Knapptown357

I am very excited to share my very positive results and feedback almost 1 month after my band surgery. The stats: Male 6'3". Age: 45 Date of surgery: May 29, 2014 Day of surgery weight: 335 lbs Weight today at checkup: 301 lbs Total loss in first 28 days: 34 lbs!!!! Average loss per day: 1.21 lbs Other key bonuses: - Blood Pressure back to normal - stopped BP medication - BP went from averaging 145/92 w/ meds to 121/78 w/o meds - sleep Apnea improved dramatically - going on 6 days w/o CPAP - wife reports little to snoring or apnea - feel fully rested I was told by my Dr. that these results are about as good as one could expect after 1 mo. - I am absolutely thrilled!!! I realize this rate of loss will not realistically continue - but I think I am on the right track for success down he road. I have been very consistent with my cardiovascular work out since about 1 week following the surgery. I am doing 40 to 60 minutes of high intensity cardio 6 days a week (treadmill running, fast elliptical) burning 600 - 800+ calories per session. I have begun to integrate weight lifting in this week - mostly machine and cable work... free weight work begins next week. I am also doing a hot vinyasa yoga class 2-3 week with my wife. As for food intake... I was told I didn't need a fill, they will evaluate it next month, but with this level of results - I nay never need a fill. That was surprising to me. At any rate, the no fill allows me a very treat latitude on what I am able to eat. I have steered clear of all bread items and I am very careful to eat only small pieces of chicken, pork and fish. But many things that I was told could be problematic - I have no trouble with. I eat lots of salads, fish, Soup, vegetables, fruit. yogurt, cottage cheese. Even Cajun food and Thai foods have been no issue. My go to snack is a spoon of Peanut Butter - keep it in the fridge and you can kind of suck on it for 10 mins or so. I don't drink soda pop, but I do drink BEER and sometimes quite a few of them in social settings. I have had 0 problems with the carbonation in beer. And I DO definitely cheat.. I eat the toppings off pizza, Skyline chili, Pasta, cheese and lots of other little gems - but I just don't eat much volume. I know the Lap Band is a tool and Losing 60-80 lbs (and keeping it off) will be a journey. But I am just thrilled at the relative ease I have had with it during the initial month. I thought it would have a drastic effect on my life - but it simply doesn't. It has been an easy adjustment for me. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I did my research and I was READY to do it. I know that, without any type of a fill - I could eat chips and dip, ice cream, candy, mashed potatoes and gravy, French fries... And end up heavier than I was before... but I know that I'm didn't have some one cut into my abode men to turn around and try and beat the system. There is not beating the system - if you are thinking like that... DO NOT consider the Lap Band. But if you are READY - this is an amazing tool to help you achieve your goals! And it WILL NOT change your life so drastically - you will still have fun and enjoy the pageantry of food and the entertainment of dining with friends. I anyone considering the surgery and has questions - I will be happy to share my experiences. Till next time, KNAPPTOWN357

With that attitude you will go far. All the things you think are potential pitfalls will become secondary to the success you feel and see on a daily basis!

My name is Knapptown and I have just completed my Lapband surgery on 5/29/14. A little background - I am a 45 yr old male 6'3 - former football player. My weight had been gradually increasing since I laid my helmet down in 1994. When My career was over - I weighed 295lbs. The month prior to my operation - I weighed in at 355lbs. Although the weight I picked up in 25 years was just 60 lbs.... Carrying 295 lbs as a football player @ 25 is VASTLY different from carrying 355 lbs as a 45 year old man. I had no interest in carrying this type of weight into my late 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. So I maned up and banded up. I have several complications that go along with obesity - low back pain, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and a host of others. Furthermore, I am in love with food! Not just the eating part, but the pageantry that goes along with dining. Fun to me is a 4 hour dinner at a great restaurant with 20 friends. But a week after my surgery I can already tell you it was the best decision I ever made. I am down 20lbs in one week and I realize that I have completely embraced this new lifestyle.

Great advice! I won't forget it. Thanks for you note, I appreciate it.

Thanks for your support. I am already starting to understand what you mean by secondary. Over the past few weeks, the pre op diet and the week since my procedure, I have found it astonishing how much time and effort I spent on eating. Not just the actual act, but the scheduling, the menu, all of the stuff that leads up to eating. It is literally like I have a huge block of my brain, and my time freed up. It kind of reminds me of when I got married (or actually probably when I got engaged) 20 years ago. I realized that I had spent an huge amount of time thinking about the pursuit of young women. It's very similar. At any rate, I am fortunate in that my weight never hampered my exercise too much. I have always been pretty active with weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise - certainly on and off, but still active. I have also been coached youth football and other sports for tag better parts of the lady 15 years. I realize that coaching doesn't demand the same physical output as playing a sport... but it does keep you mote active than one might think. I have been taking it a little easy this week as my incision teal, but I will be back at it in he gym next week. I will continue to lift for muscle maintenance, but I am looking forward to a bit more regular cardio output. I have been used to trying to lose weight when I felt it was I was porking up, by trying to "blow it up" - like 60+ minutes of intense elliptical or treadmill running for periods of time. Then when I lost a little weight - I would dial it back down. This has been my cycle for years. I never wanted to address the food intake - only the exercise output. Now, with the band and the limited food intake... I am looking forward to being comfortable doing 30 minutes on a regular basis - adjusted seasonally and day by day with the amount of golf, swimming, and other activity. Thanks agin for you note. I appreciate it.

Thanks for the reply - I am glad to hear that the pageantry can continue. I appreciate your note.

The Pre Op diet is the toughest.... After the band - cravings are a very small factor. I'm only I week post op.... I am fascinated at the lack of craving of anything. I want to eat what I'm supposed to and that's it. It's remarkable