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What I've learned so far!



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It's been 5 months since I was banded & I have lost a total of 42 lbs. That's an average of 2 lbs a week!! I am thrilled!! :eek: However, it's been a trial & error process along the way & I think I have FINALLY figured out how this all works!!

Here's what I've learned so far:

1. The band DOES NOT work alone. I thought that the weight would just drop off without much effort on my part. I read the lap band book & did my homework before being banded. From what I read, I thought that I would simply eat the way I normally do, get full faster which would make me eat less & then the weight would just come off. WRONG!! This band works as my partner. I still need to make good food choices & follow ALL the band rules to have success.

2. There's are LOTS of plateaus you hit along the way & patience is a MUST!! There were 3 weeks when I didn't lose any weight & I was frustrated. However, I stuck it out & the following week I lost 4. I've hit several plateaus since then & I now realize that plateaus are actually a good thing. I am no longer a slave to the scale.

3. Exercise is pretty important. I have never been a very good exerciser in my life. I don't like to sweat & frankly it takes too much time out of my day. BUT.....I have noticed that when I do ATLEAST 30 min. of cardio 3x/week I have much more success. Whether it's taking a walk, play at the park with my little girl - exercise is crucial for weight loss.

4. Support is a must!! I don't have a support group in my area to go to, but I use this forum to ask questions & read about others success. I look at the BEFORE & AFTER pictures once a week to remind me of others who have done well. It keeps me motivated!!!

5. This is a change I am making for LIFE! There is no going back to the days of eating whatever I want. If I want to be healthy I must EAT healthy & that never ends.

6. Food does not have to be my comfort. I have learned that when I'm sad, mad or glad.......I can do something else besides EAT!!

I have more energy, more confidence, more quality time with my kids & I feel so much lighter!! I can't wait to see what I'll feel like when I lose 50 more lbs!!

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It's been 5 months since I was banded & I have lost a total of 42 lbs. That's an average of 2 lbs a week!! I am thrilled!! :eek: However, it's been a trial & error process along the way & I think I have FINALLY figured out how this all works!!

Here's what I've learned so far:

6. food does not have to be my comfort. I have learned that when I'm sad, mad or glad.......I can do something else besides EAT!!

I have more energy, more confidence, more quality time with my kids & I feel so much lighter!! I can't wait to see what I'll feel like when I lose 50 more lbs!!

Still working on number 6 several years later. Great list, great wisdom!

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Can I add a #7 to the list?!?!

7. I drink a Protein shake every morning!! I stopped doing it for awhile & realized I wasn't losing as much weight. As soon as I started back up, the weight started falling of again!! It works for me!! I drink the Advantage shakes that have no sugar. They have a new Caramel vanilla flavor. I love it!!

P.S. I weighed myself this morning & another pound has melted off. Only 8 lbs 'til I hit the 50 mark!! WAHOO!!

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Diane, this is a very good list and to the point. You've done very well with your weight loss. I am also like you, some weeks no loss and other several pounds. Patience is the key. I was talking to a girlfriend and she said she didn't think she could do it this way, nice and slow.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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