Hello,

Just a quick word of encouragement...I have had my band now for one year and have reached my personal goal of 155lb. I now plan to go beyond my wildest dreams and attempt to get down to my "medical" goal of 135lb!!!

I am posting because I want to give encouragement to everyone- it is a long, hard road, but well worth it!

Merry Xmas to all

Seanmama

I LOVE THIS POST! Awesome, good job, congrads, woo hoo, and right on! Thanks for sharing cuz I can't even imagine getting to a medical goal. Good for you.

That is wonderful! Have you had any problems with your band? Could you give a brief comparison of your life preband to now. Congratulations!

Thank you for the words of encouragment. They are so helpful when you are on the outside looking in and wondering and hoping that this will be the best decision I could ever make it really helps when you see so many others that have done so well. WAY TO Go.Hopeful to be banded soon.

Hello,

Just a quick word of encouragement...I have had my band now for one year and have reached my personal goal of 155lb. I now plan to go beyond my wildest dreams and attempt to get down to my "medical" goal of 135lb!!!

I am posting because I want to give encouragement to everyone- it is a long, hard road, but well worth it!

Merry Xmas to all

Seanmama

Congrats!!!!

Another role model, happy anniversary.

Thanks for your encouraging note, Seanmama! It's great to hear your success story, especially this time of year when we newish bandsters are going through the end-of-year holiday food madness for the first time. You're so close to your medical goal, I'm sure you can make it. Have you bought a whole new wardrobe, or are you waiting for the last 20 lbs. to drop?

You've done exceptionally well and I know you must have done a lot of hard work to get to your goal. Congratulations and thanks for posting! It really helps to see people who have gotten to goal.

Nancy

Thanks for all your kind replies guys!

Zoe, yes actually I have had to buy a new wardrobe- I have gone from a size 22 to a size 10/12. No doubt if I lose more, I will have to again- can be pricey!

Advice for new bandsters- FOLLOW THE RULES. Your band is NOT a magic bullet it is a tool- you must still use your brain! Be tenacious about finding your sweet spot- you should be able to eat almost anything, without discomfort, BUT only a tiny amount of it. I am unable to eat more than about 2 tablespoons at any given time- and depending on what I ate, I will stay full a really long time. I never, ever drink and eat (I have 2 friends who have been doing this ever since they were banded and they have lost a fraction of what I have lost, so...)

And, don't believe what the literature says about losing all your weight in the first 6 months- this is not necessarily true- heck, it took me at least that long to figger out how to live with my little best friend! My loss has been slow and fairly steady. Each day is a little different and I can't always eat the same thing one day from the next, but variety is the spice of life right?!!

And, watch out for high calorie fluids like ice-cream- try to avoid. I drink Protein shakes every day- have become quite the master of smoothie blending- I had to do this because my hair was falling out in bunches from too low protein. I try to focus mainly on consuming around 60 grams of protein every day- one smoothie easily takes care of 30-45g.

Sorry if I sound like I have all the answers!! But I know when I was first banded I felt so insecure and petrified. My mantra was "what if it does not work for me?" Well guys it has and is and I am living la vida loco!!! YEEHA!!!