SybilRamkin

Good luck to all of you having surgery tomorrow! I certainly haven't regretted my choice. I have already lost 23 pounds since preop and surgery 2 weeks ago. I feel great and already have a lot more energy.

Hello to all my bandster friends....
Wanted to share my 71lb weight loss before and after pics with you. This is just the tip of the ice, still lots more weight to come off but I am sooo ready to have it all gone!
I have hit a weight loss plateau, but I know this is temporary and I will continue to figure out how to 'jumpstart' the loss again.
Your Bandster Friend,

Hi all,
I'm 30 in a few days and have finally Made the decision to get banded! Nothing is gonna change that.
I'm 6'3" and 160kgs(353lbs) living in South Africa I cannot wait to be banded! My wife has made an appointment for me for next week with my GP! I love her!! Going to go discuss my options an plan it's such a relief to make this decision. . I have a strong need for this. I have been at 40+ BMI since I was 14 and although it hasn't got super out of control I have tried everything under the sun!
Now is my time to shine!
Bring on the Band I say!!

I'm almost 2 weeks post-op and I'm a happy camper. My LB surgeon and his staff were great. In fact, the only major problem I ran into was my regular doctor, someone I've been seeing for 20+ years. She was a complete pain-in-the-@$$ from the moment I told her what I was going to do. I was self pay and knew that some of the tests that my LB surgeon needed would not be covered under my insurance, but I wanted the orders to go through her (GP) so that they would become a part of my complete medical charts. She stalled and delayed nearly every single order and was extremely rude when the surgeons staff made inquiries on my behalf. When I called her about this (being rude to people who are trying to help ME) she said she didn't know how to code for 'elective surgery' ....and she was having a hard time justifying the request....and she knew people who had gone to Mexico....blah blah..... To shorten a long story, I got the tests and the surgery. Now I'm thinking that I really need to start fresh with a GP who can be more supportive of my efforts (and who isn't rude to people when no one is looking). Has anyone else been through this. Any recommendations for a GP in the Duke network?

Btw- I weighed in this am after 5 days of pre op and I'm down 10 pounds. Yeah!!!!

No time like the present for young adults to learn to care for others. Let them look up a recipe, send them to the store, and then they can give it a go in the kitchen. Overstepping my bounds a bit here, but let them clean the house too... it builds character

No time like the present for young adults to learn to care for others. Let them look up a recipe, send them to the store, and then they can give it a go in the kitchen. Overstepping my bounds a bit here, but let them clean the house too... it builds character

No time like the present for young adults to learn to care for others. Let them look up a recipe, send them to the store, and then they can give it a go in the kitchen. Overstepping my bounds a bit here, but let them clean the house too... it builds character

This is going to sound really weird, but I want to wear riding breeches again. I've ridden horses since I was a little girl, and have a barn full of them, but in the past 10 years I've spent most of my time on the ground as a horse show mom, groom, truck driver, etc.... All the horses think they are retired since my daughter left for college! I also want to wear a wetsuit so I can take scuba diving lessons. My daughter is a certified diver and I told her that I didn't want to get certified because I was afraid of sharks, But I was actually much more afraid of wearing a wetsuit. As for street clothes, I'm a Plain Jane --- L.L. Bean, Lands End, Talbots. I'd like to buy clothes without a 'W' in the size. Actually...I am afraid of sharks, I just can't stop the Jaws music in my head when I get in the Water. But I'm going to do it anyways.

Parachute pants! That's right...I'm bringing sexy back! lol!

I had promised myself i would be 50 lbs lighter by my birthday. Today 13 days before my birthday i hit that mark. I also by doing that also hit the less then 100 lbs to lose. I am so excited. I have went from 24/26 pants down to a size 20/18. I can actually buy shirts in the reg department of the store instead of in the Plus size. I can wear x-large shirts. I am so excited i had to do a shout out about it. I feel great and i love my band!!!

I was told Miralax was fine. It's a bit pricey, but some stores have generic versions. It's completely tasteless and easy to add to drinks and food.< /p>

I was told Miralax was fine. It's a bit pricey, but some stores have generic versions. It's completely tasteless and easy to add to drinks and food.< /p>

How to handle eating out with friends:
How many times have you sat across from friends at a restaurant and looked at them while they spoke to you? I have learned to take the focus off of the food and made it about the socializing. ( I have weekly business lunches and a few social events in the 2 little weeks I've been banded) I sit there with my bowl of Soup and thoroughly enjoy the conversations. Those around me think I'm just eating slow because I'm paying so close attention to them. Body language is everything. Nice smile shoulders back and they'll never know the difference.

I have only told a few people about my recent banding. My 2 sisters know, as does one coworker. I'm a widow, so telling my husband was not a issue (although I think he would have said 'go for it!'). I'm not in any way concerned about what people think about my choice, My big fear, and the reason I'm reluctant to share, it that I'm afraid I will fail-again. I've lost and regained 50 lbs more times than I can count, so I think I'm justified in being a bit reluctant, but I don't really want to cheat myself out of support. Is anyone else going through this? Maybe this is a personality issue more than anything else, as I'm an introvert with hermit tendencies. My real concern is my wonderful daughter, who is away at college. I have not told her about the surgery because I want her to focus on school and I don't want her to worry about me. Now that I'm post-op and everything is going well, I'm thinking about driving down to see her at school, and I might tell her then--or I could wait until Thanksgiving. Thoughts?

I got some great advice on sipping and chewing from my nutritionist about 1 month before my surgery. When we discussed how I was going to have to relearn my drinking and chewing habits she said "You're not going to wait until after the surgery to make this change, are you?" She was so smart about this. I had a few weeks of practice with "real" food before the surgery. It made me really conscious of how much I needed to change my habits. I was particularly bad about getting too thirsty and chugging Water.< /p>

Me too. I was there at 6:30 a.m. and home by about 11:00. What happened in the middle is a bit fuzzy

Getting banded today! Yay! Have to be there at 1245 surgery is at 145. Im very excited for this new journey to begin!

Hi Everyone... went back to work yesterday (desk job) after being banded on Friday 10/12. Surgical sites didn't bother me much the first few days but by Monday, the gas began to give me some shoulder pain and pain under my rib cage. Glad I knew what to expect. It finally gave way last night in the usual manner and I am WAY more comfortable now! Will have my one week post op appt tonight (a day early!).
I lost 25 pounds on the two week pre-op diet and now another 8 since surgery. One thing that is consistent with every bandster I know (friends, support group, online)... those who are successful follow doctor's orders to a T. They get in the mindset of knowing that the docs know what works and gaming the system is how we (I) got here in the first place. Do I love shakes and Soups every day with no chewing? Not particularly but they are medicine and I am sick with a disease called obesity. I wouldn't consider not taking heart medication or cancer meds. I just keep focusing on the end result, a healthier me! Hope all goes well for those waiting to be banded!

199.8! It may only be by 0.2 but it happened! Next goal is the move from obese to overweight! Amazing how it changes your entire outlook. I'm wearing cute little shoes to work today instead of sensible ones, and feeling sassy!

Maybe I'll get a pedi while holding my new Coach purse! BA haha...j/k.

I officially weigh 135.0. That was my goal when I started this just over 14 months ago. It is just unreal I cannot believe I am here. I have lost 141 pounds and am in size 4 or 6 pants. I just want everyone to know - I am no one special - I have been horrible about exercise, continued to drink alcohol, to cheat on slider foods sometimes, the list goes on and on. BUT, i went to every single dr. appt and got all my fills - got good tight restriction about 6 months in (yes it is all will power before you hit restriction which can take several months) and stick to my surgeon recommended 800-900 calories per day about 80% or 85% of the time. I love this site and will continue to be on it daily as I work to maintain this weight (a whole new chapter). BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!

sugar free popsicles !!! they're soooo goood