okiekatt

I'm in conservative Atlanta. When I went in for my pre-op tests, the psych consult required your support person to come with you. I brought my partner of 13 years. They wanted him to hear what my eating requirements were going to be and the kind of support I would need post-op. I guess if you aren't out in your life, then what's the point of telling someone who's going to cut you open, place a device and send you one your way? I'm out to everyone. My attitude, if it's not a problem for me, it shouldn't be for you. If it is, then I'd rather go somewhere else. It takes energy to hide things. To play the pronoun game. Its 2008. Believe me, you aren't the first queer patient they've had. If it's a big ugly secret for you, it will be for others.
I'm out to the dietician, on the yahoo lap band groups I post on and basically everywhere. The people that have a problem with it probably don't reply to my posts but... I have alot of friends on Yahoo and OH and here and I don't skirt the issue. I think people like me regardless of my orientation. It's a part of who I am. Denying it would be like denying I am male. I used to think people didn't need to know. What does it have to do with anything? It has everything to do with everything! My sexuality is interwoven into my character, my life, my personality and me denying it sends subconscious messages to psyche that says I am ashamed of who I am and other people are right for having a problem with it.

I am 30 lbs below my dl weight! Started 60 lbs over!

I am with PWoo10 on this one.......I have so dreamed of being under 200 pounds I can not wait!!!! and to be honest, I have not even thought of anything past that....I am sooooo close I can almost smell it ......btw I think it will smells like a spring breeze through an opened window on a completed house cleaning weekend afternoon......LOL!

I was banded in February and did not start losing until the end of June after my second or third fill. It takes time to get proper restriction and have the band working for you.

I'm 5 weeks out and its horrible! I did get these little green pills at Wal-Mart (Equate Extra Strength Gas Relief) and they're miracle workers. Gas-X strips are more for the gas in your stomach, but the little green babies get rid of the farts!

My 1st goal is to lose 10% of my body weight (28#'s) I was banded 1/16 and am down 11#'s pre-op and 11#'s post-op ... So I only have 6#'s to go. When I reach my 1st goal I am going to get blonde and purple highlights in my hair LOL ... It feels a little strange to reward myself with a new hairstyle but its better then food !!! and I am just not going to waste money on new clothes for a few more months =0)
Good luck to you on your journey =0)

I've lost 48 pounds and I still think I look the same. My clothes are a different size, but I don't see it. I think this is how ignored how big I was, but it also works in reverse. I hope this changes with time.

She may be a little gruff in her attitude, but I have to agree with her. The world is still there and rotates everyday the same way it did before you were banded.
I know it's hard for you now because you are just starting out. But as time goes on your're going to have to deal with it.
Wen everyone goes out for dinner and drinks after work, when you go to functions like weddings, thanksgiving, birthdays, it's not going away and you cannot become a social recluse. You're gonna have to learn to deal with it, with grace and style.

This topic comes up time and again. My fill PA says there is a lot recent data about this, suggesting that it's not the big drama thing it was once thought to be. The lack-of-hunger thing is caused by pressure on the vagus nerve, and the weight of the food in the pouch is what causes that pressure - the pouch does not need to be stuffed with food to get the result. Just the process of eating is enough to put that pressure on the nerve.
Food tends to pass through the band in a short amount of time, and drinking with the meal has virtually nothing to do with it. I find if I don't sip liquids with meals, I have trouble swallowing. My PA told me, (just last Wednesday, in fact), that if I want to drink with my meals, to go ahead and drink with my meals. I don't guzzle liquids, I sip them, but I do it throughout the day.
Some people (like me) have no problem drinking with meals. I do not feel like I get hungry any faster, and I've certainly lost a lot of weight. The trick for me is Portion Control. I put ONLY a normal bandster-sized meal on my plate, and when that food is gone, I'm done eating. Period. I don't snack or graze or cheat or whatever. I plan my meals and eat properly when I do. The trick is to NOT eat what you shouldn't.
Dave

Congratulations on your success. It is comforting to know that your surgery went well and
that you are doing success. I am planning on getting lap-band surgery in January at the
age of 73. I am looking forward to a healthier life and am so inspired by you.

I had my lap band at age 76, have lost 70 pounds so far, almost 6 mo post op. Very
pleased! Wish I would have done it sooner. Feel so much better, able to breathe and
walk.

Yay for non scale victories! Today I was left to use the last towel in the closet, the one that no one likes to use. And you know it must be small if no one else wants to use it, considering I "WAS" the biggest one in the house! Well, today that towel wrapped around me and I was able to tuck it under my arm! WOO HOO! I am reaping the benefits of a new, healthy lifestyle. I am so thankful everyday for what the band has helped me achieve!

kat09 WTG! I am very happy for you. I cant wait untill I am in onederland, In my head, I Think the world will be diferent when I do, lol .....I have just imagined it for so many years with every new diet that came out and now week by week I am realy inching torwards it......
CONGRATS!

to stand on the Wii FIt this morning and listen to it tell me I am overweight and not obese!

I hate zumba. For somebody who can't dance its an awful awful workout. I could not keep up with the moves for one second...I don't understand how all of you big people do it. And I'm not talking about how much you break a sweat, I'm talking about learning the dance moves themselves. I could not do ONE of those moves from the beginning dvd! For me, I get wayy better work outs from Walk Away The Pounds, Brazil Butt Lift and Jillian Michaels. I need an actual work out...not dancing...but hey that's just my preference....so if you're like me and don't like dancing then its NOT for you trust me.

I had my lapband in june of 2011, today I weighed in at 199.7! I cant believe I did it! total loss of 74.3 pounds...Is this for real??? Have not posted in a while, but soooooo excited!
Katie

My husband and girls tried real hard to be careful not to eat in front of me, my husband would call and warn me he was bringing pizza or chinese food home LOL funny thing is I didn't want any of those things. I had to convince them it was fine to eat in front of me. I began cooking for them again about the first week after surgery. The hard part is I've been cooking nice healthy meals for them that look and smelled so good. So tempting but I had a mind set that I wasn't going to eat anything until my 2 weeks of clear/full liquids was finished. I'm starting to feel the hunger a little but know I'll be cleared for solids real soon!! Saturday after i picked up pizza and made the kids plates, my mom said "I don't know how you can watch us eat this and not pick up a piece, you are 1 strong woman" I took that as a compliment but it's my new band-mindset.. 3 weeks ago I would have been 5 slices in!

OMG! I so know what you mean, my partner would actually bring home the little cordial cherries when she made a 7-11 run, she would be like …”What????? it’s just one, it won’t hurt you”, or in the middle of movie night, she would pop off, “ WOW! doesn’t an ice cream Sundae from Braums sound sooooo good right now??????” and then the time she stopped by taco bell and got a burrito supreme, she asked if I wanted a bite. And out of nowhere I screamed “NO! I DON’T WANT A BITE I WANT THE WHOLE F*#%IN THING”!. (being on liquids and mushies does strange things to you), when a year before, she would have been rewarded for doing any of the above things with at least a big smile.
I know she loved me and cared about me, they just don’t understand, I believe they think that because we are banded that we have no desire or carvings for those “no no” foods anymore . To be honest, before I got banded that is what I thought……
Things are so different now, (after a few “REALLY?” stink eyes and unexpected walks around the block) we plan healthy meals together and she has actually started working out with me. (she don’t need to at all)
But just in case, I try to always be prepared with a package of almonds, yogurt or a quick lean cuisine to pop in the microwave, just last night I caught her eating a leftover marshmallow chocolate Santa she had hiding under the covers, it made me smile knowing that even today, she is still trying.
so dont let it get to you, I think in time it should get easier for you because they will start to understand.

Go see a movie, and maybe get a new family

My workout routine is as follows:
40 min on the total gym
20 min walking
December 1st For the first time I got serious about exercising, I wanted to make it a room I wanted to go to, so I hooked up a little stereo for my AC/DC (Back in Black will move a body good) sometimes Lou Bega, if I am just wanting to be super happy and silly, then I went on eBay and bought Bath and Body Works wallflower plug ins a stress release scent vanilla Verbena that I trade out with a lemongrass candle, hooked up a large fan and put a lock on the door.
I started out walking 3 days a week for ten min(thinking whooo), now as soon as I get off work kick off my shoes throw on my stretchies and get on the total gym start with set ups (was 10 now an easy 40) I do arms legs back shoulders stomach, then on the treadmill for 20 min, it has 7 different programs that I rotate through each day just to keep it exciting.
For the first time ever I am seeing a change, every day someone gives me a compliment (best motivation of all) I am now doing 6 days a week, Because of the workout I am usually not hungry, so a small lean cuisine or health choice is perfect, and I have finally started drinking more Water, I am also still motivated from the workout and end up doing a little house cleaning as well.
I use to come home seriously starving and spend the evenings channel surfing, saving the house work for the weekends.
I have never pushed exercise or dieting on other family members, but for the last 3 days they have been working out with me, they said they have seen such a change in me that they want one to.

errrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........I feel like I just opned the door to a Kerby salesman YOU TRICKED ME!

errrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........I feel like I just opned the door to a Kerby salesman YOU TRICKED ME!