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Hi everyone my name is Tabitha and on December 31,...
Hi everyone my name is Tabitha and on December 31, 2010 I had lap band surgery. I received a 14cc allergen band. On surgery date I weighed 340 and lost 10 pounds by doing the pre-op diet.
My thoughts and views on the lap band have changed dramatically since that day. You see I didn't realize how much work and change was going to take. Yes my lap band did some of the work for me but I do had to do most of the work. My mentality going in was that I didnt have to change my eating habits so drastically. That I was still going to be able to eat but just smaller. After the surgery I went through a stage of liquids, slider foods and then solid foods. I had to train my mind that I could no longer eat the big size portions. Cooking for my husband was hard since he wanted to eat whatever he wanted. Now I was cooking two different meals daily. The smell of the foods I craved was hard. I couldnt even sit at the dinner table with my husband. I was having withdrawals from not being able to eat all the bad stuff. I became moody and snapped at my husband. You can say I was like a drug addict trying to recover.
After I had lost the big number like three months down the line I knew that I needed to workout and still make better choices. In the beginning you will lose big amounts of weight but then it will slow down. Its up to you to control your lap band to work for you. What I mean is yes you will eat less especially if you are at a place of what my doctor calls your sweet spot. I have been at the sweet spot for about almost two years. I am at 10cc's of fluid in my band. Now can I over eat if I wanted to and eat things that go down easily, yes of course. I can eat tons of chips which are my weakness. However being on this journey and knowing that I have worked hard to lose the 115 pounds, its not worth me gaining it all back. Because now I know how hard I have to work to see the scale move back down.
What has helped me be successful in my journey is really being in touch with my emotions, as to why am I eating the junk or too much of it. And also why did I allow myself to gain so much weight and reach 350 pounds. There are many reasons because I put myself last and I also numb my feelings on hard events that happened throughout my life. My advice to those wanting to have lap band or any weight loss procedure is to really investigate it. Think about it and see if its the best decision for you. Make sure you have at least someone who is going to support you. If you dont have family and friends who are supportive there is a big weight loss community out there. Find them on sites like these, facebook, youtube or even at a weight loss seminar. I met a really good friend of mine now in the weight loss community. I truly believe she was one of the reasons why I stood so strong throughout my journey. We held each other accountable and worked out together.
Another peace of advice is to change your thinking, all that negative thinking or the way you perceive yourself has to change. You have to know deep down inside that you are worth a better you. Knowing your value and worth will push you to keep going everyday. Do I have days where I am not holding myself accountable or not logging in my food. Yes of course because I am human. The only difference is that when I find myself down I don't stay down. I keep going because at the ending of the day this is about a life change. Your life will change, you will change physically and mentally. Now the decision you have to ask yourself is are you worth it? And are you ready to put in the work to get there?
My thoughts and views on the lap band have changed dramatically since that day. You see I didn't realize how much work and change was going to take. Yes my lap band did some of the work for me but I do had to do most of the work. My mentality going in was that I didnt have to change my eating habits so drastically. That I was still going to be able to eat but just smaller. After the surgery I went through a stage of liquids, slider foods and then solid foods. I had to train my mind that I could no longer eat the big size portions. Cooking for my husband was hard since he wanted to eat whatever he wanted. Now I was cooking two different meals daily. The smell of the foods I craved was hard. I couldnt even sit at the dinner table with my husband. I was having withdrawals from not being able to eat all the bad stuff. I became moody and snapped at my husband. You can say I was like a drug addict trying to recover.
After I had lost the big number like three months down the line I knew that I needed to workout and still make better choices. In the beginning you will lose big amounts of weight but then it will slow down. Its up to you to control your lap band to work for you. What I mean is yes you will eat less especially if you are at a place of what my doctor calls your sweet spot. I have been at the sweet spot for about almost two years. I am at 10cc's of fluid in my band. Now can I over eat if I wanted to and eat things that go down easily, yes of course. I can eat tons of chips which are my weakness. However being on this journey and knowing that I have worked hard to lose the 115 pounds, its not worth me gaining it all back. Because now I know how hard I have to work to see the scale move back down.
What has helped me be successful in my journey is really being in touch with my emotions, as to why am I eating the junk or too much of it. And also why did I allow myself to gain so much weight and reach 350 pounds. There are many reasons because I put myself last and I also numb my feelings on hard events that happened throughout my life. My advice to those wanting to have lap band or any weight loss procedure is to really investigate it. Think about it and see if its the best decision for you. Make sure you have at least someone who is going to support you. If you dont have family and friends who are supportive there is a big weight loss community out there. Find them on sites like these, facebook, youtube or even at a weight loss seminar. I met a really good friend of mine now in the weight loss community. I truly believe she was one of the reasons why I stood so strong throughout my journey. We held each other accountable and worked out together.
Another peace of advice is to change your thinking, all that negative thinking or the way you perceive yourself has to change. You have to know deep down inside that you are worth a better you. Knowing your value and worth will push you to keep going everyday. Do I have days where I am not holding myself accountable or not logging in my food. Yes of course because I am human. The only difference is that when I find myself down I don't stay down. I keep going because at the ending of the day this is about a life change. Your life will change, you will change physically and mentally. Now the decision you have to ask yourself is are you worth it? And are you ready to put in the work to get there?
Provider Review
Dr. Atul Madan
My Dr. is Atul Madan. He was provided to me by the weight loss agency. I met him a month before my surgery. At first I really didn't think much of him. It wasn't until the day of surgery and after that I realized he was personal and made himself available at all time. He gave me his cell phone and email in case I had any questions or concerns. Till this day I still call or text him if I have any questions for myself or a friend. No matter how busy he is, he has always answered me back. I will continue to refer anyone looking into surgery to his private practice. Even after he left the weight loss facility I followed him to his new practice and I haven't had any regrets. I will continue to see Dr. Atul Madan.