ukcatsfan

Well 15 months after being banded I am finding myself walking at least 2, 3, and sometimes 4 miles in one exercise session...found myself sitting in a sporting arena chair "with Arms" and I can finally shop for clothes at a regular store...Not "Big Mens"...... Woo Hoo!!! Boy clothes are so much cheaper... And best of all, I can run around the field with my 3 yr old practicing soccer and basketball. That's the reason why I decided to be banded to be active with her and not just having to stand on the sidelines and watch. This band has so saved my life!! Now tell me about your successes. I remember the first time I wasn't conscience about going into a restaurant wondering if I was going to "Fit" into their chairs or booths. Oh and I had 2 ounces of cheesecake from Olive Garden last night for the first time and let me tell you it was good!

Hello fellow Nov 2008 banders! It's been a month or so since I have been back to the site. How are you all doing? I am doing a happy dance from my weigh in this morning. I'm at 294 down a whopping 131 pounds! Yeah. Only 69 to go and I'm winning my battle of the buldge and I too took back control over food and my weight back November 2008. What a journey, but I am so, so thankful I took this step....Tell me about your successes.

Getting the necessary Protein in your day is critical and doing the right amount of exercise. Plateau's are apart of your journey. You will experience them and then one day you'll get on the scale and be like....I did it, I got through it and your back to losing. If you have been losing without a good bit of exercise, then you just need to increase your activity. If your over eating then do a food diary and find out why your not losing. My first plateau it took me 2 weeks to move through it. I was doing everyone correctly, the weight just wasn't coming off. Then one morning I lost 4 pounds in a single day. My second plateau took me 3 months to work through, and that was really frustrating. Nothing like getting a fill, eating less and not losing...... But it passes and you move on. Just remember every pound you lose, it a pound that you won't gain again. Hang in there, it will get better. STICK TO THE REGIMENT>>>>

Hey all those folks that got banded in November 2008. What are your success stories? What was you starting weight and your present weight and things that you are most proud of through our journey. I'll Start.....My weight when I started this whole thing was 417 and my present weight is 304. I'm approaching the 300 mark and I can taste it.....feel it..... It's been at least 15 years since I've been less than 300. I'm walking 3 miles a day and I feel great!

how are you doing? This is our 1 week check point and I'm feeling much better today than in the past several days. I'm still sore at the port incision point and eating/drinking is slow but every day the process gets a little easier. Have you hit the scale yet to see how much you may have lost in just 7 days? I'm at 3 pounds down, 31 since the liquid pre op regiment and seeing a glimpse of the light at the end of this very, very long and narrow tunnel of weight loss. No more hill and valley losses and gains, just a consistent and straight path to a healthy and energetic life. Soon to be no more worrying about armless chairs, tight booths, seatbelt extenders on airplanes, heavy breathing after walking up a flight of stairs...... Life is good, and it's good to be breathing and have the opportunites to live again. I feel good, how about you? What you you looking forward to not worry about in your life?

Hey All, My computer crashed, had to replace and then I lost all my login information. Was banded on 11/18 and weight today is 320.00. I have lost a total of 95 pounds and I feel great!!!! Still have 95 pounds to go to that wishful target weight of 225. Had 3 fills but no idea the total number of cc's. The next 20 pounds to get under 300 pounds is a huge deal for me. I've been married for 20 years and for that long plus a little more I've been over 300 pounds. So as you can see getting under my married weight is huge. How are all you doing?

For all those that enjoyed the VD goal challenge, here is a longer 120 day challenge. Set a goal for yourself to lose by July 1, 2009. I weigh 340.1 today and my goal will be 30 to 40 pounds for anything for my between 300 and 310.00. Post your goal, post your progress and stay on thread with your ups (successes) and downs (fallen off point). I will be here for you and you need to be here for me. Set a goal that is a bit unrealistic yet attainable. Something that will push you to exercise, stay on the food regiment and something that will get you going and stay going. For me, I haven't been below 300 pounds in over a century so this challenge is huge for me. When I achieve this goal, my first 100 pounds plus will be gone forever and half of my total weight goal done....finished.. Join me as we strive to reach our goals and lose this weight forever!! peace.................

quick update, it took me about 45 days to regulate and the key is to drink enough fluids mostly water and I'm fine. Just a learning proces.

I'm exactly 1 month from being banded and since I started mushies I only poop once a week and the last 2 days before it's time to go, I feel like my colon is about to burst. The constipation is awful. What can I do to regulate myself since they say I should be going more often? Need help......:huh2:

greetings everyone, how are you all doing? I'm on a good pace down 6 pounds to 334 and I get my second fill next week. That should help me increase my weight loss but I'll take what I've done so far as I move toward breaking the 300 mark. I can't wait!!! Is there anything I can do for you to help you stay focused? Been a while since I've been online because of work, but I'm here for you all. Stay focued, keep exercising, eating Protein and we'll all get there. There are alot of people doing this challenge, something like 68 including myself and if we all lose the weight we set for ourselves we could be losing as a total a couple of tons of fat. That's alot of fat and no worries about gaining it back.....

VD is just is 45 days from 1/1/09. How much weight would you like to push yourself to lose by sweeties day. My goal will be 340 or 16 pounds. What about you? What do you want to weigh when cupid arrives?:thumbup:

congratulations to everyone who hit their goal. That is awesome. Personally I struggled a bit. I did lose 11 pounds...YEAH, but fell short of my 16 pound goal. Now during this period, I did get bronchitis and couldn't exercise for 2 weeks, and also was 2 weeks late for my first fill because of the snow. I know finding excuses for not doing the work. I still happy and so should everyone else. Those that hit the goal they set for themselves, have a nice time with your special someone or kids. I bought a suit for myself the other day and had to buy all new pants because none of my old ones fit. How cool was it to actually shop for 2 sizes smaller. Much better on the brain than when I dread going to shop for larger clothes. I feel great today. Enjoy the weekend and I'll be back on monday for another short challenge to get everyone focused on our journey. Peace.....................:ohmy:

Tick, tick, tick, tick 18 days left to Valentines Day. Congrats to those losing weight and we're almost to our goal. I FINALLY broke through my plateau and starting losing again. I'm down 8 pounds and have 8 pounds to go before the end of the challenge. And I get my first fill tomorrow or thursday. I'm a little nervous about that. :cursing:

Good Evening I'm am so proud of everyone. You are staying the course and doing so well. Update on me, I get my first fill on wednesday and I'm in the danger zone where I'm grazing between meals and I'm so hungry. I know I'm not eating near the amount of food I was pre surgery but still more than 4 oz. I am finally feeling better and will attempt to get back on the treadmill tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to exercising and for me that's an improvement because I'm just lazy sometimes, well at least before being banded. Anyways stay focused and VD is almost hear. I know we will all reach at least 90% of the weight we wanted to lose and some of you will lose 150% or more of the weight you wanted to lose. A preview for those that have stuck it out on this thread, will be a easter sequel and then the summer third installment of this thread. Peace.............:wink2:

27 days left till sweeties day. Are you getting closer to your goal?

Does anyone know if taking alka seltzer with a chest decongestion agent will cause me problems because of the bubbling action. Any thing with carbonation is off limits so I'm wonder about this. I already took a 4 hour dose in the liquid form since I can't swallow the mucinez pills. I'm thinking will I have pain because the bubbles might expand my pouch?:thumbup:

well I survived but I won't do that anymore. OMG I didn't even think about the bubbles until it was too late. And it was too late. No alka seltzer isn't a good choice. But I lived to learn that lesson.

Boy am I confused. Went 10 days without losing and even gaining 1/2 pound, then in 2 days lost 4 pounds. Go figure. I too now have a sinus infection and I even exercised thursday and I think I made myself sicker. Dumb move there. Anyways I have 11 more pounds to go to get to 340 so I lunge further.:grouphug:

Good to hear that everyone is doing well. For me I have hit the wall. I have not lost any weight, maybe gained 1/2 pound the last 10 days and I feeling a bit lonely in my Quest right now. I went to group last night and that helped allot to talk with other people who are walking the same path that I am. It's so frustrating when I realize that I live in a glass house at work, home with friends. Everyone questioning? Can you eat that? Are you suppose to eat that? Are you exercising enough. I've lost 21 pounds since my surgery and 53 since I started the pre-op regiment. But I'm stuck at 354. I got this sinus/chest congestion virus that's going around here in Indiana and I don't feel like exercising. I'm afraid that I might fall back into my old habits. How do you and can you find a way to execise even when you don't feel like it. Knowing exercise is essential in losing the weight? :thumbs_up:

You should call your doctor. The band is stitched to your stomach and really is hard to get it to move or slip. You may have something stuck that may require your doctor's attention. If you can't swallow or move liquids you have a problem. I'm sure it's something minor but get it checked out asap.

Karebare714 - 6 pounds that's awesome!! I'm checking in after being away for a few days because of the holidays. I'm down 2.5 pounds and only 13.5 to goal. I'm only 4 pounds from 350 and that may still be a lot of weight but from where I started I'm feeling great. It's been a really long time since I can say I was below that and 340 is just around the corner from there. I got my clearance today to get into some more intense exercising which I'm stoked about. I've been limited to walking and a few minutes on the eliptical. But now I'm cleared to start swing the golf clubs, throwing the heavy bowling ball again and more importantly being able to do some lifting and a more intense cardio routine. Can down begin to do sit ups crunchs and push ups as well. :tongue2: Keep all the good efforts up and let's see how much weight we can all lose together.

Got myself finally regulated. It was my lack of water that was the problem. Whoever said it was right. It wasn't moving so when I increased my water consumption, it was a lot easier and less painful to discharge the waste. I'm feeling much better these days. I still hate water, but I drink it because I hate feeling the pain in the end worse.

Good to hear from everyone. It sounds like this is hitting home at a good time for everyone. I'm pulling for each and everyone to achieve their goal. Whether it's 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 pounds that Soon to be thin to targeting, all will be for our health. Fat will be a thing of our past. I had a bad weekend because for some reason, I ate what seemed like to be more than my 3 oz. each meal. I didn't get full. I have my first fill on 1/25 so hopefully that will take care of not feeling full. It will also be good to get back to a exercise routine tomorrow. Since christmas I haven't walked at all and I irritated at myself for letting me get lazy. So for me this will get me back into the routine of losing.

Come 1 come all. Please post your progress every couple of weeks. For me this is knowing I have many, many individuals at various stages of their band insertion fighting against the same thing that I am. The battle of the bulge and it always better to fight in numbers than alone. I find this forum an outlet to express what I am feeling at any given moment and I hope you find the same as well. It's helpful to be able to put in text my progress and celebrate with others just like you in your victories and failures. Like today I drank like fish more than I ever have and yet I was still hungry. Hungry enough to have a super small milkshake from Steak and shake - vanilla and boy was it good. I know not on my plan, but I just was like craving it so I got a children's size and enjoyed it.

Me Too. I threw out all my 3X shirts for good. Into 2X and I tried on an XL jersey from several, several years ago and it fit. I was stunned. Still a little snug in the belly but definitely could wear it out in public so that's a great sign. Nothing is more motivating then getting rid of big clothes forever for smaller ones.:thumbup: