lifelongband

Hi all. Tomorrow I go in for my one year check up. I can't wait, as of last week I was at 101 lbs lost. This is such a proud moment in my life. I only have about 30-80 pounds left to lose. I wont' know how much until I get down to where I feel comfortable. I hope all is well with the rest of you!!

Thank you so much. I wish people would raise their children with good values. I remember being teased in school and not knowing what to do but cry. I ended up extremely shy and kept to myself. I wasn't even fat, it was the fact that I developed at an early age. Everyone saw that as me being fat, so I saw myself that way.

Good morning everyone. I was just reading back after a month of not checking in. The stories that really caught my eye were the ones about being called "fat" or just plain honesty. I took a long look at myself a long time ago when my daughter started going to preschool and coming home crying because the kids were telling her that her mom was fat and teasing her for it. I was devastated at first. I was angry. I took a stand. I went to the school and talked to the teacher and let the teacher talk to the children in a big group. I felt better. My daughter wasn't teased after that, but when it does happen, she sticks up for me. I have taught my daughters about differences in people and how it isn't nice to point them out. I have taught my daughters that you love people for who they are, not what they look like or the lifestyle they choose to live. Every person out there has feelings and they get hurt. One proud moment in my life as a parent was this.......My daughter was having a birthday party and she wanted to invite friends over for a slumber party. I agreed. She made all of the invitations to the slumber party herself. I allowed her a certain number of friends to invite. She made out invitations for 10 girls. Out of the 10 invitations she only had 3 girls that came to the party. The reason the other 7 girls gave her for not coming was a girl named Sage was invited and she was fat and didn't know why Brittany would invite her. They told her they would come if Brittany would tell Sage she couldn't come. Brittany looked at these girls and told them she wouldn't hurt her friend because they didn't like her. If they wanted to come and if they were her real friends, they would come, if not, oh well. I was so proud of my daughter. She doesn't look at people for their differences, she gives everyone a chance to be her friend. She is a beautiful person. I love her dearly. My girls are the first to stick up for me when someone says something that might her my feelings. I let them know that it isn't a big deal and that it only hurts if you let it. It did take a long time for these things not to hurt me, but I just look at it as...this is the way they were brought up, I have done differently with my children. If you know you have done right by your own children, that is all that matters. Erin

These are the NSV's that are worth it. They make you feel great when you don't have a SV that week. You will start noticing the smallest things. It is great. When other people notice and start pointing it out, it is so worth it. It isn't in the pounds, it is in everything else in your life. I promise, you will learn to take the NSV's over the SV's any day. I have learned from experience.....even though the scale isn't moving, your body is changing. I was looking back at pictures yesterday from June 29th and there was such a big difference in the way I look. It is amazing. You don't realize how much 5 or 10 pounds does for you. Congrats on all of it!!! Erin

I know it has been a while since I posted anything. It has been a very hectic month. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for being there for me the last 10 months as I go through the life changing experience. I couldn't be happier.

Ok, so I have been catching up on posts..... One thing I have learned about eating is this: You are in control of what you are eating, you are in control of the portion you eat, you are using a tool to make sure you don't over eat. Yes, eating carbs and sugar and all of that is great, in moderation. I have a once a week treat and for the most part, I stick to meat and veggies. I am guilty of liquid calories. I drink SF, FF Mochas daily, sometimes 2. I am at a success of 10 pounds a month. I do not deprive myself of anything, I just do it in moderation. Example: Yesterday I went to dinner with a couple of friends and I had a tempura plate...YUMMY! Now, that one could have been dangerous, but I remembered my portion size and ate the shrimp first, then some veggies and left the rice. It was nice to endulge a little bit. This is what works for me. I am not saying it will work for everyone. I changed my thinking to....it's not a diet, I'm eating for life. I am not living to eat. My opinion on getting fills is this.....Your doctor should be looking at your weight loss and how you feel the food is going through your band. I have been under fluro (sp) and I was dropping weight and found out my band was still pretty open, they did an aggressive fill and I am just now going back in for another. It has been 3-4 months. I think it all depends on who you go with. I am extremely happy with my surgeon and all staff. It is always a wonderful experience each and every time I am in the office. Good luck to all of you in your goals. E

I just had to share this.... Since my surgery, I have lost 15 points on my BMI!! That is a great NSV for me. I only have 3 more to step out of the stage 3 of Morbid Obesity! That is wonderful to know. In 9 months I went from 331 pounds down to 246! This is a very proud moment. I can't wait to get under the 200's!!

With all the BBQ's and great food, I am down 4 pounds this week. I did good!!!

If you want to see better pics of me, you can go to myspace.com/maeori

I just wanted you guys to know, if you ever look at profiles for pics. I added a new one. I kind of wish it saved the old one too. I also added one as my avatar. BJean: I hope your weigh in on Monday goes well for you. It must have been nice getting away for a while.

Tami: I sometimes get a big one. I am normally about 10 pounds a month. Which if you look at the numbers of 8 months out from surgery and I am down 80 pounds. I am just 4 days away from my 8 month "bandiversary". Thank you very much

For some reason it isn't updating my signature when I do this.

Well everyone, I tried so hard this last week. I lost 7 pounds!!! WOOHOO! I am so excited!! What a great birthday present!!! I am now at 101 pounds until goal!! WOOT! I went to the 2nd hand store and bought jeans over the weekend and I am down from a 30/32 to a 20 or 22 depending on the brand. So, this week I have had a SV and a NSV!

Suzzzie: Congratulations on your approval! It is the best, life changing experience that will ever happen in to you. Besides the birth of my wonderful children, it was the most exciting day of my life. I know how you feel about wanting to shout it from the rooftops. I kept mine a secret at first, but there are so many over weight people out there that I do talk with and share my experience with when they see me and ask how I am doing it. I just can't hold it back. I am proud to have the surgery. I use to be extremely shy and reserved. I am now more outgoing than I ever have been in my life. (I am actually approaching men.) I would have never done that before. (I am divorcing) I know you will find the new found confidence in your life. I know you will learn to eat better. It is all worth it. I do not regret one moment.