300 pounds later....am I living a dream or is this in fact reality?

[Leepers 1,195]

I got a little teary eyed reading your post. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. I get on here every day and it reminds me that I need to be more supportive of those starting their journey behind me. I know how much this site helped me when I was starting out. Congrats on your incredible success.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

@@Jim1967 I've never had the pleasure of reading your story. Congrats so very much!! You did what you came here to do. God bless your darling Wife too... I do understand her frustration and keeping to ourselves and just providing support and love.

You're definitely inspiring many more than just 1 person out there!

[catfish87 3,471]

Jim,

Congratulations on such a remarkable accomplishment, and thanks so much for remaining a positive voice on here. i hope your post could get viewed by everyone on this site!!! All those negative nellies saying Lapband won't work, you can't lose 100 pounds with lapband, blah! You sure showed what true success looks like my friend...and I know you've certainly put forth the effort.

Best.....post....EVER!

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

This was so inspiring to read. Thank you!!!

[pink dahlia 2,513]

Well, you' re just amazing on top of awesome, now are'nt you ? Great inspirational story !! Thanks for paying it forward !

[dylanmiles23 2,198]

I had often told myself during my journey that even if I were to ever possibly hit goal I would never post a success story. Maybe I was being modest or perhaps just really hard on myself or…just not able to forgive myself for ever letting my weight get out of control as it had. I guess a lot of it no matter how you sum it up is really just embarrassment. Well I had a change of heart. That change of heart came because I can remember so vividly the feeling of the hopelessness and despair. At times I felt I was knocking on deaths door and that there was nothing I could do about it. So I am writing this tonight in hopes that if I can help just one person even if only one tiny bit then it is my responsibility to do so. I believe in paying it forward and giving back. If it wasn’t for the people before me that helped me then where would I be? It would be irresponsible for me not to do the same. You are not alone and there are people out there, really good decent people who can help you but YOU have to want it and at some point you need to swallow your pride and ask for the help. Help will not come to you. YOU have to seek it out. I have told my story several times and you can read it on my profile. I lost 170lbs doing Atkins between 2003 and 2004. I went from 393 to 220 and felt great…and then I got sloppy and let my guard down and weight started packing on. I went from 220 to 488 in 8 years’ time. At 488lbs doing day to day activities was quite a chore. My knees were taking a beating carrying so much weight on a 5’6 inch frame. I developed arthritis and serious sleep apnea. Walking from the parking lot to my office was a real task and that was even with the use of an elevator. I had to sit out in the car and have my Wife do the grocery shopping because I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes on my feet. I had to sit and fold laundry sitting in a chair. This list could go on and on about the limited mobility. My amazing Wife stood by me and encouraged me to make a change but we both knew until I was ready to commit to change it would not happen. I am not sure how many other women out there would have put up with what she did. My weight affected us both physically and mentally. I did not feel like much of husband at times and I am sure there were plenty of times she felt more like a caregiver than a wife at times although she never said so or complained. Something had to give and it finally did and in September 2011 with my wife at my side I attended a local seminar for WLS. We listened to the Doctor discuss all the surgical options available at the time and being new and somewhat naïve we decided Lapband was the way to go. It was reversible and probably the least invasive of all procedures. I signed up for a one on one consult with the Surgeon that night. October 2011 I met with the Doctor and told him I ready to make a life change. He told me he wanted to see me lose 24lbs and work on shrinking the liver. Insurance required me to do a 6 month monitored diet so instead of losing 24lbs preop I lost 38lbs. My Surgeon was impressed and after completing all the preop requirements I finally got a surgery date of April 16, 2012. I weighed in on surgery morning at 450lbs on the button. So there I was April 17th and getting discharged from the hospital and all that went through my mind is why the hell did I do this? There was no way it would work and I will be known as the fat guy who couldn’t lose weight with WLS. As much as you research and prepare for this new life it seems at some point you say OK well I had the surgery why is the weight not coming off?? This is so frustrating!!! Well apparently I had never heard of bandster hell. Bandster hell is that time from when you have the surgery to the time you actually get the necessary fills to get the need restriction to control your portions. Some very few people are lucky they have the surgery and automatically get that restriction. Not me, it took me 6 months. 6 months of frustration. Probably one of the most difficult pieces for me to learn was patience. Lack of patience made this road even longer. I stepped on the scale almost daily these last 2.5 years waiting on a large drop in numbers that never happened. How on earth could you possibly see a large drop if you’re stepping on the scale daily? Do yourself a favor and don’t do it. To this day I still step on it daily but now it is about accountability not so much weight loss. Always look for other measures to success. We call them Non Scale Victories or NSV’s. Losing weight is not just about numbers. For a while I was buying new clothes every other month because I was shrinking so fast. I went from a size 62 waist to a 34. I went from squeezing into theater seats to have padded space on each side. I could go on and on here rambling about all sorts of stuff weight and band related. If you’ve read this far then thank you and thank you to those who helped me get here. I would like to especially thanks @@Alex Brecher without him I wouldn’t have a home here and I perhaps would’ve remained lost. If anyone has any questions or comments or just need someone to talk to don't hesitate to message me regardless how personal you think your question may be. My name is Jim and I am junk food addict. I have lost 300lbs and the lapband saved my life. 2yrs and 8 months 488 to 188. Peace!!

Jim you are super !! I am very proud of you and have always enjoyed your writings.

I hope you and Kelly have a great week

Arlene

[gowalking 10,790]

Thanks for sharing your story Jim. It is inspiring and so are you. Best to you and Kelly

[rigonj 103]

What an amazing story thanks for sharing your journey!

[Lady VS 1,147]

(Clapping) Woohoo!!! Congratulations!!!

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

Just had a chance to read your story.... and see those pictures. All I can say is "YOU ROCK THE BANDED LIFE!"

[Kbrown28 23]

I had often told myself during my journey that even if I were to ever possibly hit goal I would never post a success story. Maybe I was being modest or perhaps just really hard on myself or…just not able to forgive myself for ever letting my weight get out of control as it had. I guess a lot of it no matter how you sum it up is really just embarrassment.

Well I had a change of heart. That change of heart came because I can remember so vividly the feeling of the hopelessness and despair. At times I felt I was knocking on deaths door and that there was nothing I could do about it. So I am writing this tonight in hopes that if I can help just one person even if only one tiny bit then it is my responsibility to do so. I believe in paying it forward and giving back. If it wasn’t for the people before me that helped me then where would I be? It would be irresponsible for me not to do the same. You are not alone and there are people out there, really good decent people who can help you but YOU have to want it and at some point you need to swallow your pride and ask for the help. Help will not come to you. YOU have to seek it out.

I have told my story several times and you can read it on my profile. I lost 170lbs doing Atkins between 2003 and 2004. I went from 393 to 220 and felt great…and then I got sloppy and let my guard down and weight started packing on. I went from 220 to 488 in 8 years’ time.

At 488lbs doing day to day activities was quite a chore. My knees were taking a beating carrying so much weight on a 5’6 inch frame. I developed arthritis and serious sleep apnea. Walking from the parking lot to my office was a real task and that was even with the use of an elevator. I had to sit out in the car and have my Wife do the grocery shopping because I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes on my feet. I had to sit and fold laundry sitting in a chair. This list could go on and on about the limited mobility. My amazing Wife stood by me and encouraged me to make a change but we both knew until I was ready to commit to change it would not happen. I am not sure how many other women out there would have put up with what she did. My weight affected us both physically and mentally. I did not feel like much of husband at times and I am sure there were plenty of times she felt more like a caregiver than a wife at times although she never said so or complained.

Something had to give and it finally did and in September 2011 with my wife at my side I attended a local seminar for WLS. We listened to the Doctor discuss all the surgical options available at the time and being new and somewhat naïve we decided Lapband was the way to go. It was reversible and probably the least invasive of all procedures. I signed up for a one on one consult with the Surgeon that night. October 2011 I met with the Doctor and told him I ready to make a life change. He told me he wanted to see me lose 24lbs and work on shrinking the liver. Insurance required me to do a 6 month monitored diet so instead of losing 24lbs preop I lost 38lbs. My Surgeon was impressed and after completing all the preop requirements I finally got a surgery date of April 16, 2012. I weighed in on surgery morning at 450lbs on the button.

So there I was April 17th and getting discharged from the hospital and all that went through my mind is why the hell did I do this? There was no way it would work and I will be known as the fat guy who couldn’t lose weight with WLS.

As much as you research and prepare for this new life it seems at some point you say OK well I had the surgery why is the weight not coming off?? This is so frustrating!!! Well apparently I had never heard of bandster hell. Bandster hell is that time from when you have the surgery to the time you actually get the necessary fills to get the need restriction to control your portions. Some very few people are lucky they have the surgery and automatically get that restriction. Not me, it took me 6 months. 6 months of frustration.

Probably one of the most difficult pieces for me to learn was patience. Lack of patience made this road even longer. I stepped on the scale almost daily these last 2.5 years waiting on a large drop in numbers that never happened. How on earth could you possibly see a large drop if you’re stepping on the scale daily? Do yourself a favor and don’t do it. To this day I still step on it daily but now it is about accountability not so much weight loss.

Always look for other measures to success. We call them Non Scale Victories or NSV’s. Losing weight is not just about numbers. For a while I was buying new clothes every other month because I was shrinking so fast. I went from a size 62 waist to a 34. I went from squeezing into theater seats to have padded space on each side.

I could go on and on here rambling about all sorts of stuff weight and band related. If you’ve read this far then thank you and thank you to those who helped me get here. I would like to especially thanks @@Alex Brecher without him I wouldn’t have a home here and I perhaps would’ve remained lost.

If anyone has any questions or comments or just need someone to talk to don't hesitate to message me regardless how personal you think your question may be.

My name is Jim and I am junk food addict. I have lost 300lbs and the lapband saved my life. 2yrs and 8 months 488 to 188.

Peace!!

Amazing I'm june18 I'm so happy the liquid diet has been a challenge

[chasingadream 1,311]

You have helped many Im sure.

Personally, I have followed you since joining.

I know I reached out to you about someone I knew who is the same exact weight as you were when you began and I showed him your before and after pics and let him read your story and now he "sees" more now than ever that someone in his shoes can make the changes needed to be healthier.

Yup, he knows everyones experience and success will be different but you've given him hope when things were getting a bit bleak. And he is moving forward to have the WLS that will work best for him.

So thank you @@Jim1967 you are awesome and amazing and a true inspiration. Have a great day!

Edited June 13, 2014 by chasingadream

[Jim1967 3,569]

You have helped many Im sure.

Personally, I have followed you since joining.

I know I reached out to you about someone I knew who is the same exact weight as you were when you began and I showed him your before and after pics and let him read your story and now he "sees" more now than ever that someone in his shoes can make the changes needed to be healthier.

Yup, he knows everyones experience and success will be different but you've given him hope when things were getting a bit bleak. And he is moving forward to have the WLS that will work best for him.

So thank you @@Jim1967 you are awesome and amazing and a true inspiration. Have a great day!

@@chasingadream I remember the conversation like it was yesterday and I hope what he saw and read gives him at least the motivation to look at options. All it takes is 1 hour at a seminar and you will be in a room with people who face similar challenges and before you know it you'll have that realization that you're not alone and that there is hope. I know it's not easy heck I spoke about WLS with my Wife for a good year before attending a seminar. Sometimes that first tiny step can lead to the path of a new future.

For me WLS was quite simple. I was either going to make it work or I was going to die a young man. This may sound dramatic to some but for a 5'6 guy heading quickly toward 500lbs running out of breath walking down a set of stairs it sure didn't feel that far off to me especially at 44 years old with a family history of heart disease.

All you need is the want power. More importantly there are people there to help you along the way. I was so worried about people judging me for being so big and letting my weight get so out of control. Funny thing I was the worst judge of all. In all of my experience not once through this entire process did I once feel like someone was judging me.

I remember so well that very low place I was at in the beginning. I felt incredibly hopeless, helpless and the feeling that no one cared (except my wife) but really it was all me and the place I was mentally. Some people have WLS and want to move on and act like it never happened. Not me. I want to remember it all. Good, bad and ugly. Getting to where I am now was not easy however getting to where I was originally was pretty darn easy.

thank you all for the kuddos, support and friendship.

Jim

Edited June 13, 2014 by Jim1967

[ualaw08 270]

Amazing amazing story !

[nomorejellybelly 77]

Way to go!