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I hate diets! And yet it seems like I've dieted for my entire life. My entire 29 years of life! At my heaviest I was 220lbs. I'm only 5'4 so I was quite a butter ball! I went on the prescription Phentermine in 2008 while at my very biggest. I lost 47lbs. in about 6 months taking me down to 173lbs. And then I had to quit taking the prescription, partly because I got the flu and also because it's unrealistic to think after six months the drug will have the same affect it did on day one. It doesn't. Not to mention the awful side effects! Jitters, cotton mouth, extreme irritability, constipation, sleep apnea...just to name a few. But what I loved about that drug was that for the first time in my life, I was losing weight without dieting! I ate whatever I wanted but very small portions. It was so great to be able to eat what everyone else was eating and never feel deprived and never feel the need to rebel! It also gave me a huge amount of energy, so I was working out almost every day. But when I stopped taking the Phentermine, the weight slowly but surely crept back on...like it always does...I mean, did! I had looked into the Lap Band surgery years before Phentermine but never really had the nerve or the pounds to get it done. Years ago you had to be at least 100 pounds over weight. Today you only have to be at least 50 pounds over weight. As the weight started to creep back on, I knew I had to do something! I felt like I needed something like Phentermine but better and that was for life! And that's exactly what Lap Band has been for me...my no dieting weight loss plan! This hasn't been a cake walk, but it has been relatively effortless so far! Notice I said "so far". On my surgery day, 7/8/2011, I was 208lbs.Today, 12/13/2011, I am 177lbs so in 5 months, I'm down 31lbs. So I'm still over weight, but I sure look a lot better! I've had 3 fills in all and I think I will stay with only three. I feel good where it's at. I'm pretty tight, but not too tight. It's been a slow process. And I realize if I worked out it would be quicker but I've actually not worked out for a reason...not that I would recommend it. I also DO NOT diet!!! If I have fast food, I might have a couple chicken fingers or part of a cheeseburger. Sometimes I have a grilled chicken salad. I eat whatever I'm in the mood for, but I eat small portions. Now I realize that I may not be able to keep this up. My goal weight is around 125-135. And fried chicken and burgers probably won't take me to my goal. So when I begin to plateu from just calorie restriction alone, my plan is to start the exercise. Please don't get me wrong, I do eat very decent. And have also found that veggies actually are easier for me to eat than any other foods. But I am by no means on a strict diet plan or ANY diet plan for that matter! The month before my surgery I went crazy eating, as though I would never be able to eat any "bad" food after my surgery and that is not the case at all! I have everything and anything I want. The band had just taken my "want" away. I explained it to my mom and sister like this, "Before the Band, my stomach was a bottomless pit,my appetite was huge! With the Band my stomach is a very shallow pit and my appetite is tiny." So life really is pretty good! I'm finally seeing progress, getting compliments from others, feeling so much more confident in myself and also realizing that success is actually within my reach! I'm actually going to achieve my goals this time! I asked my doctor, "About how much weight can a person like me,who wants to lose 80 pounds, lose with the band?" He said, " The band will give you about 40 pounds, the rest is up to you." That's fair. I can meet my band half way. So far it's given me an easy 31lbs. It's about to be my turn to take myself the rest of the way!

i was banded on december 1st and as of last week (my first dr's appt) i lost 25 pounds since liquid diet. i can't believe that 25 pounds in less than three weeks. i go back to him next wednesday and i am waiting for that appointment to hop on the scale. what a tough time to be banded, alot of parties and alot of temptations, but if we can get through this month i know we will be ok. went back to work yesterday and i feel great. hope everyone is doing well.

This is my first time ever blogging, but hopefully this will assist me in reaching my weight loss goal, and with the aid of others some of my questions can be answered. Ok, here we go: I had the lap band surgery on October 13, 2011. It was a seamless procedure, everything went well, and I was out that night. I was sore, but no pain (thank goodness). One week later went to the doctor, and lost 15 lbs. I was happy as a bee eating honey. Then went back the day before thanksgiving (go figure) and got my first fill make it 5cc's. By that time I lost another 9lbs (still happy). Then here I go getting on the scale everyday which made me sick, especially when I did not see the numbers move, so I had to tell myself to stop weighing myself. Now I weigh every week. I say that I am learning my band, because certain things I eat seem to go down like a rock, and I have to sit there uncomfortable until the food goes down. I know it my fault, because I still following my old habits like drinking with my food, eating too fast, and not chewing well. All number one rules I know. The only thing is I don't know if I am doing everything else correctly. I believe that I should have lost more weight than I have it will be 2 months tomorrow. My friend is telling me that I am doing fine, and it's a slow process, which I know that's why I wanted the Lap band, but who know.... LOL I am attempting to stay away from carbs, such as bread, and rice. Although I have had a couple of Pringles, and some fried items, but for the most part it’s been just soup, veggies and meat. I'm exercising, but not as much as I should; I know that. I'm getting back on track. I guess at this point I am looking for suggestions on how I can lose more weight per month, and/or what are some of your best practices.

One week ago at this time I was in the hospital, groggy and uncomfortable but so relieved all went well. Today I am feeling good, healing well and for the first time I am truly feeling motivated and sure that I can do it this time. It is a little scary to write or say that outloud after so many failed attempts but I am writing it anyway -- I need to lose that fear of failing again and see this as the first time I have ALL the tools I need to succed -- I really believe the lapband was the missing tool in all my previous efforts to lose weight. Since surgery last week, I've lost another 5 lbs since surgery bringing my total loss to 24lb since August! And my husband has lost 45lbs since August (he was banded 11/7)!! I have been using MyFitnessPal daily to log my intake and I check this site at the beginning and end of every day to keep myself motivated by reading about others successes and about their struggles. I feel so supported when I read the entries and I offer my support and cheers for them. I think checking in here each day and blogging each week will help me keep my goal front and center so I will be better able to stay motivated. So here's is this week's entry to keep me focused and a thanks to all those who share thier story. Hope anyone who may read this has a great week and stays positive in their journey Kath