momab50

I had not been able to get into a size 16 in over 13 yrs I went last week and bought me a pair they didnt zip but i layed them on my dresser and last night when i couldnt sleep i tried them on and YES they are tight and YES i wouldnt wear them just yet but they ZIP!!! and i didnt even have to lay on the bed to get them to zip..... A huge Huge Huge .. NSG for me...... I had to share.

Today i measured for the first time inches gone. And its 23 inches off my abd, hips, upper legs, upper arms and chest. Gone.... Thats nearly 2 feet of me that isnt there anymore. THat to me is pretty exciting!!!!

Yes others in the group seem to have gone silent. I do hope they are all doing well and just lurking in the shadows. Seems like ppl are viewing the posts and just choose not to share. That's ok too. Maybe our posts help them as well.
I hope so, too.
I'm baaaaack!!!!
There was a time when I would weigh myself everyday and then I just decided to stop. Wasn't easy but my mood for the day was based on a number. Ended up more often depressed because it didn't seem to matter how hard I tried, the scale wouldn't budge. Now I swing between daily weigh ins and waiting a few days before I step on. Seems to help and I try very hard to Celebrate even the smallest loss.
I wish I didn't feel compelled to weigh every day. The humidity is back up this morning, and so is my weight. I can tell I am losing, though, by the fit of my clothes. Or at least that is what I am telling myself. There is no possible way that I could be gaining when I am limiting my calorie intake and walking 10 miles daily.
I like this idea of replying to posts within the post!
Since my surgery I've had a lot of time to think about my own self image. I've lost almost 30 lbs and not one person other than my sisters (who are aware I had WLS) have noticed.
I do understand and am experiencing the same thing. Only one person outside of my immediate family has commented on my weight loss.
I have a story to share along these lines... Last fall many of my co-workers knew I was working with Dean Comprehensive Weight Mgmt Program. A few were very supportive, most said nothing (didn't bother me at all) and another told me one day when I had lost about 20 lbs that she had not noticed any difference. I know her personality and it was not meant to be mean and I didn't take it that way but I was still like "WTF??? Why would you say that to someone? If you don't notice you don't need to say anything at all!" After I had lost about 30 she did mention she could tell I was losing weight.
I've had to question why this bothers me. Am I more concerned with how others see me, or is my own self image more important. Have I not lost enough for it to even be noticeable?
I have wondered exactly the same thing.
For me most people did not start to say things until I had lost about 50 lbs. I started at (5'4") 270 lbs. so I'm guessing the heavier you are the longer it takes for people to notice. It seems like after you hit a certain point more and more people start commenting on your weight loss. I think sometimes they are just not really sure what is different about you and afraid to say something just in case the accidentally insult you.
The questions and self doubt can consume me if I let them. I did this for me, not for others and how they see me. I want to feel good in my own skin. Move around without the burden of 50 extra pounds dragging me down. No one but me felt that. They may have seen it, but they didn't feel it. I haven't shared my surgery with hardly anyone, thank goodness.
I have shared my surgery with very few people. Mainly because I feared yet another failure. I, too, did it for myself...for my health primarily but my self-esteem has also improved.
I think most of you know I have shared my journey/surgery with just about everyone who will listen. For me I have decided this is a good way for me to stay accountable. I understand this is not an approach that will work for everyone. I am sure to tell people it is only a tool and I can still gain all the weight back if I do not use it correctly.
As you know I'm a hair stylist so I work with people everyday. I may only see my clients once every 6 weeks but many times during the year. We share and over time bond with our clients. I found it amazing how the over weight clients seemed to bond with me. We had something in common. On the other hand, my skinny minnies would avoid taking to me about things like their diet or exercise programs feeling like I couldn't relate. Sadly, I can relate to both sides as I wasn't always this heavy. It will be funny to see how this shifts as my body changes. I'll be the same person I am now, but I know I will be treated differently by both groups.
I understand exactly what you are saying. I am already treated differently and have wondered if it has to do with my improved self-confidence. Maybe people treat me differently now because I am somewhat less reserved and give them more of an opportunity to interact with me and be nice to me. As an adult, I wasn't treated badly when I was obese (given two exceptions) but rather it was more like I was invisible.
There are a few people who treat me better now that I have lost weight....not people I cared much for before...so I take it with a grain of salt. I second the invisible feeling.
I won't even start about the whole dating scene. That's a whole layer cake of dysfunction. Sadly, our society sees heavier people as being weak which is anything but true.
You are definitely right about our society. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be to navigate the dating scene today.
I have been married 22 years...I think we could use some counseling. We get along fine but some things are greatly lacking, even with the weight loss...That's all I will say.
We are each determined in our own ways, far stronger than we give ourselves credit for and should be proud of our smallest accomplishment. Yep, I'm proud of my loss but perhaps I need to focus not on what the numbers are but on who I am becoming in this process. I think we will all grow differently on this journey but I feel each of us with transform not only physically but mentally as well. It will be enlightening to watch and share.
You've summed up well how I feel. I've lost weight before, lots of weight each time, only to gain it back. This time will hopefully be different from the standpoint that we now have the tool that will help us do our part so that we can stay on-track and consequently not get caught up in a vicious failure cycle.
I am also on somewhat of a spiritual journey with this WLS journey so I can relate to transforming mentally as well as physically.
Ok, maybe too much coffee this morning and too much alone time to reflect and ramble. Time for Julz to shut down her mind and move into her day.
I enjoyed your reflections. Have a terrific evening!
A great post to come back to after my hiatus!
Back to your regularly scheduled program
cheerio my friends,
j~

Mentally, I'm at a low spot right now, and I am about to write a whiny post, which I don't like to do. I am normally a positive person, but I am also realistic and "choosing my attitude" doesn't seem to be working for me, so I am hoping for some encouragement.
I am hungry almost all of the time, though I am following all of my guidelines. And it's not mind hunger because I do feel full for an hour or two after I eat. I am doing lots of exercise but the scale isn't budging, and I am questioning why when I am working so hard.
Frankly, if my surgeon doesn't give me a fill the next time, I am going to tell him I have been questioning why I even had WLS. If it weren't for the scars on the surface of my stomach area, I sometimes temporarily forget that I have been banded. On one hand, I am happy that I am having no physical problems as a result of WLS. And I truly didn't expect to be "cured" of my hunger issues. However, I obviously did anticipate life would be easier with the band than without or I wouldn't have pursued surgery.
I have seriously been considering taking a Phentermine tablet to help get me through this. On the day of my surgery, when I questioned whether I could still take it after surgery, my surgeon said I could, but I could tell he didn't want me to. He said I wouldn't need to. Therefore, I don't want to let him down. My goal is to make it to my next doctor appointment, which is July 27, without an appetite suppressant.
I am hoping each day for a weight loss. I know I shouldn't weigh every morning when I am in a slump like this, but I'm obsessed with the scale; normally it is a great motivator when I am working hard. I got up to walk this morning at 4:30 so I could get my 10 miles in before the heat becomes unbearable, but as we all know, it's so hard to stay motivated to exercise when the scale isn't moving. Hopefully, it will happen soon.
I am done ranting (just writing about my frustration has helped) and do have a question. How much of a difference did the first fill make in your hunger? Could you tell a slight difference or nothing at all? I understand this will vary from person to person due to the many variables. On the day of my surgery, my surgeon said it would likely take six fills for me, so I am not expecting a huge difference. However, I do hope it's noticeable.
Thanks!

Had my Dr. appointment today, can not believe i lost 3.8 lbs i am shoked my scales at home had not moved all month. Needless to say i didnt get my butt chewed he was very happy with my progress. I did get a fill of .5 so now i have 2.5 cc in my band. Back on liquids for 24 hours than soft foods for another 24. maybe if i work real hard this month i can met make another bench mark, and get my turtle bead.

Spiritual Meaning of a Turtle: Take your time in your pursuits. Trust in Mother Earth. You will have what you need.
I'm starting to really love turles

Hi Deb, cant being so quiet on here, know what you mean about head hunger, thats probaley been my problecause em all alone the see food diet. Eat because it looks good not because i am hungery. knew the band wasnt going to help that is something i just have to work on, but was hoping that the band wouldnt let me eat the whole cake that just a litttle would work.
when i went in for my second dr visit he didnt give me a fill, i have only had 1 at 2cc. He said that i was losing weight and my hunger was under control that i didnt need one. ok no problem as long as i am going down, Even though i felt like i was still eating to much at my meals, he said it was ok as long as i am losing.
I go in for my 3rd visit on the 18, my weight has basiclly stayed the same for the last few weeks but i know thats from me not eating the proper foods, this month has been filled with all kinds of extra activity (birthdays, 4th of july, birthdays)(cake, ice cream,all kinds of deaserts)so what i am trying to say is i dont know if i will get a fill or if i am going to get my butt chewed for not behaving. lol
Have a good week all

Having those experiences certainly makes you look at food differently. I LOVE Pasta but I sure don't crave it anymore.

nom nom nom

I am a long way from being at my goal. But i have noticed i am getting smaller. Clothes fit diffrent. I look diffrent in the mirror. I feel diffrent when i walk (the feel diffrent is a biggie) I have ppl walking up all the time telling me they can see the diffrence. Yes i am growing skinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turtling on!!!!!!!!!!!11

I've always been addicted to the scale. I still am. I weigh myself at least twice a day. They're just numbers and it helps keep me in line with where I want to go. How can you get to where you want to be if you don't know where you are?
The scale lets me know every day if I made good or bad choices in physical activities and food choices. Did that package of sunflower seeds make me gain 2 lbs of Water due to sodium? Did my 20 mile bike ride correct that mistake? If I cut out carbs for 3 days does it reflect in the scale?
Did I reach a new low so I can change my ticker? I pine over my ticker running to the right. He can't run to the right if I don't know where he's going. Don't sweat the small daily setbacks unless they turn into larger weekly setbacks. No one wants to wait a week to get on the scale and find out they gained 7 lbs? Make the correction before it gets out of hand. Use the scale as a tool to help you manage your food choices. It works for me and I've never understood how or why people obssess over gaining a few lbs over one day. It's just Water weight. No one gains 2-4 lbs of fat in one day and no one losses 2-4 lbs of fat in one day unless you're a marathon runner.
tmf

down another .6 oz. I'll take it. I want to get below 190 by next week. That's only 1.6 lbs. Wish me luck!

Ok we are all in bandster hell. We had all heard bout it. Thing my dr told me is my first fill will only get me in the neighborhood of where i need to be. 2nd fill get me to my street and the 3rd fill should get me home. I am going to look at that and not let these few first mos get me upset. We did not gain this weight over night we wont lose it over night. Its not an automatic cure for us. I know its hard to keep our heads up and not be upset by not losing alot but fact is we are losing no matter if its slow. We gotta keep together and help each other through this stage so we can all be successful. As for the gastric bipass as a nurse no way i would have went that route. I have seen to many patients with problems from it. Also losing slow has a good part to it. It gives our skin time to shrink some. So lets look at that bright side. We are going to make it remember it wasnt the the hare who won the race but the turtle!! SO lets go turtles!!!

Just wantted to share a few victorys with my banded friends.
first off i carry most of my weight in my hips and legs. i have big calfs and have always wantted to be ableto wear knee high boots, after my shower this mornning i was able to get my hand around my calfs, dont know if i can wear boots yet but maybe by fall.
Second sale victory the scales read 190.1 this mornning.
thanks for letting me share.

He had trouble hitting the port with the needle so wasnt as comfortable as i had hoped. it didnt really hurt just uncomfortable stinging when he was trying to enter the port. He has promised wont be as hard next time. I was very scared of being over filled so i may have been able to been a little tighter but with my dr being 2 1/2 hours away i was determined not to be to tight. I ended up with 2 cc in my band and i feel fine. Back on liquids for the next 48 hours. According to my scale i had not lost anything this week but the dr scale said i had lost 4 lbs in the 2 weeks since i last saw him. I go back July 5th for my next fill. He told me this fill gets us in the neigborhood of where i need to be, next fill will get me on the right street and the 3rd fill should do it. I hope so.

Hi all i am 2 days post op and feeling preaty good. haven't had any pain meds but for the day of surgery. yesterday just managed with liquid ibuprofin only a little sore just getting up and down is the only time i hurt. Have a little gas pain in my chest but its tolerable. Was told to take a dose of MOM as soon as i got home and it worked wonders helped move the gas right on out . Nauseated when i got home but they had given me a rx for liquid phenagren to rub on my rist stopped the nausea almost immediaetly. Now if i could just get rid of this sinus headach i would be almost 100%

my new life starts tomorrow morning. Im i nervouse, yes, am i excited, yes. you name it and thats me right now. See you all on the other side.

Finally the wait is over . I GOT MY DATE april 12 7AM. will do my pre-op next week. now it feels real.I can hardly wait i am so excited

Ok, so as many of you know I am scheduled to have my surgery on April 2nd in Mexico. I'm self pay and have no issues going into Mexico.
I'm having Dr. Ortiz @ Obesity Control Center preform my surgery and they have sent me link to watch webinars. I found a video of the surgery I will be having.
While it's NOT easy to watch and not everyone wants or should to see something like this, I thought I would share it for those of you who might. I thought it was pretty cool and feel better about it now knowing exactly what will be done.

Hello All.
I am waiting for my date for my band but sure hoping its in April but if not then it will be in May. We started a group on here of ppl who are looking for support that are having a Spring 2012 banding. Its named Springsters. Would love to have more people who are going though this at the same time as I am to help along this wonderfull journey.