GLove

....another thing that convinced me to stop thinking I was "giving up"....my BMI is 40. That's morbidly obese. MORBIDLY. Scary word. To me, that means my great genes will take me so far and as I move closer to 60's I will undoubtedly begin to have serious medical issues related to obesity. Heck, who am I kidding. They have already begun. My A1C is just a few points below the diagnosis of diabetes...my feet hurt and my days of walking 3 miles/day have stopped...i wake up to numb hands... I decided I needed to "give up" to something that will work so I can enjoy the last third of my life, 75 lbs lighter.

I feel exactly as you do. Exactly! But Im still going to go thru with it. I'm 57. I also decided Im sick and tired of yo-yoing. It's not healthy. It's messed up my metabolism. Im not giving up. Im just getting help...a little tool. I have no false hopes. Ive studied this for 12 months now and know full well that my success depends on my compliance. If I comply the band will do it's job and that will equal success! I have a friend that was banded May, 2012. As of yesterday she has lost 88 lbs. Her doctor told her she is his lapband poster child. She's succeeding way beyond the average. She is 20 lbs from goal and I have no doubt she will make it. I asked for her secret. She said simply: i follow my doctor's protocol. I do exactly as he tells me. Failure is not an option for her.

YES! YES! YES!!! Great post.

I like Isopure. I drink them after a weight training workout. I like the green and blue ones. I pour them in a glass withlotsof ice and drink it down....

J, I thought about starting a blog or something too; It's a great way to release your feelings. My girlfriend asked me if I was going to begIn eating all my favorite foods in March and I told her I really didnt see any sense in that. For one, it's not a healthy way to prepare my body for surgery. I was told to get on a high protein/low starch diet in March and, secondly, i dont want to buy into the idea that this is all about deprevation. My problem is portion control. And the band will hopefuly control that. Yeah! We are surgery twins!

Just got my surgery date !!! Monday, April 2. Im so happy I got an early April date. My only instructions for right now is to be on a high protein, low starch diet during March, which I have been for awhile...

Insurance approved surgery today - exactly one year to the day of my first consult. It's been a very long time coming! BUT, I still dont have a date!! I have to wait until Friday to get The Date. I swear they are torturing me!!!

I will be joining you ladies with an April surgery. Was hoping for March, but just got approved today and will be told surgery date on Friday....but Im sure it will be in April. It's been a very long process for me. Many starts and stops. This is a huge change and Im going to embrace it and make it work. Will look forward to following you. -G

Elizabeth, Yes, I am looking at March as the time to prepare mentally, physically and environmentally. Mentally- to get my head even MORE in gear to the lifestyle ahead of me. Physicially- continue eating nutritiously and amp up the exercise routine to prepare my body and liver for surgery, and environmentally- prepare my To Do List and grocery list for what I will need pre and post surgery.

What a great NSV!!! Congratulations!

@May, I just read your blog. Really enjoyed it. Tell me, can you eat salads yet? I hate the thought of not being able to eat raw veggies. I juice, so perhaps I can juice my veggies and still get the great nutrients in that way.

I just got off phone with surgeons office. Two weeks ago they said they were submittng approval to insurance company. I havent heard anythng and everyone else seems to be getting approval in a day or two so I called and asked for the exact date it was submitted. "Unfortunately, we have not yet submitted the request", they tell me. What? If this was the first foopah, I wouldnt mind, but there have been so many trivial delays on my journey I get frustrated just thinking about it! And i have been diligent in knowing where my file is and following up so it doesnt get lost in the maze. But it seems to every step of the way!!! They are currently scheduling surgery for April! Grrrrr. It might help you to know my first consult was Feb 22, 2011!!!! Exactly one year ago! I did the required 3 month diet thing from March-May and it has been slow as molasses ever since. I laugh thinking that last year I thought I would be banded by August! When that didnt happen I knew for certain I would be banded by Christmas. i even cancelled Christmas thinking I would be recuperating.. Then I found out the surgeon doesnt do surgery in Dec. So I knew for sure it would be Jan 2012..i was all excited that I would begin the new year with this new lifestyle. When that didnt happen becuz I needed another test, I skipped Feb and jumped to March fantasies! NOT. It's now looking like April. Or maybe next year at this time I will be laughing at the thought of thinking it would possibly happen in April, 2012. What do you think? are these all signs that surgery is not for me? Why is everyone else breezing through and I have nothing but delays????

You are a sweetheart for just asking the question.

But Im truly beginning to think this is intervention and I shouldnt go thru with it...im going to turn it around and tell myself I have yet another month to lose weight on my own thru nutritional eating...

I have to go thru this doctor if I want my insurance to pay for it. And he's actually a highly respected surgeon who is associated with a Center of Excellence. I cant blame the doctor. and I cant blame just one person. It's been a trail of mishaps and delays...

It's discouraging for this not-yet-banded person to hear that bandsters who submitted to surgery which includes 5 holes in your stomach, requiring complete lifestyle changes and possibly many discomforts and challenges along the way resort to an off the counter fad approach to weight loss. Why? To get it off faster? Really? The reason most of us opt for LP surgery is because of all the failed attempts from other weight loss methods. The LAST thing I want is to go thru surgery only to be so impatient that I resort to a pill I could buy off the internet. Not judging, as I know nothing about HGC but have been doubting the LP decision and these posts really didnt help.

Once you take complete responsibility for your health, you have the power to make changes!

The key component to reach incredible health is to eat more veggies, fruits, nuts/seeds, beans and other nutrient rich foods. As you eat larger amount of these protective foods you will meet your bodies mirconutrient needs and naturally reduce the amount of animal products and processed foods in your diet without gimmicks, calorie counting or portion control.

CindyC, Oh, that is a fantastic idea! I cant wait to do something like that!!!

Here I go again, asking a question on getting stuck. I just cant get passed this and I KNOW if I cant, it will be the reason I dont follow thru with the surgery. I realize that not getting stuck is pretty much in our hands. It's how and what we eat that will cause it. Still, I'd like to know, how many times per week or month would you say you get stuck? Is it a common occurance that you just comes with the band or is it a "do it one time and you'll never do it again" sort of thing? Thank you.