lellow

Oh no Ro, I don't know what's happened, but I so empathise with you. I've found my band to be very fickle recently too. When I was in S'pore it was so tight I could barely eat anything for two weeks. Then when I got back, I booked an unfill but was advised to eat slowly and chew lots and was fine for a week. Then last week, I felt like I lost all restriction and could eats heaps. This week, I'm tight again! In fact today alone, I couldn't eat more than a couple of mouthfuls at lunch, but managed to put away a fair amount (more than usual) of exactly the same food for dinner. I hope the unfill helps you, matey. I'm actually supposed to get another fill this Friday but am not sure whether I'll go ahead with it now.

Thank you so much for your reassurances Julie. I know in my heart that this is what I need to do, and that he actually would prefer a scar and a proportionate body than all the loose skin I currently have. I've lost all this weight and yet I'm more self-concious of my naked body than ever before. He knows this and he knows how it effects my body image. We also had a few glitches in the preparation for my surgery (my anaesthetist was going to be away and they were having trouble finding a replacement) and it looked like my surgery might be postponed for a few months. It was only when that happened that I realised how much I actually want to do this, and how I'm prepared for the scars and the changes to come. Luckily it looks like the surgery will go ahead as scheduled on the 2nd of April, after all, and I have to admit that my fears about the resulting scars have abated a lot, especially with your post.

accountess, GOOD ONYA hunny! It will be good to get the leak fixed, but in the meantime it sounds like you're making sure you're on the right track, and you can't be anything be proud of yourself for that!

Yes it happens to me quite a lot. Just as an example, after my last fill I went a few days without feeling any real change. Then for the next two weeks, I could barely eat anything - I felt WAAAY too tight. Then I went a week of feeling just right. Then last week, I felt like I lost all restriction, and could eat far more, and got hungrier sooner. Then this week I'm tight again. I booked a fill for this Friday and really don't know if I actually need another fill now. So yes, the band is pretty fickle for me too.

Amazing work, gilta! Your stats are amazing, you have sooo much to be proud of!

I agree with Jachut in that I do see obesity as a sickness. I don't agree that eating too much and not exercising is the only things that will make you obese. I think the desire to eat too much is a symptom of the disease. I exercised moderately when I was bigger (not like I do now, but I was no couch potato either) and it did not stop me from gaining weight, like my sister who is considered underweight, but who doesn't gain despite not exercising a day in her life. Even at my biggest, I could walk farther than her, lift heavier loads than her, and was all around fitter than her. I also now watch her eat almost as much as I used to eat, and easily 4 times what I eat now, and realise I need FAR less food than she does to remain slim. I can't imagine most slim people could live their lives eating the equivelant of a 3yo just to maintain a healthy weight, yet that's exactly what I have to do. Yet another symptom of obesity as a disease. Genetics, pregnancy, hormone imbalance, age etc all play a part in weight gain as well, so not exercising and eating too much isn't the only reason people are obese, IMO.

I agree with Jachut, I bought a spin bike and took up cycling because I had knee and hip issues, so had to find something low impact and non-weight-bearing. The first time I got on the spin bike, I cycled at 45rpm for 10 minutes and felt like I was going to die. But two days later I hopped on again and did another 10 minutes. Then every two weeks, I increased my time, and tried to cycle harder. It took me about 2 months to work up to 40 minutes at 45rpm. I now cycle 40 minutes at 55-60rpm, an average of 37kms per session, and I burn about 500 calories each time. I am getting faster, and am increasing my resistance, every week. But I didn't START out that way. Everyone started somewhere. No one woke up from the surgery fit and ready to exercise. We had to learn. And there are exercises you can do to get there. You might start with walking, but you CAN increase intensity. I used to walk 30 minutes a day and think it was great exercise. Now I power-walk an hour (at least) carrying my 15kg 3yo son on my back in a sling. These are the ways you can increase your fitness. You can make excuses or you can find a way. You have to make that choice.

Thanks for your reply MacMadame, DH has seen pictures already, but I don't think it'll quite be the same when they're on his wife. I hope he means what he says, and that he'll love my body no matter what. I am starting to believe that, to him, a big scar is still preferable to the masses of loose skin I currently have, just from things he has said recently, so am feeling more confident about the surgery after all.

The only problem I could possibly see in that is that you might not be able to get a fill until you get back. Otherwise, no I don't think that will be a problem. 4 weeks out from surgery, I was 100% back to normal.

Actually I'm managing the summer heat better than I ever have, Brad! And I can wear little spaghetti strap tops and cut-off jeans where in the past I've usually worn huge t-shirts and three-quarter length pants. I'm also wearing white tops for the first time in years (always wore black previously). AND I've been going to the public pool - my previous house, before we moved a year ago, had a pool and it used to be the only place I'd be seen in a swimwuit. I am a little shocked at all the things I used to NOT do because of my weight, but didn't realise that I was doing. I always thought I had enough of a good body image to carry my weight off, and I never felt like I wasn't attractive or sexy even at my highest weight. But now, I realise I DID in fact modify my life so as not to 'stand out' and that I'm not doing that anymore. It's funny how our mentality shifts, and we 'hide' ourselves, without even realising we're doing it.

Hi All Stars! Today marks the month of our 6 month bandiversaries! Let's take stock and Celebrate our achievements! Today (1st March) is my bandiversary. My achievements: lost 85% of my excess weight went from an (Australian) size 22 to a size 10/12 Went from a waist size of 45inches to 34 inches (with excess skin) Went from a fat percentage of 45% to 33% Went from a BMI of 37.4 to a BMI of 28 have found fitness! my risk of diabetes and heart disease are markedly decreased There are a lot of over NSVs along the way, but these stats speak for themselves. I am proud to say that I am a very happy bander!

I can tell from your photo that a lower BMI would suit you, Jacqui. :thumbup: In my case, when I was last 65kgs (at 16 years of age, I think) my head looked huge for my body, my shoulders looked like a linebackers on this skinny body and I looked, well, sunken in. I had no muscle definition at all, and my family used to hound me unendlessly to eat more because I looked so skeletal. I still see skinny people who look 'softer' than me now. I don't want thin arms that have no muscle, or have pencil thin thighs. I want to look fit, and I think I'm close to that now, if not for the excess skin. You can see my ribs clearly when I'm naked, I have only a marginally high fat percentage (for a woman), and I believe that a lot of my weight now is muscle, and not fat. Plus I am a D cup on top, and have an ample backside, and broad shoulders, so I am naturally curvey, which TBH I quite like and wouldn't want to give up. So a BMI of about 25-26 is where I think I'll be happy to be right now. My plastic surgery should remove about 4kgs of skin, and that should take me right into that weight range. :thumbup:

Re BMIs, my Dr explained that BMIs were created by insurance companies for assessing people for insurance, and tended to be unforgiving. Which is why it doesn't take into account muscle mass, fat percentage etc. It's a simple calculation of weight vs height, which means a heavily muscled body builder with a fat percentage of 20% would be considered 'obese'. There is no room for variation. He said that in general, a healthy weight should be measured in fat percentage (mine is currently about 35%) and in how the weight LOOKS on you. And looking at me, he thinks I should be around 70kg (BMI 26) or at the very very lowest, 68kg (BMI 25ish). And I kinda agree with him. So my goal is 68kgs (5.5kgs less than I am now). I think anything less than that, and I honestly won't look good. I actually think I would look thinner than average even now, if not for my excess skin.

I had a chat with DH last night, as I know that after my body lift, I will have some obvious (and sizeable) scars, even if they do fade after some time. I wondered if they would be off-putting to DH and whether he would find me attractive anymore. He reassured me that he would find me attractive no matter what, but I can't help feeling he's not quite prepared for the extent of the scarring, and how different I'll look. So I was hoping to hear from those who have BTDT - how did your spouse react to your scars?

Last night we received our mortgage redraw approval papers. I am officially on the countdown to flatlands!!

No change for me. In the last week, I've lost my good restriction (but that's okay because I'm getting another fill - my 5th - next Friday). I also couldn't exercise for 4 days because I hurt my foot and I also over-indulged with food and alcohol on the weekend past (it was the long Australia Day weekend). A combination of these saw me gain weight in the early part of the week, but with exercise again, I've lost almost all of it (bar a half lb or so) I definitely believe now that my weight loss so far can be attributed to a combination of exercise and good restriction, and the loss of one or more of those aspects seems to be detrimental to me. Gilta, it's frustrating I know when the scales are standing still. I hope you get some movement soon (and get in to see your MD earlier than April!)

gilta, you're doing an awesome job, in fact much better than me! I had less to lose to get to goal (which is a weight of 70kgs, something my Dr has set, and is at a BMI of 26). So while I haven't actually done as well as you have, I got to the point where I can look at plastic surgery quicker as a result. Also have some good news - my finance has been approved! So the surgery is going ahead for the 2nd of April! My new weight loss goal is to be at 68kgs by that date (despite what the Dr thinks!) So 6kgs in 9 weeks!

Argh typed a long post then lost it! Will try to recap: I have been lucky in the boob dept in that I only lost a cup with the weight loss - went from a DD cup to a D. And while they're not perky and perfect, for a woman who's breastfed 4 kids, they're not bad either. I would be ambivelant too about implants if I'd lost more than that. I suppose the bottom line is that I wouldn't have much minded anything more than a C cup myself as well. I could probably also have lived with a B cup, but then again I'm only 5ft 4in. Also, before I would do my boobs, I would have taken care of my inner thighs, which have met in the middle since I was in my early teens. Though my PS's clinic just called me with a quote and it will be $4400 to lipo my inner thighs, and that's on top of the $16000 I'll be paying for my body lift. So I'm passing on it. He also says lipo alone probably won't do the trick, that I'd likely need a thigh lift as well if I go down that route. While I don't like that part of my body, I don't hate it enough to spend $4400 let alone the cost of a possible thigh lift to get it fixed! Right now the most important thing is to get this visible and very obvious 'overhanging skin' off my body. The rest of my imperfections, I can more than live with, I'm sure!

It's perfectly okay for you to hijack, Jacqui! I have to admit to worrying about the time needed to recover - DH has committed to being there and making sure I get the time I need, and I'm sure he'll follow through. The hardest thing for me will be not being able to pick my 3yo up - I don't think he'll understand why and that will be difficult. I'm not too worried about the pain - I guess I know that's part and parcel of this, and I know I can take pain well. I have wondered though if I'm prepared to carry on with life without surgery to remove this excess skin - after all, I've lived with my saggy belly for years before this. And I have concluded that I am not prepared to live with the belly, and will accept the cost and pain involved if I have to. The hips? Maybe. The bum? Definitely. But the overhang of belly that covers half my pubic area is something I cannot live with anymore. I did weigh up whether I wanted to go 'the whole hog' with a body lift as opposed to a TT though, and I think, hell, one in, all in!

Sam, I was hoping to only need a tummy tuck at worst, but I can see that to get the best results, I will need a full body lift. I can live with a saggy butt, but it's the overhang on my hips (that extend onto my back) that will need to be taken care of, or else I doubt the result will be anything than a slightly flatter stomache, and not much else. In my latest progress pics, you can actually clearly see the buldge where my skin overhangs on either side of my hips. It completely ruins my silouette. I hope at worst, you can get away with a TT and look like a million bucks. I too am a little concerned about the pain, but my PS reckons a body lift isn't a lot more painful than a TT.

I will be!! Lol! I hope to be in a drug induced fog for the first week at least.

Thanks Sam! I appreciate the support right now - it's all a bit of a scary, yet exciting new world for me! 'Ringbarked' was how my surgeon explained my torso lift to me. I think it means excess skin gets removed from right around my torso, so I end up with a scar that goes right around my body. I have contacted my PS's clinic to ask about lipo on my inner thighs as well, which is something he mentioned as a possible procedure to do at the same time, but in my nervousness, I forgot to ask about during the remainder of the appointment. I have had thighs that meet in the middle since I was in my early teens, and he is sure it's not going away with exercise. Though I'm not sure if I'll actually do it, especially if it ends up costing too much more. I'm actually still waiting to see if the redraw on our mortgage is approved too, so am not celebrating or getting too excited yet!

after having a great few weeks with weight loss, I've hurt my foot and haven't been able to exercise in over 4 days. I also had waaaaayyy too much to eat over the Australia Day long weekend just passed, not to mention the copious amounts of alcohol I consumed. But hey, sometimes you have to live a little, right? My scales this morning say I've GAINED 3 lbs, and I hope that's an after-effect of the weekend and will be gone by this Friday. Either way my foot is far less sore, so I will be back on the bike tonight, and will burn the weight off if I have to. I also realised over the weekend that my eating capaicty has increased again, so I think I may actually need another small fill again soon. Have booked an appt with my Dr for early Feb.

Hi carcol, I do exercise actually - about 4 times a week on average (though I haven't done any this week due to hurting my foot) and at intensities where I sweat bucketloads. I do think this has been the main reason for my consistent weight loss. As for what I eat - I don't calorie count or do low carbs, I just eat far less than I used to now than when I didn't have the band, and that seems to have worked for me. I also listen to my body and when I start to get hungry more often, I make sure I get filled - in fact my appetite has increased in the last week - which is not good considering I haven't been exercising much either - so have made an appt for another fill in early Feb.

Jachut, think of all that muscle you're putting on! Probably why you're not under 70kg again yet, but I bet it'll be any day now. I think the day my scales say 60 something is the day I will honestly, geniunely cry. heartfire, I hope the scales surprise you tomorrow morning, matey!