I'm taking my first step toward lap band surgery.

[Bertha Venation]

The first step is an informational meeting.

Yes. Yes, I have thought about it long and hard. Yes, I have tried to lose on my own, and I've beat myself up over my inability to stick to any program for any significant amount of time. Anyone who's been here for a while can attest to the number of threads I've posted on the subject of weight loss. I'm 46 and have too many health problems to wait any longer to lose significant weight.

I have the support of my beloved and my sisters. I am going to be a. Royal. Fucking. Bitch. I eat to deal with my emotions, so no more excuses: back into therapy I go. I know that other lifestyle changes are indicated, and I'm prepared.

I've thought about surgery for years and rejected it for years. Between my heart, a hysterectomy, and my ankle, I've had enough surgery for three lifetimes. I don't want more. But my health MUST improve, and quickly, too. Serious weight loss will help improve my health.

I'd like to discuss this. Your thoughts?

[Tektonik]

1. all i can say is

:hug:

One of my coworkers had gastric bypass 10 years ago, and she's pretty spry for a woman her age.

Weight sucks to lose. I've been 190 at my lowest and 250 at my highest. I want to get to 190, but not by starving myself, which I definitely do not. However working out when one works full time and deals with mild scoliosis is not fun

[Texasgal]

2. Congratulations!!

The only thing I can say is that lap band surgery doesn't change your emotions of food.

I had a co-worker who had excellent results with the lap band. She was an emotional eater that was never treated properly... which became a health issue again with the lap band. She went through therapy and got to the root of her relationship with food.

She did well and her weight came off, but it's not a cure all... You still have to be determined and exercise alot of restraint overeating or bad food ingredients can make you very sick.

I wish you luck and look forward to seeing your posts on your journey for health!!

[malta blue]

3. My coworker did it, and she feels fabulous!

We'll be here to support you too!

:pals:

[Arugula Latte]

4. It sounds like you are being careful, researching, making sound decisions.

That's good. You know that it has risks, but so does not doing the surgery.

I'm sending good thoughts that you start a journey that yields you health. :hug:

[JitterbugPerfume]

5. If you have considered all other options

Go for it . You are an intelligent woman , so just trust your own judgment and we will be here to support you:hug:

[XemaSab]

6. I say go for it

The problem with overcoming food as an unhealthy habit is that you HAVE to eat, and hopefully several times a day.

My problem is (in part) that I start every day saying that I won't overeat, and I'll eat healthy food, but then I wait until I'm just starving to eat, then I eat too much, or eat junk food.

For example, yesterday at 10:00 I got up and I had two choices: fakin' bacon and omelet or half a sticky bun. I had the half a sticky bun. By 4:00 I was STARVING, so I had a piece of cheese, a handful of chips, and some salsa, even though my mom was making popcorn. Then I had popcorn. By 7:30 I wasn't hungry, but my mom (who had the bacon and eggs but not the chips and cheese) was STARVING, so she ordered pizza. I got pizza too, and so instead of a healthy dinner I had pizza. Then I had a cookie.

In summary, even though I started out the day hoping to eat healthy food, I had a sticky bun, chips, popcorn, pizza, and a cookie. Virtually all junk food. :(

Expecting willpower alone to overcome poor eating habits is asking too much.

[Wapsie B]

7. If you've come to terms with food and it's emotional connections to you go for it.

I've known people who've had a gastric bypass who've gained weight back due to not having a handle on what food means to them. I was very close to having a Lap-band myself. But I have not been quite able to get the emotional eating thing under control. I'd end up like others who lost 90-100+ pounds only to gain a large portion of it back. You know the old formula, eat less + exercise more. Some lucky people can do that on their own. They know what to to and they do it. Others like myself would appreciate some sort of food therapy to help people get to their proper weight just like there are therapies to cope with other things like depression. One would think that Dieticians would have a specialty devoted to providing therapy in this regard. Telling someone the correct balance of foods and nutrients one needs everyday is one thing. It seems that someone is on their own when needing to retrain their eating.

[RebelOne]

8. Believe me, you will be happy if you have the surgery.

My daughter had that surgery a few years ago. Her weight had ballooned to 430 pounds and she tried all methods to lose weight, even Weight Watcherd but nothing worked. After the surgery she lost 200 pounds. Good luck.

[Roon]

9. Oh, Bertha..I am in the same boat

I have lost and re-gained weight all my life. I am heavier now that I have ever been and just four years ago I had sixpack abs.

I am going to change my lifestyle up a bit and if I am still diabetic with high blood pressure in June,then I am getting the lapband surgery.

[auntAgonist]

10. my friend. I think you know how I feel about it

and you :) I'm here if ever you need to chat. Battled my weight all my life I did.

:hug:

You know what is best for you.

:loveya:
kesha

[MajorChode]

11. My mom died after complications from lap band surgery

The risks are certainly high, but you just have to weigh that against the risk of doing nothing. I'm sure most people wind up with very positive outcomes and I hope it works out well for you if that is your choice.

[SeattleGirl]

12. I have a friend who had the gastric bypass surgery a couple of

years ago. Not only did he lose weight, but his health has improved tremendously, which I think is the best part.

Good for you for researching it, and also for knowing that the lap band surgery isn't a magic answer, but just part of what you would have to do, not only for your weight but for attendant health problems.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Bucky]

13. My first thought is that when I see the phrase "lap band" the image I get...

is of a couple of oompah tubists squatting up and down on someone's lap as an alternative to a lap dance.

With Cindo de Mayo coming up, I may try to change that to mariachis.

[Bertha Venation]

17. LOL

:thumbsup:

[femmocrat]

14. Best wishes to you, Bertha.

:hug:

[zanne]

15. Why are you having doubts about the very thing that will improve your health?

If I could afford to have that surgery, I'd sign up. I have a bad heart, a bad back and bad legs. Significant weight loss would only help in those three situations. You sound like you're in the same boat, only you're 46 (11 years my junior) and you'd have that much more time to enjoy a good, healthy life. I say go for it and I wish you the best of luck. You deserve to be happy.

[MissMillie]

16. Bertha... only you can make this choice

I am a gastric bypass patient, and even though I have had to deal with some complications, I thrilled that I did it.

You're not having the bypass, so you won't have to worry about things like malnutrition... but there may very well be complications.

Don't be surprised if you pick up another habit to deal w/ your emotions. The first one I picked was exercise... not a bad thing. I have since developed some habits I'm not terribly proud of. It's not unusual to trade one addiction for another.

Weigh all your options and make the choice that works for you.

And if there's anything I can do to support you through whatever choice you make... please let me know.

[applegrove]

18. I would consider it if I don't loose weight right now. I got a job in a mall

and ate at the food court every day and gained 40 pounds. So now I try and watch what I eat and it is easier since I was relieved of that particular job.

But yeah. I would seriously consider it if these diets I am on don't work. I could live happily eating tiny bits of things for the rest of my life. You never hear anyone complain about the surgery once they have had it. Oh they complain about the small portions they have to eat and what happens if you eat too much (you throw up I think). But they never ever say they wish they hadn't had the surgery.

I would do it Bertha.

[fizzgig]

19. you seem to have thought this through very well

i think it's wonderful that you have the support of your loved ones. i also think it's very positive that you understand (or at least acknowledge) your relationship with food and have a plan for how to deal with it. i have no experience with this, but i wish you good luck.

[Common Sense Party]

20. Good on you. I'm slowly inching toward gastric bypass.

I, too, have come to the same conclusion: something HAS to change.

[Mike 03]

21. I wish to the best of luck. Many of the reports I have heard on LB are very positive, and they

all come from an XM satellite station called "ReachMD", where they focus a lot on gastric related surgeries. There is even a brand new one called "the sleeve" or something like that, where no foreign (meaning external to the body) material is introduced into the stomach.

As you probably know, the band has many advantages; it is a safer operation, less invasive, and the band can be adjusted over time as needed.

I will be rooting for you!!!!

Keep us posted, friend.

[ismnotwasm]

22. I think you'll do fine

One of my co-workers, also a nurse, had it done several years ago and has maintained a considerable weight loss. He isn't a tiny person, and doesn't want to be. He says the surgery changed his life, and I know it has prolonged it. You wouldn't guess he's a nurse, He's a type A with his heart on his sleeve, works hard, plays hard and loves good food and is also an emotional eater. Best of luck to you, I admire you very much for your persistence and honesty. :hug:

[pitohui]

23. congratulations! a much older friend had this done and he looks/feels great!

i may have posted at the time of his surgery, that i was worried because of his age (68), it has been some years now and it really has made a difference for him

i'm sure he wonders now why he waited so long

it sounds like you have given it lots of mature thought and you're ready, but you're still young enough to have many many years ahead of you to enjoy the benefits

my friend was originally going to do the bypass then changed it to the lap band, as apparently this is much less stressful to the body...

i realize this step isn't for everyone but i think you will be pleased, my friend is certainly delighted and the rest of us are, i'll admit it, we're quite amazed at his success

good luck, good vibes, i have a feeling you will be very happy you did this -- getting the weight off the joints can be HUGE in keeping your mobility