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Realized I need a buddy



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Being newly banded on Nov. 2, 2011, I realized how many questions I still have about lap band, post-op, nutrition etc... I did alot of research before getting the band but the realization that I've been doing this on my own has set in and I truly don't feel its a good idea for anyone to go through lap-band surgery, nutrition and this lifestyle change without the help of other people. I think a lap-band buddy is a GREAT idea, so I am seeking one.

First off, my name is Justin. I'm 23 years old and live in Falling Waters, West Virginia (tri-state area of MD and PA). Starting weight after being banded was 353 lbs. To be honest I carry it pretty well because I was always active in sports in school and was never really a couch potato (even though potatoes are good). I work at Citicorp full time 8am-6:30pm 4 days a week Monday-Thursday. I enjoy my job but I enjoy spending time with family and friends more than anything. My mother is absolutely my hero. She was a single mother raising two children on a waitress salary. In addition to that, she weighed over 240lbs at one point. Over the course of a year she combined diet, exercise and hustling at her job to drop over 100 lbs which is more than I can say I was ever able to do. I don't think getting a lapband was a cheat but I sure have alot of respect for people that are able to lose weight with diet and exercise.

I am looking for a buddy that considers theirself to be rather knowledgable about lap-band in general but also someone whom I can share the experiences I am having as I make take my journey to lose weight. Male or female doesn't matter to me... Age, weight, what you look like etc.... Doesn't matter to me. I could care less. So long as you are an outgoing person that isn't shy. I am DEFINITELY not shy. I consider myself to be a very comical person. Everyone at work would agree that I am the comic relief and I was definitely the class clown. Its just my persona I suppose. If you can deal with those things, I'm sure we will get along fine.

Thanks!

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Hi Justin, I was banded a couple weeks before you on Oct 14 2011. I appreciate a sense of humor and am on here all the time, If I can help any let me know! So have you had any fills? How much have you lost? I am really slow to lose the weight, I am down 24 pounds but hey I am not complaining!! 24 is 24 I am not carrying around anymore!

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Justin - hope things are going well for you. There is so much to learn on this site and connections to be made. Finding this site was great for me. Not a day goes by that i haven't found a topic of interest or a question that I was going to ask. I haven't been banded yet but if you need a good laugh or need to scream i'm on here....

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Hi Justin! I've been banded almost 10 months now so I'm a little bit ahead of you. :) Haha! I am trying to make some friends on here as it keeps me coming on here and accountable. I find when I let myself of this site for awhile I tend to lose focus. Send me a message with any questions or anything and good luck to you!!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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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.
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      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.

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