You all really do give me hope...

[mstrina27 0]

:thumbup:I found this board by accident i never knew a site like this existed.. It is so good to hear from real people that have had the procedure done and that it can be done you all are living proof that it can and will work for you. I have had so many fights within myself because I have lost a lot of weight before when my brother was killed. I could not talk to my family because I had to be the strong one for them and I thought i could not let them see my anger or my tears so i worked out before work and after work. At the time i was just trying to change my focus i actually wasent trying to loose weight go figure... After about 8mths of loosing 100+lbs i got prego with my son whom is now 3 and i gained about 85more pounds back and i have lost all but about 30lbs from the pregnancy. Once i loose that I would then be back at the starting point to loose an additional 85+pounds or so to get me to my goal. I can't work out like that anymore 2-3 hours a day... OMG it's like killing myself. I have a 3-year old for goodness sake, i'm a single parent and i have no one to help me. My mom passed away the day after thanksgiving 06' and she always wanted to see me healthy. I know I have to excercise that's not the problem but for me to see results I literally have to workout 6-days a week no less than an hour and 1/2 each workout, and right now I don't have that kind of energy to do that. There was a post about keeping it from the people at work. I actually told a few people that I was thinking about it and one girl took it and ran with it and it at first pissed me off then i stoped and thought about it and said no i don't have anything to be ashamed about yes it is my business and no one has the right to judge me and they don't know my story... But again I just wanted to say thanks for everyone opening up their hearts to share their ups and downs with total strangers like myself because you would never know how much it helps. So many times I would love to get that support from my mom but she is no longer here so thanks again....:thumbup::wink::thumbup::tt1::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[girlie2shooz 0]

Very nice of you to share. your mom is always with you, you can talk to her anytime you want and just look for those little signs that YOU will know are part of her. you are on your way and you deserve to be healthy and happy. love yourself first and it will be that much easier to love others. your child is very lucky to have a mother who cares. go gettem! g2s

[gkeyt 0]

Welcome! This is a great place for support and to share experiences and ideas. A lot of us had the similar experiences of working so hard to lose weight and either being unable to lose it or gaining it back quickly. Working out is still a big part of it: I work out 5 days a week, 1.5-2 hrs per session. But the band helps you stop eating so you aren't so hungry all the time. It's so hard to make good healthy choices and go work out when you are hungry all the time.

I'm assuming you haven't had surgery yet? Banding definitely isn't easy. There is a lot to learn and you'll find there are things you won't be able to eat anymore, and you have to learn new ways to cope with stress if you have emotional eating issues, like 99% of us here! And you have to choose good foods, avoid bad ones, and exercise. But the band helps keep the portions small and keep you from getting hungry soon after a meal. Like you said, there's nothing to be ashamed of in getting this surgery. It's done to help us save our lives and our health! You want to be around to raise your baby. :tt2: A lot of folks worry over other people saying it's the "easy way out" but those people who think that just don't know any better.

Welcome to the board and hope to hear more from you! If you haven't been banded yet, when you get a surgery date there is an area where you can connect with other people who were banded the same month. I find that really helpful to follow up with the same group of folks who are at the same stage of banding life as me. It's in the support area, pretty easy to find. Best of luck to you!

[mstrina27 0]

Thanks... actually nope i haven't been banded yet.. I am hoping to hear from them this week....Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I am waiting on my Dr's office to fax over my weight history to them u know to prove my weight has been an up and down and up again battle.. So as soon as they do that i will be good to go, but i am going to call the medical records department myself on tomorrow to check on the status myself. I did notice the other groups on her and i am so amazed... U know like someone else said that the band is a Tool.. It's not a quick fix it will help you, and that's what i need cause i'm always hungry.... When i'm not hungry I don't eat but when i'm hungry oh do i eat... Just keeping busy is another big part of it as well... Being more in shape will give me the motivation to take my son more places and I won't be so tired after work... Thanks....

[rharriet62 0]

Let me just say: YOU ARE AMAZING and SO LUCKY! If you don't eat when you are not hungry, the band will work like magic for you. For me, I ate ALL the time. Hungry, not hungry, happy, sad, you name it. It has been a learning curve for me to use my band to help me NOT do that! So, I think you'll have great success. Glad you found the board..you will learn a lot here and get help when you need it!

[mstrina27 0]

That's wht i have noticed... thanks.. also you have done excellent as well... How was it for you when u were first banded?

[Kristin1031 0]

Welcome and thanks for sharing your very personal experience. I agree that your mom is always with you. She is proud of you for raising your little girl and trying to be the best mom you can for her. You will find this one of the most motivating and uplifting sites for BANDSTERS. It has helped me in so many ways, I found it months before I was banded and began reading everything I could on it......LOL

We are all here for you......just ask!!

Good Luck!!