3 year anniversary, on the final stretch

[seattle_gal 0]

Hello to all my fellow banders... I had my surgery on 12/13/05 and on today, my 3 year anniversary, I have officially lost 180 lbs. It has been a long, sometimes difficult road but I'm finding that this last stretch to my goal weight has been the hardest. Has anyone else faced this same part of the battle? I know I should be happy with my success so far but all I can focus on now is my current struggle. I need any hints, advice, reminders and/or words of encouragement anyone can offer. Thank you!

Edited December 14, 2008 by seattle_gal

[MacMadame 81]

Welcome to LapbandTalk.

You might want to check out the section for Lap-band strugglers. (It's a subforum of Lap-band Complications.)

[Brockbabe82 0]

wow 180lbs is amazing!!!!!:tongue2::thumbup:

[Jachut 487]

I can certainly identify with it. It gets much harder after this long to lose weight, that's for sure.

I dont really talk about this that often because I get caned on here for being obsessed, unhealthy, anorexic, whatever, for wanting to lose more weight. I have a BMI of 22, I am healthy and thin.

But I am a perfectionist, in my head I always wanted to be about 65kg and I just want to get there. I want the little muffin top gone, I dont want to be as between sizes as I am, I need to either go up a bra cup size or down, all that sort of stuff.

However, I cant budge it. I have remained this weight for a year now. I have upped my exercise intensity and had a small fill, made no difference. My body has well and truly decided here is where its going to stay.

I find also that the hunger control effect of the band has decreased markedly, I get hungrier now than I did and I tend to eat more often and I dont have quite the motivation that I did to always avoid more fattening foods. I just am not as driven as I was and its hard to care as much as I did when I felt desperately fat.

But most of all I just think my body has adapted to the lower calorie intake, the exercise and it would take more than just a bit of calorie reduction to make it lose weight!

I've decided to just accept it, I can hardly complain about a loss of 120% of my excess weight and perhaps being the world's next supermodel is not in my future :tongue2:

But IF I were to decide I was really going for it, I've lost all my weight on a generous calorie level and with lots of running. NOW would be the time to really change stuff, perhaps that high Protein diet I've never done would be the go, a complete change of exercise (which I dont want to do coz I love my running) etc. What can you change up, to shake things up and move them along?

Edited December 14, 2008 by Jachut

[TQUAD64 9]

Wow!!! Great job. You are amazing.

[MacMadame 81]

What can you change up, to shake things up and move them along?

You could add in other exercise and still run. Do you do 5Ks or marathons? If so, maybe you could start training for a triathlon. That will add biking and swimming to your routine, but still keep your running.

Also, if you don't do strength training, I really recommend it. It can be pilates or weight training or something else.

I also think it's important not to under-estimate what Plastic Surgery can do for you. That excess skin does weigh something and if it were removed, you might be able to drop a size, just like that, no work involved. If you don't want to get it (and not everyone does), then I think you just have to mentally subtract those pounds. They aren't bones, or tissue or muscles or fat, so IMO they don't count!

[seattle_gal 0]

Thank you for the kind words, I love this board - I only wish I'd had the support a bit earlier in my journey :ohmy:

I have actually come to enjoy exercise but unfortunately had a car accident a year ago that has kept me from working out the way I would like. I love your suggestions for different things to try once I'm back to 100% again. I forget that there's more to do than just log the miles on the treadmill or stairmaster.

I know the reconstructive surgery is coming soon but I definitely need to do my research. This site appears to be a good resource in that department. I don't know when I should meet with a surgeon, do I go now or wait to hit my official goal first. The questions never end...