The Day I Decided

You know the thing about lapbanding is, so many people have opinions about it. Some good, some bad and some uninformed. 

I like to think I fell into the accepting category. In my previous life as a blogger, I had written two posts that brought about a lot of comments. From both sides of the fence. In one respect it made me petrified to think that so many would turn their back on me had I chosen this path then. 

In Jan/Feb last year I made enquiries into lapbanding. Tired of continued yo-yoing after successful attempts at weight loss I just wanted this bouncing to be over with. 


Afer intial enquiries revealing the financials...

•  $14,000 on the spot and get banded in a few weeks
•  Get Health Insurance and wait 1 year and pay $4,000
•  Both fees are all inclusive. Followup visits etc. 

Mr Chalming & I decided that perhaps we'd wait until our health insurance kicked in (March 2010) & we were able to claim the other $10,000 through Medicare (god bless Australias Health Care system!) 


So it's been a long year of 'will I, won't I?' but this past Wednesday made up my mind for me.  I can flounder about like I have for over HALF of my adult life, or I can gain this valuable tool to assist me. 


I am so fortunate that a few fellow friends/bloggers (Congratulations to Miss Milo, Tully & Ms B & A!) have had the surgery in recent months with fantastic results. Both physcially & mentally. I've also been secretly contacted by personal friends who've had it done and are finally seeing real success with their weight loss efforts.  Every single one of these people look amazing but beyond that - they FEEL amazing. 


See ~THAT~ is what it's about for me.  


It is a tool.  It does not lose the weight for you while you lazily sip pina coladas beachside. It is a tool that restricts the quantity of food you can eat. Which then tells your brain you are satisfied. That, my friends is the one feeling I really have never had. My satisfaction button is all up the shitter. 


Have you ever had that feeling that you are REALLY hungry?  I feel like that even while I am eating. I'm not an emotional eater, nor am I a closet binger. I openly eat like I've just spent the last 4 months on Survivor. I love food. The smell, the socialness and the look of it all. 


So, you see, when I read on the little brochure that lapbanding actually sends a message to the brain saying ....

"I'm full, do not send one more rice bubble down here!"

...then I knew this was something I had to try.  I'd simply regret it if I didn't start.


Honestly. I can't waste anymore of my life. I'm not living a quality of life. That scares the shit out of me more than having a peice of rubber inside of me. 


I decided to change my life this past Wednesday, around 8.30pm.  With my friend Catherine sitting to my left and other people, desperately looking for solutions to their own weight battles, scattered around the room. 


This is the right decision for me and it doesn't have to sit well with others. The only thing they need to see is my health and quality of life improving. 


Your tool may be a $1,500 exercise bike + $100 in Cardio DVD's. It's just a tool, you do the hard work.


I choose a $4,000 lap band.  It's just a tool and I do the hard work.