Hi bandsters,

I haven't checked in here in a long time, but I just wanted to let you all know that as of today I have lost 246 pounds on my lap band journey. I was banded in late 2008, and lost about 200 pounds in two years. Then I plateaued for about a year, thinking that perhaps that was as low as I could go. Then when getting another fill my port tubing got struck and my band was slowly leaking. Only we didn't know that at first. I had a bunch of tests done to rule out band slipping, etc. I had lost most of my restriction and I gained back 30 pounds. I had port and tube replacement surgery a little over a year ago, and ever since then, my weight loss has gotten back on track and more. I've lost over 60 pounds in the last year for a total weight loss of 246 pounds.

In the last year to get past this long plateau, I've had to get really serious about diet and exercise. Now I'm on a Paleo diet, and I drink my own fresh pressed green vegetable juice every day. I use fresh green veggies like celery, cucumber, mint, brocolli, lettuce, kale, sugar snap peas, plus an apple or some grapes, and a lemon for acidity (helps alkalinize the body) and to keep it from oxidizing longer if I don't drink it all immediately. My body loves it! It's vitality in a glass. I use an Omega vegetable juicer.

I also do regular yoga. In the month of January as part of a challenge my yoga class is doing yoga every single day, and yesterday we went to an all-day yoga workshop! Honestly, if even a year ago anyone told me that I would be doing daily exercise and going to an all-day exercise class I would have LAUGHED IN THEIR FACE! But now I'm really loving it. Yoga is great because it focuses on the mind as well as the body. I think most of us, whether morbidly obese or not, need to rewrite our "stories" about ourselves. And yoga really gives you tools to do that. It's more than just exercise.

So I just wanted to let people know that YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! Really, when you change your thoughts you change everything. So just start thinking about how you are living a healthy lifestyle, and you have the power to overcome any challenge, and you will be surprised how the results add up over time!

What's next for me? Well, I've already surpassed my first (249 lbs) and second (199 lbs) weight loss goals. My next goal is 180 lbs, and at 187.2 this morning I'm getting pretty close to it. I may or may not set a lower goal after that. Even at 5' 8.5" height that still puts me in the obese category according to BMI so I may go lower still before plastic surgery.

I definitely need plastic surgery. I have a LOT of loose hanging skin, folds in my skin both horizontally AND vertically. I know the surgeries will take some additional weight off, too. I have met with a local plastic surgeon who recommends three surgeries: (1) a lower body lift with anchor incision, (2) breast reconstruction, arm lift, and lipo on the thighs, and (3) medial thigh lift. It's quite expensive here in the SF Bay Area though. Soon I have a consultation at Cosmed in Tiajuana to see what they would charge. The challenge is both finding the time as well as the money.

Well, I hope this is helpful to some of you all. Good luck and keep up the faith!

Kathy

Thank you for the inspiration. Tomorrow is one year for me. Started at 437 and down to 248. Losing at a slower rate but I am still motivated and believe I can reach goal. I continue to focus on protein, water and low carb. Trying to get inspired for exercise.

Edited September 26, 201510 yr by Futureplans

I'm on my 6 month of my post op and from 264 pounds I'm 161 lbs thank god!

Question do people gain the weight back because they are eating regular or it just comes back does the exercise stop ??

Wow wow wow!! All these success stories!! I can't wait!! I THINK I might be 199 on the morning

Congrats!!

Very powerful post

Cathy thanks so much for sharing that it's truly inspiring.

I'm in the preop test mode and there are days my mind is doing tricks on me trying to discourage me but it's not going to happen especially when I read post like your. God Bless

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Update: I've had a lot of difficulty with my band over the last year or more. I've had acid reflux pretty bad and had to have all my fill removed for a while. I'm getting more put back in, but unfortunately the band isn't working as well for me anymore. I just got another fill to get me back to a fairly restrictive setting and I'm hoping that this will help. But, my weight is up to 246 lbs. I'm alarmed and definitely don't want to go back to being morbildly obese, but I'm already back to having to shop in the Plus section again. I switched medical insurance to Kaiser almost a year ago, and my new doctor says that they have found that the band stops working so well after a number of years for many people. If I can't get my weight back under control I may convert to a sleeve or gastric bypass, which would have to be done in two separate procedures. I really don't want two more surgeries so I am pulling out all the stops now. In addition to getting my band tightened, I am trying acupuncture and hypnosis (not all at the same time though!)