Two weeks ago I took my grandkids to the beach for the day. This meant I went to the gym at 6 as usual, then into work until 10, then I picked up the kids and took them to the beach. I walked up and down the beach twice, played in the tide pools, had lunch and then back down the beach, and finally home. Somewhere during this process I was sitting in the sun, relaxing for a minute and started to reflect on my life today vs. 6 years ago before I was banded.

Just 6 years ago I would have either gone to work or gone with the kids somewhere- not enough energy for both. Four years ago I would have gone to the gym in the morning and probably just taken the kids to the beach. Two years ago I would have gone to the gym, come into work for a bit and taken the kids to the beach. I would have never made it up and down the beach twice. I would have been exhausted by the time we had returned once from the tide pools. This time, approaching my 6th year with a lap band and at 61 years old, I went to the gym, then worked for 2 hours, then took the kids to the beach and walked back and forth on the beach, in out of the surf and the tide pools, up to the restaurant and back, and still had energy to spare.

Life is a miracle, my grandkids are blessings, and every day I am grateful for my lap band.

If you ‘re early in your journey ,take a moment to think about where you would like to be a year from now.

Those who have been on this journey for a while ,take a moment and reflect on what something you are doing today would have been like before you were banded.

Let’s share.

You can read about this day and many of my days since I was banded in 2004 at my blog atSandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story

Please let me know if you find it useful.

Hi there,

I was banded last year. Last year March, I weighed 441 lbs and could barely walk half a city block. It was horrible. Now 13 months after my banding, I am able to walk for a few miles. I am not embarrassed to be seen outside and even on a bad day, I feel better than I've felt in years! This was by far the best thing I've done in 20+ years.

I love the way I feel now and what i am able to do. I am able to play my guitar again without my stomach getting in the way.

Life is so much better =)