ali is changing

Keep going. Hang in there. I was banded on 3/8/13 and I just am now feeling restriction. It took multiple fills. But I have dieted and exercised my little heart out, and I am down 55 pounds. You can do this

Keep going. Hang in there. I was banded on 3/8/13 and I just am now feeling restriction. It took multiple fills. But I have dieted and exercised my little heart out, and I am down 55 pounds. You can do this

I met my goal very recently. My husband had seen me up and down many times. Married 32 yrs this Sept. never complained. But I have to say he is acting 18 now. Im exhausted if you know what I mean. Lol!!

People treat me VERY differently since losing over 220 pounds. When I was over 400 pounds, store clerks ignored me. Restaurant staff looked at me with disdain. Random strangers would giggle at me. I've even been openly mocked in public.
Now, store clerks seem to trip over themselves to try to help me. Restaurants treat me like a welcome guest. Men, who I'm sure would've made fun of me before, now hit on me. Instead of being mocked by strangers, now I get friendly smiles and small talk.
...and it makes me angry. I'm the exact same person with the exact same personality, just a slightly different package. I'm not somehow more worthy of kindness just because I lost weight. It's really sad that there is such a huge difference.
As far as dating, I was single when I got my band 18 months ago. Ironically, today is my boyfriend's and my 1 year anniversary. I was still about 300 pounds when met him. I'm now around 199 pounds. We've lived together since December. He's seen pictures of me when I weighed 421 pounds and was honest- he probably wouldn't have been attracted to me when I was that big. It doesn't bother me knowing that because he was just being truthful (and I asked the question to begin with).
He knows I have a Lap Band and is very supportive. I actually told him right away when we started dating. He's taken the time to learn about the band and what it means for me so he actually understands it better than a lot of people I know. I can run up to him excited about milestones and he'll be excited for me. If I'm struggling, he tries very hard to be encouraging and supportive. I'm very lucky to have him in my life.

So I read your post and it put me through a bit of rollercoaster. 1) I was so happy to hear that you recognized you were gaining self control. There is nothing more rewarding (even weight loss) than realizing you now have the tools to succeed AND you are using them to your advantage. The reality that this is happening and that it will continue to happen is just such a relief and is motivating! I am just thrilled that you've come to that realization and congratulations! but than 2) I saw the self doubt trickle in. And YES! this has been our norm for so long that it's just a natural knee jerk reaction. We second guess everything because we have failed repeatedly. But this is not only different, this is the solution. This is what has been missing for us all these years and that is why you no longer need to self doubt. You need to just keep reminding yourself YOU ARE IN CONTROL. Control doesn't mean perfection. It doesn't mean eating clean 100% of the time. It means giving yourself permission to indulge on occasion with control. It means recognizing gaining 1, 2 even 3 lbs is not failure..it's a break and one you can easily turn around from...again, because you are in control. The more freedom you give yourself, the more control you have and that = success. I have full faith you can do this. Ignore the others. We are individuals and some of us make poor decisions. You sound like you have a good handle on this and are doing things right. You'll get there..one pound at a time. Now put that self defeating attitude in a box and burn it ahhaha

Hi! Be patient. Easier said than done. I was banded 3/8/13.. 4 ccs in my 10cc band. Then 5.5, 6.1, 7.1, and now almost 4 months later I am at 7.3. I did not feel ANY restriction until this last fill. Even with this fill my restriction comes and goes. Somedays I feel it some days I don't. I have been able to eat ANYTHING I wanted and as much as I want since the day of surgery. Everyone Is different, people in my support group have half the ccs I do, and can't eat anything. They are sipping Proteins shakes. That being said. I am DETERMINED to not fail. I've spent 7,000$ I have had SURGERY FOR GOODNESS SAKE. This was my last straw, my last chance, I was not going to fail. I log all my food, eat lots of Protein and fruits and veggies. I exercise 5-6 days a week. I don't eat after 6 pm. I am on a diet. A lifestyle change, whatever you'd like to call it. I have committed to make huge changes until my band starts working. Even then it is just a tool, and will not do the work for you.
Good luck! If I can do it, anyone can. I made the decision for surgery on 2/20/13 and since that date I have gone from 235 to 185.6! Almost 50 pounds!!! And I can proudly say that the surgery motivated me, but this has been all me baby!!
You can do this

Hi! Be patient. Easier said than done. I was banded 3/8/13.. 4 ccs in my 10cc band. Then 5.5, 6.1, 7.1, and now almost 4 months later I am at 7.3. I did not feel ANY restriction until this last fill. Even with this fill my restriction comes and goes. Somedays I feel it some days I don't. I have been able to eat ANYTHING I wanted and as much as I want since the day of surgery. Everyone Is different, people in my support group have half the ccs I do, and can't eat anything. They are sipping Proteins shakes. That being said. I am DETERMINED to not fail. I've spent 7,000$ I have had SURGERY FOR GOODNESS SAKE. This was my last straw, my last chance, I was not going to fail. I log all my food, eat lots of Protein and fruits and veggies. I exercise 5-6 days a week. I don't eat after 6 pm. I am on a diet. A lifestyle change, whatever you'd like to call it. I have committed to make huge changes until my band starts working. Even then it is just a tool, and will not do the work for you.
Good luck! If I can do it, anyone can. I made the decision for surgery on 2/20/13 and since that date I have gone from 235 to 185.6! Almost 50 pounds!!! And I can proudly say that the surgery motivated me, but this has been all me baby!!
You can do this

Hi! Be patient. Easier said than done. I was banded 3/8/13.. 4 ccs in my 10cc band. Then 5.5, 6.1, 7.1, and now almost 4 months later I am at 7.3. I did not feel ANY restriction until this last fill. Even with this fill my restriction comes and goes. Somedays I feel it some days I don't. I have been able to eat ANYTHING I wanted and as much as I want since the day of surgery. Everyone Is different, people in my support group have half the ccs I do, and can't eat anything. They are sipping Proteins shakes. That being said. I am DETERMINED to not fail. I've spent 7,000$ I have had SURGERY FOR GOODNESS SAKE. This was my last straw, my last chance, I was not going to fail. I log all my food, eat lots of Protein and fruits and veggies. I exercise 5-6 days a week. I don't eat after 6 pm. I am on a diet. A lifestyle change, whatever you'd like to call it. I have committed to make huge changes until my band starts working. Even then it is just a tool, and will not do the work for you.
Good luck! If I can do it, anyone can. I made the decision for surgery on 2/20/13 and since that date I have gone from 235 to 185.6! Almost 50 pounds!!! And I can proudly say that the surgery motivated me, but this has been all me baby!!
You can do this

Hi! Be patient. Easier said than done. I was banded 3/8/13.. 4 ccs in my 10cc band. Then 5.5, 6.1, 7.1, and now almost 4 months later I am at 7.3. I did not feel ANY restriction until this last fill. Even with this fill my restriction comes and goes. Somedays I feel it some days I don't. I have been able to eat ANYTHING I wanted and as much as I want since the day of surgery. Everyone Is different, people in my support group have half the ccs I do, and can't eat anything. They are sipping Proteins shakes. That being said. I am DETERMINED to not fail. I've spent 7,000$ I have had SURGERY FOR GOODNESS SAKE. This was my last straw, my last chance, I was not going to fail. I log all my food, eat lots of Protein and fruits and veggies. I exercise 5-6 days a week. I don't eat after 6 pm. I am on a diet. A lifestyle change, whatever you'd like to call it. I have committed to make huge changes until my band starts working. Even then it is just a tool, and will not do the work for you.
Good luck! If I can do it, anyone can. I made the decision for surgery on 2/20/13 and since that date I have gone from 235 to 185.6! Almost 50 pounds!!! And I can proudly say that the surgery motivated me, but this has been all me baby!!
You can do this

You say that like it's so EASY.

Happy 50 day to me! I weighed myself this morning and I am down an incredible 50 lbs!!!!!

He's a man - THAT's his secret!! And he's a YOUNG man. Men lose SO much faster than women.... Very frustrating My husband, who isn't really overweight; more of the over 50 belly; when he decides to go on a diet, he loses the first 5 pounds just making the decision! Argh....!!

I was banded 3/8/13 and first fill 4/10/13, a total of 5.5 in my 10 cc band. If I didn't have scars, I'd swear I didn't have a band! I am sooooo hungry, physically and in my head. I want to eat. I can physically eat anything I want, and as much of it as I want. So I definitely understand where you're coming from. Try and not compare yourself.. This is your journey.. Not anyone else's. just be patient. Be true to yourself. Eat your allotted calories, move your body, eat slowly and stop at the recommended portion size. And you will see results. I promise. And one day hopefully we too will find the "sweet spot"

Do you have my fitness pal? It's an awesome app with lots of motivating people! I would suggest it. Great way to keep yourself accountable! 70 lbs is amazing. You did that!!! You can do it again

Let her! Don't let her spend her 20's fat like I did. I wish I had a more understanding mom. Congratulations on the medium! Amazing feeling I'm sure

Let her! Don't let her spend her 20's fat like I did. I wish I had a more understanding mom. Congratulations on the medium! Amazing feeling I'm sure

I went to the mall to pick up a couple of pair of shorts (I live in Florida and it's already hot and I have nothing that fits...a nice problem to have...but still a problem.)
My thought was to just hit JC Penny's and pick up a few things. On my walk to the dept store, I passed by Old Navy which was having a nice sale.
My inner fat girl voice said, "you have never fit into anything in Old Navy...keep walking." But I stopped in and checked out their linen shorts. Super cute! I pulled an XL shorts off the rack and tried them on. TOO BIG!!
My mean inner fat girl voice said, "a Large will never fit your fat butt...put the XL back and come back another day when you lose more weight." But I grabbed the Large and a large tshirt and they fit fabulously!!! I was shocked. I thought I was looking at a different girl in the mirror! I'm not going to lie....I almost cried.
I bought 3 pair and 3 tshirts! That shut that mean inner fat girl up!!

Starting weight 252,(size 24) weighed 238 surgery day and currently weigh 120. (size 2)
Banded October 2010 reached my personal goal of 138 September 2012.

I was banded on the 8th. And I lost 20 lbs from the post op diet and the surgery by the 15th. And then since the 15th i have bounced around 2-3 lbs!! It is sooooo beyond frustrating, I am exercising and barely eating 500-800 calories and nothing. I know everyone says "4-6 weeks is healing and not weight loss" but COME ON PEOPLE. Anyone eating 500 calories of mushed up food should lose SOMETHING!!! Lol..
It is super frustrating.

Magnesium citrate. It's in a clear glass bottle by the stool softeners. It tastes like yucky sprite. Lol, but it will clear you out. Then I suggest a daily stool softener like colace. If you are this constipated stool softeners will not help you. If you can find the magnesium citrate just ask the pharmacist and follow directions on the bottle

Hi Jen! I would love to email with you. I will inbox you my email address!
Keep your head up! 70 lbs!?!? You are a rock star my dear
-Ali

Magnesium citrate. It's in a clear glass bottle by the stool softeners. It tastes like yucky sprite. Lol, but it will clear you out. Then I suggest a daily stool softener like colace. If you are this constipated stool softeners will not help you. If you can find the magnesium citrate just ask the pharmacist and follow directions on the bottle

I'm a Reese's Peanut Butter egg girl myself. I steer clear of all candy aisles at the store!

any thing I can do to help I will. I had a bit of a slip myself. But decided to rededicate myself the day after christmas and have been doing ok since. You have done fantastic. 70 pounds is great. The best thing is that you caught yourself slipping. The fact that you realized you were having an issue, and didn't just continue the slide, speaks volumes of just how dedicated you really are, even if you didn't see it yourself. You will get through this!!!!