PETA

Dear Westcoastfatguy. GOD BLESS YOU you truly are an inspiration to us all, your message truly moved me. Congratulations on your astounding weightloss keep up the great work, Peta (Australia)

Hi there, can you please tell me how much you weigh and exactly why did you get the band inserted in the first place? What were your insentives for having the surgery? Were you co-erced into getting the band or was it your own decision? Also do you think you have had adequate time to adjust to your being banded or are you simply upset because you feel that you will not be able to eat real food like everyone else because if this is the case boy! you must really be addicted to your food, sorry I mean you no disrespect I am just simply trying to understand your frame of mind, my being a psychologist and all.

DEAR SUSAN4794 'BRAVO!' congratulations well stated

Hey there Don't worry everything is fine, I too found that exact same problem and then boom my weight just started shifting and coming off on the scales. Your body needs time to adjust from liquid diet to solids, this process will usually take around two to three weeks to occur, one day soon you will hop on the scales and miraculously you will have lost weight and even more importantly will keep on losing weight, so just hang in there that's all it is. It's perfectly normal good luck, Peta

Hi there I had that problem too, when my treadmill was delivered the delivery men had to take my doors off their hinges in order to get the darn thing inside, they removed two doors. However, in answer to your dilemma did you know that you can indeed purchase a treadmill much smaller than the average size, I have seen them on TVSN and at Karls sportpower store, they really don't take up much room at all, don't give up on buying one they really aren't too bulky (the one I got was a proper gym treadmill $3800) the smaller ones do the exact same thing that the bigger ones do, they are excellent, anyway good luck to you Peta

Hi again My apologies for not replying sooner but I have been incredibly busy with my bookwork and BAS statement. After reading what you had to say I feel that you are on the right path now, you really do need to believe in something and I can in fact say that this lapband really does work without a doubt. It is probably wise to look at this device as a tool that will help you go in the right direction. I understand where you are coming from I could think of nothing else but food 24/7, it was harder for me becasue my husband owns a restaurant/takeaway and believe me it was so very very hard being around all that lovely food seven days a week. However a miracle did happen for me, after my surgery and after the band I now have very little desire to eat, I am simply not hungry and often have to remind myself to eat. This band is magnificent and I am so very happy with it all, today I went to my surgeon for my adjustment (fill) and right now I have no desire for food of any sort, my last meal was 2.30pm, I know I should eat something but I simply don't feel like it and the best news of all is I've lost another 3 kgs in just 3 wks, yes I agree with you that if you wanted to you could indeed cheat but I promise you, you simply will not feel the need to, to date I haven't. I have every faith that you will be magnificent, just wait and see, good luck Peta

Hi again, Thankyou for your response I,m more than happy to support my fellow lapbanders, we are all going through this journey together and I feel it is very important to give and receive support, it helps us along the way, I especially know it helps me thankyou, goodnight Peta

Hi I am a newbie and have just joined a gym this Monday, I do own a very powerfull treadmill at home but very rarely use it, I find it so much more easier to get up and go to the gym, it works for me psychologically I guess, I also utilise the pool, sauna & spa there too, I'm having the time of my life and I'm losing more weight than ever before, goodluck, Peta

Hi there, First of all congratulations on your overall weight loss that is truly magnigficent and tells me that you do indeed possess great willpower in order to have achieved such astounding results. Secondly and most importantly try not be too hard on yourself, so you've strayed a little it's ok, you are only human afterall, this is what we humans do, it is ok, you just have to remember to try and get back on track, go deep inside and once again you will find that great determination you had to succeed, your willpower is definitely there try and get in touch with it again believe me you WILL find it I know from experience. Good luck with it all , Peta

Hi there I have to say I feel very sorry for you having to wait that long for a fill it is the first time I have heard of a 90 day waiting period for ins/cover. I am also very stunned with what I am reading throughout these posts regarding the fill charges averaging from $250 to $1500. I have not paid anything for my fills they come at no charge FREE with the lapband here in Australia and I am not on a pension or healthcare card but I do have top table insurance maybe that is why. When I got my 14cc band I was told by my surgeon that there would be zero dollars involved and to date have not paid one cent towards this process/band, I guess I must be very lucky because I am completely shocked at all these high figures posted on the board, anyway goodluck I hope all works out well for you. Peta

Hi Newbard45 You are doing a really good thing for yourself, sometimes we need to think of ourselves first and it is good to hear that you are because you are definitely worth it and you know what life is too damn short. I too am 47yrs and for the first time in my life I decided to put myself first, ahead of my children and all. When I told my husband and daughter of my decision to be banded they were in absolute and utter shock, they simply couldn't believe that I would do something like that and tried to talk me out of it, I will be honest with you it all frightened me a little but I pushed through negativity and apposition and finally did something great for myself and I haven't regretted it since, I love every single step of this journey and am so excited about what is ahead for me, look out world here I come, or should I say here we come!!!!! Peta

Hi Newbard45 You are doing a really good thing for yourself, sometimes we need to think of ourselves first and it is good to hear that you are because you are definitely worth it and you know what life is too damn short. I too am 47yrs and for the first time in my life I decided to put myself first, ahead of my children and all. When I told my husband and daughter of my decision to be banded they were in absolute and utter shock, they simply couldn't believe that I would do something like that and tried to talk me out of it, I will be honest with you it all frightened me a little but I pushed through negativity and apposition and finally did something great for myself and I haven't regretted it since, I love every single step of this journey and am so excited about what is ahead for me, look out world here I come, or should I say here we come!!!!! Peta

Hi there thanks so much for the message, I'm very happy to hear from you. Congratulations it's exciting isn't it? You are going to have the time of your life you will be undertaking an exciting journey and believe me it begins well before your surgery date. I remember when I was told of my impending surgery date I couldn't sleep for many nights, and as the day of surgery grew nearer I was so very excited that I could think of nothing else. I have loved every step of my journey so far with the exception of the liquid diet, for me that was the hardest part, anyway again congratulations your on your way, goodnight

Hi Newbarb45, Welcome and thankyou for your message, You are right from tomorrow onwards it all starts for you, you have been given a second chance to start again, you are without a doubt very lucky. For me this experience has been so rewarding & exciting and such a positivie one. I am so very happy with it all, today I went swimming at the gym something I would never have done before my op, it felt wonderful and I felt really alive and proud to be doing it. Tomorrow you start your liquid phase just remember that it is only for a short time and it is so worth doing, I won't lie, I did not like this stage but stuck in there knowing that it was for my own good, to shrink my liver before the op, it was hard going from solids to liquid but the end result is heaven. Good luck with it all I'll be thinking of you goodnight

Hi Mel, I am happy to hear about your upcoming surgery on the 20th of this month I am truly excited for you it is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me to date and as I am six weeks into it already I can see results every morning when I wake up 'I am shrinking' as you will very soon. Mel the hardest part for me was the liquid diet stage before the op, I hated that but I did it steadfastly and stuck to my guns. If you have any problems during this stage please don't hesitate to email me I will be more than happy to share my experience with you, I found it difficult but I knew that it had to be done so that my liver could shrink before surgery, so I hope you have a good journey and thankyou for your lovely message yesterday I did reply I hope you got it, goodnight & God bless

Hi everyone I too am a newbie bandit, I had my surgery 6 weeks ago and have been very happy with it all since. I have been trying very hard to adjust to all the new changes that are needed in order to succeed on my new journey. I have lost approximately 10kg and am extremely pleased with this result, I feel very little hunger and am experiencing some really positive things such as sleeping much better at night, not taking any medication anymore whatsoever and having heaps more energy, it's absolutely wonderful, I feel that I have finally taken control of my life again thank GOD because for a while there I had just about given up on myself, so for who ever out there is thinking about taking this lapband journey simply don't think, just DO! you won't regret it, this device helps you so much it's truly remarkable. Good luck to all