Mom2_4

I am scheduled for a TT and AL in 2 weeks. The surgeon didn't mention it while I met with him, but should I have my band emptied prior to surgery, and if I don't did the swelling cause you to feel tight? Thanks so much in advance!

I haven't been here in forever and I am hoping that everyone is still doing good on their journey. I am down 132 pounds with a few more to go but weight loss is pretty slow these days. I have gotten to the point where I forget about the band, it is just part of me now and I am so so so glad that I did this for myself. I'm starting the next step of my journey in April and getting a lower body lift and having the extra skin from my arms removed. I am scared to death about the actual surgery but at the same time I can't wait for the results! I wish all of you the best of luck!! Melanie:smile:

That is awesome, congratulations!!

Give yourself a break girl! You are a hormonal mess and you are eating for 2. Think about it, you have been through ALOT this past year and I am willing to bet that part of you being hungry all of the time is your body's way of making up for the loss in Vitamins & such that your body has done without for the past year. I wouldn't sweat the weight gain unless you start gaining more than the 30-35 that is recommended for any pregnancy. Take care of that little one

I still come here sometimes, I just haven't had much time with the holidays & such. I have nothing new to report other than I am holding steady at my current weight after eating entirely too much junk over the holidays, but at least I am not gaining :cursing: I am thinking I need a fill because I have noticed that I am able to eat more and more these days but I have no plans for a trip to Phoenix to get one at the moment. I hope the rest of you are doing better motivation-wise than I am.

I would like to lose another 2 pounds by the end of the year. I know that sounds lame, but my weight loss has slowed significantly in the past few months and honestly I have not been trying all that hard lately. I hope to get some momentum back after the holidays :biggrin: I need to get to a comfortable point so I can get rid of this extra skin, so I know I have to keep working at it.

What happened that caused that?

Nothing special or out of the ordinary for us. We are staying home and the kids & DH all pick their favorite side dish to go with the turkey. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, and chocolate cake for dessert.

All I really want is clothes. I have almost no clothes for winter, that fit at least. I have picked these out so far. And yes my style is pretty casual but I am a SAHM. but in lavendar I bought a few of these and they fit so nice. Want one in every color, just so comfy. This is my new favorite jeans style, looks so good. My DH bought me a new Coach bag last week when we were in Vegas so that was a big chunk of my Christmas money, but sooooo worth it.

I asked my hairdresser about it, she does it, and it is around $600, painful, but has lasted since April for her and so worth it according to her.

Mine has slowed down to about 5 lbs a month, which is actually kind of a good thing, I feel like a huge ball of sagging skin. I am hoping that it will tighten up a bit with some of the weight training, at least in the non surgical areas.

That is outstanding!! Great job!!

We had tons of trick or treaters here. By the time I got back from trick or treating with the kids, we were out of candy, so the kids picked out stuff they didn't like from their baskets and gave them out. We finally turned the lights around 9. Amazingly, I didn't touch any candy on Halloween and haven't had too much since. The rest of our weekend was the usual shuffling kids to their soccer games, gymnastics, and ice skating. On the down side of things, I have been getting horrible backaches. My PCP thinks it is probably due to my horrible hanging panus. I have tried ice, heat, muscle relaxants, and pain pills but it just doesn't go away. I can't wait until I can have this skin taken off. UGH!

Wow CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Mine sent me a letter soon after surgery saying that they would cover 6 fills for the year. I would think that they would continue to cover those whom they have already cover but I would call them and find out for sure.

If it will help suck in my hanging skin and make me look better, bring on the bodices!

You look great! Glad you are enjoying your 'career' change

Plateaus are the worst, really mess with your head. Glad you have it figured out and are back on track. I had an unfill a few weeks ago because I was getting so tight during my TOM that I couldn't take it anymore. It was really scary with the thought of being so much looser the other 3 weeks of the month but I have lost 6 lbs since....go figure.

I haven't touched a protein shake in probably 4 months and I am 8 months out. I do still occasionally eat the South Beach Diet protein bars but I get my protein from real food, I refuse to put myself on a diet for the rest of my life.

I have never done this but I completely understand your reasoning behind it. I have start noticing those same little wrinkles but that is the least of my problems with all of the major loose skin problems I am facing now. If you decide to do it, post about your experience, I would love to know how it works for that.

You look great, you can definitely see a difference. Isn't the band awesome!

I put some pictures together online from the past few months for our family this weekend and the response is usually all about the kids getting big, etc. Well this time I was overwhelmed with people telling me that I looked so good!! So I made a progression pic from the past year or so. I am pretty surprised with them all together at how much of a difference it really is.

Congrats!!! 50 pounds feels so incredible doesn't it? The band is a wild ride, sounds like you are taking it all in stride, the benefits are so worth the sliming, PBing and other crazy things that happen. Keep up the great work!!

Try to move around as much as you can. That was the only thing I found that helped and I didn't want to move at all! It does get better and better as the days pass, hang in there!

I agree with the PP, use a pillow over your stomach, it helps alot going over bumps. Our drive was 6 1/2 hours and I swear we went over every bump between Phoenix and Albuquerque. Take your meds and find something like a book on tape that you can focus on so that you aren't focused on your aching tummy. I don't know why I had it in my head that flying would have been worse!