Leaderboard

I had lapband in Canada and a tummy tuck as well. Four years later I went to Mexico to have tummy tuck, thigh lift and arm lift. If I knew then what I know now, I would have my lapband and plastic surgery in Mexico. Prices are much cheaper even with travel and recovery house and results are much better. Their muscle repair and lipo is more aggressive and they will do more then one area for better price. I am so thrilled, after 30 years I feel better then I did when I was 18!!!

Weekly check in!! I just completed Week 4 of Insanity, amongst a billion other workouts too.. LOL - sharing my progress. Current measurements: Ribcage (bra strap) 32" ; Bust 38" ; Waist 28" (I'm only 1" away from my goal waist size!!!) ; Hips 39" (still haha My booty doesn't wanna leave the building, but my Hubby and I are OK with that. AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE: My body fat checked in at: 22.2% WOWWW!!!! Gettin LEAN and definitely FIT. Good day. Current Photo. Keep working out everyone! It really does help. Source: My Insanity! Journey... Shaun T Would Be So Proud.

ok my anniversary will be may 20th! my goal was to be in a size 12 top and bottom(those of you that follow my blog, know how that's been going). well today i got a pair of size 12 jeans in the mail i ordered and tried them on just to see. OMG THEY FIT! now they are snug, but still comfortable. I COULD JUST CRY! i cant believe i made it and before my year! YEAH ME!!!!!

Well this is a whole new world for me... first of all blogging and sharing my little piece of the world is intriguing but leaves me feeling wel, a little naked... I have decided if I am doing this I am giving 100%.. all truth, all feelings, triumphs and struggles and why not. This is my personal one year diary of how I become a butterfly and I can not wait to read the end. I really hope to find freinds and supporters that will challenge, cheer and just share as I explore the next 12 months.. Now the nitty gritty... I am currently waiting for insurance approval for lap band... I am actually having banded plication but there is no billable code for this yet.. so the surgeon is able to do it. It is a fairly new procedure that is to increase weight loss results short term, keep long term results and is actually thought to decrease th chance of band slippage and is minimally invasive compared to other WLS currently done. I am hoping that this is the right tool to enhance my journey... maybe journey is the wrong word... maybe life long scavenger hunt to find a healthier me... and I am sure if you are reading this you know what I mean. I was a fat child, an overweight teen, a starving but almost thin college person and then I was married and had my first child... I went from eating barely 900 calories a day and constant exercising to maintain a size 10 to.. I am eating for two...90 pounds later my 7 pound 6 oz baby was born and I am still blaming it on baby fat.. even though that baby is about to turn 20 and I had two more since and all are teen agers... yes I have tried and done most diets... my most successful was Weight Watchers, I lost 60 pounds and maintained that loss for about 2 weeks... yep 2 weeks, since then I have gained it all back and added 20 more... I have gained 80 pounds.. seems incredible and impossible but yet it is true.. how, well that I struggle with. I put more calories in my mouth than i burn but on paper not enough to gain 80 pounds.. I've had my thyroid tested and it's fine, so it leaves me at a loss. I am hoping that this is my last attempt at losing and I can make this one year endeavor my swan song for losing weight... please join me, I'm gonna need a lot of suport!

So happy to hear that you got the "all clear"!!! Now, you're going through the biggest challenge, but you can do it girl!! Just keep praying and take it one day at a time!!! You will get there and keep your eye on the prize. You're not going to have any complications, you're young and healthy and in God's favor...it's all going to turn out just fine!! Keep us posted!!

Do you have support from a dietition? If not I can ask mine if you have any questions I can't help with. I am not that far ahead of you as per getting banded mine was March 2nd. I too was wondering what to eat and such. My dietition told me to slowly introduce new foods, eating protein first then veggies or fruits and then carbs last, I have been staying away from carbs as much as possible as they turn to sugar. She said to weigh out 3ounces of protein in a 1 cup glass measuring cup fill the rest with veggies packed full. So as per breakfast I have 1/2 a cup of oatmeal and say a half a banana and 20 mins later a cup of milk. Another time I will have a half cup of yogart and some grapes. She also said she doesn't want me to drink my protein but to eat it. Eggs are good protein I will hard boil some the night before to have on hand, I will have 2 for breakfast and a toasted flat bread, and some orange slices. Salmon is one of the highest in protein. I have small salmon wraps a lot, even egg salad. I can eat almost anything as long as I chew chew chew.. What ever you eat pick the best for example if you are wanting crackers pick the less fat out of the bunch and have less of them as before.. Hope this helps you a little bit. Take care. I hope you don't mind I add you as a friend. Always remember that your not alone. We can do this..

Ok, the darn chest worry is over. You are young and strong. You will not have complications. You will do just fine and begin a wonderful new life. Go for it!! Say your prayers and get through this preop diet. Mine was a horror, but I did it and you can too. You will feel proud and have a sense of accomplishment when it's over. Good luck to you and God bless.

ChrisECWest, thank you for your kind words! No I don't mind at all! You are welcome to ask me anything and I'll always give you an honest answer. Good luck to you and welcome to the loser's bench!!

My 2 hour seminar is coming up May 14th!! I can't wait to get started. I've spent a lot of time researching and reading on this forum all the ups and downs people have posted...I'm really looking forward to getting healthier!!!

So I had a few minutes to spare and found myself rehashing all the "what if's" of wls. It almost feels like my health and happiness are hinged on this. I guess in a way it is. In my immediate family there is a history of CAD, DM, CVA's, Colon CA, etc. So the reality of it is if I don't lose the weight, the aforementioned is what I have in my future. Not acceptable. I've lost weight a hundred times over only to gain it right back. I don't eat unhealthy foods, I just eat too much. I exercise about 3x's per week, I drink water, limit my intake of sodas and I've never smoked a cigarette. I'm 5'2 and about 206lbs today. My belly is about to burst out of my size 14 jeans that are too small, but I continue to wear them anyway (denial). I am sick of painful joints, back pain, being winded with activity, avoiding social events, sleeping all weekend, urinary incontinence and all the other stuff that goes with being fat. So I was desperate... I am refinancing my first home (2yrs into mortgage) in order to pay for this. My employer has an obesity exclusion on our insurance at work... I expect they'll remove that exclusion as the company grows, but for now I'm on my own. I could make a list a mile long of "what if's" as to why NOT to have surgery, but instead I choose to focus on the "what if's" as to why it's so crucial for me to have surgery. What if I have a heart attack? What if I am dx'd with Diabetes? What if I have a stroke? What if I get cancer? Who'll take care of my son, my mother, my niece, my employees, etc. Who will fight for what's right for the patients I take care of? Who will grow old with my BFF? The thought of all those haunting questions are much scarier to me than the "what if's" that go with surgery. When my daddy went in to have an abdominal aneurysm removed he told a friend of his he'd die without the surgery. His buddy asked him "but what if you die from the surgery?" My daddy (always full of advice) simply told him he at least had to try.... and try he did. I do have some concerns about undergoing major surgery in order to lose weight. It terrifies me. Change is terrifying, but oh so necessary. So why should I have surgery? Physically - I want to be able to go for a walk or run, I want to not have huge "cankles" at the end of the day, I want to not be out of breath coming back from the mailbox, I want to be free of arthritic pain in my hips, I want to put on clothes without a struggle. Emotionally - I want to be proud of who I see in the mirror, I want to get off the vicious cycle of weight gain & depression, I want the inner me to like the outter me. Spiritually - I have no excuse for not going to church, except that I feel so ashamed of the weight I've put on. I know they aren't staring at me, but that is exactly how it feels. I want to be able to go to the altar and worship once again... Financially - I love my job, but since I've put on the weight I've stopped scheduling speaking engagements (something I LOVE), calling on new accounts, visiting old accounts, speaking at meetings, etc. It's almost like I've given up on me. So the more of all that stuff I do, the more money I can make Socially - I have no social life anymore. I hate going to anything where there is a crowd of people. I avoid it all costs. My clothes are too small, I feel horrible and I just wind up miserable. I have the most amazing boyfriend who LOVES to get out and socialize and yet he's stuck with me... at home... every weekend. So there ya go... I don't feel like I really have a choice. It's either another yo-yo round of dieting with impending disappointment from the scales or a true lifestyle change... I'm 40yrs old and I have so much living and loving left to do. This is for a better me so I can be a better mom, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, girlfriend, boss and hopefully encourage others to do the same. Here's to the living, loving and laughing that is yet to come!