JUDE

Hey Joeboo, you're right about the self-destruct button, I hadn't quite thought about it that way - thought I was in control of the band but of course the self-destruct button is in control of me and going strong as ever. Going to have to think about that a bit more:wink2: NOt going to give myself a hard time over it though - I don't do that anymore. As to exercise, I walk the dog. Best thing ever. He has to be walked and it's pretty hard to ignore those longing looks. I eat dinner and find that it really helps my digestion if I go for a walk immediately afterwards. I find that I can walk twice as far as I could 12 months ago - the dog is fitter too! As I'm walking I try to imagine carrying two 10kg bags and a 5kg bag of potatoes around my waist and in my shorts - puts things into perspective.:grouphug: This site is good motivation. It's also a reality check for those of us, like me, who haven't beaten their demons.

Hi, this is my husband and me on New Years Eve overlooking Sydney Harbour (which is where we live). I hadn't worn this outfit for 5 years (couldn't bear to get rid of it) so I was happy and we had a great night.

Hi Sharona, I was so pleased to read your post. I'm a slow loser too but very happy with the process. I only see my doctor every few months but each time I got I've lost weight. I was banded in Oct 2007 and have lost 25kg so far. My doctor doesn't talk about goals and won't tell me how much there is in my band as he doesn't believe it's relevant. What is relevant is how comfortable I am and whether I'm losing weight. I haven't really changed my diet at all but I eat much, much less than I used to. If I'm hungry, I eat but it doesn't take much to fill me up. I still drink red wine on a regular basis which I enjoy. I didn't want to count calories or watch what I ate ever again - I'm not - and its working for me. I also didn't want to go through the whole "wow you've lost so much weight" routine either preferring for the weight to go very gradually so that it's barely noticeable. I'm very happy with the fact that I'm three dress sizes smaller than I was and I wore an outfit on New Year's Eve that I hadn't been able to fit into for five years. If I lose another 5kg this year I'll be happy - but if it's only 3kg I won't be crying in my soup! Happy New Year to everyone.

Hi there, I'm a long way past 10 days having been banded in October 2007. However I would suggest that the best way to get a good varied diet at this stage is to make yourself some homemade soup using lots of fresh vegetables, some chicken stock, and good quality olive oil. you could put some bacon in too. I would include potatoes or lentils for the carbs. When all is cooked blend so it's nice and smooth and eat that. It's a great way to fill up and shouldn't cause any issues. If you know that cutting out carbs causes problems then, don't cut them out completely. I have kept pretty much to my old diet - just eat much less than I used to. I'm prepared for my weight loss to take a long time (I'm thinking maybe three years) so I can live my life, not count calories, still drink red wine and generally be normal. It's working, I'm down 25kg and feeling good. Stick with it and start thinking about ways to work with the band. Good luck.

Thanks - I am feeling a bit better today. Going to see the Doc again next week. It would be great not to feel hungry but I'm starving more often than not just like I used to be. Maybe I need another fill. Will post again next week.

Hi, no you're absolutely not alone. I know what my problem is though - alcohol. I still like a couple of glasses of wine a night and on the days when I go a few nights without alcohol then the weight comes off so I'm under no illusions. however, reading everyone's stories does help. For instance, I'm often really hungry - no less so than I used to be. So when I go and see the doc next week I will ask for a fill. I was banded in Oct 07 and have lost 16kg so far. Started at 130kg now 114kg. +

Sorry folks - lots going on at the moment. Just re-read my post and realised how miserable and negative it sounds. I know not everyone else is in the same position so good luck to those of you who haven't been done yet and congrats to everyone who has lost heaps of weight. Better stay out of here until I'm in a better frame of mind!!!! Any bandsters in Sydney want to get together?

Hi everyone, I was banded on 6 Oct 2007. I've been one of the slow losers - partly due to poor food choices, partly to the fact that I've continued to drink alcohol. Feeling particularly down at the moment as haven't shifted an ounce for a long while. I was interested to read about the requirement of some doctors that you see a psych to find out whether you will stick to the rules. I guess if I'd done that then I wouldn't have been banded (if I'd told the truth). I'm going to see my surgeon in a fortnight and I will be making an appt with the dietician. I must say it depresses me to think that I always going to be on a restricted diet - I had it in my head that I would lose weight automatically but it isn't really the case. I wonder sometimes why the band is promoted as a solution when in fact if you're a person who didn't stick to diets well in the first place it's not really going to change anything. I predict a huge turnaround in the success rates of the band in the next five years as people who have had it done start to put the weight back on - hope I'm wrong.

Hi Nicole, don't be too worried - it's a bit scary but I can speak from 7 months experience now and it's the best thing to have happened to me. I got banded by Dr Talbot at St George Priv and all has been good. I've lost 16kg so far so not a rapid loss but I'm living my life and not setting unreasonable expectations so it's good for me. good luck with your appointment.

Sorry ladies - going to have to ask - WHAT IS A PB?????

Hi Jet, don't feel lonely or cut off. there are lots of us out there just like you. I can understand if you feel lonely if you haven't told many people that you are banded. Only my immediate family (very immediate) and two tight lipped very good friends know that I've had it done and 7 months in I'm glad that is the case. It's better for me to manage my own expectations rather than try and be what everyone else thinks I should be. Banding is not an immediate, miracle cure, so if you're a slow loser like me and a couple of others who subscribe to this site, it's a lot easier if you're managing it yourself rather than getting advice (and disapproving looks/comments) from other people who think you should be losing faster. I even get a raised eyebrow from one of my doctors but I think that's because he's used to people wanting to lose as quickly as possible and that's just not me. Go careful on the toast & vegemite - some mornings I can't eat that even now. If you're going to have it make sure you drink a cup of tea first and eat one bite and wait for it to go down before having the next one - otherwise, pain the chest and up it comes!!! Good luck with everything. Jude

Hi Rastis, I'm an October 07 girl too and I've lost around the same 15kg in total - but I'm just as happy. If it means that by October 08 I've lost say 20kg then I'll be happy with that too. I haven't dieted (at all), I haven't done any more exercise than I normally would (i.e. no formal exercise at all), I've continued to indulge in regular red wine and generally enjoy my life - what more could I ask for. I've been down the dramatic weight loss route before on at least 5 occasions, so this time the longer it takes the come off the better and I am living a realistic life style which I know I can maintain. Over the years I've wasted more $'s than I care to remember on gym memberships, the most recent being Curves, and it's time to get real about what I'm personally capable of. I think I'm doing ok. So good on you - and good on me!!!