MountainMama

Name, real or screen~ Melissa Goal weight for April 29th~ 190 Weight on April 1st~ (March 24th) 202 lbs Age~ 35 Dietary goal for April~ Follow the rules Exercise goal for April~ Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes Personal goal for April~ Avoid self sabotage Date banded~ April 29, 2010 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 77.5 lbs What is your favorite part about spring~ The smell of the cool morning air when I open the door to go to work. I look forward to being part of this challenge. I need some accountability to someone other then myself, that doesnt seem to be working since having my son 2 months ago.

Congratulations! I am in complete agreement with the first reply. You are going to do great as long as you listen to your body and band. I just delivered my son on 1/29 and everything about him is perfect! Losing weight can now be my focus again, before it was about a healthy pregnancy. Good luck!!!

Hi again ladies. I appreciate you reponse. I think I am going to go get some saline taken out. I have been having a little success with OTC meds as well, but it still isnt quite cutting it. I am nervous to get some out because I am able to eat and drink now but have been maintaining my weight. I feel safe where I am at with weight and the nutrition standpoint for the baby, so my nerves are on edge about getting some out because of this reflux. :confused_smile: I am very fearful of my weight starting to climb after I do it, and I do not mean just baby weight, I am petrified of starting to add back the "extra". Anyone else going through this?

Hello ladies. I know you all will be able to help if anyone can. I am 18 weeks 4 days along. I currently have 6cc in my 10cc band ( have had it at 6cc since August of '10 ). During the day I can still eat and drink fine, no problems at all. HOWEVER, at night I am waking up literaly choking on reflux. I figure if this keeps up I will have aspiration pneumonia in no time at all. I have stopped eating and drinking after 7pm and that has not helped. Do you all think that I need to have some of my saline taken out? I dont understand why I am fine all day long with my band, but the nighttime is turning into a nightmare. Any ideas or suggestions?

100 pounds are gone forever!!! This morning I dragged my unmotivated butt onto the scale thinking, "tomorrow is my surgiversary and I will not have met my 100 pound goal because my weightloss has slowed to a near STOP" whoa is me.... well instead I got on one day before my surgiversary and voila!!! 100.5 pounds are gone. :success1: I think that I floated off the scale but I am not sure, I cant really remember clearly because I think I momentarily got hysterical,lol. I just wanted to post my unending happiness on here so others can be given the hope that yes it is possible. We all do the best we can and still have days that we feel that the end is never going to be in sight, well it can happen! This has been one of the hardest things I have done in my life. I didnt take the "EASY" road as some like to think and judge, but, I did get the tool I needed to take my life back. Congratulations to all of us who have had the nerve to demand that we deserve better than to just settle for being overweight and unhealthy.! You all have given me many days of motivation and I want to do the same for those starting out, feeling stuck or just having a bad day. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH LBT, you are so wonderful!!! :thankyou: :thankyou: :thankyou:

My latest NSV was sending a pic of myself in 2 different dresses to my mom to see which looked better. When she showed it to my niece to get her honest 11 year old opinion, my niece replied "The black and white one looks better, besides who is that anyway?" That made my day. :woot:

Weight loss charm bracelet? I am thinking of a couple of possibilities, but can you tell me what is your bracelet like? Sounds like something I might like to do for myself.

Hello there and congrats to all of you future April Bandsters. I had my band placed April 29, 2010. It has been a wonderful, occasionally challenging, frustrating, joyful, self discovering and celebratory year for me. I found that the lapband was the best possible decision I could have made to regain my health and my life. I hope that all of you have as wonderful and successful year as I and others have had. Your new life is about to begin. Do not be afraid; stay true to yourself; follow your instincts but ask for help when you aren't sure about things; give yourself time to learn how to utilize your new tool; allow yourself the chance to make mistakes without coming down too hard on yourself; don't forget that the band isn't a miracle cure because you are going to have to work at it, but most I think you need to remember to be proud of yourself, proud that this month you are doing something for you and you are going to take your life back. Welcome, and best of luck to all of you!

First off, congrats on your doing so well, you should be very proud of yourself. As far as your mentioned fears, I think most of us feel this way. We have had ups and downs so many times in our lives fighting this weightloss battle that we never really get the fear completely out of our heads. I received advice from one of my doctors regarding clothes. As I was losing weight and I went into my doctors office for a follow up in a suit that was definitly too big. He looked at me and said, "I think its time to get rid of all your too big clothes. Keeping them will only give you a ready made wardrobe to fit back into. You would be surprised just how much motivation you will find to keep losing if your clothes start getting tight again and you have nothing bigger to fit into." I have gotten rid of all of my fat clothes as I lose. I have family who can use them so I box them up immediately and send them off. Even with the clothes gone though there is still the fear. I dont think I will ever be over it entirely. But then again a little bit of fear can be helpful in motivating us to work hard. You have come this far, keep up what you have been doing and celebrate your successes!

Congrats! Reaching these smaller goals makes getting to the big one seem so much more do-able. I hope that you continue to do so fabulous!!:woot:

weight - 279.5 height - 5'7 bmi - 42 co's - high blood pressure, stress incontinence, joint pain, depression ins. - Federal BCBS All of my co's are gone or on there way to being totally gone. The band has changed my life in so many great ways. I hope your journey goes well and the band does for you what it has already done for so many of us here.

I too am one of those people who watches the videos on utube of before and afters looking for what the light at the end of the tunnel will be. Thank you for adding to that inspiration. Congratulations on your success!!

That is awesome isnt it?! I work a med/surg unit as well and someone who I haven't seen in a few weeks said "whats up thin mint?" That made me feel good because I cant see my weight loss unless I am looking at pics side by side. Congrats, and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment!!

In the same boat with you all. I can remember one time, at my heaviest weight of 325, walking past a bus shelter and seeing my reflection. I had taken extra time to get ready that day and actually said, "man I look good today!" My mom who was with me at time looked at me and said, "I am a good mom because I have given you GREAT self esteem." Looking back, I really did think I looked good because I wasnt seeing myself for what I was looking like to everyone else. Lord knows there are very few pictures of me at my highest weight because I "knew" what I really looked like and didnt want pics to be around for all time showing people that. Yet, in my ever head I convinced myself that it wasnt what it really was, to protect myself emotionally. So glad to be where I am today!

I look at things a little differently then some of you. I feel like my family should not suffer because I could not keep my mouth closed. I still buy them the indulgences that they like. They did not go on diets or have to get a tool as wonderful as the band is, to lose weight so I don't take out my shortcomings on them. There are times it is verrrrry difficult to see something I really want to eat, and ocassionally I do eat some, in moderation. With all that said, those of you who do things differently are just doing what works for you and you all should be proud because they numbers on your tickers show how well its working for you. This journey is different for everyone and the way we go about doing is different as well, but as long as we get the desired results its worth it. It is funny to me how I look at food now. I used to look at it and not care what or how much of it I ate, all I was concerned with was how good it tasted and how much more I could have. Now, its like I am looking at a calorie, the bigger the number in my mouth means the smaller the results number on the scale. It was a difficult decision to make, getting the band, but I see now that it was the best thing I have ever done for myself.