Bandista

Hi there, just catching up and sending lots of love and sympathies all-around. Hard times for so many here. Life is very poignant -- a reminder to grasp the joy and delight when we can.

Hi there, just catching up and sending lots of love and sympathies all-around. Hard times for so many here. Life is very poignant -- a reminder to grasp the joy and delight when we can.

I'm laughing at how hard this is for me, a wordy writer. How about four words? I LOVE MY BAND!

Hi there, just catching up and sending lots of love and sympathies all-around. Hard times for so many here. Life is very poignant -- a reminder to grasp the joy and delight when we can.

I love my band and plan to have it forever.

Hi there, just catching up and sending lots of love and sympathies all-around. Hard times for so many here. Life is very poignant -- a reminder to grasp the joy and delight when we can.

Prior to weight loss I had a basic uniform of black jeans and a black top. I work from home but have to have meetings from time-to-time and that was always a nightmare trying to figure out what to wear. Now I play dress-up all the time. And I love to go shopping! I have some great skirts and colored tights, low boots and high boots, hats -- recently I got a faux leather jacket in a kind of silver grey. Looks great. We live in a rural area and when I go to the city for getaways I take my sexiest stuff along with me as I am still uncomfortable with attention. Last summer I wore a sleeveless linen sundress I bought in a consignment store. Oh my god, sleeveless. My goal is to work my arms so I look even better in it this summer. Isn't it great celebrating ourselves and enjoying the fun instead of hiding out? Thanks for this great thread.

Great post; thank you! I joined Lapband Talk when I was researching weight loss surgery and benefited greatly from all the support. When the forums combined and banders became such a minority, I was a little overwhelmed by negative posts from people who elected a different surgery. I am truly sorry for any one who has had a bad experience with their band. In my case I am very happy with my choice, it was the right thing for ME. I love my band and would not have had a different surgery. Life-changing.

Hi every one -- just popping on for a quick check-in. Julie, sending best wishes for your move. Wonderful seeing your picture and glad you got a break from packing, shedding, moving. It must be such as poignant time for you -- sending extra love your way. And you, too, Sharpie. We have all been through a lot together on this forum. Just Watch Me -- 170s, YIPPEE! So happy for you! That is great news.
I have a rich outdoor life at this time of year and that is soul-fulfilling as well as good exercise. Gardened early this morning and now just back from a morning walk at the lake and settling in to get some work done at the computer. The peonies are out right now and the air is heavy with their scent. We've had one spectacular day after the next.
Weight-wise I am having trouble budging the scale, but I am not too troubled by that. I know what I have to do and just have to want to buckle down and do it. I would benefit greatly from a five-day juice fast or all-liquids with Protein shakes might be a good way to go. Will have to find a place on the calendar for that as it's a very social time of year with visitors, little trips, a wedding, etc. The good news is I feel good about my body. Yesterday I ironed and I'm happy to have clothes that fit and are fun to wear. No more shame and embarrassment.
Time to go check and see what's happening on the forum as a whole. This thread is my go-to and you are my go-to people. Thanks for being there!

Great post; thank you! I joined Lapband Talk when I was researching weight loss surgery and benefited greatly from all the support. When the forums combined and banders became such a minority, I was a little overwhelmed by negative posts from people who elected a different surgery. I am truly sorry for any one who has had a bad experience with their band. In my case I am very happy with my choice, it was the right thing for ME. I love my band and would not have had a different surgery. Life-changing.

Hi every one -- just popping on for a quick check-in. Julie, sending best wishes for your move. Wonderful seeing your picture and glad you got a break from packing, shedding, moving. It must be such as poignant time for you -- sending extra love your way. And you, too, Sharpie. We have all been through a lot together on this forum. Just Watch Me -- 170s, YIPPEE! So happy for you! That is great news.
I have a rich outdoor life at this time of year and that is soul-fulfilling as well as good exercise. Gardened early this morning and now just back from a morning walk at the lake and settling in to get some work done at the computer. The peonies are out right now and the air is heavy with their scent. We've had one spectacular day after the next.
Weight-wise I am having trouble budging the scale, but I am not too troubled by that. I know what I have to do and just have to want to buckle down and do it. I would benefit greatly from a five-day juice fast or all-liquids with Protein shakes might be a good way to go. Will have to find a place on the calendar for that as it's a very social time of year with visitors, little trips, a wedding, etc. The good news is I feel good about my body. Yesterday I ironed and I'm happy to have clothes that fit and are fun to wear. No more shame and embarrassment.
Time to go check and see what's happening on the forum as a whole. This thread is my go-to and you are my go-to people. Thanks for being there!

Great post; thank you! I joined Lapband Talk when I was researching weight loss surgery and benefited greatly from all the support. When the forums combined and banders became such a minority, I was a little overwhelmed by negative posts from people who elected a different surgery. I am truly sorry for any one who has had a bad experience with their band. In my case I am very happy with my choice, it was the right thing for ME. I love my band and would not have had a different surgery. Life-changing.

Hi every one -- just popping on for a quick check-in. Julie, sending best wishes for your move. Wonderful seeing your picture and glad you got a break from packing, shedding, moving. It must be such as poignant time for you -- sending extra love your way. And you, too, Sharpie. We have all been through a lot together on this forum. Just Watch Me -- 170s, YIPPEE! So happy for you! That is great news.
I have a rich outdoor life at this time of year and that is soul-fulfilling as well as good exercise. Gardened early this morning and now just back from a morning walk at the lake and settling in to get some work done at the computer. The peonies are out right now and the air is heavy with their scent. We've had one spectacular day after the next.
Weight-wise I am having trouble budging the scale, but I am not too troubled by that. I know what I have to do and just have to want to buckle down and do it. I would benefit greatly from a five-day juice fast or all-liquids with Protein shakes might be a good way to go. Will have to find a place on the calendar for that as it's a very social time of year with visitors, little trips, a wedding, etc. The good news is I feel good about my body. Yesterday I ironed and I'm happy to have clothes that fit and are fun to wear. No more shame and embarrassment.
Time to go check and see what's happening on the forum as a whole. This thread is my go-to and you are my go-to people. Thanks for being there!

Hi every one -- just popping on for a quick check-in. Julie, sending best wishes for your move. Wonderful seeing your picture and glad you got a break from packing, shedding, moving. It must be such as poignant time for you -- sending extra love your way. And you, too, Sharpie. We have all been through a lot together on this forum. Just Watch Me -- 170s, YIPPEE! So happy for you! That is great news.
I have a rich outdoor life at this time of year and that is soul-fulfilling as well as good exercise. Gardened early this morning and now just back from a morning walk at the lake and settling in to get some work done at the computer. The peonies are out right now and the air is heavy with their scent. We've had one spectacular day after the next.
Weight-wise I am having trouble budging the scale, but I am not too troubled by that. I know what I have to do and just have to want to buckle down and do it. I would benefit greatly from a five-day juice fast or all-liquids with Protein shakes might be a good way to go. Will have to find a place on the calendar for that as it's a very social time of year with visitors, little trips, a wedding, etc. The good news is I feel good about my body. Yesterday I ironed and I'm happy to have clothes that fit and are fun to wear. No more shame and embarrassment.
Time to go check and see what's happening on the forum as a whole. This thread is my go-to and you are my go-to people. Thanks for being there!

Go to your doctor! It could be any number of things.....

Rant:..... November 10, 2009 was when my new life began.... I had the LB preformed and i have to say... it been a hell of a ride. I have luckly had no problems except for a little re flux now and then.
Here are some of the starts and now: weight 230 now 139, pants 20 now a 6, shirt XXL now med/large, bra 44H now 34H, shoe 7.5 now 6.5.
So here is my RANT.... I've been coming on this site since it was Lapbandtalk... (thanks Alex). I have met the most wonderful people and have made lifelong friends. I have learned so much over the years.
Here's my issue.... My understanding is the doctors are trying to get away from doing the band due to failures. But what i don't get is there are failures in ALL the WLS's..... i know many people that gained back most all there weight from GB, Sleeve and the band. I read on here all the time.... "i'm getting my band removed because im gaining and doing the sleeve". Now i know there are some that truly had bad bands placed. But what i wonder is, when these patients go to there dr. are they truly being honest and saying..... I stress eat, or i have learned to eat around the band, or i eat sliders (ice cream, cake and cookies) all day. Are are they just saying... the band is broke and i want to try something else. Don't they realize that maybe it's not the band but something they need to go to a Psychiatrist for. Not saying that i'm the perfect example of a band patient, but i work hard at watching what and how it eat....
When you start gaining again.... Look deep within and ask... what am i doing that is contributing to this...how can i fix it... Be honest with yourself and your doctor...
End Rant.

I have had my lapband since 2009. I am not aware of what complications I may face in the future but I listen to my body. I have not had any fills for 5 years now. I eat slow and chew. Yes, I get stuck and when I do sometimes I vomit. This happens a couple of times a month and always when I am too hungry and eat too fast. I would like to know what I should be looking for in the way of complications....how does one know when the band needs to be removed?

The extent of "encouraging words" may be that, if you do all the right things -- including the small bites/thorough chewing/pause before the next bite routine, the don't overeat routine, the pay-attention-to-satiety-signals routine, the eschew certain foods routine, the learning to know when your band needs adjusting routine ...and all the other routines -- you'll have the best possible chance for keeping your band until the end of the road. Do yourself a favor now and concentrate on becoming partners with your band and feeling positive about your choice and your future. You're at the beginning of a learning process and you're in good shape. Yippee!!

Hi there, mine hit around day four or five just when I thought I hd escaped the dreaded left shoulder pain. Windmill arms helped me but also the walking, walking walking. This was also about the time I had to address Constipation. I didn't take pain medication but still had this issue from anesthesia. The good news is it won't be lomg before this I is all a distant memory. Way to go choosing your healthy future! It's a very exciting time.

Weight Loss Surgery was such an out of the blue decision for me -- I'm not even sure exactly how it came about. We live in the boonies, I don't watch TV, and I didn't know any one else with a LapBand (or any other WLS). I am kind of a health food type and had never been an overnight patient in the hospital before. I guess I heard that a cousin's doctor had recommended this for him and so I started digging into the research. Almost right away I realized I was the perfect candidate. I think what this means is that I was READY. I had spent two decades dieting and working every weight loss angle under the sun, yet I always put the weight back on again plus a little more. Each year I was a little heavier, and since I'm in my fifties it was really starting to add up. I ate well, just too much. Now I eat well, just in much smaller portions and at appropriate intervals. What a difference this makes over time.
Here I am today 75 pounds down from when I started 17 months ago. I honestly can't believe it. Next month at a year and a half I hope to be able to report 80. It's been a long winter and I have not been exercising as much as I'd like. I know from experience that for me the exercise is really the magic ingredient. I hate the gym and as soon as this sleet and snow clears off I can't wait to resume outdoor walking again. Last year I bought a bike and I look forward to that. I have arthritis and being able to do these things is a real gift. So much easier without carrying around all that extra weight!
The scale is the scale and sometimes it doesn't budge. I tend to lose some and then hover a long while around a particular number for a while. This can be frustrating but I've learned that it is okay, that the scale will eventually move. Meanwhile, its all about the pants, the pants. I have gone from 18 jeans down to size 10 in the same brand. Right now I have a pair of size 10 jeans in another brand that I picked up on sale and they are way too tight. But I'm going to get into those jeans over time -- and I also have a couple of pair of linen pants in my closet. I try them all on from time to time and that helps keep me motivated. It's all about the pants, the pants.....
Determining a goal weight is hard -- I guess I will know when I get there (and I know I'm not there yet). I'm fairly tall and don't want to be "skinny" -- I like my curves. For now I am thinking 155 might be a good weight for me and I am thrilled to be just 22 pounds away from that goal as of this morning. Oh my goodness, I am so happy!

Surprised in the ER with IV steroids as a result of really bad poison ivy -- packed it on like a science experiment gone wrong. By the time I tapered off the oral medication I had gained twenty pounds. Started seeing an alternative practitioner after that to try to rebalance and just got more screwed up from there. Another thirty pounds yo-yo style, then another ten and another. Ended up about 100 heavier. There was a pregnancy in there (not to term) and I'm sure hormones played a role. Plus I became an emotional eater. Life was stressful and food was my solace. I tried everything under the sun and am so grateful for WLS. I feel "normal" again. After years of feeling betrayed by my body I am in sync once more. That feels really good.

Thanks for that, Liz. There's the for me part and big one for the new people, but I also really need the colleague/compatriot factor -- people who "get me." Thanks for getting it. And me!

Glad I came on here today. Proud of you -- and totally agree. Our Bodies OUR Selves. And whoever this guy is, lucky, lucky man.

Yes, yes and YES !!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing, another reminder our mind is our most powerful tool... The world see us as we portray ourselves to them... Happy dating
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"
Einstein