My name is Kaylin, and this website is about my experience with the LapBand.
I weighed over 400 lbs for many years. I am 6'2" tall, so I carried the weight more easily than many people, but I was experiencing extreme knee problems, constant foot pain, increasing lower back pain, and worst of all, my life was getting smaller as I got bigger. I could not fit on airplanes. I could not ride rollercoasters or fit easily in cars. Walking was difficult and to be avoided. I could not do so many of the things that were important to me, and I finally decided that I had had enough. Since I was a teenager, I have tried almost every weight loss program you can think of. I almost always lost weight, sometimes quite a bit, but each time I would gain it back, plus more. So I stopped dieting for years and my weight stabilized. I did over a year of research on weight loss surgeries before deciding to get the Adjustable Gastric Band (aka the LapBand). It has been one of the wisest choices I have ever made.
I eat smaller meals, just as my "little" friends do, and I am full. Because I am eating smaller amounts, I have become choosy about what I will eat. Rather than trying to stay away from food, I am more concerned with trying to get enough protein in each day. I am steadily losing weight, and I feel as if I am not really trying that hard. For the first time in 14 years I can buy pants in the store (previously I had to have them custom made).
I had my surgery October 30, 2001, and I feel as if I have a new lease on life. I was on liquids for two weeks, then mushy foods for another two weeks, then began eating normally. In the 10 months before surgery, I lost 45 lbs, and have continued to lose since then at a slow but steady rate. Currently, I have been building a great deal of muscle working out, so my actual size is shrinking, but my weight is not reflecting this as much. The way my clothes fit is my best indicator of my real size. A scale's results are very relative, since muscle weighs more than fat.
Changes? I chew my food exceptionally well now, I take smaller portions, and I cut things into smaller pieces. I no longer "chug" liquids. Some foods move through my stomach really slowly, and I have to eat smaller amounts of them so that I don't get a strange tight, full feeling high up in my stomach. I focus mainly on eating protein and vegetables, and have small amounts of potatoes, rice, and occasionally, things made with flour. I avoid junk food and fried foods. I try not to drink with my meals, as it moves food through the stomach more quickly, and I don't feel as full. I almost never eat bread, pasta, or plain rice dishes anymore, which is likely responsible for much of my weight loss. I work out three to four days a week, doing hatha yoga, the Lifecycle. fast walking, and various weight machines for strength and toning. I still struggle with my urges to eat sweets. I have a new band, but the same old brain, damn it! But I am getting smaller and healthier.
I so strongly recommend this procedure to those obese people who are ready for a change. This procedure is best for those of us who can't seem to get full/feel satisfied, who have difficulties with portion control, who eat too many sweets in the cake/cookies category, and most importantly, who are willing to change our behavior to affect a physical and mental change once we have a powerful tool to assist us. This is not an easy process; it is not a cure or a magic fix.
I have been given the gift of freedom, and hope that by being open about my experience, I can maybe help someone else have a chance at living lighter. It's a wonderful thing to have hope again.
Please explore this little site if you would like more information on the LapBand, or about my experience. |
