jfc193

Here are my precious grand children

Today is my wife and me 8 year Band Anniversary Hard to believe seems like only yesterday. For some reason I do much better staying on track when I check in regularly on this board. While the journey has not been easy filled with ups and down it certainly has been worth it.. Today is also National Grand Parents day Woo Hoo!

Turn sixty a few months ago and had a lapband for almost 8 years. I have not noticed any hair loss

Went from 9 1/2 wide to 8 1/2

Thank you Liz for your update and your willingness to share your support. Some days this journey seems like a long time and sometimes it feels like yesterday. While the journey has not been easy and no one ever said it would be my progress or lack thereof has always been in my control. Finding a way to deal with life without turning to food has been and continues to be a challenge. I am grateful for the band and all that comes with it. I know what works for me and have no one to blame if I do not follow the path that works. I am grateful for this board it seems when I choose not to check in I tend to gain weight. Viewing the post can be incredibly motivating and when I am struggling I know that I am not alone . I am grateful that I continue to make more good choices then bad choices in my life. I am grateful for all who share their successes, their struggles and parts of their personal life. I am also grateful to my wife and her support and the fact that we both chose to be banded on the same day on September 12, 2007. Together we have kept off over 200lbs. Glad to be a part of this new thread.

I agree with all the posters on year your positive comments are always welcome.. I am so grateful for my band and even if I never reach my goal just stopping the cycle of losing weight just to get it back again and more will worth the experience.

Congratulations on doing so well and sharing with us. I love going on walks with the Grandchildren and they get tired before I do.

JustWatchMe thanks for sharing during this difficult time in your life, I deeply appreciate your willingness to share. I am in the middle of my work required 5 year physical and so far doing well. Since I am diabetic I have a new more cautious internist, My blood work last January showed my AC1 at 8 which was the first time in 6 years that it was over 6.5 but the latest AC1 on 8/5 was 5.8. Blood pressure was 121/79. Seems interesting that my Vitamin A , B2, B6, B12 and D were all low and I have to up my Vitamins, for me I had forgotten since I do not eat as much as I used to I need to make sure I take enough vitamins in on a daily basis. Certainly I am healthier today and am slowly working to reach my goal.

Terrific news, I am in the middle of my work required 5 year physical and so far doing well. Since I am diabetic I have a new more cautious internist, My blood work last January showed my AC1 at 8 which was the first time in 6 years that it was over 6.5 but the latest AC1 on 8/5 was 5.8. Blood pressure was 121/79. Certainly I am healthier today and am slowly working to reach my goal.

Congratulations on your 8 YEAR BANDIVERSARY, my 8 YEAR BANDIVERSARY will come on 9/7/15. After these short 8 years I have come to realize that to stay healthy I just need to make more good choices then Bad choices.

Not sure why but the image of the scene from the original "exorcist" with the projectile vomiting came to mind. The other item that came to my feeble mind is also from a movie "Galaxy Quest" "Never give up never surrender" My experience was pretty good though I was extremely nervous.

As a dad I would want to know, but understand this is a very difficult situation. You have already made the hardest decision to have the surgery. Whether the wife accepts your decision or not is not going to change the fact that you are having a life changing event in your life, and more than likely this decision will not be the last decision you and the wife will disagree on. I would also agree with you I miss my mommy as well.

Having my surgery in September of 2007 I feel like a newbie on this thread. Progress still continues to be made I made it back up to 250 in January 2013 but since them I am hanging around 200 and hopefully by the time I have 8 year anniversary in September I will be back under 200, which will be 27 years since I was consistently under 200 lbs. I still have plenty of weight to lose but having the band is a consistent daily reminder of where I have come and I will continue to make progress if I follow what works for me.

I continue to be amazed at what my wife and I can do. Surgery seem so long ago and yet it is the simple reminders that keep me going. I enjoy going up and down stairs where before if I forgot and left an item upstairs it just stayed upstairs now I just go back up and get it. Getting up and out of the sofa used to be a challenge and took a great deal of effort and then had to have a rest so the air would flow back up to the brain now I just get up on the first try. Certainly my health is so much better today then before.

No more diabetes medicine No more sleep apnea No more pain in my back or knees I actually enjoy walking I can keep up with the grand children not having to wear a seat belt extender in the plane Not having to worry about going up multiple flights of stairs getting off the couch on the first try putting on socks without having to sit down not having to walk down side ways down the aisle of an airplane.

I know in my case I was always trying to make sure that everyone else was taken care of first. But as my weight began to skyrocket my health began to turn for the worst. Fearing that I was going to have all the same troubles that my mom had I knew that I need to start thinking about myself first. I believe very strongly that the lap band journey is more about making more good choices then bad choices. In any case we cannot rely on anyone else to make the good choices for us. Even though there is always tomorrow it up to us to make tomorrow filled with good choices.

Even though I am not one of the ladies may I partake on this important discussion. My wife is the smartest person I have ever met and can do anything she sets her mind to do. She did allot research on having plastic surgery. Her surgeon was our Lap Band doctor which really helped since he was very supportive. She also ask for my opinion but is important to note that she did not as for my permission which she would never need from me. She asked to see if I would be willing to help with the aftercare which I would be happy to assist with. She had a tummy tuck and arm reduction since the insurance would only pay for two items. The decision whether to have the surgery should rest with you alone up one careful consideration of individuals that you trust.

Had my 60th birthday today, enjoying my life one day at a time

My original band Dr would of Been thrilled for me to keep off 55% of the weight that I needed to lose after 3 years but have done way better then that. Especially since I have no doubt at the rate I was gaining weight I would be well beyond 400 lbs by now. My quality of life is so much better today then I would of ever thought it could be.

I live for NSV's. My favorite is not using a seat belt extender on an airplane as a matter of fact I had a great struggle putting on the seatbelt even with the extension. I have the biggest smile on my face every time I have to tighten the seatbelt because it is to loose from the previous traveler.

Write a letter to your self about your fears and what you want to be doing physically Ina year or two. What has help me all these years the most is to put my fork down between bites and chew and chew. It is amazing how much better food taste know that I take my time.