Meekie

I am also an August All-star, banded 29 August 2008! I have had success with my band. I have lost 129 pounds so far. I am 25 pounds from goal. This has sparked some fire in me to reach that goal!!! I have had set backs. I had gastritis in July 2009 and had to be unfilled. I gained 22 pounds but I pulled it together and got my fills and got back on track. I exercise regularly. I do many different types. I'm now a gym rat! Right now, I'm going to have my gallbladder removed and my doctor will reposition my band as it has some slippage. I am now unfilled but I'm okay with that. I went straight back to liquids. I've lost about 10 pounds so far. My surgery is Wednesday, 25 May 2011. I will get back on track and reach my goal by summer's end! I knew before getting this surgery that there were risks and I won't whine about them now. I'll just pick myself up and re-committ to my health and not complain. I have no regrets! I feel so much better since getting the majority of the weight off. I cannot imagine going back so I will continue to work hard to keep my success a success.

Go see your doctor. Start with an evaluation and fill. Stay on these boards and see what others are doing to achieve success. Eat protein, exercise, get plenty of sleep ( I know it's hard with a baby) and stay encouraged. You can do this!!!

I will say this...Every weight loss surgery is different. One surgery may work for one person and may not work for another. We each have to be open and honest and find out what are our issues that are causing us to be overweight and then with professional help, decide on a WLS. I picked Lapband. it has worked for me. A friend of mine decided to do it after seeing my success. It has not worked for her. She can't get her eating and portions under control. A colleague of mine asked me what was I doing to lose weight. I told her I had the lapband. She opened up to me and told me she had a gastric bypass 6 years ago. She is more than 300 pounds now. She says she lost most of the weight and then gained it all back. I don't know. I'm only 2 years and 9 months out. I don't know what life will be like for me in 6 years. I can only hope that I continue with my success as a bandster. I wish the original topic starter much success with your bypass. We should not get negative (not that I'm saying anyone has been on this thread) when someone switches from what we have (bands). We should be grateful they are still encouraged enough to fight and take other avenues to get the weight off.

Yep! It's FANTASTIC to get to the 100 pound mark. I've lost 129 as of today and I'm looking for the finish line. I've got 25 more pounds to go and I'm determined, focused, and ready to cross the line! All the best to you in maintaining!

All of God's blessing for a speedy recovery and success with your weight loss!!! Thank you, Jesus for this tool to help us. Use your tool. It's like having a way to get in touch with God through prayer and His Word and not using it. So, don't just let your band sit! Make it work for you!!

Hi Gordana, Welcome to LBT. You will find a wealth of information and nice people here. There are many different perspectives and experiences with the band. But, let your experience be your experience. My family has not seen me as well. I sent some pictures via Facebook for mother's day but they have not seen my 123 pound loss in person. I can't wait to step off the plane in December. I want to lose 30 more pounds to be at goal by then. I live in Germany and will go home to the States for Christmas. I wish you much success on your journey.

Krenee9 and LB Annie, we've got to get together for support. I'm in Worrstadt, which is half way to Kaiserslautern but I work in Wiesbaden. I'm willing to go either way. All are welcome to join the support!

I'm LMBO!!! Now, where does she go to church? Am I the lady she's talking about! LOL!

Hi Rebecca, I know that it is so hard for you to see the new you. It is hard to recover from low self esteem because we are usually our worst critics. Please hang in there and don't get so down on yourself. If someone rejects you or do not reciprocate your affection and friendship, then be thankful that it is now and not later when you're even more emotionally involved. You must also ask yourself..."Am I in a place within myself where I can give someone an emotionally healthy me?" If you're not stable mentally, physically, and emotionally, then it's not fair for you to present a Rebecca that's not the true Rebecca. Now that you've taken this massive about of weight off (Congratulations, by the way), (all in less than a year!!!---You go girl! :bananajump:) you've got to re-learn how to be happy and content in another manner other than with food. it doesn't happen over night. I just ordered a bunch of size 12 clothes from JC Penney's and could wear them all (down from a size 22/24W)! I'm half of my old self. All I could see in the mirror was a fat girl that needed to lose more weight. My husband had to literally grab me by the shoulders and make me stop saying negative thoughts about my body. It is HARD!!!! But we must move forward and realize that many of our issues lie deeper than weight. We masked them with weight. Now, just like we took the bull by the horns and decided to conquer this weight, we've got to do the same thing with our self image, self esteem, emotions, and ability to handle life's pressures. Do have a strong support group of friends? A network at your job? Family? Religious group? I know how lonely life can be. We've had this false sense that if we could only lose weight, all of our problems would disappear. We would no longer be uncomfortable around our normal weight friends. We would have no problems with opposite sex relationship. We would be able to be happy just from being 'skinny'. How wrong were we??? You're not the only one dealing with this. We have to be re-programmed. Sometimes we need a programmer to do this for us. Don't put all of your self worth in what a guy thinks about you. You're worth more than someone else's opinion. Focus on all of the beautiful and wonderful things that make you, you and don't look back at a person who cannot see them. The right person will see them and appreciate and value them. If someone doesn't see them, then they're not the right person. You'll do fine. Keep up the AWESOME work!!!!

I live by the motto of "moderation, not elimination". I want to have a normal and healthy relationship with food. I will have cake, just not the whole cake. I will have ice cream, just not the whole half gallon. I was told by my trainer that whatever you eliminate and lose weight with is what you'll have to keep out of your diet to keep the weight off. I will exercise a bit more and burn more calories to create a deficit, so to speak, when I want to have a treat. So, I will not deprive myself of something I enjoy. I enjoy it for that moment, in moderation, knowing that this not the last supper.

Congratulations! That is so awesome. My goal is to be 150lbs. I'm 35lbs away. I've made the committment to get there, too! I know which machine you're talking about in the gym. It's called the captains chair. I started out not being able to do but one. Now, I can say I can do 3 sets of 15,12, and then 10. You're just like me...shopping at the thrift store. I'm wearing a skirt right now that everyone is raving about. I got it at the thrift store for $2!!!! I love shopping now. I just want to tell you to keep up the great work and enjoy the changes!

I'm just now seeing this. I'm in Wiesbaden also. I was banded by Prof. Weiner in Aug 2008. WE should try to meet. I'm at the gym almost daily. Private message me.