btrieger

I've got OCD and you don't get much more compulsive than me. Whether it be gambling, shopping, drinking or eating, I have little control. I also have a thing for statistics. So, when a friend of mine showed me her Bodybugg and the numbers it keeps; I immediately went online and ordered one. It came Wednesday and yesterday was my first full day of stats. I am a little skeptical about the results. Calories burned: 4,887 Calories consumed: 1,726 That is 3161 more calories burned than consumed. That is nearly a full pound (3,500 cals) The part I am skeptical about is the calories burned. The majority of the day I was lounging around reading this forum or watching Judge Judy. In between I walked about 2 miles.

It's kind of nasty but I couldn't stop watching. YouTube - Lap Band Surgery

I haven't been banded yet but my shoulder pain last week turned out to be a heart attack or two. One of my coronary arteries was 100% blocked. It was the worst pain I had ever been in. So I'd say, if you are feeling excruciating pain maybe it is worth a trip to the ER.

TRUE! Some people only need a slight hint, others a slap in the face and then there's me, it took a heart attack. I won't be banded until at least mid January but this should definitely be proof to the insurance company that I need it.

Tomorrow is my 45th birthday and I was going to quit smoking; start an exercise regiment and watch what I was eating starting then. As my luck goes, I suffered a couple of mild heart attacks on Wednesday and Thursday and spent the weekend being poked and prodded in the hospital. It didn't scare me as much as it probably should have. I knew at the rate I was abusing my body that it was bound to happen sooner or later. Needless to say, my new lifestyle started Friday morning when I checked into the emergency room. The time off from work will be nice, I just hope I have the will power to do what I know needs to be done.

Tomorrow is my 45th birthday and I was going to quit smoking; start an exercise regiment and watch what I was eating starting then. As my luck goes, I suffered a couple of mild heart attacks on Wednesday and Thursday and spent the weekend being poked and prodded in the hospital. It didn't scare me as much as it probably should have. I knew at the rate I was abusing my body that it was bound to happen sooner or later. Needless to say, my new lifestyle started Friday morning when I checked into the emergency room. The time off from work will be nice, I just hope I have the will power to do what I know needs to be done.

I haven't been banded yet but I have done an awful lot of research. The average loss is approximately 2 pounds a week and you're doing better than that. Keep up the good work!

I'm Bob and I live in beautiful Keller, Texas. I started packing on the pounds the minute I got out of the military at 25 years old (1989). I guess I was rebelling against the man for making me exercise every day. Unfortunately I was the man. I was about to get in the shower in a hotel about 4 years later and it was the first time I had seen my naked body in a full length mirror. I was repulsed. As I gained over 100 pounds, in my head I thought, "so what, I have a beer belly." When in fact I had a huge keg belly that came out about a foot and hung down just as far. On top of that, I had just received my ten year high school reunion invitation and was already depressed about getting old. So, I rebelled a little more, ignored reality and just carrying on as I had been. Many have tried to help but I either got defensive or just ignored them. At 35 (1999), during one of my mid-life crises I bought a home gym and a bicycle. I worked out for a month or 2; lost a few pound and then realized that the home gym was a great place for hanging clothes. My mom died in 2001 and I used that as catalyst to try and clean myself up a bit. I started seeing a shrink; quit smoking; quit gambling; joined a gym; worked out and walked every day and started eating right. I went from 352 pounds down to 244 and was feeling great about myself. I had tons of money from not gambling when my next mid-life crisis hit at 40 and decided it was time to buy a house. Loved the house but unfortunately it was a much longer drive home from work and I stopped going to the gym every day after work and before long I stopped going all together. The smoking cessation lasted a little longer and the gambling a little more. Needless to say, I am smoking a pack a day; making my way to the casino every weekend and put all of the weight plus some back on. I am approaching 45 and my 5 year cycle of having a midlife crisis is kicking in. This time it is weight-loss surgery. I have been reading up on it a lot for years. I was and am a little concerned because I personally know somebody that hemorrhaged and died following gastric bypass. I am also concerned because I have OCD. I dive right into thing 100% and then just quit 100% just as fast. I'm hoping that the banding is going to keep me from quitting or at least slow me down enough to realize that I am heading back the wrong way in time for me to turn back. I have zero willpower or patience and give up way to easily on everything. I moved from cold, nasty Massachusetts to beautiful, sunny Texas 2 years ago. I signed up at LA Fitness soon after and have been giving them $30 a month even though I haven't stepped inside the door. I am a little lazy and on top of that my weight makes it too stressful to do any exercise. My feet hurt too much to take my dogs for a walk. I look forward to the day when I can say that I only fly first class because I am better than those in coach and not just because I don't fit in the coach seats. :biggrin: Alright, enough rambling from me. If anyone bothered reading this far and is curious, the midlife crises started at 30. I bought a Mustang GT then but it didn't really fit into the story.

I am new here myself and no expert at all. It took me 2 years of research and contemplating to make up my mind and my insurance will pay for it. It is surgery and all surgery should be considered "major surgery". I had my initial consultation with the surgeon 2 days ago and although I am planning on going through with it, I still have a few doubts in the back of my mind. Keep reading but not just here, google for lapband. Read the good and the bad. You'll find that most people are happy they did it but it is a "tool" and not a magic pill. There are sacrifices required and a lot of work on your part. Call a local surgeon's office, voice your concerns and ask lots of questions. You can probably get them all answered for nothing before they even ask your name. There are also support groups all over the place where you can meet people face to face that are in the same boat you are. Is there any chance you can get another insurance company? It is almost annual enrollment season for many of us. PS. By the time you are done reading about lapband, you will hate the word "tool" as much as I do now.

After years of denial and apathy I finally decided to have the surgery. Like many of the pre-ops that post here, I am very skeptical but what have I got to lose? Insurance is covering the costs and at the very worst it is just another of my hundreds of failed diets. My initial visit with the surgeon was this morning and I guess we won't even be setting a date until January 6th next year. I guess until then I will keep reading up on everyone else's progress; dream of the day when I can put on my socks and tie my shoes in less than 10 minutes and not be out of breath when done; practice drinking flat beer and actually use the gym membership that I've paid $30 a month for over 2 years and have never been inside.

After years of denial and apathy I finally decided to have the surgery. Like many of the pre-ops that post here, I am very skeptical but what have I got to lose? Insurance is covering the costs and at the very worst it is just another of my hundreds of failed diets. My initial visit with the surgeon was this morning and I guess we won't even be setting a date until January 6th next year. I guess until then I will keep reading up on everyone else's progress; dream of the day when I can put on my socks and tie my shoes in less than 10 minutes and not be out of breath when done; practice drinking flat beer and actually use the gym membership that I've paid $30 a month for over 2 years and have never been inside.