Bama53

I was surprised by the number of people in my office who shared their own WLS story with me when they "heard" I had gotten a lapband (nothing is a secret at work). Everyone has been very supportive and encouraging.

I had an open book policy as far as my WLS goes and funny enough my "slimmer" friends and co-workers were all like AWESOME! CONGRADS! Whereas my "plus" friends were like - "why would you do that?" "that it too dangerous" - strange, are your friends plus sized themselves?

((hugs))
People react a lot of different ways to WLS. Some are totally gung ho and excited, some are skeptical, some are hell bent on jeopardizing our efforts, and some are even jealous. The interesting thing is, the people who truly love us do eventually come around to support us in our decision- even if they don't agree with our decision.
Give them time to absorb it and see the wonderful changes happening in you. They'll come around.
Just curious, are either of them big women? I have found other fat people are the ones who react the worst to the fact I've had WLS. They see me as a traitor and are very often hostile out of jealousy. If either of your friends are big, this might be the case with them too.

I understand how you feel. I have a friend now that has always struggled with her weight but has made comments that she would never get the Lapband as if that is any more ridiculous than all things she's tried to lose weight. I'm still waiting on insurance, but I haven't told her I'm getting done yet. I have recently heard her comment about someone else who had it done and said she really would be too scared to do something like that... I still haven't told her. The thing is that many people are against things they don't understand or they're afraid of. If the really want to be your friend though they can't judge you for your decision just because its not something they would so. That's not really fair to you.

Glad you doing OK. i was banded yesterday not so lucky here with the gas pain.. it has stayed with me pretty much since i woke up yesterday.. but other than thank i'm doing pretty well. I'm still not sure what i can can't drink so I've been sticking with Water and Green tea but might try the no calorie Gatorade. I think I've done enough laps around my house to wear the carpet out if i still had any downstairs.. The walking seems to wear me out fast but i'm getting the best sleep i've had in a long time. though i'm sure the med are helping - here's hoping for a speedy recovery for us all.

Can you eat sf popsicles?? I am on 2 days of Clear Liquids (my surgery is Tuesday). I am drinking Water and had some sf Jello. I am outside (I live in Massachusetts) watching the trains with my son and enjoying the warmth of the sun. I am focused right now, but if I start to come unraveled, I take a few deep breaths and regroup. My eyes are on the finish line.

Congratulations on your surgery date -- I am waiting to get mine and getting impatient for the new chapter to begin. Yours is just about to start! Good luck with all the good decisions you are making for yourself. Love the Big Picture comment above. How about a quick letter to yourself about what you want -- the things you look forward to doing when you are healthier. I have a big list and like to look it over for encouragement. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

The pre-op can be rough, but you don't have your band just yet so there is some learning curve. Tuesday will come fast, don't ruin all the hard work you have done to get this far.
Try to make some Tomato Soup with some cheese in it, or even some pizza sauce with a sprinkle of cheese.< /p>
You will be able to eat pizza again. It's not the best choice, and it may take a few weeks but you will be able to enjoy a slice now and then.
If you really MUST have it, you don't have your band yet so you can go head and have that slice, but stop there and get back to the diet and stick to it till Tuesday. You will be glad you did
Best of luck to you!

i too am having cravings though its more a mental craving then my body needing anything.. i'm trying to treat the cravings just like i did when i gave up smoking.. have to think of the bigger picture.. and distraction - distraction - distraction did i mention distraction ? that truly is the key when you feel those cravings coming up find something better to do. me i love to knit/cross stitch so i'm working on a baby blanket for a co-worker keeps my hands busy and relaxes me.
what pre op diet are you on? mine allows me 1 meal a day. i save it for dinner so i can go to bed full. and it's something to look forward to at the end of the day.

I'm bursting with happiness & have to share that I am now officially overweight!!! You know those annoying height/weight/BMI standards??? Up until my official weigh in today I have still been in the obese range....despite losing over 110 lbs! Well, today a total loss of 117 lbs (so far) has finally bumped me down to being merely overweight. I assure you no female has ever been this happy to be overweight LOL

Well its been three weeks since my surgery.. I'm doing well really enjoying this journey and the new me! I know this might sound crazy but I'm super excited that ill be going back to work tomorrow! Don't get me wrong I love my family very much and love being at home all day doing a whole bunch of nothing! But I also love my job I feel very blessed to have a job that I absolutely love! I'm still struggling in some areas but for the most part everything is much better #304 before surgery today #282.. To God be the glory!

Definitely "The Big Book". Just got it last week and really has some great info. Thanks!

Definitely "The Big Book". Just got it last week and really has some great info. Thanks!

It's 5:23 the morning of September 10th and I am headed to the hospital to have my surgery. I am excited and scared at the same time. I just found this group and am looking forward to getting to know people as we go through this journey. I will see you in the post op forum.

How did it go?
Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Just 4 days left until surgery! September 12th is the day. I can't believe it is so close!!!

FINALLY!! Sept 19th (3 days after my 54th birthday). I started the pre-op for ins back in Oct of last year. Had my last weigh in on Apr 16 and was so excited to have it all done. Took to my surgeons office and was told 2 days later that my insurance did not cover. It was an exclusion to my policy. OMG. My world came crashing down!! But, all is great now. Because of my neighbor, who also had this done, mentioned checking with my other insurance, and I found out this past Wednesday, they are going to cover the surgery.

After two weeks of pre op tomorrow is my banding day. I had a nightmare last night that I woke up and they said I didn't need the band so they didn't put one in. What if I didn't shrink my liver enough? Anyway, I am ready to face to new phase....

How ya doing? Hang in there we only have 12 more days.

I am a self pay. They told me the end of Sept. I live in Arizona also. They drew blood and did all test. Didn't say anything to me about psych eval to me - but read about it. Am very nervous. What a lifestyle change. But I know I have to do this for my health!!

Were band sisters

I know I can't wait. I am a teacher and at least being in school makes the time go by fast. My pre op is three weeks as well. I was going to have surgery before school and did pre op for about three days ...thought I was going to die! Lol seriously I was not prepared because it happened so fast. Had an insurance issue and had to postpone. This worked in my favor, part of the problem being during the summer I don't do much so food COMMERCIALS were killing me. I also was just using Protein shake straight and have since been able to research and find recipes for shakes that are yummy, no boredom eating, and truly teaching keeps me so busy I sometimes forgot to eat last year. So yeah... I am crazy excited. I talked about it all the time and felt my husband getting annoyed so now I just talk about it sometimes but mostly just read the boards. Are you telling people? I am and everyone is so wonderful and supportive. I even told my students (high school) and they were so sweet. They said I was perfect the way I am. Lol all 5 foot 295... nope 288 pounds, I substituted a Protein Shake for my normal McDonald's hash brown and mcmuffin and in a month lost weight! I also walk a lot at work now. My co-teachers room is pretty far and I have to walk back and fourth like 6 times. Lol forced exercise is what my hubby calls it. Lol

FINALLY!! Sept 19th (3 days after my 54th birthday). I started the pre-op for ins back in Oct of last year. Had my last weigh in on Apr 16 and was so excited to have it all done. Took to my surgeons office and was told 2 days later that my insurance did not cover. It was an exclusion to my policy. OMG. My world came crashing down!! But, all is great now. Because of my neighbor, who also had this done, mentioned checking with my other insurance, and I found out this past Wednesday, they are going to cover the surgery.

Are you fed up with struggling with overeating, starting another d-i-e-t that you know will probably blow up on you, or wishing your pants were not so tight? Here are five simple things you can implement today to control your cravings, eat less, and thrive more.


Are you fed up with struggling with overeating, starting another d-i-e-t that you know will probably blow up on you, or wishing your pants were not so tight?
Here are five simple things you can implement today to control your cravings, eat less, and thrive more.
1. Sleep. Don’t keep working harder and harder. Play it smart. Women who average five hours or less of sleep per night weigh more, gain weight more easily, and crave more carbohydrates and fattening foods—and it’s not in their heads! Sleep deprivation leads to chemical changes in your body that cause overeating and weight gain (even if you don’t overeat). Aim for at least seven and a half hours of sleep per night. Not only will you be less hungry, your productivity, focus, and creativity will probably improve. You may even find yourself accomplishing more than when you were burning the midnight oil.
Additional bonus: you’re likely to feel a whole lot better.
2. Pay attention to your feelings. Emotional eating—eating as a response to feelings—is a major cause of overeating and packing on the pounds. Stress eating, comfort eating, eating out of frustration and even eating out of boredom or happiness can all sabotage your weight loss plans. Develop strategies to check in with yourself and with how you are feeling so that you can respond to your emotions in ways that don’t involve food.< /p>
Added bonus: when you address your feelings instead of feeding them, you will be taking charge of your life and responding to what you really need. When you do this, life gets better.
3. Carve out time for you. Stress and overload can be a direct path to weight gain. If you’re feeling time crunched, you’re likely to make the all-too-common mistake of cutting out the activities that are actually the best for you. Me-time helps you relax and unwind. It also gives you an opportunity to pay attention to yourself and what you need to function and flourish. When you meet your needs and care for yourself in quality ways, you are less likely to find yourself using food as a “special treat” or a “band aid” to help you get through the day. Practice giving yourself a five or ten minute time out a few times a day.
The bonus: these short breaks help you get perspective on your day. You’re likely to feel more organized and relaxed as a result.
4. Feed yourself quality food at regular intervals. If you are trying to eat less, it can be tempting to cut back too far and allow yourself to get too hungry. Big mistake. While depriving yourself with strict diets may initially seem to create results on the scale, in the long run, eating too little leads to stronger cravings (usually for foods that will spike your blood sugar levels quickly), overeating, and binge eating. Do you find that your healthy eating plan always gets blown in the afternoon or evening? Try eating smaller, more frequent meals during the day and make sure that you are including some Protein each time you eat.
Bonus: when you feed yourself well, both your energy levels and your mood are likely to improve.
5. Savor. You might be surprised to find how little of what you eat you actually allow yourself to savor and enjoy. Eating on the run and multitasking while you eat mean that your attention is divided between food and your hunger and whatever else you are doing. When you eat without giving it your full attention, you are likely to eat more and not feel as full. Impose a ban on multitasking when you eat. Take your time and practice eating mindfully—paying complete attention to your food—the taste, smell, even the texture. Notice how full or hungry you are and allow yourself to enjoy the act of eating.
Bonus: savoring is a pleasant activity and it tends to be relaxing. Practicing enjoying your food in this way and getting in the habit of doing one thing at a time is a great strategy for reducing stress. If you apply the concept of not multitasking to other areas of your life, you’re also likely to see an improvement of the quality of your results.