Twoderville and Onederville seem far away....

[Megg40 0]

I am pre band. If all goes well I will be banded on 3-24!!

Twoderville and Onederville seeem like only a dream to me....Especially Onederville. I haven't weighed under 200 since high school...I am 40.

Anyone else feel like its a dream? They say to dream the impossible .....

I know these are realities for many, losing that much weight over time but wow...it blows my mind to even THINK it could happen for me....

Take Care,

Meg

[jujuvee 0]

Meg I felt the same way... But I can tell you that you will be successfull as long as you NEVER give up. I have good days and not so good days but no matter what tomorrows ALWAYS a new day and with that is a fresh start.... I have no regrets about my decision to have lapband, only wished I would have done it sooner. I am seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in years (lol). I can eat any foods... Just smaller amounts. I've had one fill and I'm happy with my restriction, I don't count calories and I try to only weigh once a month. But to sum it up.... Life is good!

Good luck and if you have any questions I'll try and help you out.

[cwm812 11]

Meg,

I'll bet we all felt the same way. When my doctor told me that I really had 200 lbs of excess weight, I told him I'd be thrilled to take off 100. I could not imagine being where I am now. Last week, I saw him again and he told me that he didn't think I should lose much more. It does happen and you can do it.

I don't count calories or anything else. I did watch my Protein intake during the immediate post op period, but now I just try to make good choices. I still eat junk, but in very small amounts and most importantly, I am satisfied and happy. I do exercise moderately (3x a week), but I didn't start that until I had lost 90 lbs.

Being successful with the band is not an impossible dream. You can do it!

Cindy

[Megg40 0]

Thank you both so much. On my ticker shows my goal weight from my surgeon...150. I would be happy at 200-215.

If the scale EVER says 199 or less....I am really going to cry...with happiness. I know many people do it. I am so committed and dedicated.....

This is just going to be wild.....:wink2:

Meg

[finding me 1]

I am right here with you. I have not been under 200 since 1996 and if I saw a number like 199 again I would cry as well. Heck at this point if I saw 250 again I think I would cry. I am currently about 340. Wow that is still hard to say even here were everyone has been there , well maybe not 340 but you know what I mean. It is so nice to find the kind of support that I have found on this site. I have the support of my family but the support from people that are in the same place as me is great. Here's hoping you see Twoderville soon. :biggrin:

[TracyW2 137]

I know how you feel. I started this weighing 330. I am now down to 270. I never thought I would even hit 250 and now I am so close. My goal is 200, but would love to see those 100s. I haven't seen those numbers since I was probably 12.

[jujuvee 0]

I went in to my orientation at 374. Got down to 345 after pre op diet.. Now 11 months later I am 235!!! My goal is to get in the 180's then off to get skin removed..

This has been an amazing journey!!!!!

[SpecialK 22]

Yes, I'm in the gang trying to lose almost 200 total lbs and it felt so wonderful when I crossed from 300s into 200s. Now I can't wait to cross from the 200s into the 100s but that could take most of the next 6 months for me. Just need to keep trying each day.

Accept my mistakes and forgive myself and get on with it the next day.

[sandi2004 2]

I am pre band. If all goes well I will be banded on 3-24!!

Twoderville and Onederville seeem like only a dream to me....Especially Onederville. I haven't weighed under 200 since high school...I am 40.

Anyone else feel like its a dream? They say to dream the impossible .....

I know these are realities for many, losing that much weight over time but wow...it blows my mind to even THINK it could happen for me....

Take Care,

Meg

Hi Meg:

Yes, I still feel like it's a dream and I have managed to lose the 250 pounds already. i wake up every morning and run my hands up and down my body to make sure it is real- that I am actually a normal weight and no longer over 400 pounds.

So, I guess, it never goes away. The one great thing is that when I'm done, and I realize there is actually empty space in my bed (as in, my body no longer fills it), I look at my husband sleeping and then get up (easily I might add) out of bed with a smile on my face.

Dream, yes- Impossible, no! Check out my story - I have started a restrospective blog of my journey at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story

You may find some inspiration and encouragement to help you along your journey. I'd be interested in your feedback.

[Megg40 0]

Sandi...

Your story is amazing and encouraging. I do love your blogs and have checked out a lot of them....You are inspirational to me....

Thanks for your blogs....

Meg

[montynic 1]

I completely agree with everyone. I haven't been under 200 since Junior year of high school, in 1999. I know I will cry WHEN (not if) I see 199 again. I haven't been under 300 in so long that I think I will even cry when I see 299. I am currently down to 320, from a max of 360. My surgeon set a goal weight for me of 175, but I would love to see around 140'ish... afterall, I am only 5'5".

Here's hoping we all reach our goals! :frown:

[sandi2004 2]

I completely agree with everyone. I haven't been under 200 since Junior year of high school, in 1999. I know I will cry WHEN (not if) I see 199 again. I haven't been under 300 in so long that I think I will even cry when I see 299. I am currently down to 320, from a max of 360. My surgeon set a goal weight for me of 175, but I would love to see around 140'ish... afterall, I am only 5'5".

Here's hoping we all reach our goals! :wink2:

Please be careful to not set your goals too high (or too low, as it were). I had to make sure I wasn't sabotaging myself along the way by making the weight goal unattainable. I am happy to see you have clear understanding of the milestone moments - under 300, under 200, but remember not to be too hard on yourself. It is a long journey, and I speak from my personal experience. I will help you in any way possible to reach the 140's, but that is going to take alot of work and is a ways off for you. focus on today and tomorrow and Celebrate every achievement!

I'm blogging my entire journey from 424 lbs to 175 pounds at Sandi's Banded Living — My Lapband Weight Loss Success Story

You may find some useful information or inspiration there. This is an awesome journey. Welcome!

[jujuvee 0]

Oh Sandi I can't wait to be 175. That's my goal after skn removal... May I ask you at what weight did you get your plastic surgery done and did you have to have your inner theighs and arms done?

I will be self pay and I want to start educating myself on the process. Thanks!

[sandi2004 2]

Oh Sandi I can't wait to be 175. That's my goal after skn removal... May I ask you at what weight did you get your plastic surgery done and did you have to have your inner theighs and arms done?

I will be self pay and I want to start educating myself on the process. Thanks!

It's not about at what weight you haveyour plastic surgery, but about being weight stable for at least 6 months. I had a lower body lift, and then many months later had my breasts and arms done. I can not have any work done on my legs due to having had a blood clot many years ago, so I am stuck with flabby legs and lots of loose skin.:thumbup: But, I have a flat tummy, great boobs for a 61+ year old woman, and my arms are "cut" because I also work out. I have my before pics (in the buff)- that's before plastic surgery, so if I start getting hard on myself because of my legs I just open up that private file and look at the pics and then at me in the mirror...."You've come a long way baby!":biggrin:

I have written about my plastic surgery journey on my blog, and just in case you haven't seen the posts yet, you can find them at :

Maintaining #002: Plastic Surgery After Gastric Banding Or……. To Nip And Tuck Or Not To Nip And Tuck

Please keep asking questions. It is the BEST way to start getting educated.

[JulieNYC 4]

Meg,

You are going to have so many wonderful things happen to you in this journey. Put Onederville out of your mind. It's just a number. Make a list of all the things you want to do along the way and tick them off as you can. Maybe you want to ride a jet ski, or go parasailing, or ride a rollercoaster, or fly to Europe, or sit on the inside seat of a bus, or walk 5 miles without stopping, or walk up 3 flights of stairs without being winded -- whatever your goals are.

That said, before you know it, you WILL be in Onederland. The first year being banded flies by. Sitting here today, I can't believe this is my 4th year bandiversary. Four years! I checked off all the things on my list nearly 3 years ago! I had my Tummy Tuck more than 3 years ago. Wow, that's amazing to think about. I've been gone from LBT for a long time, so today is the first time I'm really thinking about these issues in a while.

My advice to you is to cherish the experience. The 200s are full of great joys. You rediscover your physicality in the 200s (at least I did). Everything becomes easier. Then when you get to 249, you think to yourself "gee, I can't BELIEVE I'm closer to the Ones than to the Threes!"

As for plastics, Sandi is absolutely right that most doctors recommend waiting 6 months at a stable weight before having them. I'm a perfect example of why. I had a tummy tuck at 195 lbs. I didn't think I'd lose much more weight, but I was wrong. I went on to lose 60 more lbs and I had some loose stomach skin that I had to have revised. That said, I don't regret the first TT when I had it! I always tell people anecdotally that I lost 200+ lbs in a little over a year, but I went from being a "fat" person to a "thin" person in a 6 hour surgery. It's AMAZING what a TT does for your body after 150+ lb weightloss.

The need to wait for 6 months (for most people at least) is at least two-fold. First, MONEY. Plastics is expensive. Most people don't want to pay for it twice. I have the very fortunate circumstance of having a dad who's a plastic surgeon. That is rare, but obviates the financial concern in my case. Second, and more importantly, surgical risk. Two surgeries are riskier than one surgery. I did have a complication with my second surgery (I developed seromas in my legs and had to drain them MYSELF for about 6 weeks - it was awful). I wouldn't change the way I did it, but my circumstances were somewhat special (it being free and me being in "marathon" shape and in my 30s, thus, fairly low risk as far as surgery can ever be low risk). Waiting for goal does make sense 99/100 times.

Hang in there. Time is going to fly, I promise.