readytogoforit

that is what I was talking about. this is a journey. if it takes a while to get to the goal, at least we are going in the right direction. maybe because I am older I look at this differently. I have spent many years disliking myself, I am so grateful. I feel nothing but joy, especially at this time of year! I want to be a healthy grandma who rides bike and is able to swim with the grandkids. I want to hike and everything else that "healthy people" always do with the grandkids !!! I think this lapband thing has become a "fad" and it must be hard for docs(reputable ones) to do so many of them. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with my band. My reputable doc wants me to lose about a pound each week, that seems low to me but I feel he has my best interest in mind.

I have had what I would call bulging by the port. doc said that was normal, it doesn't hurt, just feels weird. we do have a foreign object in our body at all!! I always have a list of questions for the doc. mine is so good, takes the time to answer each question!

hey you guys, how many people on this site get so angry when they don't lose what they "thought" they were "supposed" to lose. all my info -from my insurance co. & doc(University of Minnesota) says 40 to 60%. I welcome the comments from my doc. we are trying to get healthy not ultra skinny. do we really want to create another problem? live each day with all the gusto that thin(not ultra skinny) people live. eat to live not live to eat. this is not a race. it scares me when people get so worked up. isn't our health the main concern? are we doing this to "show them" or start to love ourselves for who WE are?

the docs usually want you to lose some weight before surgery. makes the surgery easier, they need the liver to shrink a bit. this is a really good way to start thinking as a bander does. no drinking liquids with the meal, eliminate carbonated beverages, start tracking protein, carbs and fiber. keep a journal of what you eat, you will be pleasantly surprised how good you will start to feel. check out all the great entries on this forum, lots of info. it really helped me to get ready for surgery. my commitment became very strong. the band is not a miracle, we work for the weight we lose!

thank you Humming Bird ! I just love that song. I like the Michael English version. another great song is "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant. have a blessed Christmas!!

I was banded 10/28/11, I have only lost 15 lbs since then!! Thank God I counted calories and exercised before the surgery so I lost 30 by the surgery date. My loss has been slow but my clothes have changed, I am down 4 pant sizes!!! I of course want both but, that is not how it is going today. I know I am doing all the right things so I continue on day by day.

glad to hear life is back on track! keep us informed, we want to help.

I haven't tried it let us know if it works.

my insurance company gave me a book with all kinds of information. one thing was to take care of your issue. If food should block the outlet, mix a teaspoon of meat tenderizer in a glass of Water - sip slowly! hope it helps.

ok, start eating differently. you will start to like yourself more everyday! there is a group where they talk about what to eat on this site. get rid of sweets(candy, bakery goods, etc). start to concentrate on Protein and only complex carbs. just being aware of what you put into your body will help - keep a journal of everything you eat each day. drink 48oz. to 60 oz. Water everyday. what city are you in? make sure you find a reputable doc, just cause they can do the surgery doesn't make them the best choice. I know it is hard but start exercising. walking is the easiest and least expensive way to start. sorry if this seems like a lot to do already but trust me, you will start to feel better. it will be better everyday, keep us informed,that also helps. support makes a big difference. don't be alone in this pain anymore!

LOVE IT!!! your happiness rubs off onto me, it all helps us go on!

that a girl!

that is a lot of pressure to put on yourself. instead of looking at such a big loss, break it down to 5 or 10 lb. increments. it will happen but, is easier to visualize! you have already done so well, we did not gain all this weight overnight! it can't come off like biggest loser does on TV!! be proud day by day!!!

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry for all the pain you feel. I applaud you for doing so much research, it helps a lot to know as much as possible. I didn't like the idea of surgery either, I had heard some of the horror stories but, I had also heard some miracle stories where a person has been given another chance at a "normal" life at a "normal" weight. I want to ride a bike, I want to swim. I have not done either of these things in many, many years. we can have life and health again. this is a safe procedure! If you follow the recommendations from the surgeon and his staff,you will succeed. this forum has sooooo many stories, stories of success. don't get me wrong, it only works if we work. I think that is the biggest surprise to me. this is not the big surgery where they reroute everything from our stomach to colon. we get help with the band, we get health because we decide to change the way we look at food and ourselves. we can do anything, we can be healthy!!! thank you for sharing so much info with us. God bless you as you go through this unbelievable journey!

Wow, you have done so well! you have obviously been working hard. you are doing this to save your life, literally save your life! So much is made of food during the holidays. I think it has always been that way, but it doesn't have to be that way for us. Try to use some visual pics of yourself; healthy, active, physically fit. Remember that you are worth all this work!!!

It was 45 here today, so that helped. I hate our long winters. I will really fight them this year! I want to keep on track with weight and inches going, going, gone!

I agree with the rest. in the beginning we are in such a hurry, afterwards we have so many questions. you will have so many things answered, plus you will have a head start on weight loss. I think you have a great insurance group who want to see you succeed!

I am 63 and thought the other options sounded way to scary for me. I worried that I wouldn't be able to recover well. This is a much more healthy option with less chance of complications. My husband was nervous about the other options too.

I had really given up. If I lost any weight it was an accident!! I was so embarrassed to be seen in public places. My paranoia was pretty bad. I quit going to parties with my husbands friends & hated to see the relatives at Christmas. My attitude was so bad, I was an angry woman; angry at myself for being so weak! At 63, my doc told me I had a hiatal hernia and I needed surgery. I had heard many weight loss stories but didn't think I could do it. Don't ask me why, it was my "I give up" attitude I guess, plus I was so embarrassed to even talk about it. Even with my doc, who I feel very comfortable. Well, when I started to talk to the surgeon about the surgery I had to have I jokingly said, "while you are in there, why don't you put a band on" then I laughed. I fully expected him to say no, we can't do both. Thankfully he said great idea, make it happen. I had to find a new surgeon ( he gave me a recommendation), started all the pre op work and am now 6 weeks post op. I feel so much better. what a miracle, that I work hard to make happen every day!!! this is not a free ride, if we don't work - it won't happen....

I had really given up. If I lost any weight it was an accident!! I was so embarrassed to be seen in public places. My paranoia was pretty bad. I quit going to parties with my husbands friends & hated to see the relatives at Christmas. My attitude was so bad, I was an angry woman; angry at myself for being so weak! At 63, my doc told me I had a hiatal hernia and I needed surgery. I had heard many weight loss stories but didn't think I could do it. Don't ask me why, it was my "I give up" attitude I guess, plus I was so embarrassed to even talk about it. Even with my doc, who I feel very comfortable. Well, when I started to talk to the surgeon about the surgery I had to have I jokingly said, "while you are in there, why don't you put a band on" then I laughed. I fully expected him to say no, we can't do both. Thankfully he said great idea, make it happen. I had to find a new surgeon ( he gave me a recommendation), started all the pre op work and am now 6 weeks post op. I feel so much better. what a miracle, that I work hard to make happen every day!!! this is not a free ride, if we don't work - it won't happen....

try to remember how important YOU are. they are just parties and it is just food. they life you will have "after" you decide to eat better is sooooo much more fun! I had my surgery 10/28/11. I lost 30 lbs by the time of surgery. the nutritionist asked me to try and stay at 1200 calories each day. I am so glad I did. Everything we change is hard in the beginning but, when the clothes start to feel too big on you WOW that is such a reward. check out a lot of the posts on this forum. there are so many good ideas. you CAN do this. ONE DAY AT A TIME. Believe it!

today went to return a pair of jeans that were too big!!! I found the next size down but, I was afraid to try them on. I thought "they will eventually fit" !! they fit now OH MY GOSH, I can't believe this. My weight loss has slowed recently and I was worried. I read about the times were we don't lose lbs. but do lose inches! I think I can love them both. I live in Minnesota, when the weather turns cold and the days are short I really have to fight to keep from getting "blue". I was so sure I must have been doing something sooo wrong. I haven't worn this size for so long, I can't even remember. thanks to everyone who has a positive attitude. you keep me going, and trusting that I am indeed doing the right thing and following the "yellow brick road" to a healthy me!!!

I am equally addicted to Taco Bell!! I have started eating the Fiesta menu items. They have carbs but not too bad. I sometimes save my carbs so I can stop there. the only thing I miss is having a diet pepsi with my food!!!!! I have not tasted the salad. You know they are happy to eliminate or add anything we want. Look it up on Calorie King they have calories, carbs etc. for a lot of restaurants.

I purchased a digital scale - my best friend!!! I never go over 4 oz. for my protein. I was told to eat between 50 - 80 grams of protein & no more than 68 grams of carbs. my doc told me not to eat white things - pasta, potatoes, rice. i weigh my pasta if I have spaghetti, 1 oz is really a smmmmmall amount!! the carbs are so high that it works for me! the nutritionist told me to try to eat a protein with at least 10 grams & my sure it is the 1st thing you eat. if you feel satisfied before you finish all the food, you are assured the protein counted!

everyone has offered so many good suggestions. I am glad you joined this forum, think what you would do if you didn't have anyone to talk to! I don't understand what your docs are thinking, the dizzy part scares me the most. you have been eating the right stuff, just not enough of it!!! please keep us informed as you start to eat more. praying for your health....