seahawks

Hi 2FG. Congrats on your weight loss so far. That's awesome! I started with 150 as my goal. When I hit 155 and was still averaging 2 pound loss per week, I realized my body wasn't finished yet. I changed my goal to 135 and have hit it. I'm going to try to get down to 130 and see what happens when I start maintaining. If I gain back the 5 pounds, and can easily maintain 135 with my new exercise and eating regime I've learned over the past year, I'm just fine with that. I'm not quite 5'1", so am wearing size 6 or 8 pants depending on the brand. I don't expect to get smaller than that. Over the next few years, I'd like to maintain 130 - 135. It seems reasonable and gives me enough calories per day to maintain and not feel hungry. Good luck with your continued journey - whether it's continuing to lose weight or to switch over and maintain for now.

I'm a few weeks from my "bandiversary." My husband is the only one who knows. We have two teenagers and I didn't tell them. I did this for me, for all the struggles I've had in my life. I didn't want to have to answer the questions as I made my way through this journey. I'm a private person, so people aren't so surprised to learn I started losing weight and didn't let them know. The only person I've had a hard time not being completely honest with is my mom. She's always 100% supportive of me and I feel horrible deceiving her. However, I think it would put her in an awkward position for me to ask her to keep it from my dad. I would never expect her to do that, so I keep it between me and my husband. Between him and this website, I get the motivation I need. Others in my life help me, but assume it's through all the lifestyle changes I've made that they can see. Good luck to you!!

Hi Imagine! Walking is the one thing that helped me the most. Even after a week or so, a steady walk would relieve the discomfort. I also slept with a pillow hugged to my stomach. I don't know why it helped, but it worked like a charm. It didn't matter if I was on my back or on my side. Good luck with your journey

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Way to go. What a feeling of accomplishment. Keep up the good work:smile2:

Thanks Jodi! I can't believe I'm about to say this - I'm in between size 6 and 8. Who would have thought that would be my problem 11 months after surgery! Size 8 are a bit baggy in the bum, size 6 a bit tight in the upper thighs. Both fit just fine, I just don't want to spend a lot of money if I'm not going to be in that size long. I planned to get 5 - 6 new pairs of Spring time pants over the weekend. Now I'm going to wait a few weeks and see if the 6 fit better. If not, I'm happy to say I wear a size 8!! I bought 2 pair, 1 6 and 1 8 to get me through the next few months. I had been wearing my size 12, but they look ridiculous even with a belt. What a wonderful probem to have. I'll keep checking in on you so I can see when you reach your goal. Way to go!

Hi Bella. Please don't get discouraged. It was six weeks from my surgery to the first fill - I lost 10 pounds. It was another 8 weeks from the first fill to the second - I lost 8 pounds. The second fill hit my sweet spot and I lost 64 pounds in the next 7 months! I made my goal one month before my bandiversary. All that said to help you keep your eyes on the prize. You can do it. I know it's hard not to compare yourself to others. I was lucky to hit my sweet spot so quickly, I know it takes others 4 - 8 visits. Good luck on your journey!

Congrats Jodi!! I've seen you on a few other threads and it's been fun watching your progress. It's so exciting to be 10 pounds from your goal!! I reached my goal yesterday. I'm going to maintain that for a few weeks before deciding if I'll go for another 5 - 10 pounds. I'm only 5' 3/4", so just barely in the normal BMI range at 135. Stephonee - I didn't lose much weight from April - July (total 18 pounds). When I found my sweet spot, I averaged about 2.5 pounds per week until early January. Since then, I've lost a total of 12 so right around 1 pound per week. I think most people with 100 pounds or less to lose hope to get it done within one year. When the weight started coming off slower, I was worried I wouldn't make my goal before April. I'll probably try to drop down another 5 - 10 pounds, so I won't be at my maintenance weight by my bandiversary. I'm totally okay with that! It's good to have goals and adjust them as your journey continues. Good luck!

From my surgery date to my first fill (6 weeks), I lost a whopping 10 pounds. Man - I was so frustrated. From my first fill to the second fill (8 weeks), I lost 8 pounds. Ok - now I was really ticked off. The second fill hit my sweet spot, I lost 64 pounds in 7 months!!! If somebody told me I would lost 82 pounds in 10 months I would have thought they were off their rocker! When you get frustrated, try to remember it's a lifestyle, not a sprint. Hang in there - you're doing great. I think this phase is known as "Bandster Hell." No fill, only a slight restriction mostly due to swelling. Keep up the great work at the gym, it will make a difference when you start your fills!! Good luck on your journey.

When I get a fill, I spend a few days telling myself what's coming and how we're going to handle it! The 24 hour liquid phase is horrible. I also get really hungry and feel like I'm drinking food all day long. I just remind myself of all the stupid diets I tried over the years. This is the only thing that has worked. If I need to suffer for 24 hours every few months until I get my sweet spot, then I just tell myself to suck it up. Of course, self tells me to just go to bed early so I don't suffer the tummy rumblings! Hang in there, mushies are only a few hours away!!!!

After nearly one year, I'm still not an expert and eat too quickly from time to time. Trust me, you will slow down to avoid this pain when it happens often enough! It sounds like you are eating too quickly. If you question how quickly you're eating or if the bites are too big, then more times than not the answer is YES! Early on when I would get stuck, drinking something only made it worse. The food was still stuck, and the Water was sitting on top of it. One thing that helped me was to take a walk around the block. I don't think it helped the food move quicker, it just got me out of the house and gave me something else to focus on. I think it's good to go a month or two without a fill, because it gave me time to learn the new eating techniques. Trust me - it's easier now without a fill then it is with restriction. Take your time, listen to your body and you'll do well. From April 11 - May 24 (my first fill), I didn't lose 1 single pound. But, I also didn't gain anything. From May 24 - July 20, I lost 10 pounds. I found my sweet spot on the 2nd fill, and lost 82 pounds from July 21 - present (2.5 pounds average per week). My advice is not to worry so much about weight loss right now, focus on preparing yourself for life after a fill! Good luck on your journey.

Hi Justme. Congrats on having the surgery. My port-site took the longest to heal. It was about 3 months or so before I realized I couldn't "feel" it anymore. It wasn't necessarily sore, I was just aware of it. From time to time when I'm doing laundry, or if I do abs a few days in a row, I feel a bit sore for a few days. It's not a bad pain, I just feel it. No rhyme or reason really. My surgeon said that is typical. Nothing to worry about as long as it's not sharp or agonizing pain. Good luck on your journey!

Happy Monday everyone!! 1 more pound gone. Yahoo. 1 pound to go for this short term goal. I've reached the goal I first set when I got banded. Trying to determine a new weight goal, but will probably give it a few weeks. Good luck!!

Great Job Everybody!!! Name___________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal_________ToGo *****:tt2:************************:eek:************ ********* *** AmethystJade.......231.8..........212.........150.......62.0 Babe...............308............286.4.......199.......87.4 Bellaperdente......196............184.........150.......34 Bklyn1984..........317............256.........165.......91 Bostongurl.........190............188.........133.......55 Brandy.............198............181.........166.......15 Cappy..............240............227.5.......130.......97.5 Chocolate_Snaps....244............224.........175.......49 CubsGirl17.........147............135.........130.......5 Clarebear08........192............176.5.......160.......16.5 Donna113...........183............174.5.......126.......48.5 Ebonie.............307............307.........200.......107 EmmaWang...........241............220.........140.......80 FalloutGirl........282............278.........165.......112 FeliciaLevy75......200............194.........140.......54 FlordiaPete........413............391.........300.......91 GratefulHeart......226............203.........135.......68 GuyMontag..........325............295.........200.......95 health4life........279............239.........150.......89 inri09.............287............254.........185.......69 janesays...........225............208.........160.......48 kimaly.............194............185.........160.......25 Lindar172..........246............225.........150.......75 Linksmom...........234............234.........145.......89 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311.........220.......91 Long2BThin.........216............192.........169.......23 lotzasunshine......270............260.5.......180.......80.5 Loveislovely.......216............210.........175.......35 ltgordon...........284.8..........250.5.......185.......65.5 lucyavery..........205............205.........140.......65 Mair...............231............222.........140.......83 Mamanmidwife.......264............260.........200.......60 mdgarcia31665......220............220.........165.......55 MissNilsa..........180............180.........132.......48 Rhea2d.............283............233.........185.......58 Sandra267..........220............220.........165.......55 Tabithan...........240............240.........200.......40 Tuger..............192............187.5.......130.......57.5 Under200...........242............199.........155.......44 vzghj3.............202............202.........150.......52 Wendy_Wo...........242............218.........142.......76 WOWOX7.............173............157.........125.......32

Welcome Vlynn! The number one thing that helped me in the beginning was hooking up with other folks on this site that were banded the same month. As time goes by, every bandster hits different speed bumps, experiences victories, etc. Having people who are going through the same time line made a huge difference to me. We all lost weight at different rates (based on age, metabolism, etc), but could relate with each other really well. Good luck!

Hi Bunny Girl. I've been overweight as long as I can remember - through elementary, middle and high school until last year. When I decided the lap band was the answer for me, my husband asked me what size I wanted to get to or what weight. I had no idea! I was afraid of saying outloud what I really wanted. I weighed 155 in high school. I'm only 5'1". I decided to make 150 my first goal. When I reached it, I realized I wasn't finished yet. Now my goal is 135. I'm 1 pound away - hope to make it by April 12, my bandiversary! I'm size 6 - 8. I went shopping 2 weeks ago. I took all these size 12 pants in the room with me. Came out and got size 10's. Back out again for size 8's. Size 6 fit really well, a bit snugger then I'm used to by not too tight. So, I bought 2 size 8 and 2 size 6 pants. I was a sweating mess by the time I was finished. The girls working in the store were laughing at me because they tried to convince me in the first place that there was no way I was a size 12. I'm debating if my next goal is to maintain 135 for some time, move down to 130 or perhaps move down to 125. I figure I'll come up with the answer in the next few weeks. My shirt size is medium now (size DD breasts, though they are a HECK of a lot longer now then they used to be!). My sweat pants are size small. I'm so excited for you. When I started dropping pants sizes was when I really believed I could do it. I went to the mall with my mom yesterday just to walk around. We walked by the bathing suits. She asked if I wanted to try one on since it's been years since I owned one. I told her it doesn't matter what size you are, you have to prepare to try on bathing suits! Good luck, make realistic goals, and make best case scenario goals. All of the goals will help keep you sane in your journey to your maintenance weight!