One year ago today, I had my lap band placed and my life changed forever. I'm down 80 lbs as of this morning, but it's so much more than weight loss for me:

-No more acid reflux

-Cholesterol and triglycerides are normal

-PCOS under control

-No more crippling back pain

-Feet don't go numb after standing for a few minutes

-More energy

-More self esteem

-No more hiding from cameras

-Shopping in any store I want (see ya later, Lane Bryant!)

Without the lap band, there is no way I could have achieved all this. Thank you Bandy, you're a lifesaver!

Wow! That is so great! Congrats on your one year...I hope to be as successful with the band...are you at your goal?

FABULOUS AND CONGRATS!!!!

That is great! I haven't done that well but went nearly a year without seeing my doc. Didn't lose any but didn't gain any either. Got my password reset here, started going back, got back exercising, and now back on track.

Congratulations on your success!! That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing, it's very encouraging.

Thanks everyone! As a treat I bought myself two dresses from NY&Co. and a new strapless bra that I've been needing for a while. Let me tell you, I must have looked like a deer in headlights when I walked in to Victoria's Secret...I have never shopped there before! Other than spending over 50 bucks on one bra, it was a great feeling!

Love it! We are raised to celebrate achievements with food. Changing that behavior is hard too! But being able to shop in Victoria's Secret?? Worth WAY more than special dinners!!

Congratulations!!!! I hit my one year in Jan. and had the same success....

IT REALLY DOES WORK!!!! Doesn't it.....

What a coincidence...like you, I lost 80 lbs in one year also....

Congrats!

Congratulations!

One year ago today, I had my lap band placed and my life changed forever. I'm down 80 lbs as of this morning, but it's so much more than weight loss for me:

-No more acid reflux

-Cholesterol and triglycerides are normal

-PCOS under control

-No more crippling back pain

-Feet don't go numb after standing for a few minutes

-More energy

-More self esteem

-No more hiding from cameras

-Shopping in any store I want (see ya later, Lane Bryant!)

Without the lap band, there is no way I could have achieved all this. Thank you Bandy, you're a lifesaver!

this is so exciting and well worth your posting. everyone of these items you mentioned here im identifying with to the hilt. lol.. way to go... im thrilled for you. Do you have any tips or lessons you learned along the way this first year?? could you share with us please?

this is so exciting and well worth your posting. everyone of these items you mentioned here im identifying with to the hilt. lol.. way to go... im thrilled for you. Do you have any tips or lessons you learned along the way this first year?? could you share with us please?

Thank you! I think the biggest lesson I learned this past year is to stop "dieting". I'm making a lifestyle change, so dieting is a thing of the past. The "perpetual diet" was the thing that caused me to always fail in the past, as I'm sure it has for many bandsters before surgery.

"Not dieting" doesn't mean I allow myself to eat junk food all day long. The band has put me in the mindset of wanting to give my body what it needs to stay healthy and strong, not what my brain wants at the moment. Do I still drink wine on occasion? Have a cookie or a piece of cake? Sure I do. Heck, I eat a piece of dark chocolate every day. The difference is that I don't beat myself over it. I enjoy it, then go back to eating healthier foods and exercising. No big deal. This is real life, not a diet where I'm "good" or "bad". It took me my whole life to figure that out, and I feel like it has been very important in my success.