Banded 6 years, here if you need me

[Bel 1]

Hi,

I saw this and thought it would be great if i could help someone that is going through what i did because i would have loved to have had something like this when i got banded! So a little about me:

Im 22 years old and had the band 1 month after my 16th birthday. I was a size 28 and 115kgs or 253lb. Im an aussie but dont let that stop you lol.

I like most was a HUGE emotional eater and i find that is still something i have to work on daily because im totally addicted to slider foods.

I lost 99lb or 45kgs in around 1.5-2years so i was a slow loser but have kept it off ever since...i have my ups and downs like everyone but i feel i have a hold on the major problems that got me big in the first place. I suffered from deep suicidal depression for 7 years and am now out of the black hole and have been for around 6mths.

Um...im a single female (just going through the guideline questions) i am 75kgs currently but have decided to lose another 10kgs or 22lb even though im at goal, the great thing about the band is you can pick up at any time!!!

So basically i want to help anyone who needs it, im not a judgemental person and i understand falling off the wagon lol I will support you or push you, whatever you need.

I can take on as heaps of buddies cause i work from home now on my website so i will be avaliable daily but remember there is a big time difference between here and the states.

Let me know if you would like to be my buddy and i will pm you and add you to my friends, will also give you my private email so you can get onto me when you need too :thumbup:

I forgot to add i have had 2 port flips, one was surgically corrected and the other time it flipped itself back and currently have a small leak.

Bel

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi Bel:

Glad to see someone who's been banded for so long. Can you please just tell me what "after goal" life is like? Did you get your band unfilled? Did you keep losing past the original goal you intended? Do you eat much differently at goal than you did while you were trying to lose still? Do you eat four or five small meals instead of just three?

I'm curious because I don't plan to change my exercise habits and I've never really had an ability to eat much at once since being banded. I don't know how I will stop losing. I'm not complaining, just wondering.

Congratulations on keeping your loss for so long. I plan to do the same. I plan to be a very healthy grandmother in about ten years.

Please share your tips and experiences as a long-time banded, at goal (or close) for such a long time.

Thanks.

Sue

[Bel 1]

Hi Sue!

Where to start...um, after goal life is wonderful, i eat normally and what i like so long as its in moderation. I certainly live a much more fulfilling life then i did when i was obese and a lot more active, i have more friends, travel more and am over all a much happier person. I also lost my depression along with the weight.

I never got my band unfilled because i know i would gain immediatly. I get fills when i need them and make sure i can still only eat 1 cup per meal, i just eat higher calorie foods since i cant eat AS much as most healthy people. I recently decided to lose a few more kgs, got another fill and am losing easily...if i want to stop i eat more 'naughty' foods lol

I lost a little more then goal but i put it back on when i became a little too excited at being at goal, he he but i have maintained my goal weight without trouble...i have my bad days but i balance them out with one to two good and i dont gain a thing. I lose weight easily now so i cut my exercise a little bit as well to even things out a bit. Used to do 1 hr cardio a day and now i do a 30 minute walk instead.

I dont tend to eat more then 3 meals because i find im not hungry enough and if i do eat more then i tend to get into bad habbits, i do snack when i feel like it with no real concequences but that urge doesnt come up much. I generally only snack when i go to the movies and then i feel yucky cause i ate too much.

Best thing to do when you get to goal i find is talk to a nutritionist about how you can up the calories a little...i just have a small treat a day like 2 pieces of chocolate or a cookie or a large one every few days like an ice cream but your body does adjust as well and will stop losing when its lost enough.

I think that as long as you listen to your body and watch for gains (not on the scale) you will be able to control it easily and it gets really easy once you have done it for a little while, the important thing is not to get to goal and think great now i can eat what i want, then let yourself go cause you will gain :-)

Edited May 31, 2008 by Bel

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

It's nice to see someone that has had the band that long. I always worry something is going to go wrong and I will lose my band.

I am at goal too, and it's a big worry that I will gain the weight back. I know it's kind of silly, but the band seems to good to be true.

[Sue Magoo 71]

Bel:

Thanks so much for your response. I'm looking forward to reading your future responses to others too. So nice that someone that's as young as you are can teach an "old dog" new tricks.

Thanks again. Keep luvin' life.

Sue

[Froggi 4]

Wow Bel that is amazing. I will definetly come to you for help considering we are the same age. I have not been banded yet But am hoping to be in November.

[Bel 1]

Denise i totally know what you mean, i still have that feeling of it being too good to be true! I sometimes forget just how different things are now and its like i never weighed that much to begin with (untill i see my strech marks)

Froggie, congrats on making the decision to get the band! I would love to hear how things go with you and i will cross my fingers you are booked for November :-)

Sue i had to laugh when you said 'old dog' lol your as young as you feel...or so my mum keeps reminding me! :laugh:

[laurasue 0]

Hi Bel,

My name is Laurasue. I live near Boston in Massachusetts, USA. I am 49 yrs old - mother of two, 20 yr old daughter adn 11 year old son. I have been married for 24 years. My husband is a stay at home dad. I have gone through the process and am currently scheduled for surgery on Sept 30th. I am nervous about the length of time but think I will try to start my new way of eating - liquids etc. Please let me know how you are doing with your depression. I suffer as well. I hope you can be my mentor. Please let me know - my person emal address is laurasreynolds@hotmail.com.

Peace Bel,

Laurasue

[Aussie40 5]

Hi Bel

I would really love you to be my mentor. You were kind enough to reply to my 30 May 08 post 'have any aussies had a band for 2+ years'.

Quick recap: I was banded Sept 05, lost 35 kgs in 10 months but have regained 13 kg since October 07.

You might also be interested to know that my son (age 17) also has a band. He is doing quite well lately after a very rocky period.

Anyway, you made the very sensible suggestion of getting regular fills. I havent quite got the courage up to go back yet but I have lost 3.9 kgs over the past couple of weeks by cutting right down on carbs.

I'm very encouraged by your story and impressed by your generosity in offering to help others. I think being able to email you would really help me get back on track.

[HeatherDee 0]

Hi Bel, I am 52 years old, just had my band done on Thursday this week - very inspired by your story, you sound like a wonderful positive person. I will see how I go but would love to have you there if I feel the need. I am feeling very good after just two days, but I am sure theups and downs are to come.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I sent in a friend request. I definitely need help with how you cope with being around people who are eating junk. It's summer now and with all the camping, picnics, etc there is bad food everywhere. I am really struggling with taking off the 5 lbs I gained last weekend because all week long people were offering me junk.

I am an emotional eater as well. I am also a binge eater. I do very well for so long then all of a sudden, the candy/chocolate craving gets a strong hold on my brain.

Being at goal is great, but I am having a hard time staying there. I don't think a fill would help me. I have good restriction, it's those slider junk foods that are a problem . I would have to get a fill so tight that I wouldn't be able to eat.

[Bel 1]

Hey everyone!

I am so sorry i havent been on more, have just found out mum has cancer and i have been working like crazy.

I will be back on this arvo to reply to your individual posts :-) In the mean time i pm'd you all my private email addy so contact me anytime, i do love a good chat. Please let me know if you didnt get it and i will resend it.

Hugs

[HeatherDee 0]

Its ok just don't know how to use this site - have received your e-mail address and will be in touch. Let me know if I can help you with your mum have been through cancer twice, once with my mum and again with my sister. Happy to be there for support.

Edited July 27, 2008 by HeatherDee

[Bel 1]

okay, i know i was going to be on earlier but we had to unexpectedly put one of our dogs down this arvo.

Thankyou for the support heather, i really appreciate it!

Laurasue- congrats on getting a date, having the band really helped with my depression but it is still something i have to struggle with, i find the more i exercise (unfortunatly) the better it is. I was on medication but after a while it made it worse so now i am off everything and as long as i am eating well i am usually in good spirits and can handle most things well.

I think it would be a huge benefit to try and modify your eating now because it will make it SO much easier when you get banded and wont be such a shock to the system. Let me know how you go with it!

Aussie, thankyou for your email...i really look forward to keeping in touch! and i think its a fabulous thing that you have done being banded to help yourself and your son.

Heatherdee - how are you going with your new toy? have you had any problems getting used to it ? update us :-)

Denise - i dont really have many secrets when it comes to avoiding the naughty things at picnics, i usually make sure i have something sweet in my bag and Snacks at all times i figure its better to have something sweet and low cal then a high cal treat and if i find i cant resist then i portion a small amount and enjoy it, eat slowly and savour it. I also find i eat so slow that by the time everyone else has finished i have bearly eaten lol.

Another idea is to get away from the food if possible, play some cricket (aussie fav) with whoever is there or toast marshmellows when camping (if you can tolerate them) they aren't too bad for you.

I am the worst binge eater and still have problems! I found if i schedualed treat days and had something small like a mini choc bar that would be enough, unfortunatly it does take will power but if you distract yourself long enough you wont crave it anymore. I also have a rule now, if i want something sooo bad i usually wait for 30mins and drink some Water, if i still want it and know i wont feel guilty afterwards i have it with no regrets.

Hope everyone is well, please let me know how you are all going!!!

Bel

[HeatherDee 0]

Well, I am now banded for 6 days and feeling absolutely fantastic. I feel I could easily have gone back to work yesterday but I organised for a week off just in case so I am enjoying relaxing and not doing a lot.

Afer going onto the Optifast before surgery I experienced Constipation for the first time in many many years and tackled that with Metamucil. Since having the band I have experienced some further constipation as I am still taking the optifast once or twice a day (it has all the nutrition in it, so its a good option) before and I am now taking benefibre as metamucil cannot be taken with the band. Once that cuts in my bowel will be happy haha.

I have been coping with the liquid diet really well. I notice when I eat I feel a heavy feeling when I am full - usually I wait about 20 minutes to half an hour and I belch - its like there is a build up of gas in the stomach - once it is released I feel very comfortable.

I will continue to stay positive and hopefully have no problems.

I have not experienced any nausea or eaten to the point of throwing up.

Yesterday I went to the Specialist about my knees, something I have been putting off for about two years and he told me I have only one option and that is to have knee replacements. Of course he wants me to get the weight off first which is one of the primary reasons I had the banding in the first place. What was frightening was the fact that he said weight is what has caused the problem and if I had surgery now my chances of dying on the operating table are 1 in 10. If I get down to my goal weight of 80kg (set by the lap band surgeon) my chances will change to 1 in 1000.

So there you have it - anyone out there who has bad knees - its a bit of a shock to the system when you get told that.

I do not regret making this decision for a minute.