Today I weigh 247. I weigh more now than I did earlier this summer, but not much. Okay, I’ve been feeling very sorry for myself lately. I mean really sorry. I haven’t been handling my non-weight loss gracefully. Not gracefully at all. I just went back and looked at my spreadsheet I use to track my progress. I have lost a grand total of 3 pounds since 3/29. That’s it, three measly little pounds. Gee, I’m on track to lose an entire 6 pounds this year. (insert explicative deleted here.)

On 5/5/2005 I had my impedance measured at the gym. 251 pounds, and at that time I had a body fat % of 44.9. My fat mass was 113 and my fat free mass (FFM) was 138.1. Today I checked and I have weigh 247 with a body fat % of 42.5. That’s a change of 2.4%! It means that I’ve lost 7.7 pounds of fat but I’ve gained 3.4 pounds of muscle. I really don’t know what this means yet. My new FFM is 142, and so with the 35% of body fat that would be considered in the “healthy” range for women my age, that would mean my goal is somewhere between 180 – 192 pounds. So it looks like I only have about 55 pounds left to go. … sigh.

So at my current rate of loss, I should be there in 3.5 years…. That’s averaging 14 pound of fat loss a year…. Kkkkhhhhaggg

However, if I put on another 3.2 pound of muscle, that will bring my FFM to 147 and my body fat% to 40.1% and I would only need to loose 47 more pounds…. And I would be just about right at 200 pounds. I wish I knew enough math to be able to figure out how much difference another 7.7 pounds weight loss would make in this equation. I wish I was smarter.

So, actually, at the rate I'm going, I shoud be at goal in 2 years, total. Not RNY, but probably good bandster progress, especially for one as big (and as sick) as I started.

So, I went from wearing pants size 24 to size 20-18 with a 3 pound net weight loss.

Good for you Vines! I think that we sometimes put too much emphasis on the amount of weight we lose, but the number on the scale really can be meaningless. Most of us start this process with similar goals-to be healthier, in better shape, smaller. What you have accomplished is exactly that!!!! I say good for you. We all also chose the band over RNY for our own reasons. This is not a race. You are doing great, and I bet accomplishing many of the NSV's that you had your mind set on when you began this journey.

Keep sharing your success - you are truely a motivation!

actually, I haven't met most of the NSVs I thought I would. That said, the diffent NSVs I have had blow my mind. In March when I flew home for my surgery, I had to have a belt extender. This week when I flew home from Vegas I actualy needed to tighten the belt.

HOLY SH*T! I mean HOLY SH*T!!!!! I just crossed my legs! Okay, Corinne! This was one of the things on my NSV to-do list!!!!!

HOLY SH*T! I mean HOLY SH*T!!!!! I just crossed my legs! Okay, Corinne! This was one of the things on my NSV to-do list!!!!!

You just crack me up. I'm so proud of you! I don't know what to do with all that math either. From my chair, you have done a superb job translating it into success. SUCCESS, I say!!!!!

Are you going to join the Fall Weight Loss Challenge and post at least one NSV each week? I love reading your NSV's. No weight posting for you, but your NSV's make you a great asset to any challenge. We need you there!!

You know Vines, it's kinda amazing how inspiring you manage to be without even losing a bunch of weight.

Since if I'm not losing I'm gaining, I have to remind myself after any amount of time even just maintaining a weightloss I need to triple the weight lost in my head because that's how much I would have GAINED if I weren't heading down--no matter how slowly. Does that make any sense? Don't you think if you weren't struggling to lose you'd be gaining? Staying about the same isn't as gratifying as losing, but it's a hell of a LOT better than gaining!

Don't let the scale kid you--you ARE a success!

Having a higher muscle mass means that you have a quicker metabolism and that you burn more calories per hour. You should be so proud of yourself! But, I'm also guilty of getting all my feedback from the scale.

Hopefully this will make you feel better... I've been sedentary for the greater part of the past year because of several back surgeries. I have an identical twin sister who weighs 8 lbs less than I do as of today. I wear a size 26 pants, and she wears a 22. The difference is, she has been working out and I've lost a bunch of muscle mass.

It's given me the kick in the butt I needed to start working out.

You're going to get there! Keep working out - you're doing great!!

MUSCLE IS GOOD!!!! in the long run it will help you burn faster

YOU GO GIRL !!!!!

Vines, you are an inspiration to us all and we look forward to seeing what pearls of wisdom you are going to impart to us! Don't ever change that wonderful part of you. The weight loss will come...I have seen you post that to others struggling with weight loss hundreds of times already. You are looking great and more active and you have lost some weight along the way. Are logging the food that you eat? That really helps me tremendously to keep an eye on myself to make sure I am doing what I need to. Are you getting enough food for the amount of activity that you are now engaged in? I don't even have the band yet and already I think I can give advice...lol. *rolling eyes* Anyway Vines you are doing great and I admire you greatly.

Well, even when things don't work as quickly as we may have wanted them too, if they are still working, you are still going in the right direction, right? I've been up and down throughout the last 14 months with being happy I'm losing anything (or even just maintaining instead of gaining) to wanting to scream because I'm not losing even though I'm working really hard. I think we just gotta take each day as they come and deal with it that way. I weigh every day, but fortunately for the most part I don't let it dictate how my day is going to be.

I'm cross-eyed after all that math, but what exactly did they do to measure your muscle vs. fat? They used a pinchy-caliper thing on my turkey-gobble underarms. You really deserved these awesome NSVs. This was a happy thread!

Hi Vines,

Don't give up! You are doing great ---- go back and read some of your own replies. Keep your chin up girl! You give me tons of encouragement, I'd like to give some back to you.

Thanks for being who you are!

I went to the gym and had it done there. They used a scale, I'm betting it was one of the Tanya (sp?) brand ones. I don't own a scale, but I do own a body fat% meter.

Vines,

((hugs))

I only read your first post, so forgive me if someone else responded using these same words.

When I was about 3 months post op and getting very discouraged with no weight loss, a VERY wise bandster (Leatha) gave me some awesome advice. She said that if I am following my rules *basically reducing my caloric intake from before banding* I am going to lose weight!

She was right.

It totally defies the laws of physics to reduce our intake and NOT lose weight... and thats what the band is helping us do (you know this).

Another thing that comes to mind...

are you taking any medication? My mom has HBP and is diabetic. She's a pill head. Unfortunately she has a hell-of-a-time to lose just 1 pound. Her med's slow her metob. down.

Thanks Paula. So. I had my first fill at the end of May, beginning of June. I felt like I had good restriction. I was being the very best little bandster I could possibly be. Drinking my Water, eating small but sensible meals, walking everyday, running for the bus as needed.

So, August comes around and I go to the doc's support meeting, for my official weigh in. I was down ONE pound from June to August. Do you now see why I had such a temper tantrum?

I'm aware that it defies the law of not only physics but common sense to dramatically cut your caloric intake and still not lose any weight. But this is where I am.

I am taking three different meds for my asthma still.

Interesting indeed Ms V and good point Paula.

Are any of those asthma pills prednizone? When I was battling ulcerative colitis and taking prednizone, I gained quite a bit and I was hardly eating. I swelled up so bad I grew a hump on my back that's still there. My sister takes prednizone for her asthma, I think she's been as high as 60mg. I can't stand the stuff.

The next time I get weighed in at the doc's office I'm going to pay more attention to all those numbers, all I've ever looked at was weight and BMI.

Muscle is better than fat!

Vines.....You are such an inspiration and always there with kind words of encouragement and that means a WHOLE lot! I shy away from the scale because I don't want to get discouraged when I plateau, which I know I will do. Sounds like the scale might be falling slowly but those NSV's are coming in and I have to admit, whenever I get one of those, I'm on cloud 9! Like I said earlier, you are such an inspiration and you should be so proud of yourself!