Manny

Hi there, I know I need to give things a bit longer, but I think I will eventually need a tummy tuck.. I have quite a bit of flabby, loose skin on my stomach and it is really unattractive.. sometimes I almost wish I had a bit more fat there to at least fill it out and stop the wrinkles. (Of course, I don't really mean that) Has anyone got any relevant hints or advice about this? I am particularly interested to get an idea of how much this would cost. Thanks in advance,

La Chula 27- people who say "it's an easy way out" aren't really thinking about what they are saying. Here's why: 1) It isn't all that easy- but it works. You are having surgery- nothing easy about that And you still have to make good decisions- to work with the band, to excercise, etc for the rest of your life. 2) Why would chosing an easy way to do soemthing be a bad thing? Let's say that lap-banding is easy for argument's sake- are the people who say you are taking the easy way out suggesting that there is something good or sensisble about taking "the hard way"? I claen the carpet using a vacuum cleaner- pretty easy really- would people tell me I shouldn't take the "easy way out" in these circumstances? Would they not criticise me if I tld them I plan to keep my floor clean by getting on my hands and kness and picking up tiny bits of rubbish with tweezers? 3) Getting a lap-band is not the result of saying "what is the easiest way to lose weight?" It is usally the result of asking "what method of weight loss is most likely to work in the long-term?" I chose the lap-band after a significant amount of research. I am a science geek so I extensively investigated the medical literature about weight loss, rather than relying on "common sense wisdom" or diet books with an agenda and I found that for obese people, no amount of exercise, behavioural modification or dieting is successful in maintaining weight loss for more than 5 years for 95% of us. Surgical intervention has amuch higher success rate, so i chose the lap band. It is very easy for people to say "just eat less and exercise more", but the facts speak volumes- this doesn't work in the long-term for 95% of people who are obese. Does this mean 95% of obese people are lazy, or weak? I don't think so, it is much more likely that complex physiological and genetic factors are at play, making it hard to keep weight off. Science is making progress in understanding obesity, but there is much to be discovered and understood. I think one day we will have a blodd test that will predict whether we are in the 5% for whom "eat less, move more" will work. In summary, the decision you made to get banded could be easy, or it could be hard, but it is much more likley that it will turn out to be the RIGHT decision. I wish you all the best.

I do count my calories, and while I agree that this may re-semble "just another diet"- for me, i find writing things down in general gives me a feeling of control and accomplishment- so while I write down calories, I also write down what i spend my money on, my weekly, monthly and yearly goals etc. I am currently consuming 2000- 2200 calories a day which to many may sound excessive, but note I am a 28 year old male, over 6 ft tall, who is very active (walk a minimum of 12 km a day and weight train 3 times a week). If I go too far below this, I find myself losing muscle rather than fat (I have scales than measure body fat vs lean body mass). At this level, I am continuing to lose body fat and I expect to be at my target weight by Christmas this year.

I also say give them away (or throw them out). But I would also suggest keeping one pair of pants/ skirt etc and I shirt- preferably the biggest that you used to have to wear. If you find yourself stumbling or getting a little down, it can be a real boost to put them on and see them hanging off you

I think as you can already tell by the other replies, fear of the lapband being just another failed "program" is common if not universal. Previously, I lived and breathed food- it consumed my every waking (and some sleeping) moment. I discussed this with my surgeon and he advised that while being banded does require some "discipline"- it is not like a diet. he said that even in the worse case scenario there would be some weight loss because it would just not be possible for me to eat the sheer quantity of food I did. Ana amazing thing happened over the last 18 months- I lost my obsession with food- I don't miss it- and I ate not out of hunger but because I loved food. It seems that the lapband has affected not only my hunger, but for some reason my psychological dependence on eating. Apparently this is not uncommon. Good luck

I had disturbed sleep caused by sleep "hypneas" - I believe that was the term.. basically it was borderline apnea but not serious enough to justify a CPAP machine... since I have lost weight I have definitely stopped snoring!

Hi there, I know I need to give things a bit longer, but I think I will eventually need a tummy tuck.. I have quite a bit of flabby, loose skin on my stomach and it is really unattractive.. sometimes I almost wish I had a bit more fat there to at least fill it out and stop the wrinkles. (Of course, I don't really mean that) I do remember hearing somewhere that this surgery is classed as reconstructive rather than cosmetic, and therefore attracts better health care rebates etc. I realise that health insurance/ funding issues very by country, and I am from Australia, where things may be different, but am still interested in getting some idea about the costs involved. Thanks in advance, <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Hi there, If I have eaten a little too much and/ or too quickly and get "that feeling" I do find spitting helps, I figure the less of anything- liquid or food, that is weighing down, the less pressure, and therefore the less pain. Cheers

Hi there, Can you tell me what a "Magic Bullet set" is? Thanks

Hi all, Was hoping someone could give me some advice ahead of me visting my surgeon. I have had a pain in my left side just below my rib cage that comes and goes for about 2 months. My regular doctor believed it was a bowel issue due to lack of fibre- this sounded about right as my diet has become low in fibre due to less food of any sort in general. I have upped my fibre intake and the problem went away for a while, tehn came back, so I was sent to a specialist for a second opinion. A CT scan didn't show any issues with my bowel, and the problem has for the most part resolved itself. The surgeon did mention that it appeared my band may have slipped- however he agreed that I had no sysmptoms associated with this and he admitted he was not too familiar with the placement of the band. From what I can see, the band looks like it is where it should be, angled downwards towards the centre at about 40 degrees.. it looks a lot like the diagrams I have seen that show how a band is positioned. Anyway, I will be seeing my band surgeon and showing him the Ct scans, so he will let me know what is going on, but in the meantime, has anyone had any experience either with the pain I have described, or any advice about the possible slippage? Cheers. Manny

Hi there, Here in Australia there is an Obesity Conference that is making the news every day for some reason or other. Some great publicity about the lap band and its success- here is the link if you are interested in reading... http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/sophie_scott/newsitems/s1735655.htm

Hi Susan, I was previously mannyfromaus, now just Manny. Sorry it has taken so long, but wanted to say thanks for your advice, I have been having a quick hot drink prior to meals and this does help a lot. Thanks again.

Hi there, Notice I have changed my nickname to Manny (my real name is Emmanual). I think there may be some confusion about terminology- in Australia, Medicare is the national health care scheme that covers all Australians for the majority of medical needs for free. In other words, universal health care provided by the government. I thought this didn't really exist in the US- hence I am wondering if Medicare means something else to you? The lapband procedure is not covered, so if you want the lapband, you need to have private health insurance or pay upfront. I have private health insurance and paid less than $1000 US for my surgery. Since then, I have had so much success that two others in my workplace (an office of about 60 staff) have also had a lapband. So I have started a trend! Cheers,

Carol, I was banded just over a year ago and I still sometimes forget to chew properly- after a lifetime or stuffing food down my throat, it has taken me a while... but I am about 90% there. The other 10% will come I am sure. So don't be hard on yourself...