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chicago bandsters reunite 2010



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Just wanted to give a quick update... in case any of my fellow Chicagoans out there are reading :thumbup:. My paperwork was submitted to my insurance about two weeks ago and I'm sooo anxious to find out if they approve me or not. I want to call the surgeons office like everyday and ask, lol, but i think at this point its best not to get on their nerves. I want everything to go as smooth as possible. So I'm just here... trying to get my mind off of finding out :thumbup:.

So anyway, one of my friends just got her band put in last Thursday and I think I was more excited than she was!!! Only a week out and you can already tell that the pounds are melting off!! Its amazing... I can't wait till its my time to shine :thumbup:.

:ohmy: For all of you reading this: Where are you in your journey?!? Any tips, advice, personal struggles, positive thoughts, achievements??? :lol:

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Hi everyone, im 10 days into getting banded and feel great so far ! im in the city and i would love to meet other city bandsters! i got my banding at west lake in melrose, with docs from suburban surgery center in elmwood! lets make friendsand start a city support group on this site! yay chicago!:(

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Hi I just got banded in August so far I have lost 35 lbs. I live in Chicago about 20 minutes from downtown.

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Just wanted to say hi and see how everybody is doing :thumbup:...

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Hi everyone, I've been banded since February of this year and I have been looking to make friends with other bandsters in the chicagoland area. I haven't really had the opportunity to do so but I'm definitely still open to the idea.

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Hi fabulous@fifty... Welcome! Im Maria and I have been banded since September :frown:. I live near Humboldt Park in Chicago. How have you been doing since the surgery?

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Hi Maria,

I have been fine in the last few months, the first four months was kind of rough. I couldn't eat very much at all, so I lost nearly 70lbs during that period of time. Now that I'm able to eat and keep it down my weight loss has tapered off, I'm holding steady at the 70lbs down :frown:.

I live in the south suburbs (Richton Park) but I'm very familiar with Humbolt Park, in fact I used to live there many years ago. I'm in the city quite often as most of family still live in and around chicago. Maybe we can meet for lunch sometimes.

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Wow...70lbs is amazing!!! Can't wait till I can say that I lost 70... Im at about 33 now... its coming off slowly but its still coming off. So I have no complaints, lol.

lunch would be great... its the easiest time of day for me :thumbup: (my son is at school and my hubby is @ work).

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I'm three days post-op and in the western Chicago suburbs. Am interested in a local support group.

I live in the west Chicago suburbs and would also like to network with other bandsters, banded 01/26/2010

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Hi Ebony... How has this journey been for you?

Btw, How far west are you? 2 of us are getting together for lunch and maybe you can join us? And everyone else is welcomed... that is if there is anyone else reading this thread :rolleyes2:

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I'm still reading it. Can you PM me the lunch plan details please?

2 of us are getting together for lunch and maybe you can join us? And everyone else is welcomed... that is if there is anyone else reading this thread :rolleyes2:

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I'm still reading it. Can you PM me the lunch plan details please?

Hi Katy,

We have yet to pick a date... What works for everyone? I can do Mon- Thurs.

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I work Monday through Friday so could only do a weekday lunch if nearby. Early evenings on weekdays would work better for me.

Hi Katy,

We have yet to pick a date... What works for everyone? I can do Mon- Thurs.

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How about a Saturday? Does that work for everyone? :(

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 0 replies
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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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