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HAVE A GOAL YOU WANT TO REACH? Post it here! I'm a firm believer in setting goals. So here goes mine: Surgery weight was 240 Current weight is 184 Short term goal 170 by August 3rd Long term goal 140 by November 14 To reach my goals I'm limiting my caloric intake between 1,000 - 1,200 daily. Drinking more Water, increasing my Protein and my workouts to 5 times per week. If I can get in 6 days I will. 3 days I'll be doing my C25K work out plan. And the other 2-3 days I'll do weights and abs. Who's next??

Okay, I'm a single of mom of two boys. But I've got the single mom thing down. I've been holding it down at home going on 9 years. My question is about going out on a date and being banded. lol When do you feel is the right time to tell this person you're banded? I have no problem telling my friends or co-workers about my band. But if I were asked out to eat on a first date....it would be rather awkward knowing I wouldn't be able to finish even half the meal. Has anyone ran into this issue? And how did you handle it? Thanks!

I'm almost 3 years out and I have absolutely no complaints about my band. Yes, I've managed to stretch my pouch and it's not been fixed. I went to the doc and he offered GASTRIC. Eh-eh! That's not an option for ME! If I had wanted that I would've done that in the first place. Then I spoke with the nutritionist and she said that I should increase my protein to above 60+, and come back in a month. If by then I'm not able to lose weight then I should seriously reconsider gastric. This was in late January and I've lost a total of 26lbs to date on my own since!!! I've not gone back to the doc but then again they've not called me back either. Which I probably should just suck it up and call them now that I'm thinking about it. I feel fine though. I still have good enough restriction. I've kept optimistic during this process because I know that I can eat more food than "allowable". It's all about being mindful of what you put in your mouth. Regardless if you have a stretched pouch or not you still have to eat clean and work out. There's no getting around it if you want to see results!! My short term goal is to lose another 14lbs before my 40th birthday which is August 3rd. That would put me at 170lbs. My long term goal is to be at and maintain a weight of 140lbs. Me & My Stretched Pouch CAN DO IT!!! S240/C184/SG170/LG140

Wow! It's been a hot minute since I've posted. But I wanted to check in... on 6/29 I weight 181. Today I weight 173. It's only a difference of 8lbs. I don't care! It's 8lbs GONE and for good! I'm feeling great and I'm able to buy clothes I hadn't been able to wear in a very long time. I do watch what I eat and I also work out. But I'm not in a competition with anyone. I've lost a total of 67lbs. November 14, 2010 will be my 3 year bandiversary. And I'm confident that I'll be down another 23lbs by then. That's my minim goal. My main goal is 33lbs. Baby steps... enjoying life, love and laughing it up too cause for once in my life I'm getting it right!! And YOU CAN TOO! Keep up the good work everybody. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

SO yesterday was a crazy effed emotional day for me. But I pressed on and still WENT to WORK OUT! That was GOOD for ME because I'm an emotional eater. Since I had packed all my mini meals for the day I didn't venture off NOT once! I didn't drink as much water as I had wanted though it doesn't really matter. Yesterday is gone and who knows what tomorrow will bring. All we've got is TODAY so make the best of it!!!

lol you're last sentence about knowing now you have restriction gave me a chuckle. it really sucks when food gets stuck. but at least you know what to do/not do or eat/not eat because with every restriction, even with every day come changes. one day you can eat just fine and the next day BAM you can't. crazy how it works out that way but it just does. but i wouldn't change it for the world really. don't forget to chew chew chew or let yourself get tooo hungry between meals. we tend to eat faster when we're hungriest. which causes us to not chew our food well enough. before you know it you'll be running to the restroom again. we want to ultimately avoid throwing up cause that's not good for our band. may be i'm offering info you already know but someone else reading this may not. wish you all the best with your band!!! ;o)

In the beginning I did tell people. Not because I felt like I had too just cause it's a part of me I wanted to share. But now I could care less. So when I get into a conversation about losing weight people want to know what I'm doing. I'm eating less, eating healthy and working out. And that's the truth!!! lol Do whatever you feel most comfortable about.. ;o) And have a great lunch!!

HI!!! PMS MONSTER!!! Love it!!! Well I didn't work out yesterday and can't today, I suck!!! I've started taking the pill because that's the only thing that has helped controlling keep me on track as well as aid in my mood swings. They're just not as bad and now don't last as long either. Some people think that PMS is just all in our heads. Whatever!!! I really hAte it with a passion that I start feeling crappy. But not giving up on mE and you better not either Missy. ;o) I'm actually forward to my work out tomorrow. You too have a great weekend and a great work out next week. Let me know how you do!

You know sometimes I wished that "time of the month" would just come some other time!! Seems like I always manage to bloat up 2-3lbs right before I start. Not to mention my feet start to drag, I get mad sugar/salt cravings, and turn into a rotten brat!! I've been working out real good, eating good and feeling good and then just two days I ago I noticed I was getting irritable over nothing. And it hit me yesterday... probably because I was fighting with myself to go to the gym. SERIOUSLY!!!?!?!?! I gave in and lost the fight and didn't go work out. Instead I watched Bethenny Getting Married. Which by the way is one of my favorite reality shows. YES! I'm a reality show junkie and enjoy frying my brain with all their bull shiznit!!! teehee WHO CARES?! Back to working out... I can't tonight already made plans for something else. I'll need to get up tomorrow morning and do it. Thank Gawd there's always another day to start over!! Toodles... :smile2:

AWESOME JOB!!! Love reading your blog. And also thank you for sharing so many delish recipe's!!!

This is such a good question!!!! If only it were easy to do... really nOt care what other people think. But in reality we all do to some degree. My mom told me she saw someone she hadn't seen in a while. The lady told her she lost a lot of weight really fast... hence my moms reaction was she looked amazing just older. My mom's never been heavy in her life and looks way younger than her age so she has absolutely no reason to hate on anyone!! She actually is loving my progress and appearance and gives me praises all of the time. I think there has a lot to be said about how quickly you lose the weight, to how healthy was your eating and work out regimen during your weight loss, to heck do you wash your face before going to bed even. There are a ton of skinny people who eat a poor diet, don't work out, or keep good hygiene. lol So why would it be any different for us just cause we lost weight?! Yeah, the sagging skin I get that part. But there are skinny "fat" people too that I wouldn't want to in a bikini either!! lol Keep up the good work and don't let those remarks keep you from reaching your goal. You see yourself everyday in the mirror, that's the only person you need to care about!! ;o) P.S. I'll be rocking at fabulous and 40 next month!! Whoot Whoot! LOL

I'm so sorry to read your father's poor reaction to your awesome 18lb weight loss. It didn't show on me until I reached 25lbs lost. And gradually as I've continued to lose weight (after a 12 month stunt) it's become more and more noticeable. I realize you are seeking love and acceptance from your father, but please understand that you have to want to do this for YOU! Pardon me for saying this but you (myself included) need to find love and satisfaction within yourself. I wouldn't even report to him any more your progress. SHOW HIM! May I suggest you begin to set realistic obtainable mini goals for yourself to achieve. It could be anything like for example you will walk 30min 5 times this week or for the month and then next week or next month add more minutes or switch out a day for some other physical activity. This will help you to build confidence in yourself as you check off each goal you reach. Tell yourself everyday in the mirror that you are a beautiful, strong, healthy, fit, confident, loving, and worthy woman. Own it, believe it and leave all that negative baggage outside the door cause it has no place inside your circle. Your beauty is not measured in the size of your clothes or in the number on the scale, beauty comes with inside of YOU!!

What great news! Good for you!

Happy Bandiversary!!! That's awesome blog, thank you so much for sharing. I especially can relate to this: "I eat Real Food, Not too much, Mostly plants with Proteins first. It sure does work for me. I wanted to be small so I eat small and it has worked for me. Yes, I did and do have HEAD HUNGER all the time. It needs to be controlled. Mind over matter helps. I practice mindful eating and I go real slow my fork goes down to rest while I rest, talk, and participate in the dinner conversation. I also listen a lot more at meal times." I'm still battling my HEAD HUNGER! ARgh! But like you are keeping my calories to 1,200 per day, and by keeping a journal it's really helped to do that! Thanks again for an inspirational story!!

Hey girl! I feel ya! I got off for a lOng while but I'm back. Anyone that thinks they can do this by themselves is just wrong. Having the support of other people is huge to the success of reaching our goals. At least I know I'm not one that can do it alone nor do I want too! Keep up the good work and hope to read more from you.

I'm so freaking excited! I woke up this morning and weight myself I was 181! That's 3lbs down this past week. Whoot! Whoot! Doin my happy dance! I want to reach 170lbs by August 14. Secretly pulling for August 3rd cause that's my 40th birthday. I've not been 181 since 10 years ago when I got divorced, wow! And back then I thought I was fat. Today heck no I feel GOOOOD! And I actually look better if I dO say so mYselF! lol Off to the gym tonight to start my week 3 of my Couch to 5K plan....

Awww hey mama! You've got a lot of good going on. Just need to do a little tweaking is all. I would try to keep your calories no more 1,200 and make sure to get in 60+ grams of protein from that. ALso, consider working out 4-5 times per week. This way you will see results faster. Otherwise, you will lose slow. Which is NOT a problem. Just don't get discouraged. This is your journey and you don't have to compete with nobody. But if you want to lose weight faster then you do have to consume less calories and expend more. You're doing great keeping a food journal, and drinking so much water. I feel ya about the rice too! I can eat rice easier than any other carb. I don't eat bread, tortillas, or pasta either. But rice I only have 2-3 bites and that's it! I try and load up on protein first always. Good luck!!

Hi Ms. Susan and Ms. Jackson! I've not tried the pouch test. I could actually benefit from it though since I know for a fact I have a stretched pouch!! I'm going to check it out!! Can you share what you've had to eat or rather DRINK today? lol Also, Ms. Jackson I can totally relate about that time of the month. I'm a monster during that week. I ALWAYS retain water weight, about 3lbs. As soon as I start, snap, I lose it. Doesn't matter I still get freaked out by it.

So I was thinking back to when I first got my band (11/2007). WOW, that was almost 3 years ago. At that time I was living with a man that was very unsupportive. From the day of surgery he argued with me about having it done. But I was determined because it is what I wanted. And heck who was he to tell me what I can and cannot do with my body!! He made it very difficult for me to stay on track. Always offering me fattening sugary foods... "slider" foods that were easy for me to get down. Ice cream, chocolate bars and even cookies. WTH? I don't know how I managed to not gain any of my weight back? I guess subconsciously I knew I had to stop and not ever over indulge myself. 2 years after I finally got rid of him and for good!! That was last summer (6/09). It took me the rest of the year to get back on my feet. A lot of great things happened during this process, I bought a home for me and my kids, I bought a new car. The one thing I hadn't done yet was drop weight still at a plateau but hey I'm not complaining! Finally in January of this year (1/10) I decided that I was ready to do ME! Here I go minding my own business and BAM I meet the man of my dreams, the love of my life! And he's been so amazing to me and supports me, encourages me, and accepts me just as I am. Weight is still slow in coming off, 26lbs since January. But it's 26lbs on top of what I had already lost putting me at 56lbs LOST FOR GOOD! Being back in the forums has also been great motivation for me. I love reading all the blogs and testimonials from everyone. It's also supportive and encouraging. THANK YOU for sharing your success and even your not so success. We need to hear from you no matter what so we can help lift you when you don't feel like getting up. I can't imagine being without my band. I LOVE IT! And I wouldn't trade it for the world! S240/C184/SG170 by Aug 3rd)/LG140 by Nov 14th Height 5' 2.5" Banded 11/14/07

It's easier said than done but you've got to find healthier alternatives. I don't keep any of the sugary fatty foods in the house anymore. But I do have sugar-free alternatives. Frankly I'm not as impressed with the stuff so I don't touch it much. Except for that time of the month. Because that's the only time I feel a sugar/salt binge coming on. Some people say it's all in my head but I don't think so. Consider keeping a journal when you feel stressed and write down how you're feeling. Maybe drink your favorite sugar-free beverage, mines sugar-free Snapple's Peach Tea. Or if you prefer coffee try a soy based one or one made with skim milk like a Starbucks late or light frap. Try going for a walk, clean the fridge out, or call your best friend and talk about what's going on, listen to your favorite music... anything you can do to keep you from eating the wrong foods or from over eating. The calories are not worth it. Try something new and you'll feel better about yourself. Think about it the stress will pass but the calories will last!!! Much luck to you!

Oh no. So sorry to read this. How did the doctor to know to look for a leak? Were you feeling any side effects? Best of luck to you!

Hi Grl!! I can totally relate to your story and if you need encouragement we can encourage one another. I was banded 11/07. Up until just 1/10 I had only lost 30lbs! My plateau was due to stress. I was told even by my doctor that stress can hinder weight loss. I was living with a man that was totally against my having surgery to begin with. And was very unsupportive of my efforts to losing weight and getting healthy. Thankfully I'm out of that relationship and he is not longer a part of my life. Since 1/10 I've lost 26lbs!! I had to really look within myself and decide that this is what I was going to do and recommit to my band. I set mini goals for myself, started working out and preparing my meals for work. Weekends I usually eat whatever but still being mindful to get my 60+ grms of protein in. I on the other hand I have stretched my pouch too! Therefore, I'm able to consume more food than before. I'm not suggesting that this might be what's going on with you, not even implying that you may be under stress. But if you've not lost any weight in a significant amount of time then sOmethings going on. Weather it be your diet or lack of exercise, stress, I don't know? But that doesn't mean that anything is wrong with you either. Just means you need to set some boundaries for yourself to follow. And get back the mind set you had when you first went into this. When's the last time you visited your doctor? I try to go every 6 months for a check up. Good luck and hope to read from you soon!

10 lbs in 28 days is not bad at all. In fact that's great! Better than not having lost anything. lol So many people would love to lose 10lbs in a month and have not the will to do it. You have the band to help you. But always remember the band should be viewed as a TOOL not the cure. You will begin to feel more restriction each and every time you get a fill. Once that happens and you apply these new findings with your allergies as well as staying within the lap-band way of eating you will see the weight melt off. As soon as you're given permission I would highly recommend working out too. Gaining weight didn't happen over night, neither is losing it. Keep your chin up! You can do this! S240/C184/SG170/LG140 Height 5' 2.5" Banded 11/14/07