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smilo

By smilo, in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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smilo    0

smilo
Posted

I'm a spinster librarian from southeast Louisiana. My house and I both survived Katrina, and I was banded by Dr. Thomas Lavin in Slidell, Louisiana on 11/21/2005. I got through the soft food phase and was able to eat waaaayyy too much food over the holidays. However, I only gained two pounds, so I didn't think that was too bad.

I had my first fill on 1/5/06 and my second on 2/1/06. I've lost 12 pounds since that first fill. I still get fairly hungry between meals, so I don't think I've found that perfect fill level yet.

I took Meridia for several months prior to my surgery to try to get in better shape for the surgery. In May 2005 when I started the Meridia I weighed 342 pounds. Right now I weigh 277. So, my grand total is really 65 pounds.

I've been on diets since I was 10, and like most of you I'm guessing, I've lost and gained hundreds of pounds over the years. I'm really hoping that the lap-band will be the tool that finally works in the long term.

As I was pondering the surgery I came up with this analogy--for me, dieting is a lot like swimming. I can do it fairly well, but in the end I'm a land mammal and simply not designed to live in the Water. I get tired of being wet, and my fingers get pruny, and I just have to get back out onto dry land. The lap-band is like scuba gear. It's going to help me be much more comfortable living in an environment that isn't really natural for me. And, if I'm lucky, in time I might even develop some gills.

It's nice to be among so many other folks who are trying out the scuba gear with me. And, if you haven't had the surgery yet, come on in...the water's fine.

Smilo

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PhotoNut    7

PhotoNut
Posted

Woohoo! I liked this post and your analogy!

Welcome to LBT, Smilo! 65 pounds over the last year is awesome. You go you spinster librarian! I'm betting you won't be a spinster for long once you hit your target weight.. or before :) You have a great personality that just shines through.

I also just hit 277 so I'm right there with ya, with my scuba gear on!

*hugs*

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mousecrazy    2

mousecrazy
Posted

Glad you're here! As an English teacher, I enjoy a great analogy, and yours was perfect! I got tired of "being wet" also! I love the band, and hope I can keep it healthy; that's the goal, anyway! See ya around, Cindy

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lotsofkids    0

lotsofkids
Posted

I am not yet banded.....but jumped in today to the forum and was warmly received by many. I think I'm going to like it here : )

Hope to see ya around....smiles...diane

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

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

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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