I had the pleasure of addressing our local support group meeting on Saturday.  I was a nervous wreck, but I love sharing about my band.  Here's the gist of what I had to say: I had lap band surgery by Dr. Miles, on September 5, 2006, and have lost 104 lbs.  I’m down from a size 26W to a size 12.  My blood pressure is back to normal.  I’m off of 3 prescription medications.  I used to dread going shopping because my feet would ache so badly that I went home and collapsed on the couch.  But, I no longer suffer from plantar fasciitis (heel spurs), and my knees don’t ache going up and down stairs.  I can tie my shoes with my feet flat on the floor, cross my legs, and have the energy, flexibility, and strength to enjoy being physically active.  A cloud of apathy has lifted from my life, and life is fun again! 

The band is no magic wand, but it’s a wonderful weight management aid.  What I did before wasn’t working.  I alternated between uncontrolled eating and dieting.  The lap band helped me gain control over my eating by providing portion control and by reducing hunger.   But, it’s up to me to select better quality, more nutritious foods, to limit snacking, and to exercise.  I’d like to share some of my band practices with you, so that if you’re struggling, maybe you’ll find a tip that might make it a little easier for you. 

**Use the band as a catalyst for change.  **Limit sugar, processed white flour foods, trans fats, saturated fats, and high fructose corn syrup.  **Eat fresh, whole foods, like fresh veggies, meat, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy, and whole grains. **Keep a positive mental attitude, stay focused on goals, and visualize success.  **Exercise.  Start slow and strive for progression. (A heart rate monitor is a great tool.) **Track your progress.  Keep and activity and food journal.  (SparkPeople.com is great!) **Get adequate nutrition.  I strive about 60-70 grams of protein a day to preserve muscle tone, and 20-25g of fiber for good digestive health.  I also take a multivitamin and calcium with vitamin D supplements daily. **Eat about 1 to 1-1/2 c. food per meal, 3 meals a day and one or two small (100 cal or so) snacks. **Eat protein first (about 3-4 oz. of lean, solid protein at lunch and dinner), then veggies, then a bite or two of starch. **Eat slowly and chew well. **Don't drink liquids during meals, or for an hour or so afterwards. **Avoid liquid calories. **Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day.  I drink a whole bottle of water before eating anything (meal or snack).  **Look for opportunities to become better educated about nutrition and exercise. **Search out other people who have been successful in losing weight with the lap band, and see how they live the lap band life.  Support groups are great for sharing successes, and gaining support when needed. 

Although I’m now a normal size, and very happy with how I look and feel, I don’t consider myself a success.  I’m still a work in progress.  My goal is maintenance.  I’ve been at goal weight before, but I’ve never been able to keep the weight off.  The beauty of the band is that it’s still there, helping me do what I need to do to maintain my weight.  The band gives me HOPE, that this time, it’s for good, because the band puts me in control, and is adjustable for life. 

These are the things that worked for me.  You need to find what works for you, because your experiences will vary from mine.  But, if you are willing to make the decision to change what hasn’t worked in the past, learn what does work for you, and believe in your ability to be successful, then you will achieve your goals.   Tami