sandi2004

I really understand how hard it is to get going. What sometimes worked for me is to offer myself a "prize" for following through...For example, if I get to the gym to swim for 3 days this week I get a manicure. If I go 4 days next week I get a pedicure. If I make it 5 days the following week I get a facial...or something like that - something that is just for me and is special. do you think that could work for you?

Hi Barbara: My name is Sandi and I had my lap band surgery almost 6 years ago. You can make it through the first period after surgery, I promise. Some people are hungry, but others are not. Every one of us is different and has different reactions to different stages of this journey. Please don't let the people who are struggling scare you off from taking a huge step toward your health. If you would like to read about my journey and how I felt after surgery you can find it on my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story I'd be glad to offer any help that I can as you start your journey. Feel free to send me PM's or email me directly. good luck to you!

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 my past 6 years banded at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Please let me know if you find it useful.

How far have you come? 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 find the story of this day and many others on my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story . Please let me know if you find it useful.

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 my past 6 years with a band at my blog Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Please let me know if you find it useful.

There are many parts to your statement that I would like to reply to.. 1. My BMI was 68 when I had lap abnd surgery and I have done very well 2. Committing to exercise is NOT going to get the weight off- it will take a committment to a lifestyle change- a change in your food choices as well as portion sizes, giving up snacking, not drinking with meals, AND exercise. Please be aware that you are the main component here- not exercise. 3. A band will require you to see your sureon regularly, at least every 4-6 weeks for the first year or two. For me it was for the first 3 years. 4. You have to be ready to be patient with your weight loss since it will be slower than with bypass. I chose the band because I felt I could and would (and thank heavens did) committ to everything and it was the best choice I ever made. I wanted to make sure you go in with eyes wide open though. If you would like to read some more of my story go to my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let em know what you think. Best of luck to you. all of us high BMI bandsters are here to support you!

Thanks. If you're interested you can read about my journey on my blog atSandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story

Thanks for the kind words - please email any questions, concerns or whatever to me and we'll try to work out the issues together and get you going!

Hi Susi: I'll be glad to offer any help that I can. You can email me directly or send me PM's. First suggestion is for you to start journaling what you eat so you know, really know, what you are pyutting into your body. Second is to set up an appointment with your doctor for a fill if necessary, or a "head adjustment" if that is all that is needed. Third suggestion is to get hooked up with a lap band support group if possible, and, no matter what your schedule is, make it your business to attend at least once a month. whew, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you, You may find osme more interesting ideas that could work for you at my blog Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Looking forward to hearing from you so you can start on the road to great health again. And, by the way, Celebrate the pounds you have lost and the fact that you are now doing something about continuing the process and learning to use your tool again.

You have a band- you can always learn how to work the tool and have success. You are making the right moves now and should have a plan for your eating, and a backup plan so you can get back on track. I would be glad to offer any help that I can to you. You may find my story of how I got back on track after the holidays helpful to start. You can find it at Maintaining: December 26, 2009 or Making It Through My 6th year of Holidays After Lap Band® Surgery Let me know how I can help.

Hi: My BMI was over 68 when I went in and consulted with the doctor for the first time. He thought that a gastric bypass might be the better choice for me, but he supported my decision to have the lap band, and now that I have lost 250 lbs and am maintaining that loss for 4 years he has done many more bands on patients with high BMI's and he is secure in the fact that if we choose to make lifestyle changes we can get our weight loss with the band. Check out my journey at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story and see what it was like.

Hi Meg: First of all you are doing great! Quit looking for ways to minimize your accomplishment so far and celebrate every pound you have lost. It is not unusual to stall for a little bit (maybe a week or so) as you introduce food back to your body. As long as you are following the eating plan you were given by your doctor (are you journaling?) and getting all of your fluids the weight will start coming off again. I hit a plateau for about a week at about the same time in my journey and guess what? aweek later I had lost 7 pounds. I hadn't changed a thing, but my body obviously had caught up with itself. Regarding exercise, with your knee issues you have to take it slowly. don't try treadmill or elliptical or any major walking yet. Please read my blog entry about how I started exercising (remember my start weight was 424 lbs) at Use It To Lose It! and take it easy, and don't set your exercise goals too high for yourself. We all want to lose the weight as quickly as possible, but remember that slow and steady wins the race.:thumbup:

You can do it! I'll be happy to help.

I'm here to help - also take a look at my blog- it may help too- you can find it at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let me know

Hi cindy: Have you figured it out yet? If not, feel free to email me directly.

Good luck to all of you. You are taking a giant step toward improving your health and your lives.

Just goes to show you that all of us "old dogs" can learn new tricks and reclaim our lives! Congratulations and keep on sharing.

Susi, you can do it one step at a time. Have you thought about going in to the shallow end of the pool and just walking back and forth in the shallow end? Your joints are pretty much supported by the water that way and you can progress as slowly (5 minutes ata time) or as quickly as you feel comfortable. Just one day at a time, 1 step at a time. I know it seems you cannever get there, but take it from one who knows, if you are determined, you can and you will! Good luck. Stay in touch. I'm here to ffer as much help as I am able for you.:thumbup:

You are doing great and provide inspiration for others, so stay connected here. Please go out and check my blog for some interesting and potentially useful information at tttp://www.sandisbandedliving.com

I'm here to help! I need a little more information- send me a PM or an email. Also, you may find some useful information on my blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let me know. Sandi

Julie: I basically agree with you. don't count on the exercise. Once you have portion control down- calories in reduced enough that you are losing weight, then exercise becomes of multiple benefits for you. First of all it helps to boost your weight loss since you are burning calories, then it helps you to continue and to maintain your weight loss since muscle burns more calories than fat just sitting still, it conditions your cardio vascular systme resulting in better health and it creates all of those feel good endorphines to keep you coming back for more. BUT, the weight l,oss and learning to eat the right foods in the right proportions is primary.

So I'm six 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? __________________

Hey Julie: Thanks so much for sharing. Yopu are incredible. Please stay in touch - either on LBT or by email and let me know how you're doing.

The best idea that worked fo rme was t start journaling everything I ate again so i could see where I might be able to cut out a few calories at the same time that I increased the frequency and/or intensity of my exercise. The 2 together give you a good kick in the butt...

Hi there: I'm almost 6 years out so pretty much have been there, done that- including being terified, sure I would fail yet again, and wondering if I was doing the right thing, especially since I was self pay also. All of those fears are GONE! I know I did the best thing for myself and now, 250 lbs lighter, my biggest fear is that I will gain it all back overnight. Unrealistic? You et, since I am maintaining for 4 years, but that is what my fear is now. It's art of the body image thing and the incredulity with which I still view my journey over the past 6 years. If you would like to see some of the things I did to prepare, how I dealth with surgery and recovery and weight loss you can read my blog atSandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let meknow if you find some useful information there. Good luck on your journey!!!!!:confused: