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READ THIS B4 BEING BANDED...My Experience

It's been two years and i have lost maybe 10lbs total. Why? People ask....I WILL TELL YOU HOW IT HAPPENED FOR ME....

The moral of the story is not to tell you NOT to get the band...but to tell you that this is no FIX and don't expect overnight weight loss....YOU HAVE TO PUT EFFORT into it.

This is important....people like me assumed the BAND would fix everything and the motivation would just fall into place...this is soooo untrue.....

I had always been big...all through school..always size 16+....senior year 2001 i was a good size 22....2003 i was a size 24 and by 2005 i was a size 32......I was always made fun of.....i gained almost 100 pounds in 3 years from being on the depo shot(birth control)so i got off of that...... and then getting pregnant. By 2005 I was at my worst.

I walked into the Dr's office thinking I was only 360 back in April of 2005. When I got on the scale it read 380...I almost died. I cried in his office because I was so ashamed. Ashamed over 20lbs!!!! I had researched the band and felt because I had a daughter it would be the safest surgery for me. I am only 24 and was 22 at the time. I thought this was going to be the FIX.....the thing to change my life. I thought that there was no way anyone or anything could stop me from losing weight after I had surgery.

I went through all the tests....and got all the required medical paperwork and convinced some family members to pitch in for my surgery. I set the date and started my pre-op diet!

From that point on I should have known I was going to be a mess. I was supposed to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks because my liver needed to shrink for surgery. So i ate everything they told me to for the first 3 days and BAM....the feeling set in.....I WANTED AN ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER FROM JACK N THE BOX AND I WANTED IT NOW! I couldn't get it off my mind....i was thinking about it allllllll day.....i went to bed thinking about it...and the next morning i went and got one. I figured...what could ONE double cheese burger with double cheese and mayo possibly do......well...it did nothing to the surgery process but it really broke the frame of mind. Before the 2 weeks was up i had eatin 2 not one but TWO ultimate cheeseburgers and a few chicken nuggets. Why? Why couldn't I just do the PRE SURGERY diet?

June 8th 2005------So surgery day came....and went.....all went well no complications.....i was on soft food in the beginning and I started to eat eggs for Breakfast....but my eggs HAD to have cheese and butter in them....HELLO!!! What was I thinking.....I remember getting my first fill and at this point I had almost lost 40lbs. 20pre-op and 20 post-op. It was amazing.......

About 3 months out(2 months after my 1st fill) I started to become familiar with my band and how much I could and could not eat. I realized that when i would eat too much, i drank a little bit, and it would make the food pass and then i would feel sooooo much better. I never exercised...keep in mind...(maybe got into the pool like 10 times the whole summer) and i was preparing for my wedding which was September 17th 2005. I was so stressed because my weightloss had pretty much STOPPED......I was craving foods like never before and started to eat and drink at the same time...BIG MISTAKE......i was eating at least double what I should have. So I went and had ANOTHER fill. This slowed me down...but still I was not losing ANY weight. I remember eating my first fried chicken after my fill and like trying to manipulate my band into letting me eat more by taking one bite and then drinking....it was the worst thing in the world i could have EVER done.

A year after my band was put in I was only 20lbs total lost (which means i gained 20 back) and I was so angry...I promised myself I was going to try and fix things and make it better....So much had happened that year....2006....we bought a house, my husbands dad died of cancer, my husband was leaving for weeks at a time for work...and i was home ALONE with my daughter. I had no energy to keep the house clean(and i still dont) but i would sit and mope.....and EAT.....I would make excuses to people who asked me WHY i hadn't lost any weight. I told them all that it was a slow process and that i had lost 40 pounds(lied to them).

This year, Jan 2007...I was just sitting at dinner with my husband and looked down and noticed i had a 12oz strip steak, baked potato loaded....and mashed potatos loaded on my plate. I ate all of it. my band was NOT going to stop me. I also ate bread before that.......and drank sweat tea....

in Feb07 I was online playing around and saw an ad for a weightloss show. Primetime...suppose to be JUST like the Biggest Loser....I thought...hmmmm I'll just fill out the app for shits and giggles.....well they responded and wanted me to send them a tape....so i did.

Then in march they had me get my band completely UNFILLED and then flew me out to LA and put me through med tests and interviews,THEY BOUGHT ME 2 PLANE SEATS because i was too big to fit in the plane chairs on my own....pretty sad huh,(cant say much more because they made me sign all kinds of disclosures) They told me it was a show that will be on ABC and told me i would be away from my family for 10 weeks. I thought....this is the chance i have been waiting for.

They made me think i was going....for weeks after the interview I was getting called and asked follow up questions and told i was in the top 4....then on March 31 i was called and told the network did not choose me. I was DEVISTATED.............like someone should have just shot me right there. I was so upset...i cried the whole way home(we were out to eat of course) and my husband looked at me and said...why dont you just do it on your own?

Ummmmm DUH right...? So about a week went by and I had done a real examination of what i have done wrong and how i have basically cheated myself out of my life! On Easter i saw my family and noticed how no one said i looked good anymore...that's because i didnt.....i looked worse...heavy as can be....and that night i sent an email to my family and decide that enough is enough.

Im exercising daily...NO EXCUSES...i posted before/after pictures on my walls in my house of other people who have had the band. I put sayings all over the house saying "whats ur excuse now" and i told my husband that enough is enough. So we decided to start our weightloss exercise on the 9th.....on the 10th I went and had my band RE-filled and since the 10th I have lost 10lbs......unbelievable huh!!!

:clap2: So hopefully all this will inspire SOMEONE before it happens to them. Let my "GAIN" be your "LOSS".

Good luck everyone!

Krystal

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  • We are watching, reading, praying, and waiting for you to say you need us... We are here!

  • Krystal, Thanks for sharing your story. That was honest, and I am sure, spoke to many people here. If you need motivation, encouragement, and support, LBT is the place for it. And since you are R

  • Krystal, Thank you so much for sharing your story. Your so very honest and I know it will help someone. The beauty of the band is it is there for you when your ready. Your not alone in the batt

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"embarrassed.gif I realized quickly that all the mothers up at the park gave me really bad looks. I was trying to walk fast and I ended up getting all red faced and sweaty...HOW EMBARRASSING.....I would walk in circles around the playground keeping my eye on my daughter......and i literally saw a mom whisper to one of her friends and her friend looked up right at me.....WTF!!!! Im walking aren't I!!?!?!?!

So after the Park we came back to the house and dug ourselves into a massive collection of cookbooks my sister brought along."

THOSE STUPID IGNORANT MOTHERFUCKINGBITCHES. Don't you DARE let them get you down. What is WRONG with our society??? I too have experienced meanies like this. I bet you can't wait for the day when you get to 'priss' by those saggy assed freaks. I am so sorry. try to turn your embarrasment in to something positive... kind of like a vacuum. suck in the bad.. recycle it and blow out the positive. Next time maybe you can wave at them and be all sweet.

sorry to rant.

xo

Tracy

Good one Synical Chick. I was thinking the same thing.

Krystal, you are definitely not alone and I too thank you for your honesty. The past week or so I've done some "band manipulation" too and it scared the heck out of me. I thought I must be the biggest freak in the world to spend so much money and have this tool to help me lose weight YET still want to eat the bad stuff. I think the only thing that saves me is the food journaling. At first I thought it was stupid, but it really seems to help.

Wishing you strength, courage and weight loss!

It seems like you get those looks no matter WHAT you do... If you go to the gym, you get the look. If you go out to eat, you get the look...

Some people are just ASSHOLES and need to be bitch slapped a couple of times a day. If they look - LOOK BACK. And then give them the most evil grin you can muster. They will stop looking, eventually. Plus, you will feel much better.

You have inspired me to haul my fat ass to the gym tonight.

Thanks, Krystal.

Stay Tough!

Hugs

As I read your story, I began to think to myself.....oh my god somebody is writing the story of my lap-band life. I too have cheated myself completely since I got the band in May 2003. As I am coming up on my 4 year anniversary, it is sad and sickening to think that I am in the same position now as I was then. I really want to get back on track, I really do. I feel like I need a swift kick in the ass on an almost daily basis. Like others have said, I feel like if I had to be held accountable, then I would stick to the right behaviors to make this band work. I have got to come to terms that the past is the past and I just need to move on from here and start my new band life. My major problem is mental because I know I can cheat the band. I have to get over that and its not going to be easy because I have been doing it for almost 4 years now. I am 100% committed to utilizing this band in the way it was intended . I try not to let too many others in on my band because I don't want them asking questions. Well all that boils down to is the fact that I am ashamed that I have completely sabotaged my success with this wonderful tool. I really need help with foods to eat that are going to be the best for success with the band. I really don't like to cook all that often, so any shortcut recipes or prepared options are usually best for me. Any advice/comments/motivations are greatly welcomed!!

  • Author

:clap2: :rolleyes: OMG

WHERE HAS SHAKE N BAKE BEEN ALL MY LIFE!!!!!!

I just had chicken with extra crispy shake n bake for dinner..........do i need to repeat again.... OMG

I was so missing out....i could eat this stuff all the time....HELLLLLLOOOOO where was i when this stuff hit the market.....

Im soooooooo on target now! It has low cals....low fat, low carbs.....OMG:clap2: :hungry: :clap2: :hungry: :clap2: :hungry: :clap2:

Krystal, I have been away for some time. Just read your entire post. WOW! I love your honesty. Please keep up the fabulous work and keep posting. You are inspiring me!! You are helping so many of us. Thank you!!

I myself had to stop weighing. Yesterday for the first time in 4 years I purchased an 18/20 top from Lane Bryant. The day of surgery I was wearing 26/28. YEY!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on your new commitment to your life! I love my band - after having for 4 months and having lost 33 lbs. but sometimes it really sucks. Seeing other people eat wings or a burger - knowing that would kill me if I tried to eat those things - but that is old habits talking. If your band is tight enough you should not feel hungry and crave foods like you used to. Plus, it's so nice to be wearing a 14 again and people are starting to notice and calling me "skinny." Yeah right not quite but I will be soon! Hang in there and keep working hard - you'll do it and you'll look and feel fabulous! thanks for sharing!

  • Author

Today I got up and decided I was going to have some eggs.....with my FAT FREE butter and a little shredded cheese. Was feeling great......then my sister wooped my butt into shape.

She introduced me to some "circuit training" as she called it. 10 minutes of walking.....followed by some weight exercises....followed by 10 minutes of walking......more weight exercises....and then finally 10 more minutes of walking.....(and then cool down exercises)

I never realized how much this breaks up the work out. It really make all of it go faster(in a weird way)....instead doing 3 different sets of reps all together you can take breaks by walking....and getting the heart rate up and down like that is good....(or so i been told)

So we made PULLED PORK today.....did it in a slow cooker...mmmmmm....NOT....

Didnt care for it much....for some reason i felt guilty eating it....it wasnt BAD for me.....but it just seemed not right....besides....I like chicken and beef better.

My theme for todays journal is GETS HARDER BY THE MINUTE.....why?

Every freaking minute i do on that treadmill is sooooo hard for me. I didnt realize how bad I really am until i started trying to do a steady 30 minutes on the treadmill each day.....it's like my body says i need it but my legs cant keep up. It is what has in the past made me quit......but not anymore...

Im pushing myself as much as i can. Im trying to at least do 30minutes a day......

NO MORE EXCUSES....

Today I parked in the back of the parking lot on purpose.....that was a change...

I bought new shoes today as well.....new balance......my $20 walmart shoes were not cutting it on the treadmill. (soon i shouldnt need wide width anymore)

My journals are very random....not always grammatically correct or spell checked....but i try to mention important ports of my day.

OK...Next subject.......

COOKBOOKS

I went to Target today as well as walmart. I know these places are not the best sources for cookbooks but i am sooooooo frustruated with the selections i find anywhere.

I am a really picky eater. I like really simple meals. I dont like all the BS on my food and basically if there was a good way to describe my pickyness it would be like a 5yr old with a dab of adult every once in awhile. Please tell me Im not the only one here...

I try and force myself to eat better foods and different foods...but i was raised on junk...

Example of whats in my kitchen (BEFORE BAND)

Ravioli (toasted and baked)

pizza

Chicken Nuggets (these will never make it out of my fridge)

Spaghetti

Meatballs

Mac & Cheese

Ramen Noodles

Burgers (pre-cooked for microwave)

Cheese (just about every kind)

Mayo (miricle whip light)

Hot Dogs

This is just a sample.....and now ive replaced alot with the following:

Yogart

Tuna

Fat Free Butter

Skim Milk

Grapes

Apples

Turkey

Chicken breasts

pork chops

BAKED Lay's

grean Beans

peas

potatoes

Heres my point.....i need more ideas geared toward the picky eater. I will try things that are not so complex.....really simple meals...like easy quick to make things.....that shake N BAKE I made the other night is a good exaple....very simple and 20 min to make. Easy. Simple. Tastes good. Doesnt have a lot of junk on it.

Every cookbook I open up has some weird dish made with all kinds of what i call "nasty" food.

HELP!!!!

Ok im going to bed :notagree ...enough of my rants and raves...thanks to anyone who had enough patiance to read my post.

Im pushing forward........keep it up guys!!!

  • Author

OK WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JOURNALS ON LBT? WTH? So i got no warning of this and I would have liked to get all my journals and copy them to a different site.......they are gone....are they comming back...anyone know why they got rid of them?

OK WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JOURNALS ON LBT? WTH? So i got no warning of this and I would have liked to get all my journals and copy them to a different site.......they are gone....are they comming back...anyone know why they got rid of them?

I believe they are working on it. I too copy from here and post on my caloriesperhour forum.. now i"m doing the opposite,, except, there's no where to post 'em. Oh well. ANYwho.. just wanted to let you know that because of YOU I'm forcing myself to walk AT LEAST 1.6 miles per day. the war in my head is silly.. I really have to MAKE myself. I"m like a petulant 2 yr old.

hang in there!

T

Here's a wonderful chicken recipe that everyone asks me to make constantly:

Garlic Lime Chicken

Serves 6

  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 4 tablespoons lime juice

In a bowl, mix together first 7 ingredients. (hint: I triple or quadruple the spices, and put them in a shaker with large holes so I don't have to get them all out every time I make this recipe, and then just sprinkle it on the chicken to taste. It's pretty spicy, so that way I can adjust it to the taste of the people I'm making it for.) Sprinkle mixture on both sides of chicken breasts.

In a skillet heat butter and olive oil together over medium high heat. Saute chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side. Turn down the heat, remove the chicken (keeping warm) and add the lime juice and chicken broth to the pan, whisking up the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Keep cooking until sauce has reduced slightly. Add chicken back to the pan to thoroughly coat and serve. (I let it cook until dry, it adds tons more flavor to the chicken, and it browns up very nicely.)

Per Serving: 343 Calories; 11g Fat (31.1% calories from fat); 55g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 147mg Cholesterol; 612mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 7 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat.

Krystal,

Do you like chili? That's one of my favorite meals. It does take a little more effort and time, but it makes enough to freeze away some to pull out for quickie meals later. Here's my recipe:

3 lb. lean ground beef, well-browned and drained (or you can use half ground beef and half ground turkey)

3 onions, chopped (You can buy frozen chopped onions & peppers if you want to make it a little easier!)

3 bell peppers, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans Rotel

4 cans diced tomatoes<O:p</O:p

1 T salt<O:p</O:p

5 T. chili powder<O:p</O:p

3 cans kidney Beans, drained

<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

Brown beef well and drain. Remove to paper toweling to drain further. In same pan, sauté onions, peppers, and garlic. Put beef and sautéed vegetables in stock pot with Rotel, canned tomatoes, salt, chili powder, and sugar. Simmer 1-2 hrs., remove lid, add drained beans and simmer 5”.<O:p</O:p

  • Author
Krystal,

Do you like chili? That's one of my favorite meals. It does take a little more effort and time, but it makes enough to freeze away some to pull out for quickie meals later. Here's my recipe:

3 lb. lean ground beef, well-browned and drained (or you can use half ground beef and half ground turkey)

3 onions, chopped (You can buy frozen chopped onions & peppers if you want to make it a little easier!)

3 bell peppers, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans Rotel

4 cans diced tomatoes<O:p</O:p

1 T salt<O:p</O:p

5 T. chili powder<O:p</O:p

3 cans kidney Beans, drained

<O:p</O:p

<O:p</O:p

Brown beef well and drain. Remove to paper toweling to drain further. In same pan, sauté onions, peppers, and garlic. Put beef and sautéed vegetables in stock pot with Rotel, canned tomatoes, salt, chili powder, and sugar. Simmer 1-2 hrs., remove lid, add drained beans and simmer 5”.<O:p</O:p

Yes I love chili....but i always have heard chili was really bad for you. Im trying to figure out what im going to eat today........maybe ill consider making this chili....mmmmmmmm

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