Michele1975

Glad to hear it went well! I have my first fill tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about it too much! Hopefully it will go well!

I wanted to jump in and let you know all these are possible... I was doing this list 19 months ago and I am living the possibilities now. I am shopping at regular stores and loving it. I sit in plane seats and don't feel like im gonna take out the person next to me with a part of my body. I can breath when I walk and climb stairs. I can tie my shoes in the middle now. I can wear jeans and feel comfortable in them all day instead of wanting to take them off after 15 minutes.
the list goes on...
the only thing I can't do is do the bikini, but I don't look to shabby in a one piece :-)
keep up the great work everyone, you WILL get there!!!!

I lost my mother, grandmother and grandson in 2009. I turned 50 in 2010 and decided it was time. Having been overweight my entire adult life I just wanted to be thin and healthy.I have never lacked confidence and have a successful career and marriage even tho I was a fat girl... Actually I never felt being fat hampered me in any way. But looking back it may have. I think I overcompensated for the fat by being smarter, funnier, the best at work etc....
I would be lying if I said that shopping for clothes and having an endless selection of cute outfits to wear isn't fun... It's a lot more fun then stretchy clothes and over shirts purchased from catalogs! And fitting into any chair, airline seat or bathroom stall makes me feel great. The fuss everyone makes about my weight loss is incredibly flattering....
My BMI went from 55 to 25. I can walk without sweating. I can climb more than 5 stairs without stopping. My blood pressure is normal. I am now in a size 10 on the bottom and 6-8 on the top. I am still happy...
But I really just did this because I wanted to know what life as a thin person felt like. So now I know and I can promise you I like it a lot better.

I want to be able to buy clothes somewhere other than plus-sized shops. I want to go for a walk and be able to not be out of breath. I want to walk down the hallway without my thighs rubbing together.
Mostly, I want some random guy to check me out...I don't know that I've ever been 'checked out' before and I would like for someone, just once, to make me feel sexy. Yes, I'm married and no, I wouldn't ever cheat on my Husband, but just once for someone to think I'm sexy enough to glance at would be nice.

The clothes that fit , the 1 pill a day down from 6, breathing,compliments , liking myself , But most of all getting a handle on what food really is for ...it is to nourish your body not to solve your emotions . Thats what motivates me to never go back to being the jolly fat lady in the room.
I have finally succeeded in the one thing that defeated me for years and nothing else I achieved from professional success to motherhood , to 40 years of a good marriage measures up to knowing that I faced my personal weakness and beat it and now I can find joy in everything. Overeating was my greatest battle , and I am motivated to never let it defeat me again...

Thank you both soooo much!!! I really needed to hear that!

Knee high boots over skinny jeans.
High heels with skinny heels, not wedges

So easy, so moist and delicious!!!
1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)
1/4 c. Franks Red Hot Sauce
1/4 c. Grated Parmesan cheese
Makes 8 small patties. Coat pan with nonstick cooking spray and cook on medium high heat, approx 7 minutes each side.
So yummy!!! Enjoy!!

So easy, so moist and delicious!!!
1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)
1/4 c. Franks Red Hot Sauce
1/4 c. Grated Parmesan cheese
Makes 8 small patties. Coat pan with nonstick cooking spray and cook on medium high heat, approx 7 minutes each side.
So yummy!!! Enjoy!!

Knee high boots over skinny jeans.
High heels with skinny heels, not wedges

I completely agree.....
1. That before/after pics are very inspiring and I hope we get to see more!
And
2. That Jenny looks amazing!

My doctor says that is a very risky move. The procedure causes everything to swell up. If he "filled" the band there is a possibility that combined with the swelling it could close off completely. And since there is no way to predict how much a person will swell up from surgery nor how much restriction that person will need, it is a very risky move----one he'd rather avoid.

My doctor says that is a very risky move. The procedure causes everything to swell up. If he "filled" the band there is a possibility that combined with the swelling it could close off completely. And since there is no way to predict how much a person will swell up from surgery nor how much restriction that person will need, it is a very risky move----one he'd rather avoid.

My nutritionist always says that it isn't necessary to eat "breakfast" foods in the morning. She recommends something high in protein.....
Chili
Turkey/cheese roll-ups
Cottage cheese
chicken breast
Etc.

Knee high boots over skinny jeans.
High heels with skinny heels, not wedges

My nutritionist always says that it isn't necessary to eat "breakfast" foods in the morning. She recommends something high in protein.....
Chili
Turkey/cheese roll-ups
Cottage cheese
chicken breast
Etc.

I did it! I was banded this morning at 9am, discharged by 1:30pm. Came home took a 2hr nap and now I'm working on my first Protein shake while watching a movie.

Oh hon, I'm sorry.....it is really hard, isn't it? Drug addiction is ver different than food addiction.....we don't need drugs to live, but we do need food. That makes it very difficult. It sounds like you, like many of us, use food for comfort when you are feeling bad/mad/sad emotionally. I know I do. In order to be successful with the band, we need to find other ( healthy) ways to deal with our emotions.
I'm proud of you for looking up the calories. You faced the truth instead if just "assuming" it was healthy. There are a lot of people who dont do that and then the complain the band doesn't work.
I know I am going to work on other coping mechanisms. Going for a walk, journaling, drinking a cup if tea/coffee.....things that will help me process my emotions without putting me in a downward spiral........like a binge would.
Good luck to you. Remember that when you make a mistake, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start over.

This Friday is my big day!!!! I am so excited!!! I need to do some shopping this week and get stocked up. I have to do Clear liquids on Thursday so I'm going to make some yummy homemade chicken broth. (always better than store bought)
I took all of next week off and am preparing done small craft projects to keep me occupied during my recovery. I know I'll get bored with TV/movies/Internet pretty quick.
I just can't wait!!!!

I'm very excited to have my date scheduled!!!! I think of that day as my new birthday, because I'll be starting anew and essentially will be reborn!

This Friday is my big day!!!! I am so excited!!! I need to do some shopping this week and get stocked up. I have to do Clear liquids on Thursday so I'm going to make some yummy homemade chicken broth. (always better than store bought)
I took all of next week off and am preparing done small craft projects to keep me occupied during my recovery. I know I'll get bored with TV/movies/Internet pretty quick.
I just can't wait!!!!

In my personal opinion/experience, it's the red hits and chocolate that are feeding your desire for more sugar. I believe I have a sugar addiction. When I eat the tiniest amount of sugar, I want MORE and MORE! Even a red hot could make me lose control. It's like any addiction, I can't do "just a little" and remain in control.
You may need to break your addiction ( if you think you have one) by stopping cold turkey. After a few days the cravings will stop and you won't crave it again, until you have another taste of a high-sugary food. FYI ----carbs trigger my addiction as well, because the body recognizes them as sugars. So no white food for me: Pasta, bread, potatoes, crackers, chips, etc.
Something to consider......best wishes!

What inspiration!! Thank you for sharing!

My surgery was actually on my birthday, August 14th!