dridlen

Don't get me wrong, I would have surgery again in a second. It has done nothing but enhance my life and I am very, very happy with my band. However, with that said..............I thought I was fully educated on the Lap Band procedure and how life would be post surgery. However I must have bought into more of the "magic bullet" frame of mind than I thought. It has been a lot of work to lose this weight. I am working harder at maintaining this way of life than I ever did before surgery. Almost every aspect of my thought process has changed about food and exercise. I know to maintain my weight loss I have to maintain those changes. I have to eat sensibly and exercise consistently, there is no easy way around weight loss, no matter how you do it. I get really frustrated with people who tell me I cheated and took the easy way out. From where I stand this is the hardest thing I have undertaken. It is a way of thinking with the general public that needs to be changed, which is why I decided to go totally public with my journey, become a support group leader and be a self appointed educator on the Lap Band Journey, :biggrin: Dottie R.

Volunteering is something my hubby and I were talking about for me today. He does not want me to go back to work, he told me that. But he would agree to me spending some time volunteering at something that is worthwhile. I am thinking the local rec center. They have children's programs that would be fun to work at. I agree with the posts that exercise is very important. I don't think I would have the positive results I have had without exercising every day. I plan to keep it up too because I think that is the secret to maintenance also. I find I get really bored really fast with exercising though. I have to change it up quite often or I lose motivation. I have been going to the gym and running every day but am so bored with that. I started going to the outdoor track/football field today and doing laps there and doing the stairs on the bleachers. It was nice to be outside. I find also that I have to keep making goals and rewards to keep motivated also. It gets easy to get lazy both with exercise and diet. I can see it will be very easy to slip back into the same old habits that got me in the overweight fix in the first place. Being banded is certainly different than I thought it was going to be. But I would do it in a heartbeat. In fact I have nightmares about being without my band. It is not a pleasant thought. Have a great rest of the day! Dottie R.

I agree about Curves Lynn. I am so happy that you are getting a tt. I am a little bit jealous also. I found out today that my insurance will cover it if it is a medical necessity. So I have to figure out how to go about proving it is a medical necessity. Dottie R.

Hi guys, I hope your holiday weekend was a great one. I had a quiet weekend that was quite enjoyable. I had to chime in on Curves. I went for quite awhile when I first had surgery. It worked for awhile then I quit getting results. I needed to step up my workout. I started going to a regular gym and started first walking then running. That is what got my weight loss started again. So I think Curves is a great place to start but it soon quit being effective for me. I think it is like anything else. To be effective we need to mix up our workouts and always keep pushing for a better workout, which is what I am convinced is the secret to keeping the weight off. IMHO Dottie R.

I am trying to take everything into consideration. I really don't want to work, it is the old guilt and worry thing that drives me there. I want to concentrate on school, and just like you joann and lynn this is for me. I have really good grades also and I want to continue with those good grades. It is important to me, i am inclined to think it is an age thing also. LOL. It is also important to me to get time to run in every day. I worked and waited for this surgery and I am determined to make it a success. I also run a Bariatric support group for the hospital I had my surgery at. so I am looking forward to having more time to devote to that. We shall see I guess. Sometimes I get in the way of my own good intentions. Dottie R.

Thanks for the reply Joann, Being banded is different than I envisioned it to be. However I would do it again in a second. It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I am not going to start the process of finding out about a pannectomy. I am excited about that however I think it will be a long, long process. I am also trying to figure out if I want a part time job. I am going back to school full time. I already have my Assoc of Science degree and I want to get a BA. I am not working right now, just concentrating on myself and taking care of my hubby. I felt I needed out of the workforce for awhile, now I am not so sure. LOL Thanks, Dottie R.

Hi all, well we made it through the fourth and all the fireworks! In answer to some questions here, I eat apr 1/2 at a time because I am full after that. I have fairly good restriction right now.I am at my sweet spot and enjoying it. I find that I don't eat much different than when I was actively trying to lose right now trying to maintain. I know that if I eat later than about 8 pm I gain the next morning, so I try not to. I run every day and I think that will be key to keeping this weight off. For the first time since I was in high school I am in a normal weight range and who knew normal would feel so good! I have been told I need to quit losing weight now and that is kind of frustrating. I think that people are so used to seeing me heavy that I just look different. No one is used to me at a normal weight. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I have another question also. Is anyone retired or a stay at home wife? I currently am not working (by choice) and am struggling with it a bit. Just wondering. Dottie R.

Just wanted to say hi! I was banded in Mar 08. I am below goal and learning maintenance with the band. It is a whole different ball game and I am still trying to wrap my head around not seeing the scale move down most days. I think this forum is great, I love reading posts from bansters that are my age. Dottie R.

Great job Special K on turning what was a frustrating situation into a positive experience for you. That is a wonderful way to think. I did my own exercise routine yesterday at home. I am currently quite tired of going to the gym so I am stirring the routine up a bit and doing some dance, weight and core exercises at home. My eating was off yesterday and I was up a bit this morning but I can reverse that quickly. My body fluctuates a bit day to day but I know I overdid it on carbs yesterday. I made homemade cinnamon rolls for hubby and the temptation was to great. Have a great weekend! Dottie

I love reading this thread. I learn a lot. I am thinking of a pannectomy. I have to check with my insurance and see what is covered, I really have not looked into it much. I am interested in how it will work, what they will pay for. I still feel so fat with that hanging down. UUGH. Dottie R.

That is a wonderful thing to celebrate! congrats! Dottie R.

I started at 236 and as of this morning I am 149.4 pounds. I have lost 86.6 pounds. I lose pretty consistently but it does go in spurts. I still struggle with emotional eating. I think a big part of my losing weight has to do with a consistent exercise routine, I run at least three days a week and do weight training the other days of the week. I have pretty good restriction and have not had a fill for awhile. i had an appointment for another fill July 2nd but cancelled it as I don't think I need it yet. Glad to meet you all! Dottie R.

Hi, I enjoy reading the posts about not being recognized. That happened to me just the other day again. A lady I used to work with every day walked right past me in a store, I followed her and said hey, she did not recognize me until I talked. It was so cool. Thanks for the invite over here Special K, it is cool to be able to share stories with people who share bandiversaries. I just found this board and plan to be here more often. Dottie R.

Good Morning, My name is Dottie, I was banded on March 17, 2008. I have had a successful band journey thus far. I am .4 of a pound away from goal and am excited to begin the maintenance part of the band experience. I have lurked here for a time and decided it was time to introduce myself. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone here. I run a support group here in my town for the hospital where I had my surgery. What an incredible life changing experience this has been for me. Dottie R.

These stories are all to familiar and I know we all have our own versions. I will learn someday to quit eating in the car. I hate having to find a side road and having to stop and throw up! Dottie R.

Hi, I am one that has told a lot of people that I had Lap Band surgery. I am a support group leader for the hospital where i had my surgery so I think that I need to be honest and open with the fact that I had surgery. I want to be a source of information for those who are searching or have questions. With that said however I can fully respect the decision not to disclose the fact that one had surgery. There is a misconception out there that those of us who had weight loss surgery took the easy way out and we didn't have to work for our success. That is totally not true and makes me so mad when I hear that. It is a huge pet peeve of mine and I am out to disprove that misconception. LOL. I am glad this was posted. Dottie R.

I agree, it takes awhile to hit the perfect restriction. It was 4-5 fills for me before I hit mine. I am doing great with almost 70 lbs gone now. I had surgery on March 17, 2008. Dottie R.

Hi, I live in Gillette. I had my surgery with Dr. Parnell in Cheyenne on March 17 this year. I have lost 69 pounds and so far am doing great. The emotional part has been a little tough lately but I am working on it. I also run the Support Group here for Bariatric Surgery Patients. I have not been in here in quite awhile. Glad to meet you all. Dottie R.

Hi all, I have a question. I was banded March 17, 2008, am down almost 30 lbs and trying to maintain until I get some restriction. I go for another fill next week. I have little to no restriction yet, but I am hoping it is coming soon, lol My question is about the "pouch" I have heard you all talking about. I guess I didn't realize with lap band we had a pouch. It especially concerns me when you talk about stretching your pouch because with no restriction I can still eat pretty much whatever I want. Am I don't damage by not limiting my amounts of food until I get restriction? This all confuses me, sorry. Hugs, Dottie

Hi my name is Dottie. My surgery date is March 17 in Cheyenne WY. My Dr. is Dr. Whitney Parnell. Has anyone else used her? My hospital is Cheyenne Regional Hospital. I am very excited, it has been a long, long road to here. Just wanted to say HI!!!!!!! Dottie

I am preop. My surgery is March 17 and I am so excited. I also have fibrobyalgia and the pain practically runs my life. I don't know whether the surgery is going to help the pain of fibro but it certainly can't hurt. I am thinking i am going to be wanting the comfort food also. It is going to be a challenge. Dottie