Ewiedbingcott

What you say is soooo true. The band is just the tool and we have to do the work. But the benefits are amazing. I love this tool! Great job - you're a great role model!!

Nice to see another Smashing Pumpkin lurking around! I too went back to get more fill as my weight loss had stopped. I wasn't making the right bandster choices either. I wasn't gaining any weight, but no more loss. Anyway, got 3 more fills and I'm back on the bandwagon. I've lost 6 pounds and am looking to get in those 170's. When I look back over my weight loss, it's been 20 pounds over that last year. I may get to my "aspire" goal yet!

Hey Julie Ann: Read your post yesterday but I was so slammed at work and couldn't reply as thoughtfully as I thought I should. First of all - yes - be grateful for the band. It does keep one in check doesn't it? I'm sorry about all the stress - and it sounds like I have no right to complain about working hard - you take the cake! Hang in there with those kids - I remember those days and it's hard - I'm still losing - just got another fill - he wanted to put 1 cc in but I was afraid - so just got 3/4's. I'm going out of town with friends/clients next week and didn't want to be getting up from the table every meal and PB'ing:mad:. I'm still 28 pounds from my goal, but only 18 pounds from my doctor's. Still going to boot camp 5 days a week - that's really changed my body! I feel like we who have been banded have been given a gift - it's incredible to me and I'm so grateful. Be well - keep your head up. I'll be thinking of you.

Hillary - just found your "success story" and I'm so impressed. You sound like you have the absolute right attitude. Your weight loss has been fantastic. And best of all, (when I looked at your pictures) it sounds like you've got a fantastic husband who loved you when you were heavy and loves you now. How great is that?? Congratulations on the fabulous job!

It is a wonderland. Congratulations! Don't 'ya just love this band?

I have absolutely no regrets. I'm a different person than I was 14 months ago. First of all, I look "normal" now. And I have a more "normal" (or what I perceive to be normal) relationship with food. Listen to Catherine and Indio -- they have been my inspirations on this site. I agree 100% with what they said. The band IS just a tool, and once I got that, I started using it to my advantage. I wanted to lose the weight but I couldn't do it on my own. Once I started dropping the pounds, I realized I needed the exercise too and so I joined a boot camp. I'd taken my measurments before, but I dopped over 11 inches off my body in 3 months! I've still got a ways to go -- and over the holidays I've been eating more of those "slider" foods that Indio talked about, but the great thing is, I know that I'll be back on the "band-wagon" again soon and that scale is going to continue to move downward. I live me life - it's just a so much better life! I love my band and only wish I'd done it sooner! Just wrap your head around the fact that it's not the band that does the work -- it's you who's going to have to watch what you eat, make sure you get enough Protein and exercise. That's why I agree with Catherine about not telling people. When people ask how I've lost all this weight, I say, "It's what we've all known all along --Diet & Exercise." Good luck.

I do a boot camp 5 days a week, plus take a walk everyday with my DH, and play tennis on the weekends. The boot camp was key for me. I started June 1 and have lost 18" off my body since then - and 11 pounds. It's a great work-out. I'm with a group of women that I love and every day the "marine" (as DH calls our leader) mixes up the work-out so it stays interesting. I don't measure my food all the time. Sporatically I've kept track of calories and periodically measure - especially when I think I'm not being honest in my portions. I try to get the Protein in -- up to 100 grams/day -- and when I do that, I lose. Everyday I try to do what's best for my body. I feel so grateful that I'm still doing this after a year. In the past I would have quit long ago. If I eat or drink something that's not within the bandster guidelines, I know that tomorrow (or, even, the next meal) I'll be right back on track. That's a real comfort to me because in the past I would have used it as an excuse to eat more -- it's what helped make be fat. I feel more healthy now than I have in years. I love my band!

Hey all you Smashing Pumpkins. I'm still hanging in - I've lost about 52 pounds. I'm happy with that. Looking forward to my 2nd year as a bandster! Kept my weight off over the Thanksgiving Holiday - even with eating and drinking more. Was sick twice (those grandchildren get me everytime!!!) and finally got back to boot camp this a.m. Hacked and coughed my way through it -- but feel better for it. Love you all ...

What an incredible story. You look fantastic and you've used the band as the tool it's meant to be. I loved what you wrote - I've printed it out and will keep it, along with all the other "smart posts" I've found along the way. Good for you. Congratulations. What a success story!

My body is so wierd! Hold's on then - bam. So I lost another .5 pound - I'll take it!

Well all my lovely October bandsters - I'm in the 180's. Woot woot:thumbup:. Over 50# lost. Imagine that! Yea me. 20 something left to lose (I like that better than 29). What a gift this has been. Hard work too, but this morning I thought to myself that in the past "diet" I would have certainly lost my resolve before this (I don't think I ever "stuck" to any eating plan to lose weight for a year) and because I'm starting to look good in clothes again, I would have convinced myself I could go back to a binge here or a binge there. No more! I know it's slow, but I really think I can lose this weight. You all are my inspirations!

Well, the scale finally moved and I'm down another pound. The 180's!!!!!!:thumbup: Yea me. I was worried that I'd never get there. Now it all seems possible again.

Honey - you don't even know slow! lol. I'm in 14's and I'm skirting with going into the 180's - bouncing around for a couple weeks now. My doctor said I didn't need to come back for 6 mos - unless I thought I needed a fill - which I don't. He thought my goal should be 177. If that's so, it's only 13 pounds away. Geez! I guess it pays to be old. As for those jeans - I wear the "Not Your Daughters Jeans" brand - good for us old ladies. Anyway, I'm in a 14 which my daughter-in-law is pointing out as baggy. She wants me to try 10's because they're a bit stretchy. Another benefit to being older - the manufacturers make the sizes roomier so we don't have to feel so bad buying a size that fits us! All I know is the ladies at boot camp commented on how "skinny" I am (their word - not mine). The boot camp is really doing it's job! Over 38 inches lost since I started this process. Way to go Love - haven't seen you here in awhile. Missed you and glad to hear you're doing so well. Go Pumpkins!

I'm down another pound. Only 4+ to go. Wow. Lovin' my band