Hi to anyone reading this,

I started my journey at 264lbs and a size 18/20. I never thought I would make it to where I am today. I not only feel like a different person but I look like a different person. I feel great and my self esteem and confidence has gone through the roof. For the first time in my life I am a healthy woman. Mind you I stand at 5'8, I now weigh 174 and I wear a size 8/10. My ultimate goal is to be at 150lbs and a size 6/8.

The journey I have worked through has been the hardest of anything I have ever done in my life. I not only went into this alone with no one in my life to understand what I'm going through but I made the decision to not tell many people of my life style change. It's had its rewards and it's had its punishments along the way. Along with accomplishing the weight loss of 90lbs, I met the love of my life, whom I adore with all my heart and soul. I have gone down almost half my size, I eat much less then I used to which till today still blows my mind on the amounts I used to eat. I find that I'm hungry every few hours which I think isn't supposed to happen because of the purpose of the band but I'm still losing. I don't work out as much as I should be but with a back injury I do what I can. I have ran a few mud runs, which are 5K's each, I have of course run into many and I do mean many road blocks. The stuck episodes were hell at the beginning but a learning experience, the vomiting was another thing to learn from, the depression of not having anyone to really talk to about whats happening to my body, the changes happening to my body and chemical changes were a big one for me. I think for those just beginning the journey should seek a local support group or someone from a support group locally to you to help you get through your good and bad experiences like a friend would be there for you.

My family has been my ultimate support but they just don't understand what I'm going through. The few friends I told are there for me and will do what they can to show their support. The only advise I can give now that I know what is to be expected I think would be to take your time getting to each step of the process. There really is no reason to rush through it when your health is on the line. I promise that you'll reach your goal at some point and some of you will understand that those good and bad days are always going to come and go. No one is perfect and no one follows the rules to the perfect T. I know the normal life eventually kicks back into reality and changes things.

I never in my life wanted to get married and have a baby more then I do today. The weight loss has changed my prospective on life and the way I live it. I wish I would have taken the steps into this journey a lot sooner then I did so I could have felt this amazing sooner. The best thing that's happened for me is my relationship and that I'm no longer shy about being in the nude with my boyfriend, I'm not shy about wearing short dresses, shorts, tank tops and sexy lingerie. I am confident and strong!

Sorry for making this such a long post but I wanted to just get some of my experience out there so that some of you don't feel alone out there. This journey isn't easy and it's most definitely not the easy way out as I have heard people comment along the way.

Thanks for reading!

Lindsay

Cupcakebabe, you really are a cupcake, are'nt you ? Congrats ! You should be very proud of all the hard work you put into getting yourself healthy !!!! Way to go !!! You look so amazing !!!!

I agree with your comments about the journey being hard and things happening a long the way that we have to really work to overcome.

Also so many are in a hurry for results ( numbers ) that they forget it is a life long trek.

Congratulations on your successes!!!!

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by RJ'S/beginning

If more people would see it as a JOURNEY, and not as a QUICK FIX, they would be more at ease with the banded life. You are very wise..... and successful...... Best Wishes for continued success!

Cupcakebaby,,

congrats on your pending nuptials. Happy to hear your story. I'm on board with healthynewme, This is a journey and should be categorized as the scenic route. The scenic route has its value in that we pick up information along the way. This definitely should be a reflective journey allowing us to pick up bits of insight regarding our relationship with food and lack of activity. Hopefully in gaining insight we can destroy all the excuses that halted progress in the first place and sustain whatever successes we earn THE HARD WAY.

So Banders and other WLS recipients happy trails and enjoy the view.

Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration !

This made me weepy for some reason -- I must be emotional today and it's so moving to hear of that build in confidence, the self-esteem. I feel that, too, and I'm just so grateful and there's that part of me that wishes I had done this decades ago. Very inspiring post -- thank you so much! Best wishes for all that is to come. Oh, and @@relief57 love that "scenic route" -- here's to the long view and seeing what we see along the way........