Well I told managment (2 of the 3 assistant managers and the store manager) about my plans for surgery next year (and that my endo has put me on a new anti-dep to give me more energy...basically 'covering my tukus')

Reactions were interesting...the skinny female Asst Mgr didn't 'get it' (she was very nice but I could tell the 'why can't you just lose weight' reaction) the other asst mgr was....odd (he is pleasant but lives in his own world), he couldn't stay on topic but I DO answer to him). The store manager didn't really give a hoot, gave me a muttered thing about 'we will just need to know whether to put you on medical leave or.....) I will worry about that next year.... but I did do the 'I want to be a better associate' type speech...

Interesting reaction I am seeing... one type is 'I am happy in whatever you do', another is 'why can't you just diet and exercise'

one thing at lunch- I mean to start practicing chewing everything until it was 'gone' and realize I read while I was eating and not paying attention to my food...so am I not 'realizing' I was eating? something to look at (the whole relationship/with food)

thanks

PenNdulum

Glad to hear that you followed through with speaking to your managers. It is a first step. Once I decided to have the surgery, I also started paying more attention to what and how I ate. I think it helped.

Thanks LB4, I want to be a success in this (if nothing else to prove my (step) mother wrong

I figure if I start taking those long needed steps now this will be less of a struggle after surgery (tho the liquid diet DOES sound challenging!) yesterday I had a blood sugar drop...and then overdid it on sugar...so I know 'control' is an issue...better start slow NOW...

PenNdulum

Glad to hear that you followed through with speaking to your managers. It is a first step. Once I decided to have the surgery, I also started paying more attention to what and how I ate. I think it helped.

I work at a grocery store and i told upper managment and a couple people my close friends and before long every1 in the store knew i had surgery. Now i am probably 8 weeks post op and everyone is asking me everyday how things are going. It is frustrating i hate being asked escpecially right now. I have only lost 37 lbs and i have stalled for 2 weeks now. I reall really need a fill. actually i real need to be in my green zone like now.

Thanks for the note, what is a 'green zone'? (new to all the terms)

and I work for a large home improvement retailer....(simillar I am sure)

starting to notice how I eat with out thinking....(or not paying attention to what I am putting in my mouth)

also noted my BMI thinking it was 'high' until I started looking at other post...wow!

I work at a grocery store and i told upper managment and a couple people my close friends and before long every1 in the store knew i had surgery. Now i am probably 8 weeks post op and everyone is asking me everyday how things are going. It is frustrating i hate being asked escpecially right now. I have only lost 37 lbs and i have stalled for 2 weeks now. I reall really need a fill. actually i real need to be in my green zone like now.

green zone is were u can only eat about 1 cup of food at a time and u r full for 4 or more hours. also green zone means u r losing 1 to 2 lbs a week. You get to the green zone through fills. The dr injects saline into the band via a port to make the band tighter or an unfill is where it is to tight (red zone) and nothing goes through the band

The green zone is also called your sweet spot - it is where you lose the best and are satisfied with just your meals...you will know when you get there, as when I wasn't I found I was getting hungry between meals (which is when you have to choose good Protein Snacks and not slider junk...).

You will find that type of reaction from most folks - some think we are just lazy and don't want to diet (believe me, the band is more work than Weight Watchers was!) and others are supportive even if they don't really understand it. I found that I don't give a hoot what other people think/say so it doesn't bother me.

It IS hard in the beginning - as the first 6 weeks post op you will be in healing phase and NOT weight loss phase....and folks assume it is like the gastric and you should start dropping weight like crazy....and it just doesn't work that way with bandsters. You want to look at your long term goal - not the "oh no I have only lost 25 lbs in 3 months" -as when you hit a plateau and aren't losing as fast you will quickly get frustrated....until you hit your sweet spot any weight you lose is just a bonus! Once you get there you will do fine - just make good food choices and exercise. And since you are starting to look at things before surgery --- you have even more time to research and prepare yourself! You will do great! We are here for ya!

Kim

Again, thanks...I also realize(d) that my work is rather physical but I have 'pulled back' some with my weigh (I am doing less than I used to) which will help BUT post surgery I will have to be very very careful (my job can involve lifting a lot of very (75+ lb) boxes...

and yes I will be VERY VERY VERY sure to tell my docs about that one!

and as previously stated, having a (new) year and half old terrier/terror in the house will also help with the walking.... although it is supposed to be a nasty winter...but I do NOT want to wait til spring!

It IS hard in the beginning - as the first 6 weeks post op you will be in healing phase and NOT weight loss phase....and folks assume it is like the gastric and you should start dropping weight like crazy....and it just doesn't work that way with bandsters. You want to look at your long term goal - not the "oh no I have only lost 25 lbs in 3 months" -as when you hit a plateau and aren't losing as fast you will quickly get frustrated....until you hit your sweet spot any weight you lose is just a bonus! Once you get there you will do fine - just make good food choices and exercise. And since you are starting to look at things before surgery --- you have even more time to research and prepare yourself! You will do great! We are here for ya!

Kim

I work in a mostly male shop. I am having surgery in 8 days and decided not to tell anyone I work with about my surgery to get the lap band. I have however created a blog and YouTube account to document the experience. I have schedule 2 days off next week for preop and surgery. I hope to be well enough the following Monday to return to work.

I have realized I don't want to 'get ahead of myself' (there are a lot of ifs yet (the financing is becoming a worry, yes I have insurance but) and the 'what if.....3 months? 6 months' thing (its the NOT KNOWING thats infuriating! lol)

so I am just trying to sit quiet (and not eat over it...)

anyone else get TIRED of food pre-op? I get sick of the gotta go to the grocery store again...etc...sigh

I work in a mostly male shop. I am having surgery in 8 days and decided not to tell anyone I work with about my surgery to get the lap band. I have however created a blog and YouTube account to document the experience. I have schedule 2 days off next week for preop and surgery. I hope to be well enough the following Monday to return to work.