Locomotive Engineer

Eight more pounds and I'll have lost 100 LBS!!!! I got banded on December 4th, 08. I'm telling you guys, THIS KICKS ASS!!!! I am SOOOOO PUMPED!!!

I don't see why they would be any different than any other food. Just chew. I love raw oysters. I haven't tried them though since I've been banded. This thread has me wanting some. You know what they say about oysters being an aphrodisiac. Well, I'm here to tell you it's not true. I ate fourteen of them once and only nine worked!!! :biggrin:

Yesterday I was getting dressed for work and looked down and I could actually see my belly button!! Wow!! I figure that in a few more months I might even be able to look down and see Big Jim and the Twins!! :thumbup:

I have asked alot of us banders what REALLY scared most of us before we had our surgery. And without a doubt, the response that I have gotten has been, "I was REALLY scared or totally bummed that I would not ever be able to gorge myself again". When I tell people that are not obese this, their first reaction is to giggle or laugh. But when I tell obese people about my little survey, they almost always agree. So, whats thinks you? My good friends that I have come to know on this great forum. Did you have the same fears? If not, then what were your fears pre band?

As you can tell from my screen name, I'm a locomotive engineer for one of the major railroads of the U.S. That being said, at a high weigt of 376 lbs I have heard my share of rude comments. The railroad that I work for (BNSF) has very strict anti harassment policies. In fact like most HUGE companies the penalties for violation of the harassment policies is pretty severe. So, when someone would make a rude comment about my size I would say something back like " You might think that the comment that you just made was funny, but I don't find it funny at all and maybe your not aware that this railroad has a very strict anti harassment policy. I suggest that you research this policy and educate yourself on the policy and what the penalties are for violation of said policy". Usually they are backpeddaling and appologizing real quick. Not to mention how embarrassed and red in the face they are. Sometimes it's real fun to turn the tables.:wink_smile:

Alright I'm in. ame_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<?xml:namespace prefix = v /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" filled="f" stroked="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe">:cool2:</v:shapetype>************************:tt2:*********:thumbup:****** :wink_smile:*** Brandy.............198............196...........166...........28 Chocolate_Snaps....244............244...........175...........69 Ebonie.............307............307...........200...........107 GratefulHeart......226............223...........135...........88 Lindar172..........246............246...........150...........96 LocomotiveEngineer.376............311...........220...........91 Long2BThin.........216............212...........169...........43 lotzasunshine......270............270...........180...........90 Loveislovely.......216............216...........175...........41 Mamanmidwife.......264............264...........200...........64 Under200...........242............199...........155...........44 vzghj3.............202............202...........150...........52

Am I embarrassed about my surgery? Not no, but HELL NO!! I'm not as young as most of you that have posted on this topic (I'm 52) but quite the contrary, I'm proud of the decision that I made to take this step. I wasn't a FAT kid. I was always in GREAT shape and did not start putting weight on until is was in my early 30's. Like most of you I started the yo-yo dieting at that time. Weighed 225 lbs at 32 years old and yo-yo;d my way up to a svelte 376 lbs!!! What I was embarrassed about was not fitting in a restaurant booth, an airplane seat, barely being able to wipe my fat ass and a mirad of other things. I love my kids and grandkids with a passion that is unmeasurable. And I know that I was getting SO BIG, that my size would embarrass the two older grandkids when we were out in public (the two oldest are 12 and 13 yo). Getting banded is the very best thing that I have ever done for myself. I knew that I couldn't do it by just dieting. So when people ask me about my weight loss and how I have acheived what I have so far, I TELL THEM. If the person who asks happens to be overweight themselves, I try to share all that I can with them. 70 lbs lost so far and only 90 lbs more to go!! I hope and pray that you all have a GREAT New Year!!! God bless you all. Spike

I did it three times. I have a daughter and two sons. Oh, wait a min. I didn't read the whole post. Just the title. I guess that you were talking about something else.:thumbup:

So sorry to hear you had problems. My doctor and the other two doctors that he practices with do the surgery and you stay in the hospital overnight. Good luck to you from here on and God Bless.

You GO Maranda!! You are not being shallow at all. Some people we will never be able to figure out. It's funny but I have found that some of the same people that will not recognize or acknowledge your weight loss were the same ones that didn't have a problem telling you that you REALLY should do something about your weight when we were FAT.

Keep up the great work Greg!! I also really concentrated on losing as much weight as I could pre-op. I know that it really helped me mentally as far as staying on track post-op. What I mean is, I know I wasn't starving in my head as bad as some folks are or were post-op because I had been "dieting" since my initial office vist to set up my Lap-Band procedure. My doctor made me lose 10% of my body weight prior to my surgery. My initial weight on my first vist to my doctor was 376 lbs. So I had to lose a minimum of 37 lbs between September 21, 08 and December 04, 08 (surgery date). My doctor requires this of all of his patients. If you don't lose the weight (or REAL close to the required loss) he moves your surgery date out further until you lose the weight.

I have ALOT of tats. Half sleeves and all of my upper chest. I also have been messing with the idea of getting a tat over my port area. i was thinking about getting my ex wifes picture over my port. It would be kinda like a ink voodo doll. :thumbup:

I'm a Locomotive Engineer (Hoghead) for BNSF railroad. It is without a doubt the very best and most fun job that I have ever had. I just started my 15th year this last November. I can't think of ever doing anything else.

I live in Wasington state and there are a couple ranchers here that sell bison. We have gotten them in Idaho and Montana also. It just depends on who has the best price.

I also have UHC. I was well over 40 BMI and I had Type II diabetes and high blood pressure. My doctor sent in my records and I was approved in about two weeks. It seems crazy to me tat these insurance companies want us to get fatter before they will approve anything.

I also have United Health Care. I work for one of the major railroads. It was a breeze for me. I went in for my initial consultation on 09/15/08 and was banded on 12/04/08. I had to do all of the regular hoop jumps. ie. Phych evaluation, cardio and general pre physical. I did have type II diabetes and high blood pressure that I was taking meds for both.

My advice would be to never quit praying!! Miracles happen every day! I will add you to my prayers. The power of prayer is amazing!!

Yes, I am for sure happier. Diabetes and high blood pressure is gone and so is the depression. And let me tell you brother the depression was getting REAL BAD! I was have horrible thoughts. Hang in there and work with your doctor. If something is wrong then pressure him until he has an accurate diagnosis and have him or her fix the problem if it's fixable.

I also have or should I say had TypeII and took three pills per day to control my blood sugar. I was also taking Diovan for my high blood pressure. I have NOT had to take any meds for the last week and a half. I test my blood once a day and also my BP. Both are normal for the first time in TEN years!!

L ets see if this works.

Way to go Bryan!!! That is SMOKIN!!! :biggrin:

I'm just a little over two weeks post op and I sure hope and pray that wild game is not hard to eat. I shot my deer this year ( four point mulie, western count) and still have elk and bison in the freezer from last year. Probably 90% or more of the red meat my family eats is wild game. Has been that way for years. That's the way it was for me growing up also. (I'm 52 yo now). Plus I've lost 55 lbs since I started the pre op diet up to now. I weighed 376 lbs at my initial appointment and I now weigh 321 lbs. I've only got another 90 lbs to lose. I'm telling you, this is the very best thing that I have ever done for myself. Finding this forum has also been a great help. Merry Christmas you bunch of yay whoos!!! I love this site!!:scared2::biggrin:

My family hasn't eaten much beef for the last five years. We buy a bison every year and usually split it with a good friend of ours or one of our children. I also like to hunt and every year we have a deer in the freezer or an elk. Some years if i'm real fortunate we have both. Other than moose, bison is the best red meat that you can eat. You just can't go wrong with bison. Cook it just like you would any similar cut of beef and don't over cook it.

Yes. I had thought's many times. The thing that held me back was my faith in the LORD. His word tells us that taking your own life is not an option. That and the fact that I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world. Also the three grown children and five grand children that I have, I thought that it would be the ultimate act in selfishinness if I was to do IT. I was sooooo miserable. But now i have much hope. I'm two weeks post surgery and 55+ lbs lighter. My whole outlook is different. I never did seek professional help. And now because of my dertimination and the "Band", I doubt that will ever need it. :biggrin:

That doctors statements would leave be to believe that he is pushing the sleeve and bypass surgeries over Band surgeries because he makes more $$$$ doing sleeves and bypasses. Sad, but there are people like that in every profession. I might be wrong, but isn't the Band the least expensive surgery out of the three?? Just a thought.