wnt2lose

I make a protein coffee for breakfast every morning and it satisfies my caffieine and coffee craving. I mix my protein powder either chocolate or vanilla with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of milk and fill my travel mug with coffee and off I go! Just like Starbuck's! Hasn't seemed to bother me yet, and I've been banded almost two years.

I didn't actually climb Mount Everest, but I hiked Rocky Mountain National Park much better two years after the lapband than before. In 2007, we were there for the first time. I was at my highest weight ever and thought I was going to die. I made up my mind during that trip to change my life. It's been a mountain climb ever since but I went back to that same place 2 years later 100lbs lighter and in much better health. My family and I have just gotten back from a week at Estes Park, Co. Loved it!! We hiked all over the park and to hidden lakes and waterfalls and I was in the lead for most of our hikes. Didn't have a problem. Next time we go out I would like to summit some of the smaller mountains, and eventually try Longs Peak, but for now I am pround of what I accomplished. The only thing different I noticed was I wasn't as hungry and I had to force myself to eat.

Hi all! I am currently on day 2 of the 5dpt. So far so good. I have really stalled within the last few months with weight loss, but I have increased my exercise so much that I am actually losing inches. I just felt that if I kicked started myself then I can get these last 20 lbs. off and get losing again. Slimmap, I've been thinking that all along, thanks for great pointers. I can make it through today I know I can. I am now drinking my green iced tea and thinking about the next shake or Soup I will have later. It actually hasn't been as difficult as I thought. I am hoping by the end of the week I will see the results on the scale as well with my band and how I eat.

June 2007 we took a family trip to Rocky Mountain National Park with my husband's brother and sister and their families. I was at my all time heaviest (290) and had to buy new shorts to wear because nothing fit. Size 24's :rolleyes2: I have always tried to be active and competitive so I wasn't going to sit on the sidelines. They were all going to go horseback riding, I even asked if I could go.. I didn't want to break the poor horse's back, my brother-in-law said they match you to a horse, so I was pretty upset when everyone else got the pretty brown horses, and I got the big ol stock horse! Then we drove Trail Ridge Road and got to the top of the mountain. THere are steps that take you farther up. I stated to climb and I nearly about died, but I made it to the top of the mountain. What a moment. I was crying for two reasons 1) it was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen and 2) I felt so miserable I knew then that I had to do something. When I got home I started looking into the LB surgery again and Nov. 5, 2007 I had it done! All I remeber was waking up in the recovery room to a picture of a mountain on the ceiling! That was my sign that this was all meant to be. I am now 99 lbs lighter than I was at the top of the mountain and we are planning to go back to Colorado this summer so I can do everything over and more. I plan to actually hike this time! My big goal is to lose at least 20 more pounds by then. Wish me luck. The scale hasn 't budged for three months!

Cindy, Sades, and Foofy, Thanks for all your replies! Yes I do feel great. I now feel normal when I am out and about, not the fattest person in the place. Although, I still have the "fat girl" head that tells me it's not good enough. That I am still fat. Hopefully one day I will be happy with myself. It's getting better though. As far as saggy skin, if you saw my stomach and inner thighs you would see my elephant skin! This gal that does our small group sessions talked about her elephant skin before I had surgery and I didn't understand what she meant, I do now. We all need to be proud of the work we have done! I've seen your pics Sades and Cindy and you both look great also!

Hi all. Sorry I haven't been around lately. This semester has been crazy. I teach in a high school plus I was taking two graduate classes for my Master's degree, so I haven't had much time to post. Although, I've tried to come in and read every so often. I have been hovering at the same weight for three months! It is getting frustrating. I'll probably get a fill after Christmas to help me get a boost. Can you believe it's been a year! Here are my current stats: Surgery Date: Nov. 5, 2007 Highest weight/BMI: 290/45.4 Current weight/BMI: 190.8/29.9 Total weight lost: 99.8 My life has changed in many ways, but I will try to list my top three: 1. I am exercising more, and I actually enjoy it! 2. We had a family picture taken and I actually like it! My oldest daughter is 15 and I think our last professional picture was when she was 8. 3. I actually am starting to feel normal, and I can wear a size 12/14! I was wearing 24's before surgery. I will now try to attach a picture. I just took them tonight. I was really good at taking monthly pics, but haven't taken any since August so it was time.: :closedeyes:Here I am before surgery:

Those mountains are very special to me! I was on top of the mountain when I decided I needed a change. If you go north to Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park you can go up Trail Ridge Road to the top of the mountain. It was the summer of 2007, I had just about died walking up the steps to the top from the welcome center and it was then that I knew I needed a change. It was so beautiful and I felt like I was literally on top of the world, but I couldn't enjoy it because I was huffing and puffing so bad. Here I am a little over a year past, and I am 100lbs less than when I was on that mountain. I owe my new life to that vacation to the mountains and I can't wait to go back and enjoy it in my new body! Next time I want to run up those steps! Good luck with your upcoming band date!

Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........195...........191...........185........6 Momto1plus1......193.6.........189.2.........185........4.2 Foofy............226...........226...........216........10 Sades............185...........185...........175........10 Hollyberries.....245...........245...........235........10 Shortgal.........174...........172.4.........168.........4.5 Wnt2Lose.........195...........190.8...........180........10.8 Stephanie........182.5.........182.5.........167........15.5 Linda............183...........181.5.........170........11.5 Shalee04.........180...........178...........174........04 Bandpal..........185...........182.82........175........7.82 Sorry I haven't been around lately. Been busy with teaching and taking two graduate classes. I stepped on the scale today and was pleasantly surprised to see 190.8. I actually stepped on it 3 times because I thought I was seeing things. I was at 195 for so long then it would go down then up, then jump down 3 lbs.! I hadn't weighed myself for a week because I was getting so frustrated, but I've had so many people comment that I have lost more weight, etc. etc, so I thought I'd check it. I'm so glad I did! BTW now I can fit into size 12 jeans! I think I was in 6th grade the last time I wore 12's! Keep working hard everyone!

I do the same thing! I get to enjoy the great food and our bill is usually way less.

That didn't sound right. Sorry. What I meant was that when I lose 5 more pounds, I will be 100 pounds less than my highest weight. I was 290 last summer and am right now at 195 give or take a pound. I want to get to 175 or 172 by Nov. 5, but that might be pushing it!

Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........195...........195...........185........10 Momto1plus1......193...........193...........185.........8 Foofy............226...........226...........216........10 Sades............185...........185...........175........10 Hollyberries.....245...........245...........235........10 Shortgal.........174...........174...........168.........6 Wnt2lose...............195..................195.................180.............15 OK, I need this to get me going again. I may be a little ambitious in my goal, but I would really like to see me at 100lbs less than my weight at the time of my surgery. Right now I am 5 lounds away from my highest weight ever.

I can finally buy off of clearance racks in the regular department! I was so excited the other day when I was at a store and I saw these really cute long shorts on the clearance rack. The size I ended up with were 13/14's and I don't even have a muffin top! I could've tried a smaller size but they didn't have any. Last summer I had to buy shorts before we went on vacation because nothing fit and they were 24's. Also last night I was at a party where a lot of teachers I work with were there. I haven't seen them since the end of May and they kept asking if I was a new teacher! They couldn't believe how much I've changed. It made me feel really good because I have been in a rut lately and feel like I am not making progress, but when people I haven't seen in a while notice it makes me keep going!

:cool: Bet it feels great! I am hoping to be there by the end of the weekend. Today I was 201.2 so very close!

I wouldn't worry about it. I too, have been very lucky with my band. I had surgery in Nov. and I didn't get my first fill until Feb. I feel I have had great success. I also was able to eat pretty much anything within reason. I also have been exercising like crazy so that has really helped me. Just recently I was finding it hard to keep eating like I was. I was able to eat pizza, bread, Pasta, anything, but I was starting to see the scale go the wrong way or not move at all, so I finally have gotten my second fill on Monday. I am now losing again in fact this morning I saw a great number, but I don't want to post it until I am certain. Since my fill I've had to do the liquids, mushies, regular food progression again and it has helped me remember my rules and how to eat like a bandster, but so far so good. I have not had ANY PB's since I've been banded. I was really nervous about getting my fill because I didn't want to wreck a good thing but I was ready to lose again and hopefully very soon I'll be under 200! a few times since my surgery I would get a really tight feeling in my chest (golf ball) but no sliming or PB so I also feel lucky. keep up the great work!

Hello! I am also from Iowa. Where do you live? I am in Northwest Iowa. I also have Wellmark. They have been pretty easy to work with. I had a BMI more than 40 so I easily qualified, but I do remember that if you have a BMI less than 40 with comordities they'll cover it. It's best to call and find out though. Good luck with everything!