May 2007 Banders

[NimbleBean 2]

Hey all,

Six weeks in at Weight Watchers. Down 8.6 lbs! I am so conscious of what I'm eating now, in a way I haven't been in years.

We had a visitor at the meeting last week, a gentleman who has lost 193 lbs! No surgery! Took him 17 months and he's kept if all off for two years now. He's going to be my inspiration for a long time.

We can all do this. It doesn't matter how we get there - band, bypass, sleeve, weight watchers, exercise - or some combination of any of it. I know it's our health that's most important. If we look better and fit into the clothes we dream of, that's just a plus!

I continue to be inspired by all of my May 07 friends, too. It's hard to share our setbacks and disappointments, and we all have them, but we can also share small victories and give each other encouragement! Thanks to you all for what you have given me over these 5 difficult years.

Best,

NimbleBean (aka Margaret)

[Devera 1]

Great pearls of wisdom! I am so proud of what you are doing and accomplishing AND posting it here to give us all motivation to get back to our healthy goals. THANK YOU! I certainly needed your inspiration today!

[keiko 1]

Great news, Margaret! You're results with WW are inspiring.

I went back to the doc in January, and the results were pretty poor. He filled me just a little, (1/2) and told me to come back in 6 weeks. I will go back to get another refill, then continue to try to make better choices than I've been doing. I know a couple of things I've been cheating with and lying to myself about why I'm not losing weight anymore. This site helps to keep me honest with myself and to try to improve.

Keep up the good work!

Keiko

[NimbleBean 2]

My band and Weight Watchers together keep working for me. I still have a long way to go, but the past 3 months have shown me that I can do it. I even gained a bit last week but it didn't phase me at all, just got right back on track and expect a loss at weigh-in tomorrow evening.

Had a small non-scale victory this weekend. Went through the closet and came up with enough clothing that no longer fits to fill 4 30 gallon trash bags. Donated everything this morning and it felt so good!

How's everyone else doing?

Cheers,

NimbleBean (aka Margaret)

[NimbleBean 2]

Great night at Weight Watchers - down 5.2 lbs!

I realize now how much I was eating around the band. I don't have to anymore. I am never hungry; in fact, there are days that I have trouble eating the number of points I'm supposed to, even though I know that when we don't eat enough of the right combination of foods, metabolism slows down.

Cheers,

NimbleBean

[NimbleBean 2]

Hello May '07 Banders! Where have you all gone?

NimbleBean (aka Margaret)

[devcopley 1]

I am always so happy to see you or someone post. We still need each other. I sure need the encouragement. I will try to be better about keeping in touch. How are things going with everyone?. We are coming up on a BIG anniversary! 5 YEARS!!! Can you believe it?! Let's here lots of updates, the good, the bad, and the not so great. There is NO ugly, just a lot of people trying and trying, and we need to be there for each other, right?

[keiko 1]

Hi everyone,

I tried replying to your posting, Nimblebean, a few weeks ago, but I was having problems either with my computer or this website, so I couldn't reply.

I can't believe it's going to be 5 YEARS!! Well, I have not come near where I hoped to be at this point after surgery, but I'm still better than before. I continue to see my doctor (since November, 2011) to try and get my band filled correctly. It's still not where it was, nor as effective. However, since the alternative is to not have lost any weight in the last 5 years, this is OK. I hope others have had good results. Nimblebean, how are you doing? You said you joined weight watchers and it seemed to be helping.

Devcopley, how have your results been with lapband? Yes, we still need one another...support is so important as we continue our journey.

[almanorgirl 0]

Yes we do need support. I'm not doing well and need to get back to the doctor. I have acid reflux and my blood pressure is back up as well as my weight.

[devcopley 1]

Guess I am glad to here someone else has had trouble replying on this site, I sometimes think it is just my lack of computer expertise!

I had done pretty well, lost 90lbs, but, now am up 15, and not happy! Need to get back on track. We moved away from my surgeon and the support group there and I have not been able to get started up here, and I think that has not helped. I may join Weigh Watchers also and see if that can help. I would like to lose 20lbs. It seems so hard. I need to start a journal, maybe that will help me recognize what I am doing now that is sabotaging my weight loss. That first year, I was able to lose rapidly now it is such a struggle. BUT, I know I am not "good" like a was, soooooo, what do I expect? The weather is now getting warmer so I can be outside walking, hopefully that will help. Thanks for the support here! We do need it!

[devcopley 1]

So, when I was having trouble replying I apparently "resigned up" so it says I am a newbie! As I said I am NO computer wiz! Most of you I hope remember me as having had surgery May 9, 2007. In Mesa AZ. Was 227 high, and 136 low. Now 150! Darn!!! and now live north of Seattle. Hope I can get my signature back and maybe even find out how to get my old "self" back on this site. Patience!

[jsrico 1]

Ok guys.....here I am once again! I went to a new band/weightloss doctor yesterday. The burping constantly was so embarrassing and irritating. Then a new symptom. I work nights so in the morning about 6 am I would hve coffee and a cookie or half a bagel. By 9:00bed....well I was throwing up in my sleep. Terrible. I went to the new doc...had a upper GI and my band had slipped over my stomach and was squeezing my esophagus. Insted of having a pouch in the stomach I have on in my esophagus. The esophagus should be as thick as a finger, but mine is so distended the the size of my arm. So the only revision I can have is gastric bypass. I never wanted that...that's why I chose the band . So I am terrified...they got remove the band and try to fix my esophagus. Uuuggg....doctor says 4 to 5 days in the hospital. With 4 kids and a demanding job that I just started 3 months I am sooooo scared!

[NimbleBean 2]

Dev, Keiko, Almanorgirl and Jsrico,

So glad to hear from each of you.

Keiko,

I can't believe it's going to be 5 years either (May 22 is my bandiversary)! I'm still pleased with my decision, just wished I had been more committed to the band in the past few years. I believe I would have been further along in my weight loss. But, I'm not going to spend time beating myself up. Now I'm moving forward, using whatever tools will help (Weight Watchers really seems to be a good band partner for me) and trying to embrace the positive rather than dwell on the negative. I'm down 31.2 lbs in 14 weeks with WW, and this small success has really given me a mental and emotional lift. I have a long way to go, but I'm going to be 50 later this year and know that it will only get harder to lose the weight the longer I carry it, and I don't want to deal with the diseases and consequences of obesity as I age.

JSRico,

So sorry to hear you are having issues. My band doc mentioned that as a possibility should I ever need to have the band removed. Is that not possible in your situation? Get a second opinion just to be sure. Keep us posted!

Dev,

You can lose that 15 again. We're here to support you. You've come this far and this is just another challenge that you have the will and the know-how to overcome!

Almanorgir,

I had been having fairly severe acid reflux, too. Doc put me on a low dose (40mg daily) of Nexium and I am a new person. No pain, no terrible bilious, acid taste in my mouth. Happiness! If I have a rare day when I eat something that really doesn't sit well, then a couple of Tums help. See your doc. The reflux should be treated because it can cause long term health issues (for everyone, not just band patients).

Sorry, I've rattled on so long. Thanks to all of you for your openness, support and friendship. It really helps to keep me going.

Hugs to all,

NimbleBean (aka Margaret)

[NimbleBean 2]

JSrico - sorry, I had a typing fart and left some words out of my response to you...

So sorry to hear you are having issues. My band doc mentioned the gastric sleeve as a possibility should I ever need to have the band removed. Is that not possible in your situation? Get a second opinion just to be sure. Keep us posted!

[jsrico 1]

Did the second opinion today for insurance purposes. They only revise NOW from band to gastric.......no sleeve. Ugggg