Audrey

Hello there I was done on the NHS by Mr Galloway. I see him often & infact nominated him recently for an award. He's a smashing fella and I would go to him again. Just make sure you get your aftercare sorted before you sign anything. Mr Galloway is good, but the nuffield are a money making unit! It's a pity you can't make the meets. There's a lassie who comes down from Aberdeen to the meets every month and finds it really rewarding! I'll PM you the details Aud x

Hello there Scottish peeps, I thought I'd just post to let you know there there is a WLS support group held the last Saturday in EVERY month in Glasgow. I'm one of the organisers - so your in safe hands! lol. It's in Gartnavel General Hospital on the Great Western Road in Glasgow. It's held from 1:30 - 3:30pm, in the boardroom (on the admin corridor). Even if your not Scottish but are in the area, look us up!!! Audrey x

Hello there, We seem to be scattered all over the world & I got to wondering, where are you all from & how far have you come & how far have you to go? Hope you don't mind me starting this thread... :guess here's my info My name is Audrey, I'm 32 and come from Glasgow in Scotland. I've been married to Chris (my second husband) for a little over 2 years. I don't have any kids. but do have a black floppy eared rabbit called Eddie... He was born on the same day as I has my band ! lol & he's WAY too cute! I was banded on 26th August 2003 and to date have lost Lost 104 lbs/7 stone 6 lbs/47.1 kg - I am 5 fool 11" tall (180cm) I've gone from a size 32 to a 22 in clothes & have even lost a shoe size ! lol I still have a long way to go i'm only at 56% of excess weight lost.. in it for the long haul as they say! lol How about you? Aud x

I tried to update this thread but it wouldn't update! so I thought I'd just post it again here food addiction kicked in big time & I was consumed with the thought of food & 'what I can have next'. Don't think that'll ever go away! Well, my weight shot up while waiting for the fill. I ended up at 251 lbs :speechles .. (BMI 35) not good! Mr Galloway put in a wee 1/4 ml and that gave me the spur on I needed to make the correct food choices again. I'm weighing myself once a week (on a Friday) & as of last Friday I was back down to 232lbs .. so that's 19 lbs in 4 weeks.. I'm just pleased that it's coming back off again! My BMI is now at 32.4. My clothes are all still a tad too tight but better than they were this time last month! I'm still taking the Clomid tablets.. I have one more month of them to go & thats it! I have an appointment with the Fertility clinic on 27th November (again) probably to tell me what happens next! Here's hoping I won't have to go & I'll be preggers ! Tho somehow I think not... My portion sizes are about starter size. If I take my time I'm ok. I'm finding it difficult to make the right food choices & not eat crap.. but it's easier now that I'm a little tighter. I'm aiming to be 210lbs for next month.. would be nice to be 200 but anything under 220lbs will do! Thanks for all your PM's and texts!!! Aud x

Hi all, I haven't been on very much as my mum passed away on April 25th, so as you can imagine, I haven't really felt like sitting on the net. I'm feeling... actually, I don't know how I'm feeling about it, anyway (changing the subject).. I thought i'd let you know that I've reached a big milestone in my journey of WLS. I weighed myself this morning & have lost a total of 204 pounds!!! I'm really pleased and feel 100% better/different. I hope this finds you all well and healthy. Audrey x

I thought I'd add a wee update to this post... My weight went down to 186lbs. but (possibly due to the stress of my mum passing away) my band tightened up like a fleas purse & I had to go in for a wee unfill. Unfortunately, that meant that my restriction went from TIGHT to slack in 3 seconds! The result? I had little (if any) restriction. I could eat like a pre-opper... As a result, my food addiction kicked in big time & I was consumed with the thought of food & 'what I can have next'. Don't think that'll ever go away! Well, my weight shot up while waiting for the fill. I ended up at 251 lbs :speechles .. (BMI 35) not good! Mr Galloway put in a wee 1/4 ml and that gave me the spur on I needed to make the correct food choices again. I'm weighing myself once a week (on a Friday) & as of last Friday I was back down to 232lbs .. so that's 19 lbs in 4 weeks.. I'm just pleased that it's coming back off again! My BMI is now at 32.4. My clothes are all still a tad too tight but better than they were this time last month! I'm still taking the Clomid tablets.. I have one more month of them to go & thats it! I have an appointment with the Fertility clinic on 27th November (again) probably to tell me what happens next! Here's hoping I won't have to go & I'll be preggers ! Tho somehow I think not... My portion sizes are about starter size. If I take my time I'm ok. I'm finding it difficult to make the right food choices & not eat crap.. but it's easier now that I'm a little tighter. I'm aiming to be 210lbs for next month.. would be nice to be 200 but anything under 220lbs will do! Thanks for all your PM's and texts!!! Audrey

About 2 years to lose 190lbs then I maintained the weight loss for about a year. I've recently lost the rest (over the last month or so), probably due to the stress of my mum passing making my band tighter. I'm happy at this weight, even tho i'm not at BMI 25.... Who cares??!! I'm happy with who I am and what I look like.... just being normal & not standing out in a crowd, (even tho at 5 11 i'm usually still one of the tallest! lol). Thaqnks for your lovely messages! It really means alot. aud x

How you all doing now??? Would be great to get an update on you all? Aud x

I suppose I feel............... every time you think someone is an inspiration , please know that in a few months time, YOU are the person someone is looking to for help. I know bugger all about anything, all I can tell you is how I found things. I may have lost weight, but I have the same demons as you. The same insecurities and I still to this day, don't know how to deal with them. The weight loss is the easy part, it's the keeping the weight off thats hard. Be strong, it's worth it in the end! Aud x

Thanks!!!! It's odd to see me on the PC screen! lol I've been extremely lucky Donna. I haven't had many complications. I was banded 2 weeks before my best friend, who incidentally has lost over 280 with her band!!! (she's been in the papers & glossy mags over here too!).. So I feel that having someone there just to say.. "is this right? did you feel like this?" helps more than anything. The only time I had anything 'wrong' if I can even call it that, is when I was filled too tight & couldn't keep fluid down, I became dehydrated & was faint when I stood up. An unfill sorted that out in a few days & I was back to normal again (whatever that is! ) I also had reflux at night when I was in bed. It got to the stage where I forced myself to PB before I went to bed, to allow my not to be woken up with saliva choking me in the middle of the night. I got round this initially by not drinking/eating after 7pm, but it soon came back. I eventually got a wee 1/4 ml taken out of the band & I've never had the problem since. I suppose a tip - if one were needed, is really simple. Stick to the 'Bandster Rules' they work. I know they can be a real pain at times, but I promise, if you stick to the rules for 10 days, you'll see/feel the difference. Also, go for a walk, I'm really bad at the gym & didn't get to 390lbs lovvin the gym !! so what I do is go for a wee walk when I get bored (or want to eat - actually thats usually at the same time! lol). I really hope this helps. Stick in there, it WILL work. aud x

Thanks so much for your kind messages! I'm numb about my mum passing, I still can't believe it. Found the camera & took some pic's - I've attached them now! Hope you like them! haha Aud x

I used to be a moderator on this site - it's a great place for local support & has loads of support groups dotted around the country. Here's the web address to get you on it - It's moved as the old site was crashingl over the place. http://www.wlsinfoforums.org.uk Cheers Aud x

My pictures are in the before & after thread... but I'll post them again if you like? Aud x

I wasn't "quite" 400. I was 390... will that do? It all seems so long ago - I look at pictures of myself and 'know' it's me... bit I can't get my head around it.. (sounds daft...). NSV's? running for a bus without my boobs giving me Black eyes ! hehe RUNNING ! Showering without having to lean against the wall to reach my bum. being able to wipe myself in the loo (sorry) Getting my shoes on without getting into a sweat & breathless that I'd need a minute to recover. Crossing my legs !!! (I like that one!) Sex - being more adventurous... Husband - He married me when I was at my heaviest weight - he said he loved me no matter what my size... Though I think he prefers me this way... He can get his arms all the way round me now and thinks I'm more 'bendy'! lol Work - I've always had a desk job - so thats not changed much. I get more 'attention' from the fella's (not sexual or anything)... but more like being included in the 'in' jokes. I even managed to get myself promoted ! Family - some of my family we're a little 'resistant' with me getting the band - funny what happens when they saw me succeed... it's no longer the 'easy way out' - now after 2 years, my sister and brothers wife are going for it... they bloomin want it! Clothes - from size 30/32 - now in size 16's YEAY ! having a choice !!! Walking - being able to walk for more than 500 yards without taking a break. Babies - being knocked back for fertility treatment coz I was 'Too Heavy - too high a risk' - now i've been accepted no questions asked ! There are so many - it's a longer road for the heavier weights - but it definately works !!! Love this thread ! Aud x

Ello Janet ! Fancy meeting you here !! Nice to see you onboard ! Aud x

Thanks ! I'm all shy now... I'm also not used to people being so flattering!!! Your all so very kind... I feel humbled.... Thanks very much! Aud x

As requested !!! Aud x

Thanks very much for your kind comments !!! Here's hoping that the next set I post will be GOAL photos! hahaha !! here's hoping eh? ! Aud x

My gawd, where does the time go??? This time 2 years ago I was lying in an HDU bed GAGGING for a drink of Water....... now all I want is alcohol! hahaha ! I feel i've done not too badly, I've lost most of my weight & feel happy with the way I look. I'm not going mental about being a BMI 25 or a stick insect size 12... for me, if I lose more, then fine... it's only if I gain there'll be trouble! haha...... It's easy to be philosophical after being 2 years out... thinking to myself..... There's no point in being too tight.... if your going to eat crap you'll eat it anyway... so your as well having less restriction & being able to eat meat & bread (even a wee bit!)... Your better to be able to tollerate that teeny bit more & not PB at every meal... I also know, that if you'd said that to me 2 years ago I'd have thought you were MAD ! All I wanted was to get the weight off & get it off now!... Well it's not all off... but I'm ok - I feel good & feel 'normal'. One example - I went out for a walk last night (was bored & needed to NOT eat!) - I walked past a bunch of lads.... they were sitting around looking for mischief... (you know the type). I thought... here we go.... I was waiting for comments as had SO many times happened before.... then it happened...... NOTHING.. they looked at me & carried on talking...... I don't know whether I was pleased or disappointed! I thought.... I MUST be normal??? Anyhoo - my weight has stayed at the 200 pounds mark (ish) I'm ok with that - like I said... as long as it doesn't go up i'll be ok.... I'm thinkin, I have the rest of my life to lose the rest.... I can wait a wee while longer !! I'm a size 16 bum & 18/20 top - that'll do! (I'm 5"11). I'm going over to my friends tonight - I'm going to take some photos... I'll get them posted as soon as I can. I'm looking forward to hearing how you've all done & where you are now in your journey. There were a few August 2003 bandsters.. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone all that time ago! I'll let you know when the up to date photo's are on... Hope your all well. Aud x

I've put them on a new thread He're the link! (blushes) http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=9389 Aud x

here's a few pics Aud x

THanks very much! your so kind!!! I'll post up pics now.... If I can find any ! Aud x

Hello Andy The best advice I'd give myself would be to BE PATIENT! I couldn't understand why when I woke from the surgery that I wasn't a size 10 ! haha no really.... The weight wasn't comming off quickly enough & I began to wonder if i'd made the wrong choice with ops..... I soon slapped myself out of that frame of mind and realised that it took me 30 years to gain the weight... I wasn't going to lose it all in a few months. Also, I'd have told myself that I didn't have to be as tight as a fleas' purse to lose weight... infact, if I wanted to be healthy & happy, i'd be a teeny bit slacker - allowing myself to be able to eat meat & bread.... My idea now is.... if I'm going to eat crap - i'd eat it anyway.. no point in only being able to eat band friendly food. That defeated the purpose, y'no? It's easy to be smart @rsed about it now tho - my weight is normal (ish) for my height - and the urgency isn't there anymore to get the weight off. If i'd realised that, then I'd have saved myself alot of grief ! How you doing with things? Who's doing your fills? Aud x

I'm in the UK too.... does that count? yea.... it must do! hehe Aud x

I was 390 when I started out - I feel i'm a success. I'm not at "ideal weight" but where I am will do me for sure! As for exersize - i'm ashamed to say that I didn't really do much... I do walk now & have even RAN !!! haha. Good luck to you! Aud x