elleaitch

Hi Joan, I'm still working on the funding but only one more tick in the right box and I'm sorted! I will keep you posted Louise

Hello Padanelle, Lovely to see you too I am having shocking acid reflux and oesophagitis and having a right old time getting funding from the NHS to sort it out, I wasn't privately funded and my GP is doing all to get funding in place for a defill but it's hell living with it and just as bad is the lack of sleep. I really don't sleep sitting bolt upright at all. It will be sorted, I have no regrets with my band whatsoever, it has saved my life I am sure of it. If funding is not agreed, I will self fund for the deflate for sure and should know about that tonight, all exciting stuff indeed. I'll never get used to the band and I mourn for food sometimes but know it wouldn't go down anyway so don't bother buying it. Crisps, chips? and ice cream have been my villains but also my saviours when nothing else would go through. I actually crave sandwiches more than anything else, thick wholemeal bread, slathered with butter and piled with mayo and salad, cooked meats mmmmmmmmmmmmm in my dreamzzzzzzzzzzzz hehe! Louise

These are amazing stories and so lovely to hear of our successes, those little slips don't matter much in our grand scheme

<br><br>Thank you <br>

<br><br>Thank you <br>

<br><br><br>Thank you <br>

Almost 2 years since my band became a part of me I have cracked 10 stones! 142 lbs to be exact and never did I ever imagine I would lose so much. Most of the weight loss was in the first year and now it's just an occasional pound here and there that I lose. I reckon I am almost at my natural weight and still I am obese! I am 7lbs away from weighing the same as I did when I was 18, I am now 52 so I can be happy where I am and a little happier if I make it eventually. Still I can not get used to being smaller. I see gaps in aisles when shopping and look for a bigger space in which to manouevre my bulk. I can now bend in a smaller space without knocking items from shelves with my derriere, that's bizarre. I still talk about the band like it happened yesterday and expect never to get really used to it. Daily, some days, hourly it reminds me of it's presence. I do forget for a short time that I have it now and again and make the mistake of not chewing properly, of placing too much food in my mouth and forgetting NOT to try and hold a conversation at the same time, therefore forgetting that vital chewing process we must all remember with every bite. I have dropped 6 English sizes and am now size 18. I know this would be horrific for a woman who has been used to being size 8 or 10 but for me this is slim, normal, no longer freakish or the butt of skinnie's jokes. Not that I ever heard many of them anyway so they were wasting their breath. Being 'normal' is difficult to comprehend. I have met up with some old friends since having the band fitted and they see no difference as I was this size when they last saw me, I imagine I bore them rigid with my talk about it at times. One friend did tell me not long ago that I really wasn't the dress size I thought I was and to try smething 2 sizes smaller. Can you imagine when that 2 sizes smaller fit? I was used to wearing loose clothes for so long that it never occured to me to wear something that fit me. Now instead of specialist larger ladies clothes by mail order I can walk in the supermarket and buy regular clothes. I have choices. I probably will never have my band tightened again, we get on ok as we are now even though some days do seem much tighter than others, today especially feels like a tight belt around my middle. I dream of it being removed and eating pizza, loaves of bread, take away all to myself, well I can dream but it's really the nightmare lifestyle that got me where I was. Hell I miss pizza and no doubt about it but Pizza manages quite well without me thank you and I manage much better without IT!

I was the same, always dieting always trying something different until I reached 24 stones, I started dieting at 13 stones, so that did me no good at all. It is a most personal decision but you know, it was so right for me and I am about to reach my 1 yr anniversary. It's the band and exercise combined that work for me, without the band I wouldn't exercise at all. Good luck wth your decison making x

Hi all, I still get this 12 months post op if I rush my food and don't chew properly, basically when I forget and yes, I still occasionally forget I have the band when I have a feast before me. Sometimes I use gravity and dispose of it, sometimes I just stick with it. Does anyone here experience sneezing when 'full?'

I agree too, 6 months on and I remember this feeling only too well. I took to baby foods for a few days and fluids and of course there is always slim fast as a very last resort. Let us know how you go on Vicky. PB is a productive burp, you'll soon know if you get one!

Hi there Joan, Oh life is so busy I hardly get on here lately. Ups and downs indeed, don't know what's going on with me but I have maybe 3 days where I can tolerate eating and 4 where I can't and just have to lose it. Overall doing good though I must admit. My hair is getting thinner now and all the supplements just aren't helping, what the heck, I could go blonde with a wig! This band has been the making of me even if I don't always love it.

What IS this sweet spot I keep reading about? :thumbdown:

Fantastic! I never get to the burp stage or I'm on the BP trail already. It's working though and I'm trying not to have another fill this year. Tell you what I do have though, a strapless dress for my work Christmas Party! with a shrug, not that brave yet to bare my bingo wings LOL

June was such a good month, well done ladies, you're amazing :thumbdown:

It is difficult and a similar experience when you have a fill too but without the wound aches of course. Just a suggestion but watered down everything is a good idea during this first stage. I thrived on , wait for it, V6 vegetable juice and made me feel like I was having something nutritious too. Jellies are good and slip down easily too for something naughty but nice, well nice if you like jelly!

Hi Donna, When you're up to it, let us know how you're doing hun. Thinking of you xxx

Hi Joan, I would love to say I walk out in the fresh air in our local country park but I don't feel safe there and when I do walk in nature, I just want to stop and admire the views. I go to a local authority run gym and hop on the treadmill and cross trainer, think they're known as eliptical overseas. I even get a rush now when I know I can go, or sometimes I force myself to get there after my 10 hour working day. I only sit on my btm anyway doing customer service. I would like to swim more but after at least an hour in the gym after work finishes at 6, I'm then shopping and reaching home at about 9. I do enjoy my early morning weekend session though very much. Comfortable sneakers/ running shoes are essential though. I have Nike dart, not expensive, not stylish but heaven on my feet and very lightweight. I wear the mens version simply because they are wider for my feet that are like boats. You're doing well, we all have to push ourselves in this and sometimes it's hard to be positive but we have our place to air our views, and hey do we need it!

Well I managed 79 miles, my target was 95 miles for September, Joan I had been calculating wrong in August, kms to miles well it beats me but I did better than I had thought. So September wasn't too bad considering I stopped exercise totally for about 8 days with that flu/cold thing that laid me up. Dare I aim for 100 in October? I love that I can come here and see you all doing this and share experiences. Although I m not a secret bandster I have just one other woman at work who has had it done. I even enticed her back to exercising too when she saw how it's working for me. On we go ladies, October is another month and anything extra we can do is better for our well being, our waists and our smiles!

Good Luck Donna, just wait for the new you to emerge very soon. We're all here to support you and keep you going. It can be very strange at first just take it easy and let it work with you. I'm so excited for you, it really is the stat of a new life. Will be thinking of you xxx

Feel my foot in your derriere for October!

Hi Joan, 71 miles so far and had 9 days off with swine flu or a very heavy cold, docs couldn't decide and I was past caring anyway hehehe. I'll rack up another 6 or 7 miles tonight and hopefully some more tomorrow. I do have to push myself to go, I don't walk locally because it's getting close to being dark now after I finish work and I just don't feel safe or maybe confident enough to walk out. Whatever we do is beneficial but faster or longer seems to work better....sometimes!

Very brave indeed. 5-7 minutes is my limit due to my crackly knees but I do it 5/7 days plus the cycle and treadmill so not doing too bad. We are all doing so well and keeping positive, that's what keeps us going and this exercise lark is really good! I like the effect it has on my weight and posture but also my state of mind, it's so different now.

Oh yes AYDS I think that was my very first diet when I was 17, look where that lead! LOL