KelinTx

What an amazing loss WAY TO GO!!

I reward myself with clothing and shoes. I treat myself to something new every week!

213 pounds gone for good!

213 pounds gone for good!

I loved reading your post and the quote about it not mattering how long it takes to get to goal is so true!

I have posted my 200lb loss photos, they are down further on this thread and also in the before and after pic area.

Please let us know how it all turned out! Good luck to you!

It took me 3 years to reach my goal. My lapband surgeon told me to aim for 170 lbs and when i reached his goal i felt as though i was still to large. My family doc and i talked about it and felt that 150 was a reasonable goal for me to hit and to maintain. I am so very proud to say that i did it and even a couple pounds below that. For me the maintaining is the hard and scary part, the thought of gaining freaks me out.

Sounds to me like you are doing super! Keep up the great work and congrats on your loss thus far.

You can make one at www.tickerfactory.com.....good luck!

I have flown at least 25 times since my surgery date 3 years ago. I NEVER have had an issue not one! I pack a band friendly snack incase i get hungry. I have read other posts where folks say they do get tighter in flight, perhaps it is an individual thing. My last flight was 2 months ago and my band is filled almost to max and still i felt no different at all.

My top three would be......

1. Having small frequent fills. This enabled me to always keep my portion sizes in check and therefore not be able to overeat.

2. Establishing a regular exercise routine.

3. Not depriving myself. I eat what i want, however only a few bites of it.

I saved the pair of pants that i wore to my initial LapBand consultation. I love seeing jaws drop and the look of utter shock on peoples faces when they see me hold up my size 34 womens pants. I now wear a size 8 jeans.

I have been over weight since about age 8, so i guess you could say just about my entire life. I did however manage to get down to a "normal range" twice. Once when i graduated high school and another time before i got married. The weight plus some always flew back on. When i got my band all i ever wanted was to be "NORMAL WEIGHT" , i am also one that is not cut out to ever be a size 2 or even a 6 for that matter. I have gotten to that point of a normal size range its taken me 3 years but in my heart i know this time it will be for good. So yes in answer to your question it is indeed possible for a person that has been over weight their entire life to have amazing results from this surgery as you can very well see from my stats.

Hey Dallas Dude i was also banded by Dr. Benavides just a tad over 3 yrs ago. I have had amazing success with my band as you can see from my stats. I would be more then happy to help you out in any way i can. Best of luck on your upcoming banding.

100 percent yes i would do it over again!! The band has given me back the quality of life that i was missing out on at 359 lbs. I can do anything i so desire now where as before doing just the smallest of things was a major effort. I love my band.

I think its important to be realistic when setting a goal weight. Whats attainable for one person may not be possible for another individual of the same height and body type. From the very beginning of my weight loss journey the thing i have most wanted was just to be considered a NORMAL weight.

I was banded 3 years ago this month. The first year the weight just flew off me. I will say i was very strict with myself and followed every rule to a T. I lost over a 100lbs the first year. My mindset was this, i willingly had an elective surgery that i was fortunate enough to have had insurance pay for, i'll be damned if i was gonna screw it up. I kept having small frequent fills in order to keep feeling a certain level of restriction. I am filled to 9.2 in the large VG band. I did have one temporary set back. I needed port replacement, i struggled to maintain my loss during that time when we were trying to figure out where my Fluid was going. Luckily i did maintain my loss but it was pure hell without restriction. I joined a gym when i got to the point where i was comfy enough to exercise with others. I go 4-5 times a week. I will be perfectly honest and say i still have food issues and most likely always will, i am a total food addict. That is why i MUST keep myself super restricted so that it is impossible for me to overindulge. I am still able to eat anything i want but i am only able to eat a very small amount. Thats what works for me.

I bet you feel just marvelous, you have done such an amazing job!

You know your a bandster when.........your husband is folding the laundry (gasp) and does not know if the underwear he is currently holding are yours or your teenage daughters. BYE BYE GRANNY PANTIES

I was one of the lucky ones that had restriction from the get go. I had 3cc put in at the time of surgery. If i could offer one piece of advice it would be that when you feel you are ready for that next fill, go with a small fill because you can always have more added in a month. Its alot easier going small then dealing with the problems and issues that come with being even slightly to tight.

I will have been banded 3 yrs this month, so i thought i would post some progress photos!

Thank you all for your kind words. In answer to one of the above questions.......no i will not unfill my band because that would enable me to eat more. Ill keep on getting tiny fills to maintain a good level of restriction untill they tell me they can not fill me anymore.

I hit my 200lb loss mark today so i thought i would share some photos. I have decided to lower my goal. Not sure to what yet though.

I hit my 200 lb loss today so i thought i would post some photos. I have decided to lower my goal, not sure to what though.