bandpal

Hi Firebolt, thanks for bringing life back to this board. I know you get to wherever you need to go. I weigh in at 65.2 kilo (143.4 lbs), 7 pounds below goal weight. I got as low as 135 last August, at which point I opened up half a cc. I'm up 8 pounds since then, and I'll take those results and run, thank you - I was probably too thin back there. I still have food issues, still obsess, still binge, but less frequently and , of course, in much less volume. Overall, it's easier dealing with these problems today than at my high of 286 lbs, literally double my present weight! The lapband has been one of the most significant and beneficial decisions I have ever made in my life. I think of all of you with whom I set out on this journey. I miss the perspective and encouragement we gave each other. I wish all of you only the best.

Congrats on your progress despite the difficulties you've run into along the way... I couldn't imagine reaching a healthy BMI, but three years with the band have helped me realize that dream. I lost half of me... you can do it too! Welcome, and good luck.

While I was weighing in on the old doctor's scale, I fiddled around with the height ruler that extends frome the scale pole. Then I stopped playing and checked three more times. Then I ran home and got my 16 year-old to measure me against the bathroom door frame. The verdict remained unchanged: 5'4.1", meaning I have shrunk 1½ inches! As my bemused bairn blithely informed me, men lose an inch every 30 years, so at 50 I am perfectly average. Yeah, thanks a lot, kid! You try to have a statistic ripped from you that's been your loyal friend ever since puberty, a height which stood by you steadfast and unchanging even as your width violently careened out of control and back again. Wait… oh no… my weight! I ran to the computer and recomputed my BMI. Sure enough, my universe had been knocked off it's axis once again. At 5.5½, I was looking at a BMI of 22.2… but my newly calculated " height" bumped me up to 23.1! No fair! I didn't do anything wrong, officer! Now I'm not going to get myself seriously out of joint about this, considering that before surgery 2½ years ago I had a 47 BMI to my name, but still, something of a bummer, no? I suppose I have to find me some serious stretching excercizes, right? Really, though: does this mean I'm calcium deficient, or what? How do you contend with unintended shrinking?

While I was weighing in on the old doctor's scale, I fiddled around with the height ruler that extends frome the scale pole. Then I stopped playing and checked three more times. Then I ran home and got my 16 year-old to measure me against the bathroom door frame. The verdict remained unchanged: 5'4.1", meaning I have shrunk 1½ inches! As my bemused teenager blithely informed me, men lose an inch every 30 years, so at 50 I am perfectly average. Yeah, thanks a lot, kid! You try to have a statistic ripped from you that's been your loyal friend ever since puberty, a height which stood by you steadfast and unchanging even as your width violently careened out of control and back again. Wait… oh no… my weight! I ran to the computer and recomputed my BMI. Sure enough, my universe had been knocked off it's axis once again. At 5.5½, I was looking at a BMI of 22.2… but my newly calculated " height" bumped me up to 23.1! No fair! I didn't do anything wrong, officer! Now I'm not going to get myself seriously out of joint about this, considering that before surgery 2½ years ago I had a 47 BMI to my name, but still, something of a bummer, no? I suppose I have to find me some serious stretching excercizes, right. Really, though: does this mean I'm calcium deficient, or what? How do you contend with unintended shrinking?

While I was weighing in on the old doctor's scale, I played around with the height ruler that extends frome the scale pole. Then I stopped playing and checked three more times. Then I ran home and got my 16 year-old to measure me against the bathroom door frame. The verdict remained unchanged: 5'4.1", meaning I have shrunk 1½ inches! As my teenager blithely informed me, men lose an inch every 30 years, so at 50 I am perfectly average. Yeah, thanks a lot, kid! You try to have a statistic ripped from you that's been your loyal friend ever since puberty, a height which stood by you steadfast and unchanging even as your width violently careened out of control and back again. Wait… oh no… my weight! I ran to the computer and recomputed my BMI. Sure enough, my universe had been knocked off it's axis once again. At 5.5½, I was looking at a BMI of 22.2… but my newly calculated " height" bumped me up to 23.1! No fair! I didn't do anything wrong, officer! Now I'm not going to get myself seriously out of joint about this, considering that before surgery 2½ years ago I had a 47 BMI to my name, but still, something of a bummer, no? I suppose I have to find me some serious stretching excercizes, right? Really, though: does this mean I'm calcium deficient, or what. How do you contend with unintended - and unwelcome - shrinking?

While I was weighing in on the old doctor's scale, I played around with the height ruler that extends frome the scale pole. Then I stopped playing and checked three more times. Then I ran home and got my 16 year-old to measure me against the bathroom door frame. The verdict remained unchanged: 5'4.1", meaning I have shrunk 1½ inches! As my teenager blithely informed me, men lose an inch every 30 years, so at 50 I am perfectly average. Yeah, thanks a lot, kid! You try to have a statistic ripped from you that's been your loyal friend ever since puberty, a height which stood by you steadfast and unchanging even as your width violently careened out of control and back again. Wait… oh no… my weight! I ran to the computer and recomputed my BMI. Sure enough, my universe had been knocked off it's axis once again. At 5.5½, I was looking at a BMI of 22.2… but my newly calculated " height" bumped me up to 23.1! No fair! I didn't do anything wrong, officer! Now I'm not going to get myself seriously out of joint about this, considering that before surgery 2½ years ago I had a 47 BMI to my name, but still, something of a bummer, no? I suppose I have to find me some serious stretching excercizes, right? Really, though: does this mean I'm calcium deficient, or what. How do you contend with unintended - and unwelcome - shrinking?

You can still shake it with the band... and there's less to shake! Best of luck with your upcoming surgery, you'll be back on the dance floor in no time, and the band won't cramp your style - it'll only improve it.

Hi Guys, Thought I'd check in here. I'm two years and nine months and 150lbs out from LAP-BAND®®®® surgery, maintaining at or below goal weight for about a year and a half. I weigh 137 pounds, about 13 lbs. below my goal weight of 150. I like the idea of having some elbow room between me and that number. It gives me some pounds to play with, and enough room to put on the brakes If I see my weight rising. I had an unfill of .5 cc two weeks ago, from 6.5 cc to 6. It was my first trip to my surgeon in 16 months. What a difference half a cubic centimeter makes: I'm able to eat foods I wasn't able to keep down before (like fish, fruit and fresh vegetables), and food goes down easier and stays down more overall. I feel ready to take more responsibility over my food, and not let the band do most of the work for me. I'm keeping track of calories, weighing and measuring, but trying not to be obsessive about it. A normal day starts with 1 cup of espresso, about a quarter cup, which is all I can keep down at that time of the day. At 10:00am I start to drink water, and put down anywhere between half a liter and a liter between then and lunch, at about 1:00pm. Lunch is my main meal of the day: red meat, chicken or fish with vegetables, and a grain. I drink about half a liter of water while I eat – I know this is unorthodox, but it works for me. I have some fruit in the afternoon and early evening, and try to have dinner (grain, vegetables and dairy along with another half liter of H20) no later than 9:00 pm. Food is still an issue. There are still urges to binge, and sometimes I give in. But no doubt about it: it's a whole new ballgame when you're playing at 137 pounds and not at 286. I can use the tool I've been given and the tools I've learned, and reach out for help. Where do I go from here? I'd like to maintain the weight I'm at. I want to become more comfortable eating around other people, which means concentrating on cutting my food, eating slowly and chewing more. There are significantly less PB's since the unfill. Could this be the sweet spot? Only time will tell. Eating with others will also mean giving up on cooking for myself so often, although I am my own favorite chef. Finally, I've got to do something about exercize. Can you believe I've managed to lose 149 pounds without hardly lifting a finger? Crazy. There are self worth – self esteem issues that have always stopped me from investing in myself this way. I've never been able to make it part of my life. Any feedback will be much appreciated. My monthly support group here has pretty much dried up – here's hoping for new voices, insights and friendships. - Bandpal P.S. Pictures: One week post surgery (Early December 2007) and earlier this summer, minus ~ 150 lbs

Hi Everyone, It's been nice to read this latest round of posts. Here's where I'm at: I weigh 137 pounds, about 13 lbs. below my goal weight of 150. I like the idea of having some elbow room between me and that number. It gives me some pounds to play with, and enough room to put on the brakes If I see my weight rising. I had an un- fill of .5 cc two weeks ago, from 6.5 cc to 6. It was my first trip to my surgeon in 16 months. What a difference half a cubic centimeter makes: I'm able to eat foods I wasn't able to keep down before (like fish, fruit and fresh vegetables), and food goes down easier and stays down more overall. I feel ready to take more responsibility over my food, and not let the band do most of the work for me. I'm keeping track of calories, weighing and measuring, but trying not to be obsessive about it. A normal day starts with 1 cup of espresso, about a quarter cup, which is all I can keep down at that time of the day. At 10:00am I start to drink water, and put down anywhere between half a liter and a liter between then and lunch, at about 1:00pm. Lunch is my main meal of the day: red meat, chicken or fish with vegetables, and a grain. I drink about half a liter of water while I eat – I know this is unorthodox, but it works for me. I have some fruit in the afternoon and early evening, and try to have dinner (grain, vegetables and dairy along with another half liter of H20) no later than 9:00 pm. Food is still an issue. There are still urges to binge, and sometimes I give in. But no doubt about it: it's a whole new ballgame when you're playing at 137 pounds and not at 286. Plenty of time to use the tools I've been given and the ones I've learned, and reach out for help. Where do I go from here? I'd like to maintain the weight I'm at. I want to become more comfortable eating around other people, which means concentrating on cutting my food, eating slowly and chewing. It also means giving up on cooking my own food so often, although I am my own favorite chef. Finally, I've got to do something about exercize. Can you believe I've managed to lose 149 pounds without hardly lifting a finger? Crazy. There are self worth – self esteem issues that have always stopped me from investing in myself this way. I've never been able to make it part of my life. Steph – how's the recommittment going? Good luck with school. Shalee, is it still what it is? Momto1plus1, I am your biggest fan – hope that reflux thing is way behind you! Go get 'em, teach! Ladybug, hope you are enjoying 36 and taking care of yourself. Cherlitta, way to go on that first 100lbs – keep knocking them down. And Shortgal, you are amazing – maintaining is where it's at. Congratulations on your new granddaughter – may she bring you happiness without end. That's it – the sound you heard was my tree falling. Here's wishing a wonderful summer's end to us all. - Bandpal

In Arlington Heights, Illinois, A young bandster was weepy with joy, Without using a pole, he had wiped on the bowl For the first time since he was a boy.

A Bandster from Boyd, Oregon Had been feeling a little withdrawn. LBT's support group got him back in the loop, Now his spirit's as bright as the dawn.

A Jane from Elaine, Arkansas, Took a stand on the Band with her Paw, She said: "Listen here, Pop, every diet's a flop, When I lose weight, I gain even more!"

Serenity and Leigha - You guys are great - keep 'em coming!

On a blind date, a gal from Kentucky, Over dinner became a bit stucky; Not entranced with her beau, she just let it all flow, Thinking "mucky beats feeling unlucky".

A bandster from Vernon, Vermont Got backed up from a piece of croissant; In a tone of remorse, he said, "time to change course, I cannot eat whatever I want."

There was a young lady from Maine Who was having post op'rative pain; Her port would contort, Causing her to resort To Darvon, Ultram and Nubain

A young bandster from Mott, North Dakota Was of two minds about drinking soda: She longed for the fizz which in soft drinks there is, But her doctors all said it would bloat her.

A Bandster from Norton, New Hampshire Said: "The Band is the best - I am damn sure! Would I do it again? Even with all the pain, Here's my answer to each sir or ma'am: sure!"

Said a bandster from Bloxom,Virginia, "I can bend now to tend to my zinnia, Before banding, my garden Was worth disregardin' But just look at my phlox and gloxinia!"

I've heard tell of a portly New Yorker, Who lived many a year as a porker. After getting the Band, she is much in demand, Trailed by suave, stunning men who all stalk her.

A woman from northwest Wyoming Through her BCBS file was combing. She found, to her glee, LAP-BAND®'s own CPT, And relieved, took a stroll in the gloaming.

An obese biddy from Tenessee, Couldn't spy or espy either knee. After banding, our Bella Could grasp each patella: A stunningly sweet NSV.

There once was a man from Wisconsin Who in his easy chair was ensconcin' When he shot a PB Which took out the TV In a manner evoking Charles Bronson.

Lets share poems that have moved, touched and inspired us on our journey. Please feel free to comment on whatever comes up. Here's one that speaks to me: "Speech to the Young, Speech to the Progress-Toward." Say to them, say to the down-keepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers, "Even if you are not ready for day it cannot always be night." You will be right. For that is the hard home-run. Live not for battles won. Live not for the-end-of-the-song. Live in the along. - Gwendolyn Brooks

I too am moved by the honesty and emotions expressed here. Ladykcusa, you did it for me with that "66 year life-long battle with food". Early in my adolescence, I already knew that I was fighting that battle - and I was losing. I can remember myself at 14, sitting in the back of a bus, drugged with junk food, looking out despondently at the neon lights blurring by whispering "Food... Food... Food" and thinking: "Food spelled backwards is Doof... something called doof is ruining my life... and the biggest doof is me." The band is not a miracle worker, but it came along at the point when I was ready for it - I knew that I needed help, I knew that I was ready to try something new and to work for it. Every day of the last two years, three months and 12 days has been a gift. I'm going to be 50 in 2 days and I've already given myself the best present I ever could have hoped for, one I never dared to think I would ever achieve. People - for me, the stuff about "finding substitutes for food" doesn't cut it. Food monopolized my life, my thinking, my relationships. This legitimate need for nourishment turned into a monster that swallowed my life. Today, I don't want to find a substitute for food. For today, and - with grace - for tomorrow, I just want to live better, live more.