Ladybandito

Congratulations, Alex, and thank you so much for this forum. You have undoubtedly touched and improved the lives of so many, many thousands of people throughout the years with the information and community provided through this site. Thank you again!

You make an appt at DMV to change the weight on your drivers license to what you truly, actually weigh!!

Oh man, does my family eat alot. We went for Chinese last night and while I eat faster than most other bandsters because I haven't had any fills, I still sat for a good 20 more minutes while they kept eating. My perception of how much food is enough for me vs. how much is enough for anyone else has changed big time. Even the order seemed like too much food. Fortunately, the waitress got it a bit wrong and brought a 1 1/4 lb. lobster for mom and me to share, and not the 3 lb. lobster she actually ordered. I at about half the lobster and a couple of spoonfuls of beef and eggplant (mostly eggplant) and a small handful of rice. No pork chops, no seconds or thirds,...just what was on my plate and then a fortune cookie and a couple of orange slices. for dessert.
I'm glad to see that my eyes are starting to fall in line with how much I can consume. It makes for a much less stressful dining out experience.

That one made me laugh, TMF. Husband snoring away next to me is doing very well these days but we had years of pain management around his various surgeries (car accident guy -- rebuilt spine, plastic shoulder, etc.). Of course there were scrips being written out like crazy and he never responded well to pain meds. We call them Jerk pills.
Thanks, Liz, for starting a new thread for us! I like having this safe place to check in with my lapband peeps and the connections we have here. It definitely helps me keep my head in the game. When CG first had the thread going in the 100+ to lose category I formed my goal over that -- 152 from 252 because I coukd see that this thread was where the really successful people were hanging out and I wanted to be a part of that. Now that I'm on my way down I don't know if I will lose 100 after all as that would probably be too thin for me, but I'm here anyway.
I've been bumbling along and not sure why -- perhaps I've needed to let myself level off at my current weight to adjust to being in a normal range. I still have weight to lose, however, and I am readying myself for getting off the next chunk. September has always been a great time of year for me. Maybe it's the back-to-school energy from childhood and having routine again. This was a tremendously busy summer with way too much socializing. I am looking forward to quieter times and better evening habits. Need to work on that.
Gorgeous day and a holiday Monday, yippee! I am meeting a cousin up at the lake to do a four-mile walk that is my regular exercise but we had a lot of company and I've missed that for several days. I did a lot of production cooking and running around setting up, serving, cleaning, etc., so that counts for something, but I need that dedicated walk to unwind. Grateful that there was no production eating going on for me. Plenty of tasting, etc., but my band doesn't let me get carried away and the dimmed appetite makes it easier to be smart-ish about my choices.
Enjoy your day, all!

I am grateful that I have my family and this site. I have been MIA for awhile and I've gained back a little weight, but I'm back today and starting my journey all over again with the help of old friends on here. Today I went to the gym, I dusted off my Fitbit and logged back on to my fitness pal. I started shakes and drinking my Water. ♥️ you all and this site! Jami

I'm thankful my wife hasn't divorced me over my ups and downs with bariatric surgery and being crazy on drugs for 6 months during my knee surgeries

so Grateful to be heading for 70 (i'm almost 69) and being healthy.
Grateful that I found the courage to have my lapband surgery
Grateful for my wonderful supportive family
So Grateful that I no longer have diabetes or high blood pressure or high cholesterol
Grateful that I was able to go to Alaska and ride horses (my bucket list)
Now I am grateful that I am physically able to care for my husband who has had some serious health issues lately.
And I am so grateful for my banded friends who posts their successes and difficulties. It's been a good thing for me to be able to discuss the ins and outs of the lapband. I still have no regrets and am extremely happy with my results.

So glad to be part of this group. Two thirds to goal and sitting here for quite awhile, but I know it can be done by reading posts from all of you. Thanks for being here.

I am grateful for a truly healthy life that has gone on for years.????
I'm thankful for this board of fun cyber friends that seem to know what to say when life seems hard.
I'm happy to be 60 with no weight issues( except between my ears)
And feel settled into the next chapter of my life. (Learning to live alone after a long marriage and widowhood has its challenges)
Onward I go. I'm looking forward to Hawaii soon. Dreamy place for me!

I'm glad that Gowalking (Liz ) started Banders #7 & for so much more as you all know sometimes I will post & Sometimes I don't but I always have to see what's going on just to make sure & hit like if it's something I may relate to , I am so glad just to be able to move & Love that my oldest said I was skinny but I am not skinny by far like I said I will never be skinny maybe a bit smaller in size than I was 3 years ago , but at least my health is better than it was before , I can't believe how much damage I was doing to my body & health before banding , sometimes I think it's catching up to me , then I realize it's just a minor set back but I am a happy person & VERY HAPPY I GOT BANDED

Some things I am thankful for:
that I can now walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I am going to die.
that my blood pressure is now under control.
that my friends and family are so supportive and understanding about this whole journey.
that my husband is as caring and loving as he is.
that I have a career that allows me to focus a good bit of my attention on my health and this continued weight loss.
that I no longer dread shopping for clothes.
that my skin is finally healthy and glowing, not dull and broken out.
that I no longer have aching joints or muscles after a night of work or a trip out.
that my life is no longer ruled by an obsession with food.
that my surgeon is as nice and involved as he is.
that I can finally truly enjoy food and not treat it like a drug.
And most of all, that I made the decision to have this surgery, because before then I was slowly dying. Now I am living, and living well. I am only about a third of the way to goal but, my god, a difference nearly 50 pounds makes.

Thank you Liz for your update and your willingness to share your support.
Some days this journey seems like a long time and sometimes it feels like yesterday.
While the journey has not been easy and no one ever said it would be my progress or lack thereof has always been in my control. Finding a way to deal with life without turning to food has been and continues to be a challenge.
I am grateful for the band and all that comes with it. I know what works for me and have no one to blame if I do not follow the path that works.
I am grateful for this board it seems when I choose not to check in I tend to gain weight. Viewing the post can be incredibly motivating and when I am struggling I know that I am not alone
.
I am grateful that I continue to make more good choices then bad choices in my life.
I am grateful for all who share their successes, their struggles and parts of their personal life.
I am also grateful to my wife and her support and the fact that we both chose to be banded on the same day on September 12, 2007. Together we have kept off over 200lbs.
Glad to be a part of this new thread.

Hello and good morning my friends. Welcome to Banders #7. So, I guess I'll start it off by saying how grateful I am today and every day for the new lease on life that I have. I walked to the office today from the train station. That was something I couldn't do before the surgery. I always say how light I feel and I realized it's not a state of mind, but a physical reality. We are weighed down by the excess weight and all that goes with it. When we don't rumble and jumble as we walk, our steps are lighter. I was listening to my ipod and started to dance a little as I was walking. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but who cares? When one is thin, even looking ridiculous seems OK.
I am grateful for my for my beautiful grandson who I was able to tuck into my lap last Saturday morning so we could play while Mommy and Daddy got to sleep in a bit. I'm grateful that I fit anywhere and everywhere. No more worrying if I will break a chair, or be able to navigate a booth at the restaurant, or walk down a narrow aisle without having to suck it all in just to get past someone/something.
I'm grateful for my health. I take alot of pills, but many of them are supplements and not prescription for chronic ailments. I'm grateful that I can walk again...that I can swim, bike, climb, and yes....enjoy sex. I am surprised at how flexible I can be now that I'm thin.
I'm grateful that I earn enough money that I can indulge my new found love of shopping. I really think I'm one of the best dressed ladies in the office these days...and I know I've upped the game for others. I am definitely seeing more dresses than I did a year ago.
I'm grateful to Alex for having this site available...and I'm grateful to all the folks on it who are part of my success. I know I would not have been as successful as I have been if not for all of you. I talk about things here that I don't talk to anyone else about. You all know the struggles of being fat, and immobile, and feeling like a failure regardless of what we've accomplished..and I know now how much we 'hidden' people have accomplished. It's helping me to not turn that self hatred towards others still struggling with obesity. It also reminds me that I will always struggle with obesity. Under this thin person still lurks the fat girl. She is the one who whispers in my ear all the time that I'm not worthy of the good things out there and I should just order a pizza and eat the whole thing. She and I clash daily and it's why I still go every Tuesday to the therapist who listens and helps me to navigate this new world I inhabit.
Well...I think I've posted enough for today. Feel free to comment on the above, or share your stories, or say hi, or just lurk. Enjoy your day today...enjoy the upcoming holiday, and looking forward to a wonderfully robust Banders #7 thread.
Liz

terrific results. I often wonder how I'd look with a flat stomach. as much as I want one, I don't want to go through the pain and suffering to get there. one day....maybe..

Congratulations, Alex, and thank you so much for this forum. You have undoubtedly touched and improved the lives of so many, many thousands of people throughout the years with the information and community provided through this site. Thank you again!

Weight Loss Surgery was such an out of the blue decision for me -- I'm not even sure exactly how it came about. We live in the boonies, I don't watch TV, and I didn't know any one else with a LapBand (or any other WLS). I am kind of a health food type and had never been an overnight patient in the hospital before. I guess I heard that a cousin's doctor had recommended this for him and so I started digging into the research. Almost right away I realized I was the perfect candidate. I think what this means is that I was READY. I had spent two decades dieting and working every weight loss angle under the sun, yet I always put the weight back on again plus a little more. Each year I was a little heavier, and since I'm in my fifties it was really starting to add up. I ate well, just too much. Now I eat well, just in much smaller portions and at appropriate intervals. What a difference this makes over time.
Here I am today 75 pounds down from when I started 17 months ago. I honestly can't believe it. Next month at a year and a half I hope to be able to report 80. It's been a long winter and I have not been exercising as much as I'd like. I know from experience that for me the exercise is really the magic ingredient. I hate the gym and as soon as this sleet and snow clears off I can't wait to resume outdoor walking again. Last year I bought a bike and I look forward to that. I have arthritis and being able to do these things is a real gift. So much easier without carrying around all that extra weight!
The scale is the scale and sometimes it doesn't budge. I tend to lose some and then hover a long while around a particular number for a while. This can be frustrating but I've learned that it is okay, that the scale will eventually move. Meanwhile, its all about the pants, the pants. I have gone from 18 jeans down to size 10 in the same brand. Right now I have a pair of size 10 jeans in another brand that I picked up on sale and they are way too tight. But I'm going to get into those jeans over time -- and I also have a couple of pair of linen pants in my closet. I try them all on from time to time and that helps keep me motivated. It's all about the pants, the pants.....
Determining a goal weight is hard -- I guess I will know when I get there (and I know I'm not there yet). I'm fairly tall and don't want to be "skinny" -- I like my curves. For now I am thinking 155 might be a good weight for me and I am thrilled to be just 22 pounds away from that goal as of this morning. Oh my goodness, I am so happy!

Well friends...I am back from London. I walked for miles and miles. I did the bike ride. I had leg pain and it was very discouraging but I didn't let it stop me. I saw everything I wanted to see. I found London to be better than I could have imagined. I figured out the underground fairly easily and was off. My sister got me acclimated and I was out and about with and without her. I ate too much but with all the exercise, only gained about two lbs. I told the guide who took us on the bike tour about how I was nearly wheelchair bound less than three years ago and he was truly impressed...and not because he wanted a tip either. You can tell when someone is genuine or not. He took the picture of me on the bike at the statue of Nelson. He said that I should send that picture to my surgeon and I think I will. I've attached a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.

How cool you posted a video could have been a little longer but that's okay , also WOW 12 yrs, CONGRATS ON THAT & Getting your life back & helping with OURS , by starting the site & for us having somewhere to get support since some of us don't have it Thank You

Thank you! This forum was very helpful post surgery, I wish I had found you in the 2 years it took me to make my decision! I enjoy coming here and helping other people know that there is light at the end of the tunnel! Great job!

It’s hard to believe it, but July 18 marks my 12-year Surgiversary! 12 years ago, I weighed 255 lbs (at a height of 5’7”). That was at age 25, after years of being overweight and yo-yo dieting. I got the lap-band on July 18, 2003, under the skillful hand of Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding in New York, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have my life back and it’s better than ever.
I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I have a wonderful family with the best children ever, and I have the health and energy to be able to keep up with them and be a real part of their lives. I am also thrilled every day to be able to advocate for weight loss surgery patients through BariatricPal, working with major obesity, WLS, and medical organizations, and I am so grateful for the lap-band and getting my life back.
I also want to thank BariatricPal members and supporters. When I founded the boards right after my surgery in 2003, there wasn’t much other online support out there. The discussion forums helped me through some tough times, and I am so glad it is able to help others as they approach surgery, recover from it, lose weight, and maintain their loss.

So the endoscopy showed that the band is perfect. My surgeon thinks that it may be my gallbladder...fingers crossed.

Mid August.

Will be 5 years soon and still going great.....most days don't even think about it anymore, just live every day like any other day. It all becomes second nature and routine....
I prefer my band tight enough to restrict me from overeating....that was my problem before surgery. Could not control my appetite with no self control or discipline.....in other words I could not follow any prescribed diets.....
Sure there are foods I will never eat again, but in return I am NEVER hungry, and when I do eat my portions are controlled....IMPOSSIBLE to overeat or indulge......It just doesn't get any better! Very Easy!
To me it is about restriction...
Diets are the thing of the past, so is the fear of ever being over weight again.....
(BTW, the foods I will never eat again, were food groups that are good to eat anyway and should be avoided.....pastas, breads, meat, etc....so it's all for the good...)
And I agree...the people who I followed when I first came here, are all gone. There is not much reason to stay, and I often wonder why I still log on.....maybe because it reminds me from where I came and where I am now....my daily NSV I suppose.
Every-time I do log on, I click "New Content" under Lap Band forums, and all the posts in the Lap Band section are comprised of people with the sleeve or types other than Lap Band!!!

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.

I struggled a bit in May. Had a big loss the 1st week then nothing. Actually GAINED 1 week then sat at 95lbs all month. Then finally Friday I did it, 100lbs lost! Whoop!! ☺️ Every time I say it, I'm in awe.
Not all is since surgery, I lost 43lbs between Aug and my surgery date (20 of that was my pre-op liquid diet). I was banded 1/27 and have lost 57lbs since surgery. I still want to lose 70 more pounds but if I lost not 1 more pound I would consider my WLS a success! This surgery has changed my life and I can't wait to see what the next 70lbs look like!!
I know I'm still a newbie myself but I just wanted to let the people who just had surgery or are struggling, weight loss can and will happen. Even through a stall just keep doing what you're supposed to and it'll happen. Trust in your band, your doctor and most importantly yourself. ????