1.) Do you ever regret having the Lap-Band done? Absolutely not! I think it is one of the BEST things I have ever done! I could not be happier with my decision to have it done.
2.) What was the recovery like? For me the first few days really sucked. I had a gas bubble floating around and it was very painful until it passed, and thank God when it did! I don't think I have ever been so uncomfortable in my life. There was a point during those first few days where I was so miserable I was second guessing why I ever had it done ( mind you that is the ONLY time I have ever questioned having the procedure, and looking back, that pain and discomfort was totally worth it). It was hard to breath, hard to sleep, hard to walk, hard to couch, pretty much any movement was uncomfortable and a bit painful! But the recovery process is going to be different for every one. Considering other surgeries, I'm sure this is a walk in the park!
3.) How much dose it cost? This is always a tough question to answer because it is based on each individual insurance plan and benefits. My benefits for the Lap-Band was as followed: 90% coverage once I met my $350 deductible. On my plan I also had a $2,000 maximum out of pocket. So the most I would have to pay would of been $2,000. Since I already had met my deductible for the year my total came out to around $1,700 and I owed only $300 something up front. Well worth the money if you ask me! So really you would have to check with your physician and insurance company for an appropriate answer to that question.
4.) What does the incision look like and how big?
5.) What can you eat? That once again will vary from person to person. I can pretty much eat everything I could be before, just not nearly as much. Now I do have a hard time with ground beef, and some days I really miss a greasy cheeseburger, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to deal with. Breads are hard to deal with unless they are toasted or really thin, and even then I am limited on how much I can eat. Figuring out what I can and can not eat has been an adventure to say the least. Sucks finding out the hard way that something doesn't agree or that I ate too fast. Live and learn!
6.) Do you really have to work out? DUH! The Lap-Band is not a miracle procedure nor is it a cure all to your weight issue. It is simply another tool given to you to help you achieve your ultimate goal! I still have to watch every little thing that enters my body. Now I don't count calories or anything like that, however I try to stay away from empty liquid calories. Especially after surgery you want to hit the gym hard, with the weight loss from the Lap-Band you want to make sure that you are toning up your body so you do not have loose, unattractive loose skin all over the place. To me, I think I would rather be fat than have all this loose skin just hanging out.
So those are the top 6 questions I get asked often, and if I forgot any or you have any thing else you would like to know, just ask me! and on to the picture updates:
Weight 225 lbs as of 3/21/12
I have tried to flip this picture around a hundred and one times and I just can't figure it out. So anyways the first picture was taken 01/12/2012. The second picture was taken 03/25/2012!
Beast Mode!
So that is what I have been up to lately and I have honestly got to say I don't think that I would be doing so well if it wasn't for the awesome support system I have and an awesome gym buddy (the boyfriend). I'm sure he doesn't know it, and if he does he hides it well, he is a big motivator for me to get my butt up and off to the gym, and to actually push myself past limits I thought I had! Never would I of imagined myself going an hour on the treadmill, let alone doing and incline of 15! And then venturing over to "the boys side" of the gym and doing weights and what now, yep wouldn't be doing it! So a big thanks goes out to boo!
You go girl you are doing great keep it up I'm proud of u :-)
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