Hi everyone!

I remember when I was researching the lapband I found LBT and I loved reading posts of people’s personal success stories with the band. It gave me hope an encouragement that weight loss and success is possible with the band. I wanted to one day share my success story with everyone. I found LBT to be a great and supportive community to discuss and share experiences about anything and everything lapband related. After a year of having my lapband and having a lot of success with it, I would love to share my story with the LBT community in hopes of giving people the same encouragement I received from others in the beginning of my journey.

I apologize in advance that this is a lengthy post….

A year and 2 days ago (Jan 9, 2008) I got my lapband. I started this whole journey to health and weight loss in August of 2007. My highest weight was 315lbs in April of 2007. On August 6, 2007 I weighed 305lbs. I had made the decision to get the lapband, but I had to wait until January 2008 to get the surgery. I resolved that I would not waste my time before surgery to begin my weight loss. I had previously done the Atkins diet with a lot of success, losing 50lbs in 8 months. When I did Atkins, I felt healthy and full of energy. So I started the induction phase of the diet and never looked back again! I continued doing Atkins low carb until the day of my surgery. In that 5 month period pre-op I lost 55lbs! Not only was I in great health going into surgery, but now I had less to lose with the band and would get to my goal weight quicker.

A year after surgery and 17 months after this weight loss journey began, I couldn’t be more please with my results. I have lost almost 80lbs since surgery and almost 145lbs from my highest weight! I continue to subscribe to and eat a low-carb diet. I love to exercise and be active. I feel so alive!

But, I don’t want to deceive you and make you think that this journey has been all rosy and perfect, because it hasn’t! This past August, only 7 months out of surgery, I found out that my band had a leak and I needed to have the entire band replaced. While the surgery was a lot simpler and the recovery a lot quicker, it was an unexpected bump in the road. So if someone asked me if I would do the surgery over again, I could honestly say that I would, because I actually did!

I also learned that having a lapband does not guarantee anything, it is not a cure-all, nor is it the easy way out (and don't let anyone try to make you think that it is!!!). The band does not stop me from eating foods that pass right through the band. It does not stop me from grazing all day long. It doesn't make me exercise! I learned that when following the rules and using it properly, the lapband helps you to be successful. The lapband takes a tremendous amount of dedication, patience and commitment, but the results and feelings of accomplishment are worth it! If there’s anything I’ve learned about the lapband and about anything in life, is that success does not come over night. In order to reach your goals, you must be dedicated and patient. There is no such thing as instant gratification.

The lapband was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. I have been extremely overweight since I was a child. I tried a bunch of diets with minimal success. I had resorted myself to the fact that I would always be overweight……until I found out about the lapband. If you told me 2 years ago that I would weigh almost 170lbs today, after having weighed more than 200lbs since I was 12 years old, I would never have believed you.

I am now roughly 10lbs from my original goal, which will put me at a normal BMI. My weight loss has slowed and it gets harder and harder to lose those last pounds though. I know I will get there eventually, but I couldn't be more pleased with where I am today! My journey is not over, and it never will be. I have made a commitment to myself and my health for the rest of my life!

While the number on the scale reflects a measure of success, the benefits of the weight loss impact many other things in your life. It's the small (and big) changes that make all the difference as well! I have experienced so many Non-Scale Victories (NSVs) along the way and I would love to share them with you (there are so many more, but here are just a few):

Before surgery I:

Didn’t go to amusement parks in fear of not fitting into the rides.

Couldn’t barely fit into restaurant booths or the school desks attached to the chairs, baseball stadium seats, theatre seats (basically any seat with side-arms!)

Got the aisle seat on a flight because I wouldn’t have room if I sat in the middle.

Could barely fasten the airline seat belt

Couldn’t walk up a flight of steps without getting winded

I could barely walk a mile on the treadmill on 3mph

Couldn’t keep up with my skinny friends

Couldn’t bend down to tie my shoes without losing my breath

Had difficulty finding shoes for my wide size 11 feet.

Couldn’t wear heels for very long because they hurt my feet

Had limited choices of clothing from Lane Bryant and plus size sections

Had limited choices of jewelry because my neck, wrist and fingers were so big

Now I:

Fit into every ride with plenty of room to spare

Slide right into restaurant booths, desks and seats without a problem

Sit in any seat I want because I have plenty of room on both sides of me

Can fasten the airline seat belt with lots of room.

Can walk up lots of flights of steps without getting winded.

Don’t even think twice about walking a mile on the treadmill. I can run comfortably at 6mph. Not only that, but I ran my fastest mile in 9 minutes and 7 seconds last week! I have so much energy to do everything. I can keep up with the class instructor during work out classes. I love exercising and I miss it when I don’t.

Now I have to slow down so my friends can keep up with me!

Can bend down to tie my shoes and even bring my leg up on a ledge to tie them without losing my breath.

Wear a size 9-9.5 shoes! Who knew that feet shrink when you lose weight! Now I love shopping for shoes even more than I did before

Can wear cute shoes with heels.

Can go shopping with my friends in any store because I know that I can find something that fits.

Don’t need a wide-calf boot anymore

Can buy any piece of jewelry I want without adding a chain extension to my necklaces. My ring size went from a 11 to a 7-7.5

Stats:

Highest weight April 2007: 315lbs

August 2007:

Weight: 305lbs

Size: 26W bottoms 26/28,3X tops

BMI: 47.8

Body Fat %: 46.9 (almost half of me!)

January 2008:

Weight: 250lbs

Size: 20W bottoms, 2X tops

BMI: 39.2

January 2009:

Weight: 171lbs

Size: 12/14 Regular bottoms, Large tops/some Medium

BMI: 26.8

Body Fat %: 27.7

Total loss 1 year post-op: -79lbs

Total loss from highest weight: -144lbs

Thanks so much everyone for allowing me to share my story!

Thank you for posting this realistic post. Weight loss will always require work, even with the Band! But yes we love the Band.

Great post...very inspirational. Good to know you kept going even with the leak/surgery...that says a lot for the help of the band. Thanks! -BG

Congrats! The band is the best product I've ever purchased. It's been so reliable, no problems...been great!

Congratulations and keep up the GREAT work. Enjoy life!

Congrats and HAPPY BANDIVERSARY! Feels great, doesn't it?!!!!!!

Great post!

Isnt it funny how the successful ones are able to state the downsides, problems and difficulties of the band in a matter of fact, non emotional way, but still consider it overall a positive, effective step in the fight against obesity.

Whilst you have other types of people who feel compelled to get on here screaming THE BAND IS ALL A CROC DONT DO IT IT DOESNT WORK!

Just proof that the real key to success is all within ourselves, its your outlook, your determination against adversity and challenge, your ability to remain optimistic and make the best of any situation. We cant prevent real problems that result in losing our bands etc, but many people cant even get past the fact that they actually have to choose what to put in their mouths.

Well done, I bet you're a success in many aspects of your life.

Wow. Congratulations and thank you for your post. It's people like you who inspire all of us.

Best wishes to your continued success with your band, and also in life.

Sue

hi red tulips..

great post. your description of your journey is very similar to mine.

before i was banded, when researching LBT, i found the people that took responsibility for the lapband program had the greatest success.

it wasnt easy but you are right.....so so worth it.

thank you for sharing your story of inspiration

Thank you for your inspirational post. My journey has just begun and it's great to hear from people that have had such success. It's also very good for me to hear that the lapband is not magic. I get my first fill today and I will be thinking of your positive attitude.

For everyone that posted before me, thanks for the positive example that you have all set!

Thanks for the great post...a great reminder on those days when I just am frustrated. Reflecting on where I've been in the past to the changes that are me today is always a good positive reminder.

Keep it up!

Just proof that the real key to success is all within ourselves, its your outlook, your determination against adversity and challenge, your ability to remain optimistic and make the best of any situation. We cant prevent real problems that result in losing our bands etc, but many people cant even get past the fact that they actually have to choose what to put in their mouths.

Just proof some move past the emotional crap to accept resposibility and hold ourselves accountable while others.... well the others continue the blame game.

You have inspired me!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Tulips

Thank you for your post. It was really refreshing to hear how well you've done with your band. Congratulations on all your accomplishments. WOW - 10 lbs from goal - you go girl - My bandaversary is 1/28, any day now, I'm 30 lbs from goal. You are a real inspiration.

You too KGlove. You too are an inspiration. I'm trying to hit your goal weight too. Congratulations

Edited January 26, 200917 yr by Bandana

Thank you for the great post! And congrats on your awesome weightloss!

Thank you for posting this realistic post. Weight loss will always require work, even with the Band! But yes we love the Band.

Congrats! The band is the best product I've ever purchased. It's been so reliable, no problems...been great!

Congratulations and keep up the GREAT work. Enjoy life!

Thank you everyone for your well wishes!

Great post...very inspirational. Good to know you kept going even with the leak/surgery...that says a lot for the help of the band. Thanks! -BG

Good luck with all of your pre-op plans. Hope the rest of your 6-month diet goes quickly!