lellow

I actually thought I looked fine when I was 215lbs. I dressed well, was generally happy, never really felt unsexy, never suffered from lack of attention from men, but let's face it, I was still very overweight, and I was risking my health and my future if I didn't take control of my continuing weight gain. I understand seeing someone with a much lower BMI and not getting what they're unhappy about. But anything over a BMI of 35 is considered obese. And obese is obese. It isn't healthy and it isn't good for you in the long run, whether you're 50lbs overweight or 250lbs overweight. So people deciding to do something that will give them a longer life, better health and a better chance at less obesity-related disease is a good thing. Does it really matter *when* they decided to do that, in the grander scheme of things?

It does return sometimes, especially as you move through the different consistencies of food and your body has to readjust to a new 'process' of digestion. I got gas pain on and off on my shoulder tips for the first few months. I always had peppermint tea on hand, coz that's what helped me. And walking too. I would suggest if you're prone to gas pain, like I am, eat slowly as you progress through the difference food phases until you're on solids. I feel for you, I do, but I promise it won't be forever.

hell yes, I didn't want to do it. I resisted my family dr's gentle persuasion to get it done for 18 months. I was not particularly unhappy being heavier either. I thought I looked good, I dressed well, and my husband loved me, so why would I do something so drastic as getting surgery? Then my brother found out that if he didn't lose weight, his diabetes and heart problems (both hereditary) would likely kill him in 10 years. And he's younger than me. And he couldn't afford the surgery in the country where he lived because it wasn't covered by his health insurance. But my health insurance covered mine. And I had a 2 year old son. And I thought, oh lord, I want to see him marry and give me grandkids. So I got the surgery. Even though I never had wanted to before. I figured, I have to try this. And it will work, and I will make it work. And now, running around with my son, playing soccer with him, going bike riding with him, I know it was the right choice. For me, it was choosing to take control. Of my weight and of my mindset. And that is the opposite to giving up.

I mostly agree with you B52. I think if someone decides, say, to get an unfill so that they can eat more, then they can't really complain if they gain some weight, you know? Or if they don't want to go get fills, they can't really b***h about their lack of restriction. But I think everyone should be entitled to make their decision on it. If you want to keep eating more, and therefore not lose, or even gain, who the hell am I to tell you not to? But OWN that decision. Live with the consequences. I have no issue with someone who gets the band then decides that that's not the lifestyle they want to live. But what I hate is people saying 'the band's not working' when it's really their choices that's not working. I agree though with jayres that sometimes you need to be kind to someone when they're down. I think as heavy people we're so used to failing, so used to being helpless when it comes to our weight. But I always say, there are so very few things in the world that we can control, and the way we think is one of those things. So sometimes people just need a push in the right direction to get them believing in themselves again, and I think B52, from the posts of his that I've read, knows when someone just needs encouragement.

I don't know if public health with cover for it. I wanted it done asap so I didn't even think about whether I'd go private or not, I just asked him to book me in asap. My health fund and medicare will cover a lot of it. I think, from memory, it will be about $400 all up for me to pay out of pocket. The rest is covered. The gastro-endoscopy was completely covered by my PHI too.

Thanks Jacqui, I know it'll be resolved soon. Which is better than an erosion, anyway. I just can't believe I went from barely being able to get liquids down yesterday to being able eat 2 pieces of fish and half a plate of Pasta 24 hours later. I only felt the band kick in in probably the last few mouthfuls. Next Saturday cannot come round fast enough. I wonder though if I will be unfilled and will require a slow refilling process to get back to the green zone. Because if that happens, I swear I'm going to lose it.

...and then today, I don't feel so restricted anymore.... DAMN THIS LEAK!!

I can't stress this enough - the band and getting it filled is supposed to help you. I'll paint a picture: I have a leak, so have had no restriction for 2 months. I've been watching what I eat, measuring my food, counting calories exercising, all to maintain my weight. I saw my dr yesterday and he withdrew all the liquid from my band. I had 5cc of the 7cc he put in there a couple of weeks ago (so definitely leaking). No wonder I was hungry all the time! I got to his offices absolutely starving (because I hadn't had lunch) and he decided to push my band up to close to the point where I had the best restriction (8cc). In the few seconds it took for him to depress the plunger on his syringe and put that 8cc, I went from hungry to not-in-the-slightest-bit-hungry. That's what being in the green zone is. It stops you from being hungry. I have been killing myself trying to stay away from chips and ice cream and slider foods the last 2 months and today, after the fill, I have zero desire for any of it. So if you're struggling, go get fills and get in the green zone. I cannot stress that enough.

When I'm well restricted, sushi is a definite no no. The rice, the stickiness and everything just doesn't agree with me. But I can eat sashimi. I loooovvvve sashimi!

He's not doing a full replacement, just port and tubing. I did ask him why he's only replacing those things and from what I gather from what he was said, if the actual band was leaking, there would be no Fluid left in it at all. That I had some fluid left classes me as a slow leak, and that's almost always attributed to a leak in the port or tubing. But I will say I arrived at his rooms straight from work and I was starving. And when he put the 8cc in my band, I went from starving to not in the slightest bit hungry in the how-ever-many-seconds it took for him to depress the plunger on his syringe. I know this restriction won't last long, but damnit it feels good to have it back!

Well turns out my band has a significant enough leak to warrant port and/or tube replacement. I've lost 2cc in 3 weeks, only had 5cc left in my band. I'm scheduled for the replacement on the 3rd. He wasn't too concerned about the slip, he said it was so small it was almost insignificant in the scheme of things. So hopefully in just over a week, this will be fixed. In the meantime he's put 8cc in so I have some restriction for few days....

I agree. It's frustrating but the simple answer is = we're not made up of math. Our metabolism is affected by lower calories, our BMR is not stagnant, you retain water more in certain environments than others. So the short answer is, if you keep up what you're doing, you will lose weight. It's not going to necessarily happen in a week. It's not going to happen in a month, maybe. But when you look at your weight loss over the course of a few months, you will see that you've been losing if you stick to this plan. The thing is, this irregularity is why people fall off the wagon. They do all the right things and yet they plateau. It doesn't seem fair. But your body is changing, even if you can't see it on the scales. So don't give in to emotional you and listen to rational me. The band works. Look at my pictures. It works.

shues, I replied to your other topic on scales. I need a new one too. Today it said I'd gained a kilo. I hate when that happens! But the good news is I see my lapband dr today. I hope to get an action plan on how we're going to deal with this slip and the leak. Though, and I'm crazy to get so excited by this, I went out and had indian last night, tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh and a beef vindaloo with some saffron rice and I actually got a little bit stuck after eating only 1/3 of it. It hurt but damn I was happy to feel my band. I think it's the first time I've really felt it in about 2 months! Then about 20 mins later, I did a couple of big burps and it went down lol. Silly to be so happy, huh?

I thought I had a high sex drive before the band. It was NOTHING compared to after I lost weight. But I do think that's directly related to my own confidence, and my fitness levels. Sex with the lights on? Yes please! Able to get into super flexible postions? Uh huh! Got the stamina to go for ages? I think so! lol! It's a really good problem to have, I think! My partner can't keep up with me, but he sure isn't complaining!

muelle, wanna swap? I lose in my butt first, my midsection last. I gain first in my midsection too, so I even a few lbs will make me look all straight up and down, like I have no waist.

I weigh myself everyday too. Always have. I account for minor fluctuations but this way I know if I'm gaining. And if that scale says the same (higher) weight for more than 2 days in a row, I want to modify my behaviour straight away to correct it. So I'm looking for a good scale too. I moved to Melbourne 4 months ago and my old scales were awesome, but my partner's is rubbish. It has a fluctuation of up to two kgs either way within mins. It's driving me crazy!

She isn't actually 15lbs underweight. She is still within a normal BMI range. I think it's good that she's questioning the way her mind works and is trying to head it off before it goes too far. I absolutely loathed it when people told me I was too skinny. I didn't see it at the time and nothing anyone said was going to make a difference. I needed to process it on my own, in my own head. Just like you can't lose weight for anyone but yourself, you can't gain it for anyone but yourself too. I think getting a small unfill is a positive step in the right direction, Patriceaa. You know what the issue is, now control that as you've controlled your weight all this time too.

Good to hear klariade! The more of you join this thread, the more motivated I feel. Don't know about the rest of you, but it's working for me! Alright I gotta do this - Things I hate about exercising: Having to wash my hair because I sweated like I was caught in torrential showers. My hair is now almost to my waist - do you KNOW how long it takes to get my hair dry?? Feeling like my heart is going to burst out of my chest, and feeling like my legs are like jelly, and having to push myself despite that. Having to dress in work-out gear (nothing fancy - tshirt and 3/4 length leggings, but still) and having to put on my trainers. I think doing those things are my biggest 'blocks' and the hardest thing for me to get motivated to do. Once I'm dressed though, I'm committed to it. Hurting like a mofo the next day. Chaffing. 'Nuff said. Ok that's my whinge about exercise. I won't whinge any more. One of my best friends started exercising with me when I was losing, and in Sept she's doing the Tough Mudder in Sydney and she wants me to do it with her. The idea of a 12km obstacle course is making me break out in hives. But then I think - she kept at it, and now she runs 12km x 3 times a week. If I keep at it, maybe I'll get there too! ...or maybe not.

elcee, I do feel for you with the lack of work. I also have days, like this morning, when I wish I didn't work 10 hour days though. Sigh. And can someone explain to me why, even though I've lost the weight I put on, even though I'm exercising and watching what I eat, my two work dresses today were TIGHT? One wouldn't even zip up! So to commiserate, I went to the Breadtop on Bourke St and bought a bbq pork bun for brekkie. And now I feel worse.

I think the weight insulated my ex-husband from having to worry about other men paying me attention. As I lost the weight (and found a love for clothes and high heels) he would get more and more aggravated as he noticed that other men were looking at me. He started to tell me that I was too obsessed with my weight and that he didn't want me to lose anymore. But that wasn't the only reason we split. I too, found a confidence (and a voice) from losing the weight. I worked hard to lose and it made me feel like I could conquer anything. And suddenly the way he had treated me all those years didn't sit so well with me. I became more assertive, my career took off, and suddenly the dynamic of our relationship changed significantly. So I think it boils down to this: you either have the communication between you and your spouse that will see you through such a huge life change, or you don't. But I definitely think that this sort of weight loss/lifetstyle change can make being married to someone you might view as 'non-supportive' very difficult.

I get that Jacqui! Where I'm working now, I have to go down 15 floors to get a snack. Easy to stay on target during the week as a result. Weekends though? Not so good! I just did my second jog in a week and I think I may have to be resuscitated. I nearly died halfway through this one. Man, am I unfit!

great work on the run, JennK! I love having things to look forward to - I wish *I* was going to Vegas! I hate to say this, but the more I'm exercising, the more I feel like exercising. I LOATHE it when I'm doing it, but afterwards I feel awesome. I'm actually considering leaving work early so I can get a jog in at the park near my place before the man gets home!

I think you should ask her. I never wanted my hubby or kids to hide their food from me. I figured I'd have to learn to cope with going out to restaurants and stuff, so I had to learn to control it for myself. I told my husband as much. For me, it was more about understanding me as I got obsessive about my weight loss. My ex was a personal trainer and at first he was very supportive about encouraging me to exercise, or watch what I eat. But as I got thinner and he was watching it happen, he started getting on my case, saying I was getting obsessed. I probably was, but his crticism made me hide it from him, and made me feel like I was sneaking around rather than sharing it with him.And because I was too afraid to talk about something that featured so much in my life, it became the elephant int he room. It may sound irrational for someone to obsess, but it does take a lot of focus to lose weight. And for a while, she may do nothing but talk about food and weight. Let her play it out. Eventually she'll get more used to the 'new' lifetstyle and it will settle down.

Power walks in muggy Melbourne weather = a very sweaty lellow. Just sayin'

We're all driving AB! Welcome! What did you get done this time? Well, my man made homemade vegetarian pizza last night and I brought two small pieces into work today for lunch. I bet it won't even touch the sides but it'll stop the tummy growling and that's all I care about. Then I'm going for a 3km power walk around the city. I hope it's not raining though....