Hit the 90 pound mark - in 7 and 1/2 months! I LOVE MY BAND!!!! YEAH!!!!!!! Still have 60 to go, but I am SO happy and wanted to share. Hopefully will be able to share in the 100 pound loss thread before the end of the year.

Excellent work!

Congrats! So inspiring! I almost always ask people who've lost so much weight to post up a before and after shot :sneaky:

It inspires me so much to see them.

If you don't want to, that's fine. It's just so motivating to see someone come so far when I'm only just beginning my journey.

Cynthia please tell me what you have been doing? when did you really start loosing weight was it after reaching restriction or from day one. I have been on the same wait for the last two months and I am soooo fustrated i don't know what to do I am getting sooooo discouraged that I am starting to make lousy choices and eating everything I shouldn't be. Please share some light on me.

Thanks

Cynthia

yeah my name is cynthia also lol

by the wy i was banded 6/1/10 and have only lost 35 pounds and have had 4 fills and no restriction

Hi Cynthia (love the name !),

I think a lot of different factors have helped me along my path with this journey. First off - I have a lot more to lose than many on these boards. I started at 350lbs at 5'9". My goal weight is between 160-200 (the high number is my goal, but I would like to reach the lower number in reality. When I started 150 loss seemed like a crazy number, but 190 to lose seemed like a number I could never reach. Well - now I am beginning to eye that 160 number!Sorry for that diversion, but the more you have to lose, the quicker it comes off. Another factor is that I did not have to follow a pre-op diet - therefore it did come off quicker in the beginning.

As far as restriction and my diet. I have a 14cc band and have had a fill almost every 4-6 weeks since I was banded. (2.5cc,2.5,2.5,.5,.5,.5) to a total of 8.5cc. Not until my last 2 fills did I feel any restriction at all. I did not feel any hunger after my 2nd fill but I was able to eat anything I wanted as far as types of food and amounts. Let me say - I was never a sweets, chip, snacker (not that I didn't eat that if it was around), but it was not what I craved. I was a huge volume eater (3 McDonald's Breakfast sandwiches in the am etc. throughout the day. So the band therefore was the appropriate surgery for me. I was very specific with my surgeon and nutritionist pre- surgery that I didn't only want to eat veggies and dry Proteins, and Protein shakes for my entire life, rather that I wanted to eat like a "normal" person just with smaller amounts. From day 1 that is what I have done. My typical daily diet consists of a duncan donuts iced coffee with splenda and skim mild and a "wake up wrap" from dd with egg whites and cheese (150 cal), lunch is a lean cuisine (300cal) and dinner is a bit of whatever the family is having (usually a protein). I try to keep my net calories as advised by my MD less than 1000 cal by day. I track EVERYTHING I eat on lapband.com it is a great website and a great tool. I go out to eat 2-6 meals on the weekend and just limit myself to 1-2 cups of food. Now that I have restriction it is much easier.

As far as exercise - I hooked up with a walking buddy (2 actually) and we walk 2-3 miles 4-5 times a week. Have done this since day 1. We don't walk that quickly (3mi/hr), but I am convinced that it has really sped up my loss.

Lastly - I have gotten a lot of support. My husband and kids watch me like a hawk and my mom is my number 1 supporter. I am on these boards everyday - (2-3 times daily) and participate in every challange posted here! I go to my MD every month to be weighed in even if I don't plan on getting a fill. I go to my monthly support group every first Thursday of the month. I have told everyone about my surgery, so there is no hiding it.

None of it is rocket science - I wish I could have done all these things without my band, but after 45 years, I know I couldn't. Why can I do it this time - it is in the end because the band really can work if you let it. Don't give up. I hope I said something that might help. Please keep in touch - I will help support you anyway I can!

Yours,

Cynthia

That is so exciting!!! You just made all my doubts go away. I was second guessing my decision... but hearing that keeps me inspired :thumbup:

Thank you for your advice and high spirits I will keep my head up and give it all I can.