jfc193

Had an Atkins Advantage Milk chocolate Delight shake for Breakfast lunch will be left over Pork Roast and mixed salad greens.

I am more than proud I am ecstatic. What you do not now is after 4 1/2 years of my journey I had a total unfill due to acid reflux and my band was to tight and I was starting to cause damage to my esophagus. Lucky for me no damage was done my esophagus and my pouch were OK my band was OK and I was OK. So almost right away I started to gain weight twenty pounds in three months, after a few months I started getting fills again and still losing and gaining weight. In January of this year my weight was up to 250. As some have stated I needed to get recommitted before I gain it all back. I was got down to 240 and could not seem to go below it. In March I had emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder due to acute pancreatitis and my organs were starting to fail. I am OK now but it really started to get me to thinking about taking care of my self. Though I tried to not live in the past I needed to get back on track with my journey and that involves being active on this forum.

I do not recall having much hair loss, but then again when I get a haircut often times they will thin my hair.

Jim what a tremendous idea, sort of a mini time capsule. I too go back and read some of my older posts. Sometime I read them when I get discouraged and the scale does not seem to be as friendly. Probably the most encouragement I get from this forum is looking at the tickers and profiles. Sometimes it is easier to get discouraged and just give up. During one of those times I look at all the wonderful changes that have taken place in the almost six years of this journey. I am on the right track and as long as I am careful to not totally screw up my journey no one can take it away.

Did you ever go to the Doctor. Please do not try to diagnose yourself that what the Doctor is for.

I love heat, I generally keep a sweater in my office, I do have a thermometer in my office but it is just a placebo to make me feel good. At home even in the summer I cover up with my blanket while watching the TV.

I occasionally will have a diet soft drink. But usually will open it and let it sit for awhile sometimes it will take a couple of days to drink it, I used to drink quite a bit of diet soda three to four cans a day. Drinking Diet soft drinks have never been High on my list of items that I have given up. I rather drink Water or ice tea.

Our first PCP was not thrilled about the idea of my wife and I having a lap band so after a year of research we found another PCP who was supportive and recommended the surgery. Our lap band surgeon recommend the sleeve but we both got lap bands. Our current PCP is thrilled with the progress even though it has been slow I am sure that I would be higher than my highest weight of 330 without the lap band as a helpful tool.

I no longer take allergy meds I no longer take medicine for diabetes I no longer take pain meds for knee and back pain I no longer have sleep apnea.

Congratulation on your 7 year journey. Thanks for sharing your story, I will have 6 years on 9/7/13. The fact that you are still sharing your keys to a successful banding experience. What I like about this forum is that there is always an opportunity to learn something new.

I had 5 siblings, 4 sisters and one brother and usually there was a friend or two around at meal time so there was not very much food left over for the starving children anywhere. So if anyone did not clean their plate then one of the friends or siblings would reach over and finish the plate. So in fine fashion I rarely did not clean my plate but was usually one to finish someone else's plate. I do finish my plate know but the plate is not much bigger than a salad plate and have to remember to resist the urge to get a second serving.

Thank you so much for the Weight Loss Plateau Checklist. It will provide so valuable reminders.

Personally for me I find it easier for me to visit and participate in this forum. Seems that when I do not visit this forum even after almost six years of being banded I tend to get off the journey. In any case I do find it easier to stay on task when I am on here on a regular basis. The lab band works for me, works for my wife but I know of others who are close to me and for what ever reason the lab band does not seem to be working. It all comes down to the simple fact is that I chose this route for my weight loss due to diabetics, back and neck pain and sleep apnea. I no longer on metformin for diabetes, do not take any pain pills and no longer use a cpap machine. I believe I can deal with a little negativity along the way.

Congratulations and best wishes on your journey. The journey may not be easy and there may be times that you want to give up then remember this feeling of going under 300. Do not forget to celebrate every NSV no matter how small it is my personal favorite is walking down the aisle of an airplane without turning sideways and getting to my seat and not having to ask for an extender.

I drove on day 4 a hundred miles to visit the grand daughter. Did not take anything stronger than Tylenol after the first day.

Just about noon have to go and eat lunch. Loved the article I was also banded in September 2007 and had my ups and downs. I am enjoying life today.

Like many others I will take saggy over fat anytime In my case when you need to lose160 lbs you would expect to see saggy skin.

Another tip is whatever plate you use just make sure that instead of taking heaping portion just make sure you spread it around the plate and make it appear thatt you have alot of food but you really don't The other tip is to make sure and chew chew and then chew but more importantly put the fork down and engage in some conversation. if I keep the fork in my hand I tend to eat allot faster and want to add more food to my plate.

Attached is a link that helped me http://www.endofobesity.com/lapbanddiet1.html

There are exercises that can be done from a sitting position or a near sitting position. Also there some resistant band training that can be done as well. You may not be able to do all of them but perhaps during your weight loss journey you may be able start a little at a time. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=982 Exercises that you can do from your desk. http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/lifebalance/a/deskexercise.htm There are also some isometrics that you can do as well http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/lifebalance/a/deskexercise.htm In any case I do not do that much exercising and have manged to lose a little weight.

Congrats Feels good to now that there us hope. Life is good.

Terrific Almost time for me to change belts again

I agree you need to check with your doctor, when I was coughing and had acid reflux it was because I was to tight,

The best thing about living is each day can be a new beginning. Just because yesterday was not a good day does not mean that today will not be a good day. pretty simplistic but will work life changes are never easy but the band journey will be worth it if you do not give up.