Finally I’ve won the battle with my weight. I am in great shape and great health because on August 16, 2006 I got a Lap-band®®®. With the help and support of a great team, I learned how to use this amazing tool. I am maintaining between 140 and 149 lbs. Some days I wonder if the scale is broken. It’s been hard work, and it certainly wasn’t the “easy way out.” It’s been over 3 years since surgery. I’ve been maintaining a healthy weight for more than 1 ½ years, but I still have days when it’s hard to believe that this is really my body, the one that I live in.

One of my goals when I had my LAP-BAND®®® surgery was to keep up with my kids. Nowadays they have to keep up with me.

Looking back, I vividly recall the pain and embarrassment of being weighed in my elementary school gym, praying that the school aide would not announce my weight for everyone to hear. I started dieting at the age of 10. My days were defined as good or bad by what I ate.

I have been on every diet you can think of; I took diet pills for years; I cannot remember a year when I didn’t gain or lose at least 40 or 50 pounds. My hunger never went away. I always gave in. For me, dieting was like holding my breath, eventually I had to come up for air. I’ve always exercised regularly. I was a fit, fat person. I have thyroid problems and low body temperature and it’s too easy to use that as an excuse for my weight.

The irony is that except for my battle with weight, I’ve been successful at everything I’ve ever attempted. I’m very fortunate. I have a great marriage, two wonderful children, true friends, and I’ve enjoyed a successful career as an executive and officer in Fortune 100 companies.

I couldn’t have been this successful without the support and encouragement of a lot of people. I hope to pay that forward.

I've decided to blog my entire Lap-band® journey, from the time, I first started exploring my surgery, preparing for surgery, recovering, transforming, and finally maintaining my weight loss . You can find my blog at Gloria's Banded Living — My LAP-BAND® Weight Loss Success Story.

Good Luck on your own journey.

Edited February 1, 201016 yr by atgoalgal
more info/update to share

i did a search there is a program called belite this woman had a LAP-BAND® in2001 and seems to be capitalizing off the LAP-BAND® concept talking about fills and cost

I am confused, who are you referring to who was banded in 2001; I didn't see anything about that on this thread?

what i am saying is that i cant eat bread, Pasta, rice,ground meat .that i really lose wt slowly does anyone else with the LAP-BAND® have too exercise 1-11/2 hours too lose wt.62lbs over ayear with the LAP-BAND® and exercise.i am working out harder since the LAP-BAND®

Firstly, congratulations on losing 62lbs in one year! That’s well over a pound/per week sustained for a year; that is awesome.

If you are saying that you have 40 more pounds that you want to lose, does that mean that if you lose that additional weight you will be at a BMI of <25? If so, your goal is 100% EWL. All the literature I’ve read says the average weight loss with a band is 50 – 60% EWL, and it seems like you may already there. My doctor always reminds me, that if I want to be the “A” student, meaning 80 – 100% weight loss, I am going to have to work harder. For me that means journaling, making sure I get at least 80 grams of Protein everyday, and exercising everyday.

I haven’t met anyone who has to exercise 1 ½ hrs to 2 hours per day, but since it’s still calories in / calories burned, I’m wondering if there are 100 calories/day that you can eliminate. My doctor measure resting metabolic rate, so I have a pretty good idea of how many calories I need to consume to maintain my weight. You may just be one of those people with a very low metabolic rate…but look how far you’ve come!

I have chosen to eliminate rice, bread and pasta, because I’ve never been able to maintain a weight I am happy with while eating starches. The foods that you say are difficult are the foods people often say they struggle with. If you really want bread, have you tried toast or hard, crusty breads.

Do any of these ideas hit a chord with you? Are you celebrating your success or are self-sabotaging -expecting to fail one more time? Lord knows, I have an advanced degree in self-sabotage. I’m wondering if you have a Lapband only support group where you can share what you are experiencing with others on a more personal level. Feel free to PM me.

Gloria

Are we expected to take 3yrs too reach the goal? I never thought that i was self sabatoging.i feel like i have 2 be hard on myself 2 accomplish my threshhold goals because there is noone who is going 2 push me but me.i had already pulled away from the carbs b/c of my diabetes so that wasn't a very hard step.but i will always be a food addict in my book just like i will always be a diabetic but under control.THANK YOU.:tt1:

Not on the lap band for google belite. This is a different program.

Thanks for sharing your story!!

Right now, I am still holding my breath!

I had my consult just over a week ago and now I am waiting for the follow up call from the doctors office. It was supposed to come last week but I guess with the holidays they are a bit backed up.

I feel like I am eating anything that is not nailed down! I would love to know what "diet" plan I am to follow before my pre-op diet.

I have to get an EKG, X-RAY and stamp of approval from my PCP for surgery. If the stars align, I will have my surgery in late January.

You mentioned that if the stars align you would have surgery in late January. Are the stars aligning for you?

atgoalgirl - I have not had surgery yet. I have another appointment with my PCP this week to get his "approaval". He is not exactly thrilled about this. All of my other pre-op testing is done and back in to the surgeon. My PCP is my only hold up right now. If he gives his clearance I think I will get my surgery date and it will probably be Feb 3rd.

Wow u r truely an inspiration to me.i was banded on nov 24th 2009 and had my 1st fill dec 21st 2009 i have lost about 16lbs and thats it im 3lbs away from being in onederland but the scale is not moving. Im keepin a food journal n exercising. Im getting vr frustrated because i dnt have any restriction and i dnt know hw or why its not working. I scheduled for my 2nd fill jan 26th but i cnt control my portions now. I try to stop eatingbut im still hungry even when im bored i look towards food. Can u share some of ur success with me what helped u get the weight off...what u ate. What u did to stay motivated...what did u do when the weght wasnt coming off??? I know this weight lost isnt going to come off over night but i need to see some weight move 2 or 3lbs would be nice. Pease help n keep in touch

good luck with your PCP. Feel free to PM me if I can help in any way.

Gloria

Thanks Gloria - I will be looking for a new PCP when this is over. He has proven himself to not be a very compasionate doc during this process. Right now I am trying to eat healthier until it is time for my pre-op all liquids phase. Not looking forward to that but I know it has to be done.

Wow u r truely an inspiration to me.i was banded on nov 24th 2009 and had my 1st fill dec 21st 2009 i have lost about 16lbs and thats it im 3lbs away from being in onederland but the scale is not moving. Im keepin a food journal n exercising. Im getting vr frustrated because i dnt have any restriction and i dnt know hw or why its not working. I scheduled for my 2nd fill jan 26th but i cnt control my portions now. I try to stop eatingbut im still hungry even when im bored i look towards food. Can u share some of ur success with me what helped u get the weight off...what u ate. What u did to stay motivated...what did u do when the weght wasnt coming off??? I know this weight lost isnt going to come off over night but i need to see some weight move 2 or 3lbs would be nice. Pease help n keep in touch

Firstly, congratulations on losing 16 lbs in 2 months. You have averaged more than 2 pounds/week; That IS A LOT of weight, especially since you were not starting from a very high BMI.

Firstly your early experiences sound a lot like mine. I was one of those people who felt “unbanded” early on. It took several fills to get to a good place where I was satisfied with a small amount of food and not hungry between meals. Keep relying on those of us who have bands. That’s what I did! LOTS of people start out this way and are very successful; you can be too.

I am going to make a few suggestions, but please always follow your doctors instructions. If anything I say contradicts with his/her instructions, check with your doctor first.

Here are a few other things that might help: 1) Make sure you are getting enough Protein. Protein helps control hunger. I strive for at least 80 grams of protein per day. 2) Make sure you are drinking according to your doctor’s guidelines. I avoid liquids for 30 minutes before meals and 45 minutes to 1 hour after meals; also avoid liquid calories. Your band does not help with liquid calories. 3) Make sure your meals are made up of good quality solid foods. Since you have minimal restriction try dense foods like chicken (without sauces – meaning avoid lubricating your dense foods), and fresh fruits and vegetables, cut up in small pieces, chewed slowly. 4) If you must snack between meals, make sure you are only eating high quality, low fat dense protein, with some vegetables to help give you a sense of satisfaction and 5) If possible try calling your doctor to see if you can get in sooner for your next fill so that you are not white knuckling it for quite so long and make sure you are completely honest with your doctor about what you are doing and how you are feeling.

Please stay in touch. You can do this. Hang in there!

Gloria

thanks gloria. I have 2 go to the hospital n get my fill so thats the quickiest appointment that they had for me. I call th everyday to see if they had any cancellations so I can get in sooner but nothing so far until the 26th???

atgoalgirl - I have not had surgery yet. I have another appointment with my PCP this week to get his "approaval". He is not exactly thrilled about this. All of my other pre-op testing is done and back in to the surgeon. My PCP is my only hold up right now. If he gives his clearance I think I will get my surgery date and it will probably be Feb 3rd.

How did it go with your PCP. Are you scheduled for suregery next week. (I have my fingers crossed that you do)...

Gloria

For those of you who got something out of my success story, I wanted to let you know that I recently did an interview "The 7 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Lap-Band Surgery." This comes from the persective of looking back, 4 years after the fact. I've posted about it before but wanted to share the list. Here goes:

1. With a band, everything we have always known about how to lose weight finally works.

2. Finding the right surgeon is even more important than I realized.

3. Don’t underestimate the adjustable nature of the band.

4. You can eat a wide variety of the foods you love with a band.

5. This life-changing decision really impacts spouses, partners, and those close to you.

6. Learn from others who have bands and who have been successful.

7. If you do decide to have a band, prepare for surgery.

If you are interested in the full interview, go to http://www.gloriasbandedliving.com and sign up for the audio or video download located on the right-hand side of the page, just below my before and after.

Please let me know if you find it useful.

I started a thread about the rules of the band. It turned into a passionate debate, and a huge source of inspiration for me. The manufacturers of the bands have "rules" or "tips" posted on their sites.What I learned from my fellow members of the banded living community is that: 1) a lot of us don’t like "rules" because we’ve tried them before and frankly they didn’t work as a way of life, and 2) we are all different, and we need to work hard to find what works "for me."

So here I am, in my fourth year, and maintaining a normal healthy weight and in the best shape of my life. I devote a lot of time and energy to paying it forward. I mentor lots of folks, some of who are frustrated or struggling and trying to figure out how to get the most out of their tool.

My doctor, reminds me over and over again, that it’s a tool, and I need to work it. I shouldn’t expect "it" to do anything. (A screwdriver can’t remove a screw unless you turn it.) I have to work it to get the results I want – and for me that was more than the average 50% Excess Weight Loss. My band helps me with portion control, controls my hunger and leaves me with a feeling of satiety when I work it.

I would really appreciate, if everyone reading this thread would follow this link to the 10 things I learned about how to use my tool: Transforming #003, Maintaining #004, Getting the Most from My Lap-Band®: How I Learned to Use My Tool

Let me know if the things I've learned will help you on your jouney.

Edited March 1, 201016 yr by atgoalgal