One Year!

[B-52 7,113]

Nicely Done....you certainly "Get it" when it comes to letting the band do it's thing....we all had this surgery because we wanted change. And if we let it, the band will do just that. Don't fight it, just go with it and that is exactly what you're doing and reaping the results.....

Now get to the Gym! (only joking, well sort of)

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

On this day last year I was at the hospital for my lap-band procedure. I knew it was a big decision, but at the time I really had no idea what the impact would be on my life as a whole. There have been so many positive outcomes. The weight loss is great, of course, and that was my main goal in getting the surgery, but it turns out that even more important than that is a powerful sense of returning to myself. Choosing weight loss surgery enabled me to show up for myself and my life in ways I didn't anticipate. I would have said that I was happy enough before, fulfilled, etc., but the contrast to how I feel now tells me that I had no idea what I was missing. Having my appetite dimmed has allowed me to escape from dieter's prison. All that brain chatter about food is gone and what a relief it is not to be beating myself up. The on/off mentality was really doing a number on me, and I am tremendously grateful to be out from under that spell.

I am not perfect and I don't need to be. The band does it's job and mostly I do mine. I choose not to count calories because that puts me back into dieter's mentality and that's not a good place for me. I still really enjoy food preparation and eating, but my portions are so much smaller than before. My "rules" for myself (and we are all different) are to eat when I'm hungry and not eat if I'm not hungry. The first one took some work. I didn't even know what hunger was because I was always tamping down every feeling that came along with some form of food. It was a process for me to learn to listen to my body's signals and respond appropriately. Generally I am not hungry until mid-morning or so, and now I welcome that feeling. It turns out that hunger isn't my enemy after all. And my body isn't either. For a number of years I felt that my body had betrayed me. No matter how hard I worked, I could not seem to get in sync for weight loss and health. The band somehow buckled me back together with my body and that sense of wholeness is very welcome.

Here are pictures taken a year apart. I have gone from a size 18 to a size 10 in the very same brand of blue jeans (Lee Long) and I am down from the 2X and 1X tops into larges and mediums. I know that I could have lost more weight in this year, but I am committed to a healthy process and this big chunk off in one year is about all I can handle in terms of the compliments I'm receiving everywhere I go. My goal now is to work on the next twenty pounds and see what that feels like when I get there. I'm not in a big hurry because my main focus is on exercise and toning. I am building muscle -- having a strong, capable body feels wonderful and I am doing what I can to take care of it.

Thank you for your camaraderie, your humor, compassion and support. It's been wonderful to be part of an on-line community, something I had never experienced before, and I am very grateful for my weight loss friends. Here's to us -- we are doing it!

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what can i say that the others who posted before me havent said

i am so proud of you bandie ♥

you are def an inspiration to us all on this fourm

well done

[Texaslatina 13]

Congrats! Great pics!!

[ladypoohbear 123]

One year later...yahooooo

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

Bandista........ YOU are awesome...... and experiencing and living the banded life with grace, courage, and determination. I love your outlook about not living the dieting/restrictive life. I love that you have become a full fledged exerciser. I love that you encouraged me as well as numerous others on this site. I love reading your words of wisdom. YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

TAMMIE

[nickybad 16]

Bandista thank you so much for sharing. I am 9 Days post op and so needed to read a positive bander story. You look great. I hope my year can get me close to where you are. Thank you for sharing.

[gowalking 10,790]

What a success and inspiration you are my friend. And I don't mean that lightly. You have been a great support for me especially as our journeys and insights are very similar. The focus is not on the pounds lost or clothing size, but on how we are reclaiming our lives instead of just sitting on the sidelines. Giving you a virtual hug today but can't wait to one day give you a real hug. Congrats on your bandiversary.

[enjoythetime 1,457]

@@Bandista congrats to you! You're doing an AMAZING job and you look wonderful!!! You should be so proud of your transformation both mentally and physically! You're rockin' this thing:-)

[Bandista 7,466]

@nickybad Hi there, thank you so much and congratulations on your surgery! Love your blue tree (if that is you; the pictures have been getting a little mixed up on the forum lately -- I know they are working on that). I can't wait 'til you're a year out, either, because I know you will be successful. A long term bander here (Carolina Girl) talks about "want power." You want it and you're gonna get it. I honestly have not even worked very hard, but I've shown up for myself every single day as a human being desiring a healthy future. With the band's help, that's all it has taken to get this far and now I look forward to the next year in which I hope to lose some more fat and gain some more muscle. It all feels so possible now. Sending best wishes your way!

@@gowalking Oh, Liz, you are one of my great heroes here and I am proud to be called your friend. Thank you! Look forward to our in-person meeting, whenever that happens.

@enjoythetime Thank you so much! You are amazing and I've missed your posts -- but here you are -- so happy for your success. You have helped me SO much in this last year, as well as the months preceding my surgery. And I love, love, love your name -- that's what it's all about, isn't it? Enjoying the time. Life is short and I want to be healthy and happy for it.

[Julie norton 2,850]

Great year. !!!!

Lots to be thankful for huh? How about not driven by hunger? Or thinking ( obsessing ) about food buying prepping shopping cooking cleaning. Lots of energy to save. And $$$. And for me, not feeling like I failed each time I tried to lose weight.

Just " normal". Whatever that us to each of us. ????????congrats!

Enjoy your posts.

[MarieMarie 346]

Congrats. Enjoy the ride!