Happy66

Hi Sadie, I have been reading these boards for several months and am partway through the pre-op process with lots of questions and trepidation. I saw your thread, ordered the book and found it really, really incredible. I have spent many (mostly good) years in Overeaters Anonymous, and was suspicious - perhaps another "eat all the foods you love just in moderation" approach that has *never* worked for me, but instead it just clicked for me and the way I see my overeating. Thank you.

OK, this might sound weird, but one of my biggest fears about the Lap-band® is how it will affect my doing Pilates. I have been taking classes 2 sometimes 3 times per week for 2 years. It is the only exersize I've ever done that I truly love, and I am terrified that I will have pain at the port site that will prevent me from doing this exersize (long term - I realize there would be recovery). Do any of you guys with bands do Pilates? Will I still be able to curl up and work those abs? I'd like to actually see them one day...

Hi Karen, I have been in OA for a long, long time. It really worked for me when I was younger, and it really changed how I looked at my relationship to food. I lost 120 pounds and kept 100 of it off for 7 years after I lost it (9 yrs total). Then I relapsed and gained it back over 3-4 years and have struggled ever since. I lost 60 pounds after coming back in 2004 but have since gained 30 back. I understand completely. I am about 75% sure I am going to be banded. I have been through the initial consult and have the testing the week after next. I have lots of mixed feelings because I have been so successful in OA in the past, but I also feel the clock ticking (I'm 50) and right now I don't feel I have time to lose weight and gain it back again. I haven't been to my regular meetings in a while since starting on the lap-band® journey and don't think I would ever tell anyone. There is an online 12-step listserve for COEs who've had weight-loss surgery and that has been helpful to me.