MamaMichelle

I never considered Gastric Bypass, and I had never even heard of the Mini Gastric Bypass, but I did some research and found this: New Study Shows Mini Gastric Bypass Helps the Morbidly Obese BY: SANAE K. TANAKA, M.D. mini gastric bypass surgery an option for morbid obesity A recent comparative study in Taiwan between patients who underwent a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and patients who had a laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass shows that the mini-gastric bypass procedure offers the same benefits as the more common Roux-en-Y surgery for people with morbid obesity. In the study, reported by Tai-Chi Chen et al in the Annals of Surgery, patients requiring bariatric surgery were randomly assigned to two groups, one to undergo the standard laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the other the laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass. The patients were followed for two years after the operation and compared for short-term and long-term complications along with weight loss, improvement in comorbidities in terms of the metabolic syndrome, and quality of life satisfaction as assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Although the weight loss a year later was higher for those that had the mini-gastric bypass procedure, there was no difference in average overall weight loss between the two groups two years after the operation. In addition, the rate of short-term major post-operative complications was higher with the Roux-en-Y patients, while there was no difference with minor complications. With long-term complications, only the hemoglobin level of the mini-gastric bypass group was lower than the Roux-en-Y group. There were no significant differences in other parameters that were followed. With both groups, those diagnosed with the metabolic syndrome had 100 percent cure ratio. Both groups also reported significant improvement in the quality of life satisfaction post-op assessment. Overall, the laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass is a simpler procedure than the standard laparoscopic Roux-en-Y surgery. Since there are no major differences either in complications or in improved quality of life post-op between the two patient groups, researchers believe the mini-gastric bypass procedure is a viable alternative method for surgical treatment of morbid obesity. Here's a picture:

So I hit my first weight loss plateau, I lost 1lb the day after my fill a week ago but nothing since then... Totally my fault I'm sure due to the fact that I didn't have any restriction for 4-6 days after my first fill and I was kind of testing it each night (bad idea, I know but the restriction is in full force now) and also because I haven't worked out in 2 weeks... So anyways I found a good article about how to overcome a plateau, it's not band specific but a lot of the advice can be incorporated into our lifestyle!! By Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS When you're trying to lose weight, the question isn't whether or not you'll hit a plateau, it's when. Plateaus are like bad weather on a long hike: it's inevitable that you'll run into it, but knowing that in advance won't make it one bit less frustrating or annoying when it happens. Cheer up! Since plateaus are as common as rain, we have a pretty good idea what to do about them. At least one of the following techniques should help you break through a plateau and start losing again. 1. Be a Calorie Detective When clients tell me they've stopped losing weight, the first thing I ask is this: how many calories a day are you eating? Calories have a way of creeping up while we're not paying attention. Be brutally honest with yourself: how much are you eating? Using a food diary for a while is a great way to monitor this. And yes, sodas and alcoholic beverages count! A good calorie goal for dieters is your target weight times 10, so if you would like to weigh 130 pounds you should aim for 1,300 calories per day (10 X 130= 1,300). 2. Change It Up When you're not making gains in an exercise program you change your routine. Same holds true with your eating plan. Low-carbers could go higher carb for a few days, high-carbers might switch to a plan like Atkins or South Beach. Varying calorie intake may have a positive effect: If you're averaging 1,500 calories daily, try dropping to 1,200, going up to 2,000 and then dropping back to 1,500. You get the idea. Your body's gotten comfortable, so it's time to shake things up. 3. Try a Temporary Ban Food sensitivities can cause weight gain and bloat, and the frustrating thing is that most of us don't always know which foods are the culprits. So play the odds. Highest on the list of "usual suspects" are grains (wheat in particular), dairy and sugar. Temporarily ban all three and see what happens. 4. Take Your Workout Up a Notch Forget the "fat burning zone." High intensity intervals -- 30 to 60 seconds -- are the wave of the future. If you're accustomed to level three on your cardio machine, ramp it up to level 6 for a minute then slow down, catch your breath and repeat. Ever see a sprinter with love handles? Training like a sprinter will lower your body fat faster than any technique I know of, plus it'll boost your metabolism and lower your weight. 5. Strength Training If you're not strength training, start now. And if you are, ramp it up a notch. Muscle is your greatest ally in breaking a plateau. Unfortunately many women train with weights too light to produce the metabolic boost they need. Don't be afraid of heavier weights. They should be heavy enough that you can only do between 8 and 12 reps. 6. Up Your Protein Studies show that higher protein diets make it easier to lose fat. Protein boosts the metabolism (in one study as much as 100 percent for 24 hours), and increases satiety, making it more likely that you won't overeat. A higher protein diet could be just what you need to break that plateau. 7. Try a Detox Unsupervised fasting is a really bad idea, but the idea of giving your system a rest makes sense. Try a "smart fast" of nothing but fruits and vegetables for a couple of days. The added fiber is always helpful, and the massive amount of nutrients and phytochemicals is like "spring cleaning" for your metabolism. 8. Take Inventory Other things besides diet and exercise could be stalling your weight loss, such as stress, lack of sleep or medication. Take a look at what else is going on in your life that might need attention. Sometimes when you clean up the problems in one area of your life, problems in other areas just naturally take care of themselves.

I did the same thing, once I hit 20lbs lost post op (about the first week of April) I decided to spurge and went to the Kim Vo salon at the Mirage here in Vegas. He is a celebrity hair colorist (Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Britney Spears etc) he gave me a great color and one of his assistants did the cut... The picture on my avatar was a day after getting it done, it totally made me feel GREAT about myself and my progress!! I totally recommend saving up all that money you're not spending on eating out to treat yourself to something that makes you feel extra special!

Special K does make a protein water, it comes in 2 forms: Ready to drink bottles and mix that you add to your own glass or bottle of water... Here's a more offical description: NEW! Special K2O Protein Water Mix ~ Feel Fuller Longer* ~ 5g Protein The way to stay on track and help manage your weight loss goals. Keep temptation away with refreshingly satisfying Special K2)™ Protein Water, Protein Snack Bars and Special K™ Protein Meal Bars. It's a smart, tasty way to help manage your weight. *Special K20™ Protein Water Mix contains 5g protein and 5g fiber per packet. Special K™ Protein products are designed to promote a feeling of fullness when part of a diet high in protein and fiber. Here is what the ready to drink kind looks like: And this is what the box of dry mix packets looks like: You should be able to find it at your local grocery store or walmart in the same area you find Kool-aid and Crystal Lite, If you can't find it locally then you can buy it online at amazon.com or drugstore.com NEW! Special K2O Protein Water Mix ~ Feel Fuller Longer* ~ 5g Protein The way to stay on track and help manage your weight loss goals. Keep temptation away with refreshingly satisfying Special K2)™ Protein Water, Protein Snack Bars and Special K™ Protein Meal Bars. It's a smart, tasty way to help manage your weight. *Special K20™ Protein Water Mix contains 5g protein and 5g fiber per packet. Special K™ Protein products are designed to promote a feeling of fullness when part of a diet high in protein and fiber.

Interesting clip I totally identify with her issue about seeing the food and wanting it... I used to watch DAYS for 2 years in college so I'm no expert but is the acting and the actual production of the Guiding Light was always so bad??? Seemed like an amateur production and not a main stream soap... Maybe it was just a problem with whoever recorded the clip, a bad video stream??

Alcohol is fine but many people find that their tolerance is not what it used to be, I imagine it has to do with having less food in your stomach to absorb the alcohol... Remember you can't drink ANYTHING with a meal (this includes wine) and ideally you should be waiting 30min to an hour before and after meals before drinking..

If you are going to try to push her over to the lap band then I would approach it from a standpoint of support... Tell her you have already been banded and you can support her and answer her questions but if she has the VGB you won't be able to share stories and support each other since she will have a whole separate set of complications and struggles during her post-op and recovery. The main thing is that you both get healthy and lose the weight!!

Thanks for the update Misty, how very cool!!

The best way to describe Vertical Gastric Banding is that it is like a combo of the lap-band and gastric-bypass.. Here are some pics that should help show the differences in the 3 types of bariatic surgery: (A.) Stomach before bariatric surgery. (B.) Stomach after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure; food is redirected to the middle portion of the small intestine, limiting absorption of calories. (C.) Adjustable gastric banding (The Lap Band) involves inserting an inflatable ring, usually laparoscopically, which can be adjusted via a subcutaneous access point. (D.) Vertical banded gastroplasty divides the stomach using staples and directs the food into a small pouch, limiting caloric intake.

I don't think any of us are really qualified to say if you should or shouldn't get the band.. From my point of view seeing that we are the same height and you are at just about my goal weight I am going to say I don't think you NEED it... now if you have co-morbidities like diabetes then that is a different story!! The band is a lot of money and a lot of work and a lot of hardship to only lose 20lbs!!! I mean for $8,000 you could hire a personal trainer and work out 4 days a week and lose the weight in a few months... If you're really concerned about the scale creeping back up on you then maybe it is the right choice- but you really just need to lay out the pros and cons for yourself to see if this is a life change you are ready to make!!

Great job Wendy, welcome to bandland!! You worked so hard to get here!!

Congrats Wendy, I'm so glad everything went well!!

Congrats on your progress, its great to know that after a year you're still losing weight and feeling great!!

Ok so 3 days after my fill (the first day I was able to eat real food) I had a steak dinner with salad and a dinner roll it wasn't near the amount I used to eat but I didn't really feel any restriction. I was bummed and I posted about it but I figured oh well I'll just go back for another fill in a few weeks!! Fast forward to today (6 days since my fill) I had my shake for breakfast and then for lunch I was at my son's school for a field trip and they were serving chicken for lunch so I stuck around to eat with him. I ate about 4 bites and then started to feel sick so I said goodbye and spent the next 10 min sliming/spitting into a cup as I drove home... ick! I ended up having a protein shake a few hours later and felt fine... Then for dinner I made myself a Lean Cuisine- the Fettuccine and Broccoli Alfredo kind and since there was no protein (I thought it had chicken when I bought it) I ate the broccoli first per Dr. M's orders and after 6-8 small pieces of broccoli (they were covered in Alfredo sauce but I never even got to the noodles) again I was super full and started to slime, this time for only 1-2 min. How is it possible that I ate steak, salad and bread with no issues and then 3 days later I can hardly eat anything... I have heard of people's fills getting tighter over time and I guess it's a good thing but it's just soooo weird!!

Congrats on your surgery and welcome to bandland!! Can I ask who did your dad's lasik and what the cost was?? I wasn't aware that someone in the same building did that but it is something I am interested in getting done and since I will have to return to the OCC for another fill might as well have it done there!

No problem, I just read your detailed fill post and the standard first fill at OCC is 1.6cc-1.7cc I am thinking that since your fill was less (1.0ccs) I bet you could eat a little bit sooner!

Sounds like you need a fill!! Here's a great article about how to tell if you are perfectly filled: Adjustments How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram (1) It’s also a stomach irritant c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can’t just eat what's easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily 8. Do you always eat the protein first 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards b. Vegetables (1) ½ cup – the size of your fist c. Starch (1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much (2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine (2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts (1) Obsess about something else b. Perfectionism (1) All or none, black and white thinking c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad” e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine/Alcohol (4) Some fruits and vegetables such as; oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (5) Peppermint a. Baking soda toothpaste e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (1) Tylenol is OK n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider 4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. e. If your pain is severe (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Thanks guys, only 4 more days till I take the next set... I want to try it on so badly but I am making myself wait!!!

Ah yes the "Farewell to Food Tour" been there done that!! I started on a version of the pre op diet about 2 months before surgery, that way I could have one meal a week that was one of my favorites!! Deb is right though now that I am banded and filled I can eat pretty much what I want just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay less!! Example: Before I used to eat 4-6 slices of pizza and last night we had pizza and I could only eat 1 slice... and honestly I enjoyed throughly chewing that 1 piece of pizza more than I ever enjoyed shoving 4 pieces down my throat.

Hey Deb- Hope you are doing well it was great to meet you at the OCC... To edit your ticker usually you just click on your ticker picture and that will link you to the tickerfactory website but your's is missing a symbol "[" at the start of the link (that's why you see that gray text above the ticker)... Follow the link to edit your signature and make sure it starts with [ or you can try the steps again and re-paste it into the signature box either way will make the picture clickable. Then you just edit your weight info on the TF site and it will automatically change it on this site.

WAY TO GO WENDY........ YOU DID IT!!!! We knew you were going to kick the smoking habit and now you're on the way to a healthier new you!! Best of Luck Tomorrow...

No need to fear you are totally normal!!! Most people have initial restriction from swelling after being banded, once the swelling has gone down you won't experience restriction until you have your first fill. If you think about it having restriction just from the band could be looked at as a bad thing, meaning if you are too tight from a fill or have some sort of complication the doctor can just unfill the band to correct the problem... However if you had the same complication from just the band being placed then you would have no choice but to have the band removed!! So while it sucks for now (hence the name bandster hell) it will get better once you get your first few fills! Do your best to control your eating for the time being (try using smaller plates, or try eating lean cuisines for portion control) and don't stress too much about it once your band is filled it will do it's job to help you reach your weight loss goals!

Hello and welcome to our group!! It's great to have you (and you mom) joining us... Go ahead and post your exact surgery date so the others that were banded the same day can reach out to you, you'll find it is an AWESOME support system. Congrats on the weight loss and keep up the good work!!

That is AMAZING news, I watched my dad have his knee replaced when I was in high school and it was so terribly difficult for him... He's a big strong ex football player (hence the need for a new knee) and he was basically an invalid for 2 weeks it was so sad to see. So happy you will avoid going through the same thing, the stat about reliving 35lbs of pressure is amazing... I will have to pass that on to him!!

Lisa and I bought Maderma while in TJ for $12 at one of the pharmacies, another girl in our group Linda bought the scar cream from the OCC. We compared scars at our fill date and they looked the same. The BEST looking scars belonged to Evette who was banded a full month after us, and who used nothing on her scars (I'm not sure if that's what made the difference or if she just has amazing skin) hers were already totally white and faded it was INSANE!!! We were all so jealous.... lol