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Yes you definately must tell your doctor about the sleep apnea!! Dangerous to go into surgery without giving him that information!!! Also my insurance company had to have three things "presenting" as a result of my weight, and yours may be the same. I also got the doctors treating my conditions to write the insurance companies letters for me. Hang tough, it WILL happen!

It really depends where you are on your journey. If you are at goal weight then you should be really looking at using higher weights, but if you are still a long way off, it can sometimes be a problem in that with higher body fat levels comes a raised testosterone level, meaning you can build muscle much faster. Now this isn't necessarily a problem because we want more muscle... more muscle the faster the metabolic rate. But what can sometimes happen is the increase in muscle tissue, especially in men tends to make them look a little bigger. Also you will never see any toning of muscles if they are covered in a layer of body fat. Its like displaying a priceless Ming vase covered in bubble wrap, you just won't see the benefits, so keep your training to larger muscle groups, moderate weights and circuit training style to get the best of both worlds, fat burning, muscle building and cardio. Jago

Hey everyone! My names Cat, and I've been in the process of looking into the lap band and other weight loss surgeries to help me with what my dr calls the "monumental" task of losing 200+lbs. I'm 26 years old, a mother to a hyper 15month old boy, a student in my 4th year of my bachelors and 2lbs shy of 400lbs. I recently had a consultation with a lap-band surgeon, and he said he has no reason he wouldn't perform the surgery, it's up to me, but with such a large amount of weight to lose, perhaps I should look into gastric by pass. At least talk with a surgeon and see what it's all about. He told me that with a lap-band, and at my current weight, with work and diet, I should expect to lose about 80lbs. Seeing as that's barely a dent in what I need to get gone, he said unless I'm that rare 1% of people who take it to the extreme, he wanted me to be aware of the average results. Although I appreciated his honesty... I was hoping for a more inspirational talk! lol. Anyway... I was just wondering what you fine group of people thought, and how you're feeling about your choice as a person of size to go with lap-band versus other options. The other things weighing on my mind, which I dont want to decide the choice of surgery on, but hey, it's there, is my surgery would be out of pocket (and my pockets dont go very deep!) Where as gastric by pass or sleeve would be covered for me. Isn't that aweful?! At my size it's not a "cosmetic" surgery lol. Thanks for listening guys, hope to hear back from some of you!

You CAN do this- it is a gift you are giving to yourself and especially to your partner and your kids. Look at it this way- you can voluntarily do this procedure in full control of it or end up in the hospital from weight related reasons at times not in your control. Request a relaxing drug to take at home before you go in-that should help! And you will find all kinds of love and support here too. We will all be behind you helping you do it.

Ok, so had a tough day today, have just come home from holiday this afternoon, which always leaves me a little blue, and then weighed in, and have GAINED 2lb (ok, so I wasn't perfect wilst away, but 2lb feels a bit harsh!). So I'm in a bit of a mood, then I start to download my holiday pics, and I come across the only one of me, and I think on reflection that I look fairly average in it, I certainly didn't look at it and think woah I look soo fat (my usual response to any photo of me). So I am claiming this as an NSV (photo attached), please feel free to argue I don't want it sugar coated, I am still only 1/2 way to goal, and know thats still going to take some doing, but I think I look really very average, which was the pick me up I needed! Plus as a mini NSV along the way this week - ended up at the beach without swimwear, so stripped off to just my knickers, and sunbathed topless (I have NEVER done this before, let alone in the UK!!) - although this did result in all over sunburn!! Anyway enough from me! xx

Even though you're not a fan of drinking and walking, give it a try till your tiny tummy can take more water. After a while you will be able to gulp water again but in the meantime, you need some way to keep from getting so thirsty. Just a little sip here and there on the walk will help. I had that issue too and I carried a water bottle everywhere and sipped, sipped, sipped. I still take water most everywhere, but I can now take a nice long walk and then drink a full glass pretty quickly when I get back home. Congrats on the exercise! For me, it's really been key to continued weight loss as I approach goal and to giving some nice form under the looser skin I now have. Lynda

Has anyone done the 30 day shred? This is not for the faint. The program is like working with a personal trainer...seriously. Jillian is no joke. But there have been a lot of good reviews/results with her program. just do a google search for reviews and you'll see. I am guessing it is not against board rules to post other websites since we reference weight watchers on this board so...do a search on Amazon and my fitness pal community and you'll see some amazing results. Anyway, I am only on day two but am siked! BTW, this is not for the beginner. I have heard some say they do it in conjunction with Couch to 5k and other running/walking/exercises.

You won't be able to do curves until you are healed, which I believe is at least 2 months..you can probably do walking and some other aerobic excercises..but curves has a lot of weight lifting which is out until your body is healed.

I am looking at the Omron HRM-100C that comes with the chest strap. Anyone know what the width of the chest strap? I'm losing weight but am still fairly large especially around the chest. I would like to buy this product but worry the chest strap may not fit.

yes, they sound like theyre going to be real hard.Ive been doing weight watchers since feb and lost 30 lbs.so then i bounce back and forth between thinking maybe ill just stay on that but i know i have a hard time keeping it off.Ive looked at the forums on their site from lap banders and some of the post were not encouraging. Talking about bands slipping and having problems..yikes! thats all i need. i have heel spurs in both feet so the walking can be a challenge for me too at times,i think me being lazy is more of a problem lol

Lmbo. It came with a five pound one. I'll just buy the other weights at Target and skip the shipping and handling.

Yes, harder than it looks. As you progress you can also ask the instructor ways to make the moves harder. Does your pool have lighter and heavier weights for the pool? If so after a while you can move to the heavier ones.

Brachioplasty. A yup... But, i would not even consider that until you've hit your weight loss goal. It can't hurt to investigate if your insurance will cover it. Your doing great with cardio - walking, and Wii is an awesome start. I'd encourage adding more, though, it's not for the purposes of losing the skin. The rubber band work is good basic resistance training for the muscles. I'd encourage working that until it gets easy, then consider finding a way to add some sort of body weight resistance program (basic yoga, for instance)... The muscles in the area under the arms - triceps in the arms, and laterals along your back (among others) can be developed with more intensive training, but, it's still not going to solve your skin issues...

had a brain tumor, and surgery...used it as an excuse to stop working out and eating poorly....hopefully i learned from that experience. not happy about doing having do do the weight thing all over again, but at least i know it works, and i can do it. marcia

Thank you all for your replies! I actually ran track in high school and I remember getting that endorphin high from it. Rootman, Thank you for the example with your swimming workouts. You did what I'm trying to do, build up my endurance because I know I'll lose the weight, but I want to be healthier when I get there. Pdx, You actually stated my philosophy on this exactly! I didn't have surgery just to look better. I actually had a doctor give me the "How quick do you want to meet your maker?" speech. He told me I wouldn't live another year if I didn't get the weight off, and the weight is coming off. However, I know that just losing the weight isnt going to protect me from having bad health issues all by itself. With the 60 pounds I've lost in 3 months, I don't have a good sense of balance yet. I did try the elliptical the other night, but I couldn't balance myself well enough to get on yet. I will try it again in a few weeks and see if that's any better. That's also the reason I'm not attempting to run on the treadmill yet. I can see me flying off the back and falling on the floor! LOL I think I will just start adding more time to my walking for now, maybe 5 minutes more each time until I build up to walking the full 3 miles (that's a 5k, right?). Once I'm at that, then I can work on increasing speed. I'm pretty happy with the results I've had so far, but wanted to make sure I'm doing this right. I'd really like to do the C25K thing, but know I need to lose more weight before I attempt that. Thanks again!

Hi Jayla - We all want to be free! And the band is a great tool. I just caution you to be aware that in spite of how it may feel, your weight is NOT the source of all your problems - it's just the scape goat. So even when you get to be "skinny," you will still have to deal with whatever life dishes out to you. Think of all those celebrities who have good looks, great bodies, and lots of money, but that does not keep them from getting divorced, going bankrupt, being thrown in jail, or OD'ing on drugs. Okay - now that reality check is out of the way... :cool: The band is a wonderful tool. It takes work, and PATIENCE. Patience is probably the #1 thing most lacking with people who have been banded. Most feel as though they are losing weight too slowly. Be aware that if you get banded, this is a lifelong journey, and it will PROBABLY take you a good 2 years to reach your goal. Maybe longer, maybe shorter, depending on how you work it. But it will not do everything for you. There are a number of possible complications - most of them are more irritating than anything else. The things I see most commonly from what I read: 1. Most people experience the "stuck" feeling occasionally throughout their banded life - where they ate too fast, or didn't chew well enough. This is very uncomfortable, and can be somewhat painful, but is temporary (usually) and is controlable by you for the most part. 2. Many develop reflux a couple of years out. 3. Chances that you'll have to have a port repair/reposition at some point is pretty high. 4. Quite a few have problems with food not staying down because they are either filled too tight, or are not chewing enough or eating slowly enough (PB = productive burp). 5. PBing is also the number 1 cause of esophagitis, which is generally treated by removing the fill until you are healed. During this time of little to no restriction, many struggle not to regain weight. The above are the most common negative side effects, but are more annoying than anything else. Other possibilities that happen, but are less common: 6. Frequent PBing is the number 1 cause of band slippage, which requires surgery to repair, and sometimes results in the loss of the band for at least a period of time, sometimes permanently. 7. Erosion (where the band is absorbed into the stomach cavity) is also a possibility, and requires surgery to fix. Again, the fix may result in the loss of the band for at least a period of time, sometimes permanently. MOST people only experience the annoying problems 1-4, and some experience NO adverse affects. The benefits of being banded, for me, far outweigh the negatives. I am one who will have to have my port repositioned. I am 9 months out, and I have only PB'd 3 times. I have gotten temporarily "stuck" maybe 20 times. I do not (yet) experience any reflux, and have had no problems with esophagitis. I have lost 61 pounds virtually effortlessly, as I do not diet, and my exercise is very hit and miss. Many people have much better result than I, because they work harder at it. I, however, am comfortable knowing that whatever I have lost is gone forever as long as I keep my band and my restriction, because I am not doing anything special that I may stop doing later. I am just living my life in what is a normal way for me, the way I expect to live it forever. AND I AM LOSING WEIGHT!!!! How miraculous is that? It is true that I mostly eat high quality, nutritious foods. I have the occasional pizza and sweets, but they are by no means staples in my everyday food choices. Would I get banded again? In a heartbeat!! Do I have any regrets? Only that I didn't do this years ago. Do I feel better than I can ever remember? Absolutely. Would I recommend this to anyone else? Without reservation. However, you do need to be aware of the possible downside, so I have tried to give you a balanced viewpoint. Hope this helps.

Hello PCracker :tea: It's great to meet you! I am just loving all the wonderful responses here on LBT. I'm really glad I joined, I don't feel as alone anymore. Please feel free to PM or email me anytime too! We do sound like we have a lot in common. Congratz on the 20 pound weight loss so far, that's more than I can do without some diet (although I have not done the pre-op diet yet). Please let me know when your date for the banding is! Would love to know how you are doing :gluck:

Hello Donna! Thanks so much for the positive feedback, I need to hear these success stories (I know the risks and complications, lol). I'm so happy to hear you are pleased with this, congrats on the weight loss so far!

yeah, you really feel like you are playing! I'm better at the Wii Sports than just "real" sports! It is really fun and it keeps track of your weight, bmi and your progress! I love it! SO FUN! :thumbup:

Just walking is probably your best option for now. The Exercise Physiologist at my surgeon's office said that we should avoid lifting anything heavier than 10lbs for the first month. He said the emphasis should be on "activity" during the healing process and save the "exercise" for later. Since I was already working out before the surgery, he gave me clearance to do "light" workouts at the gym, starting 2 weeks after the banding. This meant no straining and keeping in mind that it was activity and not exercise. Basically, I used really light weight on the machines and did a billion reps. It was good to have the activity, but I never came close to hurting myself. Early on, you should really focus on recovery and start really exercising after a month has past. Bryan Banded 8-26-08

Well, yes the lower BMI do great. But also, yes, you MUST work out to have consistent weight loss.

thanks for the schedule. im going to start it monday. i walk for 30 mins. now and ride the bike for 20-30 mins. and then do weights. i would love to be able to run.

littlefroggy - your story sounds a bit familiar. DH and i had our gym membership the whole time while we were gaining weight. paid the monthly fees - but didn't put one step in for 4+yrs. i also waited 3 months after banding before i called our 24hr fitness to see if our membership was still "valid"....while i was just walking my neighborhood - when i could have just started in the gym right away... congrats on walking into the gym and working out!!!

Hi, everyone I'm Betsy, and I'm a bandster-in-waiting. I've done the seminar, and am awaiting my appointment with Brian Lahmann at Silver Cross in Joliet, IL. While I am not yet 100% certain, I believe he and Dr. Joyce lean toward Realize banding for their banding patients; I will learn more on August 21. I am not yet sure whether I will be required to be followed preop with a medically supervised diet; our insurance plan has loosened its requirements for WLS, and I don't know where they currently stand. Either way, I'm ready, and willing to jump through whatever hoops necessary to get the show on the road! I'm a long-time weight watcher (not just with that particular plan--but with every one under the sun). I require ridiculously few calories to maintain, and even fewer to lose, and am viewing the band as a tool to make the restriction tolerable. I have just over 100 pounds to lose. On a less weight-related note, I've been married for 23 years to Mark, and have an almost-21-year-old daughter and almost-13-year-old son. I'm an RN who is now a science and health writer and instructor. I love to read, write, decorate, and entertain. I walk 3.5 miles with my "personal trainer" (3-year-old Lab-shepherd,Truman) each morning and, usually, every evening as well. I'm VERY motivated to get this weight off, primarily for pain relief purposes but also so that I feel like "me" again. I look forward to getting to know everyone

Hi Jack and welcome to LBT You will find by reading here that we all have a little bit different experience with the band. Some people work very hard with counting calories, exercising, and all the other things that go along with weightloss. Some people never count calories or exercise and the weight falls off effortlessly. Some people can no longer eat steak or bread. Some people can eat everything, but smaller portions. If you go with the band, you will not know which one of these types you will be until you are already banded. You have to be willing to be any of them for the band to work properly and the weight to come off. You are male and don't have 200 pounds to take off, so that is in your favor.