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Why Do People Think Lap Band Is The "easy" Way!?



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I've lived most of my life worried about what others thought' date=' but at 56yo I no longer give a crap what anyone thinks about anything.

It's true, with age comes wisdom.lol[/quote']

Oh Yoda, you are so very wise. Love ya!!!!!!!!

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Oh Yoda' date=' you are so very wise. Love ya!!!!!!!![/quote']

LOL, love you too!

Let the force be with you always!

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Regrettably only 5% of those wo lose large amounts of weight will keep if off long term. Prior to being banded I lost 100 pounds 3 times only to gain it back plus some. I'm up to 7 miles a day walking. Don't know many thin people who do that kind of cardio.

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I lost 180-220lbs without surgery, not once but twice!

Its called a DIVORCE!! :lol:

Seriously, people just have no idea the work you still have to put in it. Just keep a smile on your face, it keeps them guessing!

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I've lived most of my life worried about what others thought, but at 56yo I no longer give a crap what anyone thinks about anything.

It's true, with age comes wisdom.lol

Though I've never written this statement before...I've always felt that turning 50 was a liberating event...you do have some wisdom only gained from life and living. But you also regard yourself who has essentially "been there...done that".

I've become more appropriately assertive with others...and if others feel that they've encountered an "easy target"...they've picked the wrong woman!

Just ask the guy who clipped the front of my car when he failed to negotiate a left turn and lost control. He looked at me, paused long enough for me to get a good look at his face, and then left the scene of the accident. I followed, called 911, reported location, make, model, year and license plate number. The guy was arrested for felony child endangerment and had to pay restitution. Not bad for a Sunday morning all before church... ;)

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Regrettably only 5% of those wo lose large amounts of weight will keep if off long term. Prior to being banded I lost 100 pounds 3 times only to gain it back plus some. I'm up to 7 miles a day walking. Don't know many thin people who do that kind of cardio.

7 miles a day! That's great!

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I just read a post on my Facebook. Someone said, "103 lbs down. No surgery, just determination." Maybe that is not meant as a diss to lap band surgery, but it hit me as one. I feel like so many people think having lap band surgery is such an easy way to lose weight. Just get the band and the weight drops off. Why don't people realize the band is a TOOL?! WE are still the ones doing the work!!! If someone can lose 103 lbs without surgery, I applaud them. I, however, could not. It does mean that by getting the lap band I took the easy way out. This has not been an easy road. Not at all. <_<

I could lose it without surgery. I have done it before...but have always gained every bit back plus,. And thats if i didnt get bored withthe diet and quit. Since i had 217 to lose i chose the band because it gives me a governing tool so I will not put it back on. And for that it was worth all the pain and suffering.

People speak when the are uneducated so I have learned to ignore the neighsayers and live my own life.

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I lost 180-220lbs without surgery' date=' not once but twice!

Its called a DIVORCE!! :lol:

Seriously, people just have no idea the work you still have to put in it. Just keep a smile on your face, it keeps them guessing![/quote']

This cracked me up! Thank you!

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Funny, but I've never considered bariatric surgery as being easy, ever. Just the thought of going in for a surgical procedure was motivation enough for me to do it without. The surgery was recommended to me four years ago, due to serious health issues. I finally faced the reality the dr was right... my chances of overcoming my problem were like 10000 to 1. As a result, I am in much worse health now than I was then, all because I was afraid of the surgery.

I can credit Dr Oz for opening my eyes and reversing my slow suicide. My body does not cooperate anymore and hasn't for many years. I don't care if I had to eat nothing but chicken poop, I would do it if I knew at the end I would be able to resolve a problem I've had for most of my life and nothing has worked in the past 10 years.

Not having the surgery - living with obesity is no walk in the park either. Joint pain, diabetes, taking insulin shots, being exhausted and unable to go to the beach or hike without humiliation. Choosing which chairs are safe to sit on and which could break or you sink into so far, you can't get up easily. Not taking baths because your body fills the tub and besides, you can't get out if you did.

Nope, none of it is easy. I applaud every person who strives to change their life and can stick with it through the rough times. If your metabolism and body parts haven't begun to fail you so you really can drop the weight by following the plan, good on you! I pray that you will be able to keep it off and live a long healthy life. For the rest who can't, thank God and our medical doctors for bariatric surgery. I've known several women who have had GB.... twice.... only to gain back their weight because they refused to change their lifestyle habits. I am sad for them, but the problem wasn't with the surgery...it's all above their neck.

Ignorance is not bliss.

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Simply put: because they're ignorant.

We all made the choice to better our lives and our health. We all went through a painful surgery. Every single day we battle emotional issues, sweat it out at the gym, and resist temptations in a very food obsessed world. We have worked our butts off (literally)! No way did we take the "easy way out" and anyone who says otherwise can shove it.

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I went in on Wednesday to have my pre op labs done. The phlebotomist who was doing it has been at this lab for several years. I've watched her and she's watched me gain and gain....ESP since we had three babies at the same time As each other. I hardly recognized her on this visit. She looks fabulous! I asked her what diet she is following and she said..."I had GB and am sticking to high protein/low carb"

She said " I would have chosen LB, but I didn't feel I was disciplined enough". That spoke volumes to me!

I KNOW this is a tool and I'm so happy and grateful I get to put it in my tool belt!

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It's so frustrating. Yet another reason why I didn't tell anyone about my surgery. People just don't understand WLS.

I'm with you! I'm not telling anyone....only my husband knows

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I've lived most of my life worried about what others thought' date=' but at 56yo I no longer give a crap what anyone thinks about anything.

It's true, with age comes wisdom.lol[/quote']

Oh Maddy so know what you mean. I've always been a shy person and always put everyone else first and always been there for family friends etc. the last few years have hit home how selfish those people have been when I've needed support during a difficult period. I'm turning 50 in December and my attitude now is stuff you all, I am no longer available to be used and taken for granted. My good heart has been kicked, stabbed and bruised so now it's put away and not reachable to those users. I no longer feel guilty or mean saying no, it's my turn to make me happy doing what I want to do period. I love my I don't give a stuff attitude and ignore stupidity!

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    • 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.
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      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.

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