I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we could discuss the different challenges/issues we face as being single and banded.

I'll start with introducing myself. My name is Chris, I am 32 and live in a suburb of Boston. About a year ago I got out of a 5 year relationship and have just casually dated (online dating) since then. I have decided to take a break from dating for a bit, so I can focus on myself and adjust to living life as a bandster. (I was just banded on 10/2). One of my biggest concerns when I start dating again is if/when to tell that I am banded. It's not that I don't want to tell people, it's just that my idea of great dinner conversation does not include discussing my weight. Overall I would say that I have a great life. I have a good job, a very supportive family, and lots of friends. I am happy to be taking control over my weight and issues with food, and am excited at the prospect of my future as a not-so-fat woman.

I look forward to meeting more single bandsters and hope this thread takes off!

Chris :cocktail:

I did it, I am 2 days away from one year bandiversary and I lost 100 lbs; I hit this "small/big" goal on Monday this week.

I would have posted sooner but I don't have internet at home right now.

I am so excited, I can't believe I have lost 100 lbs. That is so weird to say!!! What is even weirder is that I am almost half way to my goal...35 lbs more to lose and then I will be officially half way to my final goal!

Thank you all for your support over the last year and a half. On November 7th it will be one year since my surgery and my first "small/big" goal was to lose 100 lbs by the one year mark and it worked! That is the first time EVER in my life I have kept a long term goal going.

Congrats Smiley! 100 lbs. lost is so fantastic!

I can't wait to get there!

April, congratulations!

Did you get your problem figured out on whether or not you were too tight?

It turns out I was too tight and didn't even know it. I was having acid reflux at night, but no day time problems. Nothing ever got stuck, and I never threw up. I had a test today and in 15 min the barium never left my esophagus. I had to have 1 cc removed and I am not happy. I didn't even know it was possible to be too tight and not even know it.

I thought when you're too tight, certain foods would cause trouble. I could eat bread or fruits with skins, anything I wanted.

April, congratulations!

Did you get your problem figured out on whether or not you were too tight?

It turns out I was too tight and didn't even know it. I was having acid reflux at night, but no day time problems. Nothing ever got stuck, and I never threw up. I had a test today and in 15 min the barium never left my esophagus. I had to have 1 cc removed and I am not happy. I didn't even know it was possible to be too tight and not even know it.

I thought when you're too tight, certain foods would cause trouble. I could eat bread or fruits with skins, anything I wanted.

I never went back to my surgeon because he is so far away and with the price of gas, bridge toll fees and all I wanted to wait a little while. Well I have my one year follow up with him next week and I will talk to him about it then. I am still feeling like I might be slightly too tight but not too much. I am trying to concentrate better on my eating. I have cut out almost all junk. I have been having some chocolate each day but I am trying to cut that out as well. It was my comfort when I couldn't eat anything else. Even when chunky soup would hurt chocolate was good to me and I have to get away from that mentality!

Anyways doing a little better each day as far as the food but back to square one with my back pain. I even slowed down on my Water Aerobics because this winter weather has made the pain almost unbearable!

Enough complaining from me...

I know the feeling of the unfill and it is not fun just be careful with your eating because I was able to eat more after my last unfill. I have never heard of being too tight and not knowing either, I am going to ask my surgeon about that....but he does have a chart that lists "having acid reflux" even just at night as a sign of being too tight.

Take care of yourself!

April, congratulations!

Did you get your problem figured out on whether or not you were too tight?

It turns out I was too tight and didn't even know it. I was having acid reflux at night, but no day time problems. Nothing ever got stuck, and I never threw up. I had a test today and in 15 min the barium never left my esophagus. I had to have 1 cc removed and I am not happy. I didn't even know it was possible to be too tight and not even know it.

I thought when you're too tight, certain foods would cause trouble. I could eat bread or fruits with skins, anything I wanted.

Weird, when I went in to get a fill back in March. I was filled completely at 4 cc and they still were able to add .25cc making it a total of 4.25cc and it was trickling down slowly. But now it's like I can eat whatever and however much I want. I don't have any issues with reflux ever, I just don't understand why I can have so much fluid in my band and no restriction.

I did it, I am 2 days away from one year bandiversary and I lost 100 lbs; I hit this "small/big" goal on Monday this week.

I would have posted sooner but I don't have internet at home right now.

I am so excited, I can't believe I have lost 100 lbs. That is so weird to say!!! What is even weirder is that I am almost half way to my goal...35 lbs more to lose and then I will be officially half way to my final goal!

Thank you all for your support over the last year and a half. On November 7th it will be one year since my surgery and my first "small/big" goal was to lose 100 lbs by the one year mark and it worked! That is the first time EVER in my life I have kept a long term goal going.

Good for you. I hope to get there one day. But I've been banded almost 2 years on November 28:frown:

Wow, Missy, our band dates are close.

How is your bf doing?

Good, he has to go back to the liver specialist and have more tests run on the 24th.

How are you and your bf? Has he opened up a little more?

Things are going well right now. We haven't had any more incidents of failure to communicate. We will have to see what happens the next time we have a disagreement. Luckily, we get along very well. I have only been mad at him 3 times in the last 4 months. The first two times we were able to talk about the problem.

The last time, he kept saying he was in a bad mood from working on his mother's house and just told me to let it go. I told him it's hard to let it go when I don't understand what he was upset about. I still don't think it was his mother because it didn't make sense for him to act so cold to Me when he was mad at his mother.

Do they know what is wrong with your bf yet? Tell him to ask his dr. what the dr. thinks about milk thistle. I would be interested to hear if he agrees with my dr.

Things are going well right now. We haven't had any more incidents of failure to communicate. We will have to see what happens the next time we have a disagreement. Luckily, we get along very well. I have only been mad at him 3 times in the last 4 months. The first two times we were able to talk about the problem.

The last time, he kept saying he was in a bad mood from working on his mother's house and just told me to let it go. I told him it's hard to let it go when I don't understand what he was upset about. I still don't think it was his mother because it didn't make sense for him to act so cold to Me when he was mad at his mother.

Do they know what is wrong with your bf yet? Tell him to ask his dr. what the dr. thinks about milk thistle. I would be interested to hear if he agrees with my dr.

I would have to say me and my bf get along pretty good too. We just love spending time together and it seems we never want to be apart. Men can sometimes be just as confusing as women.

He's actually looking to go to another doctor because he doesn't like the one he's going to. On the bottom of his leg he has these brown spots that look like liver spots and he showed his doctor and the doctor said "what is that? a rash?" I'm like what?

Having gained all of my weight in the last 2 years, I can testify that my ability to attract the ladies has diminished greatly.

Having gained all of my weight in the last 2 years, I can testify that my ability to attract the ladies has diminished greatly.

I'm sorry to hear that. I've gained a little back as well and trying to get back on track. I find you attractive even being big so keep your head up.

Having gained all of my weight in the last 2 years, I can testify that my ability to attract the ladies has diminished greatly.

So... were the "before" pics from before you gained weight? Or before being banded? Because according to your signature line it says you have not been banded as of yet is this correct?

So... were the "before" pics from before you gained weight? Or before being banded? Because according to your signature line it says you have not been banded as of yet is this correct?

That's correct. Those pics were of me right before I gained my weight.

Well it looks like you are on the right path. You look good either way but your body will be much happier at when you are healthier weight and I'm sure you will too! When is your surgery? Are you looking forward to it?