Tomander

[color=#0f0f0f][background=#e5f1e8]I was banded July 6 06. and have lost 156 lbs and have been able to maintain my weight with no issues.[/background][/color]

[color=#0f0f0f][background=#e5f1e8]I had an extended tummy tuck on Sep. 26 08 to have excess skin removed (14 lbs and got a new belly button hole). I had a "touch up" on my chest (Aug 20, 09) had 4 lbs of skin removed from my chest. Started with a 54" waist now 30".[/background][/color]

[color=#0f0f0f][background=#e5f1e8]The band has changed my life. I wish I had done it sooner. I got banded just before my 40th birthday. I treat the band as a "tool" ... you still l have to make healthy food choices and "diet" in order to lose weight but I can honestly say I have never felt like I was missing out on certain foods with band. if your in the Toronto area there are a group of us that meet on a monthly basis for coffee. These groups are open to EVERYONE... if your looking into getting the band, recently banded or a long time "bandster". I find support from other "Bandsters" were a key to my success.[/background][/color]


I know for me I never realized how much food controlled my life. I had a really had time with “head hunger” in the evenings.

I’m going into my 7[sup]th[/sup] year of being banded and have talked about this here several times but I think it’s worth repeating for new bandsters.

Try and take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t go into this journey saying “I’ll never be able to eat this or that ever again.” I can eat ANYTHING except rice and apple skins and no carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor. Remember… take tiny bites (the size of your pinky fingernail) and remember to [u]finish[/u] what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite.

When I was losing weight I checked in every month with my family doctor to get weighed and measured. (I don’t own scales) I also attended two coffee groups for people that were banded. These things really kept me motivated and on track. I still check in every month with my family doctor to get weighed-in and I host two coffee groups. For me support from fellow bandsters plays a big part in this journey.

Back when I was banded my family doctor came up with something called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger”. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger.

Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – [b]by Dr. Michelle May[/b]

I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey.

The second book is:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – [b]by David L. Kessler[/b]

[u]Please feel free to e-mail me[/u] if you have any questions and also if you would like a copy of the “Egg Timer Distraction Document”. --- [b]tomander@bell.net[/b]

Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 160 lbs
tomander@bell.net