The time has come for me to post my long awaited 1st year bandversary entry.

What has my band meant to me? I have asked myself this question many times over the last 12 months.

I’ve come up with a laundry list of ramblings.

Preband – it represented HOPE, Anxiety, and the What if’s of life after WLS

Early Post Band – the what the heck did I do? And WHERE THE HELL IS MY RESTRICTION?

1st Fill anticipation – I AM HUNGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where the hell is my restriction????

2nd Fill anticipation – I am hungry but not AS MUCH or as often

3rd Fill anticipation – Restriction lasts for about 3 weeks

4th Fill anticipation – OK lets clamp this puppy down!!!!!!!

5th Fill anticipation – HOLY CRAP .3 cc’s was too much fill! I am only able to smell foods and sip Soup

1’st UNFILL – removal of the .3cc’s was the difference between soup and FOOD……. And is where I’m maintaining at since January 2008.

Also…. Getting an unfill and eating real food is what started the scale moving again.

Things that have amazed me:

I have POWER over my hunger.

I have actually FORGOTTEN to eat.

I CAN eat without drinking

I CAN be full on very little food.

Things that I have realized about myself: Restriction WiseI swell (get tighter) when I’m on my period or when I’m stressed

I am tighter in the mornings and more open in the evenings.

Foods that worked last week, might not work so well this week.

I can raise my hands and do a little shimmy to pop up a stuck item of food

Things that I have realized about myself: Non band

I am a stress and emotional eater.

I crave sweets around my cycle

I am pretty happy and comfy in a size 12

It scares me to HOPE for a size 8 or 10 (because it is unknown to me)

If I COULD eat pizza…….. I WOULD, so keeping a decent amount of fill is what is needed for ME not to be able to.

Dairy Queen has become my go to place for stress eating (and this is NOT a good thing)

Things that I had to overcome once banded:

Realizing that you don’t HAVE to eat multiple plates of food at a buffet in order to “get your money’s worth”

Realizing that people REALLY aren’t LOOKING at how much or how little you eat!

Realizing that you CAN keep your band a secret if you want!

Realizing that fast food joints don’t really offer much choice,

Its cheaper to order an appetizer or alacarte, or split a meal with my 4 year old.

Being banded is NOT rocket science, and for me it has worked well because I knew going in that FOR ME and MY GOALS

I needed to be in diet mode, and truth be told the scale moves when I am IN MOTIVATED DIET MODE. It stalls when I

Go to dairy queen for a small blizzard… but I don’t gain

I chose the band for its adjustability and the hopes that I will for once in my life MAINTAIN a loss!

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat

Will I be rebanded if needed in the future? In HALF a heartbeat!

My band has really given me the power over my appetite and that is priceless.

Journey with me as I enter into YEAR TWO of my banding experience!

Here are my pics:

1st pic I was in stretcy 2x and size 24 pants.... 2nd and as I am today: Size Large shirt from Kohls, size 12 A.N.A. cords from JcPenney

I 2nd what she said....:huh2:

Way to go Tracy!! Great job Violet sista:thumbup:

Good on you Tracey, you look fantastic. Great observations. That's pretty much my goal for my 1 year band anniversary. 31 down, 55 to go.

Wow Tracy what an inspiration you have been to me. I was banded on April 11,08 but not new to lbt so I've see alot of your posts. Best of luck in your second year. I hope to have sucess like yours. Congrats!!!!!

Congratulations on your wonderful success!! :huh2: :w00t:

Thanks Violet for your insightful post. Congratulations on your victories! I am early in my journey, but I can already see how true many on the things you said are for me as well! You look great!!!

I had my own mini-celebration yesterday - I threw out all my old 5X tops - they looked ridiculously huge! Yes! Come to think of it, I should keep one just to show myself where I started...

Best wishes on more success in year two and beyond!

AWESOME PROGRESS wtg!! Great photo.

Tracy~ you have come a long way baby!!! Way to go!

Wow, you look awesome, great post.

Oh Tracy! You look beautiful! You are such an inspiration and I love the way you broke that down. I feel like that is something I'll be able to relate to on my journey.

Thank you for sharing!

~C

Congrats, Tracy! Lookin' great and workin' that Lap Band! :huh2:

You look like a million bucks!!!!!!! I am new to this lap-band thing, and you have given me hope...Good luck and God Bless....Gigi

Tracy:

I'm standing up giving you a standing ovation! Congratulations and continued success to you.

Sue

Thanks everyone!!!! LBT has been MY source of inspiration and continues to be.

Great post, one of the best and meaningful I have ever read! Terrific weight loss also. My one year is coming up, and I too am ready for the journey into year 2. Let year 2 be the year of our "goal" reaching and maintaining. We CAN and WILL do it!

I really needed to hear what you said. Often I worry myself after I have read posts on this website. I know that it is not an easy road, but it is a scary one and reading your journey is exactly what I envision. So thank you for sharing and providing us unbanded folks a reason to keep on pushing forward.