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Stuck & wondering if lap band is for me



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Hi, My name is Mel. I'm 54 and I am 65 pounds over weight. My BMI is 35.4. I have tried dieting and always gain the weight back plus more. I enjoy exercising and work out 3-4 times per week. I'm interested in learning what it's like to go thru the experience of adjusting to a lap band. I'd love to hear from you.

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hi mel & welcome, here you will find lots of Q&A in the forums, & meet friends along the way..

have you talked this over with your doctor?..

i love my band, even though im only 7 weeks post op, but my weight is coming off & ive learnt alot about my band,, its the best thing i have had done with NO regrets.. im starting to get my life back... :confused:

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Welcome! If I were you I'd contact my insurance to even see if the procedure is covered, and if so, attend a seminar. There are also some really great books out there...check on Amazon or your favorite book store. And finally, look around this site and others like it. It's a big decision...but a good one for some of us!

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Hello,

I will be banded on April 16th. I'm doing it for the same reasons you mentioned. Lose weight, gain it back plus some.

I'll bet that next to the secondary medical and health issues associated with obesity, most people have been banded because they too have struggled with the yo-yo diets and frustration of losing weight and then regaining with added pounds.

Check with your insurance to see if the surgery is covered and what the criteria is.

Straight up; what it all boils down to is Banding is forced Portion Control for those of us who are unable to reach and maintain a healthy weight on our own. I confess, I fit into that category and I know the consequences of my current weight, so I'm happy to have this surgical option.

Best wishes!

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Hi and welcome. Hope you find out all you need to know here. You should be aware that some insurances don't cover the surgery unless you are 100lbs.over weight with other co-morbidity issues ie. diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc. It certainly is'nt an easy way to go but it sure gets results. I call it my surgically implanted conscience. Good luck.

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Hi Mel

Weight Loss Surgery is Surgery.

Research on your part is required.

A good book to start with is Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies

The Band is only a tool to help with the hungriness you are still required to eat the proper food in the proper amount and exercise to be successful.

If you still think this for you? I feel you steps are Insurance - Good Doctor - Nutritional Consultant - Licensed Psychologist is a MUST

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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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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