gowalking

Steak and eggs, baby! That's what I call a Protein packed Breakfast...lol!

Agree! I also got gifts of candy/chocolate from some co-workers before we went out on holiday break. I left it all in my office...and if the maintenance staff eats it all, that's fine with me. I was tempted to bring it home, but I knew that would be a mistake. If it's not in the house, there's no temptation.

It's because they are family that comments like that can hurt so much. I agree with some of the posts...maybe grandma is just clueless and not being cruel. You know how much weight you've lost, and how much better you feel and look, so just keep on keeping on.

oh yeah, I'd get another therapist ASAP. please please please try to ignore the scale. you did not gain five pounds...the calibration is different for any scale you get on. you must remember you are not a number but a person. are you having nsv's? I bet you are. are your clothes fitting better or are you wearing smaller sizes? I bet you are. do you have more energy/less pain? I bet you are. focus on those goals and forget about the damn scale. hang in there!! I started seeing a therapist because of all the changes I've gone through this year. she has a band and understands wls and food issues so I think we'll work well together.

wow, that's alot to take on at once but if you can kick it, what a great advantage you will have.

You know, sometimes you don't realize you've experienced a NSV right away but then it dawns on you.... Just a few minutes ago, I was on my work laptop just to check my messages because I took yesterday off as a personal day. So, I'm sitting on the couch and reading/writing emails when it occurs to me that my laptop actually fits on my lap. It's sitting perfectly level on my lap...and not up on my belly as it used to. Hallelujah....another drop in the 'I'm normal' bucket.

Thanks all. It's been a challenging year for sure with the pain and such a difficult surgery and recuperation but I really can see the improvements as well both big and small and really...isn't that what a journey is all about? Life is a series of ups and downs and as long as the ups outweigh the downs, we're doing pretty good, right?

Thankyou Lisa. I don't consider myself very brave or strong. I have alot of baggage that I carry and it keeps me from doing alot. But before I get too much older I hope I reach a point where I can stand proud and unafraid of all the past events. I've seen therapists and spent years in mental hospitals and I get to a point where I feel better but with bipolar the mood swings keep me in an off balance position and that won't go away but is manageable. I'm sure you don't feel brave or strong but donna...you are that and more. I am in awe of you.

A friend of mine told me I should post this for both the newbies and the veterans to show you all that anything is possible. Many of you know my journey but for those who don't, I was banded January 14th, 2013 and at that time was morbidly obese and suffering terrible pain from joint disease in both my knees and hips. My surgeon had told me six months earlier that at my current weight, I was not a candidate for surgery and I needed to be under 200 lbs. or I was going to wind up in a wheelchair. I was very successful with the band and in six months, had lost enough weight to be considered a surgical candidate. By that time, my hips were so bad that I needed both of them replaced and I spent the two weeks prior to surgery on constant bed rest because I couldn't have any more cortisone shots and the pain was so bad that I could barely get to the bathroom and back. I was on a double dose of Percoset round the clock and even that didn't diminish the pain. For those of you with bad osteo or rhuematoid arthritis, you can understand what I'm talking about. And for those of you who are still dealing with 'regular' joint pain...I am your worst nightmare in terms of how bad it can get. Fast forward nearly a year since the lapband surgery, and subsequent hip replacement surgery, and just take a look at the pictures attached. I'm the gal in the middle...with no deer antlers (mine got wet and droopy), but there I am at my Water exercise class...moving and doing, and standing and in only post op pain. I look at this picture and want everyone on this forum to understand that no matter where you are in your journey, you can improve your life and get back whatever obesity took away from you. It is possible, I am living proof of that. I am one of the success stories, and anyone else on this forum can also be a success story. If you are doing well, wonderful...keep it up. If you are struggling...get the help you need and get back on track. You can do it!! I've also attached two other pictures of me....one from Christmas last year, and the selfie I just took today. Yes...that's the same girl...just 100 lbs. less of her. I hope you read this post as many times as needed to inspire and help you to reach whatever goals you've set. I'm not perfect, and I'm not stunning...I'm just a normal, somewhat flabby middle aged woman who got her life back. Next week, we are going to the travel agent to make plans for a family cruise...and this time, I know I'll be able to not only get off the ship, but do whatever the kids want be it sightseeing, snorkeling, swimming in the ocean...or almost anything. Thank you lapband and thank you for reading this. Happy holidays to all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love....Gowalking.

Like any surgery, the first days are the worst. Just think long term and how wonderful you will look and feel this time next year.

I love those unexpected NSVs.... congrats Sharpie!

OK, gotcha. Regardless, you've still done a great job. Don't forget...it's just a number. My ticker doesn't reflect my actual goal. I needed to lose enough weight to get joint replacement surgery. I had that surgery in October and my pain is nothing now compared to how it was before and my mobility is so much better. I can walk better and straighter, I can bike now...even go slow on the treadmill. I couldn't do any of that before the surgery. So...however much weight I lost once I dropped those first 70 lbs. has been gravy. The only reason I have 150 as my goal weight is because my primary doc said if I got down to that weight, she'd be thrilled. Heck, I've been thrilled since I got the OK to have the surgery.

I didn't have cosmetic surgery but I had bi-lateral hip replacement surgery on October 8th. I gained about 12-15 lbs. before it started coming off again....which it has. I was told the same thing....fluid retention. Plus I could see how swollen my hips were...and still are to tell you the truth. I also watched my sodium...I didn't want the swelling worse. So...it took about two months for the Water weight to go away. You'll get to 135...just give it some time.

Your ticker says you are one pound away from 100 lost, not 21. I hope it's just a typo because one pound you can do no problem. 21 pounds is a stretch though. Either way, you have already been very successful in your first year. Good luck with the rest of your weight loss.

oh...and I didn't have to diet. I just had to show that my doctor was aware of my weight loss attempts. She just noted my weight on some form and it went in as part of my submission package for the coverage.

I had to do the same...$250 each for the nutritionist and psychologist. My surgery was almost a year ago so I don't remember exactly how much my out of pocket was but I think around $800. Unlike a lot of others, I stayed overnight at the hospital, which might explain the high out of pocket. I don't know how much the total cost was...I never saw bills related to the procedure other than my surgeon's bill which was ten thousand I think.

Great post. Especially because you didn't sugarcoat it. You struggled for several months before learning the behaviors that would make you successful. New bandsters should read this to understand the band is not a miracle cure, there is still alot of work we must do, but as I note below...if you are compliant, you will be successful. Congrats to you cantwait. What an inspiration you are!

spectacular mai....what a difference. you are a success...just keep it up!

I have Cigna and once I met the criteria, there were no issues with approval. I had to document three months of 'supervised' weight loss attempts under medical supervision and meet with the psychologist but otherwise, there were no big hoops to jump through. Good luck!

Oh I so agree with chasing. Don't focus on the numbers. You are already a success and it sounds like you have reached your goals. The additional ten pounds is gravy. Nice to have, but not necessary. Do what you feel you need to in order to reach the 140 number, but don't make that more important than the complete weight loss and quality of life you already have achieved.

Absolutely!!

Brag away! what a great accomplishment. You should be very proud of your success!

Welcome Weevie. Sounds like you have your ducks in a row. I was banded in mid January of this year and this surgery has literally saved my life. I'm off my hypertension meds, I've regained alot of my mobility and went from morbidly obese to a normal size. All the things that concerned me when I was heavy no longer impact me...like tight spaces, restaurant booths, chairs with arms, airplane seats, etc. A year from now I bet you can likely post the same successes. Good luck and keep us posted.

Because we're not supposed to drink carbonated beverages, I've stopped having mixed drinks...you know, like gin & tonic. But when I go out to dinner, I often have one glass of wine. It's not too bad calorie wise, and certainly much better than drinks with juices in them or cocktails with alot of additional calories because of the mixers used. I do not find that one drink affects me any differently than before the band.

Welcome!