I became the proud owner of a Realize band on April 16, 2012. My band and I have had (like most) a love/hate relationship at times but even at the rockiest of times I've had no regrets. As time has gone on the 'novelty' of having the band has worn off. Worn off in a sense that we have become one.
I have lost a ton of weight so far but honestly as happy as I am about that it is not what amazes me the most. What amazes me is the way I look at food now. I am 46 years old and have been overweight since I was a little boy. I use to plan my binges. I was never one for eating huge portioned meals but I was a severe junk food junky. I would eat my dinner with anticipation that I had Cheez-its, ice cream and soda waiting for me as part of my nightly ritual. I wouldn't be satisfied until the 1 pound box of Cheez-its was gone and the half gallon of ice cream heavily dented if not empty. Next day or every other day I would be going to the store to replenish.
For the first time in my life I felt I wasn't controlled by food. I have had some strange moments in this journey where I felt like something was missing....There was times when I would be sitting there while watching t.v or whatever it was I might be doing and thinking 'I am bored and I don't recall every being this bored before' and I would get up and go do something. This was my AH HA moment..that moment when you feel liberated, that moment when you think my god what happened? My band had released me from years of food imprisonment.
As time has gone on my appetite is almost non existent. I am amazed that I have not battled head hunger at all. I hope this is not a fluke.
I still battle with my laziness but at least food is not a factor. Most of my weight loss has been with minimal exercise and it is something I am working on. Now that the nice weather is here I have been going out for 1 mile walks during my lunch hour. I remember a time when I couldn't walk the grocery store for 10 minutes and now I easily do a mile in 20 minutes. I am going to work on increasing the distance. I am doing a 5K Walk for Cancer in September.
So was the band worth it? (in my best Adam Sandler voice) Hell yeah!!
I had surgery on April 16, 2012. My last weigh in before surgery was April 9th one week prior to surgery. I have since lost 28 lbs to date from that last weigh in but have not lost anything in almost two weeks. 28lbs is great in the grand scheme of things but I am having a hard time not getting discouraged that things are not moving along a little faster. I know I didn't get like this over night and I know the band is a tool and not a miracle fix but jeez I am really beginning to wonder if I made the right choice. I am eating far less than I ever used to and I am not always thinking about food like I always used to.
Next Wednesday will be a month since surgery so I guess I should look at it like 28lbs in the first month is damn good even it was due to liquid and puree diet. My first fill is scheduled for May 29. I hope to really step it up and see the effort start to pay off.
So many people know I had the surgery. Not sure how it got away from me like that where everyone knows but they do. I am so worried about being looked at like the fat guy who couldn't lose weight with weight loss surgery....
