kca1fan

I had my surgery on 11/12/12 and so far I am down 65 lbs.... The first 20 lbs fell off in the first week and a half!!! I am really loving the results so far, I have gotten to a plateau because I have dropped so much so quickly that I don't want to lose too fast and have hanging skin.... I just found this page and I am going to enjoy talking to everyone here and hearing and sharing stories!!!

Well... It's been a year since I took the leap and got the lapband! I would do it all again tomorrow ! I must say a year out and I am JUST getting the hang of this new life I have to live now.! I'm down 62 pounds and according to my bmi and my dr I'm no longer morbidly obese or even obese.. Just simply overweight.. 52 more pounds to go but I've got this! Life is good....!!!

Been on LBT a long time. I considered myself a listener on here, and not a talker for the first three years. I've started posting recently, but never started a topic.
But today I just had to do this.
I started at my Band journey in 2009. I have never had any band issues, as some may know, I did have an installation issue that was corrected. ( And yes, like others I think I have the best doctor/staff in the world. )
So I was 324 miserable, unhealthy, tired all the time pounds when I started. I am so happy to say that today.... on 3/22.. I WEIGH 222 lbs on my scale. I haven't seen those numbers in over 20 years!! Over ONE HUNDRED POUNDS LOST!
I will reach my goal of around 185 sometime late this year or early next, I don't care! NOW, after 3 1/2 years, this has become my life. I eat almost anything I want, I do exercise ( consisting 90% of the time of bike riding ) more than ever, and I feel better than I EVER remember feeling in my entire life.
So, if I could say a word of advice to the newer folks who will struggle from time to time, its this: NEVER, EVER GIVE UP! If something isn't working, change it. Be honest and firm with your doctor. For me, a properly adjusted band, is the most important thing. I couldn't diet on my own....been there, done that. THIS THING WORKS!
Thanks to all who have posted advice/encouragement/suggestions/etc. Just because we don't all agree on everything surrounding the band, we really are all after the same goal....to be healthy!

Checking in at 222. Down 3 pounds this week and 1 pound from being able to say "I've lost 200 pounds"!

I just have to post this. I went in for a fill on tuesday and my weight was 216. I weighed myself today and is 213. All smiles over here.

Just weighed in at 308 that's 1 pound less then I was. I have only lost 18 pounds since surgery and am already noticing how much easier some things are like putting on my shoes and jumping up in dads truck. I can't wait to see what being down 50 pounds is like.

I just walked in the house and the first thing that crossed my mind was head to the kitchen and decide what to have for supper. I stopped myself and said why are you going to the kitchen your not hungry it's just what you are used to doing. Much like spending 10 minutes looking for your cigarettes then realizing you haven't bought a pack in 2 weeks because your quitting.
I have been fat all my life, I have smoked since I was 11 that's 35 years. I have abused alcohol and or other drugs from the age of 14-35. Today was the first time I realized to change these behaviors all require the same things. Not only do you have to change the behavior you must change the vicious cycle that got you there in the first place. Such as not making food so important. Knowing that difference between wanting something and needing something.
Well I don't know if this is the right forum for this and don't know if this qualifies as a success but it is a success to me. Just in case here are my successes I was banded on 1/21/13 and have lost 17 lbs. I have not bought a pack of cigarettes since Feb. 11th. I was bumming one here and there but have not touched one in over a week.

I am just checking in two months out and down 19 pounds. Also over three weeks no smoking. I am so glad I did this.

So i was just reading and responding to another post asking about how long were you out from work. It made me think about my journey and how things work out.
I had worked at my job for 10 years mostly doing Purchasing and acct. Payable At 7 years in, a manger from another dept. recruited me in to the Insurance dept. So for those last 3 i did casualty claims, workers comp, medical insurance... etc. I like the job, but didn't love it.
In my process of going to doctors and having all the test done, i got approved on the first letter sent to UHC. I was so Excited to start my new life.
October 30th i started my two week liquid diet. On November the 5th we left on a vacation to the Tennessee on the Harley. Yes i was on vacation and doing a liquid diet... and yes it was hard as hell and yes it was cold on the bike...lol. Unannounced to me that Friday the 6th they had a Lay off at work and I was to be one of them. But because i was on vacation, mine was postponed till i was scheduled back which was the 16th. So I had LB surgery on the 10th of November and lost my job on the 16th.
Point to the story: If i had not taking that vacation at that time, i would have lost my job on the Friday before my Lb surgery, would have lost my insurance and would not have had my surgery... and probably would still be FAT if not Fatter.
But fate was on my side and i did have my surgery and i did lose the weight and i am soooo happy with where i am now.
An't it Funny how things work out...

Tomorrow is surgery! I won't say the last 14 days weren't pure hell because it was. I have met some really cool helpful people on this web sight! Thanks to all of you!!!

Expect your journey to be extremely individual and don't compare your self with others. Maximum results? Follow your Dr.s instructions to the letter and don't cheat.

go at the pace you are comfortable, but try and push yourself as well. I'd rather "run" slowly for 20 minutes than try and run faster and only for for 5 minutes and feel like I'm going to die. My plan is to finish the program and be able to "run" for 30 minutes and then work on increasing my speed.
At the 5ks I've done there's been a mix of true runners, slow joggers and walkers. Some people walk faster than I "run", but I also pass some people too. the first one I did the 1st place finisher was done shortly after I finished my first mile, but that didn't matter. I finished, that's what's important!

I also had a friend that his wife had gotten the band lost a substantial amount of weight and ended up in divorce. She just seemed to think that her new body needed a new life as well.
I am lucky as my wife has been banded for a year and I just had the surgery today. We have been married for 14 years and have a strong relationship. By getting banded I think I just made sure I will live as long as her...lol

I am bothered by the drive-by's where people with one or two posts show up and start posting negative comments about the band. I understand that the band doesn't work for some people, so I decided to check out some sites for other forms of WLS. Guess what I found out, those of us who have chosen WLS aren't so different from each other. On the other sites I found:
people who were loosing weight and were really happy with their decision
people who weren't loosing weight and were struggling with the reason
people who ignored there Dr's pre and post op instructions and couldn't figure out why that was wrong.
people who were on plateaus
people who were mad because their WLS didn't automatically make the pounds come off.
people with complications
people who had lost most of their weight, only to gain it back again when they went back to old habits.

In other words, I found the same types of things there, that I find here. That makes Jean's quote in my signature all the more real.

I am in my room drinking some warm tea. I have taken a walk around the floor once already and feeling pretty good. Sore, but not painful. I am Thrilled to be among the banded!

I'm just posting so we have 3 bike pics in a row

Happy to report that today I weighed in at 179.8.
As a 5'5" person that brings my BMI to 29.9 - officially OVERWEIGHT instead of OBESE.
Looking forward to reaching HEALTHY at 149 or BMI = 24.8
And then a bit more to reach mid-healthy range.

I guess it's unusual from what I've been reading here, but I've told everyone I know/been 100% honest about my March 27 surgery ever since I made the choice in July. I even made a Facebook post about it. I just feel proud about taking initiative in my life to be/feel healthier and gain some self-confidence in the looks department. At the same time, I completely understand why this isn't the m.o. for a lot if you. I've learned a LOT through who has been there for me vs who has been absent or judgemental.

Something really significant happened at lunch today at work. I was eating my half of a tuna sandwich and chatting with my colleagues when another colleague came into the kitchen with leftovers from a late St. Patrick’s Day celebration happening somewhere else on the floor. I’m not a big corned beef and cabbage fan so that was not a temptation,but the big crockpot full of mac and cheese….well that’s a horse of a different color. Except that this time,when asked if I wanted any, I was able almost automatically, to say thanks but no thanks. And it wasn’t to look good in front of my friends…it was understanding that the satisfaction of losing weight was more important than the momentary satisfaction of eating that mac and cheese….and then likely paying for it long after the enjoyment of the food had passed. This is a real big shift in my thinking and even now, I am not unhappy that I walked away from that temptation. In fact, I am proud of myself for making a good decision without agonizing over it. Boy do I hope I can still do this when I’m at a plateau or stressed over something, or feeling entitled to eat whatever I want

cans of food and bags of potatoes make great weights. Elastic bands are cheap and can help tone just as if lifting weights. Give those grand babies airplane rides on your feet kids too depending on age/size.

Have appointment with a new for doctor Monday so everyone please pray for me.

For the last 6 weeks, I've been trying my darndest to lose the last bit of weight I have left. Then the Easter candy came out. Those Cadbury eggs are my biggest downfall. I think over the last couple weeks, I've eaten about a lb of them.
I've got to sit down and write letter to Cadbury, explaining myself and my struggles. Maybe then they'll take them off the shelves. Do you think that will work? I didn't think so...
Looking forward to the week after Easter (not the day after, when all the Easter candy will be 50% off!)
Marci

Less than 8 Months! I am over the moon excited! It is so hard to comprehend that in less than a year I have made it this far, even though I have so much more to lose, it is a sure sign I am going to get there no matter how long it takes!
Okay, How I did this you may wonder? I do what works for me! I track my food daily (no matter what), eating no more than a cup of food per meal and exercising. I am a firm believer in and have been on this thread about 'doing what works for you'. Finding a solution through trial and error is the way we learn, from mistakes. That is pretty much how it functions in the 'real' world. Many bandsters may disagree because they think 'their' way is the 'right' way!
I make it a huge effort to not just to lose this weight, but to keep myself healthy while doing so. When I realize something is not working, or I just don't feel right I look back on my tracker of what am I eating and research on how I can improve things. Example: I noticed I haven't been eating my vegtables and fruits like I use to. So, I purchased the new Nutribullet and every morning I get a full dose of my veggies/fruits with my Protein. I not only feel good, but I feel good knowing that I am improving the benefits of my health by eating these healthy nutrients. I also added flaxseed ground meal to my shakes every morning as well. You see because this is what works for me!
Don't compare yourself to others, and when you have a set back remember that you are only human. Don't beat yourself up, instead pick yourself up and get back on track. I believe with the right mindset you have the ability to accomplish anything!
Lastly, thanks to my peers on here who continue to support and motivate me. You all have been a tremendous part throughout this journey from the beginning. To my best friend Missy (Mis73), I love you girlfriend you are my rock and my hero!
Pictures soon to follow...

I just walked in the house and the first thing that crossed my mind was head to the kitchen and decide what to have for supper. I stopped myself and said why are you going to the kitchen your not hungry it's just what you are used to doing. Much like spending 10 minutes looking for your cigarettes then realizing you haven't bought a pack in 2 weeks because your quitting.
I have been fat all my life, I have smoked since I was 11 that's 35 years. I have abused alcohol and or other drugs from the age of 14-35. Today was the first time I realized to change these behaviors all require the same things. Not only do you have to change the behavior you must change the vicious cycle that got you there in the first place. Such as not making food so important. Knowing that difference between wanting something and needing something.
Well I don't know if this is the right forum for this and don't know if this qualifies as a success but it is a success to me. Just in case here are my successes I was banded on 1/21/13 and have lost 17 lbs. I have not bought a pack of cigarettes since Feb. 11th. I was bumming one here and there but have not touched one in over a week.

I can't believe they have not told you no carbonated beverages. My surgeon says absolutely no carbontion. Also no liquid calories. Any liquids with more then 10 calories per serving I am not suppose to have.