Jim1967

Thank you all for the kind words. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back in here and reply. Work and life has been crazy as of late. Northeast really got hit hard this Winter and we've had snow every single weekend since beginning of January. I think in regards to the band life I believe you really have to take it on and make it a project. To be honest when I reached a point where trips to the Doctor office became less frequent I began feeling more out of touch with the process. As time has gone on I still miss the frequent interaction it but I am enjoying life more than ever. I only see my band doctor one every 6 months. This last time they asked me if I wanted to push it out to a year and I said no way. April 16 will be my 3 year anniversary. I still have my days when I look in the mirror and see a very large man. I have lots of loose skin that needs to be taken care of at some point. I am betting with skin surgery that scale will easily drop another 10 and maybe even 15 pounds. I have sag every where and it is not pretty. My wife has been nothing but supportive and said she is so happy I am healthy and energetic once again. Bandster hell was the toughest phase for me. I think it was 6 or 7 months before I really found the zone and the weight really started moving. It was frustrating as hell but I stuck with it because it was all I had. Anything was better then the alternative. If you find yourself stuck in bandster hell or even going in the wrong direction with the scale the LAST thing you ever want to do is cancel appointments out of embarrassment. Doctors and adjustments cannot help you if you do not go to those appointments and let it all hang out. No excuses, no embarrassment just tell them what is really going on and let them help you. Right now I fluctuate between 159 and 163. Not bad for a guy starting out at 488. Please let me know if I can be of any help to anyone. I know I don't get on here nearly as much as I should but I do get email notifications of PM's and responses threads I participate in. Thank you again and I hope you all become successful and happy losers :-)

My band surgery took place 6 months prior to my 45th birthday.....

MsAnn, I would feel sorry for you but it seems you're doing a pretty good job feeling sorry for yourself and blaming everyone else around you. I agree having support around you is very important however it is not impossible to succeed without it. Not sure what your deal is with your husband but it sounds pretty old school to me (Wife belongs in the kitchen type stuff). Fine make him his food if you must but it doesn't mean you have to eat it. As for the PB and Bread for a stuck episode...in a normal non banded situation that would work so maybe he is just lacking some education on the band and what a stuck episode means? Has he ever taken any interest at all in what you are trying to do? Has he bothered to learn what is important to you and your needs? Doesn't sound like a very supportive spouse to me or at least that is the way your describing him. As for your brother are there any other support groups you could attend without him? I know around here there are several other facilities which have groups and there is no cost associated. My Wife and I are both banded and I know it would be quite annoying if we were being compared all the time. It has come up from time to time but not very often as we were band a year and half apart. You mention switching to the sleeve and I ask what is the point? All of your issues with lack of support will still be there regardless of the surgical option. I am not against any option but at the end of the day all of the obstructions you mention above will still be there. I am sorry my post is coming off so negative but at the end of the day this is your journey and at some point if you want to be successful you need to take the bull by the horns and tame the beast. Find a new support group....get your husband on board and if he isn't willing to put time in to what is important to you then I guess you know where you really stand on the importance scale in his life....(in his kitchen being his wait staff, cooking and cleaning his house and making sure he has clean laundry). My Wife wouldn't put up with that crap nor would she ever have to. This isn't 1950....it's time he wakes up and smell the roses however he isn't going to just do it if you keep giving in. Good Luck to you.....

You'll get there. Just follow the program your Doctor outlined and be true to yourself and it will come. It just takes time and a lot of patience.

You know it's not going to be pretty when they just stick a plus sign next the number of inches forecast-ed. Stay safe my friends. X marks the spot for me

Hey All, Just wanted to pop in and say hello. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying life. Also, wanted to say thanks for the recommendations on the dry skin remedies. Since incorporating flaxseed oil two weeks ago the winter itches are gone.

@amponder I hear you about the loose skin. I am yet to investigate it but I have it bad. Skin even sags on my leg area.

I almost reached that weight and I realize how fortunate I was to have a second chance. BMi is based on height and weight and at 5'6 488lbs my BMI was 78.8 the day I walked in and met my Surgeon. He told me if I could lose 5% of my weight and put the work in and if insurance approves it he would give me a tool to use to help turn my life around. It is unfortunate help is not easily as accessible for others as it was for me. I think all insurance companies should cover bariatrics but I agree with educational side of it. Blindly approving people for it without proper education would be a huge mistake. Fear of death is a huge motivator it is just unfortunate it came to that but it also taught me a life long lesson that there is no "fix" for obesity and it will forever be work in progress until the final day of my life. Edit: Not a complaint but rather an observation....I have lost 325+ pounds and I am still in the overweight category. I am sure if I had all the loose skin removed I would be in the norm but let's face it those BMI charts are a joke. My Surgeon even told me they're BS.

Head Hunger is the biggest bitch of all...Some of us are lucky where we get banded and for some strange reason the head hunger dissipates but for others no real change at all. My Wife (she is banded as well) and I are like that. My head hunger rarely raises it's ugly head but for my wife she battles with it often.

My Surgeon never gave me a goal but rather asked me what my goal was. I asked a couple of times throughout my journey (in the early stages) about a goal and I was simply told..."Just do your best and see what you can do with it. Goal is to live a healthy, happy life" I started thinking he did not want to put pressure on me by giving me a goal weight especially while pushing 488lbs. My goal was 220. I figured if I could hit 220lbs again I could live with that....

I chose the band because it was less invasive. Sleeve also was not an available option at the time at my Center. If Sleeve were available then choosing the Band may not have been so easy although I clearly have no regrets.

@@lisacaron I hear what you're saying about the aches and pains of the cold. I never used to be bothered by winter (with exception to driving to and from work in traffic during a storm) but now I am just a miserable at times. I am freezing all the time and a new one for me this year is my skin. I am either putting lotion or gold bond powder on my back and stomach to keep myself from tearing my skin off. I don't recall it being this bad last year. I don't know if it is wind burn or chafing but it is driving me nuts. I guess these are just signs that I need to get the loose skin removed. Stay warm my friends only 71 days till Spring!!

Little chilly this morning....

I went to Disney World week of December 6 through 12th. Came back and worked for a week then had another two off for Christmas, New Years vacation. I ate what I wanted and when I wanted all while listening to my band but I did eat things I typically do not eat. Cookies, candy and a bit of fried food. I have to say while it tasted it good man it did it leave me bogged down and lethargic at times. Thankfully I am back to my clean ways and the scale was actually at a new low for me yesterday.

I went from 393 to 219 back up to 488 in 10 years time. Yes, I can lose weight on my own without WLS. Maintaining has always been the problem for me..

Hi Nikki, I agree whole heartily with GoWalking. I urge you to be strong and seek out help before this becomes and out of control problem. Please do not trade in one addiction for another. You've clearly worked hard to get to this place and as you've learned already there is no shame in asking for help when you need it. But you have to take the first step. As for your husband...have you spoken with him to confirm what you're thinking or are you just speculating? You could have a problem drummed up in your head that doesn't even exist. I think the important part right now is that you both sit down and communicate and be open about it. Group therapy doesn't hurt either. It gives you both a place to safely sit down and talk and speak freely. I know you didn't ask for the advice but rather whether or not anyone else had similar experiences. Please know I am just concerned for you. As for my own issues I wouldn't say it is depression but when I look in the mirror I still see a very big man even though I know I am not. Clearly I have some self image issues. I would probably be fine once I have skin removal surgery. I have at times pondered talking to someone about it but honestly it is not impacting my life that much. I am definitely in a better, healthy situation in life at this point. Wish you the best of luck!!

Congratulations!!

Really wish I could attend

Congratulations Fred!!

Happy New Year my friends. Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Cheers to all and let us each write our own best Seller!!

Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas my friends. Just read a post that pissed me off a bit. Guess I should go find something else to do with my free time. It really irks me when someone who has never been banded makes off the cuff comments that the band should be avoided like the plague if you have over a 100 pounds to lose. How dare they say that with absolutely no experiences to back it up with? People come on here for advice and support and all they face is more questions and self doubt about their choices. Sometimes I just want to scream at the top of my lungs....so frustrating.

Not sure how or why you'd be afraid of the band. Band is the least invasive surgical options of all those currently available. Or are you referring you'd be afraid of not being successful with it? I love my band and its helped me lose 285lbs since April 2012....and like you I miss nothing whatsoever before my band.

WLS no doubt saved my life...While I had no real physical health issues aside from arthritis and sleep apena I knew I was going down hill fast physically and mentally. Day to day life was a chore and I was reaching a point where I almost wanted it to end. Day to day life was a chore. Walking from my car to my office even with the use of an elevator was tough. Wiping my ass even took some effort. It was an experience I will never forget and will never repeat.

Hello All, Hope all is well with all of you. Having a hard time getting back to reality after an amazing 7 days in Florida. I estimate I walked about 27 miles in those 7 days according to my IPhone App which probably is not that reliable. Weather was OK considering what it was like in NH but I had high hopes of 80's. I got that my first day and it was down hill from there. Dropped into the 40's at night. Disney and Universal was fantastic. I cannot get over the detail of the Harry Potter stuff at Universal. You literally feel like you walked into the movie. I sent this Magic Kingdom picture to my Sister in MA on Saturday. It was in the 80's and sun shining. MA was getting an ice storm as Arlene mentioned. LOL My Sister informed me that "I suck and she was jealous" This pic of me on the Plane waiting to depart NH. NSV....no seat belt extender and plenty of room!! My Buddy Eric photo-bombing me in the background. Kelli and I standing in front of Hogwarts Express at Universal What remains of the JAWS ride at Universal. They tore it down to make way for Harry Potter. Huge fan of JAWS and the ride was cheesy but still I was sad to see it gone. Last but not least Kelli and I at Disney's Hollywood Studios Osbourne Festival of Lights show