AlisonL

Set small goals, do not look at the enire weight loss but small sections. I am 5'8". I was banded July 2007 and weighed 282 pounds, i was a size 24. On my one year anniversary I had lsot 100 pounds, and by New Years (18 months later) I reached my goal weight. I current weight 145 and am in an 8 or 10.

My first goals was to get to 250...that was all I focused on. Then i could hardly wait to get out of the 240's, then 230's, 220's... When I got to 210 i was excited by each pound knowing I was on my way to "onerderland". Once I brok the 200's I just looked forward to getting further and further away from that point. The last 10 - 15 pounds were the slowest but to be honest I felt so good even at 160 it wasn't a big deal.

You can do it!

Thanks, I will try that... My heartburns issues seem to have subsided, I can just eat anything, even a hamburger.

How many cc's do you have in you band and what type of band?

My band was too full once and I had heartburn issues. My doctor removed some of the fill and this resolved. If you force yourself to eat super slow you will fill up on much less food. I found if i put my fork down between bites it made a different. It seemed wierd at first but I got use to it. Try that and see if it helps. Also avoid high calorie liquid or semi liquid foods like juices and ice cream. I am a firm beleiver that calories should be chewed.

Since you were all so kind to tell me eabout yourselves let me tell you a little something about me. I am 39...turning 40 in July. My bad was placed 3 days after my 38th birthday. I was very hopeful that I would reach my goal by my 40th birthday...YEAH I did it!!!!

I am married with 3 children, I live in southern California. I was cash pay so I did not have to attend any support groups or jump through the hoops many insurance companies require.

The band is a tool, it will not loose the weight for you but will make it much easier to be honest and loose the weight. I am sure none of us had this done without first trying just about every diet out there.

You all can and will succeed!!! Stay focused and remeber nothing tastes as good as thin feels!!

My email is alison_legendre@yahoo.com. Please feel free to email me. If it takes a couple of days to get back I appologize, with three kids things get crazy.

I hope this helps.

I drink small amounts throughout the day. Always keep a water bottle with you and dont drink after you eat/ If I do I always throw up.

I eat three times a day. I try to make sure to get Protein in whenever I eat. If you cook chicken in broth it keeps it moist. I also cut it into very small bites and chew a ridiculous amount of times.

The key for me was eating slow and having a bite of something I really wanted. I do not drink Protein Shakes but did occasionally have a slim fast for Breakfast when i was not realy hungry for a full breakfast. If you can get it in your head to stop when you are not hungry vs full it will make a huge difference. Let me know if this helps.

I would be happy to be your buddy. I am so pleased with the decision I made to have the band, it has chnaged my life. How are things going for you? Have you had your first fill?

For some reason I can not make the video play

I reached my goal of 150 pounds on New Years Eve. I have lost a total of 132 pounds. I went skiing with my husband and children for the first time over New Years. I can cross my legs comfortably, buy clothes in "regular" stores, and climn a flight of stairs without being winded. My life is happier, I have a better out look on life. I hope everyone gets to this point!

Hello I had my band placed July 27th 2007. I started at 282 pounds and reached my goal of 150 npounds on New Years Eve. This has been the most wonderful thing I could have done for myself. If I can help please let me know how.

Dr, Liu is also my doctor. I see him in the Orange office. He and his staff are awesome. I had my surgery July 27th, 2007. I have lost 120 pounds...I have 10 lopunds to go and I will have reached my goal weight of 150 pounds. I have reccomeded him to many people.

Anyhting you eat fast or gulp down can get "stuck". I have taken a couple of big gulps of coffee and had that feeling. It doesn't seem to last as long as more solid foods. Every time I rush I get in trouble.

Thank you Dionna, I am sure you will have a great "bragging" story in a year. It is amazing how happy I feel~

Tulip star, you are so close to the 100 pound mark, I am sure you will reach it by your 1 year....WTG:thumbup:

If you over eat you will throw up. You have to eat very slow to allow youeself time to relaize you are no longer hungry. I have actually spit bites out because I relaized that if I swallowed that bite i would feel sick.

I wanted to also answer a couple of questions that were asked....

I have not reached my goal, I want to loose another 25 pounds (veru douable :0) ). I am not sure what they do when you reach your goal. I had 4 fills and 1 unfill. I do have some saggy skin but I am hoping that will tighten up with exercise...I wish I had been excersing more over the last year. After surgery I felt like there was slight restriction but that went away after the swelling went away. My first fill gave me some restriction, I started feeling hungrier so I git the second fill. My third fill was almost perfect, so I figured one more would but perfect. The fourth fill was great at first but ended up being too tight so Iasked my doctor to take some out. I current have 5.5cc in my 10cc band.

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to thank you all for the kind comments! I am happy that I could be an inspiration to some of you. I am trying to get before and after pictures bit I am not sure how to shrink them down to the correct size. My Dr. is going to put me on his web site. I would like to wish you all much success with your weight loss, it is such an exciting time!!!

Congrats on your surgery! I was somewhat restricted before my first fill, I could eat more than I can now but I did have some restriction.

Thank you very much!!

I have a very hard time with chicken, it seems to always get stuck. I eat cheese to get in my Protein

Don't get discouraged! My doctor said I should hope to loose 6 - 10 pounds a month. When your eating making sure you eat very slow, this allows your mind and stomach to relaize that it is not hungry. The hardest thing for me was to learn that i didn't have to feel full, just not hungry...there is a big difference. Once you get an adjustment you will also drop weight quicker...Set small goals for yourself. I started at 282 I was looking so forward to less than 2 1/2 (250). Once I hit that I started thinking how exciting the 10 pound increments were. It will come off, don't get discouraged!

Thank you all very much! It was so nice to see responses so quickly. I have no doubt a year from now you all will have your "brag" stories to tell, I look forward to reading them.

I hope everyone does not mind but I just wnated to brag a little. I had my surgery 1 year ago. I have lost 105 pounds:thumbup:. I started at 282 pounds and now am at 178.

This was the best thing I could have done for myself, my husband, and my children.

I have been on hikes, boogie boarding, jogging, playing base balll, ect...

I hope this blog can some how inspire someone.

Good luck to all!!!!!!