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:

Kind-of OT, but has anyone ever tried Speed dating?

This is not off the topic at all, and part of what this forum is all about. Surprise, surprise but I have done speed dating a couple of times. It's kind of interesting, but can be fun. It's usually at a bar or some similar setting and you get 8 minutes with a randomly selected group of people. They have egg timers and when the bell dings you move on. At the end of the event you fill out a card that says who you'd be interested in talking to again, and if you both marked each other off then they exchange your info for you. You don't get to meet everyone there at the event, but people usually hang out before and after the event to mingle. I didn't meet anyone either time I did it, and did have a few particularly PAINFUL 8 minutes. lol. But overall I'd say it's not a bad idea and not a bad way to meet people without having to invest a lot of time. Soo....that is my long answer to your short question.

Linadu personally I have not noticed a change in my sexuality but I have never been married and therefore have no idea what it's like to go through a divorce. I do have a friend who, after getting separated from her husband, went a little wild and had some one nighters. It was a phase for her, which she grew out of fairly quickly.

Lol Chrispy... Yah, I've been with matt alot... today we went to D.C. and went around the Smithsonions and had a great day just walking around. My legs are killing me!

I'm leaving him in a week and its gonna be really hard... ugh, why do I find someone so wonderful and then have to leave!

Lindadu- I have really noticed my sexuality changing! I was crazy before, but now I am really crazy, so yes...

no, I've never tried speed dating, but probably would have tried it if I had a friend to do it with before...

Manatee, you should go out for a coffee or something, like to Borders, every one can share their reading experiences and talk about what they like to read. And thats a pretty safe midground area, no making out would be acceptable, kids around, etc. If you felt like a movie or something later then go for it!

Chrispy, you look great! Keep up the good work. Maybe if you are seeking food, you could use a fill?

Linadu, you probably have always been sexual, but were just pushing it to the back of your "things to do" list. I know thats how I have been. And theres nothing wrong with that, but be careful!! So no, you are not alone, I didn't get any for over 3 years bc I didn't like mybody, now i am not ashamed, so I am havin some fun.

JC you look great too! Those kangaroo shoes sound like fun. I am going on my first 5K timed run next month, wish me luck!

dabluprint, welcome! I will go check your page out!!

Smilin Apple, I think I lost 15 lbs on protein shakes bf surgery.

I found a really good protein shake, cant remember how many carbs or whatever, but it was satisfying. Its called Hanks protein shakes, I had the choc, but he has Vanilla too I think. It wasn't chalky at all. And I found a new way to have my protein in the am, since I am too full now, I can't have anything solid or cold bf 10am(sucks) I bought some lowfat french vanillla cappucchino mix, splenda, and 2 scoops of whey protein(20 g protein. Mix it all up with hot water, adn blend it. Its great in the morning.

Well, I willl try to show some pics too, don't have any very recent ones this was a few weeks ago. Don't know how to resize either lol

Kristi

ok well I will try the current me now. lol

Sugar1, you wont be alone forever. You have made a HUGE step and investment in your future and health, a bit of skin won't get in the way. And, if it needs to be done, you can have it fixed. I know its expensive, but let me tell you, there are things in this life worth paying for, and the lapband was one of them for me. If I have to have skin removed later on also, or get implants, LOL cause mine are going going gone now, then I am going to try to do it. I think I will have to have a little tummy tuck, I DO have a lot of skin there, it grosses me out. But, my man never says anything about it, maybe he doesnt care. And you will find someone who loves you for you too.

but, for real, these advertisements along the side saying lapband $6800 really tick me off. I paid $15000, but it included a years worth of checkups, fills, or unfills, 2 cannisters of protein shakes, pre op visits, and anesthesia during surgery. What did everyone else pay? I sometimes feel like I got ripped off, but then I think I could be paing 150 -200 month for fills, etc and post op check ups. Well, done is done.

Kristi

Everyone with new pics up! You guys look great.

How has it changed your single life from the first pic to the last? Men and women's viewpoint!!

Sex SEx SEDXXXX no just kidding. not really SEX

Kris

KristiB You are looking great! A timed 5k way to go! I wish I had the nerve to do something like that, maybe someday.

I made my first 5k training run last month I had so much energy left over that on the last 40 yards I cranked up to a full on hauling A$$ run/sprint whatever, it was the fastest speed I have seen in 20+ years. So now I am trying to find just the right pace. It is not easy. I will keep trying. Please let us know how yours turns out.

PigsR, my life hasn't changed much. I think alot had to do with something that happened when I returned from Tijuana. I AHEM hooked up with an EX. She was the first person I had been with since splitting up with my wife. She took total advantage of the mental condition I was in then left. My self confidence is just now starting to recover, but I'm in no hurry to go through something like that again.

JC

My sex life has not changed one single bit since banding.

It's not that I wouldn't want it to though! I live in a really

small town and it's really hard to meet people. We don't

have anything like speed dating here. I have thought a lot

about moving to one of the bigger towns, but it would be

really hard since I have really close friends and my kids

are here. I have also not had any luck with online dating.

I had a really bad pb episode the other night. Probably

too much information, but I am going have to go into

detail here.

My daughter is a nurse, so I went to the

hospital to have dinner with her. The fish looked really

good, and I usually don't have any trouble eating fish.

It ended up being really dry. I thought putting some

tartar sauce on it would help, but it got stuck

immediately.

I went to the bathroom and pbed it up,

and I thought that was the end of it. For 2 solid hours

afterwards, I kept throwing up white foam. It really

scared me. I thought I was going to have to go to the

emergency room. It finally stopped. I've always been

told to go on liquids for 24 hours after a pb.

I ended up not being hungry at all so I have been on

liquids ever since. I think I am finally going to break this

plateau. 4 protein drinks per day is only 800 calories.

I am really sick of not losing so I am going to keep

doing this awhile.

At the end of August it will be 8

months since I got my band and I haven't lost

anything since my last fill at the end of May.

By the way, I paid $10,000 for my band. I also

had to pay for some lab work, and EKG, a psch eval

and a swallow test the next day. So I would say all

together, I paid about 10,500.00 . I think that's a lot

of money for 40 lbs.

It's pretty cool though that I can

drink 4 protein drinks perbday and not feel the least

bit hungry. I lost 22 lbs the first 4 weeks on the liquid

diet, so maybe this is the answer to drop a some more.

I had a really bad break up about a year and a half ago. I didn't see it coming, it was straight out of left field. I gained 57 pounds since then. So far, what the band has done for me is give me hope that I can get back to where I was ten years ago. I still love him. He's gone. I am hoping that this will help with self confidence to get back out there and find a good guy. I know it shouldn't be this way but so many people judge you by your looks. I want to look great, therefore, will be seen differently.

Since you asked nicely <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" /><br /> <br /> Start, May 17, just before surgery -- 263 lbs, 48" waist pants and 3XLT shirt <--and I was DOWN 20 lbs from my heaviest in February.<br /> <br /> Today, August 20 -- 221 lbs, 40" waist pants and XLT shirt<br /> <br /> Still got a WAYS to go.<br /> <br /> Decided to pass on the offer, just not ready to deal with any of that mess yet.

Hey, everyone! Been a long weekend. I finally managed to make it into the office after 4 cups of coffee, only to find that InDesign (the program I work in) has been upgraded. All of my customized defaults and presets are gone. I think maybe the network guys in the back have it in for me. Today is definitely going to be a Monday.

Kristi, you look great! Congratulations. I don't think I'm ready to post my photo yet. I feel about 80% better than I used to, but I still have a ways to go.

On the upside--I'm down a couple of pounds from last week. Yay!

Oh, Manatee, you look great, too!

DerbyGirl, Network guys rarely change things that will make your life MORE difficult! j/k LOL

Hope the coffee helps

Congrats on the weight loss!

JC