Hi everyone,

I haven't been too active in the last year, but I check in often. I had my surgery 2/23/07 and have lost 139 pounds in 2 years. I can't believe how successful this has been for me. I am 3 pounds away from my original goal which is the high side of my healthy BMI. I started at 292 and was 153 this morning. I am hoping to make it to 149 by my 40th bday on 3/13.

The key to my weight loss was definitely my fills. I was only successful during the times that my fill was fairly tight. I exercised only moderately, and seemed to lose the weight in chunks, not evenly through time.

I am so happy I made this decision. With four children it has made such a difference in my life and theirs. I have some serious skin issues on my lower body and would LOVE to get it fixed someday, but as of now I will just live with it, try to get in better shape and see how it is in a year or two.

Good luck to everyone starting out. I was scared and hesitant, I just wish I had done this sooner!

Gretchen

292/153/149

Edited February 27, 200917 yr by gretchens4

Congratulations! I am hoping to be there someday too with a success story.

O.M.G. you look fantastic! Well your blog gives me hope because I was banded on 1/19/09(tons of complications! but thats another story) and did'nt lose any weight at all until 1st fill on 2/10/09, lost 5 lbs that week and nothing since.I am very discouraged am still always hungry and thinking I made a big mistake but the more blogs I read, I guess for some it just takes a very long time.How long before you lost your first 40 lbs?

so glad you asked ). I lost only 13 pounds in the 1st 3 months and thought this would never work for me. The first fill helped a little, but I did not "get it" until the 3 month mark and my 2nd fill. Hang in there. Those next 5 months my fill held up and I lost about 30 pounds. I seemed to have that pattern for the next year and half. I get a nice tight fill, it lasts about 3-4 months (I can only have a very small amount of food or I get stuck or PB), and then slowly I realize I am not losing, I need a new fill, and it usually takes 2 tries to get it back to optimal. Thankfully I have never been too tight, but if I don't lose I know I need to be a little tighter. My sweet spot is when I can drink and eat, but very little and I really need to think about it. When you are tight enough you naturally pick better foods with higher nutritional values etc. I would lose a lot in a month, and then plateau, it was not an even 2 pounds a week. You will know when you get the right fill, and then you'll know when you need it again. I got my last fill in November after not losing much in 2 months. I have lost 25 pounds since then which has made a huge difference since I am down to the last few pounds.

thanks!

Congrats!! I feel you about nothing losing unless you are "tight" i can only eat 2 oz's and i had another fill... i think i might be too tight now tho... but my weight is dropping off... i think i might wait til im at goal then go get an unfill... I dont mind living on liquids if im losing well...

Congratulations Gretchen! You are a beautiful person. Thanks for the motivating post. I hope to be where you are in two years.

holey moley you look like a completely differant person!

Thank you for posting picture and sharing your story!!

Wow...u look great. Congrats on your success. Thanks for sharing your story.

That is awesome! I can't wait to get good restriction! I am very active, but I love to eat and at this point I can still eat whatever I want. I can't wait to not be ruled by food!

You look great! What an accomplishment!!

Congrats! I am so happy for you. I just got banded 11/24/08 and I am hoping for 100 lbs down by my bandiversary.

Congrats on your success and Happy early Birthday!! (we share the same birthday!!) You are truely an inspiration!