Reflections on the Second Anniversary

I am grateful and happy that I made the decision to be banded 2 years ago. I am not as grateful and happy as I should be, though, as my wife and daughters are quick to point out. If they are correct I would not be here writing this now but more likely dead or in a worse place than I was both mentally and physically. I, like many, tend to lock the bad up in a closet somewhere and only visit it when it suits me. I also tend to be 20% grateful for what I have and 80% jealous of what I don’t. When people congratulate me for the weight I have lost my tendency is, and always has been, to reply that yea, it’s a start, instead of acknowledging that I have indeed done a good thing. Well you know what? I have done a very good thing, for both myself and my family and by extension possibly for all mankind as well J. I have gone from a 360 Lb depressed type 2 diabetic with bad knees, severe sleep apnea and a ton of other related physical problems, to a current 219 Lb never satisfied but relatively healthy specimen. Hey, life aint perfect fer nobody. I no longer exhibit any symptoms of diabetes and I was injecting insulin and taking a cabinet full of meds before. Diabetes does not disappear but I am free of all medications and symptoms. Many, in fact most, of the physical problems I have endured throughout my life have either disappeared or at least become much more manageable. For me one of the most important changes is in the way I feel when I enter a room full of people. I no longer feel like I stick out like a sore thumb and with that feeling gone I can concentrate on the reason I entered the room in the first place, whatever that may have been. For each of us the changes are different but still have a series of common threads. Physical activity is greatly enhanced, self esteem is elevated and life is still not a bowl of cherries. I include the last because I think it is important to remember that this is not a magic bullet but rather a tool. A fantastic tool that can accomplish many wonderful things if it is used correctly, grasshopper. Good tools by themselves can not build a good house. It takes a good carpenter to wield them. I’ll drop the analogies here since they can go on forever and the rest is fairly obvious.

I had been heavy since birth and like most participated in just about every diet and weight loss program known to man. I even had a limited 2 year success where I went from 305 to 173 and held it for 2 years but the crash and rebound that followed was even more devastating. Skip ahead another 20 years and I find myself at 354 Lbs in poor health and depression. I attended a mini class reunion of my University wherein was reacquainted with an old classmate who lives in Mexico City. I went to a rather unique school where most of the students and teachers were from latin countries and we were all bilingual. He took one look at me and told me about a procedure his wife had had in Mexico where they placed a gastric band and he told me of her amazing results. I was, of course, quite skeptical but a month or so later I began my own research. When I decided that was the procedure I wanted I tried to find a way to get it done in the US but without insurance it was a losing battle. Even with insurance it is still not as easy as it should be. Since I was going to have to pay for it myself my research led pretty quickly to Mexico. Even though I am no Stranger to Mexico or other latin countries I still did almost a year of research and anguish before I made the decision. I had narrowed it down to two doctors and situations in Mexico. It turned out that the Patient Coordinator, or whatever you wish to call them, that I had been in the most contact with had actually represented both before. She helped me make the decision based on my specific concerns. The rest, as they say, is history. I ultimately chose Dr Alberto Aceves. I have since come to know this man as both a great surgeon, source of sage medical advise and a good friend. This is not intended to be a commercial for Dr Aceves but rather a reflection on my journey to date so I’ll try not to mention his unbelievable care and skill again in this treatise J

I lost the first 100 Lbs fairly quickly and easily. At least I considered it easy. I kept detiled and exact records of everything I ate broken down by Calories, Fat, Carbs and Protein. I also kept exact records of exercise. Weigh loss without exercise is possible but I liken it to racing a car without oil. It will still run but not anywhere near its potential and it will still burn out too early. I think one of the reasons it was “easy” is that I was obsessed with it. Listen to anyone that is about to be banded or during the first 6 months and you will see an enthusiasm that is seldom matched. In my case reality set in at about a year. I had plateaued and to a large degree still am. Here, however, is the real lesson. The band is the tool that buys me time to learn new habits. I developed habits over a lifetime that led to the bad conditions described above. It is not realistic to expect that I can develop a whole new set in the course of a year or even 2. It is no longer about get thin quick but rather about getting healthier and developing a different lifestyle that results in different behaviors and values. That, my friends, takes time. I am, in fact, writing this to remind myself of that as well as to remind myself that it is necessary to pay this forward in order to keep it fresh and exciting. I still make bad choices. I still beat myself up. I still wish I had the fortitude to stick with it 100% and effect all the changes I think are possible. BUT I have begun to learn to temper that with the reality that I have already begun those changes and that time alone will tell the tale.

I realize this is a long re-introduction and I assume that if you have read this far you either still do not have a life or you are truly interested. If I can be of any help to you as you do your research or as support for someone who is also walking this path, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Has who lost all that weight since Jan 8th?? I looked back over the posts and I dont see who you are talking about? I was banded 2 years ago.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to know if anyone has/is experiancing this. I want to get banded, im 5'6 and 270. My BMI is over 40 and I have the usual health problems associated with obesity. I want to get banded and change my health around but my family/friends are comfortable with my weight

They all think its too drastic, im not that big, my younger sister thinks i should just join a gym (She's small and is a dancer) :w00t: I have read s ome horror stories but everyone seems to lose weight which is my goal

My question is has anyone been banded and not had much support from love ones...My doctor is the only one on board which not much of a support system

thanks guys!

Craig, I have a feeling I might very feel much like you. I have weighed a normal weight many times in my life, and all my childhood, yet always felt fat. I'm not sure what it will take for me to feel good about the way I look, but losing weight is probably not going to do it all. Compliments? I always think of them as a backhanded way of saying "you were so fat, now your not". I, too, go in a room with the feeling of being judged and found wanting. When I went to the bariatric center near me was the first time I felt at ease, and only then did I realize how much my weight bothers me all the time--it's just there, like a shadow. I'm glad I read your post. I'm just beginning, and I have to remember to work on ALL of me, not just my weight. Losing weight is a big step to feeling better, but I can't count on that to fix self esteem that doesn't even know how to be good. Just like the band, it's not a quick fix (to lose weight). We have to work at it.

Craig, I have a feeling I might very feel much like you. I have weighed a normal weight many times in my life, and all my childhood, yet always felt fat. I'm not sure what it will take for me to feel good about the way I look, but losing weight is probably not going to do it all. Compliments? I always think of them as a backhanded way of saying "you were so fat, now your not". I, too, go in a room with the feeling of being judged and found wanting. When I went to the bariatric center near me was the first time I felt at ease, and only then did I realize how much my weight bothers me all the time--it's just there, like a shadow. I'm glad I read your post. I'm just beginning, and I have to remember to work on ALL of me, not just my weight. Losing weight is a big step to feeling better, but I can't count on that to fix self esteem that doesn't even know how to be good. Just like the band, it's not a quick fix (to lose weight). We have to work at it.

I totally relate to you when you said that "I always think of them as a backhanded way of saying "you were so fat, now your not." I think that is one of the reasons I am choosing to have the Lap Band instead of the Bypass, because the weight loss is slower. I just don't want the attention. I don't even want to tell anybody except those closest to me that I am even considering having the Lap Band Surgery.

Thank you for your post. I am getting banded on April 3rd and your post is informative and interesting. You are doing very, very well. You should be proud of your accomplishments.