MadeinMO

96 lbs down in 9 months!! Only
35 to my goal!!

96 lbs down in 9 months!! Only
35 to my goal!!

96 lbs down in 9 months!! Only
35 to my goal!!

Banded 10/11/12.. Starting weight of 301.. Currently at 207.. Goal weight of 170!

Ask for the doggy bag up front, and leave only what seems to be your appropriate portion on your plate for the meail.

This journey has been such a god send but a struggle at the same time!! I was banded 10/11/12 and have lost 85 lbs to date!! I am Hoping to hit the 100 mark by my birthday 06/23, but won't get discouraged if I don't!! My struggle Is I know I look and feel better but when I look at my self in the mirror or go out I still see my big fat self!! I have recently started a new relationship and all I can think about is does he look at all my fat? How can I get past this?? Does it ever go away! Just needed to vent... Thanks!!

This journey has been such a god send but a struggle at the same time!! I was banded 10/11/12 and have lost 85 lbs to date!! I am Hoping to hit the 100 mark by my birthday 06/23, but won't get discouraged if I don't!! My struggle Is I know I look and feel better but when I look at my self in the mirror or go out I still see my big fat self!! I have recently started a new relationship and all I can think about is does he look at all my fat? How can I get past this?? Does it ever go away! Just needed to vent... Thanks!!

This journey has been such a god send but a struggle at the same time!! I was banded 10/11/12 and have lost 85 lbs to date!! I am Hoping to hit the 100 mark by my birthday 06/23, but won't get discouraged if I don't!! My struggle Is I know I look and feel better but when I look at my self in the mirror or go out I still see my big fat self!! I have recently started a new relationship and all I can think about is does he look at all my fat? How can I get past this?? Does it ever go away! Just needed to vent... Thanks!!

Feb 1st..243
Feb 23...238

I have 4..back left shoulder a Dolphin, back right shoulder 2 hearts and 2 flowers with my 2 oldest kids names in them, my astrological sign(cancer) on the back if my neck and then top of left foot is my youngest sons name!! And I actually would love to get another one..was thinking about this weekend actually...and I want the digits of my kids birthdays on the inside of my left wrist!

Yay...I'm super excited..everyone is doing so great!!!! Keep up the great work!!!

I eat a lot of salads with canned chicken on top for the protein...

Banded sept 17th 2012. Starting weight 290, now 223, so down 67. That includes the weight I lost on the 2 week pre-op liq diet

Hi all,
Wanted to show my before and after pictures, the new pict. is my most recent, at 204 lbs. My before pictures are there too, 3 weeks before surgery July 2004 at 351 lbs.

About 2 years ago I lost about 60 pounds half diet and exercise and the other half on the HCG diet which if any of you have done it know what a treat that diet really is. I put the weight back on. I was depressed and angry. I avoided ppl bc I didn't want them to see me fat again. Then one day I was carring my youngest down the stairs and my ankles started to give out. I thank God for the wall the caught my fall. I saw my sleeping daughter in my arms and cried and cried. Because of my weight and carelessness for my body I almost hurt myself but more importantly one of my babies. Im only 27 that should not be happening. My life as a future fat person flashed before my eyes and how I would not be able to play with my children or care for them. So I made an appt with in 2 days and about a month later I was banded. I made a commitment to myself to get healthy. Commitment to yourself you know when the time its right!

It's normal to feel that way..the closer I got to my start the more nervous I was and the more I started to doubt myself..I had a one week pre-op diet and lost 10 lbs. I was banded 10/11/12 and have since lost 38 more!! It's possible if you believe it and want it!! You can do it..don't give up!!

Greetings!
I haven't hit my 2 month anniversary yet, and I'm down 30 lbs. Here are some of the things I've gone through since considering this surgery, which actually has been a long time. Before having kids, I was basically thin, so to consider myself overweight was odd for me. I always thought it would be temporary. But my youngest is now 14, and its not temporary...!
First I knew, I wasn't going to tell anyone. Though, I believe it leaked at work. At first, I was upset about it, then figured, I don't really care what they think. Mostly, I keep to myself there anyways, and for the few I do know, I'll probably tell them. But outside of work, only my family at home know. And they have been wonderful in respecting my wishes of not telling anyone.
During my Pre-Op stage, I was on a stringent diet, as you may know. Prior to this, I was attempting to loose on my own, only to find i was sabotaging myself. What I mean was, I was really trying to do the pre-diet before it was time. I was adding milk, fruit and Peanut Butter to my Protein Shakes. Only to learn later, they make you hungry when doing the pre-diet. Once I eliminated the fruit, milk and peanut butter, oh and tomatoes from my diet...I was fine. These items apparently have carbs which - make you hungry...!!! I was doing my shakes, eating only protein...meat, fish, chicken, eggs, and cheeses, along with non-starchy veggies.
After surgery, sucking down an ice chip was a chore. I was sore. My back and tummy hurt. Everything I felt was normal. After the first week, I was slowly moving around nearly normal. Though, during this time it did make me realize, I really needed this. I guess I finally admitted to myself, I was not just overweight, but obese. Looking at my jeans....they are huge. Within that first week, I barely ate. Maybe I had 1/2 an egg, cottage cheese, or just a shake. By the time I saw the doctor for a follow up surgery visit, I had lost 15lbs! The feeling was immense, especially since my attempts of dieting had failed. I had wished, I would have known to skip the junk diet trends, and basically follow an Atkins diet, along with eliminating, milk, fruit, peanut butter and tomatoes. I can't help but wonder if I would be here now. Of course, you can say, "Eyesight is 20/20!" And, well, I am here now.
Moving forward, after feeling better from surgery, I don't know when the "hungeries" moved in my tummy. But they did. I have to admit, yes, I probably ate more than my regulated portion of Protein. I had to. But...I really did not deviate from the diet. And I have continued to loose. My pants became baggy, when before they were pretty snug, you know the kind of snug when you have to lie down on the bed to close them. My jammies felt as though they were 10 sizes to big for me. So, i attempted to try on a pair of jeans which were the next size smaller. They didn't fit. I couldn't help to think, what did i do wrong, or how was this even possible. Mind you this was just before Christmas.
I thought, I would have a problem during the holidays, and funny, I didn't. But, it was after the holidays which were harder. I had popcorn one day. The next day, I had some more popcorn. Popcorn, is hard for me to pass up. But, listening to my body, it was saying, "Don't eat the freaking popcorn!" It seemed after the second day, I encountered what I call, "the stuffies." I was constipated. Ugh! And yes, I was taking Fiber therapy prior to this. I had to find a softener to assist the therapy which wasn't working, or I should say was clogged.
Once the piping was cleared, I got back on track. Actually, for the few times, I "cheated", I ALWAYS got back on track. I know I'm not perfect. And I know, I have to indulge, sometimes. Even on my journey to getting thin. But, I didn't indulge, they way I used to. That was me, controlling that. Not the band. Mind you, I am not telling you to cheat or how to follow your instructions.
I have given up a lot. Quitting coffee prior to surgery was hard. But what was even harder, was eliminating carbonated beverages all together. I felt like a smoker, or alcoholic giving up their vice. After, a struggle. I did it. And I know, deep down inside, I can do this.
The band is a tool. Though, I have had only my first fill. My tool isn't in full gear. But in a little while, after a couple more fills, it will be. During this time, I need attempt to control myself. For the most part, I'm doing pretty good. Around this time I was down about 25 lbs.
After the New Years, I had a cookie. Oh wow, did that ever taste good. I think I unleashed a demon. I was tempted for another. I didn't today. But, I still wanted it. I didn't have it though. That is my control.
The next day, the little devil returned. I caved. I had a cookie, and another. Was I upset at myself? You betcha. And it showed. I stayed the same weight wise. Was I peeved? Oh yeah! I was almost depressed. I didn't weigh myself. And after a couple of days struggling here and there, nibbling on what I thought I wanted. I remembered, I needed to stay on track. (Mind you, i had not gorged, like I used to. Nibbling, meant a bite of one thing, and staying on the diet) I was mad that I had strayed. But looking overall at my diet, I basically did good.
And you know what? It showed. After a week of not weighing myself daily, I lost another 5lbs...!!!!!! I was 30 lbs down! I was so happy, because I was so upset by the stupid things I was doing. After seeing that, I had confidence. I made another attempt on trying the next size smaller jeans. Not only did they fit, I was able to zip them with no problems!!!! The next morning, I emptied my closet. I sifted and sorted everything by sizes. In the process, I removed ALL what was too big. Not only is my closet clean, it is roomier.
I'm not going back. Period.
Doing this was therapy. It also made me see, how skinny I was. Again...I had always thought this was temporary. But after so many years, it isn't.
I have new clothes, without the cost! Not as many choices, but enough to wait for the next size adjustment. The bigger bonus was my hubby taking me shopping for new pajamas. I did still keep the old jammies, but just for having some variety. I did not want to have to purchase something I will have to throw out. It felt marvelous. What a treat!!!
It also made me realize, I have a long way to go. But, I have made a couple of promises to myself. My first one is, after loosing enough to fit in the next size, I would remove the larger clothing and get rid of it. The second, is to allow a very small indulgence, get back on track, and don't feel guilty.
I'm down 30 lbs! Yes, possibly it could be a tad bit more, and this is ok.
So far during this time, I haven't exercised. I gave myself time to heal from the surgery. When I was healed, I somehow pulled my hamstring. This type of injury was very painful. I could barely walk. It's finally healed. I am going to start in the next day or so. Because of my injury, I already know I will take it slow. Once exercising is added, the weight should melt off more, this I know. But I am going to start. I'm planning on strength training along with walking or a type of cardio. I know, the strength training burns fat while not exercising, and that will be essential on melting the blubber and sautéing it into a leaner and meaner me!
Thanks for listening, for now. I'll be back...!

feeling amazing a year later 80lbs down and much healthier and happier than i was a year ago. for those of you who are still debating on the surgery i can tell you that i am extremely happy today that i had the surgery a year ago. words cant express how much my life has improved i look better i feel better and i am much healthier. the hard pre op diet and all the post op recovery is worth it and it pays off

Highest weight: 459
Day of surgery: 413ish (i think)
Since last weigh in on 12/17: 330
Banded in July 2012
Pre-op I stuck to protien shakes and low carb/high Protein dinners (mostly chicken and fish). After that, I followed the phases (liquids, mushies, soft solids,...). Nowadays, for the most part I follow a low carb diet, with cheater days every now and again (gotta shock the system!)
I don't consciously exercise much, but I do find myself more active without really thinking about it. Lovin' the banded life!

Pre-op diet 248, and day of surgery which was August 8, 2012 I weighted 226 and as of today December 28, 2012 I weight 179.9 for a total lost of 68.1 pounds.

I've always been a fast loser but thanks for the kind thoughts! It's not about how fast but whether I can keep it up and keep it off if you know what I mean. Started exercising for the first time since the banding and I am getting up at 5:30am to go to the gym pool. I do 40 minutes of laps and then go to work. People ask me all the time how I have lost so much so quickly and the truth is, I follow the doctor's orders pretty carefully. I really have it in my head that this is my new life and anything I did before including the negative thinking got me to be 426lbs at 40 years old. I am changing everything including my internal thoughts. It's hard but its working!
I also see a mental health counselor to help me work through my feelings. I'm finding myself telling people what I really think (because I am not stuffing my feelings down with food). It's very new for me and I sometimes get amotional about it. It's like I am breaking up with a long time love and it you have to relearn how to live differently.

I had surgery about 10 1/2 months ago and have lost 168 pounds... or...my boyfriend!!
...yeah he's a great guy but I really don't want to be carrying him around lol

I'm 6 weeks post op and I have lost my 2 yr old nephew..which weighs 35 lbs!!

I'm 6 weeks post op and I have lost my 2 yr old nephew..which weighs 35 lbs!!