OK, I am here for support in counting down the last 20 - 25 pounds. I have been at a standstill since June.

I have lost 85 pounds, I now weigh about 195. At 5'11" I need to get down below 180 to get into the healthy BMI range. so I am aiming at 172-175....So about 20 to go.

Part of me doesn't believe I will ever get there. Never been there for more than about 5 minutes...lol! So I need to work on a positive attitude.

I am at a fill of 3.0 in a 4.0. I could get a small fill, but should be able to do it on this fill. It varies so much from week to week. Some days I am able to eat anything and others I am tight, so that is a bit confusing.

I have taken the summer off the band rules, been imbibing in too much ice cream, chips and booze. So there is my confession. I also took a break from the gym, so I am vowing to go back TOMORROW. My 13 year old updated my IPOD, so I am R.E.A.D.Y.

Please join me in a count down to goal. All support and advice is appreciated....

20

I'm with you PAULAX was is the last little bit the hardest??

I have 7 lbs to go.

Dawn

Banded April 4th, 2006

Montreal

358/155/148

I'm with you PAULAX was is the last little bit the hardest??

I have 7 lbs to go.

I confess to not exercising as much. And I did bake Christmas cookies yesterday. Haven't had any yet, but they are THERE.

Will be making a renewed effort soon.

And yes Dawn, the last few seem to be the hardest. grrrrrrrrrr

Where's Argon? I wanna see someone at goal. I think whoever gets to goal, should be an online party.

Well, I'm past goal but still not 100#. Goal was 80-85 lbs - I've lost about 90-95 lbs or so.

Once I got within 10# of my goal - my weight loss understandably slowed down. And now I lose a pound here or there, but it's so slowly that I don't notice. My body no longer fights to hold on to every pound but if I lose something, it's accidental and painless. First time in my life that was true.

What do I always say? If The World's Slowest Bandster can get to goal, then anybody can! Hope that still qualifies me!

Well, I'm past goal but still not 100#. Goal was 80-85 lbs - I've lost about 90-95 lbs or so.

Once I got within 10# of my goal - my weight loss understandably slowed down. And now I lose a pound here or there, but it's so slowly that I don't notice. My body no longer fights to hold on to every pound but if I lose something, it's accidental and painless. First time in my life that was true.

What do I always say? If The World's Slowest Bandster can get to goal, then anybody can! Hope that still qualifies me!

Absolutely, and thanks for the encouragement.

I just want 100% of goal, so I can call it.

LOL! It will come.

Congratulations on everyone who is so close to their goal!!

I have a question. Does anyone ever worry that the band is too good to be true, and this will all be taken away? I keep asking my doctor how long someone can live with the band and he says there aren't enough people who have had it long term to know that.

What is that old expression? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I swear, if anything happens to my band, I will have to get a sleeve or something. I don't know where I will get the money, but

I refuse to go back to where I was if I ever lost my band. I wish I wasn't such a worrier.

Don't worry. There are those banded abroad (either in Europe, Mexico or Australia) who have had their bands for than 10 or 12 years so far.

As long as my band continues to help me (and doesn't harm me, knock wood) then I want to keep it in. I want a long term solution to obesity and luckily patients in other countries have found it with the Lap-Band.

Let's stay positive!

Paulax, wish I would have found this thread when you started it! How long has it taken you to lose the last 18 (are you still at 18 or have you hit goal)? You've had such marvelous support, maybe I should start a thread. I need to lose my last 20 by March 4th. I'm having a tummy tuck and would like it gone. Gone with the wind and the knife! I'm working at it, but it's not coming off without a fight! What did you do to get it off? I didn't read any diet plan, etc. Anyway, congratulations! YEAH!

Paulax, wish I would have found this thread when you started it! How long has it taken you to lose the last 18 (are you still at 18 or have you hit goal)? You've had such marvelous support, maybe I should start a thread. I need to lose my last 20 by March 4th. I'm having a tummy tuck and would like it gone. Gone with the wind and the knife! I'm working at it, but it's not coming off without a fight! What did you do to get it off? I didn't read any diet plan, etc. Anyway, congratulations! YEAH!

Aw, just spotted this. Thank you my dear. The last 18 were by far the hardest. I don't really have a 'plan', just focused on protein shakes in the morning, juicing veggies, because I can't eat too many, and of course the lean proteins and soft cooked veggies. I have not been an angel in my journey, but my progress is perfectly perfect for me. I started at the gym seriously last April.

I still have 2 stubborn pounds, but the Christmas Season has seen a few white wines and a few extra calories. But happy to report that I have maintained 177 pounds.

Yes, start a thread, it has helped me immensely in my journey. I have had many and various threads, where I have whined, complained and even cried. The support I received here was awesome.

So still 2 pounds to go.

:update:

Today I am reporting that my 13 year old and I are starting a jogging program together. She is really wanting this, so I think it will be good bonding time.

We start the Vancouver Sun Run training schedule in January and will be jogging 10km in April. This is the first year she is elligible to join at 13 years of age. And she is 5'10" tall and about 150 pounds, (I am just under 6 ft and 177) so I will be working hard to keep up. She also has youth on her side and is a blue belt in Taikwondo. (Gawd, what did I get myself into) If THIS doesn't take the last few pounds off I don't know what will.

So all you other joggers out there, you inspire me with your stories and your successful Marathons....wow, I am in awe. I may be jogging slower than your average fast walker, but I will be there with my dear daughter.

Paulax, that is so neat that you will be running with your daughter. What a great example you are setting! Isn't it wonderful to be in this position instead of where you where say a year ago! Now, when the going gets tough, remind yourself of that! LOL. You will get to goal soon, I'm sure! Still trying to decide if I'll start a thread or just get a little support from my September band-sisters. Also, worried that I can't make it by March 4th, but I guess I can only give it the old school try!

OK, nuff fooling around, back at the gym hard and eating cleaner.

Congratulations on everyone who is so close to their goal!!

I have a question. Does anyone ever worry that the band is too good to be true, and this will all be taken away? I keep asking my doctor how long someone can live with the band and he says there aren't enough people who have had it long term to know that.

What is that old expression? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I swear, if anything happens to my band, I will have to get a sleeve or something. I don't know where I will get the money, but

I refuse to go back to where I was if I ever lost my band. I wish I wasn't such a worrier.

I always worry that this is too good to be true. After I had my slip, I had the realization that I could lose my band. Luckily I didn't, but it is always in the back of my mind. I was getting rid of some clothes today and I kept thinking...."maybe I should keep some...just in case". They aren't my FAT clothes because I did get rid of most of them. They are my in-between, size 12-14 and I keep thinking I should hang on to them. Even if I gain a little back. But that's just stinkin' thinkin'. I need to allow myself to be this new person without hanging on to the past.

Anyway-good luck PaulaX. I know you can do it!

I always worry that this is too good to be true.

I too have fleeting moments of this too. I am thinking too that everyone who doesn't know that I had WL surgery is probably just waiting for me to gain it back. LOL!

...to join this thread, but mentally I don't see/feel it. I look in the mirror and I see a smaller person, but I look down at my belly and it still looks the same. I can see the major changes in my clothes and in pictures but mentally I still think of myself as a 250 pound woman. I was watching Oprah today and they were talking about all of these people who had lost over 100 pounds and I was thinking to myself... "If they can do it, why can't I?" Then I realize to hit my goal that I only have 32 pounds to go, but I can't wrap my head around that. I have been fat my whole life. My mom and my doc put me on my first diet at 8, so for the last 20 years I have been dealing with losing weight. I guess what I am trying to ask is "has anyone else dealt with this?" I am sure that you have, but I was wondering if there was some technique that you used, or a suggestion from a therapist that helped, or what. I am feeling a little lost as I approach my goal. Losing weight is something that I have been trying to do for the last 20 years. I wonder what I am going to do with my extra time!?!

There are a lot of people that have the same thoughts as you. There was a thread about it, but I can't remember what it was titled to find it.

It's hard when you are close to goal. I was just thinking that I know what I need to do, but now that I am so close, it's easy to think that this is good enough. I have to find my motivation to lose this last 10 lbs!

I'm with salsa - what am I going to do with all my time that I spend focusing on learning healthy things, new exercises, logging my calories, measuring myself, weighing myself, checking on how things are sagging (sad but true)? I do feel slightly obsessed with the whole thing!

I haven't been at this weight since before I was married - 16 years ago. My head cannot grasp it. In my head I'm at least 25# higher. I still feel like a size 16 even if I'm in a 12 now. Ugh - these head games are tough.