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Banded "veteran" of 2+years
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maygoddess 5 posts
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Vicki Loichinger 1 post
Hi all! I was asked to introduce myself, so here goes.
I was banded in August of 2002 by Dr Kuri. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area(Napa area to be exact). My starting weight was around 285 and I am currently in the low 200's. My weight loss journey has been slower than most because I took about a 6 month hiatus from weight loss last year as I tried to get pregnant via in vitro. It didn't work and I got back on track..so over the 2+ years, my weight loss looks abysmal..but 75lbs down is nothing to sneeze at and I have not gained an ounce in two years, which really was my reason for being banded.
I considered myself a foodie..I am not really an emotional eater as much as just loving good food. Living in Napa, we have access to the best wines and gourmet foods and food just taste good. I never liked diet foods, fake fats, fake sugars..so I eat all the real stuff, but in moderation. I don't do low carb, low fat, hi Protein or any of the other crazy extremes out there. Balance is really key. I know if I eat real ice cream, it slows me down, but I am willing to accept it. I make choices based on what I am willing to compromise and it works for me.
I have no idea where my body will land at a "goal". I have been overweight my entire life and never dieted fully down to a goal weight. If I go by the height/weight charts, I would still have another 60+lbs to go..seems impossible, but we'll see. I am a comfy size 12/14 currently so I no longer really have to shop in horrid fat clothes departments or shops anymore. I want my clothes to be well fitted..not sloppy tents.
Let's see..how has life changed? I didn't really have any major co-morbidities or take any medications that I can say I no longer take. It is just easier to move around...I always liked to hike but at close to 300lbs at my highest, it was harder to do. I think most of all, I feel more "normal" in the world. People notice me more as a person..not as a fat blob. I don't feel that I take up more space in the world than I should though I am still considered "obese"..just a much smaller obese!
Because my journey has been slow, I have now gone through several seasons of clothing changes which is good and bad at the same time. This is my 3rd winter being banded..the 1st I was just down about 30 post lbs but by the 2nd, I needed a new winter wardrobe and THIS year again..all new clothes..same for summers. You learn not to get attached to clothes you won't see around the next season. No favorite sweater or favorite pants anymore! l look forward to the day I can buy clothes in my final size and keep them a few seasons!
As far as the "technical" aspects of my band..I have the Inamed 9.75mm band. I currently have about a snug 2.7-2.8cc in there. I have had about 7 fills in the 2+ years. Mostly with Dr Kuri, but I recently started using Dr Helmuth Billy up in Truckee, CA for my last two fills(one of which was just last week).
I am pretty new to lapbandtalk.com. I am mostly on Dr Kuri's Yahoo boards and I started my own group:NorthBayBandsters for those of us in the North Bay counties of the SF Bay Area. Ihave a bandster get together at my house this Saturday. We have small but supportive group up here.
That is about it for now. I continue on this road to weight loss..at this point..once I hit the magic 200..the rest will all be a victory!
Patty
8/13/02
Dr Kuri