sandi2004

I got it! Glad to know you understand about changing your choices- that is obviously step one to success. Regarding being sick or nauseaated I htink you are "misunderstanding". Nauseated will not be a problem, however ifyou take bites that are too big, eat too fast, or overeat you may experience what we call "stuck" which is an uncomfortable feeling (like an elephant sitting on your chest) that can require that the food in question come back up. I suggest dining in with friends before dining out with them as you are getting used to the band. I'm sure every one of us has experienced the discomfort at least once, but there is usually sufficient time to get to the rest room to deal with it. Does this answer your question?

Of course each of our journeys are different, but we can certainly learn from and support each other. Social occassions and restaurants are not as difficult as I thought they would be. When I started my journey I would make sure I knew the menu of the restaurant and had "picked" my meal before I arrived. That means I made a plan, and a conscious choice rather than leaving it to chance. Now, six years out I can usually find something at any restaurant I go to that is food that I can choose to eat. If I know where we are going, I still check the menu beforehand. Regarding social events like parties, etc I now focus on the people rather than the food. I'll start with a tall glass of water in my hnd as I socialize, then when I am ready to eat, put it down and reach for the smallest plate possible to put a few selected items on. Most party situations are buffet type situations and one can usually find veggies (sans dip) to munch on slowly. If you are worried, bring your own protein drink, protein bar, or otherwise and just excuse yourself (special diet) and enjoy. Where there is a will there is a way. Read more about how I lost 250 pounds and have kept it off for the first time in my life athttp://http://www.bandedliving.com/public/department14.cfm

Hi Nicole: I had my surgery in Ventura CA where I live. I understand about not having insurance coverage because my insurance company would not pay for it so I paid out of pocket. My doctor included ALL of the aftercare forever with the price so I was lucky. If you are having the surgery done in Mexico just be sure you have a local place to go to for fills and post op care as well as for support. I'd love to speak with you also. Email me at sandi@bandedliving.com, or send me a PM. You may want to check out my blog or go to my website at Lap Band Support, Lap Band Forums and Information to get more information as to what helped me and others be successful. I'm here for you! When are you having surgery?

Hi: My name is Sandi and I was banded in May2004. I started my journey at 424 pounds and 55 years old. Every day is exciting as I discover more and more of my new found abilities since I have lost 250 pounds. I am starting to believe that there is nothing I can not do. This was hard work, but the rewards are amazing! No more medication, no more C-Pap machine, minimal aches and pains. I am a new person and I want to share all the little secrets and tips I have picked up along the way. I am offerring to mentor anyone who needs a friend to ask questions, hold their hand, provide factual information when emotions get in the way of good choices and generally just be there to listen to what you are currently encountering on your journey. I am so passionate about sharing the wonder and the zest for life that I have achieved that I have started a blog of my journey from day one of exploring this miracle they call gastric banding surgery, through surgery, mytransformational weight loss journey to now, maintaining a 250 pound weight loss and living my new life; http://www.sandisbandedliving.com Each and every day provides an amazing gift. I am passionate about sharing those gifts with everyone who will listen. __________________

You can and will do it as long as you can stay focused. I am so proud of you for making the committment. If there is anything I can do to help you on your journey please contact me. You can email me, PM me, or reach me on the forums. You also may want to take a look at my new website, by patients, for patients at Lap Band Support, Lap Band Forums and Information You can find some great inspiration and information there. Remember, we are all rooting you on so use us all to help you on your journey.

Stephanie: Having been there and done that (and got the T shirt in amuch smaller size) I would be more than happy to chat withyou dialy. Email me at sandi@bandedliving.com. Paying it forward is what I am all about. I am also on yahoo IM if you want to chat that way.

Hi Stephanie: I started my journey as a supersized woman as well (424 pounds) and in 2 years got down to 174 pounds and have been maintaining for 4+ years. I am here to offer you support on your journey. You can check out my story and some of the tips and tools I used to help me along the way atLap Band Support, Lap Band Forums and Information You can also send me PM's or emails with your questions. I am here to help you and support you any way I can. I can never forget all of those who were there (and are still there) for me. I wish you success on your journey.

It's great that you have set up mini goals for yourself. As you get started and see how it goes you may refine these even further. Just remember to Celebrate EVERY pound you lose as another pound you will never have to see again. Also be sure to give yourself space if something happens that throws you off for a day or two. I have found that the worst thing I can do is to beat myself up for not achieving my goals at the exact moment I set in time. This journey, while it is about acheiving goals, is also about celebrating successes and motivating your permanent life style changes. What have you put in place as rewards for yourself? Also, try to come up with a list of NSV to measure as goals also. for me, the first huge NSV was not needing a seat belt extender on a plane. Take a look at this article and see if it makes some sense for you Reflecting On Victories Throughout My Lap Band Journey.

You are being ever so normal. Some people get excited and do not get frightened, others get excited and wonder if they can "follow the rules". So don't worry about being worried. Doesn't that sound nuts? I made it through my surgery, and the past 6 years, following rules, making mistakes, but I chose to have the surgery, just like you are, and was able to successfully get my weight off. You may find some comfort in my surgery day story which you can find at Sandis Surgery Day Story - May 28, 2004

Welcome Cat lady: You are right. This is something you need to do for you. That's how I thought about it 6 years ago. I am now almost 62 and in better health than I have been in probably 30 years! I have muscles in places I didn't even know I had. while I didn't get heparin shots when I had lap band surgery, I did have shots of blood thinner for a week after each of my 2 plastic surgeries. I had a history oif blood clots so this is what my plastic surgeon recommended. I find that the best thing for me is to follow my doctor's instructions. Since you are just starting out, in addition to this board being a great place to meet people you may find some useful information on my blog which you can find at http://www.sandidbandedliving.com Let me know if it helps, and this is a journey that I have never regretted!

Hi Caity- I live in Ventura and have been banded for 6 years and have lost 250 pounds. I'd be more than happy to offer any help and encouragement that I can. You may want to check out my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Perhaps you can find some words of encouragement there. Send me a PM or an email with any questions, comments, etc.

It's not at all unusual for you to start getting hungry right about now so don't worry. Make sure you are getting enough Protein and enough fluids in addition to your mushy meals and see if you can move up your doctor's appointment if you are still pretty hungry. You may find some useful information on my blog atSandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story or you can email me and i'd be glad to share my experience with you and offer any support that I can. You're doing great!:biggrin:

You guys are all the greatest! It is so gratifying to be able to offer some hope and inspiration to all of you who are getting started on this journey, but the biggest reward of all is to see how far we have all been able to come with our bands. We all deserve a GOOD JOB! Thanks for sharing- you made my day. I am happy to share with any of you who would like to contact me via email. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Hi: I am officially 6 years post lap band surgery and maintaining my weight loss. I'd be more than happy to help you "figure things out". You can email me or PM me with your questions.

Two weeks ago I took my grandkids to the beach for the day. This meant I went to the gym at 6 as usual, then into work until 10, then I picked up the kids and took them to the beach. I walked up and down the beach twice, played in the tide pools, had lunch and then back down the beach, and finally home. Somewhere during this process I was sitting in the sun, relaxing for a minute and started to reflect on my life today vs. 6 years ago before I was banded. Just 6 years ago I would have either gone to work or gone with the kids somewhere- not enough energy for both. Four years ago I would have gone to the gym in the morning and probably just taken the kids to the beach. Two years ago I would have gone to the gym, come into work for a bit and taken the kids to the beach. I would have never made it up and down the beach twice. I would have been exhausted by the time we had returned once from the tide pools. This time, approaching my 6th year with a lap band and at 61 years old, I went to the gym, then worked for 2 hours, then took the kids to the beach and walked back and forth on the beach, in out of the surf and the tide pools, up to the restaurant and back, and still had energy to spare. Life is a miracle, my grandkids are blessings, and every day I am grateful for my lap band. If you ‘re early in your journey ,take a moment to think about where you would like to be a year from now. Those who have been on this journey for a while ,take a moment and reflect on what something you are doing today would have been like before you were banded. Let’s share. You can read about this day and many of my days since I was banded in 2004 at my blog atSandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Please let me know if you find it useful.

Just keep your goals in sight and you will get there, You go girl!:tongue2:

Two weeks ago I took my grandkids to the beach for the day. This meant I went to the gym at 6 as usual, then into work until 10, then I picked up the kids and took them to the beach. I walked up and down the beach twice, played in the tide pools, had lunch and then back down the beach, and finally home. Somewhere during this process I was sitting in the sun, relaxing for a minute and started to reflect on my life today vs. 6 years ago before I was banded. Just 6 years ago I would have either gone to work or gone with the kids somewhere- not enough energy for both. Four years ago I would have gone to the gym in the morning and probably just taken the kids to the beach. Two years ago I would have gone to the gym, come into work for a bit and taken the kids to the beach. I would have never made it up and down the beach twice. I would have been exhausted by the time we had returned once from the tide pools. This time, approaching my 6th year with a lap band and at 61 years old, I went to the gym, then worked for 2 hours, then took the kids to the beach and walked back and forth on the beach, in out of the surf and the tide pools, up to the restaurant and back, and still had energy to spare. Life is a miracle, my grandkids are blessings, and every day I am grateful for my lap band. If you ‘re early in your journey ,take a moment to think about where you would like to be a year from now. Those who have been on this journey for a while ,take a moment and reflect on what something you are doing today would have been like before you were banded. Let’s share. You can read about this day and many other days since I was banded in 2004 at my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Please let me know if you find it useful.

So I'm siz years post op, 250 lbs down, 61 years old and in the best shape of my adult life. I'm at the gym 5-7 days a week. I swim laps 4 days, do cardio and weights 2 days and on the 7th day I either bicycle or walk on the beach. When I started my journey I was 424 lbs and exercise for me was getting out of bed in the morning. I just did a blog post about how I got started exercising - you can read it if you like at Use It To Lose It! and realized that I really didn't know how to get started exercising and there may be many more like me out there. I thought I could use this forum for all of us who currently have some sort of exercise regimen to let those who don't, or those who want to, or those who are interested, or those who may want to change it up know what they are doing and how they got started so- How do you get your exercise? When did you start? (how soon after banding) How did you start? I started by just walking around more in stores, etc. Then I took up swimming laps, starting at 300 lbs and swimming for 5 minutes 3 x per week, working it up to 1 hour per day. How about you?

You are doing awesome! I'm glad I could give you some encouragement. I have been needing to follow my own advice since I've been having some knee issues. I dialed back a bit and it's tolerable, but I did make an appointment with an orthopedist next week. I'm hoping there is a fix without surgery. ughhhh...keep your fingers crossed

Hi Carol: I'll be more than happy to mentor you and help in any way I can. You can PM or email me directly. You may get some answers to your questions and concerns on my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story I think it's great that you are going to a support group before surgery. You are on the right track for learning and that is what it is all about. choosing and learning a new way of life.

I have lost 100 pounds on my own too many times to count...but this time, with the band, I've lost 250 pounds and kept it off. I am 6 years post op as of 5-28 so I speak with some experience. Being nervous is normal. If you'd like some inspiration maybe you can find it at my blog Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Goo dluck to you as you join the world of Banded Living.

I'd be more than happy to help.

While I don't live in the UK I'd be glad to help any way possible. I am out 6 years and holding my 250 lb weight loss. I blog my journey with lot's of information at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Take a peek and see if you can find some useful information. Or just send me an email or PM with any of your questions. My only regret about having a lap band is that I didn't do it sooner!