I was banded 10/2 and have lost over 30lbs since:D While I feel really good about my progress, I was horrified when I saw a video a friend took of a group of co-workers singing a song. I am in this for the long haul and realize I did not get this fat overnight, but wow am I disappointed. I'm feeling really discouraged and need a pep talk.

Thank you friends.

i've always had a major self esteem issue. i was a skinny, gawky kid growing up but when i hit my early-20's the weight piled on. i lived with a mother that never had anything good to say and at one point in my life even called me to gell me i was fat and she was telling me in case my friends were too scared to tell me. HELLO... i own a mirror! and what mother says that to her child??

anyway... i'm 2.5 years post-op and have lost over 60% of my weight. i wear a size 8 now but i STILL look in the mirror and see the fat-me instead of the new-me!

It does take a long time. I've been banded since June and have come a long way but not near as far as I would like. I still feel like I look like the Good Year blimp. I recently went shopping for new pants since I only own jeans and am going some place nice. I went for the 18's and found one pair I liked in 16 only. The 18's are an accomplishment for me. When I started this journey I wore 22 and sometimes 24. Amazingly, the 16 fit with just a little snugness. Pictures can lie. You can look fat depending on what you are wearing or how you are positioned. You have to use other means to gauge your success. I finally got one of my wedding rings back on after 3 years. Keep working. It's hard work but so worth it.

Are you feeling healthier? Are you moving more and excited about your future? That's what you have to focus on right now, and the rest will come later.

I bet that many of your co-workers (even the thin ones) saw the video and did not like how they looked either. We are our own worst enemy. Most of us are very hard on ourselves and do not see all the positives. You are below 200 lbs.!!! That is such an accomplishment. I can't wait to be in the 100's again!! You are doing great and videos usually do not flatter anybody! Try to be proud of yourself and tell yourself you look good. "Fake it until you make it!". One day, you will believe it!! Good luck.

I sooo know how you are feeling. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I bought a pair of jeggings (jeans/leggings) in a size 14/16 and was thrilled (when I started this journey I was wearing a size 26). Then yesterday I looked in the mirror and thought "OMG, there's the FAT LADY"! I had to slap myself (metaphorically) and remember that I am still losing and not to be too hard on myself. It's a struggle, but we can do this!!

All the best to everyone on this journey!

~Fran

Before starting my band journey I had a friend send me photo he had taken on his IPhone (they should be bannned!); and I was shocked how fat I looked becauase I had been dieting and exercising for about 10 months (I had lost 30 pounds which I did not know at the time.) I know how you feel. I had this surgery and am working hard; why are'nt I thinnner!!!! Marathon not a race I get it; but still annoying.

I am sure, also, that when others' looked at that photo they saw a positive change in you and were not NEARLY as critical as you are of yourself. Someone once told me that the band is around your stomach, not your brain. Not only do we have to fight head hunger and cravings but we also have to deal with the emotional side of the weight loss and self-esteem issues. Take PRIDE in your accomplishments...every good choice, every pound, every minute of exercise you may not have done in the past, every new item of smaller clothes, all the improvements in your blood pressure/blood sugar (if you had issues with that)!!! Most of us have continuous (and for me especially) unconscious negative self-talk just from YEARS of experience. It takes a lot of work to change that to positive self-talk. You are doing awesome! Keep up the good work and keep that head held high!!!

Katie