I had lapband surgery 9/18/03 and have lost 92 lbs. I could not be happier. I love the results and am enjoying life as a thinner person. People really do treat you differently. (Part of which makes me angry since I am the same person.) However, I can't change the nature of the beast so I will just enjoy the results. I would recommend this surgery to anyone who is tired of fighting the battle of the bulge and who is willing to make the adjustment of not living to eat any longer. You have to be emotionally ready for the change. It is a small sacrifice in my opinion for the results I have enjoyed so far during the past 10 months. I wish this opportunity had been available to me 20 years ago. We can't go back so I am only looking forward to the future!

Debra Thanks for the encouraging post. I would really like to know more about you , How many fills and what you eat your exercise, and so on. And more of you personally. I love hearing great success stories. You seem to have a great attitude also. I was banded on 5-6-04 and have lost about 34 lbs. I have not had a fill as of yet. Was hoping to be one of those few people who never had to have a fill, because I am deathly afraid of not being able to swollow. Welcome to our board and congratulations on your weightloss... Please tell us more...Thanks Janie

Well, I am a 53 year old female from the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. I am a lapband fanatic. I told my husband that I would like to get a teeshirt made when I reach my goal (which is about 40 pounds away) that had a before on the front and an after shot of me on the back. I am ready to "testify" about lapband at the drop of a hat. It has changed my life. I have had four adjustments. (My last one had to be reversed because I was refluxing water!) I can eat most anything with the exception of ground beef and rice as a side dish. I am very careful with bread. I only nibble on it. I usually eat from my husband's plate at a restaurant (I do actually have my own plate as I always tell the waitress that we are sharing.) I eat an ounce or two of meat in very small pieces, a couple of bits of salad, a bite or two of a roll and maybe a bite of his dessert. I do aerobic exercise about five times a week. I did not exercise the first six months, however, so I need to be really faithful now. I am happier than I could ever express. None of that whining for me. The minor sacrifices made for this result is sooooooo worth it for me.

Thank you, Debra! We all need to hear more success stories. Sounds like you have done an awsome job!

Debra was my inspiration to have the lapband surgery. We work for the same company, even though she works in Chattanooga and I work in Nashville. I had never heard of the lapband until she told me about it.

Debra thanks for your words of encouragment and for sharing your story, like I said, you need to attend the support group meetings so that you can help other people that might be struggling a little. Love your positive attitude!

You go girl!

T

Hi Debra,

It was nice getting to know a little bit about you. Glad your nearing goal too. Hope you keep coming back to visit us and inspire us. I got banded 5/8/04 and am down 49 lbs. Love the results. Keep up the good work, Teresa

Debra Thanks for all the information. I am 54 years old. You are close to my age. I need to start exercising but I just havent yet. For a while I had such bad knee pain that I really couldnt. But I have no excuse now. Its encouraging to me to hear that you didnt start exercising until six months out, may be there is hope for me yet.I am only three mounths out. Right now I am in the grandmother business. I have three grandbabies from three diffrent daughters all under seventeen months old. I havent a good reason to be depressed but I am somewhat. I think it is band related. Did you experience any depression in the beginning? Again congratulations your story is great...Thanks Janie

Hi Debra, welcome! I'm so glad you found this board and have decided to post. Nice to meet you!! :D

Great loss Debra!!! Congratulations and thanks for an encouraging post!!

It's such a great feeling when we see these success stories isn't it?

Great posting! Congratulations!

Audrey

Hi Debra!

Congratulations on your success!!! I love seeing the positive outcomes that others have with the band and it gives me great hope for my banded future! Thanks so much for sharing your story!

Darcy

Thanks so much for the encouragement and nice words. We all need to hear those. I have had such a positive experience that it is difficult for me to complain. I have had my share of PB's. However, it is not painful for me. If I overeat, it's just like a cup overflowing. I can keep swallowing or go and rid myself of the excess. It took me several months to find that feeling of "this is enough or oops too much". Once I found that sensation, the PB's got better. I can control it by limiting my quantity. I am NEVER depressed. I hated being overweight more than you can imagine. I was diabetic and asthmatic, both of which have been resolved. I weighed 320 pounds the day of my surgery. I am down to 228 and am 5'7 1/2" tall. I probably have about 40 lbs. to go. How could I complain about that? I wore a size 26/28 or 3X/4X. I am wearing a XL top and a 14/16 skirt. Who could be depressed over that? In my opinion, if a person is not losing consistently, they are taking in too many calories. (Unless you hit the dread plateau.) Calories are what it is all about. I don't drink milkshakes and eat candy bars. I could be more strick and eat only grilled meat and steamed veggies. However, that is boring to me and inconvenient since I share a meal with my hubby and I don't want to torture him unnessarily. So I just control my portions and that way, I get all the flavor which I love and get to experience the same foods that I've always shared with my husband. Sorry for rambling but as I said, I am a lapband fanatic. I am deliriously happy (so is he).