Life is Good

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Hi all! We read so many problems/issues on here (nature of the beast, I know)...I just wanted to post and say...that for me at least, life is good!

I started at 405 pounds (53 YO 5'5" female) and have lost almost 75. I'm still really fat. I don't look that different. BUT life is good. I feel different! I have about a billion times more energy. No wonder, I've lost a couple of toddlers!

My wrist watch that dug into my chubby little arm now spins around. It is so cool! Sometimes when no one is watching I spin it around just to amuse myself! :frown:

I had a day of "wild abandon" yesterday. I ate a piece of white bread (mostly because I always post on here that I can eat anything and don't want to intentionally lie). It was bland but went down easily. I had chicken enchiladas for supper! I had a "fun size" bag of M & M's w/peanuts (rarely eat candy...don't really want it)

Today without even THINKING about it I got up and was back in my "bandster" routine. The Water, the eating at set times, the shake for Breakfast, sugar free "stuff" in my coffee...I just realized I'd slipped back into my groove without even being aware of it, even after my odd eating from yesterday. I'd have NEVER done that while "dieting". Any aberration from the norm meant a free-for-all, or a struggle to get back on track.

I love my band. Thank God I don't have GERD, acid reflux, pain, frequent PBing, problem foods. I have a long way to go and feel totally 1000% sure I can do it. It is working exactly as I hoped it would. I am eating way less of whatever I want and losing. Whatever I want is changing and becoming more healthy, but it's an easy process, not a paradigm shift. This is so do-able!

I got my blood drawn yesterday for my annual check and for the very first time in my adult life I wasn't worried about it. I know the figures will be good and improved over the last time. That is so great...to be 54 and be getting BETTER instead of slowly going the wrong way!

Just wanted to share, with people curious about the band, with my fellow bandsters. These are little things, nothing huge. But they keep you going, you know?

Anyone else? :crying:

[Petunia825 0]

Restless that is wonderful and happy for you. Today I made a wk post-op, got stitches removed and lost another 2.5 lbs. I'm feeling good and happy with my decision. I have noticed that going up and down the stairs is a little easier and I was able to cross my legs the other day. Imagine that! Congrats on your weight loss.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Congrats on YOUR loss! and your good recovery...off to a good start on your bandster life! :crying:

[greytz 4]

RM, I am so happy for you. The fact that you could have a day of total abandon and then get right back into the routine the next day. That is wonderful! When I hear interviews of people who have lost a lot of weight and someone asks them how they do it, most say they may be bad one day and then get right back to eating right the next day. It keeps you sane and allows you to do a little bad without ruining everything. But, you should be so proud of yourself for going back to your routine. These things may seem small but to me they are a true testament to your committment to your bandlife. I am 51 and like you struggled for a long time and already I feel so good. I had a small victory today. I was able to wear a blouse that I only wore under another shirt without anything over it and I looked good! I went to put it on and had my other shirt laid out to put on over it and thought, wow this feels loose. So I went to the mirror and couldn't believe it! It was good. I wore it to the mall with my hubby and we went to visit my girlfriend who is a great supporter by the way (she is beautiful and thin) but our age. She just couldn't get over how I looked. It felt fabulous. Anyway, you are a wonderful supporter for people on this forum including me and a lot of us look to you for your ideas and thoughts on things. You are doing great! Keep up the good work!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

greytz...that type of thing is SO COOL! Thanks for sharing it!

I realized today when I whipped around the grocery store (and shopping is much faster now...partly because I MOVE more quickly and partly because there are huge chunks I can thankfully just avoid! :crying: Have you been on the candy row at 5pm on a friday? LOL)

I remember times in the past when physically (I always refused to use a scooter) I'd really have to pump myself up to get up the gumption to go grocery shopping.

I'm happy to leave where I was, but I always want to remember it. Now, I'm happy for Petunia, you, AND me!

[Unforgettable 0]

RestlessMonkey,

This is such a great post. I'm only about 3 weeks post-op, but I can already see the light at the end of the tunnel. I feel very confident in my decision and can see little mental changes happening already. I'm very thankful to have not craved any horrible foods yet, and I'm starting to look at food as fuel rather than something to do when I'm bored.

When I go back to work and have to educate patients and parents on eating healthy, I won't feel like a hypocrite. PLUS, while I've had tons of surgeries in the past, I've now experienced a laparoscopic surgery and understand better where my patients are coming from! Overall, I just feel great and am seeing life through a new set of eyes.

Can I add that I love to read your posts. You are so knowledgeable and always have words of wisdom that enlighten me.

[elcee 3,341]

Thanks for the inspirational posts. Its great to read the good stuff not just the bad.Glad that you are doing so well - keep it up.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

elcee you don't get off the hook...I am sure you are having some good things happen too. Share with your classmates! :crying:

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Unforgettable, that is all so great! Sometimes at 3 weeks, people are still in that "OMG why did I do this to myself phase" They should enjoy reading your take on it. You're already looking ahead and figuring out ways to use it to help you with more than "just" weight loss and maintenance. (isn't nursing just a real head trip?)

I'm so glad to read you are doing well!

I agree too; I got such a mental BOOST from knowing I had the band, like a safety net or training wheels! :crying: I still feel that security. It's grand!

[elcee 3,341]

elcee you don't get off the hook...I am sure you are having some good things happen too. Share with your classmates!

I'm only 2 months out so I'm still very new at this. But there were clothes in my wardrobe that previously I couldn't do up that are getting so lose they keep slipping down, and my work shirts which were horribly tight and restrictive are now comfortable.I love the fact that I am not constantly hungry. Previously when at home I would spend the day foraging for food - now I can happilly ignore the fridge.

[Unforgettable 0]

RM that's a great way of putting it...it's that security blanket, like I'm not in it alone, I have training wheels to help me if I start to lean to the left a little too much.

And yes, nursing is indeed a head trip! I thought I'd be used to it after 3+ years, but not quite

[JENNIFER7375 3]

Im so glad to here someone say they're happy and doing well. i also find that when i slip up im able to get right back on track. the bands done wonders breaking me of my binging habits. i no longer use eating bad monday as an excuse to eat the same way on tuesday. its truly a life change not a diet.

you are really doing well, and thanks for sharing your positive atitude with everyone. oh and congratulations on your recent graduation from nursing school!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

elcee...thanks for sharing. I meant this for anyone...not just "successful" bandsters. We're all successful. I read over and over it's not a race, it's for life, etc...

Like Jennifer who's almost at her goal! That is so wonderful! If I were 17 pounds away from my goal I think I'd need tethers to keep me on the ground I'd be so happy!

Thanks for sharing this. I really don't know about everyone else but it does me more good than I can tell you to read some happy things too! Because for many of us our issues are minor or non-existent (thank goodness!) so we don't post much. It's all balance though. There's plenty of good about the band. It gave me back a huge chunk of my life, and I'm so pumped to read others finding small (or large) joys now that they are banded!

And to clarify...those who need help...we're always happy to offer it! This is just to offer the other side of the coin, a little!

More? More? (I'm a happy-junkie today!)

Edited July 31, 2009 by RestlessMonkey

[Headhunter 6]

Those of you who know me (and I mean KNOW me) know how highly I think of Restless Monkey.

She's an inspiration to everyone, continually shares her knowledge and the benefit of her experience, and is overall a special and unique person.

She started her process at a higher weight than most of us, and she had some difficulty hitting her "zone", but when she did, you could watch her ticker drop almost daily.

She has this wonderful balance of "can-do" and "here's the reality of it" that makes her experience seem very real and achieveable to everyone here. She recognizes the limitations of the Band, but she also understands that most people have the innate ability to overcome those limitations, given right information and encouragement.

So, it's particularly sweet to see her step out and say what a wonderful time this is in her life.

She deserves it. big time.

HH

[RestlessMonkey 7]

HH...you are just the sweetest thing! How nice of you to say! Awww.......

I'm glad you "get" me, and this place helps me more than I have ever helped anyone here!

I think you're pretty cool too.