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Well here I am on my new blog. I'm not sure where to start so I will just ramble a minute. I had RNY in June 2008. My starting weight was 328 lbs. I lost down to 175 lbs. in about 13 months. I did pretty well and maintained until after my oldest son passed away in December 2010. I literally fell off the wagon and gained back weight, a lot of weight. I was shocked to find I weighed 246 lbs. I was so disappointed and scared that I cried. How could I have let this happen? Looking back there were several opportunities to get a grip but I didn't. Fast forward to October 5-6, 2012. I attended the Obesity Help Conference here in Atlanta. I walked away with a renewed sense of "I can do this". I went back to basics and eliminated the carbs, made protein my first priority, drinking my water and walking. This past Monday I weighed 225.2. I know I have a ways to go but I'm on the right track! Joyful

My rat terrior mix, Bugsy, caught a mouse and he wanted to bring it INSIDE!

So Since I had a giant lost in October, I knew a big stall was sure to come!! I decided not to ruin the happy feeling by beginning to obsess over not losing for the next weeks or so. I have been around too long not to know what was coming lol!! I gave the scale to my mom and will not get it back until 11/22. Until then, I am going to continue eating well, resting, exercising, live life and take plenty of pictures I find it to be more pleasurably anyway

Ok so week 1 is over and I have been feeling pretty darn good since I came home. I haven't had any crazy problems, knock on wood, or anything so that makes me happy.I have been walking and getting out on little adventures (a.k.a. stores) but I do find that after about an hour I get super tired and lose my energy and have to go relax and sit down. I know it's cause of the lack of calories and protein and stuff but I do not enjoy it. I have been having trouble getting my proteins in which is common. I can't really stomach the shakes anymore, which I still try to get down, and I can't really eat enough to get any good amount of protein so basically I have to relay on the shakes and do my best to drink them as much as I can. Sooo the exciting part, I lost 20 pounds since I got home from the hospital which was 1 week. I wasn't going to weigh myself until I went to the doctors for my 2 week checkup but I couldn't wait any longer so I weighed myself. Amazing and soooo excited. Well that's abot it. Until next week, taw taw!

My Lap-band is a great tool for my weight loss journey, if only I could band my head. How many times have we thought that? I read it on threads all the time. Well, we can band our head. In fact I have a Banded Brain Tool and it’s called SUPPORT. It comes in all different shapes and sizes. My Banded Brain Tool consists of five things: Cheerleaders – these are my family and friends who from the sidelines are cheering me on. It’s my hubby seeing me struggle and walking up to me whispering in my ear, “You are doing so incredible on this journey, I’m so proud of you.” Or my friends saying, “You look great!” Support Group – My support group meets once a month. Seeing fellow bandster, exchanging stories and ideas gets me from month to month. LapBandTalk – I log on every day, check in with my friends, help and support other bandsters as well as get help and support. MyFItnessPal – Keeps me honest with my food intake and my friends offer help and ideas here too. FitBit – My pedometer on steroids! I never though one little electronic devise would get me climbing stairs every day. It sends me emails when I earn a new badge (never forget the first day I climbed 50 flights – I was a dancing fool). I compete with my friends to see who can walk the most steps and we encourage each other one. Between my Lap-band and Banded Brain Tool I have been able to succeed with my weight loss.

I finally realized by getting the Band, I put me first for once. I have been taking care of my sick husband for about 15 months. I help with a retarded brother, a 94 year old mother in a nursing home and an 89 year old mother-in-law, who finally gave up driving. You can see, I have a full plate and HATE it. I would love to find a hobby to occupy my time. Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Hi from Boston and wonderful Sandy, Lately I have been unable to feel full. Right now I am very full. I had for dinner elbows, tomato sauce and shrimp. Dinner was yummy. I had a fill in September and not scheduled to see the doctor until after Thanksgiving. Yesterday I made an angel food cake and put sugar free chocolate chips into it. My husband is a diabetic. He has eaten over 1/2 the cake. I had one piece last night. I find with the Band that I getting bored with food. I never know what to have. For lunch I had a grilled roast beef and cheese sandwich (1/2). It was great. Have a great and safe night and hopefully with electric.

I am from New England, home of great lobster. I was told by many banders that after surgery food can be different. I guess tonight I had my last lobster. It was just too chewy for me. I am sad. I do eat a lot of jumbo lump crab and that agrees with me. I have had shrimp and that goes down fine. The only way I would eat clams is fried, so that is out and I don't do scallops. I find salmon does down super. Tomorrow I am making a pot roast. My husband does not eat meat, only poultry and fish. I guess that means about 12 pot roast meals for me. Everyone have a great weekend. Arlene

Hi fellow Banders. Can we wear Spanx after surgery? For some reason I think I heard you should not wear them. Also, I went to my PCP today and had my first Flu shot ever, at 62. The doctor said there is a new version this year and if you get it expect 7 days in the hospital. That heard, got the shot. Enjoy your evening, all.

Yesterday was my 6th month anniversary of being banded (was banded November 30th). My starting weight was 257. My weight was 247 the day of surgery. I currently have 4.5 cc in a 14 cc band. My current weight is around 217! I AM 40 POUNDS THINNER THAN I WAS AROUND THANKSGIVING. In fact, I've lost about two turkeys myself or 8 pounds of sugar or however you wanna look at it. TO ME, THAT'S GREAT! Sure it's not the big numbers some people are pulling, but it's amazing for me. To show you how amazing I'm including an old journal entry.......... THE OLD ME TALKING: ".... During the weekend it was really difficult to count calories when it feels like every calorie is a big mistake. So the good thing was that I started counting again, the bad thing is that I ate over 2,500 calories today, and I know that's not conducisve to weight lost..... After my appointment I was sooooo drained, I didn't go to the gym. I just couldn't get in the right mindset. I have to be in the right mind set and do things in a certain way when it comes to working out. Then I felt bad because I shoulda, coulda, woulda went. This is the type of thing I was talkin about. I feel like if I was a better, different, person I would have pulled things together and went. "..... THE NEW ME TALKING: I used to be a size 22. NOW I AM A SIZE 16. I used to hate going to the gym. NOW (althought I dont love it, love it) I ENJOY THE GYM AND RARELY SKIP EXERCISING. I used to have trouble doing 15 mintues on the elliptical. NOW I CAN DO 60 MINUTES ON THE ELLIPTICAL, BUT WHAT I REALLY LOVE IS SPIN CLASSES!!! I used to be out of breath, and have back and knee pain from walking. NOW I CAN WALK FOR AN HOUR PLUS OUTSIDE! I used to be so fat that people thought i was pregnant. :ph34r: NOW PEOPLE TELL ME I LOOK NICE, CAUSE I DO! Although every day is not perfect with the band. Things are so much better than they were! I still struggle with my food addiction everyday. The band does not cure the addiction just like locking the liquor cabinet doesn't cure alcoholism. Food addiction is a real thing and mine isn't going anywhere. I still have to fight myself to make the right choices. AND I DO MAKE MISTAKES, OFTEN, TOO OFTEN. But I've learn to pick myself up and start again the next day! And I you can see I used to eat upwards of 3,000 calories a day. Now I eat about half that (it should be less) but i'm wortking on it! The band isn't for everyone, but it's working for me. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE OUT THERE! :wub: