catfish87

@@LessOfMe0503
@@fitme
Congrats on your decision to improve your life!
As I mentioned earlier in this topic, I often attend support group meetings where there are every type of surgery patient's in attendance. I see people ( even some I consider friends ) who have had Sleeve and bypass surgeries who are as big (or bigger) than pre-op. Not to say every band patient is 100% sucessful either, but at least we have another option except being told to diet.
You'll see people on this site who get on here and say things such as "my surgeon doesn't do lapbands anymore because they don't work", yet EVERY one I've personally contacted ( and I have contacted several over the years ) tell me quite the opposite. I'm sure there are bariatric surgeons who don't perform band surgeries, but the reason isn't always what is thought. This site used to let you see each person's surgeon, experience level, etc....not anymore.
Best wishes!

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.

The thing that seems odd to me is the temporary nature of the balloon. I've lost weight many times without WLS. Once I lost 130 pounds. But I never could keep it off.
It just sounds so much like another temporary fix.
How many WLS patients have had success keeping weight off after surgery reversal (like band removal)?

I got to thinking, now that I was not spending all those precious moments eating, how would I fill-in my dash? Do you know what I mean by the dash? It's that short line that will appear on my tombstone and sums up my life. And along that dash are the many moments in time that make up my life. What would I do to make this life, my life, a life that is worth living?



Years ago I came to the realization that my life is the dash between the date I was born and the date I die. Do you know what I mean by the dash? It's that short line that will appear on my tombstone and sums up my life(span): 1964 - 21XX (yes, I’ve set my intention to live long).

And along that dash are the many moments in time that make up my life. So, I got to thinking, now that I was not spending all those precious moments eating, how would I fill-in my dash? What would I do to make this life, my life, a life that is worth living?

And so, I acknowledged my gratitude to G-d, my healthcare providers, my coaches and mentors, myself, and those who joined me on this journey of lifetime weight loss and obesity management. I became able to live my life fully, filling my dash with moments -- each one precious in its own right -- and making a difference in my relationships, my community, my organization, and society.

How did I do this? Well, with my relationships I learned to put the past in the past, to stop holding resentments in the present time from things that happened a long time ago and which I could do nothing to change. I found that I was being held a prisoner by my past because I kept putting it in the present time. In this way, I was not able to move forward. So I made a conscious decision to create every moment... I chose to be who I am with someone, not based on what happened in the past, but on who I want to be in that moment, which is usually a delicious and loving relationship.

To make a difference in my community, I volunteered. As a member of the Shade Tree Commission in my town, I was able to get many street trees planted in my community, and in my neighborhood, and even on the street that I live on. This improved the beauty of our neighborhood and thereby increased home values, and also improved energy efficiency by way of reducing heating and cooling costs for homes. I also worked with the mayor to get three street lights installed on my block so as to improve safety and security.

In my organization, I was a much better employee now that I was no longer miserable and hating myself and everything because I was obese. I was no longer held back by my obesity -- let's face it, there’s an unspoken discrimination of obese people in our society. Once I lost the weight, I was immediately promoted and continued to see my career soar over the many years since my weight loss surgery.

And I contributed to society by writing as an obesity health activist under the avatar My Bariatric Life so as to share my experience — please see links below this article. And in the past, I have written other blogs, and a newsletter, and have hosted a forum on an Colleen Cook’s BSCI weight loss surgery patient web site. I want others of the “formerly fat” like me to come to know for themselves what I have come to know for myself and for my life.

There are many more things I will do to fill in my dash... I have only one life -- this moment right here, right now, followed by the next precious moment. I give up the acts of the past and declare my independence from food obsession. What I am creating for myself and my future is the possibility of harmony, joy, abundance, and greater possibilities. And THAT is who I am.
How will you fill in your dash? Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life

Visit me on MyBariatricLife.org, Flickr, Vimeo, Twitter, YouTube, StumbleUpon, Google+
View my Borne Appétit recipe collection on Pinterest

I got the Lap band December , 2011. I've gone from an unhealthy 225 lbs to a healthy 143 lbs, I cant believe I finally weigh what I weighed on my wedding day in 1987 ! !! I didn't want my insides rerouted, so I only looked at the Lapband. It was easier than I expected from the start until now, no regrets , not one ! It literally gave me my life back , so you might want to explore the Lapband too. Good luck !!

And we have a winner! Couldn't agree more!

I think some people are confusing FMLA leave with disability insurance. FMLA gives you the right to take off work and have certain protections.
Disability insurance may or may not pay for that time off.
There is no "FMLA provider".

@@KDM74
Who told you it wasn't covered? That would be like your employer not covering you for WLS surgery if you were self-pay. I don't think they need to know what specifically you're having done - if a Dr. indicates that you need to be out for recovery then I do not understand why you couldn't take advantage of FMLA. I think there are exceptions for really small companies/businesses.
Let us know what you find out.

I'm about to open a Stella.

I agree, you are getting enough for what you're doing. I don't eat anything prior to my workouts with the exception of my weekly long run (approx 2 hour workout) and I have oatmeal before.

Depends on what a workout consists of for you! Are you walking for a mile? Elliptical for half an hour? An hour of Zumba? Weight lifting?
When I'm going to run for longer than about three miles (I run at about a 9:30 pace so that's running on the road for longer than a half hour) then I have about 20-25g of carbs before. Otherwise I don't worry about it.
Usually it's oatmeal w/protein powder or yogert and fruit or dried fruit/nut mix or a Protein shake blended with frozen fruit...something like that. I rarely eat refined/white carbs.

There are lots of people who've had "Band over Bypass" and "Band over Sleeve"....AND vice versa... so listen to the medical professionals.
There are several people who are active on here who got plication when they had their bands placed, and have done fantastic! Some haven't even needed to adjust (fill) thier band post op....for years.
I haven't heard of anyone going to plication after bypass, but I'm sure your surgeon wouldn't be suggesting it without some EXPERT knowledge of its success rates.
And welcome to the forum! I think you'll find most people here non-judgemental about your regaining and seeking more help via a revision. We all needed help to control our eating....some are so quick to forget that.
I wish you much success in whatever you and your surgeon decide is best for you!

@@LessOfMe0503
@@fitme
Congrats on your decision to improve your life!
As I mentioned earlier in this topic, I often attend support group meetings where there are every type of surgery patient's in attendance. I see people ( even some I consider friends ) who have had Sleeve and bypass surgeries who are as big (or bigger) than pre-op. Not to say every band patient is 100% sucessful either, but at least we have another option except being told to diet.
You'll see people on this site who get on here and say things such as "my surgeon doesn't do lapbands anymore because they don't work", yet EVERY one I've personally contacted ( and I have contacted several over the years ) tell me quite the opposite. I'm sure there are bariatric surgeons who don't perform band surgeries, but the reason isn't always what is thought. This site used to let you see each person's surgeon, experience level, etc....not anymore.
Best wishes!

Hi there, what a great post -- here we are, now. That's all we can effect: the present. I've been hanging out with my dad a lot, who is 90 with dementia. There's no going back as he can't remember, and there's no reeling forward (my tendency). When I'm with him I find myself stapled to the moment and it's as though time is operating differently. The race is off. Now I'm trying to bring that into the rest of my life, too, along with the band thinking we learned when we had to listen in to our bodies so closely. I'm trying to stop, notice, breathe and pay attention.
I think you are amazing. You have been facing a very difficult situation with so much courage, and you've reinvented your life. It's frustrating that you are still not free of this situation, but you will be. Meanwhile you have launched two daughters into their own lives and they are doing so well. That is a huge accomplishment given the equation. You've reclaimed your body and it's strong, healthy and beautiful.
You'd still like to lose another chunk though. Me, too. I feel like I am on pause and I want to make my goal as well. I don't want to stop where I am now (in fact I need to adjust my ticker because I crept up a little and feel stuck there). I was sure summer would be my time to start shedding again but here I am. Part of me thinks that the plateau time is good as I am still getting used to myself and I don't want to have loose skin or an even more dramatic loss that will cause people to discuss me (another part of me says what do I care?). I have not wanted to diet as that's not what this is about -- in fact I had to unlearn dieting in order to embrace and respond to hunger appropriately. But I may just need to roll up my sleeves and commit to this last chunk and getting it off once and for all. How can we support each other?

Oh @@JustWatchMe I truly hope you see all the beauty and strength inside yourself the way others do. I see an amazingly strong woman who fights to get what she wants/needs, who through all the struggles hasn't crumbled but yet CHOSES to take those challenges head on to gain strength, momentum, betters herself daily and who supports and builds others up around her. Girl, you're there, you're at that finish line and it's the hardest place to be because you're so close you can see it, you're tired and you're not sure how you're going to keep putting those feet in front of one another to get you over that line right? These next steps are going to take you to a whole other world. Right now you're getting your second wind and that's going to push you above and beyond where you ever thought possible. Yes you have to commit to getting there but whether you realize it or not I believe you already have so take whatever you have in you take those remaining struggles and use them as fuel for the cause and PUSH YOURSELF like never before. We're all here to support you. I totally believe in you and I know you've got every ounce of what it takes to get you over to the other side!!!!! Hugs my friend!

No, I can't even begin to relate.........not even remotely. Im so sorry you have to go through this crap ! Just remember, karma is a bitch ! The only thing I can think of is to concentrate on what you CAN control, and to not worry about what you CAN'T control. ( Serenity prayer ?) In the meantime ask yourself what you can do daily to get yourself healthy, because when this mess is all over and done with, how do you want to look and feel mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritualy ? Make yourself your #1, not the situation ! Hugs !! Good luck !!

6 years post op with no band caused problems for me! 46 years old, NO medications, NO pains. Very happy living and enjoying my NORMAL life
I attend support group meetings where all surgeries are represented. I'm here to tell you, from what I personally see.....I'm still thrilled with my surgery choice.

Yes you can NEVER forget where you came from if expect never to go back! I vowed when I got this surgery that I would NEVER go back to that miserable place again and I'm sticking with that!

I'm a little over two years post op and throughout this journey I've constantly struggled with finding that LINE where I'm always mindful of my choices but yet don't obsess over them, where I can live my new life but my new life doesn't control or change every aspect of ME. So, a few months ago I decided to take a HUGE step out of my comfort zone and chose to let my "new norm" do it's thing which to me meant not coming on this site, not counting calories, not journaling my food, you know the things I thought healthy people didn't worry themselves with.
This was a huge eye opener for me! During my hands off approach I flexed 5lbs which isn't the end of the world, it doesn't mean I failed, it just means that I need more accountability in my life then what some others may require to maintain a life-long healthy lifestyle.
Lessons Learned:
The hands-off approach isn't right for ME!!!!
I HAVE to hold myself accountable!
I can't do whatever I want; I can't eat whatever I want; I can't act like I've never had a weight problem; I can't stop doing my part and expect I'm going to stay where I'm at for the long term.
I'm only as good as my plan so living without one means DISASTER! Throwing everything into the wind made the lines and my perspective blurry, it got me off course.
I HAVE to remember to stick to the basics!!!! When I get off course I have to get back to the basics. They're what got me where I am today and they're going to be what keeps me here.
Through all of this my band was still true to me and continued to do it's thing it's ME who stopped doing my part, the part that made ME get to where I am now and maintain it for over a year!
I have to journal my food so I can see those less than perfect choices glaring back at me, not for punishment but for a reminder of what I need to do to get back on track.
I have to have an idea of the calories, grams of Protein and oz. of Water I've consumed. I don't have to be exact about it but I have to have an idea.
We all need encouragement and what a better place to get it than from a site filled with others who are going through the same journey and can relate to all of your victories and struggles.
Be true to yourself.
Know your strengths and weaknesses!
I'm getting these Damn 5lbs off:-)
The point of my post is to say it's ok to still be figuring out your course no matter how far along you are in your journey. I've read on here over and over about people who just live their new life without counting calories or journaling and they have a history of GREAT sustainable success but I can't so now when I read these posts I don't have to wonder if this is something I should be doing, I've been there done that it doesn't work for me, I know what does, stick with it.
This little band around my stomach has done amazing things in my life!!!! It's removed the weight of an entire adult person from my 5'1" frame, (I've lost more than I weigh). I'm healthy and I feel better then I have in my ENTIRE life. I look forward to new experiences, I no longer have to worry if the airplane seatbelt is going to fasten or if I'm going to fit in a space, I can play and run and keep up with my kids and our busy lives. I could go on and on but at the end of the day this is the one of the BEST decisions I've made in my life.
Stay the course and fight the fight. If you fall get up, brush yourself off and be better than you were before!!!!

@@LessOfMe0503
@@fitme
Congrats on your decision to improve your life!
As I mentioned earlier in this topic, I often attend support group meetings where there are every type of surgery patient's in attendance. I see people ( even some I consider friends ) who have had Sleeve and bypass surgeries who are as big (or bigger) than pre-op. Not to say every band patient is 100% sucessful either, but at least we have another option except being told to diet.
You'll see people on this site who get on here and say things such as "my surgeon doesn't do lapbands anymore because they don't work", yet EVERY one I've personally contacted ( and I have contacted several over the years ) tell me quite the opposite. I'm sure there are bariatric surgeons who don't perform band surgeries, but the reason isn't always what is thought. This site used to let you see each person's surgeon, experience level, etc....not anymore.
Best wishes!

The surgeon did when he called me that evening after reading my results.

Yippee, so exciting to get that date! I remember how nervous and excited I was -- channeled that into walking a little further each day which was great. Let my body know changes were coming and I think I healed so quickly because of that. The mindset is so important -- choosing yourself first and your healthy future.

Oooooooohhhhhhhhh !!! Well, SOMEBODY'S going to be fabulous !!!!! Congratulations !!! What WLS are you having ? Let us know what we can do to support you !!! Good luck !!!

I have a surgery date! I'm scheduled for August 3rd. I have felt like I was standing on the edge of anxiety while I have been waiting. As soon as I got the call it was instant nervous... but like nervous on steroids!

Hi everyone,
It's been a long time since I've visited the site but I thought I'd come over to share my recent success.
I just hit my 8 month mark last week and as of today, I am down a total of 86lbs!!! I'm beyond thrilled!
Please allow me to list all of the recent success that I've seen in non-scale form:
* down to a size 16 from a 24
* I was able to get on the rides at six flags three weeks ago (it's been 7 years since I've been able to fit)
* I fit on the plane, comfortably
* I've been working out 2-3 times a week
* I'm happy!
Just needed to share, hope everyone is well!