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[noela31 0]

Hi all

I'm 45 and live in Qld Aust and was banded on the 2nd April - the 151 says it all. I'm looking at it as a journey and so far all has been so good - surgery and the first four days have been great. Looking for any tips though - it's just the start of the journey and it will be a long one, so any stories and suggestions would be wonderful.

Noela

[losingjusme 12]

hi Noela,

welcome to LBT!

the key to my loss so far has been exercising as much as i physically can... i started out at 402, so my 'exercise' would be about 5 mins on the treadmill, but i gradually increased it.

you can do it.

[kathystrick 3]

Hi Noella!

You can do it! The road looks really long when you're standing at the beginning of it, but you will be six months out and on your way to a new, healthy, skinny you before you know it. Good luck!

[noela31 0]

Yeah it looks long - am focusing on one day at a time. Tomorow I go for my first pre-op appointment - as much as I am trying hard to focus on the journey, being healthier and fitter I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about how much weight I've lost since banding. I'm not feeling hungry and strangely I am not even thinking about food or eating (God I hope that continues), am sticking to broths, 100% juices and good old H2O and am doing a little more exercise evey day. Thanks for your replies - it's good to know it is more than just a dream, because all out there are making it a reality!!

[Jachut 487]

Hi Noela,

exercise has been key for me too, in fact my dietary modifications have been very moderate, I basically eat what I ate before only in small quantities and without the in between meal Snacks. Truly its just like my mother used to tell me, dont eat between meals and eat healthy food. Its all its taken.

That and LOTS of exercise, lol.

[noela31 0]

Well first post op visit on the 10th - woo hoo!!!!! 6kg (13lb) down -yeah Iknow its mainly Fluid but it was nway cool. My significant other says it's noticeable and so do friends...it's nice to hear. Still want to focus on getting healthier and fitter, not the weight loss - it will come with the other 2. Better than the weight loss, i also had my gall bladder remover when I had thelapband surgery. My doctor sent it to pathology, was what they term a porcelain gall, which is a precorsor to cancer - my lapband may have saved my life in more ways than one asi had no symptons of gall problems.....one to keep an eye on folks. Can start 'baby food' next week. It's all good so far - a few twinges around theport site as the frip 2 my Dr is a 3 hr round drive...it's good to feel happy and positively focused for a change.... all the best to those in lapband land.:thumbup:

[jjsmiles 3]

Congratulations are your excellent beginning. It's also wonderful that your gall bladder could be removed "pre cancer". Sometimes things happen the way they should although the journey getting there may be confusing and challenging.

[noela31 0]

Well, I've been bande for 22 days, lost 6 kg in the first week.... don't own a set of scales so haven't concentrated on the kgs, just getting the eating right...still on mushies for another week. Back at work where i am a coordinator of in a boys boarding school... last night we have a fire alarm go off..get all the boys out then I manage to trip over a mat and go hurtling out the door (not a pretty sight from any angle i assure you!!). So this am at the hospital - torn ankle ligaments left foot, right knee and sprained right wrist - what a disaster, in more pain than after surgery. Any way I thought now I can get weighed, so I asked the nurse if I could be weighed...she is seriously looking at me thinking why would this crazy arsed bitch want to know how much she weighs!!!!! Told her i had lapband surgery...she was more enthusiastic on hearing this. Guess how much....13kg all up - I was so blown away. To all those out there in lapband land I love reading all the different posts - its really positivd supportive. Cheers to us all!!:redface:

[kathystrick 3]

Congratulations on your weight loss! You are really doing awesome! Sorry to hear about your accident though. Hope you are able to get back on your feet before too long. Take care and keep us posted on that progress!

[noela31 0]

Thanks Kathy, it really is a different system for you in America with the waiting for permission from your insurance company t see what happens with your surgery. Here if you have private health cover you ring them find out how much they will pay and off you go. Lapband surgery would be 15000$$ without private health plus 1000$$+ per night in hospital. I was still out of pocket about $3500, worth every cent. I hope you hear soon when you can have surgery - I'm so pleased and haven't looked back. Keep in touch.

[kathystrick 3]

I wish that were the case here! I would be well on my way to being an all new, slimmer, healthier me if it were!

[noela31 0]

Let us know when it all happens - do you have guidelines for the length of time before approval. You'll be there before you know it and with your head in the right place. Getting my head around a 'for life' liestyle change was a big thing for me - even cancelled the surgery once in March. Was so frightened I wasn't going to be able to do it properly and still had lingering feelings that banding equal failure...my Dr had a good talk to me about that!!! So at 45, 5'11" and 372 and a compulsive overeater I made the smartest decision of my life. It's amazing how food is no longer the focus of my day... no constant battle over will I or won't I eat something...and I don't feel hungry and I feel sooo good. Hope for it to happen soon for you!!

[kathystrick 3]

Thanks, Noela. There are no guidelines for the length of that wait, so all I can do is wait! The head part really is the hardest, isn't it? It really requires a lot of delving into yourself and all those ugly emotions that trigger your appetite. I hope doing that before surgery will help make post-op easier. The main thing for me has been learning to recognize when I am actually hungry and listen to that over my head. That can be really hard to do sometimes.

Glad you are doing do well and look forward to joining you in Bandland soon! I will keep you updated.

[MacMadame 81]

my dietary modifications have been very moderate, I basically eat what I ate before only in small quantities and without the in between meal Snacks.

This is what I want from the band. I am sure if I can cut out the between meal Snacks and eat smaller portions that I will get to goal. Most of my unhealthy eating is snacking. My meals are actually decent.

[noela31 0]

Well it's been a while since I posted. Lifes been great, lapband has truly been the best decision I've made in a long time. Think last time I posted I had been weighed and was down to 156kg and was just starting solid food. Went to Dr on 20 May for check up and first fill - was a bit dissappointed as I had gove up to 158.:tt2: Had to keep it all in perspective - back on solids, no Fluid in band and no exercise as I had hurt myself at work but I felt good. Managed to do all this and get 3ml in my band. It's been tight in the morning but by the end of the day I can still eat too much. Yesterday went back and had some more fluid put in - another 1.5 mls. Boy has this done the trick - I real feel the difference and finally have the 'full', 'constricted feeling' I have seen mentioned on these forums. This is what I've been waiting for. The fill was 'fun' as my Dr has outsourced this to a Weight Management specialist he has taught and works with. She is still only learning and spent about 5 minutes trying to get the needle in the post - lucky fat has few nerve endings! Am also going to the gym 3 days a week - this will increase to 4 next week. 2 'pump' classes, an oldies aerobics (i'm the youngest one there!!!) and a fat burning class(lots of boxing). Can't have even imagined myself doing this 6 months ago. It's so weird it's not like I'm a size 14 now, but the change in my head knos no boundaries - for the first time after starting any weight loss 'programme' I can see an end - not just an ongoing battle. lapband journies are sure life-changing. My thoughts are with all on the journey or about to embark on it - IT ROCKS!!!!:wink2: