Christian bandsters

[bookworm 0]

Thank you for answering my post. It has given me somthing to think about

[Numbrgirl 0]

I have only told a few close friends and family about the operation - other than that - when people ask what I am doing I simply say "eating less and moving more" and that is really the truth for me. Even though the lapband has been put in to place - everyone knows there are ways to cheat, circumvent the process and not make any progress. It is only a tool to assist us in this endeavor and as we eat less and move more - the weight takes a hike.

Everyone has to make their own decision on this but I never feel like I am deceiving anyone or making it seem like it is easier than it is. Of course if someone flat out asked me "did you have an operation or something" then I would have to divulge more specific details.

[bookworm 0]

Thank you for your reply, So far I'm leaning toward only telling a select few people. As few as possible I think.

[wildercrews 0]

I went to for my fill on Thursday and the doctor told me I didn't need one but to bump up my exercise and decrease my calories to 1300 per day. I only lost 3 pounds in the last 3 months. I rejoined Weight Watchers today to help drop this last 40 pounds. Pray for me.

Grammy in Columbus

[clempier 0]

Hi to all,

The Lord is good. When you truly give Him different situations, He takes care of all details and even more. I was the first one banded in Bathurst Hospital this past Wednesday June 3rd 2009. Date of my second chance to put my health on the right track. All along the way I could see that God was with me, all the support I got from my family, my coworkers, my friends at church and out of church.

Since I got banded I burp a lot which I'm not use to. Is it normal at the beginning and it will subside? I hope so. I also have gas but this I think it's normal. It doesn't hurt but I feel as if it is stiff. How long is it going to be like that and that I won't feel any stiffness? Right now I'm on a liquid diet and on the 17th I'll start what I call the "blender diet". clempier:thumbup:

[JoannMarie 0]

Clempier, everything you are feeling is perfectly normal! How's that for a good thing?!!! Congratulations on joining the banded people. The discomfort from gas usually lasts about 2 weeks at the most. Some people say Gas-X helps that problem. I was lucky and did not have much pain from gas. The burping - yes, it's pretty common and also takes a while. I confess I still have some "gurgling" going on as I am eating, esp in the days following a fill. The doc's office says that is normal and expected. It's a smaller opening, after all, and stuff gurgles as it goes through. As you move to more solid foods that will decrease, as it's mostly the liquids that gurgle.

You sound like you are doing great - just a week out, you are still a baby-bandster. You will get used to it soon, and it's so much easier as you move into the more solid stages of food. Just don't rush it, as this is the healing time. Time for the band to really go to work comes later and it needs a good safe start.

As you said, God is with you through all of this. He has some incredible times coming your way. Soon you will be feeling so much better than you have in years. I am excited to hear about your progress - I know it's going to be great!

[Lovinglapbandliving 1]

I am Thankful for such a forum. many say bad things to those who have had WLS. I was asked..."Isnt my faith better than that?"

[GlenSand 1]

Hi to all my brothers and sisters in Christ thank you so much for your encoureging posts . I am in the last month of my pre op program and will be waiting to hear from the insurence after the 18th of June. Pray all goes well. My question is did you tell people at your church about your surgery?On the one hand I would really like all there prayers, yet I know of no one else in my congregation who has had this surgery. I was wondering if any of you told others or did you keep it private? Obviously there is some who think it a lack of will power. Obviously people who have never had a weight problem.

I am Thankful for such a forum. many say bad things to those who have had WLS. I was asked..."Isnt my faith better than that?"

You two are exactly right about what "people" say! I for one kept it private until after I started losing. I still haven't told anyone at work, just family and my small group. I just wanted to avoid the little quips like Don't you have any will power? Isn't Christ enough? You should pray more! Actually because of this mentality I did a lot of praying and searching guidance before I did it. I told God that I needed CLEAR guidance and direction before I would do this.

And God is so faithful! The verse He gave me was "If your right eye offends you pluck it out..." This was so perfect for my situation! I have been obsessing on my weight, my calories, my food for soo many years and tried over and over to give it to God. This band has been the prompt I needed to give it up! Praise Him for his mighty works! It was like cutting off my right hand...Now that temptation is gone from my life!

Now when people ask about why couldn't I do it on my own I tell them, many people need extra help in many areas even you! God knows our shortfalls. Some people have to give up computers, some have to stay away from small children, some need Anger management. I needed a restriction! Sorry church ladies, nobody is as perfect as you are! Even you.

I'll get off my soap box now.:smile2:

[bookworm 0]

Glenda thank you so much for your post! It was just what i needed to hear! God bless you

[tyme4change 1]

You two are exactly right about what "people" say! I for one kept it private until after I started losing. I still haven't told anyone at work, just family and my small group. I just wanted to avoid the little quips like Don't you have any will power? Isn't Christ enough? You should pray more! Actually because of this mentality I did a lot of praying and searching guidance before I did it. I told God that I needed CLEAR guidance and direction before I would do this.

And God is so faithful! The verse He gave me was "If your right eye offends you pluck it out..." This was so perfect for my situation! I have been obsessing on my weight, my calories, my food for soo many years and tried over and over to give it to God. This band has been the prompt I needed to give it up! Praise Him for his mighty works! It was like cutting off my right hand...Now that temptation is gone from my life!

Now when people ask about why couldn't I do it on my own I tell them, many people need extra help in many areas even you! God knows our shortfalls. Some people have to give up computers, some have to stay away from small children, some need Anger management. I needed a restriction! Sorry church ladies, nobody is as perfect as you are! Even you.

I'll get off my soap box now.

Those are awesome words Glenda. I too prayed before I got the surgery. I told myself if I get approved then I know God will see me through it. 85 pounds later I am a very happy lady!:smile2:

[ifyourstomachoffendsyou 1]

You two are exactly right about what "people" say! I for one kept it private until after I started losing. I still haven't told anyone at work, just family and my small group. I just wanted to avoid the little quips like Don't you have any will power? Isn't Christ enough? You should pray more! Actually because of this mentality I did a lot of praying and searching guidance before I did it. I told God that I needed CLEAR guidance and direction before I would do this.

And God is so faithful! The verse He gave me was "If your right eye offends you pluck it out..." This was so perfect for my situation! I have been obsessing on my weight, my calories, my food for soo many years and tried over and over to give it to God. This band has been the prompt I needed to give it up! Praise Him for his mighty works! It was like cutting off my right hand...Now that temptation is gone from my life!

Now when people ask about why couldn't I do it on my own I tell them, many people need extra help in many areas even you! God knows our shortfalls. Some people have to give up computers, some have to stay away from small children, some need Anger management. I needed a restriction! Sorry church ladies, nobody is as perfect as you are! Even you.

I'll get off my soap box now.:eek:

I started a blog to deal with just such issues the day I found out I was approved for surgery and needed to immediately start the pre-surgical diet. I've transferred some of that blog to the blog they give you here. I decided to tell everyone about my surgery through my blog and sent it to my church's prayer chain, to all my choir members, to all my family members, and I regularly post it on Facebook. I'm tired of hiding and secrecy and believe they're part of the disease, even though, in my case, my stomach was sticking out for all the world to see. I can see from the posts here that we all deal with the same doubts and fears. We allow Christianity (or ours and others distorted version of it) to get in the way of the miraculous healing God has for us through lap band surgery. I'll continue transferring posts from one blog to the other, but you may want to check it out directly at:

IF YOUR STOMACH OFFENDS YOU, TIE IT OFF

[clempier 0]

Hi to all,

This morning I was reading "New day New you" from Joyce Meyer and I had in my heart to put it on this site. I'm sure it's going to help someone. Here're what someone gave to Joyce:

God's Grace Will See You Through

I want you to face the mountain so that you can see,

When the mountain is out of the way all there is left is me,

Only I can move the mountain, only I can push it away,

Only I can conquer the problems that you face today,

Your only job is to believe, to listen to My voice,

and when you hear what I command, obedience is your choice,

But I will not make it too difficult for the victory is already mine, and I will fill you with My Spirit and throught you My grace will shine.

Not when you are perfect, like you think you need to be,

but when your heart is willing to become more and more like Me.

May God bless you all,

clempier:thumbup:

[JoannMarie 0]

Thank you, Clempier. Those words speak to me.

[ifyourstomachoffendsyou 1]

Thank you Clempier. I've been reading this thread and the other Christian Bandster thread as well as the 12-step thread. I've been struck by how consumed by guilt we all are. I'm copying here my most recent post on my blog:

IF YOUR STOMACH OFFENDS YOU, TIE IT OFF

Saturday, July 4, 2009

God Grants Grace, not Guilt

I spent a lot of time yesterday and today exploring a lapband website. There's a religious forum with a page for Christians and there's a 12-step forum with a few threads for those attending OA (Overeaters Anonymous) and FAA(Food Addicts Anonymous.) After reading many of the posts I came to a not-so-surprising conclusion. Guilt and shame are a way of life for people suffering from food addiction. People seem to be heaping guilt either on themselves or on others.

Christians accuse themselves of gluttony and beat themselves up over that. Other Christians really do say horrible things to them like, "Why are you getting that surgery, why don't you just pray?" Many Christian weight loss groups can have so many rules to follow that most people are bound to fail heaping guilt upon guilt.

OA and FAA attenders get accused of taking the "easier, softer way" if they get lap band surgery for which they beat themselves up. They also suffer attacks from the food nazis who have taken over OA and FAA and and who are addicted to adding food restriction upon food restriction and enforcing rule upon rule.

Guilt and shame have a horrible history of sabotaging recovery and driving people deeper into the food (or any other addictions).

Whether you believe addictions are sin or not (I believe they are brain-based disorders, not sin, that came into this world as a result of sin and that under their influence people do commit sin), beating yourself up over them is a sure-fire path to relapse.

Serenity is extremely important in recovery and those consumed by guilt and self-blame have no serenity.

We need to break the bondage of guilt. Especially unearned guilt and shame. God gave us the gift of grace, not of guilt. I like to say I gave up guilt for Lent.

As far as the rigid rule makers and enforcers--most of these people have simply replaced one type of food obsession with another and their rigid adherance to a code is all they've got. They transfer their internal shame and need for control onto others. It's just another insidious form of this disease. They don't know grace, and hence can't grant it.

Someday, Grace will come again and banish all guilt. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

[JoannMarie 0]

I just read your blog - PURPLE RIBBONS! It's a great idea. I'm ready to wear one 24/7 - and working toward that first 5K!

I love your blog. Very positive and very enlightening. You are giving me a lot to think about. Thank you.