AngryBaby

I enjoy the occasional beer from time to time. I just sip on it instead of taking full sized drinks.

I started off at 262-264 and my official goal is 142-144 pounds for an even120 pound weight loss. My first goal was to get below 200. That goal has been obtained, now if I could just get down to 142-144 I would be happy.

I'm also in a rough patch at the moment. I've been banded for 10 months and have lost 72 pounds. I'm only half way there and I average about 5 pounds a month. This last month has been pretty much a stand still so I decided to try running instead of strictly working out. We'll see if this helps any.

I can't eat veggies raw. I absolutely love broccoli yet I have difficulties eating it. The only way I can eat it is when it is steamed and with no stems. Only broccoli floretts for me!!

1. Your in the mushy stage. In the mushy stage you need to focusing on your stomache healing. 2. Mushy food goes down really easy therefore you will be able to eat more. 3. Just wait until your get to real food. You won't be able to eat as much real food (i.e. steak, chicken, fish, etc) 4. Don't stress too much (yet) about eating too much. Spend this time focusing on your stomache and not your head. Try to stop eating when your are no longer hungry not when you get full. Waiting to stop eating until your full while still in your mushy stage, will cause you to eat alot more calories than necessary. This takes alot of practice, just try to stay focused. 5. Make sure to get in your protein! It will keep you from getting hungery so often, plus it will help you stay on the downward spiral of weight loss. 6. Consider the mushy stage as your training wheels on that spanking new 10 speed bike. Sure it sucks but you have to start somewhere!

My dad is a guy who carried all of his weight in his stomache. He's lost 60 pounds in just a few months and so far he looks really great! From what I understand from people who post on this site, those people who have more weight to lose tend to lose ALOT of weight really quickly compared to those people who don't have as much to lose. However you will reach a point where you don't loose as much weight as fast. You can still lose it all, but you have to be determined to do so. Keep up playing basketball. Try your best to eat right and you can get there. I have about 50 more pounds to lose and I've already lost 72 pounds so far. Just remember that everyone loses at a different rate. Like the other person said you should definately shop around to see if lapband is really right for you. There are some places where the other surgeries are not as pricey... just make sure they have good stats and personel working there. Stay positive and active and you can reach your goal!!!

Try getting an unfill. Not chewing long enough and eating too much or drinking while eating can lead to throwing up. It is a mistake to get a fill after you are already having issues keeping your food down. This is your journey... not your doctor's. You can always look into getting another doctor to do your fills if your having issues with him listening to you. Keep us updated on how your doing! Good luck and I hope you begin feeling better soon!

I went shopping today in hopes of finding something cute to wear to work. I found an adorable top (normal size Yay!) for $8. I then had a revelation. I realized that when I used to go shopping for tops (plus sized), I was lucky if I could find something less than $25-$30. I've realized that you end up spending alot more money when you are obese than when you are "normal". America is "fighting" obesity. Eat healthier food.... healthy fresh food is more expensive than over processed food. Work out more.... commercials flood television shows with "use this EASY workout and you will loose 20 pounds in two weeks" results not typical... Plus, you figure in all of your doctor bills then BAM! bye bye money.... Of course the majority of society frowns on public nudity. Therefore, we must buy clothing. So we hit up the malls and other random stores in need of wearing something publically acceptable. *Sigh* Why do businesses think that is okay to charge a plus sized person more for their clothing than someone who is smaller. I've seen the crappy material they use to make some of these clothes. I know you're using more material HOWEVER I also know that it doesn't cost THAT much more for the extra material. On a side note... why do designers think that everyone who is plus sized should wear ugly clothing? It's hard to find something really cute (and age appropriate) for a 22 year old sized W22-24 chick. I would hit up Lane Bryant and nothing is screaming "buy me 'cus I'd look great on a 22 year old". I'd hit up DEB and they have cute plus sized clothes but not everything is adjusted appropriately for the chicks with curves in all the right.... uh well curves in all the places... I'm just happier that I'm smaller. It's less frustrating to shop and soooooo much cheaper. I wish good luck for those of you who are on the road to normal-dome. Until next time, Angrybaby signing out.

Hey Steph! There are possible complications with getting the lapband (errosion/slippage). The band can be removed and the fluid is adjustable. The cost varies by where you have the surgery. You should do your research and find out as much as you can about the lapband. You can simply google it and you can find out quite a bit about it.

I was self-pay and had 1 year "free" fills. I don't regret my decision to have the band. I did my research and I don't want to lose any more organs than I already have... I want to have children someday so I want to be able to know that I can unfill my band to make sure my child will receive adequate nutrition. I want to be able to reach a point when I no longer have to rely on my band and can control myself so that I can have all of my Fluid removed. For me the band was the obvious choice. I am aware of the complications that can/may arise. I am prepared if the worse does happen. I honestly believe that everyone should do their research when trying to decide which bariatric surgery is the best one for them. Every surgery has their possible complications and you need to be able to decide if you can handle the complications if/when they arise. Those who had the surgery without doing the research are fools. Read about people's complications/successes. Be prepared and don't get caught with your pants down.

I've heard people say time and time again: Enjoy your 20s... Everything goes down hill from there (body wise). When people think of back when they were in their 20s most think of their smokin' hot bodies, stamina, and their joints not popping all the time. I'm 23 going on 85... I started off my 20s at 5'5" and 270 pounds with a fat rear, thunder thighs, and working on a triple chin. Every joint in my body screamed as I moved. I would hyperventilate when I tried to run. At the age of 22, I had my gallbladder removed. My life as a butterball was really starting to show massive signs of stress on my body. I have more stretch marks than Octomom and am really surprised/relieved that I didn't get diabetes. My life is beginning to change. I'm losing weight and I can breath. I can fit in a roller coaster and I don't have to touch anyone I sit next to involuntarily (ass spilling over to the next seat where someone else happens to be sitting). As I shrink, my skin refuses to join the crusade. As one blogger put it, I look great in clothes but horrible naked. I am one of those people that as they gained weight they gained it everywhere. My once thunder thighs have become empty potatoe sacks. My floppy/fatty boobies have become tube socks with a rock in them. My plump santa gut now looks like a melted and scarred up smiley face. Don't even get me started about my ass... To give you an idea of how many inches it took for me to look so pathetic here you go: Inches lost 6in off chest 7in off stomache 8.25in off ass 4in off each thigh Going back to where I started... They say the 20s are the best years of your life. I say screw it! I've never been much of a conformist anyway... I'm going to make my thirties the best years of my life. By my thirties, I'll lose all of the rest of my weight and get a nip/tuck or two.... or eight (we'll see what happens). By my thirties, I'll start popping out pups, have a stable career, and become less of a closet nudist and more of a streaker. Rawr... Until next time, Angrybaby signing out.

Protein has nothing to do with nails. However you should make sure you take your vitamins. I take a multivitamin, b-complex, and calcium. The multivitamin contains biotin which helps with hair, skin, and nail growth.

Lost 70+ pounds and went from a 44DD(Lane Bryant) to a 38DD(Victoria Secret)

My life is caos. I can only influence what happens in my life, but I cannot control it. The only thing I feel like I can control is what goes into my mouth. Before lapband, my control issues with food was eating as much as humanly possible. If I saw food I ate it. Food didn't make me happy, but it numbed me. It took away the stress, anxiety, anger, frustration, etc. By having the band I figured that it would help me lose weight (and it did). The only thing it didn't do is take away my issues with food. I can control food. I can control how much I stuff into my mouth (binge) and I can decide to not eat at all (starve). I can control my weight. I can control how many inches I've lost and how much/little I eat. I have so much power when it comes to food. I'm constantly trying to balance on the tight rope of disaster. I have no safety net. If I lean too much on the side of not eating I could easily fall to my death toward anorexia. If I lean too much on the side of binging then I could (yet again) easily fall to my death toward heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Yet, if I can keep my balance and stay focused, I can reach the other side. I can be lean and healthy. I could have the opportunity of living a long life. I just have to keep my balance. This self-discovery is devistating yet enlightening. It is important to constantly self-assess your mind. To be in denial is self-destructive. Never lie to yourself. Constantly work on yourself. We are all under construction, not just our bodies but also our minds. I'm working on myself. I still have alot of work to do and there is always room for improvement. I strive for perfection, yet I know it is unattainable. I must remind myself to shoot for the stars and feel comfort in the fact that if I don't make it, then at least I'll land somewhere in the sky. Until next time, Angrybaby signing out.