Paulax

I watched it too. Oprah tried to be neutral, Dr Oz has a chapter on WLS in his book, You On A Diet. I was proud of those 'kids' for trying to explain themselves. They did a great job in my eyes. I sure wish I had this opportunity at a younger age. I'd have saved myself 30 years of pain and self-torture. I do believe we have a duty to try to get people to help themselves, but when all else fails, there IS an option. I am not dumb, I am not without discipline, I am a successful person in every other aspect of my life, except with my weight. I think there are factors in our brain chemistry that no one yet understands that make some of us fat.

I put one big TBSP of Psyllium Husk AND one TBSP of Flax seed oil in my protein shake every morning. It is natural, it is cheap and has no added sugar. I buy Psyllium husk at my local health food store. I LOVE the All-Bran Bars that they make now, but hey have a LOT of sugar in them.

Slow is better than no. I did have to remind myself many times in the last 18 months to eat clean, to exercise and to keep my eyez on the prize. It will come if you work it. Even a pound a week is 52 in a year, 104 in 2 years. It will come.....keep working it and good luck.

Unfortunately, there is too much money to be made in keeping us fat and consuming highly processed, commercial junk food. I think our 'fat' issues are all in our brain. I haven't dove into the thread titled 'Why are you fat?' because it is just too depressing for me. All I know, is that I am not dumb, I do not lack discipline or energy or stamina. I am an intelligent woman, educated and thoughtful. But I could just not lose this weight without medical intervention. I don't know if we will ever 'cure' obesity I WISH diet and exercise and discipline alone could have helped me 30 years ago. If that was all it took, I'd like to think that I'd have done it and saved myself 30 years of pain. I thought that Oprah tried to keep neutral. I think Dr Oz was pretty neutral about it. He does have a chapter in his book You, On A Diet about the band and Gastric Bypass. But I believe they do have a duty to try to get people to help themselves by changing lifestyles. But when all else fails....there is help. I was proud of those young people who tried to explain their choices. And I am so happy they found an answer so young in life.

Whoo Hooo DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE, Never Surrender!

I too am just shy of 6 ft. Boo Boo, have you thought of getting a slight defill? I have been quite successful in adding back a few calories. I just eat more often. But I know my band isn't as tight as yours. Keep healthy my dear. BTW, LOVE your new pic on the before/after board. and BTW, BTW, How come you get to be a size 6 and I am still a size 12? NO FAIR!

Thanks everyone. I feel friggen awesome. chocolate Snaps. I am 5'11 3/4" tall. Here I am wearing my size 11 jeans from the Tall Girl Shop, and a size M Nygard sweater. I have about a 41, 30 40 figure, so by no means am I small. But I feel beautiful...

Thanks Mary, kind words. Never surrender until you hit goal. I had people discouraging me from doing the last 2 pounds, telling me I was too skinny, or done, but I wanted that number, damn it. Now that I got it. I am going to work hard on keeping it there. I am still exercising, I am still eating good clean foods. It feels so good. I wish that for all of you too.

I started lowcarbing many years ago. I think it is the next best thing next to Phen Fen. I am still on a site with women I have 'known' for 7 years. I believe in letting go of all white processed garbage carbs. Banded however, I have never cut out fruits, veggies and any whole grains that my body will take. I am on a small site. Some of us were lowcarbing, some switched to WW, we just support each other with whatever works. I am a true carb addict. The more I have it, the more I crave it. I am best to stay away from high sugar content items, honestly, I am like a drug addict around it. My only bit of advice is to NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER.....I have hit plateaus, one as long as 6 months. With hard work and diligence, the body will eventually give it up. And exercise, exercise, exercise. It is a necessary part of life. I don't always like it, but I know it is necessary. Now my body aches if I don't do it. This hasn't been an easy road, I have laughed, cried and whined my way here, but what a ride and what a wonderful prize at the end. I feel so at peace with my weight. Finally.

GO JAZLADY!

And how is maintenance going for you Boo Boo?

Congratulations, it feels so awesome doesn't it? So how is maintenance going for you?

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.

GOAL! I hit goal this weekend on a fill of 3.2. I tried to increase my calories and if I am unable, then I may require a defill. But for now, we will see how maintaining on this fill goes.

I have to jump in here, as I was a very fearful, pre op patient. I even thought of jumping off the op table minutes before. I am so glad I didn't. I wanted to report to you that I just hit goal this weekend. I know in my heart that I would not have lost this 105 pounds in 18 months, or ever, had I not had the courage to go through with this surgery. I am forever grateful. Good luck in your decision, but I can attest that it has given me a beautiful outlook on life and much confidence that with this band, I will keep this weight off.

Goal, goal, goal, goal, goal............:lol::biggrin::eek: GOAL! As of this morning, I have hit goal. I weigh 174 pounds. At my height, that puts me at a BMI of 24.4. I lost about 105 pounds in 18 months. I exercise regularly. My fill remains at 3.2. I feel excited about the next year, I feel at peace with myself.

Thanks everyone! It's funny, that last 2 pounds just hung in there for WEEKS. I had almost given up and my friends from my lowcarb site were telling me to just call goal already....lol..... I didn't really change anything, I guess my body just decided to release it and let it go. Also, I honestly didn't think I'd feel any different than 2 pounds ago, but I did really feel good yesterday. I felt DONE. Done losing, but not done maintaining. That has always been the hard part, hasn't it? Keeping it off. I tried to eat a bit more yesterday, but I think I will probably keep losing until I get a slight unfill. But I am happy to keep my fill where it is. I certainly have more fat on my body to lose, but I am going to try to increase my calories a bit. My daughter and I are in our 3rd week of a learn to run program, so unless, I increase my calories, I will probably keep losing. NOT THAT IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. But ya, maintenance will be interesting.

GOAL! As of this morning, I have hit goal. I weigh 174 pounds. At my height, that puts me at a BMI of 24.4. I am so pleased, I am so much lighter in body and in spirit. I am at peace with my weight and just look forward to life without the constant thoughts of what diet to try next. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me. Your support meant a lot to me. I lost about 105 pounds in 18 months. I exercise regularly. My fill remains at 3.2. I feel excited about the next year, I feel at peace with my self. I am looking forward to a tummy tuck in the Fall of 08 or early 09. Then I look forward to focusing my energies on everything else wonderful in my life. My dh, my 3 kids and maintaining this awesome and beautiful body..... Cheers everyone Paula AND THANK YOU TO DOCTOR LEUNG IN SURREY.......who hoooo

GOAL! As of this morning, I have hit goal. I weigh 174 pounds. At my height, that puts me at a BMI of 24.4. I am so pleased, I am so much lighter in body and in spirit. I am at peace with my weight and just look forward to life without the constant thoughts of what diet to try next. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me. Your support meant a lot to me. I lost about 105 pounds in 18 months. I exercise regularly. My fill remains at 3.2. I feel excited about the next year, I feel at peace with my self. I am looking forward to a tummy tuck in the Fall of 08 or early 09. Then I look forward to focusing my energies on everything else wonderful in my life. My dh, my 3 kids and maintaining this awesome and beautiful body..... Cheers everyone Paula Pic at goal

GOAL! As of this morning, I have hit goal. I weigh 174 pounds. At my height, that puts me at a BMI of 24.4. I am so pleased, I am so much lighter in body and in spirit. I am at peace with my weight and just look forward to life without the constant thoughts of what diet to try next. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me. Your support meant a lot to me. I lost about 105 pounds in 18 months. I exercise regularly. My fill remains at 3.2. I feel excited about the next year, I feel at peace with my self. I am looking forward to a tummy tuck in the Fall of 08 or early 09. Then I look forward to focusing my energies on everything else wonderful in my life. My dh, my 3 kids and maintaining this awesome and beautiful body..... Cheers everyone Paula Edited to add a pic. Here I am in my size 11 jeans and a sweater size M. Goofy face, but great bod.....

GOAL! As of this morning, I have hit goal. I weigh 174 pounds. At my height that puts me at a BMI of 24.4. I am so pleased, I am so much lighter in body and in spirit. I am at peace with my weight and just look forward to life without the constant thoughts of what diet am I going to try next. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me. Your support meant a lot to me.

Rereading this thread as my MIL just phoned last night to say goodbye. MIL and FIL are travelling South for 3 months. Yadda, have a good trip, talked to the kids, yadda, yadda, yadda. What is the last thing she says to me? "Now, you aren't going to lose any more weight are you, because FIL and I like you just like you are and don't want you getting sick." :tongue::mad::biggrin::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: WTF? I am saying goodbye for 3 months and she is thinking about my WEIGHT???? :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: UNREAL! They are Danish, I am still WAY fatter than any of their skinny relatives in Denmark......I give up. I just give up. I am in my 2nd week of a Learn to Run 10K program with my daughter. I will either be thinner or look thinner in 3 months. This reminds me of my dear old grandmother from Italy, long gone, but when I was in my late teens my weight fluctuated. When I was fat, she would look at me with cataracts in her eyes and say in her thick Italian accent. "You too skinny!" And when I had lost weight, she'd say, "You too fat!" We'd just laugh. BTW, I'd also like to report that EVERY SINGLE test my doctor ran on my blood work was excellent. I was worried about my Iron levels, because I have been feeling lethargic at times. It is ABOVE normal levels. Normal 70, mine was 80, or something like that. I am healthier, I am stronger, I am spunkier than ever before.

Absolutely, I will declare goal at 175, but I can see that I could easily take off another 5-10 pounds of fat. It is easier to 'see' the extra weight when you are so close to goal. That is my experience anyway. Cheers, you are doing so well.

Awesome Manatee! Who Hoo!

These stories make me sad. But it reinforces the truth that doctors are just people. Some have tact, some don't. I had a PSYCHOLOGIST that I was taking a course from, race ahead of me to the door of a grocery store while he said out loud, "I thought I had better get in here first before before you take it all..." OR something to that fact. I was so shocked, I was speachless. My third child was a C-section, as was my second. The anasthesiologist couldn't get the epidural into my spine. He poked me for 30 minutes plus, the nurses were whispering into my ear to ask for another doctor. He asked me if I had gained more weight with this child. I felt like saying that even if I did, it didn't all go to MY SPINE.....A second anasthesiologist was called in to do the epidural and he got it on the first try. Yep, doctors aren't all blessed with reason and tact.