fujika

I had been researching lap band for about a year and a half, sort of just thinking about it. For all the same reasons: can't tie my shoes (I tie them off my feet, then slip them on!) don't want to embarrass my children want to fit in the Timberhawk (rollercoaster at Wild Waves) last year I didn't even try, I knew I was bigger than the year before. And the year before I fit, but I faked the seat belt There was no way I was going to be the fat lady getting off the ride! It's not an upside down ride and the bar fit across my lap, I was so wedged in there, I had a hard time getting my behind out after the ride was over! :blushing:OMG how embarrassing! I coach a junior football league cheer squad, I want to be able to show the girls how to do it, I hate being the fat coach! My health was starting to decline, insulin resistance, blood pressure creeping up, foot pain, knee pain, back pain, headaches, infertility. But the straw that really broke the camels back was when my Mom was diagnosed with type II diabetes in the spring. I didn't want to lose her and we started on this journey together! We've both lost more than 30 lbs each!! Our clothes are too big! We really need to go shopping! Our health is improving!

I was banded first and foremost for me, my health, mental, physical and emotional. But there is one person that I also did it for, My Mom. I'm not sure if she would have been banded if I didn't do it too??? Her health was getting bad, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, fibromyalgia (sp?), knee problems, there's more, just can't think of it all. We lost Dad in 2004 due to diabetic complications and I just didn't want to lose another parent. I also was right behind my mom with insulin resistance, asthma and blood pressure that was starting to creep up. The good news: We were both banded on 30May08. Mom is off the metformin!! She has an appointment to see about her blood pressure (we think she might need less or a different med) We've both lost about 29lbs!!! We are truly a team! I love my Mom!:biggrin2:

I've used the Taebo tapes before with great success. I just had to keep upping my amount until I couldn't keep up with it anymore, and I burned out, gained all the weight back. Now that I'm banded, I'm hoping I can just exercise once a day 3-4 days a week. I love Taebo, because the moves are not too complicated or like "dance". I am very uncoordinated and regular aerobics doesn't work for me! My sister got all the dancing genes! I have none!! But, I'm not crying, there's lots of things I'm good at!:biggrin2:

I can't drink a protein drink before, I feel it sloshing and swishing up and down my tummy while I work out! That makes me nauseous! So, I work out first, then drink my protein drink or have malt o meal with added protein powder, either way is good!:thumbs_up:

From the time I started looking into the lap band, I knew it would be a tool for me to use. Not a magic cure. So far for me, it's been like dieting, but soooo much easier. I don't have the hunger pangs or the cravings, that in and of itself made it worth it for me! I get my first fill tomorrow, I can't wait, because I am starting to get hungry again, but as long as I do what I'm supposed to, the cravings aren't so bad. Ultimately, you have to make the decision and decide if it's right for you. Good luck, hope to see you around on the boards!:sad_smile:

I'm a child care provider too! I was banded on 30May of this year. I provide child care in my home, so I'm on my own during the day with the children. When I was banded I had a friend come over and take care of the children (bonus for me, she is a really good friend and also cleaned house and did laundry!!) She came for 2 days, I wish I'd had her come for about 4, but I did ok. I was just really tired and still quite sore. I'm finding it easier to get down with the little ones and I'm having a lot more energy as the weight comes off!! Good luck to you!:thumbup:

I don't know if this will help you or not, but I've seen a tv program called Sit and Be Fit. It's a "mature" lady doing very simple exercises just sitting on a chair. Maybe you could start with something like that and as you get use to that, you could move on to something a little more strenuous. I think the important thing is, is to move your body. It doesn't have to be strenuous yet. Good Luck! You can do it!:smile2:

I am scheduled for my first fill on the 25th, I was banded May 30. All of my fills are covered in my fee. I paid out of pocket, but it was just a one time fee ($17000):biggrin2:, that covered the two week medifast diet (which was incredibly disgusting!:smile2:), any preop labs or tests ( I didn't need any), all appointments, surgery, anethesiologist (sp?), hospital/surgery center, all fills, and any surgery related to the band/port for the first two years. The only extra thing I've had to pay for was my vitamins and my post op perscription.

Any of you that have lost quite a bit of weight: Approximately how many pounds lost equals a size? I have about 100 lbs to lose, wondering how many sizes I'll go through in the next 2-3 months. I know there is no exact science to it, I'm just thinking generally.:biggrin:

:thumbup:I was banded on May 30th and am doing very well! I've lost about 7lb since then and along with what I lost on the preop diet, I've lost a total of about 21lbs!! I feel great, I'm not hungry all the time, but when I do get hungry it's a real hunger for good food. I still have some cravings but I'm able to get past them with drinking my water. My port incision and the one in the middle are still sore but the other three are almost completely healed. I've been walking around the field at the elementary school about 4 times a week. Dr. said I could start swimming on Friday, I can't wait! We have a neighborhood pool and I'm buying a membership this year. They have an adult swim every evening and water aerobics in the morning, I might try the water aerobics, but I'm definately doing the adult swim! I am sure that this will help the weight to come off even faster! I feel so good, my feet don't hurt!! My knees haven't hurt since I lost the first 10lbs! I haven't had a headache in 2 weeks! Sorry for this ramble, I just wanted to share "I love my band!"

I too can't stand artificial sweeteners, especially Splenda (sucralose). It tastes fine to me, it just gives me a terrible headache! I can have maybe a half a serving and not get a headache. When I can, I use a little bit of xylitol. If I can't find unsweetened, I just use regular products but of course in much smaller amounts than I use to!

Had my surgery on the 30th. No problems, except a little dry heaves. Dr. gave me some anti nausea meds and it works great! This loratab painkiller though is horrible, it tastes bad and I don't like sleeping allday. I tried plain tylenol (liquid) but it just didn't cut the pain. So I guess I sleep until more of this pain goes away! I'm on full liquids since the 30th and for 2 weeks then I'll move on to mushies. Even now, the liquids are better than the medifast! (more choices, and I add a little plain protein powder for nutrition) Don't know how much if any weight I've lost since surgery, I don't have a scale and I just haven't been able to walk down the hill to my mom's and use hers. Hopefully this week I can get down there and weigh myself! That's all for now, gotta get back to bed, after I walk up and down the hall!

May 30th is my surgery date, just 6 days left!:biggrin:

:teeth_smile:Me too, Me too!! I am so tired. I am on the ninth day of medifast. I had to take a nap the other day I just couldn't make it through the day! I'm not usually a nap taker unless I'm really really sick, but I feel fine, just tired. I slept for 1.5 hours! and went to sleep that night early and slept through the night just fine. Don't know if it gets better but surgery is just days away.

Hi, my mom and I are getting banded on the 30th of this month. She was just diagnosed with diabetes a couple of months ago. And I was diagnosed with insulin resistance a couple of years ago. (I also had gestational diabetes in 2000). I've read several of the posts in this message board and it's very encouraging so many have been able to lower their meds and many more have been able to completly quit all meds! I have more of a vanity question, so here goes! Being insulin resistant, I have some facial hair, skin tags, dark skin patches and some hair loss. Will these things lessen as I lose weight? Or am I stuck with them? I was curious to know what others have experienced. Thanks:embaressed_smile:

Hi, I am 39 years old and have been struggling with my weight since about high school. Although, looking back at pictures, I wasn't really overweight until after I got married. I put on about 30lbs in the first year. I worked out every day and watched what I ate and lost most of it. Then joined the US Army and got down to 129, I was so excited and couldn't believe how good I looked and how much energy I had. About two years later I delivered a healthy 9lb boy. Unfortunatley, I was 201lbs at delivery! I suffered from toxemia and gained a lot of water weight. I think I was so depressed being so heavy that I ate and replaced each ounce of the water weight I lost with a pound of fat! I pretty much stayed around the 200 mark for the next 12 years. I didn't even gain a whole lot during my subsequent pregnancies, 1998 - 10lb 3oz boy, and 2000 - 11lb 8oz girl! Yeah, that wasn't a typo, 11lb 8oz! Now I have been at about 245ish for about 5 years and it doesn't go away, no matter how hard I try. Two years ago I lost 50lb, working out and eating "right". I put it all back on within a year. I just can't do the yo yo anymore! My grandma died from diabetic complications 7years ago, my step dad 4 years ago, and my mom was just diagnosed with it. I have insulin resistance, so it's just a matter of time, if I don't do something! I know I can lose the weight, that's not really the issue for me, it's keeping it off. I think the band will be a great tool for me to lose and keep this weight off.:frown: