Welcome to the Gone for Good Club

The members of this "club" are like-minded people who want to challenge each other to keep working toward our goal of weight loss and keeping it off! We have no illusions of the band being a miracle cure, nor do we believe that we will achieve our goals without working for them. We understand that if we continue the lifestyle and eating habits that got us fat in the first place, we will not achieve our goals. We come together in order to strengthen our determination by sharing our dreams, our struggles, and our victories with one another.

Everyone is welcome to join the club - banded, pre-banded, no band - all are welcome to join at any time. To join, please post a brief introduction of yourself and list any information you want posted on the main page. See the list of members below to get an idea of what info you can post. The only requirement for joining the club is a commitment to your own success in your weight loss journey, and the ability to say NO to Girl Scout cookies! (club joke *winks*)

Wednesdays are weigh-in days for those who wish to have us update your progress on this page. Please post a brief note on Wednesdays in the following format: C 265 (-42 lbs total, -3 this week)

We encourage everyone to get to know one another while sharing tips, support, struggles, and encouragement... and a kick in the rear when needed! *grin*

This is not a contest, there is no deadline, and everyone is a winner by being a "loser"!

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(H-highest weight, S-weight at surgery, J-weight when joined this club, G-goal weight, C-current weight)

AliDiane - H & S 224/ J 210/ G 120 (-14 lbs)

Bell - S 300/ J 223/ G 160 (-77 lbs)

Betje - H 300/ S 286/ J 239 (-61 lbs)

Chameleon - H 275/ J 269 (-6 lbs unbanded to date)

Cheri - H 266/ J 234/ G 150s ? (-32 lbs)

Coyotegirl - H 305/ S 294/ J 220/ G 150ish/ C-213 (-92 lbs total, no change this week)

Criss Kellogg - H 245/ S 241/ J 211/ G 175/ C 205 (-36 lbs total)

Daisybelle - H 400+/ S 403/ J 343/ C 340.5 (-63 lbs total)

Dawg - 307 (no band)/ J 265/ C 256 (-51.0 total, -3 this week)

DianeChef - H 258/ J 208/ G 150/ C 202 (-55 lbs total)

Dongger - newly banded!

Drj - H 295/ J 234/ C 232 C-213 (-63 lbs total)

EmileeKaye - H 303/ J 227/ C 223 (-80 lbs total, +2 this week *hugs*)

Fee2Young2B40 - H 278/ J 230/ G 150?/ C 229 (-49 lbs total, -1 this week)

FunnyDuddies - H 372/ J 340/ G 120 (-32 lbs unbanded, hoping to be banded soon)

Gloria37 - H 310/ J 285/ G 190/ C 281 (-29 lbs total)

Gurly - H 365/ S 329/ J 279/ G 190/ C 268 (-97 lbs total, -3 this week)

Founder and Resident Hot Chick of the Gone for Good Club

Jaygerl05 - H 245/ S 243/ J 200/G 165 (-45lbs)

Jerseytammy - H&S 308/ J 269 (-39 lbs)

Jill S - H 320/ S 289/ J 246.6/ G 155/ C 237.6 (-82.4 lbs total, -2.8 this week)

Joe - H 362/ S 320/ J 269.6/ G 200 (-92.4 lbs)

Josette - Joined March 28th

Kaybug - S 360/ J 348 (-12 lbs total)

Kim 8 - H 235/ S 218/ J 192/ C 185.5 (-49.5 lbs total, -2.5 this week)

Kimbo - S 292/ J 226/ C 2231.5 (-70.5 lbs total, -1.5 this week)

LegallyKristin - H 298/ S 264/ J 251/ G 140/ C 249.5 (-48.5 lbs total, +2 this week *hugs*)

Lianna - H & S 229/ J 204/ C 198.5 (-30.5 total, -2 this week) Welcome to Onderland, Lianna!! :clap2:

LSasha - H 340/ J 280/ C 281 (-59 lbs total, +11 this week, watch 11o'clock news for story!)

Maggie63- H 285/ S 277/ J 235/ G 190 (-50 lbs)

Maryb - H 219/ 1st Dr Visit 207/ S 201/ 1st G 180/ 2nd G 150/ Final G 130/ C189 (-30 pounds total, -3 this week)

MaryPetunia - H 342/ S 333/ J 303/ G -200 lbs! (-39 lbs)

Michelle43mi - S 215/ J 186/ G 125 (-29 lbs)

Mistjin - H 304/ J 297/ C 294 (-10 lbs total, -1 this week, hoping to be banded soon)

MollyMolly - H 288/ S 264/ J 230/ G 140/ C 228 (-60 lbs total)

MoOrLess - Waiting to be banded this summer.

Morsaille - S 312/ J 287/ G 180/ C 285 (-27 lbs total, -3 this week)

Mrycrltn - S 189/ J 168.5/ G 125/ C 160 (-29 lbs total, -2 this week)

Mychevygirl - H 380/ J 351.5/ C 333 (-47 lbs preband, -3.5 this week)

NaturalBeauty - S 283/ J 228/ G 185/ C 220 (-63 lbs total, -2 this week)

Nightingale2u - H 257/ J 219/ C 221.5 (-35.5 lbs total)

Papillon - S 291/ J 255.5 (-35.5 lbs)

Patty103 - (-99lbs total)

Paula - Officially joining in April. Slow poke!

Penni - H 296/ S 296/ J 252/ G 200/ C 251 (-45 lbs total)

PhotoNut - H 307/ S 291/ J 265/ G 130/ C 255 (-52 pounds total, -3 this week)

Poster child - H&J 258/ G 130/ C 259 (band date May 8th!)

Pugmum - H 250/ J 240 (-10 lbs)

RHONDAKO - S 270/ J 229/ G 150/ C224 (-46 total)

ShackDog - (just started pre-op diet, band date April 17th!)

Shauntil6266 - H 223/ J 223/ G 150 (band date March 29th)

Skbiship78 - S 205/ J 185/ G 125/ C181.5 (-23.5 lbs total, -.5 this week)

SkyeBlu - H 210/ S 206/ J 191/ G 130/ C 185 (-25 lbs total)

Sunta - (-20.9 lbs total)

Tess L - S 216/ J 195/ C 191 (-21 lbs since surgery, no change this week)

The best me - H 242/ S 223/ J 188/ C 183.6 (-58.4 total, -2 this week)

Tricia K. - H 283/ J 216/ G 160/ C 207 (- 67 lbs. total, -2 this week)

TwinkleLil_star - J 264 (Band date May 12th)

Txblue eyedqt - H 296/ S 296/ J 224/ G 140-150/ C 210 (-86 lbs total)

Valhallagirl - S 250/ J 238/ G 130/ C 237 (-13 lbs total)

Wendyr - H 230/ S 226/ J 188/ G 135 (-42 lbs total)

TOTAL GROUP LOSS PRIOR TO JOINING CLUB: 2,352.8 pounds (over one ton!)

Total group loss week ending March 08: 63.7 pounds

Total group loss week ending March 15: 59.0 pounds

Total group loss week ending March 21: 62.6 pounds

Total group loss week ending March 29: 37.8 pounds

Total reported loss for March 2006: 223 pounds Gone for Good!

If I finish this in time, I'll be the first to post after PhotoNut.

In any event, as you can see, my name is Tricia. I'm 34 years of age and was born and raised in Central Oregon. I moved to NJ at the age of 23 to be a nanny (which lasted all of 2 years) and ended up staying there for a total of 9 years. After my stint as a nanny, I worked in the publishing/advertising industry until my most recent move to Louisiana in March of 2004.

Speaking of my recent move, it was all due to the love of my life, my dear, sweet husband. He and I met online in October of 2003 and spent all of 19 days together before I made the big move. Other than having lap band surgery, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. He and I have been married one year, as of this past January 2nd. Still somewhat newlyweds, I suppose. Anyway, I could keep rambling about my wonderful marriage and husband but I'll spare everyone.

My husband and I have no children together but he has an 8 year-old son from a previous relationship. My step-son is a great kid. We do have 3 cool cats though. In any event, we plan on trying to get pregnant around this time next year. Wish us luck.

I have two older brothers. The 2nd oldest, who lives outside of Seattle, has two children. The other still lives in Central Oregon, along with my Mother, of whom I'm very close to. My father passed away 12 years ago. I miss him dearly.

I've been heavy since about the age of 11 or 12. Unfortunately, I never understood why I was constantly gaining weight until 5 years ago when I was diagnosed with PCOS. I've never been an overeater or one to binge, but I progressively gained weight due to the syndrome. After so many failed attempts at losing weight, I felt that my last option was lap band surgery. I'm so happy with my decision.

Anyway, I hope this gives you some insight into the life of Tricia K. Now, on to the required stuff...LOL.

Highest / Present

283 / 216 (- 67)

Hi everyone! My name is Susan. I'm 49 and I live in Boise, Idaho. I'm married to Dawg whom I met online eight years ago. He lived in England, and I was here in Idaho. We have been married for almost seven years now, and are still honeymooning! We have two grown kids. Our daughter is married to a great guy and they have an adorable son whom we adore. Our son is a personal trainer, and is engaged to a wonderful young lady. Luckily, the are all living here in Boise.

I have been fat most of my life. Even during the few years that I wasn't fat, I thought I was. I found out about the Lap Band over a year ago, and to me it was a dream that was far out of my reach. I had no insurance and the base cost of the surgery here is $19,500. I had reached my highest ever weight while slipping into a deep depression which lasted all of 2005. I stopped going outside, stopped working due to panic attacks and basically just sat at home hiding from everything and everyone. I developed a hernia in the early part of the year, and not knowing what it was I thought I had stomach cancer or something, which depressed me even more. By Thanksgiving the hernia was so painful I finally decided to go to a doctor and see what was wrong with me. I was put on Effexor which has worked a miracle in me. I'm practically my old self again! Yay! Surgery was scheduled and my mother came to stay with us to help out during recovery. Two days prior to the surgery, we talked about the Lap Band and she got so excited about it that she promised I would have the money I needed if I wanted it. (My early inheritance!) I only knew of one doctor in town who did the Lap Band and it never occurred to me to look out of town. Anyway, to make a long story longer.. I cancelled the surgery and met with Dr. Cahn who agreed to repair the hernia and do the lap band surgery after I had completed all of the pre-testing. Six weeks later I was banded (Jan 9th) Now, here I am... seven weeks later and loving my band! I got my first fill on Feb 14th.

I'm lazy and I'm a procrastinator, but I'm working hard to overcome both. My lifelong dream has been to be a photographer and to be thin. And currently... they both look like very achievable dreams! Nice to meet you all!

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Starting stats: 307 / 265 (-42 lbs)

My name is Emilee, I turned 20 in early February. I was banded on June 4, 2004, one month after graduating High School. I grew up in Nebraska and have always been heavy. I was always the big girl who had a lot of friends and a great personality, but never a date to the school dances or a date period. I really got my comfort from eating and kind of lied to myself, thinking someone would love me for me and I was fine. But when the scale started saying Err, because it didn't read over 300 I knew it wasn't ok. I was young and wanted to feel that way. It was the best thing I ever did. It was harder for me, because I was/am a binge eater and ate to satisfy my feelings not my hunger. I really had to change my life.

About a year post-band I met my wonderful boyfriend online too:Dhe was from Texas and it took about a month being together and he moved to Nebraska for me. Our year is coming up and he really has been the best thing to happen to me, he's very supportive and very athletic, so he helps me stay active.

Unfortunately, the downfall with being in love has been being so comfortable and not as focused on the weight loss. I've gotten back into bad eating habits and eating really bad food. This challenge came at the perfect time. I want to get back on track and meet my goal. I had been maintaining at 215 and recently gained around 12 pounds. I am not gaining anymore! I've only had one fill and haven't decided if I will be getting anymore anytime soon, I'd really like to work on eating better foods and stopping when I'm full. Well, I'll stop rambling on and wish everyone good luck!

Highest/Present

303/227(-76)

Nice to meet y'all! My name is Kelli and I am 37 years old. I am married to Ron going on 7 years and we live in central California with our 4 pugs, 2 rottweilers, and 3 cats. No human children because the pugs would be crushed. LOL

I am originally from Chicago. I worked for the railroad in Chicago and then in Omaha, NE and met my husband through work, he is a locomotive engineer for the railroad out here. I moved to California when we were married and resigned from the RR. I finished college and then furthered my education and am now a medical transcriptionist and work for a large company from home. Ron is 24 years older than myself and in July he will retire. At this point, we are moving to Pennsylvania (where he is from) where we have bought a small farm. We're very excited about this!

I was a bit chubby through my teenage years, but did not really gain lots of weight until I quit smoking/drinking 5 years ago and found ice cream. :hungry: I didn't think I would ever have the courage to undergo GE (general anesthesia) for WLS, but my sister was banded last year and I felt like it would be for the best. I have been fully supported by my husband and family emotionally. I'm very blessed in this regard. Through my chubbiness, though, I have tried most diets and know the desperation of weight loss. My final turning point was being on Weight Watchers (diligently) for a month and losing 2 pounds. I knew then that I needed some help.

I am 3-1/2 weeks postop and feel better each day. I just want to mention that y'all are great; I don't know if I could have maintained my sanity the first week postop without this board! I feel like I know some of you and really I don't. I just appreciate all of the help and encouragement and lack of judgement! This club will hopefully allow me to get to know others on a more personal basis. Thanks to those who took the time to get it together! :clap2:

Kelli

Highest/Present 250/240

Hi Everyone! I'm 38 years old and have been heavy most of my life. I turned to food for comfort at a very young age and this coping technique is as much a part of me as any other part of my body. I was banded 6/30/04 and went from 257 down to 186 but my stomach is just not tolerating fills. As of this morning, I am back up to 219. My surgeon has tried approaching fills slowly... removing them... doing them under flouro... he has done swallow studies... endoscopies and the conclusion is... I just don't tolerate fills and should probably have my band removed. I'm just not ready to hand it over yet.

I am married to a wonderful man that I met online and have a 13 year old daughter from a previous marriage. I was a single mom working as an LPN for years but now have the luxery of staying home.

Bottom line... I'm struggling and am near panic about the weight re-gain... I really needed this challenge!

Well, this should be the club for people that met their spouses or S/O online!!! But then I couldn't be a member

I am 24 years old, I have been morbidly obese for as long as I can possibly remember. (Only 1 pound away from obese)

I have been married for 2 1/2 years and we have a beautiful 10 month old baby girl.

I am ready to be a normal weight and I can clearly see that in my future now because of the band.

I know it sounds impossible, but as of today I am not struggling. I have NO problem eating the right stuff and I am working out and getting a lot of exercise.

No demons this week!!!

(highest/surgery/current)total loss

365/329/279/ (-86)

Hello everyone,

I'm Natural Beauty and I live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area (Maryland). I have been in this area since the age of 5 and now I'm 40. I have been overweight most of my life or at least as far back as I can remember. I have been married for almost 10 years to my soul mate with no children.

I was banded on May13, 2005 in Mexico and it was the best $8,000 dollar that I've ever spent, what a great investment in ME! I have had the same struggles that most have had, it's all in my mind but since lossing 55lbs it's been really hard to get more off so I am hoping this challenge will help me.

What I expect to achieve here is of course more weight loss, at least 35 lbs. I will continue my 6 day exercise regiment and "appreciating myself for who I am and what I have accomplished right now." Thanks for the club.

Hello. I'm Jill and I'm a scale addict.

Okay, now really. I'm 41, currently married to a sailor (for how long now, I dunno. Trouble's a-brewin') that I met - yes - online - 11 years ago (he wasn't a sailor then!). I currently live in Madison Wisconsin and hubs is in Virginia (he had orders to Guam, unaccompanied, so I moved closer to my folks - then, the orders got revoked and he's still there and I'm here). I'm a computer programmer, two cats (Star and Sophie) rule my home. I make soap from scratch (lye + Oil + Water = soap) and candles in my not-so-copious free time. I'm also a writer, and have had several pieces of fiction and non-fiction published in magazines, as well as a book of poetry - all of which are in a genre that isn't appropriate to discuss in an open forum *grin*.

I have been fat from day One, with minor eras of not-so-fatness and one era of wayyyyy too skinnyness that was acheived by eight months of starving myself (literally). (ever try to find a 32DD bra? my god they're ugly). I was banded in September of 2005 and as of last count, have lost 42.2 pounds with the band (73.2 total). I come from a family of fat people - my father and his sister are both morbidly obese. I finally made the decision, then the commitment to not walk their path.

My avatar picture is about 10 years old, but shows me at my highest weight of 320 (albeit a younger 320 than I was before I started here.). I recently got ahold of a picture of me from last June before I started and once my dad scans it, I'll post it in the before/after pictures with a new one.

Good luck to everyone

340/280/-60

I am going to love being a prt of this club. Thanks everyone!

My name is Kathy (age 40), I'm married (9 years this year) to Joe (age 45) and we have 2 great kids. Our daughter is 6, our son just turned 3. Let me just brag that my husband is a wonderful man. In so many ways.

I have been curvy all my life, even when I was a scrawny kid, I had hips. My husband likes my curves, but they have gotten so out of hand over the years! My weight at 242 was pressing on me physically and especially emotionally. I felt so stuck, and defeated. I did manage the gumption to join Curves in Jan 2004. I took off 20 pounds in about 6 months but was stuck there and feeling defeated again until Jan 2005, when I stumbled onto Lap Banding and LBT. I can't tell you the nights I sat and stared at the Before/After pics crying at the hope I wanted so badly. I felt very confident that banding was the way to go. Hubby was hesitant, skeptical, leery, but I told him all that I was learning, showed him the pics...he began to understand both banding AND my personal struggle. By April 2005 I was in MX getting banded by Dr Kuri. So, I'll be having a 1 year bandiversary soon! I was hoping to see 50 pounds gone, then 45, but at this point, I'll be happy with 40 pounds gone in a year!

My original goal weight was 140...which always seemed a bit low. When I did BMI calculations, I realized a 24 BMI puts me at 145, so I have adjusted accordingly. To be honest, if I were to get to 165 and have no real trouble staying there, my money will be well-spent. No lie. 170 gets me a tummy tuck. I was 168 when we got married in '97, but after 2 kids and 2 C-sections, well, the tummy is a mess. One thing at a time now. I just want to see 179 and be struggling to stay below 180, rather than 190 like I am now. I probably could use a fill, but don't want one. I'm scared to death to lose my band to erosion so I'll "suffer" without the fill. I'll be okay! I'm 2cc in a 4cc band now.

So, here I am with you nice folks.

Highest/Present (total lost)

242/188 (-54)

Hi Everyone,

My name is Becky. I'm 35 years old and was just banded on February 21st! I'm married to my wonderful husband Dave and have been for nine years this May. I have two cats, no childen. I live here in the City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia! It's a most wonderful town and I encourage everyone to come visit! I am the Sales and Marketing Director for a Web design company and my husband is an IT Director with a national firm.

I was a normal weight, if not downright skinny, child. When I look at pictures of myself from when I was really little, I can't even believe how thin I was. My weight gain started the very moment puberty started, and despite dieting for 25 years (you name it, I've been on it. Too many diets to list here!), I reached my heaviest ever weight a few months ago. One time in college I was able to lose 51 pounds with Nutri-System, but even then I still had an additional 30 to lose, so in my entire adult life, I have never been at an ideal weight.

I'd been looking into the LAP Band since I first read an article about it a few years ago. But at that time, my insurance did not cover it. I had vowed to never get a bypass no matter how big I got, because it just is not for me. The second I found out that my insurance started covering the LAP Band in July of 2005, I enrolled in a seminar to get started. So I feel I have been waiting to be banded for years and years!

Currently, I am 8 days post-op and starting to feel a bit better. I had a really rough first week. I have to say that without this board, I honestly don't know if I would have gone through with the surgery! I just am so appreciative and thankful for everyone on here.

Nice to meet you all!

Hello all!

My name is michelle im 43 married 2 times then met the most awsome man (on the internet !) about 10 years ago he moved to michigan from wisconsin 9 years ago to be with me . we have 7 children all together ages 31 29 22 19 16 16 14 im a stay at home mom (that is going to change really quick) kids are older now so no need for me to be home all the time besides it is really getting boring only so many toilets and so much laundry to do ! Thinking of going back to school for law enforcement forensics! I was always the curvy girl in jr high and high school not big but nick name was bubble butt and fish tank and thunder thighs you get the picture! then i had my second son and BAM 80 pounds gained i had gestational diabeites then 3 months later in hospital for heart attack and stroke caused by graves diease.. Had to have radiation and it killed off my thyroid! weight has been a struggle ever since . 4 years ago i was at 378 i got so mad and said thats it! i watched every thing that went in my mouth . i managed to lose 163 pounds on my own but just could never get past 215 ! i had heard about lap band and did research on it talked to my dr and one of my friends but chickened out only to find out 3 months later that my friend got so interested in it she had it done ! she looked amazing. so got on phone called dr got things rolling ( thank god for good insurance) and here i am 6 weeks out doing good down to 186 was 180 but gained 6 pounds back i need a fill ! which was suppose to be today but NOOOOO they called and cancelled so i go friday! Thats me in a nut shell and i hope i can do this ! maybe with all the support here and from honie (who just thinks im so brave for doing this) I CAN MAKE IT!:biggrin1:

For those of you who don't know I'm Tess..lol

my DH had gastric bypass, it will be three years this month and I had lap banding in DEC. we also met on line in 1999 and will Celebrate 5 wonderful years of marriage this June.. this is going to be a duel challenge for us He's thinking of banding on top of his bypass he's not losing weight just sitting there.(he jokes about it but) hopefully this will jump start us both I'm a bad band-er I eat to fast and the wrong stuff so as of today's new lease on life that's one thing I like about the band I can always start over and not feel like I failed

Tess 3/1 195

highest 218 now 195 goal for end of march 190

jlee 3/1 260

Hi, my name is Mary. I am 38. I did not meet my husband on line. HAHA. I have been married since Oct. I have 2 sons (14 & 10), and 1 step daughter (14). My oldest son and his daughter go to the same school and they introduced us last summer. I was taking my kids to eat, and they showed up. The rest is history. I live in Spring, TX. I have most of my live. All of my family lives here. I have two brothers, and my mom and dad, who by the way have been married 43 years, and are still very much in love.

I was banded on 12/22. I have been over weight most of my life. I am short and thick, or should I say wide. I am going to post a picture as soon as I get the chance.

I am looking forward to this. I need the push. I also enjoy reading about everybody.

Best of luck to all of you.

189 Surgery date/ 168.5 Current

Hey Everyone!! My name is Diane & I am originally from a small town in AZ. I moved to the city & met my husband 12 years ago. (We ACTUALLY met in person...ha!) We have 3 children 10, 8 & 2 yr. old. I graduated from BYU-Hawaii with a degree in Music & have been a piano teacher for over 20 yrs. I recently retired from the Pampered Chef where I was a Senior Sales Director for over 9 yrs. (In case you're wondering why I still have a website address below, it's because I ONLY sell over the web!) So, back to the story...

I weighed 170 on my wedding day & truly THOUGHT I was fat!! After my first child, I gained 50 lbs. I gained more with each one & at my highest was 258 lbs. I was tired all the time. I was wearing a size 24 jeans & was a terrible mother. We ate fast food & I was becoming a major couch potato. My breaking point was when when my husband started his own business & we were looking for individual Health Insurance. I was devastated when I was denied insurance because "my build exceeded the limitations." We searched around & NO INSURANCE company would take me until I weighed below 208. I was very emberassed & humilitated that I had let myself get that fat!! So, I scheduled to have Lapband surgery & haven't looked back since. My surgery was July '05 & to date I have lost 50 lbs. (yeah me!!!)

I am thrilled to be a part of this group & to be held accountable each week. By the way, I have a confession. :rolleyes Girl Scout Cookies came out yesterday & I ate.....um......ALOT!! (Too many to count!) Somebody needs to really kick my butt over this one. The cookies are now LOCKED away & I am giving them to the skinny neighbors next door.

It's great to get to know everyone!! Good luck to everyone!! May we all be BIG LOSERS!!!! :clap2: