sweetbean70

HAPPY BANDIVERSARY ONE AND ALL!!! My 1 year bandiversary is on June 8 and I can't even put into words how much my life has changed for the better since being banded! :thumbup: On April 14, 2009, I went to my PCP for bloodwork and a physical after deciding to get the band. I weighed 325lbs, had high cholesterol, high BP, type 2 diabetes, joint pain, stomach ulcers, and a hiatal hernia. I couldn't ride in an airplane w/o an extender. I couldn't ride any rides that required a lap belt/harness at my favorite amusement park. I was struggling to squeeze into a size 28. I lived to eat. As my 1 year approaches, I am off my cholesterol and diabetes meds, can walk for miles w/o pain, can fly w/o an extender, easily wear a size 18/20, and I plan to go to an amusement park next month. food no longer controls my every waking thought. I have lost nearly 80lbs! I have so much more energy and I am able to accomplish so much more during my day. For my second year, my hopes are to lose another 75lbs (150 total), complete at least one 5K, establish/maintain a realistic exercise plan, find my "sweet spot," and easily wear a size 12 or 14. :tt2:

I have been very fortunate to not encounter any real negativity towards my decision to become banded. My hubby was a bit nervous when I first discussed the possibility of having this surgery. He was nervous b/c, after all, it is SURGERY. My family (except for my sis-in-law) have very been extremely supportive and complimentary. I am also blessed to work with a very caring and supportive staff (teacher here). The "meanest" thing that has been said to me, so far, is..."I didn't think you were heavy enough to qualify for surgery." In actuality, I felt that I was being given a compliment. My sis-in-law has practically stopped speaking to me since I had my surgery. She has even stopped speaking to my parents. I truly think that her hostility is a direct result of me being banded and my mother having a gastric bypass (11/2009). My SIL was the thinnest of the three of us and I don't think she can accept the fact that I am now smaller than her. The only other situation happened when I met a friend that I haven't seen in over 2 years for dinner. She was always making snide comments about me being bigger than her. She did not make one comment about my weightloss. :biggrin:

I have never heard of the band having a "shoulder." I have a bump where my rib cage comes together, at the end of my sternum. I asked my dr about it and he told me it is called the xyphoid (sp?) process. I not really sure what the purpose of the XP is, but my dr said it is normal for me to feel it now since I have lost so much weight. This is just one of the many new bony parts of my body that I am discovering!

The NSV... I went to my nephew's brass band concert last night. It was held in the auditorium of my high school alma mater. This auditorium is pretty much like most high school auditoriums across America... not too comfy, nor too roomy. I not only was able to sit in the seat with room to spare, but I could even sit with my legs crossed! :thumbup: The catty comment... Since my nephew has been in this brass band, I have found out that a girl I went to kindergarten thru hs with also has a daughter in the same band. I have not seen her since we graduated from hs (1988 :frown:). Pretty much since the 4th grade, she has made nasty remarks about not only my weight, but my mother's weight as well (ie. call xxx-xxxx and ask for "FAT A$$"). Well... I do believe that she has gained the 80+ pounds that I have lost since being banded. Unfortunately, she arrived after the concert had started so I couldn't go up and say hi to her. ISN'T KHARMA A BEE-OTCH!

I am sooooo looking forward to this summer! :redface: In a mere three weeks, I will be on vacation for the summer (teacher here). I got banded right after school was out last year and spent last summer learning how to live as a banded person, helping my best friend through her band surgery and the unexpected death of her mother, and the death of my uncle. It was a summer of highs and lows. This summer, I am spending a week with my family in Nags Head, NC. We haven't been on a family vacation in several years due to work schedules, health issues, etc. The only bummer about the trip is that my hubby can't go with us due to a change of our vacation dates and previous commitments on his part. I wasn't going to go b/c he couldn't, but he is insisting that I go b/c of what happened with my best friend's mother last summer... you can never be guaranteed that there will always be a next time. To make a long (sorry) post short, I will be enjoying this summer 75+ pounds lighter and the smallest size I've been in YEARS. I, by no means, have a bikini body! I am, nevertheless, excited about wearing shorts and a bathing suit in public without the fear of a harpoon warning being issued. :smile2:

Which is better? 1) Buying new clothes in a smaller size OR 2) Fitting into an old piece of clothing that was ONCE too small I personally think that although new clothing is always a good thing, I would rather pull something out of my closet that I've had for years but couldn't wear anymore b/c it was too small and have it fit. :biggrin: WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

YOUR WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE DR C AND HIS STAFF! I drove 2.5 hours just to be banded by him and don't regret a minute of the driveS. Good luck w/ your journey!

Here is a list of the my TOP 3 that have helped me be successful with my band: 1) This is a LIFESTYLE, NOT A DIET! Before I got banded, I decided that I did NOT want another diet. I was damn sick and tired of counting calories, weighing and measuring my food, etc. I knew going into the surgery that the band was a tool to help me. I chose the band b/c I wanted to be able to eat like a normal human being... just a lot less. 2) PROTEIN! PROTEIN! PROTEIN! I have discovered that keeping my consumption of Protein up helps me lose more weight and not feel hungry all the time. Actually, I tend to eat less when I eat more protein. I prefer shrimp, chicken, tuna, nuts, eggs, seeds, and cheese. My favorite meal consists of sliced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, chopped hard-boiled egg, shredded cheese, sunflower seeds or sliced almonds, tuna or chicken, and either ranch or bleu cheese dressing. I have containers in the fridge containing each of the above mentioned ingredients that I pack up Sunday night. This way, when I go to pack my lunch for work or to grab a snack, everything is ready to go. 3) PORTION CONTROL I have really relied pre-packaged food items and my tupperware containers. I prefer to buy 100 calorie snack packs of nuts, yogurt, chips, and yes... Cookies. This allows me to have a snack, but doesn't allow me to overindulge. I also really like string cheese and no sugar added frozen juice bars. Again, their single serving packaging helps me to stay on track. As for my Tupperware containers, I only use the 1 cup size or smaller containers. I've even been known to dish out my food into one of these containers and then transfer it to a bread plate while eating in a restaurant or at a dinner party.

Up until 2006, I had only really heard about gastric bypass. My ex-SIL had GB in 2001 and went from 232lbs to 93lbs. She looked horrible and became anorexic! I also was not too keen on having part of my stomach cut out and my intestines re-routed... not to mention that once you have the surgery, you are stuck with it. I was definitely NOT a fan of GB! In the Fall of 2006, I stumbled upon an article in a magazine at my PCP's office about the LAP-BAND®®®. As I was reading the article, it was like the heavens opened up and the angels began to sing. I did some more research on the internet and decided to attend a seminar at a facility 45 minutes away. When I went to the seminar, I KNEW that the LAP-BAND®®® was for me. I weighed 306lbs, but was fortunate to only have high blood pressure caused by kidney disease and none of the other usual co-morbidities (high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.) The surgeon told me that I was a perfect candidate for the procedure. All I needed to do was to check with my insurance company to see what was covered. Long story short, my employer did not purchase the WLS rider policy. Therefore, WLS was excluded. My hopes were dashed! Towards the end of March 2009 (weighing 325lbs), I called my mother to see how her kidney dr appt went. She had a kidney transplant in 2004. Her dr told her that she had to do something about her weight or she wouldn't be around this time next year and suggested she look into the LAP-BAND®®®. I jokingly said to her that if she got the LAP-BAND®®®, I would never speak to her again and then proceeded to tell her about going to that seminar and all the info I had on the LAP-BAND®®®. Three days later and having been recently diagnosed w/ diabetes and high cholesterol, I went to visit my folks and they offered to help me pay for the LB surgery if I would go on the WLS journey w/ my mother. I, of course, jumped at the chance. My parents and I went to 3 seminars before I decided on being banded by Dr. Curry in Cincinnati, OH (2.5 hours away). He offered the best self-pay price with the best aftercare. My mother ended up having GB surgery (11/23/09) at OSU Hospital b/c it was determined that she was not a good candidate for the band. I was banded on 6-8-09 and haven't regretted it for a single moment. I have lost 75+ pounds in just over 10 months. I could NEVER have lost this weight without my band! On a side note, my best friend ended up being banded by Dr. Curry 3 weeks after I was banded. Collectively, we have lost a total of 77lbs + 85lbs + 69lbs = 231LBS :thumbup:

Hello! Here are just a few things that I want to gain thru my band: HEALTH: 1) go off my diabetes and cholesterol meds 2) get down to the lowest dose of bp meds possible (I have kidney disease and will never be able to go completely off bp meds.) 3) be free of the aches and pains in my feet, knees, hips, and back due to weight 4) exercise regulary and enjoy it 5) not fall so much (apparently heavy people have a poorer sense of balance and/or can't regain their balance if they stumble) VANITY: 1) be able to look in a mirror and like what I see 2) not be the biggest person in the room 3) stop the self-hate cycle (hate weight = depression = eating = hate weight...) 4) stop having to spend sooooo much $$ on plus size clothes AND food 5) be able to ride in a plane w/o an extender 6) be able to ride all the rides at any amusement park 7) wear shoes with heels 8) stop being resigned to "just being heavy" 9) wear tucked in shirts, sleeveless shirts, bathing suit w/o a skirt 10) not be so reluctant to try new things b/c of my size

CONGRATULATIONS ON ONDERLAND!! :thumbup: I was banded 4 days after you were banded and have lost a total os 75lbs as of 4/9/10. I still have nearly 50lbs to lose before I, too, am in ONDERLAND. Still, I know I was grinning like a fool when I went in for a fill last week and the scale showed that I was below 250lbs. I now weigh less than I did when I got married nearly 14 years ago (mini goal). How much Fluid do you have in your band now? I have 5.1CCs in a 10CC band and my dr and I feel like I am at my sweet spot. In fact when I went in for a fill last week, we opted not to put any more fluid in my band for another 3-4 weeks. :laugh:

Last week, I spent about 6 hours (approx. every 45 mins.) with a horrendous case of dry heaves. Just picture this... I'm sitting on the toilet w/ my head in a trashcan heaving so hard that I thought I was going to die and all the time I'm praying that I don't damage my band. After every bout of heaves, I forced myself to drink 3-4 sips of water just to make sure I could keep fluids down. I knew if I could keep the water down, my band was probably ok. I had a fill appt. 2 days later and told my dr. about my heaves. He agreed that since I was able to keep fluids down and I stayed on a Gatorade/popscicle diet for 36 hours that my band was fine. THANK GOD!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!! When were you banded? I am soooo looking forward to the day when I can post the same awesome news! :cool:

Well as of today (4/9/10), I am down 75lbs. It has been exactly 10 months and 1 day since my surgery. I COULDN'T LOVE MY BAND ANY MORE THAN I DO AT THIS MOMENT!!! :mad: Not only am I 75lbs lighter, I met another mini goal; I weigh less now than I did when I got married. :tt2: So instead of the usual treat to myself (FOOD), I've decided to buy myself this awesome Kathy Van Zeeland purse that I have fallen in love with. :biggrin: WHAT HAVE YOU REWARDED YOURSELF WITH OR WHAT WILL YOU REWARD YOURSELF WITH FOR REACHING A MINI GOAL/GOAL?!?

This past Tuesday (4/6) late evening (11pm ish) I started to feel very queasy. I thought that perhaps I hadn't taken my pills w/ enough water. I went to bed figuring the discomfort would subside. Around 12:30am, I woke up and ran to the bathroom. As I am sitting on the toilet w/ my head in the trashcan having the most God-awful dry heaves, I kept praying NOT TO THROW UP b/c I was terrified that something bad would happen to my band. This cycle of dry heaves and praying continued about evey 45 minutes for the next 6 hours. By 7am Wednesday morning, I was so weak I could hardly hold my head up, my back and ribs were killing me from heaving so hard, and I stunk from dreadful cases of fever-induced sweating. I still forced myself to take sips of water b/c I wanted to make sure that I hadn't damaged my band. Is this the thinking of a SANE PERSON?!?!?! Thank God the water stayed down. So about noon, I decided to upgrade from water to Gatorade and popscicles. I have stayed on this regimen for nearly 21 hours. I have absolutely no desire to try anything remotely mushy or solid. I have a fill appt. tomorrow morning and you better beleive that I will be sharing my experience w/ the doctor!

Thanks for all of your words of concern and encouragement I went for a scheduled fill appointment today (4/9) and told the doctor all about my "horrible night." I was told to take a Phenegren if I am nauseated for more than 15 minutes again in the future. The doctor felt reasonably sure that I hadn't damaged my band b/c I was holding down liquids without any trouble. After discussing all of this, he looked at my weighloss from my last fill appt. (8lbs in 4 wks) and asked ME what kind of a fill I thought I needed. I was thinking maybe .4CCs. He told me that my weightloss was right on target and that he really didn't want to put even .1CC in my band b/c that could cause me to be uncomfortable. If I felt that I needed a fill in 2-3 weeks, I could call to make an appointment. I decided to go w/ his recommendation. In other words... I AM AT MY SWEET SPOT!!!!! :biggrin: MY SWEET SPOT = 5.1CCs/10CC band, 75lbs lost in 10 months + 1 day

CONGRATS ON YOUR NSV!!! :thumbup: I love NSVs! I think they mean more to me than the number on the scale. My latest NSV happened last week when my 11 y/o niece came for a visit. I haven't seen her since Christmas Eve. When she first saw me, she stopped dead in her tracks and said, "Whoa! You got skinny!" :thumbup: Here are a few of my other NSVs that have happened along my journey so far: 1) no more diabetes or cholesterol meds 2) blood pressure meds cut in half 3) went from a tight size 28 to a comfortable size 20W 4) went from a 44D to a 40DD :thumbdown: 5) can't wear any of my rings b/c they are too loose 6) walking and bicycling regularly 7) food budget cut waaaaay down 8) no need for a nap everyday after work 9) don't have to use the stand up tanning bed b/c I am too heavy for the regular beds 10) feeling comfortable w/ my body after a VERY long time of not even being able to stand to look at myself in the mirror I wish you all the success in the world with your new BANDED LIFE!

It is official! As of this morning, I've lost MORE than I STILL NEED to lose. :thumbup: Yes, I know that 72lbs is still a lot to lose and that the last half of your weight comes off slower than the first half. Still, I did lose 73lbs in just under 10 months (1 week shy of my 10 month BANDiversary). My original plan was to be at my goal weight (180lbs) by the end of 2011. I think that I'm going to challenge myself to reach my goal weight by my 2nd BANDiversary (6/8/2011). :thumbup: PS~ I also met a mini goal today. I now weigh less than I did when I got married back in 1996. My next mini goal is to weigh 225lbs and reach my 100lbs loss mark.

Thanks everyone for the congrats! You are right SCOTTY D. I should do the HAPPY DANCE everyday. For everyday with my band is truly a great day. I sometimes get down on myself because I feel like I am not losing the weight quick enough or I am not seeing major changes in my body. In reality, I should only be losing 1-2 lbs/week as far as the scale goes (I am). As far as changes w/ my body, I am changing big time. Its just that I see myself everyday and dont really notice the differences.

I had a great NSV today! :cursing: My 11 yr old niece came to spend a couple of days with me since we are both on break. We haven't seen each other since Christmas Eve. The minute she saw me, she stopped dead in her tracks and said, "Whoa! You got skinny!" :thumbup:

WAY TO GO ON THE WEIGHT LOSS! I've lost about 65lbs since my surgery in June '09 and I know EXACTLY what new found confidence feels like. I went to a surprise birthday party for a friend's sister this past Saturday. The night before the party, my friend and I went out shopping for something to wear to the party. I wore a shirt that a year ago, I would never have dreamed of wearing (let alone it being a size 1X instead of a 3X and I could've even worn an XL). I also wore heels for the first time in years (1.5"-2"). I didn't know a soul at this party except my friend, but had the confidence to go up and introduce myself to a room of complete strangers. Normally, I would have found a chair in the corner and just sat their people-watching. I LOVE MY BAND!!

I am in love with egg drop sour and teriyaki chicken w/ veggies (fresh mushrooms, water chestnuts, zucchini)! I also like shrimp lo mein, lettuce cups, crab rangoon, and shrimp noodle soup. I cannot eat rice, broccoli, egg rolls, wontons, or beef.

I have a good friend that I met through work. She is a very sweet and caring person, but I can't get her to understand that the gifts of candy, Cookies, Coke, and other sweet treats are things that I shouldn't/won't eat. For example, she gave me a ONE POUND chocolate Peanut Butter EGG for Easter. I love, love, love chocolate and peanut butter and I know that even one little nibble of that egg will open the flood gates and I will devour the whole thing! I am going to a birthday party tonight and I am taking that darn egg as an offering to the food table. Has anyone else experienced a well-meaning friend/family member/loved one/etc. that inadvertently (I hope) sabbotages your diet? If so, how did you handle it?

My goal is for BOTH my weight and my clothing size to begin with a ONE. Anything beyond that will be "icing on the cake" (sorry for the delicious choice of words)!

I got banded in 6/09 and just past the 5cc mark w/ my fill this past March (3/10). As of that fill, I've lost 67 pounds. My last 2 fills have brought me decent restriction. I was going 8-10 wks btw fills, but have decided to get a smaller fill every month until I reach my sweetspot (hopefully by the end of this summer). My best friend was banded 3 weeks after I was and she has over 8ccs in her band and has reached her sweetspot! I guess the band is truly not a "one size fits all" when it comes to weightloss, fills, and sweetspots.