lingling

A couple of things make me sad about this thread. Firstly, people who are being negative and saying that people's behaviour is self destructive. We're not here to judge, and everyone on here has obviously had an unhealthy relationship with food at some point to be at the point where we have undertaken or are about to undertake surgery. So that makes me sad, and people who are genuinely posting their concerns on here - don't listen to the meanies, this should be a place for you to be open and get help and support. The main thing that makes me sad is that I felt like this too, I was so afraid i would never be able to have beer, or have bread, or have all the food I loved. The reality of the situation a year and a bit down the track is that you can have them if you want them. Sometimes they can be a bit tricky to eat (bread) but you work out ways to get around it. The most amazing thing I have found - and I am sure you will all too, is that I couldn't care less now if I ever ate any of those "favourite" foods again - the band does restrict your intake but it also changes your brain and your views on food 100000% - I cannot explain it and how it works, but it does. Wouldn't bother me emotionally if I ever ate again. So hang in there, if you need to eat now, eat now, but don't mess up your pre-op diet or you'll get your surgery bumped, and be gentle on yourself - both physically after the surgery and emotionally. This is a long journey, but it has been the right one for me :thumbup: - Universal destiny - just a note, I used to drink litres of diet coke every week - couldnt be less interested now, probably had 1 bottle in the last year! It just doesn't do anything for me (again, one of those things that i cannot quite explain!)

Hey Billy. I was banded a little over a year ago, and I had the same concerns - Agh!! No beer!! No problems drinking anything - except somethings like dry white wine can make me feel a little acidic in my throat. Beer is sweet, you might have to drink at tiny bit slower (and definitely don't attempt it for the first month while you're healing!) the only problem I have found with beer and alcohol - is that it has really slowed my weightloss down. Doesn't mean that it's still not happening but I do like to get on the booze on the weekends, and if I compare to the rest of my bunny bandsters who were banded april 09 like I was, they are all quite a bit thinner than I am now, in saying that, I've lived my life and had fun and still lost weight. I cannot believe how happy I am that I made this choice, I love my life now, and I still have a BMI of 37 - but its coming off bit by bit each week and I feel like there is hope again for me :thumbup: Good luck - you won't know yourself a year from now! Enjoy the new life !!

How very cool. I was banded a year ago on the 2nd of April. God, I remember how scared I was but how excited - you guys really don't know what you are in for - what a phenominal journey this last year has been - I wouldn't change a single thing - the band has given me hope, made me feel alive again and was the best thing I have EVER done for myself. I am so excited for you all - and what this is going to do for you - you won't know yourselves in a years time. I am over 50lb down. I have lost a lot slower than many of my other Bunny bandsters from April - as I LOVE my wine and beer - and they are some seriously empty (but yummy) calories - so it slowed it down a lot. But even still - I feel so much better than I ever thought I would - and the weight is still coming off every week... and I will get there. My pearls of wisdom. - Don't be scared about the surgery - I was petrified, but it was so totally fine. - Follow the doctors directions to the letter with pre-op and post-op diets. - Chew Chew Chew Chew Chew!!!!!! - You will be surprised how quickly your body adapts and what you think might be a scary lifestyle where you can't eat steak and bread just becomes normal and you don't care. I couldn't care less now if someone told me I could never eat again - the band just takes the attachment / desire/interest away from food altogether. - Most importantly - be kind to yourself and welcome to your new life - this is just going to get better from here!!! Linglingx

Do a search on here, you will see people waxing lyrical about the realise vs the lap band. I don't think it makes much of a difference to be honest - they both do the same thing at the end of the day!

Second opinion! If the second guy says no, ask for details as to exactly why!!! Don't give up. Even if LB is not for you, then maybe GB is, but this is something that you can find a way through!! Hang in there!

Hi there Yes, it's the most normal feeling in the world when you are about to be banded. We are all sitting here on this site because we are at the end of our tether, we have tried the "normal" way 100000 times and ended up fatter for it. This is because our chemistry is so messed up for whatever reason - genetics, yo-yo dieting, bad eating, whatever.. but the end of the day -there is no diet & exercising and normal way back from this - well there is for 2% of people, but this is our one shot at life and I was sure as hell not letting those odds let me from living my life to the fullest. Give it a shot, I am so relieved that I had it done, no, I am not skinny yet, but I am down 19kg (40lb) and finally feel some hope in my life! !!! :wink2:

************* FRIDAY WEIGH IN 21 AUG 2009 ************* Hey everyone. I feel so bad about the spreadsheet. My life has been crazy. Huge family dramas and I am sorry I haven't updated the sheet. I weighed in today at 120.9kg What a BEAUTIFUL number. That's 266lb. Isn't it astounding... I may still be fat and have a long way to go, but God, its good to feel like there's hope and light at the end of the tunnel and I am feeling sexy and feminine again. Its phenominal. Hope you guys are feeling the same! I won't promise to update the sheet, as then I'll feel bad if I don't. But I will try xxxxx