She Smiles

Actually Blah Blah if she choses to ignore you, it means that she can't see your posts at all, its like you don't even exist on this site to her.

Thanks Chickie. It was the most perfect day. I keep looking at the photos and reliving the day over!

I'll join this thread! I totally feel the hot one day, not the next thing. I often see photos of myself lately and can't beleive its me though. I'm actually a pretty girl like everyone told me I was when I was at my biggest. I guess my biggest issue at the moment is what my goal is going to be. I've already beaten the goal set for my by my Dr. I think I would like to lose another 25lbs or so. But I wonder what kind of train wreck my tummy is going to look like if I do. Its just awful now and while I am not opposed to PS (and would happily have a TT because I am not planning on having children), I simply can't afford it. I'd do it tomorrow if someone offered to pay for it for me. It bothers me that I have done all this work and look pretty ok with clothes on now, but that when I am naked I just look awful. I don't think I would even wear a swimsuit because of my stomach overhang and skin texture and my boobs that sag like an 80 year olds. I have constant rashes under my boobs because of the moisture that collects there when I exercise (I've spoken to my Dr about it and apart from surgery, theres nothing to be done other than try to releive it with cream/ointment). I curse myself often for letting myself get to the point that I did that my skin was so streched and marked that it won't snap back. Hmmm I think my post got a little off topic...

Like the others have said it depends on your attitude to your band. Some people just sit back and let the band do what it can - they are typically your 50% losers. Others (like the guys above and myself) have gotten in there and used the band as a tool, and exercised and eaten well *most* of the time (chocolate and I are still friends!). I've done the sums and I've lost about 72% of my excess weight in 7 and a bit months, and I am no where near done. I've got at least another 25ish lbs to go. That said, 50% of your excess weight gone is better than none. And its better than putting more on, which is where I was headed.

At the moment I'm doing 2 X spin classes a week and 2 x gym sessions of running about 3kms (20 minutes) and biking 20 minutes and rowing 5 minutes. I also play a game of soccer most weeks (when its not raining which it is doing a lot of at the moment). In a couple of weeks I'll be trading my spin classes for 12 weeks of boot camp army-type session twice a week, THAT I am pumped about - I've been promised to see GOOD results. Bring it on!

I couldn't agree more with the others. I tried to drive to my local shops (about a 10 minute drive) 6 days out from surgery and it really knocked me about. I made my DH drive home cos it just wasn't safe for me to be driving. The thing is, we can all tell you our experiences, but you just don't know how YOU are going to feel after your surgery. Some people feel right as rain the day after, and others like me, are still struggling close to 2 weeks out - I felt like a train wreck for weeks. I just don't think its worth getting "stuck" in San Diego cos you feel poorly or can't physically drive, and then you'll have to pay out more money for a hotel room until you are well enough.

I agree with the others. There is no way I would have lost 80+lbs in 7 months if I wasn't exercising 4-5 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour (thats just cardio). I also do weights about 2 times a week as well. Start now, you won't regret it.

Sounds glorious! I'm about to start a "bootcamp" through my gym in 2 weeks time and I think it will be a fair bit more hard core than that!!!

I found it good to have the optifast bars at work for lunch for a change - my Dr was ok with having them instead. They are actually quite tasty. I was also allowed to eat a cup of non starchy (so generally anything green) veggies a day. Not sure if you're allowed to do that but I stirfried mine with garlic and soy sauce (i'd have onion, bockchoy, brocolli, zuchini, snow peas). You can also get vanilla shakes, and I know that some of the other Aussie's put flavouring in them to make them a bit tastier. I really didn't mind the shakes all that much either (after about day 3 when my body had adjusted to not consuming enough to feed a small country in one sitting). I found it really hard to not cheat in my 2 weeks on optifast. And I admit that about 2 or 3 days before surgery, I did cheat and ate some of my DH's pasta. But because I hadn't been consuming much, I didn't really have much of a physical appetite for it once it was in my mouth and tummy, it was all in my head. Stay strong, trust me its not worth beating yourself up over it because of one silly food indiscretion if you slip up. You'll feel better being able to say that you could stick it out! Good luck!!

I'm glad I don't look like a slacker for well, being a slacker! haha Luckily I have a gym membership and its right near my work so I go straight from work at 4 and am at home cooking dinner by 6. Its a pretty great arrangement. Last monday I decided to go for a walk outside instead and I actually HAD to run to stay warm, its bloody freezing here in Canberra at this time of year!! The bootcamp I'm going to be doing is going to be outside from July to September, so I'll have to see how that goes!! You're going SO well with your loss Susannah - I agree if it ain't broke!!!

It took me 8.5 ccs in my 10 cc band before I had what I was comfortable as proper restriction. BUT that last fill was on 21 March and now I am eating like a (bandsters) horse (ie twice of what I'd like to be eating haha). I'm off to get another fill in the next few weeks. I beleive that as you lose more weight (I've lost about 18ish pounds since that last fill) your band gets looser. I'm just wondering how much looser my band can get when there's 8.5 already in there!! Cascadian - enjoy the restrcition!! Its a great feeling being able to say "no" to food!!! :clap2: I don't know about you but it sure was a new feeling for me!

I don't know that I can vote in the poll because my exercise which was once at least 5 x 45 minute cardio sessions at the gym and 2 x weights sessions a week has dropped off to be almost non existant in the past few weeks because life and all its hassles dramas and stresses has gotten in the way. That said, I know that had I not exercised the way I did for the first 6 months of my banded life, I couldn't have still enjoyed the occasional treat and still lost the way I have. I am very happy with my weight loss thus far. I'm getting married this weekend and I have promised myself that I will get back into it after the honeymoon. I know I need another fill and I have enrolled in a 12 week boot camp course starting July 2nd (2 x 1 hour sessions a week) and so I am hoping that will kick start my exercise again - I've lost nothing for 4 weeks because of my slovenly behaviour and I have a way to go to goal yet.

I had to start my pre op diet 2 days after I was told when my surgery date was, but I sure tried to fit as much as I could into that 2 days. Makes me ill now to think how much I used to eat (A lg Big Mac meal and 6 nuggets was my last pre-band fatty-me sized meal. Gah!!).

Yeah I'm with the majority of these guys. The only down side - the more weight I lose the more I realise that if I want to resemble some one "normal looking" naked in the mirror its going to cost me $$$ to get more surgery (plastic obviously). But hey, if I 've got extra skin and not 80 pounds of extra weight on me, thats a good thing, right? I love my band.

Ditto.........

Stamp duty sucks, but you can kind of offset it if its your first home and get the $7000 first home owners grant. That paid most of my stamp duty on my modest 3 bedroom place in Canberra. But I think the stamp duty here is one of the lowest in Australia.

Karen, I am very glad that you are feeling a little better. I must admit prior to meeting you guys with MS on this board i was a bit ignorant to the details of the illness. But having done some research on it since then, I really applaud you guys for dealing with it, and addresssing your weight problems at the same time. My hat off to you all. jelewis56, I'd say you'd probably have to wait until the scars are no longer scabby and are healed over. This is one you might have to ask your surgeon about. You should be right to physically do it almost immediatey if you feel up to it, but you don't want to compromise the healing process of your incisions, so a quick call to your surgeon is probably your best bet!! I wish I could swim - I can't it irriates my severe eczema. oh well.

Tarajane, I am the same! I walk past some of the more trendy sorts of young womens shops and wonder if I would fit into anything from there yet. I think in another 5 kilos I might go in and see, maybe an XL will fit me by then! I squeezed into a pair of hipster urbane jeans I had from a few years back yesterday that are a 16, so I was pretty happy about that!

Hi Karen, I'm sorry to hear you've been having a tough time with your MS lately. Are you feeling better now? Your weight loss is looking awesome!! I'm sorry about your posts that got missed on the other thread. I think its hard catching up on all the posts when you haven't checked in for a couple of days/weeks, so I most certainly don't think it was intentional that anyone didn't specifically reply, but I do apologise all the same.

Jelew! Of course its ok to join the thread! Welcome! Well done with the optifast! What is your surgery date???

Yeah Bronnie, I'd wondered where you'd gotten too aswell stranger! Glad that you're back!! Hope that your fill next week makes some difference for you! Meredith

Hey Bronnie! Long time no hear!! Good job on you loss so far!! Hopefully the shoulder pain doesn't last!!! We have all moved over to the Australian Chat thread because this thread was getting a lot of gross porn spam, come on over there and catch up with the gang

Wow Jacqui your project sounds great!! Congrats on getting it done! I booked in today to get another fill next Wednesday. I'm going to ask my fill Dr to take all my fill out and see whats in there. I've been eating like a horse, and that means one of two things, I need more fill, or my pouch is stretched. I'm praying that its the first!!

I had my band surgery only a few days before the lady at your seminar had her bypass and I've lost almost 73 lbs. The band can be just as successful if you put your mind to it.

Oh no Susannah!! Thats a bit of a painful oversight by the Doc to put that extra .5mls in your band! .5 mls can be a lot when you're getting towards the pointy end of reaching perfect restriction! Hope you are feeling better with the unfill. Tara, hope your girls getaway was a blast!!! Sounds like a lot of fun to me! Is anyone doing anything exciting for ANZAC day? I'm just planning on lounging around enjoying the day off. I just got up and it actually looks like it might have rained here overnight!! Yay!