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 JulieAnn. Hey you look good! lol. You really do though(I saw your pics in the one forum), great job! As far as the "now promise me you won't gain it back" comment. I would plan for the next time. Maybe tell her, Thank you for your flattery but I make no promises to anyone but myself when it comes to my weight. And the "skinny" word is just not a word that I want to ever describe me. I strive to be "fit". Vent anytime you want, that's what we're here for

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?

Hi Sarah. First: Thank you for your comment on my page! Second: I am NOT going to criticize you. What's done is done. I've read that EVERYONE is going to mess up from time to time. If you understand this and allow for it then there is no need to beat yourself up about it and is much easier to get right back to business! I like to drink from time to time, I know it slows my progress yet I plan accordingly. It's the rest of my life. It will be ok. Third: STOP drinking soda! It's a hard habit to break but once you make the decision, it becomes just as much a habit NOT to drink it. Fourth: NEVER think of exercise as a punishment. It is a blessing we have the ability to exercise and is such a beautiful gift to our bodies. Instead, reward yourself for inches lost! I am soo bossy,lol, i am definitely no expert, just trying to help. Best of luck to you!

:thumbup: Ok. I feel good. I have lost 46lbs which hasn't happened for around 13 yrs. I was only going up prior to this, I lost faith in the "butterfly transformation" idea. I figured I was destined to be a fat catepillar. Another words, I lost all hope that I would ever be able to be fit. Figured it just wasn't in my genes. My whole family is fat, just fighting a losing battle...just look at my pics. Those feelings are gone... I am sooo impressed with the band and ME. The band keeps my food intake under control! I keep WHAT goes into my mouth under control. I have committed myself to going to the gym 3-4x/week and stick to it. The best part is that I do not feel like I am dieting at all. I made a personal choice to live the rest of my life more healthy. I feel empowered. I NOW know I WILL get fit. I also know, it isnt going to happen overnight. I just am enjoying the trip. I still drink about once every 2 weeks just because I enjoy it and I know there will be people who think I should banish that altogether. It is my one habit I am not willing to give up, at least for now. It is a social thing for me. I loove to go out and let loose. I have a tight group of friends that go with us to clubs and we dance the night away(after a couple drinks). It's fun, and when it isnt, I will give it up. February 25 will be 1 year that I haven't smoked. So very proud of that:tongue: I like who I am and look forward to who I am becoming. I was a size 5x/32T pants. I am size 30/32 / 28T pants. Many folks talk about the wii fit. I bought it. I can't USE it because I am too fat. I was upset at first but now it has become yet another goal for me to meet. The weight limit is 330lbs. Hoping to get there in 5 months or by July 4th. I am on track, now just gotta get my finances on track. Life is good:drum:

Ok. I feel good. I have lost 46lbs which hasn't happened for around 13 yrs. I was only going up prior to this, I lost faith in the "butterfly transformation" idea. I figured I was destined to be a fat catepillar. Another words, I lost all hope that I would ever be able to be fit. Figured it just wasn't in my genes. My whole family is fat, just fighting a losing battle...just look at my pics. Those feelings are gone... I am sooo impressed with the band and ME. The band keeps my food intake under control! I keep WHAT goes into my mouth under control. I have committed myself to going to the gym 3-4x/week and stick to it. The best part is that I do not feel like I am dieting at all. I made a personal choice to live the rest of my life more healthy. I feel empowered. I NOW know I WILL get fit. I also know, it isnt going to happen overnight. I just am enjoying the trip. I still drink about once every 2 weeks just because I enjoy it and I know there will be people who think I should banish that altogether. It is my one habit I am not willing to give up, at least for now. It is a social thing for me. I loove to go out and let loose. I have a tight group of friends that go with us to clubs and we dance the night away(after a couple drinks). It's fun, and when it isnt, I will give it up. February 25 will be 1 year that I haven't smoked. So very proud of that:tongue: I like who I am and look forward to who I am becoming. I was a size 5x/32T pants. I am size 30/32 / 28T pants. Many folks talk about the wii fit. I bought it. I can't USE it because I am too fat. I was upset at first but now it has become yet another goal for me to meet. The weight limit is 330lbs. Hoping to get there in 5 months or by July 4th. I am on track, now just gotta get my finances on track. Life is good:drum:

: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??

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!

See? It wasnt as bad as you thought,lol. How much "fill" do you have altogether? I just went today for my first fill and my doctor put 5cc in. (I told him I WANT RESTRICTION!! I had none) I gurgled too as I drank a small cup of water! Now I am kinda scared about drinking(not suppose to eat rest of day) anything tonight. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!

It's great you got yourself back to the gym! I hope 3rd time's a charm!:thumbup: No matter what you weigh at the docs, it is still LESS then prior band! I wish you the best of luck.