How did you know you were ready youself to be banded?

Today I was talking with my wife about the scheduling to be banded and she suggested that I could wait until after the holidays and start the new year with a new me. I told her no that I wanted to start the new me as soon as possible.

A year ago I know I was in the mindset that yeah I would wait until after the holidays so I could get some good eating in and "enjoy" the holidays as everyone says. But I don't feel that way anymore. Seriously I have been thinking more and more about the foods I eat, the amounts of foods I eat, and why I am eating them. I am sick and tired of eating all the time. I am sick and tired of behing morbidly obese.

It's that point in my mind where I have already commited to making the change. To turning my life around. I am pushing forward with the change. I cannot let excuses get in the way anymore. I want to "live" my life. Not eat it away.

hi my name is christina and i was banded on 8/25 me and my hubby have many things planned and he to thought like your wife but for me i made the choice to get it now there is always going to be something and holidays the way i look at it this is the rest of my new life good luck

I like the way you are thinking, Pete. Especially about there always being a reason to eat!!! Good luck with your process.

Mimi

in my case, no time was a good time.

after i made my decision i wanted the surgery as soon as possible (which would have been april 2008). my entire family tried to get me to wait. wait for what??? every month is either a holiday or a birthday or an anniversary so no month was good.

i choose april because it was the month with the least amount going on. if you're ready now... go for it! don't let the thought of the holidays change your mind!

Pete,

Do not stop to collect your 200.00 but run past GO and get that band! It sounds like you are in such a good place right now to do that. Sometimes people who love us still want us to be able to "reward" ourselves with food but deep down we all know it is no reward to eat the way we do.

I hope to welcome you to the land of the band soon!

Hi Flordia Pete...I am not banded yet either but my surgery date is Nov 14th. I knew I was ready when the words came out of my mouth, no second thoughts and I dont think anyone could talk me out of this. My husband does not want me to do this (scared something is going to happen) and My sister wanted me to wait until March 09 so that she it would be better on her schedule to go with me. Well I was going to wait, but the more I waited the more I was NOT going to wait. I told her that I was going in November with or without her, guess what, she decided November would be ok. SOOOOO plantickets was bought that day and surgery was set. Since then (which has been about a month ago) my mind is set so strong on this. I am 31 and have smoked since I was 16. I stopped smoking cold turkey. This "want" has given me sooo much hope and I am sooooo ready to stop letting Food control my life! I am ready to be able to walk in a store and buy cloths and not go to a store and have to find a "fluffy section" just to buy a shirt...I want to love me NOW!..

I booked my surgery date about a week after first learning that I could do it affordably in Mexico (Dr. Ortiz) and booked it for just 3 weeks later!

It was all very fast and now, 2 months after surgery, I still have moments of "OMG I can't believe I actually did this"! But it's all good - never have I had a moment of regret.

What you and everyone else has said is true - there are always reasons to eat - and you'll always be able to eat! Just not quite as much. It hasn't even occured to me that I won't be able to eat as much for Christmas. In a way I just need to think about the usual things - be careful not to eat too much candy (goes right through the band) and other sweets that are around at that time.

I say go for it - do it while you're feeling ready for it.

Good luck!

That's almost how I was Pete. I could of kept finding an excuse to push it out farther and farther with this to do and that to do... Why though??? So I could shovel more food in my mouth like I was at Nathans Hot dog eating contest?

No way I took the first appointment I could get them to give me and I stuck with it. That's the best thing I have ever done :tt2:

Good luck!

And then there's New Year's and then Valentine's Day and there's always a birthday, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, someone's anniversary, someone retiring, Father's Day, July 4th...

get the idea???

You can still enjoy EVERYTHING--but just enjoy it as a "normal-eating" person. Get your surgery (only the beginning), schedule your fills (the real magic of the lapband) and start exercising and making good choices. The weight will drop off of you and your motivation to do even better will skyrocket!

Besides, I hear that bandsters in FLORIDA do exceptionally well! (tee,hee)

Think of it this way. If you get banded soon, you'll be able to eat actual food over the holidays instead of mushies or liquids.

You seem to have your head on straight. Good luck with everything!

Gee Pete, sounds like your ready. What are you waiting for?? Your right, there are NO more excuses. Make that appt asap!!!!

Good luck!!!

Banded 07-02-08

6.5 cc's in a 10 cc band

26LBS lost since surgery!!

Thanks all for the support. I am moving forward and still working on finalizing a date but I am almost there and so look forward to getting the band and life after the band.

Oh and I will most certainly have to check out the Florida Bandsters! Woot!

Pete I agree with you entirely, you have a great attitude. The new me started right NOW, right when I decided to have the surgery. No last minute, last supper stuffing my face, but right that very day that I saw my surgeon and told him I wanted it. I didnt try to lose weigth, but I started eating better and exercising from that point on.

Why on earth would you wait a few months if you dont have to? That's a fat person's mentality, oh, put it off a bit, do it later, stuff my face in the meantime. Since when are holidays only about shoving food into your face? Since banding I've enjoyed my holidays MORE. Go out to eat, eat different things, enjoy a few more drinks but all in control and no extra pounds when you get home!

You sound ready to me, you sound like you've already made the switch.