starting the process

[lawenger 0]

I have just attended a seminar on lap banding and am very eager to get the show on the road. I have tried many diets in my lifetime and all have miserably failed. At my highest weight I hit 326:embarassed:. Currently I am at 310. I have started on high blood pressure medication and just want to lose weight. I just want to be able to do more with my life. I thought I had more support but my mom now doesn't want me to have the surgery done because I had complications with my last surgery and my sister who is also overweight agrees with her. My husband surprisingly is being supportive of this surgery. He recently bought a motorcycle and I wanted to go for a ride. Needless to say I was very embarrased and upset :whoo:when I couldn't even fit on the seat behind him. I am hoping to have the surgery done around Christmas time. Any information on how to get mentally prepared for the changes in eating would be greatly appreciated.:help:

[Alfie 58]

Hi Lawenger,

I am just starting my journey so I don't really have any advice per se but I just wanted to say that even though your family is not supporting you right now, they may change once they see the weight begin to come off. Let's face it, we lose, we gain but is anything permanent? Not for most people. You're young now but as you know, the older we get, with our weight on, the more medical problems we can run into. I know this from personal experience. It is very great that your husband is supporting you since he is probably the main one that is around you all the time. I wish you all the best in your journey.

Regards,

Alfie

[Thinner me 1]

:welcome:

I'm waiting to be banded myself. My dietician has suggested that I start eating like a banded person now (just larger portions). I have to get 63g of Protein a day, no drinking with meals or for 30 min. after, chew every bite at least 30 times, and eat with toddler fork and spoon. The only thing I'm having issues with is not drinking with my meals. It is getting easier though.

Ang

[Kat817 19]

Welcome everyone!!!

You will receive many different responses to the idea of being banded....some are formed simply because the person is not informed about the band, and its very low rate of complications, so they are filled with worry for you, and yet others have jealousy issues over it. The only person who can ultimately make the decision for you is YOU! Attend seminars, talk to bandsters, and read up on this and other forums, research until your heart is convinced it is for you.

As for preparing...I would say to begin doing your best to eat like a bandster. Yes your portion size will be bigger, since you will be doing so without benefit of the actual band. Try taking small bites, chewing well, eliminating carbonation. Learning to avoid drinking with your meals. Eat healthy foods. Yes, if we could maintain this plan, none of us would likely have needed the band!!! But all you will be doing is jump starting the weight loss with the band. Eating like this is MUCH easier with a properly filled band in place, as hunger is gone. Good choices are much easier to make when you are not ravenous all the time!

If you work now at reducing and eventually eliminating all sugar and flour from your diet, you will make the post op recovery much simpler. This is not to say that you will never eat these things again---you can! But when you eat sugar, and carbs, it raises your blood sugar, and causes you to crave more of the same. When you eliminate them, it eases the cravings.

Just learning all you can about how the surgery is done, and why the diet has to be followed is helpful as well. Knowledge is power---it helps you over the hurdle when you know why they want you to jump it in the first place!!!

Hang out, read around this site, and others....absorb lots of info.

And feel free to ask any questions you have---I'll bet not only will you not be the first person to ask it, but I also bet there will be others out there, who will appreciate knowing the answer as well!!!

Good Luck!

Kat

[Hebber 0]

I am starting the process myself. Tried to last year. Insurance would not cover it, but I knew with the Company merger we would be getting a better package. Just sent an inquiry to the Insurance compnay last week.

My father felt the same way. Very concerned about the surgery. The problem is he knew of 2 friends that had pretty serious complications with Gastric Bypass. I educated him on some information on the lap band and that really seemed to help. You may ask your family to log in on this web site to hear all of the sucess stories too. Most people are fearful of the unknown. Give them some references so they know it will be the best thing for you. I know when those results start kicking in, they will be so proud of you. Stick to you guns my dear. All will be wonderful!:clap2:

Sincerely,

Heather