healthy and happy

Since being banded, I have run numerous 5k's and 10ks' and have run 2 half marathons and I haven't experienced any problems with my band. Go for it!

Last summer was my first summer that i wasnt embarrassed on our family beach trip. I was able to wear the 2 piece tanktinis for the first time ever. The good news is that even with the little flab and extra skin at the top of my legs, the swim shorts are in style and they look great with the tanktini tops. The other great thing is i found a couple of tops that had ruffles which are a girls best friend when you have some extra skin or flab around the tummy area. I too got size 12s and boy was i happy!

Lapband La La..

First of all, in your video you said you werent sure if yoiu belonged in the lapbandtalk community any more. Well I am here to tell you that you are still a part of this family. We are here to support each other through the good times and the bad. Be positive! I believe that the band is what you needed to get you started on the journey to living a healthy lifestyle. You successfully lost your weight and got to your goal and have been maintaining it. I believe that you have now learned how to live and what to eat and can continue to do this with or without the band. The band was just a tool to get it all started but now you have the knowledge to continue the success that you have enjoyed. Dont let the removal of the band psych you out. If you tell yourself that the weight will come back and resign yourself to that, that is what will happen. You can do this. Stay positive and just keep on going as if you still have it. It really wasnt the band that made you successful. It was your attitude and mindset. i know several people that got the band and didnt lose the weight. I also have friends that got it and did great and are living healthy lifestyles now. The difference was the attitude and the determination of those individuals. I know it was a blow to you, but I truly believe you can do this. Pull yourself up by the boot straps and get your mind right to take this on. If you need someone to talk to, we are here for you. I know how it is when you are talking to friends and family about the band. People just dont understand! But really I think that when people make the comments they are making to you, they are really trying to make you feel better about having it removed, but they just dont get it and dont know what to say.

The next video you post on here, I want to see you smiling and happy because you have figured out that you can do this!! You have a strong healthy body now, so now just get that mind strong to match and you will be fine!!

PS. Not only are you still welcome on this forum, but you are helping others. Your story has made me really think about my own situation. I have been being a little bad for the past couple of months and not following all the Band rules. Reading this makes me really think about what damage I could be causing myself and it truly inspires me to get my own mind back on track. If you were following the rules and this happened, I certainly could be at risk by not following the plan. Thank you so much for sharing with us all!!

Hugs!! Hugs!! Hugs!!

Very inspirational. Thank you for sharing! I am from Emporia, just a little south of Richmond and I too had band surgery in August at St. Mary's hospital. I have had huge success with it too but as I try to lose the last few pounds to reach my goal, it gets tough as the weight drops slower but seeing your story helps me to stay focused. You've got to take it one step at a time and keep your spirits high. I too am running a 10K in April at our local YMCA and just joined a training team. Starting the training has helped me jumpstart my weight loss again too so I would encourage anyone at any level of their journey to find a goal and work towards it, whether it is to just walk and complete a 10K or run it. Keep up the good work!!! I dont know where you go to your support group but who knows if it is at St. Marys maybe we will bump into one another.

Well I have to say that getting rid of my fat clothes was very therapeutic for me. I have held on to various sizes in my closet for years and I finally drew a line in the sand and declared that I would never need those clothes again. I spent a day going through everything and giving it all away. I had thousands of dollars worth of clothes but it felt absolutely wonderfull to give them all away. I am so enjoying shopping to re-stock the closet too. I am still not at my goal weight so I am trying not to go overboard but i must say it is hard. Shopping becomes addictive when you can finally buy anything you want because it all looks good on you now. Going from a tight size 20 to a 12 makes you want to give those old clothes away. Dont worry about the past, just forge ahead into a wonderful future.

This is a great post and so true. I have realized since being banded that everything I do is associated with eating. My husband and I laugh because we will be talking about what we are going to have for lunch while we are eating breakfast. When I am watching tv it is a given that you must have a snack and something to drink on the table beside your chair. And isnt the whole reason for going to a movie to eat the movie theater popcorn?? It is hard to break the habits. I find that I am having to replace the food with something else. While I am watching tv, I have to be doing something with my hands-crocheting, surfing the web, etc. If I try to watch tv without doing something else, I will definitely be eating. As far as the movie goes, I usually take a substitute for the popcorn. I went to the movie with my daughter yesterday and took some almonds and blueberries in a measure container and enjoyed it just as much as the popcorn. I stay in the gym a lot working out or riding my bike on a nice afternoon. If I stay busy, I am not thinking about constantly eating.

Its not easy to change a lifetime of habits, but we can do it. Recognizing the problem is the first step. Then you can start to make a plan to overcome it. Great job at quitting the smoking!! At least thats one bad habit that I never picked up.

Btw- I got that shopping problem too. Since losing the weight, shopping sure is a lot more fun!!! Too much fun!!

Friends and family told me the same thing- You have lost weight a milliion times before so you really dont need this band do you. But that is precisely why I decided to get it. I can lose weight but I always go back to my old overeating habits and gain it back. that is why I decided I really need this tool to help me make it lifetime.

I agree with Lisa. I am drinking the Carnation Instatant Breakfast and the Bariatric Advantage shakes but often cant finish them, so I was having a hard time getting in all my protein, so I ordered the Unjury protein (unflavored) and I mix it with pudding or with unsweetened koolaid and it is a great way to get in the extra protein. Good Luck!

The headaches will go away after about day 3 or 4. I had the same problem. I was a sodaholic and when I went on the liver shrinkage diet I had a fierce headache. I even literally threw up. But after the first few days I felt great. I guess we now know what a drug addict feels like when they are drying out. you will get through it. Hang in there!<BR>

I too am in the pre-op stage and have lost 17 pounds. I am scheduled for surgery on August 11 so I am on the liver shrinkage diet right now. The bike is a great way to get some exercize in and it doesnt feel like a chore. I too bought a bike and have mapped out some 5 mile, 10 mile, and 15 mile routes close to home. Years ago when I had lost a great deal of weight and was in good physical condition, my sister and I rode a 100 mile tour. Before you know it you will be mapping out a long ride too. Keep up the great work and good luck with your surgery!<BR>