Hi everyone! I can't believe there is nobody from the month and year I was banded. I got banded on Dec. 21, 2005. It has been an exciting and also at times frustrating journey due to some medical issues I developed. However, I am now back on track!! I still need to lose another 80lbs. But all together I have lost almost 80lbs which includes what I lost before the band as well. I joined a challenge at my gym that has made my journey a bit more exciting and just what i needed to become more motivated again! I have a coach that writes me everyday to help with motivation and inspiration. She is also a weight watcher lecturer and I joined her group on Saturdays. Last week was my first week and I lost 6.2lbs. I even exercised 4 times this week in the gym and one day I walked in the mall for about half hour. I did alot more exercise too. As we all know that our band is just a tool. We just have to use it the correct way for it to work for us. I am doing it again the correct way. I got a bit off course because when I was on prednisone this past year I put on 20lbs in a little over 2 weeks. Needless to say I was really discouraged and upset because I could see it in my face and in my clothes! Some I couldn't even wear. Then I had over did it with the exercise and I hurt the muscles in my legs which made it hard to walk leave alone exercise. I went to physical therapy for aobut 5 months. Thank god it worked great and I wanted to go back to exercise but then my fibromyalgia flared up so badly that I had a hard time to get out of bed. It took all my effort to get ready for work. My rhematologist wanted me to take cymbalta for about 3 years to help my pain but I just rejected taking another medication. I would pop advil instead as needed some days as much as 6 advil. I knew I couldn't go on feeling the way I did and began taking the cymbalta at the end of September 2007. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful I began feeling within 2 weeks. It became so much easier to pop out of bed and walk too. I am now exercising 4 to 5 days per week. I know better now to listen to my body and when i hurt stop and rest. But the big thing is no matter how long or short time you exercise you are at least still doing something for yourself. Each day you can expand upon this.
The best thing about my band was before I was banded I was a type 2 diabetic. I was on 850 mg of Glucophage 2 times day plus sometimes I took insulin too. Needless to say I was not happy about that and the medicine was making my stomach sick Since the day before surgery I stopped the Glucophage and happy to say I have not had to be on diabetic medicine since! I still take my blood sugars everyday and when it is up I know i am getting sick This is a good guide line to help you stay on track as well.The other thing I decided to do was join Weight Watchers because I am a person that does better when I get weighed in every week. I also enjoy the lecturer who lost over 110lbs and kept it off for 11 1/2 years. She has been an inspiration to me. In fact she had not seen me since I had lost alot of weight and came over to me in the gym and told me how great I looked. She made me feel so good because I was at a low point when she saw me. I was not losing the extra weight I had gained. I was going up and down a few pounds for months. Things happen for a reason I believe and my coach at the gym for the big challenge is my weight watcher lecturer! She definately inspires me
I realize our journey to losing weight is an ongoing one that never will end. We are the type of people that always have to be on our toes. We have to stay motivated and not let things get us down and resort to food. Emotional eating is a biggy and the band will not cure that. That is why you have to try to get that under control before you have the band. I wish I did before but I guess that was to be part of my journey. However, to anybody who is thiking of having the band I would suggest work on the things that cause you to overeat. If you can conquer that then the band will work even faster for you. I am happy because despite the setbacks I had during this 2 plus year journey I am alot more healthier than I was in years. My doctors are very happy and most of all I am too. I am proud to be a bandster!!
If anyone would like to correspond with me please feel free to write me. I would love to have a weight loss buddy. We can help each other and cheer each other all the way to our goal.
Wishing all of you a wonderful journey...hopefully the peaks and valleys won't discourage you. Just pick yourself up and continue on. That is all you can hope and pray for.
I end with a favorite saying I learned from a weight loss member in a group I use to meet with online many years ago....remember these words...
TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE!!
Take care everyone and please keep in touch. I hope I hear from more of the December 2005 bandsters..even if you are not from that month and year...please contact me and say hi!!
Take care!! Be well!!
Janice
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