I promised myself when I lost 50 pounds I would post a success story, I still have a ways to go, but that was my rewards for a 50 lbs weight loss. Hopefully I can inspire you and if you need a buddy, I'll try to help!

I was banded in January of 2007 at 322 lbs. The first six months I was the model lap-band patient. Once I started a new job and new life, I basically blew off the whole process and I had a book of excuses. I'm looking back now and I was sooo not emotionally prepared for this (I was banded at 26 years old). Eventually I got into a very abusive relationship, the only thing he "loved" was my cooking, so I just kept gaining weight. I stopped weighing myself when I saw that I was up to 280 (my lowest per the md was 268) Finally in December 2010 he left and in January 2011 I met the dbf that I have today (who I love to death). I finally realized that I met someone that I wanted to get healthy for so we could have a long future together.

In August of 2011 I was presented to the emergency room with a massive gall bladder attack. In September, I had it removed, at the time I was 288 lbs. After the removal it felt like I could eat anything and eat I did! One day after complaining to my mother about how my pants don't fit, she says to me "you work at a hospital there has to be a scale somewhere" so I go down the hall and weigh myself....314 pounds!!!! I was so disgusted with myself that when I went home I threw out all the junk and bought tons of healthy food (chobani was my drug of choice for a while!). I went back to the md for a fill, they had me do an endoscopy to see if there was erosion (thank god there wasn't) and basically I have started all over again. Since December 2, 2011 to today I have officially lost 53 pounds. I can't believe it, I'm still in shock. I have a long way to go, but I literally take it day by day. Also my doctor suggested I go on Adipex which is a prescription appetite supressant. I really don't notice a difference from before I was taking it, for all I know the pharmacist is putting tylenol in the prescription bottle. Some people will get on me about this bit of information, but it's my choice and I'm following doctor's orders.

Food wise, I eat less than 1000 calories a day. I eat three meals a day and don't snack. I drink tons of Water....tons lol. Honestly I only keep track of my calories 4 days out of the week. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays I don't write down what I eat, but I make sure to pick healthy options and not to over do it. Once and a while I do have something extra, but it doesn't taste the same anymore lol Excercise wise I walk 2 miles a day or 40 minutes back and forth from my job to the train station.

For anyone out there that is a long term bandster, don't give up. Heck, even go get a complete unfill and start all over. That was the deal between the doctor's office and me. Try it all over again and if I don't get down to my goal weight (220) they will start submitting the authorization for a revision. Today was the first doctor's appointment where I didn't get a fill because they were impressed with my weight loss. I never thought that would happen. I really never thought I would lose weight. I guess I've "grown up" and realized that this band isn't going to do all the work for me, that I have to do most of it. I also realized I'm not doing this for vanity purposes....I want to be a healthy wife and mother, and I want to grow old with the dbf I have now (I think he's the one lol).

I will try to post pictures soon. I don't have any current pictures of me now, but I'll be going on vacation to Mexico with the dbf and will have pictures from that.

Anyone who is reading this, keep up the good work, you're an awesome person, and take it one day at a time!

Congrats keep up the good work!!!

great story! congrats on the new love life and new renewed healthy life. The next 50 lbs will come off with your continued motivation!!!

Congrats even tho i dont know you this story has really touched me and inspired me and IM SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! Good luck and keep up the great work.

Thanks so much ladies!!! Keep up the good work!

Congrats!! So glad you didn't give up on love or the band!! Wish u much success And hAppiness in the future!!

Congrats!! What an inspirational story for those struggling. It took me longer to get on board mentally. I lost 100 initially, then regained 50 of it. I have had some complications along the way, but I was mentally NOT READY when I had this done.

I am FINALLY there myself. I recommited when I was thinking about band removal, and I am now losing again. Unfortunately I do have to go in again for another surgery to fix a hiatal hernia and reposition the band... but I am treating this like a NEW START.

I hope in 6 months I will be just as successful as you have been. Keep up the amazing work!! Chobani is one of my new drugs of chouce as well!! lol. It is kinder to me in the waist than ice cream ever was.

Keep up the great work!

dionaw

Congratulations on your restart, great success and superb attitude! You are doing so well and are obviously in a very good place in your life as well.

May I ask why you are having a revision if you are now succeeding with the band?

Well originally in December when I was so frustrated with the band the doctor wanted me to give it one more chance before I threw the towel in and that's what I'm doing now. If I remain successful I'm going to keep this sucker in for a long long time. I'll be honest the thought of an erosion scared the crap out of me I was so afraid of not having the band at all. Thankfully everything is fine and I'm still losing