I weighed myself at the doctor this morning & was so THRILLED!!!! It said I weighed 208 which means I have hit my first goal of 50 lbs!! (My home scale said 211, but I am definately going to take the doctors scale over mine!!!) Yesterday I went shopping & could hardly believe that I could fit into a size 16 pants. I've worn 22/24 for so long!

Here's what I've learned so far:

1) You will hit LOTS of plateaus. I stayed at the same weight for 2-3 weeks many, many times & then all of a sudden I'd drop 4 or 5 lbs. Don't get frustrated at the scale.

2) Exercise really does work. I joined a gym only because I knew it was the right thing to do. I hated going & was emberassed to be seen among all the muscle men. I could barely walk on the treadmill for 5 min. without feeling like I was going to pass out. BUT....I made myself go & it's been very, very worth it. I'm now a regular & 2 days ago one of the buff women came up to me & said - "I've been watching you the past few months & you've really inspired me. Keep up the great work." Wow! I inspired HER!! That was a big NSV to me.

3) You really do need to follow the bandster rules. THEY WORK!! I had moments of just wanting to do my own thing. But, whenever I went back to taking small bites, chewing my food A LOT, & not drinking after meals I lost more weight!!

4) Patience is important. It took me a while to get this weight on & it's going to take me a while to get it off. I'm not only losing weight, I'm changing a life time of bad behaviors & that doesn't change overnight.

5) DRINK YOUR WATER!! I have never been a good consistent Water drinker until recently. But, I can tell a difference!! I realized that sometimes when I THOUGHT I was hungry, I was really just thirsty.

6) It's okay to eat junk once in awhile. You can't deprive yourself forever!! Friday evening is my free night & I let myself choose something fattening & sugary to eat. ONLY ONE ITEM. I eat it & it's gone. I've never gained any weight from doing this & I am satisfied. If I am tempted to eat junk during the week, I tell myself - "You can have that on Friday!

I don't like to be told NO. If I know it's something I can't have, I want it more. Knowing I can have it on Friday makes it so much easier. Which reminds me, today is Friday!! WAHOO!!!!

Thank you to everyone on here for all the great support & good information. I learn a lot from you all & consider you my friends! I can't wait to reach my next goal!!

WOW!!! You really look awesome!!! Way to go!!!

you look HOTT!!! I can not wait until I reach 50.

Congratulations!

I am being banded on Friday-2/24, reading your post was truly inspiring!!!

Your tips are also very helpful, thank you very much!!!

If you have any more advice, I would love to hear from you.

You do look great. Keep it going.

You look great! Love the outfit! I cannot wait for that 50lb mark! Oh yeah cute french toes(DIva Style fo' sho') lol

Thanks Everyone!! Gosh, I love this place!!!!

Diane,

WOW! You look absolutely beautiful! I love the pants, too. Great lessons learned listed --- I'm listening to you and using your list to help me! Thank you!

Congratulations! That is just awesome! You look great!

Diane, here are your pics side by side.

And again, you look great! Keep up the good work!

Wow!! Thanks Cissy!!

Diane! I was out there, somewhere. Sorry I didn't see it, you should have PM'd me. But Cissy got ya taken care of, so its all good.

And OMG girl. You look fabulous! Woohoo! You must be feeling great! I'm so happy for you and everyone else that's doing so well. It's so encouraging to see this kind of thread!

*does the happy dance*

Hi Everyone!

I've had a few people PM me & I thought I'd post what I have to say where everyone can see. :nervous

First of all, thanks for the nice comments. I truly do appreciate it. There were several of you who said they were thrilled to see such a positive thread started.

One person felt that I was boasting. I truly apologize if it came across that way. I have been a part of LBT for 8 months now. When I first joined, I was looking for posts that would help me reach my goals. I wanted to know what others were doing. I wanted specifics. I read several posts where people told us they had reached a goal & in my mind I was thinking - "Wow!! Tell us what you did! I want to learn from you!" So, now that I have reached a few goals, I am hoping that anything I have to share just might help SOMEONE!! I do not think that my way is the ONLY way, but it is what worked for me. And truly, even if I am boasting, isn't it okay?! I have worked my butt off doing things I have never done before. Working out?!?!? HA!! My family still laughs that I'm actually exercising. It's soooo not me. I have been a junk-a-holic for years. Taco Bell knew me by name. I am very happy that I've controlled some of my addictions. It's still a long road & I will have to continue to work at it the rest of my life. I, by now means, feel that I'm better then anyone else around here.

As far as not having junk in my house.......it works for me!! It also works for my family. If that doesn't work for you then don't do it!! My family doesn't feel deprived in the least. They have THANKED me for making meals & sitting down together as a family. Before, we ate junk & it was never around the table. We are all feeling better & have more energy. Again, this is what worked for me. I am only sharing my story.

I know there are lots of opinions on this board & I appreciate those who have shared theirs with me.

Have a great day!!!

WOW! that is all I can say! ok, I guess that is not all I can say. I think it is wonderful that you are sharing your success!!! True that what works for some will not work for others, but everyone can benefit in one way or another from someone else's trial and error.

I don't consider that you were boasting at all!! You have achieved a wonderful goal and should be very proud of yourself and your accomplishments!!!!!!!!

You go!!!!!

Excuse me...but isn't this a support board. You have every right to talk about how you have succeeded. SCREW THEM if they have a problem with it.

Excuse me...but isn't this a support board. You have every right to talk about how you have succeeded. SCREW THEM if they have a problem with it.

Yeah! What she said. Mary you took the words write out of my typing hands. It is hard to lose 10lbs and 50lbs is great.So many of us have been in the background because of our weight. To lose that amount and be proud and say I did it is GREAT!! Diane you ARE NOT boasting. In the words of my 89 year old granddaddy "it is a po' frog that don't praise his own pond". Can I get an AMEN!!!

:peace: