Can my body really become smaller like a size 8 or below? I don't even remember being that size--EVER! The smallest size that I can remember is 14 and that's when I was a teenager! I've always been overweight my whole life so I have nothing to use as a skinny me- there's never been a skinny me. Heck! I'll be real happy when I see size 10- that to me is tiny!

My goal is to be at 175 lbs and for me that's an attainable goal...However, I see many bandsters surpassing their goal weight and it makes me think that perhaps my goal is not challenging enough- for me?

Can anyone tell me when...

- Your mind finally clicked and you could "SEE" yourself in a small size?

- If you were ever feeling like I do and now you are a smaller than 8 size?

I feel very inspired when I look at profiles and I see bandsters in size 8 and below...But I think my mind cannot conceive of it yet... The biggest size I've worn is 24 at 257 lbs and 5'5"

Am I alone in feeling this way? I just haven't found any profiles or forums mentioning this issue.

SuzanneG!

That is soooooo cool! A size 4 and you were aiming for a size 10? The body is surely incredible. It's going to feel amazing when my body finally melts away to let out that slim and fit lady inside me. I love reading these success journeys!

Edited March 18, 200917 yr by bunnygirl

Hey Katy, that's so funny how you said in the mirror today you see a 12/14 girl when in fact you are clearly a tini tiny 4/6... I am a size 14/16 tops and 16/18 bottoms and I am still seeing that size 24 girl. Soooo can't wait for my brain to lower that "self-image size."

Hi there,

I completely understand what you are saying. I've lost weight before, my highest was 310. I lost 120lbs medically supervised and maintained it only two years. Here I am 8 years later and 80lbs back on. But as I was losing it, I was found myself actually afraid of what the scale was telling me. I was scared of going below 200 but once I got passed that I was like WOO HOOO... can't wait to get back there again. You can be anything you want to be. My goal is 170lbs which at 40 is a good goal for me I think, but I don't think this time around I will be scared if I go below it.

GOOD LUCK!!! you're going to be great!

kgloverii I am so happy for you. I am waiting patiently to only be obese. Getting close.

wow do I know how this is...I developed when I was like 7...so when I was 9 years old I was 4'11" and 145 lbs.....so I really don't expect to get small, and don't know if I will. I'm going to have a hard time wrapping my mind around anything less than a 12 or 14. At my heaviest I was 5'4" and 267 , size 22...now I'm 204-206ish and I'm in 14/16's...it's really strange now. Weird mental problem to have...but I totally know how you all feel.

you guys are all amazing! I'm in a size 12 now. The smallest I wheight i remember getting down to as an adult is 10. Now that my 12s are getting lose the 10 seems to be in the near future. And to be honest I originally planned to stop at a 10. but my goal weight is 145 could that really put me In an 6 or an 8? Me that small is simply a concept I can't wrap my brain around. It's so weird I'm still at a point where when people look at me I think there staring at the fatgirl. I'm still floored when people I meet out come up to me just to tell me how attractive I am. Me skinny? I'd love to make it there I just don't know if I can.

you guys are all amazing! I'm in a size 12 now. The smallest I wheight i remember getting down to as an adult is 10. Now that my 12s are getting lose the 10 seems to be in the near future. And to be honest I originally planned to stop at a 10. but my goal weight is 145 could that really put me In an 6 or an 8? Me that small is simply a concept I can't wrap my brain around. It's so weird I'm still at a point where when people look at me I think there staring at the fatgirl. I'm still floored when people I meet out come up to me just to tell me how attractive I am. Me skinny? I'd love to make it there I just don't know if I can.

Jennifer

I too was happy with a 12 - I really didn't have a certain size in mind - someone reminded me the other day that I said I would be happy with a 10.

Well gotta tell you since this was never a diet to me - I just changed my eating to healthy and exercise and with the help of my band - I just kept losing till my body found it's happy weight..(plus I really wanted 145 so I would have a normal bmi - I'm 5'4). My weight flucutates anywhere from 136 to 140 and guess what gf I'm a size 4 !!! with a couple 2's in the closet that do fit..

So don't limit yourself to a certain size - just keep practicing your healthy lifestyle and your body will do the rest..

WTG - Keep up the good work !!!

Thanks for all the inspiration guys. I need this today. The scales have been stuck for a week now. I have an ultimate goal of 150. I will be very happy with a size12. I can not imagine a 4-6, but I can dream. It is so hard to believe that I and others can start out 22/24 and lose down to that small. Fantastic. I can hardly wait. I have a long way to go from current 254.

I haven't had the surgery yet...hoping for sept. 09. However, I totally relate to many of the above stories. I have been overweight/obese for such a long time. I am 5'5" and 250(highest)- current 242 and wear a size 18/20. I remember weighing 140 in college and thinking that was horrible (and a size 10). I have a hard time imagining that size again, much less a smaller size at that same weight......I am hopeful and praying every day for successful outcomes. Everyone keep up the good work. Glad to have this forum to go to for inspiration and motivation.

indigogirl we seem very similar. I'm also 5'4 I started at around 225. I'm a pound away from my 1st big goal of 174 . That's the number that takes me from obese to merely overweight. And my initial longterm goal is 145 because like you that's the number that's puts me in the normal BMI. And you're in a size 4 now. Amazing. And maybe it is possible for me. Here's another NSV for me today. all of my shortss are way too big. Well last night I picked up 2 pair of size 12 shorts assuming they would fit. Well they do fit but with enough room I'm really thinking they need to go back and be exchanged for a size 10!!!! Me in a size 10 never in my wildest dreams. So maybe a 8 or a 6 is really attainable. Thank you guys so much for sharing your skinny stories with me. I'm really starting to think this thing is really possible.

Dear IndioGirl,

OMG!!!!! You look absolutely, positively stunning!!!! You look GREAT!!!!! I've been doing a lot of reading and to be honest, was becoming little discouraged. I've only lost 6 lbs since my surgery 11 days ago, and it seems that most people lose so much more than that during the first 2 weeks post-op.

Anyway, I'm 43 years old and was banded 11 days ago on June 16, 2009. I'm 5'3.5" and weighed 226.5 lbs on June 1, 2009. I lost 8.5 lbs pre-op and 6 lbs 11 days post-op for a total of 14.5 lbs. I too set a "realistic" goal of 150 lbs, which is about a size 12 for me. BUT.......after reading your testimonial and seeing your pictures........I KNOW I CAN DO IT!!!!!! I WILL NOT GET DISCOURAGED!!!!!! I WILL CONTINUE TO DRINK MY PROTEIN SHAKES, SF JELL-O, SF POPSICLES AND CHICKEN BROTH!!!!! YOU HAVE JUST RE-INSPIRED ME!!!!! YOU should be the "poster girl" for the Lap-Band Forum!!!!

Thank You for sharing your journey!

Ms. Yo // "I've only just begun"

Reading these are so inspiring. I've never been smaller than a 12 back in 1969 when I got married. I'm just starting the process so if I'm approved I hope to have my surgery this year. Here's a story about size perception. My grandaughter was down last week, 15 yrs old. I had two boys so no one to wear my wedding dress! Just for fun I asked her to try it on. She put it on and had trouble zipping it but did get it zipped finally. Now in 1969 this dress was a size 12 and I never saw myself as small back then. My grandaughter wears a size 3/5 jeans!!!!!!!!!! and it fit her...... At first I was really depressed but then I realize, I had been that size one time and I sure can try to get there again. I will be thrilled to actually get in a size 14 misses!! Thanks for sharing your success stories. They keep us in the beginning of the process something to look forward to.

Amen to that "Deb Up State NY"!!!!!!!! I concur!!!!! These testimonials TRULY inspire and motivate those of us who "have only just begun". I hope and pray (and wish and cross my fingers! LOL!) that this time next year - June 2010 - I will be a walking success story;providing encouragement to others who will be where you and I are now.

Ms. Yo

Starting Weight: 226.5 lbs // Goal Weight: 150 lbs:thumbup:

Pre-Op: 218 lbs

11 days post-op: 212 lbs:thumbup:

14.5 lbs down // 62 lbs to go

Edited June 28, 200917 yr by Ms Yo

you guys are all an inspiration for me I am so excited!!

Congratulations to all of you!!

Hi Jennifer7375,

Our "stats" sound very similar - 5'4" 225lbs vs. 5'3.5" 226.5lbs. Do you mind sharing with me how long it took you to lose your 51 lbs? Which, by the way, is absolutely AWESOME!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

MsYo

Starting wgt: 226.5 lbs // Goal wgt: 150 lbs:thumbup:

Pre-Op: 218 lbs

11 days post-op: 212 lbs:redface: