I am Wendy Moore and started my journey to weight lose in 2007.  I have battled being over weight for most of my life.  After having children it got worse.  In 2008 I went to a seminar on lap band surgery and was completely blown away by the benefits and also by the non-invasiveness of the surgery.  After contacting my insurance company and an initial appointment my journey officially started.

Because of my insurance I had to complete a one year weight program by my general physician.  During this time I tried to lose weight with no luck.  During my long year I continued to search for a highly recommended surgeon to perform the lap band.  With luck and a friend I found Dr. Bagnato and his wonderful staff.  Appointments were made, approval from insurance company came through and I was seeing the light at the end of my next tunnel.

My surgery was performed on Friday May 29, 2009.  I have had various surgeries over the years and I can say that this one was not bad at all.  Don’t get me wrong I was a little sore but was up the next day doing about what I wanted to within the limitations that I had been instructed.  Recovery was quick and back to work on Monday after surgery.

I have found that the mental has been harder to over come than the physical.  I still catch myself saying that I am fat or to big to wear certain clothes or to do certain things.  This part of my journey will take some time but I will get there too.

At my heaviest I was 250 lbs I can say very proudly I am now at 154 lbs.  My goal weight is 150 lbs and I am almost there.  Everything in my life has changed. Things that I had gotten to where I hated to do because of my weight I now do with easy and even pleasure.  The littlest of things to doing big things are so much better.  I have energy to burn!  It was and still is the best decision for me.  This is not to mention that I have been able to come off some meds and cut the doses on others because of the weight lose.

Life for me is very good.  Thanks Dr. Bagnato and your staff!!

3 Other Obesity Factors

Lack of Sleep

What does sleep have to do with obesity? Some people may find that missing out on eight hours leads to stress eating or late night snacking. But even if you’re not taking in extra calories, your body may still be holding on to more fat. Fatigue causes physiological stress, which causes your body to store fat more efficiently.

Too Much Stress

You probably don’t need a doctor to tell you if you’re feeling stressed out. But did you know that being mentally stressed can lead to weight gain? Stress can trigger a metabolic response to slow down and reserve resources, including fat and calories. Your body also releases stress hormones, like cortisol and leptin, which have been linked to an increase in belly fat.

Medication

Some medications can cause people to gain as much as 10 pounds per month. Prescriptions most commonly linked to weight gain include:

• Steroids
• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Antiseizure medications
• Diabetes medications
• High blood pressure medications
• Heartburn medications

Should you stop taking your medicine to lose weight? No. But you may want to drink more water and make sure you’re getting plenty of exercise.

After weight loss surgery, you may find it physically impossible at first to turn to food when you’re not physically hungry. Eating too much might make you physically sick. However, it’s still possible to sabotage your weight loss goals after surgery if you:

• Primarily eat fatty or sugary foods
• Eat more often than you need to
• Eat very soft foods or drink while eating so that you can eat larger portions

In other words, it’s possible to “cheat” the weight loss surgery if you really want to. Of course, having weight loss surgery is a sign that you don’t want to cheat; you want to lose weight and be healthy. However, your relationship with food may get in your way if you don’t take a closer look.

Before and after weight loss surgery, ask yourself:

• Do I eat because I’m stressed, lonely, or sad?
• How do I feel before and after I eat?
• Am I most likely to overeat or eat unhealthy foods in certain environments or social situations?

These types of questions can help you identify why you eat when you aren’t physically hungry so that you can begin to address these potential obstacles. Perhaps you need to make a list of alternative stress relievers or find new activities to do with your friends. Taking the time to answer these questions will help you be more successful after weight loss surgery.

3 Steps To Choosing the Right Exercise After Lap Band Surgery

1. Determine your current fitness level: Getting a general idea of where you’re starting can help you set fitness goals, measure your progress, and choose which exercises you’re best suited for right now. Make a record of:

• Your current weight
• Your current BMI
• Your current waist circumference
• Resting heart rate
• How long it takes to walk a mile
• Heart rate immediately after finishing a 1-mile walk
• How many push-ups or sit-ups you can do

This will give you a good picture of your starting point.

2. Set specific fitness goals: You probably already have weight loss goals in mind after lap band surgery, but having fitness goals can help motivate you to stay active each day. Looking at your starting numbers, determine which areas you’re most interested in seeing improvements in. Perhaps you want to be able to walk a mile in less time, or to walk farther. Maybe you’re most interested in increasing your strength.

3. Be honest with yourself about exercises you enjoy: Now it’s time to determine how you’ll reach your goals. Do an honest review of your likes and dislikes. Do you enjoy being outdoors, or will you constantly be looking for an excuse to skip a walk in the sun? Do you like running, or are you more likely to stick with a swimming regimen? Do you like to work out alone, or would a fitness class be something you’d enjoy? Don’t worry about what you think you should do, but be realistic about what you will do.

Once you’ve decided what you want to accomplish and what steps you need to take daily to reach your goals after lap band surgery, all that’s left to do is get started!

I always considered myself to be an average size as a child growing up and never thought that I would become an overweight adult. That all changed after the birth of my first child. My weight began to fluctuate. I would gain weight, go on a diet to lose weight and end up gaining even more. It seemed too hard to stick with anything more than a couple of months.

By 1999, my weight had reached over 200 pounds and the health problems began. I was diagnosed with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, back problems, acid reflux and shortness of breath to name a few. Many medications were added to my daily routine for the very first time. As time progressed, so did my weight and the severity of my medical problems. By 2009, I had had many surgeries and seen many specialists. My diabetes was so out of control that I had to take 55 units of insulin and 1000mg of oral medications twice a day.

My highest weight reached around 255. I never wanted to look in the mirror because I didn’t like what I would see. Trips with the family seemed more of a burden than a fun adventure. I would periodically have to sit down and rest causing them to have to wait on me. Secretly, I would sometimes cry myself to sleep at night. Other times, I would be depressed and mad with myself for not being able to beat the cycle I constantly repeated. When my daughter graduated from high school, my eyes were opened. My son was still in middle school and I would someday have grandchildren. I could hardly stand the thought that I may not see my son graduate or my grandchildren born if I continued down the same road.

The first lap band seminar I attended was in 2008. I was very interested but couldn’t afford the surgery and my insurance did not cover it. In 2009, my insurance company changed their policy and set guidelines for patients to complete a six month process before approval. I could hardly wait to jump on board. Dr. Bagnato had performed the Esophyx surgery on me in November of 2008 for acid reflux and I was thrilled to hear he was going to be approved as a “bariatric center of excellence”. The year 2010 was going to be my year to take care of me.

December 30, 2009, I walked in the hospital weighing 241 pounds and wearing a size 24 or 3x clothes. During the first six weeks after surgery, I lost 27 pounds and was taken off all my medications except an oral medication for my diabetes. I had not been there for 10 years. I knew my choices were making a difference. Dr. Bagnato and his staff made sure I would get the information needed for my step by step success and support. Going to the gym became part of my everyday routine. March 20, 2010 was the first 5k I would participate in. my completion time was 50:04. I did finish! By April 2010, I was able to control my diabetes by diet and exercise and no longer needed any medications. June 26, 2010, I finished my second 5k with a time of 38:42. Plans have been made to participate in two more 5k’s in August.

My family, friends and co-workers are amazed with my new look and new outlook on life. People hardly recognize me when I walk by. My self-confidence has returned and I like what I see when I look in the mirror. I now wear a size 12/14 or medium clothes. What a difference in just six months.

I thank God for giving me the strength to make it through and the guidance to find the right path and to see that all things are possible through him. I thank my family for being my rock and support as well as the others that have offered words of encouragement.

To Dr. Bagnato and all the bariatric staff, “THANK YOU!” I could only hope that through all the guidance that you have provided to me, I will be an inspiration to someone else making the choice to get on the right path.

To anyone thinking or wondering if this is the right choice for you, do your research and you will find that “It will be the best thing you have ever done for yourself.”

A new study may help to convince the insurance providers that this waiting period is unnecessary. After following 440 people who had bariatric surgery, 116 of whom were required by their insurance companies to wait six months, no significant difference between those who waited and those who didn’t was discovered in terms of weight loss prior to surgery or one year after. All patients received psychological and nutritional counseling before their surgery, and all patients were given time to prepare, physically and mentally, for their new post-surgical lifestyle. While it may not be unreasonable for an insurance company to mandate a waiting period, six months does not seem to be necessary for a patient to experience long-term success from the bariatric surgery.

I called Dr. Bagnato’s office, and from the moment they answered the phone they were so friendly and informative. They really made me feel at ease and gave me so much encouragement. Thus my journey began to a “new me”.

It’s been almost two years now since my lap band surgery.  What am amazing difference it has made in my life! I am no longer on what seemed like an endless amount of medications.  I no longer have to take neither pills nor insulin for my diabetes, or blood pressure medicine. That alone has been a miracle for me!

Oh, and did I mention…..the largest size I wore in clothes was a size “26″?  I can now wear a size “12″ jeans! I am almost to my goal which is a size “10″!

Dr. Bagnato is a wonderful surgeon, and I can not thank him enough for giving me my life back! Thank you, Dr. Bagnato, and you also have an awesome staff!