readysetg070113

My one year banaverisay is next week on the 19th to Celebrate I will be getting on a plane to go home. it has been 2 1/2 years since i last went home and spent a very uncomfortable 10+ hrs in a seat that didn't quite accommodate everything i had to share This time while i'm not looking forward to a total of 19+ hrs in the air.. i at least know i'll fit the darn seat this time....
just hoping my single package Protein shakes get here in time

Thanks for writing this this sounds like I could of wrote in I'm in the same boat

You are fabulous! This is such a great post -- you inspire all of us over and over again. Way to go this last year of hard work and so much success. You have reinvented your life. Here's to choosing health and happiness!

Congratulations on doing everything right! It's not the band working. It's you working with your tool!
Way to go, so proud of you!

Thanks for writing this this sounds like I could of wrote in I'm in the same boat

Thanks for writing this this sounds like I could of wrote in I'm in the same boat

OK...he's interested. He just texted me good morning.

We met at a little after six and he walked me home at 10. (it's OK girls...I live in a doorman building so I don't have to worry about anyone ever coming to my apartment unexpectedly) So we hesitated a bit but then had a nice sweet kiss at the end. I think I like him. I think he likes me. We seem to have alot in common. In fact...I'd bet money that he's had WLS. He told me he had a knee replacement so I told him about the hips. I never thought I'd say anything that personal on a first date but it felt OK to tell him. Eventually we got around to talking about having to lose weight so that the replacements would work optimally. He's still overweight but I don't care. He's a nice man and we talked very easily. He mentioned his struggles losing weight and I couldn't keep quiet. I didn't tell him I was banded but when I did tell him that I struggled as well, he looked incredulous...which I understand now. If you look at me without knowing my history, I don't look like someone with weight issues. Good lesson for me never to judge a book by it's cover. I hope he asks me out again.

Thanks for writing this this sounds like I could of wrote in I'm in the same boat

Lisa....I knew sooner or later, you'd crack. You are amazing and can't be amazing all the time without shortchanging something and you are right...the something is you. Lord knows we have trouble putting ourselves first. If we do, we're selfish. Or we feel guilty. Taking care of ourselves is not the same as narcisism though I suspect we think it is.
I saw the therapist yesterday and we talked almost the whole time about my discomfort in being noticed. And I mean by my family. I always hid in the background and I know that gaining back so much of the weight I lost 20 years ago was partly related to these issues. We need to put ourselves, if not first, then certainly not last.
We are all works in progress whether we've made our weight goals or not. It's so much a process and I am understanding more now that it's a lifetime process....which makes the support we give each other even more important.

OMG, I have FOREIGN OBJECTS in my body! My silver post earrings that I never take out. They don't speak English or anything. Now my band, that's not foreign. And it speaks alright.

b52 said something in a post of his that is soooooooo right the f**k on and i had to share:
The band is the band is the band. I may change and have ups and downs, but the band does not.
when i was stressing and wallering, my food choices changed as did my amounts (yep i ate past my stopping signals) but my band helped me NOT overeat and helped me NOT drink to destruction (my band gives me wall at about 3 drinks (nope no carbonation only a mixture)...
so the band does do its JOB
i now will do mine
who is with me?

Great! Just didn't want any of the regulars here wondering which thread we're on. I'm good with staying right here with my pals.

You are a terrific group for sure. I'm so glad that I found this forum and all you wonderful people.

*smacks Arlene upside the head*
Now be kind to yourself. Pronto!
We are all struggling with something. Just get up and dust yourself off and put one foot in front of the other. Kudos to you for positive actions today.

Thanks tmf I really am proud of myself for having the courage to take control getting banded and working the band the way it was intended to be used. Honestly I was ashamed at first but a ur later I'm like awesome job look what y accomplished and it's great knowing my new lifestyle is a permanent thing not a fad quick fix.y band definitely keeps me in check !

It's been a year . What an amazing life changing year. Last year at this time I was a nervous wreck of getting banded almost having an anxiety attack in the waiting room before surgery but wouldn't let it show. So sacred of what life would be with this band how would I feel how would I eat how would I live. I thought for sure the band would he like a flashing neon light and everyone would laugh and scoff that I had it done. I kept it a secret and still do. At first it was because I was ashamed I needed surgical Intervention to do what seemed like an easy task just stop eating. Now I keep it a secret because it's my most treasured precious love. I'm sitting in the hospital getting my Esopogram done. Walked in with my head held high wearing a cute size large sundress which needs to be taken in I might be a medium now. Smiling not worried if I will fit in chair or people will stare and judge. I'm sitting cross legged in chair and there is room for my purse beside me in the chair what the hell is this. It's fabulous that's what it is!!!! I'm down 104lbs from a tight 22/24 pants 3x shirt to a size 12/14 pants med/large shirt. I can shop in any store in the regular size clothes although I did try a plus size store last week as it was all to big. Do I see what everyone else sees no but I'm getting there. I thought I always had great self esteem and somehow it's fluctuating have some low days but that's normal I guess because now because I'm learning to live in my new body. I have been obese for 25 years and a consistent normal size for 1. Of course I lost weight hundreds of times before but never this amount never this size in my entire adult life . And I know it's gone forever .I'm shocked when I see pictures of me like wow I did this with my band eating right and exercising. I now know the band is a tool and I'm working it. I'm at the gym 5-7 days a week eating way less and moving more. Learning the signals when I'm satisfied. Still working on the chewing better and slowing down as sometimes I forget to eat for several hours and then I get super hungry the old me kicks in and I might not chew but my band reminds me chew more and u need way less food. The amazing encouraging people I have met here is as priceless as my band. No judgements just caring, understanding and encouragement and a good swift reality check when need be. I'm healthier I have participated in2 5k and one 10k obstacle events and looking to do more. I'm ancy if I don't eat right or work out. I crave healthy food and movement. Things sure have changed but 100000% for the better. Had I known then what I feel now I would of done this years ago.
Love my band !!! And it's awesome seeing all my hard work paying off. Got a list of plastic surgeons to start interviewing so I can save for and research the next phase In my transformation

Great job ur amazing

Can't wait to get back to the gym this morning. A week away from it at the beach without a gym near by so what did I do walk the board walkin every chance I got and offered to push the very heavy packed beach cart on the walk to the beach and through the sand. Walked up and down the stairs in the beach house as much as I could. You know what last year I would be in pain after all the walking I did because of walking in flip flops but funny today 100+ pounds lighted I did all that walking in flip flops and felt great.
Drinking my coffee and getting ready to do a 2 hr work out spin and weight training. Made my gym schedule for the month of sept. Who knew I would be a gym rat and I love it miss my gym friends can't wait for us to be reunited at 530 am this week. Have a great day all

Happy Labor Day to the people who have been with me when I needed them thd most even when I thought I didn't need the band or you all. Realized I was so busy with good things I wasn't here for a bit. Back to work tomorrow where done people haven't seen me in a few months. And yes even the ride lady I vented about a few weeks ago. Well I have a kick a$$ outfit picked out new hair cut and walking I with my head held high. I have worked my butt off to achieve these results with awesome supports from my friends here let the new school year begin ....

Happy Labor Day to the people who have been with me when I needed them thd most even when I thought I didn't need the band or you all. Realized I was so busy with good things I wasn't here for a bit. Back to work tomorrow where done people haven't seen me in a few months. And yes even the ride lady I vented about a few weeks ago. Well I have a kick a$$ outfit picked out new hair cut and walking I with my head held high. I have worked my butt off to achieve these results with awesome supports from my friends here let the new school year begin ....

Back from my cruise and sad to report a gain my first real gain in a year . Yes I know what I did to get that extra weight and I'm back I track to lose it. I tried to make the best food choices I could but I was not perfect cause I am not perfect. Got back on Saturday and went right back to my way of life . Good food choices and working out. This was my first long vacation since being banded and I messed up sure I had my Protein shakes in the am but u had a frappacino every afternoon so what's done is done my battle to hit the next group of 10 continues.
Missed my friends Here while I was gone

Nice going, Catfish! Have a great run. I've started adding a little jogging and skipping into my walk and that's really fun. I do believe I'm becoming addicted to exercise -- amazing! Wake up thinking about it. The band dims my appetite but also seems to be reworking some of the other tapes in my head, like the one that dreaded exercise so much even though I did it and felt better after, etc. New dialogue going on up there now....

sorry about my rant earlier in the month. I refuse to let this one person ruin my happy place or take away from my success. The reality is I needed help and the band provided me with the help i need to make my work successful. Its a shame with the stigma attached to wls surgery as the say way out. Yes it limits the amount I eat but I still make the food choices and I am still at the gym 5-6 days a week. It has been a lifestyle change not a magic cure. So to that person who can't mind their business i say go bleep yourself and I'm sorry your life is so unhappy that you want to make everyone else miserable. But I won't allow you to do that to me. Yes I am private as I am on a dam website sharing my business. It is my choice who I share MY business with. Love it here yu have all inspired and motivated me and have shared my joys and defeats and thank you for that.

Rough getting back to the gym after being sick I feel better but I guess I am still week. Couldn't run on treadmill the other day got a huge stomach cramp during my work out. Was it a combination of being sick, getting a fill that morning and being on liquids i don't know I tried to push through it but 30 minutes in I knew if I pushed more I would be sicker or even hurt myself. Never worked out the day of a fill but who knows the reason and no one at the gym knows IM banded so I ust said I forgot to eat that day wrong thing to say to your trainer, Anyway on mushed today and back to the gym I go and we will see. Slow an steady and Ill be back to my truing frenzy. e Gettnig healthy and lean