November Bandsters!

[Vikki 2]

I have under my message box two boxes to select. Post Quick reply.....or go advanced. Do you have those two?

[Betsyjane 2]

Oh. Duh. Thanks.

[Betsyjane 2]

If I didn't really get it smaller, excuse my...I'll delete and try again.

[Betsyjane 2]

Or at least current.....

[Vikki 2]

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look wonderful!!! Your chin and face are so much different!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone needs to send your pre surgery and current pictures. It is so cool looking at them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Betsyjane 2]

Yeah, and I can even cross my legs! Wonder of wonders.

Thanks.

[Mom of Chuy 0]

Wow - You give me hope. I am to be banded this November (one year behind you) I have a horrible double chin and I am ready for it to be gone.

BTW - I have parrots also - Greenwing, Grey & Caique

Thanks for the pictures.

Bobbi

[Betsyjane 2]

What? I had a double chin? HAHAHA. It's fun to buy necklaces that are normal lengths. A 16" is a tiny bit tight still...... Funny the things you enjoy in this process.

Welcome to the journey.

[marni 0]

I miss you guys! It has been a while since I posted. Just been so darn busy. I was at a standstill for a bit losing and gaining the same 5 lbs.....Now Im on the go again. I can't believe the differences in the pictures before & after! I will take one of me and do the same. There really is a difference in the 50 lbs. It is also reassuring that it seems that we have all lost about the same amount. Around 50lbs. Of course some a little less and some, we wont mention names A LOT more! But for the most part we all got similar results.

How is everyone doing? Everyone just about done with fills? I am I think Im about as filled as I can be. If I eat too fast or drink when i eat, I gurgle! I am still surprised that this process does require a lot of work on my behalf. I expected it to be a little more liek the gastric where you just can't and don't eat. I am confident that eating slowly I could still hold my own at a buffet. So, some days I eat the wrong things but I get back on track! I am truly greatful that I had the surgery and would not have changed that for the world! Here's hoping for another 50 lbs this year!

[L8BloomR 1]

Hi to all the Nov. Bandsters! It has been a long time since I have reported in, also. Wow, the pictures being posted are amazing! Remember all the worry and anxiety we all had just a year ago? An amazing journey, eh? I am down about 45 pounds, as it has taken me a loooong time to get proper restriction. But since I did with my last fill 2 months ago ---wow-wee --- What a difference! Now I have joined the "I love my band" group. I can eat anything-just in small amounts-and have only PB'ed twice (due to my own carelessness.) I am finally losing the hoped-for 1 to 2 pounds a week.

It is so great to see and hear about everyone's progress!! I think next month on our 1-year "anniversary", we should all report in with our weight loss and maybe include an example of what has improved the most in our lives since we began. I know I couldn't have done this without all of you and this board! Congrats, everyone!! :clap2:

[prbrooksie 1]

Hi everyone. I too haven't been in a long long time. I do want to mention something. I have had two pneumonia's since August. I got home today after my second x-ray and found out I have it again. I started looking around on the internet for reasons. I wonder if the reason is because when I overeat or get stuck...I vomit. Here is what I read...

Aspiration pneumonia. This type of pneumonia occurs when foreign matter is inhaled (aspirated) into your lungs — most often when the contents of your stomach enter your lungs after you vomit. This commonly happens when a brain injury or other condition affects your normal gag reflex.

Just be careful!

[Oberhasli 1]

I haven't posted in awhile as I've been running in 27 different directions but wanted to wish all of you a Happy 1 year Anniversary!

Believe it or not, I got TOO skinny. I was looking gaunt and unhealthy. I was having major problems with energy and the surgeon didn't think it was band related but agreed to remove all of the fill just in case there was a nutritional link. (I was consistently losing 2-3 pounds per week.) I gained back the 10 pounds I needed and held there for a few weeks and then continued to gain. I know have about 15-20 pounds to lose again. I'm still down 100 pounds from my heaviest and almost 60 from my pre-surgery weight (from a high of a 48 slack and a 3XLT shirt to a 36 slack and a LT shirt!) so I'm happy.

After 5 months off work I did go back 10/2 as the neurologist wasn't filling out the paperwork right for my disability insurance so I either returned to work or lost my job. I switched to doctors and she gave me a return to work so I'd keep my health insurance and said she'd write me back off if I still had energy issues. The sleep apnea worsened with the weight loss and I'm still struggling with the CPAP but I am back to work. Don't have lots of extra energy but making it through and I did lose a pound last week so not being home all day can be a good thing. Ice cream is still my downfall so I have to really watch having it in the house.

I was to go to the surgeon next week for my one-year check up but my hours got changed and I had to reschedule to 12/10. I'll likely get a small fill to provide a bit more control. I have figured out that while I can eat to lsoe weight, I really have trouble finding the right amount to maintain. YEARS ago I was on Weight Watchers and did great on the weight loss portion but hit the maintenance part and quickly gained everything, and then some, back. I refuse to let that happen now. I'll get those 20 pounds off and find the answer to just maintaining. I may even breakdown and buy a scale. (I use the ones at work or at a friend's house.)

Again, Happy Anniversary to everyone and good luck!

Tom

[Oberhasli 1]

A friend forwarded this and I thought some here might enjoy it as well:

> MY WEEK AT THE GYM

>

> If you read this without laughing out loud,

> there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated

> to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular

> workout routine.

>

> Dear Diary,

> For my birthday this year, my son(the dear)

> purchased a week of personal training at the local

> health club for me.

>

> Although I am still in great shape since being a

> high school football cheerleader 33 years ago, I

> decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give

> it a try.

>

> I called the club and made my reservations with

> a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified

> herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and

> model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

>

> My son seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get

> started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to

> chart my progress.

>

> MONDAY:

> Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of

> bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived

> at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me.

> She is something of a Greek goddess -- with blonde

> hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo

> Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the

> machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in

> which she conducted her aerobics class after my

> workout today. Very inspiring! Belinda was

> encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was

> already aching from holding it in the whole time she

> was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!

>

> TUESDAY:

> I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally

> made it out the door.

>

> Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy

> Iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My

> legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I

> made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made

> it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new

> life for me.

>

> WEDNESDAY:

> The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying

> the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth

> back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in

> both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't

> try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in

> the club parking lot.

>

> Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my

> screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a

> little too perky for early in the morning and when

> she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY

> annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill,

> so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the Hell

> would anyone invent a machine to simulate an

> activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda

> told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy

> life. She said some other shit too.

>

> THURSDAY:

> Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like

> teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled

> back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half

> an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.

>

> Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When

> she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom.

> She sent another skinny bitch to find me

>

> Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing

> machine -- which I sank.

>

> FRIDAY:

> I hate that bitch Belinda more than any human

> being has ever hated any other human being in the

> history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic,

> anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of

> my body I could move without unbearable pain, I

> would beat her with it.

>

> Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't

> have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the

> floor, don't hand me the damned barbells or anything

> that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill

> flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition

> teacher.

>

> Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like

> the drama coach or the choir director?

>

> SATURDAY:

> Belinda left a message on my answering machine

> in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did

> not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to

> smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked

> the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up

> catching eleven straight hours of the Weather

> Channel.

>

> SUNDAY:

> I'm having the Church van pick me up for

> services today so I can go and thank GOD that this

> week is over. I will also pray that next year my son

> (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is

> fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy.

>

> I still say if God had wanted me to bend over,

> he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

[Vikki 2]

I haven't posted in awhile as I've been running in 27 different directions but wanted to wish all of you a Happy 1 year Anniversary!

Believe it or not, I got TOO skinny. I was looking gaunt and unhealthy. I was having major problems with energy and the surgeon didn't think it was band related but agreed to remove all of the fill just in case there was a nutritional link. (I was consistently losing 2-3 pounds per week.) I gained back the 10 pounds I needed and held there for a few weeks and then continued to gain. I know have about 15-20 pounds to lose again. I'm still down 100 pounds from my heaviest and almost 60 from my pre-surgery weight (from a high of a 48 slack and a 3XLT shirt to a 36 slack and a LT shirt!) so I'm happy.

After 5 months off work I did go back 10/2 as the neurologist wasn't filling out the paperwork right for my disability insurance so I either returned to work or lost my job. I switched to doctors and she gave me a return to work so I'd keep my health insurance and said she'd write me back off if I still had energy issues. The sleep apnea worsened with the weight loss and I'm still struggling with the CPAP but I am back to work. Don't have lots of extra energy but making it through and I did lose a pound last week so not being home all day can be a good thing. Ice cream is still my downfall so I have to really watch having it in the house.

I was to go to the surgeon next week for my one-year check up but my hours got changed and I had to reschedule to 12/10. I'll likely get a small fill to provide a bit more control. I have figured out that while I can eat to lsoe weight, I really have trouble finding the right amount to maintain. YEARS ago I was on Weight Watchers and did great on the weight loss portion but hit the maintenance part and quickly gained everything, and then some, back. I refuse to let that happen now. I'll get those 20 pounds off and find the answer to just maintaining. I may even breakdown and buy a scale. (I use the ones at work or at a friend's house.)

Again, Happy Anniversary to everyone and good luck!

Tom

Wow Tom you are so lucky to have lost all of the weight before your year mark. That is the great thing about our band is that maintaining is at our control of getting the fill if we are letting the evil get back into our eating habits to stop it in its tracks. Before all we had to rely on was will power and if we had that mastered we wouldn't have needed to band. Now we have to tool to help cut out the over eating that wants to control us at times. I didn't realize I was such an emotional eater until I couldn't get the food down and had to face my demons. A lot of times you go from one demon to another like boose or cig's but I have been trying to work threw my bad choices to be healthy not unhealthy. I am very proud of all of you with such great results. I am still working on the last 30 pounds but feel I look good compared to my size a year ago. It is hard to get the weight off and maintain but very much well worth the fight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Anniversary to all of you!!!!!!!:whoo:

[mariegabrieleee 0]

I am getting Band on 11/12 at Sound Shore Hospital in New Rochelle NY