reflecting on the past year... cause its my BANDiversary!

June 15 2010...a day that I will ALWAYS celebrate! June 15 2010 is the day I changed my life June 15 2010 I had Lap Band surgery. …. I could write a very long story about WHY I had Lap Band Surgery,  to sum it up: I was Obese, and I needed to make a change to be an example to my children and ensure that I had a longer life with them! Lap Band is NOT a quick fix. Lap Band is NOT easy. After you have lap band  ,you will never again think that anyone who has weight loss surgery has “cheated" to lose weight. Lap Band is a tool. It has done its part… and I have worked hard to do mine! It was scary and it was a really difficult decision, but I had to decide that I deserved it. The real story is about my life SINCE Lap Band surgery, a NEW life! I have done so many things in the last year that I never thought I could or would.  There are obvious triumphs as the number on the scale moved or my size in clothes changed. There are also so many victories that don’t involve the scale….. It was amazing the first time I carried Paige into Wal-Mart and realized when we got in that I wasn’t out of breath. It was totally foreign to me when James and I went on a date night and he got jealous because he said some guys were staring at me…. ME?? My ultimate goal was to run a 5k and in February I ran my first 5k!!! What I feeling! I not only ran one, but TWO!  I had the chance to coach Ethan’s soccer team, instead if jus****ching James and Ethan bonding from the side lines.  When we went to Disney World, James had to tell me to slow down all the time because I am now able to walk so much faster… I can wear a size in clothes that I couldn’t even wear as a teenager. Once I got over the overwhelming selection of “normal" sized clothes, I began to enjoy dressing this body. Clothes have been come so much more than just a necessity. I have lost the equivalent of my nine year old… I tried carrying Ethan up the street on my back and really wondered, how did I walk around like that all the time? I wore a bathing suit to the pool and it didn’t have a SKIRT!! This process has made James and I so much closer. It took him a little while to get used to this body and it took me a while to realize that he was perfectly happy the way I was… he simply loved me, for me. Looking back I can see so many things that I robbed myself of by being obese. I owe many thanks to my support team and even those who were negative helped me more than they probably had any idea they would.  Lap Band gave me my life back, but the funny thing is, I didn’t even know I was missing it.

Thanks for sharing and being an inspiration!

Happy Bandiversary, and continued good luck on your WL journey!!

Happy Bandiversary!!  What a great testimony...
~ Barbara 

Congrats and happy continues success!!!

Congrats! Happy Bandiversary.

Happy Bandiversary!  It just keeps getting better and better!  I'm so happy for you!

Great job, great story, great inspiration! I especially like your last line:

Lap Band gave me my life back, but the funny thing is, I didn’t even know I was missing it.

Thanks for sharing, and congrats on your bandiversary.

Jean

Jean,

I had lapband on Feb. 2, 2011. I am down 26 pounds. I still feel little or no restriction except when I eat some meats. My doctor appears to be very cautious and fills very slowly. I have had four fills to date.

Can you recall how long it was before you began to feel restriction? I can eat an 8oz ribeye!! I have never spit food up or felt the sensation of needing to do so....not that I want to do this!

I find myself grazing all the time. Any suggestions?  Thanks, Wynell

Wynell,
Start a new post with your question and you will get some good suggestions.
Just because you can eat a 8 oz steak doesn't mean you should.  I have always weighed out my 3oz of meat.  You don't want to stretch your upper pouch or esophagus, so I sure wouldn't be eating 8oz of steak.  Did your surgeon give you guidelines to follow to keep your band safe? The band is about dimming your appetite, not stopping you from eating more. As far as grazing, don't do it.  Plan a snack if you have to have one.
And congrats on your 26 pounds, that is excellent!
Kristi