I was lurking on a Lap Band support forum and noticed a thread that really inspired me. The initial poster asked people to respond with comments on what else they’ve lost besides weight. I’ll reprint a few of them now, but I want to hear from all of you: what have you lost? Or, if we’ve already covered it, what have you gained (like self-confidence, an addiction to knee-high boots)?
Things people said they lost: sleep apnea
two chins
a closet full of Lane Bryant clothes
reluctance to fly on an airplane
a couple of friends
the ability to blend in with the background
a fear of having my picture taken
a worry about what I’m going to eat for my next meal – 1 hour after finishing the last one
ugly granny panties
the worry that guys are just talking to me to be nice, not ’cause they’re really interested in me
my bust
swollen ankles
listening to the chair creak when I sit down
23. October 2009 at 10:35 am
I lost my diabetic medication–do not need it any more yea!!!!!
27. October 2009 at 1:12 pm
I have gained self confidence. Before I hated shopping or going any place new. I felt like I stuck out as the “big girl”. Now I love to shop and never have a fear of meeting new people. I really feel like I got my life back.
27. October 2009 at 1:40 pm
Now those are my kind of “losses”!!
I like them a lot better than people saying they lost their self-confidence or lost their health because of their weight
28. October 2009 at 5:41 pm
I’ve lost the worry that I will die before I turn 40 and not see my little boy grow up.
30. October 2009 at 11:56 am
I try to tell people this all the time: it’s not just about you and your health- weight effects everyone around you, especially family and loved ones. I bet your little boy will be happy to have you around, too
3. November 2009 at 3:44 am
I lost 2 blood pressure pills. Before the surgery I was taking 5 blood pressure pills. Now I’m down to 3 and my doctor told me on my next visit he will more than likely take me off another one. I also lost depression and my hatred of scales. I gained self confidence, like to exercise, and still find it hard to believe I can get full with such a small amount of food. I also gained a much higher respect for protein. I read labels on most everything now.
3. November 2009 at 5:51 pm
I lost my depression funk I was in! Woo-Hoo! Now, I’m able to enjoy my life, my husband, my kids, and being my “true-self” again. I’m not hidden behind the extra 70 lbs. of fat anymore! I’m me! I’m free!
3. November 2009 at 7:28 pm
LOST: sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes and any urge for fast food . GAINED: self confidence, ability to exercise without needing oxygen,and overall energy. At 64 years old I feel better than I did before I had my first heart attack in 1993 I do not think I would have a longer life if I did not have the Lap-Band PS–my golf game is much better but that’s another story!!!!!!! This is a great blog!!
5. November 2009 at 5:36 pm
I lost my high blood pressure!!!!!
5. November 2009 at 10:03 pm
I gained arm rests. You know now that I have lost the weight I can put down the arm rest in my car and at the movies.
6. November 2009 at 2:28 pm
I Lost that ugly fat girl who couldn’t stand herself and thought her only self worth was in the size pants she could fit in. Good riddance.
19. November 2009 at 11:43 am
I am so very, very proud of and for all of you!!
These are wonderful
Keep’em coming!
19. November 2009 at 1:35 pm
Dont laugh out loud …. but I’ve even lost weight in my legs and no longer have to have something to prop my legs against when I sit with my legs crossed. I used to have to sit on the second row in church to have something to help keep my legs crossed they were too fat to stay crossed.
27. November 2009 at 12:48 am
Mavis,
We hear that a lot. People have had difficulty crossing their legs before they lose the excess weight with the Lap Band.
Great news and congrats!
1. December 2009 at 4:02 pm
I got to buy the first belt I’ve had since I was a little girl! AND I had to get more holes put in it!!
16. January 2010 at 6:51 am
things I have lost in 2009; clothes with numbers and letters together (1x,18w…),c-pap machine, blood pressure meds,
28. November 2010 at 8:03 pm
I lost…. sitting in chairs with arms and bulging out the sides, standing in an elevator and figuring how many of me would be too many, being two or three of the passengers in a 4 person boat, awkward sex, boots that wouldn’t even zip over my ankles, huuuuge bras, knowing that only 4 of my jeans would fill up my large capacity washing machine, hatred of mirrors, feeling inferior to every skinny person no matter how ignorant they were, thinking that I didn’t deserve my amazing life because I did not live it, I watched it from my recliner.
6. December 2010 at 6:45 pm
Thanks for the inspiring comment!