waitingpatiently

well maybe it just doesn't exsist for me---hahaha
When I was a teenager (healthy and fit just average weight) I had to have I massive reconstruction done on my face. My jaws were wired shut for 12 weeks and I had over 300 stictches in my mouth....the only think I could "eat" were thin liquids...could not have any texture what so ever. During that 12 weeks I watched myself dissapear in the mirror. When all was done, I was 5 foot 7 and 95lbs......If my body didn't go into starvation mode then, I better assume that I wasn't built with that feature. I have never required a lot of calories. As a teenager and young adult I ate very little and was very active so I guess I never put much thought into ever being over weight. It wasn't until after children I became less active and had a problem. suddenly eating 1200 calories a day I would be adding pounds every month. I determined for me to loose weight (1-2 pounds a week).....I must be under 900 calories....to maintain I can do about 1000. Those are my magic numbers.....I think everyone has them. We all are made differently so yours may be less.....but are most likely higher than mine.
The point is learn your body......sometimes it takes months, if not years, to figure out what our body wants from us. just hang in there, make good food choices,(because even though our brain wants the chips, our bodies have no need for them) and figure out your magical numbers.

Some feel that it does exist others (like me) say no. It just doesn't make since to me. I work in healthcare and just can't see where its possible.
However, I do think everyones body is different. Some bodies I think work more effiently than others and don't require as many calories. My body must be REAL effient because if I ate 1200....and didn't work my butt off exercising, I would gain weight. But I know I'm not quite the average. I was on a 1200 calorie day limit for years and still gained about 1/2-3/4 a pound a month. Since December I have religiously kept my calories to less than 900 and for the last 5 weeks have been less than 800 (all but 3 days) and have only lost 30 pounds...this includes pre-op and 4 weeks of post-op.
It crazy how our bodies are different....but I would STRONGLY suggest that you don't eat the 2000 calories a day. Maybe normal people can eat this much and not gain weight, but most with weight issues would probably gain.
I would suggest you start at the 1200 calories and give it a good try....if you aren't seeing progress, then I would drop it down to 1000 and try again. Hopefully that you will do it for you. Plus I would consider doing a high Protein low carb diet.....it seem to work well for a lot of bansters (including me).
Good luck.
Oh...ps.....be careful counting your exercise calories from my fitness pal. I noticed it was giving me credit for burning way more calories than I had. (i put in that I did the elliptical for 30 minutes and it gave me credit for something like 550 calories...where my actual machine only gave me 240. ( I have a high-end machine....so I believe it over myfitnesspal)
I know 30 pounds is nothing to sneeze at, but thats only about 2 pounds a week.....thus the reason I decided to get the lap band I'm hoping with a few fills I will be satisfied with only eating 800-900 calories and not feel like I'm on a diet all the time.

I have 3 in a 10cc band...and I'm definately NOT in the "green zone".......now where did those Cookies go? --jk

I'm sorry that the band life is not what you expected to be. I would encourage you to give it another try. I could see when we are at our lowest that the idea of the band is appealing and you feel like you would be willing to do anything to just be normal and healthy....but I guess with time, when you are some what normal and healthy, the honeymoon phase can wear off andfor some the realization that food will never mean the same to you as it did before can be a hard pill to swallow. I guess this is a lesson to those making the decision to remember... this isn't a short term committment....it truly is making a lifestyle change for the rest of your life. It isn't a decision that should be made lightly or in 2 weeks.
It sounds as if you haven't been under the care of a band surgeon in a long time. I would encourage you to seek one out and get a check up. Some of your issues may be resolved with a slight unfill. And since you seem to feel you have your eating issues under control and could do this without the band, this might give you a little more freedom to eat some of the things you are missing such as salads. Im not insensitive to you being self pay....I understand that it can be expensive to maintain the band....but you knew that going into it. That is something else self pay patients should consider.......even those whoes jobs are fragile....the band must be maintained!! Or serious issues could develop.
Anyway...I'm sorry for your buyers remorse I know it can be very flustrating and I hope that you will be able to maybe change your mindset and remember that excitement that you had when you first started this journey. Plug yourself back into this site and finish up the journey that you started.....The band is what you make of it. It can be a rope holding you back or a rescue devise pulling you to safety.
Good luck.

Checking in at 184. I Lost the 2 pound Water gain from last week plus 5 more actual pounds for a total of 7 pounds!!
1 pound to this months goal!! I might even be able to see 179 by the end of the month.

Checking in at 184. I Lost the 2 pound Water gain from last week plus 5 more actual pounds for a total of 7 pounds!!
1 pound to this months goal!! I might even be able to see 179 by the end of the month.

Today was an awesome day!! A store in our area was having a denim sale (80% off).. so I decided to pick up a few pair of jeans for this fall. So Im wearing size 16 and they are too big on me, so I thought well Im probably really a size 14....so if I get size 12 they should fit in september...The line at the dressing room as so long I decided just to take them home....When I tried them on at home, they all fit!! I couldn't believe it...so I gave them to my daughter and thought well I go back and get some Size 10s that way I should be able to get into them in September. When I brought them home and tried them on They all fit too!!!What is going on!!! I.m really a size 10!!!So I guess tomorrow I will go get some Size 8s and this time I will just wait my turn and try them on. It was such an awesome feeling!!! I just can't believe it!! I guessI didn't see it because i have been wearing a bunch of capris with drawstrings so I knew they were big on me.....but I could still get them to stay on if I tied the strings tight.
What has been your greatest NSV??

Checking in at 184. I Lost the 2 pound Water gain from last week plus 5 more actual pounds for a total of 7 pounds!!
1 pound to this months goal!! I might even be able to see 179 by the end of the month.

Checking in at 184. I Lost the 2 pound Water gain from last week plus 5 more actual pounds for a total of 7 pounds!!
1 pound to this months goal!! I might even be able to see 179 by the end of the month.

waitingpatiently- you're awesome ! i would love to see a recent pic of you ! You must feel bootyful !!!! I cant wait until i can get in a size 10 ! as for my best nsv 's ? I have a couple...............being able to paint my own toenails, sliding on a size 14 skinny jean and a female coworker (also banded) telling me "your ass looks amazing ! " ( hilarious laughter included !), A co worker of my hubbys telling my hubby 3 months after i was banded" your wife didnt need wls, she looks great !", and my all time favorite............ a younger than me, cute long time male customer who commented on my weight loss and added "girl , you are smokin !!!!" It has been a looooooooooong time since anyone thought of me as "smokin !" I could of cried. Instead i just said Thank you ! (and blessed him !)

Today was an awesome day!! A store in our area was having a denim sale (80% off).. so I decided to pick up a few pair of jeans for this fall. So Im wearing size 16 and they are too big on me, so I thought well Im probably really a size 14....so if I get size 12 they should fit in september...The line at the dressing room as so long I decided just to take them home....When I tried them on at home, they all fit!! I couldn't believe it...so I gave them to my daughter and thought well I go back and get some Size 10s that way I should be able to get into them in September. When I brought them home and tried them on They all fit too!!!What is going on!!! I.m really a size 10!!!So I guess tomorrow I will go get some Size 8s and this time I will just wait my turn and try them on. It was such an awesome feeling!!! I just can't believe it!! I guessI didn't see it because i have been wearing a bunch of capris with drawstrings so I knew they were big on me.....but I could still get them to stay on if I tied the strings tight.
What has been your greatest NSV??

Today was an awesome day!! A store in our area was having a denim sale (80% off).. so I decided to pick up a few pair of jeans for this fall. So Im wearing size 16 and they are too big on me, so I thought well Im probably really a size 14....so if I get size 12 they should fit in september...The line at the dressing room as so long I decided just to take them home....When I tried them on at home, they all fit!! I couldn't believe it...so I gave them to my daughter and thought well I go back and get some Size 10s that way I should be able to get into them in September. When I brought them home and tried them on They all fit too!!!What is going on!!! I.m really a size 10!!!So I guess tomorrow I will go get some Size 8s and this time I will just wait my turn and try them on. It was such an awesome feeling!!! I just can't believe it!! I guessI didn't see it because i have been wearing a bunch of capris with drawstrings so I knew they were big on me.....but I could still get them to stay on if I tied the strings tight.
What has been your greatest NSV??

Today was an awesome day!! A store in our area was having a denim sale (80% off).. so I decided to pick up a few pair of jeans for this fall. So Im wearing size 16 and they are too big on me, so I thought well Im probably really a size 14....so if I get size 12 they should fit in september...The line at the dressing room as so long I decided just to take them home....When I tried them on at home, they all fit!! I couldn't believe it...so I gave them to my daughter and thought well I go back and get some Size 10s that way I should be able to get into them in September. When I brought them home and tried them on They all fit too!!!What is going on!!! I.m really a size 10!!!So I guess tomorrow I will go get some Size 8s and this time I will just wait my turn and try them on. It was such an awesome feeling!!! I just can't believe it!! I guessI didn't see it because i have been wearing a bunch of capris with drawstrings so I knew they were big on me.....but I could still get them to stay on if I tied the strings tight.
What has been your greatest NSV??

Today was an awesome day!! A store in our area was having a denim sale (80% off).. so I decided to pick up a few pair of jeans for this fall. So Im wearing size 16 and they are too big on me, so I thought well Im probably really a size 14....so if I get size 12 they should fit in september...The line at the dressing room as so long I decided just to take them home....When I tried them on at home, they all fit!! I couldn't believe it...so I gave them to my daughter and thought well I go back and get some Size 10s that way I should be able to get into them in September. When I brought them home and tried them on They all fit too!!!What is going on!!! I.m really a size 10!!!So I guess tomorrow I will go get some Size 8s and this time I will just wait my turn and try them on. It was such an awesome feeling!!! I just can't believe it!! I guessI didn't see it because i have been wearing a bunch of capris with drawstrings so I knew they were big on me.....but I could still get them to stay on if I tied the strings tight.
What has been your greatest NSV??

I think its all in the way we carry ourselves. I was actually skinney until about 8 years ago....I have had a few encounters with people who were judging me because I wasn't a average size....but I noticed that I didn't put myself out there anymore when I became heavy.............I would constantly judge myself, so why would I expect others not to.

checking in at 191 this morning...thats up 2 pounds, but not worried....had a little too much sodium the last couple of days so its most likely Water weight.

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

Four years ago, I began my journey and became a member of Lapband Talk. I am a Registered Nurse, and researched every article I could find on what type of surgery to have. When I went in for my initial family doctor's appointment, I was well prepared...I had already typed out my health history, weight history, and every diet plan I had ever tried. My doctor referred me to a bariatric doctor and I did the same with my surgeon's initial visit. Also included was a list of questions that I had about the surgery. I am sure they thought I was some geek. Here is what I have learned throughout the last 4 years and a bit of advice for those starting out.
1. Research pays off: talk to people that have had different types of bariatric surgeries. Look at the pros and cons. Can you handle the cons?
2. LBT provides great support. Use it and learn from others
3. If your insurance denies you, don't give up. I wrote a letter of appeal and got it. Just include research and your past medical history.
4. Restriction varies. You can be "tight" in the morning and then feel as though you have litle restriction in the evening.
5. Don't shoot for "too tight"...it is MISERABLE not being able to swallow your own spit.
6. If you are going to do this, then get pumped up and do it right...go all out! Follow the rules. Work out!
7. When you go out to eat, make sure you know where the closest bathroom is...just in case.
8. I often order more food than anyone else. My coworkers make fun of me. I know I still have an addiction to food...I only eat about 5 bites and I am done. Hey! I can make about 6 meals off of one dinner!!
9 Icecream might go down easy, but it can cause some people to have spasms. I can take a few bites and my band doesn't like it...a good thing.
10. Shoot for eating the hight protien foods first. At least get that in.
11. Some of those high Protein foods, like meats are dry and don't go down well. chicken is sometimes hard for me to eat.
12. I am always drawn to the "big girl" clothes. I am still a "fat chick" in my head.
13. Many bandsters talk about marriages ending after the band...mine did. He didn't like a "fat wife"and was embarrassed of me in public, so I left him when I lost the weight. Hope he is choking on those mean words!
14. The band is a TOOL! Use it as such. Don't continously drink high calorie drinks and wonder why you don't lose weight.
15. I have not had a carbonated beverage in 4 years. Never thought I could do it..but I don't miss it!
16. If you lose restriction all of a sudden, and it doesnt come back for days, then something is wrong...I had a leak in my port..had to get it replaced.
17. People will look at you and treat you differently when you are thinner. There are people that talk about "fat" people and when I tell them that I had weight loss surgery they can't believe it..I know they would never have given me the time of day, 4 years ago.
18. Don't eat bread or french fries..they don't go down well if you have the proper restriction.
19. Drink before your meal and then stop when your food is done.
20. Most places will let you eat off of the kids menu and buffets will let you have the discounted price (bring your card). If they don't, then speak to the manager. There is no sense in paying and adult price at a buffet when you are going to eat less than a 3 year old.
18. Enjoy your new life. Enjoy being healthy!

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?

I apologize for the lenght of my story. Just something that was on my heart.
When I made the decision to have the band it was a personal one...it was all about me. I never thought about what the effects would be on my family. You see for most of my teenage years I actually was more on the anerexia side of things...I came from a skinny family and I learned quickly at the age of 10 (the baby fat year) that being chubby would quickly make me the outcast in the family...I remember my mom talking my sisters shopping at the mall and me shopping at the goodwill...always followed by the comment.."if you can just slim down a little I will take you to the mall as well" to say the least it messed with my head. So I went the other way....I actually remember counting out the number of grapes and crackers I would let myself eat in a day.....thats it...nothing else...and behold the attention that was showered on me. It wasn't until I was 14 when I met my now husband that I started excepting myself. I rememeber his mother not letting me go on a date with him unless I would eat with them....it still took a few years, but by the time I was 18 I figured "why do I care what they (family) think of me" my now soon to be husband loves me the way I am....what else matters. It wasn't unitll years later when I had 3 of my own children that the food issues came back. I just couldn't bring myself to tell my childen no to healthy foods (for fear of doing to them what my parents had done to me)....I figured is healthy... let them eat what they want....I remember seeing my eldest daughter be overweight at the same age I was...but just couldn't bring myself to limit her foods.....repeat pattern with youngest child....so other that my middle daughter who has always been a specimen of fitness... Me,my eldest daughter and son were on the bigger side and my husband was overweight by 15 pounds but nothing awfull.
Advance forward to the last 4 months....I always knew my family would support me...but I had accepted that this was my journey not theirs. Boy was I wrong. Over the last 4 months a transformation has happened!!. I (40 and 5'6"--190lbs) have lost 47 pounds, My husband lost his 15 pounds, My son (13 and 5'9--198lbs) has lost 25 pounds!! and my eldest (18 and 5'3"--200lbs)....she is trying so hard (found out she has the PCOS like me) but she too has lost 18 pounds!! And my middle daughter (16 and 5'4"----120lbs)...well she is our cheerleader the whole way!!---she actualy wants to be a nutritionist/trainer. Even my mother in law that lives with us and is huge has lost 30 pounds!! I never thought that me getting the band would do all this!! That's 130 pounds----its like we have Lost a whole peson from our family! If Ididn't loose another pound I'm happy...we are back to hikng and exercising together its awesome.--I'm just left with a little guilt....Apparently, they were just waitng for me to take the lead....I wish I would have been strong enough to have done it sooner.
So we are even having some friendly competitions! We all weigh about the same so
When when my son and daughter gets to 180 I will give each of them $100......If they beat me there I will get them a person frig for their room. My son was up and running the nighborhood at 7am the next morning.!!
I think...we might have broke the cycle!! I hope so....Good luck to eveyone on their journey...Maybe your family will be transformed like mine!!
Did getting banded result in a unexpectent tansformation in your life?