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Here's to five goals down, and 9 lbs to halfway!!! Lose 20 lbs - complete! Get under 200 lbs - complete! Lose 45 lbs - complete! Get to 190 - complete! Lose 50 lbs- complete! Get to 186 Get to 180 Get to 179 (halfway!) Get to 165 Get to 160 Get to 155 Get to 150 Get to 145 Get to 140 Get to 135 Get to 125 Get to 120

Its been awhile since I have posted here.... Life for me is so very different then it has been for most my life... I wake up every morning HAPPY...wanting to get dressed...wanting to look in the mirror. Even wanting to go for a walk...thinking back its all things I always wanted to do...just wasn't going to happen with 130 extra lbs on me... The band is the best thing I have done for ME...Im thankful for my supportive Husband and my sister who is my bestest friend also.... Oh it has been work...in the beginning I was hungry like I read many of you are..but I knew what I had to do to get where I wanted to be...I hung tuff and its so paid off..I started with a BMI of 47...I was tired all the time...who wouldn't be ...Yesterday I weighed in at 130 with a BMI of 25 !!!! My Dr pointed out to me that I have lost more then what I weigh right now...omg I never thought id do it...well yes I did...what I really didn't know was how good it would feel in all aspects of my life and my family's life ..I have been studing to get my GED ...though I did have to take a break from that due to my husband had a heart attic a lil over a month ago and wow that wakes everyone up fast..he is doing very well now...eating right ...exercising a lil more then he did before..during that month my band got so tight I couldn't eat anything and enjoy it...not good...I did see Drs yesterday and got my band unfilled ( scary ) but a upper GI on Monday and if all looks good he will refill it...I was at 8.5 ccs....might go down to 8...what ever he says... SO life is wonderful 19 months since I was banded !!!

I'm not really going to comment on the "easy way out" stuff, because everyone here absolutely knows what that's about. You are a wonderful, caring, compassionate woman to have those feelings about the others who are struggling. I guess it's like survivors guilt in a way. You can't be responsible for saving all these people. You can, however, be kind to them, and treat them as you wanted to be treated when you were in that condition. You can share your story if and when it's appropriate. I've chosen to keep my surgery private, but at work if one of the people here that I work with who are obese were to ask me what my "secret" is to losing weight I would tell them. It would be cruel not to I think. But, if they don't ask me, I will not give unsolicited testimony to them. People know that WLS exists -- it's not a big secret in this day and age. Some choose not to go that route, and it is their choice. We made the choice that was best for us. There are a myriad of reasons the people you see haven't chosen surgery. You are not responsible for those reasons. Try to enjoy your choice, your empowerment, your health. You might also consider talking with a counselor about these feelings -- just to help you sort through them. Extreme weight loss is not just about changing the body -- it can really do a number on your head as well.

I am still seeing post about what you should be eating, how much you should be eating, why am I not losing weight, why does this hurt and why does that hurt. One thing that should be clear when you leave your doctors office either pre op or post op, you should have a list of foods you may eat. You should have been told exactly what to expect after your surgery and during the pre op phase. If you are not sure of these things then you need to schedule an appointment to see your doctor. I can not believe so many would have this kind of surgery and still be asking what you should be eating and what you should not be eating. In the pre op stage if your doctor or nutritionist has not gone over these things with you then you should ask or find another doctor. When I left my meeting right before my surgery in my hand (which was also gone over with us by the dietician) was a list of foods to eat and at what stage. A prescription for pain medications and nausea medication. I had times when I could start exercising and how much I was to eat in a day. The only way that they lap band is going to work for you is to have every piece of information from your doctor available at your finger tips. Every doctor is different in what they want you to eat so asking us if you can eat something is like asking can you remove your sutures. If you are afraid to ask your doctor questions then why have your insurance pay him or if you are self pay why hand over 16,000 dollars or more. He is getting paid to give you what you need to be successful in this journey. Not everyone loses weight the same and if you want or expect to drop 100 pounds in a few months that is unrealistic. Yes others have lost more then you but it does not mean you are doing anything wrong. It just means your body is not going to lose it fast. If someone weighs 400lbs and you weigh 250 they will lose faster then you. If you are having any kind of pain call your doctor it could be something serious. I think if you are unsure of what you are doing then your doctor should be the one guiding you .

Very well put. When I went to my surgeon's office the first time they gave me and every WLS person a huge book that has everything from the first visit to after the surgery. Why can't other doctors do this. Also listed was everyone's phone number in the office with their title. Program your doctor's number in your phones,everyone.