Llyra

Banded 3-3-10. Weight loss was slow until second fill, which seemed to "take." I have gradually been adjusting to new ways of eating and have not put serious restrictions on myself since those always backfore on me. PB 3-4 times, pain from overbites more often- my own dumb fault when I get to thinking about something else and subconsciously return to old bad habits of gulping my food or (horrors) taking a sip of soft drink during meals. Ouuuch. Down 26 pounds, 58 pounds to goal.

Since I'd read a lot about liquid, mushy, etc. diet post surgery, I was very surprised when my doctor told me I could eat whatever I wanted as long as I took small bites and chewed them well. He's the doc, so I did as he instructed. I lost some weight post surgery, but it didn't really get going good until after my second fill.

I have cut down on diet soft drinks but not eliminated them completely. I quit for a while pre and post banding, then picked up the habit again. I substitute iced tea most of the time, but after reading this thread, I realize that I really need to quit all together. After all the trouble I went through to get this band approved by my insurance, I sure the heck don't want to displace it. At 26 pounds down, I am just getting started on the road to good health. Okay. That's it. The diet soft drinks are a thing of the past. (Schnivel, sob, weep.)

I want to do a solo dance performance that is NOT a comedy routine, and I want a pretty costume to wear for it. (I teach belly dance, but quit performing when my weight ballooned the last time.)

I am happy to see this thread has been reactivated. My name is Llyra and I have thirteen years of clean time. My banding was done on March 3 of this year and I have lost 26 pounds with approximately 60 more to go. Until I got the second fill, I was afraid I was in line to be one of the lap band failures- the weight simply was not coming off. The second fill helped immensely as has a gradual adjustment to a new way of eating. I teach belly dance, garden and maintain two horses so exercise is not as big a problem for me as for some, though I do tend to spend too much time on the couch if I am feeling low. After six years of not attending meetings, I returned to the rooms in October. The catalyst was the death of a friend in a motorcycle accident. I saw so many old faces at his funeral and realized I missed them. Didn't expect to be recognized after so many years and a 75 pound weight gain, but I was welcomed back with open arms.

My name is Llyra and I had lap band surgery March 3. After a slow start my weight loss picked up and I am now 26 pounds lighter than I started out. I love the suggested question in the guide to introductions: "Have you been banded?" It makes me feel like a rare bird or endangered wild cat. I look forward to connecting with others who are on the road to recovery from life within a wall of flesh.