Friday, May 23, 2014

Banded 5.5 Years: Where I Be



 
This is my friend, and Sugarmama, Higgie.  Heather condones her as my Sugarmama...and thus...took this picture.
 
 
For those of you interested in lapband related news, or news pertaining to me and my little old lapband...this post is for you!
 
So far so good.  Things are plugging along quite nicely.  I have not had a fill since March of last year and honestly, don't know if I need one.  Well, let me take that back.  I probably do need one as I can eat larger snacks than I should, but my restriction level is pretty good at meal times.  I still have to eat slow, put my fork down, and can't eat tons.
 
However, at snackie snackie time, which for me is practically all the time...I can shovel 2 pieces of toast down my gullet at a nice clip.  Or cookies.  Or chips.  I fall off the wagon a lot.  But that certainly is not the bands fault.  I ended the last weight loss competition here at work on April 1st, losing somewhere around 27 pounds in 3 months...taking me into the 150's.  Well, after that I decided I would celebrate.
 
And celebrate I have done...
 
For the last 7 weeks. 
 
Someone tell me WHY it takes forever to lose weight but just a few moments (or months) of pleasure to gain it back? 
 
(*&(V*E B B#!**!!
 
Regardless, I am sure I will get back up on that sad healthy food wagon soon.
 
I better, or else I am going to blow the ass out of my slacks.
 
 
Why have I not had a fill?  The main reason is that MY doctor, Dr. Friedman, retired to take care of himself and hopefully kick his cancer into remission.  And I don't want another man poking me.  I heart him.  I tried to tell him via Facebook he could come and give me a fill in my garage on a folding table...but something about ethics and legal mumbo jumbo prevented him from doing so!  I have not met the new doctor.  I am sure he is FINE...
 
And probably someday I need to suck it up and go back in there.  And I will.  I will.
 
Weight wise I am around 178.  Pants size I am in 10's...but barely dudes.  My jeans right now are 8's...but that's because Maurices knows how to make their customers feel good!
 
 
Some questions I have gotten recently: 
 
Will you ever have it taken out?  Answer: Not by choice.  If something were to happen with the band, then out it would have to come I guess.  But I still rely on it, everyday.  And so far (knock on wood), my band is happy and healthy.
 
IF something did go wrong with your band, would you get another kind of weight loss surgery? Answer:  Oooh, it's kinda hard to answer that I think, until you are faced with that decision.  I would not get the Sleeve...for personal reasons possible not linked to fact or science...but I would opt for nothing if that was my only option.  I don't know if I would get Gastric Bypass.  That would be a very big decision...and one I would have to think about a lot.  I would like to believe that I could work hard enough sans surgery to keep myself where I am...but the fear of getting too big again is always there.  Let us hope I don't have to make that decision.
 
Does that port sticking out bother you?  Answer:  no.  I hardly ever think about that little guy anymore.  Before Dr. Friedman retired he had told me that he could put in a low profile port (I still got the big model), and when I was going in for my new boobies and thinking about a tummy tuck...Dr. Patterson had mentioned that maybe he could put in a low-profile.  But for now...I got my port baby.
 
Do you think I should get the band? My dudes, that is something only you can answer.  What I can say if the band changed my life.  I am thankful for it everyday.  I wouldn't change a thing and I would do it again.  But the band is not for everyone.  I have to work hard everyday to try and keep myself from drinking my weight in soda, eating my weight in junk food, and staying active.  The band does not fix your brain...but it can give you a chance.  You know those bowls they make for dogs to help slow them down from eating too fast?  That's the doggie version of the band.  It is just a tool.  But one I love.
 
I know someone who had WLS and they went crazy.  I don't want to go crazy.  Will I go crazy? Listen, my response to that is...we are all crazy in one way or the other.  And yes, there are some people who, once losing a lot of weight...well their crazy gets a center stage broadway show.  From my extensive training in counseling (which I have had none...other than the therapy session called life)...I find the ones that don't mentally handle the weight loss well were the ones who did not choose to live their lives the way they wanted when they were fat.  Does that make sense? 
 
Any other questions?  You can always holler at me!
 
xoxo.  kisses.
 
 


10 comments:

  1. Was just thinking about you a few days ago and wondering if you had dropped out of blog land. Great post and love the the part that says "the band does not fix the brain". Still holding in the 170's too and so glad for my band. Have a nice one.

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  2. Just out of curiosity what is the problem with the sleeve. (I don't have one -- just wondering if there's something about it that I haven't thought about)

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  3. I too was happy to see you post! 4 yr's and 3 mo's and I still LOVE my band!

    XO

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  4. I know we've never met, but I have followed your blog since you started your journey and I freaking love you! I had surgery in July, and I keep up with how you're doing to inspire myself to keep going! Your posts crack me up - keep it up! :)

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  5. You know, before my band started malfunctioning, people would ask me that "will you take it out?" question. And everyone who asked seemed to fully believe I should. I just thought that was the most absurd question! I still think it's pretty absurd, but now that my band is leaking it will be taken out and either replaced or (hopefully modified) to sleeve. It's funny because I've told my doctors I'd rather keep a leaking, almost useless band than go to RNY. Exact opposite of you :)

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  6. Great photo -- you look fantastic! My answers are similar to yours on these questions, but I'm not sure what I'd do if I had to get my band out. I pray that never happens.

    LOL re the "went crazy" question! I've never gotten that one! I'm sure I've come across a few bandsters who were batsh*t before they got banded and the band didn't change that, but I don't believe I've met even one person who went crazy as a result of being banded!

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  7. Still love you after all these years! I love that you are honest about where you are, where you want to be, and the fact that even though you are a band rockstar - you're still human and make the same mistakes as the rest of us!!

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  8. Amy & Catherine - let's hope I'm the only one of the group that has to have it out and I take the hit for everyone ;-)

    Amy - thanks for reminding me to keep on blogging so others can experience it - I love that we're still in touch and think we need a BOOBS reunion!!!

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  9. "therapy session called life" ha ha ha! That's awesome! And wow it's been 5.5 years...hard to believe and glad you are still blogging!

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  10. We sound like we are in similar boats, nice to know I’m not alone. I gained about 30lbs back after a 103lb lost. I’m 175 now trying to get to my goal of 148. We can do this! =)

    -Breanne
    www.ladylapband.com

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