kshannon

I wish I would have done the RNY from the get go, but I was too scared. I was just curious how little time off I can take off from work from the band removal part. I am jumping the gun b/c I'm still awaiting insurance approval.

Once a month I go buy this bag of dog food for my fur babies. It's heavy for me to handle and I always struggle with it a little bit. It is a 30 pound bag of dog food. That is how much weight I've lost so far.
I can't believe I was carrying that around on my body. And to think I need to lose about 3 more of those. Wow.
LapBand. Best. Decision. Ever.

Just curious ... Does anyone else drink out of straws? My pre-op instructions said it was a big No. I'm 5 months post op and discover that I have no issues with straws & wanted to know the rational. I find that I drink more with my camelback water bottle (straw) vs a container you have to sip. I avoid straws with most other drinks ...

I thinking I am finally learning that I need to slow down ... It seems I be the hardest thing to wrap my brain around. I had a 2 cc fill a month ago & this is the fill I've felt restriction since I had the surgery 5 months ago. I'm discovering that this cold weather is makes it harder to eat anything. I didn't realize that until PrettyThick mentioned it not only above but in another post.

I thinking I am finally learning that I need to slow down ... It seems I be the hardest thing to wrap my brain around. I had a 2 cc fill a month ago & this is the fill I've felt restriction since I had the surgery 5 months ago. I'm discovering that this cold weather is makes it harder to eat anything. I didn't realize that until PrettyThick mentioned it not only above but in another post.

Pet peeve & rant!!!! When I decided to open up to someone about my recent placement of the band - the first thing out her mouth (I felt she said it snottily) "you don't need it". Really?!! How do you know what I need?? A 41 BMI and countless years of struggling with my weight and you know what's best for me?? I'm sorry, try asking me why I felt I needed to go that direction but don't be so snotty about it!! Okay, rant done!!

Has anyone found that after getting banded their tolerance of spicy food is different or they can't eat it anymore? I love spicy food, but pre-band I always had Water on hand to help with the spiciness ... Today I had an omelet with jalapeño peppers in it - my mouth was on fire & I couldn't even drink water due to the rules. Then I had a bad end result several hours later via a visit to the bathroom where I swear my @ss was on fire (sorry TMI) and all I could think was "this girl is on fire" (Alicia keys song) ... But not in a good way

I have yet to get a new belt for work. I just keep adding holes to my old one. Today for fun I buckled it to my pre surgery hole. Loved the results think I'll keep this belt as long as possible just for motivation.

i have posted several different types nsv's
some silly and some downright amazing...funny how you miss once it gone
anyhow, i am doing laundry today..and after washing ole man's clothes, there
was some change in the bottom of the washer..being short, its a sight to see me trying
to reach in and get it...i normally have had to get him to do it...my girth wouldnt allow me to reach in.
so today, i saw some change and got on my tippy toes and reached down and got the change..
i was like oh my gosh....i did it again and noticed my stomach wasnt in the way anymore..
this nsv made my day today...
and here is something my ole man did without me knowing and i thought i'd share..
yep, i snipped at him when i asked what was he doing...he said he was proud of me
so here i am, doing step aerobics about 730 this sunday morning
i am doing a susan powter dvd with a 4 inch step box in my den

doing this has made me be able to:
reach down into washer
paint my toe nails if i wanted
put my socks on
drive my durango again (my stomach prevented the seat from going way up)
walk
wipe my hiney
not be afraid to break chairs
not be ashamed to be seen in public
and ride on the back of my ole man's HD (and in the pack again)
yeah, these nsv's matter to me....the band AND me, are making it happen

Good job!! Keep up the hard work. I find my weakness is right before bed - especially when I get off late from work. I'm craving something crunchy - so far I've stuck to milk or Protein Shake

Good job!! Keep up the hard work. I find my weakness is right before bed - especially when I get off late from work. I'm craving something crunchy - so far I've stuck to milk or Protein Shake

Good job!! Keep up the hard work. I find my weakness is right before bed - especially when I get off late from work. I'm craving something crunchy - so far I've stuck to milk or Protein Shake

I was banded 9/20/13. I've lost 21 lbs. I live in Lake Zurich

Good job!! Keep up the hard work. I find my weakness is right before bed - especially when I get off late from work. I'm craving something crunchy - so far I've stuck to milk or Protein Shake

Pet peeve & rant!!!! When I decided to open up to someone about my recent placement of the band - the first thing out her mouth (I felt she said it snottily) "you don't need it". Really?!! How do you know what I need?? A 41 BMI and countless years of struggling with my weight and you know what's best for me?? I'm sorry, try asking me why I felt I needed to go that direction but don't be so snotty about it!! Okay, rant done!!

Pet peeve & rant!!!! When I decided to open up to someone about my recent placement of the band - the first thing out her mouth (I felt she said it snottily) "you don't need it". Really?!! How do you know what I need?? A 41 BMI and countless years of struggling with my weight and you know what's best for me?? I'm sorry, try asking me why I felt I needed to go that direction but don't be so snotty about it!! Okay, rant done!!

Pet peeve & rant!!!! When I decided to open up to someone about my recent placement of the band - the first thing out her mouth (I felt she said it snottily) "you don't need it". Really?!! How do you know what I need?? A 41 BMI and countless years of struggling with my weight and you know what's best for me?? I'm sorry, try asking me why I felt I needed to go that direction but don't be so snotty about it!! Okay, rant done!!

Pet peeve & rant!!!! When I decided to open up to someone about my recent placement of the band - the first thing out her mouth (I felt she said it snottily) "you don't need it". Really?!! How do you know what I need?? A 41 BMI and countless years of struggling with my weight and you know what's best for me?? I'm sorry, try asking me why I felt I needed to go that direction but don't be so snotty about it!! Okay, rant done!!

I am soooo excited , today I hit my 40 pound loss !

Hello everyone!
Until I hit puberty, I was as skinny as a rail. Once I did hit it though, I gained weight and kept it on. I guess i was never really "fat" even though I was called fat by classmates and the like, but I've always been bigger than I wanted to be. My mother passed away after a brief battle with cancer last year, and that sent me into a really bad funk where I gained a lot of weight. My wife and I also welcomed our first child near the end of 2012. It was certainly time for a change.
I started this journey at 6'1, 349 pounds. I lost 10 pounds leading up to the surgery, and have lost another 20 since my surgery, which was at the end of June this year. I am currently at 319 pounds and heading in the right direction. I look forward to interacting with you all and sharing the experience together!

greetings fellow bandsters. this morning i was thinking how lucky i've been through my journey in changing and to my new and improved life!!! and i also owe lots of thanks to each and every one of you. for those who have been there and even those who you may not. we are all together in this. some of us may linger and not say anything, and others post daily. what ever the reason you're here, the fact is you are here. knowing i can come here open and honestly for support, complain, share my joys or even my downs, is for me support.
i actually have a couple of friends who i feel no longer any type of support for me. for me they are no longer an inspiration, or mentor, or even someone i can talk to anymore. and heres why:
my one friend, who I'll call Sharon. Sharon basically got me interested in the lapband. she was successful in loosing lots a weight. she looked fantastic. after she had lost weight she had a face lift, her veins done in her legs, all kinds of things to look good. she now drinks like a fish, in fact her fridge is so full of liquor it makes me ill. i went to a Thirty One party at her house last night, and i was very proud of myself with control and temptation. (i'm finding that is getting easier) she had chips, yummy bread, veggies & dip, and buffalo wings, crackers and some other bad things. a pretty tough selection for one who is on a diet. remember she is on it as well. i limited myself to a couple of wings and veggies. normally i would had have a ton of wings, and certainly the chips. so, as for having her for support, not really anymore. PLUS she has gained a lot of weight back. which i don't want to do. and she is beginning to look not so good. and now... its as though she has gone off the deep end. i'm very uncomfortable around her, she wants to have cocktails all the time...!!!
another friend i work with, Milkshake Mandy she is way gone. i call her milkshake mandy because she is always walking around with a milkshake and claims its a Protein Shake - in a Culver's cup. Right! i can't tell if she has gained it back (she wears lots of hoodies, i think to hide it), but she is constantly eating crap, and drinking crap and always eating chocolate. she lies about nearly everything and i don't have the patience anymore with her. she over reacts to stuff. her drama is wacko. so she is gone from eating healthy anymore.
then there is Jill who i work with and from the start she didn't follow the diet. eating crackers and not drinking the Protein shakes. in fact, yesterday she was walking around with a huge honking bag of chocolate covered popcorn. WTH? so talking to her, is difficult. she complains she hasnt lost weight, and its true, she really hasnt. i have tried to suggest drinking a Protein Shake...and its like talking to the wall. so i can't really find support with her.
Jill's friend Shelly had the sleeve done. she looks marvelous.. she is done. in just a couple of short months, she has completed her journey. (mine will probably be another year at my going rate) (i will admit i do at times wish i had the sleeve done, but i'm getting okay with my decision with the lapband now) she had her surgery in april. but here is the BUT, she eats crap too. from the beginning she was walking in with ice cream cones, crackers, chips.. i hardly saw her eat anything good. so yes, she is skinny now, but her eating habits are very uncomfortable for me. and you know what, maybe not right now, but her eating habits will catch up to her. maybe not today, but it will.
i feel as though i know one or two more people with the lapband, but im not as close as i am with these girls.
its very frustrating for me. so i try not to associate with them anymore or have little time with them. i don't want to be one of those who loose and gain it back. and that is sooooooo easy to do. my husband says i'm like a smoker who quit, and now can't stand smoke. hahaha. but its with food. and i think he's right. turning down the bad choices have surprisingly become extremely easier. and now my "cheats" are like having beef or like last night the wings with breading. i try not to beat myself over the head with a situation as the breading on the chicken, because it was beyond my control. and i keep thinking i didn't have chips or a cocktail. thats where the really bad stuff lies.
another thing, i've learned EXERCISING IS ESSENTIAL for loosing weight and maintaining weight. i know its difficult to get into a routine. but if you do it, the weight melts off even faster.
anyhoo, sorry for making this long. but that is why i am sending thanks to you all. see, i've tried talking to what my friends in real life in regards to their experiences. and we aren't on the same page anymore. they simply want the quick fix. and you know what - there isn't one. this is lifetime. this is life changing. i still have a ways to go. my year anniversary is in november. i've lost over 50lbs and have at least another 50lbs to go. i am off all my old medicines and currently only taking Vitamins. i want to keep it that way. plus, the shopping in smaller sizes is such a moral booster. and this is why i thank you. sometimes, i didn't post, i just read other thoughts, questions and ideas. sometimes, i did post. and other times, i didn't need support. but, you all have been there, anytime, day or night.
good luck to all of you. don't let anyone get you down. youre stronger now. and most of HEALTHIER!!!

I used to dread going shopping. I hated how I looked in the mirror. Let's just say 3-4 months ago I was wearing a size 24/26 . I wanted to buy these fitted straight leg pants . I picked up a size 18 and they slid right on. Bit guess what, they were a lil too big. Guess what size I bought. A size 16!!!!!! Unbelievable. And to think in the next 4 weeks I will be in a 14. It's moments like this that keeps me waking up at 5 am working out.
I'm so proud and grateful!!! 100lbs here I come... 50lbs down, 50 more to go'

Still mad you only lost 1lb?

Then she is not much of a friend at all ... She might feel threaten b/c she can compare herself to you & think she is thinner ... She may be the type to try to sabotage you.

I was a raving lunatic for the for few days and I understand working 12 hour shifts since I work on an Ambulance & in a busy ER. Worst part was watching & smelling my partners eat yummy food. I promise it will get easier, the headaches decrease & you get into a groove with the shakes. I'm saying you will like it, but it's get more doable. I did announce daily that I desired a taco ... But didn't give into the craving. I'm now 1 week post-op, it will fly by faster than you know it