a little update with photos on my progress post surgery

[caseysmom]

You look great! I've been discussing lap band with my doctor, it is a bit scary for me, was there anything scary or dangerous about it?

[sasvermont]

I applaud your conviction about getting healthier. The surgery seems to have worked in many good ways for you. Great job! Stay with it and you will have a new life.

Running can be very tough on the joints. If you run on soft surfaces it is easier on them. If I were recommending an exercise less tough it would be walking (fast) and for long distances. It may take longer than a quick run, but it is less stressful to the body.

Your photos looks great and you look at least 10 years younger in your second photo.

Here's to a healthier life, girl!

[kittycats_delight]

I applaud your conviction about getting healthier. The surgery seems to have worked in many good ways for you. Great job! Stay with it and you will have a new life.

Running can be very tough on the joints. If you run on soft surfaces it is easier on them. If I were recommending an exercise less tough it would be walking (fast) and for long distances. It may take longer than a quick run, but it is less stressful to the body.

Your photos looks great and you look at least 10 years younger in your second photo.

Here's to a healthier life, girl!

I do active walking everyday. I walk anywhere from 5-10 km (3.2-6.4 miles)a day. I can do 3.2 miles in 40 minutes and all but a few minutes is fast. Hubby has a hard time keeping up when I walk fast and I am way shorter than him with a much shorter stride. I use a pedometer to make sure I get in atleast 30 minutes of active (fast) walking a day and to keep track of the calories I burn and the distance I walk. I talked to the doctor about running and he said it was ok. He said maybe a jog would be better than all out running and also it would be best if I did it in intervals so a few minutes jogging and then walk, few more minutes jogging then walk again and so on. I don't run on pavement. There are farmers fields behind my house and I do the old dirt roads so it is much easier on the joints. I don't think I will ever be a big time runner. I don't see me doing any marathons in my future. LOL I just want to give that extra boost to my metabolism to get it moving faster and help get the last of the weight off so I can maintain it for 6 months and then get my reconstructive surgeries.

Thanks for advice. It is much appreciated and thank you so much for the wonderful compliment. I was so worried I was going to look older not younger or even my age. I have always looked younger than my age so it is wonderful to hear.

[Alysser]

Wow, Michelle you look so beautiful!! Congratulations

[Randi]

Well done - and you look great! You know, it's more likely that the weight will stay off if you lose it slower, so don't worry about that.

I've heard that walking fast is as good, and in some cases better, than running. Keep it up!

[caseysmom]

I went for my physical today my bp and weight are worse than ever. My doctor scheduled me for the class for the lap band and I am hoping other options as well. If my bp isn't lower by next week I go on meds, it needs to be in check for surgery anyway.

I am really excited its time for me to do something. Michelle this is all from reading your thread!

[Asiel]

Congratulations on the weight loss---you look great. Keep up the good work, it's really worth it to stay healthy.

[kittycats_delight]

I went for my physical today my bp and weight are worse than ever. My doctor scheduled me for the class for the lap band and I am hoping other options as well. If my bp isn't lower by next week I go on meds, it needs to be in check for surgery anyway.

I am really excited its time for me to do something. Michelle this is all from reading your thread!

So proud of you. It is a hard and scary step to take but often a necessary one. You are doing a great thing for yourself and your health. I'm here for you if you have any questions or just want to let off some frustration or just talk. :-)

[kittycats_delight]

You look great! I've been discussing lap band with my doctor, it is a bit scary for me, was there anything scary or dangerous about it?

I didn't have the lap band done. It was however the first thing we looked into. It is the least invasive. The procedure for the lap band takes about 20 minutes (mine took 4.5 hrs) and there are minimal risks. There are the basic risks like with any medical procedure. Lap band was invented by a doctor right here in Vicenza, Dr. Favretti. The biggest thing with the lap band is you need to be very strict with your diet. You need to stick with it and not waiver. It unfortunately has a very low success rate over the long term. Nearly 70% of patients have it removed and opt for something else such as gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, bilio-pancreatic diversion (this is what I had) within the first 5 years. For some it is a fantastic solution and works wonderfully. And if that is the case it is worth it as it is the simplest with the least complications etc. The lap band cuts nothing, has no sutures involved etc. It is a simple band that goes around the stomach which leaves just a small portion available for food and therefore makes you feel full much faster. The band can be removed at any time leaving only the indenture where it was placed and it can also be adjusted to suit your needs be it to make the stomach smaller or larger. It wasn't something for me. We did a lot of research and with the help of a surgeon decided what was best to do. Bilio-Pancreatic Diversion was the route I took. It is completely free diet with little to no real restrictions. Gastric Bypass, lap band and the others are restrictive diets some very restrictive and others more liberal. You need to go over everything and decide what is best for you and what is the most likely to succeed.

[caseysmom]

Thank you very much for the information, I am going to go to a class where they will discuss all of the options.

[kaycountrygal]

Oh My! What a difference!! Good for you! I personally know how hard it is to lose weight.... and keep it off. In my lifetime I've lost lots of weight many times and then gained it back. I also know about plateaus and how hard it is to work hard and see the scales remain the same. Dont give up; you're doing a wonderful job. I'm sure you feel better also.

[kittycats_delight]

Thank you very much for the information, I am going to go to a class where they will discuss all of the options.

Good for you. It is a great idea to cover all the bases and know what options are available to you.

I have a friend in New York that just has the sleeve gastrectomy done. It is a restrictive diet and she is doing well so far. They told her that they don't do the bilio-pancreatic diversion because it is too invasive. It may be the most invasive but it is the most successful with the lowest rate of complications and deaths. Bilio-pancreatic diversion is a surgery they don't do for everyone. The unfortunate thing for my friend is that around the 5 year mark she will have to go in and have the sleeve 'converted' to a bypass. That means a second surgery. Once someone has the bilio-pancreatic diversion done...that's it. You won't have to get anything else done. The thing is...all of the procedures from the lap-band to the Gastric Bypass depends not only depends on the surgery but also on the persons ability to follow the diet they need to follow. I am very fortunate that once my new digestive system is fully functional (1 year) there is nothing I can't eat. Of course there are always foods that certain people can't digest even after the 1 year. I get to start trying with pasta and veggies soon to see what goes and what doesn't. The only real issues for me right now are rice & peas. I die with cramps and bloating with those 2 things because my system has a really hard time processing them but everything else is fine. Anyway, once I get going on this stuff I have a tendency to get off topic and go on and on. Sorry about that. If you have any questions let me know. I have the inventor the Lap-Band right here, just 15-20 minutes from my house and my surgeon is the head of the team of the inventor of the Bilio-Pancreatic Diversion. He was taught by the inventor. Also, I can get first had information from Prof. (Dr.) Scopinaro (inventor of the BPD) at any time as he is a friend of the family.

Good luck and let us know what the verdict is.