So, one year ago today, I had my lapband surgery. I don't need to review for any of you the nerves, the anxiety, the GAS PAINS!!!!! Then the liquid diet, the mushie diet....and the hardest of all: learning to eat plain ol' regular food again.

Looking back now, I see that I have learned so much. In fact, I think the lapband gave me more gifts than I was prepared, at first, to accept. I have been given the gift of PATIENCE. I learned that if I turn down a brownie today, there will probably be another one in the future. Think about that. That's a big realization!

I learned FORGIVENESS. If I make some bad choices today, I can do better tomorrow. Life is full of opportunities to redeem your mistakes. Learning this has been very freeing. This kind of freedom has released me from the depression/eating cycle, at least most of the time.

I learned how to LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. There's no race going on here...no competition. Sure, I'd see that others lost weight faster than I did, and I was tempted to buy into my old response of feeling inferior to them, but I fought that battle. What glorious freedom to rid myself of that! The reverse is also true. I saw that I was losing faster than some...I had to learn to fight the feeling of superiority, too.

I LEARNED TO JUST BE ME. I don't have to be perfect. I don't have to be the best example to everyone. I can be just ME...sometimes doing things that are good and healthy, and sometimes not doing those things. Overall, the good decisions won out, and I have some before and after stats that I hope will be inspiring to some, especially those who are just starting out or are making their decisions about whether or not to have this surgery. I also hope that those of us who have been supporting each other all along will accept whatever success these statistics represent as a personal THANK YOU! The hours and hours I have spent here were informative, comforting, and thought-provoking. I chose to learn from all of you. I know we are all different, and that has been a benefit, not a detriment. I have made some very special friends here, and to those very special people, who should know who they are, I want to say, "Thank God for you!"

Before: After:

Weight: 286 Weight: 225

Bust: 50" Bust: 38.5"

Waist: 48" Waist: 39"

Hips: 59.5" Hips: 49"

Thigh: 36" Thigh: 26.5"

Calf: 18.5" Calf: 16"

Upper arm: 18" Upper arm: 14"

Size: 26 Size: 18

BMI: 45 BMI: 36

61 lbs lost!!!

41 inches gone!!!

I am looking forward to YEAR TWO as a year to meet my stated goal of reaching 180 lbs. Another goal for this year is to add quite a lot more physical activity to my life.

It's been a great year. I wouldn't trade the ups and downs for anything...especially not the life I had before I made the decision to take the leap and change my life!

Much luck and success to all, and again, thanks for support!

Cindy

(There should be pictures to go with this, soon.)

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Thanks again, everyone!

WOW mousecrazy, you have done an awesome job. Your inches are just beautiful.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

You've done amazingly well! I have no doubt that you'll reach the goal you've set for yourself for year 2. I look forward to following your progress, which is an inspiration to all.

Take care,

Cindy - you are just as special to us! ((hugs))

You said some very thought provoking things, like... "turning down a browie today cause there'll be another later."

Have you lost your mind?? I want a bownie NOW and LATER! hehe

Youve done an awesome job!

Happy Band-anniversay!

I have been given the gift of PATIENCE.

I learned FORGIVENESS.

I learned how to LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.

I LEARNED TO JUST BE ME. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Cindy, dear friend i missed this special post of you cause i was in vacations that time, i missed almost all July 2005 fellows their bandiversaries.. It's a post that every new-kid-on-the-block must read and keep! and read again and again when she/he will have starvings or when she/he will feel miserable or stressed or impatient etc..

I wish you many bandiversaries dear and it doesn't matter how fast we will meet at the end of the journey but the journey itself and that we will meet! Im very proud of you! Keep loving your band as you do now and see you at the end of the journey! love ya

Mary

Congratulations!!!! Those new measurements are awesome!!!!

Excellent post mouse. I want to thank you for your positive contributions. You are one bandster who sticks out for me, as I am relatively new to the board and very new to the band.

Thanks for sharing your dear, sweet, considerate supportive and helpful self......

Paula

Thank you, thank you!

Keep learning, keep your patience, and thanks for the compliments!