AmySarah - Yeah, that's the same with DF. He lost 45kgs before the Op with the (the pre-op diet) Opti-Fast diet (which he hated, but still has the milkshakes cause he really enjoys them) and has lost 10kgs in a year, which he's pi$$ed about, but I'm always trying to tell him that the doctor DID say he'd lose the weight slowly. Yesterday was a year to the day that he had the surgery (he proposed to me the day before the surgery because he wanted me to know how important I was to him in case anything happened to him in the operating theatre - his words, not mine!) and he's still happy that he's losing it, he's just annoyed that it's slowly.
I will definitely pass on my congrats to him for you as well Pass on my congrats to your mum not needing to sleep with oxygen! That's a big achievement especially in three months!
One of the things I did realise about myself when I lost 10 kgs last year was that when I spent a lot of time looking for healthy foods and a lot of time preparing my meals, I became a little bit obsessed with food - finding it, preparing it, eating it. It took a lot of time out of my day. Which was fine back then when I was on maternity leave, but now I work 7.30am to 4.30pm, get home at around 6pm, cook, clean, put my baby to bed, then study from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. Then I flake out to start it all again the next day. In between that somewhere I also try to exercise 3 times a week, even if it's only a 30 min walk.
What makes me eat atm is hunger, otherwise I reckon I'd forget to eat. And the lapband controls hunger - so to me, that's perfect! Only eat as much as you need to feel full, except with the band it's 1/2 cup instead of a big plate.
The thing is, TheBear, I think you're doing a marvellous thing. And it's not like I haven't BTDT. But here I am back in the start. There is something very disheartening about falling off the wagon over and over again. I don't need to hear that eating better and moving more will solve my problem. I've tried that all my life. I have never been on a 'fad' diet ever. I've always tried to lose weight sensibly, but it doesn't stay off permanently.
So please don't doubt that it took me a lot of research and some real balancing of the pros and cons to have made the decision I have. If crippling my hunger is what is going to happen, then I'm ready for that.
And don't get me wrong, I think everyone should use the band as a last resort. It's MY last resort.
Hi Sushee
I completely understand that you feel this is something that you need to do. In the Bear's case, we looked at this procedure and decided it wasn't for him. What he's doing now is working for him and for us. He is extremely healthy and doesn't have a family background of heart disease or diabetes to be concerned about. He had to see a cardiologist to get his pilot's licence (purely on the basis of his weight) and the cardiologist couldn't believe how strong his heart was and wanted to show his ECGs to students!
In your case you have done a lot of research and satisfied yourself this is for you. What I get worried about is people who see this as a quick fix, a magic bullet like you said before and are tempted to rush into it without looking at all the consequences, especially people who don't have any existing health problems other than being a bit overweight. Our society is obsessed with weight and IMO promotes a body shape which is unhealthy for probably 90% of the female population at least. Health is more important than being skinny but our society does not see it that way and for some people that pressure can be hard to resist when they don't fit the image.
I wish you all the best with it and I hope you will let us know how it goes for you.
I think discussion is healthy, and it's been great seeing the many sides of the issue.
When I first saw this thread, I jumped in because I've done a lot of research, and already knew that this was not going to be some quick fix. I think there is a perception sometimes that this is an easy way to lose weight, but it's not.
I agree with you that bariatric surgery should be used to treat obesity-related health problems, and not for cosmetic purposes. And if anyone seriously believes they will wake from the operation as a thin person, they need to do more research. There are loads of cosmetic surgeons who can reduce your fat, but a lapband will never be a cosmetic procedure. Obesity is a real health issue, and for every one person who does it thinking it will magically make them skinny, there will be 49 others who are doing it for all the right reasons. There is so much prep involved, that if you go into it believing it is a magic bullet after all the counselling and Dr's appts, then you're deluded and no one can help you with that anyway.
I guess what I'm saying is that while I don't consider myself an advocate of the lapband, I do believe it is a viable tool to assist in treating obesity, and have heard so many people tell me that all I have to do is eat less/move more to lose weight that I feel sometimes there is no empathy for those who've tried it all and have now taken this big decision to seek medical intervention for their problem.
So if someone is looking at all their available choices, because they've come to the point where they know they can't do it on their own anymore, then I do believe they should hear the pros and cons of all their choices, even if it's lapband surgery.
Good luck to you and TheBear too. It sounds like you've found a happy balance in your lives.
I have done a lot of reading today in this book on lap banding and I have to say they go overboard to stress that the band is a tool not a solution and that you must commit yourself to the exercise and diet. If you don't you won't get the results you want.
Sushee - I know what you mean about hunger. I have to eat a big portion to feel full at the moment and only really eat at night/afternoon. I think the band will help with this hunger problem as mentioned in the book. What did you think about the bit were the author writes about the 'myth' of breakfast and three regular meals? Made me think a bit.
Pass on my congrats to your mum not needing to sleep with oxygen! That's a big achievement especially in three months!
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks