Headsup! Louisiana

[LouisianaLiLi 231]

I am participating in an obesity study though Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA. I have been through several stages of the trials and have just been approved by the surgery board for banding. My first pre-op with the surgeon in June 7th. I'm very excited and I have a million questions, but this forum has really answered many of the questions I've had.

My name is Lisa and I'm a wife and mother of two grown children.(Our oldest is married, and our baby is getting married in October). I was born and raised in south Louisiana. I have been overweight since I got pregnant with the oldest. At one time in my life I was 135 lbs. I gained 75 lbs with the first baby and she was a whopping 6 lbs, 3oz. (I'm still carrying that extra weight plus many, many more pounds).

I'm doing this for me! My husband, children, parents and the few friends I've told are incredibly supportive (my inlaws....that's a whole other story). I refuse to let them get me down! I have been a happy "fat person" my entire adult life. I don't really have any self-confidence issues (I am an actress in my spare time, so I'm no shy violet), but I need to be much healthier.

I have yo-yo'd up and down the scale for years (more than I care to count). Each time, I have gained more than I lost. I am a true southern girl and love food. Everytime there is a family gathering...there is a ton of food (and it's all very, very good food). I am determined to get rid of all my fat clothes and even begin participating in half marathons.

See, I'm a Disney Fanatic (so is my husband). I have to use a scooter because it's just too painful on my joints to walk the parks all day. I want to enoy walking the parks with my husband and eventually my grandchildren. My mother is a diabetic and my grandmother before she passed away. WHile I currently don't have any symptoms, I know it can be an inevitibility for me if I don't do something about it.

I'm starting this process at my largest, 330 lbs, which is way too much me. I'm ready for the challenges that lie ahead. I'm determined to get healthy and loose the weight.

[Grandma3 73]

Congrats Lisa, this is a great site for support and information.

[elcee 3,341]

Welcome and all the best.

[Shannon318 6]

Hi Lisa,My name is Shannon and I am also a Heads Up participant with Dr. Hargroder as my surgeon. I was banded 5/23/12 and I have not had any isssues. I hope everything goes well for you, too!

[yvonne74 73]

Good Luck! We lived in South Louisiana for 4 yrs before moving back to Texas.This site is great for answers and support!

[LouisianaLiLi 231]

Hey Shannon. Glad everything went well for you. I go for my pre-op on Monday. Let's stay in touch through this process.

I love Louisiana. I am born and raised here.

[mzlodge1 3]

Hi Lisa I'm from Louisiana too.& Dr Bellanger Is my doctor. I was banded on.6/6

[jayro23 5]

Lisa, I am also a Heads Up participant! I was banded on 6/19 and I'm down 81 pounds (I lost 40 before the surgery). My surgeon is Dr. Thomas in Covington. Everything has been great so far! I have absolutely no regrets! I feel good and I'm active again. I'm back to jogging again and I'm working on my endurance. How is it going for you?

[astalsby 31]

Hey, everyone. Hoping y'all are still around. I am a Heads Up program participate and could use some advice on what to expect. I just finished my two week liquid diet before the doctors approve me for surgery. Got my chest xray so just playing the waiting game.

[lovelytrl 162]

Hey, everyone. Hoping y'all are still around. I am a Heads Up program participate and could use some advice on what to expect. I just finished my two week liquid diet before the doctors approve me for surgery. Got my chest xray so just playing the waiting game.

Like you I finished my shakes on July 6th and completed my chest x-Ray on my two week visit. Now I'm waiting for the call. Please keep me updated when you receive your surgery approval call and I'll do the same.

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

Well ladies...... Best wishes for a successful surgery and banded life. I will be one year out on August 22. As the Disney princess Jasmine sings...... "A Whole New World" awaits you two. TAMMIE

P.S. I am also a Heads Up patient.

Edited August 4, 2014 by HealthyNewMe

[astalsby 31]

Like you I finished my shakes on July 6th and completed my chest x-Ray on my two week visit. Now I'm waiting for the call. Please keep me updated when you receive your surgery approval call and I'll do the same.

I will definitely keep you updated. I would think we would hopefully be hearing the same time. So how much did you lose? I lost eight pounds and I was disappointed.

[lovelytrl 162]

I lost 14 pounds. Those two weeks were tough it got to a point that I had to start baking the powder because I couldn't drink it any longer. This happened towards the last couple of days. I'm also sure we sould hear something around the same time. I am so happy you posted to this thread I wanted to months ago but decided not to because it's been here so long. We must keep in contact!

Edited August 4, 2014 by lovelytrl

[astalsby 31]

Fourteen pounds is amazing. I feel bad about myself now. I didn't mind the shakes too much. I started at 247 so my eight pounds is nothing in the grand scheme of things. I wouldn't mind continuing the shakes to get my weight down even further.

[lovelytrl 162]

Eight pounds is GREAT! We were required to lose only 4 pounds so you exceeded their expectations. When did you complete your shakes? You know you can always contact Bethany for status. Did they give you a staff contact card with everyone's number and email on it? I will contact Bethany tomorrow and I'll let you know my status.