One Year Later

[Cocoabean 430]

Hello all!

Yesterday was my One Year Bandiversary. Since starting the process to be banded, I am down 53.5 lbs. I am down 58.5 from my all time high.

I want to post about how my attitude about "dieting" has changed over the last year. Prior to this journey I had tried numerous times to lose weight. Each time keeping a jornal and pictures. Keeping track of my weight and measurements. Obsessing over every bite and every calorie burned. I was never able to make lifestyle changes that were maintainable. It was an on or off mentality.

Over the past year my attitude has changed drastically along with my relationship with food.

Don't get me wrong, I still love food--but my appetite no longer rules me. In years gone by, my hunger would run my day. That no longer happens. I eat my meal and I am satisfied for a few hours. I don't constantly think about my next meal or snack.

I am more active because I don't hurt and it is a joy to be involved in life.

After my band surgery, I went about things the way I always have, weighing in and taking my measurements weekly, keeping focus on the weight loss prize. Getting frustrated when things didn't move at the rate I felt they should. Now, at 1 year, I have averaged a pound a week. Not too shabby!!

At some point recently, I discovered I am no longer weighing and measuring myself obsessively. On the date of my bandiversary, I didn't even get on the scale! I did the day before as Saturday is the day I check my weight as a rule.

The best change of all is that this time, I am relaxed and confident that I will succeed. The changes to my diet are easily maintainable. I don't worry that if I relax my vigilance I will regain the weight.

I realize that it has only been a year, but this is the longest I have ever gone without being on some sort of "diet" or "program." All the while losing at a steady pace (over the course of a year, not every week).

Another poster in the success stories forum talked of feeling "normal." I so agree with this statement. I no longer wonder if I stand out in the crowd, or if people are looking at my plate and thinking......

At this point, I am very thankful for my band and the chages it has helped me make.

Best wishes to all!

Denise

[glorybee123 0]

Congratulations on your weight loss! Isn't banded life great? It's hard to explain to the unbanded how your relationship with food changes so much but I think you did a good job. Keep up the good work!

[CapitolChick 1]

I love reading stories like yours! Congatulations on your success!!:hurray:

[Mrs. Bubba 0]

Congrats...it's so encouraging to read your story. I do know how important it is to get food out of your every thought.. I'm only 6 months out and that was the case for me for a while, but lately I've evidently been rather stressed or something, because those thoughts are back.. I have a craving that I can't fill... I haven't lost any weight recently and that is very frustrating. I know so many have been through this "plateau" thing and lived through it, but it seems like it will never end... :hurray: I'm going in for another fill on Tuesday and am so hoping this one will do the trick for me.. I need to see some movement so I can get back on the losing track again.. I so want to be under 300 pounds.... I set a sort of goal for 100 pounds gone by the end of April... That's 22 pounds in 10 weeks.. That was about the rate I was going previously... But I'm thinking it won't happen that fast anymore.. I guess I should adjust my goal... I'm just not sure what to hope for anymore... Thanks for listening... Julie

[Cocoabean 430]

Congrats...it's so encouraging to read your story. I do know how important it is to get food out of your every thought.. I'm only 6 months out and that was the case for me for a while, but lately I've evidently been rather stressed or something, because those thoughts are back.. I have a craving that I can't fill... I haven't lost any weight recently and that is very frustrating. I know so many have been through this "plateau" thing and lived through it, but it seems like it will never end... I'm going in for another fill on Tuesday and am so hoping this one will do the trick for me.. I need to see some movement so I can get back on the losing track again.. I so want to be under 300 pounds.... I set a sort of goal for 100 pounds gone by the end of April... That's 22 pounds in 10 weeks.. That was about the rate I was going previously... But I'm thinking it won't happen that fast anymore.. I guess I should adjust my goal... I'm just not sure what to hope for anymore... Thanks for listening... Julie

Hi Julie,

I hope the fill gives you the boost you need to get back to losing! My tendency is to stay at a weight for several weeks then lose several pounds over a couple of weeks, then start the process over again. Plateaus are horrible. That is for certain. During the plateau, you might adjust your goals to non-scale things, like increasing exercise, concentrating on better food choices, etc. What I have found with having scale related goals is that when my body rebels for whatever reason I feel like I have failed. If I set a 10 lb. loss goal and lose only 8, I have truly succeeded, but I did not meet my goal, so feel that I failed.

A recent non-scale victory for me is that I have been able to stop my blood pressure meds!! I have been hoping for this since my surgery. It was a goal I set but did not have a deadline for it.

I struggled for years with obsessing over food and it has been a gradual change for me since being banded.

Best wishes for making the goal of under 300! That is a wonderful thing. 22 lbs. in 10 weeks is doable if the body cooperates. But if you lose 10 and not 22, you have still been successful. 78 lbs. in 6 months is fantastic! The plateau may just be your body adjusting to its new size for a bit.

Let us know how the fill goes!!!

Denise

[SueAZ 3]

Denise:

Thank you for posting. I agree so much with what you have written. I also feel that food no longer rules my life. I feel now that I don't stand out in a crowd. Little things that make such a difference. This doesn't mean that now everything is easy and I don't watch what I eat far from it. I just feel better about my journey with the band. I need to make better choices and exercise more but hopefully that will come easier to.

[kgloverii 0]

Congrats Denise! What a well-thought out, grounded post!

What a way to help set realistic expectations!

[bumble-bee 0]

I enjoyed your post, Denise. Your attitude is great and your words encourage me as I begin the journey. Thanks!

[CreoleSoul62 0]

Hello all!

Yesterday was my One Year Bandiversary. Since starting the process to be banded' date=' I am down 53.5 lbs. I am down 58.5 from my all time high.

I want to post about how my attitude about "dieting" has changed over the last year. Prior to this journey I had tried numerous times to lose weight. Each time keeping a jornal and pictures. Keeping track of my weight and measurements. Obsessing over every bite and every calorie burned. I was never able to make lifestyle changes that were maintainable. It was an on or off mentality.

Over the past year my attitude has changed drastically along with my relationship with food.

Don't get me wrong, I still love food--but my appetite no longer rules me. In years gone by, my hunger would run my day. That no longer happens. I eat my meal and I am satisfied for a few hours. I don't constantly think about my next meal or snack.< /p>

I am more active because I don't hurt and it is a joy to be involved in life.

After my band surgery, I went about things the way I always have, weighing in and taking my measurements weekly, keeping focus on the weight loss prize. Getting frustrated when things didn't move at the rate I felt they should. Now, at 1 year, I have averaged a pound a week. Not too shabby!!

At some point recently, I discovered I am no longer weighing and measuring myself obsessively. On the date of my bandiversary, I didn't even get on the scale! I did the day before as Saturday is the day I check my weight as a rule.

The best change of all is that this time, I am relaxed and confident that I will succeed. The changes to my diet are easily maintainable. I don't worry that if I relax my vigilance I will regain the weight.

I realize that it has only been a year, but this is the longest I have ever gone without being on some sort of "diet" or "program." All the while losing at a steady pace (over the course of a year, not every week).

Another poster in the success stories forum talked of feeling "normal." I so agree with this statement. I no longer wonder if I stand out in the crowd, or if peoplare looking at my plate and thinking......

At this point, I am very thankful for my band and the chages it has helped me make.

Best wishes to all!

Denise[/quote']

Hi l am new to this and am just now starting the lap band process. lam not sure but lam going for it my name is troy lynn and l live in new orleans. I need this so bad my knee hurt so bad I can badly walk. l can not sit to long in one place too long. The bottom of my stomach hurts so bad l will be so gald when I get banded. l have go through this so l can findly get me a job it will feel so to work a nine to five l never had a job like that. To finally will buy my first home l have so many dreams when l do this and just maybe fine a real man. l have kids and they are grown and have their on family so its just me and my little dog. I know this will be a road I will never forget, so let the journey begin:)