lessnless

Going in today for a fill--it's been at least two years since my last one. I've slowly gone from a 24 BMI back up to a 25, so I want to get on top of this. I've gained about 8lbs from my all-time low. We took a trip this last weekend and we walked at least twenty-five miles over three days. Never got tired, never felt sore (well, my feet hurt :smile:) Still healthy, still happy, still the best thing I ever did.

I'm still hanging in there. I've gained about 6lbs in the last 18 months, but I never count calories any more so it's to be expected. My BMI is still below 25. I've gone through all 4 seasons in the same size clothing (never happened before in my life), so I've gotten rid of all my old wardrobe. Even my winter coats had to go--too big! I do have occasional problems with heartburn/reflux if I eat right before bed. I still have foods that I can't eat no matter what (oranges / Pasta / cherry tomatoes / anything cold before noon). Still smiling... Still the best thing I've ever done for myself...

I hate that message! Me, SHY!?!?! I've been really bad the last two months or so. Not weighing my food, not planning meals in advance--just eating what's at hand and stopping when I'm full. And you know what? I've gained ONE POUND--from my all-time low. Gotta luv this band! I'm back to focusing on me this week, so we'll see how it quickly it melts away. I'm attaching a link to a video (youtube, in case it's blocked at your work). I'm in the arena with two of my lovely, naturally skinny friends. We're dressed alike, and all riding the same color horse. When I first saw the video, I had a terrible moment of vertigo--I couldn't find MYSELF! I've always been the big girl, so I've just used butt size and thigh size to identify ME from a distance. So when you watch, try to pick the bariatric patient out of the group. No fair waiting until the group splits and the camera follows me (thank you, hubby, at least you recognized me!) TinyURL.com - shorten that long URL into a Tiny URL We picked the music from a karaoke version, and I'd never heard the lyrics until we were in the arena: "You cut me open, and I keep bleeding love".

OK, so I go in to donate blood, riyhh? As I'm answering all the questions (what the hell IS babesiosis, anyway?), I see a big poster on the wall for O+ donors to consider "2x" red cell donations--so I asked. It's apheresis (30 minute procedure instead of 10-minute procedure), and you get credit for two donations instead of one, so maybe I get my 10-gallon pin in this lifetime. So I say, "Sign me up!" Nurse doesn't move, doesn't even shift in her seat. She mmm-hmmm's me, as only Southern women can, and says, "You have to be at least 5'5", (which I am), "and you must weigh at least 150 lbs" (pauses here to look over her glasses at me, as only Southern women can), "and we WILL weigh you first". So: not only am I TOO LITTLE to donate, I'm OBVIOUSLY too little to donate. :smile: Happy dance! Happy dance! :wink2: :tt1:

My PCP wanted to know when I was having it removed! Like it's a diet and I'm done now, so why would I want this restriction for the rest of my life?!?! He IS happy with my test results (glucose levels, cholesterol, etc.), but he isn't a WLS fan. My LapBand Dr. on the other hand, HAS a LapBand and has lost a lot of weight with it. You'd never know to look at him that he ever had a weight problem, which is one of the reasons I considered the surgery. If I'd waited for a consensus from everyone in my life, I'd still be fat, achy, and tired all the time.:smile2::scared2:

It does go away. I'm sleeping in PJs for the first time in my life. I've even turned the thermostat up from 65 to 78 this summer!

I wore this dress (size EIGHT) to a reunion dinner, and I looked GUUUD :biggrin::shades_smile:. One little old lady called me "stunning". Made the whole trip worthwhile. :biggrin:

Name_____________Weight Now____Goal_____lbs lost aJoneen............230.........220.......3....... Bea1128............220.........199.......3.5..... Babs0101...........185.........170.......0....... blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4....... BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......0....... Bunkey1965.........209.........205.......3....... Chocolate_Snaps....260.........240.......0....... Darr5380...........170.........150.......0....... Epm316.............209.........199.......0....... erikadawn..........199.........175.......0....... FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0....... HeatherO...........166.........155.......6....... JennyPoo...........169.........159.......0....... KarenG.............164.........158.......2....... KathyStrick........305.........290.......0....... Leslie2Lose........221.........209.......3....... LessNLess..........144.5.......140.......0....... LilMissBand-Aid....240.........225.......0....... Lunabeane..........221.........200.......5....... Luu2008............219.........189.......7....... Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0....... luvinke............206.........190.......0....... mamato3............199.........184.......0....... mcgreen............189.........175.......0....... mdgarcia31665......225.........220.......0....... mominlv13..........316.........300.......1....... MSnika3............228.........204.......4....... NANAbanded.........225.........199.......4....... Ninja..............207.........189.......2....... NukeChik...........225.........199.......2....... Ollie..............242.........210.......0....... Redtulips..........191.........180.......3....... Renewedhope........176.........155.......3....... ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0....... slgandera..........185.........173.......0....... StartingOver.......220.........205.......5....... Sunshine2..........187.........170.......2.3..... want_so_bad........170.........155.......0....... Sades..............190.5.......180.......2....... Sadie..............216.........199.......4.......

PJ, I'm just a few miles west. You'll love Dr Smith--and his office staff are amazing. I had surgery last year--my first appt was 08/07/08 and I'm "mostly" at goal (I'm still losing 2-3lbs a month).

JJ - SMILE!!!!:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2: You're just amazing--I can't believe how quickly you've transformed yourself. BTW, luvluvluv the pedicure. Hope you're planning on wearing sandals on your trip. Every time you look at your toes, you can think: GOAL!!!:cool2:

Here is my before/during/*almost after*. I'd still like to lose another 5-10 lbs., but I'm already 5lbs below my original *impossible* goal. I'm still losing 2-3lbs a month. I'm afraid of reaching the point where the lbs come my off face and boobs instead of my butt--that'll be the stopping point for me! I'm wearing size SIX Levi's and a women's medium top. I haven't been this small since the mid 90's. Still happy, still healthy (blood sugar is NORMAL), no more aches/pains/reflux. Still the best thing I've ever done.