Paulax

I found the same feelings cropping up when I was purging clothes. I am at goal now and SO over it. I must say in encouragement, that even when it was hard to purge, I never missed one item, wishing I still had it. Good luck and go onto the next part of your weight loss. I never could shop second hand because of my height, but jeans are jeans, and t-shirts are so cheap. You will be able to dress on the way down your scale reasonalby for sure. Good luck and congratulations on the shrinking you. hugs

Yahoo, I have reached goal. Yesterday, I was thinking about how to increase my calories. I can not eat more at one setting, so I tried to increasing the number of times I ate this weekend. I am certainly not skin and bone and could probably lose a few more, but I am not trying to. I have started a learn to run program, so that also increases my need for calories. I am not planning on a defill, unless I keep losing. I'd love to hear how people at goal are dealing with maintenance.

I have asked this very question and didn't get an exact response. I am hoping for a TT later this year and would like lipo. I imagine that it is not going to be an easy procedure. It is one thing to avoid the port area, because you can pinpoint the port, but the tubing leading to the band. That is what I am worried about. I am expecting that when I get a TT, there will be no lipo in that area around my port, which just below my sternum. I look forward to more responses. Good luck.

Grace in answer to your question. My weight loss just kind of petered out at the top of my BMI without any effort on my part. I have kept my fill at 3.2 and am happy for the moment. If I up my exercise, I could aim for the middle end of my BMI, but like I said, I'm content for the moment.

Bloody hell, put out an APB. Thank goodness for good bras is all I can say. I am going for a TT at the end of this or beginning of next year, considering tiny implants, but somehow.....I just don't know.

AMAZING progress pictures LJM. Thanks for sharing. You must feel so free. Congratulations. Hey, when do you get the go-ahead to get back into the swing of things, gym, housework, etc?

My husband and I go out for dinner once a week, or we try. I will enjoy a glass of wine and order a bowl of soup or an appetizer, depending on what kind of restaurant we go to. BTW, I am at goal, so I don't worry so much about 'what' I am ordering, just worry about the waste of ordering too much.

You look FANTABULOUS! I especially love the shots in your jeans. Congratulations my dear and I hope all has healed and the swelling goes away.

OMG, that gave me a chuckle. A kitty lift.....:thumbup: VOTE FOR MARYPETUNIA FOR QUOTE OF THE YEAR! OK so seriously folks. How do they do a kitty lift. Do they just pull up while they pull the tummy skin down? ????

I posted this in the complications forum, but more people come here. So here goes. This morning I have developed a rash on my torso. They look like mosquito bites or acne, they don't itch, hurt or bother me. I just need to know it isn't band related. Phoned my surgeon's office and secretary hasn't heard anything similar, so I am hoping it is my hot tub, or clothes or the weather or something I ate. Please tell me if you have heard of anything similar.

PS Jachut, I see in another post that your boobs went on vacation, they must have gone with mine.....

I celebrate every single day, I smile at my image in the mirror and put on my size 10s. And only 2 years out, I find something else in my closet to let go of. A banded friend of mine gave me a bottle of wine called Santa Paula. She has been my mentor. She lives far away but the next time I see her, we will share that bottle of wine in celebration. Cheers

I suffer infrequently. I have watched the onset of my migraines and can sometimes figure out what triggers them. Stress, alcohol are two that I have figured out. Mine last for 3 days and usually make me blindish in one eye. I found the cure. Topirimate stops my migraines dead. I can still feel them, but they are not painful. I take the drug under the name Maxalt rpd. They are melt on your tongue type. I am so relieved that there is a cure. Good luck with yours. I know they are miserable.

2 months later, ya, my weight stays pretty stable. I do eat much the same as when I was losing. If I overindulge in Easter chocolate, I watch what I eat for the next few days and I stablize again. Two things I am in constant amazement of. 1. That this band helps keep my weight stable and I am thankful for it every single day. and 2. How truly little food we need to feel good, keep up our energy and maintain weight loss. My proportions were way out of whack pre band. Still feeling good at goal! Cheers everyone

RIGHT ON GAFFER!!!! You spent 16,000. but you look like a million bucks!!! Congratulations!

I was released only a few hours after surgery. Definately, you will need a ride home from the hospital. I think I was told not to drive for a week. I felt groggy, but relatively fine afterward. Mostly took it easy for a week. Good luck with your plans. It is a very exciting time.

and how long have you been banded. Just curious. I am at 1.65, and have been banded 8 weeks.

I am going to repeat what Dr Oz told a guest on Oprah one day. She complained that she was exercising regularly and eating well, but that after age 40 she just gained a few pounds every year and now finds herself with 15 - 20 pound to lose. He told her that after 40, we need to work harder. He told her that she needed to get her heart rate up higher for longer periods of time during exercise. ie: work out harder for longer. I know just how hard the last 10 pounds are. But it is worth it. Keep up the hard work. I agree that you do not need a fill, just need to adjust your exercise. See you at the gym.

Oh hugs to both of you.......

Yes, it sounds as though your fill is tight, but mac n cheese isn't something that would go down easy. I usually stay away from noodles, breads and rice. IF you are too tight, schedule a defill, and in the meantime get some Slim Fast or Advantage Shakes or Protein powder that you mix up yourself. There are little to no nutritional benefits in that meal of mac and cheese and weiners. Also, if soft cooked veggies are a challenge, grab a V8 or better yet, juice some veggies. I can't eat a whole cucumber, but I can drink one. And vitamins, find a good liquid vitamin. We need to nourish our bodies to keep them healthy. If you focus on getting more exercise and eating the good, clean and healthy foods, the weight will fall off. Let us know how it is going.

You look positively fantabulous Julie! Your skin looks so smooth, you heal very nicely. Your dad does awesome work. Yes, now it is time for you to be proud of your accomplishment and enjoy life and all it has to offer. Hugs and thanks for the update...........

How is it going juliegeraci??? Checking up on youuuuuuuuuuuuu!

I had your same experience this past winter. It WAS miserable. My band is fine, and I too experienced tightening afterwards. Try not to worry. LOL @ Jachut. You are my sister-twin girl. Paulax <---- has 100 disposible gloves in kitchen, 100 more in bathroom upstairs.

July will be 2 years for me. I have not regretted it for one second. I know in my heart that I would have regretted it had I NOT gone through with banding. I'd still be fat and depressed about it.

At goal for a few weeks now. I have to say that in spirit, I feel different, more at peace, less consumed with what and how much I eat. I have to say I am not feeling any different at goal, with regard to my food. I still have to try to eat clean. I pretty much keep low carb, I don't worry about it though. If there is an occasion to eat carbs, I will. Otherwise I am pretty much a lowcarber by choice. So yes, in answer to your question, I do stick with my new eating habits, perhaps just a bit looser. I am not critical of what I eat, but I do have to watch it, because with a fill at 3.0 still, I need to focus on the putting good and healthy food in my small pouch. There is no room for 'empty' foods. And I take my vits. Good luck, goal is a wonderful place to be. Edited to add: AND I exercise as much if not MORE than while losing. I see this as a lifestyle change and this is what will keep my body at goal and my mind healthy. I was thinking the other day, that I am able to jog, BECAUSE of my weight loss.