An Informed Journey:

Adjustable Gastric Lapband, Cosmetic Surgery & Costa Rica

 
 

    Struggling to walk the steep streets of Siena, Italy, I came to a crossroad and changed my life. The summer of 2003, I had a Body Mass Indicator (BMI) of 51 with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea -- morbidly obese. Dying from too much food and too little exercise. Today I am healthy, in a size 12. I weigh 170 pounds and have a BMI of 29. According to the tables, I am overweight. Not morbidly obese.

     I’m good at research and I spent several years on each decision.  This website shares the conclusions I reached.

“Midway along the journey of our life I woke to find myself in a dark wood for I had wandered off from the straight path.” -- Dante (translated by Mark Musa)
 
At my largest 311 pounds Size 32 5X

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” -- George Eliot
Made on a Mac

  1. BulletChange -- Links to the doctors, support groups, websites, and books that helped me make this change.

  2. BulletLapband --  Why the adjustable lapband over the gastric bypass for weight loss?

  3. BulletCosmetic Surgery -- Why the Rosenstock-Lieberman Clinic in Costa Rica for cosmetic surgery?

  4. BulletBefore & After -- Supplements, creams, what to pack, travel tips -- whatever I know that can help you maximize your cosmetic surgery recovery?

  5. BulletRecovery --  Why CheTica Ranch for recovery afterwards?

  6. BulletCosta Rica -- Informational sites, suggestions, souvenirs, and how to best enjoy your trip to Costa Rica, even with surgery.

  7. BulletLapband Success --  A fairly traditional blog to share the tips I have learned in seven years of living with the lapband, though reflections and insights along the weight loss way might be helpful to anyone trying to lose weight.

  8. BulletLapband Finds -- Focuses more on specific recipes, products, restaurants, websites.

  9. BulletInspiration -- Inspirational videos and notecards to help keep to your straight path.

Flying Pig Logo because my mother (who did love me) once said I’d lose weight when pigs fly!

Contact Info

Name: Sandra Andrews Effinger

Age: 70 years old

Location: Oklahoma City

Email: mseffie@mac.com

Yahoo Groups: GraduateBandsters

Facebook: Sandra Andrews Effinger