Lindsay

Is is acid reflex? and do you eat close to going to bed? (i don't eat past 8pm, as it causes me to get severe heart burn)

I think this sort of happened to me, but it didn't phase me. I just squeezed it a bit, and put polysporne on it .. and that was it!

Do you feel restriction? What is your diet like? Are you exercising? I know I"ll be blasted for being blunt, but with no movement .. how do you expect for the weight to disappear?

are you exercising daily?

A cute list of music, if you're like me, and can't workout with good music! http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/music/popular-playlists/100-best-workout-songs/?ordersrc=rdfit0269

I'm really tight in the AM, too .. and always start with a cup of something hot (coffee), before I can get something decent down.

Chocolate and Cocoa: Yup, that’s right. Chocolate is a fat-burning food. But keep in mind that this may not be the type of chocolate you are thinking of; 100 percent cocoa powder, unsweetened and loaded with phytonutrients, can aid you in fat-loss efforts. The major benefit of cocoa (the main ingredient in chocolate) is in its ability to directly affect the pleasure centers in the brain. The compound phenylethylamine (PEA) helps you feel satisfied, motivated, and energized. This effect cannot be overstated. The most well-intentioned and well-planned goals often fail due to neglect of the motivational aspects of the process. The compounds in cocoa are an amazing asset for all types and greatly enhance the metabolic effect. See the recipe for the cocoa drink below, used by cultures for centuries to aid health and control fat gain. Drink it with pleasure and without guilt. All chocolate bars are made with sugar and will raise insulin levels, so it is preferable that you not eat commercial chocolate bars. Muscle burners and mixed burners, however, can eat two small squares of dark chocolate (not milk or white). Remember, two small squares, not a candy bar or a scoop of chocolate ice cream. Sorry, sugar burners, but you need to avoid that extra sugar, and given your metabolic makeup, you’re rarely able to eat just two. Stick with the cocoa drink for best results. Cocoa Recipe: Sometimes you need a warm, soothing drink, especially when it’s cold outside. Add a dash of cinnamon, cayenne (hot peppers pair well with chocolate), or cardamom. - 1 to 2 heaping tablespoons raw organic cocoa powder - Unsweetened almond or rice milk, to taste. So delicious makes a great coconut milk creamer as well. - 1 to 2 teaspoons erythritol, xylitol, or stevia (Truvia, PureVia) Add 1 to 2 heaping tablespoons of the cocoa powder to a mug with 8 ounces of boiling water. Add the almond milk to taste, if desired. Add erythritol or other natural alternative sweetener to taste, for sweetening. You may also put this drink in the fridge to enjoy cold later.

Appropriate bases - water, milk, unsweetened almond milk*, coconut milk, coconut water. Appropriate sweeteners - xylitol, erythritol, stevia, truvia *My personal fav's Pecan Pie 25-50g Whey Protein 8-10oz coconut water 1 handful of walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple flouring, Add 1tsp fiber (acacia, pectin, etc) Ice, blend. Chocolate Banana 25-50g Whey Protein 8-10oz skim milk or unsweetened almond milk*, 1/4 frozen banana, 1tsp baking cocoa, Add 1tsp fiber (acacia, pectin, etc) Ice. Blend. Chocolate Peanut Butter 25-50g Whey Protein 8-10oz skim milk or unsweetened almond milk*, 1/4 frozen banana, 1tsp baking cocoa 1tbsp all natural peanut butter Add 1tsp fiber Ice. Blend.

The Washington DC-based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) said in a press release this week that the caramel color used in dark soft drinks contains cancer-causing ingredients. They claim it should be banned by the FDA. The story gained widespread media attention on every network - CBS, ABC and MSNBC, and sparked a firestorm of controversy as consumers went into a panic mode, health crusaders went into preach mode and the soda industry went into defense mode. I’m no fan of soda, but there are a few things very wrong with this picture… I was a reader of the CSPI’s Nutrition Action newsletter for many years, going back as far as the early 1990’s. I always realized that this “consumer advocacy group” was essentially just the “food police.” Nevertheless, I was actually a fan for a long time and found a lot of their articles helpful and informative. The reason I let my subscription lapse and never renewed was because I got tired of the alarmist and sensationalist journalism. What really pushed me over the edge was the CSPI’s insistence that the solution to our health and obesity crisis is to sue the big bad corporations and have the government ban everything that contributes to the problem. The attack on colas is the latest in the CSPI’s long history of petitioning the government for intervention. In a February 16th press release, the CSPI said: “The “caramel coloring” used in Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other foods is contaminated with two cancer-causing chemicals and should be banned. In contrast to the caramel one might make at home by melting sugar in a saucepan, the artificial brown coloring in colas and some other products is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures. Chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole(2 MEI) and 4 methylimidazole (4-MEI), which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats.” Naturally the soda industry immediately fired back. Coca-Cola said: “CSPI’s statement irresponsibly insinuates that the caramel used in our beverages is unsafe and maliciously raises cancer concerns among consumers. This does a disservice to the very public for which CSPI purports to serve. In fact, studies show that the caramel we use does not cause cancer. Further, the caramel we use does not contain the 2-MEI alleged by CSPI.” The American Beverage Association also responded on their website: Their latest attempt at “science-by-press-release” tried to whip up a scare that caramel coloring is harmful to consumers via a byproduct called 4-MEI. First, 4-MEI is virtually ubiquitous. It’s found in a wide variety of foods and beverages, from baked goods and breads to molasses and coffee. It forms during the heating, roasting or cooking process. Caramel color is not a threat to human health even when it contains minute amounts of 4-MEI. Studies show that and FDA has agreed by classifying caramel color as generally recognized as safe. Even the National Toxicology Program, the very group CSPI tries to cite in making its case, has not classified 4-MEI as a cancer causing agent, a fact which actually throws cold water all over the activists’ zealotry… “These baseless and reckless attacks are beyond getting old. It’s to the point that the public doesn’t know what health news to believe thanks to the sensational “study of the day” that promises to doom us all.” When I see these types of stories, the first thing I typically do is calmly ignore the news media and industry reports completely and look up the primary research on which the concerns are based. Here are the actual studies: Induction of thyroid and liver tumors by chronic exposure to 2-methylimidazole in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice. Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of 4-methylimidazole in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice I’m no toxicologist, so I really don’t know how to interpret the relevance of these studies in the context of soda consumption by humans (these are not studies about soda). If I did, I bet I could conclude the same thing that a lot of other scare stories were based on: A) it’s NOT relevant at all, it’s a correlation only, with no proof of cause and effect or C) If you feed a bunch of rats the equivalent of 1000 diet sodas a day, some of them get cancer. No kidding. The basic premise of toxicology is, “it’s the dose that makes the poison.” In many of these rodent studies, the animals are given abuse doses that humans could never match pound for pound. The fact is, if you eat or drink enough of almost anything it can be toxic. Before you start thinking I’m am apologist for the junk food and soft drink industry, let me say again that I’m no fan of soda. Regular soda is without question, one of the major contributors to the obesity crisis today and I’ve always advised my clients and readers to avoid liquid calories - especially soda. Diet soda saves you the calories, but there’s nothing healthy or nutritious about it. I also don’t doubt that if you drank a 12-pack of diet soda a day for a long time, bad stuff could happen to your body. You won’t find soda in my house or refrigerator. Ever. I drink mostly water, tea and coffee. But occasionally I do have a diet soda. There, I said it. In fact, I had a Diet Cherry Coke last week. I liked it too. I drink wine a couple times a month as well. I “eat clean” 95% of the time. But for my cheat meals, I eat anything I damn well please. Pizza. Cheesecake. Ice Cream. Anything. Again, it’s the dose that makes the poison. I don’t eat these kinds of foods often, and I’m as educated as they come about the impact of everything I put in my body. I know soda is nutritionally void. I know exactly which foods are healthy and nutritious and which ones aren’t. But let me tell you something - I don’t want the food cops or the government telling me what I can and can’t eat or drink. If I want a diet soda or two each week, I’m going to have one. Banning foods… more government regulation… It won’t work anyway. What will work? Evidence-based education and personal responsibility. Learn how to find and read real research instead of depending on these scare stories? Absolutely – that’s education. Take that knowledge and make your own informed decisions instead of letting the food cops and the media dictate for you? Amen – that’s personal responsibility. Schools and parents teaching children about nutrition and healthy eating from a young age, and parents setting the example? Yes – that’s education. Banning soda from schools? Sounds good at first blush and will probably help, at least a little. But if it were my kids, I’d rather raise them so they could look at the good choice, then look at the bad choice, and make the good choice themselves. That’s personal responsibility. Calorie counts on restaurant menus? I’m all for it – that’s education – and I think disclosure is a great idea. But I’d rather see the restaurants do it voluntarily, not be forced by law. Sitting at the table with many choices and making the right choice by your own free will… That’s personal responsibility…and that’s powerful! - Tom Venuto

LOri, I don't have an opinion on the plication, I personally haven't 'heard' anything negative, or seen any positive results, long term.

Registrations in the org are processed via accredited registrars worldwide.[citation needed] Anyone can register an org second-level domain.[citation needed] Although org was recommended for non-commercial entities, there are no restrictions to registration.[citation needed] There are many instances of org being used by commercial sites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.org Click on CONTACT. It's all Dr Ortiz. It's obviously a sales driven-website. But again, I could care less.

As for it being an approved procedure in Brazil, I haven't been able to find any info to back that up, either. While it's still apparently 'the best option out there', there are no long term studies avail. Just keep in mind that the website (gastricplication.org) is run/managed by Dr.Ortiz. Opinions on it will reflect that (biast, in my opinion). Last year it was 'the sleeve'. This year it's plication.

It's probably time to seek additional support - talking to someone about your food issues, etc .. Don't worry. Most of us go through this phase; things will get better. On that note, how much protein are you taking in daily? Lack of protein (∨/healthy fats on low calories) is typically the cause of your tiredness/lack of energy. What is your current body weight/height? What brand of protein powder are you using? They're not all created equal, esp for taste! Are there any other factors in your life, that may be causing your lack of motivation? You just have your surgery, so don't be so rough on yourself. It took me a good year to get my band figured out -- I didn't lose any weight, nor did I really try for the first 8 months or so! It was definitely NOT an instant change : )

Gastric Plication is NOT FDA approved. Not yet, at least. That doesn't give me any doubts in it, but it's still a bit thing to consider.

I love my band. And opposed, I've read a lot of people 'disappointed' with the lack of restriction with the Plication and the slow results factor seems to really come into play ... A lot of frustration is talked about on this forum with those who have had the plication. I have full control over how much restriction I have. Can be unfilled if needed. Getting fills can be a pain, if you haven't sourced it out ... but I've had incredible results.

hm. There are QUITE a few major health risks involved in smoking prior to surgery. (well, regardless to surgery, but ..) http://www.anesthesiologyinfo.com/articles/12012003.php http://www.ontarioanesthesiologists.ca/stopsmoking/howwhen/

Good info ... Jade Teta ND, CSCS Many of our clients ask us about fasting and how that may impact weight loss vs fat loss. I have blogged previously on how years ago I would “fast” (go all day without any food) once or twice a week as an aid to burning fat. This technique has recently gained support among many seeking body change and restored health. This is being promoted as a technique called “alternate day fasting”. The question is can this approach work to burn fat and optimize muscle for long term body change? It is important to remember that fat loss and weight loss are not the same thing. Weight loss is usually about indiscriminately decreasing calories while fat loss is about manipulating hormones so that you eat less naturally. In general, long-term fasting is not a useful technique to use if you want to burn fat. This is not because it does not work, it is because it is not sustainable for most people. However, under the right circumstances you may be able to use fasting to your advantage. The problem is that many people will simply use this technique in the same way they use other crash diets. They will ignore exercise and food quality and decide to fast to reduce calories. This approach is playing the weight loss game and will likely end up causing you to lose muscle, creating the all too frequent YO-YO effect. In order to use this technique to lose fat and spare muscle, it would be wise to pay attention to food quality, exercise, and supplementation. If you are the type that just wants the skinny on what to do rather than all the details, skip down to the bottom. Otherwise read on to hear metabolic effects take on fasting. Brief history of fasting One important thing to understand is that the idea that humans should eat three meals a day, or 6 small meals per day (as many in the fitness industry, including ME, advocate), is a completely made up construct. In other words, it is not actually how we humans evolved. Studies of modern day hunter gatherers suggest humans in natural conditions only ate 1 time per day after gathering or hunting for food all day (1-4). There was no breakfast, no lunch and rare snacking. I point this out because it is an often neglected insight in understanding the natural eating habits our metabolisms evolved with. Another important point is that food was not always available and there were likely days where much less food was consumed. So the idea that food was eaten everyday, is also wrong. Our physiology evolved under feast and famine circumstances and even when food was available we had to work to get it. Even with these considerations, we must not forget we live in an entirely different time. Food in modern times is easily accessible all day everyday. It is likely true that if early humans were confronted with an environment where food was abundant and easily available without physical effort they would have had eating patterns more in line with what were used to today. The reason I believe, and often recommend, eating 6 small meals a day is because not many people in today’s culture can voluntarily abstain from food. Especially when it is cheap, abundant, tasty and just a walk to the pantry or a trip up the street away. We are programmed through our ancient physiology to eat whenever food is available, and since food is always available, we eat almost constantly. Eating 6 small meals per day of high fiber and protein foods can help us reduce hunger and cravings creating the key elements for fat loss 1) reduced calories and 2) Proper hormone balance. However, there is a way to imitate the fat-loss secrets of our ancestors while avoiding the binging scenarios that often ensue after haphazard fasting. It is called alternate day fasting, intermittent fasting, or night time fasting. Understanding fasting and how to do it right The vast majority of people who decide to abstain from food for the day will likely make it to early afternoon or maybe evening before they scarf down a whole pizza or inhale a fast food burger and fries while guzzling down a liter of soda. Once we get hungry and we know food is around all bets are off. The idea of fasting in this way will fail for most of those who try it. There is a better way, but before I talk about that it is important to understand the physiology of fasting. Afterall, body change is about fat loss, not weight loss. Understanding exactly how the body partitions its fuel during fasting is key to doing it right. During the first six to twenty-four hours of avoiding food, your body will use stored sugar called glycogen (gleye-co-gin). This fuel does not last forever, and once it is gone the body will spend the next two to ten days using amino acids from your muscle tissue to make more sugar for the body. This is not a lucky thing since a loss of muscle means a less efficient metabolism overtime. This may be surprising to some who think fat is the primary fuel during times of fasting. While some fat is being burned, it does not become the primary fuel until after a fast has lasted greater than ten days. Only then will you begin to really ramp up fat loss. This is an ancient survival mechanism of our ancestors that served them well. However, for us it is a liability since long before 10 days have gone by, you will have likely already broken the fast by inhaling large amounts of sweets and/or fatty foods (this is what the body craves after it is deprived). So, rather than fasts that lasts days or weeks, it is far better to engage in short fasts. Remember within one day of a fast you can begin stripping muscle off of your body which is something you will regret overtime as your body begins to sag. A soft skinny body “skinny fat” is a sure sign of chronic low calorie diets and/or fasting without exercise. I recommend fasting for no longer than 24 hours and doing this no more than three times per week. This technique has been shown to produce the same health effects of low calorie dieting while also giving you the energy and fuel to exercise and maintain muscle mass. However, even one day of fasting is something most people will fail at. That is where 3 techniques come into play: 1) Modified alternate day fasting- In this technique you dont completely abstain from food on your fasting day, but instead only eat 1 meal or maybe a meal and a snack. In other words, the amount of food is still very minimal. This technique works better for most people who dont have an iron will to keep themselves from eating all day, but still want to reap some of the benefits. 2) Using supplements to control hunger and cravings- Another technique is to fast for the whole day but use non-calorie functional foods and supplements to control your hunger, cravings and energy. A fiber supplement taken 3 times a day along with branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and unsweetened cocoa powder in water work great in this way. These items provide zero calories but balance hunger hormones and brain chemistry and work very well to shut off the hunger and craving mechanism that can sabotage any body change program. 3) Night time fasting- Perhaps my favorite variation of alternate day fasting is to give equal time every 24 hour period with and without food. I feel this is an even better option since during the day you eat normally and at night you abstain from eating. The key is to break the day into two 12 hour periods. 12 hours for eating (during the day) and 12 hours for fasting (at night). In this regime, the last meal for most people will come between 6pm and 8pm, while the first meal will come between 6am and 8am. Research has shown this approach works and can provide the same benefit as alternate day fasting. IN my clinic I often adjust the timing of this “overnight” fast to the individual. Usually I prescribe 10 to 14 hours of a “night time” fast. Why fast in the first place? You may ask why fast in the first place. The benefits of short term fasting is its ability to reduce your glycogen stores forcing the body to tap into it fat stores more readily when you engage in exercise. The other point about fasting is it is a powerful detoxification mechanism. During times without food, the body can mobilize its resources away from the digestion of food towards repair and regeneration. Finally, short term fasting that lasts less than a day will actually raise HGH levels and re-sensitize the body to its metabolic hormones. When eating resumes the metabolism is far more efficient then it was. For the fitness enthusiasts who is looking to maximize fat loss and is wants to be optimally healthy, this is a technique to consider. A final warning however is that if done incorrectly (fasting for too long, fasting without weight training, fasting along with excessive aerobic exercise, fasting without adequate protein intake on eating days) the metabolism will suffer. This is not a technique that should entered into lightly. 1. Osgood, C. Ingalik Social Culture. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1958, p 166. 2. Clastres, P. The Guayaki. In: Hunters and Gatherers Today, Bicchieri, M.G. (ed), Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., New York, 1972, p.151. 3. Lee, RB. The !Kung Bushmen of Botswana. In: Hunters and Gatherers Today, Bicchieri, M.G. (ed), Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., New York, 1972, p.151. 4. Lewis ND. The Pacific Islands. In: The Cambridge World History of Food, Volume Two, Kiple, KF. 9ed), Cambridge University Press, New York, 2000, p. 1358.

True or False: Overweight and obese people have the same sensitivity and function regarding their hunger hormones as lean people? They definitely do not and is one of the reasons there is a difference between training someone with 10 or 20 pounds to lose and training someone with 50 or more pounds. One of the biggest issues with body change professionals is the idea ...that you can translate your own experience or the experience of working with athletes and people who are relatively lean over to working with obese individuals. It is an entirely different game and illustrates clearly that the calorie model continue to provide an incomplete and over-simplistic view of body change http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101018092154.htm

Did you go to the OCC for your surgery? I would email the doctor directly.

cut the cereal. just don't eat it. that's one of those sabotage foods for me

from everything I've heard, the restriction on the pliction surgery is very minimal, and weight loss is a lot slower -- diet is even MORE important, controlling portions, etc. When you say she had her band removed, because 'it didn't work', what does that mean?