Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Just joined and need input!!



Recommended Posts

At my high school graduation I weighed 160 pounds . I had always tried so hard to be athletic, I tried to play volleyball, basketball and joined the track team. I was able to maintain my weight between 155-170 by playing sports.

By the end of my first year of college, I ended up gaining the freshman 30 bringing my weight up to 190 pounds. By the time I graduated from college my weight was up to 220 pounds. Even though I walked everywhere, I was consuming too many calories.

What hurt me the most was that I had promised myself I would never graduate from high school fat, and I did. I promised myself I would never graduate from college fat, and I did. I promised I would never get married while I was so fat, and I did. I promised myself I would never get pregnant while I was so fat and I did.

After years of poor self esteem, shattered diet attempts, cruel comments, and abusing my own body, I am beginning to put an end to all this craziness. I am determined to free myself from this barbed wire ladened fat. I do not want to waddle, I do not want to feel stared at, I do not want to worry about what chair I can fit into when I walk into a room, I do not want to cringe when my husband touches me, I do not want to feel anxiety while eating, I do not want to avoid all my past favorite activities, I do not want to obsess about food anymore, I do not want to hear from compete strangers "you have such a pretty face" anymore, I do not want to be the fat one anymore..:confused:. No more.

I will succeed in freeing myself. Joining Labbandtalk is the beginning of a new me. A healthier, happier, twirling, obnoxiously happy me. I am starting my journey on finding a lapband specialist in Los Angles. I am currently getting referrels from friends but if anyone has any input let me know.

I would love to keep you all posted on my journey on finding the right physician who will give me my new life! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good luck to you! :confused:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ahh Thank you...that means a lot!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good Job, come on in....

One question I'd ask the Doc. How many have you done. More than 100 I'd hope. 2nd I'd request no trainees are to be workin on me. It happens more than you think and its your money and body. Im not the one for training....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I could have written your post myself, - except that I am banded and it is the best decision I have ever made! It will be for you too.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you all for your support. I have started doing my search for a surgeon and I am going to go interview a bunch. I really feel like I need to connect and bond with my physician from the start..I guess I don't want to go to these surgery centers where they have many surgeons working for them and then I'm just another lap band for them. I really would like to find someone who has a private practice. However, I definitely do want them to be experienced. As far as not having a trainee there..that is one reason I would go to a private practice because hopefully by the time I have the surgery I will be familiar with all the people I deal with. Will keep you all posted!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Lots of information is here on this website. Your description of emotions and past pain with weight issues is very well written.

Good luck in your search for the right physician to meet your needs.

I'll see my surgeon for consultation on Wednesday this week and I'm eager to set the date.

Best wishes for your success. :angry:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

ladykaycusa...good luck to you as well!! this site is amazing! I have become soo addicted to Lapbandtalk! Everyone for the most part seems soo pleased with their results.. Can't wait until I find the right match and start my journey!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congratulations on your decision!! I'm 15 months out and am so happy with mine. . am only 3.4 pounds from goal as of yesterday. The band really works if you work with it!

Best wishes,

Catherine

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Catherine...you look amazing!! Im so happy for you and can't wait til I get there!:(

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Catherine...you look amazing!! Im so happy for you and can't wait til I get there!:smile2:

Oh yes I agree you look Fabulous....I am excited to , to have finally made the decission to have this proceedure I have thought about it for over a year (maybe two) and am 18kg heavier ...I wished I had done it 2 years ago..BUT its never to late so the saying go`s...

I wish you and everyone else good luck in the Quest to fight the fat......................:thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi,

I am about to begin my journey. I am excited and nervous. I pray that all goes well for me and you

also!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Your story is like so many of us who have decided to get a band. Getting my band and learning how to use this amazing tool has put an end to my yo yo dieting. Best thing I ever did for my health, self esteem and quality of life. I was banded in So Cal - Ventura. I can't say enough wonderful things about my surgeon and his aftercare program. If Ventura or Thousand Oaks is an option, I would defintely recommend Dr. Helmuth Billy.

You can also check out my blog. I'm in my 4th year and loving banded living. I've blogging my entire journey, going back to the time I first considered lapband surgery. I hope you find it useful. Here's the link:

Gloria's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Gloria!! I just realized I replied to another post to you as well!!! Thank you soo much!! I am really excited..So the seminar I went to was AMAZING!!! THe Drs.. were soo helpful..The staff..mostly old patient of theirs and many past patients were there to share their stories and tell us the ups and downs they had through their journey.. I am soo excited..I don't know if I should go and interview or go to other seminars because I fell in love with this practice!!! The prior pts had nothing but good things to say and I loved the fact that they all had the drs. personal cell phone numbers...really shows the drs are there for their patients!!!

Will keep you all posted!!

Thanks for all the support..it really means a lot to me!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×