Apples2

Judy..thanks for the photo compliment. Yes, I feel wonderful and more like a 19 yr old than 54. It's ME time and going to live life to the fullest. Give yourself a year and you will be in the same boat. Love your posts on our thread. Look forward to following you! Take care, Karen

Dawn..I actually lost 54lbs b/4 surgery because my ins company required the 6 mo supervised diet. Started my diet November 2007, had surgery June 17,2008 and had lost 139lbs by Oct, 2008. I actually lost 20lbs more than I wanted to due to a metobolic thing. I eat 3000 cals a day to maintain my weight. Hard to get much more than that with the band.

Don't sweat maintenance...just up your cals by 100 after reaching goal. If you maintain, then stay with those amount of calories. If you look at it like just a way of life, it's easier.

Wishing you luck!

Thanks for the photo comment, Dawn. You are looking pretty good yourself. Isn't it amazing how good a person can feel? I feel like I am making up for the years of feeling exhausted because of my extra weight. I've been so lucky...no complications and I can actually eat without many restrictions. Again, thanks!

Tonya...thanks for the nice compliment regarding my photo. I feel wonderful and am living life again. Good luck to you!

Hey...thanks for the compliment on my photos. Nope, don't plan on losing any more. Medical problem caused me to lose more than I wanted to but I am still within a healthy range and normal BMI so no worries.

Good luck to you!

Jewel...thanks for the photo compliment. This journey has not been without some work and it continues on a daily basis.

Here's wishing you luck in convincing your DH and in-laws that the band is for you! Take care and continue to stick up for yourself and do for YOU want needs to be done!

You're looking good, Heidi and doing great on the weightloss. You'll be at goal b/4 you know it. Keep focusing on the final result and try not to get too discouraged if you hit a plateau. It tends to happen as we lose more. It will break and you will continue to lose. Just keep up what you are doing even if you don't lose for a bit. Take care and have a wonderful holidays.

Heidi...sorry for the delayed response....thanks for the compliment. Best thing I have ever done for myslef. I feel wonderful. Just turned 54 a few days ago and feel as if I could run circles around any 19 yr old!

Donna...thanks for the photo comments. Good luck to you!

You had PM'd me and asked to see b/4 and after photos. If you click on my name, photos are in my public profile. Just page down on that and click on the photo showing and it will show you all 4 photos. Hope that works for you.

Hey 295...I see you "lurking" once in awhile on our "I'm here to help" thread. Just an invite to tell you to jump in and visit with us. We are a group that is not cliquish...just love to visit about our bands and our lives. The more the merrier. Come on and join us! Karen

Lana...you are right. It's a benefit to look good but the biggest benefit for me is the way it FEEL. I will be 54 in two weeks and I feel like I could outrun a 19 yr old. Prior to this surgery, it was such a task to get moving and my health was affected. I will never let weight affect my health again in my life. Have too many good years of living left.

Again, you look amazing and take care of yourself. Have a maintenance plan!

Hey Speck....sent you a PM, came back here and looked at your profile. Just had to comment.....I LOVE TJMAXX. I could live there. Great deals on name brand. I never walk out without something.

I see you live in GA. I have a son in Covington. Close to there at all???? Only say if you want to. Son is 26. Moved there from Daytona Beach a year ago. He is a flight instructor and started up his own flight school. Struggle but he's working hard to get it up and going.

Keep up the good work, and, as I said in my PM, contact me anytime if you need support. Karen

Feather...thanks for the compliment on my photo. Surprising how weight loss can change a person's entire outlook on life. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

Thanks for the positive photo comments, Jodi. It's been an amazing life change. I feel like me again. I did not start gaining the weight till I hit about 40 yrs old. I knew what it was like to be fit and healthy cuz I was during my 20's and 30's. Just happy to be back here again. Good luck to you on your journey to a happier healthier life!

Hey Afragie...you sent me a message asking me how tall I am after seeing my photo. Nope, not vertically challenged. I am over 5'6" tall. I have to order Long jeans and slacks because my inseam is 34".

Wishing you luck on your lb journey!

Hi OK...thanks for the compliment on my b/4 and after photos. Ummmm...I'm not real "tiny". I stand over 5'6" tall. You asked how much I lost? 139lbs.

You are doing really well. Went in and looked at your albums. Hard to believe it's the same person! Good luck

Thank you for your kind words. I see you are new to LBT and just want to wish you the best.

Thanks for the kind words regarding my b/4 and afters. You DO have a beautiful face and your baby is a CUTIE!

You will do just fine. Follows all of your doctors orders and do not veer from his instructions. That will lead you on your road to success!

Try not to get discouraged. I think with us, that's the biggest downfall we have....feeling like we are not going to succeed. Tell yourself that you WILL succeed. Get the sweets out of your house.

I sip on coffee (16oz), 1 pckt Swiss Miss (25) and 1 TBLS SF caramel or hazelnut Torini or Davinci syrup.

Also, 16 oz of boiling water and a pckt of Alpine SF Cider. Both help to hold off hunger and grazing. Give them a try!

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Thanks for the kind words regarding my b/4 and afters.

BTW...you can get out of that slump. Don't start on Monday...START TODAY!!!! Wishing you luck. PM me anytime you want to talk.

Hey Maria...thanks for the compliment on my b/4 and after photos. I pulled up your photos from your public profile and you look AMAZING.

As far as you question on fills. All I can say is everyone is different. If you are struggling, I would say you have not hit your "sweet spot" yet and may need a fill. I, myself, have only had two fills.

Everyone has plateaus. I would always bump my calories up by 200-300 2 days a week if I noticed I hit a plateau. So like on Sunday I would eat 1600 cals and 1100-1200 for Monday, Tuesday and then the 1600 Wed and then go back to my 1100 and stay there. I think adding those extra cals, kicks your body into getting going again.

PM me anytime you feel the need and we'll visit! Karen

Hey Courtney...thanks for the compliment on my b/4 and after photos. I feel like an entirely different person. So much more energy.

Wish you a great lap band life!

Hey...thanks for the compliment on my b/4 and after photos. I feel WONDERFUL.

As far as the comment on the big kitchen...that is only a third of it...I LOVE to cook and bake and designed my kitchen a few years ago to accomodate a little bit of everything.

Wishing you a great lap band life!

Hey Jackie....got your message. Thanks for the compliment of my b/4 and after. Checked out yours in your album. You are doing so great. What a beautiful girl you are. Congrats! Don't we just feel fantastic?