Letsgetskinny

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I was recently looking for motivation on our site and came across this video that the lovely Bandista posted. It really is a must watch. It is explained so clearly with the information broken down into the basics for us to follow. I feel everyone should watch it and post it also. I just wished I had seen this sooner!
Since watching this I have stopped eating Breakfast and just have coffee simply because I'm not hungry, I always had the mentality that breakfast is the most important part of the day and even though we are eating so less we should still have our 3 meals. I also cut down my portion sizes and drink Water when I get the head hunger and since watching this video I have lost 10lbs As the Dr states we need our bodies to use up the fat stores and we need very little food
I hope you enjoy it and also get some motivation from it!
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/162123-the-eight-golden-rules-lap-band-videos-by-dr-paul-obrien/

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I have taken slim fast powder before in a Blender Bottle then asked the flight attendant for milk, they have pints of milk in the galley The Protein Shakes I buy in the shop once through the security gate in the UK they have much more choice. My friend told me you can get a letter off your DR before you fly advising that you are on a liquid only diet and then you can take liquids like Protein shakes through TSA, I haven't tried that yet. Last time I also took some miso Soup with me it was a paste I put the sachet in the clear bag at TSA it counts as a liquid under 100ml and during tea and coffee asked the flight attendant for a boiled Water that was good:)

Before I had my surgery I was telling people I'm going to get it, once I released I was definitely getting it and after the surgery I wished I hadn't told anyone. Its difficult enough without all of that so do yourself a favor confide in a close family or friend only because you won't get support or applause from these people. Well done on achieving your first steps

Before I had my surgery I was telling people I'm going to get it, once I released I was definitely getting it and after the surgery I wished I hadn't told anyone. Its difficult enough without all of that so do yourself a favor confide in a close family or friend only because you won't get support or applause from these people. Well done on achieving your first steps

Before I had my surgery I was telling people I'm going to get it, once I released I was definitely getting it and after the surgery I wished I hadn't told anyone. Its difficult enough without all of that so do yourself a favor confide in a close family or friend only because you won't get support or applause from these people. Well done on achieving your first steps

That's the pointy ball thing, right?

The premise of the show irritated me. Actually watching the first episode is pissing me the f*** off.
If this dude thinks gaining 60 pounds (but can still climb a rope, do pull ups and walk on his hands) is really teaching him what it feels like to be fat, have a food addiction, etc., he's a bigger assh*le than he appears. What a d:ckhead.
I'm angry.

Throat Punch, seriously if someone said that today it would be so. Then I would buy them all the Protein shakes, since they could no longer swallow and ask them how much they like them the next few weeks.
I am cranky, I am sick of food and worrying about food. I feel like I need a damn noodle or a Frito chip. Riding my stationary bike is hurting my butt and I need to go buy new underwear, which I would rather eat glass but it probably has carbs.
I'm doing great and I don't regret my decision but today would not be the day to say such things.

Just returned from our vacation, 10 days including 7 days on a cruise....
Best news is, I let my band be the boss just as any other day...limited my food intake and controlled my hunger.
I did not deny all the pleasures available to me, just did not make a pig of myself.
I went on a Volcano climb, 3,800 feet straight up rocks and mud through a rain forrest...there was a couple there that were 42 years old, then everyone else was in their 30's and 20's....I'm 63 !!!! Our guide said not only was that a first, but also the fact I was one of 4-5 leaders way out in front setting the pace where everyone had to keep up with.
On another stop, I jumped off a 45+ foot cliff into the Caribbean ocean....there is a bar at the top of the cliff where people sit and watch the cliff jumpers...NO ONE jumped that day but me !!!!
Back on the ship I ran into a family from Holland that were sitting at that bar...they wouldn't stop complimenting me. And when I told them my age, that really put them over the top.
Bottom line....I lost 3 lbs !!! And to think it was just a few years ago I could not carry groceries into the house without having to sit down to catch my breath....not to mention my cardiac issues, diabetes, etc, etc......
Am I bragging?? YOU BET!!! It just doesn't get any better than this...and I have to give all the credit to my Lap Band Surgery....without it, I'd probably be dead....no exaggeration.
Only thing is, with all the booze I consumed over the last 10 days, I need to go on a "Cleanse" including extra time in the sauna to sweat it out of my system.

I question whether my band itself gets tighter over the months. I'm ok for a long period and then it gets very picky! Something that I ate yesterday won't work today. Which is difficult when you are hungry and on program. Sometimes it corrects itself ; sometimes I have a small unfill. Then , months later, I need a fill.... And repeat.
This has been for over 9 years and it does not stay the same restriction for me. I can live with it. As I have, but thought I would get to the "right" spot and stay there. My band says otherwise.

This has happened to me twice. My theory is that it starts with multiple incidents of vomiting and then that creates inflammation and eventually leads to not being able to eat or drink anything. Both times this happened to me a small unfill of 0.5 did the trick to give relief (in your case since you were away so long I understand why they took more out). For me, I'm going to be super cautious about stuck incidents. They shouldn't happen any more than once per week, if that. Both times I got way too tight I was throwing up every day, sometimes multiple times per day, leading up to the point where I could l longer drink. Not a way to live!
Good luck!

I love your post...it is so motivational and inspiring. Thank you for sharing and I think you have done a great job with not only your patience but your persistence to stay strong. What an awesome achievement in such a short space of time always better to be safe than sorry with the small fills ????????????????????

No worries. I flew 6+ hours a couple of weeks after my first fill without problems. Plan to not eat during the flight or immediately afterwards. Eat before. Hydrate during the flight. Wait a couple of hours afterward and eat something soft as your first meal. That's just worse case scenario. Many people report feeling tighter when flying and I believe it, because hey, my feet and hands swell and it's the same process. But I had no problems. I even did eat on the flight back. Have fun!

Thanks for the tips! I decided to try it. I snuck an oyster into the bathroom (the small joys of lap band, lol), and I chewed it (which I thought would be weird, but was not) and I swallowed without issue! I took a few drinks of Water just to make sure it went down and all was good. Phew!

I was recently looking for motivation on our site and came across this video that the lovely Bandista posted. It really is a must watch. It is explained so clearly with the information broken down into the basics for us to follow. I feel everyone should watch it and post it also. I just wished I had seen this sooner!
Since watching this I have stopped eating Breakfast and just have coffee simply because I'm not hungry, I always had the mentality that breakfast is the most important part of the day and even though we are eating so less we should still have our 3 meals. I also cut down my portion sizes and drink Water when I get the head hunger and since watching this video I have lost 10lbs As the Dr states we need our bodies to use up the fat stores and we need very little food
I hope you enjoy it and also get some motivation from it!
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/162123-the-eight-golden-rules-lap-band-videos-by-dr-paul-obrien/

Thanks for reposting this, @@Letsgetskinny -- like you, I got so much out of this. Best wishes to you!

Last month in our Members Only Facebook Support Group we asked members if they eat their meals at the table. This prompted some fascinating and insightful discussion!


Lots of people were eating away from the table on a regular basis, eating everywhere from in front of the TV to in bed. Of course there are occasions where this is completely appropriate, such as Breakfast in bed on Mother’s or Father’s Day, or pizza in front of the footy on grand final day. However, when this is happening more often than not, it is difficult to be mindful and eat in response to your body cues. Boundaries are merged and eating flows over into times not meant for eating. This can result in over eating and poor weight loss.
After reflecting on the comments from our members, we wanted to break the concept of mindful eating down to some basic ‘rules of engagement’ to help you improve your eating habits and achieve your goals.
So what do I do?
Over the next month, try following these ‘rules’. Like most rules there is room for flexibility; as an adult you know when a rule doesn’t work for you, or when it is time to bend it.
Aim to always eat while sitting down, ideally at a table or bench.
Avoid grazing while standing up, for example, when preparing meals, passing through the kitchen, ducking into the staff room, etc.
Put anything you want to eat on a plate so you can see your portion. Avoid eating straight from packets, grazing from platters, nibbling at buffets, etc.
Have eating free zones in your home, such as the bedrooms, study and bathroom.
Set a time to signal it is time to stop eating for the day. This will vary from person to person but it helps limit the amount of mindless evening eating that happens so often.
Only snack if physically hungry and when snacking, apply the above ‘rules’.

Remember, aim for progress not perfection. Good luck, and let us know how you go.
As always, be kind to yourself.

Pretty common sense stuff, but I thought this was a good distillation of a lot of common themes from threads across Bariatric Pal.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/ways-avoid-weight-gain-after-bariatric-surgery/