Cleo

The one PS I wold be interested in is facial surgery as my face has definitely developed slackness around the jowels due to weight loss- and no amount of weight training can help that. I am 57 yo and wear a two piece swim suit without needing to be as flat as a board- I am just happy to be alive, diabetes-free and able to swim! I do think that sometimes on this forum I feel that we get obsessed with "improving" ourselves surgically- but if I had a huge overhang of tummy skin I would consider it as well.

Hi I guess it depends on what you are eating now! How big your mouthfuls are and what your portion sizes are are going to have to change. But, if you can eat it in a tiny mouthful at a time there doesn't seem anything you can't eat, but you have to realise that you won;t be able to eat a normal plate serving again, you will leave at least half of a normal serve on your plate and if you forget to eat in tiny portions you may be bringing it all up again because the band is so uncomfortable. Look, it takes forever to learn not to munch away and take a big bite - not to keep pace with friends and their eating pace and to make wise food choices. Ice cream, chips, wine etc etc will always fit, chocolate will always fit, a good mouthful of a sandwich or burger will go down but you may regret it immediately when you feel uncomfortable. In a way it is " All things in moderation" once the band has been adjusted to restrict the stomach. Good luck Cleo:smile:

Hi I need some help please. My weight is not moving and I think thats because I am not reducing my calorie intake or exercising enough, but I have a lapband and hoped it would extert greater control over my intake. The band does not seem to be influencing what I am eating in terms of quantity and I thought that I would feel impossibly full after only having a few mouthfuls - but I don't. I have lost about 6kgs but that was mostly when I was on the pre-op liquids. I have had two fills so far and have found that I do not think I am actually experiencing "restriction". I can eat a normal serving plate of most things, but find that dry toast, chicken and broccoli make me need to be sick.I do not feel "hungry" which means that when I am eating I do not know when to stop - so unless I control my portions or just have a liquid- I feel that I could eat and eat and eat. My doc says well it must be working if you don;t feel hungry- I think yes it is in the right position on my stomach but it is not tight enough to control my intake. How many fills does it take before you are really experiencing restriction? Cleo

I have a terrible feeling that Lap banding is just another way to slowly starve without the hunger pangs. What sort of a life do we have when we spend it drinking protein shakes then not being able to eat real food?

Hi Paul Welcome to bandster land , you have made a decision that will completely change your life - well it has mine so far! I am travelling quite well today, did my 30 mins of exercise on the cross-trainer and will be buying a stationary bike as well - living on a farm there isn't anywhere to walk in the evenings that isn't pitch dark - so indoors is the best option for me. I was quite sore for at least a week, felt as though I had been punched by a boxer - but now I just have soreness where the fill button is and can still feel it when I bend over or stretch. I am glad that I have had three weeks leave, I go back to work in a week and think by then I will be travelling pretty well! All the best. Cleo

Hello Everyone and welcome Mickey!, :hungry: I was banded on March 23rd and will be having a fill on April 30, I am jusy wondering how long it takes to get over the head hunger bit that seems to control my life? I haven't been feeling hungry at all post-band, and I have lost weight even without a fill yet, but my brain keeps on saying to me " go on eat something, eat anything" -and I find myself off to the fridge having a yoghurt or a piece of chocolate - because I still can. :think Why do I have this endless battle with my inner self - I know that the band is working even while empty but does the head stuff stop when the band fill restrictions prevent you from having more than a tiny quantity? I seem to be able to drink as much as I want at present, and only had some pain a few nights ago when I was at my Uni course and totally forgot that I have a band and chewed and swallowed a snake that was offered to me- then thought I would have a slippage and drank lots of near boiling water to try to melt the snake in my tummy! I am terribly worried about slippage as I think that I have been too physical - lifting hay bales (carefully) and shopping bags, vacuuming, making beds. :omg: Tonight I had a half cup of pureed roast chicken and tinned asparagus with no problems, then had a Yoplait yoghurt a few hours later - is that OK or am I overeating?? While I am on the question bit, is there such a thing as post-band depression? I am feeling quite glum and a bit of a failure as I think I should be sticking better to my eating list and losing more weight! My clothes are a little looser, but I don't feel much slimmer and I can't get motivated to get on my cross trainer! :help: Cheers Cleo

OK here I am on Sunday afternoon, back safe and sound at home after 2 days in hospital. I was "done" on Friday morning March 23rd 2007, 8.00 to 10.30 approx then have been in bed for the past 2 days. I had compression stockings, big inflatable boots that massaged my legs to prevent clots and a daily anticlot needle. I am walking as though I have a back ache and my abdomen feels as though I have been in the boxing ring! Quite windy as well but feeling terrific. Still feel quite sleepy, I recommend two nights in hospital to everyone- I am only just starting to feel better. The nurses were terrific at St John of God Hospital in Warrnambool-and Panadol Forte was marvellous to quell the pain. I am quite bloated in the abdomen but pleasantly surprised by the tiny incisions - only 5 small cuts. They stay bandaged for a week. No probs with drinking liquids though I am teaching myself to sip,sip,sip rather than my usual guzzle. Will start on walking machine tomorrow when I am not quite as unsteady on my pins. Weight down to 100kgs with 25 tp go- now I feel it will be achievable! Hope you are all well, and thanks so much for your support this is an awesome site. Bear hugs to you all for sharing your stories so freely!

Thanks Chickie and Meredith! Hi, Unfortunately I have gone off the powder wagon over the past few days. Was at a 3 day seminar and starving at lunchtimes so had Sushi...yum. Then the friends I was staying with cooked meals for me every night...so I ate them. I am into hospital tomorrow , Monday, for a pre-op ECG and weigh-in, then have to be at hospital on Friday am at 7.15. I bought a two piece that I intend to wear in Bali in September, so my husband is going to take some pre-op pictures to keep me honest. I have a cross-trainer machine in the study ready to go and am trying to get the housework out of the way. Chickie you look amazing! Where did you have abdominoplasty and do you mind telling me how much it cost? You must be so proud of yourself. I think that I need to start saving. Thanks for your message, only a few days to go until the old "me" gets a big shake-up. Hugs to everyone.

Hello Everyone out there! I have been slogging my way for the past 2 weeks through a combination of ReduceXS, Macleods Dietary Formula and Optifast. I have lost nealry 4 kgs but don't have a great deal of energy though I do feel better about myself already. I am being banded on March 23 and trying to be as vague as possible about why I am going into hospital and missing out on work for a few weeks. Have told everyone that I am on a bet with my husband to lose 30kgs before going to Bali in October. How up front have you all been with family and friends about having the lap band inserted, do you try to keep it a lifetime secret or does it eventually not matter at all? I have 25kgs to lose, on a 180cm frame, I can't wait until I can fit back into those precious "small" items of clothing that I have not been able to throw out over 15 years of weight gain- then I can throw them out - hahah. A general question - how much pain when you wake up from the op? Do you know that something major has been done ? - I have had laproscopic surgery for endometriosis but really didn't feel anything, and How soon before I can drive a car? hugs to everyone.

Thankyou gals, this is an awesome site. Yes, weight is all relative but when the trend is endlessly upwards some drastic measures are required. I am so impressed by the positive and supportive comments - a girlfriend is having her op in July and I am going in on March 23 - so we will be a mini support group to each other by email -my BMI is constantly creeping up and not keeping time with my mental image or wardrobe! Best wishes

Hi, What have you found was the hardest thing that no-one warned you about or was a surpise? Cleo

Hmmm...thanks for that, nothing to be worried about, the prospect of wearing a 2 piece in the pool in Balia in September isn't too far fetched, I thought that one of the scars would be over 10cm - the pics on the thread look minute. One more worry allayed. Cleo:sick

Hi Goannabanda, I only just found this site last night so I am delighted!! I am in western Victoria and looking forward to changing my life on a positive way. Can you please tell me about the incision scars? There isn't much info on how big they are and where they are placed. I have heard there is a small support group in Warrnambool so I suppose that my surgeon will refer me onto them. Biggest change for me will be all the clothes I won't be able to fit into..haha. Cheers Cleo

Hi Bonnie I am seeing my surgeon on Monday 27th and am already booked n for surgery on March 23. I went 2 years ago and then was talked out proceeding by a girlfriend who thought I was having a stomach staple! Can't wait until it is all done and I am losing weight - I have tried everything and really think this is the solution. All the best! Cleo