***1 YEAR BANDIVERSARY***

[blanham04 38]

So today is my one year bandiversary! I thought I would Celebrate by writing a post on here. First off let me start by saying this has been the best year of my life! I had almost walked out of the surgery because I was scared and didn't want to go through with it, thank goodness I didn’t! As of today I am down 135 lbs and have went from a BMI of 58.2 down to a BMI of 38.4. I still have a long way to go, but wow what a journey! I thought I would share some highlights:

1. I was able to get a new job that I enjoy much more and make at least 25% more pay! Losing weight made me more confident and I am doing really well at my new job!
   

1. I am now wearing clothes that I haven’t worn since high school! Yes, I kept them hoping that someday they would fit again, and guess what some of them are starting to get big on me!
   

1. I love when I catch a glimpse in the mirror and wonder who that person is, because I don’t recognize myself! I also happened to be flipping through some pictures and of a wedding my wife and I recently attended and I saw a guy standing next to her and started getting jealous because she was standing so close to him, then I realized it was me..haha!
   

1. On the Disney cruise that my wife and I took to Celebrate the first 100lbs that I lost I was able to get on the waterslide and not feel ashamed or worried about getting stuck! I also was able to keep up easily on the excursions and do many things I never thought I would before, like mountain biking through the rainforest!
   

1. I only told my family and one close friend, and didn’t even tell them right away. I still don’t feel comfortable with people knowing that I had lapband surgery or how much weight I have lost. The reason I don’t tell people about the surgery is because I feel like people take away from all the hardwork that I have done. I have been working out twice a day now for over 8 months. I earned this weight loss, but all one has to do is look at a story like the new Jersey Govener and all the comments about it to see that people really seem to chastise you if you “take the easy way out” by having weight loss surgery. The only thing that I feel bad about in not disclosing the help that I have gotten from the lapband is that friends of mine who were also overweight may now think that I did this all on my own. I don’t share my weight loss because I am embarrassed by how much I weighed, that I let myself get so bad. I do plan that if someday I hit my goal of 200lbs lost, I will share that! I’m hoping that I’m able to do that by this time next year.
   

Thank you all for reading and being there when I’ve need support. If anyone would like help, or wants to talk about any issue, I feel like I have enough experience that I would be happy to share or help support someone else in their journey. I wanted to leave you with my favorite comment from a college buddy that I ran into recently, he hadn’t seen me in about 2 years. “Wow, you look great, did you Sh%t out another person?” Made my day!!

[TheDuchess 106]

Haha this is awesome!

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

You've done amazing! Thanks for sharing your story!!

[Creekwood 702]

Great job! I hope to one day do as well as you have! Thanks for sharing your story!

[kazjim98 618]

Fantastic job!! I have no doubt you will reach your goal, you've done amazing so far...congrats!!

[Ewmclaug213 20]

This is a fantastic accomplishment. I am 8 days in and feeling more excited then ever. Congratulations!!!

[Singer 81]

Blanham, I was just posting in one of the other forums that I was not having a good day, I had my surgery on Monday and just don't feel good today. I am starting to wonder quality of life, and if I will ever be happy again. Then I read your post, Thank you so much for such uplifting thoughts. You helped me to have hope in this process.

I also know what you mean about not telling anyone. Sadly, my friends have told other friends, and every knows. What they don't know is that I want to loose 100lbs that I gained when I quit smoking. It's a big goal, and hopefully I can make it happen!

Again, thank you for your post.

[pgkpjs 113]

Congratulations! This is truly inspiring.

[hely88 883]

Awesome great NSVs!!!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[kileybug34 173]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[cflick 303]

Wow incredible. ..keep up the great work!

[Bandashoop 31]

Loved the post.

[icebergslim 38]

Love your post! Congratulations!!!

[2muchfun 8,927]

Pictures por favor!