I'm sure you've seen this message 100 times...

[vluckey 1]

But I just found your sight. Please indulge me with as much support and love and you can afford, cuz I'm scared....

My surgery is scheduled for December 9th. I started my full liquids diet today. (That has been surprisingly easy, at least today). I know these sights are for the experienced bander with all of the great info flying around. I am not one of you (yet).

I am the first person I know personally who is having this. My best friend had RNY several years ago, but she is currently eating thru it and not having the eating issues, I didn't know her when she had it done. It just really hit me tonight in reading all of this information that this is not a cake walk. I knew it rationally, but not emotionally. I don't want to feel sick all of the time. Please tell me that when this is over, I will be able to eat less, feel better, and help my self to make better food choices. Please tell me that food will not rule my life. Please tell me that this is going to put a big dent in my genetic code which tells my body to make me constantly hungry and weigh 300 lbs like my dad, grampa, aunts, uncles, cousins, (but not my brother, the big jerk).

Please tell me that I will eventually be able to roll around on the floor with my 2 year old son and then, be able to get up.

In serious need of encouragement from those whose foot steps I'm following,

Vanessa

[the best me 6]

Oh Vanessa. It's no cake walk. Read up good on all the scary stuff going on. Be prepared for it, cuz it ain't always easy. It's scarier than going in for the surgery that you hope will change your life for the better. There's alot of bandster eating rules that need need need to be followed...chewing well, small bites, learning the "stop eating" signals, not eating around the band with ice cream Cookies and chips, which go down just fine, thank you, no Water with meals, lots and lots of water in between meals, healthy food choices...fighting a tough metabolism, dealing with plateaus in your weight loss, avoiding PB's where food gets stuck at the band and must come back up, getting stuck!, needing a fill, having too much of a fill, slipppage, erosion, leaks, the list goes on. Be prepared for the worst of it.

Then, do it. Because I walked up and down the grocery store aisle the other day with a 38 pound bag of dog food, and it's no wonder I felt like crap for so long. All that weight plus some was throughout my body weighing me down like a rock, pushing my heart past it's limits, aging me, limiting me, killing me physically and emotionally. I think about what the next 50 pounds will feel like for me!!!! I can get on the floor and play with my kids (ages 6 and almost 3) and GET UP! I can go all day. I can either just eat less, or, if I need to kick my metabolism in the butt, I can follow a well-balance "diet" without being miserable or feeling deprived! It's so exciting to be able to eat a 1/2 a banana with 1 Tbs of Peanut Butter for a snack and it's plenty! Pre-band, it was the whole banana, 3 Tbs of peanut butter, a granola bar, AND some cheese & crackers. And that was a snack! I thinkback and I'm occasionally amazed, although now, almost 8 months into it, it's no biggie. Food doesn't rule my life.

Now, even with all the good, I am still fighting a tough metabolism, I'm a slow loser, and I'm having a hard time sometimes "banding my brain". I'm fighting, but I'm also slowly winning. Any discouragement is temporary. I have NO trouble maintaining what I have lost so far. Had I done WW or Jenny Craig or Nutrisystems or whatever else, I'd have given up months ago and gained back plus some. Sound familiar?

Grab hold of hope. Go in with your eyes wide open. Prepare for the hard stuff. Chances are, you will do just great! and love your band like the rest of us and be passing along advice and hope to others who show up here like you did, and like I did almost a year ago.

Chin up, it can happen. Believe it.

[sunsett 2]

Welcome!! This site is for everyone. Many people come here just thinking about the band and doing research. I found out about the site from my surgeon, and have gotten a lot of questions answered and a lot of support. This is truly a site for everyone and anybody thinking about WLS.

The reason why I chose the band was the fact that I could have it adjusted for the rest of my life. I hope to get to my goal weight and then maintain it by using my tool. The band is a tool and you have to remember that. Just like exercise is a tool, journal writting is a tool, nutritionists are tools, theripists and support groups are all tools and of course this website is a tool.

I recieved my band on 9/25. I have lost 26 pounds with the band and a total of 38 with the preop diet. More exciting than the scale are things like I don't need BP meds anymore, I don't need the X-large BP cuff anymore. I can sit in an airplane seat and have more than 1/4 inch of the belt hanging out. I can go to a colisium and feel comfortable and actually put my hands on wither side of my legs at the same time and have room. I went from a 3x to a 1x in tops a 26 to 20 in pants. I'm now he first to get offer to run back into the house to get something we forgot, because I want to and I have the energy.

I have not had my first fill yet. That is coming on Dec 14. So far, this has been a cake walk for me. I love my band!! I have had 2 minor eposides with food. neither la sted longer that a few minutes.

A few weeks after I got my new best friend, I was out to lunch by my self and I was starving! After scarfing my first 5 bites I remembered I had the band and needed to slow down. I take a minimum of 20-30 minutes. That can be a real drag at times, but it is really not a big deal. I play games with it. If Im alone and have the TV on I try to watch the news and when they change topics I have a bite.

I've noticed that when I stand up after eating I feel fuller.

You wiil automatically start looking at all the calories, sugar, carbs and fats on every box you pick up. It isn't ainful it's a choice that you make as to wether you want to eat whats in there or not.

You will get tears in your eyes when you go to the store and try on a smaller size and you can't believe that you can fit into it so soon after the surgery.

You will glow from ear to ear when people tell you how great you look.

You WILL have the best new pictures of yourself and your son.

And you will LOVE chasing him all over the park and the house playing hide and seek.

I know this is long, but I hope it's help. I say it all with excitement. I just love my band and the fact that I can make choices now and feel good about them. I don't feel deprived although PMS time isn't easy, but I still have my hersey kisses just 5 or 6 instead of 30or 40.

I know that it is scary, but I can tell you from my past 2 months I couldn't be any happier.

[Teresita 0]

I don't want to feel sick all of the time. Please tell me that when this is over, I will be able to eat less, feel better, and help my self to make better food choices. Please tell me that food will not rule my life. Please tell me that this is going to put a big dent in my genetic code which tells my body to make me constantly hungry and weigh

I think Kathy and Dianne covered it all.....but my personal 2cents is that getting banded was the best thing I have ever done. Most of us don't feel sick all the time...you will be able to eat less....feel better.....and make better food choices.....food will not HAVE to rule your life, but remember it will continue to be big part of it......this will not change your genetic code but you will be able to change your body which will change your mind set...you will not be starved and you will no longer be 300 pounds....

It is amazing what weight loss does to the human spirit. Seeing pounds come off and even more so the fit of your clothes and even more then that the energy that comes from shedding fat. You just feel diffrent...you begin to realize you are doing things that you have not done in quiet a while. Then you gain confidence to do something that you have never done. It is an amazing feeling. You know loosing weight is not easy no matter how you do, surgery or no surgery. It is the end results and maintenance is a part of that. The band helps you to control your portions which help you to achieve what has been unatainable. Good Luck get a head start "Live Like You're Banded"

[TommyO 5]

Your post convinced me to register and reply, I am getting banded on the 9th as well and have many of the same concerns. There is little chance anything said could change my mind but it is nice to read all of the reply's so far. I will keep you posted on my progress and please reciprocate; it would be interesting to compare notes.

[vluckey 1]

You all have nearly brought tears to my eyes. Thank you thank you thank you! I am printing out these responses and will read them if I feel anxious about this. I am so glad that I found this sight and that you all are so helpful and encouraging. I know that I will find much help and strength here.

Anyone else who has more to add please please do so. This decision has been in the works for over 5 years, when I first looked into RNY (BFN, big fat NO). But now that I am down to the last 9 days I'm more nervous than I anticipated.

Your help is so greatly appreciated... And I'm so glad that you registered to reply TommyO, it's great to know that we're in this together!

Vanessa

[Jachut 487]

I'm going in on December 9 also and from what I know of friends that have been banded, afterwards I am going to enjoy good food without feeling guilty, because I am not going to overeat it.

[Cheri 0]

Girl, I hear you!! I am being done on Monday, and have the same hopes/fears as you. My best advice is to read, read, read (when you are not walking- start now, easier when you are recovering!!) There are a million absolutely terrific people on this site and I am sure each and every one of them will be cheering for you!!!!

I have started a December Bandsters list if you want to get on it. we are rooting for each other, praying for each other, and doing whatever else we may be needing at the time! PM me if you want added!!!

Good Luck, chick, and I'm here cheering you on!!!