blanham04

So today is my one year bandiversary! I thought I would Celebrate by writing a post on here. First off let me start by saying this has been the best year of my life! I had almost walked out of the surgery because I was scared and didn't want to go through with it, thank goodness I didn’t! As of today I am down 135 lbs and have went from a BMI of 58.2 down to a BMI of 38.4. I still have a long way to go, but wow what a journey! I thought I would share some highlights: I was able to get a new job that I enjoy much more and make at least 25% more pay! Losing weight made me more confident and I am doing really well at my new job! I am now wearing clothes that I haven’t worn since high school! Yes, I kept them hoping that someday they would fit again, and guess what some of them are starting to get big on me! I love when I catch a glimpse in the mirror and wonder who that person is, because I don’t recognize myself! I also happened to be flipping through some pictures and of a wedding my wife and I recently attended and I saw a guy standing next to her and started getting jealous because she was standing so close to him, then I realized it was me..haha! On the Disney cruise that my wife and I took to celebrate the first 100lbs that I lost I was able to get on the waterslide and not feel ashamed or worried about getting stuck! I also was able to keep up easily on the excursions and do many things I never thought I would before, like mountain biking through the rainforest! I only told my family and one close friend, and didn’t even tell them right away. I still don’t feel comfortable with people knowing that I had lapband surgery or how much weight I have lost. The reason I don’t tell people about the surgery is because I feel like people take away from all the hardwork that I have done. I have been working out twice a day now for over 8 months. I earned this weight loss, but all one has to do is look at a story like the new Jersey Govener and all the comments about it to see that people really seem to chastise you if you “take the easy way out” by having weight loss surgery. The only thing that I feel bad about in not disclosing the help that I have gotten from the lapband is that friends of mine who were also overweight may now think that I did this all on my own. I don’t share my weight loss because I am embarrassed by how much I weighed, that I let myself get so bad. I do plan that if someday I hit my goal of 200lbs lost, I will share that! I’m hoping that I’m able to do that by this time next year. Thank you all for reading and being there when I’ve need support. If anyone would like help, or wants to talk about any issue, I feel like I have enough experience that I would be happy to share or help support someone else in their journey. I wanted to leave you with my favorite comment from a college buddy that I ran into recently, he hadn’t seen me in about 2 years. “Wow, you look great, did you Sh%t out another person?” Made my day!!

I've been a little lax in activity on this site lately, but I've been busy in my own journey. I wanted to share that as of today I have lost 101 lbs!!!! I really started trying to lose weight in February of 2012 and I was actually banded on May 10th. I am halfway to my goal of 200lbs lost and I am pretty excited about it! I hope by this time next year I am at my goal. On a side note, a lot of people at work keep asking me how much I've lost (I wish I could hide the fact that I'm losing weight, but it's kind of hard). I tell them that I'm not sharing that information (I've never been a good liar) and they seem to get upset with me. Its kind of bothersome. Anyone else have this issue, how did you deal with it? Best of luck to you all!

Awesome Job, as a fellow Dr. Aguila bandster I am so glad to see this as I also need to lose over 200lbs! Thank you so much for the inspiration, and I hope to be joining you soon. I am sure you have made Dr. Aguila proud!

Here is an article I was reading and thought I would share with you all: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/14/health/father-son-bariatric-surgery/index.html?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_health+%28RSS%3A+Health%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&iref=obinsite

I thought I would share a few NSV's I've had recently as I find these very motivating. I was banded May 10th but I count since I started the program in February. Since then I've lost 70lbs and continue to lose about 2 lbs a week. Anyway on the NSV's: 1. I was able to buy a new belt today at a normal store, I didn't have to go the Big and Tall store. I wanted to keep the old belt and I had been punching holes in it to keep using it, but I work in a professional office and the shabby look doesn't fly. Anyway I went to the store to actually pick up some socks and figured I'd try on a belt just to see and low and behold it fit!!!! 2. I am a guy and shave every morning for work. Shaving has actually become a lot easier believe it or not. I never expected this change, but I have noticed that my face shaves cleaner and I have a lot less razor bumps now. 3. This one is pretty exciting. I was the biggest person in my office of about 100 people for a long time. There was one other guy who was also large, but about 50lbs lighter than where I started in February. Well since I've lost weight and now I have passed him up he wants to join me in my fitness routine. I am happy to have a workout buddy, and I am really glad that I (the fatest (former) person at work) has inspired one of my coworkers to get into better shape!!! Thanks for all the support fellow bandsters and I look forward to posting more NSV's on here!

What is Gastro?

Congrats!!!! I live in Florida the land of theme parks, and went to univerals studios a few months after surgery and was able to ride the rides where as last year I wasn't! It's big victory and congratulations!!!

I went to Europe when I was younger and really enjoyed it, and I have always wanted to go back but didn't think I would get as much enjoyment out of it as a fat person. So when I lose 150lbs then I am going to Europe. I am thinking about scheduling the trip a year in advance so I have a goal/reward to work towards!

So I went to my Dr. today 5 weeks after surgery for my first fill if needed. I had lost 14 lbs since surgery and was told I didn't need a fill. The Dr. also said that they noticed that patients who worked with their bands more, needed less fills. I have been doing this (eating healthy and working out a lot) in order to produce results. At this time I can eat whatever I want, and have had a bite of pretty much anything (pizza, bread, ect.). I have also read a lot of success stories on this site, and noticed that some people who have been really successful went for long periods of time before they got their first fill and those same people don't complain about getting stuck. So I guess what I am asking is from those of you who have been successful, do you feel like you tried to avoid getting filled until you needed it, or did you just get one whenever. I could have probably done with a fill today because I could go out and eat whatever I want and probably not have any repercussions, but I like knowing that I can eat anything I would like and not having to worry about it making me PB or anything. I don't want to criticize anyone, I feel like whatever it takes to make the lap band work for you then go for it! I am just curious what others have experienced in their journeys... Thank you for the feedback!

Ok I am impressed if you managed to go on a cruise and still lose weight if you say you ate like you were on vacation. I used to go on vacation just to eat, so I could gain 10 or 15 lbs in a week on a cruise ship. Are you excercising a lot or something? What's your secret for losing 10 lbs while on vacation, especially one that has a lot do do with eating?

This sounds great to me, that was kind of my fear as well, what happens if I get to the point where I can't do it myself anymore and need the band to do its job a little more. This sounds like a great plan. I am really glad I'm not the only one on here who is experiencing this. I have only been on it for 5 weeks, but the weight is dropping pretty rapidly. I am down about 60lbs including the 3 weeks presurgery diet. So the band is working well, but this will be the 4th time in my life I've had a significant weight loss and the hard part for me has always been keeping it off. I have definately changed my eating habits, but eventually if I go on vacation or "have a bad week" I don't want to put on 10 lbs because my band doesn't stop me from eating.

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Great Job, that is really impressive, keep up the good work!

Great NSV, smaller clothes and doing physical activity that you couldn't do before are much more rewarding than eating that extra serving of food!

Way to go, hoping to follow suite!

Congrats, always good when someone compliments you on your hard work!

So as the title says I was banded on May 10th of 2012 and including the pre-surgery diet I have lost 50lbs so far. I didn't think I would have anything to Celebrate only a few weeks out, but I already do and thought I would share: 1. Everyone at work keeps asking me how much weight I've lost and how I am doing so well . 2. I went to the back of my closet and pulled out 10 items of clothing I haven't worn in 5 years or more! 3. My wife and I went to Disney World together and when we have gone in the past I am usually walking along with my feet hurting trying to keep up with her. This time she was trying to keep up with me! Also, I was able to ride a few rides for once! I just thought I would share these with the community and I want to thank all the people on here so much. If I hadn't read your success stories I know I would have never went through with the surgery. I almost backed out the morning of, but decided that so many people had been successful and I wanted to as well. I am in love with my lapband at this point and so excited that I don't feel hungry and don't have the cravings like I used to. I look forward to continued weight loss and most importantly keeping the weight off long term. Thank you all for the inspiration!

I found this topic very helpful before I had surgery so I thought I would reply: My surgery was schedule at 10:45 am May 10th. I got up around 7 and showered and scrubbed with the special sponge they had given me. I went with my wife to the hospital which was nice because she had a shoulder surgery before and this was my first one ever and I was super nervous. There wasn't a bed available when I first got there so I had to sit in the waiting room. There were other lap band patients in there and they seemed anxious as well. Finally I was called in to a the OR pre op room and IV was started, my first one ever! It wasn't to bad in my left hand and the lady hit on the first try and today there's no bruising. I had my doctor come in and he talked to me and asked if I had any questions. I asked if someone would explain everything I should do after the surgery, because I was nervous and didn't want to forget anyting. He chastised me and said that if I didn't know what I was supposed to do by now and wasn't paying attention, then maybe I shouldn't have the surgery. My wife actually stepped in for me and said I had been paying attention but was super nervous because before this week I had never even had blood drawn and I wanted to make sure I didn't mess anything up. This was probably my low point of the day, and I am still a little upset with my Dr. about this. However we moved on and the anestiesologist came in and asked questions and talked to me. They got me a bed and got it and he came to give me some stuff to calm my nerves. He asked if it was working and I said it made me feel like I was going to throw up, but other than that I was still nervous. They wheeled me back into the OR room and I was staring at the ceiling and the had me raise my left arm and straighten, then my right arm and straighten to put arm rests under them, by the time they had done this I was out and didn't even get to do a countdown like i expected The next thing I know I a waking up and trying to get my wits about me and decide if I feel like I am dieing or not. They had a tube in my nose and the nurse asked how I was doing and I said I couldn't breathe please remove the tube and they did, which felt better. I wasn't in a lot of pain except for feeling very bloated. After I awoke they wheeled my into my recovery room and asked me to change beds, I said I would like to stand because it felt better and was allowed to. I asked for somethng for the bloating and they gave me some maalox or something. It started to help, but took awhile. I began to drink water and walk around the hospital, what suprised me the most is that I really felt fine and was tired more than anything. I kept walking around the or floor doing about 15 laps to help work out the gas. It seemed to work and every so often I would burp some up. I would occasionally lay down in my bed and my wife would hook up the leg massagers they had on me and I drank three bottles of water. There was no X-ray and I wasn't forced to eat anything, just drink all the water I wanted. I just kept asking what I had to do to go home so I could get the heck out of there, and the nurse said in good time. They came in took my temperature and blood pressure 3 times and on the third time said I would be released soon. The nurse came in and explained instructions and I felt fairly good. I got dressed and walked down to the car and my wife drove home. I came home got into bed and slept, woke up a few hours later still feeling ok. I kept taking gas medicine and wasn't going to even take my pain meds, but decided there was no reason to tought it out since it was only tylenol with codiene. Today I am actually feeling just fine with being a little sore and a little gas, but honestly I have a desk job and could have worked today if I had. I actually logged in and did a little work from home and mainly took it easy. I must say I am super surprised that I really don't feel that bad and I am pretty sure I will be able to go to work on monday if everything keeps going this way. Except for my doctor being mean I had a great experience!

Hello everyone, I have done all the prerequisites and am just currently waiting on insurance approval. I have been thinking through all the rules that I will have when I get this lap band, such as no bread, no sodas, eat mostly protein and vegetables. I am not great at following diets for a long time hince the reason I am overweight. This seems a lot like a diet with rules that you have to follow. Why can't I just follow these rules, what help does the lap band give? I know a lot of you have been successful with the lapband and I just would like to know how the lapband makes it easier to follow these rules and what difference it has made for you vs just doing it on your own. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the lapband, but before I submit myself to surgery I want to know that this will actually help me. Thank you for the input!

He is my Dr. as well and I am getting banded on May 10th. I am very unhappy right now on my 3 week optifast treatment, but I am suffering through it begrudgingly . I met with a lot of doctors before choosing him and I feel a little better knowing he used to be big himself. Also, the office staff are great and I love giving Tina a hard time!

Thank you for all the support, I just found out I am approved and my surgery is scheduled for May 10th. Very Scared and excited at the same time!

Thank you all for your responses. I wanted to share a little about myself and why your feedback actually means a lot to me. I have been big my whole life and have lost substantial amounts of weight 3 times, even getting down to 165 and being 5'10, I thought I was doing well. But I could never keep it off, eventually my eating would go back to the way it was and what I call the hunger monster would return. I finally gave up and have ballooned up to 400 lbs. I am ashamed to even admit it and won't tell my wife how much I weigh. I've been working hard recently and lost a few lbs but not much. This lap band is my last chance to live a normal life and not be fat. I am so excited about the possibilities, but also really scared. Scared about the surgery(I've never had surgery before), scared that it won't work, ect. I have actually been trying to follow what I think I will eat once I am banded with a few cheats here and there but overall doing fairly well. I feel a lot better since I now focus on protein and avoid carbs. I just wonder that since I haven't had the will power to keep the weight off before, why will it be different this time with the band? And how will my will power combined with the band keep me from eating what I'm not supposed to eat? From reading your comments above, it sounds like it will, but I guess I won't know what the band feels like until I have it. I have been seeing the psychologist my lapband doctor reccomended because I wanted to work on why I ate they way I did. It has helped some, and I think it will be more helpful when I am banded so I don't go crazy! I have been lurking around this website for almost a year reading people's stories and this if my first major post so I appreciate the feedback. I really do want to thank you all for these comments because I can relate to them!

Congrats!!!

brought tears to my eyes!!! Such an inspiration!!!