JackiFL

I have maintained my weight loss within 10 lbs.up or down, for about 6 years now (size 6). I keep asking myself why have I been so successful?
I was never in a hurry to lose the weight. I only averaged 5 or 6 lbs per month. I never had a goal and got smaller then I ever thought I would, (nice surprise).
I got very small fills. I took allmost a year to get to good restriction.
I wasn't too hard on myself if I cheated. I cheated a lot, I still do and have learned this is part of who I am. Ha!, tomorrow is another day.
I followed my doctors rules the first several months. It was hard, but I did it.
I never compared myself to anyone elses success or failure.
I exercised ( as little as possible) but I did it and still do (as little as possible).
I learned what my food triggers are, this was a hard one to overcome.
I learned to replace my craviings for sweet and chocolate and fat with low calorie, low fat recipes. (I can't live without chocolate).
I learned to eat slowly and chew well, this took over a year to master.
I learned when I go out to eat, about 2 or 3 times a month to totally enjoy my food, to eat whatever I want including dessert, and not count calories or worry about
portions. To enjoy the atmosphere and the company I am with.
I learned if I had a bad day, eating or otherwise, it will pass and tomorrow is a new beginning. Sometimes it was a bad week.
I didn't need anyone to validate my success. No one knows I had this done. Not even my family. So no one to judge me good or bad.
I learned I now have a great track record and most likely this will continue.
For me losing the weight was not a body image issue, it was a health issue. However being thin has been a nice side effect.
Hope this post will encourage some.

When this aunt isn't making unkind remarks to you does she get her jollies from pulling the wings off butterflies? Honey,if you will pardon a usually dignified older lady's language, f**k your aunt and the mule she rode in on. Toss the scale into the closet for a couple of weeks, use the mirror to reflect a smile and pride in your accomplishment, and concentrate on "hell yeah, amazing job."
To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." She also said, "When you know to laugh and when to look upon things as too absurd to take seriously, the other person is ashamed to carry through even if he was serious about it."
Next time the Wicked Witch of the East makes a nasty remark to you, laugh outloud at her. She really is ridiculous, you know.

First and foremost, this is not written to offend anyone or upset anyone. I log in daily every morning for motivation. I understand that not everyone is a complete success with the lap band. However, I believe that if they look deep inside and evaluate the situation, they will see that the majority of the time the fault lies within. Of course there will be some where the band simply didn't work, but I believe that is the first excuse people throw when they don't see the weight coming off and staying off as they hope for. We all are different and will all lose weight at different speeds. I'm 17 months post op and have been a slow but steady loser. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want it lose it very fast. But for me, slow and steady seems to be the way my body and the band are working and I'm good with that. Every pound lost is one pound the right direction. However, for the people who say that they hate it...that their doctor lied to them... that they want it taken out and gone...can you do it without it?? If so, why in the world did you get it in the first place? From my experience, this is so much more of a mental journey than a physical one. If you absolutely hate your band and wish you have never done the surgery, that is your decision and I will respect that. However, I just don't want to continually read over and over again that the band failed someone. It is a simple medical device, that is all.

Had this procedure done aug of 2011. 80 pounds down from highest weight 70 from surgery date(and I only need to lose 18 more). 8 months out and So far so good. Very good in fact.

4 1/2 years later, I finally had my tummy tuck done on Oct 12th. I knew that eventually I would have a tummy tuck but I did not want to have it done until I was closer to my goal weight. The last 25lbs were the hardest to lose, but I made it! I am so happy with my tummy tuck results! I hope the pics post okay.
Happy and Healing! :success1:

Okay, so I had my surgery on December the 9th the first few days I was pretty bad. The following day after surgery I went back to the hospital because i literally felt that I was going to faint! Anyways they kept me over night and was released the next day each day I feel better and better which I am so greatful for!
Sometimes I get painful pain on my top left abdomen when I get hiccups, but like I said each day os better!
So Here I am more than a week post op and I am down 19 pounds! Starting from 286 to now 267 is this normal? Am I loosing weight too fast?