michellelei

"That is so fantastic Michelle! You know you get a lot of kudos on here for having lost all your weight and being a "successful bandster"."

Thanks Jachut but I can't call myself successful near yet, not when I have almost 200lbs to go still but I appreciate the "kudos". You look fantastic by the way, Kudos to you!!!

"the strength of people who have overcome twice that, the courage to get out there and do it simply amazes me. Women like you and momster are incredible!"

Everyone on this journey striving for a healthier, fitter, more enjoyable lifestyle is incredible!:party: We had allowed ourselves to become something we're not proud of and FINALLY decided instead of sulking, we are going to do something about it, reversing our negative habits. Jachut, some of us just took longer to come to that decision meaning we will just have to work a little harder and/or longer.:hurray:

Momster, good luck with your band, I hope it proves to be as useful a tool to you as it is for many of us here.

1 more thing, it's been mentioned several times about the wii fit.:mad2:I have no clue how gr8 it is. And yes, I have one. I just can't use it yet. The weight restriction is 300 lbs. although I have heard it will go to 330. Sooo, it is packed back up and waiting for me in the closet to hit that weight. Just 1 of my many goals,lol.

Preband, I weighed 424 lbs. That was 10/27/08. 2 weeks after my banding, I joined a gym, Planet Fitness. They "schedule" appts for going over the machines and what amount of weight you can handle. I really didn't care for the guy who does this. I felt like I could read his mind, "yeah, like SHE'LL keep coming". I felt VERY SELF CONSCIOUS! I got over it. I was there for me, not for eye candy to anyone else. After the "appt" was over, the guy told me I could do the eliptical for 15 min to start. Great! I set it for 15 and, well, it was a lot harder than I anticipated! I made it to 7 min and thought I was dying! Now I love it, it is so much nicer to my ankles and feet than the tread mill. I go faithfully before work Mon thru Thurs, 6:15-7:15am. I HAVE to go before or I won't go. I am NOT a morning person yet somehow this works for me. I actually LIKE how it wakes me up. It's been 3 mths now. I weigh 367 and am up to 18 min on eliptical. That may not be much to some people but for me, it's fantastic. Noone gawks or is mean. Everyone just does their own thing. I also do "Walk away the Pounds" by Leslie Samsone 2 x a week(its a dvd). I have the 3 mile but only do 1 1/2 miles right now. I like it because I can do it and I work up a sweat.

Exercising helps keep me motivated and I feel great! I can't hardly wait until I drop another 50 lbs to see where I am at physically then. Good luck to you.

Hi everyone. I have been banded for 3 months and only felt real restriction for the last 2 weeks(since my second fill). I was given 5 cc's first fill, felt a little restriction but could eat wayyyy to much. I was given 1 and 1/2 cc's my second fill, making it 6 1/2 cc's in a 10 cc band. Now it is where I want it. Don't get me wrong. I still feel sorry for myself when I am eating something I like and can only eat maybe 3 bites but it is alot better than no band where I would totally pig out having absolutely no ability whatsoever to admit that I was full and NEEDED to stop eating! I've read quite often about not being able to eat in the morning. I am grateful that I can. I get up at 5am, get ready for work, eat bowl of oatmeal with blueberries with coffee every morning during week then I go work out at the gym for 45 min.(I drink quite a bit from the Water fountain with no problem) then off to work. By lunch time I am so hungry but this is when I just cannot eat. I try and always feel the tightness and sometimes push it then get sick. I dont tell anyone, I just casually go to bathroom and spit up what I need to(w/ phlegm) then I am alright. Supper is hit or miss, sometimes I can eat and sometimes I cannot. I have found that on the days that I cannot eat, I MUST EAT OR DRINK SOMETHING healthy(I really like the Boost chocolate drinks and a banana) because I WILL BE able to eat later on and if I didnt eat something my band allowed earlier then my hunger will make me eat w/o CARING about my goals(meaning, I will eat bad choices almost ravenously). Not sure if this was of any help but it is where I am at. By the way, I LOVE my band. It is the best thing I ever did for myself!

You look fabuloussss! You inspire me! I have lost 48lbs and STILL have 200 to lose. I worry about the extra skin too(not enough to wanna stay fat) but was just wondering. Any secrets you wanna share to us wannabees?

I really enjoy putting a picture with a name and I Love the pics Anne & Julie Ann! You both look great!! Nice job, keep it goin'.

I too have an apron. My highest weight was 402. At surgery I was 375 and now almost 11 months later I am 275. My apron is worse. I have gone from a 32 w in pants to a 26 or 28 depending on how they're made. If it weren't for the apron, I'm sure I'd wear a smaller size. Oh well, I'm holding out until I am under 200 lbs and then I'm having hernia surgery and a great Tummy Tuck. LOL

:glare::huh2::thumbdown:Ok. I have sooo many mixed emotions by the above quote!! First of all, CONGRATS!! on losing SO MUCH weight:thumbup: However, I am a bit nervous at hearing you only went from a 32 to a 26/28 size!:glare: I started at 424lbs, a size 32T(T for tall) pants and 5x tops. I am down to 383 and am happy with this so far. I still wear same clothes because I refuse to spend money on lots of in between sizes from here to goal but they are VERY BAGGY on me! I don't hardly wear any of my "stretch" jeans any more because of their bagginess and I can't wear them to the gym anyway. I already had stock of other sizes anyway from yo yo weights of past! I'd say I am now a 30T pants & 4x top.

I gotta tell ya, thinking about losing ONE HUNDRED POUNDS from where I am now and only coming down 4 sizes, due to "apron" or not, just doesn't sound, well, right:eek: Can you tell me what size tops you were and are? And perhaps all the other positive things you feel from who you were then and who you are now? Maybe the neck thing, you know, you now have 1 and how about energy, have alot more of that? Do you feel healthier? I know I do with just losing 41lbs. I work out 3-4x per week for 45 min. at least. I find just walking to my car seems like so much less of a chore! I love the way I feel and sooo look forward to how much better I will with a much bigger loss! Another thing I can hardly wait for is to sit anywhere I want w/o secretly analyzing whether I will fit and if chair is capable of holding my ass, I mean mass:lol:

Anyway, congrats again. I think to lose that much weight is a huge triumph. That in itself is an inspiration! Have any pics??

Hi everyone! I have not posted for a long time but I visit everyday! I enjoy reading everyone's "mostly" success stories and encouragement. Congrats to all of you, keep it going! I guess I am a "success" so far too but SLOWER than some,grr. The scale is just not my friend. I am smaller because my clothes say I am,lol. My pants are baggy and my tops fit better. I feel alot better physically. I have been working out at the gym 4-5 x a week for about 45min-to an hour. I always finish with the eliptical for a total of 8 min. (1/2 mile) That may be easy for some but it is killer for me,:wink_smile:. I went to a huge Christmas craft show Saturday and usually I can't walk too long w/o getting very tired. I walked for hours and did great. The thing is, I started at a really high amount so I expected the weight to fall off pretty fast at first. It's been 6 weeks and only 25 lbs. I had my first fill 11/25, 5cc's. It gave me some restriction but not enough. I am calling tomorrow to ask for another. I don't THINK I am overeating but I do eat 1 regular plate full in evening. I am eating a full plate of salad with some kind of protein(shrimp, chicken, tuna salad,etc) for lunch almost everyday. I am now reading "LAP-BAND Companion" to see if there is anything I should change. With all the above being said, I am very happy I got the band and I thank God for giving me the strength and ability to finally beat this demon inside of me.:cool2: Good luck all.

From Windsor PA (York County) here. I am surprised by how few people are from PA. I have tons of weight to lose and was looking for some local peeps to share the journey with.

I had my first fill yesterday(11/25). My doctor put 5ccs in. I gurgled when I drank the Water, that was weird. I have restriction now but still not enough. It was hard to eat anything today. I had a 2 deviled eggs(party at work) for lunch and that was it. Then had a Protein Drink and cottage cheese a little later that I had packed for my lunch. Now tonight, I had baked ziti(overcooked noodles) and it went down very easily:(, I ate a little over a cup. I am still hungry so I am going to see if I can eat a salad. Good luck all. Happy Thanksgiving!

(I can understand the hunger. I have it. I can also understand that I am an adult who chose to do this. If you eat solid foods before time, then you aren't really doing your part in this. Yesterday 02:13 PM)Ummm....:sad:ok, thank you for the scolding? I think I'll use another quote for a response........

(I'm already aware that I need to let my body heal, which is why I feel awful about what I did today. I also know that I'm going to be hungry. Mostly, I know that I'm human and this won't be the last time I "F" up. If all of us were set in "self control department", none of us would have to have this surgery in the first place. Nor would we need a website that offers support and encouragement.)

As I stated, I am back on track. My mind went retro for a bit, but the adult side of me took over and all is well.....for now:thumbup:(or is he too childish?)

Thank you, Julie. I have been reading alot from this site since having off from work these 2 weeks. Everyone is so very helpful in keeping the spirit up and filling in the dots when not sure of something.

Hi! Lookin for other bandsters out there to help keep me sane,:smile2:

I was banded 10/27

As bad as it is that you cheated, it made me feel somewhat better!!lol I was doing really good, listening completely and thinking wow! this isnt hard at all, so glad i got banded(on oct 27 btw) then 2 days ago(8 days banded)i still didnt have a bm and was getting bad pain in my lower abdomen R side and got worried, called doc, told to take Miralax. I did that night, next morning and AGAIN that night. I went 3 times,very little each time,the pain subsided some. (oh, and I found out not by my doc but by this site that codeine can make you constipated so I stopped that 2 days ago)

I got VERY hungry! My diet is full liquids until Saturday then to soft for 2 weeks. I knewww I could handle more than liquids NOW and I was extremely tired of liquids! So I made myself 2 servings of instant mashed potatoes thinking I would never be able to eat that much. I even added a piece of swiss cheese into potatoes for a little extra texture and taste. I ate it all and pretty fast too. Ok. Why didnt I get sick and throw it up like i hear so often people do if they overeat just a "LITTLE"? I'm not done yet. My husband made turnips and mashed potatoes, pork chops, and green Beans. The BBQ Sauce on the chops smelled soooo good.....

Yes. I cut up half a pork chop into little pieces, had some turnip/potato mash and green beans and looved it. Wow. I still wasnt umm overstuffed. Later I had a FULL glass 16oz of choclate milk with malt added to it. Ok, there, i spilled the beans.

I called my doc this am and told about the pain in abdomen and about going off liquid with some "mashed potatoes". I was told "go back to your diet and stick with that". ok.

Later that morn, i had 3 LARGE bowel movement, my stomach feels much better, not perfect but better and I am back to, heavy sigh, liquids.

Maybe there is no advice here, but maybe you feel a little better now?lol I do.

Hi, I was banded on the 27th. It has been 8 days now and I havent had a bowel movement. Noone really seems to talk about that. Is this normal?? I have pain in my lower abdomen on RIGHT side and have taken Miralax 2 x so far yesterday. AND I read often about people who can't even swallow an ounce but I can gulp if I want to. I dont just in case but can drink at least 4 oz right down.:thumbup:

Hello. My surgery date is October 27, 2008. I am baffled about the "diet" before surgery. All I was told was to eat like the Atkins diet of high Protein and low carbs now till surgery. I didnt even really start that because figured I would eat normal a few more days before the rest of my life of change. Now I am worried since reading your question that the op could be canceled if I dont eat correctly BEFORE the op. I have NO IDEA what you both are talking about in the liquid diet prior to op, please explain! thank you

Michelle:blink: