pizza

> and sodapop the first two weeks.

>

> m> I paid outta pocket cash for the new and improved me. I was

banded

> m> on 9-9-04 and have lost 106 lbs. Advice: If you have come

this far to

> m> change your life why, sabotoge what you have already done.

>

> Well, there are always people who WANT to fail....and that should

> ideally be caught in the psych screening, but most aren't good

enough

> to do so in an hour or so.

>

> m> stop being

> m> a cry baby about why you haven't lost weight, and look at what

your

> m> eating. There's a reason they tell you not to eat like that.

DID YOU

> m> LISTEN?

>

> There are plenty of people who let it go in one ear and out of the

> other. And I'll bet that most of us have done that MANY TIMES. I

> completely agree with you, but also don't have any dream that

everyone

> will " get it " . Remember, some think that the band is " magic " and

that

> it will " fix everything " without any work on their part.

>

> dan

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> m> your

>

>

>

>

>

>

> m>

[Guest guest]

The answer to that would be " Yes, you can still go to the all you can eat

buffet. It's just that " all you can eat " will have a completely different

meaning! "

On 8/10/05, raceyred68 <phillipsl@...> wrote:

When I went to my band seminar the first of this year, one woman actually

asked, " Can you still go to the all-you-can-eat buffet? "

--

Liz Grigorian

http://lap-band.blogspot.com/

[Guest guest]

Wednesday, August 10, 2005, 3:48:48 PM, you wrote:

r> Dan, I understand totally what you're saying.

r> When I went to my

r> band seminar the first of this year, one woman

r> actually asked, " Can

r> you still go to the all-you-can-eat buffet? "

Well, you still can, and I have. But " all you can eat " isn't very

much any more. And if you're someone worrying about " getting your

money's worth " it isn't a good plan. Plus a lot of food on them is

usually pretty cheap and junky...except on cruise ships and fancy

restaurants on Sunday mornings.

Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.mylapband.tk

Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

Lots of band professionals are trying to design tests to predict who

will and who will not do well with the band. IMO, this is a good

basic way to predict.

If people seriously have not been able to stay on a diet for at least

a couple weeks, their chances of being able to follow the band

guidelines are much less, IMO. There are times that we MUST have only

clear fluids for several days, no solids other times, and more. Not

doing so is downright dangerous, not simply " not good. "

I hear all the time from people unable to follow a 1-2 week pre-op

food plan (with no limits as to calories) that some docs believe is

important - and they make me worry about their possibility of later

success. In all honesty, some do just fine and learn better habits

eventually - but a great many do not. Sandy R

> I agree. if you can't follow the diet, then you shouldn't have the

surgery. This is not an easy way out, it is just a tool to help

those who have truly tried to lose weight and just couldn't or lost

and couldn't keep it off.

>

[Guest guest]

LOL!!! Perfect answer!! Sandy R

> The answer to that would be " Yes, you can still go to the all you can

eat

> buffet. It's just that " all you can eat " will have a completely

different

> meaning! "

[Guest guest]

Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how one should follow

the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more than a couple

of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have needed the band in the

first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously doing far better

than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the postings have sounded very

much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so well. And quite

frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel that way on here.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

I know that my doc was very strict about knowing my weight loss and

diet history. I was very detailed about it. I'm wondering if all

the docs require this sort of information? I certainly hope so.

Although I guess people could lie about it.

Lacey

> > I agree. if you can't follow the diet, then you shouldn't have

the

> surgery. This is not an easy way out, it is just a tool to help

> those who have truly tried to lose weight and just couldn't or

lost

> and couldn't keep it off.

> >

[Guest guest]

I think is is more of what the Drs have to do to get the insurances to

approve us. My Dr. was very brief, there was no pre-assigned weight loss

requirement, and I was approved in less than two weeks. After that My Doc

asked me please to olose as much as I couild cause it could make it easier

for him and me. Espeically fat around the liver. Apparentlyt I did not do

too good - I had the largest band available because of too many fat pads.

Barb

-- Re: bucking the band

I know that my doc was very strict about knowing my weight loss and

diet history. I was very detailed about it. I'm wondering if all

the docs require this sort of information? I certainly hope so.

Although I guess people could lie about it.

Lacey

> > I agree. if you can't follow the diet, then you shouldn't have

the

> surgery. This is not an easy way out, it is just a tool to help

> those who have truly tried to lose weight and just couldn't or

lost

> and couldn't keep it off.

> >

[Guest guest]

I am already feeling better for just expressing my opinion, something I have

always found difficult to do in the past. So that in itself is good.

Yes, I am frustrated! I was banded July 2004 and have never found my 'sweet

spot. " The reason is because my band was leaking. It was replaced last month

but I can't have a fill until 9th Sept. So over this past year I have lost

only about 7lb. I did manage to loose 28lb but as the band loosened so the

weight came back.

Fingers crossed for a good fill on the 9th.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Some doctors are very interested in all that, but some don't seem to

care from all I hear. Many insurance companies will require somewhere

between 6 and 24 months of DOCUMENTED weight loss history from your

doctor. And of course most of us don't have that, since we've tried

every diet, over the counter thing, etc. I had the documented history

(fenphen and meridia, both of which worked for a while), but no

insurance coverage, regardless of anything. So I went to Mexico and

have been very happy.

Thursday, August 11, 2005, 7:58:47 AM, you wrote:

r> I know that my doc was very strict about knowing my weight loss and

r> diet history. I was very detailed about it. I'm wondering if all

r> the docs require this sort of information? I certainly hope so.

r> Although I guess people could lie about it.

Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.mylapband.tk

Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

poor you, then maybe your one of them that can't take constructive

critisism and maybe you shouldn't be so offended. I can't stand the

cry babies that wine about why they can't loose the weight, look at

what your eating, I know almost a year out I have lost 106 lbs, not

eating pizza the whole thing and then wine because I needed to get

my band emptied to let the food go through, so hope you have a

better day. , JWJwilcock@a...

wrote:

> Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how one

should follow

> the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more than a

couple

> of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have needed

the

band in the

> first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously doing

far

better

> than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the postings

have

sounded very

> much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so well.

And

quite

> frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel that way

on here.

> Jackie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jackie, I'm very sorry if you feel offended by this particular post,

or others similar to it. That was not my intent and I'm sure it

wasn't the others' intent, as well. That said, however, all

bandsters know (or should know) that the band is only a tool and

yes, unless we're a rare exception, we must STILL adhere to healthy

eating habits. It's not a cure-all, as some bandsters believe. I

still have to exercise 4-5 x a week and watch my food intake. And

I'd be lying if I told you I don't struggle from time to time. I'll

ALWAYS struggle with food issues until I'm dead in the ground. But

with my band, it's been an easier struggle, to say the least.

Perhaps a fill is in order for you to help you adhere to a good

eating regimen if you feel you are not doing so well? The band is

there to help us, and if you're not properly restricted, then the

band is just a very expensive, useless tool.

Chin up,

Lacey

> Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how one

should follow

> the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more than

a couple

> of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have needed

the band in the

> first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously doing

far better

> than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the postings

have sounded very

> much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so well.

And quite

> frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel that way

on here.

> Jackie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Harsh, really harsh.

You sound like one of those ex-smokers who gets all uppity to current

smokers who can't seem to quit. I quit the first time I tried after 3

packs a day for 11 years and I don't look down on those who are still

trying to quit. At least they're trying!

This group is for support, so let's support those people who need it the

most, not put them down.

mossmegan wrote:

> poor you, then maybe your one of them that can't take constructive

> critisism and maybe you shouldn't be so offended. I can't stand the

> cry babies that wine about why they can't loose the weight, look at

> what your eating, I know almost a year out I have lost 106 lbs, not

> eating pizza the whole thing and then wine because I needed to get

> my band emptied to let the food go through, so hope you have a

> better day. , JWJwilcock@a...

> wrote:

> > Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how one

> should follow

> > the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more than a

>

> couple

> > of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have needed

> the

> band in the

> > first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously doing

> far

> better

> > than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the postings

> have

> sounded very

> > much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so well.

> And

> quite

> > frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel that way

> on here.

> > Jackie

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

-don't mean to sound so harsh, not a smoker either, just a fat girl

that started at 371 9-9-04 and now 245, just can't believe the

people that wine so much, you take away from the people that are

doing so well, you should be willing to accpet from people if your

asked, first off I never pointed fingers at anyone on here just made

a remark about the new bandsters that buck the band, so take not as

harsh, but tired of hearing the crying-- In

, Kerri McCafferty <kerri@w...>

wrote:

> Harsh, really harsh.

>

> You sound like one of those ex-smokers who gets all uppity to

current

> smokers who can't seem to quit. I quit the first time I tried

after 3

> packs a day for 11 years and I don't look down on those who are

still

> trying to quit. At least they're trying!

>

> This group is for support, so let's support those people who need

it the

> most, not put them down.

[Guest guest]

Dan- I totaly agree with what you said tough love, not putting

anyone down, I still have a mocha everyday, but there are things

that I know will plug me and make me miserable. SORRY TO ALL OF YOU

WHO FEEL OFFENDED>

>

> Jac> Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how

one should follow

> Jac> the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more

than a couple

> Jac> of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have

needed the band in the

> Jac> first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously

doing far better

> Jac> than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the

postings have sounded very

> Jac> much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so

well. And quite

> Jac> frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel

that way on here.

>

>

> Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@g... www.mylapband.tk

> Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

> 323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

Jackie, I can hear your frustration and I hope we can help. This is

more of a " tough love " group, for sure - there are many others groups

for those who want to moan and groan and complain and stagnate where

they are. Some people have been in these other groups, with no

progress at all, for years. But, I found, for me, that any time I

bristled at something someone said, it had touched a sore spot and

was usually exactly what I NEEDED to hear. Took me a good while to

lern that, though.

The basic band rules and guidelines are very well-established, and

have worked for hundreds of thousands of people. This is not to say

that everyone must follow them to the letter every day. None of us is

perfect, but our choices ARE within our control.

It certainly is NOT easy, though. But there are always things you can

choose to do, to do better, if you're not happy where you are.

Better food choices. regular exercise. therapy. joining support

groups. starting a hobby so you're not sitting at home, snacking.

seeing a nutritionist knowledgeable about the band. doing some

volunteer work to get out and think about things other than food.

much more.

It sounds as if you simply may not have a good fill yet - because

when you do, it is MUCH easier to follow the band food plans, and the

other important things. Until then, it can be (and usually is) pretty

frustrating. But remember, ANY weight you lose is making you

healthier - the scale is not the only measure of success.

Please tell us more about you, so we can offer suggestions to help,

if you'd like. Sandy R

> Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how one

should follow

> the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more than

a couple

> of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have needed the

band in the

> first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously doing far

better

> than I am. > Jackie

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just because people share their successes and what has worked for

them, doesn't mean that they are trying to put anyone down. I,

personally, learned a LOT from this group, and I keep learning. Yes,

some people's style is a little tougher than others, but I've been

babied my whole life and that's gotten me to that unhealthy state from

which I started my band journey.

One of the things I have learned is not to compare my progress to that

of others - I am happy with losing at my own pace, whether it's slower

or faster than that of others. I look at my own goals and successes

and those are all in part due to my own determination (I figure I had

surgery, I have to make this work), and in part to picking up things

from others that may work for me. We all went through countless diets

and " couldn't " do it, the band requires you to change your life-style

also, but in a more doable way. When you see that someone is losing

faster or is doing something different - just TRY to follow what has

worked for them, if it doesn't work for you - TRY something else.

Feeling put down is a feeling of inferiority and comes from our

well-developed feelings of insecurity that came with the territory for

an overweight person - you don't have to feel that way anymore. You've

done something great for yourself with the Band, just take it easy and

try try try until you find a way to make the band work. I agree, I am

also tired of people crying and saying they can't make the band

work... you just have to try...maybe in your case it's a longer

process of figuring out how to stick with band rules and make your

body cooperate than in a case of someone else. But I'm a believer that

if you don't look for excuses - you will succeed.

~M

3/1/05

205/155/ goal-130

[Guest guest]

-I have created a new group called lapbandsters

come and join and share all your stories.-- In

, " mossmegan " <mossmegan@y...> wrote:

> Dan- I totaly agree with what you said tough love, not putting

> anyone down, I still have a mocha everyday, but there are things

> that I know will plug me and make me miserable. SORRY TO ALL OF

YOU

> WHO FEEL OFFENDED>

> >

> > Jac> Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how

> one should follow

> > Jac> the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for

more

> than a couple

> > Jac> of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have

> needed the band in the

> > Jac> first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously

> doing far better

> > Jac> than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the

> postings have sounded very

> > Jac> much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so

> well. And quite

> > Jac> frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel

> that way on here.

> >

> >

> > Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@g... www.mylapband.tk

> > Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

> > 323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

I totally agree with Mariya:

> Just because people share their successes and what has worked for

> them, doesn't mean that they are trying to put anyone down. I,

> personally, learned a LOT from this group, and I keep learning.

I have mixed feelings about this next statement because (at the risk

of sounding Pollyanna-ish) comparing myself with people who are doing

better than I am gets me thinking about what I could be doing better

to improve my success, while comparing myself with people who are

losing at the same rate or slower makes me feel less frustrated with

the slowness of my own progress. (Sorry to make myself feel good at

someone else's " expense, " but I hope that I'm providing the same

service to those who are losing faster than I am!)

>

> One of the things I have learned is not to compare my progress to

that

> of others - I am happy with losing at my own pace, whether it's

slower

> or faster than that of others.

No one is going to go to the trouble of reading/posting on this board

to " put anyone down. " We are a bunch of strangers on a shared

journey, on this board to give and take advice and support with our

common experiences. We've all had days when we " bucked the band, " but

I hope those days will get fewer and fewer for you as you focus on

your goal and think about what choices will get you there.

[Guest guest]

Jackie, I would be ultra frustrated if I had a leaky band, too w/no

fill!!! Errr. So I hear ya. Our band does us no good unless it's

filled, as we all know. Hoping you'll get a nice and restrictive

fill on 9th. Hang on til then.

Lacey

> I am already feeling better for just expressing my opinion,

something I have

> always found difficult to do in the past. So that in itself is

good.

>

> Yes, I am frustrated! I was banded July 2004 and have never found

my 'sweet

> spot. " The reason is because my band was leaking. It was replaced

last month

> but I can't have a fill until 9th Sept. So over this past year I

have lost

> only about 7lb. I did manage to loose 28lb but as the band

loosened so the

> weight came back.

>

> Fingers crossed for a good fill on the 9th.

>

> Jackie

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree. I think this should be able SUPPORT! Not put downs. Shame on anyone

that isn't here to do just that. I am only 1 1/2 weeks out and I want to have

support even if I fall not mean words.

Audrey

Kerri McCafferty <kerri@...> wrote:

Harsh, really harsh.

You sound like one of those ex-smokers who gets all uppity to current

smokers who can't seem to quit. I quit the first time I tried after 3

packs a day for 11 years and I don't look down on those who are still

trying to quit. At least they're trying!

This group is for support, so let's support those people who need it the

most, not put them down.

mossmegan wrote:

> poor you, then maybe your one of them that can't take constructive

> critisism and maybe you shouldn't be so offended. I can't stand the

> cry babies that wine about why they can't loose the weight, look at

> what your eating, I know almost a year out I have lost 106 lbs, not

> eating pizza the whole thing and then wine because I needed to get

> my band emptied to let the food go through, so hope you have a

> better day. , JWJwilcock@a...

> wrote:

> > Am I the only person that is fed up with reading about how one

> should follow

> > the pre band, after band diet, etc. and stick to it for more than a

>

> couple

> > of weeks. Well, if I could do that then I wouldn't have needed

> the

> band in the

> > first place! I feel put down by others who are obviously doing

> far

> better

> > than I am. Maybe it just proves your point. But the postings

> have

> sounded very

> > much like a put down for those of us who aren't doing so well.

> And

> quite

> > frankly I've been put down enough and don't need to feel that way

> on here.

> > Jackie

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Wow, ANY of us would be tearing our hair out, after a year of that!

But your not losing much weight was NOT your fault or from lack of

trying!! A leaky band simply doiesn't work.

You're very experienced by now with band needs and issues, so as soon

as you get to a good fil level, you should see some great progress.

Still, proceed slowly with the fills, and adjust your eating

gradually in reponse to bigger fill levels.

You can get your fist fill with this new band, just as with the old

one, at about 6 weeks after surgery. no need to wait any longer.

Bet you do great soon! Sandy R

> I am already feeling better for just expressing my opinion,

something I have

> always found difficult to do in the past. So that in itself is good.

>

> Yes, I am frustrated! I was banded July 2004 and have never found

my 'sweet

> spot. " The reason is because my band was leaking. It was replaced

last month

> but I can't have a fill until 9th Sept. So over this past year I

have lost

> only about 7lb. I did manage to loose 28lb but as the band loosened

so the

> weight came back.

>

> Fingers crossed for a good fill on the 9th.

>

> Jackie

>

>

>

>

>