JustWatchMe

Thank you for sharing that. It is inspiring to read.

Surgery on a Thursday and back to my desk job on Monday. No issues.

These posts are exactly what I needed to read today. Your stories are so inspiring. I've lost 100 pounds with my band. That was in the first 7 months. Then I stopped losing. I know more effort is needed for me to take off the last fifty and get to goal. It is encouraging to see successful banders, so thank you!

Enjoy it while it lasts. I dropped 100 of the 150 I needed to lose. I am five foot five and when I hit Onederland the weight loss train screeched to a halt. To lose any weight I need to be super vigilant about my food choices. No fried or creamy, no carbs or big salads. My problem is I do this for a day or two, lose about four pounds, then cave in and have a carby meal or fried food, and gain it back within the same week. I didn't think I'd stabilize at this weight without binging, but that's exactly what has happened. I have been bouncing between 198-204 for the last eleven months. I repeat, without any binging. Time to get my head back into the game for a long haul of dieting I guess. I wanted the band to help me by not needing to diet. Well, it helped do exactly that for the first hundred pounds down. Now I have to work, really work, for every pound lost. Big girl panties time.

Julie, I am sorry for your loss. My dad had dementia before he developed ALS and died at age 60. I miss him a lot. He died when I was pregnant with my eldest. He would have loved my kids. Both brainy like him. They would have watched Dr. Who together. Please take care of yourself and listen to your body carefully with your fill. I'm debating a ninth fill right now because hunger isn't staying away longer than three hours and I haven't lost weight in about nine months. I'm getting really frustrated. I'm afraid of overfill because I get stuck occasionally on certain meats or bread if I don't chew to paste. Anyway, thank you for your post. Sending hugs.

Your post was very educational. I am so glad your health is back and you are doing well!

Just beautiful! Those pictures could pass as mother and daughter. Congratulations!

Welcome!!

I'm so sorry. I really hope you find a solution somehow.

All over the map. Everyone is different and there is at least one successful bander here who has a zero fill. Mine is up to 7.9 right now but I'm going for another 0.1 soon. I've had eight fills over a year and a half. Creeping to green. In my experience green may last a few months and then an adjustment is needed. Good luck.

Coloring mandalas. It's relaxing. Listening to podcasts. Reading. A coworker introduced me to letterboxing. Going to listen to bands. Going to the movies.

I had a very easy band surgery and recovery. That said, the worst part was the gas pains in the shoulders post op. I headed off constipation successfully with prune juice. My first stuck episode scared the heck out of me with all the phlegm and sweating. I would do it all again in a second.

Summer was wonderful with my daughter at work with me. Both girls are back at school now. I fell out of my gym routine while they were home and haven't gotten back into that swing well yet. Only about once a week on the treadmill. My weight is up between 5-10 pounds from my lowest and it's depressing me. Too much fried and carby food and cocktails with friends. The divorce is painfully slow and also has me anxious. I've been going to about 3 CODA meetings and an OA meeting each week. I may begin a divorce support group near my home next week for 12 weeks but not sure yet. I think it may be too religious for my taste. I got a fill in August and although I get stuck more often because of it, I don't really feel any other benefit from it. I wonder if this is the point where the band has done what it could for easy weight loss and the rest is truly up to me. I haven't logged my food very often. Just plodding along lately. I'm not depressed, just sad. The energy I had the first year post-op after I moved out is waning. The drudgery of the divorce is wearing on me.

I don't get stuck too often but when I do, I feel it's better to get it out. That stuck pressure on the stoma can't be good and makes me feel like it's stretching my esophagus. I don't know if that's true or not, but it's my gut feeling and so I prefer to relieve the pressure by getting it up and out.

Bathroom breaks?

Let it go. A year from now I promise you, the why will not matter. You will have your life back, new energy, a gratitude for health, mobility, and a second chance. Look forward and be happy. It all changes now!

Congratulations!!!

My a-hole husband was emotionally abusive up until the day I left him. And now, abusive in the divorce as well. I finally hit a tipping point, left, and haven't looked back. I deserved so much better but I never thought so. Now I wonder how I accepted it for so many years.

100 pounds down. 50 to go. So far: I sleep so much better. I dropped a bunch of prescription meds. I leave food on my plate. I take home food from restaurants more often than not. I can walk for miles. I am wearing size 16 jeans and 1XL tops. I wore a dress three times this year. And heels. No more seat belt extender on a plane. No more spilling over the armrests in a movie theater. No more getting stuck in restaurant booths. I rode a horse without guilt. My kids are proud of me. I started taking care of my hair and skin and nails. My feet don't hurt. I joined a gym. I go to the gym. I have been the same size for almost nine months. I've learned that the band won't make me skinny, but it will help me make better choices if I choose to. I choose to. I'm not hungry all the time. I get hungry after about 4 hours of not eating. When I'm really hungry it's easy to choose something healthy. When I'm head-hungry I still can choose crappy food. I'm learning that it's not inevitable for me to make those crappy choices. I gravitate to people now instead of food. I have high hopes for my future. The band was the first step in me creating a new life for myself. It's a tool. It won't magically make me thin. I don't keep my band too tight or too loose. I want it to last many years. I'm a happy bandster.

So glad to be part of this group. Two thirds to goal and sitting here for quite awhile, but I know it can be done by reading posts from all of you. Thanks for being here.

Very inspirational!! You look great!!

Yes! In this thread, positivity! Love my band. More later.

Julie, I had gotten into the habit of following every thread remotely related to the band. That was a mistake. Now I'm being a bit more selective about what I choose to read. My band experience has been good. I've read enough to know if I start having bad symptoms to promptly get my band checked. Meanwhile, no need to immerse myself in negativity.

Don't ask. http://nerdist.com/now-presenting-robert-downey-jr-as-pinup-girls/

Very inspiring, B-52!