beabenitez1978

Yep... can you believe it? I'm back! I'm feeling pretty good today - except pretty sore... but no worries - I stuck to the pre-op diet (no problem there.. and totally avoided temptation!!) AND best of all? Just finished with my workout! Yay!! Actually I got up this morning - forced myself out of bed, did some morning stretches to warm up and then jumped on the bike for a bit and went for a little ride.. That definitely woke me up!! However today at work - I noticed I was still a bit sore (even after doing cool down stretches) so of course I was determined to make sure I got some cardio in... I mixed it up though - I just danced.. heh heh...a bit weird right? Yep right here in my living room.. just turned on the music and danced.. and you know what? I had FUN!! and wow was I sweating... I soooo love Pandora's Latin Workout Radio.. that kept me going for a good 30 minutes and even better? I burned a cool 350 calories whoo hoo!! I love that I made the purchase of a heart rate monitor - at least it gives me an idea of what I am burning - and when I need to step it up or slow it down! I think for this whole 'exercise thing' to work for me - in addition to keeping myself in a routine of my cardio workouts on the bike and the elliptical along with the weights to tone - I think I will have to have some fun too.. and I'm thinking dancing should do it! It was a bit weird for me (as I've never been a GREAT dancer) but hey.. I'm MOVING this body of mine and enjoying every minute of it... pretty cool... found something new... Anywho - Just wanted to keep the lapband world out there updated.. Thanks again to all of you who keep me inspired!! Toodles!!

Yep... I was a little off this past couple of weeks... with my mini vacation - and crazy days at work - I wasn't putting in my exercise - nor my proper eating habits.. and the scaled DEFINITELY shows it.. Yes, lets face it.. I am a bit bummed... but I was talking about it with a co-worker of mine, (who is an avid runner) who reminded me that its okay - its going to happen. She reminded me that yes, I had fun, enjoyed my food (waaaay too much) but now its time to get back to my routine - a routine to a better life... and yes body! So that definitely gave me some motivation to get back to basics... My eating habits have definitely taken a turn for the worst... I wasn't eating much through the day (my band is tighter in the morning) and so I was just 'surviving' on my coffee... and then? You guessed it.. eating not so great foods in the evening... so now? I'm going back to my pre-surgery menu - liquids and low cal stuff.. and of course I've gone back to logging my food and drink.. this is the ONLY way I know I will make significant progress... I think the eye opener was this weekend when I went to put on my new favorite pair of jeans, and I couldn't comfortably button them!! haven't had that feeling in a long time... I mean what am I supposed to wear - when I got rid of all my really big clothes ( the only thing I kept was my comfy sweats that I wear when i'm just lounging... can't seem to part with those!!) So of course that was another motivator... Anywho - I am hoping that just by blogging - (though I am not an active blogger by any means) that I can just keep myself motivated... Until next time!

Wow Jean.. you said it.. THANK YOU so much for the reminders!!! I identify and completely agree with your comment, " I believe that we must never forget our inner fat person. If we do forget, the fat folks may burst out of us and take over again", because my inner fat girl came out and took over... but I'm back.. and I maybe "white knuckling" it for now.. but soon... as you said it will be habit once again.. Mucho thanks!!

Hello all!! OMG... its been heck the past couple of months.. I'm sooo glad to see there are still 'actives' on this site - that are local!! Have you guys gotten together yet? Please let me know.. Private message me - and maybe we can start this little group.. I sooo need some support.. I've gained.. about 6 lbs.. but doing my best to lose it.. AGAIN.. freaking calorie bombs.. I know, I know.. and well I don't know about you all - but I HATE going back to my doc again and weighing in - only to see the scale go up.. (hate the disapproving look he may give me...)

Hey all!! OH MY!! I've been so out of it!! But I'm back!!! Gotta love flu season!! Is there still a plan for the park on Saturday? Let me know!! If need be please feel free to private message me and we can nail down a time and place!!! I soooo need people around me that know what's going on!!!

Keep up the good work!! Remember - you can do it!! and we are all here if you need us!!

Hey girlie.. lets definitely meet up! After six works for me too! and well of course weekends (at least Saturdays work) ooh.. idea... anyone need to go shopping yet? Heh heh..

Hey girlie.. good job!! I know its easier said than done.. but progress is progress... people keep telling me that.. and well its true.. but yes.. time to get back on track... looks like the both of us are doing that!! and you brought up a good point.. that I hadnt realized.. the cold weather affecting the band.. huh.. that explains a lot... who knew! Thanks for that tip.. I learned something new!! Keep up the good work and I look forward to hearing about your progress!!

Hey dylan - GREAT idea on the nail polish... I am sooo trying that! In meantime - browneyedbandit - keep up the good work - and its wierd after a while food doesn't dominate the senses so much.. your relationship wiht food will definitely change... but um the smell of popcorn.. yeah I cave everytime.. ha! So excited for you! Keep us posted on your progress!!

AWESOME good for you!! Isn't it a GREAT feeling? Since the surgery - I've had to clean out my closet 3 times.. and I'm with 2012 who tries on all the clothes in the closet and throwing the clothes on the floor when they don't fit... yep awesome, accomplished feeling when you see that pile growing.. clothes too big? FABULOUS!! Keep up the good work!! and have fun shopping!! Clearance racks are the best!!

Well kids.. just got home from work and from a little stop at Wal Mart.. I have been struggling lately with the whole eating thing.. (as if it'd be different now that I've got this band huh? Anywho - as I'm sure everyone else also had some struggles with the Holidays this year... whew.. first holidays with the band.. and wow.. talk about tough!! Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if I gained.. boo.. but then again - what was that word? Oh yeah.. Self-control... good lord...not even surgery can give us that! So I am back on the wagon again.. (although truth be told - I've been eating and craving everything in sight!!) of course you all know what happens when we eat what we arent supposed to.. yup.. upchuck city.. so I made the decision that I'm going back to basics.. I have to... so I've pulled out my pre-op menu and am starting once again on that... and then my plan is to slowly reintroduce 'real' food back into my diet.. I think this will help 'remind' me that my stomach isn't what it used to be - and even though I'm eating less - I can not be eating the types of food that I used to.. So I stockpiled on my protein powders again, replenished my supply of vitamins and supplements and yes even cleared my kitchen of all those "forbidden" foods... huh.. how did they get back in there in the first place?! I blame the cat... heh heh.. oh wait.. I don't have a cat... Darn.. well far be it for me not to take responsibility... although truth be told.. I hate to take the blame in this case.. ah well yep... its the nature of the beast... time to develop and exercise my self-control.. afterall I got this far didn't I? So I think for today I did fairly well.. aside from the fact that I didn't exercise like I should have.. but alas tomorrow is another day... Lets see how I do this month shall we? Yes.. I'm a bit excited about the prospect... afterall even though these past 10 months since the surgery - I've only lost a total of 50+ lbs.. I did manage to fulfill my short term goal.. get back into wearing high heels.. (granted they're only 2.5 inch heels - but heels nonetheless and I bought my first pair of boots.. Yeah baby.. Huh.. I just realized I don't have a goal for this year.. Hmm... gotta start thinking about that one.. Yep - this year can only get better right?

Well really as the title says where do I start? Its been almost 10 months since my surgery - and I've got to say - time has flown by - and though progress has been slow... its still progress... I've also learned a lot since last March... about the band, about me and about the relationships I have.. who would have thought that getting the band could impact ALL aspects of my life? I mean yes - we've all read about how the band impacts not only our health - physical and mental -but it impacts our relationships - to food, to people, to clothes, to ourselves.. I suppose I've been naive to the whole thing.. and haven't really taken a hard look at myself (lets face it - looking at myself was NOT something I wanted to do) but hey it has to be done eventually right?! Now don't mind me if I start to ramble here.. but wait.. its my blog right? ha ha... kidding.. but seriously... See.. it was in 2008 - that I started this journey... when the Lap Band was merely a 'fantasy' for me... I was at my highest weight - 495lb... and wearing a 30-32W pants size... I knew I was fat... I had known that all my life.. being the 'big girl' was nothing new.. but this was different... I was having trouble with my health, with even doing the easiest of things... getting out of bed in the morning, or shopping? Yeah.. lets say even Lane Bryant no longer 'fit' me right.. but it was one week before my birthday in 2008 that I had the scare of my life... I hadn't been feeling well at all - but I had ignored it.. afterall I was such the 'non-compliant' patient... I was a diabetic - who didn't take the prescribed meds, nor did I check my blood sugars - and eating right? YEAH RIGHT... anywho - one morning I was in severe pain, weak, and vomiting... my neices were the ones that convinced me to go to the hospital.. and from the Emergency Room I was admitted directing into the hospital.. where I stayed for two and a half weeks... the diagnosis? Early Renal Failure... really? Me? I wasn't even 30 years old yet.. I didn't understand it.. and that's when the Doc came in and 'yelled' at me... letting me know that my kidneys were shutting down... due to uncontrolled diabetes.. he yelled at me about my weight... he yelled about me not caring about my life... This was so very far from the truth... because I did care... didn't I? After spending those two weeks in the hospital - being completely furious with my Doctor - i realized he was right - this was the first time in my life that my health kept me from work.. I realized that he was right - dialysis was a certainity if I didn't make changes... So it was then - when I was released from the hospital that I decided that I needed a change... When I walked out of that hospital - I was taking approximately 15 pills a day and 2 shots of insulin a day... I weighed 495lbs, had high blood pressure and my A1C was a 13..so my daily blood sugar on average was over 330... Flash-Forward....Its 2011 - and here I am... I am now 130lbs lighter - give or take... and still - I don't see a HUGE difference... is that wierd? but what I do notice is those 2 shots and 15 pills a day I was taking? Nope.. no more... only pill I was taking was a multi vitamin... THAT was success enough for me... but I was still considered Morbidly Obese... and there were some family issues that came up... that woke me up.. my weight was a contributing factor to increased risks for the Cancer that was affecting so many in my family... I HAD to do something more... Diabetes and high blood pressue were not the only enemies I had to fight... As 'luck' would have it - the company I work for changed insurance plans - and it was then - during a benefits meeting I realized that the Lap Band Dream - was now an option.. REALLY? So there I went... I met with Dr. Simpson for the first time in October of 2011.. after our first consultationn - it was a go - now the only issue was to get approved by insurance... and from what I heard - getting approved was to be a 'bear' to deal with... and it was.. no lie.. they wanted EVERYTHING... letters from my primary care provider, 5+ years of medical records, proof that I indeed had co-morbidities... Of course at first glance these requirements looked daunting... but in reality - it wasn't at all - for I met all those requirements - EASILY.. which in this sense.. was quite sad.... The letter my primary care provider wrote? That in itself was an eye opener... She had gone back - way back in my medical records - and found that at age 12 I was diagnosed as Obese... really?! What happened? and then she tracked from that point all those other little issues that came up.. Asthma, Chronic Lower Back Pain... and then at age 15? Diagnosed with High Blood Pressure?! and then at 23 years of age diagnosed with Diabetes? I had ignored all this... This letter had proved to be yet another eye-opener - one that reminded me that yes - I had made progress - but I could indeed become a better version of myself... a healthier version. So in less than a week after submitting all the needed information to the insurance company - that's right - I got the call.. APPROVED... So after much trial and error in scheduling - I finally had my surgery on March 20th, 2012... So now? That we're in the present day? Its been 10 months since my surgery... and since the surgery - I've lost just over 50lbs... see what I mean? SLOW going... but its going right? But somehow I feel like I should have made more progress.... Dr. Simpson always reminds me that this "is not a race, its a marathon".. REALLY? Ugh.. I have no patience... but he's right.. it took me a good while to gain the weight - so its going to take me time to lose it as well.. My struggles of late has been to realize that success can not be measured by the numbers on the scale.. (however lets be honest kids... it matters...) Shopping has been fun.. I mean for the first time in my life - I can fit into 1X and 2X tops - and the cool thing is I've finally made it into a size 20W pants... really? YAY me.. but even with all those little successes.. why am I finding myself not so happy with everything? Why am I finding myself less confident than when I was 495lbs, why am I finding that my relationships aren't as stable as I thought? Is it me or them? Who is the insecure one? Why is it that when I look in the mirror - I don't see the new me - but I see the old Bea... the 495lb one... why is it that when I shop - I still attempt to dress myself in the shrouds of clothing I was so used to... why is it that wearing clothes that actually fit... is uncomfortable and unsettling for me... and what about the changes to my body? the flabby skin? Yes.. I was well aware of the 'side effects' of the surgery - but I want my old body back somedays... at least it was full and somewhat firm... but now? this flabbiness? especially the arm flab.. baah... or lets talk a little about the undue attention I receive now.. THAT's different... however... I'm the same person I was when I was 495 lbs... why all of sudden are they paying attention now? so now - I wonder who's really interested in the me... the real me - the me inside... because somedays it seems that my appearance is all that matters to 'them'... But really ... why am I complaining? This is what I wanted right? and I have to take the good with the bad... so for now? I just take a day at a time... And I think I've caught you up... so until another day my new friends.. take care, be good to yourself and to others... and remember... "A Day Without Laughter is a Day Wasted"... Just me - Bea

Wow.. thank you all so much for the encouragement and the kind, positive words.. We are all on the same journey aren't we? Keep up the good work! And yes.. be sure that I'll keep you all posted of the trials and successes through this journey..

Awesome!! As dylan mentions - take control.. and yes we are all here to help one another.. good luck in the journey ahead!! Proud of you!

Hey there... Well its been a long while since I've last been on.. actually I had to create a whole new profile.. (waah) as it had been that long and forgot all my login info!! Anywho - a little about me - of course I am looking for some fellow bandsters from Arizona - however I am also looking for all of you that would be a support in my not so recent lifestyle change... I am almost 10 months in - from being banded.. I was banded on March 20th, 2012.. and the process has been VERY slow going.. actually I think I lost more weight on my own with diet and exercise.. however I have a feeling I'm just being impatient.. right? There have been several things about the band that I'm frustrated about - and well there are things about the 'new' me that I'm frustrated about too.. and I am just looking to make friends with those that understand what its like to be with the band... because frankly - my friends and family have NO IDEA... I am looking for fellow bandsters to be more active with - perhaps is there a group of bandsters here in AZ that I don't know about? Would be nice if there was!! I do hope to hear from you all soon!! Take care and make it a great day!! Just me - Bea

@ SusanSk - Thank you.. you're right.. progress is progress!! Sometimes I forget that... but yes coffee would be AWESOME.. my favorite!! and yes after 5 works perfect for me.. just name the time and place!! (FYI I am also off Fridays and Saturdays if that helps in the planning!)

Hi there!! So.. youre 2 months post op now right? How are things going? I'm in the area - about 15 to 20 minutes from STV - depending on the traffic and construction.. would be nice to have someone to talk to ... even with almost 10 months under my belt - its still something 'new' for me.. and finding buddies that understand what I'm feeling and going through? Yeah.. that far and few between... Hope to hear from you soon! And good luck in all you do!!

Hello all!! Oh wow!! I am so glad I found this ... I was just 'hunting' for some local AZ banders... I am just south of the Chandler area - but am always traveling to the East Valley - and well if you guys haven't met up... we SHOULD!! I was banded back in March 2012 - and progress is a bit slow.. down 50+lbs since the surgery.. on average a whole 5lbs a month!? but hey.. progress right? anywho... enough of my griping.. Lets plan something!!

Good Luck Girl.. and yes.. many cheers to you!!