1019Joanne

Chatty, my sincere sympathies over the loss of your mom. I cannot even imagine how hard this is for you. I am so proud of you for taking control of your weight, and for knowing that change beings with one person. You are that one person for your family, and I wish you nothing but success, health, and happiness. I know your mom is with you.

remember that the weight did not go on in a short period of time, and it will take time for it to come off! I gave up getting on the scale for a month - I was discouraged every time I saw the 2 pounds going off and coming right back on, and decided that I would only get on the scale when I got to my doctors office. Imagine my surprise when his scale showed me down 6 lbs from my last visit. Stressing out about what the scale says actually added to my overall stress, and stopped me from losing...once I took the scale away, I continued to eat what I needed to, continued to exercise, and the weight came off. You are right to say that you know you are losing by the fit of your clothing - so true. I wish you continued success on this weight loss journey - I am seven months banded and I feel so much better than I did a year ago....I am healthier, happier, thinner, and not so self-conscious. Hang in there!

Keep up the enthusiasm! You have re-energized me with your words! I am just over 7 months from surgery, and my life feels brand new! A new me, and it was a gift I can only give myself. So proud of you - and keep us posted on how you do! Best Wishes!

I am 5'8" and I am shooting for 155lbs. I might re-evaluate one I get under 170, but I still have about 50lbs until I get there! Best wishes everyone!

I returned to work two weeks to the day after surgery, and it was fine. I think you just have to be mindful of your own limitiations, and if you are feeling tired, you might need to take a short health break (get a glass of water, small snack, etc) Each one of us is different, but you are the one who knows your body best....best wishes, and take good care of yourself!

YES!!! and isn't it the strangest feeling? I am almost 7 months out, and I have pretty decent restriction, but when I forget what I am eating, or forgot how I need to eat now, I can feel the pain....and then the long slow process of that food slowly moving through my band. I guess this is just a not-so-subtle reminder to take smaller bites, watch what you eat, and take your time when eating! Best Wishes to all!

Congratulations! Onederland! I am so very proud of you! Congratulations and continued success!

Congratulations on your weight loss! any weight that comes off should be a celebration, and it really is! think back a year, and what you were getting ready to wear over the summer. I know I was not happy with the size clothes I was in, or how I looked in any of those clothes. Here I am, six and a half months after surgery, and my wardrobe is very different, and I am actually starting to like what I see in the mirror. You are doing great! Keep it up! I am so proud of you!

Life is all about change - and this change is something that you need to grow from and learn from. if this person was the ONLY person you told about surgery, maybe you need to let someone else in to the "inner circle" whether it is a family member or very close friend. I am not saying that you need to tell everyone, however, if you take a friend into your confidences, it might help you through several things (the break up and the surgery). My surgery was a same day proceedure, and I was very happy to have someone at home to help me out during that first 24 hours after surgery. I have a friend, tho, who just wanted to be left alone, and after having another friend bring her home, she opted to spend the first night alone, and she is doing well. This break up is still very new - be good to yourself over these next couple of days, and dont make any rash decisions. The band is not something that will leave you - it is a tool to remind you how to life your life healthier and better. Just like any relationship, it takes work, it does have a honeymoon period (where you have to learn to live with it) but in the long run, it is so worth it. best wishes.

Happy Anniversary to you and your band! reading your story is truly an inspiration, and you are so right when you say that weight maintenence is a certainty...good for you! Keep up the great work, I wish you and your band many more years of success!

my thoughts are with you and your family

Come on, I know you do it......I think we all do.... You walk into a room (any room) and you scan, non-chalantly of course, to see if you really are the biggest person in the room. Or you see a photo of yourself, and you scrutinize everyone in the photo to see how you "measure" up..... well, have you done this since you had your surgery? Are you still hiding behind objects thinking that you look smaller, or are you really smaller? Are you no longer the biggest person in the picture? I go to Florida every year with with the same group of people - and yes, I have always been the biggest of the bunch, that is, until this year. 6 months after surgery, I am no longer the big girl, I am more in the middle of the pack....and what a strange feeling! I still find myself migrating to the back of group photos, or positioning myself behind objects, however, there were some out in the open photos, and I could really see the difference. It is strange tho....I still walk into rooms and scan....

Come on, I know you do it......I think we all do.... You walk into a room (any room) and you scan, non-chalantly of course, to see if you really are the biggest person in the room. Or you see a photo of yourself, and you scrutinize everyone in the photo to see how you "measure" up..... well, have you done this since you had your surgery? Are you still hiding behind objects thinking that you look smaller, or are you really smaller? Are you no longer the biggest person in the picture? I go to Florida every year with with the same group of people - and yes, I have always been the biggest of the bunch, that is, until this year. 6 months after surgery, I am no longer the big girl, I am more in the middle of the pack....and what a strange feeling! I still find myself migrating to the back of group photos, or positioning myself behind objects, however, there were some out in the open photos, and I could really see the difference. It is strange tho....I still walk into rooms and scan....

Congratulations! Isn't it wonderful to buy clothes with a 1 in front of the number instead of a 2!!!! best wishes on the job interview!

Congratulations! 100 lbs is AMAZING! I am so happy for you, and I wanted to say that you are so right! We need to follow what our physicians prescribe diet-wise, and the weight WILL and DOES come off! Thank you for being such a great inspiration! I can only hope that in 6 more months, I too will be saying that I lost 100 lbs in a year! Best wishes and continued success! Joanne

Good Luck today! Today really is the beginning of a whole new you!

Hang in there. I think second thoughts, and what if's are a part of our vocabulary after being failing at other weight loss opportunities. I know that I was worried about me failing at this, HOWEVER, today is my 6 month band anniversary, and I am not looking back one bit! Is this new life different than by preband life? Heck yes. I am happier, I am healthier, I am more fit, and I weigh less than I have in years! I am wearing a size of clothing that 6 months ago was just a wish! You are doing everything right - you have taken all the steps necessary to become educated on the living with a band. Whatever decision you make is going to be the right decision for you. As I said before, the decision to be banded was the right one for me, and I have not looked back since! Best wishes! Joanne

Tomorrow is my 6 month "bandiversary"! I cannot believe it! In some respects it feels like yesterday, and in others, years ago. I visited my surgeon for my 6 month check last week, and he was very pleased with my progress - I currently have 6 cc's in my 9cc Realize band, and I do have restriction. After losing 12 lbs since my last visit to him in February, the good doctor decided to leave me alone this time around, and I will see him again in July if I am consistantly losing between now and then. He was very happy that I am working out 5-6 days a week, and said that getting moving really does make all the difference in the world, and he is right. I feel better after hitting the gym, and every time I reach a new gym milestone, I know all the blood sweat and tears that went into it. So, now it's onto the next six months of this journey - I am very excited to see what changes will be coming!

Tomorrow is my 6 month "bandiversary"! I cannot believe it! In some respects it feels like yesterday, and in others, years ago. I visited my surgeon for my 6 month check last week, and he was very pleased with my progress - I currently have 6 cc's in my 9cc Realize band, and I do have restriction. After losing 12 lbs since my last visit to him in February, the good doctor decided to leave me alone this time around, and I will see him again in July if I am consistantly losing between now and then. He was very happy that I am working out 5-6 days a week, and said that getting moving really does make all the difference in the world, and he is right. I feel better after hitting the gym, and every time I reach a new gym milestone, I know all the blood sweat and tears that went into it. So, now it's onto the next six months of this journey - I am very excited to see what changes will be coming!

Congratulations - you are off to an awesome start! Keep up the great work!:thumbup:

Congratulations! 100lbs! I am so happy for you!

CONGRATULATIONS! I am so very proud of you! Holy Smokes! 100 LBS! You are an inspiration to me! I am just about six months out, and I so hope I can be as successful as you are! Keep it up! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Hi, I'm Joanne, and I am a recovering Diet Coke-aholic. I learned on my first visit to the nutritionist that I needed to give up what I considered one of my basic food groups (DC) ... and that was an even harder decision than getting the band itself! I drank about 2 liters of Diet Coke a day, and on August 2,2009 - I stopped. I did not wean myself off, I went cold turkey. Yes, it was hard, however, I know that it was a better decision in the long run to just stop. I miss Diet Coke. I miss the fizz...the bubbles... For a long time, I did not know what to order when I went out to dinner after quitting Diet Coke - I would stutter and stammer, and then ask for water. Now, eight months later, I still WANT to ask for a Diet Coke. Good Luck, everyone. Keep up the good work!

Congratulations on your success! :cool:

Good for you! You were able to go to the event, and take part, and still come away satisfied and happy! Living with the band is like learning to live with a new roommate - you have to get all of the kinks worked out, and then it's smooth sailing from there!