Hello and good morning my friends. Welcome to Banders #7. So, I guess I'll start it off by saying how grateful I am today and every day for the new lease on life that I have. I walked to the office today from the train station. That was something I couldn't do before the surgery. I always say how light I feel and I realized it's not a state of mind, but a physical reality. We are weighed down by the excess weight and all that goes with it. When we don't rumble and jumble as we walk, our steps are lighter. I was listening to my ipod and started to dance a little as I was walking. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but who cares? When one is thin, even looking ridiculous seems OK.

I am grateful for my for my beautiful grandson who I was able to tuck into my lap last Saturday morning so we could play while Mommy and Daddy got to sleep in a bit. I'm grateful that I fit anywhere and everywhere. No more worrying if I will break a chair, or be able to navigate a booth at the restaurant, or walk down a narrow aisle without having to suck it all in just to get past someone/something.

I'm grateful for my health. I take alot of pills, but many of them are supplements and not prescription for chronic ailments. I'm grateful that I can walk again...that I can swim, bike, climb, and yes....enjoy sex. I am surprised at how flexible I can be now that I'm thin.

I'm grateful that I earn enough money that I can indulge my new found love of shopping. I really think I'm one of the best dressed ladies in the office these days...and I know I've upped the game for others. I am definitely seeing more dresses than I did a year ago.

I'm grateful to Alex for having this site available...and I'm grateful to all the folks on it who are part of my success. I know I would not have been as successful as I have been if not for all of you. I talk about things here that I don't talk to anyone else about. You all know the struggles of being fat, and immobile, and feeling like a failure regardless of what we've accomplished..and I know now how much we 'hidden' people have accomplished. It's helping me to not turn that self hatred towards others still struggling with obesity. It also reminds me that I will always struggle with obesity. Under this thin person still lurks the fat girl. She is the one who whispers in my ear all the time that I'm not worthy of the good things out there and I should just order a pizza and eat the whole thing. She and I clash daily and it's why I still go every Tuesday to the therapist who listens and helps me to navigate this new world I inhabit.

Well...I think I've posted enough for today. Feel free to comment on the above, or share your stories, or say hi, or just lurk. Enjoy your day today...enjoy the upcoming holiday, and looking forward to a wonderfully robust Banders #7 thread.

Liz

On 1/1/2018 at 8:21 PM, Julie norton said:

Happy New Day and Year! hope '18 is joyful

hope its ok for a sleever to jump in

DOS, i was one month shy of being 58 years OLD - today i

turned 64 years YOUNG!! dealing with 8,3 weight gain,

still continue myself at GOAL with my 105 lb loss from 6

years ago.

@gowalking nice to see you. you are a hard worker, i

know those few nasty lbs will come off sooner than later-

i recognize others too from the old days

@Julie norton - peek a boo - always great to see you

run run run if can - my 6 years won't ever catch up with

your 11 successful years!! who loves ya baby!!

congrats to all WLS survivors!!

lets continue to see less and less of each other!!

thanx for letting me drop by

congrats to all

life IS good

kathy

Sharpie,

Good to see you too. I see you roped yourself a big tall cowboy!! You both look so happy. Already hit my first plateau. Just 10 days in but I'm fussing for no reason. I know it's going to take time.

GoWalking,

I too thought I had a handle on my weight problem but obviously not. I sure love food and it was sweet to imbibe in the foods I'd sworn off for several years but I'll be 70 this year(I hope). Like to live another 10-20 but not gonna happen if I don't get control of this carb beast in my head.

Good luck with a new boyfriend. And no matter what we were told or what I told everyone on this forum, it's still a damn diet, only it's a little easier to manage with the band.

tmf

So glad to see Kathy and TMF here!

Happy to see bander chatting here....

ok. Just got a fill appt with a new dr. After mine retired, it was difficult to find band drs that do fills here in central California.

After being deflated (?) last summer, I knew I had this down after 11 good years, right?

WRONG... that beast is still there and 10 lbs turned into 15... turned into 20....

Walker Liz, I'm also tired of having only 2 or 3 pairs of comfortable pants!! The others are just staring at me from the closet.

It is a new fresh year and the Drs appointment in 2 weeks is helping my head. I know the drill

I believe it was almost exciting to eat anything without any problems.... I'm done being excited.....

I really am serious and starting over is actually positive. And 20 is easier than 90!!!!

Many ups and downs along this journey.... I am healthy and strong and still am faithful to working out..... sigh.... just more to do this year.

Thank you all For listening..

Jules

11 hours ago, Julie norton said:

starting over is actually positive.

@Julie norton

warning, warning -sleever in the house!!

hey bud - and ALL you other banders!!!

new dr. new year, new and improved you!!

it sure is harder each year. I'm struggling

a little after my 6 years too. i agree, after i see

my doc, i always feel better too. more self-assured.

a good over all feeling. I know you will jump on

that horse again too. keep your excitement,chin

up, while the lbs go down. i've got continued

faith in you!! who loves ya baby?

kathy

[mention=121934]Julie norton[/mention]
warning, warning -sleever in the house!!
hey bud - and ALL you other banders!!!
new dr. new year, new and improved you!!
it sure is harder each year. I'm struggling
a little after my 6 years too. i agree, after i see
my doc, i always feel better too. more self-assured.
a good over all feeling. I know you will jump on
that horse again too. keep your excitement,chin
up, while the lbs go down. i've got continued
faith in you!! who loves ya baby?
kathy

Thanks for the kind words Kathy. It is so nice to see another upbeat post from you!
Do you wake up singing ... and the birds come to eat from your hand?
Haha. I so appreciate your pep talks and positivity.
And yes, having a Drs appt scheduled IS one of the basics here...
And water .. and protein... and exercise
See? I know what to do, but stumbled and fell I am gonna pick my ass up and continue.

14 minutes ago, Julie norton said:

Do you wake up singing ... and the birds come to eat from your hand?
stumbled and fell I am gonna pick my ass up and continue.

@Julie norton

if i woke up singing, i'd break all the mirrors!!

and ear drums birds eating from my hand?

that's all the less food i could eat!! i know you'll

pick your ass up - now it's smaller and "cuter" LOL

see you later - kathy

Apparently, have not posted since March 2016 when my weight was in the mid 170's. Right about then I stopped posting on this site, Stopped exercising and Stopped watching what I ate between meals and let me see I gained about 45 lbs.

My 4 cc lap band has 1cc of fluid cannot tolerate much more than that. My Doctor caught up with me and am know back on track and have lost 10 pounds. Let me see I am watching what I eat, and exercising either walking or resistance band training.

Stil a lot to be thankful for I managed to stop the madness for awhile have not come close to my original starting weight of 330 lbs.

I am still very thankful for my lap band that I received over 10 years ago.

So happy to hear from longtimers and know I’m not alone and we are all fighting the good fight.

Yes. I agree. I only have this group of veterans to talk band with.
Most of us are trying....
Remember where we started....
I was large and really frustrated... I could NOT get a handle on losing weight... AND KEEPING it off.
Still trying! I will not give up

Yes. I agree. I only have this group of veterans to talk band with.
Most of us are trying....
Remember where we started....
I was large and really frustrated... I could NOT get a handle on losing weight... AND KEEPING it off.
Still trying! I will not give up

Hi everyone. I have been away from here for a long time too but just found this thread and it’s nice to see all you veterans still around.

I’ve been banded since May 12, 2012, peaked at 293, got to 220 after second back surgery , back up around 250, currently at 236 and not giving up yet!

I wanted to revise to bypass, had an upper GI because of reflux and am now on acid blocker. I don’t want to go for revision until I feel I’ve given the band my best effort. I’m going to see the behavioral modification therapist my PA suggested and we’ll see if that helps.

I swim during the summer but don’t do anything the rest of the year. I try to walk but I just don’t seem to do it. That’s one thing to talk to the BH lady about.

Given my screen name I want to tell you about my kids. My oldest son graduated from UVA and is working in Pittsburgh, my second son is a junior at VA Tech, my oldest daughter will graduate from high school and plans to attend Christopher Newport U and my youngest daughter is a freshman in high school.

They and my wife are very supportive for which I am grateful. Now I just need to get my you-know-what in gear and get on the bandwagon full bore.

See you around!

Happy Fourth Birthday to My Band!
https://www.bariatricpal.com/applications/tapatalk/index.php?/topic/412226-Happy-Fourth-Birthday-to-My-Band%21

Just an update still doing ok went on a cruise with my wife and had a good time gained a few lbs but managed to get back to pre-cruise. Now just have to stay the course

You look great!! I happen to also do a cruise and am home 3 days!! Did well eating...a few deserts. Took the stairs always. And my 30 year old kids walked the hell out of me.... I did not go to the on board gym. Oh well!! Today at gym!