Ewiedbingcott

Happy Bandiversay October Bandsters! Five Years!!!!! What an incredible journey.

I can’t believe that October 24, 2013 will be my fifth bandiversary. In June, 2008 my best friend gave me a beautiful journal. My first posting? I was going to start a new diet! I wrote:

· Exercise daily

· No white stuff

· No bread (I guess I meant no wheat bread)

· No Alcohol

· Write my food down daily

· Keep track of points

· Drink 8 glasses of Water daily

Obviously I couldn’t do it because the next posting in my journal was on October 20, 2008 when I began my liquid diet in preparation for surgery. Some of the things I worried about then? Giving up control! Little did I realize that that band was going to help GIVE me control. I wondered if a year later would I be thin, or would I be satisfied? A year later I was in Onderland! Not only that, I had measured myself before and after and I’d lost over a yard! Satisfied? Oh, yes!

In January, 2010 I started exercising. I went to boot camp at 5:30 a.m. five days a week. I don’t know what I was thinking when I signed up, but I loved boot camp! And it really helped change my body and got me losing again. By the end of that year I was 9 pounds from goal (the goal my doctor had set).

Then, I stalled. But I wasn’t unhappy because I could now shop in regular stores. Most of all, I wasn’t consumed in my mind by thoughts of weight loss and self loathing. I thought that I looked like a “regular” person. It’s true that I wasn’t as thin as I wanted to be, but I certainly wasn’t fat anymore!

That lasted until this year and, for some unknown reason, I’ve lost an additional 10 pounds. It just came off. The other day my husband actually said to me, “Are you still losing weight? I think you’re getting too skinny!” Never in my life did I think I’d ever hear that again.

So thank you God, Dr. Davtyan, all of you on LapBandTalk who supported me in this journey. A special thank you to my sister who was banded two months after me and has her own success story.

It's great to hear from some you you October bandsters!! I'm doing well too. My weight loss has always been slow. So I'm inching down but determined to be in the 170's! I have an appt for a fill 9/16 and I'm trying to get back down to 181 (my lowest). I'm at 185 now. I fluctuate 4-5 pounds for awhile and then will drop back down.

Anyway, I'm still l doing boot camp 5 days a week. I love it and feel so much better. It's been a great help re-shaping my 'ol bod. But, surprise, surprise, it's the combination of food and exercise that does the trick. Because no matter how hard I exercise, if I don't eat the Protein and NOT drink (am I speaking in double negatives????) it doesn't work.

So I'm off to a scrambled egg and 1/3 cup cottage cheese Breakfast.

I love this band and feel like I've been given such a gift. I'm wearing some size 12's now -- more 12's on the bottom and 14's on top -- but I can shop in regular stores. I love it!

Keep it up everyone.

What you say is soooo true. The band is just the tool and we have to do the work. But the benefits are amazing. I love this tool!

Great job - you're a great role model!!

Hey, I am a smashing pumpkin 08'..I have lost 65 lbs..stopped getting fills for a year thinking I was able to do it on my own..NOT. I restarted fills and have lost 12 lbs in 6 weeks :thumbup:

I have started going to the gym 3/4 days a week now and actually enjoy it! I never thought I would ever say or write THAT.lol

I was wondering how many of us were still hanging in there..take care.. (Renita)

Nice to see another Smashing Pumpkin lurking around! I too went back to get more fill as my weight loss had stopped. I wasn't making the right bandster choices either. I wasn't gaining any weight, but no more loss. Anyway, got 3 more fills and I'm back on the bandwagon. I've lost 6 pounds and am looking to get in those 170's. When I look back over my weight loss, it's been 20 pounds over that last year. I may get to my "aspire" goal yet!

Hi guys. So long since I have been here. I have gained a little and then held steady there. I am kind of in the middle of a personal crisis so I think that if I can hold steady I will be SO HAPPY! We put our 16 yo daughter in a residential Christian private school/counseling program. That also put me working a second job on the weekends at night. We have to drive 4 hrs away for counseling and classes every other week so I have to work late every day to make up for the and try to take off early on Friday to get a nap before I work all night Friday and sleep all day Saturday and work all night saturday. ...oh don't forget the boys we still have at home. THe gym is missed very much. When I get back there it is like an old friend that gives me comfort. I am still a stress eater and I am SO THANKFUL for the band.

I just wanted to check in. I know this year will be hard but I know I still have the tool I desperately need.

Take care. I hope all is well for all of you!

Hey Julie Ann: Read your post yesterday but I was so slammed at work and couldn't reply as thoughtfully as I thought I should.

First of all - yes - be grateful for the band. It does keep one in check doesn't it? I'm sorry about all the stress - and it sounds like I have no right to complain about working hard - you take the cake! Hang in there with those kids - I remember those days and it's hard -

I'm still losing - just got another fill - he wanted to put 1 cc in but I was afraid - so just got 3/4's. I'm going out of town with friends/clients next week and didn't want to be getting up from the table every meal and PB'ing:mad:. I'm still 28 pounds from my goal, but only 18 pounds from my doctor's. Still going to boot camp 5 days a week - that's really changed my body!

I feel like we who have been banded have been given a gift - it's incredible to me and I'm so grateful.

Be well - keep your head up. I'll be thinking of you.

Hillary - just found your "success story" and I'm so impressed. You sound like you have the absolute right attitude. Your weight loss has been fantastic. And best of all, (when I looked at your pictures) it sounds like you've got a fantastic husband who loved you when you were heavy and loves you now. How great is that??

Congratulations on the fabulous job!

It is a wonderland. Congratulations! Don't 'ya just love this band?

I have absolutely no regrets. I'm a different person than I was 14 months ago. First of all, I look "normal" now. And I have a more "normal" (or what I perceive to be normal) relationship with food. Listen to Catherine and Indio -- they have been my inspirations on this site. I agree 100% with what they said. The band IS just a tool, and once I got that, I started using it to my advantage. I wanted to lose the weight but I couldn't do it on my own. Once I started dropping the pounds, I realized I needed the exercise too and so I joined a boot camp. I'd taken my measurments before, but I dopped over 11 inches off my body in 3 months!

I've still got a ways to go -- and over the holidays I've been eating more of those "slider" foods that Indio talked about, but the great thing is, I know that I'll be back on the "band-wagon" again soon and that scale is going to continue to move downward.

I live me life - it's just a so much better life! I love my band and only wish I'd done it sooner! Just wrap your head around the fact that it's not the band that does the work -- it's you who's going to have to watch what you eat, make sure you get enough Protein and exercise. That's why I agree with Catherine about not telling people. When people ask how I've lost all this weight, I say, "It's what we've all known all along --Diet & Exercise."

Good luck.

I do a boot camp 5 days a week, plus take a walk everyday with my DH, and play tennis on the weekends. The boot camp was key for me. I started June 1 and have lost 18" off my body since then - and 11 pounds. It's a great work-out. I'm with a group of women that I love and every day the "marine" (as DH calls our leader) mixes up the work-out so it stays interesting.

I don't measure my food all the time. Sporatically I've kept track of calories and periodically measure - especially when I think I'm not being honest in my portions. I try to get the Protein in -- up to 100 grams/day -- and when I do that, I lose.

Everyday I try to do what's best for my body. I feel so grateful that I'm still doing this after a year. In the past I would have quit long ago. If I eat or drink something that's not within the bandster guidelines, I know that tomorrow (or, even, the next meal) I'll be right back on track. That's a real comfort to me because in the past I would have used it as an excuse to eat more -- it's what helped make be fat.

I feel more healthy now than I have in years. I love my band!

Hey all you Smashing Pumpkins. I'm still hanging in - I've lost about 52 pounds. I'm happy with that. Looking forward to my 2nd year as a bandster! Kept my weight off over the Thanksgiving Holiday - even with eating and drinking more. Was sick twice (those grandchildren get me everytime!!!) and finally got back to boot camp this a.m. Hacked and coughed my way through it -- but feel better for it.

Love you all ...

What an incredible story. You look fantastic and you've used the band as the tool it's meant to be. I loved what you wrote - I've printed it out and will keep it, along with all the other "smart posts" I've found along the way.

Good for you. Congratulations. What a success story!

My body is so wierd! Hold's on then - bam. So I lost another .5 pound - I'll take it!

Well all my lovely October bandsters - I'm in the 180's. Woot woot:thumbup:. Over 50# lost. Imagine that! Yea me. 20 something left to lose (I like that better than 29). What a gift this has been. Hard work too, but this morning I thought to myself that in the past "diet" I would have certainly lost my resolve before this (I don't think I ever "stuck" to any eating plan to lose weight for a year) and because I'm starting to look good in clothes again, I would have convinced myself I could go back to a binge here or a binge there. No more! I know it's slow, but I really think I can lose this weight. You all are my inspirations!

Well, the scale finally moved and I'm down another pound. The 180's!!!!!!:thumbup: Yea me. I was worried that I'd never get there. Now it all seems possible again.

Me too -- 167 and 5'6. . I'm in a 12, but it's just getting loose. . I ordered size 10 jeans from The Gap. . they arrive today. Can't wait to see if they fit!

scale is stuck at 167 though! I think it's going to be slow going to get the last 12 off!

Catherine

Honey - you don't even know slow! lol. I'm in 14's and I'm skirting with going into the 180's - bouncing around for a couple weeks now. My doctor said I didn't need to come back for 6 mos - unless I thought I needed a fill - which I don't. He thought my goal should be 177. If that's so, it's only 13 pounds away. Geez! I guess it pays to be old.

As for those jeans - I wear the "Not Your Daughters Jeans" brand - good for us old ladies. Anyway, I'm in a 14 which my daughter-in-law is pointing out as baggy. She wants me to try 10's because they're a bit stretchy. Another benefit to being older - the manufacturers make the sizes roomier so we don't have to feel so bad buying a size that fits us!

All I know is the ladies at boot camp commented on how "skinny" I am (their word - not mine). The boot camp is really doing it's job! Over 38 inches lost since I started this process.

Way to go Love - haven't seen you here in awhile. Missed you and glad to hear you're doing so well.

Go Pumpkins!

Click HERE to play.

Finally another lb down!!

I'm down another pound. Only 4+ to go. Wow. Lovin' my band

Halloween Challenge:

Julie.Ann----------(16lbs) -1.1, -4.8, ,-1.3, :w00t:

Nazzy--------------(18lbs) -3.0, -2.0, ,

CarrieJess----------(5lbs) 0.0, , ,

GiddyupGrandma-(10lbs) -0.5, , ,

Ruby124-----------(17lbs) :crying:, , ,

Annecolorgreen---(10lbs) :thumbup:, , ,

Sarahp626----------(8lbs) +2.0, -4.61, +1.1,-1.7, :w00t:

Hallfamilyx2-------(10lbs) , , ,

Ewiedbingcott-------(8lbs) -1.0, 0.0, ,

Loveislovely -------(8lbs) , , ,

Catherine55--------(6.4lbs) , , ,

MollyJo-------------(10 lbs) , , ,

Great Job Sarah! How about the rest of you. We have hit our Bandiversary Month. How are you doing on our Halloween chanllenge?

Put down another pound - Can't explain it, but I'll take it

Dear Catherine:

I wish I'd read your list (on your blog) before I typed mine - I could have added several that you mentioned. One of them is shopping - I love the fact that I can walk into a store and I don't have to go to "Encore" or "Salon Z" or whatever euphemism department stores have for plus size. I especially love it when I pull a size off the rack and the sales lady says, "I really think you should try that in a size 14." I actually had one sales lady plead with me to try a size smaller -- I just couldn't believe that I would fit into that size!

And don't be embarrassed about the "emotional" -- I did the same thing last night with Dr. D -- and I'm post menopausal!

You've been an inspiration to me. Thank you.

Put me down ANOTHER 1/2 pound!! Woo Hoo. This 'ole bod (not broad) just hangs on and hangs on and hangs on - then boom. 2 pounds in 2 days. I'll take it!

Went to my bandster doctor last night. I love Dr. D. Since I'm so close to my bandiversary, I gave him a hug and thanked him for what he's done to help turn my life around. Almost 50 pounds lost in a year. I told him that I complain (profusely, I might add) about how slow it is, but the weight is going in the right direction. And when I think of this time last year -- how hopeless I felt -- how consumed I was by what I ate, when I ate too much, how I beat myself up for this slip or that slip (actually my life was a slippery slope - can you tell I live with a philosopher?). So in honor of Catherine here's my list of how my life is different from this time last year:

• Instead of size 18W and 20, and 2X tops, I now wear size 14 and xlarge tops
  
• I've lost a total of 38.5 inches off my body - that's over 1 Yard lost:thumbup:. In fact, in the last 3 months, I've lost 13.5 inches because of boot camp, which leads me to ...
  
• Boot camp - I joined a boot camp June 1, 2009 and have not looked back. My first camp I could do 24 modified push-ups in a minute. I can now do 10 regular and 28 modified in 1 minute; I could do 43 crunches in a minute; now I do 73. And the first week of camp back in June I ran 1.3 miles in over 16 minutes; I'm still not a fast runner, but I do the same distance is 15 minutes now.:closedeyes:
  
• My blood pressure and cholesterol have reduced
  
• My mood -- the way I feel about myself and others -- has done a 180
  
• I can play (yes, play) with my grandchildren. One of my grandaughters (age 8) takes dance and gymnastics and her idea of fun is to teach me dance moves and to see how far I can raise my leg in the air. I make her do the plank (a boot camp move) for a minute -- and I'm right along side her!
  
• I get compliments all the time from family and friends about how much weight I've lost and how great I look.
  

I know there are some 2009 October bandsters on this thread and I can only wish you have my same - slow - progress. Because, if you do, you will be so incredibly happy this time next year. I look forward to continuing on until I get to my goal. By the way, Dr. D said he thought my goal should be about 177 - I'm still hoping for 160. We'll see - I look forward to finding out who will be right.

Sorry for the long post - hugs to all.

Louie, you are awesome -- and I love it that DH gave you props on your awesome Boot Camp strides!! Isn't it so amazing how far we've all come this past year?!?

Honestly, it was so hard for me to understand a year ago that all of the WL success of the past year would be real. . . But it is!

Gooooooooo October (and all other) bandsters!!!!!

Catherine

Just got back from playing tenis with DH - I'm in my off week for boot camp and miss the exercise - now who would have thought that??? And (drum roll please) I lost another 1.5 pounds - Put me down Julie Ann! My bandiverary is Saturday, so I can't imagine making that 50 pound goal by then because I lose oh so slowly, but I'll take the 48!

My sister, who is 8 years older(she'll kill me if she reads this) and was banded 2 months after me, is cruzing along at my pace - just 2 months behind. I love that we've done this together and I think I've convinced her to join a boot camp!!! She's starting next week.

Maybe I'll make that 50 by October 31. Love to you all!

Lost 1.5 pounds ---. Yipeeeeeee:lol:

I'm like you Julie Ann - don't know if I'm going to make that October 31 goal. I keep bouncing back and forth between 193 and 195 - I must have been this in another life for a looooooong time!

Catherine - you rock!

But I'm so happy about my band. I was talking to DH last night on the way to dinner and I mentioned that it's almost been one year. He was pointing out how much had changed - what a different person I was (for the better, I believe). He pointed to the fact that I love boot camp so much (who would have believed that a year ago???) and how much more self confidence I have back. It's been a wonderful journey and, while I'm reaching that destination oh so slowly, I'm getting there. I'm extremely grateful.

Love you all,

Louie

Halloween Challenge:

Julie.Ann----------(16lbs) -1.1, -4.8, ,-1.3,

Nazzy--------------(18lbs) -3.0, -2.0, ,

CarrieJess----------(5lbs) 0.0, , ,

GiddyupGrandma-(10lbs) -0.5, , ,

Ruby124-----------(17lbs) , , ,

Annecolorgreen---(10lbs) :smile:, , ,

Sarahp626----------(8lbs) +2.0, -4.61, +1.1,-1.7, :sad:

Hallfamilyx2-------(10lbs) :thumbup:, , ,

Ewiedbingcott-------(8lbs) -1.0, 0.0, ,

Loveislovely -------(8lbs) :wink2:, , ,

Catherine55--------(6.4lbs) :wink2:, , ,

MollyJo-------------(10 lbs) :w00t:, , ,

Great Job Sarah! How about the rest of you. We have hit our Bandiversary Month. How are you doing on our Halloween chanllenge?

o.k. JulieAnn - put me down a pound. I can't remember what I was when I started this, but I had to change my ticker so give me a smiley face please! I've always responded well to positive feedback - lol!

It certainly does!!