a little update with photos on my progress post surgery

[Catty1]

Michelle, you do look great! I am glad you are making lifestyle changes as well.

I am a member of a compulsive overeaters page on FB (private group) and I read stories about several people there - and friends and relatives of theirs - who have surgery (usually the band) and manage to gain weight back since they don't change their eating. One person was reported to have said "I have to eat soft food" and had an ice cream sundae!

I am down 45 lbs now...I might lose a few more, but that's up to my body. Three meals a day, one snack, no junk, and healthy balanced food choices. I also have been walking with a group for over a year, 3 times a week, one hour each walk. Sometimes we go a little over that, but that's a bonus!

caseysmom, best of luck!

[kittycats_delight]

Candace, I am proud of you! losing that much weight is a big accomplishment!!! The Lap-band is super restrictive and the fail rate is HUGE!!! The will power and conviction of someone who can do well with it is out of this world. I never could have done it. I for sure would have ended up a statistic in the failed category. My friend from the US who just had the sleeve done a bit more than a month ago is just now going on her semi solid diet. She is was on a soft food diet for a month and she too did the ice cream thing. She has always been a 'bad food' eater. She ended up having to reschedule her surgery twice because she had gained back some of the weight she had to lose to have the surgery. I actually found it pretty easy to change my diet. I don't really ever crave sweets or things like that. When I get cravings it is for things like fried chicken LOL and I can have that all day long. The fact that I don't absorb the fat and cholesterol is an awesome bonus!!!

Keep up the good work hun. You too are doing great!!!

((((HUGS))))

Michelle

[pomtzu]

Michelle - I think the fail rate is high with the lap band, because people think that the procedure is some kind of magic bullet, and they can just continue to eat as they always did. As I said, my son had it done over 18 months ago and lost 100 pounds and has kept it off. He isn't restricted to any particular diet - he can eat what he wants and what he can tolerate - and his body will tell him real quick if it can't tolerate it, or if he eats just one bite too much. Some other people that he knows that have had the procedure just continue to stuff in as much as they can, and then wonder why they aren't getting the results they expected. Of course you can overeat and stretch the stomach back out! - and that's what these people are doing and also not having the band tightened as needed. Half the battle is psychological - you have to wrap your brain around the idea that there is some work involved, and if you aren't going to work at it, you might just as well not go thru the procedure in the first place.

I have NO stomach since I had what was left of it removed back in 2000 because of medical issues, so I know what it's like for anyone who goes thru any of these weight loss procedures. I wish I could gain some weight!!! - if I can keep at 100 pounds, I consider that good. I have the same issues - I eat what I can tolerate and pay for it if I eat one bite too much. It takes some getting used to - either my way or by choice - but you can live a very normal life even tho your insides might be somewhat abnormal!

Keep up the good work - and happy eating!.

[caseysmom]

Michelle - I think the fail rate is high with the lap band, because people think that the procedure is some kind of magic bullet, and they can just continue to eat as they always did. As I said, my son had it done over 18 months ago and lost 100 pounds and has kept it off. He isn't restricted to any particular diet - he can eat what he wants and what he can tolerate - and his body will tell him real quick if it can't tolerate it, or if he eats just one bite too much. Some other people that he knows that have had the procedure just continue to stuff in as much as they can, and then wonder why they aren't getting the results they expected. Of course you can overeat and stretch the stomach back out! - and that's what these people are doing and also not having the band tightened as needed. Half the battle is psychological - you have to wrap your brain around the idea that there is some work involved, and if you aren't going to work at it, you might just as well not go thru the procedure in the first place.

I have NO stomach since I had what was left of it removed back in 2000 because of medical issues, so I know what it's like for anyone who goes thru any of these weight loss procedures. I wish I could gain some weight!!! - if I can keep at 100 pounds, I consider that good. I have the same issues - I eat what I can tolerate and pay for it if I eat one bite too much. It takes some getting used to - either my way or by choice - but you can live a very normal life even tho your insides might be somewhat abnormal!

Keep up the good work - and happy eating!.

You hit the nail on the head, none of the surgerys are a magic pill, they all take tons of work. The teacher that spoke to us said lap band is not as quick but has more long term success because it is slower. I think of course it depends on the person and how ready they are. The stomach can stretch out again, you have one do over and if you blow it you blow it. You can graze all day and you will not keep the weight off. I want to live to spend time with my grandkids and I want some energy to be able to enjoy them, I can hardly tie my own shoes and I am fed up with that.

Pom...I have some weight I would be willing to give you!