Hi, I know that it seems ages away but my surgery is booked for June 1st (7 weeks tomorrow!!) and I just can't wait so I thought I'd start a June 2007 thread... anyone else out there due for surgery in June???

I started my pre-op diet (Optifast) last week... thought I'd try and lose as much as possible beforehand as I've kind of been doing the last super thing for most of this year! It's supprisingly OK... first 4 days were hell but hunger seems to have gone although I still struggle with the bordem (head hunger) a bit.

KT

being banded 1st June 2007 in New Zealand

Starting weight 101kg, BMI = 35

Current weight 97kg, BMI = 33.5 (after 10 days on Optifast)

Goal weight 65kg, BMI = 22

Wow Gen... you are doing FANTASTIC!! My banaversary is Saturday. We are going to my friends for a cook out on her patio, it is going to be HOT, 96!! She knows I have the band, but our other friends she may invite do not and is very opinionated, that is why I never told her. It is hard not to tell your close friends when you can't eat, they don't hesitate to say, " why aren't you eating" !! I'll give her another glass of wine and maybe she will chill!

I am off today but got up and walked with my husband. it was really nice!

I wish I had some milestones to celebrate, too, but I never did "click" with the band. I had a hard time tolerating foods....lots of pbing, sliming, etc. so I had all my fill removed. I'm much happier, but don't have any weight loss to report. <sigh> So I have regret, but I'm doing fine!

Just wanted to say I'm still your biggest cheerleader and sorry I don't tell you enough how proud I am, etc....just know I keep you in my thoughts! :thumbup:

XOXOXOXO,

Toni

Toni I'm sorry the band caused you problems but don't give up. I don't have fill in mine and will probably never have fill in mine. It turns out the fill changes the shape of my stomach and then it decides not to work and causes me to get sick. You can do it. Just stick to eating the 4 oz meals, 3 times a day and try and excercise when you can. We are all here to support you.

Hi Everyone

I haven't written in a while but as I approach my 1 year mark I wanted some company. My local message board has been dispanded. I miss it. So my losing has slowed recently and I still have a while till goal so I decided to step it up a notch and excercise. I went to a physical trainer to get some things to do at home and I've been swimming, walking, and bike riding whenever possible. My son who is two loves all the excercise and it seems to make both of us sleep better. My next goal is to be under 200 by my anniversary date 6/11/08. One week to lose 4 pounds. Not sure I will get there but I'm going to try. Next week I have to go back for my one year anniversary check and I know my doctor is going to try and get me to get a fill. I am scared to get a fill. I do not ever want to be as sick as I was again. I really thought I was going to end up in a hospital. As long as I'm not gaining I'm going to try and stick it out.

I'm so happy so everyone doing so well.

I'll check back again soon.

.... but our other friends she may invite do not and is very opinionated, that is why I never told her. It is hard not to tell your close friends when you can't eat, they don't hesitate to say, " why aren't you eating" !! I'll give her another glass of wine and maybe she will chill! ....

Hey Janine - VERY FEW of my friends know, and NO ONE in my family knows. I find that most people who do not know about my band don't really question my small portions, but rather make comments like "Wow, you're doing so good. You have such good control." Lol. They think it's all just me making the decision to only eat a smaller portion. The people who do know about my band actually have aharder time accepting my smaller portions, they just don't understand. I have a friend who looks at me all sad like when I put my fork down, like she just feels sorry for me. And another friend pretty much says he can't go out to eat with me cause it makes him sad to be able to eat multiple plate at a buffet knowing I can only eat a few bites. So for ME it's easier to be around ppl who don't know...

Oh my. I can't WAIT for my fill next Thursday. I'm a bottomless pit. I wake up hungry, with growling tummy and all. That rarely happens. Lol. I'm having Molasses cookies for breakfast - 90 cals each, and I've eaten 3 or 4. There are 3 left in the package and I'm SERIOUSLY going to throw them in the trash when I finish typing this.

I have managed to lose 3 pounds this week... but I think alot of that is just 'water' weight, ya know.

I have a sinus infection which has caused drainage and my throat hurts from coughing so much. Heck, my abs and low back muscles hurt from coughing!! The sinus drainage into my tummy makes me nauseous, unless I eat something, so I munch on chips.

I've given up on these short term challenges like to the next Holiday (currently I'm listed on one through July 4th, but there is no way I'll lose the 20 pounds that I have up there) So I've set myself up with a 6 month goal. So basically New Years. I just want to be down 55 pounds by then. Which would put me at 225. (My ticker is wrong, I think it's at 265 or something, but I'm 280 today) So anyway... yeah. I'd LOVE to be 225 by Christmas/New Years.. That puts me only 50 pounds from my high goal weight of 175, and 75 pounds from my low goal weight of 150. Realistically though, I think that 175 will be fine with me. I'm a tall person with a large bone structre. And really... I don't think I've been under 200 pounds since I was in Jr High. LOL!!!

What are some of ya'll goals?

And, ONE YEAR AGO, did you think you'd be where you are today? Did you think you'd be further ahead, or further behind?

Thanks Janine ... you are too kind

Still feeling yucky - but the scale is my friend!!! If I hadn't felt so bad I would have jumped for joy this morning

Suzzzie - I'm sorry to hear that you aren't well either :tt2:

I don't have big plans for my bandiversary. I am going to see my doc next week and have them view everything making sure it is all good. Me and DH are ditching the kids for a few days and taking a long weekend down in Houston/Galveston - we are looking forward to that :biggrin2:

I find it much easier eating with people who don't know about the band!! Holy cow - those that do know watch every bite I take!! I also tend to eat more carefully when they don't know because I don't want to get the "look" on my face :wink2:

I had the crazy fear that this wouldn't work for me - just like every other diet that I'd tried. My doc told me I'd only lose 40% of my weight - so I was resigned to losing 40# and that being it.

When I passed his 40% I had renewed hope that I could do this. I had hoped to make it to 120 at one year; I haven't made that but I'm close. I'm also not sure that I actually want to lose more. If I didn't have excess skin in a few places then I would be content right where I'm at.

My DH was talking earlier about how miserable I was this time last year and how unhappy I was. My life has changed more than I could have imagined. I feel so blessed to have had this done :biggrin2:

I find it much easier eating with people who don't know about the band!! Holy cow - those that do know watch every bite I take!! I also tend to eat more carefully when they don't know because I don't want to get the "look" on my face :wink2:

I know what you mean!! I always make sure I know exactly where the restroom is in case i get stuck! Lol.

Today after i threw away the cookies and posted my previous post I made the decision to go to WW for a while. I emailed 3 of my aunts, and 2 of them are going to go and join with me on Monday night. I never thought I'd be there again, I just think I need a jumpstart again... some accountability. We'll see how long it lasts!!

Hey everyone. Thanks so much for all the support and encouragement. It's good to be back on here! I weighed myself this morning and I've lost about 2 1/2 lbs. since my fill a week ago, which is great! I hope this gets me off the plateau I've been on.

I also find that the fewer people who know about the band, the better. It's great that my husband knows about it because he supports me and reminds me to chew slowly when we eat. For others (who don't know) sometimes I think they wonder why I'm eating so little, but I usually say that I'm not that hungry or that I'm eating small meals throughout the day, which is true. At the end of the day I think most people are so caught up in their own lives that they really don't pay much attention. The bigger issue comes with drinking. I used to drink a beer every so often, but I know I'm not supposed to and usually I don't want to because it makes me feel so full and bloated. But all my friends are beer drinkers. I avoid hard liquor because I get drunk so quickly now! So unless wine is available I don't drink much out and that gets some odd looks or questions about whether I'm pregnant, which I loathe -- when I was larger I was asked that question a lot because I had a big belly, so I'm totally self-conscious about it. Anyway, at the end of the day, it's really nobody's f-ing business what I put in my mouth and I have no problem saying that to anyone :wink2:

Wombat---Congrats on the weight loss--You are such an inspiration!!!

SUZZZIE--best of luck to you and WW....I hope it works for you. I think that its great that you are determined to do what ever it takes. It's also good that you have support and accountability in your family. Also--where is Stef???? I know you know!!!

Lucy---it is GREAT to have you back. Congrats on the weight loss. I wanted to be in the 180s by bandiversary...currently at 193.....but for some reason I've gone into sabatoge mode (lots of sweets and 100 calorie packs)

I need an intervention!!!

Stef has been MIA... I did get a random 'fwd' text from her late one night last week or so... but thats it. If she is posting anywhere around here it isn't in one of the threads I know of. I've even called and left her a voicemail. I'm just hoping she is taking a 'break' from here. Maybe her hubby is in town right now and he's keeping her 'tied up' Lol.

IF she is lurking around here... WE MISS YOU!

Haven't been on this week but happy Juneiversary to everyone. It's great to here from you TT. You are so important to us.

I have actually put on weight in the last few weeks due to an unfill but I'm not going to beat myself up for not reaching my goal (or for quitting the gym or still depending on junk food to make me feel better) So darn it HAPPY BANDIVERSARY TO ME!

Loss: 80 pounds (I'm half-way there!)

Non-scale victories

Saw a shrink and worked out some issues

Quit a horrible job because I didn't want to be used anymore

Saved bucketloads of money

Booked a round-the-world trip. I'm leaving in August for a year. I'm going to work overseas too. I never had the confidence before and my twenties passed me by. Now I'm going to create the life I want.

Did the seatbelt up on the plane.

Socialised more

Got honest and worked out some family issues.

Made some bandster friends both offline and in real-life

Can fit into women's clothes again for the first time since I was in high school. Bye bye men's clothes.

Feel more normal and acceptable in society (I'm still big but don't get the same amount of gaping stares and comments that I used to)

Blood sugar back to normal

Joined a gym!?!!

Blood pressure back to normal

It hasn't all been smooth sailing but I really don't know how I could have done it with all of you. You mean so much to me. Sniff!

Wow insub...you gave me goosebumps reading your NSV'S!!!! Please keep in touch when you travel. if you have no kids this is the time to do it!!

suzzzie You are to funny! I don't do those short term goals, or at least don't publically because I feel to much pressure which then results in a gain. I did not know about the 40% or 50% in a year expectation that wombat is talking about until I went for my anniversary fill Tuesday. So, I will accept the 49lb weight loss and move on!! My goal would be to be at my 169/165 weight loss by December! that will be another half a year! Of course I would love it if I was there earlier. I to am tall. I hate hearing people say, "are you at goal?" I still weigh 190!

bandaversary!!!!!!! :cool:I took this afternoon off and I am meeting two ladies I met on this site for lunch. We try to get together when we can. We email and chat on line. Both are doing well too. Then on Monday I am meeting another band friend for dinner! it is funny because we have to plan to go somewhere we can at least eat something. I was hoping to buy a new wedding band and reset another ring, but that will be when I meet my goal weight!

Have a great weekend!! STay cool, VERY HOT here in VA.

Wow Janine - 190! Lol. I honestly can't imagine what I'd look like at under 200 pounds... It's exciting to think about though! Go you!!

Insub - "Booked a round-the-world trip. I'm leaving in August for a year. I'm going to work overseas too. I never had the confidence before and my twenties passed me by. Now I'm going to create the life I want." You are AMAZING!!! I couldn *never* do this, even though I'd love to. Beyond being financially impossible for me, I just don't have that level of self confinence or self worth. Maybe I need to visit with your head shrinker!! Keep on rockin girl!

Holy cow Insub!!! That is totally amazing :thumbup:

What a gift of freedom you have given yourself!!

I do not have that kind of confidence to do that at all. I envy the women that are self-sure and self-reliant. I married at 21 so I don't know how to be on my own. I have a beautiful friend who is 30ish and still single. She has such strength that it is inspiring.

I wish you the absolute best on your adventure!! Please please post pics and let us know how it's going

Gen

Insub - what a great list! I was so happy for you when you quit, you sounded so miserable! your trip sounds exciting, we expect a lot of pictures!

What a year it has been!

Had surgery - smooth sailing

Got a promotion

Moved to Nashville

Bought a house (moving this weekend)

Finally have the acreage we have dreamed of since before we were married - already have 2 goats, 2 dogs, a turtle, and 4 cockatiels. I am sure we will soon have chickens and ducks for the pond. Miniature ponies and cows to come!

Feel almost normal - I still think people are looking at me, but now I wonder why, instead of knowing it was because I was huge.

Wearing clothes from the regular size department

Bought a swim suit and went to a public pool - I have not had one for my entire marriage - it is a dress to cover my ugly legs - but I dove in the pool swam and climbed out of the deep end without any problems - I didn't worry about being too wide for the ladder.

I am not the largest person in the room anymore (I want to talk to everyone bigger than me about the band - but I don't want to insult them)

my home in the country means I will be stuck with dial-up. I hope to be back up and running next week, although I am sure it will be much slower!

thanks everyone for the support and the shared stories this year!