Sher1224

Hi Chimboree26 I am banded and have been for a year. God has blessed me abundantly through this process. I am 56 yrs old and have lost 42 lbs, but the most important part is not what I have lost but what I have gained through this. I have a complete peace of mind that God has blessed me with this tool for not only losing slowly but keeping the weight off. I have about 40 lbs to go to reach my goal which is health oriented and not "thin" oriented. If I lose 10-15 lbs a year from now on I am content because for years I steadily gained that amount each year. I feel God has honored my committment to Him to become healthier and helped me with this difficult process by this procedure.

I just visited this sight for the first time. What an inspirational place to visit! You all have an intense depth of faith and I admire your willingness to share and care. I truly hope God blesses you each for your willingness to give the glory where the Glory is due!

There is a roll on pain reliver called BioFreeze that helped me a lot. I used it every night and woke up every morning pain free. Eventually my Dr. let me take one Aleve a nght but it was after three months. I use the BioFreeze more. It is an OTC medication. Sher

Relationships that are founded on solid ground...physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually should not be affected by weight loss...or gain....at least mine hasn't been....my husband loved me at 250...and 160 and now at 205....didn't make a difference....I just felt and feel better at a more decent weight....Prayer has always helped me a lot!

I just had to say I hope it went well for you...and my given name is SHERI LYNNE! I am 56! (It is unusual to see the first name spelled that way...and you are only one letter off my middle name....)....Hopefully all went well!

Lisa, I don't know if I misunderstood what I read but I thought you sounded like you are only eating once a day. That slows my loss a lot. It also does nothing for energy levels. I eat five or six small meals and do okay IF I don't cheat and if I quit eating by 7 p.m. I just recently started to lose slowly again this past week after a six month plateau. I also changed my form of excercizing from walking to lawn mowing. Seems to help some. You are early in the game. Don't give up! I put on 20 lbs a year for five years consecutively so I try to keep in mind that if I even only lose 10 a year, I am still headed in the right direction. This is a great sight for encouragement.

I think I also thought this would be magic and just because I ate less (a lot less) :hungry: then I used to I would automatically lose weight no matter what. But it is like my dr. told me....the band is a tool...not the answer. No magic. I remember doing Weight Watchers and thinking I am losing some weight, but I still OVER EAT. I just over eat on better foods. My problem has never been sugar which was one reason I chose the band instead of GB it has always been carbs (too many) and amount of food, This did help me limit the amount of food but it is easy to make the wrong choices since most of the wrong choices are quick and easy to get to and do go down better than the right choices. I have trouble with most meat but am just very careful chewing it. The worst thing for me is raw vegetables. Tomato skins and even leaf lettuce....I have found that "Shreds" (shredded lettuce) works best. I also need to excercise to lose. As I said I made it six months at the same weight without diet and excercise and normally I would have gained 15-20 lbs during that time. I ate pretty much what I wanted but just a lot less of it. Now I need to set my mind to a short goal...20 lbs this summer and then maintain during the winter...(sounds like a bear, huh?). I just hate exercizing on a treadmill all winter and even more driving to a place to do that. Maybe I will change by next winter? All I know is this site and all of you have inspired me to shoot for the short term goal and I hope none of you give up. It is worth it for yourself. I like that quote "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". I can't remember which one of you said you were ready to quit but I do hope you change your mind. You are not alone in this. Many people care and share your frustration. Why is it so hard to follow the rules? Because the end result is soooooo valuable! Funny, we usually encourage others because we see so much good in them and feel they are so worth the invested time...but we fail to be willing to invest that time and encouragement in ourself. Have a good day....One day at a time.....

I had some of these same things. I found it to be different at different times or even on different days, but I had to force myself to chew everything far more then I ever did before and not eat fast. I used to finish my meals far sooner than anyone else and now people usually have to wait for me. I am like you, in the activity department also. I take care of my three and four year old grandsons every day so I don't have time to be a couch potatoe either. I figured that was adequate excersize but I found out that unless I actually walk 2 miles a day at least 4-5 times a week I do not lose anything. I guess that is why I am a slow loser. I don't excersize (this doesn't look like I spelled it right..sorry) most of the winter and I just got back into the habit recently. I also had to go back to more protien...less carbs. The scale finally dropped for me a little this week. I have a friend who prays for me...I will do so for you! PS. I am also on thyroid meds.

I am new to the site also. I posted a couple of times yesterday. Especially on the slow losers site because I thought there was something wrong with me. I was banded in Ypsilanti MI in Feb. of 2006. My Dr. was Dr. Jon Schramm and he and his staff are absolutely wonderful. He also has an office in Holland to see his patients on this side of the state. It helped me so much to read some of the threads and realize that this can be a slow process. It also helped me to take a close look at what I am eating and how much and how much excercise I am really getting. This is a terrific site! Thanks. I have a goal to be in "Onederland" by August. That is about 12 lbs. for me from here. I was just grateful that after I lost the 40 lbs. I didn't gain through the holiday season and really didn't try to diet or excersize much. I just appreciate the support and honesty I have found here. What a great site!

Hurray! I found a site that helps me! I was banded a year ago in Feb. and lost 40 lbs. and have just been sitting here. :faint: Although I have to say this was the first holiday season I have been through without gaining 20 lbs! I was encouraged by that. I thought I was a failure for only losing that much the first year but reading all of these postings have helped me. I know I need to start counting calories again. Letting myself nibble too much on things I don't need. Thanks to all of you for your input. I truly need to be inspired to go at this again! :clap2:

I am brand new to this site. I really needed to read your story. I had my band done in MI (Ypsalanti) by a wonderful Dr. Jon Schramm. I lost 40 lbs. and then have just stayed with this same loss for six months. Reading all of these has helped me get my perspective back. I, like you, nibble here and there more than I should. I have changed a lot of my habits but in order to lose you really have to stick with diet, excercise and attitude. You really hit the nail on the head when you said all that you did. I am glad you are back to trying and it has inspired me to go back to the basics and to keep trying. It is a daily struggle but I, too, believe God never gives us MORE than we can handle. Thanks again for sharing.