Yesterday was my 6th month anniversary of being banded (was banded November 30th). My starting weight was 257. My weight was 247 the day of surgery. I currently have 4.5 cc in a 14 cc band. My current weight is around 217! I AM 40 POUNDS THINNER THAN I WAS AROUND THANKSGIVING. In fact, I've lost about two turkeys myself or 8 pounds of sugar or however you wanna look at it. TO ME, THAT'S GREAT! Sure it's not the big numbers some people are pulling, but it's amazing for me. To show you how amazing I'm including an old journal entry..........

THE OLD ME TALKING:

".... During the weekend it was really difficult to count calories when it feels like every calorie is a big mistake. So the good thing was that I started counting again, the bad thing is that I ate over 2,500 calories today, and I know that's not conducisve to weight lost.....

After my appointment I was sooooo drained, I didn't go to the gym. I just couldn't get in the right mindset. I have to be in the right mind set and do things in a certain way when it comes to working out. Then I felt bad because I shoulda, coulda, woulda went. This is the type of thing I was talkin about. I feel like if I was a better, different, person I would have pulled things together and went. ".....

THE NEW ME TALKING:

I used to be a size 22. NOW I AM A SIZE 16. I used to hate going to the gym. NOW (althought I dont love it, love it) I ENJOY THE GYM AND RARELY SKIP EXERCISING. I used to have trouble doing 15 mintues on the elliptical. NOW I CAN DO 60 MINUTES ON THE ELLIPTICAL, BUT WHAT I REALLY LOVE IS SPIN CLASSES!!! I used to be out of breath, and have back and knee pain from walking. NOW I CAN WALK FOR AN HOUR PLUS OUTSIDE! I used to be so fat that people thought i was pregnant. :ph34r: NOW PEOPLE TELL ME I LOOK NICE, CAUSE I DO!

Although every day is not perfect with the band. Things are so much better than they were! I still struggle with my food addiction everyday. The band does not cure the addiction just like locking the liquor cabinet doesn't cure alcoholism. Food addiction is a real thing and mine isn't going anywhere. I still have to fight myself to make the right choices. AND I DO MAKE MISTAKES, OFTEN, TOO OFTEN. But I've learn to pick myself up and start again the next day! And I you can see I used to eat upwards of 3,000 calories a day. Now I eat about half that (it should be less) but i'm wortking on it! The band isn't for everyone, but it's working for me. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE OUT THERE! :wub: