imaluckydog

I was banded June 29, 2009. So I have been at this for over 3 years now. You would think I was a pro, but, let me tell you it's the band that has the upper hand in my life. I have been very successful. I have lost over 100 lbs. Got a complete un fill against the better wishes of my fill nurse. Before my full body nip and tuck, last June. It was all my own choice. I admit I gained a few extra pounds from poor snacking choices. (so don't snack) I do not snack today and I am close to losing all the extra I gained. In total it was about 20 pounds gained. It scared me too!! When I get a fill now it is only 1/2 cc and it is evey five or six weeks or so. I need to remain clam and stress free or my band will tighten all on it's own. Go Figure???? I love my band and every day I must remind myself to eat small to be small, I admit I also measure all my food and I use Lunch size plates so it looks like I get more, I eat very slow and chew a million times. I have found that is what works for me. Best wishes imaluckydog

Game on!!! You can do this. Best wishes imaluckydog

I have had so many fills and un fills I can't even remember. I do know that I am sensitive to fills and can only handle about 1/2 cc at a time now that I am doing this again. I also get tighter if I am stressed or anxious. My nurse only puts in just a little so it will take longer but it is easier for my body to handle the adjustment. I have no idea why some people can get a large fill and have no problems. Slow and steady wins the race. LOL it is taking forever. I just need to stay mindful and do my part. Best wishes imaluckydog

No you are not boring by any means! I enjoyed reading every word!! I was also scared about gaining weight and I did gain a few. I gained enough for people to say wow you look healthier now!! ha ha ha... Lets just say those extra few pounds make me feel like crap! I gained because I thought I could get away with snacking and I know I can't do that today! I must take it easy and eat like a healthy person. I have since being banded said if I eat small I will be small. Lets just say a small amount of snacking will put weight back on. I now know this from experience. I have had many fill adjustments and know just how tight the band can get all on it's own, with no help from the fill nurse. Mine has tighened so many times that before my nip and tuck I had most all of the fill removed. My nurse was not happy with my choice to do this. It has been a year of getting back on track and being mindful again and again. The writing everything down has helped, blogging has helped. I told no one so I do not have much of a support system. I know that I can do this I have the best tool, it is all about the choices I make. Your next few weeks my feel hard,cuz the Dr. is away, it may very well be very hard but you can do it! Take it one meal at a time, no snacking, protein first, not to much, chew slow and no liquids with meals. I also need to keep fresh healthy foods on hand. I was also fat girl and I loved reading your story. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes imalickydog

Thanks for the inspiration. I am a few pounds away from reaching my goal for the second time. Maintenance has been a real challenge for me. Before my nip and tuck I had almost all the fluid taken out. My crazy idea that I would be able to do it all on my own. I wanted to recover and eat again. My fill nurse said I was crazy and that I may never get back to the weight I was. I am now struggling with trying to lose a few unwanted extra pounds that came back due to my poor choices! and snacking.....ugh Lets say snacking is not a bandsters best friend!! I am back, and I am mindful, no more snacking. I get another fill at the end of the month. It is all about patience for me now and getting back what I once had is my goal today. Because nothing I mean NOTHING, feels as good a THIN FEELS!!!! Your pictures are great. I took my pants with me to a newbie meeting and people were shocked. Your pictures helped me to remember I want that back. I know I can do it. I need to keep blogging too it helps to keep me honest. Best wishes and thanks again for sharing. imaluckydog

Hi, I have also had three years plus with my Lap Band. Love it and I would do it all again. I have had a slight weight gain after a surgery and I will need to get off those crazy carbs too. I think the trainer is smart. I think I need to switch my foods around and make some exercise changes if I am going to shake these last few extra unwanted pounds off. I know how much better I feel without this extra weight. I want that feeling again. Thanks for sharing and lets keep intouch. I have no one I can talk to about this. I'm off to work then the YMCA. going to jump start my LB program again. No more lazy me. Best wishes and thanks. imaluckydog

Thank you for sharing. I have been struggling with the food and I know I put too much on my plate. I know I can not eat it all, why do I try????? I need to get my head back in the game and get rid of these few extra pounds from my acts of laziness. Thanks for the inspiration to get back on track. Best wishes imaluckydog

I want to be small. So I eat small to be small. I have my protein first, veggies, fruits and a very little starch. I love sweet potatoes, white and brown rice, and couscous. I Never drink with a meal. Beef I eat the least of. Unless I get a cut like filet that is not tough. Over cooked chicken/turkey does not work well for me. I love all fish, edamame, and shellfish, pork, and meats I grind myself. I have greek yogurt with or without fruit. I love oatmeal. I really never eat more than 1 half cup protein and maybe 3/4 cup of anything else. I eat slow, chew very well and put my fork down after each bite. That took time to learn how to do that. I used to love to eat a lot of food all at once. I cannot do that today. I even need to be done eating about 3 to 4 hours before going to bed. But that's just me I want to feel like all my food has digested. I am always satisfied after a meal because I choose to eat what ever I want. I love texture and flavor in my foods. I made a great Mango Salsa tonight and have enough let for tomorrow. Planning is key. Best wishes on your journey and keep in touch with a "Nut" cuz they do know what is good for us, those with a LB. imaluckydog

I like your attitude!! I feel the same way. Set your mind on what you have to do and DO IT!! You will be successful for sure. Best wishes imaluckydog

I am happy to blog with you today my friend. You have the right mind set for this adventure. It was more like a journey for me if you will. I have lost over 100 pounds on my journey and it feels great. I got away from blogging and I will be honest with you it really helped me out and kept me on track. I'm back!!! I was banded on June 29, 2009. I just had my three year Bandversary. Yippee for me.... When I read your blog this morning, I was like, WOW, that was me three years ago. You can do this, where there is a WILL there is a WAY! You've got the will and a date you are better off than some. I remember being so ready I just could not wait. I was excited and scared to death all at the same time. I told no one. I only had my blogging family to talk too. I am still here to write about it. After reading your blog I am going to make every effort to be mindful and blog everyday. It really is the one thing that kept me connected to others like me. Blogging makes me happy. I am now working on taking off a few unwanted pounds that came back after my full body Nip and Tuck. I can do this with the help my Lap Band and others who share as honestly as you. Thank you. Best wishes on your journey and keep in touch. imaluckydog

Hello Three Year Bandversary. I was banded June 29, 2009 it was three weeks earlier then my original set date. I was ready, you know how ready we get, right! Someone who did not follow all the pre-op diet and all those rules before surgery allowed me to be moved up. Lucky Me!!! Keep in mind, just remember to follow all those rules no matter how lame you think they are. I honestly felt bad for this person because all I knew was they were scheduled, had the date and did not meet the guidelines. Made my day that’s for sure. My first suggestion Follow all the rules, no matter what! As I reflect over my last three years, I can honestly say I have never been HAPPIER with my life. I would choose this procedure again. It has not made dealing with the everyday life and it’s many traumas really any easier. Yet, it has helped me make better food choices and the issues for me related to the food a whole lot easier. On my second Bandversary - June 21, 2011 I was able to have the full body nip and tuck and as I remember that was way harder and a much longer recovery than the Lap Band. I thought two weeks and I’d be up and around. It took almost the entire summer to feel better. Two months, so if you are thinking in terms of nip and tuck prepare yourself. It is a much longer recovery and way more painful. I do not regret one minute that I had it done. I love my flat stomach and small breasts now and my arms and legs with exercise don’t look bad. I like swimming and water activities. I can say I am normal, looking and feeling all around now. I love how my clothes fit. I love that I can buy anything I want in any store and I am a normal size. I even see myself in the mirror as normal. I love what I see these days. I never liked the mirror, as a matter of fact I hated it! Looking in the mirror and having a good cry can be a catalyst to change. When you see the results before your very eyes it makes a huge impression. I kept wanting more change. I followed the rules and I did make mistakes. I kept getting back on track. The mirror helps you stay focused on your goal. The scale just validated the number loss. It took a year to lose over 100 pounds. I have kept it off now and am excited to write about it. My weight has gone up and down 10 pounds and it is always a struggle to lose again. Keeping a positive attitude and blogging made it so much easier for me. I have had fills and un-fills and more fills do to the surgery, that was my choice. This is what is so wonderful about the Lap Band it all becomes our choices to use the controls inside. Before my nip and tuck I had almost all the fluid taken out. I knew it was risky and yes I did gain weight. Because I gave in to old high calorie habits and choices. I have always said, I want to be small so I should eat small! But if those small choices are HIGH CALORIES there will be problems. I can’t tell you how fast 10 pounds can come back if you make wrong choices. I am getting back to eating real food, not processed, protein first, not too much and mostly plants. They don’t have a lot of calories and are way better for me. My life has never been happier, my journey has been unique to me and I wish everyone out there all the best on your journey. Keep in touch Blogging helps. Best Wishes Love, imaluckydog

Thank you, you just made my day. Keep posting it's a long journey and with inspiration like yours others will do well. Best wishes imaluckydog

Wow four months! Keep it up you are doing great keep asking for help. I remember when. I needed to slow down and put the Fork, Knife, Spoon down for a rest during every meal. I used to play games and see just how long I could let them be, before I picked them up again. I was always a (gulper) and a one bite (swallower). The band will keep you on your toes if you do not hold to those rules. Chew, chew, chew and chew some more to beat the band. Your mind thinks one thing, your taste buds another and with one swallow to fast or too large..... well we all know what happens then. No liquids we all know with meals RIGHT! I needed so much help back in the day and I still need to be reminded or my band will get the best of me. 100 pounds still off, June 29 will be my three year Bandversary and I am once a Newbie always a Newbie. Had the full nip and tuck upper and lower. Took my first Spinning Class at he YMCA last week and can't wait to go again. I enjoy being one of the small people. Eat small to be small! Easy does it and keep blogging, its the only thing that helped me work with my band as well as I have. I still keep learning new things. Going to FL at the end of the month and my biggest problem now is I have to many clothes and don't know what to bring. Go figure! Best wishes on your journey and keep blogging it helps. imaluckydog

Who's life is it? Yours or their's? I took my life into my own hands almost 3 years ago and chose to become healthy with this LB tool. I would recommend this to anyone who needs to lose as much as I did. I chose not to tell anyone and kept it to myself. I blog to the world on this site, it helps to keep honest. It has helped me so much. This was my journey to a healthier me. I have lost 100 plus pounds and have kept it off. I know I have added 10 years to my life. I do not have headaches anymore, no more pain medicine, no more sleep apnea, high blood pressure meds, gone, knee pain, gone, I am a normal weight and I like what I see in the mirror. What more could I have asked for. I encourage keeping a positive attitude and it really is all about the choices we make for ourselves. I eat real food not too much mostly plants and eat my proteins first. Keep blogging and best wishes imaluckydog

I agree with LovetheNewMe. I was also banded in June of 2009. I remember when you found out about the pregnancy. The best thing is you want control again. With the band you will have that control. Must remember to follow the rules. Take small bites and chew,chew chew to beat the band. Eat slow and do not drink with meals. Blog as much as you can because it helps in the honesty department. I was told people who blog tend to do better than people who don't keep in touch with others about their journey. I recommend small meals with protein first. I eat real food non of that processed junk in packages, as my body just does not know how to digest it. Water is key. You will get a ton of support here welcome back big time. Best wishes imaluckydog

Hello my friend you do have many reasons to live! First for yourself and second for your beautiful son! Really the list could go on and on. You will take the time and research we all do. It can be a long process. I commend you. I can tell you that your life and health will improve. I was banded way back in June 2009 and have never regretted it. I have kept off a one hundred pound loss. Just remember it is not about the number of pounds ( it's not a diet) it becomes a way of life, but about how you feel on your journey. Follow the rules and you will be successful. Welcome and Best wishes on your journey. imaluckydog

Best blog ever! I have not been here for a while. Nice new site. I will try that recipe web site and maybe find some ideas. I make the Pizza Soup all the time and it freezes very well. I also swim and use those funny weights it has been the best thing for my batwings (underarm flab) I don't have any flab there anymore thanks to those weights. Many thanks to you, I love to read your blog, you are so inspiring. Happy Bandversary to you. imaluckydog

I took two years to make my decision to make a change as well. You are going about it the same way. Be patient as The Lap Band process can also be time consuming. I have been banded now for 2 and a half years. I have no idea where the time has gone. I have lost over one hundred pounds, kept it off and had a nip and tuck this past summer. I am a new person. I am called skinny and I look normal. I wear a normal size and can now shop in any store and find clothes to fit. I am proud of myself. You will be strong if you want to change bad enough. Do it for yourself and no one else. Eating the correct way just seems to happen after the band. I made better food choices and eat way less than I would before being banded. I must say I do miss a good chow down I cannot eat a lot of food any more. I will admit to you I still have disordered eating. I am and probably will always be a food addict. The Band has been able to help me control this issue. It is a wonderful tool and if you follow the rules can make you happy and healthy in no time. This is NOT a diet it has become a way of life. I do not take blood pressure meds or pain meds, no more sleep apnea, joint pain, headaches, knee shots, No more worrying about diabetes or not having anything to wear. This is a journey and make the most of it. Set a physical goal and then reach for the stars. I am skiing again never thought that would happen. Best wishes imaluckydog

I was banded June 29, 2009, seems like yesterday! I LOVE my BAND. Living with the band it a lifestyle change that's for sure! One that you will need to deal with. Many people can and will eat foods that are not as healthy for them, those are the choices we all have to make. The key is the better food choices the weight will come off. As for me I was one who chose healthy foods, real foods, not too much and mostly plants with proteins. The weight fell off me. Lost 110 pounds I was a GOOD bandster alrighty....<div><br></div><div>I got the "Nip and Tuck" after two years of keeping the weight off. This past summer and spent two weeks in bed recovering. That surgery was way different than the LB. With LB I was up in about two days. It took me two weeks before I felt myself. I must say that the "Nip and Tuck" takes way more out of you and a lot longer recovery time. I also had a very large unfill just before and I am not back to my sweet spot yet. I am at maintenance and it has been a struggle of the mind kind. I am looking forward to a fill soon I planned one just before Thanksgiving. I am so glad I have the band today I am happy and energetic. Love to shop for new clothes and I am just happy to be alive! The band works if you work with your band. Best wishes to everyone who posts. imaluckydog </div>

Feel better and best wishes imaluckydog

Needed to read this morning THANK YOU. Best wishes imaluckydog

We are here for you. I was banded in 2009 and have lost 110 pounds and have kept it off. I am thinking that you have made a life choice to change. Bravo to you. Many have had up and downs it is not as hard as you may think, take a step at a time and be happy you are making well choices today.<div>Best wishes imaluckydog </div>

Thanks for sharing I hear your struggle loud and clear. I have needed a little more motivation myself lately. Maintenance has been going just ok for me it is really hard to stay on track if you're not that tight. I can go up ten pounds and down ten pounds in a week. I have been trying to find the balance. It has been soul searching for me. Making sure I get the best foods as I have add back some starchy carbs because I can. Making sure I don't over do it is what I need to look at. I am glad I am not alone, as I continue my life struggle I am happy I am a size 10/12 and not the 24 I used to be. Happy to be alive and glad I can write about it. I would not trade this journey for anything. So very Best wishes imaluckydog

WOW that is so cool and you stayed so calm. I know I never had anyone just start talking to me and now it happens every where I go. It makes you feel good to be noticed. I was always a wall flower the one with the pretty face, the one no one wanted to talk too or start a conversation with, people come up and ask my opinion now and that seem so funny to me. I look more like a normal person and I feel better about myself. I am now included in and with the conversation of others and that did not happen when I was fat. I am a cookie monster and one broken cookie is not so bad. Glad you were able to enjoy it. Best wishes imaluckydog

You are an inspiration to all. Keep it up. Best wishes on your journey and keep sharing it helps everyone. imaluckydog