I received a two year anniversary notice along with a 57th birthday greeting from administrators of this site and thought I'd actually wander by to say hello. This is only the second post I've made but it is a happy one for me. In two years I have dropped from 240 pounds to 160 pounds, twelve pounds away from my goal weight. Two years ago I wrote a feature story for the local newspaper about the lap bander who was currently the Poster Girl for the local hospital's weight management program. Two months ago my surgeon, Todd Beckstedt, asked if I would allow the weight management program to use my pictures in their advertising program. I've enjoyed my fifteen minutes of fame and got a beautiful set of professional photos out of the deal.

I didn't lose weight as fast as many people. I chose to not go on a restrictive diet and I didn't change my exercise program much (I teach dance and take care of four horses which keeps me fairly active). I gave up most of my favorite foods simply because I could no longer tolerate them with the band in place. Since my favorite foods included things like pizza, hamburgers, french fries, and whatever else could be cooked in hot grease, giving these things up made a big difference. I do still struggle with my sweet tooth, which is the reason for the plateau on which I am currently perched.

In many ways the last twelve or fifteen pounds are harder for me than the eighty pounds I already lost. That is not to say the first eighty were easy (they weren't) but I see the goal within reach and go into a panic because I have been to this point so many times only to backslide. Thank goodness for the lap band and the latest fill. They are marvelous tools and I am grateful to have them. I went to Europe with a theater group last fall- not only did I not gain weight but actually lost several pounds! The others gave in to the lure of Belgian pastry and German beer while I must've tasted every type of Soup made in central Europe and drank gallons of "wasser mit gas."

Overall my health has improved, I can indulge my fondness for clothes, and I can get on my horse without a mounting block. I am a happy camper.

Thanks for sharing, congrats on a job well done. I am battling the last 12 pounds myself!

I received a two year anniversary notice along with a 57th birthday greeting from administrators of this site and thought I'd actually wander by to say hello. This is only the second post I've made but it is a happy one for me. In two years I have dropped from 240 pounds to 160 pounds' date=' twelve pounds away from my goal weight. Two years ago I wrote a feature story for the local newspaper about the lap bander who was currently the Poster Girl for the local hospital's weight management program. Two months ago my surgeon, Todd Beckstedt, asked if I would allow the weight management program to use my pictures in their advertising program. I've enjoyed my fifteen minutes of fame and got a beautiful set of professional photos out of the deal.

I didn't lose weight as fast as many people. I chose to not go on a restrictive diet and I didn't change my exercise program much (I teach dance and take care of four horses which keeps me fairly active). I gave up most of my favorite foods simply because I could no longer tolerate them with the band in place. Since my favorite foods included things like pizza, hamburgers, french fries, and whatever else could be cooked in hot grease, giving these things up made a big difference. I do still struggle with my sweet tooth, which is the reason for the plateau on which I am currently perched. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

In many ways the last twelve or fifteen pounds are harder for me than the eighty pounds I already lost. That is not to say the first eighty were easy (they weren't) but I see the goal within reach and go into a panic because I have been to this point so many times only to backslide. Thank goodness for the lap band and the latest fill. They are marvelous tools and I am grateful to have them. I went to Europe with a theater group last fall- not only did I not gain weight but actually lost several pounds! The others gave in to the lure of Belgian pastry and German beer while I must've tasted every type of soup made in central Europe and drank gallons of "wasser mit gas."

Overall my health has improved, I can indulge my fondness for clothes, and I can get on my horse without a mounting block. I am a happy camper.[/quote']

I'm in exactly the same place, I started at 315 and after two years am stuck for a while now in the 220s about 12 lbs from my goal of 210. I bought one of those fancy body fat scales which keeps me motivated because even though I'm no longer losing I'm still getting leaner. I never get tiered of people saying how great I look ether.;0)

We need to start the Twelve Pound Club. Congratulatons to both of you for the fabulous weight loss you've achieved!

I had a bit of a set back in January after I got gastroenteritis and had to have the band loosened to allow the swelling to go down. For the first time in a couple of years I could eat anything and it was terrifying. I gained about four pounds before I got the refill. The main remaining problems are evening snacking (band is looser at night), my sweet tooth and the coconut M&Ms that the damned MARs company came out with. I know what I need to do and I'm working on it with more success somedays than others. Just two bad habits to break instead of a dozen, so I guess I'm still ahead of the game.

We need to start the Twelve Pound Club. Congratulatons to both of you for the fabulous weight loss you've achieved!

I had a bit of a set back in January after I got gastroenteritis and had to have the band loosened to allow the swelling to go down. For the first time in a couple of years I could eat anything and it was terrifying. I gained about four pounds before I got the refill. The main remaining problems are evening snacking (band is looser at night), my sweet tooth and the coconut M&Ms that the damned MARs company came out with. I know what I need to do and I'm working on it with more success somedays than others. Just two bad habits to break instead of a dozen, so I guess I'm still ahead of the game.

. oh I know all to well about those dam m and ms!,

Well, I broke through the twelve pound thing. Last time I ventured onto the scale I was eight pounds from my somewhat arbitrary goal of 148. I weighed 143 in graduate school but the weight seems to be distributed somewhat differently thirty five years later. I distinctly remember having a waist back then but I'm beginning to doubt I'll rediscover it in the next eight pounds.

C'est a vie, I reckon.