I would like to start a thread about successful bandsters.

Many people come here for advice and get scared by all the complication posts.

That’s because people are here to find advice and share what they are going thru. These are all very good posts sharing valuable information!

However I would like people to share their Band Success stories here.

Anything you consider a Success!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Think someone could sticky this so people can see it when they visit?

This is the best thread!!

I am now just over 6 months out and I have beat diabetes and hypertension, I was on 6 meds a day making me sick and I was very moody and depressed. I had to take a sick leave before I even got banded just to deal with my medical issues. I was a size 18-20 and am now a size 2/4 depending on the clothes!!! I feel soo much healthier, and happier and hopefully my choices to live life better and eat healthier will affect the life of my 3 childern. CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU!!!

Congratulations to all of you. What amazing stories. I can't wait to be where you are.

The best of luck.

Just celebrated my 6th month anniv (4/7/06) and am down 48 lbs as of this morning...........love my band.

I've had my band a little over 4 years

 

WOW!!! I want that kind of success with my band! I hope to be 80 and be buried with it!!

I enjoy these types of threads but I as a veteran Bandster, I caution us against thinking that if your band journey isn't smoothly, perfect that you're not successful.

Au contraire!

I'm proof positive that you can have a sometimes not-so-smooth journey with the band and yet still triumph.

Basically, I was about 80# or so overweight. I wore my weight well (tall, large frame, thick bone mass) but I knew I needed help because I was getting heavier each year. I wanted to look better, (I stress that because it was most important to me) and feel better. I realized surgery was my only chance for long term weight management. I got myself fully approved for surgery - using my long, unsuccessful diet history to help my case. It worked. I got approved for RnY but preferred the LapBand.

I was told that in a best-case scenario, I'd lose 75# to 80# with the LapBand in about 18-20 months versus 85# to 95# with the RnY bypass in about 12-14 months overall.

This is important - because I had a lower BMI and lower start weight, I was never going to lose magnificent numbers at high speed because I didn't have as much weight to easily lose. Mine would be the long, slow haul either way. So the LapBand would return me to 'normal size' but would not make me 'skinny.' With the RnY I'd probably get much smaller than my normal size, but I gambled that an extra 10# or 15# wasn't worth getting my intestines re-sectioned, so I went with LapBand.

(Crossing my fingers that it works out!)

The doctors goal was about a 26 BMI for my larger frame with LapBand.

So now, 19 months after getting my low-profile port, I have hit what my team (my doctor, my surgeon and my Plastic Surgeon) think is my 'normal weight'. I'm hardly thin but I hit the 26 BMI goal they set. Plus I've gotten rid of almost all the excess fat I had to lose easily, so a bit of body-sculpting and lipo will remove the stubborn flab and excess skin that remains. That's all on my next step of this LapBand journey.

Now my new personal goal is to whittle that down to 25 BMI (wow, 24 might be awesome but unattainable) just to keep things in check. That might take months to lose those few pounds, so I'm going to try not to stress myself about it.

So I'm at doctor's goal, look great, and most importantly I've gotten down enough sizes to shop anywhere and wear nearly everything. (I need thigh lipo or "Thi-Po" :biggrin1: so I can wiggle into some little small designer things, but that day is coming soon! )

So enjoy your journeys - smooth or not - there is light at the end of the Band Tunnel. :clap2:

Posting for my husband...he was my inspiration for getting the band.

Band date: March 6, 2006

Starting weight: 303

Current weight: 230 (he's 6'2" with LOTS of muscle)

Former pant size: 40 - 42

Current pant size: 34 - 36

Fills: 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band (took five fills to get there)

Complications: None - not even the PB, slime, golf ball category

When I found this site (I was doing more research) I would come across stuff he had never mentioned...PB, sliming, golf ball, etc. He had no clue what I was talking about, so needless to say he has had a very good experience.

He's off of one of his blood pressure medicines and expects to be off the other soon....and let me tell ya ladies he is lookin good!! :-)

I've been happy with my progress too :-)