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Wow - what a crazy few weeks this has been! It still feels a bit unreal how far I've come on my road. Going from a high of 458 to yesterday's weight of 395 has really helped me understand that I CAN do this. During the fill, my RN and NUT were both stunned at the amount of weight I've lost since starting the pre-op diets (the NUT's exact words when he saw the scale were "holy ****!"...seemed like genuine shock). When asked what I've been doing, I just told them that I've been following the plan they laid out; cut out the sugar/carbs, amp up the protiens, watch the booze, walk a little, and take some vitamins. I think the biggest reason for the initial success has been cutting all of the beer/soda out of my diet (I was having ALOT of each). Now that my body is adjusting to not having the crap in me, I realize my progress will certainly slow, so i'm not trying to get too excited over it, but it certainly is encouraging. I've also experienced my first NSV - I fit into some shirts that I haven't worn in two years! I hope the rest of the July bandsters have had as positive experience in their journeys as I have. I wouldn't trade this for anything! My personal mantra throughout my journey has been, and will continue to be "kick the weight's ass!". So far, everything's going to plan - shibby!!!

Im so mad- I wrote this whole emotional explanation about what was going on and during preview a virus notification came up and I lost the whole darn thing!!!! I will have to sum up my emotions briefly here. Husband met me when I weighed 212. I gained weight as our relationship grew. Then our sex life got crappy because of my body issues and no stamina, aka cardio ability to participate. well.. Basically I had become a starfish! Did the LBS, he was supportive despite admitting to sabotaging me in a previous diet. He lamented in the beginning that he would die and I would look awesome and someone else would get to benefit from my hard work. When Ive mentioned the 2lb a week weight loss- nothing- dont expect a parade , but geez, no atta girl?? then I mentioned from another weight loss area this woman that lost 104 in a year! and his respnose was, 104, you should lose that in 4 months with this surgery because if not then why did you even get it. I told him 2lbs a week is good to which he replied, you could have done that on your own without the surgery, aka not spending the money... He has commented several times about my portion control and bought stuff for me that I cannot and should not eat, like ice cream and muffin cookies. I love him, but I now keep my daily struggle to stay on track to myself. I had hoped for a more supportive partner, but thats what Lap Band Talk is for. Sorry- I just wanted to vent and now that I lost my original post I am livid.

I'm one year today and just a few lbs from a normal BMI. I love my sleeve. It was a rough start with my complications but I would do it again in a heart beat. The picture is the start of my 6 month medically supervised weightloss, about 6 weeks before surgery then last Sunday. SW 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4) 12 months 126.8 (-5.8)

Heyyy Everyone wow its been a while since ive been on here! Lets see Things have been crazy this past year. I hit my goal weight of 135lbs back in February and now im 128 lbs as of this morning. I feel like i have so much more energy than i did in the beginning of this amazing journey! I want to stay healthy and keep up on my exercise routine. I noticed that exercising and the use of a corset have helped me keep from having a lot of excess skin i mean i still have a bit but it helps alot!

I am 6 days out and the pain is mostly gone. Yesterday I ate some cream of mushroom soup and It tasted so good. I ate more than I should have. About 10 teaspoons and the pain was almost unbearable. I have been eating 5 or 6 teaspoons tops. I couldnt help myself. It felt good and warm going in! lol I was miserable for at least an hour. But I did not throw up! I am having a bit of a problem with my bowel movements and the gas. Only a tablespoon full comes out and soft and chocolate, from my protein shakes. Will they ever be kind of normal again? I am afraid to go out because of the gas and What if its not gas. I have not got the two sorted out yet. Has anyone else had this? My jeans have elastic waist and they go up to where my surgery was and it is uncomfortable. I have been roling them down. I went to my family dr for my first checkup. My sugar was 89 with no medication and my blood pressure was low 80/60. So, we may have to cut out my Lotrel blood pressure medication. I go back in 1 week to see how that is doing. I did not get a b12 shot, but took blood and will call with results to see if they r needed yet. I think I am doing good. I am so blessed with no diabetes medication! So HAPPY! Take care all!

This week has been so full of ups and downs! But as the days progress and my stamina increases, the ups are far outweighing the downs. I'm still struggling some with a liquid diet (and still have one whole week more to go), but today I finally found a sense of peace in not having to worry about what I'll have for lunch or dinner or snack, or whatever. It's simply not the many options - I have soup, a protein shake, or juice mixed with protein powder, and that's about it. I am actually enjoying the simplicity. I would LOVE to eat and chew something, but I wouldn't even if it was sitting in front of me... mostly because I'm scared of what would happen if it gets stuck or whatever, and I am DONE throwing up for awhile. So taking it easy is much... well, easier. I've gotten to talk with some people on here, and am really loving meeting new people and where they are in their process of banding. It's so encouraging to talk to someone who is a month out from me, or a year out, or those who haven't gotten banded yet and have the excitement for the unknown! Looking forward to trying some new soup recipes, maybe a taco cheese soup or tomato-y lasagna/spaghetti soup Still no regrets!

It's been almost four weeks since my surgery, and I've noticed my weight loss has been pretty steady at a pound every other day. That's four pounds a week! Oh, how I wish it could stay that way until I reach my goal! I bought an exercise bike last week and I've been riding it just about every day. It's from the Livestrong line of exercise equipment, and it is really sweet. It keeps track of everything, has lots of different workout programs, lets you upload your workout to livestrong.com, and the ride is very smooth. I'm sure it will become a chore at some point, but for now I'm enjoying it. It's a nice feeling to be able to exercise without feeling like I'm going to die right on the spot. If this small amount of weight loss is already making such a difference in my activity level, I can't wait to see what I'm like when I reach goal! The next big step for me is in a couple of days when I get to start adding slightly more solid foods to my diet. I love Italian food, so the first thing I'm going to have is a meatball with a bit of marinara sauce. Well, maybe HALF a meatball. I probably can't eat a whole one yet in one sitting.

Today I did something I haven't been able to for years. I ran. Actually ran TWO MILES, It wasn't fast by any account. In fact- it was more then double the time it took me to run the same distant in high school-28 minutes. I also twice as old. I loved to run in high school. It was my ME time. I felt free and happy when I ran. I was a track and cross country star. Captain, MVP, All County, all conference,all state blah blah blah. I lived to run- I ran 6 days a week over 35 miles a week on average. From 7th grade thru high school,part of college. BUT that was over 25 years ago and I was 17. After college, marriage and three kids, and doubling my high school weight running wasn't so good or happy. I tried to run after my kids and it hurt my knees way too much. I had gain too much weight and it put too much pressure on my knees. There I was too fat to run, without causing more health problems. I was depressed when i got on the treadmill and could only run for a few seconds before my knees hurt, so stopped trying. My kids found this box of running trophes, metals and awards in basement. They wanted to know who's they were. They were very surprised when I told them they were mine. In fact they didn't believe me until they read the engraved awards. So after losing almost 65 pounds, I decided to try it again. Ok I didn't really decide, as in ok I going to go run now. I actually just went up to the track to walk, put on the IndigoGirls and U2 in my iPhone ,and started to move. Music was too up beat to just walk so i started to run, and started my timer for a baseline. I really didn't think i would make it around the curve let alone a full loop on track. But... My knees didn't hurt. So after the first lap, I was like, wow, let see if I can do it again. I walked half a lap between the first mile and the second. I was tired and sweaty and had a cramp in my side when i was done, but I ran it. and then walk another 1/2 mile after to cool down. I may be a bit sore tommorrow, but I enjoyed myself, and it felt good to know I could do it. I have been doing Dance party with kids and walking, swimming and stuff. But this was the first time I tried to run. Last time I ran- it was the Marine Corp Marathon 14 years ago- and that was the first race i had run since college 5 years prior, I did it in over 5 1/2 hours, When I finished the race, I was glad i did it but set a new goal of doing it again only in under 5 hours before I turned 50. I was about 175 pounds at the time( 20 pounds lighter then now). I remember going to the store to get a new running bra, I was a 38DD, size 16 ish, at time and I hear the women behind me snicker when I was talking about running the marathon with saleswoman. " she's running a marathon?,haha, how, why" pissed me off big time. So I turn and told her, "Yes, I am. I put one foot in front of the other, and just keep going,because I can." So it was good realize today that I can do it. I it was a good feeling running again. Only 8 more years til I turn 50. I guess I need to start get myself marathon ready. Baby steps. First you walk, then you run, then you run a litle bit longer...it not out of reach.

I was skipping around reading different posts on Facebook, and found an article by Dr. Laura Berman (you know, the sex therapist on Oprah), and she's talking about her challenge of fighting breast cancer and what it's like going bald during the chemo treatments. While reading that article, she said something that struck me SO deep, that I wanted to share in hopes that it hits someone else too. You see, I'm scared to death of who the "new me" will be. Will I still have my self-deprecating humor? Will I still enjoy what I do today when I'm thinner? Will people still like and love a thinner me even though I've been overweight all my life and this is how people identify me? I'm going to have to learn that my overweight self today isn't want defines me. That being a thinner me and having health and happiness is OK! Here is the quote: "It is amazingly empowering to let go of something you think defines you, only to discover you are a truer version of yourself without it. It’s like letting go of an anchor that’s holding you down." ~Dr. Laura Berman I'm ready to meet that truer me!!