I was banded in Mississauga (Toronto) on December 18th, 2014. I am 11 weeks post-op and down 37 pounds.

It may not be a ton of weight lost, but its all gone, gone gone forever, and I am losing slow and steady. As I lay in bed last night, I touched my ribs (I have ribs?!) and reflected on how things have changed for me since being banded two and a half months ago.

I realized last night that I am totally, completely, madly in love with my band. Here's why:

• My size 22 pants fall down to my ankles if I don't wear a belt.
• Even when I do wear a belt, my size 22 pants look like I'm wearing a parachute.
• I can put on my "old" jeans without unzipping/unbuttoning the fly.
• My tummy scars are a proud (and only slightly scary) red/purple, and serve to remind me every day of the commitment I've made to myself.
• My College students talk about me when they think I have my back turned/can't hear them and say things like "Damn, she's looking GOOD".
• I no longer have to use a "bath sheet" sized towel. A regular sized one wraps around my bod, thanks very much.
• I am no longer winded when I climb a set of stairs.
• People at work tell me hair looks AMAZING. What they are actually saying doing is choosing my hair as the way to give me a "YOU LOOK AMAZING!" compliment without verbalizing my obvious weight loss. This gives me JOY.
• I can no longer feel my thighs pressing against the sides of my office chair.
• Truth: In the shower, I no longer have to lift stuff up to wash other stuff. Seriously.
• When I get up to pee in the middle of the night there is no pain in my body. Anywhere. The aches are gone.
• My favourite LL Bean down jacket from before I chubbed out FITS ME and I can zip it up easily.
• I proctored an exam the other day sitting cross-legged on a desk.
• My herniated disc (due to obesity) has resolved. I can now roll over in bed pain-free.
• I can sleep on my stomach again. This is also something that gives me JOY.
• I sat on the floor with a group of students the other day, and realized I had gotten up again with absolutely NO EFFORT.
• I can chug water! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do this after being banded. (It's the little things...)
• I have been watching my cheekbones emerge. Wow.
• Our grocery bill has gone down dramatically. I eat 1/3 (if that) of what I used to eat. My husband says with the grocery money saved since being banded we could buy a cottage in Muskoka. (lol!)
• Speaking of my husband, I weigh less than him for the first time in a decade.
• And more about my husband: I've noticed him touching my bum. A lot. And smooching me up. And hugging me close. He's proud, I can tell.
• My band gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) reminds me to slow down when I eat. Thank you, dear band.
• I have learned what freedom from the hunger monster feels like, and MAN OH MAN is that ever sa-weet.
• I have a constant backdrop of satiety. I no longer think about, or worry about, my next meal. Love those band adjustments!
• I am looking forward to getting into my MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op - the Canadian version of "REI") 'Rad Pants' I've kept from 1994. They are red, they are a size 10. The summer is almost here and with it comes a canoe-trip. I will be wearing those pants.
• I feel like a I have a new lease on life. Woo hoo!

It's okay to stall. It's ok to have the occasional chocolate banana fritter. (Whoops - damn it was good). I am in a love affair with my band, but more importantly, with myself.

THIS is why I am in love with my band.

Happy happy!

@@Daddyof4 Hello and thank you for your kindness! :-)

Looks to me like you are doing FANTASTIC! Try not to compare yourself to others progress on the board (ha - I know, its hard not to) as everyone loses at different rates and in different ways. 37 pounds gone forever! Way to go!

Funny - your post is timely in terms of being reassuring, as my band and I have been fighting since yesterday. Went out to a gorgeous dinner last night at a favourite Bistro with our daughter, had a beautifully prepared, tender rib-eye with pomme frites and asparagus. Within ten minutes, I was in the washroom whoopsing it up. MY FAULT (partially) as I had eaten the Protein far too quickly, and not chewed near well enough. I also indulged in another personal no-no - a FRENCH FRY. (Cue tragic music). Haven't had a starch like that in months, decided to treat myself. The paste got stuck and caused the vomiting episode.

SO! Lesson learned, and this morning my tummy is tender and I have no appetite. Sigh.

At least there is coffee.

Keep us all posted on your progress, Daddyof4! Cheering you on!