Bamabander

I'm really trying hard to get in at least 30 minutes a day of exercise but recently my feet are killing me ( plantar facitis) and I'm not doing as well. So my question is for those who have had surgery... How much did you exercise pre-op and do you feel being in better physical shape helped you recover more quickly... And please feel free to share your favorite exercise... I'm searching for something new.. Right now I walk/jog, elliptical and light weights...

I love all the great ideas! Thanks... I am planning on doing more exercise in the pool until I get some relief... Thankfully after all the warm weather the pool temp is in the mid 80's! I also am going to try stationary bike after that... Hopefully lose and naturally resolve these foot problems... My one best tip for plantar fac is to freeze used water bottles... It feels great to roll the bottle on my arch!

Well this is a whole new world for me... first of all blogging and sharing my little piece of the world is intriguing but leaves me feeling wel, a little naked... I have decided if I am doing this I am giving 100%.. all truth, all feelings, triumphs and struggles and why not. This is my personal one year diary of how I become a butterfly and I can not wait to read the end. I really hope to find freinds and supporters that will challenge, cheer and just share as I explore the next 12 months.. Now the nitty gritty... I am currently waiting for insurance approval for lap band... I am actually having banded plication but there is no billable code for this yet.. so the surgeon is able to do it. It is a fairly new procedure that is to increase weight loss results short term, keep long term results and is actually thought to decrease th chance of band slippage and is minimally invasive compared to other WLS currently done. I am hoping that this is the right tool to enhance my journey... maybe journey is the wrong word... maybe life long scavenger hunt to find a healthier me... and I am sure if you are reading this you know what I mean. I was a fat child, an overweight teen, a starving but almost thin college person and then I was married and had my first child... I went from eating barely 900 calories a day and constant exercising to maintain a size 10 to.. I am eating for two...90 pounds later my 7 pound 6 oz baby was born and I am still blaming it on baby fat.. even though that baby is about to turn 20 and I had two more since and all are teen agers... yes I have tried and done most diets... my most successful was Weight Watchers, I lost 60 pounds and maintained that loss for about 2 weeks... yep 2 weeks, since then I have gained it all back and added 20 more... I have gained 80 pounds.. seems incredible and impossible but yet it is true.. how, well that I struggle with. I put more calories in my mouth than i burn but on paper not enough to gain 80 pounds.. I've had my thyroid tested and it's fine, so it leaves me at a loss. I am hoping that this is my last attempt at losing and I can make this one year endeavor my swan song for losing weight... please join me, I'm gonna need a lot of suport!

Congrats Ali! So how is it? I'm nervous but am so ready... hope we can be buddies!

So today is a mix of emotions... first let me say I am not a patient person and if this process has taught me something it's that I must be patient... but like I said that's difficult. Got a call from the surgeons office and I need a formal dietician visit for insurance review.. I finished my 6 month (7 visit) on March 15. i anticipated being banded in April... I am hoping it happens in May but am unsure...Now I am wondering if the dietician visit was required with the 6 month supervised, I was going to Weight Watchers the entire time.. but dang another bump in the road, but I shall persevere!! Where to start.. well let me bare the craziest thing about this whole journey... 4 years ago i attended a weight loss surgery seminar with a friend as her moral supprt... I was not judgemental but swore up and down that this was not for me, BECAUSE i love food.. well duh, I guess I am not the brightest bulb on the tree... Over the last 4 years I have lost and gained over 200 pounds.. the most being 80 pound loss. I wonder some days why I can't keep my weight under control. I remember saying at the time to myslef "I would never do this, I would feel deprived, I would hate to live without eating anything I want".... the irony is that now I can not wait to be limited... I love structure and am (I know this is weird but) am already following the pre-op diet because I can't wait anymore.... but it's a matter of being ready and knowing you have tried everything... I hadn't had enough failure then to concede that I needed a better tool to help me. It's not that I can't diet... I can and do, and have my whole life. I can spout fat, calories, carbs, protein and fiber of most any food you can name. I know what good nutrition is and I understand input/output. I can tell you how many calories I burn in 30 minutes of many exercises... I am not dumb... I am not lazy... I am not weak.... I AM ALWAYS HUNGRY!!! I know that sounds silly but that is really what it comes down to. I really feel that many of us are in the same boat. I have accomplished so much... and am a prefectionist in many ways, (OK, it may seem like I'm bragging here but I am making a point).. I have three fabulous, successful, athletic children who never get in trouble, they are respectful and kind, I have a great marriage, I graduated college with a great GPA, was great at my job when I worked, love staying at home now and caring for home/children, did the PTA president thing, always a homeroom mom, always volunterring at church.. and can do anything I set my mind to BUT keep a healthy weight. I find it embarrassing at times... that's a lie... I find it embarrassing most of the time. As unfair as it is we all know the fat discrimination... it sucks and it makes me feel "less than" in certain situations. I know that is more my problem than society.. but I also know how I am viewed compared to my size 4/6 friends... I hope I have not rambled too long... I feel myself purging all the negative and finally getting in touch with my feelings.... this process has been great for intraspective analysis, and I am getting there... and believe it or not, am already feeling much lighter!

Good Luck!!! Keep us posted on how you did and feel! I'm sure you will do great!

After you are done birthing children check into ablation... It's wonderful... I had it done 2 years ago and no mensie since... It is a surgery that freezes or burns the lining of the uterus.. It was a better option for me than hysterectomy because there was really only 1 day recovery... Mostly anesthesia, very minimal pain and outpatient. My dr allowed me to choose, I figured I could do hysterectomy later if needed but thankfully this has worked for me!

Wow!!!! Congrats! My goal is 22.5... That is 135 for 5'5" and I am pre- op... So a long way to go! You are inspirational!!!

I agree that there should be a plication group... So hard to find info on it!

Me too!

@Touria.... That is wonderful news... I plan to follow your posts... I hope my experience is like yours!!!

I am having the Banded Plication, as soon as my insurance is approved. I originally wanted the sleeve but my insurance requires 50 BMI so this was an option, after discussing it with my surgeon I found out the success rate of loss is similar to bypass... But due the band you will have better long term success than any of the other surgeries... Very excited and yes he said its just making the sleeve during the surgery.. Not a lot of extra time.. I am worried about the pain after... Hoping you all are feeling better!

Thanks... I'll try and find it...

Oh my!!! Thank you so much for taking so much time to reply. You hit the nail in the head with the reason I prefer the sleeve. I have degenerative disc disease in my neck and take ibuprofen/ anti- inflamatories daily... I don't think the bypass allows you to take these... I'm gonna keep praying... Sending in my request next month. I am thinking about sending all of the info I have researched ( including what you suggested) in my request. Think that is smart or not?? I am so excited for you... You give me hope... Wanna hear about the awesome things you are doing and how you are shrinking! Thanks again!!!

Hey Lisa! Congrats on your approval! I am in my last month of my 6 months and satisfy all other criteria. I also have Highmark BCBS and really want the sleeve but BMI is 37, sleep apnea, joint problems... I am afraid to request it and am wondering if I should just do the regular bypass... any information you can give would help. How long was your appeal letter and what specifically did you cite? Just not sure what to do because I just want to get going... I hate thinking they will deny me!