Just wanted to toot my own horn a lil and give all you newbies out there struggling in Bandster Hell right now hope that it WILL GET BETTER! As of today (drum roll please:lol:) I have lost 68 lbs in 20 weeks, half way to my goal weight! Yes, I include the 2 week liquid diet love affair I was forced into . The first couple months after surgery were pure hell for me, I went through a bunch of self pity & questioned my decision to have the Lap Band but looking back now, every SECOND of my agony was worth THIS MOMENT!

The Facts:

I started my journey weighing 271 & am now down to 203. Onderland, here I come BABY!

My size 22 jeans were literally leaving bruises on me & am now wearing a size 14/16.

My shirt size has went from 2-3x to EXTRA LARGE and still comfortable!

My shoe size (yeah I know CRAZY huh) has went from a 9 1/2 to an 8 1/2.

My bra size has went for a 46 D to a 38 C.... keeping everything crossed that the C sticks around

I know many others have had even more success than me & some are at a slower pace but I AM SO HAPPY with my results! I recently had my 5th fill and I think I may have finally hit that sweet spot, I just have to get my mind in motion to accept that 1/4-1/2 cup food for a meal really is all I need & I won't starve... It's getting easier everyday though.

Anyhow, I really just wanted to give all you folks newly banded that are struggling such as I was, some hope to hang in there until your "tool" begins doing what it's suppose to. I'm definitely beginning to see it is getting easier though I know I will face many more struggles before reaching & maintaining my goal weight but at least there IS hope now!

Good Luck to us all! :crying:

That is great!! Thanks for the inspiration.

Congratulations! Your progress is amazing. Getting banded on Wednesday so looking forwards to the moments that you are having now! Good luck to your next goal!

You are a rock-star! Congratulations.

That is so awesome, what an inspiration you are!!! I'm getting banded on Tues. Hoping for great results also. Keep up the good work.

I hope I remember to read this post when I enter bandster hell! I am beyond thrilled for you!

Hip Hip Hooray for u !!!!!!! I will be band on Nov 22!! It nice to hear wonderful stories. Keep up all the hard work an u be at goal in know time:)

Congrats!!! And thanks for sharing...I was banded on 11/8 and it gives me hope that this will all be worth it.

Thanks everyone! I really just want you gals/guys that are struggling and trying your best to diet that it will get better once you start getting regular fills and begin having some restriction. I don't follow a real diet anymore that I have some restriction, I eat such small amounts that it makes not that much of a difference. STAY AWAY FROM SWEETS! Even when you get restriction, they are all slider foods.

No matter how slow you are eating, slow down more. It'll make a world of difference on what you are able to tolerate with your band, I'm still working on that. I have found that eating with a baby spoon helps a lot also. The more I stick to bites the size of a pencil eraser, the less problems I have with Pb'ing, sliming & all that fun miserable stuff.

OMG!! I needed to read this.. Thank you so much for posting. I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and already I am questioning myself, if I did the right thing. I go the 18th for my first fill and hoping that I will get some restriction and start seeing some pounds come off. Congratulations on the success.. Keep it up and keep us posted...

Very inspirational post from a fellow Ohioan :thumbup: Congrats with your progressive success so far and heres to your continued success!!! You're doing AWESOME!

OMG!! I needed to read this.. Thank you so much for posting. I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and already I am questioning myself, if I did the right thing. I go the 18th for my first fill and hoping that I will get some restriction and start seeing some pounds come off. Congratulations on the success.. Keep it up and keep us posted...

Hang in there girl! I was right there where you are right now, crying to my husband asking why he let me do this to myself! Don't get me wrong, it has been damn HARD for me in every aspect of the word but seeing that scale dip under 200 lbs (198 to be exact ), made every miserable second for the last 4 months WORTH IT! I am still learning day by day how to make this band work for me but I'm pretty sure I've figured it out. It just takes a little more planning on my part & the dollar menu is definitely a thing of the past LOL food is really becoming less & less of the focus of my life each day. Other than I have to think of what I NEED to eat vs. what I WANT to eat. Once you get the right restriction it will blow you away that you are okay with eating 5-6 bites of food and not even thinking about eating again until your next meal. Which, you'll have to remind yourself about. All this said, I have only been in this happy spot for a few weeks now so I am still a little skeptical that it'll last but there is hope at least!

Best of luck to you all!

I came across your post at a much needed time...I was just banded on 12/1 and have 100,00,000 ??????'s in my head about weight loss progress etc...your story is very insperational keep up the good work!!!!

& thanks for sharing

WOW!!! That is so great to hear. I started at about the same weight and size as you, so it is really encouraging to hear your progress! I wish you continued success.

Nicely done girl!!!

You RAWK!

Very inspirational... I am on day 2 of my pre op diet and will be banded on Dec 17th. I just keep trying to think all this be worth it in the end and reading this is a great motivation. Thank you so much for sharing.