tarajim

WOW, good ones.... mine.. No Seat belt extender on planes, noticing the distance to the steering wheel in the car, way better sex...

WOW, good ones.... mine.. No Seat belt extender on planes, noticing the distance to the steering wheel in the car, way better sex...

I traveled to Hawaii, Atlanta and Florida over the last 6 weeks and LOST 4 lbs. Swam with Sea Turtles, walked on beaches, ate healthy.... We can all do this!!

You just might not need the CPAP anymore. I threw mine away 4 years ago.... Sometime have dry mouth but rarely snore... Just another NSV!

I am 4 years banded. I am down 102 lbs. I started at over 385, lost 20 before surgery and now weigh 283. My goal is somewhere below 240. My BMI now is only obese, not morbid obese. After surgery I went from 365 to 290 then back to 353. This year, I committed to following the rules and lost 70 lbs. My secret, eat real food. I usually start my day with Unjury protein shake with a banana in it and Chocolate Silk soy milk. Lunch is usually what my wife makes. Salads, meat and cheese, sometimes leftovers. We do Water Zumba at the gym. Dinner is meat, vegetables, salad, sometimes potatoes or bread. All made from the outside aisles of the grocery store. Way off the carbs. Way off the sweets. When we eat out (we travel a lot) we ALWAYS split everything. Never order 2 entrees. Little soda, never diet soda. Alcohol is allowed. This is how normal people live. I now feel normal. I spent the last 6 weeks in Hawaii, Atlanta and Florida and most days in swimsuits. This is how normal people live. Really, while I still want to loose 40 or so pounds, I feel normal. It has taken 56 years, but I am Happy!

I love the pants comment. I love to wear Levi's 501 Button Fly jeans. Used to wear them in size 54, (did you know Levi doesn't print the size on the leather patch until you get to 44) now wear them in 44 after 100lb loss. Looking forward to someday wearing them in 38's!!

New Bandsters, Yea, it is a scary time. Changes you need to make totally make it a NEW life you are moving into. Balance the good with the bad. For the next few months, you will be fighting banster hell. This is where you will feel hungry. You will fight with your head hunger. You will (or should) be working out harder than you have ever done and it will sometimes make you sore. You will have to stop pigging out, gorging, or eating crappy high carb, or high calorie, or high sugar foods. You probably will have to research everything you eat and write it down and count the Proteins and calories. You will have to learn to like Protein shakes, fruits, vegetables, and meat/fish/chicken etc. BUT..... You will lose weight faster than you ever have if you do the right things. Your clothes will fit better. You will come off of High Blood Pressure meds, Diabetic meds, stop needing a CPAP machine to sleep. You will have more energy and be more alert from coming off a carb addiction and having less weight on your body. You will notice a ton of small successes. You will fit into small cars and airplanes. You will be able to go to amusement parks and ride the rides. You will be able to play with your kids. You will enjoy better sex. You will have fun and people will notice your changes. This will make you feel good and give you positive attention. In a few months, after 3 or 4 fills, you will feel the restriction. You also will notice and need food less. You will not have any problem not drinking with meals. YOU WILL get stuck sometime. It happens. It really doesn't hurt and really teaches you something. You have made a wonderful choice with your life. You have spent time and money to make your life better. Fear is normal, success takes work. Have both. Congratulations on making a GREAT choice for YOU. TJ

I was banded Nov 23rd. So far, I've lost 76 pound, had 3 fills and think I am at the sweet spot. I am traveling this week and have had 3 PD/Slimes while out traveling. Usually eat too fast, or too big a piece. Work out at least 3.1 miles on the Eliptical, 5 to 6 times a week when home, and when I can on the road. Lost 10 Inches in Pants size and am only 4 inches away of being able to buy all the hot Levi's at the Levi store. But I am shopping at Target now, and wear XL shirts, not 2 and 3 XL. Pretty happy!!! TJ

Sorry Leigha I want to eventually say I "ONLY" lost 145 pounds. Don't take that pleasure away from me!!! Just kiddin TJ

You go Leigha!!! I feel the same way about Doctors. They are technicians. Not gods... And remember that 50% of them graduated in the bottom half of their class! Today, information is so readily available on the internet that most intelligent people can have access to a tremendous amount of information about their specific concern. Remember, a Doctor usually has to deal with 20 to 30 patients a day and deal with all their issues, You only have to deal with your issues and can spend all day researching. I believe this makes you an equal partner in your health care decisions. You also pay the bills. Would you allow a decorator to do whatever they wanted to your house, or a chef to send you whatever food they though you should have? Of course not, you pay the bills, you get final say. That said, you cannot install your own Lap-band. For that, you need a technician. And a hospital with the right equipment. So you pay for that. Advice and guidance? YOu are as much a part of it as the Doctor, as you have to live your body, he or she only sees you once every 6 weeks or so. I really try to use common sense and research over adhering to strict Doctor instructions. Fortunately, my Surgeon is rather pragmatic like I am, and we click. I was only on Liquids a week, mushies a week and then I eat whatever I want. He is happy with my 3.2 pounds a week weight loss, and I am happy he is not a dictator!!! This board is a wealth of information, and most likely a lot of doctors do not have all the knowledge contained in the experiences of all the successful bansters here on the board. Listen to you Doctor, of course. But you are allowed to question and use common sense on your body. It belongs to you. Not them. Good luck to all of you!!! TJ

I love NSV's My list: 1. Pants 10 inches smaller in the waist, 54 to 44 Levi 501 button fly!! 2. No seat belt extender on airplanes 3. Not the biggest person in the room 4. Fit comfortably in the seat at an arena Hockey game 5. XL shirts vs 3 XL shirts 6. Briefs feel good, instead of baggy boxers. 7. Watch is real loose 8. Sit a long way back from the steering wheel and can now drive holding the bottom of the wheel. 9. Able to climb a ladder without worrying it will collapse. 10. Punching holes in my belt to keep it fitting. Added 5 holes to my favorit belt. Tons more but those are my favorites... TJ