Just Joined The Site Post Op Lap Band

[Grizzly Bear 3]

Greetings to all,

I am a 43 year old single man living in Staten Island, NY. I had a lap band installed on 8/16/2012 which would have been my grandmother's 101 birthday if she were alive. I chose this date because I felt she would be watching over me. Also, it was exactly 5 months after my first visit with Dr. Marina Kurian of NYU Langone Med. Center in NYC, NY. Also, the number 4 has been prominent in my life and I consider it a lucky number. 8/16/2012 are all multiples of 4.

I was 320 when I went to Dr. Kurian, lost about 10 pounds on the liquid diet to prepare me for the surgery and now I am at 292. My goal is to get al least to 200 pounds if not less. I lost my wife, Tracy, on April 4, 2011 exactly 2 years and two months from our wedding day. In about 8 months I gained 60 pounds from eating and depression after she died. It was the heaviest I have ever been. I decided in February 2012, I decided I wanted to be healthy and decided on weight loss surgery because dieting failed me. I wanted a R n Y Gastric Bypass but my personal physician suggested the lap band because he had one done at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Well, that's enough for now. If there is anything you want to know, feel free to email me or respond to this post. Also, feel free to check out my blog website, www.grizzlybearspeaks.com.

Cordially,

Rob "Grizzly Bear" Bennett

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I am so so sorry for your loss, Rob. My heart goes out to you.

Congratulations on being banded and welcome to the forums!

[Lisa0203 73]

Congratulations on your surgery and the beginning of your new, healthy lifestyle! I'm from Staten Island as well and getting banded next week (10/11/12) with Dr. Ferzli at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn.

[Gigi_Girl 77]

Sorry about your loss. Glad you made the decision to be banded. I think you will find this forum very supportive.

[readytogoforit 172]

Welcome to your new life. I am sorry about your loss but I know that she would want you to live on and be healthy.

the first thing I want to tell you is be a little selfish. take care of you first, everyday. drink lots of water; at least 8 glasses(even more is better), eat your Protein (80 grams), get some exercise. I think one of the reasons we have all been unsuccessful before is that we didn't put ourselves on the top of the list. we deserve to be healthy and look good. we deserve to live a long life, like everyone else. .

I was banded Oct 28,2011. I had been obese for many years. I never want to go back there. I have tried many diets over the years, always going back to my unhealthy ways. I am a new person who cares about the body God gave me now. He gave this responsibility to me and I ignored it for many years. No more, each day is an amazing new life for me now, I exercise, have more stamina, off many of the drugs I had taken for a long time.

this forum has helped me immensely! It is the one place I can vent how I feel & know someone will understand where I am coming from. Come to it often, ask lots of questions, try new things.

I am happy you are on the road to health, you are not going to be disappointed!!!!!

[Grizzly Bear 3]

Thank you all for your kind words. My late wife Tracy is looking out for me and, as crazy as it sounds, she communicates with me. She led me to the weight loss surgery that I had. She used to call me Bear because she said I was like a grizzly bear (though I like black bears better, they're smaller, cuter and smarter; they get into some silly situations). I have a very heavy frame, even my surgeon Dr. Kurian, says I will be able to only get to 200 due to my bone structure and I will be pretty thin and healthy. My goal was 170 which is what the chart says is the upper limit for me to be healthy weight and BMI. But my surgeon said that the chart was made for an average sized person and I am naturally heavy. I only mention this to explain why Tracy called me Bear.

I am 5'8", started out at 320 with a BMI of 47. Now I am 292, with a BMI of 44.4

How do I get one of those tracker thingys that shows your weight and BMI?

[Gigi_Girl 77]

Go to your profile and you should see a Tickers.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

welcome rob

your post touched my heart in so many ways

i am sure you will be under 200 as i am working on that number also

i love this forum and have made some great friends and i get the

extra support i need. it will do that for you.

keep in touch

[Grizzly Bear 3]

welcome rob

your post touched my heart in so many ways

i am sure you will be under 200 as i am working on that number also

i love this forum and have made some great friends and i get the

extra support i need. it will do that for you.

keep in touch

Thank you for your kind words.

[Gigi_Girl 77]

I see you found the tracker.

[♕ajtexas♕ 3,771]

Welcome Rob, your story is touching. I am so sorry for your loss. Now is the time for you and I applauded you for taking care of you. This forum is full of amazing support and love, I wouldn't be as successful as I've been without my LBT friends. And we are here for you. Good luck to you and God bless.

[cathy83 15]

Hello sorry to hear about ur loss my situation is similar lost my mother about a month ago due to obesity and it's complications she was 53..taking care of her it terrifies me..I'm contemplating this surgery not only to longate my life but to have better health. I've lost 52 lbs over the last year with exercise and WW. But still weigh 255 at 5'2 so long journey ahead but hoping if I go thru the surgery it works out for me. If u need someone to talk to I understand hope with each day your mind eases a little because stress and emotion can cause you to sabatoge your efforts. Good luck don't give up and God Bless