GLove

Oh Elcee, you are such a voice of wisdom. i love when you reply to a post!!!! Thank you!

Im in the exact same spot you find yourself in. I started this last Feb, post poned it for awhile to be sure it's what I want/need and Im now on track for surgery in March sometime. it is scary. I am mad at myself for getting to this point. Im competitive enough to keep saying I can do it on my own, but cant seem to get it done. I lost 80# 6 yrs ago. Why cant I do it now? Im 57 and beginning to develop obesity related issues such as joint pain, pre-diabetes, peripheral nueropathy. LB is a permanent change in your body and lifestyle.

Were any of you moderate drinkers before banding and either 1) stopped drinking after lapband or 2) continue to drink after banding.

Vodka is 60 cal per shot, I believe. The lowest of hard liquor.

i have not yet been banded, so excuse the ignorance here. Many of you refer to restriction, saying you feel more restriction after a fill. What is it that you feel? Is it a greater feeling of fullness after a bit of food than before the fill? Do you feel restricted immediately after surgery or is it only after a fill? does the restriction ease up after awhile? Trying to understand this term. Thank you.

Thank you Elcee and B52. Always enjoy reading your posts. You are both always " right on" with your advice.

B-52, you can eat tortilla chips without getting stuck? I thought chips might be in the same category as bread and would expand.

Thank you everyone. Im really having a hard time with the "getting stuck" issue. It scares me to death and is the only thing that may keep me from going through with this. Although Im 57, the thought of thinking about getting stuck everytime I put something in my mouth bothers me. Send any words of wisdom my way, please.

i have not yet been banded, so excuse the ignorance here. Many of you refer to restriction, saying you feel more restriction after a fill. What is it that you feel? Is it a greater feeling of fullness after a bit of food than before the fill? Do you feel restricted immediately after surgery or is it only after a fill? does the restriction ease up after awhile? Trying to understand this term. Thank you.

Elcee, thank you very much! Another question for you. I have a bad habit of eating very fast and furious! i am trying to retrain myself prior to surgery, to eat slower and chew, chew, chew. Im guessing that after the band every meal must be eaten very slowly and with much thought. Is this accurate? I dont see eating "on the go" as an option as you may not chew good enough and thus get stuck, etc... Your comments, please. Thank you.

Post surgery and after losing some weight, do your feel less pain in your feet? Easier to walk? Thanks

Excellent post B-52. Thank you.

B-52, Thanks for your comment. I see you have been banded one year now. Can you recap your year for me? Any regrets? Any advice for those of us looking to be banded in 2012?

Dannorex, your 2 pixs tell your story! Congrats. You look great. I also needed to hear what you said about this being the best thing you have done for yourself. My day is coming. Meet with surgeon Jan 12 and surgerynwill be scheduled for late February. I know I will have doubts, but I have researched this for over a year now and have decided to do it. I love salads too and thought that was a no-no as it could get stuck. Have you had any problems getting stuck? If so, with what foods? Thank you.

Good Luck! i started journey last March and hope to be banded by March 1. Please let us know how your surgery goes.

@ Banded DD: what a wonderful, uplifting post. Congratulations on your success. I really needed to read a post like yours today. I have not yet had the surgery, but feel better about my choice after reading your post.

Last month at a WLS support group they discussed Inositol for supporting hair growth after WLS. People using it for that purpose had good success with it. Google it and talk to your doctor about it. Most important thing you can do is get your daily protein.

Good luck. Please let us know how things go.

I have heard many people recommend biotin for hair loss. Has anyone heard of taking Inositol?. Last week at the LB support group meeting Inositol was discussed and found that several people were using it and they ALL said it was effective in supporting hair growth. It's a part of the Vitamin B complex and works as a cellular rebuilder. In googling it, it seems to have many uses. Just wanted to pass along this bit of information so you can check it out. Has anyone used it and if so did you find it effective?

In 5 words or less describe the hardest things you've had to deal with post-surgery.

@ michele- thinking about you today and wondering how you are feeling about your surgery on Monday?

Is lapband surgery really easier than following a healthy diet/exercise plan? I hear of reflux, being stuck, slippage, fills, Vomiting, head hunger, hair loss, not enjoying alcohol, Water not going down, pills not going down, constipation...etc. In all the research I have done, getting serious about diet seems much easier life than being banded for life. What do you post- banders think? Im a pre bander just trying to make the right decision....

Yes, i have officially been on this journey since March. I have thought about it and read about it for years. I have worked in the athletic department of D-1 school for 36 yrs and have self taught on nutrition and wellness. I was even a Aerobic instructor for about 5 yrs. I have worked out at least 5x per week since I was 21 yrs old. I LOVE excercising...i cant go a day without some form of aerobics. I am now into kettlebells and crossfit training....much of what our athletes are doing. BUT, Im a good 75 lbs overweight and just cant get it off. My problem is portion control and binge eating at night. I am textbook during the day and something clicks in the evening and I go crazy. I recently lost 20 lbs eating clean. I will be getting a Feb surgery date and frankly, I dont think I will be able to do it.

Michele, I'm so glad I have helped you. You have lots of time to consider this and no one should go into it without fully understanding it. It's a lifelong commitment. OMG, you are so lucky to have full access to the gym and nutritionist. USE IT! Make yourself a priority. Make this MISSION MICHELE and get in the gym and get it done. Get the book EAT CLEAN DIET by Tosca Reno. Use all your resources. If you are an athlete you have a competitive spirit and NEED to win. Do it for yourself Michele. You deserve it. Good luck.