marathinner

That is fabulous!! Congratulations and keep up the great work!!

OMG Jaime...that's AWESOME!!:tt2: Being ask to speak at one of your doc's seminars is seriously the best compliment EVER!! You are doing awesome...you should feel so proud!!! Congrat...:thumbup:

Those are GREAT NSV's!! I had someone do the whole "I didn't recognize you" thing a couple of weeks ago. I can't deny...it was pretty freaking awesome!! I haven't mentioned this on the other threads but everyone is looking absolutely incredible!! Such big changes!!! YAY DOUBLE V's!!!

I love my wine!! I only drink it on the weekends and I account for the calories by ramping up my weekend workouts. It hasn't affected the scale as I am still slowly and steadily losing. I love my band!!:smile2:

Wow...congratulations Laura!! That's awesome!!

You look awesome!! Congratulations!!!!

Hi everyone, Gosh, I can't believe we are talking about our 6 month banderversaries!! Mac & Val...I'm sorry for your disappointment and frustrations. Hopefully, some input from your fellow Double V's will help. I think we have all experienced frustration at some point in this journey...I know I have!! I hope you can focus on the positives that the band has brought you and I know you are both on the path to success. I'm going to post some pictures this weekend. I feel like I've settled into "band life" and I've had to take some time to reflect on what this last six months has brought me. First and foremost...it's brought me HEALTH! As I posted in another thread, for the first time in YEARS my blood test results were totally normal. The band has also brought me peace. I feel like I have been let out of the crippling prison of obesity. To have control and balance of what I eat is a downright miracle! I have also experienced an overwhelming sense of empowerment. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and strength to do what we have done!! It doesn't matter what the scale says..we all made a choice to better ourselves and our lives..that's POWERFUL!! Yes...the fact that I've lost 55 pounds and am wearing size regular 14 is great.....but that sense of empowerment, freedom, balance and health is WAAAY more gratifying. Please don't judge your success soley by the scale...we have all acccomplished so much more. Keep it up, Double V's!! Love, Amy

Had my best NSV by FAR this morning!! I went and saw my PCP last week as I haven't seen him since my surgery. He was so impressed with my weight loss and incredibly supportive of the LapBand procedure. My two co-morbidities were high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I've been waiting patientely for the results and this morning the doc's office called with the results. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!:thumbup::hurray: My cholesterol went from 240 :w00t: to 168:thumbup:!!. My metabolic panel, hemoglobin and everything else they tested were stellar. My blood pressure has been normal for a couple of months now. This is the true gift of the Lapband. I've wanted to be HEALTHY for so long and I literally cried after I got off the phone. I feel hopeful, empowered and proud....things I wasn't able to say prior to this surgery. Another VERY important part of this, is I now have the greenlight to start trying for a baby:smile:. I have an appt with a new OB/GYN next week. As I near my 6 month bandiversary, I would have never in a million years thought that I could have come this far. Thanks for letting me share my victory. Amy

Thank you all so much for your kind words :biggrin: Ya....DH and I are pretty excited to try for the baby....at least the "trying" part is so much more fun these days:biggrin: And seriously Crystal....you look SMOKIN'!! You're so gorgeous!!!

Congrats Melanie! You are doing an amazing job!! Just think of how far you've come in less than 6 months!! And don't worry about the loose skin...just focus on how great are doing and how good you look!! Keep it up, girl!!:tt2:

Oh wow...you look AWESOME:thumbup: "Only 40lbs"...girl that is A LOT of weight and a huge accomplishment. You are lookin' down right sassy!!

Ready....you are our biggest cheerleader around here!! You're such an inspiring, cool, creative, FUNNY, intelligent, and beautiful person. You always give great advice and support and are a wonderful source of strength. Sooooo....re-read what I just wrote and BELIEVE in yourself and KNOW that you are all of those things!! We all have tough days or weeks. Use that amazing strength of yours to reconnect with the POWER OF YOU!! You are kicking ass on this journey and should be sooo proud of yourself!! We are proud of you!! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and know that you are an amazing person!! BIG HUGS, Amy

Hey gang.. Count me in on the "love affair" I have with my band!! I have settled into my sweet spot and am still losing slowly but surely. My loss has slowed because I'm in the midst of training for my second marathon!! Because I run so much, I have to really up my calories and carb intake. I'm gaining some serious muscle though and the difference from last year's training season VS this year's is NIGHT AND DAY!! Having 52 less pounds pounding that pavement has been AWESOME!! I'm also very proud to say that I have raised over $10,000 for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society who is the beneficiary of my marathon. I feel so empowered, so healthy and so HAPPY!! Things I haven't felt collectively for a long time. I'm so proud of all of us and feel honored that we have taken this journey together. I know everyday isn't a good day, but as Peabody so brilliantly put "My worst band day is FAR better than my worst non band day"!! YOU GALS ROCK!!!

This is obviously a big decision that you need to make in your OWN best interest. Like any surgery, there are pro's and con's. I had the LapBand procedure in February and have had nothing but success. I have also worked very hard to use the LapBand as the TOOL that it is intended to be. My husband recently had the gastric sleeve and he is doing very well. Contrary to what Rangerfan said (no offense)...my husband actually had very little weight to lose relative to other morbidly obese patients. (He had about 50 pounds to lose but had several co-morbidities) I would say the pro's of the sleeve is that you don't have to deal with a foreign object in your body and the ongoing process of getting fills. I think sleeve patients lose weight a little more quickly than band patients but the one major con is it's a one shot deal. The stomach/pouch is vulnerable to stretching if you overeat therefore you are at risk of gaining weight back. Of course there are ways to "eat around the band", but I personally enjoy the fact that if I don't feel decent restriction I can go get a fill. Ultimately, they are both great procedures (IMO) and I think the sleeve is the next "up and comer" in bariatric surgery. Again, I am thrilled with the band and wouldn't change my decision at all. As far as US vs Mexico doc's....that's a topic I'm not experienced enough to discuss. Good luck in your decision!

Oh Gibson..I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. It's SUCH BS!!That happened to me and I ended up politely arugueing with my doc and he ended up giving me 1cc that day. The fact that you have to wait so long in between fills doesn't make any sense!! Also, it's not just about losing the pounds. If you are hungry all the time and not getting satiated after 6-9 bites of food that means you need a fill. I would go back and have a conversation with your doc. I know that some doc's are more conservative than others but this is ridculous!! I totally understand why you would be feeling blue...but I promise you it will get better! I hope you can get back in to see your doc and hopefully get the fill you need. Hang in there....we're all here for you!! Amy

Crystal Light is a staple of my diet!! Love the white tea. OMG...RSG, your new pic is awesome!! You look absolutely fab!! Way to go, girl!!

MusicMan, I am tearfully reading these posts and my heart aches for you, your wife and Lucy. As a mom of two dogs, I know the excruciating pain of your grief. You are in my prayers and I am certain that Pedro is chasing rainbows. I'm so sorry for your loss....

Since my fourth fill last month I feel like I've been at my "sweet spot". Well, that wicked little witch Aunt Flo is about to rear her ugly head and HOLY MACKERAL have I been restricted!! I've read alot about this on other threads but thought I'd see if any other VV's have experienced this yet? For the last two days, I have BARELY been able to get down soft foods. I've just stuck to liquids. It's so weird to go from eating my normal small portions to having this extreme tightness. Oh well, I'm getting down H20 ok and should start AF tomorrow. Boy, this lapband just facinates me!!

I Lived on spicy egg drop soup!! Just make sure you strain it. DEELISH!!

Wow....you are doing awesome! Such big changes. Congrats on your success!! JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!! xo

First off..so sorry you're dealing with a UTI (UGH)...BUT :party:YAHOOOOOOOO ON ALL YOUR VICTORIES!!!! And guess what? Just like we wanted......I CROSSED INTO ONEDERLAND THIS MORNING TOO!!! AND HIT THE 50lb mark!! Wish I was closer so I could give you a BIG HUG!! I am doing some serious "happy dancing" right now.:bananapowerslide:You really are my sister from another mister:lol: Congratulations, my friend. I'm so happy for us!! BIG BIG HUGS, Amy

Goosebumps and tears is all I gotta say!!! WOW..that is absolutely fabulous. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

I think I speak for all of us when I say "WE HAVE MISSED YOU AROUND HERE"!! What's going on, girl? Really, the boards haven't been the same without your clever wit and funny posts. You know,....we're all in this together so if you're going thru a tough time I hope you will come here for support. Anway, just seeing you post today made me smile!! Hugs, Amy P.S This goes for all the other Double V's who are M.I.A. (Angie, Queen, Patti, Aveamora..and all the others I know I'm forgetting...WE MISS YOU TOO!!!

Ya..I definitely would miss you gals!! And kjeter..we knew you were on vacation. Soooo awesome that you dropped those lbs. Tell us all about your indulgances!!

Good luck, Ezzie....we'll be thinking about you!! You're going to do great!! Update us when you feel up to it!