DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

I completely understand and I've been there MANY times. In fact, I can't tell you how many times I've said to people who get snarky "just because you don't like the truth doesn't make it any less true".
I get incredibly frustrated at the level of ignorance that seems to run rampant here. Either doctors are sending patients through surgery with zero education or people are totally ignoring their doctors. Either way, it's very sad that people will spend months researching a new car or new computer before buying it but won't bother doing an ounce of homework before having a medical device implanted into their body.
I used to post here A LOT. Now, I ignore at least 80% of the posts because I just can't deal with them.
I'm here most mornings while I wake up and drink my protein shake. I come back some evenings after my boyfriend goes to bed (I'm a night owl, he's not). Today I'm here more than usual because it's raining out so I can't do much. Otherwise, I'm way too happy with my real life to waste every moment online.
Keep in touch please!!

Very well spoken post! I'm so glad you have taken it upon yourself to not only do the homework but talk to your doctor. If more people were as smart about this as you are, there would be lot less band failures and ignorance.
As far as the scary threads and "you're doomed, doomed I tell you!" posters: Just remember, it's sad but misery loves company and ignorance isn't bliss. The ignorant won't be happy until they've made everyone as miserable as they are.

I completely understand and I've been there MANY times. In fact, I can't tell you how many times I've said to people who get snarky "just because you don't like the truth doesn't make it any less true".
I get incredibly frustrated at the level of ignorance that seems to run rampant here. Either doctors are sending patients through surgery with zero education or people are totally ignoring their doctors. Either way, it's very sad that people will spend months researching a new car or new computer before buying it but won't bother doing an ounce of homework before having a medical device implanted into their body.
I used to post here A LOT. Now, I ignore at least 80% of the posts because I just can't deal with them.
I'm here most mornings while I wake up and drink my protein shake. I come back some evenings after my boyfriend goes to bed (I'm a night owl, he's not). Today I'm here more than usual because it's raining out so I can't do much. Otherwise, I'm way too happy with my real life to waste every moment online.
Keep in touch please!!

Good job on doing your own research and asking your Dr. questions.. No matter what anyone else says or experiences you have to worry about you. The dramatic posts are a cry for attention and perhaps they feel some kind of pleasure in scaring people.. but everything in life has risks, but I figured my health was worth a risk.. Take care and keep us posted.

Bless this Blog/Post! I am so glad to see YOU are making YOUR own decision...YEA for you!
I'm pretty sure i might know the "crazy" post you're referring to...I just read all the drama and shake my head. What a waste of time!!!! Some people must think prospective banders won't think or do the homework for themselves!!! If someone comes on here and spouts info they don't agree with, they must be a "troll" or a liar! Its their way or else....In reality, I think thats what "those" people are looking for......attention. .You've heard misery loves company....HAHA! I aint gonna be their company.
Anyways, GOOD for YOU! Do what's right in your mind after getting all the info you can and then discussing with the professionals. Best wishes on your decision. Never, Ever give up!

Good for you to go ahead with the surgery. I had no problems at all except food getting stuck which was my fault.

Congratulations!! You're doing wonderful!!

I agree with you, at the end of the day you have to stay at the weight you are most comfortable with. You have to decide what your ideal weight is right now. That's not to say it won't change in the future, up or down, all you can do is go with what feels right today.
It's funny because my doctor was "satisfied" with my weight loss 25 pounds ago. He thought losing 200 pounds was "more than he could've hoped for". I, however, was nowhere near satisfied. I won't be satisfied until my BMI is well out of the obese range- so I set my goal weight a good 60 pounds less than the one he set for me.
Once I get down to that point, I highly suspect I'll lower it even more. We'll see.

I am so happy that I am not the only one with confusion over the "Goal weight". When I first saw my doctor, I was over 350. The weird thing is not many people realized how big I had become (It must be that new stealth technolgy). I am 6'4" tall, and built like a linebacker.....which was a good thing, since that was what I was in college.
My doctor looked at a chart, and said that with my height, I should be shooting for 183 pounds. 183? You have to be kidding me. My boss, who is an avid cycler. I don't mean he rides a bike here and there. He rides 80 mile races. He went for a cardiac stress test for insurance purposes and no matter how high they put the treadmill, he couldn't reach the target heartrate they were looking for. He is all muscle. He is 2 inches shorter tan I, and he weighs in at 185.
My goal, as it has been since last year is to get to 234. "Why is he coming up with such an exact number?" you might ask..... Well, that was the weight that I played football at in college. If I can get back to the weight I was when I was in the best shape of my life, I will be very happy.
One more thing.....I am with CarolinaGirl. I use my clothes more as a guide than the scale. For me, I see a difference in my belt quicker than I do in the scale.

I agree with you, at the end of the day you have to stay at the weight you are most comfortable with. You have to decide what your ideal weight is right now. That's not to say it won't change in the future, up or down, all you can do is go with what feels right today.
It's funny because my doctor was "satisfied" with my weight loss 25 pounds ago. He thought losing 200 pounds was "more than he could've hoped for". I, however, was nowhere near satisfied. I won't be satisfied until my BMI is well out of the obese range- so I set my goal weight a good 60 pounds less than the one he set for me.
Once I get down to that point, I highly suspect I'll lower it even more. We'll see.

i couldnt agree more...
my goal weight by the doctors charts (are something i dont think i can ever get to) and i am not saying that to sound b***h** but its true..for my height, it is what i weighed when i was in my mom's stomach when she was pregnant...i told my surgeon, the number i want to get to is me being healthy, mobile and something i can get to and stay with (and maintain happily)......i believe that the band/plication will help me with that part....
i recall sitting in his office and him asking what did i want to weigh
at the time he said it, i was well over 300+ and i said i'd like to get to 299....and then 289 etc......and he laughed......and then i said eventually, i'd love to see 199.....and if i got there, i am okay with that....he said it is technically (obese still) but i said its something i can get too and right now that is all i care about.....
i am not a hooked on number person
i dont own a scale and use the clothes i have (or now have to buy all the time) as my guide....call me strange, but it works for me...
so do i have a number in mind after all this rambling, well yeah
but right now, i just want to see 199 make an appearance .
GREAT post lellow
GREAT comment missy

I agree with you, at the end of the day you have to stay at the weight you are most comfortable with. You have to decide what your ideal weight is right now. That's not to say it won't change in the future, up or down, all you can do is go with what feels right today.
It's funny because my doctor was "satisfied" with my weight loss 25 pounds ago. He thought losing 200 pounds was "more than he could've hoped for". I, however, was nowhere near satisfied. I won't be satisfied until my BMI is well out of the obese range- so I set my goal weight a good 60 pounds less than the one he set for me.
Once I get down to that point, I highly suspect I'll lower it even more. We'll see.

I did that Missy, I got to my goal weight where my BMI was 27 and I wasn't happy either.Got to a BMI of 25, and nope, still not happy. So I kept losing, looking for that elusive point where I was happy with what I saw. I realise now I was not ever going to be happy because I always saw my imperfections, and thought I could lose weight and they'd disappear. I now am more accepting of my imperfections and accept that they make me who I am, and that's beautiful too.
I think losing and then gaining has actually turned out to be a godsend for me, because I can see myself more realistically now. Before the leak, I'd stay on or around a BMI of 23 only because my dr threatened to unfill me if I lost anymore. Now it's a more natural decision. I like what I see. That's never really happened for me before.

I agree with you, at the end of the day you have to stay at the weight you are most comfortable with. You have to decide what your ideal weight is right now. That's not to say it won't change in the future, up or down, all you can do is go with what feels right today.
It's funny because my doctor was "satisfied" with my weight loss 25 pounds ago. He thought losing 200 pounds was "more than he could've hoped for". I, however, was nowhere near satisfied. I won't be satisfied until my BMI is well out of the obese range- so I set my goal weight a good 60 pounds less than the one he set for me.
Once I get down to that point, I highly suspect I'll lower it even more. We'll see.

Your band would be fine, but you need to ask your doctor if it's safe. He knows your healthy history and issues and needs to be the one to give you the all clear.

I really need to not drink water while reading your blogs. It almost came out my nose. Again.

I really need to not drink water while reading your blogs. It almost came out my nose. Again.

You talk like 60 pounds isn't a lot of weight! Let me put this in perspective for you: My 10 year old son weighs 67 pounds. You lost almost the equivalent of a 10 year old boy. That is no small feat!! That's A LOT of weight!!
Don't ever compare yourself to others. No one is doing "better" than you are. Your journey is uniquely yours and you're doing beautifully at it.
Don't be so hard on yourself

Oh my gosh Jim, you look SO GOOD!! The change is astounding!! You actually look younger even!!!
Very very handsome!

I am familiar with PCOS. It is true that there are more challenges with weight loss, but not for all women. It's also true that women, band or no band, are able to lose weight with diet and lifestyle change, WITH PCOS. I'm not trying to minimize how difficult it is for YOU. But it can be very easy to fall into old behaviors, while totally blaming it on a health issue.
Your original post said that you were hungry all the time, and finding food on every corner. I believe that some of the posters were responding to that. PCOS doesn't force anyone to make poor food choices. Even pregnant women choose yogurt over a Big Mac & fries. Again, I'm not saying that's what YOU were eating at every food venue on every corner. But you were eating enough to gain a substantial amount of weight, which typically equates to too much food, and poor choices.
If a good portion of your issues are in fact PCOS, then maybe posting in an online PCOS forum is a better option.

With all due respect, we do understand carb cravings. Many of us have them.
If it's something specific to PCOS then no, we don't understand. But if you're posting about it on a Lap Band forum then you can't expect us to "have a clue" about PCOS. Any advice you get here is going to be based on what we know about the band, not PCOS.

With all due respect, we do understand carb cravings. Many of us have them.
If it's something specific to PCOS then no, we don't understand. But if you're posting about it on a Lap Band forum then you can't expect us to "have a clue" about PCOS. Any advice you get here is going to be based on what we know about the band, not PCOS.

Very handsome....you look great!

Jim, you look f**king amazing! You must be so proud of all your hard work. Just love the wonderful heat in NE.

Awesome!!