Ladybandito

just popping in to say hi and merry Christmas to all. i'm not on here much but love stopping by to catch up on what every one is doing.
Me my slight dilation is completely gone so they added Fluid back... have to say i love the folks in the office I was complaining about not having lost any more weight - when they pointed out that i had not gained and that showed them that i was not dependent on the band to stay healthy. and that many or in fact most people who have Fluid removed usually gain.. What an eye opener that was - Feeling on top of the world or at least half way there.

Merry Christmas to all
Sharing photos of part of the family first Christmas in a while without the whole family

I used to mix butter and white sugar together and eat it with a spoon. I'd usually just make a small amount, and then sometimes go back for seconds. Ugh!! And Coffeemate Creamer powder, by itself. Looking at what we were all drawn to really shows there is a neurological or chemical connection here ... Fats and sugar, fats and sugar. I haven't seen any posts about spinach or tangerines, haha. It's funny, although I am no longer drawn to the butter/sugar thing, I can still "feel" the euphoria I felt eating it at the time.

I used to mix butter and white sugar together and eat it with a spoon. I'd usually just make a small amount, and then sometimes go back for seconds. Ugh!! And Coffeemate Creamer powder, by itself. Looking at what we were all drawn to really shows there is a neurological or chemical connection here ... Fats and sugar, fats and sugar. I haven't seen any posts about spinach or tangerines, haha. It's funny, although I am no longer drawn to the butter/sugar thing, I can still "feel" the euphoria I felt eating it at the time.

Just heard about a fellow Bander, Michele Elbertson. Michele is 28 years old and had the Lap-Band back when she was 23. Since her procedure, she has lost 260 pounds! In the past three years, she has run over 38 half-marathons, 7 full-marathons, one 50-mile ultra-marathon, and two triathlons.
Michele was chosen as a finalist for the December issue of Runner’s World Cover Contest and beat out of thousands of submissions. In addition, she was featured on The Rachael Ray Show yesterday and was given a full makeover. You can check out her transformation here.
She decided to write down her success story and wanted us to help spread her story – you can find that here. Her story was too inspiring not to share with our members. She has a Twitter account in the event you want to follow/engage with her directly - https://twitter.com/M_Elbertson

A year and 6 months and I finally hit my goal! 344 to 220!
 

You mean no one's ever gotten fat gorging on roasted skinless chicken and steamed plain broccoli?

As a kid I ate several white bread and Miracle Whip sandwiches. I could eat a dozen scrambled eggs. I remember asking the babysitter to make eggs for my brother and me and she made a dozen and we (mostly I) wiped them out. I often finished his food when he didn't want it.
As an adult I would sit in front of the tv with a giant bowl of Cereal and milk or half and half. Half a box gone in a sitting. Usually Corn Chex.
I would dip bread in the grease from fried pork chops.
But the all time winner is that every year of my adult life until WLS, I would roast the Thanksgiving turkey for my family and when nobody was looking, I ate every inch of crispy skin off of a 20-pound bird by myself.
I see a pattern here.
This. This is food addiction.

I used to mix butter and white sugar together and eat it with a spoon. I'd usually just make a small amount, and then sometimes go back for seconds. Ugh!! And Coffeemate Creamer powder, by itself. Looking at what we were all drawn to really shows there is a neurological or chemical connection here ... Fats and sugar, fats and sugar. I haven't seen any posts about spinach or tangerines, haha. It's funny, although I am no longer drawn to the butter/sugar thing, I can still "feel" the euphoria I felt eating it at the time.

I'm one of those folks who reminds people that we are more than numbers and to focus on NSVs during our weight loss journey. But even I am speechless this morning. I weigh myself weekly just to stay accountable. Yes...I know when I've eaten well and when I've not, but the number on the scale reinforces what I already know. Since I don't let the number rule my outlook for the day, or even the week, I am OK with the weekly weigh-in.
Well...got on the scale this morning and it said 119.2. I had to look at it for a few moments because I couldn't take in what I was seeing. I'm under 120 lbs. That's unbelievable. The very first time I went to WW, I was 15 and 127 lbs. I got down to 113. I was 125 lbs. when I got married and have never been close in all the years since. Oh...I got down to 150 in the early '90s but of course ballooned back up again.
Yes...I know it's just a number but it's also a watershed moment for me. I've accomplished something I never thought I would. I'm as small as I was as a teenager. I'm not a teenager though... My skin is terribly wrinkled and I only look good with my clothes on and in long sleeves and pantyhose. I hide the flaws same as anyone would. But...I'm alot smarter than a teenager now and feel that I'm mature enough to make good choices in my life and find future success in ways I thought impossible just two years ago.
If all goes as planned, I will be visiting my sister-in-law in China over Christmas. Imagine that...me going to the Far East. Was a time I couldn't hardly walk and now I'm going to the other side of the world.
I'm dating again. It's scary for sure, but I'm starting to get comfortable enough with my body that I can appreciate what others see. Not always mind you, but sometimes... It's still a work in progress.
Mostly I'm just grateful and happy to be mobile, healthy, and appreciate my life. I give all the credit to the band because that's where it started.
Have a great Monday everyone.

I changed jobs and my new (crappy) insurance doesn't cover anything bariatric- and on top of that, my doc decided to stop practicing. I found a new doc, and for self-pay patients he has you pay $500 flat for a whole year of fills under fleuroscopy. You might shop around for something like that- and you could pay that out of an HSA or flex spend account.
I went in to see him, and one fleuroscopy later he discovered I had a hiatal hernia, which I had surgery for about a month ago. Previous doc didn't use fleuro.
If you go with the lower priced insurance, maybe you can use some $ for HSA or flex spend for out of pocket expenses.
Good luck!
Nicki

Be patient. Abdominal fat is very resilient and will be the last place you will probably lose weight. I don't know your stats, but if you're like most of us, you have a problematic abdominal region. First comes an increased waist size, then a lower tummy pudge. The muffin comes next followed by upper abdominal protusion. If the body continues to gain weight, that protusion turns into a hanging pannicula.
As you lose weight, the retraction of your abdomen will happen in a reverse order (for most people anyway). You will need to lose a good bit of your weight before the hanging belly (if you have one!) begins to pull back up to some degree. Once it pulls up, then you will start noticing it beginning to retract in and have a visibly smaller size, and certainly in clothing.
It must come up before it can go back in!

I'm approaching my third year banded, no issues or complications, down from 226 to 145, and my band has become a "way of life." I no longer have to wear a CPAP for sleep apnea, I can wear a size 6 comfortably and look great in a t-shirt and jeans, and am much more "alive" and "happy" than for many years pre-op. Being banded has freed up an incredible amount of mind-space that used to be spent on food -- and I am so appreciative of that!
As B-52 said, so many people (when they reach goal, and even before) move on from these boards and so we don't hear a very large number of the success stories out there. I know, personally, I get tired of replying to the "same-song, different-verse" again and again -- but I try to make it a point to post at least once a month, because God knows a lot of comments on here helped me with my 2 year research on WLS -- and still today, help keep me in the WLS community mindset.
And don't forget Alex, our forum founder... He's been banded for a decade! :-)

I have had my band since September 2007 and have yet to reach my goal but am very happy to have lost over 100 lbs.

My mom and siblings have always have problems with weight issues. I started gaining weight at the age of 25. Over the next 26 years I went from 150 to 330.

I developed diabetes type 2, sleep apnea, sever pains in my back and knees walking was a chore, getting off the coach was and an adventure

It seems when I stay away from this board that I gain weight and find my way back

My lowest weight since banded was around December 2009 around 190. Afterwards stop exercising and even though I still ate properly during my meals I went back to heavy duty snacking and the weight started to creep back on. In June 2011 I had a complete unfill due to esophagus dilation and during the next three months gained 25 lbs

I slowly kept gaining weight. On January 1 2013 after reaching 250 I recommitted myself and am losing weight again

Some of the benefits that have come as a result of the band are:
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
six years and no seat belt extender
I do not get the evil eye when I sit next to them on the plane.
I really like not having to walk sideways down the aisle of a plane.
Do not have to get down on my knees to get the golf ball out of a cup.
My wife and I went Parasailing due to the combine weight loss of over 200 lbs we were 150 lbs under the limit and had a great time.
I can leave food on a plate and not feel guilty
There is no doubt that the way I was heading that I would of been over 400 lbs.
For me the band has worked and though I have had my ups and down it was one of my best decisions I have ever made.

Thanks for starting this thread -- I came back here after the Rosie thread which left me so disheartened. I need to be with band-positive people. Instead of getting a lift here today I feel sort of crummy now. The good news: I already had an aggressive one-hour walk around a beautiful lake early this morning and I am not responding to my feelings with food. I'm here instead. Have a great day every one, and yes, I love my foreign object.

I'm chiming in on this thread. Great info here. I am over 7 years post op and would surely do it again. Not always easy, and I do get checked once a year, but the band allowed me a much healthier lifestyle. I embrace it (on most days )but no one is perfect.
It allowed me to stop thinking diet and start just living life. Long term progress. Can I just say I feel like I fit in this world better at this size??

I've had my band for 12 years. Still loving it!

It will be 8 years at the end of October!! ????

Ok, I'm almost three years out and at goal ... Last week I walked into a dept store and bought 3 pairs of size 6 capris -- off the rack -- and they all fit!! One pair was tight, and when I looked at the tag, they are a size 4 that I picked up by mistake. Now, I have not lost any pounds on the scale in quite some time, but with my continued exercise and weight lifting, my body shape continues to get smaller. Whoo-hee! I feel so darned "normal!" Lol. Stick with it, everyone, there are many NSVs as the years go on!!

Oh, Lisa, I stumbled on your post somehow (I am a bander) and it touched my heart. I am sending you love, light and prayers.
The suggestion of drinking Protein shakes is a good one. May I also suggest hard exercise? Working out was the only thing that brought me relief when I lost someone I loved very much recently. It did something, I don't know what, to make me feel alive and in the moment, for brief periods of time. And we need that, so very much, when we're overwhelmed with grief.
I am sorry you lost your beautiful husband. He is still lovingly watching over you, I'm sure. Xx

I'm approaching my third year banded, no issues or complications, down from 226 to 145, and my band has become a "way of life." I no longer have to wear a CPAP for sleep apnea, I can wear a size 6 comfortably and look great in a t-shirt and jeans, and am much more "alive" and "happy" than for many years pre-op. Being banded has freed up an incredible amount of mind-space that used to be spent on food -- and I am so appreciative of that!
As B-52 said, so many people (when they reach goal, and even before) move on from these boards and so we don't hear a very large number of the success stories out there. I know, personally, I get tired of replying to the "same-song, different-verse" again and again -- but I try to make it a point to post at least once a month, because God knows a lot of comments on here helped me with my 2 year research on WLS -- and still today, help keep me in the WLS community mindset.
And don't forget Alex, our forum founder... He's been banded for a decade! :-)

I'm approaching my third year banded, no issues or complications, down from 226 to 145, and my band has become a "way of life." I no longer have to wear a CPAP for sleep apnea, I can wear a size 6 comfortably and look great in a t-shirt and jeans, and am much more "alive" and "happy" than for many years pre-op. Being banded has freed up an incredible amount of mind-space that used to be spent on food -- and I am so appreciative of that!
As B-52 said, so many people (when they reach goal, and even before) move on from these boards and so we don't hear a very large number of the success stories out there. I know, personally, I get tired of replying to the "same-song, different-verse" again and again -- but I try to make it a point to post at least once a month, because God knows a lot of comments on here helped me with my 2 year research on WLS -- and still today, help keep me in the WLS community mindset.
And don't forget Alex, our forum founder... He's been banded for a decade! :-)

I'm approaching my third year banded, no issues or complications, down from 226 to 145, and my band has become a "way of life." I no longer have to wear a CPAP for sleep apnea, I can wear a size 6 comfortably and look great in a t-shirt and jeans, and am much more "alive" and "happy" than for many years pre-op. Being banded has freed up an incredible amount of mind-space that used to be spent on food -- and I am so appreciative of that!
As B-52 said, so many people (when they reach goal, and even before) move on from these boards and so we don't hear a very large number of the success stories out there. I know, personally, I get tired of replying to the "same-song, different-verse" again and again -- but I try to make it a point to post at least once a month, because God knows a lot of comments on here helped me with my 2 year research on WLS -- and still today, help keep me in the WLS community mindset.
And don't forget Alex, our forum founder... He's been banded for a decade! :-)

Your Doctor is absolutely right. Band is awful. By the way has anyone seen the 300+ pounds my stupid band misplaced? It's September and I am already freezing without all my excess fat!!

You keep your stomach? Uh, better check those X-Rays Marie? And malabsorption is a possibility even though it's a remote one, just like slips and erosions are rare.
Do you have fillings? Ever have any kind of mesh implant? How about if your organs fail, no heart valves or stints for you? ACL reconstructions? No cadaver ligaments and no plates or screws for broken bones? How about silicone? Tattoos? Piercings? Total knee and hip replacemenets? This infatuation with not having a foreign object in one's body is so silly it's laughable. Virtually no one escapes this world without some kind of foreign body on or in our bodies.
But the fear of having 85% of a major body organ cut out is understandable.imo There's no turning back after 85% extraction. And I believe that some people need this form(sleeve) of WLS simply because they can't control their eating habits. Likewise for the band. But there's a % of patients who are in control and only need a little help with curbing their appetite to make it over that hump. That's where the band comes in.
tmf