Dakota1984

June 7th, 2007 was the day that I was banded. I weighed 286 pounds. Over the course of the next 18 months I made it all the way down to 206 pounds. Then my band slipped and I had to have corrective surgery and it scared me to pieces. Long story short.... the weight came back. Dang. Today I weighed 258.8 pounds. My goal weight is 186 pounds. This blog is going to be my daily record of what I am eating, how I am exercising and a documentation of the emotional journey that I am taking. I have heard it said that if I can lose it the second time I will never gain it back again. I don't know if that is true but I am willing to do it one more time.... on the thought of being healthy and athletic. Talk to you all tomorrow... Blessings, Michelle

Hello June 07 Bandsters, I don't know about everyone else but I have stalled out a little the past couple of months and am looking to kick my motivation back into gear. Hopefully you all will join me in getting ready to make 2009 the best year of our lives. My goal is to be under 200 pounds by January 1, 2009. Only a few pounds to go to get there but it will take some serious effort. Lets start sharing our ideas, our frustrations and our victories! We have come this far and I am really excited about what comes next. Compared to where I was before my band I feel so much healthier, so much younger and in general so much more alive. But I want more .... eventually I want to get to my ultimate goal weight of 154 pounds. My gut feeling is that most of you are wanting more out of your lives too. So I challenge you to join me in jump starting the goals we set in June of 2007. You all remember how this works. Just copy and paste to update your information and we will keep a running total. Name........Challenge start wgt.......current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Dakota1984....... 211......................211......................199................12 Good Luck, Michelle

I managed to keep it a secret for 15 months. Two very close friends were the only ones who knew, the girl who drove me home from the clinic and my best friend since childhood. Two and a half weeks ago my band slipped and I had to have emergency surgery. Now everyone knows including my mother, brother, children, friends and acquaintences. C'est le vie.

Hi Rhonda, Welcome! I know we are all ready to get back on the "band"wagon. So far I think we are all setting very realistic goals. Good Luck! Michelle

Hey Suzzzie, Glad to have you. It has been a good week - at least I haven't gained. I am going to start exercising tomorrow. Just walking for the time being, unfortunately I had surgery two weeks ago so heavy exercise is still a month away. Thanks, Michelle

I lost about 14 pounds from my all time high when the first photo was taken before my surgery. That means I am 91 pounds from my all time high and 77 pounds since surgery.

Hi Flygirl, I am also a patient of Dr. Smith and live in Pueblo. I was banded 6/7/07. I would love to chat. Michelle

Hi Everybody, I am a June bandster and would like to join you all here. I have fiddled around and lost about 40 pounds since my surgery in June. The past month I just haven't paid as much attention as I did in the early stages and now I would like to get serious about dropping another 20 pounds by the end of the year. I would like to have an average loss of 10 pounds per month so I need to kick it up a notch. If you would like to join me in this challenge just copy and paste and we will keep a running total. Name........Challenge start wgt.......current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Dakota1984....... 246......................246......................226................20 Best of Luck, Michelle

I had a lot of shoulder pain starting at about 6 weeks post op. It would radiate from my shoulder down to my port area. Usually taking OTC meds and laying down would make it go away relatively quickly. My doc even ordered a CT Scan to make sure that I wasn't suffering from a blood clot. After awhile they pain lessened and now (six months post op) I very rarely suffer any pain at all. Have hope!!! Michelle

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was able to limit myself to one small plate of food - which was so good BTW. Stayed away from the bread and only had one very small piece of pumpkin cheesecake. All in all a pretty successful day - especially compared to how much I was able to pack away last year. Name ..... start wgt .... current wgt ...goal .... To go Dakota1984 ..... 246 ....... 242 ....... 234 ..... 8 MJSafari ....... 237 ....... 237 ....... 227 ..... 10 Wombat712 ...... 162 ....... 162 ....... 150 ..... 12 SueMagoo ....... 243 ....... 243 ....... 230 ..... 13 Missrhondalynn.. 255 ....... 255 ....... 235 ..... 20 MM ............. 211 ....... 211 ....... 199 ..... 12 BeckieT ........ 248.8 ..... 248.8 ..... 240 ..... 8.8 Suzzzie. ....... 312.1 ..... 312.1 ..... 299 ..... 13.1 HUNTERSMOM...... 170 ....... 170 ....... 165 ..... 5 LULUC .......... 182 ....... 182 ....... 170 ..... 12 SWEETY ......... 188 ....... 188 ....... 180 ..... 8 Joeygirl........ 226 ....... 226 ........220.......6

Good Morning All, I would like to wish you all a Thanksgiving full of blessings and joy. Michelle

Name........Challenge start wgt.......current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Dakota1984....... 246......................246...................... 234................12 MJSafari............237.......................237. .....................227................10 Wombat712.........162.......................162... .....................150.................12 SueMagoo............243.......................243. ......................230................13 Missrhondalynn 255.....................255....................... ..235................20 MM.........................213.4.................. .213.4......................203..............10.4 BeckieT................248.8..................248. 8.......................240..............8.8 Okay - I took a reality pill this morning and adjusted my goal down from 20 to 12. I would really like to get my average back to 10 pounds per month but realize I probably shouldn't try to do it all in one month. I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. Michelle

I am really excited about this holiday season, from the standpoint that I won't be able to gorge myself the way I used to everytime I sit down at the table. Has anyone else noticed how the "bad" food tends to go down much easier than the "good" food? For instance I can literally inhale Reeces cups but have to chew a piece of broasted chicken forever and then can still only eat about 1/3 of my meal before I feel like if I eat another bite it will be coming back up. Name........Challenge start wgt.......current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Dakota1984....... 246......................243...................... 226................17 MJSafari............237.......................237. .....................227................10 Wombat712.........162.......................162... .....................150.................12

I am so looking forward to size 16. I haven't been there since 1994. I have a family wedding to attend on December 8th and I would sure like to show up and surprise everyone. BTW - I read your blog. Very good! I keep thinking I would like to do one, but I don't know if 1) anyone would care to read the thing and 2) if I have enough of a life to warrant one. haha Michelle

Hi Colorado Bandsters! Jsoto, Jtag and Plentsweet - welcome to our lap-band world. When I finally made the decision to go ahead with the lap-band I talked and met with several people who had it done (including Connie from this thread). They all told me it was definately something the would do over again. I have to agree this is one of the better decisions I have ever made. I feel and look so much better already and I am only a little over 3 months out. Staceylca- I am not sure where Whitewater is. I would highly recommend Dr. James Smith here in Pueblo. BTW - Welcome to Colorado. bGrand - Hang in there girl. Keep working with your Doctor until you find your "sweet spot". It will happen if you don't give up. Trish and Connie - how are you girls doing? I haven't heard from you all in quite a while. Connie how about lunch next week or the week after? Trish - let us know when you come up again and we'll get together. About me - I had my hysterectomy on Sept 10 and am feeling great. I am ready to start exercising again, but other than walking I can't do much for four more weeks. I went shopping yesterday - I am in an 18/20 for the first time in years! Yahoo!!!! Ya'll hang in there! Keep lifting each other up! Michelle

When I first started discussing the idea of the lap-band with my husband, he was a bit reserved about the idea. Not from the standpoint of him wanting me to lose weight, but because of the dangers involved with the surgery. He had a friend who had his stomach stapled in the late 70's and died within a couple of years. He always thought the surgery and death were related. (I have absolutely no idea if they were or not). The great part was he was willing to go through the material I had gathered to research the lap-band and he spent a lot of time of this website and eventually became very supportive of the idea. He had watched me battle my weight for 16 years of marriage and I truly believe that when he said he wanted me to lose the weight for my health he meant it. He always said that he thought I was beautiful. The craziness of it was that I had a hard time believing him. As with most of us and our weight - it is a matter of our heart (spiritual well being). I really didn't love myself - so why should he. We had initially scheduled surgery for Feb. 26, 2007 with Dr. Ortiz in Tijiuana. My sweet husband was killed in a car accident in early Feb. Another driver crossed over the center line and he was killed instantly. Obviously - I immediately cancelled the surgery. I couldn't begin to deal with anything more than I already was dealing with. Several months afterward I began to realize that my husband would still want me to be healthy. I have an adult disabled daughter to care for and I knew I needed to be around for her as long as possible. So - on June 8th I had the lap-band with a local Dr. here in Colorado. Today I weigh 46 pounds less than I did the day of my husbands accident. I lost around 14 pounds presurgery and have lost 32 pounds since surgery. I am not losing weight for any other reason than I want to be healthy, active and I want to live every single minute of the rest of my life with enthusiasm. The main thing that has changed about me isn't my weight, however. What has changed is that I do believe my husband now, I am beautiful and I was extrodinarliy blessed to have had him for the years that I did. So - I said all that to say this girls. When your man says he loves you and he finds you beautiful. Give him a break and believe him. Michelle

Hello Colorful Colorado Lap Banders! Connie, Gosh - sounds like you have had the summer from he**! It is hard to believe that summer is almost over already. I would love to have lunch with you one of these days. I think it may have to be after Labor Day but we will figure something out. My hysterectomy is scheduled for Sept 10. Really not looking forward to that at all. My doc keeps telling me that I don't even realize that I feel bad and that I will feel so much better after the surgery. We'll see. She loves that I got the Lap Band and am losing weight. I joined Weight Watchers a couple of weeks ago with a friend who needed an accountability partner. I have been counting points and what not but the main attraction is just journaling what I am eating and trying to figure out why I make such horrible food choices. I am still losing weight but I still know that I need to make more life changes especially about my feelings towards food. The best news of the week however is that I went out and bought a pair of size 20 jeans last night. Yeah! I started out in size 24. Trish - How goes everything with you? We haven't heard from you in awhile. Are you doing okay? Well -- hope you all have a great weekend! Michelle

Hi all, I am just starting this journey. Due to the fact that I don't have health insurance the logical choice seems to be to find a Dr. and hospital in Mexico. I have heard some great things about Dr. Ariel Ortiz and his staff, but am open to any other recommendations or suggestions.:help:

Hi Trish, Congrats on your hard won 5 lbs. It has been 2 months and 3 days since my banding and I am down 18 lbs. Sometimes when I look around this site and see people that have lost 40+ pounds in the same amount of time I get a little discouraged. Then I have to take a realistic look at myself and ask myself when was the last time I ever lost 18 pounds in two months. I think you are doing great and I applaud you for "getting back into the game". Hang in there. BTW - no stuffy nose here. I just have to remind myself to slow down. My portions aren't bad but I have a terrible habit of wolfing down food - stuck city. I do not like the PBing, sliming and all that. Yuck and painful.

Hi Everybody, I was banded on June 8th. I had my third fill on Monday and am down 16 pounds, but to tell you the truth that really doesn't feel like enough for two months out. The only area that I haven't really been consistent in is exercise so I would love to join your challange. Put me down for 1000 minutes. Michelle

Hi everybody, Boy this site has sure been quiet this week. Hope you all are doing great! I am down a little more. 16 pounds and counting. August 8th will be my two month banding anniversary. I was hoping for a lot more than 16 pounds at this point, but I am not really complaining. If I lose 8 pounds a month for the next year that is 96 pounds. 96 pounds ain't nothing to sneeze at. Have a great weekend. Michelle

Hi Everybody, Nikki - welcome to the site. You have done an amazing job so far. It's when I look at folks like you and Connie that have made this thing work that I have real hope. Trish - I am so glad you went back. The whole restriction thing seems to be the "magic" of the lap band. The funny thing for me is that the bad food ie. Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, Lays Potato Chips go down with no problem no matter how restricted I am. I have come to have more heart knowledge about the lapband being a tool not a cure all. Connie - How was Montana? I lived there for years and if not for my daughter I would most likely be back up there all ready. Oklahoma was great - I did some things I haven't done in years and some things I have never done before. It was awesome. I jumped off of a 15 ft high rock into the Illinois River with my neices and nephews. Too Cool. I had my 2nd fill on the 16th. I do have a little more restriction. I have learned to really hate PB'ing so I try to avoid that at all costs. Last night I thought I would die, had a little too much roast beef and it wouldn't come up or go down for almost an hour. Won't do that again. Take care, Michelle

Hey Connie, I basically called and kinda begged for a fill. The band he gave me is the largest they make and I mean I had no resitriction. It is much better now. I can definately feel the restriction and I am not nearly so hungry. Good luck in Montana - it is one of my favorite places on earth. I am leaving Saturday for Oklahoma - maybe I will melt a little more!!! I'll be back after the 16th maybe we can get together then. Michelle

Hi Everybody, Just thought I would update everyone on my progress. I have lost about 5 pounds so far. Not as much as I had hoped for but definately beats the other direction. Dr. Smith said he went in with a much larger band. He has found that the biggest problem he has seen is with patients being too restricted with the smaller bands, and that with the bigger one that shouldn't be a problem. Well gotta tell you - I am sure not having a problem with restriction. In fact I can absolutely eat anything I want to - scares me to pieces. I called and asked to have my first fill date moved from July 16 to today. Thankfully they agreed. I really want to have some kind of restriction - if for no other reason than to psychologically convince me I can't eat some of the things I want to. Other than that all is well. The incisions are healing nicely. Dr. Smith seems to have done a great job leaving minimal scarring. Take care, Michelle