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My name is Megan, and at the end of March beginning of April I will be having what I have waited seven years for, the Lap Band. I know exercise is a huge part of loosing weight after the Lap Band, but it's just so hard to find the will power to do so when you have to do it alone. I've turned to my friends, but since they happen to all be skinny, they don't have the desire to go. So I was wondering what the odds would be of finding a gym buddy in the Northern Kentucky area? I plan on going to Fitworks, and really don't want to do it alone. I need the support! =) Megan

Hi. Dont freak out. Keep with the liquid/mushies your suppose to be on. Just because you can eat those things, you shouldnt. Your still healing. Yes you dont have restriction right now. Because you dont have much fluid in your band at the moment. Right now is all about healing and having your own will power to keep with the diet. The band is a tool. When you start getting fills then it will start working for you. But you have to have your own will power to make the best choices. Good luck to you.

The majority of people are here because we have failed at every diet in the past. To loose weight, then gain it all back. Diets depend upon our will power, determination. That is why I needed surgical intervention. It still needs a certain discipline, but not like diets of the past. This is really easy, once you get past the early phases. There is not a day that I don't regret having it done.

all i can say is do your research and talk with people who have had it. attend the dr.s monthly meetups and local support groups if you have them. i did all the above and so was very comfortable when i made my decision to have the lapband. i had it done dec 13th, it was very easy and recovery has been pretty smooth because i knew what to expect because of all the research i did BEFORE surgery.i think the more you know the less worried you are before, and after. a calm mind =less stress=easier recovery. just my opinion. im down 12 lbs, feel great 1 wish id known about this years ago, already down 1 pant size ! woo-hoo !!

I am with zil, I cannot burp. In fact was at the urgent care yesterday thinking my gallbladder was done for and they found excess gas in my small intestines that was causing pain. I will take the gas x from now on. I would rather be like you and burp, lol!

For me, the band is not a "tool" because I think of a tool as an object I have to manipulate in some way to make it work. A tool is something I myself have to put effort in to get the job done. The band has worked more like a mechanical device. The device is wrapped around my stomach and does restrict the types of food I am able to eat as well as restricting the amount of food I can eat. I have not eaten a normal size plate of food since July 2009. I lost 100 pounds in the first year with very little effort.

I eat most of what I ate before the band. Some things literally won't go past the band anymore. I have been banded for 14 months and am now 160 lbs. I can't eat roast, bread, steak, hot dog weiners and possibly some other items I'm forgetting. But I was able to eat a lot of those things through the first few fills. I am very tight now. You will have much better results if you don't eat everything you ate before, but I have never been a fan of "the right kind of foods". I consider myself successful and so does my Dr, but it is all trial and error. Some of my banded friends still eat bread. It varies depending on the person. Good luck with your journey.

Well I cant speak for everyone but I can tell you how I feel about it- GOOD!. I have heard of ppl still seeing themselves as fat even after they lose weight and others not being happy after losing, but I can tell you now I am one happy camper. I wouldnt consider myself "thin" yet, but I am smaller than I have ever been in my adult life and it sure does feel good. The energy level, the appearance, the ability to do things I really couldnt before are all a part of that happiness. Just keep your attitude in check and be happy with every pound you lose. Have realistic expectations. Happy New Year!

I posted this as my status today: "This journey, regardless of how much or how little support we have, is an individual one. No one else can lose the weight for you. Take the encouragement, the support, the good w/the bad and separate the meat from the bones... and ultimately do what works and what's best for you! That is always a key in success!" How does this tie in to honesty? Well, I'll tell you. I've noticed, not only in the few short days I've been banded, but in the entire time I've been researching lap band, that everyone has advice to give. We all want the keys to success; what it took for others to lose the weight; the exercises and the food they ate. But the truth is, what works for one won't always work for everyone else. Not everyone gained the weight because they've over eaten or because they're lazy. Just like everyone has their own reasons for gaining the weight, everyone will have their own means of losing it, even if we are all using the same tool. Encouragement and advice are great and I know we all have a lot to learn on this journey, but it starts with being honest with ourselves. We were honest (or vain) enough to realize we needed the lap band and now it's about being honest enough to admit our limitations and strongholds. Food is an addiction that we're trying to kick (we know that), but my food addiction isn't yours. My habits are not yours, and I have to be real enough with myself to understand that if I'm going to succeed, I have to do what is going to work for me.. and you need to do what will work for you. This starts with listening to your surgical team, dietician, nutritionist, etc. If there's one thing that remains consistent in all of the advice I've received from successful lap banders, it would be, "If you follow the rules, you'll lose the weight." Not just the universal lap band rules, but those set forth for your individual program, for your individual needs. One of the dangers of trying to follow the regimen of someone else is that you may not be able to live up to it, because it's not tailor made for you. And on this journey, that is one thing I think is definitely a plus; the capability to contour the band to work for YOU! Remember that there are people that have health issues and co-morbidities that may affect their regimen. Don't waste time trying to compare yourself to everyone else, do what works for you! We all want to be successful.. get this weight off and strut our stuff! Be healthier...be happier! For me, it's starts with doing what works for me and building from there! =) O well, that's enough ranting for now. Just had a few things on my mind I wanted to share. All the best!! -Mary-

Thanks everyone.. The surgery went VERY well. I was at hospital by 7 am and they took me back at 7:15 and hooked up my IV about 8:30 they took me in and was finished with the surgery about 45min later. Doc said everything went really well. They gave me a patch behind my ear and meds in my iVfor nausea before I woke up. I have NOT had ANY nausea!!! I was so frantic over that. The nurses started me on water and crytal light, but I kept burping up the crystal light so I am holding off on drinking that. Water was good enough. Had chicken broth for breakfast and beef broth for supper with sugar free jello. I am home now drinking water and vitamin water. I acutally gained about 3 pounds, but im sure thats because everything is still swollen. have to drink clear liquids til saturday and then I can have soups, cream soups, and milk in my coffee. I am so excited that I have not been hungry once in the last 2 days! Good Luck to everyone that has upcoming surgeries. I hope yours goes as well as mine!