BarbBee

Hi BarbBee. I will not be staying overnight . . . DH will be bringing me home and taking care of me. Hopefully it won't be too awful. Are you staying overnight? I'm actually off work right now until January, so I have LOTS of time to recover. Whew. How about you? Hi Mini, I have surgery scheduled for 8 AM and spend one night. I go home around 2 PM the next day. I wil be staying with my Mom for about 5 days as the nurse comes to check on you for the first few nights and won't drive out to were I live (about an hour away). Then I will go home to hubby. The nurse said there will be 6 drains so I will see alot of them until the last drain comes out. I will be off work for 4 weeks and then go back a half week part time then back into full time. I have been told the fatigue is the hardest part (once you get past the pain!!) Doc told me 8 weeks till I can get back to full exercise. Yikes! I'm a bit worried about that. Glad you will be home and have lots of recovery time. We are almost the same age. I love thae fact that we will be smokin' hot for 50!!!!!

All the best Mini. Thanks for sharing your experience. I am only a couple weeks behind you with my surgery on the 21st. Do you stay overnight at hospital? How long will you be off work? I'm so excited for you!!!

Thanks Jacqui! Those were great instructions!! I hope to look as good as you in a bikini soon!!!!.... What would you need to have done?

Thank you all for the well wishes! A lower body lift is a circumferential cut all the way around the abdomen, so it lifts your bum, lateral thighs, mons, abdomen and tightens your ab muscles. The results are suppose to be very dramatic. My bum has sunk down to my legs and my tail bone hurts casue there is no fat covering it when I lean back. I took some before pics but I don't know how to post them. Could some one give me the "posting pictures for dummies" version of how to do it. Thanks!

Hi All, I am scheduled for a lower body lift Sept. 21st. I am so excited and starting to get a little nervous. So many others have been so gracious in sharing their stories and experience so I thought I would try and and add what I can from my journey. I have had my pre-op appointment Aug. 25th and go to see my family Doctor on the 8th to review all my blood tests. Other than that I have lots to do at work, organizing things so I can take 4 weeks off. I have bought all the after care items and filled my "happy drug" prescription from my PS surgeon. Now it's just the wait. I keep dreaming about it. I will keep you all posted if folks are interested. Barb

People are weird and wonderful. I have heard everything from....wow! you have lost a ton of weight....to- have you been sick?...to- you look great I hope you are not going to get too skinny...to -you can tell you have lost weight.. I can see it is your face (That one really kills me as I think I have lost over 100 pounds in less than a year and it's not all from my face!!! LOL) Some folks say nothing because they just don't want to comment on a person's weight ..good or bad. My favorite so far was...look at you, your so tiny! That made me laugh!! I take it all in stride. You know you have done so well. Be proud of your accomplishments!! You are a star! Barb

I paid $15,443.00. Gastric bypass is covered by BC Medical (Canada) but not lap band surgery. How crazy is that!! They still consider it experimental!! All the pre-op tests were covered by BC Medical and my surgeon will do fills for as long as I need them (no charge). It was alot of cash but it was the best money I ever spent! If only BC medical would acknowledge how much money my band has saved them in expenses! I am no longer pre-diabetic, I have come off 2 of 5 blood pressure medications, no more major knee problems, no more deep depression. I hope in the future they will cover it as I am sure alot more people would chose the band over RNY if given a choice. Barb :thumbup:

I started out prior to surgery at a "Curves" like gym. It closed a few months later so I joined a 24/7 gym. My work place gave us all a self care grant so I put it towards half of a treadmill payment. My gym membership has expired and I don't miss it. Too many hairy eyeball stares if you stay on 1 of the 2 treadmills too long:blink: I do a kick butt aquafit class once a week, ride my mountain bike when it's not raining, and do different programs on the treadmill. I plan on buying some weights and resistance bands at Walmart and then get a personal trainer to show me different things that I can do at home. I like the treadmil at home because even if I only have a half an hour I can still fit that in. My gym is a 15 minute drive away and the machines are not the greatest. Do whatever works for you and fits into your life best. I really enjoy exercising now and I crave it if I miss too many days. WOW! Never thought I would ever feel that way!!:thumbup: Barb

How is everyone doing? I started week 4 last night. I did week 3 for 7 days as I felt like I was not ready for the run of 5 minutes on week 4. So last night I thought ...just go for it. Don't psych yourself out. I decided to lower my running speed. I had been walking at 3.0 and running at 4.5. Last night I walked at 3.0 and ran at 4.0 and I did the whole thing!!!! I was so happy! That's like 16 minutes of running! I am so excited about this. It has always been a dream of mine to run and now I see it is coming true...slowly but surely. Just a suggestion to anyone that is struggling...maybe lower your speed a bit. One you have built up the stamina later you can increase the speed. Take care everyone and happy running! Barb

Hi! I have been doing Robert Ullrey's Couch to 5K podcast program and am on week 3. I would love to join you all in this challenge! Happy Running! Barb

Hi Georgia, Wow great job on the weight loss!!!!!! I have been following the other thread and you ladies sure are inspiring!! I am realy struggling with week 3. I can do the first 3 minutes fine but the last 3 minutes I really have to push hard to get through it. I am worried about the 5 minute run on week 4. Any helpful hints or suggestions that helped you to get through the tough spots?? Happy running everyone!:thumbup: Barb

Thanks Renewed!! I have been following the other thread and you ladies are amazing!! You have really inspired me!! Fantastic time on your run!!!!!!!!! I bought a treadmill on the rent to own program and it gets delivered tomorrow!!! Now I don't have to wait or drag myself out on a cold rainy night, or wait in line to use the treadmill and have people keeping track of my time on it...I am a happy camper! The 3 minute runs are getting a little easier. I did it again last night and it was day 4 of week 3. I think I will do it another 2 times and then move on to week 4. I still haven't figured out what the best thing to eat is before a run. I usually have supper and then run 1-2 hours later. I eat mostly fish and veg or chicken and veg including sweet potato. Can you suggest what is best to eat prior to a program... Thanks and keep up the amazing work!!!! :girl_hug: Barb

Hi All! I am on Week 3 day 3 and I think I will do it another day or two. The first time I completed the 3 minute run I was so happy I could have cried! Who ever would have thought 10 months ago at over 300 pounds I would be tackling a running program. The weight loss has taken me to places I have only dreamed of being! I am feeling nervous about week 4 when we run for 5 minutes. How is everyone doing? Take care and happy running!!:thumbup: Barb

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I am on day 5 of week 2. I have been able to complete it and think I am ready to tackle week 3. My plan is to do each week as many times as I need to to feel really confident before I move on to the next week. I have not been able to be super consistent with the day on, day off, plan and I wonder if that really throws the schedule off alot.... Sometimes it's 4 days between runs...I guess I need to stop analyzing so much and just do it! If it works..it works ...if it doesn't I'll just keep on trying! :thumbup::wink_smile:

Wow 1000 you inspire me! Taking this on prior to surgery. You will do great with that kind of spunk and determination!!!!! I did day 1 of week 2 last night and the extra 30 seconds did make a difference half way through the run. My legs started to get tired. I pushed through and did it though! How is everyone else doing? :smile:

Hi Everyone, Hope it's not too late to join. I have completed week 1 and now feel ready for week 2. I am doing Robert Ullrey's Podcast program and I really like it. I need sometone to tell me...run now..walk now.. as the other program with the tones I get all mixed up. I am signed up for the Royal Victoria Marathon 8K October 12th. I did the 8K a month prior to my lap band surgery last year at over 300 pounds and it was a real physical and emotional victory to me to finish it!! I hope to run part of the 8K this year and maybe run the full 8k by next year. It has been one of my long term goals. I'm looking forward to this challenge with all of you Runners!! Barb

Hi Everyone, I stumbled across this post and found the download for the C25K program. I was so excited! I have alwys dreamed of being a runner and my long term goal is to run the Royal Victoria Marathon 8k. I walked it at 305 pounds prior to my surgery and have also walked a 10k this past spring. Now that I am down 80 pounds I figured my knees can handle the run/jog. When I am on the elliptical trainer or treadmill I visualize myself running across the finish line. It was a real emotional vctory to do it at 305 pounds!! What a satisfying feeling! I read all the posts from beginning to today and I have to say YOU LADIES ARE AMAZING!!!! I am so inspired by you! I did day 2 of week one and it went really well. I am excited to take this on. My thoughts and prayers are with you Renewed as you go through this day and the days of adjustment to follow for you and your family. Bless you amazing ladies! :crying: Barb

I have been having terrible spasms everytime I eat in the last week. It feels like my chest is heaving. Ususally this causes nausea and I end up throwing up whatever I ate. I have had my band for almost 9 months and have lost 84 pounds. I don't have alot of fill in my band...only 1.6cc in a 9cc band. I have been filled twice and had to have some taken out a few days later as I couldn't keep anything down. I am worried that my band has slipped. What would cause these spasms? I cant get in to see my srgeon tilll Sept. 9th. Any one else experience this??? Thanks, Barb

I am super tight during that TOM. I always lose at least 2 -3 pounds that week.

Hi All, Just a few thoughts.... When I was going through alot of stress my band tightened up...so much that I had to get a slight unfil. That time of the month I am super tight as well. Sometimes you only need a tiny unfil like .1 or .2 of a cc to make that extra difference so you can get your protein in and stay full longer. I got into this cycle of eating, PBing. and swelling because of PBing. It went on for weeks till I had a tiny unfil. Might be worth talking to your doc about. Hope you are all feeling better soon Barb :wink2:.....it this little guy slimeing??!! and if so, why is he so happy about it??

Hi Jenny Lynn, My heart goes out to you. What you are going through is very painful. Good for you for putting some counselling support in place. If you can... just take things one day at a time. I know everything it must seem so incredibly overwhelming right now. You do not deserve to have been treated that way. Once trust has been broken it is very hard to get past that. I hope your husband gets some help to deal with his stuff. You deserve to be cherished and loved. Take good care of yourself and know that we are here to support you. Big hug, Barb

I am worth the work - I am worth getting healthy and adding years and more quality to my life. The only thing the band does - is physically stop you from eating a 16 oz steak or any food with some substance to it - but you can still eat around it with slider foods (foods that slide right thru) candy, Cookies, ice cream, cake chips. My friends and family know I am banded and in some ways I wish I hadn't told - why you say - because I don't feel that I am getting the credit for losing 88.5 lbs in 9 months - but that the band is - the band didn't do the work - it didn't make my food choices and it didn't go to the gym and exercise - I did - I did the work and it's still alot of work even with the band it's just easier to stop eating once your brain is able to get the right signals from your stomach that you are physically full.. We have messed up that wiring so much that it's going to take a life time to fix it.. Just keep working at it - it does get eaiser as time passes - IndioGirl....You have found the key to making this successful!! I tell people I'm the one doing the work!! I love my band. It is helping me...but let's give credit where credit is due. WE ARE MAKING IT WORK!!

Lawbebe.. so glad you are feeling better!! There really is nothing worse than being too tight! How scary!! Take it easy and keep us posted on your recovery Barb

Thanks Dustout! Your advise was right on the mark! Love this website and all the great support! Cheers, Barb