I used to post regularly on LapBandTalk. I've been reading, but not posting here for a few weeks and feel ready now to dive back in with both feet.

Some Background...

My highest weight was 297. I was 265 or so at the time of my surgery (six years ago - or was it five?). I lost down to 180 and felt so good. So good.

Changes in my life started happening (mostly good things!) and I turned to my old best friend - food. I stopped paying attention to myself and what was going on with my body and I (of course) regained.

I made it up to 240 pounds, and then lost a bit. Gained a bit. Lost a bit. You know how it is.

Part of the issue was that I couldn't get a good fill. Too much out and I was hungry - too much in and I couldn't drink Water and had night coughs. Annnnd...my doctor had one of the strictest post-surgical (ongoing weight loss) diets I've seen - 600-800 calories per day. My conclusion was that the band was not working for me. I gave up. Plain and simple.

Digressing for a moment - I am darn lucky that the band was actually working and that I didn't regain every single pound I'd ever lost and then some. Darn lucky.

I moved across the country three years ago and haven't been seen by a weight loss surgery professional since then. I felt defeated in terms of the band and I was just plain tired of trying. Worn. Out.

Reality Set In...

I was bobbling around 230 pounds for months and realized that something needed to change. A friend of mine had sleeve surgery, so I started researching. Maybe the sleeve was the answer for me.

As part of my research, I stumbled upon drsimpson.net and devoured all of the information there very quickly. There are things on his site that made me say, "Yes! THAT!!! That's me!!!" Clear liquids for a week and I've been on full liquids for two weeks. I'm measuring everything. I'm walking again. And, surprise!, I'm losing weight. And (bigger surprise!) I'm not hungry.

So..why post now? A couple of reasons: 1) I need support and I know that I can ask for and receive it here, and 2) I want others to know that just because you've stopped following your plan and just because you've regained that doesn't mean you can't start over from where you are right now. You don't need to do what I did and start over - come up with a plan that you think will work for you and then follow that plan or have a new plan.

Oh, and thank you. There's so much good going on here.

xo

Love to read stories on this site. Such a journey On and on. Almost 8 years and trying to maintain. Not fighting the band Loss of my husband just put me in a hard place. And no food coping. Lots of crying. Trying to just keep moving on