sandi2004

Sounds like that's why we are all here and if we count on each other and reach out to each other we will all be successful on our journey of Banded Living..I am currently on vacation, and even over 5 years after being banded I still have Wow moments- I can just open the closet at a hotel and put on the robe that's been left inside and IT FITS! Find silly little things that are in fact huge achievements and encourage yourself with them. Email, call, write, just stay in touch with supportive people and it will help. go to support group if there is one you can get to. I still attend, and I still elarn things. I figure it took me 56 years to get to 424 pounds, 28 months to get down to 175 and now the rest of my life to stay there!

I'm glad you are making an appointment with a therapist. That's a great step to take, and certainly tells me that you are serious about getting a hnadle on this weight issue. You are not "needy" just because you're asking for support. This weight thing is something most of us have been fighting with all of our lives, and if we could do it by ourselves we certainly would have by now! You are SMART for reaching out for help. I'd be more than happy to offer any support and encouragement that I could. I know how hard this journey is- I made it, and almost 6 years later I am still on it. It is a struggle every day. Just because I hit a somewhat normal weight does't mean I don't have to think about what I eat, how often I exercise and make important choices about this daily. And, sometimes, I don't make the best choice for me. However, what I have learned to do, is not give up, but rather say something ot myself like" what's done is done- your next choice will be better" and then plan carefully for the next meals. If it's really difficult to be making those good choices I start back at square one- eating dense Protein, and vegetables and writing down everything I eat and drink. Boy, that really helps me be accountable to myself. And then, I reach out to my buddy/mentor and am accountable to her as well as myself. all this helps me. If you would like to try and write down everything you eat and email it to me daily for a week and see if that helps you "kick start" a rebooting effort I'll be glad to receieve your emails. Another thing, while you're writing down everythin, include your feelings. That sometimes helps you pinpoint what is going on whenyou look back at it. You may find some useful information on my blog, or on my buddy/mentor's blog...If you like, take a look at: Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Let me know if it was helpful, and stay in touch.

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. 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 at: http://www.sandisbandedliving.com I write about my journey from day one of exploring (looking into this miracle they call gastric banding surgery), through surgery, transforming (my weight loss journey) to today, maintaining a 250 pound weight loss and living my new life. Each and every day provides an amazing gift. I am passionate about sharing those gifts with all who will listen.

You are doing the right thing by reaching out. If we could do it with diet and exercise we would have! I'm here for you. You have reasonable goals and with lifestyle changes and support you will achieve them- surgery is a bit scary- can I suggest you take a look at my blog so you can see what I felt like before surgery and download the "7things I wish I knew before having lapband surgery" for some tips and tools to use- here is a summary of the 7 things: · Number 1 · With a band, everything we have always known about how to lose weight finally works. · Number 2 · Finding the right surgeon is even more important than I realized. · Number 3 · Don’t underestimate the adjustable nature of the band. · Number 4 · You can eat a wide variety of the foods you love with a band. · Number 5 · This life-changing decision really impacts spouses, partners, and those close to you. · Number 6 Learn from others who have bands and who have been successful and finally Number 7 If you do decide to have a band, prepare for surgery You can find the blog at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Good luck!

Just so all of you know what "normal" is for me after just short of six years - I just got back from a week's vacation and each and every day at this all inclusive resort I had to make choices - breakfast from the buffett- donuts, sweet rolls, eggs, bacon, fruit juice, smoothies, granola, hot chocolate, all of the above, none of the above- the same for lunch, the same for dinner- too much food, ll the liquor I could drink, and too many choices. bottom line- IT WAS HARD! I worked every meal at making good healthful, but tasty choices and left the table after each meal satisfied. I did have a glass or two of wine with dinner, but kept breakfasts to egg white omlettes to balance, and, because it is almost sacriligious not to, I did have one frozen rum drink - I hated it, too sweet! It is interesting to me, that as my daily choices become more and more part of my life, I can avoid some (notice some- not all) of what would have previously been weak points for me. Moral of the story - it is all doable! We cn enjoy food without eating everything in sight and maintain a normal weight!

OK - you ask a whole bunch of loaded questions. First and foremost, everyone is different. There is no formula for how much the excess skin that you have removed is going to weigh. I lost 236 lbs, was weight stable for about a year before I had surgery, my weight kept redistributing itself and I kept changing my mind about PS (I was chicken) and when I finally had my LBL (which was a circumferential lift and does not really include legs- just a little outer thigh work) done my surgeon removed 14 pounds of excess tissue. My friend who lost about 80+ lbs had about 9 lbs of excess tissue removed. So, as you see, no formula. Your best bet si to have your first PS consult after you have held your weight stable for about 6 months, no less. It is critical to wait that 6 month period once you have achieved weight stability. If you want to learn more about the process I went through go to my blog post at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story or just ask me directly.

Great resource. Thanks for sharing ! Sandi

Now we are starting to make some progress! Go find a gym that is not intimadating to go to. I avoided them for quite a while for that reason, but then I found a club that caters to families so it didn't seem like everyone was there to pick up their next date....but that's another whole story...I know gettinhg exercise in the winter in KC is tough, but I think you see that you have not been working the"tool" to the best advantage and the way to get great results is for you to do great work.. Get back to me with the food journal....and anything else. Sandi

OK- all of you- this is for anyone who has lost any weight at all with a band- CELEBRATE! Every pound you lose is important, and is success so revel in your success. Don't worry about what you haven't lost. Concentrate on what you did right to lose what you did, and repeat the behaviors- they are what works and you must have done something right to lose???? Keep working the positive angle and doing what works and you can keep losing weight. Raise your glasses of Water in a toast to all of our success, past, present and future! Here, here! We can do it!

So have you looked at what you have done differently that created the weight gain? I'd love to help, but it's you that needs to make the choices and the changes. Or, could you possibly need a fill? Are you eating around the band? A little more information would really be great so I can help you help yourself through this. OK?

Once a month is about all you will find. And no- it is not your age that is holding on to the weight. Like I said- back to basics- spend a week writing down everything you eat and drink- follow th ebasic rules of the band and then send me an email and we'll take a look at it together to see if I have any ideas. it's really important to go back to step one- no drinking with meals, protein first, no snacks or high fiber/high protein/low calorie snacks- start working the band again. You can only get out of it what you np[ut into it. What do you do for exercise? Lots of things we can cover to help you get back ont rack and I would really like to help you succeed. Think you can write down everything (including everything you drink) for a week?

So you lost 40 pounds and are ready to kick start some more weight loss? I'll be all the support I can and help you along the way. OK- I know moving cuts into your outside support, but see if there is a lapband support group anywhere around you? (BTW- where is that?) And go back to basics- take a look at my blog (especially the maintaining post about after the holidays 2009 - written 12/26/09) - You can find it at : Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story If you think it will be useful, I post at least opnce a week and have alot more to put up there. I just started it the beginning of this month. Sign up for the updates- leave your name and email address on the right side of the page where it asks for it. Let me know what you think of it, and let's talk about you getting back to basics..

It will be soon enough!

Hi all: I am 5+ years post-op lapband and have had some "work" done after losing 250 pounds. I am extremely happy with my plastic surgery results. I spent alot of time researching and visiting doctors and thought some of you might be interested in just how this process went for me. Take a look at this week's blog entry about my first experience with a plastic surgeon after losing all of my weight. You can find it at: http://sandisbandedliving.com/maintaining-003-lap-band%C2%AE-support-group-has-plastic-surgeon-as-speaker/ Please let me know what you think.

OK- so you had your surgery day...Now let us all know how you're doing. Welcome to our world and the first day of the rest of your life! Sandi

Even though I'm twice your age I use my blackberry, Yahoo IM and am on line allmost 24/7...and I'm a successful bandster with almost 6 years of experience. I'd be glad to help! Sandi

I had my last fill about 6 months ago. I still have "room" in my band if I need more fills. Things change...If you go to Tiajuana you will need to find a doc in the US to do fills, so you may want to research that cost before your final decision. Shoot me an email or pM and I will cover some of the details with you. The only problem I have with throwing up is when I eat too fast, too big a bite and do not chew, or overeat past feeling full. All in my control, all preventabel. don't know why your mom has acid refulx so bad or throws up so much but she should see her doctor. I hope you went on to my blog to sign up to receieve the ". 7 tips we wish we knew before having Lapband surgery" This will answer some of your questions- you can find it at: Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Be usre to look over to the right and sign up for the 7 tips..

Hi- You are having surgery as I write this. i tried to post last night but the site was down. You will do just find. The post-op pain is minimal, you will make it through okay. If you read this during the first week after surgery I promise next week you will not even remember the inital post op discomfort. Your port area may be a little sore for a while- that's typical. As to whether or not you'll lose weight- i bet you do! It is not unusual to doubt yourself, after all we've tried so many times before with no luck. But this time, with some effort from you along with the tool you can do it! Please see the tips my friend and asociate Gloria and I developed to give back to the banding community: The 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Lap-Band® Surgery. Here are some of the things you will discover in this interview: 1. With a band, everything we have always known about how to lose weight finally works. 2. Finding the right surgeon is even more important than I realized. 3. Don't underestimate the adjustable nature of the band. 4. You can eat a wide variety of the foods you love with a band. 5. This life-changing decision really impacts spouses, partners, and those close to you. 6. Learn from others who have bands and who have been successful. 7. If you do decide to have a band, prepare for surgery. You can find the "expanded version" at my blog : Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story There is also alot of other informastion there- it is my journey over the past 6 years. Stay in touch by email or PM and I will be there to offer my support.

Hi Lynette: I'm Sandi and I was banded almost 6 years ago and am maintaining a 250 pound weight loss. I'd be more than happy to "listen" as you go through th eprocess. How exciting for you and your daughter to begin this journey together. What a mentor you can be for your daughter! As she watches you "follow the rules of the band" she will want to continue, and as you watch her achieve some success with weight loss you will want to continue to "follow the rules" for yourself, and for her. What great goals you two can achieve! I'm excited for you just thinking about it. Please email or PM me with your questions, concerns, feelings as you go through your journey. With over 5 years under my belt (or band) I can at least offer you my experience.

Hey Trish: Welcome to the real world. You have figured out how to eat around the band. Now you have to figure out how to get back on track. For me, that has always been to return to square one - start writing down everything I eat and drink, use ultimate portion control- put only what you want yourself to eat on your plate. Set a timer for 20 - 30 minutes. When it rings, you are done. Get up and walk away. Use dense Protein and fibrous foods to help fill that "cavity" you are trying to fill (which is probably head hunger - you have figured out another way to sabotage your success), but the fact is that once you are "full to the brim" with dense protein (chicken, fish, meat - no sauces ) or fibrous foods (raw celery, carrots, broccoli, etc - no dips) you will physically not be able to eat any more for a period of time. It really sounds like a support group can help you. Is there one close to you? If so, please try to get there. You are welcome to email or PM me for any help at all. You may find some useful information in my blog entry about getting back on track (for me it was after the holidays). You can find it at: Maintaining #001: December 26, 2009 or Making It Through My 6th year of Holidays After Lap Band® Surgery Let me know if it helps and keep reaching out for support and ideas.

I'm here to help. Almost 6 years out and 250 pounds down. I live in CA, have 4 grandkids, 1 daughter and am willing to offer all the support I can. I am so passionate about iving back to the banding community that I started a blog of my journey which may be helpful for you to follow to find insights, tips, hope and general information. My friend and associate Gloria and I prepared an interview of tips we would have ;liked to have as we started the process: The 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Lap-Band® Surgery. Here are some of the things you will discover in this interview: 1. With a band, everything we have always known about how to lose weight finally works. 2. Finding the right surgeon is even more important than I realized. 3. Don't underestimate the adjustable nature of the band. 4. You can eat a wide variety of the foods you love with a band. 5. This life-changing decision really impacts spouses, partners, and those close to you. 6. Learn from others who have bands and who have been successful. 7. If you do decide to have a band, prepare for surgery. You can sign up for the interview at: Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story Please email or PM any other questions you have as they come up for you and be sure to let me know if the interview was helpful.

I'd love to help but I need a little information. When was the last time you saw your doctor? Do you have restriction? Are you drinking with your meals? (this defeats any restriction the band offers). Is there a support group anywhere close to you? I really think you may be able to get some good information from my blog- log on to Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story and poke around- be sure to download the 7 things I wish I knew before having lapband surgery- there's good information in there for you and read my post on getting back on track after the holidays. I will be happy to help you leafrn "the rules of the band", but you probably will need to go see your doctror too. is that possible? You can email me or pm me or reach me on this forum. I'm here to help!

Hi Joe: Welcome back. Please reach out to all of us for any help you need. The gym is a great thing and combined with careful food choices and a band with theproper restriction you can make it all work again. I would go back into the doctor and take a good look at what you are eating so you can tell the doctor you are not eating around your band, but rather really don't have restriction. Stay in touch so you have some frineds to get you back in the swing again. Sandi

There is a llight..keep the faith - if I got my life back, you will too. If thereis any way you can start writing down what you eat and make some minor adjustments in it you will probably be able to lose some weight and help your knees out. I know how hard it is, but I also know how hard it is to not be able to get around. Since you have decided that you want to get banded it will just make everything easier, for you too since you will have started journaling your foods and feelings. I know it's a stressful time for you right now, but if you can try to substitute some of that hi car, hi calorie comfort food with something like apiece of fruit or even a piece of grilled chicken I bet you start dropping pounds. Chair exercises, what a great idea! You are doing everything to get yourself in the right mindset...I'm proud of you. Sandi

It is so great to see all ofyou reach out to Megg and each other. We are truly a unique community that works together to help each other succeed. Way to go guys. You know I'm here for all of you....Larry- spring will come....and a couple of cc's for a first fill is ok- don't worry about the amount- be concerned with how you feel after you finish the portion of food you have put on your plate with each meal- are you still hungry? Not, can I eat more, but AM I HUNGRY? There's a big difference and that difference is hard to learn. You may need another fill to get to your sweet spot- or more, but it is up to you to learn how to eat and use this tool to it's best advantage. You'll get there! Sandi