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love it or leave it?

christa94

By christa94, in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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christa94    0

christa94
Posted

do you love your band or do you wish you would not have gotten it?

i was thinking about the band and the journey over the weekend:finding a doctor in Mexico, getting it financed, getting my then fiance/now husband on board with it all, the actual surgery, immediate weeks post op, learning the band, losing weight,pb's, etc. then i saw a couple of church members that have had the gastric bypass and i thanked God for letting me get the band. one person has lost like 200 pounds in a year. one had lost alot of weight from having the surgery some years ago, now she has regained it all then some, then another girl had it 2 years ago and lost, but has stopped and she is still pretty big. i thank God for giving me an alternative that i think is great--for me. unlike with the bypass, i can control my weight loss years from now. if i begin to plateu, i could get a fill and just start my losing again. and i don't have to worry about malnutrition.

i didn't think it would be as hard a work as it it. let me explain, Portion Control has always been an issue for me. i knew with wls your portions HAD to be altered. planning a complete meal in only 3-4 ozs was hard. how do i get in everything in 4 oz meals: Protein and veggies and carbs. i got it down now. handling cravings was easy at first. i didn't want to eat any of the wrong stuff that might hurt the band. bread is still completely out. but now, i realize Cookies and cake can make it through the band. so, that self discipline has got to kick in and I HAVE to make the right choices. the band can't do that for me. then there is exercise. at first, the weight was coming off without exercise. now, i have incorporated it in my journey experience. what a dunce i was for not doing it sooner. but, i find it easier to do 36 pounds lighter than before! pb's. had never heard of this before the band and still didn't really understood it till i had one! if there is anything i can take away from the journey, it would be those and slimes! but, they help remind me to slow it down and chew and enjoy food-something i didn't really do when i was wolfin' it down before

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juliegeraci    7

juliegeraci
Posted

I am so happy I got the band. I have never looked back. I know sometimes I think about food and wanting bigger portions but that is quite normal. I'm just really happy. I don't remember a time when it was as easy for me to lose 30 lbs as it has been from the band. I thank God every day that I found the band a such a wonderful Doctor. Thanks for the post. Julie

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MissyC    0

MissyC
Posted

Even with all the struggle and ups/downs. I would do it again in a minute.

I too have several aquantances over the years with GB who have lost huge amts...only to gain it back a couple of years later.

Its heartbreaking for them.

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JJB    2

JJB
Posted

Never, Never, Never. I never ever want to be without my band. I love it!!!!!

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gonnabethin    10

gonnabethin
Posted

love It!!!

Never Want To Be Without It!!

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Pattman    0

Pattman
Posted

Not even a question! Would do it all over again, wouldn't want to be without it!

Although there are some foods I've had to give up along the way, it has been worth it. Also, in the long run there's very little of those foods I've given up that I truly miss and wish I could eat again

. No other way I would've been able to loose the 76+ lbs I've lost.

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dolphin_dreams    0

dolphin_dreams
Posted

LOVE IT!!!

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Murphles    0

Murphles
Posted

My friend. I was totally shocked at how much I need it. As my band got looser as I lost weight, I gradually ate more. Not because of any reason, but because it tasted good. Just one more bite. Oh, I eat much less than Iever did before-but I realize why the band is for me. I never felt like a glutton. I never binged. It was just one m ore bite all day every day to seventy to eight pounds worth. I am losing gradually and slowly. Now I am ready for my second fill-which bums me out a bit. Why could not I learn portion contol. Reality is-if "portion control" was the answer, then we all could do it. Thank god for the lap band.

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Go To Topic Listing LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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    • LeighaTR

      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

      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!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        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. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      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

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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