I am interested to hear what motivated you to finally get the band. Was it a "llow moment", maybe someone else inspired you?

Also, what motivates you on a regular basis to strive for success with the band.

I think the "breaking point" came for me when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. To me, that was really a big wake up call. For close to a year I was having pain in my feet when I woke up in the a.m. Also, my hips were starting to ache while in bed. but the final straw was the apnea.

My daughters keep me motivated every day I have three small girls and really want to set a good example for them and break the cycle of poor eating habits in my family. Also, I want them to be proud of their mom and not embarassed by me.

Thats my story, love to hear yours!

My wake up call was.. when I went to an amusement park with my kids (then ages 5 and 4) I could not ride the rides with them. My mother had to.. I was too big to ride with them.. It made me realize that if I kept the weight on there may have been other things my mother would have to do.. because I may not be here..

So next summer I am going to ride everything I missed out on with my kids

I have become very anti social. Going to a wedding or to visit at a friends house would stress me out for months. I felt so inferior to everyone else and I was really embarrased because I had just lost 90 and then gained back 110. Again.

Also, health is very important to me. I want to be more active, and I want to enjoy retirement (in about 20 years) and go snorkelling and hiking when I am 80. I work in a spa and I see a lot of women. Some are in their 60-70's and are very active and some can barely get in my chair because of limited mobility due to weight related problems. I felt that I had to do this now, because I don't have time to fool around. You know what they say, once you turn 40 things start falling apart is you don't maintain them!

Motivation has constantly been hitting me over the head & I finally understood it was surgery or death!!!! Of many motivating incidents, here are my most memorable:

First came on my 21st birthday when travelling to Las Vegas to Celebrate. It was an exciting time for me! Until I got on the plane & couldn't buckle my seat belt. I was completely crushed. I hadn't realized how big I had gotten. Shamed, I asked for help. The stewardess handed me an "extention belt" & I have never forgotten her reaction. This sparked a BIG diet after Vegas, losing 100 lbs by using an Atkins type eating. Little did I know that I didn't fix my emotional attachment to food...therefore gaining it all back + extra.

The 2nd came when I waited in line for over 1 hour at the amusement park, Six Flags just to find out that once I got onto the ride, I didn't fit. Again, shamed to death, I walked away and knew I needed to do something.

The 3rd came when I started teaching at a new school. Kids are cruel, but the truth hurt more than ever. They nicknamed me "Big Mama" & laughed.

I can already say that being banded is the BEST decision I've ever made for myself. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be banded.

Congrats to all of us who have decided our life is worth living!!!! We deserve the very best!

Happy Holidays!

I was SO upset at wearing a 4x t-shirt (tent) . At age 47 I really feared having a stoke or heart attack. Could still happen but I've helped the odds. I heard about the lap band and jumped aboard. From start to finish maybe 8 weeks.

Best money ever spent. Boy am I ever a cheap date for my hubby!!!

edie

The final straw for me was my dad. Last year in August my dad was diagnosed with melamoma. It had spread to his brain and his lungs. Both places had very small spots and his prognosis was good. They did radiation on his brain and gave him immunotherapy drugs for the cancer in his lungs. The thing about immuontherapy drugs it that it wears a body down. My dad was well over 400 lbs (if not closer to 500)and was in such bad shape that his body just couldnt keep up. They couldnt even find a facility to have a PET scan done. He had fallen several times and it would take 6 or 7 firemen/medics to get him up. I drove 16 hours in November to be there a little more that 24 hours before he passed away. Between that trip and another at Christmas to be with my mom and brothers I put back on 30 lbs. I came home and started looking into the lapband. I probably put it on the back burner till April and went for my seminar on May 4th and had surgery on June 16th. I am down 60 lbs. This time of year has been pretty hard on me emotionally and I havent been the best bandster but I know I will never gain 30 lbs in 2 months again.

hey lady!!! You are one of my big inspiration stories over at the LCF hangout! You are doing great! thanks for sharing.

My motivation is that I'm sick and tired of fighting to be thin! I've been at war with my body since I was 8 years old, and my body usually wins! :think

I think the straw that broke the camel's back was this summer when I attempted to go hiking on an "easy" trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I huffed and I puffed and I finished the thing, but I thought I was going to die! As the famous quote from the movie "Network" goes: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!" :angry

So many "last straws" that it is hard to count. ...

1) Being diagnosed with Venous Stasis - basically and old fat ladies disease.

2) Hitting the highest size in the clothing stores - 5x - 32/34 and having a hard time finding clothes that fit, even then...

3) Being passed over for promotion for someone younger and thinner.

4) Waking up and having to stagger from the pain in my feet and ankles every day.

And more. Let's not even talk about airplanes and car seatbelts that just barely squeezed over my belly...just daily life being the size of two lumberjacks....

From 348 to 295 doesn't seem like much - but it's LIGHT YEARS in difference of quality of life. Now I am only the size of 2 normal women...

I can't wait for 195...

:]

So many "last straws" that it is hard to count. ...

2) Hitting the highest size in the clothing stores - 5x - 32/34 and having a hard time finding clothes that fit, even then...

From 348 to 295 doesn't seem like much - but it's LIGHT YEARS in difference of quality of life. Now I am only the size of 2 normal women...

I can't wait for 195...

:]

ReneBean,

i loved your post ... what is really quite sad now is that LB catalog online is now even going up to a 7X!! which i guess would have been a good thing if i had not been banded. i was at a 6x and gaining...

i'm glad to hear that there is a difference between 348 and 295. i have gone from 402 to 345 and there is a difference, but i want to experience so much more!

congrats on your loss - everyone is doing SO great!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: