WrenBird

Sweet :-) Thanks, Karen! I don't think I'd ever be able to wear a bikini, but it's a nice thought to know that I won't have these lines on my tummy forever. Cheers, WrenBird.

No but when I got my fill I couldn't even eat soup...It gradually got better and now I can eat meat? Ehhh? I think I've got a leak somewhere.

When I walk: My street is a circle that's about 1km and contains 2 very large and exhausting hills. When I get to the top of them, two families in particular say to me, "you're doing great! you're looking great!" or something along those lines. It always makes me smile when they encourage me. When I eat: When I'm buying food at the market (used to be a carboholic...Hellloooo croisants), I imagine what it's going to feel like sitting on my stomach. It's more recently that fatty foods make me feel unwell and carbs get stuck, so I just imagine how that's going to feel. and mustard. The wholegrain kind. I could put it on anything and it'd taste delicious. :thumbup: What about you guys?

Same. But then the bugger said he thought I had A.D.D :laugh: I still quallified, but in the end it was pretty good to hear that a problem I've had most of my life is actually curable.

Straight away. I've known for 5 years that Ive wanted lap banding, but the process was incredibly quick for me. The day I called the surgery and asked their price, I went to the doctor to get a reference to him. I saw him the following week. From there he booked me in for the end of the month for surgery. That day I switched health funds so I was covered. 2 days before the surgery, the health fund finally covered me. So I basically had it all done within 21 days :-) I'd wanted this more than anything and nothing would've stopped me to get it. I spent all day one day running around between my old health fund and my new one to get me covered for the surgery...I think trying to get it done as soon as possible was the hardest part :laugh:

:w00t: I'm just so happy I met you. I seem to be one of those people that have to work hard to lose weight, so I almost always need motivation when I go out and walk or whatever. If I don't exercise, I don't lose so it's crucial for me to get out there and burn calories. I am really surprised at myself that I've lasted a little over a month. If I don't go out everyday and exercise I feel guilty. I remember a week after I had the band I ate custard or something and my mum caught me and yelled at me...She told me that I should have never of had the band because all I was going to do was cheat. It made me sick and guilty and now she's annoyed that I won't eat her full-fat meals she cooks . She's proud of me now though...Whenever she goes somewhere and sees a friend of hers she tells them how much weight I've lost already. That's motivation for me. If I ever look as half as good as you, I'll be happy. :biggrin: I still can't believe you're 40. I'll for sure take photos! I'm thinking of putting new ones up soon. My face has changed a lot and my shoulders, so I'll put a before and after and every month I'll put a new one up. Ahhh. I can't wait for the day when I can wear designer clothes and high heels :hurray:. At the moment my ankles just can't handle it because I'm so heavy, but I've got plenty of them. I've felt in the past few years that dressing up is useless because I'm just going to look bad anyways :-( Even just losing the little amount I've lost, I'm so much more confident. Good luck with your surgery tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you <3 xx

As a designer, I used to think of my body as a canvas that I got to dress up everyday...Since I was a kid I wanted to be a fashion designer and I always always alwaysss wore clothes that were eye catching, so when I was in my teens and couldn't fit into anything, it was devestating because I loved the clothes so much, but I couldn't wear them or even buy them. I was forced to shop in places like Millers and it sucked because it was the same stuff my nan wears. :biggrin: Sigh. When I see people like you who have lost so much weight and are happy with themselves it makes me feel so motivated. Before I go for a walk, I think about people like you. Today a guy named Jamie posted his before and after pictures and I just felt so happy for him. I went and had a walk lol. :laugh: I've only lost 12.8 kilos at the moment, but I just know that some day I'm going to be able to walk into a clothing store, fall inlove with clothes again and buy them and look good in them! lol At the end of November, I have a charity ball to go to. I will be shopping for a cocktail dress then, getting eyelash extensions and hair extensions and going all out - I can't wait. :w00t:

I like your tattooes. You look about 25 years old. When I saw your before pictures I gasped! You've lost so much weight and you look so different! You need to go onto Today Tonight or something! You're an Aussie right? I wanna go into stores like Supre and Jayjay's and the normal section at David Jones! Hehe. I haven't been able to shop there since I was in my early teens, and even then I was pushing a size 16. I used to cry in the changerooms when I had to try something on...I don't wanna feel discouraged again so I think I'll wait until the weight has really come off - that way I won't feel depressed.

You look like a model right now! and I mean that too...You look like you could be one of those sexy bikini girls in a men's magazine. Good luck with your surgery tomorrow. I can't wait to go shopping for clothes lol. I'm holding off till I lose a bit more weight. :laugh:

Eeeek. Maybe you have too much fill? Don't give up! Have a talk to your surgeon. Go in with the mentallity that things will get better, not that you want it out.

My BMI was 53 when I was banded. Before I was banded I managed to lose 5 kilos (over a period of 3 months) and since I had the band I've lost almost 13 kilos ONTOP of that over a month and a bit. - I had surgery because it was my last resort...I exercise for an HOUR a day 4 times a week and 3 times a week I exercise for 2 hours. I work my butt off, and I eat healthy. This all comes with having lap band surgery. You need to see a doctor about your weight. I was a size 20/22 (for shirts ) and 24/26 (for pants) (really depended on where I shopped). This is in Australian sizing. Honestly...It really depends on your BMI and how much you eat, not your clothing size. Your therapist might've just been trying to make you feel better about yourself. Also: surgery is a drastic measure for weight loss...You should only do it if everything else fails, I think.

After I exercise, I drink a bigggg glass of water and it is delicious :laugh:

That is so beautiful! I really didn't expect an answer like that. That is such a good idea too! All the best to you :laugh:

Fantastic! Are you getting married soon? I'm engaged and wedding dress shopping hardly crossed my mind... :laugh:

The motivation of failure is a big one for me too...When you've spent so much on weightloss surgery, the feeling of it not helping is horrible and dissapointing. I can't believe they made you read out what you ate infront of everyone...That's horrible! I'm glad you're swimming now - swimming is fantastic! Good luck to you :laugh:

Hehe, I'll bet! You get the chance to see all of that weight drop off at once! I would totally do that if I had control over myself :biggrin:

Awesome! Congrats to you!! I was told by my physio that I will never be able to run. I have a problem with my spine which means the best I can do is walk. The funny thing is though, since I've been walking I actually haven't had any back problems. My back muscles seem to be really strong and I feel like I could run. If I shed another 10 kilos, I'll give it a go and join you! :laugh:

Wowww!! That is a big difference! You look GREAT! and permission to say that your wife is quite the looker too :laugh: That seriously is amazing. Ahahaha. Makes me wanna go for a walk!! I'm so happy for you. You should give yourself a big pat on the back :biggrin:

Me too! If I put on weight from a fluctuation, I just work harder lol. I love your tattoo. You're one hot mama!

:laugh: But don't feel disheartened if you don't reach your restriction point first go.

It certainly is :laugh:

Awesome!! Yours is gonna look fantastic, I can just imagine. Sometimes I google before and after pictures when I need some motivation. I've only lost 13 kilos (28 lbs) but when I look at my before pictures I can see that a lot of the fat folds around my tummy are gone. This makes me smile. You're an inspiration!!