At last, this morning..... hard work, patience, and determination paid off...... Onederland!

I haven't been posting around here much lately, because I just needed to back away..... was getting too obsessed with this board and the scale, and I just wanted to step back and kinda forget about the band (as if I could), make my healthy choices, and live my life. The break was good for me.

But I just wanted to share with those who get discouraged, as others shared when I was discouraged..... you can do it!! I have lost 56 pounds since March 15th. Here's how it went down (no pun intended):

• Lost 10 pounds on my own from March 15th to May 1st when I first met with the surgeon
  
• Lost 10 pounds on the pre-op diet
  
• Lost 36 pounds in the 15 weeks since surgery on May 15th.
  

For most of that time after surgery, I did not have restriction. I got some very very mild restriction around August 1st and better restriction in mid-August. It isn't easy to lose before you get restriction but I believe if you want it badly enough, you can do it! I need hip replacement surgery and am pretty limited in what kind of exercise I can do..... so if I could do it, anyone can! And then when you do finally get restriction, it's all worth it.... finally you know what the band is all about.

I eat 900-1200 calories a day, enjoy several glasses of wine a week, can eat just about anything I want (but have to chew extra slow and carefully on some things). My exercise is pretty much limited to the treadmill and walking, but I'm about to also start swimming. I will have to have hip replacement surgery at some point in the coming months and I'm worried about how that will affect my progress, but all we can do is take one day at a time.

Now my challenge is to STAY in Onederland.... and then keep on moving down!

LOVE the pic! lol Congrats to you! GREAT job :biggrin:

Congratulations! I can't wait until I'm there.

enough said!

We're all thrilled for you. It is a significant milestone and proves that the effort has been worth it. Keep up the good work.

Great job. It is really hard work. I am so excited for you. Have been in onderland for a few weeks now. I reached my goal yesterday to be 190 by my anniversary which is today. 22 years. We are having a romantic dinner tonight. I hope i can eat a little bit. I am walking also. Not able to do much else yet. Maybe in a few months i can start the weights. I have started walking twice a day in the last few weeks about 45 minutes each time. It keeps me motivated to step on the scales and see the weight coming off. I think i am getting obsessed with scales i need to back off of them. Keep up the hard work everyone.

That is SO awesome! I am jealous!! Keep up the good work. Love the picture!!! :smile:

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely LOVE the pic! and your message is inspiring.

Good luck with the hip replacement surgery - both the surgery and recovery should be easier with the weight gone. What a tremendous achievement!

Congratulations that is so Onderful! I can't wait to see that 21 to go haha.

We have talked before and yes I too enjoy my wine

Woot!!

Way to go!!