bashful1269

Being able to play softball without feeling like I'm the fattest one to ever play the sport... Being able to walk without foot pain... Being able to tell my sister that she finally has to buy me that out fit she promised to buy me when I was 18 and trying to get under 200 pounds...twenty years later I still have yet to make it under, I'M GOING TO DO IT NOW!! Being able to not spend so much money at the grocery store! And many many other things

Hang in there you're almost to surgery date!... You CAN do it!! Just a few more days. I'm not going to be able to make the meeting either, just remembered I have to play softball at 7:15 an Columbia is a forty minute drive no way to make it. I will make next months for sure. Can't wait to meet you guys. GOOD LUCK, God bless and please keep us posted on how you are doing.

WOW, that's a lot of hard work and determination!! I'm proud of you!!!!!! You look amazing!

I think it's because most people don't understand what all is involved with the lap band. It's easy to say " you took the easy way out, or I lost weight the hard way, working out with a trainer or whatever" The thing to remember is that we are not only making the decision to do the work necessary to get the weight off but to "buy" the tool that will work to keep it off and make a lifelong commitment to being healthy.

The ticker is pretty easy, just click on it create one that you like and then copy the bb code then go to your profile and add it to your signature. I haven't gotten the liquid diet instructions yet. I go on Wednesday. I'm a little nervous, but I did medifast for a solid two months.

For those of you already banded what do you think your bio will be like a year from now? Congrats to all those who have been banded and good luck to us that have not been yet.

Thanks Juniper, Medifast is great but when you go off of it the sugar cravings are KILLER or at least that was my experience. And very hard to get back on it once you've gotten off of it. I think the weight has always helped me hide. I was talking about that tonight with a friend of mine and she said that I was a lot more out going when I had lost a little weight and then it was like I had gotten scared and put the weight back on. I'm not sure how it will be with the band. I'm a little nervous what about you?

I'm 38 yo, I like so many others, was overweight as a child and all of my adult life has been spent trying to get the weight off. My family was all pretty thin with the exception of my oldest sister and they were not very kind when I was growing up. With my moms famous saying of "You'd be pretty if you'd just lose some weight". I've been dealing with low self esteem issues as well. I worried about the way I looked and got married for the WRONG reasons, I thought I was lucky that someone wanted to marry me...PS, I'm now divorced for the right reasons. I turned 30 and it was like a light switch had been turned on that said "Hey you've been living half your life worried about what other people think, it's time to start living." So, I did. I'm happy now and I am making the choice to have surgery for health reasons, I'm currently 5'9" tall and weigh 260 wearing a size 16 and I really don't care what other people are thinking about the way I look as long as I am happy. The added benefit of losing the weight and changing the way I look is amazing to think about, although I must admit it does scare me knowing that men will most likely pay a lot more attention than they do now. I've finally come to the conclusion that I'm not going to be able to keep it off without help. I love to exercise but the extra weight has put so much pressure on my bones that I hurt when I do. I had lost about thirty pounds on medifast then tried to get into a work out regimen only to twist a bone in my ankle that had to be removed. A year later it still hurts to walk so I will be working with the physical therapist to create a routine that works for me. Long story I know ....sorry Anyway, good luck to all of us! I look forward to getting to know all of you better. Stacy

Hi, I'm being banded on the 22nd, I was wondering if there is anyone else close by that will be banded or has been banded by Dr. Pitt at Boone Co Hospital in Columbia. I'd love to know how you are doing, what you thought of Dr. Pitt and his aftercare and anything else you want to share. Thanks. PS. I'm looking for a workout buddy if anyone wants to join, I work out at Wilson's in the mall

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I can almost see your smile from here. Have fun in Vegas, keep up the great work.

I'm being banded July 22nd, by Dr. Pitt. I am going to try to make the support group meeting on Thursday. I went to the one in April before I was approved by my insurance and was amazed at the amount of people there. It was really awesome getting to meet some of the people there that were just a few weeks out of surgery and had such great success, very inspirational. Good luck on the banding!

I noticed you're from Rolla, where are you having your surgery done? I'm in JC and having mine in Columbia by Dr. Pitt I did the medifast diet last year for about a month, the first three days are the worst! If you get headaches try drinking some bullion, the salt will help. Just think it will all be worth it a few months from now when you see the number on the scale. You can do it!

WOW Jason, I am so impressed by your story and how hard you have worked at this. It gave me goose bumps when I read that your doctor was going to give you a surgery date in August. I don't even know you but wanted to cry tears of joy for you. I know you're going to be a great success story...I know that I will be following your journey and use you as a source of inspiration as I begin my journey as well. You have a beautiful family! Thanks for sharing!

Welcome and I hope your recovery goes well. I am being banded on the 22nd, a little nervous but feeling pretty positive. I think you will find these boards extremely helpful, I know I have. I'm in Missouri too

Susan, I LOVE Jeeping in the woods! It's a blast. Nothing like seeing nothing but the hood of your jeep and the sky! Or having your back tire on a rock and being able to touch the ground on the drivers side!

Thanks blklab!

For me it's photography, that's my true passion in life. I LOVE IT! I can do all kinds of other crafty things as well. Scrap booking, crochet, floral arranging, jewelry making and oil painting. Here's a few of my photos...

Ok, so I haven't been banded yet and one of my biggest problems in the past has been stress eating. I talked with the Physc Dr when I had my eval and she told me I had to have a plan in place for how I was going to deal with stress post surgery, so I made a plan that if I was stressed out from work that I would go to the gym and work out until I felt the stress was gone. I DID IT!...two hours later and a few muscles found I KNOW WERE NOT THERE, before I walked in the gym. But, I followed my plan and I am feeling pretty empowered at the moment. :redface: I'd like to hear your stories of how you handle stress or a time when you excercised that you were really proud of. Please share

Thanks! It did feel good. A year ago I was doing really pretty good at losing the weight and then I had to have a bone removed from my foot. Exercise became painful, so I stopped and the weight piled back on. Now, I'm pretty much healed and ready to go out and not only reach my goals but maintain them. I hate going to the gym but love it when I'm there. I haven't tried running since my surgery and will probably wait until I have lost at least 20 to 30 pounds before I do try it. I really enjoy the elliptical cross glider, there is no impact and it doesn't hurt my foot or my knees. Thanks for sharing your story.

Thank God for chubby chasers... I was in a relationship with a man that told me pretty much the same thing that "He didn't want a thin woman", I started losing weight on medifast, and started to get the attention of other guys and my guy actually broke up with me...I'm so much better off without him in my life, I never realized how much he was controlling me. Of course if he would have stuck around he'd have seen me gain the weight back plus some...oh well his loss...LOL Back to your situation, I agree with many of the other posters here, your BF sounds like he is insecure. Reassure him of your love and make sure that he knows that just because you are losing weight and getting healthy that it doesn't change the way that you feel about him. Also, be honest with him and tell him truly how you feel, and let him know his support means a lot to you. Good Luck! Keep us updated

I have a question for everyone out there... I have a friend that is very overweight and really wants to have the lap band done, problem is she just got laid off and doesn't have the money or the insurance to do it, how do I help her? So far, I have explained to her that she could lose weight by starting to give up soda, since she drinks about six a day, which translates into around 900 calories per day or two pounds a week weight loss. Right now many of our social functions are centered around food, what kinds of activities have you replaced the eating with? Any suggestions???????? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thanks, Stacy

Are there any bandsters out there that play softball? If so, do you have problems with the port? I love to play and can't wait to play when I'm 100 pounds lighter, I'm just scared that I will hurt myself. Anyone have any experiences they could share? Thanks, Stacy

I had my eval on 6/2/09, I was worried they were going to call me crazy and lock me up. She did quite the opposite. We talked in great length about why I felt this was the best option and what I had tried prior to this and of course I did get to take the lovely 300 question test. Overall, I really enjoyed my eval, the Dr. was really nice.

As I've been reading through the forums, I've noticed a lot of people with the weight loss tickers that have had their surgery only a few weeks ago and many have already lost over 30 pounds! Is that NORMAL? My doctor told me that the average is one to two pounds a week. Please share your first month's weight loss, stories and amounts.