Today i can celebrate the loss of 200 lbs and i am now exactly half the person i was when i started this journey. I have a little way to go yet and then i have to start on the plastic surgery .. even if i cant afford to get this excess skin removed i would still be happy that the weight has gone.

I eat around 1000/1200 calories a day made up mainly of fresh veg and fish and chicken, some red meat only in small amounts, i have home made veg soup for lunch and i drink tea and weak coffee made with skimmed milk in between meals to stave off any hunger .. If i am hungry before my main meal i will have a weight watchers tomato soup before .. this always helps fill me up before i start eating.

I cycle around 8 miles a day in front of the tv and do dumbells for strength training. I started off slowly just doing dumbells at first as i couldnt even sit on a bike .

I dont allow myself to get sidetracked and even tho i actually dont like exercise that much i know i have to do it.

Your an insperation!

Absolutely awesome! WTG!!

You are truly an inspiration! I hope to be where you are at my one year also! What an awesome thing to celebrate this holiday season!

Man....... that is some major weight loss there!

WOW!!!! i agree with everyone else 200 lbs lost within a year. that is awesome... My goal within a year is 100, i am hoping to acheive it. you are an inspiration.

thank you all for the kind words

I hit 'onederland' today yayyyyyyyyy !

Fist of all: CONGRATS!!!!! Wow, that's amazing. I've got 200 lbs to lose and it's so inspiring to hear that it can and has been done. How long did it take? Also, I heard somewhere that removal of excess skin after weightloss is considered "reconstructive" surgery and is covered by insurance. Have you looked into it?

Ty chunky .. love the name

I am in the UK and we dont have the same system as the US so our National Health Service may or may not cover removal of the skin, in some cases they will remove skin if there is a 'medical' need but otherwise it is regarded as 'cosmetic' . Each Health trust in the Uk covers a certain geographical area and the rules concerning skin removal are different depending on where you live. So its a lottery really my area 'may' do it but only after 2 yrs post op and a maintained wieght loss. I may go down that route if its too expensive privately and i have to explore other options.

I was pre-op on a 600 calorie a day diet to get my BMI down, I lost around 40lbs from November 2010 to January 2011 when i was banded. Weight loss is slowing down now so these last lbs may take a while

Wow! Cazzy, what an amazing story! Congrats on reaching onderland. I was so excited when I reached it, too! Marvelous is all I have to say. Have a Merry Christmas and may your New Year bring less of you! Karen

First of all, Congratulations!!

second, I wish I could show this post to my doctor who says that band patients only average about 50 pounds weight loss! lol. I've exceeded his expectations, and umm, you've blown them out of the water!!!!

AMAZING JOB!!!!!

First of all, Congratulations!!

second, I wish I could show this post to my doctor who says that band patients only average about 50 pounds weight loss! lol. I've exceeded his expectations, and umm, you've blown them out of the water!!!!

AMAZING JOB!!!!!

I love to prove doctors wrong sometimes .. the only disheartening thing is that i still weigh more than what some of you were when u were first banded ....!!

ty all for the kind words

First of all, Congratulations!!

second, I wish I could show this post to my doctor who says that band patients only average about 50 pounds weight loss! lol. I've exceeded his expectations, and umm, you've blown them out of the water!!!!

AMAZING JOB!!!!!

Just curious is this Doc a non Bariatric Doc? My PCP is encouraging me to do this but my Orthapedic Doc has made similar comments that coincide with your Doc. I ended up telling him that it is not the lapbands job to take my weight off. Thats my job. Lapband's job is to help me keep it off.

Indeed Jim

This is my bari surgeon. My clinic pushes the rny. I stood my ground and told him this was what i was doing and id be successful. I am and he apologized and he told me he was very proud of me

WOW!!! Congrats! What an inspiration! A very Merry Christmas to YOU!