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One year bandiversary



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Today is my bandiversary... one year of banding, and 73 pounds gone (85 from my highest weight).

I'm so SO glad I found this site. I found it while doing research for a gastric bypass. I had hit a mortifying #280 pounds, wore a tight size 24, and I was desperate and depressed. I even seriously wondered if I should get a prescription for an antidepressant.

My cholesterol was creeping up, and with my taste for all things sweet, I'm sure diabetes type 2 was setting up camp. I would on occasion have sharp chest pains and PVC's (skipped/irregular heart beats), and after working a 12 hour shift my poor heels would stab with pain to the point of tears. They wanted my fat ass off of them in a big way.

One french mid-band and 12 months later... I am happy, feel healthy, and am wearing a loose size 16. I haven't experienced any of the above health issues since very shortly after banding. I am honestly joyful. I feel good, everyday someone tells me how good I look, and l'm happy about my changes.

I haven't lost much weight this past couple of months, but that's my own fault. I tend to gravitate toward creamy foods (higher calorie) because they go down easier, and I haven't totally tackled my sugar demons yet. I have certainly beat it back by huge measure, but it still gets me somedays.

After a couple of months away from it, I am once again in the mind frame to get back to the Protein shakes and Vitamins that I seem to have taken a break from, and kick start another downward trend. I think that's the beauty of this band; I took a break but didn't loose my momentum like with regular diets. On a regular diet, when I would get bored or tired of it, I'd gain back what I'd lost and then some. With this band, I took a break and stopped losing... but I haven't gained! How encouraging is that?

This was probably one of the fastest years of my life. I can't believe it's gone so quickly. The changes have been really great, the weight loss just slow enough that my body seems to be keeping up. I've needed no additional adjustments or fills so far, and I've gotten to know so many of you!

Other than the typical banding issues... finding just how badly some foods don't like me anymore... the occasional ill timed super restriction...sliming/PB's (blech), my journey (knock on wood) has been fairly smooth sailing.

Thank you to LBT and all of you bandsters who come here and share your journeys, your opinions, your ideas, your lives, and your random but entertaining thoughts. I sit here today intestines intact, alive, and in increasingly good health. I also need to thank my surgeon and his group, because for all the rumors flying early on, they certainly did right by me.

Good luck, Good health, and may God bless you all!

Pam~

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Congratulations!! Its great to hear wonderful success stories...helps other like me soldier on. :)

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congratulations on your one year bandiversary :banana :banana :banana 73lb gone thats great . i bet you look great. hope every thing keep working out for you.god bless:)

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Rendered speechless for a change. Standing up, huge round of applause not only for the phenomenal progress you've made, but for your honest inspiration. Fabulous.

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Pam Thank you for sharing your story of success with us. So glad you have regained your health and along with that came more happiness for you. May your second year of banding bring you even more life to live and memories to make!!! Congratulations on a job well done!!!! You should be so proud of your acomplishments!!!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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