sweetbean70

Hello! I have 4 tattoos (toe, leg, chest, foot). I had the one on my foot done about 6 weeks after being banded. It is a butterfly w/ a scroll of flowers behind it and my surgery date. I felt that the butterfly was a great symbol of my transformation. I got the tattoo on the top of my left foot so that when I could cross my legs, I could sit there a see it easily.My other three tattoos I had done before being banded. So far, all of my tattoos have fared really well w/ my weightloss (approx 70lbs) because I've gotten them in places that aren't too terribly stretched from being overweight. I am planning to have the date I reach my goal added to the tattoo on my foot. :thumbup:

I am 5'9 and currently weigh approximately 260lbs. I began my journey on 4/09 weighing 325lbs (surgery/312.5lbs/June '09). So, far, I haven't really given much thought to a goal weight. I decided to start off by focusing on smaller goals: 1) dropping below 300 2) losing 50lbs (275) 3) weighing what I did when I got married (255) 4) losing 100lbs (225) 5) having BOTH my clothing size and my weight begin with a "1" After I reach my 5th mini goal, I will probably step back and enjoy my successes and buy myself a SMOKIN' HOT MINI SKIRT W/ A PAIR OF KILLER BOOTS

Hello! I, too, was wondering how going out to eat would work w/ my band since it seems like the majority of all social functions revolves around food (parties, meeting friends for dinner, family functions, etc.). The biggest obstacle that I've had going out to eat is that my eyes are bigger than my stomach and wanting to order in "pre-band fashion." After surgery, my surgeon gave me a card that I show to the server whenever I order at a restaurant. The card states that I've had a medical procedure that greatly reduces the amount of food I can eat and asks that I be allowed to order from the children's menu. I have had absolutely no problems using this card. It usually generates conversation about my surgery. Or sometimes, I will just order an appetizer or just have some of my hubby's dinner. :rolleyes2:

Hello and a Happy 2010 to you all! This is a great thread for anyone who is considering being banded OR who has already been banded and needs to take a moment to re-affirm their commitment. As one year ended and a new year began, I began to think about my New Year's resolutions. As usual (along w/ about a million+ other people), I made a resolution to lose weight and begin an exercise regimen. I actually and completely forgot about my band! I am so used to being heavy that I slipped back into my old way of thinking. Well, I shook myself back to reality and realized that for the first time in a looooong that I am starting a new year much lighter than I have been in a long time. I've lost 70lbs since being banded on 6/8/09. I've lost this much weight by listening to my body, listening to my band, and NOT dieting. When I decided to have surgery, I also made the decision that I would not obsess over my band, count calories or carbs, or measure my food. I have tried (and failed) so many diets that I knew for myself I needed a different approach. I no longer feel guilty about every morsel I put into my mouth. I make much healthier food choices now, but don't deprive myself of a sweet treat now and then. I am also eating much smaller portions and eating less often. My band is an awesome tool that has helped me w/ my battle of food addiction! :smile2:

Happy 2010! I have been banded for nearly 7 months. I have 4ccs in a 10cc band. I can't really eat anything in the morning. I have to drink something hot (usually coffee) for my breakfast (8ish). I really don't get hungry until 10:30 and then I eat a fiber bar. As for foods that give me trouble on a consistent basis: dry meat, rice, donuts, doughy bread, broccoli, and celery. I am in a deep and committed relationship with seafood. :tongue2: Scallops, shrimp, crab, and fish go down w/o a problem. Chinese food also really agrees w/ me (egg drop soup, lo mein, stir fry, teriyaki chicken). DANG! Now I'm hungry. :biggrin:

brokenangel~ I had my lapband placed by Dr. Curry in Cincy on 6/8/09. My best friend had her band placed on 6/29/09 by Dr. Curry as well. We picked Dr. Curry b/c we were both self-pay and he offered the best care at the best price. Even if insurance had paid for the procedure, I still would have made the trip to Cincy. Dr. Curry and his staff are wonderful! I found it very reassuring that Dr. Curry and most of his staff have been banded. Good luck w/ your journey!

I thank God everyday for the blessings He has given me. I also thank Him for the trials He sends my way for I know He is making me stronger. God has blessed me with a loving husband, a close-knit family, my "furbabies," wonderful friends, a job I love very much, and making it possible for me to get my band. We have 5 Pekingese that are our children. God didn't have plans for us to have children of our own. I guess that is why He steered us both to be teachers of children w/ special needs. God Bless!

I, too, am considering a tighter band to help w/ my weightloss. I'm at 4cc in a 10cc band. My dr is VERY conservative when it comes to fills (surgery was 6/8/09- lost 70lbs so far)). I'm going 1/8/10 for my 5th fill. I'm hoping to add at least 1cc to my band at that time. Portion control and will power have always been my downfalls... not sweets. I'm not a real lover of intense exercise either. I didn't get my band to count calories/carbs, weigh or measure my food, or spend countless hours exercising. I'm eating reasonably and trying to be more active in general. It is working for me. Good luck w/ your journey!

I LOVE READING EVERYONE'S NSVs!! I find them to be very inspirational. I had an NSV just this evening and couldn't wait to get home and jump on the computer so I could share it. I went to go see a movie at the local theater earlier this evening. Not only was I able to sit comfortably NEXT to my hubby, but I also had my legs crossed for most of the movie. :thumbup: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MY BAND!!!!! PS: The movie, THE BLIND SIDE, is excellent. Just be sure to take along some tissues. :thumbup:

Hello! I have been banded for just over 6 months now. This has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself (w/ the devoted support of hubby, family, friends, and colleagues)! For the first time in a long while, I feel good about myself and my appearance. I have always dressed well and did my hair and make up, but it was just a facade. I felt hideous and unworthy on the inside. Since the scale has been going in the right direction (FINALLY!), I have a spring in my step, a smile in my face, and a great sense of pride in all that I do. As for eating what I want, I eat what I can tolerate and in small quantities. I no longer feel guilty about every morsel I put in my mouth. I think this has helped me be successful WITH my band. I know the band has helped me look at food in a positive light. It is no longer my enemy. I make much better food choices, but don't deprive myself of a treat now and then. I don't count calories, carbs, Proteins, etc. I don't weigh or measure my food. That is too much like a diet to me. I got banded so I wouldn't have to be on a diet. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! When were you banded? How many pounds/inches have you lost so far? I started out as a snug size 28 and I'm about 10lbs away from comfortably fitting into a size 20. I can't even imagine EVER fitting into a size 14. Happy Holidays!

Hello! I was just wondering if anyone else who has been banded for at least 3 months is having the same experience that I am having... I have been banded for just over 6 months. I have lost 70lbs and 42in. I am now feeling bones that I have not felt in a very looooong time. It sometimes takes me by surprise when I feel this hard "bump" and then realize that "bump" is a hip bone or wrist bone. On the flip side, parts of my body that were once relatively firm (ie. boobs and belly) are turning squishy. My belly has always been big, yet firm. It is now shrinking and shakes like jelly. I keep telling myself that my belly was so firm b/c it was packed w/ fat. And now that my body is using my excess fat, my belly is feeling looser. On a strange (yet true note), I have gone up a cup size.

Howdy! I just had my 6 month BANDiversary on 12/8/09. Since it was a special day, I decided to hop on the scale at home (I usually only get weighed when I go for my fill.) to check my weight. My scale read 255. That meant I had lost 70LBS since 4/14 (date I 1st went to my PCP). I couldn't believe it, :thumbup: so I checked my scale's accuracy w/ an unopened 5lb bag of flour (goofy, I know). The scale was accurate:) I also had my hubby take my measurements later that night. I'm down 42 inches. Here are some things that have changed for me since my surgery... 1) I can cross my legs easily. 2) I am down from a tight size 28 to a loose size 22. 3) My house is constantly neat and tidy (due to more energy). 4) The laundry is always caught up (due to more energy). 5) I have more time in my day (due to NOT napping). 6) The food budget is way down. 7) I need to get my rings resized. 8) I can feel my bones. 9) My family/friends/colleagues compliment me daily. 10) I have increased self esteem. 11) I am now a size smaller than when I got married. 12) I am off of my stomach and cholesterol meds. Here are some of my upcoming goals... 1) I only have 30lbs to lose to reach a 100lb loss. 2) I want to put my true weight on my driver's license (Aug '10). 3) I want to buy summer clothes in a size 18 or smaller. 4) I want to fly w/o a seat belt extender. 5) I want to ride all the rides at Kings' Island and Cedar Point 6) I want to complete a 3K Fourth of July Walk. 7) I want my weight and clothing size to both start w/ a "1." GOOD LUCK TO ALL WITH YOUR JOURNEY:smile:

LOL! I have this exact same problem. If I start off eating too fast, I feel somewhat stuck and will sneeze several times in a row.

Hello! I began my "new" life exactly six months ago today. I was banded on 6/8/09 by Dr. Curry in Cincinnati, OH. As of this morning, I have lost a total of 70lbs and 44 inches. I was stunned when I looked down at the scale and saw that I had lost so much weight! I had to double-check the accuracy of my scale, so I weighed an unopened 5lb bag of flour. My scale was "right on the money." I have gone from a snug size 28 to a loose size 22 in pants and a XXXL to an XL in tops. I have gone from a 44D to a 40DD (strange, I know to go UP a bra size). Even my shoes are fitting looser! I want to thank my very supportive hubby, my wonderful parents, my best friend (had her surgery 3 weeks after mine), and Dr. Curry/Staff. Without this wonderful support network, this metamorphosis wouldn't have been impossible.:thumbup:

WOW! Our stories are almost identical. I have a tattoo of a butterfly on the top of my left foot. I picked a butterfly b/c it represents a metamorphosis and I put it on my left foot so I can look at it when I CROSS MY LEGS:)

How thankful am I? Let me count the ways... 1) scale finally going in the right direction (-55lbs) 2) compliments from friends and family 3) less medication (hopefully even less meds after Jan. bloodwork) 4) lots of energy 5) going from a tight size 28 to a baggy size 22 6) actually having to try on clothes instead of just taking the biggest size and praying it fits 7) increased self-confidence 8) cleaning out my closets and donating my "too big" clothes 9) not letting food control my thoughts and actions 10) my dad telling my hubby..."Eventhough I'm saying this about my own daughter, she's HOT." I actually cried when my hubby told me about this.

My name is Kristi and I am a recovering FOOD-AHOLIC. I was banded on 6/8/09. That day was both a fantastic day and a very sad day for me. It was a fantastic day because I was given a great tool to help me lose my excess weight and keep it off. It was a very sad day because I also lost my best friend that day...food. I had no idea how much my life revolved around food. It seemed like every aspect of my social life included eating. And of course, I wouldn't just order a small appetizer or salad to nibble on. I would order an appetizer, a meal, and most likely a dessert. I would eat around the clock. The band has totally changed my food perspective. When I go out w/ friends and I am truly hungry, I order a small appetizer or split something with one of my friends. If I'm not hungry, I order some iced tea or coffee. I now enjoy the socializing so much more than the food. When I got the band, I made a promise to myself that I would not "go nuts" with measuring, counting calories or carbs, or analyzing every bite that I put in my mouth. I wanted my band to be an active part of my life, but not the controlling factor. I have been extremely happy w/ my life post-band. I watch what and how much I eat. But, if I want a taste of something, I take a taste. With allowing myself a taste, I don't feel deprived... I feel like I am LIVING. :Yawn:

What a fabulous Thanksgiving day! Awhile back, I was wondering how Turkey Day would go in my household. I was banded on 6/8/09, my best friend was banded on 6/29/09, and my mother had a gastric bypass on 11/23/09. My hubby, parents, best friend and her stepdad, and I were planning on going out to a restaurant for a turkey dinner because Joanne and I couldn't eat very much. We didn't know at the time that Mom would have her surgery 3 days before Thanksgiving and would most likely be in the hospital until the day after. Joanne's family decided to come down from Cleveland for the holiday and my mom got out of the hospital 2 days earlier than expected. So, Joanne decided to have Thanksgiving dinner at her stepdad's house. She cooked an absolutely delicious feast! The food was very tasty, but I so managed to behave myself. I had about 2T of the following: mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and baked Beans. I had about 3oz of turkey and 3oz of baked ham. For dessert, I ate 2 bites of my hubby's apple pie. I didn't gorge myself, but I certainly didn't feel deprived. :thumbup:

I felt such a sense of relief after reading people's posts for this thread. I have experienced all of these emotions when I see obese people... empathy, sympathy, anger, disgust, relief, shame, etc. When I see someone who is morbidly obese, I want to just give them a hug and hand them one of my surgeon's business cards and tell the person how the LB has changed my life (empathy/sympathy). I also have felt anger/disgust when I have been out to eat and I see a morbidly obese person pound down a gigantic appetizer, an equally huge meal, and then order a monsterous dessert. I want to lecture them about how they are using food to kill themselves and that pigging out will not solve their problems. I then feel ashamed of myself for my self-righteous attitude towards someone's choice of lifestyle. I am more than willing to share my experience with anyone who has questions about the LB. I just need to remember that just like a drug or alcohol addiction, a person doesn't want help until he or she is ready to accept it.

I know that there have been threads on this site dedicated to NSVs, but I just wanted to add my own. Over the past weekend, I saw a commercial on tv for a very pretty watch. I mentioned the watch to my hubby and said that I might like it for Christmas. Well, my hubby took me to the local mall later that day to see if we could find the watch at one of the jewelry stores. We found the watch and I tried it on. :thumbup: IT FIT PERFECTLY! :frown: I have never been able to walk into a jewelry store, try on a watch, and have it fit... no extra links needed. I was sooooo happy the watch fit that my hubby bought it for me right then and there. :wink:

Howdy! My doctor said I shouldn't drink anything that contains caffeine for at least 6 weeks after being banded because caffeine can irritate your stomach. While at my 2nd fill (8 wks after surgery), the dietician told me that I could start having caffeine because caffeine is a stimulant and it would help me in the "bathroom department." After my 3rd fill, I began to notice that trying to eat anything in the morning was pretty darn uncomfortable. I started drinking hot tea or coffee every morning to help loosen my band. It works like a charm! :thumbup:

Howdy! I have only recently tried steak after being banded (6/8/09). It was a nice little piece of filet mignon cooked medium. It was very tender and very juicy. I had no troubles with it. :thumbup: I also have had no troubles with eating seafood. In fact, seafood has become a big part of my post-band diet. Like those who have responded before me, if the meat/seafood is not too try, it will be kind to you and your band. I have found out through this journey that gummy bread, broccoli, bagels, and donuts are NOT my friends! Except for the broccoli, I really shouldn't be eating the other foods. And once a food gets stuck, any future cravings are wiped out. As my fills have progressed, I have found out that eating anything before 10:30am is tricky. My band is too tight to allow food to pass comfortably. I usually drink hot tea or hot coffee first thing in the morning to loosen my band and then have an Atkin's bar between 10:30 and 11:00. This works for me because I don't get hungry until mid-morning and my lunchtime is at 12:30pm. I am not due for another fill until after the first of next year. Who knows what changes in food tolerances will happen with that fill??

This is the perfect time of the year for this thread! I can't even begin to adequately express how thankful I feel. When 2009 began, I thought to myself... "Well, another year is beginning and I'm as fat as ever." I had no idea of the tremendous gift I was to be given in just a few short months. Right around the end of March, my mother called me to let me know how her doctor's appt. went. She told me that during her appt., the doctor told her that she really needed to do something about her weight because of the health problems it was causing. The dr suggested the Lap Band. As soon as my mom told me this, I jokingly told her that if she got banded I would never speak to her again because I had wanted to get banded for over 2 years, but my insurance wouldn't cover it. I must have rattled on quite a bit about the band and shared all of my information because when I went to visit my parents a few days later, they offered to pay for my band if I would go through this "journey" with my mom. My answer was a "no brainer." For the next 6 weeks, my parents and I went to several different informational meetings at various hospitals. My mother had to have her surgery at The Ohio State University because she had a kidney translplant there about 4 years ago. I decided to have my surgery in Cincinnati by Dr. Curry. To make an already long story short, I was banded on 6/8/09 and to date, I have lost 45+ inches and 55+ pounds. My mother just had gastric bypass surgery on 11/23/09. As it turned out, she wasn't a candidate for the band. She is recovering wonderfully. :thumbup: I had no idea when 2009 rolled in that I would weigh significantly less when 2009 ends. I am truly thankful for my parents, my supportive hubby, my surgeon and his staff, and for my band. I feel truly blessed. :frown: