| I had my band last year... so glad I found this site!
I'm really glad I was able to find this website. I had the Lap Band surgery in June of 2007, and I've lost a little over 40 Ibs. I know I would have lost more, but I've had several road blocks in the way. My main thing is exercise - I really don't do enough of it.
I still struggle a lot with small bites and chewing, and I find myself drinking water when I eat, because sometimes things get caught. I once choked on a piece of broccoli at a restaurant, my very first bite, and I had had my surgery for six months. I think they had it tightened to one of the tightest it can be, though.
I also went through a tough break up from a long relationship literally the first week after surgery, which I think put me back some, but I don't want to use that as an excuse anymore...
I had my surgery with Dr. Kent in Brunswick, GA, with my health insurance is federal blue cross blue shield, which covered a lot of it. My Grandfather died at the age of 57 after being married for over 35 years from health conditions related to morbid obesity and smoking, and they weren't able to do a weight loss surgery on him because it had been too late. His heart was so bad at that point, that he severely risked dying in or after the surgery. And I've tried many, many diets, because my family is a little diet obsessive to the max. They even had a doctor prescribe me phentermine at the age of 14-15, and it landed me in the hospital. I know they can be negative, but they are so scared I'll end up like my Grandfather. We've done a lot of sessions to work through that, so that they are positive influences, and focus on my successes instead of pointing out everything I haven't accomplished yet.
I've really enjoyed reading through these forums. =) I think they'll definitely help me when I have stumbles.
My end goal weight is 145 Ibs. I never want to be super thin, just healthier.
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that the only way to eat is to take small bites and then chew and chew and chew and then chew some more. I find that once I take the first three fork/spoonfulls the rest is easy. Before I had the band I used to virtually inhale my food so it was a difficult road to begin with. As for the drinking whilst eating, sorry but thats a big no no. The thing is you will dilute your food and push it through the band quicker than it should go down and as a result you will be hungry more quickly and will not be satisfied for as long as you should be. Do try to eat normal foods just much slower than ever before and don't drink fluids for half an hour before your meals and for 2 hrs after. The optimum time to lose the weight is within the first two years of being banded. Good luck with your journey and keep posting we are here for you.
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