♥LovetheNewMe♥

Quote: You are your own worst critic. Don't listen to the inner dialogue that continues to put you down despite your success. Because it won't suddenly start happening once you get plastic surgery. Choose to Celebrate your achievements now.
Well said!

Definitely a good start!
My last trainer used to send out motivational emails and one of my favorite exercise quotes ever is, "No matter how slow you go, you're running laps around the person on the couch."

Amen! On your comment,"WLS is the easy way out." I think this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I also lost the majority of my weight without hitting my sweet spot. But I am there now and it is totally different than the first half of this journey. I now have learned what soft stops are and how to recognize them. When I feel the first twinge of fullness in the back of my throat, that is my clue to back away from the plate. I still measure and weigh portions but depending on the day is whether I can eat those portions. I think if I had been in my sweet spot all the time it would have been more difficult, this delay has giving me time to adjust to my new life and healthy eating. Thanks for the articles, I love reading and learning from your experience and incite.

I look at it this way, I may have saggy skin on my torso but it tucks nicely into my size 6 pants. I will wear shorts or pants with just my workout bra on when I do the treadmill or just hanging around the house. It honestly doesn't bother me. In fact, I was thinking the other day what my one friend would think who I walk with every morning if she came over and saw me like that. She would prob die! She is one who is very self conscious of herself and will always noticeably eyeball me up and down if I wear sleeveless shirts, etc.
I am used to my size now, loving it and never looking back on the old me. She is LONG GONE! I embrace the new me, saggy, droopy skin and all.....except for the arms that will hopefully have plastic surgery on one day!

I decided on the lap band because I wanted a more slower natural weight loss. I wasnt ready to let everyone know i had lapband surgery and once you have the bypass or sleeve the weight comes off faster then the band. Plus the idea of having my stomach cut, stapled and moved around made me feel uneasy. I have had my band since July of 2009 and i love my band!! it has been the best tool to use. I will admitt that i havwnt used it to its full potential as i have had a baby and gained weight but the beauty of the band is that theres no real failure if you fall off the wagon in terms of not loosing weight you can just restart it at any time! Hope this made sense to you.Please feel free to inbox me any questions you might have.

My thoughts are similar to those of lovetheneme and deblockzprbabii. The thought of 2/3 of my stomach being thrown in the trash scared the beejeezees out of me!!!!there would be no going back!!. At 40 I just couldn't figure out the "exit" plan if 10,15,20 years from now something went wrong and I kept having this voice run through my head sayiing "well if only she had a stomach" maybe things would be different" haha....So I guess I was good with adding something that could be taken out---in the worst case sererio....but not so good with the idea of "what do I do now"....but that me....I'm not a very adventurous person and usually tend to play it safe.
I also was fine with the idea a slow weight loss. I had about 70 pounds to loose so at just a pound a week I would be at goal in a year and a half and at 2 pounds a week I would be there in just 8 months!! In reality I started this process in January was banded may 19 (2months ago) and I'm already half way to my goal. I figure I should be very close by the end of summer.
But you are right....the band isn't for everyone. Its important to educate yourself and make sure you are able to embrace the band lifestyle. Knowledge is EVERYTHING!!!!

Someone put a video in these forums somewhere by a doctor that really loved the sleeve. He showed how insulin levels were much more controlled on it. I remember he called the lapband, "a diet with a seatbelt," he thought gastric bypass wasn't the best, and he loved the sleeve. He had me convinced but of course I already have the lapband and like everyone else on this forum, I want to keep all my body parts intact even if it is harder and takes me longer. By the same token, I feel that I get to take credit for my weight loss because the lapband only works if I put in effort.
My husband mentioned to me after my first three months of the Lapband with no weight loss that I should have had another surgery because it would have been easier. It would have been but I wasn't look for easy, I was looking for healthy. I think the Lapband is the healthiest option.

Wishing you success!

Hi everyone! I'm so glad I found this website and became part of it.
I'm 48 years old and have struggled with my weight my entire life. I've been on so many diets in the past 30 years, always losing and ALWAYS gaining it back and with a few extra pounds. Being only 5' tall is even harder because when I put on 5 pounds it's kind of noticeable. In April of 2011 I was at my all time high of 223 lbs. NEVER have I weighed that much in all my life. I was so depressed and disgusted with myself! So I decided to do Slimfast (once again) and practically starve myself and exercise my butt off (never quite did that...lol) and the weight came off...temporaily. I lost 30 lbs and was feeling pretty good about myself but once I got tired of drinking shakes and started to eat like a "normal person", noticed my clothes getting tight again. So come April as I weighed myself for work (manditory) I was back up to 210. So depressed. I had been considering lap band for a while but the bariatric consultant told me back in 2010 (when I weighed about 185-190) that I didn't meet the criteria even though I was in the 35+ BMI category and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. I decided to try again. Went to the seminar and made an appointment once again to see the bariatric consultant. Woo-hoo!!! This time, I qualify!!! I'm very excited and happy. But I'm at the very beginning of my journey and I have to wait until I finish my 3 month medically supervised diet (after I was told I qualified and got all my paperwork, I started making phone calls and setting up appt that same day...so excited!). So far I got my blood work done and saw my PCP and she started me on my 3 month diet. I'm waiting to hear from the surgeon's office so they can set me up on my surgical consult and then I can make appt. to see the nutritionist and get my psych consult. I am going to make sure I do EVERYTHING EXACTLY the way I have to so I can get approved by my insurance company (Medcost). I am praying that everything works out for me. Reading all the posts on this site is so incouraging for me, it gives me hope. And I LOVE the before and after photos. I look at them constantly to remind myself that I can be at my goal weight one day and look and feel wonderful!!!

Hi, I am Yvonne. I had my surgery on March 9th and think I am doing ok. I am not in the green zone yet but hope to be soon. My highest known weight was 296 but currently 255. What pushed me to have the surgery was getting dianosised with Diabetes in Oct. 2011. I had been thinking about the surgery since my youngest sister had the surgery 2 yrs ago but never thought "I needed it". I thought I could do it myself but I have failed all the diets I've tried. I was turned down by 2 doctors, they told me I was too fat. I was determined to check out one more dr and go with their decision. Dr. Carcamo agreed to do the lapband. Now, I am down 255, a little over 2 months after surgery. My name on MFP is weightloss_dreamer if anyone wants to add me.

Hi, my name is Holly and I had my lapband surgery on Feb 4, 2011. Weighing in at 235 in December 2010, I about died when I saw the scale. My mom had offered to pay for my surgery back in November 2009 right after my brother had the surgery done. After accepting the # displayed on the scale I knew something drastically had to change. Sitting on my couch and having a hard time tying my shoe I decided to take her up on her offer. It was at my family Christmas dinner that I told my hubby and kids that my mom was giving me the best Christmas gift ever! My mom truly is my guardian angel on earth.
All of my friends were definitely supportive, some jealous wishing they too can have it done. Then some would say, " I would never be able to do that because I wouldn't be able to eat such and such anymore". Well, honestly I don't feel it was such a drastic change from what I was eating before. Sure, I eliminated the bread and Pasta which was a HUGE part of my diet. But I still enjoy my past sauce with meatballs. I will have bread if I am at a restaurant and enjoy every bite of it! I eliminated the chips I used to stuff down everyday in the afternoon before having dinner. I still have chips though, but they aren't an everyday food choice for me.
Lapband was definitely the best choice for me. I know I will maintain my success, there is NO GOING BACK! I am accountable to myself, my doctor who I still see monthly, and to my friends here on LBT and MFP. Even though we don't know each other in the real world, I enjoy when I see your profile pics pop up on a post! I say to myself, "Hey, that's my friend!"
We are here to support each other and cheer each other on! I know that the support circle I have made with my lapband journey is what has made me successful. If you are on myfitnesspal, please add me. My user name is holbraden.

Hi everyone! My name is Katie.... I was banded 3/22/12. My highest weight was 300.2 lbs (Jan. 2012). I have always been a horrible emotional eater and an unhealthy two year relationshiph completely sent me over the edge and I ballooned up to my highest weight ever. I ditched the ex in December and made the decision to focus on me and stop literally kiling myself. I feel like having this surgery was one of the best decisions I've ever made and I would do it all over again if I had to.
I'm still learning about the band and how to make it work for me. I have had one fill (1.5cc) since surgery and I do feel restriciton but feel I am able to over eat at times. Myfitnesspal has been a lifesaver for keeping track of calories and Protein. I'm not really sure what my goal weight is and am just basing it on how I look and feel.... honestly I can't imagine what I would like under 220 lbs because its been so long.
My myfitnesspal name is ktlynn447... feel free to add me. The more support the better!

Hi Everyone my name is Tammy. I am a 44 year old Mom of 3 and I was banded on May 18, 2012 yep two days ago. My highest weight must have been 200lbs. But for a while I ignored the scales. When I did get on them it was 199 and I freaked out that was in 2003 and I went on Atkins and lost 50lbs, but like most I put it all back on because I had no tool to stop me. Over the last 8 years I have done most of the big diets out there. My wake up call came last year when I was diagnosed with sleep apna, PCOS and told I was morbidly obese. That is a slap in any woman's face but I also saw My ex husband (father of my boys). Died at the age of 44 of liver cancer on Christmas Eve 2011 and I decided that I am going to loose this 60lbs I have been toting around. My sons need a healthy Mom who is around from them. It also helps me a lot that I met the love of my life in 2009 (on eharmony) and we were married in 2011! I have a wonderful Husband and I want to grow old with him! My doctor has put my goal weight at 128. I am 5' 3". My goal is to be healthy, I haven't picked a weight but I am giving myself small goals... 1st is to get through the next few days and I hope to be 10lbs lighter in 30 days. I started preop diet at 187 and day of surgery I was 180. I would be happy to see 170 again. Honestly I can't imagine 140 yet its been too many years...
Myfitnesspal name is azhoselady...... please feel free to add me! I find I really need this support more than I thought I would.

Quote: You are your own worst critic. Don't listen to the inner dialogue that continues to put you down despite your success. Because it won't suddenly start happening once you get plastic surgery. Choose to Celebrate your achievements now.
Well said!

No offense taken. My choice to have the lap band was because I did not want to alter my internal organs, meaning I did not want the gastric bypass because I did not want to by pass my stomach and I did not want the sleeve because I did not want to loss 2/3 of my stomach. That being said, my MD wanted me to have the sleeve because I had bad knees due to joint issues with my weight and he was afraid I would not be able to exercise. I wanted the band and there was no talking me out of it, I told my MD, you give me the tool and I will be successful. I was not able to exercise during my first 60lb loss and I have injured myself at about the one year mark and had to have knee surgery. I do not regret my choice it has been the right choice for me. I have lost 103 lbs and have only 17 left to loss. My results are not typical and the web sites will tell you that surgeons consider you successful if you loss 60% of the weight. That number was not good enough for me, I want to lose 90% or more of my weight. As you see I am very determined and have remained focused during this past 19 months. It is a personal choice and you and only you can make the decision. Look at all the pros and cons of all the surgery's and know with lap band you are going to lose the weight slower than with gastric bypass. I am 19 months post op and not at goal yet and I did sit at 175 lbs from July last summer until I had a fill this Jan 2012 and started losing again. Good luck in which ever choice you make.

Agree with both posts your surgeon is your best bet for which will work for you. There is also a third option you did not mention, Gastric Sleeve. I strongly suggest you attend a WL Seminar in your area so you can make an informed decision. Meeting and talking to experts can help you make the right decision for your personal weight loss journey. This is a life changing decision and you need to make it with your doctor. Good luck to you.

Now let me preface this by saying I'm glad I had my body lift and my BA, coz they did make a difference in the way I perceive myself. But I just thought I'd add that when I was big, I focussed on my weight, when I lost it, I focussed on my excess skin, when I got rid of that, I focussed on my lost boobs, and when I got a BA, I started focussing on my thighs, and my teeth, and my... well you get the picture.
I then realised that it's human nature to always pick out the worse things in yourself and think that's what makes you 'you'. I remember being overweight and thinking if I got to 160lbs I would feel perfect. But it doesn't happen that way. You always find something wrong with yourself. You're never happy.
But you have to decide if that rules your life or not. I exchanged excess skin for significant scarring. I remember telling a good friend after my body lift that I didn't know whether trading excess skin was worth looking like Frankenstein in hindsight, and she said, do you realise that no one cares about that but you? And she was right. No one did.
You are your own worst critic. Don't listen to the inner dialogue that continues to put you down despite your success. Because it won't suddenly start happening once you get plastic surgery. Choose to Celebrate your achievements now.

Amen! On your comment,"WLS is the easy way out." I think this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I also lost the majority of my weight without hitting my sweet spot. But I am there now and it is totally different than the first half of this journey. I now have learned what soft stops are and how to recognize them. When I feel the first twinge of fullness in the back of my throat, that is my clue to back away from the plate. I still measure and weigh portions but depending on the day is whether I can eat those portions. I think if I had been in my sweet spot all the time it would have been more difficult, this delay has giving me time to adjust to my new life and healthy eating. Thanks for the articles, I love reading and learning from your experience and incite.

Good luck to you, I am glad you didn't give up. Weight loss is hard, I put it right up there with other addictive problems like alcohol and drugs. Unless you have lived it no one can identify with what we feel and all the trials and tribulations we go through on our journey to try and be healthy. I wish you success and keep us updated on your success. Do not get discourage, seeking help is half the battle and we want to succeed.

I have been really enjoying "Love the New Me"'s posts. Thank you for sharing so much of what you have learned with us. I thought it was time for another update from me. I was banded in early November, 2010, and spent a lot of time 'stuck' after a 30 lb weight loss. I suspected that the fact that I was getting no exercise, due to a very bad knee, had a lot to do with this situation, and I believe I was correct.
On February 16th, I had a total knee replacement (right knee). It hurt for weeks, recovery was tough, but now I am nearing the end of my Physical Therapy sessions and starting to take up the exercise opportunities I have. I have lost an additional 8 lbs. since surgery and expect this to increase as I'm able to walk, stationary bike, do Water aerobics (first time this week) and so on.
I completely agree with the reality that you have to change your eating habits and let go of the behaviors that drove them. This is an evolving process for me: realizing that, as I walk into the kitchen at 9 PM, I'm really NOT hungry and therefore don't need to be there...finding things that are crunchy to satisfy me, that aren't chips and dip. It all takes practice, and time. But it does happen.
My husband and I have found that when we go out, it really does work for us to get an appetizer, a salad, and an entree (and maybe a dessert) and share them. I have a few bites, he eats the rest. It works (and saves money, too). When I was thinking about having this surgery I could never believe that such a plan would satisfy me. That a serving of Protein the size of a deck of cards would satisfy me. But it's true, and it does. It takes time.
But oh, is it worth it!
Best wishes to all,
Deb WS

I was happy to read that you are working with a therapist to address your continuing issues with food. Though your weight loss has progressed impressively, your relationship and beliefs about food do not seem to have made the same rate of progress.

Revising your thinking about food, and the requirements for your diet with your band has to happen before you can truly be in a different place emotionally. I have never felt that having to chew many times, taking small bites, and restricting the type of foods I can have were an imposition, or that I was "missing out" with the changes I chose to make with eating. These action items were part of what I still consider to be the opportunity to have better health.

I had to wait an extra year for my surgery for a variety of reasons, none of which were planned or avoidable, so when I was finally cleared medically, I had no reservations to proceed. I believe that most bandsters have some pre-op questions to themselves about if they are making the right choice. There is no easy answer, but I believe that the answer is tied to one's priorities.

At the Southern Woman's Show 2 summers ago, I had the good fortune to encounter someone who had been banded the previous fall. She helped me place my concerns in the proper perspective: which is more important to you? Being able to eat anything you want to for your meals covering several minutes a day during meals, or having some rules for those meals which require attention and mindful eating? It was a no brainer after that for me.

We should eat to live, not the other way around. The longer you hold onto your flawed thinking, the more of a negative attitude towards diet compliance you will have.

The things you mentioned that you disliked are the same things which got most all of us to the point where we had bariatric surgery. You cannot expect a sustained weight loss without increasing resentment towards compliance unless you redefine for yourself what your relationship with food needs to be.

You have done so well with your weight loss...I hope you modify your beliefs about food. and let go of the ones which got you to your band surgery. Food is not your friend...and in many ways one can be addicted to food in the same way as one can be to drugs or co-dependent relationships.

Wishing you continued success with your weight loss journey.

I do occassionaly miss certain foods but than remember how I got to where I was. If I could have continued to eat that food and lose weight I would not have had surgery. I need my band to keep me from back sliding to the old me, How I feel and look now outways all the bread and Pasta in the world.

I sorta agree with above post, working lap band can be difficult at times. It really does require you to learn to work the program. I have lost 96 lbs and I did not lose that weight just because I had lap band. The lap band is my new conscious, it makes me think before I eat and requires me to make a conscious decision about what I put in my body. There are no alarms, no bells and whistles. If I want to eat junk, believe me I can eat junk and it always goes down when Protein will not. If I am having a difficult day eating like today for example, I have to work extra hard at making sure I get in my protein. I do not regret my surgery it has given me the tools and is teaching me to be accountable for my life and all of my decisions good or bad. Good luck to you, just remember to have a positive attitude and know that if you do this you need to walk into it with your eyes wide open.

i have been banded since 10/2010, I set small goals along the journey. First was to be obese and not morbidly obese, next goal is to be classified as overweight not obese. Not that I am just slightly to the overweight side of the pendulum I would like to be at a healthy BMI of 25 as long as it is below 30. My BMI is currently 30.2. Best advice is like stated above set mini goals along the journey. Looking at a long term goal can be very overwhelming when starting out. Good Luck!